Medical Health

Folic Acid Might Promote Cancers of the Breast, Lung, and Colon

On page 59 in his book Crohn’s and Colitis: Understanding the Facts About IBD (1st edition, 20 April 2006), Dr. Hillary Steinhart (a leading Canadian physician and medical professor) states that the vitamin supplement folic acid might reduce the risk of cancer but that the evidence for this possible benefit is not conclusive. Data gathered during a large Nurses’ Health Study, 1980 to 1994, is one of the main sources for evidence supporting the use of folic acid to prevent colon cancer.

Now our scientists and news media are telling us that supplementation with folic acid might increase the risk of cancer, especially colon cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer. The May 2009 issue of Reader’s Digest presses the point that too little folate in the diet can increase the risk of cancer, while too much folic acid can also increase that risk. Folate is the natural form of the vitamin folic acid.

For additional information about the dangers of folic acid supplementation, see Laura Beil’s article “Is your breakfast giving you cancer?” in Prevention Magazine and the CBS News article “High Doses Of Folic Acid May Lead To Colon Cancer.” And also note that on page 103 in the 1st edition of his book Crohn’s and Colitis: Understanding the Facts About IBD, Dr. Hillary Steinhart points out that the prescription drug sulfasalazine “interferes with folate’s metabolism.” He says that if you are taking sulfasalazine, you will probably need to take a folic acid supplement.

I hope Dr. Steinhart brings out a new edition of his book soon. In the meantime, eat plenty of oranges and greens.

Buying a House in Arizona: Home, Termite, and Mold Inspections

First I’ll tell you about the information you can get from the Arizona State Government. Then I’ll tell you about my conversations with house, termite, mold, and fungi inspection companies in Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona.

You can phone the Office of Pest Management at 602-255-3664 (and 1-800-223-0618). Or go online to the www.sb.state.az.us web site, where you can use their “Consumer Resources” section to search for companies licensed for Pest Control, Termite Inspection, and Fungi Inspection (Mold Inspection). For termites, you are probably best off looking at companies that have both the pest control/treatment license (the B2 license) and the pest inspection license (the B8). For mold, the fungi inspection license (the B7) might only apply to the exterior walls of buildings–you’ll want to inquire with the inspection service providers.

Here is how to perform a license search on the www.sb.state.az.us web site in its present form:

1) Click on “Consumer Resources” in the menu on the left side of the www.sb.state.az.us homepage. A drop-down menu will open up.

2) In the drop-down menu, click on “Licensee Search.” A new menu will open up. Click on “Pest Management Company.”

3) You are now on a page called “Search for Pest Control Companies in Arizona,” where you can either a) type in the name of the company you want to know about, or b) just type in the name of the city where you want the inspections performed.

4) When all you do is type in the city name (and then click on the “Search” button) you will see a list of business names, their license numbers, and their statuses (expired or active). Click on a company’s license number to find out more about them.

5) Additionally, you can choose a “License Category” and then perform the search for your city.

Here is how I went about finding home, termite, and mold/fungi inspectors in Mesa (and Phoenix), Arizona:

First of all, I phoned Chemtec Supply (the phone number is 480-833-7578) and asked for Jack. Chemtec is a supplier for pest control and inspection companies. Jack recommended talking to Steve Schaeffer at Foothills Pest Control (480-759-8700) about home inspectors. Jack also said to talk to Scott Agee at Action Termite Control (623-780-3132).

Steve Schaeffer at Foothills Pest Control recommended two home inspectors: 1) Comprehensive Property Inspections, azcpi.com, and 2) Dan Harris, inspectaz.com.

The office manager (Jeremy) at Action Termite Control recommended Jason Bradley at Win Home Inspections Red Mountain (480-659-0895), www.wini.com. We spoke to Jason, and he does both house and termite inspections. His termite inspections are performed under the auspices of Action Termite Control.

Jeremy at Action Termite Control also advised us to phone David Gilpatrick at Residential Environmental Services of America (RESA), www.resaaz.com, about mold and fungi inspections (602-230-9500). We phoned RESA, and David recommended hiring Kurtis Nelson at AJF Engineering, www.ajfengineering.com (480-661-8888). David said that Kurtis had taken his mold inspection training classes and that Kurtis had eleven years experience as a home inspector. Kurtis is also licensed to perform termite and wood destroying insects inspections and treatments.

The Fisheries Turnoff

I was watching David Suzuki’s “One Ocean” on CBC Television last night, and I was again struck by one fisheries biologist’s arrogance–his choice of words, his tone of voice, his meaning. When he spoke of forcing a smile onto his face at public meetings and inquiries, he was not only insulting his audience, he was admitting insincerity. And why would anyone want to cooperate with an arrogant, insincere fisheries biologist?

