Susheela’s team explains that anemia in pregnancy, which can lead to maternal and infant mortality, continues to plague many countries despite nutritional counseling and maternal iron and folic acid supplementation. This is the first examination of fluoride as an additional risk factor for anemia and low-birth-weight babies.

Anemic pregnant women living in India, whose urine contained 1 mg/L fluoride or more, were separated into two groups.  The experimental group avoided fluoride in water, food and other sources and ate a nutritious diet per instruction.  The control group received no instructions. Both groups supplemented with iron and folic acid.

Results reveal that anemia was reduced and pre-term and low-birth-weight babies were considerably fewer in the fluoride-avoidance group as compared to the control. Two stillbirths occurred in the control group, none in the experimental group.

Susheela et al. writes, “Maternal and child under-nutrition and anemia is not necessarily due to insufficient food intake but because of the derangement of nutrient absorption due to damage caused to GI  (gastrointestinal) mucosa by ingestion of undesired chemical substances, viz. fluoride through food, water and other sources.”

Fluoride avoidance regenerated the intestinal lining which enhanced the absorption of nutrients as evidenced by the reduction in urinary fluoride followed by rise in hemoglobin levels, they report.

Could the same thing be happening in the United States? State University of New York researchers found more premature births in fluoridated than non-fluoridated upstate New York communities, according to a presentation made at the 2009 American Public Health Association’s annual meeting.

Previous published research shows fluoride can interfere with the reproductive system (http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/repro).

Current Science reports that adverse reactions of fluoride consumption are known to occur including reducing red blood cells, reducing blood folic acid activity, inhibiting vitamin B12 production and the nonabsorption of nutrients for hemoglobin biosynthesis.

“Citizens must demand that water fluoridation be stopped,” says attorney Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.  ”It’s disturbing that public-health officials and organized dentistry continue to ignore the overwhelming evidence revealing fluoride to be non-nutritive, unnecessary and unsafe,” says Beeber.

White Chocolate Bark

Ingredients
1/2 cup whole, shelled, salted pistachios
16 ox. good white chocolate, finely chopped
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup medium-diced, dried apricots

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
2. Using a pencil draw an 8″X10″ rectangle on a piece of parchment paper
3. Turn the parchment paper over so the pencil mark doesn’t get on the chocolate and place it on a sheet pan
4. Place the pistachios in one layer on another sheet pan and bake for 8 minutes.  Set aside to cool.
5. Place three quarters of the white chocolate in a heatproof glass bowl and put it into the microwave on high for 30 seconds (time it with your watch for accuracy)
6. Stir the chocolate with a rubber spatula, return it to the microwave for another 30 seconds, then stir again
7. Continue to heat and stir in 30-second intervals until the chocolate is just melted
8. Immediately stir in the remaining chocolate and allow it to sit at room temperature, stirring often, until it’s completely smooth (if you need to heat it a little more, put it in the microwave for another 15 seconds)
9. Pour the melted chocolate onto the parchment paper and spread it lightly to fill the drawn rectangle
10. Sprinkle the top evenly with the cooled pistachios, the cranberries and apricots. 
11. Press the nuts and fruit lightly so they will set in the chocolate
12. Set aside for at least 2 hours until firm or refrigerate for 20 minutes
13. Cut or break the bark into 16 pieces and serve at room temperature

Sour Cream Peach Tart

Ingredients
1 Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust
3 egg yolks
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
6 large peaches, quartered
1/3 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
5 tablespoons butter, cubed

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 425ºF.
2. Unroll pie crust; press into a dark coated tart pan. Par bake shell for 10 minutes. Let cool.
3. Lower oven to 350ºF.
4. Mix egg yolks, sour cream, 3/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup flour. Pour into bottom of tart shell.
5. Toss peaches in ⅓ cup flour, ½ cup sugar and lemon juice. Arrange over sour cream mixture in tart.
6. Place cubes of butter over peaches.
7. Bake 1 hour 45 minutes.

