Asbestos and Benzene in Crayons and Markers

(Dr. Mercola) The term “asbestos” is used to describe six types of fibrous, heat-resistant asbestos minerals: chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite — all of which are carcinogenic to humans.1 While asbestos kills 100,000 people each year and is banned in nearly 60 countries,2 the mineral continues to be legally used in the U.S.3

The World Health Organization calls exposure to benzene a major public health concern4 as it has been associated with a range of cancers and aplastic anemia. Sources include industrial processes, indoor air, food and water. The chemical is liquid at room temperature and evaporates quickly, often sinking to low-lying areas as the vapor is heavier than air.5

A recent report from a federation of U.S. and Canadian nonprofit organizations operating under the umbrella of the U.S. Public Interest Research Groups (US PIRG) reveals these same chemicals may be found in some of the back-to-school supplies you purchase for your children.6

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Leave These Off Your Back-to-School Supply Shopping List

Laboratory testing on popular school supplies, such as markers, crayons, glue and spiral notebooks, revealed toxic chemicals such as lead, asbestos, phthalates and BTEX compounds, including benzene and toluene. Supplies were purchased across the country from a variety of big box stores, online retailers and arts and crafts stores.7

The results revealed asbestos in Playskool crayons; a three-ring binder from Dollar Tree contained high levels of phthalates; dry erase markers contained benzene; and two water bottles were recalled due to high levels of lead.8

Although alarming, the results actually demonstrate a reduction in the amount and level of dangerous chemicals used in the manufacture of children’s art and school supplies. According to Kara Cook-Schultz, toxics director at US PRIG and lead author of the report:9 “The good news is that when we were testing three years ago, all sorts of brands came back with asbestos. Now it’s just this one.”

Tests run in 2015 on major brands including Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse crayons and Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle crayons demonstrated trace amounts of asbestos fibers.

At the time, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) acknowledged asbestos trapped in wax may have limited inhalation danger, but noted children sometimes eat crayons and recommended parents avoid those brands as a precaution.10

Since then, most manufacturers have changed their process to eliminate even trace elements. After the report was released, a spokesperson for Dollar Tree stated all their products are independently tested and met legal and safety standards. Leap Year, the licensee of the product, also released a statement, saying:11

“We are aware of a report of trace amounts of asbestos being detected in a small amount of product testing conducted by a private group and are reviewing our own certified lab testing, which to our knowledge, passes all regulatory requirements and had no detectable asbestos.”

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Phthalates and Benzene Detected in Frequently Used School Supplies

Learning asbestos may be found in school supplies raises red flags, but it’s important to note the study also found phthalates, BTEX and lead in children’s products. Researchers found three-ring binders, made by Jot and sold at Dollar Tree, tested positive for phthalates, a chemical linked with asthma, obesity and reduced IQ.12

Phthalates are pervasive chemicals found in cosmetics, foods, household cleaners and plastic products. For the most part, they are added to plastics to make them durable and flexible, but since they are not strongly bound, they easily leach or migrate out of the products that contain them and into your environment.

Phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals and are “reasonably considered to be a human carcinogen.”13 What’s more, research suggests even minute amounts can cause significant harm, especially in children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is even asking parents to limit their children’s exposure to plastic chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenols, as these chemicals may damage your child’s health for years to come.14,15

The data also indicated BTEX chemicals such as benzene, xylene and toluene — all known carcinogenic chemicals — were found in dry erase markers made by Expos and The Board Dudes.16These chemicals may be responsible for the sweet smell emanating from the markers.

According to the US PRIG:17 “Benzene is a probable carcinogen linked to dangerous disruptions in sexual reproduction, liver and kidney function and immune system functioning.”

Recommended: Trump EPA Announces the Reversal of Obama Fuel Economy Mandate

Asbestos Is Still Legal, Dangerous and Use May Be Expanding

Asbestos is primarily linked to lung conditions, including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.18 Although many believe exposure is a thing of the past, it remains a deadly public health concern and may become an even larger one in the near future.

After a 10-year study of the effects, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered asbestos phased out in 1989.19 The asbestos industry then took the EPA to court and won a ruling that has essentially hamstrung the agency and its efforts to ban not only asbestos but other dangerous materials.

The chemical kills as many as 15,000 Americans each year from mesothelioma, asbestosis or other lung cancers.20 There is no safe level, as even brief exposure can cause mesothelioma. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) Action Fund analysis determined more than 8.2 million pounds of raw asbestos and waste products containing asbestos arrived in U.S. ports between 2006 and 2018.

Nearly 25 million American homes have asbestos in attic insulation and more can be found in pipes, flooring, wall shingles or ceiling finishes.21 In fact, it may show up in kitchen appliances, cement and some heat-resistant fabric and clothing. The bottom line is that while it is lethal, it continues to be legal and used in common consumer products.

What’s worse, the number of consumer products containing asbestos may soon grow, as the Trump administration has proposed a rule to open the door for asbestos to make a comeback. Prior to becoming president, Trump indicated his support of the chemical by suggesting asbestos could have prevented the collapse of the World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks.22

New Proposed Rule May Increase Use of Asbestos in Home Products

The new proposed rule would require manufacturers to alert the EPA if they want to use asbestos in an array of building or electrical materials. However, Melanie Benesh, legislative attorney for EWG, and Thomas Burke, environmental epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University, believe this may present a problem.23

A combination of previous omissions and the proposed rule may leave room for manufacturers to increase use of asbestos in new products. In December 2017, Brazil, the leading exporter of asbestos to the U.S., issued a nationwide ban on mining, use and commercialization of asbestos.24

Although lethal, the U.S. had imported 705 metric tons from overseas, 95 percent of which came from Brazil. This change places Russia in the unique position to become the largest exporter to the U.S., and Russian manufacturers see an opportunity to expand their market while Trump remains president.

Believing the continued support of the Trump administration will increase profits, one Russian company has gone so far as to stamp Trump’s face on their packaging, along with an “Approved by Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States” stamp.25

Burke believes the road to hell may be paved with good intentions, but the same applies to environmental protections, citing the gasoline additive MTBE used so fuel burns cleaner, saying:26

“This is now perhaps one of the most pervasive drinking water contaminants and groundwater contaminants in the U.S. That’s what happens when you use a narrow lens, when you have the blinders on. Asbestos is a bellwether issue for the protection of public health and chemical safety. It’s important to have a public health approach that looks at the full range of uses and potential risk to a population.”

Look for Safety Labeling in Your Art Supplies

To ensure your child’s safety, Cook-Schultz recommends parents check products for nontoxic labels or to check with manufacturers for the Children’s Product Certificate,27 which guarantees the product was made in a factory adhering to CPSC standards.28 The US PRIG recommends:29

“Given that it is often legal to sell products containing these toxic substances, parents can do several things. First, look for the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) ‘AP’ label, letting consumers know that the product is nontoxic.

