Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the component molecules of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or hardened plastic. We all know that PVC is everywhere. It is in the inner lining of soda cans, baby bottles, cups, microwavable bowls and many other plastic containers that are in our kitchen and cafeterias. Many cans of food contain BPA. When PVC plastic is heated or is in contact with hot liquids or food it then releases BPA.

BPA for a long time has been associated with the progression of some cancers. Now recently BPA has been in the news prominently. One group of researchers found that BPA, even at weak concentrations, such as in the normal usage of a plastic cup that is in contact with a cup of hot tea, is able to block the benefit of several chemotherapy agents on breast cancer cells. Because of this we realize that BPA is a friend to cancer.

In 2008 the National Toxicology Program recommended that BPA no longer be used in baby bottles, as well as recommended that limited quantities of BPA be released into the environment.

For that reason many of us are not using these hard plastic as much as we  used to.

I encourage my patients who use the hard plastic type of water bottles, such as reusable sports bottles, to not let them bake in the sun in the back of their car.

Some doctors have recommended people use the softer plastic type of bottles that are found in mineral and spring waters at the store. These bottles are made of a chemical called polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and do not contain BPA.

However ,new evidence is now showing that PET may not be safe either!

For more information on this please see my next blog post.

REFERENCE

MORE ON BPA

The more flexible your body, the more flexible your arteries will be. This is the conclusion of several very interesting studies that were recently published in the medical literature.

I'm delighted to say that my article was featured as the prime post in the Living section of the Huffington Post this past Tuesday, May 11, 2010. In my article I teach you how you can test your own flexibility. If you're not flexible enough hopefully that will inspire you to begin taking some Yoga classes or some Pilates classes to increase your flexibility.

Let me know how you like this article and let me know how you like the flexibility test!

Here is the LINK!

A new study in Environmental Health Perspectives written by KS Betts and colleagues looks at the effect of a flame retardant that is used commonly in home and office furnishings as well as electronics and airplanes. The product is called polybrominated diphenyl ether and in this article I will call it PBDE.

Even though products with this chemical, have been banned in Europe, they are still manufactured and used in United States. Most recently manufacturers have agreed to voluntarily discontinue all of these products by the end of 2012. However that is a long time away.

In this study they looked at 150 US children born within 2 miles of the World Trade Center attack in 2001. These women were gathered for the study to look at the effects of exposure to compounds in the dust from the destroyed towers of 911.

PDBE's were measured in the cord blood of over 150 of these children who later participated in at least one session of neuro-developmental testing that was conducted at age 1, 2,3,4,and 6 years of age.

Unfortunately the children who had higher levels of exposures in their cord blood consistently had, on average, lower developmental scores at each of the ages mentioned, compared with those children who were less exposed to the toxic substance.

The relationship was especially strong at age 4 years.

The authors are quick to point out that "it is certain" that sources other than the World Trade Center contributed to the PBDE levels in the children's cord blood.

Of interest is that the cord blood levels observed in these children were indeed similar to those reported in other parts of the United States which suggests that these effects could be widespread. So it is not clear to me if the WTC dust had anything to do with the results of this study.

The authors point out that these findings are consistent with reports of hyperactivity as well as learning and memory deficits found in experiments with mice who were also exposed to PBDE's.

Another recent study has shown that PBDE's may interfere with thyroid hormones as their mechanism of action for interfering with normal brain development.

The authors point out that they are doing more experiments relating to PBDE's developmental effects. Of course in the meantime they recommend that people avoid exposure to these compounds especially pregnant women and newborns.

Unfortunately, these types of exposures are occurring to all women before and during pregnancy. And this is why I advise my patients not to redecorate their house or use nail polish or perfumes with phthalates while they are pregnant.

REFERENCE

I am delighted to share with my readers a new book I am reading called Anticancer, A New Way of Life, New Edition by David Servan-Schreiber. Dr. Servan-Schreiber, the author of the book had brain cancer himself and this changed his life dramatically. As a result of his cancer, he studied all possible ways that he could get well including enhancing his body's own natural cancer fighting capabilities. He is now healthy.

Dr. Servan-Schreiber explains how certain foods and environmental toxins  help cancer cells to thrive. He explains what inhibits them as well. Most importantly, he explains many ways to strengthen your immune system to prevent their growth.

He shows how sugar contributes to cancer.  And most importantly, how it is the sugar that obese people eat in excess, and not the obesity itself, that is the contributor to cancer. This occurs through sugar's impact on a molecule called IGF1, which is related to growth hormone.

He reviews diet and cancer fighting foods. I am delighted that he mentions the important role that vitamin D plays in slowing cancer growth. Of course I discuss this extensively in my own book as well.

 He explains why it is important to avoid sugars and bleached flowers.

He has a wonderful chapter on the role of our environment and the toxicity in our household products that contribute to cancer.

In addition he also talks about the optimized mind-body balance to remain positive and healthy.

I am happy to say that this was the book that I would have written if I only I had the time, and was not in full-time practice of medicine.

If you have friends or loved ones who have been affected by cancer, I urge you to share this book with them.

You can get this book by clicking the cover picture below:

On each of our genes there is a "protective cap" at the ends of each chromosome. These caps are comprised of a certain sequence of DNA. The scientific name for these caps is "Telomeres."

Increasing studies have shown that the length of the telomeres is correlated with cellular aging. Specifically the shorter the telomere, the older the cell.

Because of this, telomere length is now being used in scientific research as a marker of our biological age. This biological age combines our lifetime burden of genetic factors with environmental stressors that have affected our genes. This biological age is independent of our chronological age.
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