Greenpeace, THANK YOU! We would never know these things without your help. I, myself, will never drink Lipton Tea again until they clean up their act. I posted on their Facebook page, shared on my blog and Facebook page as well as tweeted this. Everyone out there should do the same. Read on……

Last week we released a report revealing the extent of which banned pesticides are finding their way in Chinese brand teas. And today, the revelations keep on coming.

Lipton, the world’s best-selling tea brand, is also selling tea in China with illegal pesticides.

In March 2012, Greenpeace randomly purchased several boxes of Lipton tea bags produced and sold in China at two Beijing stores. The samples, which included green tea, oolong tea, jasmine tea and black tea, were then sent to an independent third-party lab for pesticide residue testing.

Our second report details three of the four samples contained pesticides that are banned for use on tea plants and are highly toxic. Altogether 17 diferent kinds of pesticides were found on the four samples.

“As the world’s best-selling tea brand, Lipton is taking advantage of China’s loose pesticide control measures at the expense of its Chinese customers,” says Wang Jing, Greenpeace Food and Agriculture Campaigner.

Busted! Lipton’s claims of corporate responsibility prove false

Lipton’s holding company is Unilever – one of those mega-conglomerate multinational consumer goods companies. Last year they reported a whopping €46.5 billion in turnover. Their very size equates to a responsibility to consumers and the environment, as well as the power to be game-changers in their industry.

In Unilever’s last Corporate Responsibility Report they describe Lipton as their, “first foreign enterprise to enter China; it has a long-term commitment to China, and it hopes to establish a sustainable business model in the country.”

While on its official Chinese website, Lipton claims that it only uses insecticides that have received formal state approval for use, and it pledges to only use “the minimum amount of chemicals to achieve the required effect.”

As our testing shows, this is clearly not the case. Not that this is the first time Lipton have proven indifferent to the health and safety of the Chinese consumer. Last year excessive residues of heavy metal were found in Lipton tea.

Why should you be concerned?

Let’s take a look at the three banned pesticides that were found in these tea samples:

Methomyl:

• An insecticide, potentially damaging to the human nervous system.
• Banned for use on tea plants under China’s Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) – Notice 1586.
• Classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a highly toxic pesticide.

Dicofol:

• A pesticide, chemically related to DDT.
• Banned for use on tea plants under China’s MoA – Notice 199.
• Classified by the EU, not only as harmful when swallowed, but also when in contact with skin.

Endosulfan:

• A persistent pesticide, potential endocrine disruptor.
• Banned for use on tea plants under China’s MoA – Notice 1586.
• Banned globally under the Stockholm Convention.

Take action

For now the most important thing you can do is read out report and then spread the word.

1. Post this page on Facebook and leave comments on Lipton’s Facebook page.

2. Tweet away! Use the hashtag #LiptonPesticides

3. E-mail this page to your friends using the share tool on the left-hand side of the page.

4. Buy certified organic tea and you’ll not only been drinking healthy, you’ll be supporting the reduction of pesticides in agriculture.

Fascinating! I am glad I walk every day! Imagine, doing something you love that dramatically lowering my Alzheimer’s risk. Not only that, but “lack of physical activity nearly triples the risk of developing Alzheimer’s”! I will continue to walk for the rest of my life. Read on……..

“Scientific studies have previously demonstrated that many lifestyle factors as well as diet can have a major impact on genetic expression that either promotes or inhibits the development of Alzheimer’s dementia. Recent studies have demonstrated that insulin signaling and resistance in the brain result in the formation of amyloid protein tangles that are a hallmark of disease progression.

A new study by neurological researchers from Rush University Medical Center that will be published in the online journal of Neurology demonstrates that daily physical activity may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline, even in people over the age of 80. Integrating a healthy diet including foods known to suppress sharp insulin and glucose spikes along with sensible supplementation (curcumin, resveratrol, grape seed extract and omega-3 fatty acids) and regular physical activity may be sufficient to halt Alzheimer’s progression as we age.

All types of physical activity found to dramatically lower Alzheimer’s disease risk

Lead author of the study, Dr. Aron S. Buchman noted “The results of our study indicate that all physical activities including exercise as well as other activities such as cooking, washing the dishes, and cleaning are associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.” The study reinforced the concept of remaining physically active each day to ward off this devastating form of dementia.

Strenuous exercise is not essential and may hold potential health risks for the aging population. The key is to avoid becoming confined to a chair: keeping the muscles and brain active can dramatically alter brain chemistry and metabolism to prevent Alzheimer’s.

