Health Alert: Antibiotic-Resistant Disease Killing Humans and Swine in Denmark

The antibiotic-resistant bacteria Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase [ESBL] is killing both people and swine in Denmark.

The bacteria has been implicated in the deaths of a number of cancer and liver disease patients. The number of infected patients jumped 50 percent last year.

Health officials said the bacteria is being transmitted to humans through pigs. How? The increased use of antibiotics in agriculture may be behind the spread of the resistant strain.

What are ESBLs?
Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases [ESBLs] are actually enzymes produced by certain types of bacteria, which renders the bacteria resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat them.

ESBLs were first discovered in the mid-1980s. At the time, they were mostly found in the Klebsiella species of bacteria, in hospitals' intensive care units. Until recently, few people were affected by these mutated bacteria, and it didn't appear to be a major growing concern.

That has changed, however. According to the British Health Protection Agency [HPA], a new class of ESBL -- called CTX-M enzymes -- has emerged, and are now being widely detected among E.Coli bacteria. These ESBL-producing E. Coli are resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins, and are becoming more frequent in urinary tract infections.

Other species of bacteria that can now produce ESBLs include:
* K. pneumoniae
* K. oxytoca
* Salmonella
* Proteus mirabilis
* Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The Problem is Worse Than You Think!
According to a study published October 2007 in the Journal of the American Medical Association [JAMA], there were close to 100,000 cases of invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] infections in the United States in 2005 -- which lead to more than 18,600 deaths.

To put that number into perspective, HIV/AIDS killed 17,000 people that year.

Antibiotic-resistant disease IS a major man-made problem.

This was the study that propelled MRSA into the news last year, combined with a number of school outbreaks that took place around the same time. Discussions focused largely on reducing medical over-use of antibiotics, and proper hygiene -- such as washing your hands with soap and water to reduce the spread of infectious disease.

But little has been said about the rampant over-use of antibiotics in agriculture -- which is a MAJOR source of human antibiotic consumption -- and, hence, increased antibiotic resistance.

Agriculture as a Source of Antibiotic Resistance
Both MRSA and ESBL are being traced back to animals raised for food production -- especially, pigs.

These animals are often fed antibiotics at low doses for disease prevention and growth promotion. Animals receiving antibiotics in their feed gain 4 to 5 percent more body weight than animals that do not receive antibiotics. But the price is high for you, the end consumer, because this practice also creates the perfect conditions for antibiotic resistance to flourish.

Denmark's health officials claim they're unsure of how farmers and vegetarians -- who have not consumed infected meat -- are becoming infected. However, according to research cited on Johns Hopkins' website, the main reservoir of these organisms is in the lower digestive tract, and they can persist within the gastrointestinal tract for months.

So, perhaps the answer doesn't have to be all that complicated. The meat industry's practice of using antibiotics is, indeed, a driving force behind the development of antibiotic resistance in a now wide variety of bacteria that cause human disease.

The long stalemate on this issue constitutes a struggle between strong science and bad politics. In August 2007, he FDA finally banned the use of fluoroquinolones, a widely used class of antimicrobials, from agricultural use -- but not without the Bayer Corporation kicking and screaming in vehement opposition. After all, antibiotics for livestock use is big business; it constitutes about 70 percent of ALL antibiotic use! They couldn't replace that market with human consumers even if they tried.

Other Agricultural Sources of Antibiotics
Another heavily tainted meat product you should stay away from is conventionally raised chicken. A 2006 study, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, found that bacteria from conventional chicken, and from people who ate the chicken, became resistant to Synercid, a strong antibiotic used to treat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In essence, it can cause resistance to the last lines of defense currently available in the modern medicine cabinet.

It also found that it was rare to find resistant bacteria among antibiotic-free chicken, while the majority of bacterial isolates from conventional poultry were resistant.

But, the ramifications of using antibiotics in agriculture don't end there. Antibiotics filter down through the food chain in sometimes unsuspecting ways.

Antibiotics are also being transferred, via manure, into your food supply.

