In the first half, med-tech company co-founder and healthy product specialist Douglas Mulhall discussed the concept of "total stress load" and its profound impact on health, a factor he argues has been overlooked by modern medicine for over a century. He defined total stress as the cumulative burden of physical, psychological, and social stressors that overwhelm the immune system. "Each stressor is like a drop of water filling up a barrel, and when that barrel gets full, it overflows and your immune system gets submerged," he explained. Over 30 years, his research led him to conclude that heart disease and other chronic conditions are triggered by this total stress load, which causes the immune system to turn against the body.
The conversation highlighted recent alarming statistics: half of American children now suffer from chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, or behavioral problems, a drastic rise since the 1990s. Mulhall attributes this trend to the toxic developmental ecosystem children are raised in, encompassing not just diet and technology but a broad array of stressors. He referenced a new study co-authored by Dr. Christopher Forrest, which indicated a variety of systemic causes in the decline of children's health in the US.
On the topic of longevity, Mulhall pointed to the crucial role of elastic fiber-- known as elastin-- in the skin, arteries, and connective tissues. "This elastic fiber… drives every single movement, [it's] what lets your body breathe and pump blood," he said, adding that the body's declining ability to assemble new elastin is a significant factor in aging. He also touched on novel therapies emerging, including targeted nanoparticle treatments designed to deliver decalcifying agents directly to damaged elastin, which are currently undergoing clinical trials. "There's one company… in phase three testing right now for preventing aneurysms from bursting," he revealed, underscoring the potential for these innovations to transform cardiovascular care.
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In the latter half, C2C's investigative reporter Cheryll Jones shared her interview with environmental activist and Florida Keys Environmental Coalition Director Barry Wray about the controversial topic of genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes, focusing on the British biotech company Oxitec's efforts to commercialize "mosquitoes in a box." These GM mosquitoes are marketed as "friendly," with a simple consumer activation process: just add water and wait for hatching. The technology behind their mosquito control involves genetically modified male insects that produce female offspring, which die before reaching maturity. The Environmental Protection Agency is currently reviewing Oxitec's application for commercial use in the US, a process Wray expects to be lengthy and complex.
He related a personal story about Mila de Mier, a passionate activist who spearheaded opposition to Oxitec's trials before her untimely death in 2018. The coalition has since gathered over 225,000 signatures opposing the release of GM mosquitoes. Ray criticized Oxitec's data transparency and marketing tactics, highlighting that their previous mosquito strain, OX513A, did not behave as promised. "15% of their mosquitoes live a normal lifespan... which means they're going to mate with the wild population," he said, warning this could create a hybrid mosquito colony. An independent Yale scientist confirmed these concerns in Brazil, where GM mosquitoes bred with wild populations, undermining claims of safety, he told Cheryll.
The lethal gene in the male mosquitoes is dependent on the use of the antibiotic tetracycline, which may contribute to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Wray warned. While not opposed to genetic engineering in general, he condemned the secrecy and insufficient scientific scrutiny in the case of these GM mosquitoes. For those seeking more information or to engage, he recommended visiting the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition website and Facebook group.
News segment guests: Douglas Mulhall, Jeff Nelken