Wireless Headphones May Increase Radiation Cancer Risk

By now, you've seen the alarmist headlines claiming that wireless headsets, like Apple AirPods, could potentially cause cancer. But does this "news" mean you should ditch those beloved bluetooth headphones for old-school ear buds? The answer isn't so simple.

Here's why people are talking about this: Last week, a Medium article questioned the safety of AirPods and other bluetooth headphones. The story quotes Jerry Phillips, a biochemistry professor at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, who believes wireless headphones aren't as safe as we assume.

More than 200 scientists signed a petition urging for stricter regulations for bluetooth devices like AirPods and wireless headphones. Here's what you should know, including safe levels of radiation.

“My concern for AirPods is that their placement in the ear canal exposes tissues in the head to relatively high levels of radio-frequency radiation,” he said. Phillips told the website that risks include abnormal cell functioning, which may cause tumors or other health conditions.

The story surfaced a petition urging the United Nations and World Health Organization to strengthen guidelines and regulatory standards for bluetooth devices.

The document is signed by 250 researchers from more than 40 countries who caution that using certain devices may increase cancer risk. However, the petition isn't new–it originated in 2015–and specifically calls out non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (used in all bluetooth devices), as well as radiofrequency radiation emitting devices (like cell phones and Wi-Fi) as dangerous.

There's no question that bluetooth headphones emit radiation, but that doesn't mean you need to give them up, says Dr. Michael Schulder, director of Northwell Health's Brain Tumor Center in Lake Success, New York.

Although most experts agree that there is no safe level of radiation, it's simply not possible to avoid exposure, Schulder says.

"We cannot avoid radiation in our lives even if we lived a completely pastoral existence off the grid," he says.
That's because radiation is in our food, plants, airplane travel, and even the sun. The bigger question, then, is how much do you willingly want to expose yourself to radiation?


"For me, the added convenience of the AirPods doesn’t matter to me so I choose not to use them," Schulder says. However, if you really enjoy wireless headphones, there's no reason to give them up. Schulder explains that wireless headphones emit less radiation than another gadget most of us are glued to: cellphones.

"There has not been a major bump in tumors to suggest that cell phones are causing it [the tumors] and we know that the bluetooth radiation is less than cell phones themselves," he says.

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Kidney And Its Natural Care

As the global health community marks World Kidney Day (WKD) today, it is necessary to look into the nature of kidney and how it can be managed naturally. This is in view of the fact that most kidney problems, especially the chronic ones, are more easily prevented than cured. It is esteemed that over 25 million Nigerians are currently suffering from chronic kidney diseases. But what are the various natural means of caring for the kidney?

“Contrary to popular belief, no studies have proven over-hydration as an effective practice in enhancing kidney function,” says Nephrologist James Simon, MD. So, while it’s always a good idea to drink enough water, drinking more than the typical four to six glasses a day probably won’t help your kidneys do their job any better. Your kidneys can tolerate a wide range of dietary habits, but Dr. Simon points out that most kidney problems arise out of other medical conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.

If you’re healthy, getting a regular exercise is a good idea because, like healthy eating habits, regular physical activity can stave off weight gain and high blood pressure. But do be mindful of how much exercise you do, especially if you’re not conditioned. Overexerting yourself when you’re not fit and healthy can put a strain on your kidneys, especially if you exercise so much that you cause excessive breakdown of muscle tissue.

Smoking can damage blood vessels, which decreases the flow of blood in the kidneys. When the kidneys don’t have adequate blood flow, they can’t function at optimal levels. Smoking also increases the risk of high blood pressure as well as the risk of kidney cancer. Common non-prescription pills like ibuprofen and naproxen (NSAID’s) can cause kidney damage if taken too regularly over a prolonged period. 

Cranberry juice has been touted for years as supporter for the urinary tract. Research shows that cranberries can help fight against urinary tract infections, possibly by decreasing the adhesion of bacteria to the bladder and urethra. Cranberries may also be helpful for cleansing the kidneys of excess calcium oxalate, one of the main contributors to kidney stones. When purchasing cranberry juice, always choose varieties that are certified organic and free of added sugars, preservatives, or artificial flavors; or, get a juicer and make your own. 

Beets and beet juice contain betaine, a very beneficial phytochemical. It has antioxidant qualities and increases the acidity of urine. This can help clear calcium phosphate and struvite buildup from the kidneys. The removal of calcium in the kidneys not only promotes kidney function, but decreases the likelihood of kidney stones.

Naturally acidic, lemon juice has been shown to increase citrate levels in the urine, a factor that discourages kidney stones from forming. For a quick lemon kidney cleanse, squeeze 4-5 lemons into a quart of cold water and drink up. Or, for a warming beverage, squeeze one quarter to one half a lemon into 8 ounces of hot water daily. 

