Monday, October 27, 2014

7 Smells That Can Help Relieve Stress
Plus: smells help wake you up, and assist with anxiety and depression. Start using your nose to give you a health boost today.

What Happens Inside Your Stomach When You Eat Instant Noodles?   eating instant noodles
You may never pick up a package of instant noodles again once you see what happens after they reach your stomach... check out this "smart pill" video to see for yourself.


The Popular Food That May Accelerate Cancer Cell Growth and Flab   too much protein
Most people think this trendy food is their ticket to slim and trim. In reality, there's an upper limit that's very easy to exceed. And if you do, you can trigger cancer cell growth, add flab, mess up your insulin sensitivity, and more. Do you make this mistake?


The Silent Language of Cats - And Why Their Owners Don't Understand
Why does your kitty sometimes meow constantly or sink her tiny sharp teeth into your hand while she's still purring? Have you missed your cat's subtle message?


The Exercise Mistakes I Made for Thirty Years - Are You Making Them, Too?
Many people make these mistakes, but are often totally unaware they're doing them. Don't risk losing the precious benefits you gain from working out, such as a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, depression, accelerated aging, and more.
Is This Why So Many People Seem to Be Gluten Intolerant Today?   glyphosate celiac disease connection
It's a contributing factor in autism, celiac disease, and likely a host of others. This MIT scientist believes it also acts as a transporter for aluminum into your brain and arsenic into your kidneys. So is this behind today's explosion of diseases no one thought about 30 years ago?

Healthy Shiitake Sautéed Mushroom Recipe
In about seven minutes, you can have delicious sautéed mushrooms to top your fish, chicken, or beef, adding wonderful flavor and boosting your health at the same time.
One of the Worst Things You Can Do for Your Back Pain
Odds are 3 in 4 you'll get it at some stage, but don't do this. Not only could it cost you $20,000 per year, it has a slew of nasty side effects including tuberculosis, life threatening infections, increased risk of cancer, heart failure, and liver problems. Try this instead...

Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Bone Health
This common vitamin deficiency is emerging as a key player in bone health, and if you're lacking your risk of fracture may increase significantly.
Is your doctor feeding you this LIE about your joints?
If you've asked any doctor about joint discomfort recently, you've probably heard this lie.

It's only 7 little words. But if you fall for it, you'll be doomed to a life of everyday aches and strains.

I've put together a free video that not only exposes this mainstream myth, but also reveals the simple truth that will set your joints free. Watch it now
The war against supplements wages on
Dear Reader,

A new study out of Singapore found that over half of hospital patients who take supplements don't tell their doctors about it. The authors of the study say this could put them at risk of adverse drug reactions.

Oh really? Well, what about the other risks hospital patients face? I mean, just being in a hospital is a known risk factor for death. And drug-to-drug interactions are the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Yet these authors are pointing the finger solely at nutritional supplements.

As they put it: "The use of dietary health supplement [sic] has increased considerably over the last decade in the general population. This phenomenon is even more worrisome in hospitalized patients due to their multiple co-morbidities and the potential interaction with medications."

This type of archaic, alarmist thinking is what makes people terrified to disclose the supplements they're taking to their doctors.

I can't begin to tell you how many times I've heard the same story from a patient who has recently been to see one of his or her other doctors. It goes like this:

Doctor: "Wow, you are doing so much better than any of my other patients."

My Patient: "It's because I watch what I eat and take supplements."

Doctor: "I don't know want to know what you are doing--just keep it up."

End of appointment.

Now, if that isn't malpractice, I don't know what is. How could any self-respecting physician not want to know everything there is to know about why someone's feeling so good, so that they could potentially use that knowledge to help even more patients? The arrogance and disinterest astound me. (Yet they don't surprise me.)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting you should lie to your doctor. But this little scenario is commonplace among my patients. And it explains why so few people are forthright with their practitioners about their supplement use--both here in the U.S. and abroad.


The Singapore researchers found that out of 100 patients surveyed, 42% were dietary supplement users. And most took more than one supplement. Fish oil, calcium, glucosamine and vitamin C were the most common. But more than half of these patients, didn't disclose they were taking supplements. Mainly because they weren't asked. Typical.

I mean, why bother telling your doctor about the supplements you're taking if they don't even want to know?

