Green Health Spot

Energy of the Future: Petroleum Generated by Yeast

I didn't love the idea of carrots being genetically modified for calcium but here's a good use of genetically modified yeast and e-coli (the friendlier kind).  Scientists here in Silicon Valley have been researching the possibility of using modified yeast to produce (of all things) crude oil.  Yes, it's true.  Pretty soon, if things go well, one good alternative to high priced gasoline pumped out of Saudi Arabia is actually home grown, bacteria generated gasoline.  Basically what happens is that the yeasts are put into a solution with it's food and it consumes the food, multiply and excrete waste.  This waste is the petroleum and it floats to the top of the container that holds the yeast and thus can be easily siphoned out.  The residue of the foodstuffs that were consumed by the yeast can then be used to power the fermentation plant.  At the current rate and using Brazilian sugar cane as the food source the cost per barrel of oil comes out to be about $50.  Expensive for a barrel of crude oil 2 years ago but way cheaper than the $135 per barrel and the constant record highs that oil has been hitting lately. 

A company called LS9 is working on modifying the yeast and bacteria that convert basically garbage such as straw and wood chips into petroleum (or anything starchy).  The really cool thing is that the yeasts just excrete the petroleum with very little need for further refinement to be used in our cars.  Now, I'm all for solar energy and electric cars if they help reduce our dependence on foreign oil.  But I have a difficult time imagining a way to easily bridge the gap between our high dependence on oil and having no or little dependence on oil.  In my mind there needs to be something that allows us to move between energy resources.  Maybe it's a little wind, a little hydropower, a little solar, a bit of nuclear and yes, a bit of petroleum.  Maybe the answer to the world's energy problem is a mixed solution. 

I think about the many problems with air pollution with virtually all automobiles and airplanes depending on gasoline and wonder if we just all switched to say hydrogen powered cars where the byproduct was water wouldn't our world be awfully humid instead of being polluted?  And wouldn't that affect global warming too?  In medicine, there is not just one answer for every person regardless of the diagnosis and I believe that it will be unlikely that there will be a one solution fits all for the energy concern as well.

So the main problem for LS9 is the amount of space needed for the yeasts to live while they are producing our petroleum.  They calculate that to support the amount of oil Americans are currently consuming we need to have a space roughly the size of Chicago.  Once they get that problem figured out they might just be onto something.  Other people are also working on the petroleum problem and coming up with possibly viable answers for our future.  Eventually perhaps the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will be safe from salivating oil companies and our dependence on foreign oil will be reduced. 

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Improve Your Indoor Air Quality by Cleaning Out Your Closet

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The State of California is slowly phasing out the use of perchloroethylene, the dry cleaning solvent that has been used for decades to clean our fine clothing.  The use of perchloroethylene or 'perc' has many known health effects such as skin rashes, dizziness, headaches, confusion, sleepiness, problems sleeping and walking.  Perc is a hormone disruptor and has also been related to fertility issues, spontaneous abortions and menstrual irregularities.  Perc has also been related to brain, kidney and liver damage.  The International Agency for Research on Cancer has labeled perc as 'probably human carcinogen'.  The chemical is fat soluble and can pass easily through dirt and concrete to pollute underground water supplies.  Fat soluble is important to know because the absorption of perc through the skin and through inhalation can allow the chemical to stay in your body for long periods of time through storage in your fat cells. 

Since dry cleaning solvents continue to off gas from the clothes that were treated with the chemical, it is best to take some precautionary measures in the effort to keep your indoor air quality as high as possible.  First of all, few people understand that indoor air quality is usually by far the greater culprit in human pollution than outdoor air pollution.  When we think of air pollution we tend to think of thick gray smog, diesel trucks and spewing factories.  However, it is much more common to have high indoor air pollution that has a greater long term health impact than most of us understand.  Dry cleaning solvents from off gassing clothing recently dry cleaned is a huge culprit. 

The solvent for dry cleaning will continue to off gas from your clothing for over 2 weeks after you have removed the plastic wrap.  Most people will bring in their dry cleaning and put it into their closets in their bedroom without a second thought.  Not suspecting the off-gassing that continues for weeks afterwords.  So, imagine the invisible cloud of dry cleaning solvent hanging around in your bedroom where we spend typically 8 hours a night sleeping and inhaling solvents that can make us sick. 