Juice cleanses are all the rage, and with good reason. A juice cleanse combines the nutritional power of fruits and vegetables into one, easy-to-drink beverage. The juice of vegetables and fruits is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients necessary for facilitating the removal of toxins. This helps take the strain off the liver, colon, and kidneys. Vegetables like celery, cucumber, zucchini, lettuce, carrots, kale, and spinach are great for juicing. For fruits, try apples, peeled oranges, pears, pineapple, and peaches.

Here’s one of the favorite beverages that will aid any kidney cleanse. All you will need are fresh lemons, apple cider vinegar (organic and raw), purified water, and Renaltrex. It is suggested that checking out the full kidney cleanse instructions for a detailed breakdown. But, in short, it involves mixing lemon juice, purified water, ACV, and Renaltrex into a beverage that you drink over the span of a four day cleanse.   

There’s no questioning the fact that certain nutrients are beneficial for kidney health but many people don’t get enough in their diet. That’s where kidney cleansing supplements can be helpful. The best ones contain herbs have had their active compounds extracted and enhanced to maximize efficacy. There are a number of herbs out there and a supplement like Renaltrex is a great source for many. 

Please be aware that many people today are gluten intolerant and as such can suffer from gluten induced kidney damage. If you are not sure or are suspicious that you might be gluten intolerant, get genetically tested for gluten sensitivity.  If you have actually have kidney disease, make sure your doctor checks your 25 OH D levels (vitamin D).  Additionally, make sure that he measures for other nutritional deficiencies as well. Malabsorption is a common cause of secondary diseases for those with intolerance or sensitivity to gluten.

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Daytime Nap Could Lower High Blood Pressure

Health researchers have again validated the importance of sleep as they found that a midday nap may not just boost an individual’s energy levels but could lower high blood pressure. Before now, daytime napping has been linked to boosting energy levels and productivity for the rest of the workday.

The scientists from Asklepieion General Hospital in Voula, Greece, in a new study, revealed that taking a nap at midday can effectively help people lower their blood pressure levels. Commenting on the findings, one of the study researchers, Dr. Manolis Kallistratos, said: “Midday sleep appears to lower blood pressure levels at the same magnitude as other lifestyle changes. For example, salt and alcohol reduction can bring blood pressure levels down by 3 to 5 [millimeters of mercury (mmHg)].”

The investigators worked with 212 participants who had a mean blood pressure of 129.9 mm Hg.

According to guidelines from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a person has high blood pressure if their readings of systolic blood pressure (pressure during a heartbeat) are 140 mm Hg or higher, and their readings of diastolic blood pressure (pressure between heartbeats) are 90 mm Hg or higher.

Kallistratos and his team in the study of participants who were over 62 years, after over 24 consecutive hours, found there no significant differences between how many blood pressure drugs participants in the two groups took.

The researchers found that people who took a daytime nap saw a 5.3 mm Hg drop in systolic blood pressure, which, the researchers explain, was about as much as someone could expect when taking blood pressure medication or making certain lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure.

The team added that each additional 60 minutes of napping time reduced average 24-hour systolic blood pressure by 3 mm Hg. Kallistratos further explained that taking low doses of specialised drugs can lower a person’s blood pressure levels by about 5–7 mm Hg on average.

He said: “These findings are important because a drop in blood pressure as small as 2 mm Hg can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, by up to 10 per cent.” He maintained that based on the findings, if someone has the luxury to take a nap during the day, it may also have benefits for high blood pressure.

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The Benefits Of Co-sleeping With Your Baby

Co-sleeping doesn’t necessarily mean that your baby should sleep in your bed with you, it also means that he can sleep in his own cot, but in your room. Here’s how this can benefit both of you. 

Co-sleeping is often thought to be synonymous with bed, but co-sleeping can also mean putting your baby to sleep in the same room as you, but in a separate bed.

If your baby is six months or younger, experts recommend that healthy babies be placed on their backs to sleep, as this is the safest position for them. Putting your baby to sleep on his back decreases his chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and this applies to both naps and nighttime sleeping.

Babies naturally fall into a day and night pattern

It’s not uncommon for newborns to mix up their days and nights. Many babies sleep extra soundly throughout the day, but can be restless or wakeful much of the night. Keeping your baby close during the day with lights and noise around can eventually help her to stay a bit more alert in the daytime. Keeping your baby close at night, and meeting her needs within a quiet and dim environment, can help her learn to rest more at night. Babies also rest more soundly when they feel secure.

Co-sleeping helps babies practice rousing themselves

While having your newborn falling into, and staying in, a deep sleep might sound appealing, it isn’t the type of sleep they were designed to have. Co-sleeping babies are frequently aroused when close with their moms. This practice rousing can help babies learn to use their self-preservation instinct to rouse when there’s any danger such as overheating, being too cold, or something blocking their airway. Being able to easily rouse may reduce the risk of SIDS.

