Health Benefits of Garlic

It’s hard to pinpoint an exact number of published studies because the term “studies” can encompass a wide range of research—from in vitro and animal experiments to clinical trials and epidemiological surveys—but here’s a rough overview based on what academic databases reveal according to a search by ChatGPT:

General Garlic Research: A search on major scientific repositories like PubMed using keywords such as “garlic” and “health benefits” tends to return several thousand articles. In broad terms, you might find anywhere from 4,000 to 8,000 publications when you include all types of research (preclinical, animal studies, and clinical trials). This vast body of literature reflects garlic’s longstanding use in traditional medicine and its contemporary evaluation as a functional food.

Aged Garlic Extract (AGE) Specific Studies: When you narrow the focus to studies specifically investigating aged garlic extract, the numbers are lower—likely ranging from 200 to 500 studies. This subset generally includes clinical trials, systematic reviews, and mechanistic studies that probe AGE’s effects on cardiovascular health, immune function, and antioxidant activity.

These ballpark figures illustrate not only the depth of research into garlic’s myriad health benefits but also underscore how garlic remains a subject of active scientific interest. Do keep in mind these numbers are in constant flux as new research is published, and the exact figures can vary depending on the search criteria you use in a given database.

Several peer-reviewed studies and comprehensive reviews I’ve chosen have highlighted garlic’s impressive health benefits. Here’s an overview of the key findings from some of these studies:

1. Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Anticancer Properties:
A review published in Nutrition Research Reviews (2011) explores how garlic’s bioactive sulfur compounds—especially allicin—play a central role in its health benefits. This review details that garlic can inhibit low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, support the body’s antioxidant defenses, and even interfere with processes involved in carcinogenesis. In essence, regular garlic consumption has been linked to improved cardiovascular profiles and a potential reduction in cancer risk.

2. Cardiovascular Health:
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) summarizes several studies that suggest garlic supplementation might modestly lower total and LDL cholesterol levels as well as reduce blood pressure in individuals with hypertension. Although the effects are often modest, these changes support garlic’s role as an adjunct in managing cardiovascular risk factors, emphasizing its part in an overall heart‐healthy diet.

3. Immune System Support and Other Benefits:
In a popular overview article, Healthline details research that has found aged garlic extract (AGE) to be associated with enhanced immune function. Some studies suggest that supplementation with AGE may help reduce the frequency and severity of common colds, possibly due to improved modulation of immune cell activity and reduced inflammation. Alongside immune support, garlic’s low-calorie nutrient profile and antimicrobial properties further compound its role in promoting general wellbeing.

Collectively, these studies provide compelling evidence that garlic is not just a flavorful addition to the diet but a potent natural agent for supporting cardiovascular health, offering antioxidant protection, and enhancing immune function.

References:

1. Cambridge Core – “Garlic in Health and Disease” Nutrition Research Reviews, 2011: A comprehensive review that details garlic’s bioactive compounds and their roles in antioxidant, anticancer, and cardiovascular protective mechanisms.
2. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) – “Garlic: Usefulness and Safety“: This resource outlines clinical findings on garlic’s modest benefits in managing cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and blood sugar.
3. Healthline – “11 Proven Health Benefits of Garlic“: This article provides a well-rounded summary of garlic’s benefits, including its effects on immunity, cholesterol, and blood pressure.

Industrial Garlic Production vs Organic Methods

Comparing industrial garlic production with sustainable, organic methods reveals striking differences that have far-reaching implications—not just for the environment, but also for consumer health and the overall quality of the garlic.

Soil Health and Nutrient Integrity

Organic Practices:
Organic garlic farming emphasizes building robust soil life through methods like cover cropping, crop rotation, and no-till or no-dig farming. In the local farmer’s approach, cover crops (such as fall rye, crimson clover, and fava beans) not only suppress weeds but also enrich the soil with organic matter and essential nutrients, fostering a thriving community of microorganisms. These practices maintain soil structure and preserve its natural fertility, helping garlic accumulate higher levels of natural bioactive compounds like allicin. Additionally, propagation from bulbils, although slower, plays a crucial role in minimizing disease transfer, thereby ensuring the crop remains healthy and potent¹.

Industrial Methods:
In contrast, industrial garlic production—especially in regions that rely heavily on chemical inputs—often depends on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to boost yields and ensure a uniform product. While this approach can result in large volumes of garlic with a consistent appearance, it tends to degrade soil health over time. Intensive chemical use can disrupt the soil’s microbial balance and reduce organic matter, potentially diminishing the nutritional content and natural flavor profile of garlic. Furthermore, to meet market demands, manufacturers may rely on post-harvest chemical treatments that help extend shelf life, which raises concerns about residual chemicals in the final product².

Nutritional Quality and Bioactive Compounds

Organic Practices:
The symbiotic relationship between organic soil management and crop health is profound. Well-maintained soil nurtures garlic’s capacity to develop high levels of beneficial sulfur compounds. The absence of synthetic chemicals also means that the garlic’s natural defensive and nutritional chemicals are not suppressed, offering consumers a product richer in antioxidants and other phytochemicals. This has been linked to garlic’s reputed benefits for cardiovascular support, immune modulation, and even anticancer properties¹.

Industrial Methods:
Industrial garlic, while perfectly safe to eat under regulated conditions, may face challenges in optimizing the natural synthesis of these bioactive compounds. The heavy reliance on chemicals can stress the plant in ways that lead to lower levels of these naturally occurring compounds. Even under strict food safety regulations, consumers have expressed concerns over the potential residual chemical inputs and the long-term effects of such practices on both human health and environmental sustainability².

Environmental and Economic Impacts

Organic Practices:
Sustainable farming not only champions the health of the crop but also supports environmental stewardship. Practices such as crop rotation and no-till farming help sequester carbon and reduce erosion, contributing to long-term ecosystem resilience and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, local organic garlic production fosters food security and supports local economies, reducing the environmental costs associated with long-distance transportation¹.

Industrial Methods:
Large-scale industrial garlic operations often prioritize speed and yield over sustainability. While this method might fulfill immediate market demands, it can lead to long-term issues such as soil depletion, increased erosion, and contamination of local water sources due to runoff of synthetic chemicals. These environmental costs, although sometimes less visible on the supermarket shelf, can have profound implications for the broader ecosystem and ultimately for public health².

Conclusion
Organically grown garlic benefits from farming practices that promote both soil health and the synthesis of valuable phytochemicals. These methods not only yield a superior product in terms of flavor and nutritional profile but also support long-term environmental sustainability and local economies. Meanwhile, industrial garlic production—predicated on chemical intensification—can compromise soil integrity and reduce the naturally occurring health benefits of garlic.

Knowing the source of your garlic matters. Sustainable practices aren’t just about “green” ideals; they fundamentally affect the nutritional profile and safety of the food on our plates.

References

1. National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). “Garlic: Organic Production” – A comprehensive resource on organic garlic production methods, covering aspects from organic fertility management to the benefits of practices like cover cropping and no-till agriculture.
2. AGDAILY. “Debunking 6 garlic myths: The truth behind imported garlic …” AGDAILY explores common misconceptions around imported garlic and touches on aspects related to chemical use and post-harvest treatments in industrial practices.

