Watchman News

By Dr. Mercola
If you’re one who swoons over chocolate, you may be pleased to know there may be a scientific reason for it. In fact, researchers say potent compounds in dark chocolate as well as blueberries may contain secrets to staying youthful. Scientists from Exeter University in England, supported by colleagues at Brighton University, identified the compounds as a “secret” wrinkle-fighting substance because they help rejuvenate old cells.
In fact, lab research showed old cells both looking and “behaving” like younger cells, actually resuming dividing.1 Professor Lorna Harries, a director of research at Exeter and lead author in the study, explained that using plant chemicals effectively “switched back on” the major class of genes that switch off as you age, which may be used as a means to restore the function of old cells.
When lab scientists applied natural compounds found in red grapes, red wine, chocolate and blueberries, specifically antioxidant, anti-inflammatory flavonoids, the compounds were found to have longer telomeres, which are the “caps” on chromosomes that shorten as you get older.

“When we age, the strands of DNA in our cells gradually lose the protective telomeres, which … act like the plastic tips at the end of shoelaces … Within hours of treatment, with these so-called resveratrol analogues, the older cells started to divide, and had longer telomeres.”2

Eva Latorre, a research associate who conducted the experiments, said she couldn’t believe it when she noticed the extent of the cell rejuvenation and how quickly it took place. “These old cells were looking like young cells. It was like magic.”3 She repeated the experiment several times, and the same cell changes took place every time.

Latorre said she’s excited by the implications and potential for the research, which was published in the journal BMJ Cell Biology.4 Harries said the scientists hope it can be used not only to promote normal lifespans for people, but also to help them be healthy throughout their entire life.
Old Research, New Discoveries
One reason researchers found their study so exciting was because it built on earlier anti-aging experiments that had focused on a class of genes called splicing factors (which play a significant role in helping your genes operate as they should, but progressively “switch off “as you age) as well as a group of dysfunctional cells called senescent, which build up in your tissues as you get older.
Old cells lose their ability to correctly regulate the output of their genes, which is why your tissues and cells become increasingly susceptible to disease as aging progresses. When they’re activated, genes send messages instructing your cells to behave in certain ways. Most genes send more than one message, which partially explains why splicing factors are so crucial for ensuring genes perform functions, or a series of functions, properly.
An example might be the range of functions needed, as well as whether it’s necessary, to grow new blood vessels, and it’s the splicing factors that make the determination. In the featured study, the application of resveratrol analogues, found in foods such as red wine, dark chocolate, red grapes and blueberries, allowed the splicing factors to switch back on and simultaneously reversed signs of ageing.
According to Science Daily, “As people age, the splicing factors tend to work less efficiently or not at all, restricting the ability of cells to respond to challenges in their environment.” In addition:

“The discovery has the potential to lead to therapies which could help people age better, without experiencing some of the degenerative effects of getting old. Most people by the age of 85 have experienced some kind of chronic illness, and as people get older they are more prone to stroke, heart disease and cancer.”5

Harries explained the study demonstrated that when you treat old cells with the molecules that will restore the abilities of splicing factors, the cells take on some of their former youthful aspects. They’re able to grow and the telomeres are longer, as they were when they were younger. However, while the possibilities are exciting for the scientific world to contemplate, Harries stresses that “far more research is needed to establish the true potential for these sort of approaches to address the degenerative effects of ageing.”6
So What’s the Science Behind the Secret?
The so-called “secret” compound is one that’s gained international attention in recent years. Multiple studies have indicated that resveratrol, or, as the study couched the term, “resveralogues,” has beneficial effects on senescence phenotypes through other pathways, such as SIRT1 activity.7 Further, studies have shown resveratrol to modulate the ERK signaling pathway, which is another potential regulator of splicing factor expression, as well as to suppress cellular senescence.8 Interestingly, the authors wrote:

“SIRT1 is also a current target for drug design and for nutraceutical interventions and is known also to be activated by resveratrol. We suggest that focusing on SIRT1 activity alone may be misleading and that other pathways activated by resveralogues may be more important in alleviating senescence and improving health outcomes in later life.”9

