The Truth About Soy Foods

Below is an article written by Dr. Mercola, with information regarding soy, with information regarding healthy and harmful kinds of soy.


If you were to carefully review the thousands of studies published on soy, I strongly believe you would reach the same conclusion as I have - which is, the risk or consuming unfermented soy products FAR outweigh any possible benefits.

Notice I said unfermented soy products.

For centuries, Asian people have been consuming fermented soy products such as natto, tempeh, and soy sauce, and enjoying the health benefits. Fermented soy does not wreak havoc on your body like unfermented soy products do.

Unfortunately, many Americans who are committed to healthy lifestyles have been hoodwinked and manipulated into believing that unfermented and processed soy products like soy milk, soy cheese, soy burgers and soy ice cream are good for them.

How Did Soy Foods Become So Popular?

If it seems like soy foods appeared out of nowhere to be regarded as the "miracle health food" of the 21st century, it's because they did.

From 1992 to 2006, soy food sales increased from $300 million to nearly $4 billion, practically overnight, according to the Soyfoods Association of North America. This growth came about due to a massive shift in attitudes about soy. And this shift was no accident - it was the result of a massive investment in advertising by the soy industry that's been wildly successful.

Soy is indeed big business, very big business.

From 2000 to 2007, U.S. food manufacturers introduced more than 2,700 new soy-based foods, and new soy products continue to appear on your grocer's shelves.

According to the survey Consumer Attitudes About Nutrition 2008 (by the United Soybean Board):

- As of 2007, 85% of consumers perceive soy products as healthful
- 33% of Americans eat soy foods or beverages at least once a month
- 70% of consumers believe soybean oil is good for them
- 84% of consumers agree with the FDA's claim that consuming 25 grams of soy protein daily reduces your risk of heart disease

This is a tragic case of shrewd marketing and outright lies taking root among the masses with the end result of producing large profits for the soy industry and impaired health for most who have been deceived into using unfermented soy long-term.

As you can see from the extensive list of articles below, there is a large amount of scientific research showing that soy is not the nutritional panacea of the 21st Century.

The Dark Side of Soy

The vast majority of soy at your local market is not a health food. The exception is fermented soy, which I'll explain more about later and even worse GMO soy that is contaminated with large pesticide residues as the reason it is GMO is so they can spray the potent toxic herbicide Roundup on them to improve crop production by killing the weeds.

Unlike Asian culture, where people eat small amounts of whole non-GMO soybean products, western food processors separate the soybean into two golden commodities - protein and oil. And there is nothing natural or safe about these products.

Dr. Kaayla Daniel, author of The Whole Soy Story, points out thousands of studies linking soy to malnutrition, digestive distress, immune-system breakdown, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive decline, reproductive disorders and infertility - even cancer and heart disease.

Here is just a sampling of the health effects that have been linked to soy consumption:

- Breast cancer
- Brain damage
- Infant abnormalities
- Thyroid disorders
- Kidney stones
- Immune system impairment
- Severe, potentially fatal food allergies
- Impaired fertility
- Danger during pregnancy and nursing

Soy proponents will argue that soy-based foods (they lump the fermented ones with the unfermented) will protect you from everything from colon, prostate and breast cancer to strokes, osteoporosis, and asthma.

But said enthusiasts never mention the studies that illuminate soy's downside and all of the dangers posed to your health, which are based on sound research.

Another unfortunate fact is that 80% of the world's soy is used in farm animal feed, which is why soy production is contributing to deforestation. Some soy propagandists have suggested that the solution to this is for all of us to become vegetarians - a reckless recommendation rooted in total ignorance about nutrition - whereas a far better solution is a major overhaul in how farm animals are fed and raised.



What Soy Products are Good For You?

I want to be clear that I am not opposed to all soy. Soy can be incredibly healthful, but ONLY if it is organic and properly fermented.

After a long fermentation process, the phytate and "anti-nutrient" levels of soybeans are reduced, and their beneficial properties become available to your digestive system.

