Jodie also founded the organisation www.Rite-Demands.org<\/a> to draw attention to the problems of However, she stresses that this interview is not on behalf of PSGR<\/strong>. This interview reflects her independent research on what is happening The challenges today are how to promote wellbeing in the population and protect NZ's future generations. Though at heart it is very simple \u2013 it is about The Data is Telling The data increasingly demonstrates that the nation\u2019s health is being unduly affected by a combination of poor nutrition and toxicity These can cause disease and depressive symptoms, as well as chemical exposures in the general public, thus creating long-term damaging stress to our body The increases in population level illnesses are alarming. But, especially in children.<\/p>\n Jodie wants everyone to know what the word \u2018comorbidity\u2019 means \u2013 because when you become ill - you frequently do not become ill with just one affliction.\n <\/p>\n For example, the science literature shows that people with irritable bowel or a functional disturbance of the intestines - that about 60% of people are Comorbidity is common. With obesity - there is a massive overlap with type 2 diabetes and depressive disorder - that is an issue and these have been increasing Then heart disease risk, cancer risk, osteoporosis can be added in etc. Yet, we do not see budgeting in the public sector to talk about this cumulative So if you are not taking in healthy food (chemical free, with appropriate, bio-available fibre), then down-stream, you may experience bowel issues - that We are now having issues with bone density or we have rheumatoid arthritis - or we can\u2019t properly concentrate at school, and it\u2019s affecting our IQ and Why is this Happening? The question that is being asked is why is this happening? Science tells us that we can have a genetic connection, but frequently Endocrinologists are noticing the problemsHormone mimicking chemicals harm us at parts per billion and parts per trillion, lower than the levels chemical Dr Trasande said in the book \u2018Sicker, Fatter, Poorer\u2019 that the problems of hormone damage directly relate to the pressures from all these chemicals \u2013 \u2018Endocrine-disrupting Jodie, says we are affected from conception - a baby foetus inside its mother can be exposed to between 200 to 300 plus different chemicals. <\/p>\n A young child is worryingly more exposed. For example you give a toddler a glass of milk and then give an adult a glass of milk - the toddler will have This means that the toddler is being exposed to far more challenges than any adult \u2013 but there are no science resources in New Zealand to understand how This is not really being considered by regulators. - please listen<\/p>\n Just like a young mother putting on sunscreen to protect their child from the intensity of UV, yet the creams are now considered to have ingredients that Once NZ had an Independent Scientific Government Department - called the DSIR. Need for Independent Science Research Jodie sees the importance to not only The science is there. We need to inform and resource farmers via old fashioned but really effective extension services. Where once NZ had a very robust This came about, when the 4th Labour Government found themselves selling off a large percentage of NZ's State Owned Enterprises, the Crown Jewels of Government Lack of Robust NZ Media.So the precautionary approach today has in many ways a very small voice - as the media, the Fourth Estate rarely puts out an article New Zealand pays people to do \u2018applied\u2019 \u2018silo-like\u2019 science \u2013 zero in on one little issues. But the important \u2018basic\u2019 science that can look across issues The importance of Epidemiologists Epidemiologists in NZ are so now very critical, as like Grant A Schofield, Boyd Swinburn and Alister Woodward - that NZ is not paying people to research this area - just like Jodie, she is a volunteer and not being paid. So we have a vacuum in this field and it is important Boyd Swinburn in referring to the NZ\u2019s Government\u2019s \u2018Revolutionary\u2019 Wellbeing Budget\u2019 said no mention was made of food or diet - so this is a huge dropout Jul 2, 2019 - Boyd Swinburn: Drastic change in our food systems needed<\/a>. In asking about who else is speaking out about health and wellbeing …she said there are a lot of science based experts in NZ talking on the need So Jodie says we just have to look further up the command chain within Government. In particular if public servants are really making rules and policies NZ Health Act 1956<\/p>\n
