Organic
Food Regulations
Toxic
Metal Update:
Cadmium
Managing
Cadmium
Risks
More
Soy Benefits
Ask
Dr. J:
Lysine
and Meds
References
In
the Health
News
Diet
and Disease
Recipe
of The Month:
Shiitake-Eggplant
Stir Fry
Dear Friends,
Organic
foods have
been the
fastest growing
segment of
the grocery
industry
for some
time. Since
the US Department
of Agriculture
(USDA) set
organic standards
in 2002,
they have
always seemed
to be a reluctant
partner in
the growth
and acceptance
of these
healthier
and more
flavorful
foods. A
sign of the
vigor of
organic agriculture
and the increasing
popularity
of organic
foods is
the recent
announcement
by Wal-Mart
that they
are making
a massive
commitment
to carrying
them in their
stores. Although
supermarkets
are now carrying
a much larger
amount of
organic products
than they
used to,
the entry
of Wal-Mart
means that
organics
have really
become mainstream.
This means
that the
bulk of the
American
population
will now
have easier
access to
organic foods,
but it is
also somewhat
of a concern,
given the
wavering
of the USDA
in their
commitment.
The USDA
is under
pressure
from some
major agricultural
giants to
loosen their
organic regulations
and permit
some industrial
farming practices
that are
opposed by
the organic
community.
Already they
have permitted
standards
for some
meat and
milk production
to be lowered,
so that the
animals are
not grazed
or permitted
outdoors
as much as
formerly
required.
In fact,
in some so-called
organic dairies,
the animals
are permitted
only token
access to
the great
outdoors
(although
they are
not given
antibiotics,
growth hormone,
or pesticide-laden
feed). Because
of these
practices,
some organic
food stores
and community
co-ops are
refusing
to carry
some dairy
products
from some
of these
large producers.
Among these
feed-lot
brands is
Horizon (owned
by Dean Foods)
and Aurora
Organics,
a private-label
milk supplier
to Costco,
Safeway,
Giant, and
Wild Oats.
Other large
food producers,
such as Kraft,
are putting
pressure
on the government
to loosen
its organic
standards.
Signs suggest
that the
USDA is responding
to these
pressures,
and only
massive public
response
and the Organic
Consumer
Association
campaign
have delayed
the weakening
of the regulations,
for example,
permitting
genetically
modified
foods.
The concern
about Wal-Mart’s
major expansion
of their
organic foods
is that they
will exert
further pressure
on the USDA
to weaken
organic standards,
and they
have significant
financial
clout. While
I am happy
to see that
organic foods
are no longer
considered
to be the
choice only
of “health
nuts” (would
anyone really
prefer to
be a “sick
nut”?),
and have
become much
more available
for my own
shopping,
I do want
to monitor
any potential
detrimental
changes to
the regulations.
You can
stay aware
of this also
by visiting
the website
of the Organic
Consumers
Association
(www.organicconsumers.org)
and by supporting
their cause.
The Organic
Trade Association,
on the other
hand, is
heavily influenced
by the larger
farms. Organic
foods are
grown in
100 countries
on about
60 million
acres. Mainstream
marketing
may help
it grow.
Let’s
hope it stays
organic.
Lead and
mercury garner
much of the
attention
paid to toxic
exposures,
but cadmium
is another
toxic heavy
metal that
is associated
with numerous
health problems.
Cadmium (Cd)
is a likely
carcinogen
and damages
the lungs,
liver, nerve
tissues,
and kidneys.
It also contributes
to the development
of hypertension.
Primary exposure
is from tobacco
smoke and
foods, but
it occurs
in the environment
in many sources.
It is present
in metal
alloys and
batteries,
and is found
in polluted
water and
run-off from
mines.
Artists
and painters
may run into
Cd as a component
of many pigments,
such as cadmium
red, orange,
yellow, and
green. When
recycled
municipal
sewage sludge
is used in
fertilizers,
such as Milorganite
or Nitrohumus,
Cd (and other
metals) may
actually
end up being
unwittingly
added to
the soil
in farms
and gardens.
This was
one of the
controversies
in establishing
organic standards.
Eventually
such fertilizer
was banned
from organic
growing,
but it is
still commonly
sold for
garden use.
Grains and
green vegetables
readily take
up Cd from
the soil.