Even worse, many patients don't disclose their supplement use because they're afraid their doctor will tell them to stop. And that fear is perfectly justified. Because, unfortunately, far too many mainstream physicians DO make blanket recommendations against supplements. (Yes, even if their patients are having great results.)

I mean, this shortsighted thinking has become the "official position" of many so-called health authorities here in the U.S. For instance, back in 2005, The American Dietetic Association (now the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics--as if they could correctly answer anything about nutrition if their lives depended on it) released a position paper stating that concentrated nutrients in supplements pose a greater risk of toxicity, drug or nutrient interaction compared to nutrients in whole foods.

Again, the sheer arrogance is absolutely shocking to behold.

But there is some kernel of truth here. With conventional medicine so hopelessly out of touch with the astounding amount of research regarding the positive effects of supplements, it IS dangerous to rely on mainstream doctors for advice on supplements.

It's far smarter--and safer--to seek out a knowledgeable physician who hasn't buried his head in the sand. Someone who actually realizes that the world has changed and people use nutritional supplements not only to stay healthy, but also to fight illness. And someone who stays up-to-date on the exciting research being published every single day about natural supplements.

If your doctor has never asked you what supplements you take, or if you're not comfortable telling him or her about your supplements...well, then it's time to find a new doctor. The good news is, there are some fantastic resources available that make finding a supplement-savvy doctor easier than ever.

The American College for Advancement in Medicine (www.acam.org) and the International College of Integrative Medicine (www.icimed.com) both have searchable databases on their websites that can help you locate a physician near you who can help you make informed decisions about supplements.

Like I always say, knowledge is power. And unfortunately, when it comes to supplements, knowledge is something mainstream medicine is sorely lacking.



Until next time,

Dr. Fred

SOURCE:

"Consumption of dietary health supplements among hospitalized patients at an acute tertiary Hospital," PharmaNutrition 2014; 2(4): 135-140http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Patients-fail-to-disclose-dietary-supplement-use 
Your own, personal Fountain of Youth…
and it’s flowing with CHOCOLATE!
This “guilty pleasure” may very well be the key to aging younger—starting TODAY. But not just any chocolate can give you these revitalizing benefits. Clinical research shows that one specific kind reigns supreme. Watch this new video now to discover how you can harness the rejuvenating power hidden inside this decadent treat. 
What's Behind the Largest Wave of Recorded Suicides in Human History
An innocent victim commits suicide every 30 minutes by using the very substance that brings them such grief. And the scholar who is trying to bring to light and help end this travesty is now herself the victim of a vicious smear campaign. 

Mammography False Alarms Linked with Later Tumor Risk
If you've had a false-positive on a mammogram, you could be at an increased risk of breast cancer years later.

Fruits and vegetables will save your life: By the numbers

You're well aware by now that eating fruits and vegetables is a great way to reduce cancer risk. But a new study says it in a way that's truly eye-opening...

The study, done at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, noted that for every portion of fruit and vegetables consumed, there was a 5% reduction in the risk of premature death.

Of course, the study concluded that this benefit trailed off above five servings. Which led the researchers to dismiss a previous study that called for increasing the recommended intake of fruit and vegetables from five to seven servings a day.

Really, guys? All that funding and research to tell people to eat less good stuff?

Well, at least they acknowledged the benefits of eating five servings I guess.

But what I found particularly interesting about this new research was a quote in one of the articles I read about it. As Catherine Collins, principal dietician at St George's Hospital in London put it: "If this [eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day] was a drug, and you said, 'If you take this drug, it will reduce your risk of premature death by 25%,' we would be making millions with drugs companies."

Well, the drugs companies aren't exactly going to be putting her on their holiday gift list for saying that... but I'm obviously glad she did. I've been echoing her sentiment for years now.

It's a powerful statement about the benefits of good food. And at the same time, a chilling commentary on how much control the pharmaceutical industry has over our health ... and our lives.



Until next time,

Dr. Fred

SOURCES:

"Body-mass index and risk of 22 specific cancers: a population-based cohort study of 5·24 million UK adults," The Lancet 2014; 384(9945): 755-765

"Substantially Increased Risk for Cancer With Higher BMI," MedScape, 8/14/14 (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/829950)

"Fruit and vegetable consumption and mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. BMJ, 2014; 349 (jul 29): g4490 DOI:10.1136/bmj.g4490

"Drug link would increase fruit and veg consumption," FoodManufacture.co.uk, 8/1/14 ( http://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Ingredients/Death-risk-reduced-by-fruit-and-vegetables
Get 8 different b-vitamins all in one pill!
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Proven cause of cancer right
in front of our faces (so why is it being ignored?)
Dear Reader,

I've warned you about it over and over again. But just in case there's any doubt left in your mind that excess weight contributes to cancer, I have even more proof.

