Schools in Wisconsin are showing kids the dangers of junk food with some unique science class experiments. Luigi Frigo repeats the experiment every year in her second grade class.

The students feed one group of mice unprocessed whole foods. A second group of mice are given the same junk foods served at most schools. Within a couple of days, the behavior of the second group of mice changes. They develop erratic sleeping schedules and become lazy, nervous and even violent. It takes the mice about three weeks on unprocessed foods to return to normal.

According to Frigo, the second graders tried to do the experiment again a few months later with the same mice, but the animals learned their lesson and refused to eat the junk food. (9) Read the article at: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_14507.cfm

So by now you’ve heard that drinking bottled water is harmful because of the very real potential to leach the chemicals from the plastic into the water. Now we are reminded again that you should be very wary of buying and drinking bottled water since the industry is largely very unregulated. When you are buying bottled water at least make sure it is stated on the bottle that it has been through a RO system or distilled or ran through a ionic system. Read more about what chemicals you can find in your bottled waters…

Bottled water contains disinfection byproducts, fertilizer residue and pain medication

Bottles water quality investigation: 10 major brands, 38 polutants: EWG’s guide to safe drinking water

Walmart water exceeds safety limits

So when I first hear of this new study I had 2 thoughts…

1. DUH! How much money did they spend to realize that a healthy lifestyle could reduce the risks of poor health?

2. Why havn’t we heard these “new” findings in the media if it’s such definative results?

So here are the answers:

1. These results are proven time and time again, yet our culture still wants to believe there is some easy pill to pop, or that the unhealthy habits we have aren’t really that bad.

2. Because this study wasn’t funded by a major pharmaceutical company, and because the findings don’t require someone to purchase something of monetary value, there just isn’t much money to be made from these results. Do you think the media coverage would have been different had they been able to make a pill that would produce these results? Absolutely…

So here is the low-down of the study:

A
new, large-scale study from researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health
(HSPH) shows that women who followed a combination of healthy lifestyle factors
– not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, regular physical activity and a
healthy diet — had a dramatically lower risk of dying from all causes during
the two-and-a-half decades of the study. Furthermore, their risk reduction
surpassed that from following any single healthy factor alone. It is the largest
and longest-running study to directly estimate the impact of a combination of
lifestyle factors on mortality. The study appears online Wednesday, September 17, 2008 in The British Medical Journal.

“A healthy diet and lifestyle has a profound influence on risk of
premature death due to chronic diseases. The results of the study reinforce the
need to strengthen public health efforts around quitting smoking, maintaining a
healthy weight and diet and performing regular physical activity,“ said Rob van
Dam, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition at HSPH and in the
Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School,
who led the study.

The research team analyzed data from 77,782 women participating in the
Brigham and Women’s Hospital-based Nurses’ Health Study. The researchers
analyzed the participants’ responses to questionnaires about lifestyle and
health conditions over a 24-year period, beginning in 1980. During the
follow-up, 8,882 deaths were recorded, including 1,790 from cardiovascular
disease and 4,527 from cancer.

Van Dam and his colleagues estimated that 55% of deaths from all causes,
44% of cancer mortality and 72% of cardiovascular mortality during follow-up
could have been avoided if participants had never smoked, engaged in regular
physical activity, avoided becoming overweight and ate a healthy diet. For
individual factors, the authors found that 28% of deaths could be attributed to
smoking, 14% to being overweight, 17% to lack of physical activity, and 13% to an
unhealthy diet. For nonsmoking women, 22% of deaths could be
attributable to being overweight.

“Our findings suggest that the combination of lifestyle factors has a
substantially larger impact on survival than any single factor. Clearly,
avoiding smoking is of major importance for health, but regular physical
activity, a healthy diet and weight management can result in large additional
health benefits. Even modest lifestyle changes such as 30 minutes of moderate
intensity physical activity (e.g., brisk walking) per day significantly reduced
risk of premature death,” said van Dam.

“Because prevalence of smoking has declined but prevalence of obesity is
increasing rapidly, the impact of obesity on chronic diseases and mortality will
become even more pronounced in the future,” added Frank Hu, professor of
nutrition and epidemiology at HSPH, and senior author of the study.

So, have any of you noticed the very silly recent ads trying to convince you that high fructose corn syrup is no different than sugar and that in moderation it’s no big deal?  My jaw literally dropped, and I seriously chuckled at how deliberate the corn refiners association attempt was to buffer the recent results from some studies that very much supported the contrary.

Here is a link to the CRA’s web page and you can watch the ads for yourself if you haven’t seen them yet.

What is SO beneficial about corn? Corn is not a vegetable but a grain. Grains are metabolized into sugars very rapidly in the body and cause a huge spike in blood sugar, thus requiring an outpouring of insulin from the pancreas further straining this already so overworked organ. This is one of the major contributors to the massive increase in type II diabetes were seeing in modern times.