While the aspects and potency of the compounds specifically found in blueberries, red grapes and chocolate are exciting, it’s worth mentioning that the Exeter researchers note: “There is already considerable interest in the development of drugs that can attenuate senescence for eventual human use,” adding:

“The renewal of proliferation we observe upon resveralogue treatment obviously raises questions about the potential cancer risk attached to such treatment, should it eventually be employed in a clinical setting. We propose that the renewed proliferation arises from a transient increase in telomerase activity brought about by the induction of specific splicing factor proteins, and that the growth is still regulated.”10

The scientists added that these observations from resveratrol treatments were suggested to have “a protective effect against cancer in both humans and rodent models.”11,12
Significant Compounds in Curcumin
While you may be tempted to get your daily “dose” of resveratrol by overindulging in red wine, there are other foods that contain similarly powerful anti-inflammatory compounds, like curcumin. Curcumin is a powerful compound found primarily in the spice turmeric.
One study highlighted curcumin, along with resveratrol and flavonoids, in light of their ability to beneficially impact a variety of ailments. The “notion” that these plant-based foods could be responsible for disease intervention couldn’t be ignored, particularly for cancer, cardiovascular, neurological, respiratory and age-related diseases. Additionally:

“Exposure of the body to a stressful environment challenges cell survival and increases the risk of chronic disease developing. The polyphenols afford protection against various stress-induced toxicities through modulating intercellular cascades which inhibit inflammatory molecule synthesis, the formation of free radicals, nuclear damage and induce antioxidant enzyme expression. These responses have the potential to increase life expectancy.”13

The same study concluded that these three compounds also have anti-inflammatory, cell- and DNA-protective properties. So limit your consumption of red wine and instead opt for curcumin, resveratrol and flavonoid-rich whole foods to fight inflammation and premature aging.
Antioxidants: Not Just a Buzzword
As the name suggests, antioxidants are the compounds that combat oxidation, a chemical process that can cause serious damage to the cells throughout your body. You may have guessed that blueberries and dark chocolate both contain antioxidants, but the fact is, their strength in these two foods can be described as impressive.
To explain the damaging aspects of oxidation, many scientists use the metaphor of a rusty bicycle or an apple that’s cut in half starting to turn brown. In a very real sense, that’s similar to what happens in your body when you smoke, work or live in a high-stress environment and/or eat a diet based largely on processed foods. The Atlantic explains:

“When there are disruptions in the natural oxidation process, highly unstable and potentially damaging molecules called free radicals are created. Oxygen triggers the formation of these destructive little chemicals, and, if left uncontrolled, they can cause damage to cells in the body.”14

That’s where antioxidants come in, as some foods contain high amounts of antioxidants to fight the damage free radicals make in your body, and one reason why resveratrol is such a potent compound.
Flavonoids for Improved Brain Function and Decreased Disease Risk
Then there are flavonoids, and blueberries are famous for having a lot. One function of flavonoids is that they’ve been shown to be the element that improved brain function in clinical trials. In fact, one study found that when a group of elderly adults drank blueberry juice daily, blood flow to the brain increased and their cognitive function improved.15
Exeter was also the site of this study, after which lead author Joanna Bowtell, associate professor of sport and health sciences, explained in NutraIngredients, “Epidemiological studies demonstrate that risk of dementia is reduced by higher fruit intake, and cognitive function is better in healthy older adults with a diet rich in plant-based foods.”16
While flavonoids are found in most fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and green and black tea also contain these nutrients, specifically, as well as anthocyanins, which is where the deep color comes from. Red wine was included in the study, but should only be consumed in moderation.17 Multiple studies regale the protective exploits of deep-hued foods like red grapes and blueberries. The polyphenols they contain are natural plant chemicals that benefit every area of your body, including your brain, heart, skin, bones and gut.
At the same time function in these areas is improved and protected, blood pressure is normalized,18 inflammation is reduced, blood sugar levels are stabilized, your bones are built up19 and insulin resistance is lowered. Here’s another benefit: Flavonoids may help with erectile dysfunction. One study showed an 11 percent to 16 percent lower risk in men younger than 70 if they ate several foods rich in flavonoids.20
The George Mateljan Foundation, a not-for-profit dedicated to healthy eating and cooking, notes that flavonoids support your nervous system, contribute to heart health and significantly “block the production of messaging molecules that promote inflammation.”21
Who Doesn’t Love Chocolate or Its Brain-Boosting Power?
In dark chocolate, flavonoids are also abundant. One of them is in the form of epicatechin, which is also beneficial for optimal brain function, particularly for learning and memory, lowering your Alzheimer’s risk as well as improving mood and emotional stress, benefiting your vascular system and decreasing your stroke risk, one study notes.22 The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a list of the top 100 polyphenols, and cocoa powder ranked number four with 3,448 milligrams in every 100 grams.23
Believe it or not, polyphenol benefits include boosting healthy gut bacteria for an overall improved gut microbiome, which you can benefit from by eating certain foods containing dark chocolate. Your bones benefit, too, so your risk of osteoporosis decreases.24 The caveat is that dark chocolate is the “good” chocolate because it doesn’t have the milk products and sugar that, obviously, milk chocolate contains.
Raw cacao nibs are one of the best choices, which can be eaten whole or ground into powder for use in recipes. When selecting chocolate, look for higher cacao and lower sugar content.

