We have discussed the health benefits of walking, water exercises, rebounding, and yoga for cancer patients. Beyond that, there is a more profound discussion: your heart and lungs as the foundation of training.

Many people focus on the idea that muscles are a sign of strength; bodybuilders and weightlifters are muscular, right?

While fitness buffs are outwardly prime examples of muscle-sculpting, inside, they equally try to maximize “cardio.” The focus is on four pillars: strength, cardiovascular fitness, mobility, and body composition. (More on these later from a “sculptor of the stars.”)

So, we're going to look at a couple of ways that cardio, the exercise, and cardio, the system, work within cancer patients. Key to both is the cardiovascular system – heart and circulatory system – and the respiratory system – lungs, mouth, nose, throat, voice box, and windpipe – which run in conjunction with each other.

Why is “cardio” – the joint effort of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems – so crucial to overall health, especially in cancer patients? Let’s first look at the why in light of problems that may arise from chemo and radiation.

If you are using a natural or integrative cancer treatment, the cardio workout aspect of your overall health already should be part of your daily routine.

In either case, cardio training is beneficial to your overall health. So, what are you waiting for?

What is cardiac toxicity?

Chemotherapy kills cancer cells. A side effect of chemo is healthy cell death, some of which may also be in and around the heart. When these chemicals damage the heart, it is called cardiac toxicity.

Examples of cardiac toxicity include:

Acute coronary syndrome – damage to blood vessels, which decreases blood flow to the heart, can cause a heart attack.

Cardiomyopathy – a weakened or enlarged heart muscle that may result in changes to heart rhythm or heart failure.

Congestive heart failure – the heart cannot pump enough blood throughout the body and may lead to a heart transplant.

Myocarditis – swelling of the heart that may lead to changes in heart rhythm or heart failure.

Pericarditis – inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart, which may cause heart failure.

What causes cardiac toxicity?

Anthracyclines – a type of antibiotic that comes from certain types of Streptomyces bacteria used to treat many types of cancer, including bladder, bone, breast, head and neck, kidney, leukemia, lymphoma, sarcomas, skin, and stomach. The chemo drugs that most commonly cause heart damage are anthracyclines: Cerubidine, Doxil, Ellence, Idamycin PFS, and Valstar.

Cyclophosphamide –an alkylating agent chemo drug that also can damage the heart. Cyclophosphamide is typically used to treat bone, breast, leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, ovarian, sarcomas, and skin cancers.

Targeted therapy – these drugs also can cause heart damage. Examples of targeted therapy drugs include Avastin, Herceptin, Nexavar, Sutent, and Tykerb.

Radiation therapy – Many breast, lung, and lymphoma cancer patients receive radiation therapy to the chest. This way, radiation can damage the vessels that bring blood to the heart.

Can cardio exercises help cancer patients?

In 2012, the University of New Mexico examined how exercise impacted cancer patients’ quality of life during treatment. The study involved data from 56 trials with 4,826 participants. The researchers reported the positive effects of exercise were more pronounced with moderate- or vigorous-intensity programs. [2]

A 2018 UK study of 33 unique trials covering 3,257 patients found that aerobic exercise improves prognosis and quality of life after chemotherapy. Four of the trials reported reduced chemotherapy toxicity. [3]

Obviously, more research is needed to determine the impact of exercise on chemotherapy. Still, we do know that cardio is a significant part of overall health.

Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of certain cancers and many other conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Weight-bearing exercises, like walking, help decrease the risk of osteoporosis. [4]

Exercise advice from a pro’s pro

If you’re a movie buff, the name Corey Calliet probably doesn’t come to mind. But if you’ve watched Michael B. Jordan in Fantastic Four, Black Panther, or Creed, you know Calliet’s work. He’s the man responsible for training Jordan.

“I got into fitness and nutrition because I wanted to look good for the girls,” Calliet admits. “My first want for training was the aesthetic part. I wanted to look good – abs, nice arms, good chest.”

Calliet initially set his sights on becoming a bodybuilder before deciding to have a more significant impact on the world at large. “I became addicted to [bodybuilding]. I found out I can change everything about my life by focusing on my body, my nutrition.

“Now, I look at myself as an artist, not a trainer,” he adds. “It’s a unique craft. A light bulb came on, and I started to transform people into what they want.”

Calliet says he is more than a trainer, noting to clients he’s also a friend, counselor, and therapist to clients. “People think the physical change is more important than the inside,” he says. “You have to change their heart, their mind, their soul. They have to commit.”

He also notes cardio is key to burning fat. He says your body uses stored glycogen to fuel your workout session. After weight training, a cardio workout will tap into fat for energy.

Calliet’s core training focus has three aspects:

Fasted Cardio – Calliet recommends 30 to 45 minutes of cardio in the morning before eating.

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) – incorporate weights, bands, or your own body weight. Do the exercises for 30 seconds, then rest 30 seconds. Rinse and repeat. The 30-on, 30-off process increases metabolism.

Cardio Post-Weight Training –30 to 45 minutes of cardio after weightlifting increases the potential for burning fat.

Basics of cardiovascular fitness

Your body adapts to the type of training you do. When the body gets into a routine, it is harder to achieve sustained results. Vary your cardiovascular activity!

Bike riding, swimming, speed walking, running can all be cycled weekly. Your workouts will be challenging and effective in keeping your body in motion.

A heart rate monitor is a crucial piece of equipment for dialing in your cardiovascular training. Try to exercise within 60-80% of your maximum heart rate to achieve the optimal physiological results.

Be sure to enjoy appropriate rest intervals. Set your exercise intervals and have a work:rest ratio of 1:4. If you sprint on a bike for 15 seconds, rest for 60 seconds.

Your body will adapt to your workouts. The goal is to work for more challenging sessions as time goes on.

Low-Impact Cardio Workout

Intermediate Cardio Workout

Advanced HIIT Cardio Workout

FAQs

The post Cardio workouts and cancer: Finding what works for you appeared first on Cancer Tutor.

Even though Linus Pauling won the Nobel Prize for his work on Vitamin C, it was WJ McCormick that was the first to propose the benefits of Vitamin C in the treatment of cancer even earlier in 1954. Despite the long history of the study of IV Vitamin C and cancer, the research on IV Vitamin C in the treatment of cancer continues. The use of IV Vitamin C in cancer is currently being studied at numerous sites across the United States, including the University of Iowa, Thomas Jefferson University, the University of Kansas Medical Center, and Johns Hopkins University, throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

Intravenous Vitamin C is a natural, yet extremely powerful tool to directly attack cancer and yes, kill cancer cells. In general, patients with cancer have been shown to have significantly depleted levels of Vitamin C compared to individuals without cancer — modern-day metabolic scurvy if you will. The scientific evidence for the use of IV Vitamin C as a treatment option and a treatment adjunct in cancer continues to grow.

In fact, it is my opinion that the evidence for the IV use of Vitamin C in cancer is so strong, it should be considered a mainstay in any and all treatment plans in the treatment of cancer. I would even use the mainstream medicine words standard of care in reference to IV Vitamin C in the treatment of cancer. Not standard of care as defined by mainstream medicine, what everybody is doing, but instead use the standard of care that results from the overwhelming evidence that supports its efficacy and safety. There are a lot of cancer treatments used on people every day that can’t meet the level of evidence available for IV Vitamin C.

Why not just use oral Vitamin C? This gets technical, but an important question to answer. The simple answer is pharmacokinetics. Pharmacokinetics is the study of the body’s absorption, distribution, metabolism and the excretion of drugs, which also includes vitamins/supplements. The perfect example is a very powerful antibiotic vancomycin. Oral and IV vancomycin have very different effects because of the different absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion properties of the IV and oral delivery.

It is not that one delivery method alone is outright better than another, but that the body processes the treatment therapy, drug in this example, which dictates and effects the therapy effectiveness. Pharmacokinetics can also apply to vitamins and in this case, Vitamin C. Know this next bit of information and you will know more than most doctors and empower your healing. Oral Vitamin C is limited by 2 significant factors.

First, Vitamin C has a maximum absorption rate of approximately 200 mg/hour. Most Vitamin C supplements far exceed 1,000 mg, let alone 200 mg. If one takes more than 200 mg oral Vitamin C, the vast majority of it is flushed out of the body not used. Second, and probably most important, oral Vitamin C has a very low peak plasma concentration, likely related to the first point. Oral Vitamin C will not raise plasma concentration significantly higher than 200 microMolar. The lowest plasma concentration that has been shown to be toxic to cancer cells is 500 microMolar with the target maximum cancer kill rate in the 10-20 millimolar range (see diagram to left from the riordanclinic).

In contrast, IV Vitamin C has been shown to reach peak plasma concentrations of 20-40 millimolar and higher. That is at least a 20,000 times higher peak plasma concentration with IV Vitamin C compared to oral Vitamin C. That is the power of pharmacokinetics. Pharmacokinetics is also the reason why 2 follow up studies (published in 1975 and 1985) to Pauling’s original 1976 research found no benefit from oral Vitamin C, yet the research on IV Vitamin C that has followed has repeatedly shown benefit.

Benefits of IV Vitamin C in Cancer

The fact that a natural therapy has such significant evidence to support its use is surprising to a lot of people. In fact, when you look at the evidence with IV Vitamin C, the volume actually dwarfs much of the research that pushes many prescriptions drugs today. The published evidence for the benefit of IV Vitamin C in cancer includes:

• Improved Quality of Life
• Increased overall survival
• Reduction in pain
• Increased energy
• Increased appetite
• Decreased cancer-associated inflammation
• Prevents cancer-associated sepsis
• Combats infections (viral, bacterial, fungi)
• Reduces side effects and toxicity of chemotherapy
• Reduces side effects and toxicity of radiation
• Augments the cancer kill rate of chemotherapy
• Augments the cancer kill rate of radiation
• Kills cancer cells
• Allows a decrease in the dose of chemotherapy, yet maintains the same cancer kill rate
• Improves surgery recovery time
• Reduces post-surgery pain
• May even decrease post-surgery cancer recurrence
• Kills cancer stem cells (CSC)

All this benefit and it is non-toxic to healthy cells.

Most importantly, the IV use of Vitamin C has repeatedly been shown to be safe at therapeutic dosing as high as 300 grams daily. How does that compare to your average chemotherapy, radiation, or surgical treatment for cancer? The safety, the increased quality of life and the increased overall survival alone are reasons all people battling cancer should receive IV Vitamin C. Any therapy that is safe, improves outcome, and reduces side effects should be an absolute must!

Is IV Vitamin C helpful in all cancer types?

Intravenous Vitamin C has been shown to be effective in both solid (i.e. brain, breast, prostate) and blood-borne cancers (i.e. leukemia, multiple myeloma) including:

• Brain (Glioblastoma)
• Ovarian
• Lung (Non-small cell lung cancer)
• Leukemia
• Pancreatic
• Breast
• Prostate
• Melanoma
• Liver
• Colon
• Bladder
• Neuroblastoma
• Multiple myelomas
• Sarcoma

Many of these cancers are the worst of the worst and many of the studies showing benefit are in advanced cancer (Stage III and Stage IV). The IV use of Vitamin C has even been shown to be beneficial in smoldering myeloma, the pre-cancerous state of multiple myeloma.

IV Vitamin C is not created equally for all cancers and is definitely not a one-size-fits-all approach. The patient size, tumor burden (amount of cancer present), metastasis or spread of the cancer, the type of cancer, the aggressiveness of the cancer, and whether the cancer is the primary presenting tumor or is recurrent all play a role in determining the dose and the frequency of the Vitamin C. In addition, levels should be monitored to ensure that optimal Vitamin C levels are obtained and maintained for each individual. These are some of the many reasons that IV Vitamin C therapy must be continuously monitored by someone knowledgeable in the use of IV Vitamin C therapy in the fight against cancer. The one-size-fits-all approach never works, and the use of IV Vitamin C in the treatment of cancer is no different.

Cancer is a metabolic disease

Cancer is a metabolic disease. Cancer is rarely a genetic disease. What genetic changes that exist in cancer are likely the result of the metabolic dysfunction. Dr. Lodi does not like the word disease, so let's look at that word and see why. “Disease” is an early 14th-century word that was more descriptive than diagnostic. According to the Etymology dictionary, the original meaning of the word disease meant discomfort, inconvenient, distress. The actual two root words are “dis” (without) and “aise” (ease) which gives the actual root meaning of disease as “without ease.” Interestingly, in the late 15th century the meaning of the word disease evolved to mean “to make ill.” Since traditional medicine treatments are the third leading cause of death, how can medicine not be called a means to make ill, a means to create dis aise, a disease itself.

The scientific literature really leaves little evidence for any other conclusion that cancer is anything but the result of metabolic distress. In fact, cancer is the body’s attempt to adapt, though this is a poor attempt, to the presence of a low oxygen environment, oxidative stress, and poor energy production. In the short-term, this adaptation pays dividends for survival, but in the long-term, this adaptation leads to the survival of very dysfunctional cells and what we know as cancer. The genetic defects often found in cancer are more often the result of massive metabolic dysfunction, than a foundational genetic defect. In many ways, genetic defects are the effect of rather than the cause.

I have had the pleasure of speaking at the same conference as Dr. Thomas N. Seyfried, author of Cancer is a Metabolic Disease. Dr. Seyfried is extremely well published on the mechanisms of the dysfunctional metabolism of cancer. His 2015 article Cancer as a mitochondrial metabolic disease, published in the Journal Frontiers In Cell and Developmental Biology, is a heavy, but very good read on the metabolic mechanisms behind cancer. In addition, Dr. Dominic P. D’Agostino at the University of South Florida spoke at the same conference on the use of the ketogenic diet in the management of metastatic cancer. Now, I have the opportunity to work with my good friend, Dr. Lodi, a pioneer in integrative oncology. These and other pillars in the cancer research community have helped to decipher the mechanisms behind the actions of IV Vitamin C in cancer and apply them to clinical practice. The combination of the knowledge of cancer metabolism and the mechanism and use of IV Vitamin C in cancer metabolism is a targeted, lethal combination in the fight against cancer.

To describe the mechanism of action of IV Vitamin C in cancer, I need to get a little technical so bear with me. Put on your thinking caps. Humans are one of several species that have lost the ability to make Vitamin C, hence what Vitamin C we have in our body comes through our diet and/or supplementation alone.  In addition, the human body has very limited capacity to store Vitamin C. This lack of productive capacity and lack of storage leaves most people with cancer with massive Vitamin C deficiency in what I call metabolic scurvy. One of the benefits of Vitamin C in the battle against cancer is that Vitamin C looks just like glucose.

Vitamin C is actually made from glucose by the enzyme gulonolactone oxidase. Humans lack this enzyme, which requires us to get continuous Vitamin C through our diet. As concerning as this enzymatic deficiency can be, this deficiency provides a silver lining in the fight against cancer. Cancer thrives in the typical glucose-rich environment of the western American diet. The elimination of simple sugars, excessive carbohydrates, and high process foods through the diet will starve the cancer of its primary fuel source — glucose. In the low glucose state induced by targeted nutrition plans, Vitamin C is readily taken up by the energy-starved cancer cells via the receptors SVCT1 and SVCT2 because of Vitamin C’s resemblance to glucose. In this case, Vitamin C is a stealthy metabolic time bomb for cancer cells. This is why nutrition is as much a part of treatment at an Oasis of Healing as the IV therapies are.

Is Vitamin C an antioxidant or a pro-oxidant?

Vitamin C, especially at the higher dosages, only obtainable through IV Vitamin C delivery, has been shown to be a potent pro-oxidant (not antioxidant) in cancer cells. It is this pro-oxidant activity of Vitamin C in cancer cells that generate high levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), such as H2O2, OH−, ·O2−, required to kill cancer cells. The key factor that separates cancer cells from healthy cells is that cancer cells lack certain enzymes, such as catalase and SOD, to handle these high ROS levels. Healthy cells retain appropriate catalase and SOD activity and are thus perfectly capable of handling the high ROS, hence Vitamin C functions as an anti-oxidant in healthy cells but as a pro-oxidant in cancer cells.

This high ROS presence in cancer then interacts with the high levels of Iron present in cancer cells and depletes the glutathione pool in the cancer cells. This leads to an intra-cellular oxidative stress death spiral within the cancer cells which triggers cell death (apoptosis) in the absence of the enzymes catalase and SOD. In addition, Vitamin C also behaves as an inhibitor of glycolysis. Glycolysis is a key pathway in the cell cycle of energy production and the primary mechanism of energy production in cancer cells. Vitamin C targets and blocks the activity of Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a key enzyme in glycolysis. This blockade of the GAPDH enzyme shuts down the cancer cells' favorite way to make energy. These functions make Vitamin C a potent anti-cancer therapy that leaves healthy cells unharmed. What a great combination and a novel concept!

Cancer Stem cells

Functional or integrative medicine is the new movement in medicine that seeks to identify the root cause(s) of dis aise for each individual. This movement is also a return to the roots of what a physician or doctor is — Docēre rāphè. Words have meaning and the historical meaning of the words provide perspective for a purpose. A purpose without a historical perspective is ripe for disaster. Rāphè is the Hebrew root word for physician which can be translated healer or “to heal.” Docēre is the Latin root word for the doctor which can be translated teacher or “to teach.” What is the historical perspective of a doctor? Of a physician? From a historical root perspective, a physician/doctor is one that teaches the body how to heal.

How is medicine doing in this historic mission to teach the body how to heal? As you might guess, not very good. Let the evidence speak for itself. According to data from the American Cancer Society, from 2013 to 2017, the number of deaths from cancer per year has doubled compared to new cases of cancer diagnosed over the same time frame. Despite all the new technologically advanced drugs and therapies that hit the market between 2013-2017, the diagnosis of cancer in 2017 was more terminal than a cancer diagnosis in 2013. That is an eye-opener and an indictment of the failure of physicians to hold to their historical calling—healers.

