Mar 24 2008
Soft Drinks Damage DNA?
In addition to rotting your children’s teeth out, contributing to obesity, causing hyperactivity and simply not being a nutritious beverage, soft drinks are now linked to serious cell damage! It wasn’t all that long ago when the possibility of causing cancer was brought to the public’s attention, either! The common preservative sodium benzoate (also known as “E211”) which is found in most soft drinks (as well as other drinks and condiments) can form a carcinogenic substance called carcinogen benzene when mixed with vitamin C.
According to a study conducted by Sheffield University in the UK, the preservative -used to prevent mold in soft drinks- damages an important part of DNA. Alarmed by findings from laboratory tests conducted with sodium benzoate on living yeast cells, Peter Piper, a professor of molecular biology and biotechnology at the university said, “These chemicals have the ability to cause severe damage to DNA in the mitochondria to the point that they totally inactiv ate it: they knock it out altogether.” He went on to say, “The mitochondria consumes the oxygen to give you energy and if you damage it - as happens in a number if diseased states - then the cell starts to malfunction very seriously. And there is a whole array of diseases that are now being tied to damage to this DNA - Parkinson’s and quite a lot of neurodegenerative diseases, but above all the whole process of aging.” The World Health Organization reviewed sodium benzoate back in 2000, concluding it was safe, but also noting that the available science supporting its safety was “limited”.
Professor Piper advised parents to think twice before buying drinks containing preservatives, especially in large quantities, until they have been proven safe by new, more rigorous safety tests. Several brands of soft drinks have already been taken off the market due to the high levels of carcinogen benzene in them. My children drink very limited amounts of soft drinks as it is, but now I think I need to take a look at my own consumption. I’m not much of a water-drinker, but bottled water is sounding better to me all the time!
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Airborne’s makers have agreed to refund over $23 million to the consumers who bought their popular herbal supplement products. This refund is to settle a class-action lawsuit against them for false advertising. Sales have been fast and furious; surpassing $100 million in just the first seven years since its creation in 1999 by former second-grade teacher, Victoria Knight-McDowell. Claims of being able to fend off the common cold or even cure it has led to the company’s legal battles, which began in 2006 following an investigation by ABC‘s Good Morning America. The company was found to have no credible evidence or research to support the claims it advertised. For more information about the refund go to 
According to a new study by Penn State University, a small dose of buckwheat honey provides better relief of nighttime cough- when given at bedtime- than no treatment or dextromethorphan (DM), which is a cough suppressant found in most over-the-counter cold medications. Dr. Ian M. Paul, one of the study’s authors, reported, “The results were so strong that we were able to say clearly that honey was better than no treatment and dextromethorphan was not.” He went on to say, “Many families are going to relate to these findings and say that Grandma was right.” The findings are especially good news now that the FDA has issued a health advisory to warn against use of over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products for children. Honey is an effective and safe alternative. Infants under 12 months should never be given honey because of the risk of botulism, but for older children you can give either half a teaspoon (recommended for children 2-5) or a full teaspoon for children 6-11. Children 12 and over can be given 2 teaspoons.
