Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Dietary Fats Reduce Effectiveness of Antioxidants Like Vitamin C




The anti-cancer benefits of vitamin C can be dramatically reduced by intake of dietary fats, according to a new study conducted at the University of Glasgow. The results of the study, which simulated what happens in the human stomach, were presented earlier this month at the annual meeting of the Society of Experimental Biology in Glasgow.


Researchers investigated how vitamin C affects the acidification of nitrite in the stomach. This acidification can lead to production of potentially carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds related to stomach cancer. According to the European School of Oncology, stomach cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer worldwide with 800,000 new cases diagnosed every year.


Carcinogenic compounds form when nitrite, found in saliva, and nitrate in some foods mix with stomach acids. Ascorbic acid (the active component of vitamin C) protects against the formation of these compounds. The study revealed vitamin C inhibited conversion to carcinogenic compounds by approximately 99.7 percent



Notably, the research team also found when dietary fats were added to the mix, the antioxidant properties of vitamin C were neutralized, and the carcinogenic N-nitrosamine was formed.


"These results indicate that the presence of lipid can markedly alter the protective effects of antioxidants with respect to potentially carcinogenic nitrosative chemistry occurring in the human stomach, and illustrate how a diet rich in lipids can directly influence gastric biochemistry," said lead author Emilie Combet.


Lipids are substances of the fat group and are insoluble in water. While some lipids are necessary for storing energy, others include a class of harmful trans-fatty acids found in hydrogenated oils and partially hydrogenated oils common not only in fast food but also in many products found on grocery store shelves -- including dairy products and meat. This year major cities in the U.S. are taking steps to ban trans-fats in food served in restaurants.


"This research helps explain why high-fat diets that focus on dairy products, meat products, and processed foods are so strongly correlated with cancer and heart disease," said Mike

Adams, author of Grocery Warning: How to Identify and Avoid Dangerous Food Ingredients. "Many superfoods perform best when consumed during a meal that has no fats," Adams said,

"But don't forget to consume healthy, plant-based fats later. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for a healthy heart."


Source



Evening Primrose Oil Side Effects

Evening Primrose Oil Introduction

This fact sheet provides basic information about evening primrose oil—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Evening primrose is a plant native to North America, but it grows in Europe and parts of the Southern Hemisphere as well. It has yellow flowers that bloom in the evening.

Evening primrose oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid. Essential fatty acids are required by the body for growth and development, and must be obtained from the diet.Common Names—evening primrose oil, EPO Latin Name—Oenothera biennis

What Evening Primrose Oil Is Used For

  • Evening primrose oil has been used since the 1930s for eczema (a condition in which the skin becomes inflamed, itchy, or scaly because of allergies or other irritation).
  • More recently it has been used for other conditions involving inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Evening primrose oil is used for conditions affecting women's health, such as breast pain associated with the menstrual cycle, menopausal symptoms, and premenstrual syndrome.
  • Other conditions for which evening primrose oil is used include cancer and diabetes.

How Evening Primrose Oil Is Used

Evening primrose oil is extracted from the seeds of the evening primrose. The oil is usually put into capsules for use.

What the Science Says

  • Evening primrose oil may have modest benefits for eczema, and it may be useful for rheumatoid arthritis and breast pain. However, study results are mixed, and most studies have been small and not well designed.
  • Evening primrose oil does not appear to affect menopausal symptoms.
  • Although some clinical trials have shown a benefit of evening primrose oil for premenstrual syndrome, the best-designed trials found no effect.
  • There is not enough evidence to support the use of evening primrose oil for other health conditions.
  • Side Effects and Cautions
  • Evening primrose oil is well tolerated by most people. Mild side effects include gastrointestinal upset and headache.
  • Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe health care.


http://www.righthealth.com/topic/About_Evening_Primrose_Oil/overview/healthocrates20?fdid=healthocrates_3d06b57998919c5a598ccafccda3152d

Evening Primrose Oil

Your guide to the natural health & beauty benefits of evening primrose oil...

Once touted as "the King's Cure-all", evening primrose oil has been praised for centuries for its healing powers in a wide range of ailments. The secret of the evening primrose is in the seed, which contains the essential fatty acid GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid). Most of the health benefits of evening primrose oil come from this powerful substance.

Today, millions of women use the healing powers of evening primrose oil, which contains 8-10% GLA, to help counteract the effects of premenstrual syndrome. Research has shown that evening primrose oil may help alleviate breast pain, bloating, depression, and cramps for women suffering from PMS. There have been many instances where women have seen these symptoms lessen or disappear altogether after they started supplementation with evening primrose oil.