Hang on to your cashmere sweaters, here are some possible solutions to the dry cleaning dilemma:

• When you bring home dry cleaning that has been cleaned conventionally, remove the plastic wrap and let the clothes breathe and off-gas in a place (like your garage) where there is good ventilation and not attached to any living areas. Do this for about 2 weeks before wearing the clothes.
• Use a less-toxic option of 'dry cleaning' such as hydrocarbon, GreenEarth solvent, CO2 or 'wet cleaning'.  Some options are more environmentally friendly than others but all are healthier than the conventional use of perc.  Here's a map of some healthier options to conventional dry-cleaning in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Not all clothing labeled 'dry clean only' need to be dry cleaned.  Learn how to use Woolite or other similar delicate washes and an iron to have home cleaned delicates.
• Do not store dry cleaned clothing in your bedroom, try to store them (after they have aired out) in a place away from your sleeping location, in a place with good ventilation.
• Buy clothing that does not require dry cleaning.

Some conscious effort on your part can help clean up your living environment and help you boost your overall health.  Despite all the health risks of perc you will all be comforted to know that if you have a hookworm infection, this chemical solvent might just rid you of your infection.  It was used in the early 20th century to treat hookworm infections.  Lucky for all of us, doctors have found more effective and less toxic cures for the dreaded hookworm. 

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How to Heal Your GERD and Why it Started.

This video describes how your GERD may be due to low acidity in the stomach and how to fix the problem so that you are no longer relying on acid blockers and antacids. 

Common Causes of GERD:

Hiatal Hernia: My belief that many people's GERD is made worse by low acidity of the stomach which makes the effects of a hiatal hernia worse.  If the hiatal hernia is very bad surgery may be recommended to fix the problem.  However, before you go to have hiatal hernia surgery, make sure that you have exhausted all other avenues of treatment because there are many who go through surgery only to find that the problem still exists.  Many people will have hiatal hernias and have little or no problems associated with GERD or reflux.  So you may be in a category of patient that will benefit from other approaches.

Low Stomach acid: see video for full description.  Suffice it to say, I've found this to be the majority of the problem, especially with older individuals. 

Food Sensitivities: IgG food sensitivities, not usually food allergies are a culprit.  Many people do not know about their food sensitivities because the reactions are delayed (2-72 hours delayed).  People with IBS, inflammatory bowel disorders and GERD will all respond well to identifying and eliminating foods that they are sensitive to. Common foods are daily (usually cow dairy as opposed to goat or sheep dairy), eggs, corn, sugar, wheat and citrus (particularly oranges).

Natural Solutions to GERD:

• Apple Cider vinegar: 1 Tablespoon with 1/4 cup water prior to each meal and significant sized snack.  You may not be able to do this while there is active ulceration or gastritis.  Give it a try and if you feel miserable then stop until the irritation has healed.
• L-glutamine: an amino acid that heals the lining of the digestive system.  Consult your doctor for appropriate dosing.
• DGL: deglycirrhizinated licorice
• Aloe Vera gel
• Zinc Carnitine: very effective on the healing and rebuilding of the mucousal layer of the digestive system, especially in cases of stomach or duodenal ulcerations and in esophageal ulcerations.  Used in Japan for years as a primary treatment for such ulcerations.
• Slippery Elm (an herb)

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Cancer and Breast Implants

Breast implants are all the rage right now.  They have been around since 1962 and for years doctors and scientists have been trying to perfect the 'recipe' for the perfect implant.  Actually the most visually and touch appealing models were the silicone implants.  They had a silicone casing and were filled with a silicone gel.  The various makers of silicone implants chose differing thicknesses for the shell and generally there were either silicone gel or saline as the fill.  The reason for the saline is in case of rupture of the shell.  The saline fluid is safe for the body to absorb as the silicone is not. In fact silicone gel filled breast implants were restricted by the FDA in 1992 due to the extreme symptoms that many women get if the silicone gel leaks into the surrounding tissues and enters the body. 

There are many emotional benefits for breast implants mostly related to self esteem and improved body image for many women.  This is regardless of the reason for the implants, whether simply cosmetic or for reconstruction after breast cancer.  Many women feel more self-confident and self assured when they feel great about their bodies.  Same reason that weight loss products and skin care/anti-aging and beauty products are multi-billion dollar industries.  However, every woman should know the possible relationship between some cancers and the use of breast implants (regardless of filling).

Interestingly, silicone breast implants do not seem to be related to an increase risk of breast cancer itself.  This, of course if good news.  However, often it is difficult to detect early stages of breast cancer on mammogram or with an inexperienced mammographer where the implant can obscure mask problem areas.  Lung and brain cancer, however does seem to be increased with the use of silicone implants and possibly vulvar and cervical cancers (but these might be more related to 'lifestyle' causes).  Lifestyle means women with breast implants have the tendency to be more sexually active and have more partners therefore be more at risk for HPV infection (human papilloma virus) which is related to cervical and vulvar cancers. 