Lack of physical activity nearly triples the risk of developing Alzheimer’s

To determine daily physical activity levels, researchers asked 716 older individuals without dementia and an average age of 82 to wear a device called an actigraph, a device attached to the wrist that monitors activity levels, for a period of ten days. Additionally, participants were given annual cognitive tests during this ongoing study to measure memory and thinking abilities. All types of physical activity from structured exercise sessions to common everyday tasks were recorded for analysis.

Over a three and a half year follow up period, 71 participants developed Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers determined that those individuals in the bottom 10 percent of daily physical activity were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease compared to those in the top ten percent. Further, the scientists found that those in the top ten percent as rated by physical intensity were nearly three times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s dementia, as compared to the lowest intensity group.

Dr. Buchman concluded “Our study shows that physical activity, which is an easily modifiable risk factor, is associated with cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.” This study adds to the mounting evidence that Alzheimer’s disease can be prevented by adopting a lifestyle of healthy eating, stress-reduction, minimized exposure to pesticides and toxins and engaging in daily physical activity.”

by John Phillip, naturalnews.com

I just listened to a great video on making a Fast Non-Dairy Alternative in 20 seconds. Markus Rothkranz sent it to me in an email. It is very informative and tells why we should not have any cheese or dairy products and what to eat instead. It was so interesting and informative, that I took notes. Here they are with a link to the video at the end. Read on……..

“Countries consuming the most milk products have the highest rate of degenerative bone disease, like osteoporosis, heart disease, breast cancer, colon cancer, allergies, asthma, lung problems, sinus issues, diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

In a Harvard study of 72000 people over 12 years, those who drank the most milk had the most bone fractures than those who drank very little.

Dairy products have been directly related to heart attacks and strokes. When people are autopsied, they cut open the heart and all this white thick goo pours out. Guess what it is? Calcium plaque. All animal products lead to fat and cholesterol deposits in the arteries and heart. Nothing clogs your intestines faster than cheese and dairy. They are glue!

Cows milk contains higher  levels of saturated fat than humans milk meaning cholesterol and blood circulation problems in babies and adults. When a human drinks cow’s milk, only half the protein is used. The rest becomes foreign proteins in the body and foreign proteins are the number one cause of all disease in humans. Milk does not put calcium in your bones. It does the opposite. It pulls calcium from your bones and makes them weak, soft and  brittle. The calcium in cows milk or cheese is not the same as the calcium from organic plant sources like leafy greens and that is where cows get there calcium from! That is where you should be getting your calcium leafy greens and hemp milk.

Hemp Milk Recipe
1 c hemp seeds
1 1/2 c water (1:1 is cream)
blend

This has to be the fastest milk alternative there is. It’s super easy and super good for you. High in protein and essential fatty acids like omega 3,6,9, lots of fiber and calcium. Markus Rothkranz shows you how to use hemp seeds (no not THAT kind) to make super healthy milk super fast, in about 20 seconds.”

Watch the video here.

This is the second time I have blogged about selenium but this is such an important reason: Protect yourself against cancer! “Selenium disrupts the carcinogenic process early and helps prevent tumors from forming. It inhibits DNA mutations and functions as an antioxidant.” This is great information! Read on…..

“In a recent radio interview, Doctor Peter Glidden, N.D. (naturopathic doctor) disclosed that a daily intake of 200 mcg of selenium produces an effective protection against cancer. He wondered aloud why this information is not part of public knowledge in the “War against Cancer.”

He pointed out that several standard randomized double-blind placebo trials over several years have shown that breast cancer risk is reduced by 82% with a daily intake of just 200 mcg of selenium. The same dosage reduced colon and rectal cancer by 69%, prostate cancer risks were reduced by 54%, and even lung cancer risks were reduced by 39% for the trial that included smokers.

Selenium disrupts the carcinogenic process early and helps prevent tumors from forming. It inhibits DNA mutations and functions as an antioxidant.

Though recognized only recently (1957) as an essential trace mineral, it has also been discovered to promote thyroid functioning by converting stored thyroid T4 hormones into active T3 hormones, something a properly functioning endocrine system requires.

Endocrine balance is also part of cancer prevention, especially for breast and prostate cancers. So it’s obvious why selenium has shown the greatest promise as a preventative for both types.

Best selenium sources and amounts

Plant sources are safer than the several seafood sources of selenium. But most topsoil is mineral deficient because of the prevailing poor monoculture large scale farming practices. This has been known since the 1930s.

Processed Big Ag foods will have lower selenium contents, among other nutritional deficiencies. Smaller scale organic farming does treat topsoil well enough to foster higher mineral contents, another reason to go with unprocessed organics.