You may have heard that Japanese people live longer and have lower rates of cancer than Americans because they eat so much soy - but it's primarily fermented soy that they consume, and it's always been that way.

Fermented soy products are the only ones I recommend consuming.

These are the primary fermented soy products you'll find:

- Tempeh, a fermented soybean cake with a firm texture and nutty, mushroom-like flavor.
- Miso, a fermented soybean paste with a salty, buttery texture (commonly used in miso soup).
- Natto, fermented soybeans with a sticky texture and strong, cheese-like flavor.
- Soy sauce, which is traditionally made by fermenting soybeans, salt and enzymes; be wary because many varieties on the market today are made artificially using a chemical process.

Please note that tofu is NOT on this list. Tofu is not fermented, so is not among the soy foods I recommend.

Vitamin K2: One of the Major Benefits of Fermented Soy

One of the main benefits of fermented soy, especially natto, is that it is the best food source of vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 is essential to preventing osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and diseases of the brain such as dementia, and protecting you from various cancers including prostate, lung, liver cancer and leukemia.

Vitamin K acts synergistically with vitamin D to keep you healthy.

Vitamin K is sometimes referred to as the "forgotten vitamin" because its benefits are often overlooked. It was named after the word "Koagulation," to reflect its essential role in blood clotting. In fact, the enzyme nattokinase - derived from natto - is safer and more powerful than aspirin in dissolving blood clots, and has been used safely for more than 20 years.

If you enjoy natto or some of the other fermented soy foods, you can get several milligrams of vitamin K2 from them each day (this level far exceeds the amount of vitamin K2 found even in dark green vegetables).

Unfortunately, the health benefits of many of the fermented soy foods fall by the wayside because many Americans do not enjoy their flavor.

If you don't want to consume natto to get your vitamin K2, the next best thing would be to use supplemental vitamin K2. Remember vitamin K must be taken with a source of fat in order to be absorbed.

Dr. Mercola (www.mercola.com)

The "Skinny" on Popcorn!

Chances are, if you're planning a fun outing or get-together, popcorn is involved. From movie theaters to ball parks and carnivals to birthday parties and movie rental nights, popcorn is there. But although popcorn has become inexorably linked with fun and entertainment, it's not necessarily as innocent and wholesome as it seems. Depending on how it's prepared, popcorn can be very unhealthy - even dangerously so. So before your next movie night or ballgame, read on.

Popcorn is a party for the taste buds. And, in its pure form, it's healthful. Free of salt, trans-fatty acids and preservatives, in its natural state, popcorn provides a delicious source of fiber. This whole-grain product is also lower in calories than most other snack foods.

Your doctor at Nova Spinal Care encourages patients to include plenty of fiber in their diets. Why? Because a high-fiber diet has many positive effects on physical health. "In addition to positive effects in the gastrointestinal tract it [fiber] has an obvious potential to support weight reduction and to improve disturbances of carbohydrate and fat metabolism," according to a recently published article by German researchers. Eating a high-fiber diet is also considered to be especially effective in the prevention of type 2 diabetes (Horm Metab Res 2007;39:687-93).

However, popcorn is rarely served unadulterated. Rather, what manufacturers and consumers add to it transforms this otherwise healthy treat into an unhealthy nightmare.

Your doctor at Nova Spinal Care encourages patients to get the facts about this snack, and all the snacks they enjoy, as part of the chiropractic lifestyle, a philosophy that promotes the prevention of disease through regularly scheduled chiropractic care, exercise, stress reduction, proper sleep and optimal nutrition.

"Pop" History

Popcorn isn't new to the snack scene. Scholars discovered that humans have enjoyed this treat for millennia. In the late 1940s, for instance, researchers made an incredible discovery in a west-central New Mexican bat cave: 4,000 year old popcorn! They determined that our ancestors once popped corn by heating sand in a fire and stirring in the kernels.

Unhealthy Fats Lurking in Your Kernels

Popcorn troubles start with the toppings. And, believe it or not, butter is not the worst offender.