Research has also shown GLA to be beneficial for a number of other conditions including:

  • arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis, where studies with GLA show significant improvement in joint stiffness, swelling, and overall discomfort
  • skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis where research has shown that eczema may be linked to a GLA deficiency
  • cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension and high blood cholesterol
  • diabetic neuropathy
  • improved immune function
  • certain forms of cancer

The body becomes depleted of GLA as we age, and also as we consume excessive amounts of trans-fatty acids, saturated fats and food additives. Supplementing with GLA can help restore the youthfulness of skin and hair as well as help improve general well-being.

Hundreds of well-documented studies of evening primrose oil have also revealed its beneficial effects in the treatment and prevention of:

  • asthma
  • allergies
  • obesity
  • multiple sclerosis
  • hyperactivity
  • premenstrual syndrome

In some studies, evening primrose oil has been shown to:

  • increase the desirable anti-inflammatory prostaglandin E1 series
  • help restore the gastrointestinal lining & heal ulcerations (improving nutrient absorption & food intolerance)
  • help with autoimmune diseases (including Lupus and Crohn's disease)
  • benefit fibrocystic breast disease
  • benefit diabetic neuropathy
  • reduce symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and help prevent liver & central nervous system damage from alcohol
  • potentiate insulin effects
  • increase feelings of well-being

Overall, evening primrose oil is an extremely valuable natural health supplement with many health benefits. The goal of this web site is to provide information regarding evening primrose oil and its uses for health and wellness. Enjoy!

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=primerose+oil&page=1&qsrc=2891&dm=all&ab=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.evening-primrose-oil.com%2F&sg=ZdbNLrxghiKgKtMcF8FAUBLw3t1iP63RRuh5QQVP5dA%3D%0D%0A&tsp=1286954594041

Green Tea Cancer Treatment

TREATMENT RATING: This cancer treatment is rated ONLY as being effective on newly diagnosed cancer patients who do not have a fast-growing cancer and their cancer has not spread significantly!! If you are an advanced cancer patient who has had a lot of chemotherapy, radiation or surgery or you have a potentially fast-growing cancer, do not use this treatment as your primary cancer treatment, use one of the protocols linked to on the following web page as your primary treatment:
Chapter on Natural Treatments For Advanced Cancer Patients



How It Works

Green Tea Polyphenols (GTP), particularly EGCG or EGCg (epigallocatechin gallate) not only inhibit an enzyme required for cancer cell growth, but also kills cancer cells with no ill effect on healthy cells.

Green Tea

Dry green tea leaves are about 40% polyphenols by weight, and the most potent of these is EGCG. A team of scientists at Purdue University determined: "In the presence of EGCg, the cancer cells literally failed to grow or enlarge after division then presumably because they did not reach the minimum size needed to divide they underwent programmed cell death, or apoptosis."

EGCG, an antioxidant, is considered many times more potent than the Vitamin E or Vitamin C antioxidant properties. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which itself is known to kill cancer cells (see the Grape Cure page).

Green Tea is also a key element of cancer prevention. "Researchers have known for years that the incidence of prostate cancer is considerably lower in Asian countries. One possible explanation advanced by scientists is the high consumption of plant foods among Asian populations.

Another is the growing number of laboratory studies indicating that green tea — the most popular tea in China, Japan and other Asian countries — has anti-tumor effects. Black tea is more popular in Western countries.

Worldwide, about 80 percent of the tea consumed is black tea. Both teas come from the same plant (Camellia sinensis). Black tea is fermented; green tea is not. Next to water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world.

Green tea contains more polyphenols chemicals that act as powerful antioxidants and nontoxic, cancer preventive agents — than black tea. It has been speculated that the low lung cancer rate in Japan — despite the high rate of smoking — is due to green tea consumption."

Supercharging This Treatment

It would be a shame if someone went on a Green Tea treatment plan without also adding a few nutrients to make it a Dr. Rath Cellular Solution or Osiecki Cancer Technique treatment plan. Both of these treatment plans use Green Tea, but they add other nutrients that supercharge the Green Tea's ability to stop the spread of cancer cells.

This diet must be supplemented with treatments that kill cancer cells. Fortunately, green tea can be combined with virtually any other alternative treatment.

