About 90,000 individuals are diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in the United States each year. In the Philippines, thousands of new cases are detected annually, with a prevalence of around 0.55 percent, but there are no actual data available. Globally, about 1.18 million cases of Parkinson’s are diagnosed each year.
Debilitating symptoms of PD include movement problems, like stiffness and tremors, balance issues, depression, anxiety, fatigue, pain, sleep disorders, loss of smell, speech, and swallowing difficulty.
New data from the US EPA National Air Toxic Assessment research found that “long-term exposure to high levels of the industrial degreasing chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) was associated with a 10 percent increased risk for Parkinson’s disease.”
TCE is found in 30 percent of drinking water supplies across the United States, including source-contaminated bottled water, an alarming public health hazard.
To filter out microplastics in our drinking water, I have a tabletop 4-stage water filtration system and an under-sink 7-stage reverse osmosis (with UV light) water filtration device. These units also filter out TCE and other toxic chemicals.
Unhealthy foods
People today are more health-conscious than ever. The FDA, physicians, nurses, nutritionists, and well-informed individuals around the world agree that the following items, among others, are unhealthy: bacon and other processed foods; wheat (gluten-loaded) bread; soft drinks, the sweet poison a large segment of our society are “addicted” to; French fries, this calorie-dense, saturated-fatty and salty food item is one of many that contribute to heart attack and stroke.
Healthy foods
The “good” nutritional foods include fresh and clean fish, vegetables of all colors, fruits, and nuts. Avocados (ad lib); all berries, pineapple, papaya, mangoes are, in moderation, healthy, but high in calories, which should be included in the calorie-count, especially among those with diabetes; Cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, for salad dressing, or ingested 1 tablespoonful a day, has tremendous overall health benefits. Most of our common chronic illnesses, especially among seniors, are due to the unhealthy food items we have been eating since we were toddlers. Repeat: We are what we eat!
GLP-1 and cancer
About 12 percent of adults, especially women 50-64 years of age, in the United States have used GLP-1 for diabetes and weight loss. Many are very enthusiastic about this glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RAs) to control body weight and to guard against cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The FDA has been “issuing a host of approvals for these conditions in the past few years,” because of its effectiveness and customer satisfaction. A new study posted in JAMA Oncology claims “that GLP-1 RA use could reduce overall cancer incidence by 17%.” Since this group of drugs reduces obesity, which is a great cancer risk in itself, perhaps the “cancer-reducing incidence” is due to weight reduction, and not a direct effect of these drugs as anti-cancer. Nonetheless, this finding is still most welcome news among users of GLP-1. Warning: Since there is no evidence-based data that these drugs are proven anti-cancer, those who are not obese or not diabetic should not take these drugs with the goal of lowering their risk for cancer.
Microplastics and cancer
It appears none of us is exempt from having microplastics in our brains and other organs in our bodies. A 2024 study revealed that each of us has an average of 4,806 micrograms in our brain, roughly the amount of microplastics in one plastic teaspoon. There has been a 50 percent increase from 3,057 micrograms in 2016 to the present level in 8 years.
The brains of persons with dementia have been found to contain up to 10 times microplastics than a healthy brain. Microplastics are abundantly present in our environment.
The new study shows microplastics in the gut might be contributing to the increased risk for colorectal cancer, by “increasing the acidity of gut microbes and leading to patterns similar to those linked to colorectal cancer and depression.” This finding of the impact of microplastics on our gut microbiome is preliminary and needs larger independent studies for confirmation.
Since our water supplies, including bottled water, are most contaminated with microplastics, we recommend a 5-7 stage reverse osmosis water filtration system with UVC light (countertop or under-sink). They are relatively inexpensive, cheaper than the cost of 20 packs of cigarettes, or 720 cans (2 cans a day) of soft drinks, both of which are even more poisonous to our bodies.
Our health and longevity are worth investing in, with a super-wonderful ROI.
Coffee and longevity
There are many health benefits in drinking coffee (without additives like cream or sugar; cinnamon is healthy). New research shows that “drinking 3-5 cups of coffee a day is linked to longer (10 to 15 percent) life span and lower diabetes and cardiovascular risk by 15 percent.” The findings are the same for all types of coffee and for decaf as well. The 2019 meta-analysis also shows drinking coffee may decrease the risk for some cancers, like endometrial cancer, lower the risk for chronic respiratory disease mortality, and also decrease the risk for injuries and accidents. Coffee consumption also “benefits the liver and the kidneys, reduces cognitive disorders by 25 percent, and lowers depression and the risk for Parkinson’s Disease and its progression.” Consult your physicians for details.
Warning – Energy drinks
Soft drinks are poison to our bodies, and energy drinks are worse. Those who consume energy drinks regularly can develop serious health problems that include rapid/irregular heart rate, anxiety, blood pressure issues, insomnia, dental problems, weight gain, diabetes, fatigue, and crashes. The NIH warns that excessive caffeine and taurine can negatively affect the heart, kidney, and liver function. Heart attacks, cardiac arrests, and deaths have been reported, attributed to energy drinks.
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, medical missionary, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He is a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, presented by then Indiana Governor, US senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry S. Truman, President George HW Bush, Astronaut Gus Grissom, pugilist Muhammad Ali, David Letterman, distinguished educators, scientists, etc. (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com. On Amazon.com, search for “Where is My America?” Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
This year, our family doctor started her on www. madibaherbalcenter. com Parkinson disease Herbal mixture. Over 3 months into treatment, she improved dramatically. At the end of the full treatment course, the disease is totally under control. No case of dementia, hallucination, weakness, muscle pain, or tremors.PD or any other disease, natural organic remedies always work on acidity treatment. if we maintain a diet plan and use www. madibaherbalcenter. com, then we get fast relief from this problem.