What you eat may not be something your doctor addresses as a significant option for crucial aspects of longevity and disease prevention, but the compounds that provide the most benefits are found in whole foods like blueberries and dark chocolate. If you choose foods that can provide better health as well as help prevent disease, you’ll feel and function better, and will most likely live longer.

By Dr. Mercola
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating condition that affects up to 2.5 million Americans,1 incurring up to $51 billion in annual medical costs.2 There are actually a number of different names used for this condition, including myalgic encephalopathy/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS) and chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS).3 The most common designation is ME/CFS.
Without an ability to pinpoint a cause, many physicians have credited the condition to psychological roots. Reports of the condition were first published in the literature in 1934.4 It has only been very recently that researchers have found physiological commonalities between groups of individuals that has separated their symptoms from other comparable conditions.
Diagnostic changes have been discovered in gut bacteria and in brain tissue of individuals suffering from symptoms of ME/CFS. Now, scientists have found biomarkers in blood that correlate with ME/CFS symptoms. This combination of information puts researchers one step closer to finding a causative agent, and potentially improving treatment options.
What Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Researchers have not found a reason for the symptoms of ME/CFS. A significant hurdle is the fact that symptoms can vary widely from one person to the next. However, the most common symptom is one of overwhelming exhaustion that gets worse with physical or mental activity, and does not get better with additional rest.5 Interestingly, you may not experience the full extent of the exhaustion until up to 48 hours after the activity.
Complications from the symptoms may also include depression, social isolation, increasing absences at work and lifestyle restrictions that are related to an inability to function at your activities of daily living.6
The condition affects people of all socioeconomic, ethnic and racial groups as well as people of all ages.7 However, more people report symptoms in their 40s and 50s and women report symptoms four times more frequently than men. The way in which people who suffer from ME/CFS is not described completely by a simple list of symptoms. David Tuller, coordinator at the University of California (UC), Berkeley writes:8

“In an interview with The New York Times earlier this year, best-selling author Laura Hillenbrand (‘Seabiscuit,’ ‘Unbroken’), who has lived with CFS for decades, called the name of the illness ‘condescending’ and ‘so grossly misleading.’ She added: ‘The average person who has this disease, before they got it, we were not lazy people; it’s very typical that people were Type A and hard, hard workers …

Fatigue is what we experience, but it is what a match is to an atomic bomb. This disease leaves people bedridden. I’ve gone through phases where I couldn’t roll over in bed. I couldn’t speak. To have it called ‘fatigue’ is a gross misnomer.'”

