Blog Archives

Feeling Different and Shunned Because of Your Healthy Food Choices?

12/28/2016

It occurs to me that people who eat healthfully are constantly ridiculed, sometimes mercilessly. They live in a state of defense because of what they eat or don’t eat. The remarks range from snide to hurtful and the same people who deliver those remarks, do so relentlessly.

It’s curious that these people rarely take an interested in a healthy person’s diet or ask why you've make the food choices you do. They show no interest in nutrition or health. Instead they shun you because of your diet.

Finally, after years of abuse, I’ve decided to respond. When ridiculed about my diet I started saying, “I’m only trying to stay alive.” That stopped the banter for the moment, but it really was not the full story.

The truth is that most of us who care about nutrition got into a place of eating healthfully because of illness. We didn’t have a choice and most fought hard to hold on to those traditional and favorite foods that hurt our bodies. Given the option, most of us would not have made the change.

I didn’t really “get” how much those negative comments affected me until a local restaurant’s marquee said something to the effect of “No Gluten-Free Here; Not Now, Not Ever.” It was funny to everyone, but with some thought, I decided I was tired of defending my food requirements.

People don’t laugh at cancer or heart disease, so what makes it ok to laugh at someone who has decided to save their life with food? It was time to take a stand.

I emailed the restaurant saying that their sign was cruel and offensive. I explained that sick people eat healthfully to stay alive and when one is a celiac there is no option except gluten-free. I explained that everyone would rather eat pie and that we make food choices not to be different, but to control the pain and to heal the body.

There was no response from the restaurant. Maybe the message didn’t change anything, but it is past time to set the facts straight with the truth about those who live a healthy lifestyle.

In my eyes those who use food to heal themselves or to sustain a healthful life are the courageous. They are bombarded by advertising that directs them to pharmaceuticals instead of nutrition and they resist. They are disrespected by family and friends who don’t understand, but they continue. They live in a world that is different from others because they have values that they have chosen to respect for themselves.

We are indeed much more than what we eat,
but what we eat can nevertheless
help us to be
much more than what we are
Adelle Davis

2 Comments

Who is in Charge of Keeping You Safe from Mercury Poisoning in Dentistry?

12/13/2016

3 Comments

HEALTH AGENCY POSITIONS ON THE USE
OF MERCURY IN DENTISTRY

1. WHO Position on Mercury Amalgam Fillings as stated in October 2016

In 2005 the World Health Organization called for a “phasing out” of mercury amalgam fillings because they determined “there is no safe level of mercury in the body.” At the time they established that 240-300 tons of mercury was being used for dental fillings globally.

In 2009 a WHO expert consultant concluded that a “ban on amalgams would be problematic for public health and the dental health sector, but a phase down should be pursued by promoting effective alternatives; education of dental professionals and the raising of public awareness.”

The WHO Mercury Policy Report confirmed that mercury contained in dental amalgam is the greatest source of human exposure to mercury in non-industrial settings.

2. UN Position of Mercury Amalgam Fillings as stated in 2013 at the Minamata Convention

The 2013 Minamata Convention on Mercury was signed by 140 nations who shared the goal of protecting the population and the planet from the excessive and casual uses of mercury. The Convention covered mercury uses including, gold mining, product development, air emissions, water contamination and dentistry.

The United States, as a signer of the Minamata Convention has agreed to implement the decisions. The following is the excerpt from the Convention that covers dental amalgams and their mercury content:

Dental amalgam
Measures to be taken by a Party to phase down the use of dental amalgam shall take into account the Party’s domestic circumstances and relevant international guidance and shall include two or more of the measures from the following list:

(i) Setting national objectives aiming at dental caries prevention and health promotion, thereby minimizing the need for dental restoration;
(ii) Setting national objectives aiming at minimizing its use;
(iii) Promoting the use of cost-effective and clinically effective mercury-free alternatives for dental restoration;
(iv) Promoting research and development of quality mercury-free materials for dental restoration;
(v) Encouraging representative professional organizations and dental schools to educate and train dental professionals and students on the use of mercury-free dental restoration alternatives and on promoting best management practices;
(vi) Discouraging insurance policies and programmes that favour dental amalgam use over mercury-free dental restoration;
(vii) Encouraging insurance policies and programmes that favour the use of quality alternatives to dental amalgam for dental restoration;
(viii) Restricting the use of dental amalgam to its encapsulated form;
(ix) Promoting the use of best environmental practices in dental facilities to reduce releases of mercury and mercury compounds to water and land.

