What Fish Are Safe To Eat?

We are told that eating fish is healthy and that we need our omega three fatty acids. But what fish are safe to eat and how much to eat can be confusing.
Here is a link to a comprehensive list of fish and their corresponding mercury levels. Although it does not get into the actual nutritional values of the different fish, it at least let's us know which are safe to eat regularly, and which fish we need to avoid altogether.

What Fish Are Safe To Eat?

Yours in Health,
Kerri Fullerton ND

Breast Cancer Vaccine?

There is a breast cancer vaccine in development. It has been used in mice and they hope to start human clinical trials in the next year.

This vaccine is being developed by an immunologist named Vincent Tuohy. It would be given to women in their 40's, since it would detroy healthy tissue if the women were to lactate. The vaccine seeks out alpha-lactalbumin (a protein found in many breast cancers and in lactating breast tissue, but not non-lactating tissue).

Breast cancer affects so many Canadian women every year. It is scary, the treatments are invasive, and many women don't survive. If a vaccine can help save more lives, I'm all for it. But...

With so many looming questions about the long-term safety of vaccines I have some doubts. Guardisil was supposed to save many young women from cervical cancer by creating immunity to HPV strains. There are still a lot of questions about it's safety.

Western medicine is not know for it's patience. I know that women with high risk for breast cancer and reasearchers want these vaccines on the market ASAP, and I understand their point of view. However, what I would like to see is these clinical trials go for 20 years - follow these women and see what happens to them. Are they really healthier for having it or do they develop other conditions in a higher percentage than the rest of the population? Do these women start to develop other cancers? Once we know for sure that these women really are better off to have had the vaccine, then I say put it on the market and let's go. But without these answers, it's just another shot in the dark.

Yours in Health,
Kerri Fullerton ND

Suncreens - what you need to know

We should all be concerned about what we put on our bodies everyday. I have to admit though, I didn't pay that much attention until I became pregnant. Then, I was concerned about what I was absorbing and possibly passing on to my unborn child. Once Patrick was born, I then had to decide what I was willing to put on his little body everyday.

My sister-in-law directed me to the Environmental Working Group's website years ago. She was having issues with skin sensitivities and wanted a way to find out what products were safest. I linked it to my website because of how often I refer to it.

Here is their latest sunscreen report. Take the time, it's worth the read.

Our June newsletter will have an expanded article about sunscreens. If you're not getting it, sign up now!

Summary of Findings | Environmental Working Group

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Yours in health,
Kerri Fullerton ND

Vaccination poll by Today's Parent

I need to do a little rant here - surprise, surprise, it's about vaccinations again.

When I was directed to the Today's Parent Poll to share my opinion about vaccinations, I was expecting to fill out a survey. But instead, I found three choices: for, against, don't know what to do.

Come on!!! When those results get posted, they will be slanted. What about all those parent's who educate themselves and decide that some vaccinations are appropriate while others are not? What about those parent's that realize that sometimes vaccinations are the right choice and that for some kids, they are not?

What's my point? Be careful when you read results from such polls. Make sure that you know what the questions are before you interpret the results.

Choosing whether or not to vaccinate your children is a complex issue. It is not a simple, for or against question.

Yours in health,
Kerri Fullerton ND

Polyps, colon cancer, and omega 3's

Omega 3 fatty acids (specifically EPA) reduces the risk of precancerous intestinal polyps.The particpants taking the EPA had 22 percent less polyps, and the polyps they did have were 30 percent smaller.
The sutdy was performed on people with an existing genetic predisposition, so it is not clear if it would have the same effect on a population without the predisposition.

Another round of applause for fish oils!

Yours in health,
Kerri Fullerton ND

Puddles - what fun!

One of the best parts of motherhood is remembering how much fun life really is! We had to clean the bathtub after bathtime, but it was so worth it. Hours of fun in each puddle!