Many consider Brazil nuts an excellent source of accessible food based selenium. Brazil nuts also contain healthy fats and sufficient vitamin E to assist the selenium’s optimum functioning. In addition, Brazil nuts are high in magnesium, another extremely vital mineral lacking in our topsoil. Magnesium is involved in over 300 metabolic processes, qualifying it to be considered the master mineral.

The RDA (recommended daily allowance) for selenium is 50 mcg. Just one Brazil nut will provide more than that.

But the RDA isn’t enough, as usual, especially for functioning as a cancer preventative. The trials mentioned above used 200 mcg of selenomethionine as a supplement daily for several years. Considering a high average of 100 mcg of selenium from the subjects food sources, this brought the total to 300 mcg of selenium intake daily.

This 300 mcg amount is also the very conservative recommended upper limit of daily selenium intake, above which is considered a risk for toxicity. Some upper limit panel members considered 800 mcg the break point for toxicity. But a conservative mean was agreed upon at 300 mcg.

Two or three Brazil nuts a day with a mostly organic diet should serve one well.

Other good organic plant sources include wheat germ, oats, sunflower seeds and mushrooms. Eggs and poultry are also good selenium sources. Tuna, salmon, shrimp, and halibut are good sources of seafood selenium.

But when it comes to seafood, let the buyer beware. Mercury and PCB levels can be high depending on the water source. Fukushima makes the Pacific scary; The Gulf of Mexico is contaminated, and farm-raised fish tend to be contaminated from crowded conditions and by what they’re fed.

While you maintain adequate selenium levels, make sure you keep up your zinc levels up too. Zinc and selenium combined offer many benefits, including higher cancer protection.”

by PF Louis, naturalnews.com

Wow! This is scary! Fabric softeners and dryer sheets causing health hazards. “Many fragrances used in dryer sheets are considered toxic to humans, reports The Guide to Less Toxic Products; and may contribute to developing cancer, asthma, kidney, and brain damage.” Spread the word! What I like most about this article is that they give alternatives. Read on….

“Fabric softeners are meant to soften synthetic fabrics and reduce static cling. Most standard fabric softeners and dryer sheets contain noxious scents and chemicals such as quarternary ammonium compounds, which release toxic chemicals like formaldehyde into the environment. Formaldehyde causes a variety of serious allergic reactions including rashes, respiratory conditions and neurological disorders. Even eco-friendly fabric softeners are loaded with chemicals and fragrances that may cause a unacceptable reactions and may have a negative impact on your health.

Formaldehyde-free doesn’t mean safe

Although newer, “green”, products no longer include formaldehyde-containing chemicals, they are infused with other dangerous ingredients such as alpha-terpineol, camphor, benzyl acetatelimonene, ethyl acetate, pentane, benzyl alcohol, and chloroform. These products may help reduce static cling in your clothes, but at what cost? They also contribute to a long list of potential serious health problems ranging from nausea, vomiting, asthma, allergic skin reactions, liver and kidney disease, cancer and central nervous disorders, notes the Guide to Less Toxic Products, the website of the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia. Long-term use of fabric softeners and dryer sheets may contribute to chronic chemical over-exposure, building up slowly in the system, according to the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.

Allergic reactions

Use of laundry softeners may produce a variety of skin problems and the user may not recognize that they are related to exposure to dryer sheets. Itching, yeast infections, hives, rashes, cracking and dryness are all possible side effects from exposure to the topical effects of fabric softeners. In May 2000, Anderson Laboratories released a study in the “Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health,” reporting that five common products used in dryer sheets emit the the chemicals styrene, phenol, toluene, thymol, xylene and trimethylbenzene. The study was performed on mice, and indicated that their entire upper respiratory systems were compromised, limiting airflow and normal respiration.

Fragrance fog

Many fragrances used in dryer sheets are considered toxic to humans, reports The Guide to Less Toxic Products; and may contribute to developing cancer, asthma, kidney, and brain damage. Other symptoms resulting from the fragrances used in all fabric sheets including eco-friendly brands, include headaches, coughing, dizziness, vomiting, and a range of upper respiratory difficulties. Artificial fragrances have a potent effect on the nervous system potentially causing depression, hyperactivity and other behavioral problems. Chemical additives including fragrances can be especially harmful to children and unborn fetuses.