In some studies it has been shown that HFCS contributes to high cholesterol because it actually scars the internal walls of the arteries. This causes the body to then produce cholesterol to heal the walls of the arteries which is one reason that the plaque builds up on the arterial walls. As the walls are continually scarred this slowly shrinks the opening for blood to flow through making the heart work much harder and eventually wearing the heart out. Corn based products such as HFCS have also been shown to increase osteoporosis, tooth decay, anemia, osteoarthritis and more.

HFCS has no real nutritional value to it at all and is more than twice as sweet as regular sugar and since it causes a huge spike in blood sugar when consumed. If that blood sugar is not immediately used up by the muscles via some kind of exercise it is converted into fat and stored in the body as such. This is another way that HFCS and other grain products can contribute to obesity, heart disease and even Alzheimer’s and memory loss. This increase in fat and cholesterol slows the micro circulation of blood through the brain accelerating cell death through lack of oxygen and nutrients. It can also make the body more acidic which causes a host of other health issues. Many health problems in the west are those of an acidic nature or excess fire or yang energy as we would say in Chinese medicine so this is another condition we want to eliminate from the body.

Since HFCS is in virtually everything today that is packaged and processed you really have to become a label reader and check everything you buy. Since it causes such a strong insulin spike in the body and people are often sitting at home or at work when consuming such foods, it’s vital to make sure that you’re cutting this ingredient out of your diet as much as possible.

No matter how often big sugar, the corn industry, media or other such agencies try to convince the public that HFCS is benign or even “natural” and therefore good for you, it’s anything but. You can say something is natural all you want but that doesn’t automatically make it healthy. Poisons, minerals, lead, mercury and others substances are also natural, but they too can still kill in relatively low concentrations. HFCS is not naturally occurring in nature so just because it’s made from corn doesn’t mean it’s good for your body or your health. This is definitely one ingredient to cut out of your diet if you want to avoid all the serious health ills that go along with it’s consumption.

Man made ingredients are the answer to only one thing, making great profits for the food manufacturers at the expense if your health and that of your family. Were led to believe that these ingredients have been rigorously tested and found safe, otherwise they surely wouldn’t let them be put into our foods, right?  That`s all part of the big lie they want you to believe. They know that these foods are deadly and destructive and simply don’t care because they make too much money to care. The government has proven it can’t be relied on to protect you and all because they’ve completely sold out to these companies. So always keep this in mind, read those labels and make sure to avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup at all costs.

Fall is here, and with its coolish days and back-to-school atmosphere, many of us mark
this season as a time for fresh beginnings. What better time is there to give your body
a fresh start as well? Some of these cleansing products can help you achieve that fresh start and keep you feeling great all season long.

Tried and True: CleanStart (my favorite)
CleanStart is a tried-and-true method for cleansing the whole body—eliminating waste buildup and toxins within the colon that can affect overall health—without dangerous side effects. Because it is safe and gentle, CleanStart can be used by just about anyone, and may be
repeated whenever you desire the benefits of a cleanse.  In addition to eliminating waste and toxins, this 14-day program may also provide an improved sense of energy and well-being. Take one drink mix packet and one capsule packet twice daily with plenty of water to achieve desired results.  CleanStart makes following a cleansing program simple!

Candida Clear
Candida albicans is a natural part of the body’s gut flora; however, certain factors such as
stress, weakened immune function, antibiotic overuse and a diet high in refined sugars can lead to Candida overgrowth. When this occurs, it’s time to work on maintaining balance.  Candida Clear is a 14-day cleansing program consisting of two packs: the Candida Clear Combo pack and the Candida Clear enzyme pack.

Para-Cleanse
Para-Cleanse is a 10-day program designed to support the intestinal system in its efforts
to rid the body of unwanted invaders. In addition to cleansing the intestinal tract of unhealthy
organisms, it helps to create a hospitable environment for the healthy organisms that also exist
there.  International travel, foreign foods, contaminated water, contact with pets and other sources can trigger the need to address the intestinal system.

Chinese Tiao He Cleanse
Tiao He Cleanse is a 15-day program designed to help the body achieve tiao he—balance and harmony. This simple program targets the digestive and intestinal systems, supporting proper waste elimination and encouraging colon cleansing.  This program can be used periodically as needed to cleanse the colon and keep it functioning at its best. Take the contents of one packet
15 minutes before a meal up to twice daily, along with 16 ounces of water.

Cleansing the body on a regular basis is vital to maintaining good health. Give yourself a clean start this autumn. You can call or e-mail me to order these through me. Or click on “buy quality supplements” link to the right.

There have been many new studies pertaining to plastics and the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) and how it leads to many health issues. I have covered this topic before but seriously guys…it’s time to make some changes if you haven’t already.

This chemical is most found in plastic food containers, disposable cup, utensils, and plates, canned foods, and children’s toys!