Although real butter is high in fat, this type of fat is actually healthier than the phony "butter flavor" used in many microwave and movie house popcorns.

Specifically, "butter flavor" is often high in trans-fatty acids (TFA), which are associated with a bolstered risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and a plethora of other ailments. Even if your favorite movie house of popcorn brand boasts "no trans fat" - beware. The primary fat used to replace trans fat (fully hydrogenated or interesterfied fat) is just as destructive to health, if not more so.

And beware - even a little microwave popcorn equals a lot of trans fat. Nutrition experts define a snack of just 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of standard microwave popcorn is a high trans-fat menu item. This is equivalent in transfat content to a meal of french fries and chick nuggets (Atheroscler Sullp 2006;7:47-52).

Microwaving Popcorn? Don Your Gas Mask

Unfortunately, the dangers of microwave popcorn don't end with the butter.

Commercial microwave popcorn bags are coated with the same material used in many nonstick cookware products. Known as perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs), the coating imparts oil and repels water.

The family of perfluorochemicals - of which PFCAs are a member - are widely used in manufacturing and processing of a vast array of consumer goods, including electrical wiring, clothing, household and automotive products (Food Addit Contam 2005;22:1023-31).

Alarmingly, researchers recently found perfluorochemicals in vapors emitted from pre-packaged microwave popcorn bags (Environ Sci Technol 2007;41:1180).

Researchers speculate that inhaling or ingesting these chemicals may up the risk of cancer and other diseases.

Additional Inhalation Risk

Inhaling fumes from chemicals in microwave popcorn's butter flavoring also poses a health risk.

A study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine confirms numerous earlier reports: Workers in microwave popcorn plants are at high risk of developing bronchial obstruction. The culprit? Continued exposure to chemical components found in butter flavorings (Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007;176:498-504).

Known as "popcorn worker's lung," the effects are compounded over time (Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2006;215:17-22).

For those who make microwave popcorn part of their nightly ritual, continued inhalation of the rich, butter "just popped"fragrance from the bag can also damage lungs.

On September 5 of this year, USA Today published a letter written to federal agencies by a pulmonary specialist at Denver's National Jewish Medical and Research Center. The specialist warned that consumers may also be at risk of developing "popcorn worker's lung" after the first case of a consumer developing lung disease from inhaling the fumes of microwave popcorn - several times a day for years - was confirmed by the Center's doctors.

Packing and Portion Size

Popcorn also poses a threat to your waistline due to the way it's packaged and the way we typically eat it - in a jumbo container while distracted by a movie or ballgame.

One unique study included 158 movie-goers in Philadelphia (57.6 percent male with an average age of 28.7 years). Researchers randomly gave participants a medium (120 gram) or large (240 gram) container of free popcorn that was either fresh or stale (14 days old).

Following the movie, consumption measures were taken, along with measures of perceived taste. "Moviegoers who were given fresh popcorn ate 45.3 percent more popcorn when it was given to them in large containers. This container-size influence is so powerful that even when the popcorn was disliked, people still ate 33.6 percent more popcorn when eating from a large container than from a medium-size container." (J Nutr Educ Behav 2005;37:242-5).

Unless your favorite movie house offers all-natural popcorn free of any additives or flavorings, and allows you to request the amount of salt and real butter used, skip movie popcorn. Besides, munching while watching a movie or television leads to overeating. Instead, save the snack for when you return home, when you can pop up a batch of all-natural kernels.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

For some, popcorn can also be hard on the digestive system.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is sparked by hypersensitivity to foods and beverages that stimulate the gastrointestinal tract. These often include popcorn, dairy products, caffeine, alcoholic beverages, spices, diet beverages, spices, diet beverages and nuts (Inflamm Bowl Dis 2007;13:91-6).

If you experience any allergic reactions or change in bowel frequency or consistency after consuming popcorn, consult with your doctor.

Popping the Old-Fashioned Way Is Best

Using a hot-air popper to inflate kernels eliminates the need for oil or fat, and increase the health benefits of popcorn.