You can meet baby’s needs without getting up

Most babies need to be fed, soothed and changed at night. If your baby is close by, you can do all of these things while in bed and remain in a restful state. Getting out of bed, walking down the hall, changing nappies on the changing pad, feeding in a glider and soothing baby back to sleep requires being fully awake and alert.

Experience less night time crying

Babies sleep well when they feel secure. Knowing you are close will likely help your baby sleep better and fuss less. Moms who co-sleep are able to notice earlier signs of hunger and needing to be changed. Often, mom can wake during these early signs and meet baby’s needs before they begin to cry. When you co-sleep there is less trying to get baby to settle down to sleep before laying them down. This often means less crying. You aren’t likely to have an overtired baby fussing and protesting being laid down in her cot to sleep.

Co-sleeping helps with bonding and secure attachment

A secure attachment between a baby and her caregiver is an emotional bond that leaves the baby feeling secure and cared for. This secure attachment, fostered in infancy, translates to a child feeling secure and knowing their caregiver will always return to meet their needs. Children with a secure attachment often respond appropriately to situations, show minimal distress when their mother leaves, and are happy when their mother returns.

Co-sleeping helps with maintaining an adequate milk supply

Feeding on demand helps moms maintain an adequate milk supply. Breast milk production is a supply-and-demand process. Babies are designed to eat frequently at night and co-sleeping helps to make it easier for mom and baby to meet this need.

Co-sleeping can mean better rest for mom

Moms, not just babies, are wired for closeness. Studies show that new moms do not experience a better quality of sleep if their babies go to the nursery at night. Co-sleeping may not guarantee more sound sleep for every mom, but many report sleeping better knowing their baby is safe and close by. Moms also release oxytocin when they are close to their babies, which improves sleep quality and is also great for breastfeeding.

As your baby grows, he may not want to sleep all night, every night, with you. With a bit of trial and error, you’ll eventually find a method that works for you, your partner, and your baby.

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Smoking During Pregnancy Could Cause Sudden Infant Death

The first findings to result from a collaboration between Seattle Children's Research Institute and Microsoft data scientists provides expecting mothers new information about how smoking before and during pregnancy contributes to the risk of an infant dying suddenly and unexpectedly before their first birthday.

According to the study published in Pediatrics, any amount of smoking during pregnancy -- even just one cigarette a day -- doubles the risk of an infant dying from sudden unexpected infant death (SUID). For women who smoked an average of 1-20 cigarettes a day, the odds of SUID increased by 0.07 with each additional cigarette smoked.

"With this information, doctors can better counsel pregnant women about their smoking habits, knowing that the number of cigarettes smoked daily during pregnancy significantly impacts the risk for SUID," said Dr. Tatiana Anderson, a researcher in Seattle Children's Center for Integrative Brain Research and lead author on the study. "Similar to public health campaigns that educated parents about the importance of infant sleep position, leading to a 50% decrease in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) rates, we hope advising women about this risk will result in less babies dying from these tragic causes."

If no women smoked during pregnancy, Anderson and her co-authors estimate that 800 of the approximately 3,700 deaths from SUID every year in the U.S. could be prevented, lowering current SUID rates by 22%.

Data deep dive provides detailed view of smoking's impact on SUID risk

To better understand how smoking contributed to SUID risk, the researchers used computational modeling techniques to analyze maternal cigarette smoking habits for all U.S. live births from 2007 to 2011.

Of the about 20 million live births included in their analysis, over 19,000 deaths were attributed to SUID with the specific cause of death occurring from SIDS, an ill-defined and unknown cause, or accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed.

Beyond overall cigarette consumption, the researchers also looked at how smoking before pregnancy, and cutting back or quitting smoking during pregnancy, affected SUID risk.

Compared to the over half of pregnant smokers who did not reduce their smoking during pregnancy, women who reduced cigarette consumption by the third trimester saw a 12% decrease in SUID risk. Successfully quitting smoking was associated with a 23% reduction in risk.

Their analysis also showed that mothers who smoked three months before pregnancy and quit in the first trimester still incurred a higher risk of SUID compared to non-smokers.

Anderson says the data from this study supports public health efforts aimed at encouraging women to quit smoking well before pregnancy.

"The most important takeaway is for women to understand that quitting smoking before and during pregnancy by far results in the greatest reduction in SUID risk," she said. "For pregnant women unable to quit entirely, every cigarette they can eliminate will reduce the odds of their child dying suddenly and unexpectedly from SUID."

One of the study's co-authors, Juan Lavista, Senior Director of Data Science, AI For Good Research Lab at Microsoft, explains how the research team applied Microsoft Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) technology to better understand SUID and potentially save lives.