Even though
standards
for toxic
metal and
other chemical
contamination
of sewage
fertilizers
were tightened
in 1993,
heavy metals
may still
be a problem.
This is partly
because they
are persistent
in the environment
and accumulate
in the soil
and the body
with repeated
exposure.
Governmental
safe exposure
limits in
the U.S.
are eight
times less
strict than
in Europe,
almost certainly
due to political
rather than
safety considerations.
(Other toxins
that occur
in sewage
sludge include
PCBs, pesticides,
asbestos,
industrial
solvents,
and petroleum
byproducts.)
Cadmium
is an enzyme
poison, blocking
energy production
in the mitochondria
and competing
with zinc
and selenium.
It is associated
with increases
of lung and
prostate
cancer. It
also damages
the lining
cells of
the arteries,
promotes
inflammation,
and interferes
with blood
vessel wall
structure,
all of which
contribute
to an increased
risk of vascular
disease.
Cadmium
poses a serious
health threat.
A recent
article evaluated
246 women
with breast
cancer and
compared
them with
254 case
controls.
Urine samples
were tested
for Cd, and
the researchers
found that
women with
the highest
level of
Cd in the
urine had
twice the
risk of developing
breast cancer
compared
to women
with the
lowest urinary
excretion.
The researchers
screened
out other
risk factors
by interviewing
the subjects.
Cadmium
has estrogenic
effects,
stimulating
breast and
uterine cells.
In estrogen
responsive
cancers,
Cd has similar
effects to
estrogen
exposure,
causing proliferation
of cancer
cells. Cd
induces oxygen
free radicals,
and it inhibits
DNA repair,
both of which
contribute
to its carcinogenic
activity.
Even low
environmental
exposures
contribute
to this risk.
Environmental
studies also
show an association
of Cd exposure
with pancreatic
cancer.
In one comprehensive
study, researchers
evaluated
urine Cd
in 994 people
living close
to three
zinc smelters
(with Cd
waste) and
the soil
Cd in their
gardens and
compared
them to a
reference
population
not so exposed.
Over 17 years,
70 cancers
occurred,
50 of them
fatal. Of
these, 19
were lung
cancers.
High urine
Cd was associated
with 67 percent
of the lung
cancers,
which is
similar to
the risk
from smoking,
and for high
soil Cd the
risk was
increased
57 percent.
Overall,
residence
in the high
Cd area showed
a four-fold
increase
in risk of
cancer.
Research
shows an
association
of Cd (and
other heavy
metals such
as lead and
mercury)
with arterial
disease.
One study
analyzed
chronic low-level
exposure
in 2125 participants.
Those with
the highest
levels of
Cd in the
blood had
triple the
risk of peripheral
vascular
disease compared
to those
with the
lowest levels.
These levels
were below
the current
safety standards,
but still
apparently
a problem.
In this study
a significant
portion of
the risk
of cigarette
smoking was
due to the
associated
Cd exposure.
Reducing
exposure
is the first
line of defense,
and it helps
to eat organic
foods, avoid
sludge fertilizers
in the garden,
and avoid
tobacco smoke,
including
second-hand
smoke. Coastal
shellfish
often contain
excessive
levels of
Cd, and it
is in numerous
municipal
water supplies.
Chelation
therapy is
one treatment
for heavy
metal toxicity.
EDTA (ethylenediamine
tetra-acetic
acid) has
been used
since the
early 1950s
to treat
lead toxicity,
and it is
also effective
at removing
cadmium from
tissues.
EDTA is a
synthetic
amino acid
administered
intravenously,
and is most
frequently
used to treat
vascular
disease.
The recently
explored
relationship
between heavy
metals and
vascular
disease suggests
one mechanism
for chelation
benefits.
A non-chelating
binding agent,
similar in
effect to
EDTA, is
DMSA (dimercaptosuccinic
acid), an
oral tablet
for removing
cadmium,
lead, and
arsenic.
This is available
as a dietary
supplement.
Typical doses
range from
100 mg daily
up to 500
mg three
times a day,
but I prefer
the lower
doses (100
to 200 mg
daily) for
a longer
time because
of the excellent
safety profile.
Alpha-lipoic
acid is synergistic
with DMSA,
with typical
doses ranging
from 300
to 1000 mg.
