The beginning of 2013 has been an eventful and progressive time for the fluoride-free water movement. As of March, at least 9 new communities have put an end to public water fluoridation. Elimination of these programs means an additional 372,626 Americans will be protected from the potentially toxic side effects of fluoride exposure, according to statistics gathered by the Fluoride Action Network.
Is adding fluoride to public drinking water a good thing? For many, the answer seems obvious: Yes. Television commercials, oral hygiene products, and even traditional dentists actively endorse fluoride as a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay. Many are surprised to learn, however, that there is no clinical evidence to support such a claim. The tide is beginning to turn, and communities across America are putting an end to water fluoridation programs that are not only a danger to residents, but also an unnecessary cost to the municipality.
As a rule of thumb, whole foods are the best source of nutrition. Every rule has an exception, however. When it comes to a balanced diet, fish oil is one nutrient that consumers may have no choice but to purchase in supplement form. This is because fish oil is essential in promoting holistic health and well being, yet the body does not naturally produce it. High quality fish oil supplements can also provide the optimal balance of essential oils (omega-3s and 6s), which is something that is lacking in most American diets.
Today, it’s easy to see if a beverage contains aspartame. In accordance with Federal law, beverages that contain the controversial artificial sweetener must explicitly disclose such information on the label. Soon, however, consumers may not be able to tell which dairy products contain aspartame, and which do not.
Assure A Smile congratulates the World Alliance for Mercury Free Dentistry on 3 years of progress toward achieving mercury-free dentistry worldwide! Founded in part by Consumers for Dental Choice, the Alliance has fought hard since 2010 for the phase-down and eventual ban on dental amalgam usage. Assure A Smile is a proud member of the Alliance, and we share the organization’s excited sense of accomplishment with this historical milestone. Together, we will continue to spread awareness for the toxicity of dental amalgam and the long-term damage it causes to the health of patients, dental professionals, and the environment.
Groups like the American Medical Association and the FDA that advocate the use of mercury fillings, also known as silver fillings or amalgam, acknowledge that mercury is a toxic heavy metal that can cause neurological problems, but they still insist that it is safe to use as a tooth filling for cavities. These fillings release mercury vapor each time a person chews on them, causing the body to inhale and absorb this toxic vapor. Eighty percent of this vapor accumulates in the body’s tissues because the body is unable to effectively excrete it.
Research published in the January 2013 Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry explains that the major factor of obesity is not calories, but gluten. It says that weight gain from wheat consumption isn’t from the calories, but from the gluten proteins that disrupt the endocrine and exocrine systems in the body and alters metabolism causing weight gain.
Processed foods are those that are prepared with the intention of being easy to consume. They are more convenient, longer lasting, and sometimes better tasting than 100% natural foods. However, a team of Dutch scientists recently produced a study indicating that processed foods may double your risk of developing colon cancer. At Harvard Medical School, another team demonstrated that processed foods that are rich in high-fructose corn syrup might also cause cancer, as well as obesity and type II diabetes. As the study of processed food and well-being continues, health professionals worldwide are beginning to warn consumers to pay close attention to the ingredients in the foods they eat.
According to the National Cancer Institute, colon cancer has the second highest mortality rate among all cancerous conditions (i). Each year, an estimated 140,000 or more Americans are diagnosed with colon cancer, making the condition the 4th most common type of cancer diagnosis. Alarmingly, the rates of obesity and processed food consumption have also risen alongside colon cancer rates. In light of these recent trends, health experts are asking a very important question: Are processed foods contributing to the spread of obesity and cancer?
Since the 1950s, chelation therapy has been a leading doctor-recommended treatment option for individuals suffering with heavy metal poisoning. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved use of chelation therapy for more than 40 years, deeming it a “safe” and “effective” treatment for lead poisoning in particular (i). The American Cancer Society has likewise promoted chelation therapy, naming it “one of several effective treatments” for heavy metal poisoning in general (ii).
Heavy metal detoxification—whether by way of chelation therapy or other methods—is an essential part of maintaining holistic health and wellness. The human body cannot break down and flush heavy metals on its own, which may lead to potentially toxic and life threatening accumulation.