According to the National Cancer Institute breast implant patients have a tendency to also be more at risk for deaths possibly related to silicone exposure including sarcoma and multiple myeloma, as well as a variety of connective tissue disorders scleroderma, Sjorgrens disease and lupus (all auto-immune disorders). 

If you are thinking about getting breast implants for cosmetic reasons, you can review the FDA's Consumer webpage on research, surgery information and non-cancer related problems associated with breast implants.  Being well informed of the pro's and con's of the use of breast implants will give you an educated perspective to a very popular procedure.

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Calcium of the Future...in Genetically Modified Carrots?

Oh goody, the future of calcium is soon approaching us in the form of carrots.  The Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center at Texas A&M has thoughtfully created for us in their laboratory the genetically modified carrot.  This new carrot, possibly available in 3-5 years will likely have twice the amount of calcium than the "old" nature-produced carrots.  Of course the scientists don't know if the calcium will be bioavailable or absorbable by the body. 

This calls to mind the radioactivate mutant carrot seeds found by Gilligan and his friends on the old TV show, Gilligan's island.  After planting the radioactive seeds the carrots came out with 4 roots instead of 1 and made MaryAnn have super vision after eating the super carrots.  Now I don't know if Mary Ann also glowed in the dark after consuming radioactive vegetables in the show but I for one would like my carrots just like nature intended with whatever nutrients they came with naturally.  I don't believe that we who truly know so very little about nutrient interactions can out design fruits and vegetables better than mother nature.  Higher calcium diets sound fine but what about the other nutrients in the carrot?  Will they be thrown out of balance when consumed?  Will eating these genetically modified carrots make us prone to some other disease in the future?  I hate to be dramatic but without having the whole picture in mind of how our bodies will be affected by genetically modifying our foods we may find out in 50 years that our short sightedness affected our public health much more dramatically than initially thought.

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How to Get Calcium if You Don't Eat Dairy Products

One of the most frequent questions that people ask me in my office is "How do I (or my child) get enough calcium if I am lactose intolerant?".  Dairy sources of calcium are so linked in the popular media's mind that many people think that they can't get calcium into their diet if they are lactose intolerant, allergic to milk or have a sensitivity to dairy related products.  So, let's break down this question into two different concepts: first there is the volume of calcium that you are consuming that your body needs and second there is the ability to absorb the calcium that you are consuming. 

Calcium is intimately involved in the structures of bones and teeth where 99% of calcium is stored.  Calcium is necessary for strong bones and teeth as we all know and not getting enough calcium is said to be a big problem.  My contention has always been that whether or not you consume dairy products, most of us get enough calcium in our diets, what we are usually lacking are the co-factors that are required to absorb and utilize the calcium adequately.  Calcium is mostly absorbed early on in the small intestine and is pH dependent.  The more acidic your stomach acid is, the more likely you will be absorbing the calcium you are ingesting.  Many doctors suggest taking a Rolaids or Tums that contains calcium carbonate as a calcium supplement but the antacids make your stomach acid less acidic thus you are unlikely to be getting in as much calcium than you think.  Optimal amounts of calcium intake is between 500 to 1500 mg per day.  Historically, paleolithic diets probably contained closer to 1500-2000 mg per day. 

The main factors that decrease calcium absorption are decreased HCL (hydrochloric acid in the stomach), oxalates in food, phytates in food, excess magnesium and malabsorption.  Vitamin D, phosphorus, magnesium, boron are all required for absorption of the calcium you consume.  Low calcium consumption can contribute to osteoporosis (fragile bones), elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, problems with increased blood clotting, periodontal disease, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, anxiety, hyperactivity, depression, lead toxicity and colon cancer.

For all you non-dairy consumers here are some foods that you can consume to help prevent calcium deficiency:

• Cooked turnip greens (492 mg/cup)
• Lamb quarters (400 mg/cup)
• Sardines with bones (372 mg/3 ounces)
• Collard greens, cooked (357 mg/cup)
• Rhubarb (348 mg/cup)
• Spinach (276 mg/ cup)
• Fortified oatmeal (208 mg/cup)
• Canned Salmon with bones (185 mg/3.5 ounces)
• Broccoli, cooked (180 mg/cup)

It looks like cooked turnip greens turns out to be the winner.  Compared to about 3 ounces of gruyere cheese which has 860 mg of calcium or mozzarella which has 621 mg in 3 ounces.  For the lactose intolerant, yogurt is usually fine as the lactose is fermented out.  1 cup of yogurt has 345 mg.  Also try goat or sheep milk cheeses as they have as much or more calcium than cow milk products with less lactose and are usually not allergenic to most people except for the extremely sensitive person. 