In the effort to find the root cause(s) of cancer to curb the disproportionate deaths from cancer to a diagnosis of cancer, Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) are the new frontier in cancer research and cancer therapy. Cancer Stem Cells are the ultimate back-up for cancer.  As the back-up, CSCs are thought to be the “root cause” of:

• chemotherapy resistance
• radiation therapy resistance
• treatment failure
• tumor recurrence
• metastasis

For those affected by cancer, Cancer Stem Cells may be the difference between winning and losing. Make no mistake about it, we are all in this fight to win!

What is a cancer stem cell exactly?

In general terms, stem cells are a class of undifferentiated cells that are capable, when signaled, to differentiate or change into specialized cell types. A lot of medical jargon I know; but specifically, in the case of cancer, cancer stem cells can be used as the ultimate back-up to reproduce the original cancer cells in all of its glory of metabolic dysfunction. It is the back-up of the worst metabolic kind of dysfunction in cancer instead of the optimal metabolic function of healing cells. Back-ups are often a good and required task for protection, but in this case, we would rather do without these back-ups. These cancer stem cell back-ups, if not destroyed, will lead to treatment failure and cancer recurrence. When cancer does recur from these cancer stem cells, it is more aggressive and progressive than the original cancer presentation. Cancer stem cells are a cancers secret weapon. It is the sequel that delivers in a very bad way.

Vitamin C and cancer stem cells

What does CSC’s have to do with Vitamin C? A recent study published in the journal OncoTarget helps to identify the connection. In this study, Vitamin C was found to induce oxidative stress and inhibit glycolysis (cell energy production using glucose) via the inhibition of GAPDH in cancer cells. This may not sound like anything new or exciting, as I highlighted this mechanism earlier, but cancer, metabolically speaking, has backed itself into a metabolic corner because of its metabolic inflexibility. Most view cancer as metabolically advantaged over healthy cells, but the exact opposite is true.

Healthy cells retain the metabolic flexibility to switch from glucose to protein, or even better fats, as the primary source of energy production as dictated by the environment. Cancer cells lack this metabolic flexibility, thus limiting a cancer cells ability to adapt to changing nutrient sources. This metabolic flexibility gives healthy cells the survival advantage over cancer cells if targeted therapy is employed to target cancer’s inflexibility and it’s sole reliance on glucose as a primary source of energy production. In the study, Vitamin C (at doses that can only be obtained through IV delivery) was found to kill CSCs. Vitamin C was compared to the experimental drug 2-DG and was found to be 10 times more potent than the experimental drug (2-DG) in killing CSCs. Remember that CSCs are the ultimate backup copy to provide regrowth of the cancer cells if needed. Kill the back-up, you forever kill the potential for recurrence. Other inhibitors of the CSC energy pathways found in this study were also Silibinin, an active component of milk thistle, and caffeine acid phenyl ester (CAPE) which comes from honeybee propolis.

Want more evidence?

A more recent study published in the journal Precision Oncology found that Vitamin C kills CSCs in the very aggressive Hepatocellular (liver) cancer. The reason? Cancer stem cells more readily absorbed Vitamin C because of its high uptake of Vitamin C compared to normal cells. This high uptake of Vitamin C occurred due to the high expression of the SVTC2 receptors (discussed above) on the CSCs compared to healthy cells or even cancer cells in general. It is one thing to have high plasma Vitamin C levels in the presence of high SVTC2 receptors, but starve the CSC’s of its primary energy source, glucose, and the perfect high demand situation is created. Couple this high demand with the high presence of Vitamin C in the plasma, which looks just like glucose, and the set up is in place for the perfect stealth delivery of Vitamin C. It is the perfect wolf in sheep’s clothing, but this time, in a good way.

A third study, published in the journal OncoTarget in 2017 found that IV Vitamin C was able to kill CSCs in those cancers that were found to be resistance to the antibiotic doxycycline. This well known and commonly prescribed antibiotic has been shown to be an effective therapy against CSCs in breast, ovarian, prostate, lung, pancreatic, melanoma, and glioblastoma cancers. Interestingly, doxycycline increases the sensitivity of CSCs to radiation and chemotherapy. Some cancers, however, can escape and become resistant to these effects of doxycycline. The use of IV Vitamin C in these doxycycline resistant cancers has been shown to be highly effective in killing CSCs.

These studies conclude that Vitamin C can be used to target cancer cells in the primary tumor, cancer cells in metastasis and the ultimate back-up — cancer stem cells (CSCs). In addition, Vitamin C also targets the cancer stem Cell’s energy pathways in the mitochondria as glycolytic inhibitors. The authors of the study published in the journal OncoTarget stated:

“Vitamin C may prove to be [a] promising agent for new clinical trials, aimed at testing its ability to reduce CSC activity in cancer patients, as an add-on to more conventional therapies, to prevent tumor recurrence, further disease progression, and metastasis.” 

I agree with the entirety of the statement, but ‘may prove’? How much evidence is needed? How much time is required? Vitamin C has been studied for its anti-cancer properties since its first proposed benefit in 1954! “Time reveals all truth”. Evidence and time have proven the truth of benefit of Vitamin C in the treatment of cancer.

Because of the presence of Cancer Stem Cells, the defeat of the primary cancer tumor is just the beginning of the battle against cancer. The battle must continue with lifestyle interventions to attack CSCs in the short-term and long-term to target a life-long, disease-free survival instead of just 5 years of disease-free survival. Disease-free survival is a traditional medicine term defined as 5 years without evidence of disease. What about 5 years and 1 day? What then?

A plan of attack that includes CSCs could help redefine the disease-free survival to 10, 15, 20 years and even beyond disease. It may even eliminate the use of the word disease as the focus of physicians in medicine, restore it to its original descriptive dis aise and restore physicians to their historical purpose — healing. If you don’t shoot for the stars, you will never reach the stars and beyond.

Learn more from Dr. Goodyear with this seven-part series at An Oasis of Healing

The post Vitamin C and Cancer: Why IVC exceeds norms appeared first on Cancer Tutor.

You’re active, you eat right, you do what’s right in regard to expert recommendations. … And the oncologist says you have cancer. Fact is, your job may have more influence on cancer than doing all the “right” things.

Scary, isn’t it?

Did you know:

• The International Association of Firefighters says cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters. Thirty years ago, firefighters were most often diagnosed with asbestos-related cancers. Today, the cancers are more often leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma.

Fire departments in Boston, Calgary, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Toronto all report elevated cancer rates. The most aggressive cancers were oral, digestive, respiratory and urinary.

Learn more

• Flight attendants get more breast cancer and melanoma – and non-melanoma skin cancer, uterine, gastrointestinal, cervical, and thyroid cancers are now seen at a higher rate in flight attendants. Air cabin crews receive the highest yearly dose of ionizing radiation on the job of all U.S. workers.

Among female flight attendants, the rates of breast cancer were about 50 percent higher than in women from the general population. Cancer rates in male flight attendants were nearly 50 percent higher for melanoma and about 10 percent higher for nonmelanoma skin cancers compared with men from the general population group.

Learn more

• A 2014 study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found people who spend more hours of the day sitting have up to a 66 percent higher risk of developing certain types of cancer than those who aren’t as sedentary. Dr. Graham Colditz noted, “It’s not enough to just be active – it’s also important to sit less.”

Sedentary behavior was associated with a 24 percent greater risk of developing colon cancer, a 32 percent higher risk of endometrial cancer, and a 21 percent increased risk of lung cancer.

Learn more

And what you do when sedentary can cause health issues. In 2009, researchers examined the link between blood pressure in children and their choice of inactive pastimes, including watching TV, using the computer and reading.

Of all the forms of inactivity they examined, television-viewing was the worst. It was linked to significantly higher blood pressure – the more TV kids watched, the higher their blood pressure – and the effect held true regardless of whether a child was heavy or at a healthy weight.

“These results show that sedentary behavior, and more specifically television-viewing, is related to blood pressure independent of body fat or obesity level,” said Dr. Joey Eisenmann, one of the study’s co-authors.

Importance of circadian disruption

In October 2007, 24 scientists from 10 countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France, to assess the carcinogenicity of shift-work, painting, and fire-fighting.

About 15-20 percent of the working population in the U.S. and Europe is engaged in shift work that involves night work, which is most prevalent (above 30 percent) in the healthcare, industrial manufacturing, mining, transport, communication, leisure, and hospitality sectors. Among the many different patterns of shift work, those including night work are the most disruptive for the circadian clock.

That study also found the incidence of breast cancer was also increased in female flight attendants, who also experience circadian disruption by frequently crossing time zones.

“Circadian rhythms are 24-hour oscillations that control a variety of biological processes in living systems, including two hallmarks of cancer – cell division and metabolism.”

Thales Papagiannakopoulos

More than 20 studies investigated the effect of constant light, dim light at night, simulated chronic jet lag, or circadian timing of carcinogens, and most showed a major increase in tumor incidence. No clear effect was seen for light pulses at night or in constant darkness.

A similar number of studies investigated the effect of reduced nocturnal melatonin concentrations or removal of the pineal gland (where melatonin is produced) in tumor development and most showed increases in the incidence or growth of tumors.

“The impact of environmental/physiologic factors on tumorigenesis remains poorly understood. A major consequence of a modern lifestyle is the disruption of circadian rhythms,” said Thales Y. Papagiannakopoulos, Ph.D.

“Circadian rhythm disruption by shift-work is associated with greater risk for cancer development and poor prognosis, suggesting a putative tumor suppressive role for circadian rhythm homeostasis. Circadian rhythms are 24-hour oscillations that control a variety of biological processes in living systems, including two hallmarks of cancer – cell division and metabolism.”

The link between sleep deprivation and cancer

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is part of the World Health Organization (WHO). One of its major goals is to identify the causes of cancer. The most widely used system for classifying carcinogens comes from the IARC.

Substances labeled as carcinogens may have different levels of cancer-causing potential. Some may cause cancer only after prolonged, high levels of exposure. And for any particular person, the risk of developing cancer depends on many factors, including how they are exposed to a carcinogen, the length and intensity of the exposure, and the person's genetic makeup.

In the past 30 years, the IARC has evaluated the cancer-causing potential of more than 900 likely candidates, placing them into one of the following groups:

• Group 1: Carcinogenic to humans
• Group 2A: Probably carcinogenic to humans
• Group 2B: Possibly carcinogenic to humans
• Group 3: Unclassifiable as to carcinogenicity in humans
• Group 4: Probably not carcinogenic to humans

Environmental factors can include a wide range of exposures, such as:

• Lifestyle factors (nutrition, tobacco use, physical activity, etc.)
• Naturally occurring exposures (ultraviolet light, radon gas, infectious agents, etc.)
• Medical treatments (radiation and medicines including chemotherapy, hormone drugs, drugs that suppress the immune system, etc.)
• Workplace exposures
• Household exposures
• Pollution

A person's risk of developing a particular cancer is influenced by a combination of factors that interact in ways that are not fully understood. Some of the factors include:

• Personal characteristics such as age, sex, and race
• A family history of cancer
• Diet and personal habits such as cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption
• The presence of certain medical conditions or past medical treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation treatment, or some immune-system suppressing drugs.
• Exposure to cancer-causing agents in the environment (for example, sunlight, radon gas, air pollution, and infectious agents)
• Exposure to cancer-causing agents in the workplace

Millions of U.S. workers are exposed to substances that have been tested as carcinogens in animal studies or found to be possibly carcinogenic in human studies. However, less than 2 percent of chemical or physical agents manufactured or processed in the U.S. have been evaluated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer for carcinogenicity.

Based on well-documented associations between occupational exposures and cancer, it has been estimated that 3-6 percent of all cancers worldwide are caused by exposures to carcinogens in the workplace. Using cancer incidence numbers in the U.S., this means that in 2012 (the most recent year available), there were between 45,872 and 91,745 new cancer cases that were caused by past exposure in the workplace.

15 jobs that can cause cancer

15 jobs that put you at a higher risk of cancer

The post Careers and Cancer: Your lifestyle may increase the risk appeared first on Cancer Tutor.

But did you know the modern keto diet has been around for almost 100 years?

In 1921, Dr. Russell Wilder at the Mayo Clinic first used the diet to treat epilepsy. He coined the term “ketogenic diet,” and for almost a decade, the diet was widely used until anticonvulsants (antiepileptic or antiseizure drugs) became commonplace.

What makes the keto diet so enticing to many is that when the body reaches “ketosis,” it burns fat instead of carbs, glucose – the primary energy sources for the body.

You’re probably thinking, “Whoa! A fat-burning diet is just what I need!” And since cancer cells need sugar for energy, shouldn’t every cancer patient embrace the ketogenic diet?

Maybe – and no. Much like a relationship status on Facebook, it’s complicated.

As we’ll discuss, there are pluses and minuses to the keto diet. Truth be told, every diet has its talking points (and things no one wants to talk about.) You should have a frank conversation with a doctor or nutritionist before starting any diet.

Also, not all low-carb diets are the same. There is research that shows different mortality rates between animal-based, low-carb diets and plant-based, low-carb diets.

You also will read several words that start with keto – ketogenic, ketones, ketosis, and ketoacidosis. It will be easy to skim past k-e-t-o – but beware, each of these words is different especially ketoacidosis.

Now, there is a pause for caution. The high level of saturated fat combined with strict limits on fruits, vegetables, and grains is not optimum for long-term heart health.

So, are you ready to learn more about the hubbub regarding the keto craze?

What to know about the keto diet

Dr. Rusell Wilder used a ketogenic diet in a series of patients with epilepsy. His premise was that the keto diet could be as effective as fasting and maintained for a longer time.

Between 1941 and 1980, textbooks on epilepsy in children included the ketogenic diet, which was used extensively in the 1920s and '30s. In 1972, Dr. Samuel Livingston reported on more than 1,000 children that he had followed during previous decades. His research showed 52% of the patients had complete control of seizures, while 27% had improved control. [1]

The Epilepsy Foundation details the keto diet for children.

“The ketogenic diet is a high fat, moderate protein, very low carbohydrate diet that promotes rapid weight loss,” notes Kristen Mancinelli, MS, RDN. “It consists of about 75-80% of calories from fat, 10-15% from protein, and 5-10% from carbs. This approach to weight loss has come in and out of favor over the years in line with ever-changing beliefs about the link between dietary fat intake, weight gain, and heart disease.

“We are now in a period where nutrition experts and policymakers are moving away from recommendations to lower fat intake and instead are advising individuals to reduce sugar consumption as a means to lose weight and promote optimal health.”

Your body’s primary fuel for energy is glucose. Glucose production comes from the carbohydrates we eat (bread, rice, pasta, sugar, certain fruits, and vegetables).

When you drastically reduce your consumption of glucose, the body starts looking for other sources of energy. It starts burning fat for fuel instead of glucose. Once your body starts running off of fat, it begins producing ketones and places your body in a state of ketosis.

What is ketosis

Ketosis is a metabolic state in which your liver produces ketones and burns fat for energy instead of glucose. It typically takes between 7-30 days after starting the diet for your body to be fully in ketosis.

Physicians can do a blood, urine, or breath test to find out if you are producing ketones. Blood work is the most reliable and accurate way to measure ketones. It measures the amount of beta-hydroxybutyrate in your blood, which for nutritional ketosis, the ketone levels should be between 0.5-3 millimoles per liter. [2]

Home blood, urine, and breath kits can be expensive but are available online.

Symptoms of ketosis

• Increased Ketones: can be measured at home or by your physician.
• Bad breath: with ketosis, more acetone leaves the body, which causes bad breath.
• Weight loss
• Thirst (water loss): ketosis can lead to dehydration, which can cause muscle cramps and spasms. It is essential to increase your consumption of water and keep hydrated.
• Change in sleeping habits (insomnia): this typically improves in a few weeks after adapting to the diet.
• Headaches: remain a common symptom when starting the diet, as your body is adapting to consuming fewer carbohydrates along with possible dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. It is essential to consult a doctor if your headache doesn't go away.
• Upset stomach and digestive issues: Some people experience constipation or diarrhea when starting the diet, but these symptoms should improve once adapted to the menu.
• Fatigue and weakness: this is, again, typically short term. Studies have shown an increase in focus and energy after adaptation. [3]

Misconceptions of the ketogenic diet

One of the most common misconceptions of the keto diet is confusing the term ketosis for ketoacidosis.

Ketosis occurs when the body starts using fat as the primary source of energy instead of glucose, and the liver begins producing ketone bodies. This is a normal metabolic state.

However, ketoacidosis can be very dangerous. It happens when the blood starts breaking down fat too fast, and the liver produces an extreme number of ketones.

This can become life-threatening because the blood will become acidic. It most commonly occurs in patients who have diabetes, severe alcohol abuse, and also has occurred in patients during lactation. [4]

Symptoms of Ketoacidosis:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Muscle stiffness or aches
• Headache
• Decreased alertness
• Rapid breathing
• Dry skin and mouth
• Frequent urination
• Fruity-smelling breath
• A thirst that lasts for a day or longer

Another common misconception is that you have to eat meat on a ketogenic diet. There are ways to keep a vegetarian and a vegan lifestyle and still do the keto diet as long as you get enough plant-based protein.

The ketogenic diet and the Atkins diet are commonly confused as being the same. They are both low-carb diets, but the keto diet focuses more on healthy fats and is more restrictive than the Atkins diet.

The Atkins diet is a modified version of the ketogenic diet. During the Atkins diet, there are four stages during which you gradually increase carbohydrate intake – so much so that you would no longer be in a ketosis state of metabolism.

Regarding low-carb diets (not to be mistaken with the ketogenic diet), studies have shown a long-term, animal-based, low-carb diet can increase the mortality rate. However, a long-term, plant-based, low-carb diet suggested a lower mortality rate. [5]

“Dietary carbohydrate intake and mortality: a prospective cohort study and meta-analysis,” a 2018 study led by Dr. Sara Seidelmann with Brigham and Women's Hospital, noted:

“Low carbohydrate dietary patterns favoring animal-derived protein and fat sources, from sources such as lamb, beef, pork, and chicken, were associated with higher mortality, whereas those that favored plant-derived protein and fat intake, from sources such as vegetables, nuts, peanut butter, and whole-grain bread, were associated with lower mortality, suggesting that the source of food notably modifies the association between carbohydrate intake and mortality.”

