Dear Health Conscious Friend,

We all know that organic products are better for us. They’re natural, free from pesticides, free from genetic engineering, healthier for you, better tasting... the list of ‘benefits’ goes on and on... But what if I told you that this isn’t necessarily the case and they could actually be worse for you?

Jenny Thompson reveals a scary, deadly truth...

In the name of good health,

Taryn Strugnell
Managing Editor of Nutrition & Healing

P.S. Acne is unsightly and causes embarrassment for those who have it. Even more so when you’re an adult. Dr Wright tells us about the natural alternatives to prescription remedies.

Genetically engineered hormones are not organic!
Jenny Thompson
Publisher of Health Sciences Institute

Pondering whether or not to pay a little extra for organic milk, organic yogurt and other organic milk products?

Here's something that might sway your decision: rBST.

RBST is a genetically engineered growth hormone given to cows to increase milk production. It was originally made by an agricultural company (let's call it company A), but rights to produce the synthetic hormone were purchased last year by an animal health company (company B) which is a division of a well-known pharmaceutical company (company C).

Recently, an ‘independent’ panel (sponsored by company B) made some news with a report that didn't really surprise anyone. The panel's review of rBST research found that milk from cows treated with rBST is safe for human consumption and no different from milk taken from untreated cows.

So what's the big deal? After all, the FDA approved the use of rBST more than 15 years ago.

Well… THIS is sort of a big deal: When the agency approved rBST, the man in charge of FDA policy was Michael Taylor, who was formerly the attorney for company A. He later became a vice president and lobbyist for company B.

Meanwhile, the European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan all banned the use of rBST. Their fear: rBST prompts a sharp increase of another hormone. And when that hormone is present in excessive amounts, research says that several types of cancers may occur.

There’s no conclusive proof yet, but it begs the question: Is the milk potentially dangerous?

Obviously, the company B panel says no. But a very large chorus of critics says yes, because even if you ignore the threat of cancer, this hormone is bad news.

You can't really warm up to rBST unless you're indifferent to animal suffering.

Research shows RBST raises the risk of hoof problems, diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal problems, heat stress, birth disorders and a painful udder infection. But even if you never give a thought about animal welfare, that last item is key because the infection is treated with antibiotics such as penicillin and amoxicillin. Bacteria that becomes resistant to these drugs turn up in the milk, promoting antibiotic resistance in humans.

RBST also creates problems for family farmers.

When milk supply increases (and that's all that rBST accomplishes), prices paid to farmers drops. And when the drop is significant or prolonged, it drives small farms out of business. Of course, that's a plus for the giant corporate farms that tend to be the users of rBST. But it's a huge minus for consumers who depend on the smaller farms to supply organic and raw milk.

In 2007, company B actually asked the FTC to ban product labels that claim no use of growth hormones. Fortunately, the commission turned them down, so you can avoid rBST exposure by looking for milk products that are labelled "rBST-free", or "growth hormone-free".

So look out for these labels and avoid pumping unnatural hormones into your system.

How to get rid of adult acne for good

Q: I thought my days of dealing with acne were long behind me, but it seems I'm not so lucky. I've spent an arm and a leg on expensive products promising to clear it up, but nothing works. Please help!

Dr. Wright: Acne is an embarrassing problem that, for many people, persists long after adolescence. The good news is that a form of vitamin B3 called niacinamide and a naturally occurring substance called azaleic acid are both effective against the most common form of acne, called acne vulgaris. Both topical niacinamide gel and azaleic acid are readily available through most pharmacies and health shops.