July 2012
Welcome to the monthly Ask Dr. Marty Newsletter. In response to several requests, I have decided to share some information based on questions that I frequently receive regarding natural health topics. I promise to keep the newsletter short. But if at any time you get overwhelmed with emails, please let me know and I’ll be glad to take you off of the mailing list. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the newsletter and hope that you will forward any questions you may have as well. Even if they don’t make it into the newsletter, I promise to answer all questions. All questions will be anonymous.
Question: I heard that canned food, especially Progresso soup, has high levels of a carcinogenic chemical. Please read the attached email and tell me what you think of it.
Answer: The internet is a powerful tool. It has so much wonderful information and entertainment. But we sometimes think that because we see it in black and white, “It must be true.” And we all know that certainly isn’t true. But at a subliminal subconscious level it’s a different story. All that psychobabble just means it’s so easy to get sucked into an untruth or partial untruth. In the last several months’ newsletters, I have addressed several emails that are making the rounds. Some pretty accurate, some not so accurate. Most of the time the emails are a combination of the truth and some things that are untrue. Those emails are the easiest to get drawn into. We recognize the truth and make an assumption that the entire email is true.
So back to the question at hand… BPA has been strongly linked to cancer. And it is a xenoestrogen, which is an estrogen not produced by the body. An excess of estrogen can definitely cause weight gain and disrupt the functions of other glands, especially the reproductive organs and thyroid. The Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency claim that BPA does not create a problem in the United States.
But let me say this about that.
Whenever chemicals in our food, water, and air are deemed at “acceptable” levels in the eyes of our government agencies, what they are saying is that those chemicals have not been proven to directly cause diseases (like cancer). Although there is a lot of controversy among experts whether that is true, one factor is not ever factored into the equation. Primarily because it is very difficult. Unlike many other countries, we allow thousands of chemicals in our food, air and water. The impact of that chemical “soup” (pun intended) is likely to be very harmful to health.
Think of a bucket. The FDA decides when the quantity of a chemical reaches a certain level and overflows the bucket, it is considered dangerous. So let’s say we are just short of the dangerous amount, but it’s certainly not the only chemical of the day. In addition to canned food, we ate lots of other food with chemical preservatives/colors/flavors, we used chemical cleaning supplies, drank tap water with all sorts of chemicals and drug residues, and were around office equipment that emitted noxious fumes. And every exposure gets poured into our imaginary bucket. That bucket actually overflowed before 9:00a.m.
Bottom line, there is real truth to the danger of BPA in our environment, but some of the facts in the email appear to be untrue, like the “80 times more BPA than experts say you should have in one day.”
Hot Tip: If you stick to fresh food with a minimum of chemicals, you can keep that bucket at much safer levels.
Next month…What overgrowth can cause emotional extremes, severe fatigue, memory and focus problems, food cravings and weight gain, just to mention a few? Stay tuned for next month’s newsletter to find out.
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Maureen (Marty) Kernion is not a physician and does not diagnose nor prescribe. She received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Louisiana State University, and a Master of Science degree and Doctorate of Natural Health degree from Clayton College of Natural Health. She is the author of Going Natural with Herbs. Marty lectures on natural health topics across the country and has been featured at 78 Barnes and Noble book stores since her book was published. She is also a retired adjunct professor with Clayton College of Natural Health where she authored 39 courses in nutrition and herbal remedies.
It is always wise to advise your pharmacist or health care practitioner about any change in diet or supplements you plan to take, especially if you take any prescription medication.
“Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.” Ezekiel 47:12
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