The pineal
hormone melatonin
regulates
the body
clock and
is a good
antioxidant.
It helps
to block
the estrogenic
effects of
Cd, which
may explain
some earlier
research
showing that
it helps
to prevent
breast cancer
metastasis.
Zinc helps
to prevent
Cd absorption
and displace
it from tissues.
Supplements
of 30 to
50 mg of
zinc may
be helpful,
and this
should be
balanced
with 3 to
5 mg of copper
to prevent
deficiency.
Antioxidant
and anti-inflammatory
supplements
are also
valuable.
These include
vitamins
C and E,
fish oil,
green tea
polyphenols,
genistein
from soy,
quercetin,
selenium,
curcumin,
ginger, and
boswellia.
Although
some physicians
recommend
against consumption
of soy, the
evidence
for its health
benefits
continues
to accumulate.
Among 483
women undergoing
angiography
for coronary
artery disease,
those with
the highest
level of
daidzein,
a soy isoflavone
similar to
genistein,
had lower
triglyceride
levels and
a higher
HDL-cholesterol.
Isoflavones
have mild
estrogen
activity
that protects
tissues from
stronger
estrogens.
Soy food
consumption
has also
been associated
with improvement
in kidney
function
in diabetics,
and in a
Chinese study
on 21,494
deceased
cases and
19,968 controls,
total age-adjusted
mortality
was reduced
by 23 percent
in men and
34 percent
in women
in those
who consumed
soy products
four times
a week or
more, compared
to those
who consumed
it once a
month or
less. High
soy intake
was inversely
proportional
to deaths
from lung,
colon, stomach,
and breast
cancers as
well as heart
disease.
Q. I am
taking coumadin
to prevent
clotting.
Can I also
take L-lysine,
the amino
acid that
I have heard
reduces platelet
adhesiveness?
TK, New
Jersey, via
internet
A. Lysine,
proline,
and vitamin
C prevent
the binding
of a blood
lipid, lipoprotein
(a), to blood
vessel walls,
helping to
prevent and
perhaps reverse
atherosclerosis.
The clinical
evidence
for lysine
and proline
is limited,
but they
are certainly
worth considering
as part of
a comprehensive
plan to protect
the heart
and blood
vessels,
including
diet, exercise,
stress reduction,
and a number
of other
supplements.
Coumadin
inhibits
blood clotting,
but not through
an effect
on platelets.
I have not
seen research
showing that
L-lysine
inhibits
platelets,
so there
should be
no problem
taking L-lysine
with other
nutrients
or drugs.
For heart
disease I
also recommend
a mostly
vegetarian
diet, vitamins
C and E,
coenzyme
Q10, L-carnitine,
magnesium,
hawthorn,
and other
supplements.
The
Sludge Scam:
Should Sewage
Sludge Fertilize
Your Vegetables?
A Library
Resource,
http://www.riles.org/paper2.htm,
1997.
Metals
as Toxins:
Cadmium;
Metals in
Health and
Disease:
www.portfolio.mvm.ed.ac.uk/studentwebs/session2/group29/cadtox.htm.
Satarug
S, et al.,
Kidney dysfunction
and hypertension:
role for
cadmium,
p450 and
heme oxygenases?
Tohoku J
Exp Med.
2006 Mar;208(3):179-202.
Filipic
M, et al.,
Molecular
mechanisms
of cadmium
induced mutagenicity.
Hum Exp Toxicol.
2006 Feb;25(2):67-77.
Prozialeck
WC, The vascular
endothelium
as a target
of cadmium
toxicity.
Life Sci.
2006 May
17; [Epub
ahead of
print]
Mlynek
V, Skoczynska
A. The proinflammatory
activity
of cadmium.
Postepy Hig
Med Dosw
(Online).
2005;59:1-8.
Nawrot
T, et al.,
Environmental
exposure
to cadmium
and risk
of cancer:
a prospective...study.
Lancet Oncol.
2006 Feb;7(2):119-26.
McElroy
JA, et al.,
Cadmium exposure
and breast
cancer risk.
J Natl Cancer
Inst. 2006
Jun 21;98(12):869-73.
Kriegel
AM, et al.,
Serum cadmium
levels in
pancreatic
cancer patients...
Environ Health
Perspect.
2006 Jan;114(1):113-9.
Navas-Acien
A, et al.,
Lead, cadmium,
smoking,
and increased
risk of peripheral
arterial
disease.
