How Hydro-Fracking Can Impact You and Your Area

November 29, 2011 – 11:59 am

Unconventional Hydrofracking is proposed for New York State. This is a new type of hydrofracking which uses millions of gallons of water and over 600 different types of chemicals for each well. The new process includes horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. It is referred to as High-Volume Slick-Water Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing.

 While vertical drilling has been done in NY for over 100 years, not one horizontal well has been drilled. Horizontal hydraulic fracturing was developed in the late 1990s. “Hydro-fracking” requires highpressure injection of water, sand, and chemical additives into shale, separating rock fissures and allowing gas to flow out of the drill bore. The horizontal hydraulic fracturing technique involves drilling vertically and then horizontally a mile or more and uses much more fluid than vertical methods. Instead of 20,000 to 80,000 gallons of fluid, 3 to 9 million gallons of fluid are used per well and one well may be “fracked” multiple times. Horizontal fracking has been used throughout the country, yet there has been no definitive study of the hazardous impacts on water, the environment, health, and communities despite hundreds of instances of contaminated wells and health problems as well as negative environmental impacts.

There are many adverse impacts of High Volume Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing (HVHF). These include: more chemicals, more toxic waste requiring disposal, 24/7 truck traffic, more fresh water used from streams, rivers, lakes. One well uses 5.6 million gallons of fresh water!, more drill cuttings (solids removed from the bore hole which can be toxic) requiring disposal, larger disturbed areas (our lakes, wine country and organic farms will be impacted), unclear local economic impact, impact on towns, and accidents…they do happen. 70% of the jobs are given to out-of-state people. Syracuse and New York City have much to lose because drilling is proposed in their watersheds.  Much of the gas will be liquified and sent overseas!!!

Governor Cuomo, who received over $100,000 in campaign donations from gas companies, is very much for this new Hydro-Fracting. Our state legislatures have received over $430,000 in campaign donations from gas companies. Did you know that Oil and Gas companies are exempt from the Safe Drinking Water Act? This was enacted in 2005. Who was our vice-president? Dick Cheney. Halliburton is very involved in the hydro-fracking business.

The public has till December 12th to let our government officials know how we feel about this proposal. I ask you to be a concerned citizen. Educate yourself and email or write to your government officials.

Youtube has tutorials: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr5Gq-S9Y9U

Internet Resources: To help with submitting comment to the DEC: TinyURL.com/2011 SGEISFlaws

Also:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/75370.html

http://newyork.sierraclub.org/

http://cleanwaternotdirtydrilling.org/

http://tcgasmap.org/

http://www.toxicstargeting.com/MarcellusShale/

http://www.nyrad.org/

http://www.catskillmountainkeeper.org/

http://shaleshock.org/

http://www.r-cause.neU (Rochester-based)

Oct. 8, 2011 Sierra Club (Rochester Regional Club)

 

Emails and addresses to Gov’t. Officials are:

Governor Cuomo

Email: http://www.governor.ny.gov/contact/GovernorContactForm.php

Address: The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

Senator Shumer:

Email: https://schumer.senate.gov/Contact/contact_chuck.cfm

Address: Rochester Office

100 State Street, Room 3040
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: 585-263-5866
Fax: 585-263-3173

Senator Gilabrand:

Email: http://gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/

Address: Rochester Office
Kenneth B. Keating Federal Office Building
100 State Street
Room 4195
Rochester, NY 14614
Tel. (585) 263-6250
Fax (585) 263-6247

It is so important that you contact these officials so they know that you expect them to safe guard the air you breathe, the water you drink and the beautiful lands in our state. If enough of us let them know that we want strict regulations or no hydro-fracking, we can influence their decisions.

Remember that the deadline is DEC. 12th

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Ways to Keep the Calories Down On Thanksgiving

November 23, 2011 – 9:59 am

A few simple ways to keep the calories down when celebrating Thanksgiving or any other family celebration are:

1. Eat in moderation and space out your eating. Keep the desserts for at least an hour after the meal.

2. Drink a glass of water before you sit down to eat a meal.

3. Have deep, bright colors on the menu. Raw vegetables for an appetizer are a great way to start the festivities.

4. Keep dishes simple, especially the vegetables. You don’t want to over cook them or add too many extras that add the calories.