A new study published in one of the most highly regarded medical journals in the world (The Lancet) showed that a higher body mass index (BMI) substantially increases the risk for the majority of cancers diagnosed in the United Kingdom.

This was the largest study of BMI and cancer to date. And its conclusion can be summed up in a few bone chilling words...

Extra weight can kill you.

Yet did you see this plastered on front pages everywhere? Or as the top story on every major television news outlet? Of course not! The American public simply can't face the fact that the horrific obesity epidemic we are in is killing us. And that we need someone to step in and stop it.

Why do most Americans think government regulation of food is a bad thing? I am by no means a socialist Far from it. But evidence is evidence. Food plays a role in cancer development. And the Standard American Diet (nicknamed SAD ... for a reason) is killing us.

Our government regulates everything we do -- and I mean everything (so if you think you live in the land of the free, you are grossly mistaken). So why is it so reluctant to step in and set some regulations for foods that make us fat?

Instead we'd rather be "free" to kill ourselves and our loved ones at all-you-can-eat pizza buffets.

Perhaps the most disturbing part of all of this is that The American Cancer Society didn't consider this "news." They assert that these results just confirm what we already knew.

It's true that we already knew weight was an important risk factor for developing certain types of cancer before this study came out. What we now know from this new research is that BMI is associated with the majority of cancers and for 10 of the most common cancers, higher BMI was very clearly associated with higher risk. (Still chowing down on that bagel as you read this?)

Researchers found the greatest effect was on uterine cancer. Specifically, if an average-height woman gains 25 pounds, her risk for uterine cancer increases by over 60 percent. (Have you stopped sipping that sugar-filled mocha latte yet?)

This study noted that obesity alone accounted for about 3,000 cases of uterine cancer per year in the UK. If you extrapolate that figure to the US population, it would equal 10,000 cases.

But we're not just talking about uterine cancer here. The researchers found BMI was associated with 17 of the 22 cancers they were looking for. Which represented 90% of all cancers.

There were significant weight-related increases in risk for cancers of the gallbladder (31%), kidney (25%), and liver (19%), and smaller increases (roughly 10%) in the risk for colon, cervical, thyroid, ovarian, and postmenopausal breast cancer, and for leukemia.

We simply can't afford to ignore the impact of being overweight any longer. And if the "powers that be" aren't going to do anything about it, it's up to us. If you've got weight to lose, consider this your call to action. Now is the time to shed those excess pounds once and for all. And I'll give you all the tools, help, and support you need to do it right here in the Reality Health Check, and in my monthly Logical Health Alternatives newsletter. If you're not already a subscriber, this is the perfect time to get started. Your life could very well depend on it.
Can you really soar past 100 with ease?
What do you want? A sexual surge...lean muscle that will make your friends jealous...a memory that can glide you through Jeopardy, nailing every "daily double?"

Or do you want all of it? Who wouldn't?

If you think resveratrol, astaxanthin and acai are the cream of the crop for anti-aging--think again...

Forget those other anti-aging amateurs and do not wait on this. If you remember the rush astaxanthin created when it was first released--I'm betting this will be 100x more frantic. 
Best & Worst Pizza in America
The food industry serves 100 acres of pizza every single day. Some of it is smart, healthy and nutritious. Some of it should bypass your stomach and just be pasted directly onto your arteries. And sadly, some of the healthiest-sounding pizzas are among our worst offenders. Here’s how you can have your pie and eat it too—and save as much as 860 calories per serving! Read more.
 
