Thursday, January 20, 2011

Watch the 7-Minute Mini-dDocumentary Exposing the Blueberry Fraud in the Food Industry

The blueberries found in blueberry bagels, cereals, breads and muffins are REAL blueberries right? Wrong! Award-winning investigative journalist Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, exposes the deceptive chemical ingredients and dishonest marketing of "blueberry" products from big-name food and cereal companies. The blueberries, it turns out, are made from artificial colors, hydrogenated oils and liquid sugars.

Watch the Video Now!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Banned Toxic Chemicals Found in 100 Percent of Pregnant Women!

A new study from the University of California, San Francisco reveals that 100 percent of expectant mothers (sample size = 268) are contaminated with highly toxic synthetic chemicals. The study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, concluded, "Certain PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, PFCs, phenols, PBDEs, phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and perchlorate were detected in 99 to 100% of pregnant women."

These chemicals are known to exhibit various harmful effects on human biology, covering everything from neurological and infertility problems to cancer and hormonal disorders. Many of the chemicals found in these women have been banned for not just years, but decades.

Where do all these chemicals come from? Pesticides are sprayed on crops, of course, and the new so-called "Food Safety" bill passed by Congress does absolutely nothing to reduce pesticide levels of food (that's not part of their definition of "safety," apparently). In addition, S.510 actually places a new burden on U.S. farmers, shifting the competitive advantage to food importations from countries where the most toxic pesticides are still legal to use. (Yes, farms outside the U.S. can spray DDT on their crops, then import them into the USA for consumption.)

Phthalates are chemical plasticizers. Pharmaceutical pills are often coated with phthalates to give them a shiny finish. They're also used in children's toys, medical devices, personal care products, sunscreens and even sex toys. On the personal care side, phthalates are found in perfumes, eye shadow, liquid soap, nail polish and hair spray (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art...).

Phthalates are known as "endocrine disruptors" because they interfere with normal endocrine system function -- potentially leading to obesity and birth defects (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthal...).

Perchlorate, also known as the "rocket fuel chemical," is used in the manufacture of automobile airbags and other vehicle parts. It's also present in many fireworks, and is frequently found contaminating the water supply.

We could go on with more details, but here's the point: We live in a toxic stew of synthetic chemicals -- chemicals that the plastics industry and the American Chemistry Council tend to say are all completely harmless, of course. The FDA allows thousands of other chemicals to be used in food and personal care products, and the processed food manufacturers inject an alarming array of toxic chemicals into their foods (and food packaging materials).

The average U.S. consumer bathes their clothing in extremely toxic fabric softeners and perfumed laundry detergents that make them smell like walking fragrance factories. The exhaust air from dryer vents even pollutes the air in residential neighborhoods and apartment buildings.

With all this going on, is anybody really surprised that 100% of pregnant women are contaminated with toxic chemicals?

The Roman Empire poisoned itself with lead in the water supply. The American empire has decided to poison itself with the "miracle of modern chemistry" as found in all the pesticides, plasticizers, additives, preservatives and other chemicals that a typical first-world consumer poisons themselves with a thousand times a day.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Did You Know That Arsenic Can Actually Treat Brain Tumors?

Arsenic and its related compounds are mostly thought of as killers -- and these natural substances can be just that. Notoriously poisonous to myriad forms of life, arsenic is often used in pesticides. And water supplies in many parts of the world that are contaminated by the natural occurrence of arsenic compounds can cause serious health problems. But despite it's reputation as a dangerous chemical, arsenic has been used in tiny amounts in medicine for over 2,000 years.

A team of researchers, led by Aykut Uren of Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., has found evidence that arsenic might be a therapy for hard-or-impossible-to-treat types of brain tumors as well as connective tissue tumors. Specifically, years of research have revealed a common pathway (the hedgehog/GLI1 signaling pathway) that is activated in tumors called medulloblastomas and connective tissue tumors known as Ewing sarcoma (ES). This activation causes cancer tumors to grow and spread.

In research just published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the Georgetown scientists described how they used the arsenic trioxide compound to shut down that pathway in mice models of ES and medulloblastoma. The result? The growth of cancer cells was dramatically suppressed.

According to a media statement, Dr. Uren explained that this pathway is also commonly activated in other cancers, including colon, pancreatic, and basal cell skin cancer. That means the arsenic compound can and should be tested immediately on these other malignancies.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Water Healing and Therapy: An interview with Dr. Batmanghelidj

Physicians rarely promote the curative properties of H2O, but Dr. Batmanghelidj, M.D. has studied water's effect on the human body and has found it to be one of the best pain relievers and preventative therapies in existence. Mike Adams was one of the last people to interview the late Dr. Batmanghelidj, and he (Mike Adams) listened in awe as Dr. Batmanghelidj shared his research and stories about "The Healing Power of Water."