Keto and cancer

Ketogenic diets mimic fasting, and the body responds to the lack of glucose by producing ketones as a source of energy.

Anecdotal data from case reports and small clinical trials show some promise regarding ketolytic and glycolytic enzymes in treating brain cancer. [6]

Bottom line: How the ketogenic diet affects cancer needs more research, including more extensive clinical trials.

Two clinical trials – ERGO: A pilot study of ketogenic diet in recurrent glioblastoma and Modified Atkins diet in advanced malignancies – final results of a safety and feasibility trial within the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System – have posted results. [7, 8]

The ERGO study followed 20 patients with recurrent glioblastoma. The researchers suggested a keto diet can be safely applied to these patients. However, they noted additional research is necessary to clarify a possible role of the ketogenic diet for glioblastoma therapy.

The modified Atkins diet study recruited 17 advanced cancer patients who were not on chemotherapy. Eleven of the patients met the criteria for the study. The results showed steroid intake affected optimal ketone and glucose levels. Still, survival improved in some melanoma and lung cancer patients. On the modified Atkins diet, patients who lost at least 10% of their body weight responded the best. Again, further studies are recommended.

Pluses and minuses of the keto diet

Plus:

• Potential to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation for some cancer types [9]
• Creates an unfavorable metabolic environment for cancer cells
• Preclinical and clinical studies show benefits for the use of a keto diet in combination with standard therapies
• Enhances antitumor effects in patients doing chemo and radiation

Minus:

• Not enough human trials have been done [10]
• The diet is notoriously hard to stick to long term
• Many alternative therapies are not compatible with the keto diet
• It is not recommended as a standalone diet (for cancer)
• Can be easily confused with a low-carb diet if done wrong
• Some studies have shown it to accelerate specific brain cancer and certain leukemias

Doctors recommend keto diets in certain circumstances: help control Type 2 diabetes and reduce childhood epileptic seizures. There is limited evidence that a ketogenic diet may help keep extra pounds off, but other studies rebuff that idea. [11]

The ketogenic diet is not for patients with pancreatitis, liver failure, fat metabolism disorders, primary carnitine deficiency, carnitine palmitoyltransferase deficiency, carnitine translocase deficiency, porphyrias, or pyruvate kinase deficiency.

Remember: “Yo-yo” diets, the ones that lead to weight fluctuation, are associated with increased mortality. [12] Discuss your nutritional needs with a doctor to ensure a balanced diet with fish, fruits, lean meats, nuts, olive oil, seeds, vegetables, water, and whole grains.

A ketogenic diet is not just low carb; the key is that it’s a low insulin diet.

Implementing KD and the Importance of Calculating Macronutrients

Figuring out and tracking daily macronutrients is extremely important when starting a keto diet. Macronutrients – more commonly called macros – consists of the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins you consume daily. This will directly impact your ability to lose, maintain, or gain weight.

It also will affect whether or not you stay in ketosis, which is the point of a ketogenic diet.

BMR Calculator (Basal Metabolic Rate)

After you find out what your daily macronutrient needs are, you will need to start tracking your food with a macro tracker. Many great apps and websites can simplify this process. Below are a few apps that are user-friendly and compatible with your iPhone or Android.  

Carb Manager – Keto Diet app (Free; iPhone and Android compatible) 

The Carb Manager app helps you count and keep track of your macros. Some other features include a keto calculator, food diary, nutritional tracker, water tracker, and exercise tracker.

Keto.app (free with in-app purchase options; iPhone and Android compatible) 

The Keto.app app can count and track your macros, track custom meals, has a database of keto-friendly recipes, and connects to the Apple health app.

My Macros+ ($2.99; iPhone and Android compatible) 

The My Macros app can help track your goals by gram or percent, monitor weight, break down meals, track water consumption, and has a recipe database.

Dr. Linda Isaacs' perspective on the ketogenic diet

There are a wide variety of dietary recommendations available online, in books, or in practitioners’ offices, with different amounts of carbohydrates, fat, and protein, each purporting to be helpful to people in general and cancer patients especially. I frequently see patients who are completely confused about what they should eat. One unfortunate gentleman even told me that he had become afraid to eat, wondering if everything was poisonous, with detrimental effects on his weight.

My colleague of more than 20 years, the late Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez, and I have treated many patients over the years with nutritional protocols based on the work of William Donald Kelley, D.D.S. Dr. Kelley was a brilliant clinician and observer, who deduced that different patients needed different diets. Depending on their condition and their innate physiology, Dr. Kelley might put one patient on lots of fruits and a wide array of vegetables, along with whole-grain products, eggs, dairy, and fish, but no red meat or poultry. Another patient might be told to eat fatty red meat, with lots of butter and root vegetables, but minimal to no fruit, leafy greens, or grains.

The dietary recommendations Dr. Kelley gave to patients were on a spectrum between these two extremes. All diets, though, emphasized the use of unrefined and unprocessed organic foods, and all included some vegetable juice made predominantly from carrots.

For cancer patients, the type of cancer typically correlated to Dr. Kelley’s dietary prescription. Patients with carcinomas (including the most common types of cancer such as lung, breast, colon, prostate) were told to eat a more vegetarian diet, while patients with cancers of the immune system such as leukemias and lymphomas were placed on a higher fat diet.

Different diets: remarkable, documented results

With this system, Dr. Kelley got remarkable results, as detailed in Dr. Gonzalez’s book One Man Alone: An Investigation of Nutrition, Cancer, and William Donald Kelley. Since this was the case, in our work, we continued to give different diets to different people, along with individualized supplement protocols and detoxification routines. And we continued to see remarkable results, as detailed in our published articles and in the books Conquering Cancer, Volume 1 and Volume 2.

Dr. Kelley advised his patients not to eat white flour, white rice, sugar, and other refined products. Such foods, he warned, were empty calories, devoid of the minerals and vitamins needed to process them, stripped of the beneficial fiber that helped maintain a healthy gut. But in the last decade, the phrase “cancer feeds on sugar” has spread wildly online and has been used as a rationale to eliminate not only white sugar and white flour, but also carrots, whole grains, and other foods that had previously been considered healthy.

Cancer cells get their supply of nutrients from the blood, and it is not physically possible to get the blood sugar low enough to “starve” cancer.

Dr. Linda Isaacs

I believe this is an overreaction. I have patients who have thrived for many years, with cancers that should have killed them long ago, who have been drinking carrot juice and eating fruit and whole grain products the whole time. I have spoken with a patient treated by Dr. Kelley in 1975 for metastatic breast cancer, a condition incurable in orthodox medicine. She is alive and well more than 40 years later while eating a diet rich in carbohydrates. A draconian elimination of carbohydrates was not necessary for any of these patients.

Cancer cells get their supply of nutrients from the blood, and it is not physically possible to get the blood sugar low enough to “starve” cancer. The body fights hard to maintain blood sugar in a narrow range. If a patient eats no carbohydrates whatsoever, the protein in the diet will be turned into glucose; if a patient then eats no protein, the protein in the muscles will be turned into glucose. No matter what a patient does, cancer will still get its glucose.

Advocates of carbohydrate restriction may say that the benefits for cancer come about not by “starving cancer” but rather by preventing the elevation in insulin that is triggered by carbohydrate intake. Insulin spikes can be stimulatory to cell growth; the high sugar load of the Standard American Diet (SAD) causes high levels of insulin, which may lead to insulin resistance and elevated blood sugar (Type 2 Diabetes).

Overweight and obese patients are more likely to have such problems, and these patients should certainly take more care with their carbohydrate intake. But I routinely see new patients who are normal weight, or even underweight, who are terrified of eating a piece of fruit or whole grain bread because it will “feed cancer.” Their relief on being told to eat the fruit is palpable.

Teachings based on clinical observation

One concept I do believe is valuable in the teachings of the ketogenic diet advocates is intermittent fasting, which can be simply managed by not eating between dinner and breakfast the following morning, allowing an 11-12 hour window where no food is taken in. This is more typical of how our ancestors ate and how our bodies were designed to work. The gut uses this window to clean itself out. The Standard American Diet (SAD), which frequently involves an evening sitting in front of a screen munching snack foods, is not healthy.

The ketogenic diet is based on theory, along with studies done in cell cultures or laboratory animals in artificial environments. The cancer patient success stories I have read are unconvincing to me – they are few, short-term, and the patients were frequently combining the treatment with other modalities such as chemotherapy. Since I graduated from medical school, I have seen many treatment methods, orthodox and unorthodox, based on theory, that have not survived the acid test of proper investigation and clinical experience.

To their credit, the high-profile advocates of the ketogenic diet are pursuing such testing. I wish them well, and if they are successful, I will change my recommendations. But in the meantime, I will follow in the footsteps of Dr. Kelley, whose teachings were based on clinical observation, and who had the long-term success stories to back them up. And for you out there who are craving a piece of fruit, I suggest you eat it.

Dr. Linda Isaacs offers nutritional protocols for patients with many different conditions, or for those who wish to maintain their health. Learn more at http://www.drlindai.com/

Summary of science

Ketosis is a state of metabolism that, in normal physiology, responds to low glucose availability (low carbohydrate diets or fasting) and provides additional energy to the brain in the form of ketones. Thus, a ketogenic diet is high in fat, moderate to low in protein, and very low in carbohydrates. This ratio of macronutrients causes the body to burn fat instead of glucose to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP), otherwise known as energy, for the body.

In terms of cancer therapeutics, proponents of this regimen suggest that restriction of glucose leads to less energy production (via ATP) in cancer cells. This “energy sink” state is theorized to inhibit cancer growth and encourage cancer cell death. 

Pros: Animal studies using the ketogenic diet as a cancer treatment are promising, showing decreased tumor growth and improved survival rates. Clinically, the ketogenic diet has shown great success in controlling epileptic seizures.

As a complementary therapy – in addition to traditional treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, etc. – the ketogenic diet has shown promise in some cancers, with reduced tumor size, growth, and improvements in physical condition after 3 months of therapy.

Cons: There are few definitive, well designed clinical trials using the ketogenic diet as a cancer therapy. Additionally, there have been reports of the ketogenic diet accelerating the growth of certain leukemias and gliomas.

Conclusion

Although there are promising studies on the ketogenic diet, more research needs to be done. The keto diet has many contradictions and cannot be used in conjunction with most alternative protocols.

Anytime you are considering a dietary change, it is essential to speak with a physician, especially if you have cancer or other health conditions.

FAQ

Additional keto diet material

The keto diet and cancer: What patients should know. https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/cancerwise/the-keto-diet-and-cancer–what-patients-should-know.h00-159223356.html

Keto, Fat and cancer: It’s complicated. https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/center-news/2019/10/keto-fat-cancer-its-complicated.html

Ketogenic Diet for Beginners Made Easy: The Ultimate Guide to “Keto.” https://draxe.com/nutrition/guide-to-keto-diet-for-beginners/

What is Ketosis, and is it Healthy. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000320.htm

Diabetic Ketoacidosis. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-is-ketosis#section3

What are the differences between the keto and Atkins diets? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326324#similarities-between-the-diets

What are the signs of ketosis? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/32354410 Signs and Symptoms That You’re in Ketosis. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-signs-and-symptoms-of-ketosis

The post The Ketogenic Diet and Cancer appeared first on Cancer Tutor.

In today’s technology-filled world, we are surrounded by electromagnetic fields (EMFs), invisible energy fields that affect us up to 24 hours a day. With the growth of wireless technologies, there are more questions every day, with the main one being: Are they safe?

While the wireless companies and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) claim they are, there are more independent studies coming out confirming these fields carry severe health complications for society, as well as harm the environment. Moreover, further digging uncovers how corrupt the FCC is, and that the organization gave up its power to protect the people against EMFs a long time ago.

Since the wireless industry’s growth has not stopped but sped up, it is time to arm ourselves with the knowledge to protect our families.

What we know today is that the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified EMFs as “group 2 carcinogenic: a possible carcinogen to humans,” based on studies that link cellphone use to brain cancer. Some scientists say this is not enough and urge WHO to change EMFs to a “group 1: carcinogenic to humans.”

“The evidence indicating wireless is carcinogenic has increased and can no longer be ignored,” stated Dr. Anthony B. Miller, professor, cancer researcher and long-time advisor to WHO.

But it is not just cellphones we need to be concerned about and the issue is associated with many diseases besides cancer. It is time to study the facts.

Introduction

Since the 1990s, the growing popularity and technological evolution of cellphones have brought an increasing concern for health issues related to the electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation they emit. From warnings against carrying phones in our pockets due to risks of infertility to recommendations on limiting daily cellphone use because of brain cancer risks, concerned consumers and activist groups have tried to warn society of the potentially high price we are paying to have and use this technology.

For the companies manufacturing smartphones and other smart devices (electronic devices that connect to the internet via Wi-Fi, 3G or other wireless protocols) this is largely about making money while avoiding and often purposely hiding the dangers.

Today, there are two opposing forces that are changing our technology-filled world. On one hand, the Tech Giants are pushing more smart devices to the average consumer. What started with smartphones and Smart TVs became an agenda for Smart Homes, creating an environment that will be fully run by and integrated with technology.

If having EMF radiation emitted from your cellphone, tablet, laptop, Smart TV, and Wi-Fi router is a huge health concern, can you imagine what happens if all of the home devices will be connected to a wireless network? If Smart Homes succeed, you will be able to access your fridge while out shopping to see if you ran out of eggs. While it may be convenient for some people, the price for this convenience is more than anyone has bargained for.

That’s why there is a second opposing force to this — scientists, doctors, consumers, and health activists who are trying to warn people about the damaging effects of this technology.

Brain cancers are on the rise, especially in children between the ages of 4 and 10 years, and their link to phone use is becoming impossible to ignore. Just last year Joel Moskowitz, Director and Principal Investigator at the Center for Family and Community Health at Berkeley’s School of Public Health, has revealed that the university was hiding scientific research linking cellphone use to brain tumors and infertility (the two biggest concerns discussed when it comes to cellphones).

Moskowitz confirmed the wireless industry goes to great length to keep this kind of information out of the public eye. He also said that it reminds him of other truths that were hidden from the consumers for a long time in the past.

“They've done a very good job at [hiding it], essentially following the same playbook that the tobacco industry used,” Moskowitz said.

Until the truth about cellphones and smart, wireless technologies is fully out in the open, there are many trustworthy sources (experts such as Dr. Devra Davis of Environmental Health Trust and Director of the Center for Family and Community Health at UC Berkeley Joel M. Moskowitz, Ph.D.) to use to arm yourself with information on the dangers of EMFs and how to protect yourself, your home, and your family.

What is EMF radiation?

EMFs are electric and magnetic fields. Electric fields are created due to the high and low voltage; magnetic fields are created with various electric currents. Invisible to the naked eye, EMFs are present everywhere in the environment from natural sources such as from thunderstorms. What is a growing problem is a high concentration of these fields from man-made sources: X-rays, cellphones towers, and Wi-Fi enabled technology. EMFs have various wavelengths and frequencies; higher frequency corresponds to shorter wavelength or distance. Every one of them has a different effect on the human body, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and they affect our pets and wild animals as well.

Both electric and magnetic fields are stronger closer to their source, which is why it is dangerous to live close to a cell tower or to place Wi-Fi routers in the bedroom or to keep a cellphone next to the head when sleeping. The farther we are from these EMF sources, the safer we are.

Different types of EMF radiation

Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) varies from low to high frequency. There are extremely low frequency (ELF) fields with frequencies up to 300 Hz, intermediate frequency (IF) fields – between 300 Hz to 10 MHz, and radiofrequency (RF) fields. The effect of these fields on human health depends on the level, type, and duration of exposure. The magnetic field is often measured in microtesla (µT) units or in Gauss (G). [1 Gauss is equal to 100 Microtesla].

ELF fields are created by electrical power supply and appliances; RF fields are created by cellphones, television, radio, and even microwaves. Bluetooth enabled-devices (used to provide communication between these devices) also create RFs, between 2.4 GHz and 2.4835 GHz, just like a microwave.

From the longest to the shortest wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum, the sources are:

• subways systems
• power lines
• computer monitors
• ultrasound
• radio
• television
• cellphones
• airport full-body scanners
• microwave and satellites
• Bluetooth
• Wi-Fi
• GPS
• (RFID can use low, high, and ultra-high frequencies)
• Suntan beds
• Dental Curing devices
• X-rays
• PET Scans

Everything before suntan beds is considered to be non-ionizing radiation, everything after ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation ionizes the molecules in the body, therefore setting electrons free. This has a potential to damage DNA. What about non-ionizing radiation? While many government agencies say there is not enough evidence to show harm, many scientists are proving them wrong.

Microwave energy between 30-300 GHz (which is non-ionizing) is used as a mainstream cancer “treatment,” which we know has its side effects and negatively affects the cells, and it doesn’t differentiate between healthy cells and cancer cells. According to a study published in the International Journal of Oncology, these non-ionizing EMFs have “multiple biological effects.”

While all EMFs are harmful in some way, knowing the frequency of radiation is important when analyzing the risks. Power lines, for example, were one of the first ELF sources to blip on the radar of public concern. They can measure at 20 µT when standing right underneath them. As early as 1979, researchers have pointed out there is a possible link between living near power lines and leukemia in children. Another study has found that any long-term exposure higher than 0.4 µT can potentially double the risk of leukemia. (This was later confirmed by the International Agency for Research of Cancer (IARC), a subsidiary of WHO).

Even without power lines, EMFs at home can easily reach 0.2 µT, and the number will keep growing based on how many new smart technologies we are introducing. And let's not forget the new 5G cellphone towers are coming soon.