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5 Nastiest Food Recalls
 
5 Best Teas for Weight Loss
 
7 Spicy Swaps That Save You 300+ Calories
 
Best and Worst Yogurts
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What Your Eggs Say About You
 
A study found that poached egg eaters are happier than most, boiled egg lovers are disorganized, fried egg fans have a high sex drive, scrambled egg eaters are guarded & omelette aficionados are self-disciplined. How do you like your eggs? Share This Tip on Facebook.
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Cook This, Not That! 50% off
 
For a limited time only, get the Cook This, Not That! app for iPhone or iPad—now half off! Packed with 140 quick and delicious recipes, it turns your favorite dishes into fat-blasting super foods, without sacrificing flavor. To quote one five-star review: “It has already paid for itself.” Try it now!
Avoid These Foods, They Switch Off Your Body's Inner Allergy Fighters   farm antibiotics food allergies
These foods contain substances that switch off your body's inner army of allergy fighters, but they can be easily avoided. Here's how to avoid becoming a part of this steep trend which has soared over the past 14 years. 

Secondhand Smoke from E-Cigarettes Contains Toxic Metals, Researchers Say
You might want to think twice about standing in the vicinity of someone smoking an e-cigarette, as their vapor releases toxic metals into the air.

Are you tossing and turning all night?
Now you can fall asleep in just MINUTES with this amazing natural breakthrough!
In just a few moments you're going to find out how you or a loved one will be able to get a FULL night's sleep as soon as your head hits the pillow!

I know it sounds too good to believe. But once you hear this story about my friend MaryAnn and her nine-year-old sleeping problem you'll think twice before succumbing to those many unnatural sleep remedies.

But now there's a new breakthrough in sleep health! This discovery is so powerful...so effective, I guarantee it's going to deliver at least 8 to 10 hours of restful sleep every night. And the best part it's NATURAL!

Find out now how you can:

    •   Get a strong and restful eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.
    •   Wake up naturally smiling and eager to embrace the new day.
    •   Feel awake and productive at work or play without having to take a nap.
    •   Eliminate the stress and moodiness associated with lack of sleep.
    •   Put an end to your sleep troubles.

I guarantee that your sheep-counting nights are over! To find out more about this incredible "sleep secret"... READ MORE HERE...

Al Serin
President, VitalMax Vitamins
The Nighttime Mistake That Can Cause Your Brain to Shrink
If you fail to do this at night, you may sabotage a system that kicks in to clear out toxic waste and harmful proteins from your brain. But that's not all. Not only will your neurons begin to deteriorate, you'll also increase your risk for obesity and hormone changes. 

11 Surprising Factors That Mess with Your Memory
How many of these 11 surprising factors are influencing your memory (for good or for bad) as you read this sentence?

Sleep the pounds off

I've talked many times before about the benefits of getting plenty of quality sleep. And now there's another one to add to the list: Getting more sleep reduces junk food cravings.

A recent study, published in this month's issue of the journal Appetite found that when sleep-deprived, overweight adults got an average of 96 (now that's specific...) extra minutes of sleep a night, it reduced their cravings for sweet and salty junk food by 62 percent. And their overall appetite decreased by 14 percent.

I've written about this before: Being awake when you should be sleeping comes at a serious metabolic cost. It takes more energy just to stay awake. And many times, people compensate for this by, you guessed it--eating.

Yes, losing weight is harder for some people than for others. Some people have inherited a genetic tendency to gain weight easily. I have the obesity gene myself, and grew up as an overweight child -- so I know of which I speak.

But you can beat this genetic tendency with good diet and exercise habits, and other things that are entirely under your control. Like getting enough sleep.



Until next time,

Dr. Fred

SOURCES

"Curcumin for the treatment of major depression: A randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled study." J Affect Disord. 2014; 167:368-375

"Efficacy and safety of curcumin in major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial." Phytother Res. 2014; 28(4): 579-585

"The effects of extended bedtimes on sleep duration and food desire in overweight young adults: A home-based intervention," Appetite 2014; 80: 220-224
Weird 7-question quiz can predict heart attack
Before he even gets out the blood pressure cuff, one world-renowned physician asks his patients seven weird questions.

Surprisingly, they don’t seem to have ANYTHING to do with your heart.

But these questions are an uncanny predictor of future heart attacks.

In fact, he’s found that this 7-item checklist zeroes in on your true heart health better than any stress test, blood sample, or cardiac catheterization.

Watch this shocking video NOW to find out what these odd questions are… How to find out what each of them means for your heart… And why you should never ignore any of them. 

The feel-good spice
Dear Reader,

I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned it here before, but I have a deep love of India. I studied there and have worked there, and the country never ceases to dazzle the senses with its vibrant culture and color at every turn.

