If you happen to be unlucky enough to suffer from a serious illness, infection, or wound you’d think the safest and cleanest place to be would be a hospital, right? As it turns out, a recent research study conducted by the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine found out that it could be quite the opposite. Their study found that out of 50 hospital rooms tested, nearly half of them were either “colonized or infected” with superbug bacteria that are resistant to multiple types of drugs.

The superbug in question, acinetobacter baumannii or MDR-AB, was detected on multiple surfaces of rooms that had previously been occupied by patients suffering infections. For this particular study, researchers took samples from 10 different surfaces in each hospital room. The surfaces included bedrails, bedside tables, supply carts, ventilator touch pads, vital sign monitors, door knobs, sinks, nurse call buttons, infusion pumps, and the floor surfaces on each side of the bed. Nearly 10% of the surfaces tested in each room contained traces of the bacteria.

These powerful strains can linger for long periods of time, and can easily spread to others. It has caused a number of serious infection outbreaks over the last decade. The study wasn’t able to indicate whether the bacteria came to the rooms first, or if it was environmental contamination. This shows that items that get transferred from room to room can transport the debilitating bacteria just as easily as patients themselves.

Being such a busy society, Americans are constantly on the go. As such, we’re constantly coming into contact with surfaces that are covered with germs, bacteria, and viruses without even thinking of it. Even when it does come to mind we typically think of hand sanitizers as the obvious solution, and that’s a big mistake. A University of Virginia study from last year showed that typical sanitizers do practically nothing to stop the spread of the flu or even rhinovirus, which is often linked to the common cold. A recent research study conducted by Kimberly-Clark Corp. compiled a list of the dirtiest surfaces that we come into contact with daily, and the list might surprise you even though it makes perfect sense.

Hundreds of different surfaces in large US cities like Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta were swabbed for bacteria and viruses. The swabs were then analyzed for the presence of cells from animals, vegetables, bacteria, yeast, or mold and the number one filthiest surface tested was gas pump handles. Just when you thought a trip to the pump couldn’t hurt any more than it already did, it seems that surfaces like these are simply NEVER cleaned. Following on the list were parking meters, ATM buttons, and vending machine buttons, but none were near the level of the gas pumps.

As mentioned, sanitizers usually are useless versus the most dangerous viruses or bacteria, so how do you protect yourself? Many gas stations have paper towels by the pumps or the window washers, so use these to your advantage when you grab the pump handle. Always wash your hands after you fill your tank or come into contact with any of the items mentioned above. Another option would be to keep some disposable rubber gloves in the car with you for these situations. The best bet to increase your immunity is to drink plenty of water, and take plenty of vitamin D, and vitamin C. This will offer you the most protection.

People like to believe that “numbers never lie”. Most of the time this is true, but depending on who’s providing the numbers they may very well be spouting constant streams of little white lies, or bending the rules of mathematics to confuse people. It happens a lot in politics, and also frequently in the medical world. Most studies done on prescription drugs often present numbers that can be confusing, or distorted in order to make their products more appealing to the public. One such product that has recently been revealed as doing exactly that is the flu vaccine. The numbers they want you to believe are that the vaccines are “60% effective” when in actuality, they only protect about 1.5 out of 100 people.

Vaccine proponents seemingly refer to study numbers in the same way that George W. Bush referred to Al Gore’s economical figures back in 2000 as being “fuzzy math”. Meaning, this math is “fuzzy and confusing, so ignore it and just listen to what we have to say.” The claim that flu shots are “60% effective” would lead one to believe that 6 out of every 10 people who were vaccinated would not get the flu, and that’s simply a bold faced lie. The Lancet has published a real study that shows the real numbers, and also explains how the vaccine industry manufactures facts at the same rate they make toxin laden flu shots.

The actual numbers from the study show a little over 13,000 people in the control group, these are those who did not get the flu shot over the period of the study. Less than 3% of this group actually caught the flu, while a little less than 2% of the “treatment group” caught it. The difference ends up being 1.5 out of 100.To get the 60% effectiveness figure that manufacturers are touting they divided the percentage of the control group who got the flu into the amount from the treatment group. What’s left is a decimal that they can twist into being about 43%, hence they make the claim that the vaccine resulted in a 60% lower rate of infection. To use the same process on the real numbers would result in an accurate claim of “flu shots do absolutely nothing for 98.5% of those who get them”.

