Victoria Maizes, M.D.

On Sept. 24, 2013, The American College of Obstetricians (ACOG) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) issued a landmark Joint Committee Opinion stating that “patient exposure to toxic environmental chemicals and other stressors is ubiquitous, and preconception and prenatal exposure to toxic environmental agents can have a profound and lasting effect on reproductive health across the life course.”

They joined a growing group of international scientists addressing this relatively unknown concern.  Indeed in May 2013, the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists issued Scientific Impact Paper No. 37 which included a powerful set of recommendations:

1. Use fresh food rather than processed foods
2. Reduce use of foods/beverages in cans/plastic containers, including th...

What a deceptive and misleading article Henry Miller has written in Forbes.com about organic food!

Even so, in his opening paragraph he acknowledges that non-organic fruits and vegetables have greater pesticide residue.  He then counters, “that more than 99 percent of the time the levels are below the permissible, very conservative safety limits set by regulators – limits that are established by the Environmental Protection Agency and enforced by the Food and Drug Administration…”

Many environmental scientists do not believe that these levels are safe.  While parts per billion sounds like an infinitesimally small number, recall that that is the very same dosage we use for many drugs, which we all agree effect human health...

Do you use integrative medicine?  Are you baffled when detractors claim there is no evidence for it?

On July 6^th I debated Dr Paul Offit on the radio program Science Friday.  During the debate, and in his book Do You Believe in Magic, he repeatedly claims that there is not enough evidence to include a variety of integrative medicine practices but he fails to actually investigate the evidence that exists.  He also asserts that these alternative medicine practices are quite dangerous.

Listen here and judge for yourself.  Then decide if what is really needed are open-minded skeptics.  People willing to look at the full body of evidence and determine the safety and efficacy of a various therapeutic practices.

While we will always need more research, there is abundant evidence to suppo...

Are you outraged that infants born in the United States are contaminated by more than 200 environmental chemicals?  Does it enrage you that pediatricians and toxicologists debate whether breast milk, with its legions of immune boosting, obesity-averting and allergy-blocking properties, may no longer be the best food for babies due to the large transfer of environmental chemicals from mother to child? Are you furious and frightened that one out of fifty-four baby boys will be diagnosed with autism?  To date as a nation, we do not appear to be outraged, angry, or frightened.  So what else might have to happen to shatter our complacency as a country and make a commitment to environmental safety for our children?
As a physician, I regularly counsel my patients on environmental precautions...