If there is no AP label, look for the manufacturer’s ‘Children’s Product Certificate’ on the product, which assures parents that the product has been tested in a third-party laboratory under government specifications.

If neither of those labels is on the product, parents can reach out to the manufacturers and ask that they start using AP certification, or that they meet the requirements needed for a children’s product certificate.”

ACMI’s “AP” seal indicates the product is certified nontoxic and a medical expert has evaluated the product and the ingredients, while the “CL” (caution label) seal indicates the ingredients are toxic or hazardous but may be used safely with appropriate caution.

Products bearing the CL seal should only be used by those who are able to read, understand and follow suggested safety precautions for handling the materials.30

You can also look for the California Proposition 65 label. This label indicates the product contains chemicals that have been shown to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Even if only a trace amount is found, a warning is required by California and caution is recommended when using these products.31

The ‘Hot’ Health Benefits of Chili Peppers

(Dr. Mercola) Known for their hot flavor, chili peppers (Capsicum annuum) are primarily used for culinary purposes, as a spice added to various dishes and sauces.1 The chili is a fruit pod of the capsicum pepper plant belonging to the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Cayenne, jalapeno, habanero and serrano peppers are some of the most popular varieties of chili peppers.2

Chili peppers were first cultivated by ancient farmers in Central and South America, regions whose cuisines are famous for their piquant flavor.3 Today, chili peppers are grown all over the world, but Mexico, China, Spain, Nigeria and Turkey are among the largest commercial producers.4

Chili pepper contains a bioactive plant compound called capsaicin, which is responsible for its hot and spicy kick.5,6 Capsaicin is concentrated in the seeds and white inner membrane; the more capsaicin it contains, the spicier the pepper.7,8 Whether eaten fresh, dried or powdered (known as paprika), chili peppers can put fire on your tongue and perhaps even a tear in your eye.

Related: Cayenne and Capsaicin, Natures Miracle Medicine

What Makes Chili Peppers Healthy?

Capsaicin offers more than just a pungent oral sensation in your mouth — experts say the endorphin rush it causes makes this chemical compound an effective remedy for pain and other medical conditions.

Dr. Ashwin Mehta, director of integrative medicine at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, said, “It’s used for all kinds of arthritis pain, as well as for neuropathic pain and dermatologic conditions that have a painful itch.”9 Aside from pain relief, capsaicin has shown promise in weight loss by helping reduce calorie intake and shrinking fat tissue.10 Chili also offers these benefits:11

Helps Fight Inflammation — Capsaicin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and it has shown potential for treating inflammatory diseases and cancer. In fact, a research published in Future Oncology indicated that it can suppress the growth of human prostate cancer cells.12,13

Boosts Immunity — Chili peppers are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the body. This vitamin is essential for maintaining healthy mucous membranes to help protect the body from invading pathogens (microorganisms that cause disease). Chili is also rich in vitamin C, and this helps the body produce white blood cells that fight germs.14

Helps Reduce Insulin Levels — Another known benefit of eating chili peppers is how they help with blood sugar level management. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that the regular consumption of chili may help reduce risk of hyperinsulinemia (high insulin levels in the blood).15

Protects Your Heart — The compound capsaicin can help reduce triglycerides, cholesterol and platelet aggregation. Some studies have shown that it may assist the body in dissolving fibrin, which prevents the formation of blood clots. Additionally, cultures that use hot peppers regularly in cooking have significantly lower heart attack and stroke rates.16

Prevents Sinusitis and Relieves Congestion — Another health effect of the compound capsaicin is its ability to address nasal congestion by helping clear mucus from your nose. It has antibacterial properties as well, and can help fight chronic sinus infections.17Aside from capsaicin, chili also contains other beneficial bioactive plant compounds, including:18,19

  • Capsanthin. This is the primary carotenoid (antioxidant) in red chili peppers, giving them their red color and typically accounting for up to 50 percent of the spice’s antioxidant content.
  • Lutein. Most plentiful in immature (green) chili peppers, it has been shown to help maintain and improve eye health.20
  • Volaxanthin. It is the main carotenoid found in yellow chili peppers, which accounts for 37 to 68 percent of their total content.
  • Sinapic acid. Also known as sinapinic acid, this antioxidant is known for its neuroprotective potential.21
  • Ferulic acid. This compound has shown promise in protecting against diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases.22
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The Other Uses of Chili

Chili doesn’t just offer culinary and health uses; it can also be used for self-defense. Oleoresin capsicum (OC), extracted from red hot chili peppers, is the active ingredient in pepper spray. OC is an inflammatory agent that makes the eyes and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory swell. Pepper spray causes breathing difficulties, runny nose, pain in the eyes and temporary blindness.23

The capsaicin in chili can also be used to repel insects and wild animals, which is the reason it is often used as natural pesticide for gardens.24 If you want to use it to help repel pests, just mix 1 1/2 teaspoons of chili powder in a quart of water and add two drops of liquid dish soap. Take note that some plants are sensitive to chili powder sprays, so you need to test it first on a few leaves.

How to Grow Chili Peppers at Home

Growing chili peppers takes about six months so you should plant them by May, although starting early is recommended so the plant will ripen just in time for summer. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide for growing chilies adapted from The Telegraph:25

  1. Fill a multicell seed tray with rich organic soil, firm it down and moisten with water. Place a seed in each cell, then lightly cover with soil.
  2. Use a very fine hose to water it gently and then cover with cling film and keep in a warm area of your home. The soil should be moist but not soaked.
  3. After about two to four weeks, when there’s a first sign of growth, move to a warm place with plenty of light — but it shouldn’t be in direct sunlight. Water the plant from below to strengthen the roots, and check daily to ensure the surface is moist.
  4. When the seedlings sprout a second set of leaves, transplant to 7-centimeter (2.75 inches) pots with moist soil and use liquid tomato for weekly feeding.
  5. Once the plants reach 12 centimeters (4.72 inches), transplant to larger pots, and fill with soil to approximately 1 centimeter (.39 inch) from the top. You should support the plants using a cane when they reach 20 centimeters (7.87 inches).
  6. When the plants reach 30 centimeters (11.8 inches), pinch out the growing tips right above the fifth set of leaves in order to encourage bushiness. Transplant to another pot if needed and make sure to check the plant daily for aphids.
  7. When the flowers appear, gently dab a cotton bud into every flower to pollinate.
  8. Cut off the first chilies while still green to encourage fruiting all season long (July to October). Allow the next fruit to turn red if you want a rounder flavor.
Related: How to Make the Healthiest Smoothies – 4 Recipes

Cooking With Chili

If you want to try some chili pepper recipes, remember that the smallest peppers are usually the hottest, and the stems and seeds are typically removed during preparation. Moreover, the capsaicin oils in chilies can irritate and burn your skin (and your eyes), so wear rubber gloves when handling this spice.26 Chili peppers taste great with beans, just like this delicious dish from my book “Healthy Recipes for Your Nutritional Type:”

Beef and Bean Chili Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds 100 percent grassfed beef
  • 1 1/2 cups kidney beans (drain and rinse)
  • tomatoes (crushed)
  • 1 medium jalapeno chili (remove the ribs and seeds then mince)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 cups chopped onions
  • 2 cups tomato sauce
  • 1/4 cup plain traditionally cultured yogurt made from organic raw milk
  • 1/4 cup grassfed cheddar cheese (grated)
  • 2 tablespoons garlic cloves (minced)
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin

Procedure: This recipe makes four servings.

