Sweat it out
Although the antiperspirant and breast cancer link has been debated for years, the health risk remains unproven. But this is one debate that won’t go away….
The latest report comes from a British researcher who believes there is mounting evidence linking breast cancer with the use of aluminum-based antiperspirants.
Cancer researcher Philippa Darbre of the University of Reading in England says that aluminum salts, the active ingredient in commercial antiperspirants, mimic estrogen in the body. And since lifetime exposure to estrogen (or at least man-made, space-alien versions of estrogen) is the risk factor most strongly tied to breast cancer, continual exposure to aluminum salts may pose a health risk, says Darbre.
The two aluminum salts most commonly used in commercial products, aluminum chlorhydrate or aluminum zicarnium, work by blocking pores, which prevents the body’s natural response to heat: perspiration.
Both the National Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society have dismissed the argument that antiperspirants play a role in the development of breast cancer. But just because this link is unproven by scientific standards doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. With so many risk factors out of our control, why use a product that is in question? Be safe and switch to deodorants that do not contain aluminum or opt for aluminum-free antiperspirants.
Something fishy
Q: Recently my doctor suggested taking Coumadin for my atrial fibrillation. What do you think?
JVW: There are better alternatives for dealing with the side effects of your condition than taking a drug that kills off vitamin K. Granted, atrial fibrillation can increase the risk of stroke and trigger blood clots, but taking a medication that will cause osteoporosis, arterial calcification, and cognitive problems (all stemming from a lack of vitamin K), does not seem to me like the ultimate answer to your problem-you’re just trading one set of problems for another.
Instead, you may want to consider using 2 to 3 tablespoons of cod liver oil or other fish oils daily as an alternative to Coumadin. (Of course, you should only do this under close supervision of a physician skilled in natural medicine.) In addition, whenever you take supplemental oils, it’s always important to add extra vitamin E as mixed tocopherols (800 to 1,000 IU) to prevent the oils from oxidizing too quickly in your body. You can split the cod liver oil in two or three doses to minimize any gastrointestinal upset.
In addition to being completely natural and safe, fish oil has the added bonus of preventing osteoporosis and atherosclerotic plaque buildup and improving cognitive function.
What is…Coumadin?
Coumadin is one of the brand names for the drug warfarin, which was originally developed as a rat poison and is still used for that purpose today. Physicians prescribe warfarin as an anticoagulant to treat thrombosis and other disorders. Anyone taking this drug should be carefully monitored by the prescribing physician because complications can be serious, even life threatening. People taking Coumadin need to have frequent blood tests to check for signs of possible liver damage. They also need to have tests monitoring their vitamin K levels and the clotting tendency of their blood since one of the potential side effects is the increased risk of internal bleeding.
