Indoor Air Pollution and Over Insulated Houses by Dr. Ron Cherubino

Is it possible for a home to be over insulated? Isn't it a good thing to have super insulated windows, doors and walls?


I just got done listening to a commercial on the radio about how important it is to replace drafty inefficient windows with ones that can completely seal out the weather. The announcer was warning people that they were throwing money out the window, literally, if there was any hint of air leakage around their current windows and doors.

I was reminded of an experience that I had when I bought my first home. It was in the 1980s during the time of increased heating costs. My wife and I had interviewed several builders before making our final decision. One of the major deciding factors in selecting the house that we did was the fact that our new home was to be super insulated. This included highly inflated 6 inch walls instead of the usual 4 inch, an immense amount of insulation in the attic along with double hung double insulated windows. That's the house that we went with and boy were we sorry. The house was so well insulated that the air inside of the house had no way to escape. The siding on the sunny side of the house began to buckle and crack. Moisture also began to build up within the walls to the point where they began to rot. We were told that the reason this happened was that the house was so insulated that it couldn't breathe. Before that time I was completely unaware that a house needed to "breathe".

However, now that I've done my research I can tell you that this is absolutely true. The high amount of heat that is generated during the winter months along with moisture from bathing, breathing, humidifying and other activities of daily living, all need a place to go. It may be cost effective to seal up a house as if you were trying to preserve a valuable piece of art, but in reality it's an invitation to extremely high levels of toxic and harmful chemicals. In other words, air pollution.

Indoor air pollution is a major problem in the United States and around the world. Statistically indoor air pollution can be up to 100 times higher than outdoor air pollution. This is true even in cities that are highly polluted to begin with. People who live in super insulated spaces that have been newly constructed, redecorated or remodeled are at the most risk of exposure to high levels of indoor pollutants.

Heating bills can be outrageously high, especially in these times of increased fuel costs. However, it is vital to have clean fresh air on a constant basis in order to maintain a high level of health.

Here are a number of things that will put you at high risk for indoor air pollution excess.

1. Have you replaced carpets or flooring?

2. Have you freshly painted, varnished or urethaned anywhere in the home?

3. Have you installed new laminate or synthetic countertops?

4. Have you purchase new furniture?

5. Have you installed new insulation, windows or doors?

6. Have you put anything into the house containing fiberboard, particleboard or composition board?

7. Have you removed or added walls or plastered anywhere in the home?

Any of these seven areas will increase the amount of pollution in your indoor air by a process known as outgassing. Outgassing is when poisons are released as a part of the natural aging process of the substances used to paint, seal or construct. When a house is super insulated the air inside is trapped and becomes stagnant and saturated with the chemicals being released by the objects in the home. Even if you haven't done anything to your house in years, poisons and other pollutants are still being released and trapped within your home. This means that you are breathing these toxic substances every time you inhale and adding more poisons to your homes environment every time you exhale.

Here are some important ways to reduce indoor air pollution.

1. Do not overheat your house. The higher the temperature the more outgassing you'll have. The more outgassing you have the more poisons will be in the air that you are breathing.

2. Properly humidify your home. 40 to 50% humidity is necessary for a healthy living environment. Air that's too dry will actually cause your body to become dehydrated. When dry air is inhaled into the lungs it pulls out valuable moisture from your body. Even a person who is well hydrated to begin with (8 to 10, 8 ounce glasses of pure water each day) is at risk of dehydration if they are breathing under humidified air.

3. Air out your house on a daily basis. Growing up in the 1950s I suspect it was more common for people to have common sense than it is now and it was common practice to "air out" your house. Even a minimally insulated house will pick up considerable amounts of poisons, toxins and other unwanted chemical substances as a matter of course. Exchanging the outside air with the inside air simply makes good sense. My father always insisted on airing out the house several times a day, every day. Even though I thought this was unnecessary and rather "stupid" as a child, I now can see the wisdom in this ritual. Air out, and air out often, it makes sense!