5. Potatoes are high in starch to begin with so try not to add sour cream or over load on milk or butter. Skip the gravy or use just enough to get the taste.

These are great ways to enjoy the Holidays but keep those calories down. For more details and ideas go to  http://health.msn.com/health-topics/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100281998&imageindex=1

 

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Boosting Our Immune System

November 8, 2011 – 5:56 pm

The changing of the seasons brings changes in our activities and can make us more susceptible to illness, especially in the Fall and Winter.  Now is the time to focus on what keeps our immune system strong.

Ways to maintain a strong immune system are:

1. Eat nutritious foods –Organic and fresh when possible

Nutrients that help build a healthy Immune System are:

  • Omega 3’s found in scale fish
  • Mono-saturated fats which are found in olive oil and coconut oil,
  • Zinc – meats(grass-fed) with protein such as calf’s liver, beef and lamb
  • Phytonutrients– Are certain compounds that help plants and humans defend against infectious organisms and other invaders. They are found in fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Two important ones are:
    • Vitamin C – found in leafy and brightly colored greens, citrus fruits, especially oranges and grapefruits, berries, cantelope, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and broccoli
    • Vitamin E – a handful of nuts or seeds each day

Spices – put into soups, stews and sauces

Garlic and Onions – especially to avoid colds

Yogurt – ¾ cup a day to stop virus production

2. Drink plenty of water – Dehydration lowers your defenses.

8- 8oz. of water and other fluids (try coconut water

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/branded/2011/11/coconut_water_why_is_it_suddenly_so_popular_.html  )

3. Avoid sugar laden foods – As little as 2 sodas a day can lower your immune system by 40%. There are 10 teaspoons in one 12 oz. can of soda. Diet soda still has the fructose in the artificial sweetener which stresses your liver.

4. Avoid bad fat – trans-fat, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, fried food, processed meat

5. Exercise – 30 to 60 minutes at least 3 days a week.

6. Sleep!! Get at least 8 hrs. of sleep each day

Read more about building your immune system from Nutritionist Joy Bauer at:

http://www.lifescript.com/food/healthy_eating_guides/immunity_anti-aging/articles/7_foods_that_fight_back_immune_system_boosters.aspx

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Wonders of Sugar

October 20, 2011 – 4:17 pm

Sugar is referred to as sucrose or an edible crystalline carbohydrate which includes sucrose, lactose and fructose. Sucrose is broken down to glucose and fructose.

The glucose is used in our bodies for energy. Every cell, as well as bacterium, in our body needs glucose to function properly.

Fructose or simple sugar is what gives us the sweetness in foods. In fruits and vegetables, it binds with the glucose. It seems to help the body process the glucose properly. Thus, the sugar in fruits and vegetables is helpful to our bodies. The fiber, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and beneficial phytonutrients help moderate any negative metabolic effects of the sugars.

MODERATION and what type of sugar you consume is the key. Glucose is metabolized in every cell. However, fructose is metabolized in the liver, just like alcohol. Too much fructose will over burden the liver. In turn, it affects our blood sugar levels,  insulin production and turns the excess fructose into fat. Sugars that have been processed do not have the fiber, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and beneficial phytonutirents to help moderate any negative metabolic effects. Processed sugars weaken our immune system.

Beware of the labels “Natural”. All sugars are not created equally. Sugar cane and beet sugar are the least processed. However, beet  sugar is usually genetically modified.  Stevia is from a rebiana extract, a part of the stevia plant. Rebiana is rebaudiaoside A which is made in a lab. Thus, it is refined and labeled by the FDA as GRAS (generally recognized as safe). It is sweeter than cane sugar so you don’t need as much. Truvia and Purevia, two new ‘natural’ sugars on the market, use bulk ingredients, including erythritol, a sugar alcohol and ‘natural flavors’.  Erythriol is produced from glucose by fermentation with yeast and is only partially digested.  ‘Natural flavors’  are natural or synthetic chemicals.    http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/4676616/ns/today-food/t/food-qa-just-what-natural-flavoring/#.TqVvBHLiHDf   Consumption of over 50g can cause nausea, growling or rumbling in the intestines.  Xylitol and sorbitol are sugar alcohols which do not get digested. They are excreted in the urine and feces. For those who have digestive issues, these sugars can cause diarrhea.  Artificial sweeteners such as  Splenda is processed to create chlorine atoms. Another artificial sweetener is Aspertame. It is very controversial.  Some people have ill affects including muscle weakness. And the number one processed sugar that is in 80 to 90% of our foods is High Fructose Corn Syrup (corn sugar). It is made from corn. Though it has ALMOST the same ratio of glucose and fructose as sucrose, it is man made!