  1. Heat a heavy 5-quart pot, then add the ground beef. Cook, stirring and breaking up the meat until it turns brown (make sure it doesn’t burn). Drain the excess fat and leave just a small amount to cook the onions in.
  2. Add the onions and cook for five minutes. Mix in the garlic and jalapeno and cook until tender. Stir in the chili powder and cumin and continue to cook until it becomes fragrant.
  3. Stir in the crushed tomatoes and then the tomato sauce, and let it simmer for about 30 minutes.
  4. Add the beans and continue to cook uncovered until the meat and beans become very tender and the chili turns thick (about 30 minutes more).
  5. Serve in small bowls and garnish each bowl with 1 tablespoon each of yogurt and cheddar cheese.
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You Should Try Chili Oil too

A staple condiment of Chinese, Thai and Korean cuisine, chili oil is commonly used as a condiment. Its deliciously fragrant, reddish orange infusion of chili peppers in a base oil can make almost any humdrum dish sing. Chili oil comes in handy when your palate craves a little more heat, kicking up your taste buds a notch.

The good news is that you can easily make chili oil at home, so you can be sure that it is pure and hygienic. Note that some commercial chili oils are adulterated with synthetic dyes, which can be detrimental to your health.27 If you want to learn how to make chili oil, here’s a recipe adapted from The Woks of Life:28

Chili Oil Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups extra-virgin coconut oil
  • 5 pieces of star anise
  • cinnamon stick (preferably cassia cinnamon)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 tablespoons Sichuan peppercorns
  • 3/4 cup Asian red pepper flakes (crushed)
  • 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons Himalayan salt (to taste)

Procedure:

  1. Gently warm the oil, star anise, cinnamon stick, bay leaves and Sichuan peppercorns in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. When the oil starts to bubble slightly, turn the heat down to medium.
  2. Let the oil simmer for 30 minutes. If you start to see that slight bubbling die down, periodically turn the heat back up to medium-high, then back down to medium if it gets too hot.
  3. You’ll know the oil is done cooking when the seeds and pods turn darker in color.
  4. Allow the oil to cool for five minutes, and in a separate heat-proof bowl, measure out the crushed red pepper flakes and Himalayan salt.
  5. Remove the aromatics from the oil, slowly pour it over the chili flakes and then stir well. When completely cooled, transfer to a sealable, sterilized glass bottle using a funnel.
  6. Seal the bottle then store it in the refrigerator and use within six months.

This recipe makes about 2 1/4 cups. Chili oil is not only a must-have condiment that adds a reddish tinge and piquancy to many Asian recipes, but it can also be used for various healing purposes. It contains nutrients from the chili pepper and the base oil, and some percentage of these nutrients leach into the oil. Chili oil has a capsaicin content of about 7 percent, so it can offer the same health benefits of chili peppers.29

There are a few important things to remember when preparing, cooking and storing chili oil. It generally has a long shelf life and can last up to six months if stored in the pantry or up to one year when refrigerated.30

But like any other infused oils, it may create an anaerobic (there is little to no breathable oxygen) environment where botulism, a rare but potentially life-threatening bacterial illness, can occur.31Heating the oil and chilies to kill any bacteria, sterilizing your container before use and using dried flavoring agents, will reduce any potential risks.32

Lyme Disease Now Found in All US States

(By Dr. Mercola) It’s now well-recognized that chronic infection is an underlying factor in many if not most chronic illnesses. Diseases such as Parkinson, multiple sclerosis, cardiomyopathy, gastritis and chronic fatigue are all turning out to be expressions of chronic infections, and Lyme disease appears to be a major, yet oftentimes hidden, player.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics released in 2013,1,2 an estimated 300,000 new cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. That’s about 10 times higher than the officially reported number of cases, and is indicative of severe underreporting.

Related: Best Supplements To Kill Lyme and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease Now Found in All 50 States

Lyme disease used to be confined to the area of New England. The disease is actually named after the East Coast town of Lyme, Connecticut, where the disease was first identified in1975.3

Now, a Quest Diagnostics health trend report4 warns the tick-borne disease has spread and is being diagnosed in every state in the U.S.5,6 Last year, 10,001 cases of Lyme were diagnosed through Quest Diagnostics’ testing in Pennsylvania alone, the state with the highest prevalence.

New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont) accounted for the vast majority — 60 percent — of the cases diagnosed through Quest, numbering 11,549 in total. Between 2016 and 2017, prevalence rose by 50 percent in New England and 78 percent in Pennsylvania.

However, positive tests also rose in areas where Lyme has previously been absent, including Florida and California. Overall, over the past seven years the greatest uptick in positive tests occurred between 2016 and 2017. According to Harvey W. Kaufman, senior medical director for Quest Diagnostics:7

“Lyme disease is a bigger risk to more people in the United States than ever before. We hypothesize that these significant rates of increase may reinforce other research suggesting changing climate conditions that allow ticks to live longer and in more regions may factor into disease risk.”

Lyme Disease 101

Lyme disease refers to illnesses transferred by insects. Although some still attribute transmission exclusively to ticks, the bacteria can also be spread by other insects, including mosquitoes, spiders, fleas and mites. Ticks are blood suckers, and prefer dark crevices such as your armpit, behind your ear or on your scalp.

Related: Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones

Once it attaches itself and starts feeding on your blood, it will at some point “spit” its bacterial load into your blood stream. If it carries an infectious organism, the infection spreads to you via this salivary emission. The black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis, also known as the deer tick) was linked to transmission of the disease in 1977.

In 1982, Willy Burgdorfer, Ph.D., identified the bacterium responsible for the infection: Borrelia burgdorferi8 — a cousin to the spirochete bacterium that causes syphilis. Since then, five subspecies and 300 strains of B. burgdorferi have been identified, many of which have developed resistance to our various antibiotics.

B. burgdorferi is capable of taking different forms in your body (cystic, granular and cell wall deficient forms) depending on the conditions it’s trying to survive in. This clever maneuvering helps it hide and survive. Its corkscrew-shaped form also allows it to burrow into and hide in a variety of your body’s tissues, which is why it causes such wide-ranging multisystem involvement.