Fisheries biology is an interesting field of study, but it often attracts (and subsequently recruits) autocratic individuals who as teenagers and young adults failed to muster enough smarts to succeed at jobs requiring higher levels of creativity, originality, and diplomacy.

Related Posts:

World Health and Arrogant Ecologists

Science, Ethics, and Abuse

Global Warming and Publish or Perish

Ulcerative Colitis, Olive Oil, Sesame Oil, and Fish Oil

In his book The Anti-Inflammation Zone: Reversing the Silent Epidemic That’s Destroying Our Health, Dr. Sears tells us about the importance of pharmaceutical-grade fish oil, toasted unrefined sesame oil, and extra-virgin olive oil. Now research in Britain indicates that consuming two to three tablespoons of olive oil a day might prevent ulcerative colitis. But this conclusion remains tentative until scientists manage to replicate the results. See http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/638501.html.

Dr. Sears says to consume cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil, preferably relatively expensive brands that have a naturally peppery flavor: President’s Choice Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Tuscany has a peppery finish and seems reasonably priced. Still, you might prefer Dr. Sears’ oils. He sells his own select brand. Google it.

Related Posts

Autoimmunity, KyoDophilus, Alfalfa, and Zinc

My general doctor says that patients suffering from autoimmune diseases should not take herbs and supplements that boost immunity (since autoimmunity results from overactive immune responses that attack and harm various parts of the patients’ bodies). In other words, when your immune system is already overactive, you are foolish to boost its activity even further. And that is why I am surprised when I see health practitioners (including naturopaths) advise victims of colitis or Crohn’s disease to take alfalfa and Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Alfalfa boosts the immune system and can therefore interfere with immune-suppressive medications, such as mercaptopurine (6-MP) and azathioprine (the Mayo Clinic says flat out that patients should not use azathioprine with alfalfa). And the labels on bottles of Kyo-Dophilus (a probiotic containing Lactobacillus acidophilus) say, “Take KyoDophilus . . . every day to boost immunity.”

In fact a University of California clinical trial using Kyo-Dophilus (”a commercially available dietary supplement often used by individuals with inflammatory bowel disease”) was terminated in 2008 due to low recruitment. In other words, the doctors could not find enough volunteers.

I suspect that colitis patients sometimes find that Kyo-Dophilus provides some relief from the symptoms associated with lactose intolerance. Yet they would do better to stay away from milk products and Kyo-Dophilus, since Kyo-Dophilus will not cure their colitis-induced lactose intolerance, and since it will boost their immune response (possibly causing their colitis to flare).

Patients suffering from autoimmune diseases should not take Kyo-Dophilus, alfalfa, zinc, echinacea, ginseng, and shiitake supplements, and they should stay away from COLD-fx, too.

Also see, Ulcerative Colitis Advice

They Say Vegetables Don’t Stop Cancer. I Don’t Believe It.

This week the media told us all that a new study shows that eating lots of vegetables does not “significantly” lower cancer risk. (The study indicates that vegetables might provide a very small reduction in cancer risk, but that statistic may have resulted from reporting error and bias — see Eating Vegetables Doesn’t Stop Cancer: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/08/eating-vegetables-doesnt-stop-cancer/.)

The cancer researchers had 142,605 men and 335,873 women report on their eating habits and lifestyles during 1992 to 2000. They then assessed the association between cancer risk and diets high in fruits and vegetables.

But it looks to me that investigating the question “Does eating five or more fruits and vegetables stop cancer?” is like asking “Does taking five or more prescription pills stop cancer?” Obviously, I would not eat a random assortment of pills as a cancer-prevention strategy (nor would I take the over-the-counter pills that happen to be on sale each week).

I drink green tea and eat lots of garlic, tomatoes, apples, berries, greens, and cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Broccolive). Then I include a very large variety of different fruits and vegetables in my diet, and to that end I also take powered fruits and vegetables and extracts (but I don’t take just one product day after day, month after month, year after year; I rotate them): Rainbow Vibrance Super Food, Progressive Nutritional PhytoBerry, and Drinkables Liquid Fruits and Vegetables Dietary Supplement, for example.

Research on the cancer-prevention properties of fruits and vegetables continues: On January 11, 2010, Texas AgriLife Research food scientists reported that mango prevents or stops colon and breast cancer cells in the laboratory. And at least one researcher at the Arizona Cancer Center in Tucson says a “vegetable-rich diet may avert some cancers,” especially a diet full of cruciferous vegetables: cauliflower, cabbage, kohlrabi, radishes, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.

Related Posts

Ulcerative Colitis Advice

On my earlier post Best of the Web: Ulcerative Colitis, I listed a few websites recommended by health professionals. Now I would like to say that I also like the University of Maryland writeup.

Here are the main lifestyle suggestions I found on these websites:

1) Exercise. And note that endurance exercise, such as long-distance running and hiking, can help suppress your overactive immune system.

2) Avoid stress.