Bottom line is that any processed or refined sugar can have side effects but more importantly is devoid of any nutritional value.  http://www.becomehealthynow.com/article/carbs/1082/  People are consuming fructose in enormous quantities and our liver can not metabolize it quickly enough.

I suggest that you take a day to keep track of everything you put in your mouth. List any food that has any kind of sugar in it. Then circle the raw fruits and vegetables because they have the nutrients to help metabolize the sugars.  If the packages have the amount of sugar listed, you can add them up. I have not found just how much sugar we need a day. It seems to range from 1 teaspoon to 3 Tablespoons.  One 12 oz. can of soda has sugar equivalent to 10 teaspoons!

This gives you a picture of just what we are doing to our bodies  and especially our livers.  Once you have an imbalance in one organ or area, it affects all the systems in the body. It is time for us to take responsibility for our own health. Read more about sugar at http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/sugar.

 

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Dental Health and Xylitol

September 1, 2011 – 7:58 am

More and more information is coming out that tells us our general health is interrelated to our dental/oral health. I will be talking more about the acidity and alkaline of our bodies in future blogs. Dr. Phillips a dentist in Rochester, New York has been studying the correlation between the acidity in our mouths with tooth decay. She has a website: www.zellies.com where you can read more about her findings. She believes that xylitol, a type of sugar, is very beneficial in neutralizing the acidity in our mouths. Below is a summary by Dr. Phillips on the subject of xylitol.

Xylitol – the Good Sugar!

By Dr. Ellie Phillips DDS

Xylitol is a naturally-occurring sweetener extracted from fruits and vegetables including birch wood, corncobs, andplums. Xylitol is even found in the human body in small amounts. It is a safe and healthy product for people with diabetes  Forty years of research shows xylitol is well tolerated and has a variety of health benefits. Most interesting are its effects on the number one childhood disease in America: tooth decay. Results show a 70% reduction in cavities when two teaspoons of xylitol are consumed regularly. Xylitol may be the best and most cost effective tools for the prevention of cavities and gum disease.

How it Works

Bacteria in the mouth damage teeth by the acids they produce. Harmful mouth bacteria are fueled by sucrose and certain sugar-substitutes. Harmful bacteria cannot utilize xylitol and disappear from the mouth. The best time to eat xylitol is after eating or drinking, as bacteria multiply. Five daily exposures to xylitol will reduce plaque on teeth.

For Baby Teeth

New parents can use xylitol to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria from their own teeth to their baby’s mouth. It is best that parents begin before the baby is born and continue until their child has teeth. This simple measure may result in amazing long-term dental benefits for their child.

For Children‘s Teeth

Regular use of gum or candies made from 100 percent xylitol can virtually eliminate cavity forming bacteria from a child’s mouth within two years. The effect on oral health can be long lived, particularly if the change happens before adult teeth erupt.

Additional Benefits

Xylitol has an impressive list of additional benefits. Studies show a reduction in ear infections when children consume xylitol. A xylitol nasal wash may prevent sinus, ear, and upper respiratory infections, and xylitol has been used in skin care products. This good sugar has been endorsed by the Finnish Dental Association in 1988, the Swedish Dental Association, and the British Dental Association. It is a household name in Asia and Scandinavia and several Hygienists’ Associations in the US have now accepted xylitol for its therapeutic benefits. Xylitol is truly a wonderful, natural ally to improve your teeth and help protect your general health.

Xylitol Products

Grandular xylitol can be purchased from Nature Sunshine Products at:

http://www.naturesunshine.com

in health food stores, or found as an ingredient in candies and chewing gum. It is important to avoid products  that combine xylitol with cheaper, artificial sweeteners that may have similar sounding names. Xylitol can be chewed, swallowed, rinsed or sprayed into the mouth. Dozens of companies offer products sweetened with 100% xylitol. Xylitol will be effective, even when baked into cookies or used in custards or ice cream.

