About The S File ™

When I was pregnant with my first child in 2007, I began to take more notice in children.  I couldn’t help but notice that there were a lot of children with one health issue or another — allergies, autism, ADD, diabetes,…  The more aware I became, the more I thought, this is quite alarming…  Then, I encountered some alarming statistics on the health trends in children, and I felt compelled to understand more.

From a presentation by the Environmental Working Group (an environmental advocacy group out of Washington, DC, and a group that every parent should check out!):

We’re seeing major growth in diseases that we cannot explain through genetics alone.  Genes do not mutate quickly enough to explain the rapid increases in various illnesses:

• 62% increase in acute lymphocytic leukemia in children, 1973-1999
• 40% increase in childhood brain cancer, 1973-1994
• Incidence of autism now 1 in 150 children (60% boys)
• 1 out of every 15 children aged 5 to 17 has ADHD
• About 7.3 million American couples have trouble becoming pregnant or carrying to full term, an increase of 20% in the last 10 years — increasing most for women under age 25
• Decreased sperm count by 1% per year
• 1 in 7 women will develop breast cancer
• 1 in 3 women will develop cancer
• 1 in 2 men will develop cancer

(To watch the presentation, click here: Almost 300 Industrial Chemicals in the Cord Blood of Infants.)

From Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home (April 2008) (a book that every person should read):

• Diagnoses for autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder have jumped almost 400% in the last 20 years, according to a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.  This increase is too high to attribute simply to improved recognition and diagnosis.  Also, while the causes of these disorders are complex, many chemicals, including lead, mercury, PCBs, alcohol, and other solvents are known to interfere with brain development. (pages 4-5)
• In the United States, we entered the new millennium with a dubious distinction: The frequency of autoimmune diseases in children is higher than it has ever been in the history of medicine.  Autoimmune diseases are those in which the immune system mistakenly identifies a good, healthy substance as a bad, harmful one. The result is that the body begins to produce antibodies, which then attack joints, muscles, nerves, or specific tissues or cells…  Behind cancer and heart disease, autoimmune disease is now the third leading cause of illness in the United States and in many other developed, industrialized nations.  (page 6)
• The incidence of childhood cancers jumped almost 27% between 1975 and 2002. (pages 4 – 5)
• The American Cancer Society estimates that 75% of cancer is due to environmental factors: exposure to pesticides, hazardous air pollutants, and formaldehyde increase the risk of childhood cancers, while other exposures can raise a child’s risk for adult onset cancers. (pages 4 – 5)

(The statistics above are the random ones that stand out to me as I write this.  For a closer look at the more comprehensive list of statistics that I’ve tracked, click on Alarming Health Trends Among Adults and Alarming Health Trends Among Children.)

Surprising, Yet, Empowering Information

I tried to learn more about how best to position my daughter from being among those that fall within these alarming trends.  Yes, most people get sick and die at some point.  But, the rate at which a wide range of chronic illnesses are significantly influencing our children should be unacceptable.

I am not an expert in medicine, nutrition, or chemicals.  However, I am an intelligent, concerned mom who wants to do what I can to protect the health and development of my children.  I’m focused on trying to maximize the quality of our lives for as long as possible.  As such, I have been reading a lot.  Selecting which books to buy and read has always been a research project, as I carefully select books that focus more on scientific and medical data by credible authors — hopefully, well-trained scientists and physicians — since I am on a journey to get closer to the truth.

Throughout my journey for the truth, I have been encountering fascinating information that I wish I had known sooner.  Reading about nutrition, which has a lot of conflicting information, I have used personal experience to decide which philosophies make sense for me.  During the past year (2009), even though I have always been health conscious and healthy, I have made significant changes as my perspective radically changed.  I now feel better than ever, with more energy, more stable energy, and much more mental clarity.  When I eat the way I now believe I should, weight is never an issue.  Interestingly, the more pure my diet, the more pure foods I crave and the less I desire usual indulgences, such as wine, coffee and chocolate (which is AMAZING since I had been addicted to wine and coffee for years!!)!