In big cities, there are even more challenges and EMF hazards. For example, in Vancouver, there is the Cathedral Square Park which stands above an underground substation. Anyone walking in the park is exposed to radiation between 0.2 µT to 10 µT – way above the radiation levels linked to leukemia. Can you imagine that some parents might take their children to this park on a regular basis without any idea what it is doing to their health?

Then walking back home, they are exposed to cellphone towers, and then at home to EMFs from different devices.

How is this permitted? Sadly, most official safety guidelines are based on outdated science that does not even come close to predicting the increasingly negative effect all of the new technology brings.

Besides the ELFs, IFs, and RFs, many devices at home produce thermal radiation: radiation emitted by all objects with a temperature above absolute zero. Thermal radiation often leads to burns, sometimes bad enough to require hospital treatment.

According to a study published by Hindawi regarding Case Reports in Emergency Medicine:

Aerodigestive tract burns represent a rare but potentially devastating injury pattern throughout the world. Although the majority of these injuries do not require intervention, these burns have the potential for poor outcomes. Traditionally this disease has been caused by superheated gases found in explosions or fire-related injury. However, as technology advances, it brings novel methods for an injury that require physician awareness of potential hazards. We describe a case of laryngeal and esophageal thermal burn caused by a microwave heated food bolus.

Cancers are the first concern when it comes to EMFs, followed by fertility issues. But there are many more health problems that are not often talked about.

Health risks of EMF-emitting technology

It has been well-established that short-term exposure to high levels of EMFs above 100 µT is dangerous, but now scientists are coming to a conclusion that there is no safe limit of EMFs when it comes to long-term exposure of at least 10 years.

In 2012, the BioInitiative Working Group (BWG) released a 1,557-page report on low-frequency EMFs and their health dangers based on the work of many independent scientists, researchers, and experts in this field. The main reason for all of the health issues, as they explain in detail, is because humans are “bioelectrical systems.” Our bodies are functioning based on internal bioelectric signals and artificial EMFs can disrupt any and all of the body’s normal processes.

“There may be no lower limit at which exposures do not affect us. Until we know if there is a lower limit below which bioeffects and adverse health impacts do not occur, it is unwise from a public health perspective to continue “business-as-usual” deploying new technologies that increase ELF and RF exposures, particularly involuntary exposures,” the report concludes.

Involuntary exposure includes inserting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities in devices that one may not need connectivity for: like cameras and television sets, not to mention refrigerators. It also includes cellphone towers that can be put up close to someone’s home without their knowledge of the potential health risks.

It’s bad enough to chance health risks while doing something you choose to do; it’s another issue when it is done to you without your knowledge or permission…especially when the health risks are this severe. (With proper knowledge of the issue, however, you can protect yourself and your loved ones).

“For the first time in our evolutionary history, we have generated an entire secondary, virtual, densely complex environment — an electromagnetic soup — that essentially overlaps the human nervous system,” said Michael Persinger, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at Laurentian University.

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity

Besides a huge list of known disorders that EMFs may trigger or even cause, EMFs are also the culprit for a new type of diagnosis with symptoms that do not fit any disease, yet are life-altering. This diagnosis is accepted by the medical community and is best described by WHO.

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity or EHS is a disorder characterized by various symptoms related to EMF exposure. These can be:

• Skin issues: redness, burning
• Fatigue
• Concentration problems
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Heart palpitations
• Digestive issues

WHO, however, fails to consider all of the research done and suggest these individuals protect themselves from EMFs. Instead, as always, they are only focused on treating the symptoms.

A court case in France, however, has previously recognized EHS as a disability when granting a 39-year-old Marine money for her debilitating symptoms. After winning the case, Ms. Richard said: “We know how to make much less polluting technologies. That said, it’s a political choice,” suggesting that the tech companies can make safer technologies; they just don’t care to.

In her case, her symptoms changed her life but were not life-threatening. In other cases, EMF can increase the risk of very severe diseases.

EMFs and brain tumors and cancers

“While the government has deemed RF radiation to be safe, there is no current significant research to make this claim,” a Swedish study stated.

More than a dozen independent studies have linked RF radiation from cellphones and other EMF-emitting devices to increased risk for brain tumors. It has been shown that those who used a cellphone for at least 10 years had higher rates of tumors. The risk was magnified if they usually talked on the same side of the head. When they switched sides, the risk was increased by 20 percent, but when they talked on one side only — the risk increased by 200 percent.

Another study linked brain tumors to professions who receive EMF exposure such as electrical workers.

Famous brain cancer stories and cellphone radiation

The recent case of Sen. John McCain’s brain cancer (glioblastoma) has raised questions on whether his disease was linked to cellphone use. Like most other politicians, he spent a whole lot of time talking on the phone. Scientists have calculated that brain tumors caused by radiation can take 10-15 years to develop; since many people started using smartphones around that time, it is possible that we will see an increase of brain cancers in the future (we already have seen in it in children and one study suggests that cellphone use doubles the risk).

A 2017 study found a significant correlation between cellphone use and glioma (glioblastoma, McCain’s cancer is a type of glioma). Another study found that when male rats are exposed to nine hours of daily cellphone radiation for two years, they develop malignant tumors, including gliomas. Finally, a 2010 paper confirmed that using a cellphone on one side of the head leads to cancer. After 10-years of talking on the phone for just 30 minutes a day, study subjects had a 40 percent increase in glioma risk. Most of us talk on the phone more than that, and McCain likely spoke on the phone for longer than 30 minutes a day for business matters.

Another famous brain cancer story is of Johnnie Cochran, a prominent attorney most know for the O.J. Simpson trial. Cochran passed from a brain tumor and his doctor suggested that it may have been linked to his cellphone use. Dr. Keith Black, the head of neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, has told CNN that he believes cellphones do indeed cause cancer and that scientific research will show what he is already seeing in his patients.

“One of the studies that is very concerning has been a story out of Europe that looked at a long-term exposure to the use of cellphones over a period of 10 years,” he states. “And when patients or people were exposed to over 2,000 hours of cellphone use — which is about an hour a day for 10 years — that study reported about a 3.7-fold increase in the risk of developing brain cancer.”

Cochran used his cellphone on one side of his head — the left — side and his tumor was on the left. This is not only confirmed by the 2010 study described above, but also seen in real life in Dr. Black’s patients.

“There have been some studies that show a correlation between the side that you use a cellphone on [and] the side that you develop a brain tumor on…We see tumors developing in the location – close to the location that people do use cellphones,” he said.

These two famous cases remind us to keep out phone use to a minimum and switch which sides of the head we use when talking.

EMFs and childhood leukemia

When it comes to cancers, EMFs affect more than adults — children are also at risk, maybe an even bigger risk because their bodies are more vulnerable.

As previously discussed, there has been evidence that living near power lines has been associated with higher risk of childhood leukemia, a blood cancer, and the most common cancer in children.

A 2015 report by the European project ARIMMORA, after looking at the data associating leukemia with EMFs, recommended that all child centers, kindergartens, and schools be built away from high voltage power lines.

Since power lines are low-frequency EMFs, other ELFs were also classified as possible human carcinogens by WHO.

Another study has shown that these ELFs increase the risk of leukemia at much lower levels than the safety standard allows. A WHO report concluded, based on two pooled analyses, that at a 0.3 to 0.4 µT EMF exposure two times more children may get leukemia than at lower exposures.

This level of exposure is not rare. For example, if a child (or an adult) sleeps with an electric blanket, they will be exposed to between 1 µT to 2.5 µT. A television produces a field of 2 µT. Talking on the phone can reach a 3 µT exposure.

Today, more than ever, it is important to keep EMF emitting devices away from where the child sleeps and turned off at night. These include cellphones, tablets, computers and laptops, Wi-Fi routers, and video game consoles.

“There is little doubt that exposure to ELF causes childhood leukemia,” the BWG report stated.

Childhood leukemia is on the rise, which is why we need to guard the children against EMF exposure. Even when the exposure is too low to cause cancer as a child, the many years of early exposure for a not-fully-developed organism can lead to other cancers as an adult.

EMFs and other cancers

Adult leukemia: While children are at the highest risk of cancer when living near power lines, it was also found that adults who live not farther than 300 meters from a power line were also at a higher risk for leukemia. The 2007 study in the Internal Medicine Journal points to the conclusion that living near a power line as a child can cause cancer as an adult.

Breast cancer: The occurrence of breast cancer was increased in numerous studies not only in women but also in men when they were exposed to EMFs.

“The evidence from studies on women in the workplace rather strongly suggests that ELF is a risk factor for breast cancer for women with long-term exposures of 10 mG and higher,” according to the MWG report.

Studies have shown that EMFs between 6 and 12 mG can get in a way of melatonin’s protective effect on the body, therefore permitting the growth of breast cancer cells. Long-term exposure to ELFs reduces melatonin in the body, leaving it vulnerable.

Prostate cancer: Workers who were exposed to higher frequencies were reported twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as those exposed to lower levels of EMFs.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: Chances of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma were also increased for workers exposed to EMFs.

Skin cancer: Living next to power lines was reported to increase the chance of malignant melanoma. EMFs also have been linked by some studies to thyroid, stem cell, lymph node, and eye cancers.

EMFs and DNA damage

One of the reasons for EMF radiation potentially causes or increases the risk of different cancers is because it may damage DNA. DNA damage may lead to cancer cells multiplying rapidly and not dying. DNA damage can be caused by many environmental factors, including exposure to toxic chemicals. Some studies have provided evidence that both ELFs and RFs can negatively affect the genes, therefore disrupting the body’s biological processes. This can not only lead to cancer but many diseases, especially chronic ones.

When the European research program called REFLEX did tests on DNA, they found significant changes in biological functions. They documented altered genes and genotoxic effects in the cells. “Genotoxic effects and a modified expression of numerous genes and proteins after EMF exposure could be demonstrated with great certainty,” the researchers found.

Most importantly, while some claim that EMFs from cellphones is too low to do harm, this research has shown that cells react negatively to RF exposure of SAR levels 0.3-2 W/kg. Most cellphones fall in between these numbers. iPhone 6, for example, measures at 1.18 W/kg when 5mm away from the body (talking distance).

EMF and the immune system

Just as ELFs and RFs can damage the cells on the DNA level, they can also mess with the immune system. When our natural defense system encounters an unwanted exposure, be it a chemical, a virus or EMFs, it sends out signals and produces responses to warn the body of the threat and get rid of it. When constantly exposed to these environmental hazards, there is a constant production of stress responses without an actual way to fix the problem. This leaves the body in a vulnerable state that leads to inflammation and a heightened risk of allergic responses. It’s no wonder that Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity is sometimes referred to as EMF-allergy.

The body releases inflammatory substances to try to fight EMFs, and this can lead to allergy-like reactions: skin issues and allergic hypersensitivity.

EMFs and fertility issues

After the issue of cellphones and brain cancer, the other big one that most have probably heard of is cellphones hurting reproductive health. There has been a growing concern that men carrying a cellphone in a pants pocket (without an EMF-protective case) have a lower sperm count. This has been confirmed by at least 10 different studies on humans which have shown very similar results, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

All of these studies conclude that cellphones stored in pockets lead to:

• Lower sperm count
• Decreased sperm vitality
• Sperm damage
• Oxidative stress
• DNA damage

This is a growing issue as currently about 15 percent of couples of reproductive age cannot conceive, and in half of the cases it’s due to fertility issues in men.

A study in the Fertility and Sterility Journal found that one-quarter of the sperm stop swimming after being exposed to Wi-Fi for just four hours. “We speculate that keeping a laptop connected wirelessly to the internet on the lap near the testes may result in decreased male fertility,” researchers said.

Other studies suggest that not only carrying a cellphone but also talking on the phone lowers the sperm count. A 2005 study has shown that men who talk on the phone for longer than an hour a day have 17 percent fewer sperm than men who talk for less than 15 minutes.

There have not been good studies done to look at the reproductive health of women and cellphones, but many studies have shown how it negatively affects the fetus and its development (continue reading about this topic below under Children’s Health.)

EMFs and suicides

EMF exposure does not only affect physical and mental health (brain function) – emotional health is also disturbed. A few studies have found a link between EMFs and depression and suicides.

A study published in The Western Journal of Medicine looked at 140,000 male electricity workers and found a strong association between their exposure to EMFs and suicides. Another couple of dozen studies point to the same conclusion: “Low-intensity, non-thermal microwave EMFs produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects.”

These effects include depression and anxiety. Suicides are more common with severe exposures, such as of those working on power lines; living under one may also increase the risk.

EMFs and children health: ADHD, autism

Not only are the FFC guidelines not strict enough, they are also based on studies done on 200 adults 20 years ago. Children are likely to be more severely affected by the same devices all around us.

The American Academic of Pediatrics wrote a letter to the FCC urging them to look into the issue, saying the “current FCC standards do not account for the unique vulnerability and use patterns specific to pregnant women and children.”

Children’s bodies are more susceptible to any type of harm, including EMFs. They are more vulnerable than adults; therefore we need to be even more cautious exposing children to EMFs.

We have already discussed children’s leukemia, but this is not the only life-altering disease to worry about. Some studies have suggested that in some cases ADHD and even autism can be linked to EMF exposure.

ADHD has similar symptoms to electromagnetic hypersensitivity, a condition acknowledged by the WHO as a new diagnosis caused by EMFs. Both conditions cause:

• Problems concentrating
• Memory problems
• Anxiety
• Behavioral problems
• Sleep issues

A 2008 Danish study looked at 13,000 children and their mothers’ phone use, both during the mothers’ pregnancies and after birth. What was found is that cellphone exposure increases the risk of emotional problems in children by 80 percent, same goes for hyperactivity and problems communicating with peers.
And when it comes to autism, some studies have also found a correlation.

A 2009 study by Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt discovered that mothers exposed to EMFs during their pregnancies and children exposed to EMFs when sleeping are both contributing (and maybe even causative) factors to neurological issues in children, including autism.

Protecting children from EMFs is of utmost importance. This starts before the child is born by shielding the mother from radiation while pregnant. When the child is born, make sure they get the room with the lowest EMF levels (measure it yourself), turn off Wi-Fi when you are not using it (choose corded internet), keep cellphones, tablets and even baby monitors away from children.

A 2014 report summarizes well why children are at bigger risk than adults and need to be protected:
Children absorb more radiation than adults.

Fetuses are even more vulnerable than children, which is why pregnant women need to be careful to not expose themselves to EMFs.

Electronic devices should not be used as toys for a toddler to play with.

EMFs and other health issues

Brain Function and the Nervous System: EMF exposure has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease (nervous system disorders), according to a report on “Extremely Low Frequency Fields” by WHO. Just like with breast cancer, melatonin can protect the brain from these two diseases, and ELFs reduce melatonin, therefore increasing the risk for a disease. Long-term ELF exposure also changes the body’s calcium levels and produces oxidative stress, which then damages the body because of toxicity.

Laboratory studies have shown that the nervous system is sensitive to ELFs (and that is true for humans and animals). One of the studies confirming this was led by Dr. Nora D. Volkow, a brain imaging scientist. She and her team found that even the lowest levels of EMFs affect the brain. The changes in the brain could be seen in PET scans after just a 50-minute phone call.

This and other studies have confirmed that cellphone use can alter brain activity and brain function; it can also hurt memory and abilities to learn and think fast. This issue can have one of the biggest consequences on society. If the larger population is at risk for decline in cognition, no matter how small, the sheer number of people affected would produce immeasurable harm on the health and economy in the country.

Other health effects:

Migraines and vertigo: A 2009 Danish study examined 420,095 adults and found that long-term cellphone use contributed to 10-20 percent increased risk of being hospitalized for migraines and vertigo episodes.

Asthma: A 2011 study found that children born to mothers who were exposed to stronger EMFs have three times more risk of developing asthma.

Enzyme issues: A 2014 study on cows has shown that EMF exposure can decrease or even disable functions of some enzymes.

Vision loss: A study on rabbits who were exposed to common electronics has shown that the thermal waves can damage the cornea.

Insomnia: When airport surveillance operators were studied in 2013, it was found that their exposure to high-frequency EFs led to insomnia, as well as anxiety and depression.

Headache: A 2017 report linked cellphone use to headaches based on 40 different studies.

Long-term exposure to EMFs has caused people to have the following symptoms:

• grogginess
• dizziness
• problems concentrating
• tinnitus
• fatigue
• problems with balance
• pain
• inflammation
• aging too fast
• hormonal issues
• liver damage

Human body is electric

Humans are highly susceptible to EMFs because the human body is a conductor of electricity; it allows electricity to flow through it. It also produces electricity to communicate between cells. Even the heart wouldn’t beat without this electricity! The body relies on electricity for survival, so it comes as no surprise that being affected by electromagnetic fields on a daily basis messes up all of its normal functions.

Dr. Robert Becker, called “the father of electromedicine,” spent his lifetime studying the human body and its connection to electricity. At first, he was laughed at, but after he succeeded at using electricity to grown bones his research started to get noticed by some.

As early as the 1970s, he started warning people that EMFs are harmful and yet no one listened. Today, his research that was way ahead of his time is extremely timely.

“The greatest polluting element in the earth's environment is the proliferation of electromagnetic fields. I consider that to be a far greater threat on a global scale than warming, or the increase of chemical elements in the environment,” he wrote.

Read more on the subjects in the book “The Body Electric: Electromagnetism And The Foundation Of Life” by Robert Becker and‎ Gary Selden.

Variables that heighten health risk

There are many variables that come into play when it comes to calculating your personal risk of EMFs affecting your health.

The first one is age. Children and teens are more susceptible to both DNA damage and the radiation disturbing the body’s natural processes and causing inflammation, which leads to many other conditions. Unborn fetuses are at high risk of developmental issues when exposed to EMFs. Children absorb radiation more and accumulate it over time, which can lead to issues immediately or far in the future.

Pregnant women should guard themselves against EMFs, not just for the health of their unborn child, but also to prevent a bigger risk of miscarriage.

Other populations that are more vulnerable to EMFs include the elderly and people who are already sick or malnourished. Because EMFs affect the body on the cellular level, these groups of people do not have enough strength in their bodies to protect from DNA damage and inflammation. If DNA damage happens, their bodies do not have enough energy to fix the damage.