Pasta Salad with Grilled Tuna and Roasted Tomatoes

Ingredients
8 plum tomatoes, about 1 1/4 pound total, halved lengthwise
2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 pound pasta shells
2 pounds tuna fillets, each about 3/4 inch thick
1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, finely diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Preparation

1. Preheat an oven to 450°F. Prepare a hot fire in a grill.
2. Place the tomatoes on a baking sheet and toss with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Arrange them, cut sides up, on the sheet and season with salt. Roast until tender, about 20 minutes. Let cool, then cut in half crosswise.
3. Meanwhile, bring a large pot three-fourths full of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente (tender but firm to the bite), about 10 minutes. Drain, rinse under cold running water and drain again. Set aside.
4. Brush both sides of the tuna fillets with 1 tablespoon of the oil. Season well with salt and pepper. Place on the grill rack 4 to 6 inches above the fire and grill until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Turn and cook for 3 to 4 minutes more for medium, or until done to your liking. Transfer to a cutting board, let cool and cut into 3/4-inch cubes.
5. In a food processor or blender, combine the basil leaves and the remaining 1/2 cup oil. Pulse or blend until chopped to a coarse puree. Add the vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Pulse or blend until combined.
6. In a large bowl, combine the pasta, tomatoes and any accumulated juices, tuna, mozzarella, parsley and basil dressing. Toss gently and serve.

The results of this consumer survey are further supported by additional research conducted by Vichy Laboratoires. According to a survey of 625 dermatologists at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting 2010, the number one skin concern reported by menopausal patients is dry skin, followed in second by wrinkles.

Hormones play a major role in the effects of menopause on the skin conditions of women. “By the time women hit their late 40s and 50s, as estrogen levels drop off, they often experience a rapid increase in collagen breakdown. In particular, this can manifest as sagging skin of the neck and jawline and is highly bothersome to my patients,” says Boston dermatologist Ranella Hirsch. In response to this information, Vichy Laboratoires drew inspiration from 30 years of research on tissue engineering to create the Vichy NEOVADIOL GF collection, which specifically addresses the needs of women experiencing the effects of hormonal slowdown due to menopause.

Vichy Laboratoires has carefully selected Pro-Xylane, a new breakthrough densifying molecule to help skin visibly regain density and hydration, and Proteic Gf, a moth bean protein extract, to stimulate the synthesis of growth factors at the dermis and epidermis levels, as key ingredients in NEOVADIOL Gf. This U.S. patented combination has been shown to address sagging skin and the loss of density and moisture. It reconstructs skin tissues to a denser quality in only one month, revealing a redefined jaw line, firmer neck and smoother lines.

• NEOVADIOL Gf Day (for normal to combination skin AND also available for dry skin), $48.00, 1.7 oz.: This densifying resculpting care immediately reconstructs the epidermal barrier directly upon contact for softer skin.
• NEOVADIOL Gf Night, $51.00, 1.7 oz.: Enriched with micro-stimulating Phytodoline, derived from the beech bud plant extract, NEOVADIOL Gf Night stimulates tissue drainage and helps reduce impression wrinkles formed while you sleep.

Many times these pressures can manifest physically, with young men and women trying to be an ideal body size and weight, just like they see in the people they idolize in magazines and movies. Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, a leader in treatment for eating disorders, wants to educate students and parents about potential problems and let them know assistance is available.

As many as 10 million females and one million males are fighting a life and death battle with anorexia nervosa or bulimia and another 25 million are fighting a binge eating disorder, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. And because of this, body image and eating disorders are growing concerns in schools around the country.

“This is an especially critical time to be aware of potential problems and watch for warning signs,” says Kimberly Dennis, M.D., medical director at Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center. “During this time when schedules change drastically with the start of school, and new pressures are added into the mix, children and young adults can be more susceptible to body image issues and concerns.”

Warning signs that there could be a potential problem in a loved one include:  

• refusal to eat
• difficulty concentrating
• denial of hunger
• obsession with body size and shape coupled with low self esteem
• skipping meals and making excuses for not eating
• eating only a few certain foods considered safe, usually those low in fat and calories

Recognizing these signs and symptoms in a loved one can be a critical first step in working to improve body image distortions. Through early intervention, treatment and therapy, a positive body image can be restored and a life free from the obsession of reaching an “ideal” body size and shape can be achieved.