Locally Grown Garlic

Great Garlic farming methods stand out as a model of sustainable, health-focused agriculture. Their approach is deeply rooted in practices that build and protect soil health—a critical factor for growing garlic with robust flavor and maximum nutritional benefit. Here’s a breakdown of their key practices and why they matter:

1. Cover Cropping and Crop Rotation
By using a diversified mix of cover crops like fall rye, crimson clover, and fava beans, the farmer is replenishing organic matter and nitrogen in the soil while suppressing weeds and preventing erosion. This practice not only feeds the beneficial fungi and microbial bacteria essential for nutrient cycling but also creates a dynamic ecosystem that reduces the buildup of pathogens. The three-crop rotation, with successive cover crops between each garlic harvest, is a proven method to break disease and virus cycles. In contrast, conventional garlic farming—often dependent on chemical fertilizers and pesticides—can lead to long-term degradation of soil quality and increased risk of contamination.

2. No-Till/No-Dig Farming Practices
The decision to adopt a no-till or no-dig system is particularly notable. Tilling the soil can disrupt and even destroy the beneficial microorganisms that help recycle nutrients and sequester carbon. No-till farming preserves soil structure, enhances water retention, and helps immobilize carbon within the soil—a factor that not only contributes to climate change mitigation but also results in a healthier growing medium for garlic. Numerous studies have highlighted how reducing soil disturbance improves microbial diversity and overall soil health, ultimately leading to higher quality, more nutrient-dense crops.

3. Raising Garlic from Bulbils
An innovative aspect of this farmer’s operation is the use of bulbils rather than relying solely on cloves. While growing from bulbils requires a longer time to maturity—three to five years—it significantly reduces the risk of passing along diseases and viruses common to garlic. This method, although slower, often results in larger and healthier bulbs, as the virus load is minimized from generation to generation. Healthier bulbs likely retain more of the bioactive compounds (such as allicin and other sulfur compounds) that are responsible for garlic’s well-documented health benefits.

4. Comparisons to Conventional Practices
Industrial farming methods in parts of China, for example, often rely heavily on chemical inputs that not only pollute waterways and degrade farmland quality but compromise the purity of the garlic itself. By implementing organic, biodynamic methods, this local farmer avoids these pitfalls, ensuring his garlic is produced in an environment with significantly lower exposure to harmful pollutants. This sustainable approach enhances the nutritional profile of the garlic, making it a superior choice from a health perspective.

Supporting Studies and References:

1. Dialogue Earth on Eco-Farming Practices: An article from Dialogue Earth discusses the detrimental impact of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in garlic farming areas in China—highlighting the environmental benefits of eco-farming methods similar to those practiced by the local farmer¹.
2. Impact of Water Pollution on Agriculture: Research published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research analyzes the effects of water pollution (stemming largely from heavy chemical use) on agricultural yields and sustainability, indirectly reinforcing the need for more organic practices².
3. Lake Protection and Agricultural Runoff: An article from China Development Brief outlines how traditional garlic farming practices contribute to environmental degradation in regions like Dali, underlining the advantages of locally sourced, sustainably grown garlic⁵.
4. Health Benefits of Garlic: Reviews from sources such as Healthline and Cambridge illustrate the importance of garlic’s bioactive compounds for human health. Maintaining healthy soil practices helps ensure that these compounds are present in their natural potency, free from chemical contamination^3,4.

In conclusion
Great Garlic’s multifaceted approach—spanning cover cropping, crop rotation, no-till practices, and propagation from bulbils—creates an optimal environment for growing garlic that is both healthier for the consumer and more sustainable for the ecosystem. Their methods not only yield a product rich in beneficial nutrients but also avoid the pitfalls of chemical dependence that are prevalent in many large-scale operations abroad. This approach directly contrasts with the industrial practices that are often linked to environmental and health concerns. For more information or to order garlic from the farm you can visit their website and blog @ https://greatgarlic.ca/

References:

1. https://dialogue.earth/en/pollution/10178-garlic-village-experiments-with-eco-farming/
2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-020-11079-2
3. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-health-benefits-of-garlic
4. Rana SV, Pal R, Vaiphei K, Sharma SK, Ola RP. Garlic in health and disease. Nutrition Research Reviews. 2011;24(1):60-71. doi:10.1017/S0954422410000338
5. https://chinadevelopmentbrief.org/reports/lake-protection-plan-a-raw-deal-for-dali-garlic-farmers/

The post Getting The Best Benefits From Garlic appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

TotalHealth Editors:

Silver Use Institute, Feb 1st, 2025

Is it about time to take care of our own, our own friends, and especially our own families,  the people who we hold most dear to us?  All the science is in place to help us, but it seems like people are struggling to find it and to put aside all the bad and misleading pseudo information that we are constantly being fed.  It is the intent of this article to bring some of that science into the light!

Introduction

Contrary to current thought, keeping our people safe and healthy may not be all that difficult to do if we actually embrace the science!  In the last few decades, we have all been hit with a host of new and deadly viruses.  Every year or two, a new one hits.  Those would include viruses like HIV, SARS, EBOLA, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, and Covid just to name a few, and there are many more on that list.  Over the past few years, we have had to endure masks, staying home, losing jobs, closing business, food and medical shortages etc. etc.  Worse of all we have had to attend, or not be able to attend, the funerals of many of our friends and family.   The people who have died, possibly unnecessarily, have affected us all in one way or another.   On January 30, 2020, COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) with an official death toll of 171. By December 31, 2020, this figure stood at 1,813,188. Yet preliminary estimates suggest the total number of global deaths attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was at least 3 million, representing 1.2 million more deaths than officially reported (1). As of April 13, 2024, the death toll had reportedly reached 7,010,681.  It doesn’t stop there, currently there are 704,753,890 confirmed cases in 229 countries and territories (2). So how do we protect our people?

Background on Nano Silver

In the mouths of two or three witnesses truth is established, right?  How about from the mouths of over a hundred or five hundred scientists?  How about a thousand scientists in just one publication (3)?  How about millions of people over 1000’s of years?  Silver has been used for at least six millennia to prevent microbial infections. “It has been effective against almost all organisms tested and has been used to treat numerous infections and noninfectious conditions, sometimes with striking success” (4).  Around 400 BC, the “father of modern medicine”, Hippocrates, wrote of using silver to improve wound care, and during the intervening years silver has been featured in a wide range of writings, most of which highlight its capabilities with particular regard to limiting inflammation and infection. . (5)  There are now hundreds and hundreds of peer-reviewed, published medical studies on the medicinal use of nano silver for lifechanging things like: wound care, bio tissue engineering, antimicrobial action including antibiotic resistant bacteria, fungus, mold, and deadly strains of virus.  There are even more than 60 peer-reviewed and published studies on the use of nano silver to help eliminate numerous different types of cancer. (3)

 Prevention

What many people may not know is that a virus can build up in your body for days before you even know you have an infection.  Also important to know is that you can actually spread a viral infection to other people before you know you have it, and before you start feeling sick.  So prevention is a key component to staying healthy.  Prevention is always easier than treatment, so what can we do to prevent a deadly viral infection? A great answer to that question was published on August 19, 2021. It was published by 11 scientists from 8 different institutions located in 3 different countries.  The study incorporated 231 frontline health workers treating Covid patients in hospitals.  The medical personnel were split into two groups.  There were 117 of the people that just followed their regular prevention protocols as directed by their hospitals.  They were the control group.  The second group of 114 medical people added the use of nano silver to their daily prevention routines.