Here are a few rules to limit your exposure:

1. buy tomato products in glass jars not cans (tomatoes are very acidic and cause higher levels of BPA to leach into your food)

2. eat more fresh fruits and vegi’s (stop buying canned foods)

3. drink beverages out of glass or food grade stainless silver containers.

4. use powered infant formulas instead of ready-to-serve (these contain less BPA)

5. use moderation (use and eat more products with less BPA)

Plastic is so prevalent that according to a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study, BPA was detected in the urine of 95 percent of people tested!

This is alarming when you consider the problems it’s been linked to, including:

• Structural damage to your brain
• Hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, and impaired learning
• Increased fat formation and risk of obesity
• Altered immune function
• Early puberty, stimulation of mammary gland development, disrupted reproductive cycles, and ovarian dysfunction
• Changes in gender-specific behavior, and abnormal sexual behavior
• Stimulation of prostate cancer cells
• Increased prostate size, and decreased sperm production

Independent laboratory tests conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) detected BPA in over half of 97 cans of name-brand fruit, vegetables, soda, and other commonly eaten canned goods.

There are no government safety standards limiting the amount of BPA in canned food, and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) safety standard is 25 times the dose NOW KNOWN to cause birth defects in lab studies. Their safety standard for BPA has not been updated for 20 years.

As usual those most at risk are children and fetuses, which is why it’s appalling to think that these chemicals are commonly used in everything from the infant formula, to the bottle it’s served in, to the teething rings, and the toys your baby plays with on a daily basis.

Sadly, of all foods tested, infant formula was among the top three foods that had BPA levels of highest concern.

Just one to three servings was found to contain BPA levels that have caused serious adverse effects in animal tests. And, for 1 in 3 cans of infant formula, a single serving was found to contain enough BPA to expose an infant to BPA levels more than 200 times the government’s traditional “safe” level of exposure for industrial chemicals!

10 More Tips to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA

1.    Only use glass baby bottles and dishes for your baby

2.    Get rid of your plastic dishes and cups, and replace them with glass varieties

3.    Give your baby natural fabric toys instead of plastic ones

4.    Store your food and beverages in glass — NOT plastic — containers

5.    IF you choose to use a microwave, don’t microwave food in a plastic container (might I recommend getting rid of your microwave)

6.    Use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel travel coffee mugs rather than plastic or Styrofoam coffee cups

7.    Avoid using plastic wrap (and never microwave anything covered in it)

8.    If you opt to use plastic kitchenware, at least get rid of the older, scratched-up varieties, avoid putting them in the dishwasher, and don’t wash them with harsh detergents, as these things can cause more chemicals to leach into your food

9.    Avoid using bottled water; filter your own using a reverse osmosis filter instead

10. Before allowing a dental sealant to be applied to your, or your children’s, teeth, ask your dentist to verify that it does not contain BPA

In the event that you do opt to use plastic containers for your food or beverages, be sure to avoid those marked on the bottom with the recycling label No. 7, as these varieties may contain BPA.

Containers marked with the recycling labels No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 do not contain BPA (however they contain other unsavory chemicals that you’re best off avoiding by using glass instead). If in doubt, remember this handy saying from The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy:

“With your food, use 4, 5, 1 and 2. All the rest aren’t good for you.”

This video features Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant talking with “In Defense of Food” author Michael Pollan and Google.org’s head of global development, Sonal Shah, on the topic of “Creating a World That Can Feed Itself.”

Pollan found Grant’s confidence about the potential of genetically modified foods troubling, given that high yields have not historically been a strength of genetically modified crops. He challenged Monsanto to join the effort to feed the world on terms that are ecologically and economically reasonable — such as allowing farmers to save seed, which Pollan called critical to food security. Monsanto currently views seed saving as piracy.

PLEASE GO HERE AND WATCH THIS VIDEO! THEN PASS IT ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW! We have to educate each other to what is going on with our food supply. There are many places to learn more about Monsanto if you don’t know who they are (and you should if you don’t, learn more about them please.) Here is another video about them. There is so much more going on that I could dedicate an entire blog to just how evil Monsanto is and what they are trying to do worldwide to our food supply. Be educated and buy organic!

Recipe to serve 4
Sundried Tomato Red Quinoa

1 cup well rinsed red quinoa
2 cups chicken broth
1 diced yellow onion
8 diced sundried tomatoes (not the kind in oil)
2 cloves of garlic minced
2 tablespoons of Exra Virgin Olive Oil
Handful of chopped fresh cilantro
sea salt

In a deep sauce pan, saute the onions, tomatoes and garlic until the onions are tender. Pour the chicken stock in and bring to a boil. Add the quinoa, reduce heat, cover and cook for 15 minutes or until the liquid completely absorbs. Season with sea salt and gently stir in the chopped cilantro.