Alternatives

Options besides commercial dryer sheets are available for reducing static cling in fabric and offer a safer way to do the laundry. Dry natural fabrics separately from synthetics. Natural fibers don’t develop static. Don’t allow clothes to dry completely in the dryer. Remove them while they are still slightly damp and hang them on the line to finish drying. The longer they remain in the dryer, the more static is developed. Line drying helps to prevent this from occurring. Green America suggests pre-soaking clothes in 1/2 cup of baking soda for 10 minutes if you have hard water. Baking soda acts as a natural fabric softener. Use natural laundry soaps with soy-based fabric softeners. Chose products that are scent free and have no dyes to limit any influence these chemicals may have. Make your own dryer sheets by soaking a small cloth in 1 tsp. of hair conditioner and allow it to dry. Toss in the dryer with clothing to remove static. Add 1/2 cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle before the wash is completed to soften clothes. Use chemical-free dryer balls to fluff fibers and remove static cling.”

by JB Bardot, naturalnews.com

I love pineapple! However, bromelain is found in the stem of the fruit, not the fruit:(. Therefore, you need to get it through a supplement. “It has been linked to better heart and circulatory health, improvement in asthma and other breathing conditions and improved immunity.” Worth it? I think so!! Read on……

“You’ve probably heard of an enzyme found in pineapple called Bromelain. This enzyme is often used by itself as a supplement to aid in various ailments and boost general health. It is also added to natural digestion aids, anti inflammatory remedies, and general health supplements.

There are also quite a few additional health benefits that may be lesser known than its most common uses. It has been linked to better heart and circulatory health, improvement in asthma and other breathing conditions and improved immunity.

Improved blood circulation, heart health and breathing conditions

Bromelain is particularly known for being very efficient at breaking down proteins which accounts for its common use as a digestive aid. Fibrin is a protein that is used in the clotting and thickening of blood. Bromelain works as a blood thinner since it assists in breaking down this substance.

This means it may allow blood to flow more freely through the circulatory system. Thinner blood is associated with lower chances of stroke, heart attack, and other heart and circulatory issues.

Bromelain has also been linked to the improvement of breathing conditions that occur due to thicker mucus such as asthma. It has the same effect on mucus as it does on blood in that it thins the consistency. This makes it easier for asthma patients to breathe since the mucus is thinner and therefore not clogging their bronchial tubes.

Anti-inflammatory benefits

It is bromelain’s ability to keep blood thin and prevent it from clotting, as well as its anti-inflammatory properties that makes it a good supplement for bruise prevention. It is also thought to be a good supplement for swelling and redness.

For this reason it is often recommended after surgery to help ease the trauma caused by incisions or injections. Research also indicates that supplementing with 200 to 400 milligrams of bromelain per day can significantly ease the pain and discomfort associated with arthritis.

It has also been implicated in the improvement of certain inflammatory skin conditions. This could include acne, rosacea, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.

While most people think bromelain is found in the fruit of the pineapple, it is primarily found in the stem. This is why it may be preferable to buy a supplement if you are looking for the specific therapeutic benefits this enzyme can offer.

Bromelain implicated in improved immunity

In addition to the anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant properties bromelain exhibits in the human body, it has also shown promise as an immunity booster. Studies have indicated it may enable certain immunity enhancing receptors in the body.

This in turn may strengthen the immune response by enhancing the response of the body’s front line immune defense, T-cells. In other words the enzyme has an enhancing effect on the immune response already in place. It helps by enabling the other mechanisms to work more efficiently together and “communicate” better with one another.”

by Danna Norek, naturalnews.com

This is part two of GMO alert. Here is a list of the top 10: corn, soy, cotton, papaya, rice, tomatoes, rapeseed, dairy products, potatoes and peas. DO NOT EAT! Read on….

“There is a conspiracy of selling out happening in America. Politics and personal interest it would seem determine government policies over and above health and safety issues. When President Obama appointed Michael Taylor in 2009 as senior adviser for the FDA, a fierce protest ensued from consumer groups and environmentalists. Why? Taylor used to be vice president for Monsanto, a multinational interested in marketing genetically modified (GM) food. It was during his term that GMO’s were approved in the US without undergoing tests to determine if they were safe for human consumption.

The danger of GMO’s

The question of whether or not genetically modified foods (GMO’s) are safe for human consumption is an ongoing debate that does not seem to see any resolution except in the arena of public opinion. Due to lack of labeling, Americans are still left at a loss as to whether or not what is on the table is genetically modified. This lack of information makes the avoiding and tracking of GM foods an exercise in futility. Below are just some of the food products popularly identified to be genetically modified:

1. Corn – Corn has been modified to create its own insecticide. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declared that tons of genetically modified corn has been introduced for human consumption. Monsanto has revealed that half of the US’s sweet corn farms are planted with genetically modified seed. Mice fed with GM corn were discovered to have smaller offspring and fertility problems.