Other home-cooked methods, such as popping with a small amount of olive oil in a tightly covered pan on the stove top, also offer benefits because you, not the manufacturer, control the amount and type of butter and salt used.

If you must use butter, use real organic butter, and use it sparingly. Alternatively, get creative! Try tossing popcorn with rosemary, thyme, lavender, honey, organic dark chocolate shavings, chili sauce or or curry powder.

Nutrition: An Integral Factor in the Chiropractic Approach to Wellness

This chiropractic office is committed to teaching patients about nutrition. To learn more about the effect of nutrition on health, ask us about additional research-based materials and other programs we have available for patients.

Make a Clean Sweep of Toxic Household Cleaners

You've thoroughly cleaned your house. It looks better, smells better and makes you feel better - you've created a cleaner, more sanitary, healthier environment for you and your family, right? Maybe not. Your doctor at Nova Spinal Care wants patients to understand that, depending on what cleaning products you use, you could be doing more harm than good. Read on to learn more about the hazards lurking in your cleaning supplies and information that the doctors have gathered on natural alternatives , including recipes for some homemade cleaners!

Unhealthy Cleaning

The majority of today's mainstream cleaning supplies contain dangerous chemicals, including ammonia, chlorine bleach, glycol ethers and alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs).

Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to both immediate health concerns (such as respiratory irritation) and long term health effects (such as asthma and cancer). The following is a sampling of the most recent research into the health effects of exposure to cleaning chemicals.

Asthma Association

Numerous studies have linked bleach containing cleaning products with asthma. One recent study concluded: "Asthma symptoms in domestic cleaning women are associated with exposure to bleach and possibly other irritant agents. The public health impact of the use of irritant cleaning products could be widespread since the use of these products is common both in the workplace at the home." (Occup Environ Med 2005;62:598-606).

And this link has now been established in nonprofessional cleaners as well. A 2007 study investigated the "respiratory effects of nonprofessional home cleaning" and found that: "The use of c leaning sprays at least weekly... was associated with the incidence of asthma symptoms or medication and wheeze. The incidence of physician-diagnosed asthma was higher among those using sprays at least 4 days per week." The study concludes: "Frequent use of a common household cleaning sprays may be an important risk factor for adult asthma." (Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007;15;176:735-41).

And unfortunately, the risk is not confined to those doing the cleaning. Recent studies have found that a mother's use of cleaning products during pregnancy ups the risk of wheezing and lung function abnormalities in children (Eur Respir J 2008;31:547-54).

Cancer Connection

State epidemiologists from Oregon recently made a startling report to the Federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in Atlanta. "Former workers at the View Master plant in Beaverton, Oregon, died of pancreatic cancer twice as frequently as the general population and of kidney cancer three times as often." (Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA 2003).

The suspected cause? Water from a well contaminated with high levels of trichloroethylene (TCE), a commercial degreaser allegedly dumped on the ground near the plant.

A 2007 study also established a link between TCE exposure and prostate cancer (Am J Ind Med 2007;50:383-90).

In addition, a greater-than-normal risk of bladder cancer was recently linked to housekeepers, launderers, dry cleaners and butlers - all of whom use cleaning supplies on a regular basis (J Occup Environ Med 2002;44:685).

Reproductive Repercussions

Animals studies have linked glycol ethers, solvents commonly found in glass cleaners and all-purpose spray cleaners, to reduced fertility and low birth weight (Gynecl Obstet Fertil 2006;34:955-63).

Combination Concerns

The simultaneous use of multiple cleansers - particularly bleaching formulas - is extremely dangerous. This deadly mix generates invisible clouds of toxic fumes, particularly in poorly ventilated areas.

According to one scientific study, the inhaled gases cause "respiratory tract irritation with cough, labored breathing and sometimes pulmonary edema. Headache, vertigo, cyanosis and hypotension are common and additional criteria for hospitalization." (J Toxicology: Clin Toxicology 2002;40:355).

Environmental Effects

In addition to raising severe health issues, many of today's commercial cleaning products pose hazards to the environment.