The organisms may also live in biofilm communities — basically a colony of germs surrounded by a slimy glue-like substance that is hard to unravel. All of these different morphologies explain why treatment is so difficult, and why recurrence of symptoms occurs after standard antibiotic protocols.

Ticks can also simultaneously infect you with other disease-causing organisms, such as Bartonella, Rickettsia, Ehrlichia and Babesia. Any or all of these organisms can travel with B. burgdorferi (the causative agent of Lyme) and add their own set of symptoms. Many Lyme patients have one or more of these coinfections, which may or may not respond to any given treatment.

Signs and Symptoms of Lyme

Common side effects of tick bites include:

  • An itchy “bull’s-eye” rash (however, while this is the only distinctive hallmark unique to Lyme, this mark is absent in nearly half of those infected, and only 15 to 50 percent of Lyme patients recall a tick bite)
  • Pain
  • Fever
  • Inflammation

A 2014 paper published in the journal Frontiers in Zoology9,10 has argued that ticks should be reclassified as venomous, noting that many of its salivary proteins and their known functions are similar to those found in scorpion, spider, snake, platypus and bee venoms. An estimated 8 percent of tick species are in fact capable of causing paralysis with a single bite.

Symptoms of Lyme disease typically start with unrelenting fatigue, recurring fever, headaches and achy muscles or joints, which may progress to muscle spasms, loss of motor coordination and/or intermittent paralysis, meningitis or heart problems. For a more complete list of symptoms, refer to the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance.11 Lymedisease.org has also created a printable symptom checklist.12

The simplest presentation is the orthopedic form of Lyme disease, which is typically more superficial, affecting the larger joints. When the microbes and associated immune reactions are situated in your connective tissue, the infection presents as a “vague, dispersed pain,” which oftentimes ends up being misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia.

Related: Best Supplements To Kill Candida and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Fungal Infections

Lyme disease, just as syphilis was, is also known as “the great imitator,”13 as it mimics many other disorders, including multiple sclerosis, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndromefibromyalgia, ALS, ADHDand Alzheimer’s disease. Interestingly enough, despite debilitating symptoms, many Lyme patients outwardly appear quite healthy, which is why Lyme disease has also been called “the invisible illness.”

What’s Causing the Rapid Spread of Lyme Disease?

Over the years, a number of theories have been presented to explain the rapid increase of Lyme, and its geographical spread. According to the CDC, climate change may be part of the equation. The migration of hosts such as deer and rodents due to changes in land use is another. As reported by the Center for Public Integrity:14

“The link between Lyme disease and climate change isn’t as direct as with other vector-borne diseases. Unlike mosquitoes, which live for a season and fly everywhere, deer ticks have a two-year life cycle and rely on animals for transport. That makes their hosts key drivers of disease.

Young ticks feed on mice, squirrels and birds, yet adults need deer … to sustain a population. Rebecca Eisen, a federal CDC biologist who has studied climate’s influence on Lyme, notes that deer ticks dominated the East Coast until the 1800s, when forests gave way to fields.

The transition nearly wiped out the tick, which thrives in the leaf litter of oaks and maples. The spread of the deer tick since federal Lyme data collection began in the 1990s can be traced in part to a decline in agriculture that has brought back forests while suburbia has sprawled to the woods’ edges, creating the perfect habitat for tick hosts.

Eisen suspects this changing land-use pattern is behind Lyme’s spread in mid-Atlantic states like Pennsylvania, where the incidence rate has more than tripled since 2010. ‘It hasn’t gotten much warmer there,’ she says.

But climate is playing a role. Ben Beard, deputy director of the federal CDC’s climate and health program, says warming is the prime culprit in Lyme’s movement north.

The CDC’s research suggests the deer tick, sensitive to temperature and humidity, is moving farther into arctic latitudes as warm months grow hotter and longer. Rising temperatures affect tick activity, pushing the Lyme season beyond its summer onset.”

Rodents Are a Greater Threat Than Deer, and Declining Fox Population May Be a Driving Force

Other research pins the spread of Lyme to rodents, more so than deer. The main predators of mice and rats are fox, birds of prey such as hawks, falcons and owls, and snakes and cats. Agricultural and urban sprawl is killing off habitats for all kinds of animals, including these natural predators.

The red fox, for example, feeds on rodents, but urban and agricultural sprawl, and the competition with coyotes for habitat has caused the fox population to diminish. Hunting cannot be blamed for killing of the fox population today. Fox were overhunted in the early 1900s, but today fox hunting and trapping has either been restricted or banned for decades.

Instead, the vanishing fox population appears to be primarily caused by an increase in coyotes.15 The coyote population is thriving in almost every state now, and is killing off the only predators of rodents left — fox and cats. As a result, Lyme disease is becoming more widespread and prevalent.

Indeed, one study16 confirmed that increases in Lyme disease in the Northeast and Midwest in the past three decades consistently correlated to rangewide declines in red fox. It also found that as fox decrease, rodents increase. Coyotes do not help control small rodents because they prefer larger prey.

Diagnosing and Treating Lyme Disease

For reasons mentioned above, diagnosing Lyme is tricky business. Patience and persistence is required. For more in-depth information, I recommend listening to my previous interview with Lyme expert Dr. Dietrick Klinghardt. Negative test results are common when you have Lyme, as the spirochete has the ability to infect your white blood cells.

Lab tests rely on the normal function of these cells, but when the white blood cells are infected with Lyme, they actually lose the ability to produce antibodies. Hence, nothing shows up on the test. This is known as the “Lyme paradox,” and necessitates putting treatment before diagnosis.

The idea is that by treating the infection, your white blood cells will regain their ability to mount a normal immune response, which can then be picked up by blood tests. According to Klinghardt, the IGeneX Lab in Palo Alto is the gold standard for Lyme testing, as they use two different antigens in their testing.

There’s also a useful indirect test called the CD57 test. “CD-57” is a specific group of natural killer cells that are particularly damaged by the Lyme spirochetes. Therefore, if your numbers drop to a certain level, it is an indirect indicator that you may have Lyme disease, because the only known infection to suppress CD57 is that of B. burgdorferi.

Addressing Electromagnetic Field Exposure Is Crucial if You Have Lyme

As for treatment, Klinghardt is adamant about patients addressing exposure to electromagnetic fields(EMFs) during treatment. In fact, he will not treat you unless you take steps to minimize your EMF exposure, as it can have a truly profound impact on the disease.

He’s convinced the increased virulence we’re now seeing is related to the dramatic increase in EMFs and microwave radiation from cellphones, cell towers, and all manner of wireless technologies. He also believes heavy metal toxicity exacerbates the problem.

