Following closely on the heels of the President’s Cancer Panel Report exhorting consumers to choose food grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers , antibiotics, and growth hormones to help decrease their exposure to environmental chemicals that can increase their risk of contracting cancer, a study published in today’s issue of the journal Pediatrics concludes that exposure to organophosphate pesticides at levels common among U.S. children may contribute to the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in these children.

“Studies have increasingly shown the importance of minimizing young children’s exposure to even low levels of chemical pesticides. This study adds to that wealth of knowledge and arms parents with information that helps them reduce their children’s pesticide intake,” said Christine Bushway, OTA’s Executive Director, pointing out that the use of organophosphates is prohibited in organic production.

The article reported findings from a study examining the association between urinary concentrations of metabolites of organophosphates and ADHD in children ages 8 to 15. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers led by Maryse Bouchard, a researcher in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of Montreal, analyzed the levels of pesticide metabolites in the urine of 1,139 children and found children with above-average levels had roughly twice the odds of being diagnosed with ADHD.

As the largest study of this kind so far, it reminds consumers that organophosphates were originally developed for use in chemical warfare because they are known to be toxic to the nervous system. Organophosphate compounds are used in agriculture to kill pests.

“Organic food production and processing is the only system that uses certification and inspection to verify that these chemicals are not used,” Bushway added. “Those seeking to minimize their exposure to these chemicals can look for the USDA Organic label wherever they shop.”

The abstract of the paper published in the journal Pediatrics is accessible online.

For more information on organic, go to OTA’s consumer web site, www.organicitsworthit.org.

No one wants to get sick…ever, but especially during winter’s cold and flu season when we’re all more susceptible and it’s easier to continue passing on germs and illness for months. You can keep you body in optimal condition by eating nutrient dense food, drinking lots of water, exercising sufficiently and getting lots of quality rest.  Yet, there are still those times when catching a bug seems unavoidable. These are the times when your body could really use a little boost.

BōKU^® Immune Tonic is formulated by our own Dr. BJ Adrezin. The power in this glycerin-based tonic stems from its blend of potent herbs that all have many beneficial qualities. Dr. Adrezin included several different adaptogenic herbs: Rhodiola Rosea Root, Fo-ti Root, Holy Basil Leaf, Siberian Ginseng Root and Astragalus Root. Adaptogens produce the body’s ability to withstand and adapt to multiple stressors including physical, chemical, or biological agents. They also have a normalizing effect and help return the body to its natural state of homeostasis. Stress is one of the biggest enemies of a healthy immune system.  The adaptogenic herbs in BōKU^® Immune Tonic help the body manage stress and keep the immune system at its peak so you are much less likely to succumb to illness.

The other ingredients in BōKU^® Immune Tonic serve vital purposes as well.  Schisandra Berry, European Elderberry, Olive Leaf all contain extremely powerful antioxidants such as anthocyanins, lignans, oleuropein and vitamins A, C and E. Antioxidants are essential for proper immune function. They repair and protect cells from oxidative damage caused by an overabundance of free radicals. Just this sort of damage can leave the body susceptible to both minor and major illness.

BōKU^® Immune Tonic is an all natural, 100% alcohol free way to strengthen the body during cold and flu season and the rest of the year. The herbal liquid comes in a convenient 1 oz dropper bottle. Just add a few drops to a glass of water or under your tongue and give your immune system a healthy boost!

FYI: We expect BōKU^® Immune Tonic to be available for purchase after Christmas. It will cost about $10.

Written by Jay Koh, Vice President of BōKU^® International

This is my very UN scientific, but very practical real-world review of the new BōKU^® Immune Tonic.

I was getting ready for a string of business trips which would take me to 3 different cities in 7days.  My starting point was Los Angeles, first destination was Seattle, then to Las Vegas, and finally San Francisco for their 2009 GREEN FESTIVAL.   My fear was that in the middle of the most feared flu season in decades, I was exposing myself to thousands of people and high-risk locations where epidemics usually break.  I felt pretty confident that my immune system was up to the challenge but I was happy to find a trial vial of the new BōKU^® Immune Tonic in the office.  I decided it would be a good “test” to see how well it might perform in a “real world” situation.

My first impression of the immune tonic was just how convenient it was to carry and travel with.  It’s small 1oz liquid bottle fit nicely in my carry on.  This fit my first criteria… if it can’t travel with you, it can’t help you when you need it!  I was skeptical of the “dropper”  at first but I quickly caught on to the concept… it was much easier to control the dosage than a sprayer and much cleaner to carry.  I was able to put a couple of drops in my cup of water or just squeeze a couple of drops on to my tongue and swallow.  The taste was very pleasant: slightly sweet with a licorice like after taste.

My first stop in Seattle was an eye opener.  Going from 70’s weather of LA to 50 degrees and rainy was a shock to my system.  I immediately put a couple of drops of immune boost on my tongue and swallowed!  Two days later I was back at the airport healthy, and on my way to Las Vegas.  Unfortunately I happened to sit next to a lady that was coughing violently and there was no other seat available.  I reached for the immune boost and took a couple of drops just in case!  When I landed in Las Vegas, I was overwhelmed by the crowds.  Winter is High season for Las Vegas and there was massive crowds everywhere.  After checking into my hotel, I headed for the convention center for the Supply Side West Expo where I spent two days meeting possible new vendors and shaking their hands.  The attendance was 10k plus and I was worried about my exposure to all those germs!  I really thought my goose was cooked since there were so many people milling about the crowd, coughing, sneezing, and sniffling.  I made sure I washed my hands frequently and drank lots of water with a couple of drops of the immune tonic.   When I got back to the airport, waiting for my plane to San Francisco, I pulled out my bottle of BōKU^® Immune Tonic and said a silent prayer to the immune gods: “PLEASE KEEP ME HEALTHY! I have 3 more days of this trip and I cannot afford to get sick!” When I landed in San Francisco, I had a message from a colleague I met in Las Vegas: “I’m sick as a dog, are you?”  This time, I decided to take an extra dose of BōKU^® Immune Tonic and headed immediately to bed!  Sleep is another boost for the immune system and I needed all the help I could get.  Despite my fear, I slept great and was feeling very good for the next 2 busy days at the Green Festival.  On my way back to Los Angeles, I was relieved to be healthy and flu-free.  I know it wasn’t a scientific study, but I felt good about the BōKU^® Immune Tonic.  I did all the right things to stay healthy: I made sure I got enough sleep, I ate healthy and took BOKU Super food every day, and washed my hands frequently  after being in public places.  So in conclusion to my very un scientific but “real world” test run of the BōKU^® Immune Tonic, I give it a very high “thumbs up.”