Ground Floor Health

Many opponents of fluoridation in the public water system have long shouted that it increases the likelihood of infection and threatens our immune system. The government has long supported adding fluoride to city drinking water to protect children’s teeth against caries and breakdown.

Most public water systems that have fluoride added only contain about 25% of the recommended maximum level established as safe by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

However, there are several populations spread around the US who are at risk for fluoride poisoning due to naturally occurring fluoride in the drinking water. These individuals may consume 1-2 times the maximum amount considered safe by the EPA.

Children in these areas will suffer from flourosis, a discoloration of the enamel coating the teeth. This condition is largely labeled as cosmetic by the government, but may seriously threaten dental and bone health in the face.

As well the latest report from the National Academy of Sciences reported that these children could be at risk for fractures and broken bones later in life. Increased consumption of fluoride can cause a leaching of minerals from the bones, such as calcium and phosphorus. Both calcium and phosphorus make up the majority of the bony matrix in our large bones. This matrix naturally declines with age, and increased fluoride in the drinking water can speed up this process.

Opponents of fluoridated water are singing praise with this latest report. As it stands it may be better to provide protection to your children’s teeth by using fluoride toothpaste and leave the drinking water alone.

Women who are pregnant are always counseled on the importance of exercise. Exercise during pregnancy helps protect against excessive weight gain, high blood pressure, and the development of toxemia of pregnancy. It also improves birth outcome.

Maintaining a healthy weight during pregnancy can protect against the development of gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a condition that develops after the 20th week of pregnancy, where the mother has high blood sugar and the baby grows abnormally large. It can complicate delivery and increase risk of death for both mother and child.

A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine examined the effects that exercise and activity prior to pregnancy and on the incidence of gestational diabetes.

Researchers studied women enrolled in the Nurses Health Study who had at least one pregnancy between 1990 and 1998. The used a questionnaire to assess the level of activity prior to becoming pregnant as well as assessing daily activities.

The results showed that women who had a vigorous level of activity prior to pregnancy had 23% less chance of developing gestational diabetes. As well women who walked briskly compared to an easy walk were 34% less likely to develop the condition.

They also looked at the amount of TV that was watched by the women prior to becoming pregnant as a prediction of sessile behavior. Women who watched more than 20 hours of television per week most likely to develop gestational diabetes, regardless of other risk factors such as weight, prior pregnancy outcome and family history. Women who watched less than 2 hours had the least risk and were associated with increased activity.

The results of this study carry serious implications for women of childbearing age. Many women will pledge to get in shape or start some exercise routine once establishing pregnancy, but it may be more important to be healthier before pregnancy.

Women who develop gestational diabetes are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes later in life, regardless of risk factors and lifestyle choices. As well infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes are more likely to be diabetic and obese themselves.