“One of my primary treatments for Lyme disease is to put people in protective clothing that shields them from incoming microwaves. We shield the bedside. We turn off the wireless internet at home. We put shielding paint on the houses.

That has been a more successful strategy to treating Lyme disease and to get people neurologically well than any of the antibiotics or any of the antimicrobial compounds,” he says.

For a summarized outline of Klinghardt’s treatment protocol, please see my previous interview with him, hyperlinked above. I’ve also included the video for your convenience, in which his protocol is discussed. You can also learn more about Lyme disease from the International Lyme and Associated Disease Society on ILADS.org.17

A list of nutritional supplements that can be helpful against Lyme can be found in “Lumbrokinase for Lyme.” As suggested by that title, the supplement lumbrokinase is one of them.

Lumbrokinase Helps Break Down Biofilms Associated With Lyme

As mentioned earlier, B. burgdorferi can live and thrive in biofilms inside your body. While conventional treatment typically involves long-term antibiotic use, I encourage you to investigate the natural solutions available, including lumbrokinase, which has been shown to help break down these infected biofilms.

Lumbrokinase is the name of a group of six proteolytic (protein digesting) enzymes derived from earthworms. When pathogenic bacteria hide within biofilms, they can feed and replicate out of the reach of your immune system.

As such, they remain strong and unaffected by any antimicrobial medications such as antibiotics and herbs that you may be taking. The fact that lumbrokinase breaks down fibrinogen is an important aspect of Lyme treatment because the pathogenic bacteria use fibrinogen, which they convert to fibrin, to strengthen their network.

Researchers studying the effects of lumbrokinase18 say earthworms have been used for thousands of years within traditional medicine in countries such as China, Japan and Korea. Dry earthworm powder taken orally has been shown to promote healthy blood circulation.

The group of enzymes in lumbrokinase acts as fibrinolytic agents, meaning they break down clots, making them useful to treat conditions associated with thrombosis. According to the study authors:19

“Earthworms contain many compounds with potential medicinal properties and have been administrated to treat inflammatory, hematological, oxidative and nerve disease. Earthworms also have antimicrobial, antiviral and anticancer properties. Among many properties, earthworms also exhibit fibrinolytic activity. The pharyngeal region, crop, gizzard, clitellum and intestine secret an enzyme that plays a role in dissolving fibrin.”

Lumbrokinase in the Treatment of Lyme

Dr. Miguel Gonzalez, a functional, integrative and holistic medicine specialist from Thousand Oaks, California, and creator of the Lyme People website, suggests lumbrokinase “appears to assist in dissolving the excess fibrin that covers and hides the bacteria, is involved in the regulation of blood clotting and also eliminates the abnormal proteins that are released as a result of the bacteria’s activity.”20

Lyme expert Dr. Marty Ross, integrative medicine specialist and founder of The Healing Arts Partnership in Seattle, also uses lumbrokinase, both alongside antibiotics, and for patients in whom antibiotics fail.21 Describing his treatment, Ross says:22

“… [S]ome of my patients prefer not to use conventional pharmaceuticals or just can’t tolerate them. In that case, I use one or more of four herbal antimicrobials: cumanda, andrographis, teasel and cat’s claw.

I prescribe one 20 milligram (mg) pill of lumbrokinase two times a day. I recommend this for patients who have been stalled for a while on more straightforward treatment and are not improving. I generally start to see improvement once I add in the lumbrokinase.”

If you and your doctor determine lumbrokinase is right for you, be sure to buy a high-quality, reputable brand. Certain brands are available in capsule form at a dose of 600,000 IU (international unit), or 40 mg, which are recommended for Lyme sufferers in the form of a daily dose of 1 to 2 capsules taken in the morning, afternoon and at bedtime.

Generally, lumbrokinase should be taken only under the advisement of your doctor and can be dangerous if taken with blood-thinning medication. In addition, it’s contraindicated in all medical conditions associated with an increased risk of bleeding.

Lyme Prevention Basics

Considering the difficulty of diagnosing and treating Lyme disease, you’d be wise to take preventive measures whenever venturing outdoors. And remember, it really doesn’t matter where you live anymore, since no region of the U.S. is exempt these days. Commonsense prevention strategies include:23

  • Avoid tick-infested areas such as leaf piles around trees. Walk in the middle of trails and avoid brushing against long grasses on path edgings. Don’t sit on logs or wooden stumps, and avoid setting up camp or pitching a tent in areas covered with leaves
  • Wear light-colored long pants and long sleeves to make it easier to see the ticks
  • Tuck your pants into socks and wear closed shoes and a hat, especially if venturing out into wooded areas. Also tuck your shirt into your pants, and wear gardening gloves when gardening or working in the brush
  • Ticks, especially nymphal ticks, are very tiny. You want to find and remove them before they bite, so do a thorough tick check upon returning inside, and keep checking for several days following exposure. Also check your bedding for several days following exposure
  • Your pets can become a host for ticks and may also become infected with Lyme disease, so be sure to check their fur and collars

As for using chemical repellents, I do not recommend using them directly on your skin as this will introduce toxins directly into your body. If you use them, spray them on the outside of your clothes, taking care to avoid inhaling the spray fumes. I recommend avoiding insect repellant containing N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide, also known as DEET, as it is a known neurotoxin.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a list24 indicating the hourly protection limits for various repellents. If you find that a tick has latched onto you, it’s very important to remove it properly. For detailed instructions, please see Lymedisease.org’s Tick Removal page.25 Once removed, make sure you save the tick so that it can be tested for presence of pathogenic organisms.

What Is Activated Charcoal Used For?

Black particles charcoal on a wooden spoon

(Dr. Mercola) Activated charcoal is now making waves in both the medical and cosmetic industry because of its supposed ability to improve your well-being. But this is not an entirely new trend; Egyptian records as early as 1,500 B.C. showed that activated charcoal was already being used to absorb unpleasant odors from putrefying wounds.1 In this guide, you will learn what activated charcoal’s benefits are and the possible side effects that may occur when you take it.

What Is Activated Charcoal?

Activated charcoal is not the same as the toxic briquettes often used for grilling foods. Instead, it is a byproduct of wood, peat or coconut shells, and is made after being heated along with a gas that assists with opening various “pores” in the coal.2

Related: Best Supplements To Kill Candida and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Fungal Infections

The finished product is a tasteless and odorless powder3 that may have either positive or negative charges, depending on the pH level of the solution used to create the powder.4 Activated charcoal powder is very porous, and once activated, the porosity rises, allowing it to efficiently absorb more substances.5

Activated charcoal allows harmful drugs and toxins lurking in the body to bind to it, so these materials may be expelled. This is why activated charcoal is often used for patients who have suffered from drug overdose or poisoning, as it helps with their recovery. Activated charcoal powder and capsules, both taken orally, are sold by various retailers.6

Activated Charcoal Is a Notable Addition to Water Filters

Activated charcoal can be used for purifying and filtering water. It’s a common ingredient in water filter systems for industrial or home use. It has the potential to trap pesticides, solvents, industrial waste and chemicals, and help reduce unpleasant odors. Activated charcoal has also shown promise in eliminating harmful substances like chlorine, chloramine, phenol and tannins, to name a few, though it may not work for others.7 You can check out a detailed list in this article.

