MEDITOLL.COM

Can it possibly be true that human fetal tissue is now in some foods, personal care products and vaccines? Surely it would have to say so on any label or informed consent form, right?

Ah, no.

Amazingly, both the number and type of products are increasing which contain human fetal tissue or contain ingredients made from them. Naturally, most don't include 'human fetal tissue' in their ingredient list, and you'd certainly not expect to find them in some of the places where they're actually used.

For example, some processed food companies use flavor enhancers made from them; some vaccines, particularly those against viruses, are grown using fetal cell tissue; some medications and some personal care products are also involved.

To raise your awareness further, you can check some online resources, including endalldisease.com, ewg.org, healthfreedomalliance.org, mercola.com and nvic.org. Meanwhile, here is a description of the type of products that may contain it:

1. Some soft drinks, various bottled beverages including coffee, bottled water, flavored bottled water, some juices, bottled teas, energy beverages.

2. Coffee creamers, particular brands of instant soups, bouillon cubes, catsups, sauces, seasoning, instant noodles.

3. Ten different brands of chewing gum, bubble gum.

4. At least twelve brands of candies and cough drops.

5. Beauty products, especially anti-wrinkle creams, restorative creams.

6. Vaccines from at least four different companies; fetal cells are present in a measles/mumps/rubella; measles/mumps/rubella/chickenpox; chickenpox; polio; hepatitis-A; hepatitis A & B combination; shingles; rabies.

7. Medications, including those for cystic fibrosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

There are a number of concerns people hold about consuming fetal tissue. One is the possibility of setting up auto-immune responses. These are reactions in the vaccinated person's own immune system when it gets confused in carrying out its job: to determine what is 'me' (my own tissue) and what is 'not me' and therefore should be attacked and eliminated.

Other objections to consuming human fetal tissue include moral and/or ethical grounds. Still others simply think it's a bad idea.

If your response fits into any of those categories, your best bet is to follow up with your own research.

Last, if you don't want to consume fetal tissue, don't rely on this list only, as it is by no means complete. Also, manufacturers change ingredients frequently. If you want to avoid consuming human fetal tissue, your best bet is to research any product you purchase that you think might qualify for this list..

Meanwhile, at least if you avoid purchasing processed food altogether, you will avoid consuming it in food.

A dermatologist is the medical specialist that we go to when we have concerns about our skin. They are educated and trained to diagnose, maintain and treat or correct any conditions that appear in this area. Since the dermis is the first line of defense that our body has against diseases and other sicknesses, it is understandable that we get concerned when we find something unusual or new with it. For the most part, adults have developed a good defense against many of the outside factors that tend to make our outer layer break out or develop rashes. Babies on the other hand have little or no immunity when they are born with regards to skin infections and other diseases that occur in this organ.

Possible Conditions

A diaper rash is one of the most common things that can happen to the infant's dermis during its first year. A dermatologist is usually consulted to bring it under control since babies feel discomfort and sometimes pain when the rash becomes too prominent. The main cause of this condition is the predictably warm and moist atmosphere that occurs within the diaper that comes in close contact with the infant, namely the buttocks and genital area. If the diaper is soiled by urine, many parents do not immediately notice this or do not change it yet thinking that the diaper is absorbent.

Although the diaper does absorb the urine, the outer layer closest to the skin retains some of the moisture and the elements of the urine which can cause sensitivity. Prolonged or regular exposure to this environment can trigger the rash. Feces should not be allowed to stay too long in contact with the dermis in order to prevent the rash getting worse. Changing soiled diapers often is the best thing that parents can do for their babies.

Another condition that warrants a visit to the dermatologist is intertrigo. This is a condition that develops in chubby babies or in those that have plenty of creases that do not often see the light of day or are not exposed to air. The most common areas for these to develop are the neck and groin areas where he baby may be sweating excessively or may have drooled on. A barrier cream made of zinc-oxide may be recommended by the doctor to prevent the rash from developing to a raw one. 

Cradle cap is a rash that often develops in the babies' head and sometimes eyebrows. For some, it may look like a mild case of dandruff but a dermatologist will say otherwise. Although the cause is not known, a local remedy is to rub a little olive oil or baby oil on the area to relieve the scalp and eyebrows of the scaly growth. Do not let the oil come close to the eyes.

These are just a few of the more common kinds of skin conditions that parents should be aware of. They do not need to panic when these occur, just bring the infant to the dermatologist to get a proper diagnosis.

Most babies have sweet smelling breath, but occasionally baby bad breath does occur. It can be a particular problem upon waking, after the baby has been asleep for a few hours - like morning breath in adults. During sleep, the mouth is typically relaxed and motionless, there is decreased saliva production, and bacteria that live in the mouth cavity have an opportunity to multiply undisturbed. Some of these bacteria can produce the unpleasant odor we associate with bad breath, and when they multiply to sufficient numbers, the odor becomes detectable.

If you think that "morning breath" is causing bad breath in baby, try treating it by cleansing the mouth before putting baby down for a nap. If baby is very young and has no teeth, encourage a water rinse to flush traces of formula or bits of food out of cracks and crevices. If baby has teeth, a gentle brushing and a rinse should help. Rinsing and brushing upon waking can be helpful too. (Fluoridated toothpastes should be used very sparingly in young children, and brushing should always be supervised even when your child is old enough to begin brushing on her own.) If these measures relieve the baby bad breath, you needn't do more.

However, if bad breath in baby persists after brushing and cleansing, there may be another problem. Does baby use a soother or habitually suck on some other object like a blanket or stuffed toy? An object that is continually put into the mouth gets coated with saliva and oral bacteria and can develop an unpleasant odor. Though the smell may not be offensive to your child, it can contribute to lingering bad odors in the vicinity of baby, and to baby bad breath. The simple solution is to wash or replace the offending item regularly. Eventually, your child will give up the sucking habit and the problem will disappear on its own.

Occasionally bad breath in baby has a more sinister cause. If your efforts to solve the problem are fruitless, you should consult your pediatrician or family doctor. The physician will check for signs of throat or sinus infection, infection somewhere in the mouth, tooth decay, or a foreign object lodged in a nasal passage. Sinus congestion can contribute to baby bad breath as well, by causing baby to breathe through the mouth: dry mouth is a cause of breath odor in both children and adults because saliva is naturally antibacterial and, in a healthy mouth, it keeps the population of odor causing bacteria at a minimum.

Once again, baby bad breath is relatively unusual: if simple measures don't solve the problem, your child should be seen by a medical professional to rule out more serious problems.

By R. Drysdale