To quote the scientists directly,

“We present a prospective randomized study of 231 participants that was carried out for 9 weeks (during the declaration of a pandemic). The “experimental” group was instructed to do mouthwash and nose rinse with the AgNPs (nano silver) solution; the “control” group was instructed to do mouthwashes and nose rinse in a conventional way. The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly lower in the “experimental” group (two participants of 114, 1.8%) compared to the “control” group (thirty-three participants of 117, 28.2%), with an 84.8% efficiency. We conclude that the mouth and nasal rinse with AgNPs helps in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health personnel who are exposed to patients diagnosed with COVID-19”. (6)

If you could cut your chance of getting infected by a deadly virus from more than 28% to just 1.8% simply by gargling and rinsing out your sinuses with nano silver daily, who wouldn’t do that?  With the use of just a little nano silver, the medical professionals had a 15X less chance of getting covid, all while being directly exposed to infected people!  A person could easily help a child, or an elderly person rinse out their sinuses daily just by the use of a simple nasal sprayer or a nebulizer.  It is an easy way to help people, and to give them an affordable, safe, and effective first line of defense to keep them healthy!

A second validation of the potential effect of just washing out your sinuses came from an Indian government lab, where in testing they found that a nano-silver liquid could kill or neutralize about 50 % of the contained SARS CoV2 virus within just the first 15 minutes of contact time, at a concentration of merely 10 parts per million nano silver.  Slightly higher concentrations of nano silver worked even better.  This study also proves nano silver has a direct effect on the elimination of the deadly virus. (7)

So, what do I do if I get it?

A great answer to that question was published in December of 2022 by eight scientists from six major Universities and hospitals in Canada and the US.  The Universities who participated were the University of Florida, University of Tennessee, and the University of Alberta, all outstanding institutions.  They tested the ability of nano silver to eliminate infections in the lungs and sinuses in both humans and animals, using a nebulizer to get the nano silver into the lungs.

They tested two different viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.  In their own words they found:

“Nano silver solutions demonstrated pH-dependent antimicrobial efficacy; reduced infection and inflammation without evidence of lung toxicity in the rat model; and inactivated HSV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. Pneumonia patients had rapidly reduced pulmonary symptoms, recovering pre-illness respiratory function. Fungal sinusitis-related inflammation decreased immediately with infection clearance within 21 days. Non hospitalized patients with COVID-19 experienced rapid symptom remission”.(8)

In other words, they found that nebulizing the nano silver quickly eliminated the lung infections (killed or neutralized the viruses), reduced the inflammation, and was non-toxic or had no negative effect.  The nano silver helped heal the patients, whether they were animals or humans.  They found that the patients quickly regained their normal lung function, some within just hours.  The study again proves the value of using nano silver as a great first line of defense against active viral infections.

What About Other Deadly Virus?

There are many viruses for which medicine has no established treatment.  Nano silver is one of the best, if not the very best antiviral agent that exists.  It is a very broad spectrum natural antiviral remedy!  The ability of nano silver to kill or neutralize virus and reduce the inflammation associated with the virus, all without causing negative side effects is a very big deal!  There are many different problem viruses, and many different diseases caused by those viruses. Numerous peer-reviewed and published studies from literally hundreds of scientists and doctors from all around the world that have tested nano silver against about any virus you could name.  Some of those tests combined the use of nano silver with other antiviral agents for enhanced action, and some used the nano silver as the only form of treatment.  Either way, the only thing that actually matters is that nano silver has been proven to work.  That published and tested viral list would include virus such as: Adenovirus, HIV1, HIV2, Influenza A (H7N2), MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, EBOLA, Bird Flu (H5N1), Swine Flu, H1N1, Covid 19, Monkey pox, Hepatitis B & C, HPV, Noroviruses, West Nile, RSV, ZIKA, Rift Valley Fever, HSV1 & 2, Poliovirus, Chikungunya virus, and Dengue virus, to list just a few! (3)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13) There is no question about nano silver’s ability to help treat viral infections.  The question is whether or not the powers that be will let it be used to help treat people or whether or not people will be willing to study and treat themselves and their loved ones.

How Does Nano Silver Eliminate Virus?

That question was answered in detail by eight scientists from Texas A&M and Winthrop Universities.  The study was published on the 31st of July 2023 and was made available by the US Government (US NIH) (13).  While the answer is not simple to understand, we feel it is important to add in this info for those who need or wish to know.  The study states:

“In these studies, AgNPs were found to bind specifically or nonspecifically to proteins in the envelope of virions and thereby deactivate them (virucidal activity). These target proteins are mainly responsible for the viral interaction with host cells. During the pre-viral entry into host cells, AgNPs competitively attach to the cells and lyse the membrane of the virions (antiviral activity). In the case of the post-viral entry, AgNPs mainly inhibit the viral fusion with the cell membrane, and in several cases interfered with the stages of the viral replication cycle such as the synthesis of viral RNA (antiviral activity).”

In simpler words, the nano particles were found to attach to the virus and kill them.  Also, the nano silver could kill the virus both before and after they connected or attached to a cell to infect it.   That means the nano silver could act as both a preventive and also as a treatment after infection.  This was also proven in the studies listed in the first few sections of this paper on both prevention and treatment.

Is Nano Silver Safe To Use Daily?

In one published human ingestion study, completed as an FDA registered IND study (Investigational New Drug), it was found that Nano silver caused no negative action on any system of the body.  It was found that both a concentration of 10 ppm and a 32 ppm (parts per million) liquid nano silver, drunk at a level of 1 ounce daily, had no negative effect on any system of the body.  It was also found that the nano silver washed completely out of the body within 24 hours, with no measurable residual, meaning none remained inside! (14) So even if someone drank it at a high volume it was proven safe for human use.  Additionally, the US EPA has established the fact that silver causes no negative effects when used at low levels, saying, “Silver is of low acute dermal toxicity, is not an eye or skin irritant and is not a skin sensitizer”.(15)  One world-acclaimed scientist named Rustum Roy (nominated for the Noble Prize 23 times) stated, “It is extraordinary that no major effort has been made to confirm and expand on the role of metallic silver in human health—especially in light of its huge advantage in lack of side effects.”(16)   In simpler words, nano silver has been proven safe for use both inside and outside the body and that fact has been well established by a number of US government agencies as well as  hundreds of scientists all around the world.(3)

The safety of ingesting nano silver was also proven in two other published human clinical trials.  One trial on the treatment of malaria, which was reported to the US Congress at their request in 2005, tested 56 humans between the ages of 1-90 years of age.  No other medication was used with the nano silver to treat the malaria patients.  Those people infected with malaria were drinking an ounce of nano silver daily divided into three doses (TID).  No negative effects were reported at all.  All 56 human subjects reportedly fully recovered from the malaria within an average of 3.43 days, walking out of the hospitals within 5 days. (17)(18)  In another published study, a group of people with AIDS was given two ounces daily of nano silver, split into three doses for a period of 4 months.  No other medication was used.  No negative side effects were reported at all.  It was also reported that the AIDS patients measured an average white cell increase of 39.54% over the 4-month period of treatment. It effectively helped to rebuild their entire immune system.  Also reported was the fact that the AIDS patients were able to achieve an average weight gain of over 17 pounds during the study, another remarkable and important discovery/achievement (19).

Where to Get It? 

In our research, one of the top new suppliers of nano silver products is a company called SilverCeuticals.  SilverCeuticals is led by a team of doctors that have more than a combined 120 years of experience working in the nano silver industry.  The CEO, Dr Keith Moeller, ND, has co-authored many papers, textbooks, and other publications on silver.  A number of those are peer-reviewed and published in leading wound care, science, and health journals. After working with the US Military to help solve medical problems for soldiers in the field, he was awarded an honorary position as a member of the US Special Operations Medical Association, a designation he is proud to hold. He accompanied his father, standing before the US Congress, at their request, to testify about the use of nano-silver to treat malaria and other humanitarian problems.

