The Sacred Cow

There are certain topics that bring out very strong emotional reactions when brought up for debate. These topics are usually called Sacred Cows because the majority of the population believes very strongly in them. This week we will attempt to bust apart two scared cows. The first topic is fluoridated water. Fluoride, long thought to protect our teeth, is added to our water supply. Over the years, there has been great debate as to the helpfulness versus the harm of this chemical. Recently, the American Dental Association has issued a statement saying that fluoride levels in water could be dangerous to infants and the ADA has advised not to use common tap water in formulas, foods or for drinking by infants. Fluoride has a negative effect on the thyroid gland as well as being harmful to diabetics and kidney patients. The next sacred cow is the infamous flu shot. The Institute of Medicine has said that flu shots contain mercury and should not be given to sensitive populations. I do not know what the term "sensitive population" means, but the majority of flu shots contain 25 micrograms of mercury an amount considered unsafe for anyone under 550 pounds of body weight. The scary thing is that the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta Ga. is still advising pregnant women, infants and children to receive the vaccine. The sad fact is that the representative for the CDC, who said that the flu shot is safe, is also a consultant for Merck and Glaxo/Smith/Kline, drug companies that continue to use mercury in their vaccines. This was reported on in Medical News Today , 2/24/2007.

Thought for the Week: "A bit of wisdom, is a joy forever." ---- Will Durant

Chiropractic Thought for the Week: "Drugs don't have side effects. It's that the effects of drugs are unpredictable." --Reggie Gold, D.C.

Most people think that a drug is designed to go right to the body part that needs it. We forget that drugs are absorbed through the lining of the stomach before entering our blood stream. The drugs are then processed through the liver and filtered through the kidneys. This is why the regular use of drugs, such as over-the-counter pain relievers, lead to stomach, liver and kidney disease. The New England Journal of Medicine reports that 1000 pain relievers in the course of your life time will triple the risk of kidney and liver disease.-----Dr. J.Z.