3) Avoid milk products, including whey protein. (But make sure to supplement your diet with calcium and vitamin D. Take 1000 mg to 1250 mg of calcium each day, plus vitamin D.)

Egg white protein powder is usually OK (but make sure that it does not contain powdered egg yolks).

4) Don’t eat foods that bother you, period.

5) Stay on a low fat diet.

6) Eat lots of vegetables and fruits.

7) If vegetables and fruits bother you, cook them.

And I would add a few additional pointers:

1) Stay away from most fresh vegetables and fruits. Eat frozen produce. Those fresh, unfrozen vegetables you see in the produce section of your local supermarket/grocery have had plenty of time to grow molds and bacteria, both while on the shelf and while in route to the store. And all those germs and fungi will provoke your immune system. (See A Fish and Vegetable Diet.)

Try to buy products grown in the United States, Europe, and Canada.

2) Avoid all grains. (But you might want to try Quinoa.) Do not eat granola!

3) Do not eat red meat. Eat fish and egg whites. (Do not eat egg yolks!)

4) Do not eat at restaurants.

5) Do not eat processed food (meals, meats, snacks, frozen dinners, cereals, etc.).

6) Fix your own meals. Don’t trust other people to make your meals for you.

7) Take tumeric every day, that is, take it at your own risk. (See Frontier Turmeric Root Ground and New Chapter Tumericforce. But if the New Chapter Tumericforce begins to irritate your digestive system or cause you pain, then discontinue for a month and then start again if you think you can.)

8 ) Take a good, pharmaceutical-grade fish oil every day, that is, take it at your own risk. (I only recommend Nordic Naturals – Ultimate Omega and Ascenta, Nutra Sea HP Fish Oil. Take one to two grams a day and make sure that it does not thin your blood too much: See Colitis, Fish Oil, Chocolate, Tea and Spices.)

9) Get out for a hike or walk every day, or use the treadmill.

10) Do not eat whole nuts and seeds. Eat nut butters and seed butters.

11) Do not take alfalfa or zinc (or supplements that contain alfalfa or zinc). They boost your immune system. You want to stay away from immune-boosting herbs, such as echinacea.

12) Eat the right oils.

13) Read Dr. Sears’ The Anti-Inflammation Zone: Reversing the Silent Epidemic That’s Destroying Our Health. He tells you how to balance good proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, and shows you that it is important to avoid grains. (But note that some of his suggestions will thin your blood; see Colitis, Fish Oil, Chocolate, Tea and Spices).

14) Get plenty of rest. Do not overwork yourself. Take time off. Relax.

Also see Ulcerative Colitis and Diet, Colitis, Fish Oil, Chocolate, Tea and Spices, Autoimmunity, KyoDophilus, Alfalfa, and Zinc, and Related Posts.

Dangerous Household Ozone Generators

Last month I looked up information about in-home ozone generators. A friend of mine was thinking of buying a house in Arizona (she bought it), and the sellers were using indoor ozone generators. The ozone gave my friend a severe headache and caused her blood pressure to rise to dangerous levels. (She takes blood-pressure medication and had to increase the dosage after inspecting the house.)

I rushed to my computer and found quite a few useful websites, and, yes, ozone causes headaches, high blood pressure, sore throats and coughs (see Effects of Ozone Pollution on Seniors and Ozone Generators May Be Dangerous to Your Health). Ozone irritates the lungs, exacerbates lung disease, accelerates aging, and damages home electronics and wiring. In combination with air fresheners or household disinfectants, ozone will produce formaldehyde, a chemical that can cause cancer (see Study Warns of Cleaning Product Risks). The California Department of Health Services began warning consumers about indoor ozone generators back in the 1990s. And Health Canada says, “If you have an ozone generator in your home, stop using it.”

Take a look at these web pages, too:

California Indoor Quality Program

Hazardous Ozone-Generating ‘Air Purifiers’

Ozone Generator Fact Sheet

American Lung Association

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Air Cleaners

National Institutes of Health: Ozone.

BPA-free Biodegradable Plastic Bottles

We hear about how plastic bottles are filling our landfills and oceans, but bottled water manufacturers and consumers can solve this problem. We do have biodegradable choices, and biodegradable plastic may cost us a little more in the short term, but I’m sure the costs will fall in the future, as our health and our planet’s health improve.

See www.biogreenbottles.com and BioGreen Biodegradable BPA-Free Sport Bottle with Wide Mouth DuoFlow Lid (26-Ounce). These bottles are BPA, DEHA and DEHP Free, and they are made in the USA.

Tell the bottled water industry that we insist on safe biodegradable plastic.

Also see the post Avoiding BPA in Plastic.

Avoiding BPA in Plastic

For a good article on plastics and BPA (Bisphenol A), see this National Wildlife Federation Article. The authors identify the plastic products that contain BPA and they tell you how avoid them.