If you supplement with calcium choose a citrate, malate, aspartate formula.  Combine it with adequate magnesium.  Make sure you are not taking acid blockers or antacids.  If you have GERD or heartburn, go see a naturopathic doctor who will help you identify food sensitivities and help heal and rebuild your digestive system rather than relying on acid blockers for the rest of your life.  A word of caution is that you should avoid bone meal calcium supplements at all costs as they contain high amounts of lead.  Lead is stored in the bones and thus added into your calcium supplement when they grind up the bone.  Know what source your calcium is coming from if you are supplementing as many different forms of calcium come from bone (thus high lead) containing sources.

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What is in Your Drinking Water?

Here is a great database for you to find out the possible contaminants in your tap water.  It was put together by the Environmental Working Group and can tell you, based on your city the possible problems with your tap water.  It's called the National Tap Water Quality Database.  This data was collected for 42 states over a period of 2 1/2 years.  Curiously, there were 140 different chemicals found in many drinking water supplies that have no enforceable safety limits.  As we had discussed a few months ago about the contamination of pharmaceuticals in our nation's tap water one starts to think more critically about the amount of unknown things in that wonderfully clear glass of water you are having with your dinner. 

I, for one would love to think that I am very conscientious about the water I drink and the containers I put the water in.  But that just covers what I drink at home and at work.  What about all those times when I go out for dinner and don't order bottled water or the bottled water the restaurant or cafe are offering has no known information on purity.  One call I had made to Arrowhead Water (a very popular brand of bottled water in California) a few years ago on how they tested and ensured purity in their water virtually confused the individual on the other end of the phone.  Ultimately their response was that they did a visual test and if the water did not look cloudy they continued to bottle it.  Well, that was the last time I had Arrowhead water.  There is no guarantee that just because you are bottling underground spring water that the spring has not been contaminated with things such as jet fuel, pesticides and herbicides just like our tap water. 

Many underground springs are fed by lakes and rivers that have been contaminated by runoff from agriculture, mining or other manufacturing processes.  The drinking water I use is Alhambra Crystal Fresh because they filter and process the water 7 different ways before bottling it.  Additionally, they test the water for a whole host of contaminants every half hour and have a third party test it as well.  The original source of the water is well water so there is no contamination of chloramine (which is really difficult to filter out of the water) or chlorine. I know there are lists of better bottled water choices so I'll try to get back to you on that in a future post.

For more information about the Tap Water Testing Report check out the EWG website.

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Is Your Immune System Being Affected by Your Pans?

It seems that the ingenious invention of Teflon by DuPont Corporation has a dark side.  Remember when Teflon first came out and we were all awed about how we could virtually burn something like sugar and it just easily wipes out of the pan?  Well, a chemical that is used to produce Teflon and other non-stick materials like oil-resistant paper products and stain resistant clothing (called PFOA, perfluorooctanoic acid which is a perfluorinated chemical-PFCs) seems to harm the immune system, liver and thyroid.  This is based on a research study of 69,000 people who lived in West Virginia and Ohio who lived near Du Pont chemical plants. 

In animal studies PFOA exposure has been linked to the death of immune cells leaving the body vulnerable to infection.  Additionally a liver protein helpful in protection from infection was also found to be lower in people living near the DuPont plants.  Two liver enzymes were tested and found to be higher than normal indicating liver damage and liver cell death.  In children, early PFOA exposure lead to elevation in cholesterol and increased likelihood of obesity later on in life.  PFOA is found not only in Teflon but also in the lining of microwaved popcorn bags (to keep the paper bag from soaking up the butter), pizza box containers and Scotchguard.  Finally, the study found that PFOA is an endocrine disruptor significantly affecting the thyroid gland, which can affect the brain development of children and the metabolism of adults.

As a response to this study the State of California is currently trying to pass legislation to ban the use of PFCs in food packaging.  DuPont and other companies have agreed to stop using PFOAs in 2015 but since the PFC molecules never break down, the decades of the PFCs and PFOAs have been around are hazardous enough in our water and air.  So replace those Teflon coated pots, pans, baking sheets and such with stainless steel cookware with aluminum or copper cores to help with the heat conduction.  Avoid aluminum pots and pans as they contaminate the foods and can react with acidic foods easily.  Last week, 3 members of Congress introduced new legislation to test chemicals before they are allowed on the market.  This may be useful but many of these chemicals take years for us to fully understand the impact of their toxicity.  Currently most chemicals are allowed on the market with little of no safety testing.  Ultimately there needs to be a review board which tracks long term health and enviornmental impact of chemicals on the market. 

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