A 2007 study in the Journal of Environmental Quality looked at whether food crops will accumulate antibiotics from soil covered with antibiotic-containing manure. In a greenhouse setting, corn, lettuce and potatoes were grown on soil that contained hog manure, with a commonly used veterinary antibiotic added.

The antibiotics were absorbed by all three crops, into both their leaves and tissue. Meanwhile, the antibiotics also transferred to the potato tubers, suggesting that root crops -- like carrots, radishes and potatoes -- may be particularly at risk for antibiotic accumulation.

Unfortunately, these findings also have implications for organic farmers, who often use manure as their main source of fertilizer. And, as it stands, manure that contains antibiotics is still allowed under the organic label.

How to Avoid Excessive Antibiotic Exposure
So, how can you ensure that the food you feed to yourself and your family is pure and healthy?

Apart from growing it yourself, your best option is to get to know a local farmer near you -- one who uses non-toxic farming methods. If you live in an urban area, there are increasing numbers of Community Supported Agriculture [CSA] programs available that give you access to healthy, locally grown foods -- even if you live in the heart of the city.

If you are looking for a safer alternative to commercially raised beef, please be sure to check out grass-fed beef. Grass-fed cattle are not routinely fed antibiotics. They may occasionally receive them for an infection, but that would be the rare exception -- and even then, they are only used for a few days.

In a nutshell: "Natural" is best, and organic is superior.

To learn how to begin to undo the negative effects you've already suffered by consuming conventionally produced foods, visit:

==> http://tinyurl.com/257ops

SOURCES: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MayoClinic.com, Salubris Inc. [photo], U.S. Department of Agriculture, WebMD
____________________

Click Link to Learn How to Make $1,000's Weekly With an All-In-One Internet Health Business of Your Very Own!

Do You Really Think You're Safe? Perhaps a Gas Mask Might Help...

I'm WARNING you! You must do something about the air you're breathing. Think it's safe? Think again...

==> http://www.ScienceDaily.com/releases/2006/09/060927201220.htm

Here's an excerpt: "...[e]xposure to them [pollutants] poses a high risk to community health."

There's more...

"Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Southern University, University of Houston Law Center, and The University of Texas Medical Branch [UTMB] at Galveston collaborated with Rice on the study, which focused on benzene, 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde and diesel particulate matter.

"Based on the results of our study, we strongly recommend immediate action to lower the ambient concentrations of the four hazardous air pollutants we researched," said principal investigator Matt Fraser, associate professor in civil and environmental engineering at Rice. "The level of air toxics concentration that we're seeing in the Houston area poses a dangerously high risk of cancer and other health problems."

Even worse...

"Benzene, also a product of petrochemical manufacturing, and present in motor vehicle exhaust, averaged an annual concentration of 1.7 ppb in Houston during 2004; the amount in Los Angeles was 0.9 ppb. Benzene exposure leads to an increased risk of leukeumia as well as noncarcinogenic effects, including decreased blood cell counts.

"Formaldehyde, a gas formed through atmospheric chemical reactions and also emitted directly from various sources, had an annual average concentration of 7.9 ppb in Houston in 2004; Los Angeles was close behind with 7.2 ppb. Exposure can cause irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract. Inhalation of formaldehyde causes degenerative effects in laboratory animals and nasal tumors in rats, and similar risks are anticipated in humans.

"Diesel particulate matter [PM] originates from widespread sources, including vehicles, engines, and generators. Diesel particulates are not monitored routinely at local air quality monitoring sites, but recent air pollution research studies in Houston indicate concentrations of diesel PM between 1.6 and 3.7 micrograms per cubic meter. The report estimates that if one million people were exposed to this level over their lifetime, between 50 and 1,000 would contract cancer."

Now, even if YOU think you can beat the odds, you must not allow yourself to get sick due to the accumulation of all this "JUNK" inside you from -- believe it or not -- just the "AIR" you breathe. And, even though the study reports on Houston mainly, this is not the only city where these chemicals are filling the air. They are EVERYWHERE!!!