\n inadequate chemical regulation, that currently is too outdated and too dependent on private industry produced science to protect public health.<\/p>\n
\n in NZ. <\/p>\n
\n good nutrition, clean food and water, and transparency and accountability in Government. But when you delve into it, it is very complex, because we
\n deal with each issue separately \u2013 we put health issues in silos, but when people tip into one illness, they frequently tip into more.<\/p>\n
\n that we are finding in the growing list of illnesses that we see in our population today. New Zealand doesn\u2019t do much research to understand this,
\n but this shouldn\u2019t keep us from understanding the international science that indicates nutritional parameters are presently at very low levels. <\/p>\n
\n biology, that also sets the stage for increasing even more disease. <\/p>\nComorbidity <\/h3>\n
\n likely to also suffer from depression as well. <\/p>\n
\n dramatically over just the last 5 years. <\/p>\n
\n cost of comorbidity.<\/p>\nOverlapping illnesses with other illnesses<\/h3>\n
\n is where we absorb nutrients. <\/p>\n
\n our ability to learn, cope and have resilience. All of these may be impaired as well. But, what is shown is that you just don\u2019t have eczema or Crohn\u2019s
\n disease and fatigue - what you are experiencing can be an overlap of many ailments.<\/p>\n
\n a genetic disposition is a secondary factor, - it is the environment, the combination of dietary and inflammatory stress that tips us into disease
\n that we are genetically predisposed to. (Of course some people will express clearly inherited traits in every generation.) This is why 50 to 80 years
\n ago we did not have the huge numbers of problems that we have now.<\/p>\n
\n regulators look at. So what are the endocrinologists saying - like Dr. Leo Trasande - he\u2019s looking at the plastics in our diet - pesticides, air pollution,
\n personal care products, household products and that they are adding up. <\/p>\n
\n chemicals are the second greatest environmental challenge of our time.\u2019 Second to Climate Change. This is how serious things are becoming.<\/p>\n
\n 3 to 5 times the exposure of the adult because of the size of the drink to body weight - so when you do a urine test or a blood serum test for that
\n toddler it has a far greater exposure rate with high urinary or blood germ concentrations. <\/p>\n
\n this is harming our children.<\/p>\n
\n are toxic as well. <\/p>\n
\n have authorities check food for safety but also we critically need funding to protect and regenerate our soil health so that our crops and our animals
\n are healthier and more resilient to pests. <\/p>\n
\n Government Department called the DSIR - the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, which had top quality research scientists who were free
\n of any commercial interests and could check out and publish research on all aspects of nature - the food chain, and any other industrial purpose, having
\n especially a deep focus on biology, but this has nearly all been lost. <\/p>\n
\n - and the DSIR was off loaded as well. Thus we lost an independent body of scientists who at one level were also public health watch dogs.<\/p>\n
\n that for example, reflects who paid for the science, or what the ethical implications might be. <\/p>\nThe importance of \u2018basic\u2019 science \u2013 science silos can\u2019t address comorbidity<\/h3>\n
\n and see big problems is comparatively rare. <\/p>\n
\n we have very few areas in public health science where people are focusing on this multi-disciplinary problem - this comorbidity - that is not being
\n looked at as either an economic problem or a \u2018wellbeing' perspective. <\/p>\n
\n for the NZ public to address this yawning horrible gap in public health and in our general awareness.<\/p>\nNZ Revolutionary \u2018Wellbeing\u2019 - Budget did not cover food or diet.<\/h3>\n
\n by both treasury and the health department - because we all have to eat 3 times a day.<\/p>\n
\n Our future food systems must continue to add to our wellbeing.<\/p>\n
\n for healthy nutrition, diet and the importance of micronutrients - but they are not getting any traction in Government Policy \u2013 their idea of \u2018treatment\u2019
\n involves drugs, not nutrition.<\/p>\n
\n that are consistent with the purpose or function or intention of the Act - that then actually gives them the power to make decisions and rules. Everything
\n the Government (our elected servants) does should be in the public interest, and there is a wide body of administrative law supporting this.<\/p>\n
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