Everything that flows down the drain or into a landfill eventually ends up in the water supply. This is particularly true for people who rely on wells, as opposed to municipal water supplies.

The Tide Is Turning

Fortunately, consumer demand for safer cleaning alternatives has led to a slew of new, safer, natural products. Even the Clorox Company introduced a new line of "green" products - Green Works.

Additional manufacturers of alternative cleaning products include Trader Joe's, Seventh Generation, Earth Friendly Products, Global Balance Products and Moon Works. For an extensive list of manufacturers of all-natural cleaning products, see Natural Geographic's Green Guide at www.thegreenguide.com.

Beware of the "Go Green" Bandwagon

Keep in mind that "all natural," "green" products mean big bucks for manufacturers, which means they'll fight to get those words on their labels.

And labeling in the cleaning products industry is highly unregulated, including the use of terms like "green," "natural" and "nontoxic." Manufacturers are also not required to list all of their ingredients. So even if the label claims that all ingredients are disclosed, there's no guarantee.

Manufacturers are, however, required to list health warnings. SO if a label says "Danger," "Poison" or "Warning" - that's a clue that harmful ingredients are included. Also look for specific terms like "no solvents," "no phosphates" or "plant-based," which are more meaningful than non-specific terms like "natural" or "ecologically friendly."

Safety First

Just because a cleaning product features natural ingredients doesn't mean it's nontoxic or non-irritating. Always use gloves and hospital masks while cleaning. Keep all cleaning supplies out of the reach of children, and make sure everyone in your household knows where to find the poison control center phone number.

No Substitute for Homemade

Avoid all the worries about toxic chemicals by making your own cleaning solutions! A few simple ingredients and a little elbow grease will take care of most of your cleaning needs. For green cleaning recipes, see Consumer Reports' Greener Choices site at www.greenerchoices.org or Greenpeace's site at www.greenpeace.org.

Make Your Own Mirror and Glass Cleaner
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup rosemary tea
5-6 drops rosemary essential oil

Make Your Own All-Purpose Surface Scrub
1/2 cup baking soda
1/4 cup dried and crushed lemon balm leaves
1/4 cup dried and crushed lavender leaves
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
5 drops lavender essential oil

Make Your Own Air Freshener (in a spray bottle)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vinegar (or lemon juice)
2 cups hot water

Sugar, Stress and the Immune System

It's almost holiday season and we are once again subjected to the typical holiday stressors. Did you ever notice that you are more likely to come down with something around the holiday season? This is not atypical since there are two major factors that will suppress the immune system: stress and an increased sugar consumption. We all get caught in the trap of being extra busy, extra travel, staff/holiday parties, increased intake of sweets, increased intake of alcohol and racing around at the last minute trying to find the perfect gift (I know that's not everyone, but I know I'm not alone!!). While it may be impossible to avoid all of these seasonal stressors on the immune system, let's look at the mechanisms of how this works and see what we can do to boost our immune system.

You've probably heard that sugar suppresses the immune system, but have you ever wondered how? Our bodies have different mechanisms to protect us from foreign invaders. One of these mechanisms is the action of the phagocytic cells. These cells will search and destroy foreign invaders and protect our bodies from things like viruses and bacteria. Vitamin C is required by these cells to function properly. It just so happens that glucose and vitamin C are almost identical and they will compete with each other to enter the cell. When there is an increased concentration of blood glucose this will decrease the amount of vitamin C entering phagocytic cells and will decrease their effectiveness. This is why high doses of vitamin C taken throughout the day can improve immune function (because it's water soluble your body can only absorb so much at one time and is therefore recommended to take every 3-4 hours). Some people estimate your vitamin C tolerance to at least double when your immune system is suppressed (bowel tolerance is the key to gauging your intake).

