Untested Swine Flu Vaccine, would you take the shot?

by: continuum wellness - July 27th, 2009   Filed under: flu, influenza vaccine, vaccination, vaccine damage, vaccine injury, vaccines 1 Comment

Interesting what is happening in the UK regarding the swine flu vaccine. Seems as if some want to force this vaccine on the public. And there is resistance. Who are the unfortunate ones who are “tested”? Consider that even with volunteers who decide to undergo testing, so much can still go wrong with these substances.
Apparently all pharmaceutical testing isn’t above board. What should one call it, if someone with access to humans, in such an intimate way as medical care desires to test a substance without a subjects knowledge? How ever you spin it, it is not for the greater good. In one recent case executives were indicted for unethical activity. Is it possible that other such cases could exist? At any rate, when it comes to immunity, the only real immunity is afforded by one having a healthy immune system.

Untested swine flu vaccine could put British public at risk, warn experts

EXPERTS have warned about the potential dangers of using untested vaccines as the British government prepares to fast-track inoculations against swine flu.
The European Medicines Agency, the EU’s top drug regulatory body, is accelerating the approval process for swine flu vaccine in order to have it ready before winter. (article here)

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Enhanced meat harmful to kidney disease patients

by: continuum wellness - July 25th, 2009   Filed under: diabetes, diet, drugs, food, Health, healthy eating, meat, nutrition, Western diet Add Comment

The term “fresh” meat should be defined. The public doesn’t really know when the animal was killed, how long the meat has been in transit, etc. The following research article states that meat may contain additives which are not on the label. The article warns these products may be harmful to someone suffering from kidney disease, but what if they also contribute to kidney disease? Read on…
Fresh meats often contain additives harmful to kidney disease patients
Phosphorous and potassium ingredients not listed on food labels

Uncooked meat products enhanced with food additives may contain high levels of phosphorous and potassium that are not discernible from inspection of food labels, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). This can make it difficult for people to limit dietary phosphorous and potassium that at high levels are harmful to kidney disease patients.

Kidney disease patients on dialysis must watch their intake of dietary phosphate so that their blood phosphate levels do not rise. This is important because high blood phosphate levels may cause premature death in dialysis patients. Kidney disease patients also must limit their intake of potassium, because high blood potassium levels can cause sudden death.

One growing source of dietary phosphorous and potassium is through “enhanced” fresh meat and poultry products. These foods are injected with a solution of water with sodium and potassium salts (particularly phosphates) as well as antioxidants and flavorings. While ingesting phosphates and potassium can be dangerous for dialysis patients, there is no requirement that these ingredients be included in nutrition labels. There also have been no studies on the levels of phosphates and potassium contained in fresh meat and poultry products that have been “enhanced.”

Richard Sherman, MD, and Ojas Mehta, DO (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School), examined the potassium and phosphate content in a variety of “enhanced” and additive-free meat and poultry products available in local supermarkets. They found that products that were labeled as “enhanced” had an average phosphate concentration that was 28% higher than additive-free products, with some products almost 100% higher. Potassium content was variable. Additive-free products all contained < 387 mg of potassium per 100 gm of protein while 5 of the 25 products with additives that were studied contained at least 692 mg of potassium per 100 gm of protein (maximum 930 mg/100 gm). Most foods with phosphate and potassium additives reported the additives on the labeling; however, 8 of the 25 “enhanced” products included in the study did not list the additives.

“The burden imposed on those seeking to limit dietary phosphorus and potassium could be ameliorated by more complete food labeling by manufacturers,” the authors wrote.

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The study was funded by grants from Genzyme, Inc. and Dialysis Clinics, Inc. The authors reported no other financial disclosures.

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National Health Care, Why?

by: continuum wellness - July 24th, 2009   Filed under: healing, healing philosophy, Health, health care, healthy body, healthy eating, wellness Add Comment

One of the odd things about insurance is that organizations that provide it generally do not want their customers to use the product. Regardless whether it is home insurance, business, auto, or health the typical claimant is not particularly embraced with open arms. Premiums are paid monthly for a product you hope you never have to use. Highly paid mathematical whiz types calculate myriad ways to offset risky policy holders and the “losses”, they could produce, so the bottom line stays healthy.

Television commercials, offer insurance products to individuals say, over age 60. A payout benefit of $50,000 or so is guaranteed. I wonder where does the money come from? The individual has not put that amount in. How is the system structured to pay the benefit? Is it some kind of scheme?

Honestly I haven’t been too engaged in listening to the debate. In my humble view, we are asking the wrong questions. The players, meaning the doctors, hospitals and perhaps the government seem to have agendas. Health, is in my view, precious and shouldn’t be bandied about in any kind of one up manship. The public is advised to poo-poo anything out of the mainstream, when it comes to health care. All of the dollars are for drugs, pills, surgery, vaccines and high tech medical devices. The health care model is not focused on health. It thrives on people being sick. This model hasn’t produced the most healthiest citizenry. And it is so expensive. Some Americans live longer now. Women still live longer then men. But with the health care system currently in place, Americans are fatter, diabetes is epidemic and juvenile diabetes is growing, more people are depressed and the drugs are showing up in the public water supply. The only health approach suggested is check-ups and vaccines. When a healthy diet is suggested food industry groups lobby because they don’t want anyone to say for example avoid dairy milk, or drink less milk or eat less cheese, sugar or any other commodity. How as a nation can we be healthy when we want to corral people into being mindless automatons?