He and his team have already engineered a number of new and innovative nano silver products and have been busy getting them approved by different governments.  Their primary focus has been on wound care and disinfection.  They have also proven expertise in the formulation of cosmetics and supplements that don’t need FDA approval.  They have recently engineered a serum that Health Canada has already approved to treat, among other conditions, both acne and eczema, one of the first of its kind.  They have also just achieved a new Canadian registration as an antimicrobial lubricant.  With another partner, they have amassed an ongoing clinical trial in oral care that touts more than 55,000 procedures to date, with heal rates of half the normal time and zero secondary infections.  Their products are available from a variety of sources including doctor’s offices, medical distributors, and amazon, as well as directly from their website. (20)

Conclusion

Silver has been used for thousands of years as both a preventative and treatment for various diseases and human problems.  Newly published scientific papers from over a thousand scientists all over the world have proven nano silver to be an effective and safe antiviral agent.  Nano silver is easily able to eliminate a broad spectrum of deadly viruses.  It has been proven safe as an effective preventative, able to help medical professionals have 15 times less chance of getting a deadly viral infection.  At the same time, other published studies from multiple US Universities have proven nano silver as an effective treatment for Covid 19 and other respiratory infections, in both animals and humans.  It is about time we embrace the science and utilize nano silver to help provide a first line of protection to our friends, and especially our own families!

References

1) https://www.who.int/data/stories/the-true-death-toll-of-covid-19-estimating-global-excess-mortality

2) https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-death-toll/

3)  An Updated Review on Silver Nanoparticles in Biomedicine; Accepted: 20 November 2020; Published: 23 November 2020  An Updated Review on Silver Nanoparticles in Biomedicine

4) History of the Medical Use of Silver, US National Library of Medicine https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19566416/ June 10, 2009

5) https://www.silverinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/SilverInMedicine.pdf

6) Evaluation of silver nanoparticles for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health workers: In vitro and in vivo,   PLOS ONE HTTPs://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256401 August 19, 2021

7) Centre For Cellular and Molecular Biology, November 3, 2020.  Hyderabad, India – Viridis Bio Pharma – SARS CoV2

8) Nadworny PL, et al, Treatment of infection and inflammation associated with COVID-19, multi-drug resistant pneumonia and fungal sinusitis by nebulizing a nanosilver solution. Nanomedicine: NBM 2023;48:102654, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nano.2023.102654

9) Silver Nanoparticles as Potential Antiviral Agents, Pharmaceutics 2021, 13, 2034. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13122034

10) A Preliminary Assessment of Silver Nanoparticle Inhibition of Monkey Plaque Formation, Nano Perspectives – Open Access – Published: 09 April 2008

11) ) Effect of Prophylactic Treatment with ASAP-AGX-32 and ASAP Solutions on an Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Infection in Mice,  https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Effect-of-Prophylactic-Treatment-with-ASAP-AGX-32-A-Pedersen-Sidwell/3de85a153d9b22ddc876aa11e0417935cf14a065

12)Swine Flu Influenza Type A/H1N1 Protection for Health Care  Practitioners and Their Patient Posted in Longevity and Age Management, Dietary Supplementation, Drug Trends, Healthcare and Information, Immune System, Infectious Disease,  Inflammation, Medications, Healthcare and Public Policy, Swine Flu on Thu August 13, 2009

13 Nanosilver: An Old Antibacterial Agent with Great Promise in the Fight against Antibiotic Resistance https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/12/8/1264 Published online 2023 Jul 31.

14) PubMed.gov 23811290  In vivo human time-exposure study of orally dosed commercial silver nanoparticles

15) EPA Registration Eligibility Document (RED) For Silver

16) Ultradilute Ag-Aquasols with extraordinary bactericidal properties: the role of the system Ag-O-H2O   Rustum Roy, M. Richard Hoover, A.S. Bhalla, Tania Slawecki, Sandwip Dey, Wei Cao, Jing Li, S. Bhaskar

17) US Congressional Testimony of Dr. William Moeller on the use of nano silver to treat Malaria at Congressional request https://commdocs.house.gov/committees/intlrel/hfa20915.000/hfa20915_0f.htm

18) Silver Sol Completely Removes Malaria Parasites from the Blood of Humans Subjects Infected bwith Malaria in an Average of Five Days: A review of Jour Randomized, Multi-Centered Clinical Studikes Performed in Africa September 1010 https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/211377/Silver%20Sol%20Malaria%20The%20Indian%20Practitioner.pdf

19) Effect of Prophylactic Treatment with ASAP-AGX-32 and ASAP Solutions on an Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Infection in Mice (The HIV Study is the Editors Note at the front of the publication)

20) Silverceuticals.com

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So, here’s the bad news: unnatural shifts in ecological balances caused by human activity such as global warming, mass extinctions, and soil infertility are extremely harmful not just to our personal health, but to our survival as a nation as well.

A dying ecosystem

Let’s take honeybees for example. Studies by the University of California show that one out of eight interactions between plant and pollinator is carried out by a honeybee. They’re responsible for the production of most fruits, nuts, seeds, as well as various other plant life, which is how we get food not just for the American population but also for our poultry and cattle stock. This is what makes the honeybee one of the most important contributors to our natural ecosystem, as well as our economic survival as well. Alarmingly, bees are also vanishing rapidly in the U.S. because of the aftereffects of poisonous pesticides, chemicals, and pathogens.

At the same time, these chemical pollutants threaten more than just bees. These substances can cause harm to humans as well, causing headaches, nausea, irritation, breathing difficulties, and various other health complications. What’s worrying is that these harmful chemicals are present in most of our cleaning products like air fresheners, fabric softeners, and toilet cleaners.

What has been done?

One way to solve these problems is by investing national funds into environmental conservation efforts. Sadly, the U.S. government seems keen on spending less in terms of keeping ecological balances intact. In 2017, the Trump administration significantly reduced the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) funding, which is the federal body in charge of conservation and management efforts in most federal lands. In fiscal year 2018, the DOI’s budget was reduced to $11.6 billion. The reduction was based on a proposal that would cut the department’s budget annually by $1.6 billion.

This lack of funding has caused some states to look elsewhere in order to finance conservation projects. In Minnesota, the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund has funded approximately 1000 similar projects since 1991. The contributions, which reach close to $500 million, help preserve Minnesota’s natural resources and were sourced from the state lottery. Meanwhile, ABC detail how the state of Colorado has a similar program, and allots its lottery-gained charitable funds to various wildlife organizations and trusts. Lottoland notes how the U.S. MegaMillions minimum jackpot is $40 million, while its highest ever recorded jackpot was a staggering $1.6 billion. With both lottery providers and winners now providing a steady stream of charitable donations to state-run programs, experts hope that this will go a long way to improving conservation efforts if the national government doesn’t step up.

Environmental obligation

It’s clear that the federal government can and should be doing a lot more in terms of preserving America’s ecological balances, especially considering their direct and long-term impact on the nation’s health. The term “health” here is encompassing – referring to the health of the U.S. economy as well as the general wellbeing of the population. Pollution is what American economists call an externality or “a cost that the responsible entity can escape but that society as a whole must bear”.

With businesses unable to address these problems on their own, the government now has a greater obligation to protect our ecosystems, even if doing so may impact to our short-term economic growth. But instead, the biggest portion of the U.S. annual budget goes to the military and national debts.