Activated Charcoal May Have Beneficial Uses for Your Body

Activated charcoal may also be used for other medicinal purposes:8

May work as a poison antidote: Activated charcoal is most known for its capability to facilitate a chemical process called adsorption. This means it can trap harmful chemicals and toxins in the bloodstream in its pores.9 According to a 2000 British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology article, activated charcoal’s beneficial effects may be at their best when taken at least an hour after toxic substance intake.10

Work against the effects of toxic mold: Mold may cause health issues like depression, reduced brain function, kidney and liver failure, eye irritation and weakened immune system function. Activated charcoal may help combat these effects.11,12

Prior to using activated charcoal, consult a physician first to fully check for symptoms of mold exposure. Talk to a professional to check for the presence of mold at home so that the situation can be properly dealt with.

Help prevent premature aging: Activated charcoal may aid in supporting adrenal gland health and preventing cellular damage to your kidneys13 (when taken alongside a low-protein diet14) and liver.15

Related: Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones

Help relieve gastrointestinal issues: Activated charcoal may be useful for people dealing with bloating, diarrhea and other related issues, since it can bind with gas-causing byproducts in foods.16 In fact, the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) has promoted the use of over-the-counter charcoal tablets as a potential method to address flatulence.17

Assist in treating bug and/or snake bites: If you or someone you know is suffering from the effects of bee stings or mosquito, fire ant, or spider bites, a combination of activated charcoal and coconut oil may help address the condition.

A 2013 Der Anaesthesist study has also proposed the use of activated charcoal to combat the effects of snake bites, although more studies have to be conducted to truly determine its true efficiency toward this life-threatening health issue.18

There are other reports indicating that activated charcoal may assist with eliminating fishy odors linked to a disorder called trimethylaminuria,19 optimizing cholesterol levels, promoting better kidney function, treating patients with chronic kidney disease, promoting better renal dialysis outcomes, and shielding workers who may have been exposed to vapors (via the use of a charcoal cartridge).20

Take note, however, that activated charcoal is not an instant cure. If you want to significantly improve your health, you need to focus on improving your lifestyle by eating healthy foods and maintaining a regular exercise routine.

Can Activated Charcoal Help With Personal Hygiene?

Activated charcoal face masks are gaining popularity, especially among people who want to improve the overall condition of their skin. Activated charcoal may be used for treating acne, as it may eliminate pimple-causing oil and dead skin cells.21 Because of this, numerous online sellers have been promoting the use of charcoal facial sponges as a gentle exfoliant.22

However, as California-based dermatologist Dr. Ivy Lee highlights in a Reader’s Digest article, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to classify activated charcoal as a potent acne treatment.23Furthermore, cases of skin peeling were reported after using bamboo charcoal face masks, an adverse effect that was linked to PVA glue. This is an active ingredient in the mask mixture that may target impurities and negatively affect the skin. This is a compelling enough reason for you to consider other more effective natural acne treatments.

There’s also talk of activated charcoal’s potential for dental health, but dentists typically ask their patients to be cautious about using this substance, as it is very abrasive and may damage tooth enamel. The American Dental Association explains:24

… [U]sing materials that are too abrasive on your teeth can actually make them look more yellow. Enamel is what you’re looking to whiten, but if you’re using a scrub that is too rough, you can actually wear it away. When that happens, the next layer of your tooth can become exposed — a softer, yellow tissue called dentin.

If you want whiter teeth, coconut oil may be a better option, especially when you use it for oil pulling. This technique may assist with eliminating harmful bacteria residing in your mouth. You can also add a drop of peppermint essential oil for a minty aftertaste.

Studies on Activated Charcoal

Initial information about activated charcoal’s adsorbent properties were known as early as the 1700s.25 Scientists Michel Betrand, Pierre Touery, William Hort and Sir Alfred Barring Garrod were responsible for some of the earliest studies regarding activated charcoal. Most research during this era discovered activated charcoal’s potential in counteracting clinical effects of poisoning in animals and humans.

It was reported that Touery swallowed a lethal dose of poison called strychnine in front of colleagues at the French Academy of Medicine. He survived because he also drank activated charcoal, proving that it can counteract poison.26

Related: Activated Charcoal is Very Popular Right now – Here’s Why

One of the most recent studies about this substance was published in the journal bioRxiv in August 2017. Results showed that a slow-release activated charcoal formula called DAV132, which was developed by researchers from a Paris-based company called Da Volterra, may assist antibiotics in addressing certain illnesses, without triggering side effects the latter are known to cause.27

The study participants either took five days’ worth of the antibiotic moxifloxacin alongside a twice-daily DAV132 dosage, took the antibiotic only, or received no treatment at all. The researchers discovered that:28

  • The DAV132 formula had no effect on both the quantities of antibiotics in the bloodstream and in the latter’s efficiency in treating the infection.
  • DAV132 also assisted with cleaning the large intestine and flushing out antibiotics from the body. This was concluded after examining the amount of antibiotics in the feces of participants who took the formula.
  • DAV132 maintained around 90 percent of the beneficial gut bacteria in those who took it., Those who only took antibiotics had significantly reduced healthy bacteria.

While this sounds promising, take note that most studies conducted on activated charcoal focused on its effects on adults, and little on children. Guidelines regarding activated charcoal intake for children are often based on case reports and case series.

Future researchers need to consider how activated charcoal can affect children, since it’s during childhood when organs are developing to deal with toxic drugs and chemicals that they may encounter. It’s important to consult a physician or a health expert first before letting a child take activated charcoal. Some children might not be able to handle this supplement which could lead to adverse reactions.29

Side Effects of Activated Charcoal

Generally, the use of activated charcoal is safe, but only when it comes to treating a case of poisoning or an overdose at a healthcare facility, and under the guidance of a health professional.30

An important note regarding frequent activated charcoal intake is its tendency to absorb essential nutrients and minerals,31 depleting their levels and raising your risk for certain health problems. Activated charcoal may disrupt proper vitamin and mineral absorption from foods that you eat too, and it may not work well when used with other detoxifying chelating agents.

