Re: Supplements with FDA meds/Andi

[Guest guest]

Most of what you said I can't argue with. However there's one glaring inaccuracy

that I

have to correct, but please don't take this personally. I was a chemistry major

and can't sit

by when this kind of mistake appears!

Table salt is unrelated to dioxin. Table salt is a salt of two elements, sodium

and chlorine.

Being a salt means that they are ions, not in the elemental state, but have lost

or gained

some electrons, which totally changes their chemical behavior. While elemental

sodium

and chlorine are highly reactive, even explosive, the ions are the end result of

reactions

and are not hazardous. Dioxins are a family of carbon based compounds with two

benzene rings linked by two oxygens, and they also have chlorine atoms attached

to the

rings in a variety of places. Other than containing chlorine there is absolutely

no relation.

Sometimes the error of substituting a related compound has tragic results.

Glycerine is a

harmless sweetener, but the (truly) closely related diethylene glycol (auto

antifreeze) is a

sweet-tasting deadly poison responsible for many deaths when intentionally or

mistakenly

added to medicines or foods. But polyethylene glycol is again non-toxic and is

used as a

laxative! Chemical composition matters. Sometimes life depends on it.

The reason chemistry matters so much is that our bodies have enzymes to process

nutrients in our bodies. If something we are not adapted to be exposed to comes

into our

bodies, it can block these enzymes and shut them down if it has chemical

similarity to

things we are adapted to. For instance, hemoglobin binds to carbon monoxide

better than

oxygen. So it prevents the hemoglobin from transporting oxygen- and victims of

CO

poisoning die.

So sorry for getting on my high horse, but I just could't let that stand.

I'm glad you are feeling better, Andi!

Martha (MA)

PSC 1992, UC 1979

>

> Everything we eat, drink, breath or touch has miniscule amounts of

> toxic chemicals in them. Table salt is a distant cousin of Dioxin.

> There is Dioxin in Beef Pork Chicken, Fish and Dairy Products.

> Azathioprine (Imuran) is a Group 1 carcinogen.

[Guest guest]

Most of what you said I can't argue with. However there's one glaring inaccuracy

that I

have to correct, but please don't take this personally. I was a chemistry major

and can't sit

by when this kind of mistake appears!

Table salt is unrelated to dioxin. Table salt is a salt of two elements, sodium

and chlorine.

Being a salt means that they are ions, not in the elemental state, but have lost

or gained

some electrons, which totally changes their chemical behavior. While elemental

sodium

and chlorine are highly reactive, even explosive, the ions are the end result of

reactions

and are not hazardous. Dioxins are a family of carbon based compounds with two

benzene rings linked by two oxygens, and they also have chlorine atoms attached

to the

rings in a variety of places. Other than containing chlorine there is absolutely

no relation.

Sometimes the error of substituting a related compound has tragic results.

Glycerine is a

harmless sweetener, but the (truly) closely related diethylene glycol (auto

antifreeze) is a

sweet-tasting deadly poison responsible for many deaths when intentionally or

mistakenly

added to medicines or foods. But polyethylene glycol is again non-toxic and is

used as a

laxative! Chemical composition matters. Sometimes life depends on it.

The reason chemistry matters so much is that our bodies have enzymes to process

nutrients in our bodies. If something we are not adapted to be exposed to comes

into our

bodies, it can block these enzymes and shut them down if it has chemical

similarity to

things we are adapted to. For instance, hemoglobin binds to carbon monoxide

better than

oxygen. So it prevents the hemoglobin from transporting oxygen- and victims of

CO

poisoning die.

So sorry for getting on my high horse, but I just could't let that stand.

I'm glad you are feeling better, Andi!

Martha (MA)

PSC 1992, UC 1979

>

> Everything we eat, drink, breath or touch has miniscule amounts of

> toxic chemicals in them. Table salt is a distant cousin of Dioxin.

> There is Dioxin in Beef Pork Chicken, Fish and Dairy Products.

> Azathioprine (Imuran) is a Group 1 carcinogen.

[Guest guest]

>

> Most of what you said I can't argue with. However there's one glaring

inaccuracy that I

> have to correct, but please don't take this personally. I was a

chemistry major and can't sit

> by when this kind of mistake appears!

>

Thanks for catching my error. I stand corrected.

Andi