An alternative cancer treatment should be a complete treatment protocol. Do NOT forget to study the complete treatment protocol for Stage I, II and III cancer patients and the complete treatment protocol for Stage IV cancer patients:
Treatment For Stage I, II and III Cancer Patients
Treatment For Stage IV Cancer Patients

http://www.cancertutor.com/Cancer/GreenTea.html

Turmeric

Other common name(s): jiang huang, haridra, Indian saffron

Scientific/medical name(s): Curcuma longa, Curcuma domestica

Description

Turmeric is a spice grown in India and other tropical regions of Asia. It has a long history of use in herbal remedies, particularly in China, India, and Indonesia. The root and rootstock, or rhizome, of the plant contain the active ingredient, curcumin. Curcumin is not related to cumin, which is a spice made from the seeds of a different plant.

Overview

Turmeric is a common food flavoring and coloring in Asian cooking. Animal and laboratory studies have found that curcumin, an antioxidant that is an active ingredient in turmeric, demonstrated some anticancer effects.

However, clinical research is needed to determine curcumin's role in cancer prevention and treatment in humans. Several types of cancer cells are inhibited by curcumin in the laboratory, and curcumin slows the spread of some cancers in some animal studies.

Curcumin is being studied to find out whether it helps other diseases such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and stomach ulcers. It is also being studied to see whether it can help lower “bad cholesterol” and improve outcome in kidney transplants. A few early studies have been done in humans, but more human research is still needed to find out it curcumin can be effective in these uses.

How is it promoted for use?

Some researchers believe turmeric may prevent and slow the growth of a number of types of cancer, particularly tumors of the esophagus, mouth, intestines, stomach, breast, and skin. One researcher reported that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, inhibited the formation of cancer-causing enzymes in rodents.

Turmeric is promoted mainly as an anti-inflammatory herbal remedy and is said to produce fewer side effects than commonly used pain relievers. Some practitioners prescribe turmeric to relieve inflammation caused by arthritis, muscle sprains, swelling, and pain caused by injuries or surgical incisions. It is also promoted as a treatment for rheumatism and as an antiseptic for cleaning wounds.

Some proponents claim turmeric interferes with the actions of some viruses, including hepatitis and HIV.

Supporters also claim that turmeric protects against liver diseases, stimulates the gallbladder and circulatory systems, reduces cholesterol levels, dissolves blood clots, helps stop external and internal bleeding, and relieves painful menstruation and angina, chest pains that often occur with heart disease.

It is also used as a remedy for digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, Crohn’s disease, and illnesses caused by toxins from parasites and bacteria.

What does it involve?

Turmeric root is on the Commission E (Germany’s regulatory agency for herbs) list of approved herbs, and it is available in powdered form as a spice in most grocery stores. It can also be made into a tea or purchased as a tincture, capsule, or tablet. Ointments or pastes made from turmeric can be applied to the skin. Although there is no standardized dose for turmeric, some practitioners recommend taking a teaspoon with each meal.

The dried root of turmeric normally contains from 3% to 5% curcumin. Today, many sellers market supplements that claim to be standardized to contain 95% curcumin compounds.

What is the history behind it?

The use of turmeric was described in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine as early as the seventh century AD. In various Asian folk medicine traditions, turmeric has been used to treat a long list of conditions, including diarrhea, fever, bronchitis, colds, parasitic worms, leprosy, and bladder and kidney inflammations.

Herbalists have applied turmeric salve to bruises, leech bites, festering eye infections, mouth inflammations, skin conditions, and infected wounds. Some people inhale smoke from burning turmeric to relieve chronic coughs. Turmeric mixed with hot water and sugar is considered by some herbalists to be a remedy for colds.

In India and Malaysia, there is a custom of making turmeric paste to apply directly onto the skin, a practice now under study for the possibility that it may prevent skin cancer. The bright red forehead mark worn by some Hindu women is created by mixing turmeric with lime juice. Chefs frequently add turmeric to their creations because of its rich flavor and deep yellow-orange color. The seasoning is an important ingredient in Indian curries. It is also used to add color to foods such as butter, margarine, cheese, and mustard; to tint cotton, silk, paper, wood, and cosmetics; as a food preservative; and to make pickles.

What is the evidence?

Curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, is an antioxidant. Antioxidants are compounds that can protect the body’s cells from damage caused by activated oxygen molecules known as free radicals. Laboratory studies have also shown that curcumin interferes with several important molecular pathways involved in cancer development, growth, and spread.

Recently, curcumin has received a great deal more attention in studies than turmeric as a whole herb. Researchers are studying curcumin to learn whether it is an effective anti-inflammatory agent and whether it holds any promise for cancer prevention or treatment.