Symptoms of the condition may mimic other medical conditions necessitating a diagnosis by excluding other health conditions, such as thyroid disorders, sleep disorders and kidney or liver problems.9 These additional symptoms may include:10,11,12

✓ Muscle pain
✓ Sore throat
✓ Tender lymph nodes
✓ Short attention span

✓ Palpitations
✓ Enlarged glands
✓ Food intolerance
✓ Memory problems

✓ Irritable bowel-like symptoms
✓ Pain in multiple joints
✓ Visible muscle twitching
✓ Intermittent flu-like symptoms

✓ Word find problems
✓ Fainting
✓ Mood swings
✓ Gastrointestinal problems

✓ Headaches
✓ Difficulty sleeping
✓ Clumsiness
✓ Alcohol intolerance

✓ Difficulty concentrating
✓ Excessive sweating
✓ Difficulty with temperature control
✓ Hypersensitivity to light and noise

New Study Finds Biomarkers Indicating an Inflammatory Problem
A recent study from Stanford University School of Medicine identified 17 biomarkers in the blood that correlated closely with reported symptom severity in patients suffering from ME/CFS.13 These biomarkers are cytokines, small proteins your immune system secretes that are used by other cells in your body. This new finding offers hope to both sufferers and physicians, as it provides objective evidence and concrete confirmation of the existence of ME/CFS. It may also lead to better treatment options or a cure.
During the study, researchers analyzed blood from over 185 people who suffer from ME/CFS and had suffered symptoms for at least 10 years. These were compared against blood samples of over 385 healthy individuals.14 They tested for 51 different cytokines in all individuals and found two that were significantly different between the groups.
However, in looking more closely at the cytokines tested in the symptomatic group, the researchers also found different levels of 17 cytokines that appeared to correlate with the severity of the symptoms the individual reported. The researchers hypothesized this had not been discovered in prior studies as the high levels of cytokines in some individuals that were low in others, may have canceled out the information.
Of the 17 cytokines identified in this study, 13 are known to be associated with increased levels of inflammation. This confirms a suspicion of some researchers that symptoms of fluctuating flu-like symptoms and body aches associated with ME/CFS is linked to an inflammatory response.15 Senior researcher Mark M. Davis, Ph.D., from Stanford University, commented:16

“There’s been a great deal of controversy and confusion surrounding ME/CFS — even whether it is an actual disease. Our findings show clearly that it’s an inflammatory disease and provide a solid basis for a diagnostic blood test.”

Inflammatory Response May Be Triggered by Leaky Gut
Another recent study from Cornell University found a difference in the gut microbiome of people diagnosed with ME/CFS and a group of healthy individuals.17 This discovery may help shed some light on diagnostic procedures for other health conditions and lead to strategies for treatment and prevention of ME/CFS. The differences the researchers found were evident in both blood and stool samples.
The researchers used DNA sequencing to find a distinct lack of diversity in the gut microbiome of individuals and found inflammatory biomarkers in their blood.18 The changes could not be clearly linked to either a cause or consequence of the condition. Professor of molecular biology and genetics at Cornell University, Maureen Hanson, Ph.D., commented in The Washington Post:19

“Our work demonstrates that the gut bacterial microbiome in chronic fatigue syndrome patients isn’t normal, perhaps leading to gastrointestinal and inflammatory symptoms in victims of the disease. Furthermore, our detection of a biological abnormality provides further evidence against the ridiculous concept that the disease is psychological in origin.”

The researchers theorize these markers could be the result of a “leaky gut from intestinal problems that allow bacteria to enter the blood.”20 A leaky gut is triggered by the development of “gaps” that occur between the membrane walls that line the intestines. This allows material that was meant to stay in your intestinal tract, such as undigested food, bacteria or waste products, to leak into your bloodstream.
There is a distinct link between the development of these gaps and the food you consume each day. Grains are particularly problematic as research demonstrates gluten stimulates zonulin, a protein in your gut that triggers the opening of these junctures.
Legumes and other lectin-rich foods are also best avoided21 if you are struggling with an inflammatory condition such as ME/CFS. Not all people with a leaky gut will develop ME/CFS, but healing and sealing your gut may help to reduce the inflammatory response in your body and result in a reduction in symptoms.
Neurological Changes Also Found in People Suffering From ME/CFS
ME/CFS sufferers also experience changes in the white matter in their brains, another piece of concrete evidence that it’s a real physiological condition.22
Using new technology, imaging studies were used to distinguish differences in the brains of people who suffer from ME/CFS compared to those who don’t. ME/CFS sufferers had both a diminished amount of white matter and changes to the right hemisphere of the brain. Researchers commented in a press release from Stanford Medical Center where this study was also completed:23