Your lungs are moist and made of layers of tissue; thus, they act like a wet SPONGE would if exposed to the same stuff. And the LAST THING they need to soak up is all this industrial CRAP!

But what should you do? Perhaps a "gas mask" is not very practical, eh? [If you wore one all day long people would think you were some sort of freak --right?]

Guess what Dr. Suzanne Gudakunst [pictured] has done for you -- ? Inside her brand-new "Top Secret Fat Loss Secret," there's more than just a mere "fat-loss solution." It also gives you an entire way to "FLUSH OUT" all the stored and soaked-up, absorbed "JUNK" from the environment!

This amazing "secret" actually forces all the "garbage" out that you've been breathing in all your life! When you breathe in this filthy stuff, it forms deposits all throughout the various thousands of tissues in your body.

Over time, it causes sickness and disease -- and, yes, even DEATH! But, by getting rid of it, it NEVER has the chance to take you down -- because YOU get rid of "IT" first, and BEFORE it has a chance to get rid of YOU!

So, if you take yourself, your life, and your health seriously, then grab Dr. Suzanne's brand-new "Top Secret Fat Loss Secret" for yourself NOW -- before it's too late for you!

Frankly, it's already pretty late in the game for you, as you're now just finding out about all this when you should have at least 10 years ago! So why allow another second to go by and bring you one second closer to DISEASE or DEATH?

Take action for your own sake TODAY!

==> http://tinyurl.com.2yx268/

Best to you and yours for your absolute good health and ultimate prosperity...

P.S.: In case you didn't know it already, Donald Trump's own dentist, Dr. Larry Rosenthal, uses Dr. Suzanne as his mentor in fat loss -- and on how to stay healthy and disease-free! Now that's saying something when a man as rich and powerful as Donald Trump's very own personal dentist, Dr. Larry, can use anyone on the planet for this, and he chooses Dr. Suzanne for it! So, maybe YOU should listen to her, too...

==> http://tinyurl.com.2yx268

____________________

As Texas native Dr. Phil McGraw might say: It's time to GET REAL about your health! Let Dr. Suzanne help you stay healthy and disease-free.

Get Rid of Fat and Still Eat Like a Pig!

There's a "new gal" in town, and her name is Dr. Suzanne! And she's done something no one has ever done before: She's found the REAL way to LOSE FAT, be HEALTHY and, yet, still EAT whatever you want! In fact, she's even had "death threats" aimed against her, because what she's done has really ticked off the powers-that-be -- including drug companies and weight-loss food manufacturers.

Here's how her new "Top Secret Fat Loss Secret" works...

Dr. Suzanne discovered something that a small group of other doctors are just now catching on to -- namely, that ALL sicknesses and diseases [including obesity] start in the intestines [your colon]. This happens because of "toxic build-up" due to your body being unable to get rid of a small amount of what you eat in every single meal or snack you take in. And, over time, this little "leftover bit" starts to add up -- and BIGTIME!

It works basically like this: You eat, say, 100 "units" of toxins in every meal or snack. You "poop-out" most of it -- i.e., about 99 units. Subtracting means you have 100 - 99 = 1 leftover "toxic" unit. Over 1,000 such snacks or meals, you end up having 1,000 "toxic" units in "build-up."

Although each small meal or snack may seem meaningless to you, these built-up "stores" of toxins cause your body to equally build up FAT. Why? To "protect" you from the poisonous "toxins."

That's right! The extra pounds are your body's way of putting a big "rubber tire" of insulation between YOU and the "bad junk." And, once you have BOTH extra "fat stores" and "toxins," you're in BIG, BIG TROUBLE!

What then happens is, you fall vulnerable to every kind of "sickness" and "disease." And this pattern is what's been happening now for the better part of 50 years -- moreso in the United States than perhaps anywhere else on earth!

Before 1954, in fact, people ate much fattier foods -- full of greasy cholesterol and oils -- yet the number of people who suffered diabetes, cancers, strokes and just about everything else, pales compared to today! So, the "guilty party" had little to nothing to do with all the so-called "bad foods" -- and pretty much went completely unnoticed.