Taking responsibility for our own health can be simple and exciting. This is one step to achieving that goal.

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The New ‘My Plate’

July 12, 2011 – 11:16 am

The USDA Food Guide has again been changed. Can we trust that we are getting the best information for staying healthy? ‘My Plate’ consists of a plate divided into 4 sections. Half of the plate has two sections, one for Fruits and the other for Vegetables. The other half consists of Grains and Protein. There is a small circle at the right top side of the plate for Dairy. Perhaps this is for the milk that is suggested, especially for children. This is a good guide to start with. http://www.choosemyplate.gov

However, it doesn’t go far enough. There is a great review of “My Plate” by Nutritionist at the  Harvard School of Public Health.

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/plate-replaces-pyramid/index.htmlBegin by looking at your plate when you eat. Is half your plate fruit and vegetables? When you go to fast food places, most likely you will not be getting much fruit and vegetables, if any. Are you getting enough protein? Remember that protein includes eggs, nuts and beans. Too much red meat isn’t good either. Are your grains multi-grains? And remember that a small amount of dairy is needed each day. In our society it is easy to load on the cheese.

Whenever you make changes to your life style, be sure to go slowly. Make it a comfortable change so you will want to continue that practice. If you want to increase your fruit and/or vegetable consumption, begin with adding a vegetable to your meal. Eat a fruit as dessert or have a fruit between meals. If you make it fun or enjoyable, you will find that you want to add more.

Those of you who are saying, “Why should I make changes?” or “I like what I eat”. Remember that our health and aging issues are strongly influenced by what we have been eating for years.

COMING SOON: Simplified Food Choices

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Choosing Healthy Food

May 5, 2011 – 6:38 pm

Trying to eat ‘healthy’ is not an easy task these days. However, it is important that we take a look at what we eat and ask ourselves if we are getting nutrients from that food.

It is also important to eat a variety of foods to ensure that we are getting all the nutrients necessary to maintain a health body.

Listed below are foods called High-Value Foods. These are the foods that can help give you the nutrients need.

High-Value Foods

Unpasteurized (raw) grass-fed milk — Raw organic milk from grass-fed cows contains both beneficial fats, bacteria that boost your immune system, and a number of vitamins, minerals and enzymes.

Whey protein — Even if you don’t have access to raw milk, you can use a high-quality whey protein derived from the milk of grass-fed cows to receive much of the same health benefits. Whey protein contains beta-glucans and immunoglobulins, which protect your immune system and support your body’s natural detoxification processes.

Fermented foods — One of the most healthful fermented foods is kefir — an ancient cultured, enzyme-rich food full of friendly microorganisms that balance your “inner ecosystem” and strengthen immunity. Besides kefir, other good fermented foods include natto, kimchee, miso, tempeh, pickles, sauerkraut, and olives.

Raw organic eggs from pastured chickens – Raw, free-range eggs are an inexpensive and amazing source of high-quality nutrients that many people are deficient in, especially high-quality protein and fat. To find free-range pasture farms, try your local health food store.

Grass-fed beef or organ meats – Grass-fed beef is very high in vitamins A, B12 and E, omega-3 fats, beta carotene, zinc and the potent immune system enhancer CLA (conjugated linoleic acid, a fatty acid). But don’t confuse “organic” with grass-fed, since many organically raised cows are still fed organic corn, which you don’t want. However, most grass-fed cows are raised organically.

Coconut oil — Besides being excellent for your thyroid and your metabolism, coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which converts in your body to monolaurin – a compound also found in breast milk that strengthens a baby’s immunity.

Its medium chain fatty acids, or triglycerides (MCT’s) also impart a number of health benefits, including raising your body’s metabolism and fighting off pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and fungi. Make sure you choose an organic coconut oil that is unrefined, unbleached, made without heat processing or chemicals, and does not contain GM ingredients.

Berries – Blueberries and raspberries rate very high in antioxidant capacity compared to other fruits and vegetables. They are also lower in fructose than many other fruits.