Related: Best Supplements To Kill Lyme and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Lyme Disease

Side effects have been reported after ingesting activated charcoal, such as pain or swelling of the stomach. People may notice that the tongue or the stool turns black, which is usually expected from this supplement. Other side effects may also occur, but these often do not need medical attention, and may go away during treatment once the body adjusts to the activated charcoal.32

If activated charcoal triggers severe side effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, constipation or even a suspected gastrointestinal blockage, talk to your doctor or physician immediately.33 Activated charcoal can block the absorption of medicines (like acetaminophen, theophylline and tricycline antidepressants) or supplements. It’s also known to interact with other medicines like:34,35

Ipecac or syrup of ipecac, as activated charcoal may decrease its effectiveness36 Drugs used for constipation, such as cathartics (sorbitol or magnesium citrate), since they can trigger electrolyte imbalances and other problems
Precose (acarbose) Cancer drugs like Arava (leflunomide)
Lanoxin or Digox (digoxin) Transplant drugs like mycophenolate mofetil and mycophenolic acid
Acetadote (acetylcysteine) Polyethylene glycole solution37

Lastly, avoid taking activated charcoal mixed with chocolate syrup, ice cream, raw milk or sherbets, since these may prevent it from working properly.38

The full extent of activated charcoal’s capabilities is still being determined, but there’s evidence showing its potential when it comes to improving your well-being. It may not be a magic solution for coping with certain health problems, but it can be a complementary option if conventional treatments do not suffice.

How Your Kidneys Influence Blood Pressure

(Dr. Mercola) Nearly 46 percent of American adults suffer from high blood pressure, which ranks as the second greatest public health threat in the U.S.1 Your blood pressure is the force needed to push blood through your arteries, delivering oxygen rich blood and nutrients around your body. When measured, you get a high-value (systolic) and a low-value (diastolic). The high number measures the highest pressure occurring in the blood vessels while your heart is contracting and the low value measures the pressure in your arteries between heartbeats.

A reading of 120/80 mmHg is considered normal. Your systolic pressure, the top number, offers the most information about the stiffness of your arteries and the work your heart is doing to push blood. Your systolic pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Initial recommendations for individuals whose blood pressure is only slightly elevated includes increasing physical activity, stopping smoking and improving your diet. According to statistics from the American Heart Association, only 1 in 5 Americans gets enough exercise, and poor eating habits may have contributed to 45 percent of U.S. deaths from heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes in 2012.2

Related: Best Supplements To Kill Candida and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Fungal Infections

New Blood Pressure Guidelines Means Earlier Intervention

Recent studies have demonstrated an increased risk from heart disease and stroke with every 20 mmHg rise in your systolic blood pressure or 10 mmHg elevation in your diastolic pressure in people ages 40 to 89.3 Although past guidelines recommended treatment in individuals whose blood pressure was higher than 140/90 mmHg, new American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines recommend treatment for individuals whose blood pressure is 130/80 mmHg.4

These new guidelines are the first comprehensive changes made in over a decade and lower the definition of high blood pressure in order to address complications that often occur at higher numbers and allow for earlier intervention. With this new definition, the number of U.S. adults with high blood pressure rose from 29 percent to 50 percent, with the greatest impact expected among those younger than 40.

The new guidelines eliminate the category of prehypertension and now categorize individuals as having either stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension. The guidelines are:5

  • Normal less than 120/80 mmHg
  • Elevated systolic 122-129 mmHg and diastolic less than 80 mmHg
  • Stage 1 hypertension systolic 130-139 mmHg or diastolic 80-89 mmHg
  • Stage 2 hypertension systolic at least 140 mmHg or diastolic at least 90 mmHg
  • Hypertensive crisis systolic over 180 mmHg and/or diastolic over 120 mmHg
Related: Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones

Links Between Your Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease

Your kidneys are two bean shaped organs located just below your rib cage on both sides of your spine. They filter up to 150 quarts of blood and flush out waste products through your urine every day. One of the reasons it’s necessary to drink enough water is to ensure healthy kidney function, essential for maintaining homeostasis in your body, including with the composition of your blood. Your kidneys produce hormones regulating the production of red blood cells and those helping to regulate your blood pressure.6

Your blood pressure is also affected by vessel constriction and your circulating blood volume; the higher the volume the more the heart muscle gets stretched by the incoming blood.7 However, as with all things, balance is necessary. Lower levels of blood (hypovolemia) are as dangerous to your heart and blood pressure as higher levels of blood volume (hypervolemia).

Your kidneys produce hormones regulating arterial and venous constriction, which affects your blood pressure. They also regulate your circulating blood volume. These two functions work together to maintain your blood pressure within normal limits. Within your kidneys are special cells responsible for sensing the amount of sodium in the filtrate, and others to sense your blood pressure.8

As blood pressure drops, the amount of filtered sodium also drops and cells release an enzyme called renin. This in turn is converted into angiotensin I, and then to angiotensin II, a peptide hormone causing vasoconstriction and an increase in blood pressure. At the same time, angiotensin II stimulates the adrenal gland to secrete a hormone, aldosterone.9

This stimulates the body to reabsorb more sodium, which pulls more water with it. The increase in sodium and water reabsorption reduces your urine output and increases your circulating blood volume. Both of these functions affect your blood pressure measurements.

Related: Best Supplements To Kill Lyme and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Lyme Disease

How Vitamin D Is Connected to Kidney Health

Additionally, your body uses calcium and vitamin D in a continued effort to maintain blood pressure homeostasis. Although your body stores calcium in your bones, it also maintains a consistent level within your blood. If your calcium level falls, your parathyroid gland releases parathyroid hormone which increases calcium reabsorption from the kidneys and intestines,10 and stimulates calcium release from your bones. However, the parathyroid hormone also requires vitamin D to stimulate calcium absorption from the kidney and the intestine.

Unfortunately, vitamin D deficiency is common in U.S. populations,11 and those with the lowest levels have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.12 The kidneys have an important role in making vitamin D useful within the body as they convert it from supplements or from the sun into an active form.13However, those suffering with chronic kidney disease also experience low vitamin D levels, not from lack of absorption or sun exposure, but from lack of activation within the kidneys.

In a study14 published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, researchers found low vitamin D levels may be able to predict early kidney disease. Those who were deficient were twice as likely to develop albuminuria, type of protein in the urine, over a period of five years. This condition is an early indication of kidney damage.

Of the more than 5,800 men and women without albuminuria in the study, nearly 4 percent developed it during a five-year follow up. Those who were deficient in vitamin D were found to be 84 percent more likely to have protein in their urine. For this study, deficiency was defined as having less than 15 nanograms of vitamin D per milliliter of blood (ng/mL). The study’s lead author commented:15

“There is mounting evidence of the benefits of correcting vitamin D levels to prevent or delay the development of albuminuria in the general population. It is also likely patients with chronic conditions such as CKD [chronic kidney disease] may need higher vitamin D levels than the general healthy population.”

CKD is one of the most powerful predictors of premature cardiovascular disease, and emerging evidence suggests progression may be linked to low levels of vitamin D.16 Those with CKD have been found with an exceptionally high rate of severe vitamin D deficiency exacerbated by a reduced ability to convert vitamin D into the active form.