"Unnoticed" until Dr. Suzanne began studying the problem. You see, Dr. Suzanne comes from a family of "chunky" people. Yet, despite this, she is very lean and even sexy! People who meet her think she's some kind of "aerobics trainer" or someone who starves themselves half to death.

But that's NOT the case at all! Dr. Suzanne doesn't really exercise that much, and she even "eats like a pig" [according to one close friend and "insider"].

So how is this possible? Luck? Hardly! Dr. Suzanne discovered that if you simply get rid of the same amount of toxins and JUNK going in, you never end up getting the "toxic build-up" in the first place. And NO toxic build-up means absolutely NO disease, and NO extra "pudge" around the middle, butt or love handles, nor near the armpits and backs of the legs.

Going back to our little equation above, we get: 1,000 "toxic" units - 1,000 "toxic" units = 0 "toxic" units. And, when you have 0 "toxic" units, you have 0 "toxic" build-up. And, of course, when you have 0 "toxic" build-up, you have 0 "disease" and 0 "extra fat!"

But what is more surprising than this discovery is the fact that, even though she [and a growing number of other newly enlightened doctors] has mountains of evidence supporting this, the "mainstream" medical establishment is out to get her -- just like prosecutors in the notorious "Salem Witch Trials!"

Short of trying to burn her at the stake, other doctors would rather keep selling you "toxic" drugs -- that, although eliminating one symptom, cause who only knows how many "other" very damaging, and even dangerous, conditions?

Also, not surprisingly, weight-loss food companies would equally like some "evil" to befall the lovely Dr. Suzanne.

"I guess it's just a matter of economics," suggests Dr. Suzanne. "After all, if people follow my advice, they will never get sick in the first place; they will never get fat; and, therefore, they will have little need or dependency on either other doctors or special diet foods."

And this means a major loss in income to doctors and food manufacturers -- in terms of BILLIONS of dollars lost to them! So serious this has become, that Dr. Suzanne recently suffered death threats -- believed by at least one federal law enforcement agency to have originated from high up in the world of big business from the drug empires. [And I don't mean the illegal drug dealers, either, but the "legal" drug dealers; AKA Big Pharma.]

"Officials" won't say yet who their chief suspects are -- and, most likely, the whole matter will become "hushed up" all too soon. Hushed up because: 1] The "powerful drug companies" are certainly rich enough to pay someone to close any investigation; and 2] The more threats she gets, the more people everywhere will "KNOW" she's telling the truth. After all, if she weren't challenging these "powerful bigwigs," they wouldn't be so upset!

Dr. Suzanne's "Top Secret Fat Loss Secret" works on getting your body to get rid of the toxins -- NOT on trying to get you to make major changes in your lifestyle -- which, by the way, few people can really muster.

I mean, think about it: 99% of everyone you know who says they are doing a "new diet" only end up failing anyway. The woman we all know who said, five years ago, that she was on some new diet to "LOSE 25 pounds" now weighs 50 pounds more. [Ha! Horrible ... yet a tad funny, too!]

Or, how about the guy who joins the gym to "get back into shape," then a year later looks even worse?

These are the people YOU and I both know. They're all around us, and are clear "PROOF" that diets and exercise DON'T really work -- and not because those things aren't good for you and me, but because something else is standing in their way! And that "something else" is none other than "toxins!" Get rid of "them," and get rid of "everything else!" It's just that simple.

But you MUST know what you're doing, or else you may make a big mistake! And that's precisely what's inside Dr. Suzanne's "Top Secret Fat Loss Secret!"

Now, at this point, I would like you to strongly consider everything I've said here. I hope you will even get her "Top Secret Fat Loss Secret" for yourself.

Ordinarily, I'd say do whatever you want, as I would never try to twist anyone's arm. However, in this particular case, I must press you. You see, because Dr. Suzanne has been the target of death threats, and because she's now taking so much heat from the so-called "good guys" out to sell you every "legal" drug under the sun, she may be forced to remove her "Top Secret Fat Loss Secret" out of YOUR reach very, very soon!