Circulation.
2004 Jun
29;109(25):3196-201.
Waters
RS, EDTA
chelation
effects on
urinary losses
of cadmium...
Biol Trace
Elem Res.
2001 Dec;83(3):207-21.
Martinez-Campa
C, et al.
Melatonin
inhibits
both ER
alpha activation
and breast
cancer
cell proliferation
induced
by a metalloestrogen,
cadmium.
J Pineal
Res. 2006
May;40(4):291-6.
Bairey
Merz, CN,
et al., Phytoestrogens
and lipoproteins
in women.
J Clin Endocrinol
Metab. 2006
June;91(6):2209-2213.
Azadbakht
L, et al.,
Beneficiary
effect of
dietary soy
protein on...
lipid and...kidney
function...Eur
J Clin Nutr.
2003 Oct;57(10):1292-4.
Ho
SY, et al.,
Soy consumption
and mortality
in Hong Kong:
Proxy-reported
case-control
study of
all older
adult deaths
in 1998.
Prev Med.
2006 Apr
20; [Epub
ahead of
print]
a. Blood
pressure
medications
such as thiazide
diuretics
are associated
with an increased
risk of developing
diabetes.
Researchers
followed
41,193 older
women, 14,151
younger women,
and 19,472
men, all
with hypertension.
Over an 8-16
year period,
thiazide
medications
led to a
20, 45, and
36 percent
increase,
respectively,
in relative
risk of diabetes.
Older women
and men on
beta blockers
had 32 and
20 percent
increases
respectively.
(Taylor EN,
et al., Antihypertensive
medications
and the risk
of incident
type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes
Care. 2006
May;29(5):1065-70.)
Calcium channel
blockers
and ACE inhibitors
were not
associated
with risk.
Non-drug
treatments
for hypertension,
such as diet
and exercise
with dietary
supplements
(fish oil,
coenzyme
Q10, magnesium,
vitamins
C and E,
hawthorn),
are preferable.
b. Chronic
exposure
to pesticides
at low levels
increases
the risk
for Parkinson’s
disease.
Out of 143,325
people, the
7800 who
reported
exposure
to pesticides
had a 70
percent increased
risk (Ascherio
A, et al.,
Pesticide
exposure
and risk
for Parkinson’s
disease.
Ann Neurol
2006 July
60(1); [Epub
ahead of
print]. This
included
farmers and
those who
used pesticides
in the garden.
This is one
more reason
to grow and
eat organic
foods.
Diabetics
with kidney
damage benefit
from dropping
meat from
the diet.
On the usual
diet, protein
excretion
(a measure
of kidney
damage) was
313 mcg.
A chicken
diet reduced
it to 269
mcg, while
the low-protein
lacto-vegetarian
diet reduced
it more dramatically
to 229 mcg.
Nitrogen
taxes the
kidneys,
and lowering
dietary protein
is one way
to reduce
this burden.
(de Mello
VD, et al.,
Withdrawal
of red meat
from the
usual diet
reduces albuminuria
and improves
serum fatty
acid profile
in type 2
diabetes
patients
with macroalbuminuria.
Am J Clin
Nutr. 2006
May;83(5):1032-8.)
Dice onions,
garlic, and
ginger (and
mince some
fresh hot
pepper to
taste). Cube
soft tofu,
eggplant,
and shiitake,
and chop
a green,
such as chard
or spinach.
Stir fry
the onions,
garlic, and
ginger in
olive oil
until the
onions are
glassy, then
add the tofu
and continue
stirring
until this
is sizzling.
Add half
of a mixture
of 1 part
tamari soy
sauce, 2
parts cider
vinegar,
and 3 parts
water. When
this flavor
has mixed
well, add
the eggplant
and stir
until it
is soft,
then add
the mushrooms,
and finally
the chopped
greens and
the remaining
soy sauce
mixture.
Mix this
well, turn
off the heat
and fold
in some chopped
cilantro.
Garnish the
dish with
a few drops
of toasted
sesame oil
and serve
it over brown
rice. I often
fold in the
rice toward
the end of
cooking and
let it pick
up the flavor
of the vegetables
and sauce.
The key to
stir frying
is to keep
adding ingredients
as the previous
ones start
sizzling.