Instead of national health care, why not promote national responsibility? Why is our food supply always being tampered with? Instead of debating insurance coverage, let’s debate responsibility. Why not allow the public real choice? Provide the public with real food from healthy soil.

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How To Find a Qualified Homeopath

by: continuum wellness - July 20th, 2009   Filed under: healing, healing philosophy, Health, health care, holistic, holistic medicine, Homeopathy Add Comment

If you are seeking respite from endless visits for a health complaint. You may want to consider homeopathy. The focus of homeopathic care is “the restoration of health” – these are words from the originator of homeopathy, Samuel Hahnemann. Classical Homeopathy focuses on whole person healing. Your practitioner typically allows 1-2 hours with you as part of the process of finding the appropriate homeopathic remedy.

First you have to locate a trained, qualified homeopath. Homeopathic care is not licensed in the US and most states do not oversee the practice. Search national organizations such as the North American Society of Homeopaths or the Council for Homeopathic Certification. Both are sources of qualified homeopaths. A certification is not a license or a recommendation. What it demonstrates is a certain amount of education, training and the ability to meet certain requirements. However, there are excellent homeopaths who may choose not to be included in a directory. Ask family and friends if they know of someone. Check for local workshops given by a practitioner.

At the minimum you want a homeopath who has undertaken training at a school run by homeopaths. It is even better if the school had a training clinic whereby there was mentoring. In the final selection, just like any health practitioner make sure there is appropriate rapport between you. Ask questions. Check to see if they have training in other therapies. What kind of success have they experienced?

Healing is a process and it happens on many levels. You have to allow yourself time for it to develop and manifest. It can be rapid or it may take more time, especially if someone is beset with deep seated or multiple ailments. Homeopathy has been helping people for centuries.

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The Kind of Pharmacy People Need

by: continuum wellness - July 15th, 2009   Filed under: holistic medicine Add Comment

I just discovered what could be called a revolutionary pharmacy. The model was visionary, including holistic practitioners/therapies in addition to the conventional pharmacy. Elephant Pharmacy offered an herbal pharmacy and a prescription pharmacy.

The company however had to close due to the economic downturn. I hope that other people will explore this model. We can make holistic medicine and therapies much more widely available to those who want them and to those who would choose them if they were on the menu. Places like this make what is called integrative medicine a much more feasible reality.

Check out the site, the link will probably go inactive at some point.

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The Power of Food Choices

by: continuum wellness - July 13th, 2009   Filed under: diabetes, diet, environment, food, Health, health care, healthy eating, meat, nutrition Add Comment

Food Inc. is a documentary of what is becoming its own genre, that of simply awakening the American public to the politics, economics, environmental and of course health implications of food. Similar movies also worth viewing include “King Corn“, and Super Size Me. Another independent movie, The Corporation, uses the DSM classification of sociopath as a way to make sense of the way huge corporate conglomerates operate. Insensitive, selfish and even brute behavior is the path some of these big businesses take and that is dangerous enough, but when they feed our nation it is not a small leap to see why “food” is about shelf life and profits vs. nutrition and well-being.

Is there an ever growing hubris in the world of agribusiness? The, “we are the experts, just trust us” is not sufficient, as the decisions made have far reaching effects. We, the public, the consumer need to assume a relationship with our food, beyond just buying it and eating it.

Whether you are a vegan, omnivore, meat-eater or any mix there of, food as we all know is essential to life. Food, Inc. discusses how we, the public and even the government have seemingly lost control of how our food comes to market. A few scenes display (not too graphically) what happens with the animals and the lack of care they receive in some cases. But please don’t let that stop you from seeing this movie! The old adage that “truth is stranger than fiction”, may come to mind during the watching of this flick.

Again, one of the key truths this movie highlights is the importance of food. We cannot underestimate the impact of food safety. Simply good, healthy food is essential to health. Our health as individuals, the planet, the animals, water, etc. depend on us caring about the earth’s resources. The diabetes epidemic can be reversed, our hearts can be healthier, public health can improve. When we understand that we have always had the power and simply start to make choices that take into account our generation and generations to come, improvement will come.

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The True Journey from the Farm to You: A Review of Food, Inc.

by: continuum wellness - July 9th, 2009   Filed under: African American, causes of allergies, FDA, food, Health, healthy eating Add Comment

Food Inc: Michael Pollan and Friends Reveal the Food Industry’s Darkest Secrets

The new film Food Inc. is a shocking look at the health, human rights and the environmental nightmare that lands on our plate each meal.

It turns out that figuring out the most simple thing — like what’s on your dinner plate, and where it came from — is actually a pretty subversive act.

That’s what director Robert Kenner found out while spending six years putting together the amazing new documentary, Food Inc., which features prominent food writers Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) and Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation).

Warning: Food Inc. is not for the faint of heart. While its focus is not on the gory images of slaughterhouse floors and filthy feedlots, what it does show about the journey of our food from “farm” to plate is not pretty.

The story’s main narrative chronicles the consolidation of our vast food industry into the hands of a few powerful corporations that have worked to limit the public’s understanding of where its food comes from, what’s in it and how safe it may be.

But it’s also a larger story about the people that have gotten in the way of the stampeding corporate herd — like farmer Joel Salatin (also profiled in Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma), who has bravely bucked the trend to go corporate.

Read the rest of the interview here

People think if they can’t do it all the time they don’t have to do anything. Change one meal. But then we have to stop subsidizing food that is making us sick, we have to change the national school-lunch program. If we supported local farms and got that to the school systems and spent a dollar there, we’d save a a fortune in medicine and train kids to eat right, and we’d have better communities.

To see Food Inc., find a theater near you.

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