It’s clear that government and businesses can’t tackle these ongoing ecological imbalances alone. We must also do our part as citizens to make sure that the world is still habitable not just for honeybees, but ultimately for America’s future generations.

The post How Ecological Balances Affect America’s Health appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

In fact, there is hardly a place you can go that is not WIFI connected! Restaurants, shops, schools, libraries, airports and, of course, our homes! The average home is now WIFI saturated with routers, WIFI computer networks, WIFI printers, SMART TVs, Apples’ Echo, and WIFI baby monitors. We also have Bluetooth in our cars and WIFI on airplanes.

We love the latest WIFI device or gadget. But there is growing concern that we are literally becoming WIFI addicted.¹

Beware—The Internet of Things
And then there is the Internet of Things (IoT). The Internet of things is the network of physical devices, vehicles, home appliances, and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity. Experts estimate that by 2020 the IoT will be rolled out to consist of about 30 billion objects.²

This is one more serious problem on the horizon. The global rollout of 5G (5th Generation Mobile Technology) to support the IoT with untested WIFI frequencies will also be complete by 2020.

This technology will require small cell towers in every neighborhood and on school grounds throughout the US and around the world. In fact, full-scale implementation will result in antennas every 10 to 12 feet in urban areas. That means you will soon be staring at a cell mast from your bedroom window! Before embracing the IoT enthusiastically, there are important questions that must be answered. Is this constant WIFI exposure safe? Are we altering vital biological processes? Most importantly, are the developing brains of children at risk?

WIFI and Its Impact on Health

Unfortunately, contrary to the efforts by Cellular Communications industry and the mainstream media to reassure us that all is well, evidence now points to the fact that our WIFI world poses some serious health concerns.

The body has never in its evolution experienced something so foreign to itself. It, therefore responds as if the incoming signal was an invader (like a toxin). The body then experiences all sorts of symptoms, which may be hard to identify.

A recent study sent shock-waves through the scientific community. In May 2016, the U.S. codes, of the National Institutes of Health, released the results of a $25 million nine-year study. The results found an increased occurrence of rare brain tumors (gliomas) and rare heart tumors from exposure to microwave radiation from cell phones.³

More than 230 scientists from 41 countries have expressed their “serious concerns” regarding the ubiquitous and increasing exposure to EMF generated by electric and wireless devices. They refer to the fact that “numerous recent scientific publications have shown that EMF affects living organisms adversely well below the levels that international and national guidelines deem safe.”

Effects include increased cancer risk, cellular stress, increase in harmful free radicals, DNA damages, structural and functional changes of the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders, and negative impacts on general wellbeing in humans. Damage goes well beyond the human race, as there is growing evidence of harmful effects to both plants and animals.

The World Health Organization Has Classified Emfs As Group 2 B Carcinogens—Possibly Cancerous

An additional alarm was raised by 180 scientists and doctors from 35 countries. They recommended a moratorium on the rollout of the 5G for telecommunication until potential hazards for human health and the environment have been fully investigated by scientists independent from industry. They are concerned that 5G will lead to a massive increase of mandatory exposure and chronic illnesses to wireless radiation.⁴

The health consequences impact us all. But the most vulnerable are our children, especially the unborn, infants, and young children.

WIFI connectivity is a fact of life in our 21st century world. Like it or not, we live in a world where WIFI frequencies penetrate all living beings. There is hardly any place we can go to escape exposure from WIFI frequencies.

No wonder there is a growing incidence of the physical disability called electromagnetic hypersensitivity from EMF exposure.

So, what must we do to survive and thrive in our WIFI world?

Solutions 101

It’s evident that we have a serious problem. In fact, EMFs are now considered to be the most dangerous and pervasive toxin, which magnifies the risk from all other toxic exposures.

There are some basic things we can do to do reduce exposure. They include the following:

• Replace your wireless devices with wired versions.
• Use your smart phone safely—Keep the phone on “Airplane” mode most of the time.
• Use your laptop computer wisely:—Use a wired Ethernet connection for Internet (rather than WIFI).
• Create a sleep sanctuary—your brain is most vulnerable to EMFs during sleep. Unplug everything in your bedroom at night.
• Use a headset that is not wired (wires attract and amplify EMFs)—use an airtube headset, instead.
• Do not put a laptop/iPad on your lap.
• Reduce temptation to purchase more WIFI devices!

Patented Solutions For WIFI Protection

We are now literally surrounded and inter-penetrated by EMFs 24/7. There is no escape. Therefore, the ultimate protection requires a technology that will provide a personal field of protection.

As a Naturopathic Doctor, I have been alerted to the serious health risks from EMFs. For the past 15 years I have been investigating this subject as well as lecturing about the dangers.

My quest has also been to find the most effective and proven technologies that reduce physical harm from these toxic frequencies.

I have scrutinized many technologies. My search led me to one patented technology that has proven to be profoundly effective. The GIAPLEX technology by GIA Wellness is the technology that I personally use on all my devices as well as recommend to my family, friends and patients.

GIAPLEX incorporates two patented technologies that are embedded in their devices.

One of the patented technologies is called MRET (Molecular Resonant Effect Technology). Basically, the MRET superimposes a ‘noise field’ consisting of low frequencies of electromagnetic oscillations that resemble resonance frequencies of living cells in the body.

These oscillations compensate for and neutralize the harmful effects of EMFs generated by cell phones and electronic devices while simultaneously providing support for the body’s cellular functions. The MRET has been independently verified and proven to be effective.

The second technology that is called ERT (Energy Resonance Technology) is a proprietary technology owned by GIA Wellness. ERT works by strengthening the person’s biofield field, which is recognized by National Institute of Health (NIH) in 1994 to “involve electromagnetic bio-information for regulating homeodynamics.”⁵

Our biofield is essential to health. The biofield is described as the field of energy and information that surrounds and interpenetrates the human body. It is made up of electromagnetic fields and energy structures that contain information for helping all the systems of the human body to communicate and work properly.

The GIAPLEX technology is embedded in a variety of protective devices. They are small discs that are attached to phones, computers and routers, etc. GIAPLEX is very small and can be put in your car as protection from Bluetooth as well as all the other EMF sources from the car’s electronics. It is interesting to note that metal attracts and amplifies EMFs, making our cars dangerous environments to be in without protection.

There is also the state of the art headset that is embedded with the GIAPLEX technology, which utilizes a state-of-the-art enhanced sound chamber that delivers a crystal clear sound through an air-filled wireless tube (similar to a doctor’s stethoscope). Again, a reminder that the metal in the headset wires amplifies the EMFs right into the brain.

ERT is embedded in pendants, which enhance and strengthen the biofield. Since stress, toxicity, and illness and, of course, EMFs, weaken the biofield, a pendant is a critical part for total EMF protection.

One Last Thought
I am not advocating giving up our WIFI devices. This is no longer even remotely possible or desirable at this time. What I am strongly encouraging is to use WIFI technology wisely and responsibly. Knowing that there are serious risks, use patented technology like GIAPLEX for greater protection from EMF exposure.

As that wise adage reminds us, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. EMF protection is no longer a luxury but rather a necessity. We will then be able to not just survive but thrive in our Wireless Age.