2. Soy – Soy has also been genetically modified to resist herbicides. Soy products include soy flour, tofu, soy beverages, soybean oil and other products that may include pastries, baked products and edible oil. Hamsters fed with GM soy were unable to have offspring and suffered a high mortality rate.

3. Cotton – Like corn and soy, cotton has been designed to resist pesticides. It is considered food because its oil can be consumed. Its introduction in Chinese agriculture has produced a chemical that kills cotton bollworm, reducing the incidences of pests not only in cotton crops but also in neighboring fields of soybeans and corn. Incidentally, thousands of Indian farmers suffered severe rashes upon exposure to BT cotton.

4. Papaya – The virus-resistant variety of papaya was commercially introduced in Hawaii in 1999. Transgenic papayas comprised three-fourths of the total Hawaiian papaya crop. Monsanto bestowed upon Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore technology for developing papaya resistant to the ringspot virus in India.

5. Rice – This staple food from South East Asia has now been genetically modified to contain a high amount of vitamin A. Allegedly, there are reports of rice varieties containing human genes to be grown in the US. The rice will create human proteins useful for dealing with infant diarrhea in the 3rd world. China Daily, an online journal, reported potential serious public health and environment problems with genetically modified rice considering its tendency to cause allergic reactions with the concurrent possibility of gene transfers.

6. Tomatoes – Tomatoes have now been genetically engineered for longer shelf life, preventing them from easily rotting and degrading. In a test conducted to determine the safety of GM tomatoes, some animal subjects died within a few weeks after consuming GM tomatoes.

7. Rapeseed – In Canada, this crop was renamed canola to differentiate it from non-edible rapeseed. Food stuff produced from rapeseed includes rapeseed oi (canola oil) l used to process cooking oil and margarine. Honey can also be produced from GM rapeseed. German food surveillance authorities discovered as much as a third of the total pollen present in Canadian honey may be from GM pollen. In fact, some honey products from Canada were also discovered to have pollen from GM rapeseed.

8. Dairy products – It has been discovered that 22 percent of cows in the U.S. were injected with recombinant (genetically modified) bovine growth hormone (rbGH). This Monsanto created hormone artificially forces cows to increase their milk production by 15 percent. Milk from cows treated with this milk inducing hormone contains increased levels of IGF-1 (insulin growth factors-1). Humans also have IGF-1 in their system. Scientists have expressed concerns that increased levels of IGF-1 in humans have been associated with colon and breast cancer.

9. Potatoes – Mice fed with potatoes engineered with Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki Cry 1 were found to have toxins in their system. Despite claims to the contrary, this shows that Cry1 toxin was stable in the mouse gut. When the health risks were revealed, it sparked a debate.

10. Peas – Peas that have been genetically modified have been found to cause immune responses in mice and possibly even in humans. A gene from kidney beans was inserted into the peas creating a protein that functions as a pesticide.”

by Aurora Geib, naturalnews.com

This is scary!! I mean really scary because until we get labels on our food telling us it is genetically modified, we do not know what we are eating! I am blogging this in two parts because I really want you to read ALL of it. “Time and again, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) has warned that GMOs pose a serious threat to health, and it is no accident that there can be a correlation between it and adverse health effects. In fact, the AAEM has advised doctors to tell their patients to avoid GMOs as the introduction of GMOs into the current food supply has correlated with an alarming rise in chronic diseases and food allergies.” Read on……

“As early as 2008, NaturalNews.com reported about a condition called Morgellon’s disease. The article went on to report the symptoms of the disease as follows: crawling, stinging, biting and crawling sensations; threads or black speck-like materials on or beneath the skin; granules, lesions. Some patients report fatigue, short term memory loss, mental confusion, joint pain and changes in vision. Furthermore, there have been reports of substantial morbidity and social dysfunction leading to a dip in work productivity, job loss, total disability, divorce, loss of child custody and home abandonment.

Prior to its reporting, the condition was dismissed as a hoax, but upon further investigation, the evidence pointed out that the disease was real and may be related to genetically modified food.

Despite this link being established, the CDC declared Morgellon’s disease of unknown origin. Worse, the medical community could not offer any information to the public regarding a cause for the symptoms.

When a research study was conducted on fiber samples taken from Morgellons patients, it was discovered that the fiber samples of all the patients looked remarkable similar. And yet, it did not seem to match any common environmental fiber. When the fiber was broken down, and it’s DNA extracted, it was discovered to belong to a fungus. Even more surprising was the finding that the fibers contained Agrobacterium, a genus gram-negative bacteria with the capacity of transforming plant, animal and even human cells.