4. If you do have super insulated doors and windows then you might consider keeping them open a crack during the day or perhaps while you are sleeping. Fresh air exchange is vital for your ultimate health and wellness.

In the final analysis if your house isn't breathing well you won't breathe well!

New Year's Blessings To All,

Dr. Ron Cherubino

http://www.askdrron.com/

Calcium Supplementation and Heart Attacks - by Dr. Ron Cherubino

This research is a wonderful example of faulty science in motion. It is based on a distinct lack of understanding and knowledge and blatantly disregards basic human physiology and the interactive nature of the human organism.

August 7, 2010 - I encourage anyone that has a sincere interest in learning about a possible link between calcium supplementation and increased heart attack to read this article in its entirety before passing judgment. There are two concerns that the reader will need to keep in mind. First, science as practiced in its current form is quite linear. Reality, especially when it comes to the human body, is anything but linear. Also, hundreds of thousands of electrochemical events occur from moment to moment in the human organism. To isolate one individual component, i.e. a response to a drug or mineral compound, is at best questionable and at worst foolhardy.

After a careful review of the published research study, Effect of Calcium Supplements on Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular Events: Meta-Analysis, I offer the following analysis.

1. The type of calcium supplement used with the study participants is of an inorganic nature and while it may be easily absorbed into the bloodstream, it is poorly used at the cellular level. This may account for some of the findings of the study as it may well produce an undue burden on the cardiovascular system. Unlike calcium rich foods, which contain a high percentage of covalently bound calcium, the ingestion of calcium isolated into ionically bound mineral salts can easily offset the bodies natural mineral balance.

2. When it comes to osteoporosis (technically defined as loss of bony tissue) there is a lot more to the picture than calcium alone. Bones are a living tissue comprised of living cells with needs that far exceed calcium alone. A host of minerals both macro and trace are necessary for proper cellular metabolism whether we are talking about bone or any of the other trillions of cells in the body. To attempt to isolate one mineral and judge its effect on the body without regard to the dozens of other minerals that are needed for proper cellular function is absurd.

3. Human physiology is multifactorial. There are far too many factors at play with one person let alone thousands of individuals. Therefore, each person is truly unique. It isn't possible to adequately fashion a legitimate scientific study to "test" the efficacy of adding one mineral to the mix and then judge its effect for one particular outcome. While these kinds of studies, if properly set up and conducted, are interesting -- they are far from profound. And, unfortunately, the opportunity for misunderstanding their outcome is far too great to justify this exercise in futility.

4. The conclusions of the study are slanted towards the status quo. The recommendation to prescribe osteoporosis medications based on this low-level study disregards the harmful effects of the currently prescribed pharmaceuticals. This is especially significant since an inferior grade of calcium was used without a proper array of other necessary and co-operative minerals. It is clear from even the limited studies that have been conducted concerning osteoporosis medications that the harmful toxic effects on the liver, kidneys and central nervous system are far more of a concern to a person's overall health than the addition of calcium to their diet.

5. The study fails to take into account the number of study participants suffering from pre-existing conditions that would leave them vulnerable to the negative effects of Ionic calcium on the cardiovascular system and the heart muscle in particular. It is a well-known fact that commonly used medications for conditions such as high blood pressure have the unfortunate and sometimes even deadly side effect of interfering with nerve conduction to and from the heart.

6. Finally, calcium is important for basic cellular function in the body. Calcium is considered the guardian of the cell and acts to facilitate good chemicals into our cells while keeping unwanted substances out. The proper form of calcium with its proper mineral, vitamin and enzyme complements should be prescribed, with people being encouraged to seek out a more holistic approach to the health of their cells, tissues, organs, structures and bodies as a whole.


For more information on proper supplementation from a holistic health perspective, visit: www.AskDrRon.com

Current Scientific Research On Energy

Since the time of the Greeks, two schools of thought have coexisted. Indeed, the debate has raged, at times explosively, between men and women of learning as to whether the truth of existence is based in the School of Atomism or the School of Vitalism.