“It’s not uncommon for CFS patients to face several mischaracterizations of their condition, or even suspicions of hypochondria, before receiving a diagnosis of CFS. The abnormalities identified in the study … may help to resolve those ambiguities …”

The study exposed three findings:

A reduction in brain white matter responsible for transporting information throughout the brain. This was not unexpected as chronic inflammation has a known effect on white matter.
A consistent abnormal appearance using advanced imaging techniques in patients suffering from ME/CFS in the right hemisphere of the brain, which connects the frontal and temporal lobes.
Thickening of the gray matter in the brain on either end of the white matter between the temporal and frontal lobes, indicating it is highly unlikely the findings were coincidental.

ME/CFS Sufferers Struggle With More Than the Disease
Although the condition is often physically and emotionally devastating, sufferers struggle with many other challenges as well. Lead researcher in the study that demonstrated cytokine biomarkers in the blood of people who suffer from ME/CFS, Dr. Jose Montoya, told NPR News:24

“This is a field that has been full of skepticism and misconception, where patients have been viewed to have invented their disease. These data clearly show the contrary, and demonstrate what can be achieved when we couple good research design with new technology.”

Unfortunately, information from these studies does not quickly reach practicing physicians, and patients continue to be met with resistance and recommendations they improve their physical conditioning based on the PACE trial published in the Lancet,25 which recommends cognitive behavioral therapy and physical exercise to cure patients with ME/CFS.
This study appeared to use a large cohort of patients and underwent peer review before being published. However, after the raw data from the study was released, it revealed several major flaws in the assumptions of the researchers.26
Prior to the study the researchers determined their standards for success, defining “recovery” and “improvement.” However, once the unblinded portion of the study began, the researchers revised the definitions so patients could actually get worse over the course of the study in both fatigue and physical function and still would be classified as being “recovered.”27
Tuller published his analysis of the study results,28 and another recent analysis confirms his evaluation the PACE trial, which he concluded was severely flawed and made poor conclusions.29 The damage to individuals and their families by physician-driven recommendations to increase physical activity and seek psychological care to cure their condition contributes greatly to the emotional and mental burden these people must bear.
In another analysis of this patient population, researchers evaluated any increased risk of death caused by a diagnosis of ME/CFS. While they found no increase in all-cause mortality, there was a significant increased risk of death due to suicide that accompanied a diagnosis of ME/CFS.30
Could Mitochondrial Support Help Reduce Symptoms?
It stands to reason that a condition that triggers an inflammatory response in the body and that results in overwhelming fatigue will respond favorably to lifestyle choices that reduce inflammation and support the function of your mitochondria. These tiny powerhouses are an interconnected network that rapidly and effectively distributes energy throughout your body’s cells.31
In other words, supporting a system that provides energy to all the cells in your body will likely affect many health conditions, not just ME/CFS. Studies of mitochondrial function have increased our understanding of the development of heart disease and other mitochondrial diseases, including cancers.
There are significant challenges to your health when you experience mitochondrial dysfunction. It plays a role in neurodegenerative diseases, seizure disorders, diabetes, hypertension and more. In fact, many of the conditions being treated with toxic drugs could potentially resolve with proper nutritional and lifestyle intervention that addresses the fuel your cells use for energy.
Healthy Support Options to Use at Home
At this time there is no known cure for ME/CFS, but there are methods of supporting your body to alleviate your symptoms,32 including the foods you choose and the decisions you make throughout your day. Each of these choices may not only help reduce your symptoms of ME/CFS, but also may help improve your overall health. Practical changes to your nutritional plan that can help heal your gut and lower inflammation include:

• Avoid gluten and wheat products: Gliadins, a component of gluten, are a class of protein found in wheat and cereals. These proteins increase the permeability of your gut. Keep in mind that gluten can also be found in other grains, not just wheat. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) is a lectin, or plant protein found in high concentration in seed form.
Bread wheat is a relatively new form of wheat that has a resilient and problematic form of WGA. It plays a key role in a toxic effect on your kidneys, and there is evidence it increases the damage to your intestinal membrane walls.
• Avoid lectins: Some lectins, including WGA, bind to receptor sites on your intestinal mucosal cells and interfere with absorption of nutrients. As such, they act as “antinutrients,” and can have a detrimental effect on your gut microbiome by shifting the balance of your bacterial flora — a common precursor to leaky gut.
Lectins are also strongly associated with autoimmune diseases of all kinds. To learn more, including which foods are best avoided due to high lectin content, please see “How to Reduce Lectins in Your Diet.”
• Reduce your net carbs: The carbohydrate sugar, like grains, will upset the balance of microbes in your gut. Sugar is the food source for bacteria that can prompt damage to your intestinal walls, while fiber is the food source for bacteria that build your intestinal membranes.
Your net carbs are the total grams of carbohydrates you’ve eaten in a day, minus the grams of fiber you’ve eaten. The difference is your net carbs. Seek to reduce your net carbs to 50 grams per 1,000 calories of food eat each day.
• Increase your fiber intake: The fiber you eat from whole foods is the nutrient source for bacteria in your gut that help maintain and build the membrane cells in your intestinal walls. This helps to seal the “gaps” between the cells and reduces any leakage of waste products and bacteria into your blood stream. Focus on eating whole food vegetables, nuts and seeds (with the exception of lectin-rich varieties).
• Eat fermented foods: Although the idea of eating “fermented” foods may sound distasteful, you might be surprised by the list of tasty delicacies produced through this ancient preparation and preservation technique. By breaking down carbohydrates and proteins using bacteria, foods become functional, delicious and a source of natural probiotics to feed your gut.
Olives, pickles, cheese from grass fed cows, homemade yogurt and sauerkraut are just a few of the foods you may not have considered. Your best bet is to make your own. In this video, Julie and I demonstrate how to make your own fermented vegetables at home.

You can read more about supporting your gut health in my previous article, “Nourishing Your Gut Bacteria is Critical for Health and Mental Well-Being” and how to support your mitochondrial health in “How Your Mitochondria Influence Your Health.”

By Dr. Mercola
Robert Romeo, a former telecommunications worker in Italy, told an Italian court that he used his cellphone three to four hours a day for 15 years as part of his job duties. He subsequently developed a brain tumor, which the court ruled was due to his constant cellphone use. As a result, he was awarded a state-funded pension of about $535 a month.1 In 2012, Italy’s supreme court similarly upheld a ruling that heavy cellphone usage — five to six hours daily for 12 years — led to a brain tumor in Innocenzo Marcolini.
He, according to Tech Times, “normally held the device in his left hand while taking notes using his right hand.” The tumor was on the left side of his head.2 In the U.S., where the safety, or lack thereof, of cellphones remains hotly debated, the issue has regained renewed attention after a statement from the office of Sen. John McCain announced he had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive and fast-growing type of brain tumor.
The question being posed is whether McCain’s tumor could be due to cellphone usage, as politicians certainly spend a good deal of time on the phone. It’s a rhetorical question at the moment, not one being seriously investigated — but perhaps it should be. Sen. Ted Kennedy was also diagnosed with, and died from, a brain tumor nearly a decade ago. Could his brain tumor also have been cellphone-related?
Is Cellphone Usage Linked With Brain Tumors?
While the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified radiofrequency (RF) radiation — the type used by cellphones to send signals — as a “possible human carcinogen,” the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stops short of making such a claim. “There is no scientific evidence that provides a definite answer” to the question of whether using a cellphone can cause cancer, they say.3
Some experts disagree, however, and there is a growing body of evidence that suggests urgent caution is warranted. In 2016, for instance, a National Toxicology Program study exposed male rats to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) at frequencies and modulations used in the U.S. telecommunications industry. Rats exposed to cellphone radiation for about nine hours a day over a two-year period were at increased risk of developing malignant gliomas in the brain and another type of tumor, schwannomas of the heart.4
The study authors noted that, given the widespread usage of cellphones, including among children, “even a very small increase in the incidence of disease resulting from exposure to RFR could have broad implications for public health.” They continued:5

“Lastly, the tumors in the brain and heart observed at low incidence in male rats exposed to … cellphone RFR in this study are of a type similar to tumors observed in some epidemiology studies of cellphone use. These findings appear to support the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) conclusions regarding the possible carcinogenic potential of RFR.”

