Poisons in Our Food?

By Joseph McCaffrey, MD, FACS

Society has a love-hate relationship with plastic. We sure use a lot of it, but even before an actor whispered "Plastics..." as a word of advice in the movie The Graduate, plastic often meant shoddy, imitation, and uncool.

Ardent environmentalists tend to hate plastic. You know the issues there.

Now there are other concerns about plastics -- namely, that they are poisoning our food supply. These concerns stem from the fact that unsavory chemicals in some plastics can leach into food. Canada highlighted the issue by proposing a ban of plastics containing bisphenol-A, a compound with significant toxicity.

Recently, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed even more startling findings about bisphenol-A.¹ In a large population study of individuals between the ages of 18 and 74, it was found that people with higher levels of bisphenol-A in their urine also had higher rates of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

This is especially worrisome because bisphenol-A is found in a plastic called polycarbonate used to make baby bottles. While the study authors were clear that this does not necessarily show a cause and effect relationship, it is well worth noting the risk.

The question of safety regarding polycarbonates raises a larger question -- just how safe are all the plastics that we come into regular contact with? Or phrased differently, what are the risks of packaging and serving food and beverages in plastic?

First, we have to realize that not all plastics are the same. Their chemical composition varies, so naturally their risks vary.

Fortunately, a number stamped on the bottom of most plastic containers tells us which plastic the container is made of. That code is your key to evaluating the risk.

Here's a quick run-down.

Number 1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE).
This is the lightweight, clear plastic commonly used in soda and water bottles. Many consider it a safe choice because it is not prone to leaching chemicals. However, an Italian study has shown some leaching into water that was stored in a PET bottle for over nine months.²

Another problem with PET is that it doesn't clean well. For this reason, never reuse PET bottles.

Number 2: High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE).
Milk jugs are usually HDPE. This translucent plastic is also used for shopping bags and the bottles that contain many household products such as cleaning supplies and shampoos. It has a low risk of leaching.

Number 3: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC).
PVC is used to make packaging materials, including some food containers. It is also used for plastic wraps. Softeners added to PVC tend to migrate into food and raise safety concerns.

Number 4: Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE).
This plastic is found in bread bags and squeezable bottles. Fortunately, studies to date have not shown any chemicals leaching from LDPE into food.

Number 5: Polypropylene (PP).
This is the stuff of fishing lines and surgical sutures, as well as syrup bottles and yogurt tubs. It appears to be toxin-free.

Number 6: Polystyrene (PS).
You'll recognize this as Styrofoam, so widely used in coffee cups and fast food containers. Unfortunately, it can leach styrene compounds into foods. Please don't reheat your coffee in a microwave if it's in Styrofoam. Better yet, find an alternative to the Styrofoam cup.

Number 7: Polycarbonate.
This is the clear, rigid, shatterproof plastic used for safety glasses (good) as well as backpacking water bottles and baby bottles (not so good). It contains bisphenol-A, a compound that can interfere with normal hormones and may be related to heart disease and diabetes

So that's the summary.

Once again, we have a situation where health advocates raise reasonable sounding concerns while the manufacturers claim their products are safe. Canada bans plastics with bisphenol-A while the FDA assures us the available evidence doesn't support a ban.

What's a reasonable person to do?

First, let's acknowledge that plastics are extremely useful compounds. We wouldn't want to be without them. However, their overuse raises concern for both environmental and health reasons.

While the FDA reports that some chemicals do leach into food from plastics under some conditions, they claim the levels are very low and that current research shows no adverse effects at these levels.

I'm not particularly interested in ingesting these chemicals even if no adverse effect has yet been proven.

I think a reasonable approach is to use plastic selectively. For example, I'm not about to go back to glass shampoo bottles. The combination of a glass bottle, wet, soapy hands, a tile floor, and bare feet just isn't good. But I do prefer my tomato juice bottled in glass.

Reduce plastic usage overall. Be especially selective about using plastic to hold food or drinks. The chemical levels may be low, but why would you want any if you had a choice?

Evaluate the situations where you use plastic and see if another material might be a better choice.

References

1. http://pubs.ama-assn.org/media/2008jer/0916.dtl#1.
2. http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/98/bottle.

[Ed. Note: Joseph F. McCaffrey, MD, FACS is a board-certified surgeon with extensive experience in alternative medicine, including certification as a HeartMath Trainer. His areas of expertise include mind-body interaction and cognitive restructuring. Dr. McCaffrey strives to help people attain their optimum level of vitality through attention to all aspects of wellness. For more information, click here.]