"Using A.I., we built machine learning models that analyzed millions of pieces of data on child births and deaths, including mothers' smoking histories, allowing us to do something that was not done before: assess the impact that each additional cigarette has on SUID at this level of granularity," he said. 

"Through our AI for Humanitarian Action initiative, Microsoft data scientists will continue studying other causes of SUID alongside Seattle Children's and SUID experts around the world."

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Improve Your Well-being Will Regular Diets Of Cabbage

Cabbage can provide you with some special cholesterol-lowering benefits if you will cook it by steaming. The fiber-related components in cabbage do a better job of binding together with bile acids in your digestive tract when they've been steamed. When this binding process takes place, it's easier for bile acids to be excreted, and the result is a lowering of your cholesterol levels. Raw cabbage still has cholesterol-lowering ability, just not as much as steamed cabbage. 

Researchers now realize that different types of cabbage (red, green, and Savoy) contain different patterns of glucosinolates. This new knowledge means that your broadest health benefits from cabbage are likely to come from inclusion of all varieties in your diet. Cabbage in general—but also Savoy cabbage in particular—turns out to be an especially good source of sinigrin. Sinigrin is one of the cabbage glucosinolates that has received special attention in cancer prevention research.  

In one recent study, short-cooked and raw cabbage were the only types of cabbage to show cancer-preventive benefits—long-cooked cabbage failed to demonstrate measurable benefits. New research shows that steaming is a better cooking method than microwaving if you want to maximize the health benefits of glucosinolates found in cabbage. That's because two minutes of microwaving destroys the same amount of myrosinase enzymes as seven minutes of steaming, and you need those myrosinase enzymes to help convert cabbage's glucosinolates into cancer-preventive compounds. 

You'll want to include cabbage as one of the cruciferous vegetables you eat on a regular basis if you want to receive the fantastic health benefits provided by the cruciferous vegetable family. At a minimum, include cruciferous vegetables as part of your diet 2-3 times per week, and make the serving size at least 1-1/2 cups. Even better from a health standpoint, enjoy cabbage and other vegetables from the cruciferous vegetable group 4-5 times per week, and increase your serving size to 2 cups. 

While green cabbage is the most commonly eaten variety of cabbage, we highly recommend trying red cabbage because of it added nutritional benefits and its robust hearty flavor. We don't think you will be disappointed. The rich red color of red cabbage reflects it concentration of anthocyanin polyphenols, which contribute to red cabbage containing significantly more protective phytonutrients than green cabbage. 

A recent study showed that a 100 gram (about 3 ounces) serving of raw red cabbage delivers 196.5 milligrams of polyphenols, of which 28.3 milligrams are anthocyanins. Green cabbages yielded much less per 100 grams: 45 milligrams of polyphenols including 0.01 milligram of anthocyanins. The vitamin C equivalent, a measure of antioxidant capacity, of red cabbage is also six to eight times higher than that of green cabbage. Red cabbage is one of the most nutritious and best tasting vegetables around — a great addition to your Healthiest Way of Eating. 

Cancer prevention tops all other areas of health research with regard to cabbage and its outstanding benefits. More than 475 studies have examined the role of this cruciferous vegetable in cancer prevention (and in some cases, cancer treatment). The uniqueness of cabbage in cancer prevention is due to the three different types of nutrient richness found in this widely enjoyed food. The three types are (1) antioxidant richness, (2) anti-inflammatory richness, and (3) richness in glucosinolates. 

Cabbage ranked in wellness Foods rating system as an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of manganese. But in terms of antioxidants in the newer, phytonutrient category, cabbage is impressive, even among cruciferous vegetables. Polyphenols rank at the top of the list for phytonutrient antioxidants in cabbage. In fact, one group of researchers has described polyphenols as the primary factor in cabbage's overall antioxidant capacity.

Even white cabbage (a very lightly-colored form of green cabbage and the most commonly eaten variety of cabbage in the U.S.) provides about 50 milligrams of polyphenols in a half-cup serving. Red cabbage is even more unique among the cruciferous vegetables in providing about 30 milligrams of the red pigment polyphenols called anthocyanins in each half cup. (These anthocyanins qualify not only as antioxidant nutrients, but as anti-inflammatory nutrients as well.) 

Long-established in health research is the role of cabbage juice in helping heal stomach ulcers (called peptic ulcers), but more recent studies on cabbage have looked at the overall health benefits of this food for the stomach and digestive tract as a whole. Present-day studies make it clear that cabbage contains a variety of nutrients of potential benefit to our stomach and intestinal linings. These nutrients include glucosinolates (and the anti-inflammatory isothiocyanates or ITCs made from them), antioxidant polyphenols, and the amino acid-like substance called glutamine.

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