Meanwhile, a 2017 systematic review and meta-analysis looking at cellphone use and glioma risk — while noting that current evidence is of poor and limited quality — also found that long-term cellphone use (minimum of 10 years) may be associated with an increased risk of glioma.6
Hundreds of Scientists Call on WHO to Increase Protections Against Cellphones
There was an open letter written in 2015, in which more than 200 scientists called on the World Health Organization and the United Nations to increase protection against the pervasive exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), including the RFR from cellphones. It explained, in part:7

“Numerous recent scientific publications have shown that EMF affects living organisms at levels well below most international and national guidelines.

Effects include increased cancer risk, cellular stress, increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damages, structural and functional changes of the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders, and negative impacts on general well-being in humans. Damage goes well beyond the human race, as there is growing evidence of harmful effects to both plant and animal life.

These findings justify our appeal to the United Nations (U.N.) and, all member States in the world, to encourage the World Health Organization (WHO) to exert strong leadership in fostering the development of more protective EMF guidelines, encouraging precautionary measures, and educating the public about health risks, particularly risk to children and fetal development. By not taking action, the WHO is failing to fulfill its role as the pre-eminent international public health agency.”

Another concerning study, published in 2015, looked at data from two previous case-controlled studies on Swedish patients diagnosed with malignant brain tumors during the periods of 1997 to 2003 and 2007 to 2009.8 The patients were between the ages of 18 and 80 years old at the time of their diagnosis. Using regression analysis, the odds of developing glioma rose concurrently with increased cellphone use.The more hours spent with a cellphone pressed to their ear, and the more years they’d spent using a cellphone, the higher the odds were.

Those who logged the most hours on their cell phones were twice as likely to develop glioma compared to those who logged the least
Those who used either a cellphone or cordless house phone for more than 25 years had triple the risk of glioma compared to those who had used wireless telephones for less than one year

To put this risk ratio into some perspective, just over five people out of 100,000 were diagnosed with malignant brain cancer between 1995 and 2002. If that rate triples, the odds of developing a malignant brain tumor rises to about 16 out of 100,000, which is alarming considering the prevalence of cellphones and other wireless technologies. According to Pew Research Center, 91 percent of U.S. adults have a cellphone.9
Further, the average age a child receives their first smartphone is just over 10 years,10 and half of children under 10 already have a cellphone.11 Children are more vulnerable to the effects of EMFs, and many use their phones more frequently and for longer periods of time each day than adults, starting from the time they’re very young. Because brain tumors may take 10 or 15 years to develop, the full extent of damage from cellphone radiation may not be fully realized for some time, which is why taking precautions now is so important.
The Primary Dangers of Cellphones Are Related to Mitochondrial Damage
The primary pathology behind cellphone damage is not related specifically to brain tumors, or even to cancer. Instead, the real danger lies in damage from the reactive nitrogen species peroxynitrites. Increased peroxynitrites from cellphone exposure will damage your mitochondria, and your brain is the most mitochondrial-dense organ in your body.
Peroxynitrite is an unstable structural ion produced in your body after nitric oxide is exposed to superoxide. This complex chemical process begins with exposure to low-frequency microwave radiation from your cellphone, Wi-Fi and cellphone towers. The process begins when low-frequency microwave radiation activates voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC), producing calcium inside your cells and mitochondria.12 Nitric oxide is dependent on the presence of calcium to activate.
With additional calcium present, nitric oxide is then activated in the cells.13 Nitric oxide is a substance present in all vertebrates and helps to control blood flow, neural activity and clotting.14 While it has many health benefits, it can become destructive when superoxide molecules, an ionized oxygen molecule, is released during pathological change, such as a stroke or muscle injury.15 This reaction between nitric oxide and superoxide produces peroxynitrites, believed to be one root cause for many of today’s chronic diseases.16
Nitric oxide is the only molecule in your body produced at high enough concentrations to outcompete other molecules for superoxide and is a precursor for peroxynitrite.17 These changes from nitration are visible in human biopsies of atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia, inflammatory bowel disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and septic lung disease.18 Significant oxidative stress from peroxynitrites may also result in single-strand breaks of DNA.19
This pathway of oxidative destruction triggered by low-frequency radiation emitted from mobile devices may partially explain the unprecedented growth rate of chronic disease since 1990.20 This, truly, is a far greater concern than brain tumors when it comes to the hazards of cellphones.
California’s ‘Unofficial’ Cellphone Guidelines Finally Made Public
To protect public health from the risks of cellphone radiation, California’s Environmental Health Investigations branch developed a set of recommendations and warnings. Despite being written in 2014, the guidelines were only publicly released in March 2017, after a legal battle. Joel Moskowitz, Ph.D., director of the Center for Family and Community Health at the University of California Berkeley, requested access to the information but was denied, so he sued the state under the California Public Records Act — and won.21
What do the guidelines say? For starters, they warn that some studies suggest “long-term cellphone use may increase the risk of brain cancer and other health problems.” They also point out the risks of cellphone EMFs to children, noting that “EMFs can pass deeper into a child’s brain than an adult’s.” In addition, they recommend the following tips to reduce your exposures to EMFs from cellphones:22