Abnormalities in vitamin D metabolism17 may also play a role in the development of secondary hyperparathyroidism in CKD. The gradual and progressive decline of the active form of vitamin D in the course of the disease may limit the ability of the kidneys to maintain adequate levels despite increasing levels of parathyroid hormone.

Uric Acid Is Connected to More Than Gout

Uric acid is a normal waste product found in blood and associated with the development of goutwhen present in large amounts. Gout is a painful arthritic and inflammatory condition often targeting the base of the big toe. Individuals with high blood pressure and kidney disease, and who are overweight, often have high uric acid levels as well. Your body requires a balance of uric acid as it performs as an antioxidant and a pro-oxidant inside your cells. When levels are too high it tends to increase harmful levels inside the cells where it acts as a pro-oxidant.

Related: Sugar Leads to Depression – World’s First Trial Proves Gut and Brain are Linked (Protocol Included)

While an overabundance of uric acid is associated with the development of gout, a reduction in uric acid has demonstrated the ability to lower blood pressure to normal levels in a teen population.18Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine found half the teenagers enrolled in their study with newly-diagnosed high blood pressure and higher than normal levels of uric acid responded well when levels of uric acid were reduced using treatment with allopurinol.19

The treatment reduced uric acid levels and blood pressure to normal in 20 of the 30 teens treated. Dr. Daniel Feig, pediatric nephrologist at Baylor College of Medicine, commented on the results of the study:20

“This is far from being a reasonable therapeutic intervention for high blood pressure, but these findings indicate a first step in understanding the pathway of the disease. You cannot prevent a disease until you know the cause. This study is a way of finding that out.”

Previous studies using rats found high levels of uric acid were associated with the development of high blood pressure, and this study demonstrated the same appears to be true in humans. Feig reports current antihyperuricemic pharmaceuticals may not be safe to be used as a first line of therapy for most individuals with high blood pressure.21

Higher levels of uric acid are also associated with the development of kidney stones.22 Kidney stones are hard masses forming within the kidney and can affect both children and adults. When concentrations of uric acid in the urine exceed a certain point they no longer remain dissolved and may precipitate into an insoluble substance, which then forms into stones.

The presence of high amounts of uric acid in combination with dehydration increases your risk of uric acid precipitation. Uric acid stones may be preventable using some of the lifestyle choices I discuss in my previous article, “Gout Pill Poses Major Risk for Your Heart.”

How to Get an Accurate Blood Pressure Reading

Several factors can play into the accuracy of your blood pressure reading.23 To ensure your reading is as accurate as possible, keep the following factors in mind:

Cuff size

The size of the cuff may change the blood pressure reading significantly. The blood pressure cuff will have an arm circumference range printed on the cuff. Using a cuff that is too small may artificially increase the systolic measurement between 10 mmHg and 40 mmHg.

Cuff placement

The cuff must be placed on a bare arm, not over clothing, with the edges of the cuff aligned and positioned at heart level, approximately 1 inch above the bend in your elbow. The sleeve of your shirt should be off and not rolled up.

Body position

Your body position has a great deal to do with how accurate a peripheral blood pressure measurement will be. The proper position is to have your feet flat on the floor, back supported in a chair, legs uncrossed for at least five minutes and your arm supported while sitting.

Activity

Talking to the person taking your blood pressure during the reading may increase your systolic pressure by 10 mmHg, and a full bladder may increase your systolic reading by 10 mmHg. Prior to taking your blood pressure, it is important that you sit quietly for three to five minutes and do not exercise for at least 30 minutes prior to the reading.

Nicotine, caffeine or alcohol

All should be eliminated in the 30 minutes prior to having your pressure measured.

Stress

If your blood pressure consistently measures greater than 140/90 mmHg or above at the doctor’s office, while being consistently lower when measured at home, you may have white coat hypertension. For some people, seeing the doctor is an inherently stressful experience that may temporarily raise your blood pressure. An estimated 15 percent to 30 percent of people with documented high blood pressure have white coat hypertension.24

To decrease your risk of being falsely diagnosed with hypertension in this situation, take a moment to calm down (be sure to arrive for your appointment ahead of time so you can unwind), then breathe deeply and relax when you’re getting your blood pressure taken.

Machine calibration

Home machines and automated machines must be accurately calibrated to ensure a proper reading. One study25 demonstrated some home pressure machines were off in up to 15 percent of patients. Readings from these machines may impact treatment recommendations.

Hearing ability when using a stethoscope

Many of the machines used today in hospitals and some clinics to take blood pressure are automated and don’t require someone to manually listen for Korotkoff sounds in your brachial artery. However, there remain a large number of blood pressure measurements taken by an individual listening for the change in sounds in the brachial artery. Individuals who have some hearing loss may record an abnormal reading when they don’t hear the change in sounds correctly.

How to Protect Your Kidneys

Your kidneys play a vital role in your overall health. Eating the right foods helps to improve your kidney function as certain foods help you manage blood pressure, prevent kidney stones and reduce uric acid output better than others. Here are three dietary keys to help protect your kidney function. 26

Restrict protein. Uric acid is the metabolic waste product of the breakdown of purine, found in abundance in all meats, poultry and fish. Organ meat and certain oily fish, such as herring and mackerel, tend to have higher levels of purine. It is not necessary to eliminate meat, but care should be taken to balance your protein intake. You can read more about this in my previous article, “Precision Matters When It Comes to Protein.”

Related: How to Detox From Plastics and Other Endocrine Disruptors

An ideal protein intake is likely around one-half gram of protein per pound of lean body mass. The American Kidney Fund27 recommends restricting protein to a maximum of 50 grams if you currently have kidney disease. Discover more about your protein requirements in my previous article, “How to Prevent and Treat Kidney Problems With Food.”

Restrict fructose. Uric acid is also a byproduct of fructose metabolism. Fructose is independently associated with high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, kidney disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Limit your fructose intake to 25 grams per day or less, especially if you’re insulin or leptin resistant.

Drink pure, clean water. One of the most effective ways to prevent uric acid precipitation is to remain fully hydrated. Ensure your fluid intake is higher during summer months or with strenuous activities, or if you’re suffering gastroenteritis with vomiting or diarrhea.

When fully hydrated your urine should be the color of straw and you should ideally be visiting the bathroom around seven to eight times per day. Simply swapping out sweetened beverages, such as sodas and fruit juices, for pure water can go a long way toward improving your kidney function and your overall health.

Limit high-purine vegetables. Asparagus, beans, peas and spinach are plant-based foods with higher levels of purine. Moderate intake does not usually pose a problem, but meals containing large quantities should be avoided.

Avoid substances causing water loss. Certain medications, diuretics, alcohol and caffeine may increase your urine output and without proper rehydration fluid loss may result in dehydration.