Broccoli – Broccoli contains the highest amount of isothiocyanates, a cancer-fighting compound, of all the crunchy vegetables. Studies have shown that just 10 spears a week (5 servings) can make a difference in your health.

Chlorella -This single-cell freshwater algae acts as an efficient detoxification agent by binding to toxins (most of which promote chronic inflammation), such as mercury, and carrying them out of your system. The chlorophyll in the chlorella helps you process more oxygen, cleanses your blood and promotes the growth and repair of your tissues.

Tea - As for beverages, clean pure water is a must for optimal health, but if you want another beverage, a good choice with added health benefits is high quality herbal teas.

Matcha tea is the most nutrient-rich green tea and comes in the form of a stone-ground powder, completely unfermented. The best Matcha comes from Japan and has up to 17 times the antioxidants of wild blueberries, and seven times more than dark chocolate. Tulsi is another tea loaded with antioxidants and other micronutrients that support immune function and heart health.

Krill Oil-Krill oil is the only dietary supplement that makes it to this list, and that’s only because the ideal food source for these essential omega-3 fats has been destroyed by widespread pollution. The dangers of eating fish simply outweigh the benefits due to the toxic mercury levels they now contain, with very few exceptions.

Antarctic krill oil is a pure marine oil loaded with powerful antioxidants and omega-3 oils, with NO heavy metal contamination.

The first step is to make a conscious effort in choosing what you feed your body. This list is a good start to eating healthy.

This information of High Value Foods is from Ginny Banks, a food expert.

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McDonald’s

February 25, 2011 – 11:54 am

Recently, I have been reading articles about McDonald’s foods. Below are two of them. Please be aware that there is a bigger picture here.

Many of our foods, including meats have chemicals in them. Some of our meats come from animals that have been given growth hormones and antibiotics.  The conditions chickens are raised in can be deplorable. Therefore, after reading the article about South American meat and American meat, be aware that American raised meat has it’s issues as well. However, buying meat from other countries will increase price and we will have less choice in what we eat. It will also affect our farmers.

The key here is to be an informed consumer. Verify the information you are reading. To eat any food that is available will not always be good or healthy for you, especially if you are struggling with health issues or unable to lose weight. Writing down what you eat for a full day in a Food Journal is a great way to see what you eat and determine what you want to modify. Doing this for a week is even better, though difficult.

Many fast foods are fried or have additives. MSG can be on the salads. Milk Shakes are not usually from true dairy products. Soda is mostly sugar along with chemicals that leach the calcium from your bones.

Restaurant foods are high in salt. Many foods are processed which could have several additives or chemicals in them.

So it is our responsibility to decide what we want to put into our bodies. It can be daunting but we live in a society where we have many choices. With choice comes responsibility. It is imperative that we educate ourselves as to what we are eating and feeding our families.

MUST READ ABOUT MCDONALD’S

I’m sure those of you who aren’t in the cattle business don’t understand the issues here. But to those of us whose living depends on the cattle market, selling cattle, raising the best beef possible… This is frustrating. This will keep us from ever stopping there again, even for a drink. The original message is from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association American cattle producers are very passionate about this.

McDonald’s claims that there is not enough beef in the USA to support their restaurants. Well, we know that is not so. Our opinion is they are looking to save money at our expense. The sad thing of it is that the people of the USA are the ones who made McDonald’s successful in the first place, but we are not good enough to provide beef.

We personally are no longer eating at McDonald’s, which I am sure does not make an impact, but if we pass this around maybe there will be an impact felt.

All Americans that sell cows at a livestock auction barn had to sign a paper stating that we do NOT EVER feed our cows any part of another cow.. South Americans are not required to do this as of yet.

McDonald’s has announced that they are going to start importing much of their beef from South America . The problem is that South Americans aren’t under the same regulations as American beef producers, and the regulations they have are loosely controlled.

They can spray numerous pesticides on their pastures that have been banned here at home because of residues found in the beef. They can also use various hormones and growth regulators that we can’t. The American public needs to be aware of this problem and that they may be putting themselves at risk from now on by eating at good old McDonald’s..

American ranchers raise the highest quality beef in the world and this is what Americans deserve to eat. Not beef from countries where quality is loosely controlled. Therefore, I am proposing a boycott of McDonald’s until they see the light.