Increase the distance between you and your cellphone by using the speaker phone, sending text messages and carrying your phone away from your body
Limit your cellphone use when reception is weak (as your phone will emit stronger EMFs if you have only one or two bars showing)
Reduce the amount of time you spend talking on a cellphone and keep calls short

Protect Yourself and Your Family From Long-Term Health Damage
In terms of reducing your risk of developing a brain tumor, reducing your exposure to RF radiation from cellphones and other devices is important, but keep in mind that there are many other factors at play, like your diet and light exposures, that should also be addressed. For instance, exposure to too much blue light and not enough infrared red, and not burning fat for fuel, can also play a role in cancer development.
As for as cellphone usage is concerned, however, there are strategies you can use to protect yourself from RF radiation emitted from these devices. Remember, your cellphone, portable phone, Wi-Fi router and modem are the primary devices in your home emitting microwave radiation consistently. To protect yourself and your family, get in the habit of using these strategies regularly. Cell damage builds over time. It may feel safe to use your devices as you always have since you don’t experience the health effects immediately, but it definitely is not.

• Keep the phone away from your head
Consider moving your cellphone away from your head when it’s turned on or the Wi-Fi, data or Bluetooth are enabled. You may do this by using a selfie stick, speaking on the speaker phone or using a headset. Short conversations and texting more than talking also reduce your exposure.
• Increase your distance from RF-emitting devices
The closer the device, the more radiation you absorb. Find a way to transport your phone other than in your pants pocket or bra, and avoid keeping your phone and tablets in your bedroom while you’re sleeping.
• Turn off your Wi-Fi routers
When they aren’t in use, such as at night, turn your Wi-Fi, modem and cellphone off. Many routers can be linked with an inexpensive remote, making the process simple and easy.
• Spices may reduce damage
Researchers have discovered certain spices may help prevent or repair damage from peroxynitrites.23,24 Spices rich in phenolics, specifically cloves, rosemary, turmeric, cinnamon and ginger root exhibited some protective capacity against peroxynitrite-induced damage.
However, while this is good news, it is not a reason to ignore strategies that reduce your exposure to electromagnetic radiation, since your home is not the only place you are at risk. Any public venue that hosts Wi-Fi or has a cellular tower nearby increases your exposure to microwave radiation.
As for the widely available devices that you can attach to your phone to block radiation, they do nothing to reduce this radiation exposure. They fail miserably in blocking this energy. They may have some biological benefit in mediating the way this energy interacts with your body, but this is in no way a replacement for the proactive protective measures described above.