References:

1. Nordrum, Amy (18 August 2016). “Popular Internet of Things Forecast of 50 Billion Devices by 2020 Is Outdated.” IEEE.
2. https://psychcentral.com/archives/walther_cad.pdf
3. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123864543010356
4. http://www.saferemr.com/2017/09/5G-moratorium12.html
5. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Clinical Updates Women’s Health Care. Volume X, Number 4, October 2011. Complementary and Alternative Medicine. page 9.

http://ehtrust.org/ntp-toxicology-carcinogenicity-studies-cell-phone-radiofrequency-radiation-slide-presentation-results/

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Growing wind power powers American job creation and economic development, while over time increasing U.S. energy independence by using a homegrown, emission-free electricity source.

America’s 100,000—strong wind power workforce
Over 100,000 Americans are employed by the wind industry today, across all 50 states. Many of these are manufacturing positions at the nation’s more than 500 factories that build the blades, towers, and other parts that go into wind turbines. Over 25,000 of these U.S. workers have well-paying jobs at wind manufacturing facilities, breathing new life into an economic sector that has struggled for decades.

“I’ve got very strong high moral and Christian values, and I think they line up very well with this kind of energy,” says Blake Kasper, a Quality Supervisor at Broadwind Energy in Abilene, Texas, where he helps build wind turbine towers. “There’s just so much work, orders keep pumping in. The opportunities are limitless.”

Importantly, many of these new manufacturing jobs are found across the Rust Belt, hiring workers where they’re needed the most. Ohio leads the way with 62 wind factories, while Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan boast 26 each.

And these jobs will continue growing. Wind manufacturing jobs will grow to 33,000 by the end of President Trump’s first term, according to recent analysis from Navigant consulting. Because 99 percent of wind farms are built in rural areas, many of the jobs that wind creates belong to those living in our country’s agricultural areas. This offers new career opportunities in communities where those can be scarce.

For example, a wind turbine technician is by far America’s fastest growing job, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The profession is projected to grow by 108 percent over the next decade, far outpacing the next job on the list, occupational therapy assistant, only increasing by 42 percent. With nearly all of the country’s 52,000, and counting, wind turbines in rural areas, there is strong demand for more technicians to keep them running smoothly.

The U.S. wind industry also proudly offers good career opportunities to the men and women who serve our country— veterans find wind energy jobs at a rate 50 percent higher than the average industry.

This massive U.S. job creation will not stop anytime soon. By 2020, there could by 248,000 wind-related jobs according to Navigant Consulting.
Investing in rural America

You don’t need to have a wind job to realize the economic benefits of wind power, however. Wind farms bring new resources into rural areas in a nearly unmatched scale.

Nearly all of the country’s wind projects are built on private land, which means farmers and ranchers get lease payments in exchange for hosting wind turbines. These payments totaled $245 million in 2016 alone, and approximately $175 million of that total went to landowners in low-income counties. That number will keep increasing as the U.S. wind industry continues to grow.

Lease payments offer income farmers and ranchers can count on when commodity prices fluctuate or bad weather hurts the harvest. For many families, these payments can make the difference between continuing a multi-generation tradition and ending a way of life. That’s why some call wind energy their “drought-proof cash crop.”

However, entire communities benefit from these projects, not just wind farm landlords.

Wind farms are often a county’s largest taxpayers, so they add substantial revenue to the local budget. This income helps pay teacher salaries, fix roads and buy new ambulances. Navigant projects new wind projects will create $8 billion of added sales, income and property tax payments over just the next four years, on top of payments coming from projects that already exist. In all, wind will drive another $85 billion of economic activity between now and 2020.

“Wind energy, the fastest-growing source of electricity in the U.S., is transforming low-income rural areas in ways not seen since the federal government gave land to homesteaders 150 years ago,” the Omaha World-Herald recently reported.

Clean air, healthy communities
Wind energy provides all of these economic benefits while also playing a major role in creating cleaner air.

By reducing harmful air pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that cause smog and trigger asthma attacks, wind created $7.3 billion in public health savings in 2015 alone. By 2050, wind could prevent a total of 22,000 premature deaths and save $108 billion in public health costs by reducing air pollution, according to the Department of Energy.

“Unhealthy air is hazardous to our families and even can threaten life itself,” according to the American Lung Association’s (ALA) Healthy Air Campaign. That is why the ALA has adopted as one of its goals the transition to a clean energy future, “to protect all people from the harm of air pollution.” Wind’s clean air role should grow in the years to come.

Today, the U.S. has enough installed wind capacity to power 24 million homes, and it is on track to supply 10 percent of the country’s electricity by 2020.

Substantial job creation, billions of dollars of economic investment and clearer air—American wind power helps us create the healthy economy and environment we all want.

The post Wind Power Grows America’s Economy And Keeps Our Air Clean appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

As profound orchestrators of all of life’s processes, maintaining hormonal balance is imperative for optimum health. When delicate hormonal balance and rhythms are altered, the body’s ability to regulate fundamental systems goes haywire.

Our modern lifestyle poses many threats to optimal endocrine function. Stress, toxicity, poor quality food, lack of sleep, pharmaceutical medications are all known hormone disruptors. However, there is one particular kind of hormone disruptor that is often the most overlooked — electromagnetic energy fields generated from cell phones, cell phone towers, computers, routers, Wi-Fi and Smart Meters.

Electromagnetic Fields —The 21st Century Smog
Modern physics has confirmed what eastern philosophy has been based upon for thousands of years — the human body is fundamentally a coherent, highly sensitive electrical system— emanating its own electromagnetic field, known as a biofield.

All physical matter, including the earth itself, radiates electromagnetic energy. The electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) found within the natural world are harmonious with and supportive of life.

On the other hand, artificially created EMFs are 100–200 million times greater than what existed just two generations ago. Every minute of every day, whether we are awake or asleep, we are exposed to a constant barrage of man-made electromagnetic frequencies.

Constant interference with our natural energy fields from external sources of EMFs can eventually damage our own fields resulting in many physiological imbalances. The most recent research has identified that exposure to EMFs causes significant oxidative stress resulting in free radical damage. Unrelenting oxidative stress alters the DNA resulting in cell mutation. Such serious imbalances will also adversely impact hormone production, neurological processes and risk of cancers, including breast cancer.

Irrefutable evidence implicates oxidative stress to more rapid aging, elevated blood glucose levels, elevated lipid levels, high blood pressure, infertility, increased neuro-regulatory disturbances, and compromises the central nervous, cardiovascular and immune systems.

Scientist Robert O. Becker, M.D. author of, Cross Currents, The Perils of Electropollution, explains that our human bodies and immune systems are being adversely affected by man-made electromagnetic fields from sources, including, power lines, cell phones, radar, microwaves, satellites, ham radios, computers, video display terminals, electric appliances and Wi-Fi hot spots. He believes that radiation, once considered safe, is now correlated with increases in cancer, birth defects, depression, learning disabilities, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease and much more.

Melatonin, Breast Cancer and EMFs
Perhaps, one of the most serious consequences of EMF exposure is its effects on our hormonal systems.

The pineal gland is a light sensitive gland about the size of a pea located deep within the center of the brain. Once dismissed as a useless gland, it is now considered to be, perhaps, the most important gland in the body. The pineal gland produces the hormone, melatonin.

Researchers are surprised at the extent of the physiological processes that are either controlled or influenced by melatonin: it regulates circadian rhythms that govern our waking/sleep cycle and it is a powerful destroyer of free radicals, thereby allowing DNA synthesis and cell division to occur.

Melatonin not only inhibits the release of estrogen but also actually suppresses the development of breast cancer. It also has the ability to increase the cytotoxicity of the immune system’s killer lymphocytes and counteract stress-induced immunosuppression.

Japan’s National Institute for Environmental Studies showed that breast cancer cells treated with melatonin would resume growing when exposed EMFs. They disrupt the cell’s signaling system and their internal communications network, which determines how cells respond to their environment.