Since the discovery of quantum physics and its development in the early 1920’s, scientists have struggled with these same concepts of matter versus energy.

Current scientific research is shedding some much-needed light on this age-old debate.

Research conducted by scientists such as Dr. Bruce Lipton is not only uncovering the mysteries of the human cell, but the essence of matter itself. Consequently, we now have a much better understanding of the role that energy plays in the function and creation of the human body.

Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, "what we have heretofore referred to as matter is in reality energy."

The verdict is in. Vitalism has clearly won the debate and science itself has been the judge and jury. We encourage everyone with a thirst for truth and knowledge to further investigate this current research concerning energy and matter.

We recommend that you start by listening to an interview with Dr. Bruce Lipton and Dr. Ron Cherubino by clicking on the microphone icon below.  http://www.cherubhealth.com/dr_bruce_lipton_

Morning Adrenal Pick Me Up

Here's a great way to start your day that your adrenal glands will thank you for. Healthy adrenal glands are vital for the proper function of your nervous system. This is a great morning pick me up for anyone who is interested in maintaining healthy adrenal glands, but it is especially important for those people recovering from or wanting to ward off chronic fatigue syndrome.

Adrenal glands require sodium in order to function properly. A common misconception is that the sodium chloride used for table salt is the kind of sodium that the adrenal glands require. Nothing could be further from the truth. Table salt in the form of sodium chloride is inorganic in it’s chemical makeup. The organic sodium that is found in the following recipe is the kind that your adrenal glands require for proper function.

The morning pick me up consists of one 6 - 8 ounce glass, of raw cucumber celery juice and one 8 ounce glass of pure water.

Juice 2 - 3 large peeled cucumbers and 2 - 3 stalks of celery to make 8 ounces of raw juice.

(a stalk of celery is an individual piece not a bunch)

Adrenal glands also require a full complement of vitamins and minerals in order to stay healthy. Besides the five essential Dr Ron Approved nutrient supplements and extra vitamin C (ascorbyl palmitate), we also recommend the supplements listed under body systems -- adrenals. These specialized formulas should also be considered when trying to build up weakened adrenals.

Click here for Adrenal Support Recommendations

The Best Time To Receive Treatment Is Before Symptoms Occur!

Many people are under the mistaken assumption that if they feel well, they are well. While it is true that healthy people do feel well, it is entirely possible for an unhealthy person to walk around in a symptom-free state. I know, it sounds like doubletalk to a lot of you. But it isn't. The point I am attempting to make in this brief discussion is that symptoms are not trustworthy indicators when it comes to the state of a person's health.

Symptoms should never be ignored as their presence is an indication of an underlying problem. Conversely, the absence of symptoms should not be seen as an absolute guarantee of health.

The fact is that a minor problem may result in extreme symptoms and a major problem may have little or no symptoms associated with it. Simple indigestion has been known to cause chest pain so severe that people believe they are experiencing a heart attack. On the other hand, a person may experience a fatal heart attack from clogged arteries having had no prior warning.

What it comes down to is that many people are under the mistaken notion that if there were a problem with their health they would know it. They firmly and adamantly believe that there would and should be some symptom associated with the condition. They conclude that, "If I were in ill health my body would let me know it. I would have some sort of a symptom to let me know that I was in trouble."

I frequently get questions from listeners across the country who are concerned that their natural healthcare practitioners are somehow trying to "pull the wool over their eyes" because the doctor insists on recommending treatment that is not solely based on the patient's symptoms. In many cases, these people have been seeing these practitioners because they have taken my advice in the first place. They are upset because they are making assumptions that are based on bad habits, faulty thinking, ignorance or distrust.

So, back to my original statement, the best time to receive treatment is before symptoms occur. How is this possible? It is possible by the use of what are known as indicators. The early detection of imbalances, malfunctions and bodily dysfunctions is not only possible, but also highly desirable. Indicators are used in both allopathic medicine and various types of naturally-based alternative medicine. Examples of early detection indicators in Western medicine are blood pressure, pulse rate and respiration rate. There is even diagnostic equipment available that is capable of identifying arterial blockages involving the heart muscle. When it comes to naturally-based alternative medicine, various indicators such as EMI testing, craniosacral evaluation and therapeutic pulse determination are capable of identifying problems, in many cases, well before a patient is experiencing symptoms.