A number of studies of curcumin have shown promising results. Curcumin can kill cancer cells in laboratory dishes and also reduces growth of surviving cells. Curcumin also has been found to reduce development of several forms of cancer in laboratory animals and to shrink animal tumors.

Human studies of curcumin in cancer prevention and treatment are in the very early stages. One study of 15 patients with colorectal cancer was done to find out how much curcumin they could safely take, and whether they could take a dose large enough to be detected in the blood.

The patients were able to take 3.6 grams of curcumin without noting ill effects. At this high dose, some curcumin and its products were found in the blood. Lower doses may work for the stomach and intestine. Even though it does not absorb well into the body, it has been shown to absorb into the colon lining and into any cancerous tissue in the colon. The researchers recommended that the high dose be used when curcumin is tested for effects outside the intestine.

Other small studies have found people were able to take up to 10 grams per day for a period of a few weeks without noting problems. Some researchers are currently working on ways to increase absorption of curcumin by combining it with other substances. Further clinical trials are needed to find out what role, if any, turmeric and curcumin may play in the prevention or treatment of cancer.

Curcumin is being studied to see whether it helps other diseases as well. One small study of curcumin and another antioxidant called quercetin was done in adults who had kidney transplants. Those who took the combination in high dosages had fewer transplant rejections than those who received lower doses or placebo. More studies are needed to find out whether this holds true.

Curcumin may also promote the emptying of the gallbladder, but again, more studies are needed.

Early studies showed promise that curcumin could correct the problem of cystic fibrosis, but later studies have been inconsistent and often showed no effect. Curcumin also seemed to help prevent stomach ulcers in rodents, although there are not good studies in humans to recommend it for this use.

Early research has suggested that curcumin may help lower "bad" cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and help with arthritis symptoms, although more reliable human studies are still needed.

Tests of curcumin in HIV disease have been mixed and have generally not shown it to be helpful. In studies of mice, curcumin appeared to help with blocking the plaques and proteins that cause problems in the brain during Alzheimer’s disease.

Although laboratory and animal tests look very promising, careful study is needed to find out whether curcumin will be useful for treating these conditions in humans. It is important to remember that extracted compounds such as curcumin are not the same as the whole herb, and study results would not be likely to show the same effects.

Are there any possible problems or complications?

This product is sold as a dietary supplement in the United States. Unlike companies that produce drugs (which must provide the FDA with results of detailed testing showing their product is safe and effective before the drug is approved for sale), the companies that make supplements do not have to show evidence of safety or health benefits to the FDA before selling their products. Supplement products without any reliable scientific evidence of health benefits may still be sold as long as the companies selling them do not claim the supplements can prevent, treat, or cure any specific disease. Some such products may not contain the amount of the herb or substance that is written on the label, and some may include other substances (contaminants). Though the FDA has written new rules to improve the quality of manufacturing processes for dietary supplements and the accurate listing of supplement ingredients, these rules do not take full effect until 2010. And, the new rules do not address the safety of supplement ingredients or their effects on health when proper manufacturing techniques are used.
Most such supplements have not been tested to find out if they interact with medicines, foods, or other herbs and supplements. Even though some reports of interactions and harmful effects may be published, full studies of interactions and effects are not often available. Because of these limitations, any information on ill effects and interactions below should be considered incomplete.

When used as a spice in foods, turmeric is considered safe. More research is needed to establish the safety of turmeric when used in herbal remedies. Little is known about the potential risks of taking the larger amounts used to treat illnesses.

Taking large amounts by mouth may result in stomach pain, gas, indigestion, and nausea. Skin rash and stomach ulcers have been reported after long-term use, and allergic reactions are possible. People who are allergic to ginger or yellow food colorings are more likely to be allergic to turmeric.

A recent safety study in humans suggested that curcumin changes metabolism of oxalate, a substance that can form kidney stones. The researchers urged caution in use of this supplement by people with other conditions that make them susceptible to kidney stones.

People taking blood-thinning medications, drugs that suppress the immune system, or non-steroidal pain relievers (such as ibuprofen) should avoid turmeric because of the risk of harmful drug interactions.

In animal and laboratory studies, turmeric made certain anti-cancer drugs less effective. Antioxidant supplements can interfere with the effectiveness of chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Patients who are in cancer treatment should talk to their doctor before taking vitamins, minerals, or other supplements.

In addition, other potential interactions between turmeric and other drugs and herbs should be considered. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs or supplements you are taking.