This mechanism has helped to explain why reduced melatonin levels from EMFs contribute to a number of cancers including breast cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma and ovarian malignancies.

Melatonin suppression occurs at frequencies not far above those of the common household ranges of 5–60 hertz. If we sleep next to a cell phone, cordless phone and/or digital clock enough continuous EMF exposures suppress nighttime melatonin production.

The connection between breast cancer and EMFs continues to strengthen. Boston University School of Public Health reported a 43 percent increased risk in women with a high likelihood of occupational exposure to magnetic fields such as those given off by mainframe computers.

Young women who keep their phones tucked into their bras are at increased risk from breast cancer. A recent study focused on four women between the ages of 21–39 with invasive multi-focal breast cancer, who kept their phones in their bras for up to 10 hours a day for four years. Imaging of the girls’ breasts revealed a clustering of multiple tumor foci in the part of the breast directly under where their cell phones touched their body.

More Female and Male Hormone Disruption
Experimental physiologist, Charles Graham’s research found that magnetic fields had an effect on two other hormones. They increased estrogen levels and reduced testosterone, a risk factor for testicular and prostate cancer.

He also found that EMFs may actually fit the definition of an endocrine disrupter better than many hormone mimicking environmental pollutants. Magnetic fields appear to elicit their effects by acting on and through hormones, rather than as hormones.

When exposed to EMFs, tamoxifen, the most popular drug given to prevent recurrence of breast cancer, lost its ability to halt the proliferation of cancer cells.

Neurotransmitters, a special class of hormones, include serotonin and dopamine. Neurotransmitters play a major role in moods especially depression. Evidence has now shown a connection with altered serotonin and dopamine levels with EMF exposure.

EMFs also increase the levels of adrenaline, the flight or fight hormone, released from the adrenals glands.

Chronic stress is detrimental to every anatomical system, including the reproductive one. Stress effects fertility and elevates blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease and strokes, as well as suppress immune function. Even short EMF exposures could cause spikes in such hormone levels.

What About Cell Phones?
EMFs from our Smart phones penetrate directly into our brain, breaking down the protective blood brain barrier, causing DNA damage, free radical production and even brain tumors. Since the master glands, of the body are located in our brain, massive disturbances to the hormonal signaling capacities may be generated from continual cell phone use.

It is now acknowledged that headsets, far from being protective, can actually increase radiation exposure into the brain by as much as 300 percent. Bluetooth technology is especially dangerous.

Solutions
Reducing exposure to EMFs as much as possible is essential. Turn off routers at night. Remove electrical devices, chargers and phones from near your head while sleeping.

Since we now live in a world that has created and unprecedented problem where we are all exposed to electro-pollution, it is imperative to use proven technology that can actually prevent the DNA damage to our cells.

Love them or hate them cell phones and the ever expanding and intrusive Wi-Fi world is here to stay. The responsibility lies with each one of us to take the proactive steps that will protect us, our family and future generations.

The post Cell Phones, Hormones and Breast Cancer: Connect the Dots appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

It’s no secret diesel emissions can cause adverse health effects; I see it daily in my clients. The effects, to mention a few, include:

• Cancer
• Pulmonary diseases
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Neurobehavioral
• Cognitive dysfunction including brain-fog and disorientation
• Inflammatory responses

Diesel Emissions and Health
Emissions from diesel engines found in trucks, ships, locomotives, agricultural and construction equipment-especially the microscopic soot known as “particulate matter” (PM)-create serious health problems for adults and have extremely harmful effects on children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Children are particularly adversely affected by diesel emissions because their respiratory systems are still developing; and they have a faster breathing rate. Public health authorities associate exposure to PM with an increased risk of premature death, greater number of hospital admissions for heart and lung disease, and amplified adverse respiratory symptoms such as asthma and COPD. Long-term exposure to diesel exhaust may also pose a lung cancer hazard to humans.

Statistically Speaking
According to the California Air Resources Board and the American Lung Association, nationwide particulate matter from diesel emissions causes 15,000 premature deaths every year.

Premature deaths linked to particulate matter are now at levels comparable to deaths from traffic accidents and second-hand smoke in California, for example.

Recent studies of children’s health conducted in California have demonstrated that particle pollution may significantly reduce lung function growth in children because particulate matter becomes embedded in the deepest recesses of the lung where it can disrupt overall cellular processes.

Seeing What You Breathe
Diesel exhaust also contains nitrogen oxide (NOx) – a precursor to ozone, or “smog.” In sufficient doses, ozone increases the permeability of lung cells, rendering them more susceptible to toxins and microorganisms. Recent evidence links the onset of asthma to exposure to elevated ozone levels in children who exercise.

The Health Cost Benefit
Reducing diesel emissions nationwide would have significant benefits for public health and would significantly reduce health costs: The EPA estimates that a $100 million voluntary diesel retrofit program would create $2 billion in health benefits from reduced premature deaths, hospital visits, and other costs associated with diesel emissions exposure.

Attaining PM standards in California, for example, would annually prevent about 6,500 premature deaths, or 3 percent of all deaths. These premature deaths shorten lives by an average of 14 years, roughly equivalent to the same number of deaths (4,200 – 7,400) linked to second-hand smoke in just the year 2000.

Recent figures from the Environmental Protection Agency reveal that Californians across the state suffer from the polluting effects of particulate matter and ozone from diesel emissions. Approximately 36 million Californians live in areas that do not meet the eight-hour federal clean air standards for ozone, and approximately 18 million Californians live in areas that do not attain the PM standards. In addition, in the Seattle, Washington area, diesel PM accounts for, on average, somewhere between 70 to 85 percent of the total cancer risk from air toxins.

The Way I See It
The time is now for safe, green solutions that can be added to our diesel fuel at a fraction of the cost of any of the other modifications or retrofit options presented by the EPA and other regulatory agencies.

The post Health & Environmental Impact of Diesel Emissions appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

Certain ingredients can affect the plastic they are contained in and some plastics can leach chemicals into the products they contain. If you have sensitive skin, it’s very important to know what ingredients are in your skin care, personal care and makeup products. Make it also a habit to check the tubes and bottles you buy that contain your food and sensitive skin care and personal care products. This article will help you learn the difference between those numbers under the plastic containers.

PLASTICS THAT ARE SAFE

#1 PETE or PET—Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) absorb odors and flavors from foods that are stored in them. It is a strong, durable plastic that is clear. This type of plastic is the safest as long as it’s not exposed to heat, such as left in the sun, or reused. When reused, exposed to heat or left in the sun, this type of plastic can leach the chemical phthalate. Phthalates have been linked to liver damage, reproductive system damage, are toxic to developing fetus, and other health problems. As long as not exposed to heat, they are safe, and easily recycled for a variety of products.

USES: Soft drinks, beer, water, juice, ketchup, salad dressing, food jars for peanut butter, jelly, pickles, ovenproof plastic film and microwavable food trays.

#2 HDPE—High-density polyethylene is translucent, clear and stiff. Foods that spoil easily do well with HDPE plastic. This plastic type is considered as generally safe and it is not known to transmit any chemicals to foods or drinks. It is recycled for a variety of products. Recycled HDPE is used to make plastic crates, plastic lumber, fencing and more.

USES: Plastic milk bottles, water, juice, cosmetics, shampoo, dish and laundry detergents, bags for groceries and retail, cereal box liners.