What a wonderful state-of-the-art to be able to detect health problems before they became symptomatic and life threatening.

Seven things I recommend are:

1. Find a natural healthcare practitioner who is trained in the use of early detection indicators.

2. Receive the appropriate treatment based on your indicators, not merely in response to your symptoms.

3. Do not wait for symptoms to occur before you receive the treatment that your body deserves and needs.

4. Become established with a natural healthcare practitioner whom you trust.

5. Remember the importance of maintenance/preventative treatment in both allopathic and natural medicine.

6. Read more about symptoms and early detection indicators on this (AskDrRon.com) website.

7. Remember, "Symptoms Are Great Motivators, But Poor Indicators".

First there’s air, then water, then food --

And then comes a subject that many people would rather not talk about at all. And that would be? Technically it is waste removal. Call it what you want but elimination through bowel movements is a vital part of life.

As part of our current medical paradigm it has become more and more common to adjust our concept of normal by the observation of what is actually average or common. Without going into lengthy detail I will simply say that if greater than 50% of the population suffers from some specific disease, say acid reflux, that does not make acid reflux a normal condition. It may make it common or even average but it is still not physiologically normal. In this case the majority doesn't rule.

When it comes to bowel movements many if not most medical doctors and medical personnel will tell you that it is normal for people to go up to five days without a bowel movement. According to the statistics that I've been able to find it does appear that this five day time period is becoming increasingly common, especially among the populations of affluent countries. Rest assured it is by no means and by no stretch of the imagination normal. Let me reiterate, it is not normal to go five days without moving your bowels. As a matter of fact it is normal to move one's bowels one to three times each and every day. Proper diet and sufficient health make this abundantly clear.

It is imperative for the proper function of the human body to eliminate unwanted and potentially dangerous poisons from the body on a frequent and predictable schedule.

If you or someone you know is suffering from a five-day "norm" you need to find a way of healing and permanently correcting this problem.

In the absence of cancer or other serious pathology, a natural drug-free approach is the only way that I am aware of of permanently correcting this condition.

For more personalized information, you are welcome to e-mail or call us at the Cherubino Health Center for help and direction.

Kevin Smith -- Looks Like Fat Is In The News!

I tuned into a talk show this morning here in Boston and listened to a sometimes heated discussion concerning the actor/producer Kevin Smith. Apparently, Kevin Smith is taking on Southwest Airlines since he was thrown off of one of their flights, by the pilot, for being a "customer of size" and barely packing himself into one seat.

For those of you who are unaware, I am a big guy. Okay, call me fat. So in a sense, if anyone has the right to comment on this incident, I do. Personally, I am sick and tired of being discriminated against, mocked and otherwise ridiculed due to my size.

Now, I am fully aware that we live in a world of pathetically judgmental people; I've been a large person since the age of eight years old. At 6 foot three and over 300 pounds, I'd definitely stand out in a crowd. I guess it makes people feel better to have someone or some group of people that they can look down upon. It's even more fun and more gratifying, apparently, if they can feel justified in blaming the person that they are ridiculing as having caused their own problems.

From a medical perspective, there are no absolute cures for obesity even if a person is hell-bent on finding one. I know this is true, due to the fact that I have extensively researched the matter as a part of my own quest to permanently take off my excess pounds.

Since we live in a very linear medical paradigm at this point in history, we are unable to find a cure for these extra pounds. Our current medical system looks for a single cause when dealing with sicknesses, diseases and conditions and there doesn't seem to be one when it comes to obesity. Research continues to come up short when looking for the answer to taking weight off, keeping it off and keeping sane during and after the process.

