It has been four years since the first newsletter was published. 208 letters have been disseminated. I find that the data and field of medicine continue to evolve in a positive direction. In some ways this is the worst of times and the best of times. Children are more unhealthy than ever before in our clinic. However, this is in stark contrast to the emerging data on lifestyle and integrative/functional medicine that has begun to stem this tide and return patients back to a state of balance. 

There is abundant hope that the science of health is reaching a point from which all providers will begin to peer down from and change medicine. I find that more and more physicians and midlevel providers are opening their eyes to a different way of practicing medicine that shuns the notion of medicine first and looks for alternative safer treatments first. 

I spoke to a colleague yesterday who is a fantastic pediatrician. He has been under quite a lot of stress in the recent past and developed back issues that were heading toward surgery. He made the choice to practice daily yoga despite his demanding schedule. He is now feeling almost back to normal without a need for any medicines or procedures.

I bring this point to life as an example of how we are going to change the medical community. One provider at a time. For every provider that heals themselves without medicine, we have a convert to the lifestyle management camp. 

The opening of eyes is my mission in this lifetime. Changing ideals and patterns of belief is difficult but not impossible. We have to continue to pursue a paradigm whereby health is an expected realty for all and not just for the HAVES, but absolutely for the HAVE NOTS. 

A second and equally powerful way to change the medical system is educate all patients in this belief and help them achieve these positive outcomes. They then become the mouthpiece of change. I have seen many a young child healed only to have the parents profess these shifts in health to a sub specialist of the old school type. 

They can turn a blind eye for a period of time. However, after enough successful cases hit their ears, they will have no choice but to look at these events for what they are - science of healing that is outside of conventional pharmaceutical based medicine.

This is medicine. We are not demonizing pharmaceuticals as much as we are using them sparingly when and if we fail by safer and more long term curative ways. We want a patient population that believes in the health of self and wishes to pursue that goal despite the failings of our society, poverty, science and general apathy. 

Over the next year, I wish to continue to hammer this theme home and attempt to shift people wherever they are in their lives for the betterment of themselves.

For the past 12 months I have found that I am really enjoying my impoverished teens the most because they have the opportunity to rise above any impediment with the right coach and a modicum of self desire. These young kids are making changes for themselves and not primarily for others. This selfishness is useful and beneficial in the early stages of disease. Over time and once healed that self directed drive can be morphed into a sublime and population benefiting work ethic that is sorely lacking in the Millennials. 

These rambling thoughts are the truth that I feel and pray will take root in the world. 

Dr. M

Back to the research! For years we have been discussing chemicals and the untoward effects of them on the human frame. In the journal PLOS one, we see a study of pregnant women exposed to phthalates during pregnancy and the effects of this exposure on the offspring. 

Dr. Litvak and colleagues looked at 328 pregnant women and analyzed their urinary content of plastic metabolites called phthalates during the last few months of pregnancy. They found that mothers with the highest exposure to these plastics had children with a lower IQ at 7 years of age. 

This is a very simple association study that does not prove causation but raises the public health red flag of major concern. In light of the data on Bisphenol A and other plastic derivatives, we need to be proactive in avoiding such chemicals at all stages of life but especially during pregnancy and during infancy and puberty when rapid cell growth is occurring. 

Sources of phthalates: Anything with the recycle #3 on it is a phthalate. 

From the CDC: 

They are used in hundreds of products, such as vinyl flooring, adhesives, detergents, lubricating oils, automotive plastics, plastic clothes (raincoats), and personal-care products (soaps, shampoos, hair sprays, and nail polishes).

Phthalates are used widely in polyvinyl chloride plastics, which are used to make products such as plastic packaging film and sheets, garden hoses, inflatable toys, blood-storage containers, medical tubing, and some children's toys.

What can you do: 

1) Wash your hands frequently especially when handling plastic.

2) Do not consume food or beverages out of plastic containers.

3) Do not microwave in plastic or use plastic wrap over top of food. 

4) Avoid plastics with the recycling #3,6 or 7

5) Mop your floors frequently to pick up dust that may have chemicals in it.

6) Take off your shoes before entering your house.

7) Store food in glass or ceramic containers. 

8) Learn which personal care products are contaminated with phthalates.

9) Avoid IV tubing if you can. Hydrate orally when you have a gastroenteritis. 

10) Keep toys clean and intact. Throw away damaged toys that may put plastic chemicals in an infants environment. 

Other Sources of EDC's 

Pregnant mothers need to be especially careful with the chemicals as stated above. 

Play it smart!

The newsletter archive can be found in the links section.  New readers can now go back in time to learn about the future!

Copyright � 2010-2015 Christopher J. Magryta, MD. Readers, please note: The information provided in this newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for advice and treatment provided by your physician or other healthcare professional and is not to be used to diagnose or treat a health issue.