Morgellon’s disease is not the only condition associated with genetically modified foods. A growing body of evidence has shown that it may cause allergies, immune reactions, liver problems, sterility and even death. Moreover, based on the only human feeding experiment conducted on genetically modified food, it was established that genetic material in genetically modified food product can transfer into the DNA of intestinal bacteria and still continue to thrive.

Heeding the warning

Time and again, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) has warned that GMOs pose a serious threat to health, and it is no accident that there can be a correlation between it and adverse health effects. In fact, the AAEM has advised doctors to tell their patients to avoid GMOs as the introduction of GMOs into the current food supply has correlated with an alarming rise in chronic diseases and food allergies.

This should come as no surprise. More than 30 years ago a food supplement called L-trytophan killed 100 people and affected 5,000 to 10,000 more. The cause was narrowed down to the genetic engineering process used in its production. If the symptoms had not had three simultaneous characteristics – namely, they were unique, acute and fast-acting – the disease could never have been identified.

If science could assure us with certainty that serious consequences do not wait for us at the end of the line, it might be to our best interest to let this opportunity pass. Progressive thinking in terms of profit is certainly not wrong. But to brush off precaution on the convenient argument that there is not enough evidence to prove that GM food is indeed harmful is sheer irresponsibility. It certainly is a lame excuse to offer in the event that GM foods are indeed proven to contain health hazards.”

by Aurora Geib, naturalnews.com

Nothing new here but it SHOCKS me that there are people out there (the 1%) who really do not care at all about other human beings. Disgusting! Read on…..

“So what if cancer researchers have close financial ties to Big Pharma? Scientists have to disclose their associations with drug companies when they publish research in respected journals and they’d never let a little thing like financial ties influence how they interpret outcomes or run a study. Right?

Not exactly. In fact, a new analysis by University of Michigan (U-M) Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers just published in the online version of the journal CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, found that a very large number of clinical cancer studies published in well-known medical journals have financial connections to pharmaceutical companies. Most importantly, the study flat out concludes that conflicts of interest may cause some researchers to report results that are biased to be favorable to Big Pharma companies.

“Given the frequency we observed for conflicts of interest and the fact that conflicts were associated with study outcomes, I would suggest that merely disclosing conflicts is probably not enough. It’s becoming increasingly clear that we need to look more at how we can disentangle cancer research from industry ties,” study author Reshma Jagsi, M.D., D.Phil., assistant professor of radiation oncology at the U-M Medical School, said in a media statement.

Entanglements and alliances between clinical researchers and companies that make medical devices and medications have become increasingly complicated, especially in the face of more and more scientists competing for fewer and fewer federal research funds. Out of necessity, scientists have turned to financial support from Big Pharma. But apparently there could be strings – and lures – attached.

For example, many researchers get additional consulting fees and also end up owning a part of a drug company themselves, through stock purchases and/or by holding salaried positions within medical industries. In other words, they profit from sales if the very products and drugs they test do well.

You don’t have to be a business insider to figure out this type of conflict of interest should raise concerns and suspicions that research tied closely to industry might be biased and not designed to produce the most accurate test of medical therapies. That’s why most medical journals now require investigators to disclose all potential conflicts of interest in the studies and reviews they submit for publication.

But is voluntary disclosure enough? And does that somehow make a conflict of interest less likely?

Nearly one-third of cancer studies had financial conflicts of interest

To document how frequently conflict of interests in clinical cancer research might occur, Dr. Jagsi and colleagues reviewed cancer studies that were published in 2006 in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Lancet, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Lancet Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research and CANCER.

Out of the 1,534 cancer studies identified, nearly a third, 29 percent, had conflicts of interest that were, in fact, fairly obvious from a review of the published studies authors’ declarations and authorship lists (which included medical industry funding, consulting fees to the researchers, co-authorship by industry employees, etc.). Some 17 percent had direct industry funding. The conflicts of interest found most often, according to the current CANCER study, were in articles with primary authors from medical oncology departments (45 percent), who were based in North America (33 percent), and those with male first and senior authors (37 percent).

Perhaps the most disturbing part of the CANCER study was the fact randomized clinical trials that supposedly assessed patient survival were found to be more likely to report a survival advantage associated with a medical intervention (such as a prescription drug, diagnostic tests or new technologies) when a conflict of interest was present. This could have very serious consequences for patients because trials reported in prestigious journals are the basis by which various treatment modalities, including prescription drugs, get approved for use by clinicians.