Eating or drinking 100 grams (8 tbsp.) of sugar, the equivalent of one 12-ounce can of soda, can reduce the ability of these phagocytic cells to kill germs by 40%. The immune-suppressing effect of sugar starts less than thirty minutes after ingestion and may last for up to five hours. Well, what if you don't drink soda? (I hope this is the case!!). Other things high on the glycemic index (enter white flour, alcohol, etc.) will also elevate the blood glucose levels quickly and cause insulin levels to rise quickly (insulin is also a major immune suppressor as it has an effect on other hormones in the body). It is also important to try to avoid all of the derivatives like corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose and maltodextrin. Just because sugar isn't on the label does not mean that there isn't some other form lurking behind a different name. Consumption of these things was practically zero forty years ago and now these products are part of the culprit of the obesity epidemic. Read your food labels carefully!

There are many possible stressors around the holiday season. Maybe it's hosting a big party or your in-laws, getting year-end stuff completed at work, or organizing the family vacation, whatever your case may be there is typically something "extra" going on during this time. Our bodies were blessed to have a fight or flight response to help us survive in the hunter-gatherer days. What was once a survival mechanism has become a staple and an everyday occurrence in the Western culture. This mechanism has a powerful effect on other systems in the body. One of the major influences the fight or flight mechanism has is on the hormone cortisol. Cortisol will have the opposite effect of insulin. It's job is to stimulate the liver to breakdown its glycogen stores into glucose in order to provide energy for the fight or flight. Cortisol is also a strong suppressor of cellular immunity and can have a major impact on the body's ability to defend itself.

So what can we do to strengthen our body's natural protective system? Do the things that you already know. Make time to exercise as this produces a physical release of stress and can help boost immune function. Maintaining exercise routines around the holidays can in addition to releasing stress in the body also prevent the typical weight gain that occurs around this time. Get outside when you can and get some fresh air. Eat as healthy as possible to balance out the "extra" and atypical things that you may be consuming. Be aware of sugar and alcohol intake and the effect it has on your body. Make sure you are consuming enough vitamin C by diet and/or supplementation. Get plenty of rest. Be aware of the extra stressors that may be occurring and take some steps to minimize their effect on your body.

It is important to remember that the immune system is controlled by the nervous system, and that the function and alignment of your spine has a profound effect on the function of the nervous system. Many people have reported increased vitality and resistance to colds and flus while under chiropractic care. So make sure you visit your chiropractor during the holiday season to help your body be the best it can be!

Dr. Jason Plotsky

How Toxic Are Your Skin Care Products?

The following link will take you to an article about a report put on by the Breast Cancer Fund about cosmetics and some of their harmful ingredients.

Taking Stock of Toxic Beauty Products


Here are a few products to consider switching to:

- Burt's Bees (available at Superstore and Shoppers Drug Mart)

- Jane Iredale: www.janeiredale.com (available at Cascades Day Spa - 1405 Bedford Highway)

- Healthy Selection (1129 Bedford Highway - carries some skin care products)

- Halifax Naturopathic Health Centre (6243 Almon Street - carries some skin care products)

Investigate Before You Vaccinate

The following information has been taken from pamphlets from The Australian Vaccination Network, and provides great things to consider around the topic of vaccination.

If you are considering vaccination, please be sure to take the following precautions:

1. Is my child perfectly healthy? If not, consider delaying vaccines.
2. Has my child had a course of antibiotics in the past 30 days? If so, consider delaying vaccines.
3. Do I or anyone else in my family have a history of seizure disorders, severe food or environmental allergies or other autoimmune issues? If so, please discuss this with your practitioner before vaccinating.
4. Has my child had a serious reaction to a previous dose of any vaccine? If so, please discuss this with your practitioner before continuing to vaccinate.
5. Have I seen the manufacturer's information on the vaccines I'm considering? Have I looked at the list of ingredients, side effects and contraindications before making my decision?
6. Do I know the symptoms of a vaccine reaction? Do I know how to report a reaction should it occur? (1800 007 468 in Australia only or www.avn.org.au - Reaction report)
7. Has my doctor or clinic assistant noted the vaccine lot and batch number in my child's record?
8. Do I know my rights? Am I aware that vaccination is not compulsory in Australia and that I can send my child to school, preschool, childcare or playgroup whether they are fully or partially vaccinated or completely unvaccinated.
9. Do I know that I will not lose any government entitlements should I choose not to vaccinate? I will still get childcare benefits and the maternity immunisation allowance once I've registered as a conscientious objector.
10. Do I know the actual risks of the diseases I am vaccinating against? What are the chances that my child will get these illnesses despite vaccination or, in the case of live-virus vaccines - because of vaccination?


