Page 14 - Winter2019

Caustic Commentary

ROUNDUP AND NAFLD and inflammatory bowel disease. Recent studies indicate that
Hospitalizations for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease antibiotic use increases the risk of autoimmune conditions,
(NAFLD) increased tenfold between 1998 and 2010—from including type 1 diabetes and autoimmune liver disease. Now
just under two thousand to almost twenty thousand per a population-based case-control study links antibiotic use
year. What could be causing such a dramatic rise? In a new with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Over twenty-two thousand
(2019) study with rats, the glyphosate-containing herbicide RA subjects were matched with up to five control subjects
Roundup emerges as a culprit. Rats were exposed to vary- each and followed for ten years. The odds of developing RA
ing doses of Roundup over fourteen days and then subjected were 60 percent higher in those exposed to antibiotics than in
to analysis. Inflammatory markers went up, especially in those not exposed. All classes of antibiotics were associated
those exposed to higher doses, and liver histological stud- with higher odds of RA. Antifungal and antiviral prescrip-
ies showed the formation of vacuoles, fibroid tissue and tions were also associated with increased odds of RA (BMC
glycogen depletion in the liver. Said the researchers, “These Medicine 17;154 2019). These findings should serve as a
observations suggest progression of fatty liver disease in wake-up call to anyone offered a prescription for antibiotics!
Roundup-treated adult rats. In summary, our data suggest
progression of multiorgan inflammation, liver scarring and HEAVY METALS IN BABY FOODS
dysfunction post short-term exposure of Roundup in adult Tests commissioned by Healthy Babies Bright Futures of one
male rats” [https://doi.org/10.1177/1559325819843380]. The hundred sixty-eight baby foods from major manufacturers
doses causing the rapid liver degeneration were high (up to in the U.S. found that 95 percent contained lead, 73 percent
250 mg per kilogram of body weight) but an earlier study contained arsenic, 75 percent contained cadmium and 32
found that over time, low doses caused the same effects— percent contained all four heavy metals. One in five of the
the generation of biomarkers for non-alcoholic fatty liver baby foods tested contained over ten times the 1 ppb (parts
disease “and its progression to steatohepatosis,” which the per billion) limit considered safe by public health advocates.
researchers took as confirmation that liver dysfunction can Foods with the highest risk for neurotoxic harm were rice
result from “chronic ultra-low dose [glyphosate] exposure” products, sweet potatoes and fruit juices. Infant rice cereal
[Scientific Reports volume 7, Article number: 39328 (2017)]. and rice-based snacks were the most toxic, containing not
only high levels of arsenic but often all four toxic metals.
STATINS AND HEART FAILURE Exposure to arsenic, in particular, is associated with lowered
Heart failure is a common side effect of cholesterol-lowering IQ scores in children (cnn.com, November 1, 2019). How to
statin drugs. Statin drugs interfere with the production of protect your baby? Don’t buy commercial baby food! Baby’s
CoEnzyme Q10, needed for muscle function, and the heart first foods should be puréed liver and meat, and soft-cooked
is a muscle. In a three-year study, one hundred forty-two egg yolk, all from pastured animals. Wait until baby is at least
patients with statin-induced heart failure were taken off one year old to introduce grains, all grains, but especially
statin drugs and given supplementation with CoQ10. Over rice, and then give him only organic grains that are properly
half showed normalization or improvement in heart function. prepared. Instead of fruit juice give baby puréed cooked
Statin-attributable symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weak- organic fruit mixed with butter or cream.
ness, myalgias, memory loss and peripheral neuropathy also
improved (Perm J. 2019; 23: 18-257). The authors concluded MENTAL PROBLEMS
that patients can safely discontinue statin treatment—but of A startling new report reveals that 50 percent of millen-
course, they should never even start statin “therapy” at all! nials (ages twenty-three to thirty-eight) and 75 percent
of Gen Zers (ages eighteen to twenty-two) have quit their
ANTIBIOTICS AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS jobs because of psychological issues. By contrast, only 10
It’s estimated that around 30 percent of all patients receive percent of baby boomers (ages fifty-five to seventy-three)
at least one antibiotic prescription per year. As antibiotics reported leaving a job because of mental illness. Other stud-
wipe out gut flora, it’s no surprise that antibiotic use is a ies have corroborated these findings of more mental health
major risk factor for increased susceptibility to infections issues in the younger generations (thenewamerican.com,

12 Wise Traditions WINTER 2019