Prescription drug and vaccine manufacturers are always looking for any edge they can get in twisting the numbers and distorting the facts to improve their image, and for good reason. Their image is continuing to be tarnished as more and more people wake up to the realization that natural remedies often provide the same curative effects with little or no side effects and are much less expensive. Keep up the fight, and remember that nature provides the best answer.

The leaves begin to fall as do the temperatures, but incidents of illness, whether it be colds or flu skyrocket. There are a few simple ways to keep yourself from getting sick that won’t even cost you a penny, and if you stick to these rules your body will surely thank you. Everyone knows to wash your hands frequently to avoid spreading cold causing germs, but we’re going to give you some tips that the average person may not know provide amazing benefits to your immune system. Here’s how to make sure you’re not the next one to get sick.

Most people don’t get enough sleep these days, it’s a fact. Sure, there are studies that say that the amount of needed sleep varies by the individual and 6 hours may be “enough” for some people. However, another study that was published back in 2009 says that even “minor sleep deprivation” can suppress immune system function. How much is minor? Anything less than 7 hours will greatly decrease your immunity and actually make you likelier to get sick by three times.

The flu virus spreads the most during lower temperatures and humidity, which is why it tends to ramp up during the fall and winter months. This can be combated on multiple fronts. First, get a humidifier for home and keep it around 50% humidity. If you’re on the go, natural saline nasal sprays can help keep nasal passages moist and make sure that the cilia can do their best job to keep viruses out. Stay hydrated on the inside too; drink plenty of water to keep your body at its best.

The most natural way to keep your immune system running properly is to make sure you’re keeping with a healthy diet. Not the easiest tasks to do when you consider Halloween candy, Thanksgiving dinner, and Christmas cookies, but it can be done. Load up on antioxidants in fruits and vegetables and omega 3 fatty acids to keep everything balanced. Of course vitamin C is a given, as it’s been known for ages to promote healthier immune systems.

The stress that this time of year can bring only adds on to what we already have on a daily basis. Take some time to relax whenever you can, because if you continue to allow your body to release millions of stress hormones you greatly increase your risk of a hampered immune system. If you’re super stressed, you’re likely not taking care of yourself as well as you should either.

Since its inception in 1945, adding fluoride to drinking water supplies in the US under the guise of preventing tooth decay has been controversial to say the least. Countless doctors and dentists have spoken out against it, and even conducted studies that have proven its ineffectiveness in such treatments. Even still, with the supposed purpose being to protect teeth it is added to drinking water. How ingesting a chemical that has been linked to numerous negative health effects is of any benefit is anyone’s guess, and the efforts to stop this practice have continually been overlooked – the cries of personal freedom fallen on deaf ears. Recently the federal government has opened a portal to the people that allows us to voice our opinions via petitions. One such petition created by the Fluoride Action Network calls for an end to water fluoridation, and it’s getting close to being heard, but they need our help.

The petition created by FAN has until October 26 to reach the 5,000 names needed to be heard by the government. That’s 5,000 just for them to look at it. To ensure action is taken, there needs to be a much higher level of support. Surely there are more than 5,000 people in this country that want the government to stop poisoning our water supplies. The petition points out proven facts like how consuming fluoride can lead to:

· Dental and skeletal fluorosis

· Lowered IQ

· Bone cancer

In addition to what’s pointed out in the petition, fluoride has also been linked to:

· Disruption of collagen production

· Infertility in women

· Depressed thyroid activity

· Autoimmune disease

The battle has never been as close to being won as it is now for those of us in the fight against fluoride. Sign the petition at the link below, and encourage your local lawmakers, representatives, and senators to do the same. Standing idly by on the sidelines will do no good, we all have to step up and do our part.

Click here to sign the petition and stop water fluoridation.

The season of the dreaded flu is upon us, and pharmacies have been ramping up their advertisements for flu shots availability recently. There are countless risks that have been associated with flu vaccines both in the past and at present, but we’ve been over that a million times. Rather than continue to scare you away from flu shots on principal, let’s talk about some natural alternatives that can improve your immune systems functionality and give you some other ideas on how to stay healthy during the winter months.

The first suggestion may very well be the most difficult to implement considering the season we’re talking about and the holidays that occupy the fall and winter months. First, the weather cools down and before you know it you’ve got a pumpkin spice cappuccino in your hand. Then comes Halloween and all the trick or treat candy, followed by pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving and all sorts of candy and cookies leading up to Christmas. One big problem with all this is that just a few grams of sugar can totally destroy the ability of your white blood cells to resist and fight off infection. If you can resist the temptation, you might avoid gaining a couple pounds as well as the flu.