I love the cuisine, too. Especially the spices. And of course one of the most notable spices in Indian cuisine is turmeric. Turmeric is one of the central ingredients in curry. And it has also become well known for its many health benefits. These benefits are typically traced back to curcumin, which is the active ingredient of turmeric (and gives curry its characteristically yellow color).

I've written quite a few RHCs about this wonderful spice, which is fast becoming one of my desert-island supplements -- and here's just one more reason why: A recent study showed that curcumin extract can help treat symptoms of major depression. And another study found curcumin extract worked as well as Prozac.

That's a great find given that most of the common antidepressants used today have terrible side effects, including weight gain and sexual issues. Curcumin doesn't have any of those side effects. (And, in fact, it may even speed up metabolism.)

The problem with curcumin pills is that the bioavailability can be low. So while I do recommend curcumin supplements, I also recommend cooking with turmeric (powder and the essential oil you get from the spice make for better absorption). There's a company that is currently working on patenting a branded curcumin ingredient with better bioavailabilty, but it's not available to the public yet. When it is--and when I review the science behind it--I'll get back to you.

In the meantime, what I can tell you now is that the medicinal value of curcumin (and turmeric) is tremendous. Which is why it's been used in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. And in the past several years, over 7,000 studies have been performed on this spice, with overwhelmingly positive results.

And this latest research on depression is just one of the benefits research has uncovered.

This new study found that curcumin extract worked quite well across the board in terms of alleviating symptoms of depression (including anxiety). But it also seemed to work well in "atypical depression," which regular antidepressants generally don't do a great job treating.

The researchers think curcumin worked for this form of depression because it's associated with inflammation in the brain. And alleviating inflammation is one of the hallmark benefits of turmeric and curcumin.

These studies used 500 mg of curcumin twice per day in supplement form. But don't forget to stock your pantry with turmeric too. You can find it in most grocery stores, but I recommend checking gourmet shops or specialty spice stores for the best quality. 
Unhealthy Cheeses You Should Avoid
The word “cheese” has two meanings: a dairy product that’s cultured, and a tacky, synthetic item that’s totally lacking in culture. More and more, when you buy something that you think is #1, you’re actually getting something more like #2—a once “natural” food product that’s become unrecognizable as food. Find out which brands you’re eating contain fertilizer, trans-fats and worse!  Read more.
 
dont miss
Best & Worst Breakfast Sandwiches
 
Nastiest Food Recalls
 
How to Hack Your Metabolism
 
5 Best Teas for Belly Fat
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Paper or Plastic?
A series of experiments by Cornell University found that when people paid for groceries with credit cards, they bought more unhealthful “vice” foods than they did “virtue” foods. Researchers say you‘re more likely to think twice about an impulse to buy junk food if it means parting with a hundred dollar bill than swiping plastic.Share This Tip on Facebook.
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Cook This, Not That! 50% off
For a limited time only, get the Cook This, Not That! app for iPhone or iPad—now half off! Packed with 140 quick and delicious recipes, it turns your favorite dishes into fat-blasting super foods, without sacrificing flavor. To quote one five-star review: “It has already paid for itself.” Try it now!
Man Dies After Being Doused with Agent Orange Ingredient in Backyard
He was immediately struck with nausea and breathing problems, and his condition rapidly deteriorated until he died shortly thereafter. The punishment for this criminal trespass: nothing but a silly slap on the wrist - it's time to fight back.

Experimental GMO Drug-Making Crops Grown with Little Oversight
Genetically modified crops, including those that contain pharmaceuticals, are often grown right next to traditional crops with little regulatory oversight.
A cancer breakthrough from the Garden of Eden?
It’s one of the oldest known vegetables on the planet--and now it’s the subject of some of the most extensive cancer research ever performed. Women who ate it had a 35% lower risk of developing breast cancer. Just one serving a week reduced pancreatic cancer risk by 38%. And that’s just the beginning. This “Garden of Eden” vegetable may change how we battle cancer. Even better--it’s ready and widely-available to you right now. Discover how you can get if for yourself by clicking here.
Mental health disabilities on the rise in kids
--and the "experts" are ignoring the real reason
Dear Reader,

I was doing a podcast the other day (by the way, if you ever want to hear one of them, I post most of the shows I do on my website, drpescatore.com), and the host brought up the first book I ever wrote. It's called Feed Your Kids Well. He told me it was his favorite of all my books. I had to agree that it's a pretty important one (if I do say so myself). And, sadly, the information in it is needed now more than ever.