And if that happens, YOU, at least, may never find out the TRUTH, and not be able to use it for yourself -- or those you love and want to protect!

That's the real reason I'm writing you today: So that you have the chance to be armed with something that, if you act right away, no one can ever take away from you!

So, rather than write a single sentence more, I'll just give you the link, so you can get it right now -- before it's too late:

==> http://tinyurl.com/2yx268

That's it. Please, do what you think -- right now -- is BEST...

P.S.: Please don't overlook the seriousness concerning this, only to discover later when you really want it, it's somehow no longer available! That kind of thing truly hurts when you miss out. Take action now:

==> http://tinyurl.com/2yx268
____________________

Start making 2008 your healthiest and most high-energy year yet. Get Dr. Suzanne's "Top Secret Fat Loss Secret" today!

April 7: International Health Security is Theme of World Health Day 2007

Today is World Health Day. It marks the founding of the World Health Organization [WHO] and is an occasion to raise awareness of key global health issues. This year's theme is international health security. The aim of the day is to urge governments, organizations and businesses to "Invest in health, build a safer future."

WHO Document Is Informative Tool for Gobal Health Awareness Activities
"Invest in Health, Build a Safer Future" is a WHO background document that profiles international health security issues to guide discussions and stir debate. It is an informative tool for health awareness activities around the world.

Issues profiled include emerging and rapidly spreading diseases; environmental change; the ongoing danger of bioterrorism; sudden and intense humanitarian emergencies caused by natural disasters, chemical spills or radioactive accidents; and the impact of HIV/AIDS.

Emerging diseases, such as SARS and avian influenza, humanitarian emergencies, health risks from effects of climate change or environmental degradation, and other acute health threats can all be defined as public health emergencies.

International health security is the first line of defence against health shocks that can devastate people, societies and economies worldwide. Implementation of the International Health Regulations [IHR] from June 2007 will help to build and strengthen mechanisms for outbreak alert and response at national and international levels, and contribute to making the world more secure.

WHO expects that events highlighting international health security will be organized by government officials [including ministers of health], representatives of nongovernmental organizations, health care providers, educators, students, representatives of women's and children's organizations, the media, and members of the public.

Locally, regionally, nationally and globally, WHO aims to empower groups to spread the following messages regarding global health security:

Threats to health know no borders.
In a globalized world, emerging epidemics cross national borders and threaten our collective security. Threats to health and security are multiplying and moving faster than ever before.

Invest in health, build a safer future.
Every country must invest in health and build its capacity to prevent new and existing threats by strengthening public health systems. Only then can we build a safer future. Implementation of the International Health Regulations [IHR] from June 2007 will help to build and strengthen effective mechanisms for outbreak alert and response at national and international levels.

Health leads to security; insecurity leads to poor health.
HIV/AIDS is a powerful example of how interdependent health and security have become. HIV/AIDS threatens the stability of entire nations and regions. Unlike many other diseases, AIDS affects the most productive members of society. Protecting the health of people and the security of all those affected requires political commitment at the highest level and close collaboration between governments, international organizations, civil society and the private sector.

Preparedness and quick response improve international health security.
Threats to health security are many and varied; they include sudden shocks to health and economies from emerging diseases, like SARS and avian influenza, humanitarian emergencies, bioterrorism and other acute health risks. Tackling the health effects of these threats involves working collectively to improve preparedness and to respond effectively when they occur. The shortage of safe drinking water and its impact on health and security after Hurricane Katrina, and the tsunami in Asia, clearly demonstrate the importance of advance preparation and the ability to respond quickly.

The World Health Organization is making the world more secure.
The security of all countries depends on the capacity of each to act effectively against health threats. WHO's response to severe acute respiratory syndrome [SARS] and avian flu clearly demonstrated the power of coordination and the importance of international health security. International collaboration among developed and developing countries, and increased focus on information-sharing and the strengthening of public health systems and surveillance, are key to containing outbreaks of infectious diseases. The threats remain; we must continue to invest and build. WHO’s leadership is essential.

