Chemotherapy is killing up to 50% of patients

The mainstream media are warning people of the dangers of chemotherapy after new research has shown that cancer drugs are killing up to 50 per cent of patients. The study looked at the number of cancer patients who died within 30 days of starting chemotherapy and found that in some hospitals up to 50.9 per cent of people passed away within the month. Although the figures for the entirety of the UK were slightly better at around 8.4 per cent of patients with lung cancer, and 2.4 per cent of patients with breast cancer passing away within the month, it does not take away from the fact that, “chemotherapy is toxic for the body”. Will this help to encourage a new approach and create an environment in which the body truly can heal?

TTIP free trade agreement has failed

Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has reportedly said that, “the free trade negotiations between the European Union and the United States have failed”, but that “nobody is really admitting it”. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) has caused huge concern across Europe, for the unprecedented power it will hand to big corporations. Three and a half million people have signed the “STOP TTIP European Initiative Against TTIP and CETA”. Negotiations have been taking place in secret, but they are said to have made little progress over recent years. In May, France threatened to block the deal and President Hollande has said he will "never accept" the deal in its current guise because of the rules it enforces on France and the rest of Europe - particularly in relation to farming and culture because they are “too friendly to US business”.

Modern children are not ready for school

New research has suggested that a concerning number of modern four year olds are simply not physically ready to start school. Research shows that, “up to 30 per cent of children are starting school with symptoms typically associated with dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD - conditions which can be improved with the correct levels of physical activity”. Researchers from the University of Loughborough have placed some of the blame on modern society, claiming that modern children are less active in their early years compared to previous decades as a result of electronic toys and screens. It is so important to encourage children to get outside, get active and enjoy nature from a young age. This not only benefits the health of the gut microbiome, but also helps nurture the child’s balance and mobility skills.

Millions of bees are murdered

Aerial mosquito spraying operations carried out in South Carolina in an attempt to tackle the controversial Zika virus have left millions of honey bees dead. Following the report that four travel-related cases of the virus had been confirmed in the area an attempt was made to nip the virus in the bud, however spraying left the millions of bees “dead on the spot” in Dorchester County. Many of the casualties came from Flowertown Bee Farm and Supply, who lost 46 hives, equating to around 2.5 million bees. County officials have merely apologised for the unintentional mass extermination. Jason Ward, County Administrator simply states, “I am not pleased that so many bees were killed”.

Vitamin D supplementation reduces risk of asthma attack

A recent Cochrane review showed that low blood levels of vitamin D (the 'sunshine vitamin') have been linked to an increased risk of asthma attacks in children and adults with asthma. Asthma sufferers given vitamin D experienced fewer asthma attacks that needed treatment with oral steroids. Vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of attending hospital with an acute asthma attack from 6 per 100 to around 3 per 100. Researchers concluded that Vitamin D supplementation is likely to offer protection against severe asthma attacks. As usual, further trials focusing on children and people who experience frequent severe asthma attacks have been deemed necessary before definitive clinical recommendations can be made. However, given that vitamin D is an essential vitamin that’s often in short supply for many people, that surely is indication enough.

UK B12 campaigner Tracey Witty honoured

UK vitamin B12 campaigner Tracey Witty has been honoured for the work she does to raise awareness of the serious issues associated with Vitamin B12 deficiency and misdiagnosis. Her valuable work was recently acknowledged “after members of the community were invited to nominate Leicester stars”. Her name now features on a new Leicester double decker bus, along with Kasabian lead singer, England football player & a World # 1 snooker player. Tracey has a history of B12 deficiency herself. She set up a B12 information website, with the mission being to “tackle the epidemic of misdiagnosed B12 deficiency through education, prevention and advocacy globally”. She also organises conferences [http://www.b12deficiency.info/2016-conference/] to help people to gain a greater understanding of the condition. We have followed Tracey’s work very closely over the years and were represented by Yvonne England at the 2015 conference. The US vitamin B12 expert Sally Pacholok keynoted at both conferences.