Health & Immunity: Use Your Body's Healing Power By Craig Klawuhn

Nature is a powerful force. Harness nature's power and you can accomplish big things.

And so it goes in the world of wound care. If you have a serious wound that won't heal or even a mild skin ailment, working in harmony with nature can often give results that aren't otherwise attainable.

The difficulty is finding natural wound and skin treatments that don't just use natural ingredients, but work in harmony with the body and its immune system. There are many "all natural" products that you would never want to put near a wound. (For example, crude oil is all natural!)

Many of today's wound care products, including those with natural ingredients, are petroleum or ointment-based. This cuts off the air supply to the wound and slows the growth of healthy cells.

Most current wound care creams and ointments contain antiseptics and disinfectants. We've been taught that these ingredients are valuable, but they actually kill beneficial bacteria and regenerating cells, slowing down the healing process.

A better solution to wound care is to work with the body naturally, taking a proactive approach that promotes cell growth, while selectively destroying those bacteria that are harmful. The ideal product will support the age-old intelligence of your immune system with natural ingredients that work with your body's own healing process.

For example, there are certain enzymes your body sends to a wound site to kill bacteria. The body is very smart -- it doesn't kill all the bacteria, just the harmful ones. Beneficial bacteria are left in peace so they can continue to perform their important functions.

How can a natural healing product harness the power of an antibacterial enzyme? By applying it to a wound from the outside. At the same time, your body is sending the enzyme from the inside. You are then aiding nature and multiplying your body's natural healing power.

But it's not quite that simple. Antimicrobial enzymes need a specific environment to work effectively. So, to create an effective natural wound care product, you must deliver the enzyme in a natural environment that mimics the body.

A natural sea salt solution is an ideal delivery system for some antibacterial enzymes, because it closely emulates the body's own saline environment and has just the right pH so the enzyme can do its job. Additionally, sea salt contains a large number of trace minerals that nourish the healing cells and encourage growth.

It's also important for a product to come in different forms for different uses and stages in wound healing. Sometimes a spray is good for initial care on serious wounds, and to adequately treat large wounds and skin conditions.

For some types of wounds, or in the later stages of serious chronic wound care, foam is an ideal delivery system for the active ingredients, and helps create an invisible, breathable bandage.

Natural healing products are not just for serious wounds, they're also the ideal solution for skin rashes, shingles, cuts and scrapes, sunburn, and insect bites.

[Ed. Note: Craig Klawuhn is a health marketing executive. He has been immersed personally and professionally in the natural product/nutraceutical industry for 33 years. One of his greatest passions is researching and discovering holistic products that heal people, animals, and ultimately, the planet we inhabit. For more information, click here.]

Healthy Recipes: Buffalo Burritos By Kelley Herring

Indulge in traditional Mexican flavor with none of the guilt! These quick burritos are an excellent source of fiber, protein and zinc plus a good source of eight more health-promoting nutrients. And because buffalo graze on grass, it's naturally high in conjugated-linoleic acid (CLA) -- a healthy fat that promotes lean muscle mass and may help to protect against several types of cancer.¹

Time to Table: 20 minutes
Serves: 8

The Benefits
Excellent source of protein, zinc, and fiber
Good source of iron, potassium, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, niacin, and riboflavin

Ingredients
1/2 cup organic avocado, chopped
1/2 cup chopped organic sweet onion, chopped
1 cup organic salsa
1 lb. ground organic buffalo meat (try Maverick Ranch)
8 Tumaro's Green Onion Tortillas
1/3 cup organic sour cream
1 cup spring water
2 cups shredded organic Romaine lettuce
2 tsp. organic taco seasoning (try Simply Organic Southwest Taco Seasoning)

Preparation
In a large skillet add spring water, ground buffalo and seasoning. Break up the meat and stir to mix seasoning. Turn heat to medium-high and cover. Cook 15 minutes, stirring, until meat is cooked through. Meanwhile, warm tortillas if desired. Place 2 ounces of ground buffalo on each of the 8 tortillas, top with Romaine, onion, avocado, salsa and sour cream. Serve.

Nutrition Information
278.19 kcal Calories, 21 g Carbohydrate, 43.05 mg Cholesterol, 13 g Total Fat, 9 g Fiber, 19.05 g Protein, 340.74 mg Sodium, 3.5 g Sugars, 4.71 g Saturated fat, 0 trans Fat, 4.77 g Monounsaturated fat, 0.71 g Polyunsaturated fat

References

1. Schwarz et al. J. Nutr. 138:49-53, January 2008.

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise’s Total Health Breakthroughs [Issue 10-03-08] which offers alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com/