Bottom line: studies steered to report a survival advantage where there might not really be one are unfairly and perhaps dangerously shaping the way oncologists treat cancer patients.

In addition, the findings also show medical industry-funded studies were more likely to focus on ways to treat than studies without industry funding (62 percent vs. 36 percent). They were far less likely than studies not hooked to medical industry funding to concentrate on epidemiology, prevention, risk factors, screening or diagnostic methods.

“In light of these findings, we as a society may wish to rethink how we want our research efforts to be funded and directed. It has been very hard to secure research funding, especially in recent years, so it’s been only natural for researchers to turn to industry. If we wish to minimize the potential for bias, we need to increase other sources of support. Medical research is ultimately a common endeavor that benefits all of society, so it seems only appropriate that we should be funding it through general revenues rather than expecting the market to provide,” Dr. Jagsi said in a statement to the media.”

Source: “Frequency, nature, effects, and correlates of conflicts of interest in published clinical cancer research.” Reshma Jagsi, Nathan Sheets, Aleksandra Jankovic, Amy R. Motomura, Sudha Amarnath, and Peter A. Ubel. CANCER; Published Online: May 11, 2009 (DOI 10.1002/cncr.24306) Print Issue Date: June 15, 2009.

by: S. L. Baker, naturalnews.com

I couldn’t agree more with Mike Adams. “If you focus on what you don’t want, you will get it. If you focus on what you do want, you will get it”! I have been away from the news for about 2 months now. I am happier and much more focused on what makes me happy. There is no interference from the negative news. When I return to the news world, I will NOT take part but continue to focus on the here and now and the positive! Read on….

“Do you agree with this statement? Government has no business telling us what to drink, what to eat, what kind of medicine we should take, what to smoke, what to farm, or how to run our private lives.

These are all elements of individual liberty or what you might call personal freedom. They are all part of the bigger push to get Big Government off our backs and out of our lives. But do the people who call for individual liberty really believe in it themselves? Or are they carrying around a sharp contradiction in their own beliefs?

Consider the following statements:

If people want to ride a motorcycle (or a bicycle) without a helmet, that’s their own business.

If parents want to avoid having their children vaccinated, that’s their own business.

If people want to smoke a doobie in their basement, that’s their own business.

If a dairy farmer wants to milk a goat and sell the milk to his neighbor, that’s their own business.

If people want to grow an organic garden in their front yard, that’s their own business.

If someone wants to eat so much salt, sugar and aspartame that their colon falls out and they have to call an ambulance, that’s their own business.

If someone wants to drive down the highway without wearing a seatbelt, that’s their own business! (But no one else should be liable for their injuries if there is an accident, right?)

If a group of young girls wants to sell cookies or lemonade on the sidewalk, let ‘em do it. It’s their own business!

If a West Virginia farmer wants to grow a hundred acres of hemp weed and use it to make hemp seeds, hemp oils and hemp clothing, that’s his own business!

If a citizen bystander wants to video record the police making a traffic stop, and it’s all taking place on public property, then that’s his own business! (Hey, the cops say they can record US all the time, right? That we have no presumed right to privacy on public property…)

If a guy wants to buy a ranch rifle and shoot empty soda cans on his farm in Massachusetts, that’s his own business!

Are you carrying a freedom contradiction?

And if you agree with all that, then let me hit you with this brain-bender: By principle you must also agree that whatever two people want to do in their own homes or bedrooms is also their own business, as long as it’s consensual. It doesn’t matter what their sexual orientation is or even whether money changed hands. While it’s not something I personally condone or participate in, all that is still their own business!

See, the thing about freedom is that if you demand freedom for yourself, you must also tolerate it for others. If you say “get the government out of our lives!” then to be consistent, you have to mean it for everybody else, too — not just for you or those you happen to agree with. Freedom means freedom for all, including those with which you disagree, as long as they aren’t harming others in the process. Freedom can’t be selective.

And here’s the philosophical contradiction in the liberty movement today: Too many of those who say they want the government out of their lives on issues like vaccines, parenting and local farm food are the very same people who demand government intervention on issues where someone else lives by a different moral code than their own (or a non-existent moral code, in some cases). Same-sex marriage, prostitution, abortion, recreational drug use… you name it. Suddenly the call for liberty becomes something far less noble: a demand for moral conformity administered via an all-powerful government. This is exactly what gives rise to government tyranny! Because any time you call for government to intervene in the lives of others with which you disagree, you also empower that same government with the power to rule over your own life.