The importance of vitamin C is a given, everyone knows of its protective effects. Although it’s important to remember that not all vitamin C is created equal, as a lot of the cheaper supplements sold in stores are made from ascorbic acid taken from genetically modified corn. Combined with vitamin D, and zinc, the immune system can work in top form if properly supplemented. Vitamin D supplementation gains importance during the winter as most people won’t get as much from direct sunlight due to colder temperatures and not being outside as much.

Other important factors to keeping your immune system in top form are lowering stress and getting better sleep. Stress can be considered one of the top contributors to illness and decreased immunity, so take steps to worry less and have fun while enjoying the holidays. Sleep doesn’t necessarily need to be increased, but the kind of sleep you get should be improved to have the most benefit. One important factor to getting better sleep is to ensure that you sleep in complete darkness, as light can disrupt your body’s melatonin production. There are supplements available if you feel the need, but natural is always better.

Over the last few years energy drinks have been all the rage. Why not? Get a boost of energy in an easy and occasionally delicious beverage, and most of them claim to be full of vitamins, nutrients, and other herbs. The truth is that sometimes energy drinks contain dangerous levels of caffeine (up to 7 times that of a cup of coffee) and other unhealthy ingredients that can cause some serious health issues. Things like anxiety, migraines, high blood pressure, and elevated heart rates are the least of the things to worry about as there are multiple long term effects that are much more dangerous.

Within the last year, overdoses on energy drinks have begun to be tracked by poison control centers nationwide. Between the months of October and December there were almost 700 reported cases that ranged from irritability to things like hallucinations, seizures, and chest pain. Some of these symptoms can be attributed to caffeine’s addictive properties and how it can actually cause withdrawal, while other ingredients like sugars and artificial sweeteners that are generally processed like toxins by the body.

Some of the potentially harmful ingredients typically used in energy drinks include:

· Sodium benzoate- has been linked to cell damage and free radical production

· Phenylalanine – a neurotoxin that can excite cells in the brain to the point of death

· Guarana – 4 times the caffeine of coffee beans

· Ephedra – increases blood pressure and could even cause strokes, seizures, and death

Better than loading up on caffeine, sugar, and other dangerous additives is a regimen of proper sleep and an active lifestyle. There are safer supplements to use for energy as well, such as vitamin B and magnesium.

How many of us grew up listening to our parents saying things like “If you keep making that face, it will get stuck that way”? While that’s not exactly a great “health myth” it’s still a story that just simply isn’t true. There are many other similar stories that you may have even heard from your doctor, and they’re just not true. While a lot of it can be silly, there are plenty of incidents that can cause us to worry and stress out over situations where it’s really not necessary at all. Here are a few examples of real life medical fairy tales that should help you rest a little easier.

Dairy products get a bad rap in a lot of cases, but there are two scenarios in particular that seem to crop up more frequently. There has been a connection between infants dairy consumption and firmer stool, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that cheese causes constipation. The National Center for Health Statistics studied over 15,000 people and only 13% of those reported any constipation. That same 13% actually consumed more cheese than the other participants, as well as having a lower intake of foods high in fiber. Another area where dairy is the bad guy to most people is when you’re sick. You’ve probably had at least one person tell you that it makes you more congested, or that it makes you produce more mucus. Those people are likely part of the group of people who are extra sensitive to how milk feels when they drink it. It can have a somewhat mucus like sensation as it spreads out over saliva in the mouth and throat. There’s not actually any more phlegm, it just feels that way to some people.

Millions of Americans suffer from hypertension, and we often attribute a lot of it to our stressful lives. While it is true that heightened blood pressure is an effect of our body’s natural stress response, it might surprise you to know that there’s not any actual connection between high blood pressure and chronic stress. In fact, an 11 year study involving over 35,000 people found no connection between the development of hypertension and ongoing stress or anxiety. What’s stranger is that those who did exhibit higher levels of anxiousness actually had lower blood pressure. Perhaps it’s just that those who are stressed out don’t take proper care of themselves, or skip eating healthy meals for fast food and junk because it’s easier when you’re stressed out from another long day.