About WHO
The World Health Organization is the United Nations specialized agency for health. It was established on April 7, 1948. WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO's Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

WHO is governed by 193 Member States through the World Health Assembly. The Health Assembly is composed of representatives from WHO's Member States. The main tasks of the World Health Assembly are to approve the WHO programme and the budget for the following biennium and to decide major policy questions.

For more information, see "Working for Health: An Introduction to the World Health Organization."
____________________

4GB and 8GB iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition. Support the Global Fund to Fight HIV and AIDS in Africa.

Lester Levenson Learns About the Power of Love and Letting Go

On Wednesday, ProsperNOW reported the story about Lester Levenson, who, at the age of 42, suffered a heart attack and was advised by his doctor to simply slow down and prepare for death. [See "Lester Levenson Finds the Answer for Having, Being and Doing Whatever You Will or Desire," March 28, 2007.] Here's what Lester decided to do next...

“Wait a minute!” he thought. “If happiness is when I’m experiencing love for the other one, then that means happiness is a feeling within me. “And if I felt unloving in the past? Well, I know I can’t change the past, but could I possibly correct the feeling now inside myself? Could I change the feeling to love now?”

He decided to try it. He looked at his most recent unhappiness: the day he left the hospital. “First,” he asked himself, “was I experiencing a lack of love that day?” “Yes,” he answered aloud. “Nobody gave a damn about me -- not the nurses, not the orderlies, not even Dr. Schultz. They did not care. As sick as I was, they threw me out, sent me home to die so they wouldn’t have to watch one of their failures... Well, the hell with them. They can all go to hell.”

He was shocked at the vehemence in his voice. His body trembled with rage and he felt weak. He really hated the doctor: He could feel it burning in his chest. “Oh, boy, this sure isn't love,” he thought, “Well, can I change it? Is it possible to turn it into love for the doctor? Hell, no. Why should I? What did he ever do to deserve any love?

“That’s not the point,” he answered himself. “The point is not whether he deserves love. The point is, Can you do it? Is it possible to simply change a feeling of hatred into a feeling of love -- not for the benefit of the other person, but for yourself?”

As the thought crossed his mind, he felt something break loose in his chest. A gentle easing, a sense of dissolving, and the burning sensation was gone. He didn’t trust it at first. It seemed too easy, so he pictured again the scene with Dr. Schultz in the hospital. He was surprised to find that it brought only a mild feeling of resentment rather than the previous intense burning hatred. He wondered if he could do it again.

“Let's see,” he thought. “What did I just do?... Oh, yes. Can I change this feeling of resentment into a feeling of love?” He chuckled as he felt the resentment dissolve in his chest. Then, it was totally gone, and he was happy. He thought of Dr. Schultz again, pictured him in his mind, and felt happy -- even loving.

He saw now, reliving that last meeting, how the doctor had hated to tell him the things he had to say. He could feel the doctor’s pain at having to tell a young man in the prime of his life that his life was over. “Dr. Schultz, you son-of-a-gun,” he said, grinning, “I love you... Well, it worked on that one. If my theory is sound, then it should work on everything.”

Eagerly, he began trying it on other moments, and the results were consistently the same. Each time that he asked himself if he could change the feeling of hostility or anger or hatred to one of love, the dissolving process took place. Sometimes, he had to repeat it over and over until he felt only love for the person.

At times, the entire process would take only a minute or two. At other times, it might take him hours of working on a particular person or event before his feelings were only loving -- but he would doggedly stay with it until it was completed on each person and each incident.

Lester's entire life came up for review in bits and pieces. One by one, he changed to love all the old hurts and disappointments. He began to feel stronger as the weight of his pain dropped away. He was happier than he had ever been in his entire life, and he kept it going, feeling even more happiness with each new thing corrected.

Click here to read about Lester's revolutionary next steps...
____________________

Optimize your health with nutritional supplements. Free shipping with $25 minimum purchase at GNC.com!