People with bleeding disorders, obstructions of the bile duct, or a history of ulcers also should avoid turmeric. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not use this herb. The amount of turmeric found in foods is thought to be safe for those who are not allergic to it.

Applying turmeric to the skin for long periods of time can cause a yellow discoloration of the skin that may be difficult to remove.

Relying on this type of treatment alone and avoiding or delaying conventional medical care for cancer may have serious health consequences.

http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/turmeric

Cancer Expected to Skyrocket in Asia




Even mainstream media is starting to link cancer to diet. Yet, strangely enough, western style "prevention" is still thought of as the only valid way to go.


Asia is bracing for a dramatic surge in cancer rates over the next decade as people in the developing world live longer and adopt bad Western habits that greatly increase the risk of the disease.


Smoking, drinking and eating unhealthy foods — all linked to various cancers — will combine with larger populations and fewer deaths from infectious diseases to drive Asian cancer rates up 60 percent by 2020, some experts predict.


But unlike in wealthy countries where the world's top medical care is found, there will likely be no prevention or treatment for many living in poor countries.


"What happened in the Western world in the '60s or '70s will happen here in the next 10 to 20 years as life expectancy gets longer and we get better control on more common causes of deaths," said Dr. Jatin P. Shah, a professor of surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, who attended a cancer conference last month in Singapore.




"The habit of alcohol consumption, smoking and dietary changes will increase the risk of Western world cancers to the Eastern world," Shah said.


An estimated 40 percent of cancers worldwide can be prevented by exercise, eating healthy foods and not using tobacco, according to the World Health Organization.


But more people in Asia are moving into cities and becoming overweight and obese from inactivity. They are replacing fruits and vegetables with fatty meals full of meat and salt, which is leading to increases in stomach and colon cancers. Meanwhile, traditional diseases like malaria are killing fewer peoplebuilding an aging population that's a prime target for cancer.


The effect is already startling, with the Asia-Pacific making up about half of the world's cancer deaths and logging 4.9 million new cases, or 45 percent, of the global toll in 2002.


That number is projected to leap to 7.8 million by 2020 if nothing changes, according to Dr. Donald Max Parkin, a research fellow at the University of Oxford who is a leading authority on global cancer patterns and trends.


China alone, with its booming economy and 1.3 billion people, is home to about one-fifth of the world's new cases, compared to about 13 percent in the U.S. and 26 percent in Europe, Parkin said. Heart disease remains the top killer in China, but cancer is a close second.


Cancer deaths are slowly dropping in the United States, with slight declines recorded in 2003 and 2004. A decrease in smoking, coupled with early detection and better treatment of tumors is credited with the positive results — the first U.S. decline in cancer deaths since 1930.


Smoking is on the rise in Asia, where it's common to see people lighting up in airports, restaurants and even hospitals. Lung cancer makes up the bulk of all cases regionwide, followed by stomach and liver cancers. It also remains the biggest cancer killer worldwide.


"Lung cancer is the big one because of cigarette smoking. There are many tobacco advertisements — everywhere," said Dr. You-Lin Qiao from the Cancer Institute and Hospital in Beijing, who added that the odds are stacked against those diagnosed in China. "No matter if you're rich or poor, if you get lung cancer you die. There's no treatment at all."


While Americans and Europeans have been abandoning smoking, an estimated 300 million men are puffing away in China — equal to the entire U.S. population. If nothing changes, a third of Chinese men under age 30 are predicted to die from tobacco, with lung cancer already the biggest cancer killer there.


Smokeless tobacco is also a big problem in Asia's other giant, India, where many men and women chew some form of tobacco. Mouth cancer makes up half of all new cases in parts of the country.


A lack of vaccines that prevent cancer-causing viruses is another obstacle for Asia, which is home to about three-quarters of the world's liver cancers, caused largely by Hepatitis B infections.


A vaccine guarding against the virus has been available since the early 1980s and is routinely given to children in Western countries, but it is still not reaching large swaths of the Asia-Pacific.


Some experts worry it could take years before the new vaccine for the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus, or HPV, is available to women in developing countries. The three shots currently cost about $350 in the U.S. and are 70 percent effective against preventing HPV, the main cause of cervical cancer. It is already the No. 2 cause of cancer among women in Asia, after breast cancer.


"The problem is so huge that it's very difficult for us to know where to start," said Dr. Franco Cavalli, president of the nonprofit International Union Against Cancer. "All the new cancer treatments are so expensive, that already in the affluent countries we are not able to pay for them. ... So imagine what that means for low-income countries where you have $20 a year per person for health expenditures."