Another group under a bigger risk are workers who are constantly around electromagnetic fields: subway workers, cellphone network operating technicians, power line technicians, and many others. For everyone else, the risk factors include levels of exposure, time and frequency of exposure, and location and distance from the source of radiation.

Using the following electrical items also increases the risk: cellphones, computers, cooking appliances, hair dryers, and sewing machines.

Worst personal and household items for EMR

The USA Environmental Protection Agency recommends to not exceed the EMF exposure of more than .5-2.5mG (Milgauss) for safety. However, most home appliances measure much higher than that when standing right next to them. Whenever possible, stand at least three feet away from any electronics and devices.

Believe it or not, one of the worst sources are hair dryers. At a 4-inch distance from the body, you can be exposed to between 60 and 20,000 mG. When it comes to choosing a hairdryer or any other item for your home, do your research and choose the ones with the lowest possible levels of EMF. For example, Barbar ECO8000 hair dryer measures at 4.1mG. Still higher than the EPA’s recommended safe limit, but much lower than its competitors.

Other items with highest mG include:

• Fluorescent lamp: 400-4,000 mG
• Vacuum cleaner: 230-1,300 mG
• Microwave oven: 100-500 mG
• Blender: 50-220 mG
• Washing machine: 8-200 mG
• Television: 5-100 mG
• Airplane: 50 mG
• Coffee maker: 6-29 mG
• Computer: 4-20 mG

These EMF measurements are of simple appliances and has not even taken Wi-Fi or Bluetooth into account, and soon, most will have that capability – adding extra layers of radiation to using them.

Here are some of the worst items in your home, and how to minimize your risk when using them.

EMF source: cCellphones and smartphones

Cellphones are becoming one of the biggest hazards of the 21st century. For starters, we use them all the time. Statistics show that a regular person looks at the phone about 46 times every day, spending up to five hours on it. But even when not using it, the phone is likely next to us, in our pocket, and even next to our heads when sleeping (it is so important to keep your phone away or even turned off when sleeping!)

Studies have shown that sleeping next to a cellphone leads to poor sleep and impaired memory and learning abilities. When talking on the phone, its radiation easily penetrates the head. This is even more dangerous for children, whose skull is still much thinner than adult skulls.

Studies show that talking on a phone for at least 30 minutes a day can increase the risk of brain cancer, but it can also lead to the following side effects and health issues:

• Cardiovascular stress
• Changes in brain activity
• DNA damage
• Eye problems
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Melatonin insufficiency
• Memory problems

To protect yourself while using a cellphone, the experts recommend to:

• Use hand-free options such as speakerphone, regular headphones (not Bluetooth), or video call – anything that will keep the phone away from your head.
• Never put the phone in your pocket unprotected. Get an EMF-blocking case for it, or put it on a belt clip. Keep it as far away from your body as possible.
• Avoid using the cellphone when it only has one bar. To compensate for low-signal, the device will emit more radiation.
• Never put your cellphone next to your head when sleeping. Keep it as far away as possible, or better yet, put it on airplane mode.
• Switch the side of the head you are using to talk on the phone. Studies have shown that switching it up has 10 times less negative effect than using the phone on the same side of the head all your life.
• Choose texting over talking.
• Do not encourage children to start using cellphones young. Their bodies are not fully developed and have fewer barriers that protect them from environmental dangers including EMF radiation.
• Buy a cellphone with the lowest SAR rating (Specific Absorption Rate).

Choosing a phone with the lowest SAR

SAR is a measurement of the rate RF is absorbed by the body. The lower the SAR, the safer the cellphone is. SAR value is important to know about talking phone calls or sending text messages. When using 4G or Wi-Fi the RF levels will be higher. Nonetheless, buying a cellphone with low SAR is better.

Here are 10 phones recommended by PhoneRated that have a low SAR value, but are also from top rated cellphones (the list has been updated in January 2018). The SAR value is when the phone is next to the ear.

• The Samsung J7 Max (0.71 SAR)
• The Kyocera DuraXE (0.53 SAR)
• The Samsung Galaxy J3 (o.618 SAR)
• The Samsung Galaxy j7 pro (0.567 SAR)
• The ZTE Max Duo LTE (0.46 SAR)
• The Ulefone Power (0.323 SAR)
• The LG V30 Plus (0.71 SAR)
• The Samsung Galaxy Xcover 4 (0.51 SAR)
• The Ulefone Future (0.226 SAR)
• The Yezz Andy 5T (0.278 SAR)

And then there are some phones have the highest SAR level. EMFAcademy has made a list of cellphones with the heist SAR level. These are:

• Motorola Droid Maxx (1.54 SAR)
• Motorola Droid Ultra (1.54 SAR)
• Motorola Moto E (1.50 SAR)
• Alcatel One Touch Evolve (1.49 SAR)
• Huawei Vitria (1.49 SAR)
• Kyocera Hydro Edge (1.48 SAR)
• Kyocera Kona (1.45 SAR)
• Kyocera Hydro XTRM (1.44 SAR)
• Nokia Asha 503 (1.43 SAR)
• BlackBerry Z30 (1.41 SAR)

Carrier network plays a role in radiation exposure

A much less-known piece of information is the growing evidence that the type of the carrier one uses affects the levels of EMFs emitted by the phone as much as the type of phone itself.

“Network technology plays a major role in determining the level of radiation to which a mobile device user may be exposed,” revealed the EWG. Yet the FCC is hiding the information from the consumers.

No matter what phone and carrier you have, there are ways to minimize your EMF exposure coming from that phone.

EMF-protection for the phone

No matter how low the SAR level is, each phone still emits various amounts of radiation — way worse if the phone is using a 4G network, is connected to Wi-Fi, or is using a GPS.

To minimize your exposure to EMFs while using or even just carrying the phone, you may want to purchase a protective sleeve or case.

SafeSleeve makes anti-radiation cases for phones (as well as tablets and laptops) that block up to 99 percent of all radiation as tested by FCC accredited labs. It uses a military-grade material to block radiation so you can talk on the phone safely. It also protects you from radiation when the phone is in your pocket or lying next to you.

LessEMF also collects great items for sale to protect the consumers from cellphones EMFs and other sources. You can purchase an air tube headset to use when talking; a shielding phone pouch to protect your head during phone calls and your body when carrying the phone around; or a shielded cellphone holster – useful for men who do not want to keep carrying the phone in their pockets.

EMF source: Wi-Fi

Using Wi-Fi is now the most popular way to connect to the internet. At home, most of us no longer have corded internet. Coffee shops, airports, and even major supermarkets offer free Wi-Fi to their customers. (France has Wi-Fi in most public parks around Paris). Wi-Fi, like other EMF sources, promotes tumors and cancers, and lead to other diseases.

“Wi-Fi could have a variety of negative health effects,” Moskowitz said, such as neurodevelopmental and reproductive issues.

While escaping it in public places may be an impossible task, at home, there are ways to protect ourselves from it. If you cannot get or do not choose to get wired internet (while it is still possible!) there are ways to use Wi-Fi more safely.

• Keep your Wi-Fi router as far away from living spaces as possible.
• Turn it on only when you are using it.
• Absolutely turn it off at night.
• Buy A JRS Eco-WiFi Router. It is a safer alternative that uses lower EMF functionality.
• Disable Wi-Fi on your phone, tablet, laptop, Smart TV, printer, and other devices when not using them.
• Buy Signal Tamer, adjustable shielding pouch for Wi-Fi Router that reduces radiation.

Smart Meters:

Smart Meters are one of the newest additions to our home EMFs, and until a few years ago not many knew of their existence. Smart Meters are a part of s “smart grid,” a wireless utility grid that allows data to be transported from each household to the utility companies.

This switch from older meters (which were not wireless) caused a lot of controversies when these meters started catching on fire, and there has been the talk of these meters charging the household more money. These issues are no longer in the news, and it seems that most people forgot that now almost every one of us has a smart meter next to our home, and this meter creates a huge EMF.

The Smart Meter is as bad as a cellphone, but you cannot turn it off, and you never asked for one. There is not much you can about this right now. Mainly, locate the smart meter and measure its field, and try to avoid these areas in your house. You can also buy a Smart Meter shield to block the microwave signals it emits. For further information about this subject, watch the documentary “Take Your Power Back.”

EMF Source: Computers, Laptops and Tablets

Computers, laptops, and tablets emit EMFs in various ways.

In a desktop computer, the radiation is coming from the computer tower, which you can cover with a magnetic foil wrap to reduce EMFs. It comes from the desktop, which can be protected with a screen shield. Lastly, any wireless parts, a keyboard or a mouse, cause extra unnecessary radiation. Be sure to purchase wired ones instead (and choose low EMF options).

In a laptop, a high electromagnetic field is emitted from underneath it. Never put your laptop on your lap without a protective pad that blocks radiation. Radiation also comes from the keyboard. You may want to choose to shield the keyboard completely and buy a safer USB one to connect to it.

Tablets and iPads should be placed in a protective pouch when not in use, and the pouch can be used to place it between you and that tablet when it is on your lap. Just like with laptops, you do not want to place any EMF sources directly on your body.

All of the products for shielding can be found on LessEMF.com

EMF source: personal care devices

What may come as a surprise to many is that some of the most hazardous EMF sources are a few personal care products: hair dryers, electric shavers, and electric toothbrushes. According to WHO, the first two are the top sources of EMF radiation in the home, primarily because they are used so close to the body.

The only solution to this is to avoid using these products whoever possible. Let your hair dry naturally, use a regular shaver, and a good old toothbrush.

Home appliances:

At home, there are many appliances that emit EMFs: like your TV, toaster oven, stereo, and many others. The main thing to do is keep as much distance as possible from these items when they are in use. The level of radiation is lower the farther you are from the source.

It is important to stay away from a microwave when using it or better yet, throw it out completely. Microwaves use radio waves between 300 MHz and 3 GHz. With age, they can leak radiation through the door when it gets old or damaged, according to WHO. If you use a microwave, replace it when needed, or get a convection oven instead. Just make sure to stand at least 10 feet away from it when it is on.

It is also wise to stay away from all smart electronic, such as a smart refrigerator, voice-controlled virtual assistants, smart security cameras, a smart thermostat, smart pet cameras and any devices you can access with your phone. They have a wireless connection that emits unnecessary radiation.

Measuring and minimizing EMFs in your home

Every home is different based on the surrounding area, your neighbors, and devices you have at home. Do you live close to a cell tower? Do you live in an apartment complex with only thin walls between you and your neighbors and their electronics? Do you use Wi-Fi or a Smart TV at home? Do you have a Smart Meter? All of these factor into how much radiation you are exposed to at home.

Given all the variables, the best way to know is to purchase devices to measure EMF levels yourself. There are two devices most commonly used for this task. The first is the Trifield Flat Frequency Meter, which measures magnetic, electric, and analog radiation from house wiring, microwaves, light switches, cars, TVs, computers, and other electronics. To get a sense of how your household devices affect your body compare the radiation measurement at different distances: stand with the measuring device really close to the object such as microwave then step back to see how far you need to be to minimize the exposure while it is in use.

The second popular measurement device is Acoustimeter. This one measures RFs from Wi-Fi routers, laptops, cellphones, tablets, smart meters, and other smart technology. As an experiment, measure the radiation coming from your cellphone when it is on, but every connectivity it has is off (WiFi, wireless network, Bluetooth, and GPS). Then play around with turning on just one a time to see which one is the worst.

Phones are the safest in airplane mode, but that only works if you are keeping a phone around to make calls (have to exit the plane mode), not to receive them. We recommend keeping the phone on, but turning off all of its other functions: most importantly, Wi-Fi and 4G. This is the safest compromise we have found. The phone then loses its smart functions, but the radiation is minimized. Whenever you need to use the smart functions, such as apps or the internet, only then should you turn 4G or Wi-Fi on, but try to limit that also to do only what is absolutely necessary, then turn everything off again.

EMF exposure outside your home

It is possible to protect your home from EMFs or at least to minimize their impact. But when you go outside, you are confronted with forces you cannot control.

The biggest issue in the outside world today is cellphone towers.

Cellphone towers in your neighborhood

With the increase of cellphone use and new phone carriers popping up, there is also an increase of cell towers that are being built to keep the signal strong. These towers are used for Wi-Fi, wireless 4G networks, and Bluetooth devices. While it may be good for making phone calls, it is definitely bad for your health.

Each tower has different heights, and the tallest ones can reach as far as 45 miles over level terrain. The closer you are to a tower, the worse it is for your health. While harder to avoid when driving around (especially in big cities), it is important to live and work as far away from one as possible.

You can locate cell towers in your neighborhood by going to AntennaSearch.com. This site also shows cell towers that are planned to be built for the future, so that if you are moving, you can do your research and know what to expect.

Cell Tower Politics: FCC corruption and wireless lobbying

Reports have shown for years that cell towers may not be as “safe” as the industry claims they are. A 2010 review published by Harvard University found that “some research does exist to warrant caution in infrastructure siting.” One of the studies reviewed found that the closer people live to a cell tower, the worse is their symptoms of nausea, eye problems, depression, problems concentrating, dizziness, lower libido, and even difficulties moving. A study in Egypt had the same findings. Indian scientists Sivani Saravanamuttu and D. Sudarsanam reported changes on the cellular level that lead to these health issues.

These studies are dismissed and ignored by the wireless industry and the FCC. The FCC, due to high levels of lobbying, are closing their eyes to any potential problems, and letting the wireless companies do what they want. Starting with The Telecommunication Act of 1996, “the most lobbied bill in history,” the FCC has started to give their power away. Corruption is at the heart of the cell tower take-over.

Cellphone manufacturers and wireless service providers have their own lobbying group called PCIA: The Wireless Infrastructure Association and many of its members, including the CEO are former FCC employees. It’s one of the biggest revolving doors. The CTIA (an organization representing the whole wireless industry) credits the Clinton Administration in giving them the green light for this exponential growth – the grows that soon brings 5G towers, closer to your home and stronger than ever.

High-radiation 5G cellphone towers

When the 3G towers first came to Europe in the early 2000s, many people started feeling ill. Then came the 4G LTE network that gave the users more capabilities for a faster internet and a way to stream videos. The new technology came with a price; 4G cell towers had higher power and therefore higher radiation level.

Now in 2018, we see the newest trend of new 5G towers. They will have even more powerful signal, thus even more radiation. And the most concerning is that there will be more of them, and they will be able to be legally installed close to people’s homes.

The new 5G grid is set to be completed by 2020. California already has seen its share of towers in the plans — 50,000 of them, and people have been protesting. “Neighborhoods would be seeing something the size of refrigerators going up on street poles and could say nothing to stop it,” said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo to CBS News San Francisco.

Multiple bills have been popping up in the Senate: some to allow 5G towers to be built without the residents’ permission, while other bills attempt to protect the public. The best thing you can do now is aware of the bills that are being passed and voice your opinion about them.

Full-body scanners at the airport

The last EMF source outside your home to be aware of is the full-body scanners at the airport. These machines have been installed at every airport after 9/11 to see through the person’s clothes in case they are hiding a questionable object. The machines that to date have not caught a single terrorist are not only “unreliable,” according to TSA itself, but they also subject everyone who flies to a high-dose of radiation.

The TSA claims they are safe, and yet they refuse to make these scanners available for independent testing. Scientists and cancer experts are questioning the machines’ health safety.

“There's no real data on these machines, and in fact, the best guess of the dose is much, much higher than certainly what the public thinks,” said John Sedat, a biochemistry and biophysics professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). When flying, ask to “opt-out” of the scanner and request a manual pat-down instead.

Signs of EMF pollution in the environment

The signs of EMF-caused destruction in our world are visible not only to human health, and the health of pets, but is also evident in our environment.

Have you seen birds that “forgot” to migrate during the winter? Birds use the Earth’s natural magnetic field to help their annual migration, to know where to go and when to go. German researchers found that today the birds are simply confused by the electromagnetic “noise” in their environment. Their natural navigation functions start making mistakes. This has led to birds either not migrating at all or migrating in the wrong, random direction.

“It’s significant because we found a very clear, repeatable effect of electromagnetic noise made by electrical equipment that prevents a bird, in this case, a European robin, from using its magnetic compass,” said Henrik Mouritsen, one of the study’s co-authors. This is not the only negative effect the birds are experiencing.

A 2005 study looked at storks that suddenly exhibited aggressive behavior as well as reproductive issues, and problems with coordination. The study linked it to EMF exposure from phone masts. Same researchers found other studies with the same conclusion but for different bird species.

While birds fly long distances and are exposed to different levels of EMFs depending on their location, what about animals who stay in the same spot all of their lives? When exposed to cellphone radiation during pregnancy, 32 percent of calves developed cataracts caused by oxidative stress, according to a Swiss study.
Chicks, when hatched after exposure to microwave radiation, developed deformities.

The list of animals affected by RFs continues.

Tadpoles lost coordination and experienced a high mortality rate of 90 percent after being exposed to EMFs from three sources 140 meters away. Antarctic krill, just like birds, were found completely disoriented. Ants lost their memory. It has also been suggested that the fast disappearance of bees may be partly due to the EM pollution. Also affected are: butterflies, cockroaches, and flies.

Finally, even plants show the damaging effect of EMFs.

Duckweed was observed to produce a stress response when exposed to 400 and 900 MHz radiation (microwaves). Same happened to tomato plants. Rose bushes stunted their growth. A 2016 study concluded that EMF exposure affects the plants’ ability to grow and fight off diseases, pests, and fungus because the radiation changes their metabolism, thus disturbing normal functions.

It’s evident that EMF pollution is hurting humanity and our environment. So why is the government not doing anything?

Concerned scientists and activists speak out

In 2015, almost 200 scientists from all over the world signed an open letter to the United Nations urging them to make stricter regulations regarding cellphones, Wi-Fi, and other devices emitting EMFs.