A few facts on Childhood Influenza...

In general, children and infants who contract Influenza-Like-Illness, which is caused by hundreds of viruses and bacteria, generally find the illness to be mild and self-limiting with a risk of death considered to be less than 1 in a million.

The manufacturer's information states, "Neither Influenza A(H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine nor AFLURIA has been evaluated in children. Safety and effectiveness in the pediatric population have not been established."

In 2008, the Western Australian Government allowed the manufacturers of two of the brands of seasonal flu vaccine, CSL Pty Ldt and Sanofi-Pasteur, to fund a study of the effectiveness of flu vaccines in children as young as 6 months of age. The trial has been cut short due to a high incidence of seizure activity and other serious adverse events following administration of this vaccine which now includes the "swine H1N1 2009' virus.

A survey of paediatricians in the US showed 43% of doctors actively opposed the universal vaccination of children and 27% were unsure. 50% of doctors were concerned about the safety of the inactivated vaccine.

Today's children receive up to 12 vaccines before 12 months of age.

There are cumulative, synergistic and latent effects from the chemicals in vaccines. These chemicals include mercury and aluminium adjuvants (neurotoxins), antibiotics and preservatives - known to cause allergies and anaphylaxis.

Chronic illness in children has increased as the number of vaccines used in children has increased.

Efficacy in Children:

In a recent master study* that analyzed all relevant influenza vaccine studies during the past 40 years, researchers found that in healthy children older than 2 years of age, the live flu vaccine was just 33% effective; the inactivated vaccine was just 36% effective. (* Source: The Cochrane Collaboration, 2006)

In a recent master study** researchers found NO evidence that influenza vaccines prevent flu in children younger than 2 years old. (** The Lancet, February 2005)

A Fact Sheet on the Risk of Cervical Cancer and Use of Gardasil Vaccine...

Gardasil contains only 2 HPV strains - 16/18, of the 20 strains that have been associated with cervical cancer carcinomas

HPV 16/18 are stated to be associated with 70% of cervical cancer which means women are still vulnerable to the infection by other HPV strains associated with cancer (30%)

Trials of this drug did not observe that it would prevent any cervical cancer

Merck claimed this to be (100%) effective against preventing cervical cancer even though they were only comparing pre-cancerous lesions in an age group that rarely gets cervical cancer and where one-third of pre-cancerous lesions do not lead to cervical cancer

Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (pharmaceutical company) funded this research at the Cancer and Immunology Research Centre at the University of Queensland

Trials of the vaccine were funded by Merck (pharmaceutical company that manufactures the vaccine)

10 of the authors of the trials were employed by Merck and the company has financial arrangements with several of the other authors

The duration of protection from this vaccine is unknown as it has only been tested in adults for 3-4 years

It contains 225 micrograms of aluminium adjuvant. Many times more than most vaccines and known to cause allergies/anaphylaxis and autoimmune reactions in humans

In safety trials it was found that there was 3 times the number of serious medical problems in the vaccine group than the placebo group. Including juvenile arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis. These are autoimmune diseases all of which have significantly increased in the population since vaccination use increased.

Women vaccinated 30 days before becoming pregnant had more congenital birth defects than the placebo group.

An Analysis of Whooping Cough Incidence

It is interesting that the Health Department is claiming that whooping cough is now a problem in the 10-14 year age group. Prior to vaccination, whooping cough was mainly a problem for 0-2 year olds and most serious in infants under 6 months of age. It was not considered a serious disease in adolescents and adults because natural infection gives long-term immunity which reduces the severity of the disease if it re-occurs later in life.

