1st Flouride Ban

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BRUSSELS, Jul 30, 2002 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Belgium will ban the sale of

tablets and chewing gum which contain fluoride elements because of the risk

that they might cause a brittle bone condition, a Health Ministry spokesman

said Tuesday.

But the ban will not include toothpaste with fluoride, which protects teeth

from decay, Tom Ruts said.

The move is believed to be the first such ban in the 15-nation European

Union (EU), and may spark renewed debate about the safety of fluoride, which

some

countries add to public drinking water supplies as a means of improving

dental health.

The ban will probably come into force by late August, Ruts said.

Belgian Health Minister Magda Aelvoet also made comments about the plan in

the latest issue of Belgium's weekly magazine, Humo.

Aelvoet told the magazine she hoped her EU partners would follow the

example.

In these cases, a harmonization within the European Union is of course

desirable but I can't always wait until the European Union is ready, she

was quoted as saying.

We will however communicate our official decision to the other European

member states in the hope that they will follow us swiftly, said the

minister.

Fluoride supplements -- such as fluoride tablets and fluoride chewing

gum -- are promoted by dentists to fight dental caries. They have been sold in

Belgium without a doctor's prescription.

The ministry made the decision after the results of a study commissioned by

an advisory board found that excessive use of fluoride products could cause

fluoride poisoning, damage the nervous system and foster osteoporosis,

where

bones become weak and fragile, said the spokesman.

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oride

Copyright 2002 XINHUA NEWS AGENCY.

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Body Types and Digestion: Edited by Manish oza

According to Ayurveda, we can trace most disease processes back to a disturbance

in the digestive system. Perhaps the most important Ayurvedic concept for

Westerners is the strength of the digestive fire called Agni. Agni is not real

fire, of course, but the digestive fire that breaks the chemical bonds in our

foods, making them smaller to allow vital elements and nutrients to pass through

our digestive system into our cells. When the digestive system is not

functioning properly, the cells receive no raw materials and eventually the

organism fails to thrive. Therefore, the prime directive of the body is to

fulfill the need of every cell for energy derived from protein, carbohydrates

and fats.

Four levels of Digestive fire:

Balanced: Digestive fire that creates the most perfect health is neither too

much nor too little. A good, regular appetite marks a balanced digestive fire.

Complete digestion feels comfortable, with no gas, constipation, or bloating.

Bowel movements are regular, energy is abundant and the senses are clear. Each

body type can experience this balanced digestive fire.

Irregular or Fluctuating: Digestive fires that is no and off leads to an

inability to digest food completely, resulting in mal-absorption, nutritional

deficiencies, gas, constipation and bloating. The appetite fluctuates from very

hungry to very little desire for food. The out-of-balance Vata usually has an

irregular digestive fire.

Excess or high: Digestive fire that is too " hot " also results in an inability to

digest food completely. The appetite can be excessive, causing overeating, which

further results in undigested food. Vital nutrients are not digested or absorbed

by the body when the digestive fire is too hot, powerful and abundant. The

out-of-balance Pitta may have an excessive digestive fire.

Diminished or low: Digestive fire that burns regularly at a lower temperature

similarly results in incomplete digestion. This is a slow-burn digestive fire

that never quite gets chemically " hot " enough to do the job. The appetite may be

law as well. A Kapha type often has low digestive fire.

Vata Digestion: In Ayurvedic teachings the Vata type has the weakest and most

irregular digestive system. Sometimes it works well and sometimes it doesn't. A

Vata's appetite may also be very irregular, swinging from one extreme to

another. One question I ask when I am determining body type is " Have you ever

forgotten to eat? " A vata will often answer yes to this question because their

appetite just isn't strong. A pitta with a good appetite will look at me as

though I am crazy and say " Of course not. " Kaphas with a low appetite may also

answer no simply because they have a watch - they know when it is time to eat.

Vata's increased sympathetic nervous system stimulation and somatostatin hormone

release reduces and constricts the body's digestive abilities. Therefore the

Vata type has more difficulty digesting food in general and protein in specific,

requiring that they pay more attention to eating habits that recognize Vata's

need for regularity. This irregular digestive capacity of Vata leads to

inconsistent and diminished nutrients absorbed into the system, contributing to

Vata's tendency towards a slender, even " gaunt " body type. Vata can eat a great

deal without gaining weight or putting on much muscle. As proteins may be most

difficult for the Vata to digest, a vegetarian diet offers a much more

comfortable eating experience without the gas and bloating Vatas otherwise

experience. Because of the ease of digestion it is possible that vegetarians are

predominantly Vata body types (and vegetarians in general tend to be thinner).

Pitta Digestion

According to Ayurveda, Pitta has the hottest and most powerful digestion.

Usually Pitta has the best appetite and when hungry, must eat. They rarely

forget a meal. They simply cannot. They will eat larger amounts of food than a

Vata or a Kapha and if healthy, will burn it up. If their digestive fire is too

high, however, they may be unable to process the nutrients they take in.

Pitta's increase in both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system and

glucagon hormone release results in a strong digestive capacity, but a tendency

to become overactive - thereby affecting Pitta's ability to metabolize fat

completely. Excess dietary fat may be the hardest for the pitta to digest. When

eaten in excess, fats cannot be emulsified and associated problems with the gall

bladder and liver may arise, along with a tendency to gain weight. Excessive

digestive fire also results in symptoms of heartburn, gastritis and colitis. We

may take an antacid to reduce the fire, but though this may help in the short

term it only complicates the digestive problems by not treating the cause - an

excess of digestive fire.

Kapha Digestion

In Ayurvedic tradition, the Kapha has the slowest but the most efficient

digestion. The Kapha seems to eat less and gain more, a result of the most

thorough digestion of food. Those with weight problems know instinctively that

there are variances in the metabolism of different people. They can eat less

than other, thinner, people but they still seem to gain and gain. This is the

metabolism of the Kapha. Kapha' general increases in parasympathetic nervous

system stimulation increases its ability to digest food, but also result in a

slow, sluggish digestive system. Since the food passes through the system at a

slower rate, more thorough absorption occurs. This result in the well-fed Kapha

body.

The Kapha also has an increased insulin response to carbohydrates, causing the

tendency to gain weight and requiring a diet that reduces carbohydrates. A

reduced - carbohydrate diet will also lessen the stress to the pancreas.

 

 

 

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