For all we know, obesity may be more the result of complex genetic, metabolic and other currently unknown factors as much as it may be emotional. After all, this form of prejudice is supposedly justified because the condition being ridiculed is seen as resulting from an addiction. Therefore, logic follows that if the condition is the result of a simple addiction it is completely within a person's power to get over it. Before I go any further, let me state that there is nothing simple about addiction. There is also no solid evidence that addiction of any kind is simply emotional in nature. The fact of the matter is -- people are complex. Many factors enter into human behavior.

First of all, I'm not at all convinced that overweight is a form of addiction. Maybe it is, and maybe it isn't. However, some simple compassion would go a long way. What right do any of us have to judge a person that we believe is addicted. People feel completely justified in what is in reality completely unacceptable behavior. They mock homeless people, criticize the mentally ill, ridicule a gay person and of course treat obese people with open disgust. I have to ask myself what emotional burdens these judgmental characters are harboring in the dark recesses of their soul.

Maybe it's time for people to begin to embrace the spiritual teachings of some of the world's great religions and begin to deal with themselves and others from a perspective of love, forgiveness and kindness. Don't we have enough problems in the world without further poisoning ourselves and the world in which we live with hate, prejudice and judgment.

In closing, I have one final suggestion. For anyone that feels justified in judging any other human being, regardless of the reasons, I would encourage you to get with the program or keep your mouth shut. Didn't expect me to close like that, did you?

Blessings,
Dr. Ron Cherubino
www.AskDrRon.com

Cola Drinks, a Poison to be Avoided -- and the American Public

Cola Drinks and the American Public

I am constantly amazed at the amount of Cola drinks that Americans consume. According justdrinks.com, soft drink consumption worldwide in the year 2007 was 552 billion liters. That's 83.6 liters for every child, women and men on the planet. It is estimated by the year 2012, consumption will have risen to 95 liters per person.

It is of course important to bring out the point that some people, myself included, never drink soft drinks or any cola drinks. So that makes someone's consumption out there a lot more than the 83.6 figure that was just mentioned.

It is especially disturbing to see the amount of Cola drinks that are given to children. I'm always impressed by the rationalization that goes on when you talk about these kinds of drinks. I get this constantly on my weekly radio show when people will call up and ask how much soda is too much soda. Even when you mention that phosphoric acid, which is a component of the top cola brand drinks, is a harmful acidic substance in any quantity, people still talk about moderation. That's kind of like telling a person not to use too much heroine in their next injection, when heroine in any amount is harmful. Any cola drink in any amount is also harmful.

There is an article on my AskDrRon.com website under special reports that can give people a great insight into what happens to them when they drink a cola drink. This particular article deals specifically with Coca-Cola, although the same is true for any cola drink containing phosphoric acid. Here's the link http://www.cherubhealth.com/special_reports

There are so many decent natural substitutes in lieu of drinking colas that more and more people are deciding to kick the cola habit every day. Naturally carbonated sodas and flavored waters, some of which are available in the natural health food section of your supermarket or whole foods store, are a healthy alternative to these toxic cola drinks.

Hopefully the article on my website will be helpful, but if you need quick ammunition and a reminder of how bad colas really are here are some talking points to remember. Colas contain, phosphoric acid which is terribly acidic and dangerous, high levels of sugar or artificial sweeteners which are both harmful, caffeine which can be addictive and is a questionable drug when it comes to children.
One final thought from the article "the Coke itself is not the enemy here, it's the dynamic combo of massive sugar doses combined with caffeine and phosphoric acid, things which are found in almost all soda."

Time to Start Using Those Humidifiers

For people living in the New England states and other similarly cold climates, it's time to start putting those humidifiers to use. Heated living areas become unnaturally dry.

Dry air draws fluid initially from our mucous membranes in the nasal, throat and lung regions. If fluid is not adequately replaced this can lead to a general state of dehydration.

In addition to potential fluid loss, dryness of the mucous membranes causes damage that leaves the body open to viral, bacterial and fungal infections. Proper humidification should be 40 to 50%.