I have been surprised — while also being empowered — to learn how much influence we have over the health — even the gene expression — of not just ourselves, but perhaps that of our children and grandchildren.  Read on for a glimpse…

Pregnancy

Did you know about a new field of science — epigenetics — that is finding that what happens in the womb can influence which genes are turned on and off?  Dr. Michael Roizen (of the Cleveland Clinic) says that stressors in the mother’s environment cause a change in the gene expression patterns of the fetus.  That means that the chemicals your baby is exposed to in utero, via the foods you eat and the cigarettes you inhale, serve as biological light switches in your baby’s development.  On, off, on, off — you decide how your child’s genes are expressed, even as early as conception.

Health

The authors of a major review on diet and cancer, prepared for the U.S. Congress in 1981, estimated that genetics only determines about 2 – 3% of the total cancer risk. (The China Study by Dr. Campbell (2006); page 71 )

Cancer growth can be turned on and off by nutrition, despite very strong genetic predisposition  (The China Study by Dr. Campbell (2006); page 23)

When a very potent carcinogen is put into the body, the rate at which it causes problems is mostly controlled by nutrition  (The China Study by Dr. Campbell (2006); pages 165 – 166 )

Children

The EPA estimates that 50% of one’s total cancer risk is determined by the age two.  The EPA has determined that up to age two, babies are, on average, ten times more vulnerable to carcinogenic chemicals than adults, and for some cancer- causing agents are up to 65 times more vulnerable. (”Protecting Your Child From Toxic Exposures” by Jane Sheppard; March 10, 2009; HealthyChild.com)

Contributing Factors to Fast-Growing Rates of Illnesses and Serious Issues, In My Opinion

Based on what I have read as of the date of this writing, it seems to me that there may be three main factors contributing to these trends:

First: Chemicals.

Since World War II, at least 80,000 chemical compounds have been invented and dispersed into the environment.  Only a fraction of these new chemicals have been tested for their possible human toxicity.  Fewer still have been assessed for their toxic effects on children.

Spearheaded by the Environmental Working Group, the Red Cross collected umbilical cord of 10 infants in 2004, and found a total of 287 chemicals in their cord blood.  Of the 287 chemicals we detected in umbilical cord blood, we know that 180 cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests. The dangers of pre- or post-natal exposure to this complex mixture of carcinogens, developmental toxins and neurotoxins have never been studied. (Click on Our Internal Pollution to read more.)

Second: Nutrition.

The bombardment of chemicals into our bodies is being done while at the same time the American diet has deteriorated.  Our bodies’ resources are being distracted by the unnatural foods we eat and not nourished by natural foods.

Three: Sleep.

We probably sleep less than we ever have, and less than we should.

“In the same way that we know how much calcium your baby needs for his bones to grow stronger, we know how important healthy sleep is for the growing brain.  Calcium deficiency in childhood harms bone development, but the problems of osteoporosis may not show up until much later in adult life.  So if your child eats a calcium deficient diet, the problem is “hidden” because there are no immediately apparent ill effects.  Likewise, sleep deficiency in childhood may harm neurological development; the problems remain “hidden,” not showing up until later.  I think it is possible that unhealthy sleep habits contribute to school-related problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities.  I also suspect chronically tired children become chronically tired adults who suffer in ways we can’t measure: less resiliency, less ability to cope with life’s stress, less curiosity, less empathy, less playfulness.  The message here is simple: Sleep is a powerful modifier of mood, behavior, performance, and personality.”

– Dr. Marc Weissbluth, M.D. of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child (1987), page xix

In My Opinion, Below Are the Main Areas In Which We Can Position Ourselves For Better Health

Nutrition

• The results of many studies showed nutrition to be far more important in controlling cancer promotion than the dose of the initiating carcinogen… The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, which is the official publication of the U.S. National Cancer Institute, took note of these studies and featured some of our findings on its cover… Furthermore, a pattern was beginning to emerge: nutrients from animal-based foods increased tumor development while nutrients from plant-based foods decreased tumor development. (The China Study by Dr. Campbell (2006); page 66)
• “Let there be no doubt: cow’s milk protein is an exceptionally potent cancer promoter…”  (The China Study by Dr. Campbell (2006); page 62 )
• “Cow’s milk may cause one of the most devastating diseases that can befall a child”  (The China Study by Dr. Campbell (2006); page 187 )

Environmental

The list of environmental toxins is simply too long to get into here.  However, a great deal of one’s exposure does seem to come from one’s home.  Below is a small sample of sources of environmental toxins, sources that seem to have higher impact and that we can easily minimize.  (You may click on Environmental Toxins to read a longer list of my notes so far.)