Ever heard of mass hysteria? It goes along with the fear that for some reason, the air inside the cabin of an airplane makes you sick. It could be a combination of anxiety, claustrophobia, and other factors, but the myth of airplane air causing illness is just for the birds. In fact, the air in an airplane is probably much safer than that inside your home or office. The air inside a plane cabin is exchanged more frequently than that of an office building, and the fact that it’s a higher altitude means that there is a lesser chance of bacteria or viruses being present due to lack of humidity. The only real health risk that should be considered in regard to flying is that sitting for long periods can cause blood clots, so be sure to stretch or walk around a bit every hour or so if you’re on a longer flight.

Some of us have been waiting for it all summer long, and finally fall is here. While its arrival may be a welcome change to weather, you should keep in mind that it can also wreak havoc on your skin. Many people begin different skin care regimens as the temperatures drop because it’s more likely to have dryer, more irritating effects, but beware – a great many skin care products are loaded with chemicals, pollutants, and even toxins that can often do more harm than good. There are some new additions to the watch list of products like makeup, moisturizers, and even shampoos that can be dangerous on their own, but even worse when combined with others that may already be present in one or more products you are probably using in combination with each other.

Many of the chemical ingredients in cosmetic products don’t have immediate effects, but over time can have major implications. Take for example a couple of ingredients used in emulsifying products, Diethanolamine and Triethanolamine (commonly referred to as just DEA and TEA). When combined, chemical reactions can occur that result in the formation of carcinogens. Lab studies have even seen rats die from cancerous tumors formed from exposure to these “ingredients”. The so-called recommendation is to only use these in “small doses”, but that doesn’t take into account the cumulative effect that can take place over time.

You may not realize it, but a great number of cosmetic products contain lead – and we’re not just talking about ones made in China either. Most of the synthetic products that require coloring like nail coloring, lipsticks, and makeup along with toothpaste even contain metals like lead, titanium dioxide, even aluminum. A lot of moisturizers contain zinc, which actually clogs the pores. D&C Red 6 is a chemical dye that is made from petroleum or coal tar, and could possibly even contain arsenic and mercury. Somehow, it’s still approved by the FDA to slather all over your body.

Women, you are not alone in this plight. Consider that the average American man easily uses 5 or more personal care products including shampoo, deodorant, shaving cream, and other moisturizers. There are over 200 additives that are allowed to officially be labeled “fragrance”. Product manufacturers aren’t required by law to disclose what those “fragrances” actually contain, so as to protect their formulas. For men and women both, you can save yourself a lot of trouble down the line by taking the time and spending a few extra dollars for all natural products that don’t contain all those preservatives and toxins.

If you're concerned about any cosmetic products you currently use, follow the link below to the Environmental Working Group's "Skin Deep" database. You can enter the name of any product you may be using and find out what sorts of dangerous additives they contain. For the best in all natural, pure skin care check out Skin Original – the most powerful “needle free” skin care product available.

Sources:

Environmental Working Group

Campaign For Safe Cosmetics

Cancer Prevention Center

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention around 20% of American adults and teenagers are currently smokers, whether it be cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Everyone knows that tobacco use has been linked to heart disease, lung disease, stroke, and numerous types of cancers, but addiction is often a high hurdle to leap. More than 30% of smokers attempt to quit each year, but less than 3% are successful. In the past few years there have been multiple prescription medications developed to assist with smoking cessation, and while they work in theory there are risks associated with each that may even outweigh the risks taken by lighting up.

The most popular smoking cessation drug over the past decade is Chantix. Doctors love to prescribe it because its effect is the blockage of nicotine receptors in the brain that in turn reduces cravings. The problem with this is that these receptors are also responsible for dopamine and serotonin. These naturally occurring chemicals in the brain help to manage exciting or stressful situations, so by blocking them it is entirely possible to make anxiety and depression more prevalent. This is not new information by the way, the FDA even alerted the public of some of the serious side effects associated with Chantix back in 2008, and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices released a report that revealed Chantix is responsible for more serious drug adverse events than any other drug. Some of the side effects listed on the front page of the Chantix web site are:

It’s a shame that with such good intention comes a solution that is actually worse than the problem it’s meant to treat. Addiction is no joke, and while it’s the American dream to have a pill that will do it all for us, it’s not always so easy. Your brain manufactures dopamine to deal with stress, but nicotine use takes its place and eventually your body can stop making dopamine altogether. There are many all natural remedies to help you or someone you love quit smoking. Focus on complex carbohydrates, vitamin B, and omega 3 fatty acids to increase production of dopamine and serotonin and you’ll be off on the right foot.

Sources:

Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP

NY Times