Stop the 21st Century Killing You

I recently read the book Stop the 21st Century Killing You, and found it so disturbing yet scientifically sound that I am enthusiastically recommending it to you. The author, Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton, is an MD with a doctorate in human metabolism from Oxford and is a Visiting Fellow in Occupational and Environmental Health at Stirling University. Her extensive education and concern for accurately reporting valid scientific research makes the book credible and interesting because you know that you are reading true findings, not exaggerations invented to scare people.

This book looks into the causes of 21st century illnesses that toxicologists and doctors specializing in environmental medicine have been discovering, and shows why and how there has been a dramatic increase in many diseases that, not long ago, were very rare. In fact, the number of people developing leukemia and lymphoma rose 80% from 1985-2005. Diabetes is rising so quickly that the WHO believes that it will double from 143 million in 1997 to 300 million in 2035, and the age that people are getting it is becoming lower. Arthritis is predicted to double in the US by 2030, and people are now developing it in their 20s to 40s. In the West in general, 50% of people now die of heart disease, a disease that was hardly known just over 100 years ago. And autism increased by 726% between 1992/3 and 2001/2 according to the US department of Education.

Toxicologists and environmental health doctors are finding that many of the chemicals commonly used today are able to damage the tissues of the body enough to cause many of these diseases. And, though there were 50,000 chemicals already in use by 1987, a “US governmental oversight agency” found that “only 284 have been tested[…].Of these, 144 (about half) had been shown to cause cancer in animals.” In fact, a common plastic additive, linked to breast cancer, was originally created to mimic estrogen but was added to plastic to make it more ductile (By the way, this book says not to store oily things in plastic and to use glass or stainless steel drinking bottles instead of plastic ones).

Not only that, but almost all artificial chemicals, medicines, plastics, and pollution used today have a “weight altering effect, even at very low levels.” One common pesticide that shows up on our food prevents the body from using it’s stored fat, and was, at one time, given to animals to make them get fat.

Fortunately, this books also shows that MSN- Sulpher, glutathione, and ALA, and eating soluble fiber in oatmeal, beans, etc., help to get the chemicals and heavy metals out our your body. Taking magnesium, a multi vitamin and mineral, and an omega-3 supplement can also help, as can avoiding chemicals as much as possible.

I was particularly interested in the information on vaccinations because I haven’t been very well ever since I had my vaccinations to come to the Philippines, and have been wondering if that was really a coincidence. Doctors have found that vaccinations can cause many problems, including autism in some children. Many vaccinations have mercury (thimerosal) and/or aluminum added as a cheap way to stimulate the immune system and preserve the concoction itself. Because the body can’t easily process heavy metals, they can damage it, such as by suppressing and/or causing an overactive immune system (I seem to have both problems). And mercury and aluminum are related to many diseases and nutritional deficiencies because toxicologists are finding that they can cause various problems, not just autism, and increase the body’s need for nutrients and even lower its ability to absorb them. Depending on the vaccination, other toxic ingredients can be present, such as formaldehyde, antifreeze, and pesticide. I also noticed that most are made with cells from aborted babies.

Finally, a few of the other enlightening pieces of information from this book: Aspartame, an artificial sugar, has already been documented by the US National Institute of Health as having 167 deleterious effects on the body, “from memory loss to brain tumors.” Swiss food scientist Dr. Hans Hartel found that eating micro waved foods causes changes in the blood “that suggest deterioration.” The common “flavor enhancer” MSG (monosodium glutamate) is a “registered neurotoxin” (no wonder it seems to give me a headacheL) Fluoride is also a neurotoxin, and lowers the IQs of children. This book recommends using toothpaste without fluoride and avoiding fluoride treatments (which can and have killed children). Even chlorinated tap water is linked to immune system cancers. Detergent is also bad for health, though it sounds like is mostly from the added fragrance and/or other added chemicals. This book suggests washing dishes with lemon juice. In addition, artificial chemicals limit the size that your muscles can grow when you exercise them. Oh, and even 1 metal amalgam filling exceeds the safety level for mercury as it is made of about 50% mercury, and is enough to cause brain damage over many years. In addition, you can get rid of cockroaches by putting out a mixture of half baking soda and half powdered sugar mixed with a little water.

The book gives more info and better explanations than my brief summary. If you have a chance, I recommend buying or borrowing a copy and reading it for yourself.