“We are scientists engaged in the study of biological and health effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF). Based on peer-reviewed, published research, we have serious concerns regarding the ubiquitous and increasing exposure to EMF generated by electric and wireless devices. These include — but are not limited to —
radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitting devices, such as cellular and cordless phones and their base stations, Wi-Fi, broadcast antennas, smart meters, and baby monitors as well as electric devices and infrastructures used in the delivery of electricity that generates extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF EMF),” their letter states.

Health agencies of six nations (United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, Finland, and Israel) have also spoken for the reduction of EMF exposure, especially when it comes to children. The Vienna Medical Association (Austria) has cautioned children under 16 years of age against using cellphones at all.

All of this led to the European Parliament to pass a resolution urging countries to change their safety standards – lower allowed exposure limit. A few places around the world have proposed safer, stricter laws regarding cellphone radiation. However, this is still not enough. The tech companies are creating more and smarter technologies, all of which emit EMFs. The U.S. agencies have also mainly ignored any concerns (most likely because of money). Actually, the FCC has previously removed some warnings about EMFs from their sites completely.

Investigative journalist Norm Alster published a report called “Captured Agency” in 2015 to show that the FCC is completely in the hands of the wireless industry, which is why the regulations set in place are not to protect the consumer. Therefore, we, as consumers, need to learn how to protect ourselves.

How to minimize EMF risks

Eliminate as many radiation sources as possible

• Fix wiring issues in your home.
• Unplug cords and cables when not using them.
• Move furniture on which you sit away from walls – there is almost always some level of EMF coming from inside the walls.
• Get rid of light dimmers, they produce unnecessary EMFs.
• If you ever use a microwave (it’s better to use a conventional oven to heat up meals), stand at least 10 feet away from it.
• Disable Bluetooth devices when not using them.
• Use headphones to talk on the phone.
• Try to avoid using artificial light. Instead, wake up early with the sun, and go to bed when it’s late.
• When you do use artificial light, avoid EMF-emitting (and mercury-emitting) CFL light bulbs. Instead, purchase Incandescent bulbs.
• During evening hours, the blue light from screens can negatively affect you melatonin level, which disrupts your sleep cycle. Wear blue-light blocking glasses after dark when you watch TV or work on your laptop or phone. Alternatively, you can install a program called f.lux on your computer that will make the screen emit less blue light during dark hours.
• Stay away from modern gadgets that require electricity, when there are manual alternatives. (Use a mop instead of a vacuum, go for a real bike ride instead of one at the gym).
• Avoid using electric blankets, heaters, fans, and other electric products.
• Buy protective shielding for your bedroom (sheets, canopy, floor mats, and other products with built-in EMF-shielding materials. (View many options on Less EMF.com).
• Get a xZubi for your phone and every home device. This hologram made from rare paramagnetic materials absorbs and neutralizes EMFs.

Lifestyle changes to protect yourself

• Make sure to get enough nutrients and sleep to keep your body in best shape to protect itself from EMFs and other environmental hazards.
• Keep your body clean by elimination all of the toxins from your diet and home; and detox to get rid of accumulated toxins.
• Take probiotics for intestinal health. The Paracelsus Clinic in Switzerland found that healthy gut bacteria can help mitigate the effect of EMFs.
• Eat foods that are full of antioxidants to fight off free radicals. These foods include blueberries, broccoli, cilantro, walnuts, and asparagus.
• Avoid mold; it grows faster in EMF-filled environments.
• Wear a crystal Q-link, which restores your natural energy.
• Use Epsom salt baths to ground yourself.

Protect yourself when you sleep

• The main thing is that you have to keep your bedroom as EMF-free as possible. That means turning off Wi-Fi when you sleep (even if it is on the other side of the house); turning off all your electronics in the room, and unplugging them, and turning off your cellphone, or putting it on airplane mode and placing it far away from your head.
• You need to make sure that your bed is in a safe location.
• Do not sleep with your head close to an electrical outlet.
• Never sleep on the other side of the wall of a powerful EMF source, such as a computer, a fridge, or a smart meter.
• If you live in an apartment and your bedroom wall separates you and your neighbors, use an EMF measuring device to see the RF reading around your bed. You want to make sure your neighbors do not have a Smart TV or another EMF source on the other side of your bed, without you realizing. If the EMF measurements are high where you sleep, it is time to move your bed, and if needed, the whole bedroom.
• Buy a Wi-Fi timer that turns off your modem automatically after a set amount of time.

Dirty electricity in the home

EMF pollution in the home creates dirty electricity: all of the power lines and wiring inside the home create fields that radiate your home space.

• Like other EMF related hazards, this can lead to headaches, sleep issues, fatigue, heart issues, a weakened immune system, mood swings, and an increased risk for chronic illness.
• The main causes of dirty electricity are smart meters, LED light bulbs, light dimmers, wiring, and of course, electrical and wireless devices in the house.
• The best way to reduce dirty electricity is to buy filters you plug into the wall outlets, such as the ones made by Stetzer and Greenwave.
• To find out more on this subject, read “Dirty Electricity: Electrification and The Diseases of Civilization” by Samuel Milham, MD, MPH.

How to detox from EMFs

Because it is becoming impossible to avoid all EMF radiation at home and outside, it is important to detox your body from it. One way to do so is to unplug completely for as long as you can – turn off your phone for a week and take a camping trip out into the woods, where there is no signal.

It has been shown that the oxidizes stress caused by EMFs can disappear when the body is in an EMF-free space. However, a long-term EMF exposure will not be fixed by one hike. Instead, it is best to take frequent breaks to unplug from technology and its EMFs.

Another way to detox is to use grounding or earthing techniques. Earthing is connecting to Earth energies by walking barefoot on the earth, and when needing shoes – wearing shoes with natural soles. Dr. Stephen Sinatra has explained that because the earth is negatively charged, it gets rid of any free radicals from the body, including the ones caused by EMF damage.

What seems to be quite simple can carry great benefits, and these have been proven in numerous studies. A 2012 review in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health concluded that earthing is an effective way to defeat stress, and help heal from inflammation, pain, insomnia, cardiovascular disease, and many other common disorders.

When unable to go outside, it is recommended to use earthing products that can have a similar effect on the body. There are grounding wrist straps, socks, gloves, and mats; as well as earthing sandals and other types of shoes. This world might be full of health hazards, but with the right tools and information, nothing is impossible, and great health is very reachable.

Frequencies that are good for you

To end this article on a good note, let’s talk about EM frequencies that are actually good for you. Because Earth has a magnetic field of its own, there are frequencies that are not only safe but beneficial for human health. Earthing using Earth’s frequency is just one example.

Another example is Schuman Resonance, a frequency that is used to protect against harmful EMFs that is commonly used by NASA for their astronauts. They made the Schumann Simulator which created a magnetic pulse similar to Earth’s natural frequency and this mitigates the negative effects from outer space.

Other devices created for restoring healthy frequencies in the body are Ondamed Biofeedback machine and EVOX. The first fixes any damage that has been on the body by EMFs in the environment. The latter rebalances he body on an emotional scale, fighting stress, depression, and even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Share this article

The FCC and the media with have been underplaying the dangers of EMFs and ignoring the evidence from independent sources. The research on this topic has been spread out across different journals, and some of the best studies left barely noticed by the community. But there is a lot of information to share with others, to let them read the studies and see for themselves why the growing EMF issue is affecting us all.

From cancers and fertility issues to symptoms that affect our lives, an EMF-concentrated world may lead to a society with lower brain functionality; that is constantly fatigued, and that is more likely to develop chronic illnesses.

The worst effect would be felt on the children. When the same amounts of radiation are inflicted upon the children’s undeveloped bodies and brains, more cases of behavioral and developmental issues can arise. And even if the negative effects are not noticed in childhood, the years of early EMF exposure can lead to severe problems as adults.

EMFs surround us at home: cellphones, laptops, smart TVs, smart technologies, microwaves, and household electronics; and outside: power lines and cell towers.

There are ways to limit the exposure, to avoid some EMF sources, and to mitigate the negative effects of EMFs on the body by using protection devices and keeping the body in the healthiest state. To do that, we have to reveal the truth, and take it upon ourselves to take care of the health of ourselves and our families with the information we have.

The post The full story on EMFs: Research, dangers, and how to protect yourself appeared first on Cancer Tutor.

Why EMFs matter

Most of us don’t really think much about the dangers of EMFs but we should.  The sun emits an electromagnetic field but this (obviously) remains consistent.

What average people need to think about are man-made EMFs.  The objects we all have in our homes, offices, schools, and when we travel.  These sources emit a 50-60 Hz range. [2]

Look around you.  Any device plugged into the wall for power is emitting an EMF.  That means your computer or laptop, monitors, cell phone charger (we’ll get to your cell phone in a minute), lamps, fans, tablets, coffee pot, microwave, television, printer, modem, and on and on.

“You can ‘cut back' your EMF exposure in your own home but if you live here on the planet Earth, it’s nearly impossible to escape it entirely.”

Prof. Keith Scott-Mumby

Experts estimate that those of us living today are exposed to 10 billion times more EMF radiation than people were in the 1960s (less than 50 years ago)!

As you can probably guess, future generations are going to be exposed to even more.

For a comprehensive breakdown of types of EMFs, I recommend Nicolas Pineault’s book The Non-Tinfoil Guide to EMFs because he makes it easy to understand and amusing as well. [3]

Obviously, we’re surrounded by these fields more than any population in human history.

You probably won’t be surprised when I mention that the government does not really regulate these emissions.  As of right now, none of the corporations who make goods that emit EMFs cannot prove conclusively that they’re harmless.  Meanwhile, there are many studies that have pinpointed that these emissions are not safe.

If you can’t prove (clearly) that EMF emissions are SAFE, then you also cannot disprove (clearly) that they are UNSAFE.

Which brings me to another point.  One of the biggest dangers of EMFs is that they cannot be shielded against.  That’s right, no bunker will keep them out because they can (and do) pass through every type of metal (including lead).

The potential side effects of excessive exposure to EMFs:

• DNA damage
• Disruption of melatonin production
• Over-production of calcium
• Allow toxins to pass the blood-brain barrier
• Slow cellular repair
• Raise cortisol levels (the “stress” hormone)
• Lower glutathione peroxidase levels
• Lower superoxide dismutase levels
• Promote clumping in the blood

Perhaps in 1965, the average consumer was exposed to “trace amounts” of EMF radiation in the course of their day.  Maybe 50 years ago, EMFs truly were harmless.

However, since then, a lot has changed on the world landscape.  There has been a technology explosion in the past few decades that has basically blanketed the Earth with electromagnetic fields – without a global solution because the people in charge pretend it isn’t a problem.

The dangers of EMFs and cancer

Alarming research indicates that children and teenagers are five times more likely to get brain cancer from the EMFs emitted by their cell phones.  The study is raising fears that today’s young people may suffer an epidemic of the disease in later life. [4]

The Swedish research was presented at the first international conference on cell phones and health. It came from a further analysis of data from one of the biggest studies carried out on the cell phone/cancer link, headed by Prof. Lennart Hardell.

Prof. Hardell told the conference that “people who started mobile phone use before the age of 20” had more than five-fold increase in glioma, a cancer of the glial cells that support the central nervous system.  Before you think taking away the mobile device will fix the problem, you should know that the risk to young people from household cordless phones was almost as great. Cordless phones caused a fourfold increase in risk.

Young cell phone users are five times more likely to get acoustic neuromas, disabling tumors of the auditory nerve that often cause deafness.

Multiple studies have shown that children absorb more EMF radiation (also known as microwave radiation or MWR) than adults. One found that that the brain tissue of children absorbed about two times more EMF than that of adults, and the bone marrow of children absorb 10 times more EMF than that of adults.

However, not a single U.S. health agency is warning about the extra risks to children. Which is ironic, since American kids have more wireless gadgets than any other country in the world!

“Belgium, France, India, and other technologically sophisticated governments are passing laws and/or issuing warnings about children’s use of wireless devices,” the review authors write. [5] They write that EMF exposure limits have remained unchanged for 19 years.

Our concern here is cancer

The alarming evidence is beginning to mount EMF radiation from cell phones is a cause of malignant disease.  Already studies have been produced showing significant increases in problems like leukemia and brain tumors.

I found a compelling double-blind medical study carried out in India in 2005 and published in the Indian Journal of Human Genetics.

The study analyzed micro-nucleated cell damage in blood and buccal (mouth) tissues of people who use their cell phone 1-15 hours a day.  The control group had never used cell phones at any time. DNA samples were coded and scored blindly on a strict protocol.

The test results of the Indian study are very significant.  The non-cell phone users had an average of only 4 percent of their cells with DNA damage.  The persistent mobile phone users showed an average of 39.75 percent cell DNA damage. The blood of one 24-year-old male revealed 63 percent micro-nucleated cells. He had used a cell phone for 1-2 hours per day for two years. [6]

The hundreds of types of human cancers have one thing in common — they all begin at the cellular level when DNA genetic material in one or more cells becomes damaged. This damage can be passed from parents, or caused by the effects of an environmental carcinogen.

“Genetic mutations in one single cell are sufficient to lead to cancer,” said Dr. Henry Lai, a well-known scientist at the University of Washington, who has years of genetic and bioenergetics research to his credit. [7]

Prof. Rony Seger, a cancer researcher at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, and colleagues exposed rat and human cells to electromagnetic radiation at a similar frequency to that emitted by mobiles. The power of the signal was around 1/10th of that from a mobile.

After just five minutes the researchers identified the production of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) – natural chemicals that stimulate cell division and growth. Cancers develop when the body is unable to prevent excessive growth and division of cells in the wrong place.

Prof Seger said, “The real significance of our findings is that cells are not inert to non-thermal mobile phone radiation. We used radiation power levels that were around 1/10th of those produced by a normal mobile.  The changes we observed were clearly not caused by heating.” [8]

There are far too many studies showing this kind of result to ignore the problem. Manufacturers and scientists who say there is no problem are being shockingly dishonest.

What can you do about the dangers of EMFs?

The first thing you have to do is to establish the scale a problem in your environment. There are various ways you can do this using hand-held field detection meters. They’re relatively inexpensive (usually $100 or less online).

These devices allow you to measure the magnetic field or the electrical field. These devices are easy to use (even for non-technical people). Most have a display that will light up if your EMF readings are off the charts. Taking it everywhere you spend a lot of time (home and office, for instance) might make you more aware than you’d like to be.

Again, you can “cut back” your EMF exposure in your own home but if you live here on the planet Earth, it’s nearly impossible to escape it entirely.

For more than 30 years I’ve been advocating the fitting of what is called an EMF demands switch. A device which shuts down electrical supply to the whole house at night when the last equipment and last light are switched off (except for the refrigerator and freezer, of course). Only when someone throws a switch for light does the device allow the resupply of mains electricity. It would allow you to spend your nights without being surrounded by an electromagnetic field.

The dangers of EMFs are (unfortunately) everywhere now. There’s truly not much we can do about that if you choose to live in society.

Knowing about them is critical because more needs to be done to lower mankind’s exposure. This will require those in power to force those manufacturing these sources to come up with alternative solutions.

In the meantime, this makes following an anti-cancer lifestyle even more important!

For every cancer-causing carcinogen (like electromagnetic fields) you can’t fully control, there is a counter (such as eating a diet enriched with anti-cancer foods) that you can completely control.

For more information on practical ways to prevent and overcome cancer download my free special report.

The post Your smartphone, EMF dangers, and cancer! appeared first on Cancer Tutor.

Who was Royal Rife?

In the 1920s, inventor Royal Rife was known for his work in “high-magnification time-lapse cine-micrography,” which is just a fancy way of saying “new and improved microscope technology.” By the 1930s, however, Rife had taken the same basic technology he used to improve upon microscopes and focused it on the substances he had been looking at cancer cells. Rife conducted dozens of research projects using frequency waves and wrote thousands of pages on the subject during his lifetime. He is most famous, however, for a project was where he injected cancer into 400 rats. He then created an “electromagnetic energy field” of a specific frequency which he immersed the rats in. Unbelievably, after a set amount of time in that “field,” the cancers in the rats began to diminish.

New generation of frequency science

Of course, this response is completely believable once you understand the power of resonant frequencies.

Anthony Holland is Associate Professor and Director of Music at Skidmore College in New York. He also is a researcher who uses the power of frequency to heal cancer.

How resonant frequency works for removing the cancer is based on the same principle that says that a piece of glass will shatter when it is exposed to a noise that is the right “pitch.” To actually break the glass, the vibration (coming from a person’s voice or another source) would have to match the vibration o the glass. By “amping up” the volume of that particular vibration, the glass will eventually break.

Similar to Rife, Holland and his team decided to direct this basic principle to living micro-organisms, i.e. cancer cells. Their hypothesis was also based on the work of pioneering Chinese geneticist Dr. Mae-Wan Ho, who believed that living cells had many properties in common with liquid crystals.

If Ho was right, thought Holland, then matching the particular resonant frequency of living cancer cells and turning up the volume should, in essence, shatter those cells. Holland and his colleagues used a device created by New Mexico physician Dr. James Bare which uses a “plasma antenna that pulses on and off” to provide a rhythmic stream of electric signals.

After over a year of searching, Holland found the exact frequency that would shatter the cancer cells. Interestingly, two frequencies, one high and one low but both in “harmonic resonance” with each other, seemed to do the trick.

Holland and his team tested the procedure called Oscillating Pulsed Electric Field (OPEF) on pancreatic cancer cells and then later with leukemia cells. The results were amazing. Pancreatic cancer cells were destroyed at between 100,000 and 300,000 Hz. The results for the leukemia cells were even more impressive. The procedure was able to destroy the cells before they had a chance to divide, killing an average of 25 to 40 percent of leukemia cells on average, and up to 60 percent in some cases. The team also tested the technology on ovarian cancer cells as well as the MRSA “superbug.”

These are indeed exciting times as science is now able to effect healing on the subtlest levels with vibration. After all, as Nobel Prize-winning physicist Carlo Rubbia says, we are only 1 billionth physical matter. The rest is pure energy which can be affected by vibration. This includes all the systems in your body and cancer cells as well.