The Australian College of Paediatrics states that the efficacy of the vaccine declines after 2-3 years and this is why regular booster shots are required throughout childhood and adolescence. Infants begin a schedule of 3 doses of whooping cough vaccine from 2 months of age. However, an infant is not protected from the disease until they have received all 3 doses of the vaccine at 6 months of age or later. 90% of mortality from whooping cough occurs in children less than 6 months of age yet they cannot be protected by the vaccine at this age because it requires 3 doses to be effective.

It is also known that many fully-vaccinated children are still getting whooping cough. In addition, there are three species of bacteria that cause whooping cough disease and the vaccine only protects against one species.

In Australia, the percentage of children fully vaccinated against pertussis rose from 71% in 1991 to over 95% in 2009.

Vitamin Deficiency - A Form of Chemical Stress

In our clinic we like to classify the three major categories of stress on the body as physical, chemical and mental/emotional. The body has shown that it will react similarly to different types of stresses and go through predictable hormonal and physical changes. There are often many reasons why a particular symptom occurs in the body and it has always been a priority of mine to figure out what the actual cause of the problem is. For example, something like a headache may be due to misalignment in the upper neck, tight muscles and trigger points in the neck, dehydration, exposure to a toxin or an overwhelming day at work. Due to the complexity of the body, it's often a case of the more you know the more you don't know. However, we have had a lot of success in our clinic looking for the reason of the symptom and finding the most appropriate way to deal with it.

In dealing with chemical stress we usually lump these into two categories: toxicity and deficiency. Simply put, you can put stress on the body by being deficient in something (like a vitamin or mineral) or by being exposed to some type of toxin (i.e. environmental).

One common deficiency that has received a fair amount of press recently is vitamin D. As Canadians, I believe it is very important that we pay attention to this as vitamin D is needed for proper bone health, protects us from diabetes, improves the function of the immune system, is anti-carcinogenic, can improve mood and well-being and can also offer protection from cardiovascular disease. According to the Canadian Vitamin D Society, vitamin D deficiency drains the Canadian Health Care System of 9 billion dollars per year.

The body has the ability to make vitamin D through exposure to the sun and UVB rays but this can become a challenge with our Canadian winters. In one study 41% of healthy subjects were found to be vitamin D deficient throughout the year. This also becomes more of an issue for people with darker skin as they will absorb less UVB rays through the skin. The minimum RDA for adults for vitamin D is 400 IU's that will help prevent things like rickets but it is not likely enough for the average Canadian to prevent the above mentioned diseases.

I have 3 different clinical interests in the application of vitamin D. The first of my interests is around the winter time when more and more people have lowered resistance to viruses like the cold and flu. Vitamin D has recently been shown to help the immune system defend against colds and flus and I think it is a cheap and easy way to help protect you through the winter. Another one of my interests is that I tend to see a fair amount of middle aged women in the clinic that are beginning to have some bone density issues and vitamin D has proven to help maintain bone density and prevent osteoporosis. Another interesting correlation for me is the effect of vitamin D on inflammation in the body which has an effect on some autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases.

Most experts are recommending at least 1000 IU's for adults with a healthy upper limit of 2000 IU's per day. It is safe to say that most Canadians are not getting adequate amounts of sunlight especially in the winter and therefore most are experiencing a deficiency of this essential vitamin. You can get vitamin D through foods like oily fish, cod liver oil, egg yolks and fortified foods like dairy products. There are two forms of vitamin D:D12 (ergocalciferol) from plant sources and D3 (cholecalciferol) from animal sources. Most of the research indicates that D3 is the superior form and in some cases D2 can interfere with the normal production of D3.

Ensuring you have adequate vitamin D intake is an "easy" step toward improving your health. Chemical stressors in the form of toxicity and deficiency are eating away BILLIONS of our health care dollars each year. We only get one shot to take good care of our bodies so let's start right now to take small steps towards better health. Good luck on your journey towards optimum health!!

Dr. Jason Plotsky