I’m sorry but everything is not always about the bottom line, and when it comes to jeopardizing my family’s health, that is where I draw the line.

I am sending this note to about thirty people. If each of you send it to at least ten more (30 x 10 = 300) …and those 300 send it to at l east ten more (300 x 10 = 3,000) … And so on, by the time the message reaches the sixth generation of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION consumers!

I’ll bet you didn’t think you and I had that much potential, did you? Acting together we can make a difference. If this makes sense to you, please pass this message on..David W. Forrest, Ph.D ., PAS, Dipl.

ACAP Department of Animal Science

Texas A&M University

Phone (979) 845-3560

Fax (979) 862-3399

2471 TAMU College Station , TX 77843-2471

Here is another article by Dr. Mercola about McDonalds.

Do you put dimethylpolysiloxane, an anti-foaming agent made of silicone, in your chicken dishes?

How about tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a chemical preservative so deadly that just five grams can kill you?

These are just two of the ingredients in a McDonalds Chicken McNugget. Only 50 percent of a McNugget is actually chicken. The other 50 percent includes corn derivatives, sugars, leavening agents and completely synthetic ingredients.

Organic Authority helpfully transcribed the full ingredients list provided by McDonalds:

“White boneless chicken, water, food starch-modified, salt, seasoning (autolyzed yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring (botanical source), safflower oil, dextrose, citric acid, rosemary), sodium phosphates, seasoning (canola oil, mono- and diglycerides, extractives of rosemary).

Battered and breaded with: water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, whey, corn starch.

Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.”

Sources:

Organic Authority

Check out Dr. Mercola’s website to read more about the dangers of eating Chicken Nuggets

Reading labels can be time consuming and frustrating but you owe it to your family to be INFORMED!


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More on High Fructose Corn Syrup

August 14, 2010 – 1:27 pm

Dr. David Williams, an Alternative Health doctor for 25 yrs., has been researching health issues. This is an article from his News Letter, Alternatives.

  • High Fructose Corn Syrup Isn’t So Sweet
  • But What About Fruit?
  • No Room for Dessert?
  • Unhealthy “AGEing”
  • How Sweet It Isn’t
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If you like the information in this Health Dispatch, be sure to subscribe to Dr. Williams’ monthly newsletter for more valuable information on your health.

High Fructose Corn Syrup Isn’t So Sweet

As Americans (and the rest of the world’s people) keep getting heavier and heavier, the health care industry continually looks for ways to turn around the current trend of obesity. However, one of the big changes to modern diets that has remained largely unaddressed is the addition of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

Starting as a cost-saving measure in the early 1970s, manufacturers begin to substitute this fructose for sugar in processed foods such as soda and candy, but they didn’t stop there. Nowadays, it’s even plentiful in foods labeled as “natural” and “healthy”-including many types of bread, whole-grain cereals, fruit juices, energy bars, spaghetti sauces, and an endless variety of snacks. If you eat any processed foods-and we all do-it’s practically impossible to avoid all HFCS-sweetened products.

BUT WHAT ABOUT FRUIT?

At one time, fructose was thought to be a healthy sugar substitute, since it’s the same type of sugar found in fruits and some vegetables, and doesn’t seem to raise blood sugar levels or insulin secretion following ingestion.

What makes this unfortunate is that the manufacturers’ claims about fructose are only half-right. It’s true that fructose consumed in fresh, whole fruits doesn’t cause spikes in blood sugar. While the sweetness in fruits is from fructose, this sugar is present in only very small amounts and nature binds it with complex plant fibers and other nutrients and minerals. As such, fructose-containing fruits (and vegetables) help prevent cardiovascular disease and other health problems.

But research has revealed that when fructose is extracted from the fruit and used in processed foods, it acts just like sucrose…if not worse! When you ingest fructose, rather than staying in the bloodstream like sugar, it gets shuttled directly to your liver. In the liver, it becomes one of the building blocks of triglycerides, which are fat-storage molecules. Triglycerides are released into the bloodstream, carried by LDL cholesterol, and deposited in fat cells. Research has shown that one of the quickest ways to raise triglyceride levels in animals is to feed them a diet high in fructose. (It’s important to note that the amount of fructose given to animals in the experiment was comparable to that now found in the diet of many Americans).