There are many companies out there that sell Rife Frequency generators. Do your research and make sure you’re getting the real deal. I trust the resources at Cancer Tutor.

Dr. Veronique Desaulniers, better known as Dr. V, is the founder of The 7 Essentials System, a step-by-step guide that teaches you exactly how to prevent and heal breast cancer naturally. To get your free 7-day mini e-course, and to receive her weekly action steps and inspiring articles on the power of natural medicine, visit www.breastcancerconqueror.com.

The post Can frequencies kill cancer cells? appeared first on Cancer Tutor.

The situation has become so serious that most people today are absolutely clueless about what to eat, what not to eat and how to tell the difference between the two.

Our grocery store shelves are now filled with “health foods” and “natural food” that are anything but beneficial for us to consume.

How we got duped

A study in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests that the main reason why we have been misled into believing that unhealthy foods are good for us is a result of how these products are advertised on television. (1)

And this is particularly relevant for children.

The secret to this marketing deception is neglecting to portray foods in their proper context and portion size. In the words of Newcastle University researchers:

One method of ‘reflecting moderation in consumption and portion size’ and reinforcing the importance of a balanced diet in food advertisements is to position advertised foods in a wider food context. However, to date, no evidence describing the food context in which foods are advertised has been published. Manufacturers’ claims that their marketing positions their products in a ‘healthy’ context cannot, therefore, be confirmed or refuted. (1)

The end result of this mass deception is the creation of an entire culture, where each generation since the Baby Boomers have been basically eating out of a box and flock to anything labeled “all natural” without a second thought.

5 health foods that are not good for you

With false, misleading advertising at the helm, Americans have been convinced that countless food items are actually good for them, and these 5 offenders are the worst:

1. Soy

If we were to take a survey and ask the average American citizen what the No. 1 health food item on the market is, tofu and soy products would most definitely be in the top 10.

You’ll find So Delicious soymilk and ice cream everywhere as “dairy alternatives,” because pasteurized dairy has been linked to a slew of health concerns. This, folks, has been THE deception of the health food industry.

Why is soy bad for you?

Well, first of all, not all soy products are bad; just unfermented soy. For thousands of years, the Far East has fermented soy and has enjoyed the health benefits of Natto, miso and tempeh. However, eating edamame and drinking soy milk by the gallon is quite another story altogether.

Veritably 100 percent of all soy grown in the U.S. is “Roundup ready,” which means that it has been genetically modified to repel bugs. This Franken-solution to a natural bug problem is arguably the reason why celiac disease, gluten intolerance, GI problems and learning disabilities have been the rise the past two decades. (2)

In turn, most health experts agree that long-term use of soy products are unsafe because they have been linked to the following: (3)

• Asthma
• Breast cancer
• Cancer
• Cystic fibrosis
• Hay fever
• Kidney disease
• Thyroid disease
• And many, many more…

1. Conventional fish and meat

Like soy, not all fish and meat is bad for you. Just the farm-raised varieties. Even salmon, widely regarded as the healthy protein and Omega-3 choice is harmful if farmed.

Why?

Because of the genetically modified feed, these animals are given in the farms. According to the non-profit organization Environmental Working Group (EWG):

“Seven of ten farmed salmon purchased at grocery stores in Washington DC, San Francisco, and Portland, Oregon were contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at levels that raise health concerns, according to independent laboratory tests commissioned by Environmental Working Group.” (4)

Essentially, farmed-fish:

• Contains the highest PCB concentrations of all protein source in the U.S., literally containing up to 40 times more PCBs than other foods.
• Is 16 times more likely to contain PCBs than wild-caught fish.

In addition to PCBs, farm-raised fish have been shown to contain these known neurotoxins and carcinogens:

• Dioxins – Waste treatment plants byproducts.
• Toxaphene – A pesticide banned since 1982.
• Dieldrin – Another banned pesticide.

And we see a similar picture with farmed beef, pork, and poultry.

1. Vegetable oils

Vegetable oils like canola have been heavily marketed as the “heart healthy” solution to the rise in cardiovascular disease, however, because most are usually genetically modified and partially hydrogenated they have been known to cause: (5, 6)

• Birth defects
• Bone, skin, immune, digestive and vision problems
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Learning disabilities
• Liver disease
• Low birth weight
• Obesity
• Sexual dysfunction & sterility
• Stunted growth

It’s interesting because they have actually been linked to atherosclerosis and increased cholesterol levels, which are two of the main contributors to heart disease; the very thing they are supposed to prevent.

1. Artificial sweeteners

Recommended by many doctors and dieticians, artificial sweeteners are praised for being low on the glycemic index and supposedly diabetic-safe. (7)

This is very curious because according to recent data, artificial sweeteners have been linked to actually causing diabetes. (8)

In addition to creating a disturbance in gut flora that contributes to increased risk of developing diabetes, these sweeteners can also cause: (9)

• Allergies
• Cancer (bladder, brain, breast, leukemia)
• Headaches and migraines
• Hypertension and heart disease
• Seizures
• Weight gain/obesity

1. Fruit juice

Saving the best (or most shocking) for last, most people are floored to learn that fruit juice is bad for them. There are many reasons why:

• Most store-bought versions are pasteurized, which renders them useless because they are void of nutrition. Heating juice kills the chemical makeup of the fruit and unless it is truly “raw,” juice is nothing more than flavored fructose.
• When you drink fruit juice frequently, it contributes to diabetes and other inflammatory conditions because it causes a major spike in blood glucose.
• Known as “hyperglycemia,” our bodies aren’t designed to consume this amount of fructose in one sitting and it puts undue stress on the entire body. (10)
• Also contributing to unwanted weight gain and obesity, excessive sugar consumption causes the body to store extra fat.

Think of it this way: Fresh, raw, whole fruit contains a considerable amount of soluble and insoluble fiber, which aids in digestion.

Helping us feel “full,” this fiber feeds the healthy bacteria in our gut. If you skip eating the fruit and drink the juice only, you are robbing your body of the fiber, which is why excessive juice drinkers oftentimes experience diarrhea and other GI issues.

Parting advice

You can’t believe everything you read on labels and especially on the Internet. The blessing of free speech has been adulterated with false, greedy advertisements and many “health” blogs are nothing more than a way to promote a product for sales.

It’s critical to be a life-long student and stay tuned to trusted sources that you resonate with.

The post The 5 Worst ‘Health’ Foods in Your Diet appeared first on Cancer Tutor.

Signs of cancer in pets

It is imperative that due attention is paid to even subtle behavioral and physical changes in pets for ruling out or confirming the prevalence of cancer. Many types of cancer can be effectively treated if they are attended to in the early stages.

Some of the signs that may indicate cancer as an underlying cause are easily shortlisted for 10 symptoms:

• an abnormal swelling that refuses to go away even after treatment;
• a sore, lesion or a wound that does not heal within a reasonable time period;
• weight loss despite sufficient diet;
• incessant bleeding or discharge from an opening in the body;
• difficulty in urinating or passing stools;
• chronic diarrhea or vomiting;
• loss of stamina and difficulty in breathing;
• subtle changes like increased sleep, lack interest and refusal to play;
• bad smell;
• refusal to eat for more than two days.

Most of the symptoms can be observed while grooming your pet. Any abnormal sign that was not there when you last groomed your dog or cat should be brought to the notice of the veterinarian. Nine times out of ten it may turn out to be a minor ailment but that should not reason to be negligent. Remember that early detection can save the life of your pet.

Types of cancer in dogs and cats

Lymphoma

Lymphoma, one of the four major types of cancer, is a neoplasm (an abnormal growth that serves no purpose) of the lymph tissue. It is commonly known as lymph cancer or lymphosarcoma and is almost always malignant. Lymph cancer usually occurs in middle-aged dogs and cats and one of the major indications is the prevalence of one or more lumps just under the skin. A physical examination would normally reveal that the peripheral lymph nodes are enlarged and firm.

While there is no evidence of a link between the leukemia virus and canine lymphoma, feline cancer of the lymphatic system is normally associated with the leukemia virus. The fact that lymphoma is more prevalent in certain breeds is indicative of a genetic predisposition for this type of cancer. Besides this, like all other types of cancers, there is no specific cause known for lymph cancer in dogs.

The most common form of lymphoma is multi-centric and therefore it appears at several sites at the same time. In normal conditions, lymph nodes are difficult to feel under the skin. The indication of lymph cancer comes in the shape of enlarged lumps that can be felt easily under the skin.

In some cases, the symptoms of lethargy, loss of appetite, increased thirst and urination and loss of energy appear before the lumps can be felt. Multi-centric lymphoma can potentially spread to the liver and demonstrate the symptoms of liver cancer in dogs.

Other types of lymphomas present different symptoms:

• Lymphoma in the alimentary canal is associated with diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, and lethargy. Cutaneous lymphoma is rare and affects the skin.
• Lymph cancer in the mediastinal, the part of the thoracic cavity between the lungs that contains the heart, aorta, esophagus, trachea, and thymus, shows as a tumor in the front part of the chest leading to fluid retention and difficulty in breathing.
• Extra-nodal lymphoma pertains to other parts of the body including eyes, the central nervous system, bones, heart, kidneys, bladder and the nasal cavity where the lymphatic system can be potentially affected by cancer cells.

Aspirates from the lymph nodes are sent to the pathological lab to establish the malignancy of the lumps Blood tests, x-rays and a biopsy of the lymph tissues are some of the other tests that may have to be performed for effective diagnosis.

Without treatment, lymph cancer results in the death of the dog or cat within four to six weeks. Chemotherapy protocols are well defined for treating lymphomas as they are the most commonly treated cancer in pets. Most pets respond favorably to anti-cancer drugs and there is an approximately 84 percent chance of abatement and increase in the survival time.

Intestinal Cancer

Intestinal cancer throws up symptoms that are similar to symptoms caused by inflammation or obstruction in the intestinal passage. This makes early detection a difficult task. Although they form a small percentage of all feline cancers and cancers in dogs, prognosis ranges from poor to very poor depending upon the location of the tumor.

The common types of cancers that can develop in a pet’s intestines include:

• Lymphoma — neoplasm of lymph tissue that is most predominant in cats.
• Mast Cell Neoplasia — cancer that causes single or multiple lesions in the small intestines.
• Adenocarcinoma — a malignant tumor that originates from the glandular epithelium.
• Other intestinal neoplasms such as rectal and colon tumors.

Lymphoma is the most common form of intestinal tumors in pets followed by carcinomas and mast cell tumors. Like the symptoms of liver cancer, intestinal tumors also remain concealed due to the general nature of symptoms.

Bladder Cancer

Canine and feline urinary tract infection is a common occurrence. In some cases, however, the symptoms may indicate bladder cancer. The important signs of the prevalence of growth in the bladder are similar for urinary tract infections in dogs and cats. This hampers an early detection of the tumor. Usually, it is severe infections that do not respond to antibiotics that end up under further investigation, leading to late detection.

Benign tumors of smooth muscle and polyps that occur in the bladder are very rare. These can be removed surgically and usually do not recur. Small masses that do not invade healthy tissue can also be removed surgically.

But in the case of cancerous growths, the cancer is found in parts of the bladder from where it is difficult to remove due to the fact that bladder cancer is invasive and affects the bladder walls. In addition, by the time it is diagnosed the cancer cells are found to have metastasized or spread to other parts of the body.

Treatment rarely cures bladder cancer and the fundamental goal is to provide temporary relief for the temporary periods to give a better quality of life to the dog. Although bladder cancer is more common among older dogs, UTI in puppies should also be investigated thoroughly to be on the safe side.

Skin Cancer

The skin is the biggest organ in the body. It is also the most common organ that can develop carcinoma.

The name skin cancer is a general classification of different types of tumors that include any uncontrolled growth of cells in:

• the skin;
• skin glands;
• hair follicles;
• supportive fat and connective tissues.

Metastasis that occurs in the skin as a result of cancer in other parts of the body is not termed as skin cancer because it originates elsewhere. Skin cancer in dogs is less likely to be malignant than in cats. Even in cats skin cancer is most likely to be seen in older cats between 6 to 14 years of age.

The known causes of skin cancer are:

• light or white color of the skin;
• excessive exposure to sunlight;
• feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV);
• genetic.

Skin cancers appear mostly as lumps under the skin or as lesions that do not cure. This often leads to abnormal behaviors like scratching or chewing the affected area. Squamous cell cancer, a type of skin cancer, often leads to redness of the area and crusty skin.

Detection of skin cancer is relatively easier as compared to other cancers because the symptoms are easily visible. For example, looking for the symptoms of liver cancer in dogs and cats is a tedious process of keen observation to identify multiple signs.

Regular examination needs to be made of your pet’s skin to be able to notice certain signs like:

• tumors or lumps under the skin;
• blemishes, scaly areas or change in color;
• the progress of the above changes noticed earlier;
• color changes and irregular areas in the cat’s eyelids, lips and the mouth’s interior.

An occasional massage and grooming with a fine comb help in being able to catch the abnormality immediately.

Diagnosis involves laboratory examinations of:

• an aspirate of the tumor;
• a piece cut off from the tumor;
• blood and urine;
• X-Rays to establish if metastasis has occurred.

If your pet is white in color or has a white nose and ears you can minimize the risk by protecting the animal from sunlight. You can also ask your veterinarian about the use of sunscreens on light colored ear tips or patches of white on its coat.

Nasal Cancer

While a serious nasal discharge may only be a sign of infection caused by bacteria or viruses, a mucoid, purulent or bloody nasal discharge can be indicative of nasal cancer in your pet.

The nasal cavity in dogs and cats is a complex structure consisting of nostrils that open up in two air passages that are lined with scrolled spongy bones called turbinates. A clear serous discharge coming out from both the nostrils may also be caused by the presence of small mites, but mucoid and purulent discharges need to be investigated since they can be signs of any of the following:

• foreign matters such as grasses or weeds that may have entered the nose while sniffing;
• dental infections, especially in the roots of upper teeth;
• fungal infection;
• nasal cancer.

If blood is present in the discharge, it is almost certain that the cause is either a fungal infection or nasal cancer that is taking root in the passage. Cats with a fungal infection in the nose must be checked for the prevalence of feline cancer or the leukemia virus. A final diagnosis is done only after ruling out that the bleeding is not caused by violent sneezing since that can also result in temporary bleeding.

Nasal cancer usually occurs as paranasal sinus fibrosarcomas (a sarcoma derived from fibroblast cells, often able to generate collagen) or paranasal sinus chondrosarcomas (a malignant neoplasm of cartilage cells). Both types of sarcomas grow slowly but are progressive and invasive in nature.

Diagnosis of nasal cancer involves routine blood and urine tests, biochemical profiling, biopsy, and CT scans.

Apart from the nasal discharge and bleeding, other symptoms that dog owners should keep a watch out for include:

• excessive sneezing;
• tears;
• bad breath;
• loss of appetite for a long period;
• facial deformity;
• bulging eyes;
• seizures that indicate metastasis to the brain.

Nasal tumors usually do not respond to chemotherapy and other anti-cancer drugs. Surgery is also a difficult procedure since the structure of the nose is extremely complex making it difficult to remove the tumor from the nose. Radiation therapy is available in select cities and veterinary schools but this method usually reduces the size of the tumor only.

It is dangerous to ignore treatment as nasal tumors can spread to the brain and cause seizures and the condition may also breakout through facial bones and distort the pet’s appearance permanently.

Like all types of tumors, the cause behind nasal tumors is also not known. As with the symptoms of liver cancer in pets, your observation of the symptoms and detection are the only ways to institute medical intervention in early stages to manage nasal cancer in pets.

Additional Types of Pet Cancer

Cancer can occur in almost any organ of the body. The most common cancers that have been found to afflict pets are cancerous tumors (solid mass of abnormal cells) and leukemia (blood cancer).

• Basal cell tumors can be malignant or benign and start from the epithelial (membranous tissue covering internal organs and other internal surfaces of the body) layer of the skin. It requires invasive surgery for removal of the tumor and, in most cases, it usually cures the pet.
• Chondrosarcoma is a malignant tumor of cartilage cells. It can occur in the nasal and paranasal passages and nearby concavities or in the larynx and trachea. This type of cancer is more prevalent in dogs than cats and requires chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery for effective treatment. Tumors in the larynx sometimes require the removal of the entire larynx. A passage is then created through the neck that opens in the trachea.
• Eyelid tumors — Pets are also prone to develop tumors on the eyelids although it is less common in cats than in dogs. Outdoor pets, white pets, and pets that remain in the sun fall under the high-risk category. Eyelid cancer usually originates from the lymphocytes. They can also form into mast cell tumors. Eyelid tumors rub against the cornea and lead to frequent conjunctivitis and excessive eye discharge.
• Fibrosarcoma (fibroblastic sarcoma) is a malignant tumor derived from fibrous connective tissue and is characterized by immature multiplication of different types of cells. It affects the connective tissues of the skull, pelvis, and ribs. Fibrosarcoma is very rare and different from the commonly known bone cancer (osteosarcoma).
• Tumors associated with the ear can be of different types. Some may be malignant while the others can be basal cell tumors also. They are commonly seen in middle-aged or older pets.
• Hemangiosarcoma is a rare, rapidly growing and highly invading variety of cancer. It is malignant cancer in which the tumor is filled with blood. This tumor finally ruptures causing the pet to bleed to death. Hemangiosarcoma has mostly been observed in the spleen and the heart but it can also invade the bones.
• Hepatic Neoplasia (another name for liver tumor) is actually quite rare in cats, not so in dogs. Exposure to carcinogens increases the risk of liver cancer. The symptoms of liver cancer in dogs and cats usually indicate the prevalence. Some of the signs of liver cancer that you may notice are excessive vomiting, reduced appetite, pale gums, distended stomach, jaundice or breathing disorders.

Treating cancer in your pet

There are two ways in which cancer treatment in pets can be approached. The first is the conventional treatment. Conventional treatment is typically invasive. Cancer treatment is toxic and options like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are beset with side effects.