Regular screening, such as Pap smears and mammograms, is too costly for many poor countries. Treatment with radiation or chemotherapy is unfathomable for most. And in Asia, many patients seek help from hospitals in the late stages of disease after traditional medicine has failed to cure them.


Monika Bardhan of Malaysia's NCI Cancer Hospital has seen a dramatic increase in cancer patients over the past four years. "It's staggering. Every day I see a patient with breast cancer — I just hold my own and say a prayer."


Source



Produk sibutramine ditarik balik

KUALA LUMPUR - Pihak Berkuasa Kawalan Dadah (PBKD) telah mengeluarkan arahan menarik balik produk kesihatan yang mengandungi sibutramine dari pasaran kerana ia didapati mampu meningkatkan risiko kesan advers kardiovaskular seperti serangan jantung dan strok.

Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan dan Pengerusi PBKD, Tan Sri Dr. Mohd. Ismail Merican dalam satu kenyataan berkata, keputusan menarik balik serta menggantung pendaftaran produk yang mengandungi bahan itu ialah berdasarkan kajian Sibutramine Cardiovaskular OUTcomes (SCOUT) bagi produk Reductil yang dijalankan oleh Abbot Laboratories.

"Kajian tersebut menunjukkan sibutramine mampu meningkatkan risiko advers kardiovaskular terutamanya ke atas pesakit obes dan berlebihan berat badan berbanding pesakit yang menjalani senaman dan kawalan pemakanan,'' jelasnya.


http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2010&dt=1013&pub=Kosmo&sec=Negara&pg=ne_03.htm

Study: Soft Drink Ingredient Sodium Benzoate May Lead to Cirrhosis, Parkinson's

New findings regarding the dangers to health by soft drinks has caused fear in the UK and is sure to cause concern in other parts of the world, according to a report published in the Irish Independent.


According to recent research, carried out by Sheffield University in the UK, a preservative that is commonly found in soft drinks can cause essential parts of human DNA to stop working, leading to serious health problems.


The health problems most commonly thought to arise from this preservative are not what most would associated with drinking a soda or fruit juice, but more with the aging process and excessive alcohol consumption.


Many of us know today that too much soda should be avoided as it can lead to dental problems. But the new research reveals that the preservative commonly found in soft drinks can also lead to cirrhosis and Parkinson's.


The head expert that worked on the study, Peter Piper, took a close look at this common preservative, known as E211, otherwise called sodium benzoate. Piper told the Independent that "these chemicals have the ability to cause severe damage to DNA in the mitochondria to the point that they totally inactivate it, they knock it out altogether. The mitochondria consumes the oxygen to give you energy and if you damage it then the cell starts to malfunction very seriously."



Sodium benzoate or E211 has been used in soft drinks for many years. This isn't the first time this commonly used preservative has been the subject of controversy. Last year it was causing fear over its potential to cause cancer if it was combined with vitamin C. It was found that when E211 was combined with Vitamin C, a carcinogenic was created, called benzene.

Last year the Food Standards Agency in the UK investigated a number of soft drinks that had this combination and found four to have unsafe levels of benzene. As a result these four drinks were taken from store shelves.


Many may be wondering what the purpose of E211 is and why it is so commonly used. The reason E211 is used is that is keeps the soft drinks fresh by not allowing mould and other harmful bacteria to grow. E211 isn't just found in soft drinks, it can be found in other food products such as salad dressing.


Both the food agencies in the US and Europe have sodium benzoate as an approved safe to use substance. However, Piper was quick to point out that the test carried out by these two food agencies were old and now inaccurate.


Piper said, "By the criteria of modern safety testing, the safety tests were inadequate. Like all things, safety testing moves forward and you can conduct a much more rigorous safety test than you could 50 years ago. We are feeding vast amounts of them to children inadvertently. Is this a completely safe process?"


The UK Food Standards agency, when questioned about the research said that E211 was safe, "Sodium benzoate and benzoic acid are approved for food use. Food additives are only permitted for use after a long and careful process of evaluation." (ANI)


Many foods contain E211 or other preservatives that are thought to be harmful to human health. For example E102 has been linked to thyroid tumours. E110 can have side effects that include tumours of the kidney, hives and throwing up. The preservative E407 have been recently researched and thought to cause cancer. These are just a few of the many E preservatives that we often consume on a daily basis without thinking about them. It maybe time to take a closer look at what you are eating.


Source



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