Having been an overweight child, I never want any kid to go through what I did. So perhaps I'm more sensitive to it than others might be. It's certainly why the findings of a new study were so personally jarring to me. According to researchers, while the number of children with physical disabilities has decreased 12 percent over the course of a decade, the number who have disabilities related to a neuro-developmental or mental health condition has increased by 21 percent.

As of 2011, 6 million children in the U.S. were living with a disability. In this, the supposed "best" country in the world. We should be ashamed that any one of us could be comfortable sleeping at night knowing this is happening.

I was a decade ahead of my time discussing the effects of the Standard American Diet on kids. Now, we have progressed to epidemic mode, where American medicine is more than happy to respond with their "solutions." And yet, nothing of true value is being done. This saddens and infuriates me at the same time.

But before I step up onto my soapbox, let's get back to the study for a moment.

Those living in poverty continue to have the highest rates of disability, at 102.6 cases per 1,000 people. But you might be as surprised as I was to learn that middle class families actually saw the largest increase--28.4 percent during the 10-year period.

The researchers feel this dramatic increase is due to "less stigma associated with mental health conditions, more awareness of disorders by parents and physicians, and more willingness by physicians to diagnose conditions."

And, to some degree, that might be true. But what bothers me about this blanket statement is that it completely discounts lifestyle. What they're implying here is that the way we live our lives and these alarming statistics have basically no correlation.

Really?

They go on:


"Decades ago, a child might have had substantial cognitive disabilities and abnormal behaviors that didn't get diagnosed as something specific."

Now we call it autism, which is increasing at alarming rates. And then the researchers tread into even more dangerous territory...

"Diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are also on the rise, which may be pushing up the numbers because of school-related difficulties."

Ugh. I can just hear big pharma's rabid shouts to "Call in the meds!"

But if the so-called "experts" would take the time to look at the big picture where these childhood disabilities are concerned, they would see drugs aren't the real answer.

I have no doubt that our abysmal diets and chronically toxic lifestyles--which, by the way, exist across the economic spectrum--are a primary cause of autism, ADHD, and many other "disabilities." And addressing these aspects first (before reaching for the prescription pad) isn't just a safer approach--it's also healthier.

To start, eliminate gluten. Last year, I told you about a study that showed children with autism have a higher immune reactivity to gluten. And parents who eliminate gluten from their child's diet frequently note dramatic improvements in symptoms. In fact, compared to all other complementary modalities for treating autism, eliminating gluten ranks highest in effectiveness.

Another important nutritional aspect to consider: Is your child getting the omega-3 fatty acids he or she needs for proper brain development and function? Specifically, kids need plenty of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). In fact, one study showed that just 600 mg of DHA a day for four months, significantly improved both behavior and cognitive abilities (reading scores and working memory) in British kids. So if you give your kids nothing else, please give them a quality fish oil supplement (again, one that contains both DHA and EPA) along with vitamin D. I recommend a fish oil supplement (containing at least 800 mg of DHA and 400 mg of EPA) twice a day and 1,000-2,000 IU of vitamin D per day.

And then there's the role of environmental toxins. Which may very well be thebiggest smoking gun behind the recent increase in childhood mental and developmental disabilities. And what makes this risk factor even more frightening is that these toxins are everywhere. Some of the most notable chemicals to keep your child away from include carbamates (chemicals found in bug sprays), polybromated biphenyl ethers (these exist in any toy or piece of furniture that's been treated with a flame retardant), and tetrachloroethylene (commonly seen in popular dry-cleaning solvents). These are all associated with an increase in brain disorders and developmental problems in kids. Visit the Environmental Working Group's website at www.ewg.org to get a better sense of what other toxins may be unwelcome guests in your home.

Yes, this new research uncovered a sad, disturbing trend. And, not surprisingly, the researchers led parents straight into the lion's den (i.e. big pharma) for answers. But as you can see--there are safer, healthier options. And when it comes to our kids, isn't that a better place to start?



Until next time,

Dr. Fred

SOURCES:

"Mental Health Disabilities in Children Up 21% in 10 Years," Medscape Medical News, 8/18/14 ( http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/830060)

"Changing Trends of Childhood Disability, 2001-2011," Pediatrics 2014;134: 530-538