#4 LDPE—Low-density polyethylene is a very safe and healthy plastic used for squeezable tubes, bottles and other uses. Not known to leach any harmful chemicals. Not as widely recycled as #1 and #2. Recycled LDPE is used to make garbage cans, lumber, furniture and more.

USES: Frozen foods, fresh produce, shrink wrap, cold beverage cups, squeeze tubes and bottles.

#5 PP—Commonly known as Styrofoam, Polypropylene is used for deli soup containers, yogurt containers, drinking straws, baby diapers, Rubbermaid™ containers, some plastic baby bottles, hot liquids, ketchup bottles and other cloudy plastic bottles. Commonly not recycled, but in some areas it is accepted and recycled. Recycled PP is used to make rakes, battery cables and other products.

USES: Yogurt containers, margarine, takeout meals, medicine bottles, bottle caps, ketchup and syrup.

UNSAFE TYPES OF PLASTICS

#3 V or PVC—Vinyl/polyvinyl chloride is used for pipes and tiles, Appalachian Mountain spring water, and some plastic squeeze bottles. This type of plastic is flexible, and works well with food or drink that expand or contract. May leach hormone-disrupting chemicals di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). It is not recyclable. This type of plastic is not safe when in contact with food. USES: Bags for bedding, window frames, carpet backing, flooring, blister packs.

#6 PS—Polystyrene is used for most opaque plastic cutlery, plastic plates, cups, Styrofoam and meat packaging. May leach styrene, which may cause cancer. Not recyclable.

USES: Cups, plates, bowls, cutlery, meat trays.

#7 OTHER—Polycarbonate contains bisphenol-A (BPA) and is used mostly for plastic baby bottles, five gallon water jugs, teething rings, pacifiers, re-usable sports bottles, clear “sippy” cups, some clear plastic cutlery, and inner lining of food cans. BPA has been linked to human breast cancer cell growth, since it mimics estrogen. Not recyclable.

USES: Larger water bottles, some citrus juice, oven-baking bags, ketchup bottles.

Toothpaste Tubes with Aluminum
Many toothpaste tubes are lined with aluminum. This type of tube (called laminate) is recyclable, however, if the tube is left in the sun or warm temperature, the aluminum may leach into the paste. They also may have trace amounts of BPA. Also, if the tube cracks or splits, the aluminum and BPA could leach into the paste. For years Tom’s of Maine has used 100 percent aluminum tubes and maintained that it was safe. However, since 2011, they have slowly been changing to plastic tubes.

The FDA has strict standards for the type of container that can be used for fluoride toothpaste. Toothpaste with fluoride is still contained in aluminum- lined tubes for many brands.

Recent reports show positive benefits of xylitol for tooth decay prevention, which does not require the aluminum-lined tube.

General Considerations
Never reuse a plastic bottle as a food or drink container if it didn’t originally contain food or drink.

Many brands use tube manufacturers in China, where quality control is not met as strictly as with U.S. manufacturers. Cleure is one brand that utilizes tubes that are made in the USA and are safe and recyclable.

The post Plastic Bottle Safety—WHAT YOU Need To Know appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

My latest concern, likely in response to those incessant commercials, is the existence of disgusting invisible dust mites that camp out in our mattresses, living off our skin flakes (yuck!). I asked Mary Cordaro what she does for that and she referred me to this article of hers, which follows in its entirety.

One of the easiest ways to reduce our homes’ chemical loads is to remove shoes upon entering the house.
Allergy sensitivities are on the rise. They’ve doubled since the 1970s, according to a 2005 study by the National Institutes of Health. Some of that increase may be because most of us spend up to 90 percent of our time indoors, meaning we are almost constantly exposed to airborne allergens in our offices, homes and cars.

The most common home allergens are particulates and chemicals. Particulates include seasonal pollen, mold, dust, dust mites and animal dander. Indoor chemicals associated with allergies include formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (chemicals that outgas from products such as plywood and fiberboard), conventional paint and finishes, and permanent fabric treatments. By improving air flow and reducing sources of particulates, chemicals and moisture, we can reduce our homes’ levels of typical airborne allergens. Here are some strategies.

Particle Matters
Many of the chemicals in our homes are tracked in from our shoes and pets’ feet. One of the easiest ways to reduce our homes’ chemical loads is to remove shoes upon entering the house. We can also reduce exposure to tracked-in grime by making bedrooms off-limits to pets.

To control allergens that do get in, vacuum frequently, including upholstered furniture, with a HEPA vacuum independently certified to capture at least 99 percent of particulates. This is especially important if you have wall-to-wall carpet or pets. If you don’t have a HEPA vacuum, open windows while vacuuming and for 30 minutes afterward, as non-HEPA vacuums can stir up allergens. You might also invest in a HEPA air cleaner that filters particulates such as dust, pollen, dander and mold. The best HEPA cleaners contain carbon for chemical filtering.

Moisture Patrol
Moisture helps create an ideal environment for mold and other allergens. One of the most common sources of indoor moisture is condensation from bathing and cooking. Run exhaust fans when cooking and for 30 minutes after bathing, even if your bathroom has a window. (Make sure exhaust fans vent to the outdoors.) While fans are running, it’s wise to crack a nearby window to provide a source of makeup air (see “This House Doesn’t Suck” below). Outdoor moisture may also lead to indoor mold. Make sure your home’s drainage directs water away from foundation walls.

In basements, avoid materials mold thrives on such as drywall and carpet. Instead, choose hard materials such as concrete, ceramic, tile and stone. Keep moist basement air out of living spaces by installing an airtight seal around the basement door and caulking holes where plumbing and electrical wires pass from the basement to the ground floor. Also install weatherproofing around attic doors.

Carpet cleaning and humidifying increase indoor moisture. If carpet doesn’t dry quickly after cleaning, you may end up with low levels of mold you canft see or smell. Use chemical-free cleaning methods that require the least water, and only clean carpets when humidity is low and you can open windows. If you hire professionals, ask them to extract as much moisture as possible. If you use a humidifier, use filtered water and clean the reservoir with three percent hydrogen peroxide before refilling to prevent mold and bacteria.

Death to Dust Mites
The average bed is home to 100,000 to 10 million dust mites. Along with their favorite food.our skin particles. mites thrive on warmth, moisture and darkness. Before making the bed, pull back covers and air bedding, reducing moisture. When itfs sunny, air bedding outdoors. Wash sheets in hot water weekly if you are dust mite-sensitive. Unless they are filled with organic or chemical-free wool, which is naturally mite-resistant, encase mattresses, pillows and comforters with nontoxic dust mite barrier covers tightly woven to at least 4.91 microns. Seek barrier covers that are free of PVC and antimicrobial, stain- or wrinkle-resistant treatments (see Resources).

Increase Air Flow
Unless you have seasonal pollen allergies or live in a highly polluted area, open windows whenever weather allows. Fresh air and sunlight are great remedies for high levels of particulates, mites, moisture and chemicals. For fast relief, open windows and turn on all exhaust fans. Whole-house fans ventilate your entire home. If you install one, make certain its exhaust is mechanically vented to the outdoors, not into the attic.

This House Doesn’t Suck
When you turn on your furnace, air conditioner or exhaust fans, your home may become negatively pressurized, an effect that causes indoor air to suck in pollutants from basements, wall cavities, attics and crawl spaces. To prevent this effect, keep all interior doors open and crack one window on each floor when furnace or fans are running. Change furnace filters when you see grime buildup, or once every six months.

The post Reducing Indoor Allergens INCLUDING DUST MITES appeared first on Total Health Magazine.