Although HFCS is less-than-ideal nutrition for humans and animals, to say the least, it apparently is the substance of choice for pancreatic cancer cells, according to new research. Cancer cells fed both glucose and fructose consumed both kinds of sugar, but “can readily metabolize fructose to increase proliferation,” scientists from the University of California Los Angeles said in the August issue of the journal Cancer Research. On the upside, the researchers assert that cancer growth could be disrupted by cancer patients reducing their fructose intake. I recommend everyone take that advice.

NO ROOM FOR DESSERT?

Another adverse effect of HFCS is that it impairs your body’s ability to recognize when it is full, significantly contributing to the risk of being overweight or obese. Studies from the University of Pennsylvania demonstrate this idea beyond just a theory and unveil the exact mechanism of how this process takes place.

As I mentioned before, fructose doesn’t stimulate an increase in insulin the way most sugars do-a side effect HFCS producers would like to market as a benefit. However, it also does not cause an increase in the hormone leptin that plays a key role in regulating appetite and metabolism. The problem is that increases in these substances signal the body’s central nervous system to stop eating. In addition to fructose not stimulating these natural body cues induced by insulin and leptin, fructose boosts the level of another related hormone, ghrelin, which enhances the desire to eat more. In simple terms, fructose completely disrupts your body’s natural ability to tell when you’re satisfied and should stop eating-which ultimately leads to weight gain and obesity.

UNHEALTHY “AGEing”

Consuming HFCS has another serious downside. A couple of years ago, I wrote about the process called glycation, where sugar combines with various amino acids in your body to create what are referred to as advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

AGEs are thought to be permanent, and they accumulate throughout the body, accelerating the aging process and causing all kinds of problems. AGEs result in cataracts, blockages in blood vessels, kidney problems, and possibly even Alzheimer’s disease. Given what you’ve read up till now, it probably doesn’t surprise you that high levels of HFCS contribute to increased levels of glycation in the body.

HOW SWEET IT ISN’T

Thankfully, it appears as if the general public is starting to see the light when it comes to what high fructose intake is doing to their bodies. The best evidence of this is that the manufacturers of HFCS appear to be running scared, to the point that the Corn Refiners Association launched a nationally aired TV advertising campaign to try and convince the public that HFCS is “fine in moderation.”

Luckily, many people aren’t buying it, and some are even making their own parodies of the ads. Check out these two videos below to see for yourself. The first video is one of the actual commercials produced by the Corn Refiners Association. The second one is a clever parody, and one that I think more accurately describes the health effects of HFCS.

“Two Bites”-Corn Refiners Association

“Two Bites”-Parody

Do yourself a favor by not listening to the HFCS spin and eliminating the sweets now.

Until next time,
dwsig
Dr. David Williams

Check out the YOU TUBE videos. Be Informed!!


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Epigenomes?

August 11, 2010 – 7:41 pm

 

Life is about choices we make. According to the Journal of American Medical Association (2002: 287:177) 90% of illness is affected by YOU! Only 10% of your health is affected by a physician or hospital.

How can this be? Researchers are learning that we have ‘markers’ or epigenomes that turn our genes on and off. This means that our

Lifestyle, Environment, and Stress can turn our genes on and off. Epigenomes seem to be more important than genes.

Therefore, we need to take responsibility for our own health!

LIFESTYLE: choose to eat a healthy diet, don’t smoke

STRESS: reduce the amount by finding ways to deal with it, such as exercise, meditation and pray.

ENVIRONMENT: limit or rid your surrounds of chemicals

Daily Ideas are:

Think GREEN foods, lessen the acidic foods you eat

Eat raw fruits and vegetables

Juicing

Clean your liver and colon through simple cleanses or fasting

Take supplements/herbs

Be aware of what your body is saying to you

Resolve any anger or emotional issues

We are learning that we have the ability to keep ourselves healthy or if we have illnesses we can reverse them by making different choices. This is an exciting time to live in. However, change can be scary and difficult. Medications are quick ‘fixes’ though the cause is not fixed. The symptoms are just covered up. So it is time to take a look at your health and decide what changes do you need and want to make so you can live a healthy life?

“May you never know the disease you prevent” by Jay Vanden Heuvel, PhD

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