Treating cancer, including canine and feline cancers, with chemotherapeutic drugs is beset with dangers. Most veterinarians are against the use of these drugs since the effects are sometimes worse than the ailment. Most veterinarians suggest chemotherapy if the dog owner insists and is adamant to prolong the life of his dog, irrespective of its quality.

The other approach is the holistic approach, which targets the underlying cause of the disease and attempts to cure it. A holistic approach is suggested to help in uprooting the disease from its roots. The basic principle behind a holistic approach is that no disease occurs without a cause. A holistic approach treats symptoms as reflections of the body’s effort to heal itself or as the results of the causes of the disease.

Conventional pet cancer treatments

The most common therapies for cancer treatment include:

• Surgery, partial or total excision of a tumor, has limited success ratio in cases where cancer has spread to various organs in the body.
• Chemotherapy, the use of drugs to kill cancer cells, has serious toxic side effects.
• Radiation therapy, the use of high-intensity radiation, cannot guarantee that only cancer cells will be targeted.

There has been a significant development in the field of discovering newer therapies for treating cancer. Drugs and techniques that target only cancerous cells and spare the normal cells are in different stages of development and are being termed as ‘magic bullets’. Some of these therapies include the following:

Gene therapy

This is a process of introduction of foreign DNA into a cancerous cell. After the foreign gene is incorporated and expressed by cancerous cells, it attempts to kill cancerous cells, attract substances from the immune system to fight cancer cells, suppress formation of tumors and make normal cells resistant to drugs that are used to kill cancer cells.

Anti-angiogenic drugs

These drugs work on the theory that cancer cells are dependent on a process called angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is a process of formation of blood vessels which facilitates the division of cancerous cells. It also allows the tumors to attain a solid structure. For this purpose, many cancerous cells excrete molecules to activate angiogenesis. Natural and synthetic inhibitors that restrict the formation of blood vessels are in the process of preclinical studies and have been found to be extremely effective.

Not all types of cancers give prior noticeable indications, the way the symptoms of liver cancer in pets surface as diarrhea, vomiting, bloated stomach and lethargy. Pet cancer, including feline cancer, is a fatal disease and even a seemingly successful treatment can have a debilitating effect on the quality of life of the pet during and after treatment.

There are also some more complicated therapies in the process of development, but it appears that it will be quite sometime before an ideal cure for cancer is found. However, there is still a lot of scope in developing existing modes of treatment so as to at least limit side effects and provide a non-recurring cure for one of the most dreaded diseases.

A significant limitation of conventional drugs is in the field of recurrence. There is a great amount of heterogeneity within the cells of a single tumor. As the tumor increases in size, some of the cells get lesser blood supply causing them to divide at a reduced pace compared to others in the same tumor. This results in making some cells resistant to drugs and they can survive even after the patient is cured of the disease. These cancerous cells remain dormant for a time and lead to recurrence of cancer at a later stage.

On the other hand, surgery has a different set of limitations. Pet cancer has the uncanny property of surfacing when it has already metastasized to neighboring, distant and even vital organs. This either rules out surgery or, at best, results in partial excision of a tumor making chemotherapy and radiation necessary.

Total excision is only possible in cases of a benign tumor, which is, in most cases, harmless. On the other hand, any increase in the dosage of chemotherapeutic drugs or time of radiation exposure has an accompanied and corresponding risk of an increase in toxicity.

Pet owners need to make an educated decision based on the general health of the dog and the risks involved. In fact, owners have to strike a balance between compassion, quality of life after treatment and benefits likely to be derived from treatment.

Alternative pet cancer treatments

Clear environmental toxins

The first step should be to clear the pet’s environment of all potentially carcinogenic materials and chemicals. Change his environment so that there is no contact with harmful pesticides, chemicals, and toxic materials. Clean the household where remnants of these tend to accumulate. Throw out the plastic feeding bowl and use ceramic or metal. Start giving filtered water to the pet.

If you are looking for a better quality of life rather than just adding to the number of years, you may look toward a holistic treatment for cancer. Some natural, holistic treatments for pets include:

• Essiac Tea is a cancer treatment that we have noticed that is frequently used with pets. You can order Essiac Tea.
• The Kelmun Protocol (baking soda and maple syrup) has done very well at shrinking tumors. It is both a highly alkaline protocol and it contains a “trojan horse” (maple syrup) to allow the baking soda to target cancer cells. The dose of baking soda should be 1 teaspoon for pets over 60 pounds and for pets less than 60 pounds a proportionately lower dose. It should be combined with juicing (e.g. carrot juice with a tablespoon of beet juice) and “green drinks” and hopefully an electromedicine protocol, such as the High RF Frequency Generator with plasma amplifier (which does not need “skin” to make a connection).
• Homeopathy
• Herbs including astragalus, mistletoe, withania somnifera (ashwagandha), and milk thistle.

Strengthening your pet’s immune system

The real defense against cancer and for that matter any other disease is the body’s immune system. If the immune system is strong, it follows that these cells are killed or reabsorbed before they can cause cancer or threaten overall health. If the immune system is weak, treatment only results in temporary remission of the disease only to reoccur.

If the reason behind cancer was known then it would have helped a great deal in finding a definite cure for the deadly disease. But apart from the fact that there are certain carcinogens that cause cancer, very little is known about what causes cancer. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the incidence of cancer in dogs and the feline cancer-causing lot of concern to pet owners.

It has been suggested that there is a high probability of some cancer cells present in a body. A perfectly conditioned and healthy body does not let cancer take root. It is the immune system of the body that inhibits these cancer-causing cells from multiplying.

When the body is unhealthy, the immune system triggers off certain changes in the body to fight back. When cancer takes root, the immune system causes certain symptoms to appear in the body. These symptoms are basically the body’s mechanism to fight back in order to self-heal.

As cancer progresses, the self-healing process can go awry. The body cannot handle the constant “war” situation. With changing priorities of the body system, the normal growth processes are compromised. A diet that can strike a balance in priorities of attending to cancer and the routine growth processes can be of great help in prolonging the life of a pet.

Nutrition for pets with cancer

Your pet’s body requires a typical diet that is compatible with his structure and needs. It should be kept in mind that human food is not always good for the animal. A pet who suffers from cancer requires specific nutrition that can allow him to fight back the disease and continue the other regular body functions.

It is not too optimistic to believe that the right nutrition can help in treating cancer in pets. And a certain combination of nutrients can also help in preventing cancer. Additionally, it can help ensure a better quality of life if cancer has already set in.

There is a strong correlation between nutrition and cancer. Commercial foods available in the market contain a preservative and synthetic substances that may be carcinogenic and may cause harm to the process of healthy cell multiplication. Home cooked and organic food is best for your pet’s health. If home food is not an option, opt for healthy foods for pets that are available in health stores. Before buying make sure that they do not contain hormones, pesticides or antibiotics.

You may also choose to give therapeutic level supplements of antioxidants, Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Many herbs also help in fighting cancer and can be given directly or along with a meal. Discuss with your veterinarian and select a few herbs and natural foods that are rich in zinc, selenium and Omega 3 fatty acids. Fish oil or flaxseed oil have anti-cancer properties and increase oxygen uptake to cells.

Not much research has been conducted to understand how diets can manage or prevent cancer from occurring in pets. Whatever research is available suggests that a diet that provides the following substances in sufficient quantities can be of help:

• Vitamins C, D, and E along with beta-carotene and chemical compound of Vitamin A known as retinoids;
• minerals like selenium, copper, zinc, magnesium, calcium, lead, iron, potassium, sodium, iodine and germanium;
• enzymes that help in immunization against cancer-causing pathogens. These are available as oral preparations;
• green and black tea is believed to have cancer-inhibiting properties and can be introduced in the pet’s meal.

Cancer treatments and surgery can drain the energy out of a patient. If the energy levels dip to extremely low levels a condition known as cancer cachexia occurs. One of the symptoms of liver cancer in pets is a loss of appetite and extreme weight loss. Managing the amount of energy spent and supplementing with a healthy diet are the best ways of countering the condition.

Supplements for the immune system

Cod liver oil is usually favored by veterinarians for its high Vitamin A, D, and Omega 3 fatty acid content. Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy mucous membranes in eyes and ears. It also keeps the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts in proper operable conditions. Vitamin D, on the other hand, helps in the effective metabolism of calcium, which is essential for maintaining bone density.

Fish oils like cod liver oil are natural sources of Omega 3 fatty acids, which are necessary to maintain overall health. Many commercial diets for dogs and cats contain Omega 6 fatty acids in higher than recommended proportions, which can prove to be harmful. The Omega 3 fatty acids in cod liver oil act as a balancing factor and counters the harmful effects of Omega 6 acids.

Fatty acids, to be effective, should be in the form of EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) and are thus termed as essential fatty acids. Fish oils, including cod liver oil, are natural sources of these forms of fatty acids. Plant-based oils need to be converted from Alpha-linolenic Acid (LNA), a process that requires huge amounts of LNA for the required amount of EPA and DHA.

Essential fatty acids are necessary for some critical functions the body must perform to maintain health:

• transport and metabolism of cholesterol and triglycerides;
• normal brain development and functioning;
• maintaining vision;
• adrenal functioning;
• regulate the immune system.

Herbs like aloe vera, Echinacea, astragalus, goldenseal, elder, and garlic are suggested to play a role in maintaining a healthy immune system. A healthy immune system helps in preventing certain diseases that often cause problems in the health of your dog or cat.

It is important for pet owners to learn more about this aspect of animal health so that early treatment may be given to avoid further complications.

The natural and holistic approach to maintain immune system health is always preferred as natural remedies can be included in the routine diet without fear of major side effects. Despite this, some herbs are not recommended in certain conditions and in undiluted form. It is better to use herbs after gathering full information or under the supervision of a certified herbalist.

Pet Cancer Sites

Tony Isaacs has a website for pet cancer (primarily for dogs). He does NOT recommend oleander products because they are too hard on their digestive tracts.

What he does use is inositol/IP6, colloidal silver, etc.

The Best Years in Life Website

General pet cancer sites:

• http://www.evolutionpets.com/
• http://www.charlesloopsdvm.com/
• http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/AnimalWellness/Acancer.aspx
• http://www.katberard.com/healthcare.htm (see Essiac Tea warning)
• http://www.thensome.com/petcancer.htm

Pet cancer discussion sites:

• https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FelineCancer-Holistic/info
• https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/feline-cancer/info
• https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FelineMammaryCancer/info
• https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/TheBestYearsinLifeNaturalHealthForPets/info

The post Pet cancer types and treatments appeared first on Cancer Tutor.

Speaking as an M.D., Ph.D., as well as a doctor of alternative and holistic medicine for more than four decades, there is one thing I advise every patient I've ever had (no matter the illness):
Try anything and everything.

To me, this is common sense. Doing whatever you can to minimize the negative and whatever you can to maximize the chances of a positive. If you tip the odds even slightly in your favor, eventually you will repel cancer.

The brilliance of complementary medicine

Unfortunately, this isn't how oncologists work.

They'll wave off taking vitamins (without testing if you could be deficient in critical nutrients). They casually dismiss physical and emotional stress as a factor (when it's likely the number one cause in many cases). They tell you that diet is irrelevant (because they don't understand that most disease has a foundation in poor nutrition).

They also argue vehemently against any natural cancer treatment or alternative protocol (even if there is nothing at all to be lost and much to possibly be gained by trying it).

Not all doctors are motivated by greed – the money to be gained from these outrageously expensive modalities (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation).

Sometimes, vanity and fear are part of it. They find themselves frightened by the chance that their cutting, burning, and poisoning may turn out to be the wrong strategy after all. That perhaps they will even be dangerous and ineffective (something that statistics prove time and time again to be the case).

Adding several healing modalities – letting them work together – will help you overcome your cancer. By that, I mean both the possibility of increased survival and also a great improvement in the quality of your remaining life.

This is considered complementary medicine – alternative and conventional therapies working together to reach the same goal: protecting and healing your patient. Natural cancer treatments must not be dismissed simply because you choose to take a conventional treatment path! That is an “all or nothing” approach that shortchanges your body's own desire (and ability) to heal!

Your body, your choices, your life

I never argue with patients who opt for chemo or radiation. This is a personal, agonizing choice and it is theirs to make. No matter who you are, it is never an easy one!

However, later I'll talk about ways to use alternative modalities to block the dreadful toxic effects of chemo. This improvement in the quality of life is a very important contribution to real health care and should not be overlooked or denied.

Just to emphasize my point about the two approaches working synergistically, I'll tell you about a significant study which shows that fasting alongside chemotherapy may improve the outcome of this conventional treatment. Fasting seems to help protect healthy cells and help them become as much as 5 times more resistant to chemo than the cancer cells.

It's an animal study but still noteworthy because it backs up everything we alternative doctors have said is critical about diet and cancer. Stressful foods help cancer and a good diet holds it back. Fasting has been shown to be beneficial for humans with cancer.

Nowadays, with our much-improved knowledge of epigenetics, we understand that we can switch off bad genes, including cancer genes, by changes in diet and lifestyle.

Indeed, it emerges more every year that this is rather easy to do. Let's talk about some fascinating ways to increase your sensitivity to chemo (in other words, make it work better).

Making cells more sensitive to chemotherapy

If you choose the chemotherapy route, don't let anyone scoff at you. People do survive with chemotherapy. It doesn't seem to do much good, according to the figures, but you might be among the lucky ones.

It is not my purpose to tell you are foolish to choose that path. It's your call!

“Still, you must remember that chemotherapy agents are known to often cause DNA mutations — leading to cancerous changes at the cellular level. It's such a contradiction!”

Prof. Keith Scott-Mumby

Still, you must remember that chemotherapy agents are known to often cause DNA mutations — leading to cancerous changes at the cellular level. It's such a contradiction!

This is perhaps the primary reason cancer cells develop “chemoresistance.” They're able to adapt and change, developing new strains that are no longer affected by the drug.

Children who are “successfully” treated for Hodgkin's disease are 18 times more likely later to develop secondary malignant tumors. Girls face a 35 percent chance of developing breast cancer by the time they are 40 (which is 75 times greater than the average).

The risk of leukemia increased markedly four years after the ending of successful treatment and reached a plateau after 14 years, but the risk of developing solid tumors remained high and approached 30 percent at 30 years.

Let's discuss three natural cancer treatments that are able to be used alone (to help prevent cancer in the first place) and in combination with the cancer protocols you choose to follow from your oncologist. None of these modalities are harmful to the patient.

In other words, they can't hurt but they absolutely have the potential to help.

Fish oils

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) concentrated from fish oil was shown to sensitize colon cancer cells to Mitomycin C, a chemotherapy agent.

It should be noted that fish oil also suppresses the formation of prostaglandin E2, an inflammatory hormone-like substance involved in cancer cell propagation. In fact, omega-3 essential fatty acids have long been known to quench inflammation (a condition that is incredibly dangerous for cancer patients)!

In a group of dogs with lymphoma were randomized to receive either a diet supplemented with arginine and fish oil or just soybean oil. Dogs on the fish oil and arginine diet had a significantly longer disease-free survival time than dogs on the soybean oil.

Caffeine

Caffeine, we are slowly realizing, is an extremely healthful substance, despite the unpleasantness of its jag effect. Recently, the use of caffeine as a natural cancer treatment in combination with chemotherapy has been shown to enhance the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy drugs.

Caffeine occurs naturally in green tea and has been shown to improve the anti-cancer effects of tea polyphenols, such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

When mice were fed caffeine as a sole source of drinking fluid for 18-23 weeks (they must have been pretty jumpy), it inhibited the formation and decreased the size of both nonmalignant tumors and malignant tumors.

In cancer patients, the p53 gene mutation is one of the most common genetic alterations observed. It may not be causative but is fully involved. Caffeine has been shown to help the destruction of p53 defective cells.

This unique ability of caffeine is the basis of many anti-cancer therapies, aimed at damaging tumor DNA and destroying the replicating cancer cells. Caffeine uncouples tumor cell-cycle progression by interfering with the replication and repair of DNA.

Fasting

Fasting is a natural cancer treatment that you can use in conjunction with traditional protocols assigned by your oncologist to improve the effectiveness and outcome of your case.

Inducing temporary starvation increases the cells' resistance to stress, which may allow doctors to use higher doses of current cancer chemotherapy treatments to make them more effective.

In the study, researchers studied the effects of starvation on cancerous and normal cells. First, they induced a starvation-related response in yeast cells, which made them 1,000 times more protected than untreated cells.

Then, they tested the effects of fasting on human and cancer cells in a test tube and in mice. The results showed starvation produced between a two-fold and five-fold difference in stress resistance between the normal, starvation-treated cells and normal cells.

In tests with live mice, of 28 mice starved for 48-60 hours before chemotherapy, only 1 died (less than 4 percent). Of 37 mice that were not starved prior to treatment, 20 mice died from chemotherapy toxicity (more than 50 percent).

It would explain why fasting, juicing, and extreme diets could be beneficial. The cancer cells themselves are weakened.

This is critical because chemotherapy kills good cells at about the same rate as bad cells.

It's extremely toxic but if we could increase what is called the therapeutic margin (the difference between the dose which cures and the dose which kills), then it's a completely different game against cancer.

Researchers believe genetic cues prompt starved healthy cells to go into a hibernation-like mode that produces extreme resistance to stress (chemo is stress). Cancerous cells don't obey those cues and remain stuck in growth mode.

Based on my own years of research and success with my patients, I believe the primary reason that fasting is so helpful is that the patient removes stressor foods (intolerances, allergies, junk chemicals, and other poisons).

A final reminder … remember, try anything and everything! Whether you choose traditional protocols or opt to use (or include) natural cancer treatments — you must be in control of your journey.

It's your life, your fight, and you must be part of your treatment every step of the way.

8 Steps to Preventing & Overcoming Cancer

The post Yes! There’s more than one way to beat cancer appeared first on Cancer Tutor.