Cleaning Products

• Studies have shown that women who work inside the home have significantly higher cancer rates than those who don’t. Repeated exposure to cleaning products is one of the contributing factors. (Squeaky Green; page 47)

Personal Care Products

• The average adult is exposed to 120 chemicals every day by using personal care products. Your morning routine probably exposes you to well over 100 chemicals. Over 800 chemicals used in personal care products are known to be toxic. (Squeaky Green pages 84-85)

• The United States lags behind many other parts of the world in safety standards for personal care products.  The European Union has banned more than 1,100 chemicals from cosmetics because they are known or highly suspected of causing cancer, genetic mutation or reproductive harm.  In contrast, the United States bans or restricts only 11 chemicals from cosmetics.  (“No More Toxic Tubs: Getting Contaminants Out of Children’s Bath and Personal Care Products“; page 21)

Diet

• Environmental chemicals… These widely distributed chemicals have been shown to disrupt hormones, although it is not clear which hormones in humans are being disrupted. These chemicals may also cause reproductive abnormalities, birth defects and Type 2 diabetes… There are many different types of offending chemicals, most of which are commonly associated with industrial pollution. One group, including dioxins and PCBs, persist in the environment because they are not metabolized when consumed. Thus they are not excreted from the body. Because of this lack of metabolism, these chemicals accumulate in body fat and breast milk of lactating mothers. Some of these chemicals are known to promote the growth of cancer cells, although humans may not be at significant risk unless one consumes excessive quantities of meat, milk and fish. Indeed, 90 – 95% of our exposure to these chemicals comes from consuming animal products — yet another reason why consuming animal-based foods can be risky. (The China Study by Dr. Campbell (2006), page 165)

Children

• Toys: minimize plastic!  Buy toys made of wood and other natural, organic materials when possible.
• Mattresses: investigate how non-toxic yours is, given that your child sleeps many hours of his / her day on it!  Click on Mattress Revelations to read what I learned when I was trying to decide which mattress to buy.
• Ideally, dress your children in organic pajamas and use organic bedding.  These materials are sprayed with flame retardants which we are finding in the bodies of children and adults.
  

The S File

Hence, The S File was born.  The S File is my — Ms. S — collection of notes, shopping lists, thoughts and experiences as I continue to learn and fine-tune the choices I make for my family.  As I did my research on how to best position my child from becoming one of these alarming health statistics, I was overwhelmed by the wealth of information (and, often times, conflicting information) to track.

Often times, I wished that someone would just tell me what to buy — given my new and evolving value system / perspective — so that I didn’t have to do all this research!  Since I never found that guidance, I’m trying to create The S File into something that would have helped me as I entered and continued through the path of parenthood.  I’m trying to make this much healthier lifestyle (of eating better and minimizing toxins) much more user-friendly (because it hasn’t been so far!), and I hope that as I navigate how to make choices that maximize the quality of life of my family that I may also help another family question their choices as well.

The intention of The S File ™ is as follows:

1) Share information that I wish I knew sooner — regarding health, child development, … anything that would have helped me; and,

2) Share which products and services we use, chosen as a result of my evolving knowledge and experience (less toxic is often times less effective so trial and error has been a big part of our process in finding the products that we use).

At the same time, this concept of sharing what I wish I knew sooner has inspired me to write about additional topics that I find interesting and potentially helpful for others.  These will be introduced as they are ready!

I would warmly welcome feedback and productive dialogue!  Please feel free to enter comments in the Comments section throughout this website, or email me at MsS@thesfile.com.

Best,

Ms. S

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