3. FDA Position on Mercury Amalgam Fillings as stated in October 2016

The Food and Drug Administration believes in mercury amalgams because of their "durability and low cost." The potential risks stated include the fact that the mercury used “releases low levels of mercury in the form of a vapor that can be inhaled and absorbed by the lungs. High levels of mercury vapor exposure are associated with adverse effects in the brain and the kidneys.”

Still the FDA considers mercury fillings safe for adults and children of age 6 and above. They acknowledge that a fetus, the very young and possibly the breastfed may be more susceptible to the neurotoxin, but maintains there is no clinical evidence.

The FDA findings do not reflect the concerns or findings of the WHO or The United Nations.

4. CDC Position on Mercury Amalgam Fillings as stated on October 2016

The Center for Disease Control states that roughly 200 million restorative procedures were performed in 1990. They claim its use is declining due to a reduction in dental carries. They state that “minute amounts” of mercury vapor is emitted and agree that this can be inhaled, ingested or absorbed to cause “possible toxicity.” They claim there is “scant evidence that the health of the vast majority of people with amalgams is compromised, nor that removing amalgam fillings has a beneficial effect on health.” Next, they state the significant cost increase in US health care costs if changes were made.

The CDC cites also the limited scientific data when making these decisions, but does agree that both dentist and patients would benefit from education on the subject. In regard to amalgam filling materials, the CDC believes “the FDA should regulate elemental mercury” and that they should “require manufacturers to disclose the ingredients of these materials in product labeling.”

The CDC findings do not reflect the concerns or findings of the WHO or The United Nations.

5. ADA Position on Mercury Amalgam Fillings as stated on October 2016

The following is taken from the American Dental Association official site:
Amalgam Key Points
Dental amalgam is a safe, affordable and durable restorative material.
Dental amalgam has been studied and reviewed extensively.
Amalgam restorations have not been found to be associated with adverse health effects.
Patient concerns regarding longevity of the restoration and about cost may be a
consideration in making decisions about restoration material options.

The ADA findings do not reflect the concerns or findings of the WHO or The United Nations.

3 Comments

FDA Requirements for Ceramic, China and Crystal Food Utensils

12/8/2016

0 Comments

"Meets FDA STANDARDS" may mean less than you imagined.

If you are already metals poisoned or if you have unexplained illness, you don't have room for added toxicity. Buying goods defined as "Meeting FDA Standards" may not be good enough. The FDA allows toxicity levels in products and is not diligent in controlling these standards.

With increased production of low-grade toxicity in goods and ever increasing imports that are not stringently monitored, we have too much access to poison. The results show in unexplained illess.

A good example of this is the slow cooker. The FDA allows lead content in these macines which are meant to cook food over long periods of time. As they stay heated, they can leach poisonous metals into the food. The packaging that says "Meets FDA Standards" is not the one you want. The box that says "Lead-Free" is your best choice.

0 Comments

Understanding the Range of Mercury Poisoning Symptoms

12/4/2016

0 Comments

This video gives a very clear visual of the range of mercury poisoning symptoms. While watching you might be incline to think, "Well everyone has those symptoms" and you'd be right. Mercury poisoning, although rarely diagnoised, is common.

Making contact with mercury, or similar heavy metals, is easy done in our environment. The possibilities come to us in the air, food, water, cosmetics, manufactured goods and endless other options, with the primary contributor being dentistry. Silver amalgam fillings are 50% mercury and have caused mercury poisoning in millions of people. Most dentist still deny the dangers.

The end of the video advertises a book which I have not read and am not attempting promote.

0 Comments

Feeling Different and Shunned Because of Your Healthy Food Choices?

Who is in Charge of Keeping You Safe from Mercury Poisoning in Dentistry?

FDA Requirements for Ceramic, China and Crystal Food Utensils

Understanding the Range of Mercury Poisoning Symptoms

Author

Archives

Categories