So you see, when you call for government to get involved in criminalizing the things you might strongly disagree with — pot smokers, abortion, prostitution or anything else — you are by definition demanding that government grow its power in order to enforce your own moral code onto others.

And that’s not freedom. It’s just tyranny disguised as moral conformity. Because sooner or later, all that government power gets turned against YOU.

For the record, I am a person raised on Christian values. I am opposed to the act of abortion but at the same time I do not believe I have any moral authority to force that view upon others. I don’t visit prostitutes, I’m obviously not into same-sex marriages, and I have never used recreational drugs. (That’s right: never.) But for people who choose those things for themselves in the privacy of their own homes or hotel rooms, I am bound by philosophical consistency to declare that’s their own business! And why? Because I don’t want them getting all up in MY business! (I must respect their choices if I ask them to respect my choices.)

Stay out of my business and I’ll stay out of yours

I raise dairy goats and backyard chickens. Some people don’t like that. I target practice with a ranch rifle on a Saturday afternoon. Some people don’t like citizens owning firearms. I don’t mow my yard because I prefer to see wildflowers growing everywhere. Some HOA-type “yard police” think everybody’s lawn should be sprayed with herbicides and be completely free of dandelions. I think that’s insane, but HOA enforcers think it’s nice and neat.

In so many areas of my own life, I strongly diverge from what a lot of mainstream people might choose for themselves. I like to hang laundry out to dry on clotheslines. I walk around in the sun with my shirt off. I urinate on my fig plants, right out in the open, because nitrogen is good for plants. I grow oddly-shaped gardens that don’t put plants in neat little rows (because rows are not the most efficient way to garden, it turns out). Some of this annoys people — especially the “white picket fence” conformist types who tend to rule local homeowners associations like little Nazi tyrants.

I don’t want a bunch of whiny neighbors calling government authorities and trying to pass laws that require me to conform to their narrow-minded opinions on lawn care and property appearance. I don’t want a law that requires me to mow my lawn, quiet my chickens and sell my goats, and I don’t want to be arrested for “indecent exposure” just because I’m watering a fruit tree with my fly unzipped. And why? Because all this is none of their damn business!

You keep the government out of MY business, and I’ll support keeping the government out of YOUR business.

That’s liberty, my friends. It doesn’t mean everybody in the world lives the same way you do. It doesn’t mean everybody follows a moral code. It just means that each person has the freedom to choose their own path and their own consequences as long as they don’t harm anyone else in the process. Government has no business legislating morals or criminalizing consensual behavior among people who aren’t directly harming someone else.

(Where should government get involved? When somebody is being harmed, of course. That’s where government intervention comes into play. This argument can logically be made for government intervention on the abortion issue, actually, as an unborn baby is still a living human being. That’s a reasonable and valid argument that should be deeply considered. But as I said above, I do not believe that my own views on this matter should be forced upon anyone else, especially not by government. Regardless of my own view on the abortion issue, I am bound by philosophical consistency to respect other peoples’ views on this matter, even if I personally disagree with them. That is the essence of liberty: Tolerance.)

I may not like the way everybody in my community lives their own life, but tolerating their differences is far, far better than having an oppressive, tyrannical government that demands we all conform to its whims. After all, a government quickly becomes immoral and sooner or later ends up mandating unacceptably evil behaviors (such as requiring parents to have their children vaccinated against their will).

Tolerance is liberty, my friends. To the extent that we tolerate other people living in ways that might be different from what we would choose, we earn our own right to live our own lives as free people who make our own decision as well. Now, obviously, we can help teach morals and ethics to those around us so that they make better decisions about avoiding substance abuse, avoiding self-destructive behavior and spiritually growing into better people. But we cannot mandate such things at the end of a gun. Nor do we have any right to hire a group of other people (the government) to serve as proxies to enforce the same conformist agenda.

What are you thinking right now?

Check your own mind right now. Are you reacting to this story and thinking that people who engage in activity you don’t morally agree with should be arrested or criminalized? If so, then you don’t really believe in freedom. You believe in tyranny. And that belief is the root of the tyranny we are witnessing across society today.

Look around you. You see the government running rampant across America? That tyranny is a reflection of the tyranny that still exists in the hearts of the people who still refuse to embrace the true philosophy of freedom — a philosophy that must be rooted in tolerance.

The lesson of this article, should you choose to accept it, is:
If you want freedom for yourself, you must first grant it to others.

And to the extent that you demand government-enforced conformity upon others, you enslave yourself under the same tyranny.”

Thanks Mike – great post!

Mike Adams, naturalnews.com