In a fascinating one-hour phone conversation, Dr. B. shares:

• Which common ailments and "diseases" are actually caused by dehydration

• Why many doctors use water-regulating antihistamines to alleviate pain

• How Dr. Batmanghelidj unintentionally discovered water's healing properties

• Why most people are chronically dehydrated and suffer from symptoms of dehydration that are labeled "diseases"

• Which ingredients in soft drinks deplete the body's water reserves

• Why thirst is not a reliable indicator of dehydration

• Why the body produces cholesterol and how water keeps it in balance

• Why Dr. Batmanghelidj believes the public is being mislead about AIDS

• How dehydration impairs mental functioning

• Why some organizations want to withhold alternative health information from the public

• How lack of water causes depression

• Why popular beverages are no substitute for water

• How dehydration causes the vascular system to constrict, leading to hypertension

• How to recognize signs that your body is starting to dehydrate

• Why restaurants push you to drink disease-promoting soft drinks

• Why and how water effectively treats pain and inflammation

CLICK HERE to read the whole article.

Monday, January 10, 2011

HITV or Human Initiated Therapeutic Vaccine Therapy is The Latest Weapon Discovered by Dr. Kenichiro Hasumi to Fight Cancer


In 2005 Dr. Kenichiro Hasumi, a Japanese physician and researcher who has dedicated 40 years of his life to cancer immunotherapy research stumbled upon the right protocol, one that is scientifically sound.  He found that dendritic cells when injected into tumours can locate the cancer cells for killer T-cells to neutralise. He has named the protocol Human Initiated Therapeutic Vaccine Therapy.

Immunology, which harnesses our immune system’s innate and adaptive ability to combat diseases, adds another dimension to the mainstays of cancer treatment, i.e. surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Human Initiated Therapeutic Vaccine (HITV) Therapy
HITV therapy is a new weapon to use in the long drawn battle with cancer.  It is an autologous (patient derived) active cell-based immunotherapy for patients with metastatic or late-stage cancer that has been found to be highly effective when used in combination with radiotherapy. The treatment is able to annihilate microscopic and tiny nests of cancer cells thereby preventing any future cancer occurrence.

The efficacy of HITV Therapy is greater in the following patient’s conditions:

·        Solid lumps – applicable for any type of solid cancers at any stage as long as they are accessible by needle.  However HITV Therapy is not suitable for leukaemia and brain tumours.
·        Tumours localised in treatable sites – as intra-tumoural injection of dendritic cells is the hallmark of HITV, it is important that the tumour is located in parts of the body that are accessible by needle.
·        Tumour size of less than 3 cm in diameter – this limitation is due to the standard beam diameter of Tomotherapy which is 3 cm. Dendritic cell vaccine is also ineffective when injected into the necrotic (dead tissue) centre of large tumours.
·        Less than five metastatic tumour lesions – again, the limitation is due to the adverse reactions to radiotherapy that may occur when multiple sites have to be treated in one sitting.  However, Dr. Hasumi has experience in treating up to 15 lesions in one go.
·        No pleural or peritoneal ascitic effusion – pleural and peritoneal ascitic effusion are typical signs of extensive cancer dissemination and the chances of success in such cases is greatly diminished.

How does HITV Therapy work?

The protocol involves the harvesting of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the patient and culturing them in the laboratory to differentiate into immature dendritic cells and then introducing them back into the patient’s body through injections into the tumour(s).  In round 1, the cultured immature dendritic cells that have been injected into the tumour act as the reconnaissance soldiers that will hunt out the cancer cells and gather information for the infantry.  Once the information is passed on to the infantry, the soldiers or killer T-cells will launch specific attacks to destroy the enemies (cancer cells).

Round 2 involves a combination of Tomotherapy, an advanced form of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and another intra-tumoural injection of immature autologous dendritic cells.  Tomotherapy precisely targets all the tumours in one sweep to kill off the cancer cells while reducing radiation exposure to the surrounding normal tissues. The second round of HITV Therapy does the final cleansing.

The success of the treatment
Dr. Hasumi has treated over 350 patients with metastatic cancer since 2008 at his clinic in Tokyo (ICVS Tokyo Clinic) and he has a success rate of 70 per cent.   

Direct injection of dendritic cells into the tumour allows for adequate numbers of such cells to reach the tumour site where they generate therapeutic cancer vaccine, causing the regression of the tumour and at the same time enhancing immune response dramatically. Through intra-tumoural injection, dendritic cells also have the benefit of an ideal in vivo (occurring in a living organism) environment in the patient’s body so there is less chance of antigenic difference.

HITV Therapy used in combination with radiotherapy achieves two goals – that of damaging the cancer cells to kill them and wiping out the regulatory T-cells (T-cells that suppress the activation of other T-cells like the killer T-cells) within the tumours. The second round of HITV treatment will wipe out the newly mutated cancer cells that have moved outside the treated sites enroute to new sites which will later show up as new tumour lesions.

Treatment found to be safe
Patients who have undergone HITV treatment have not shown any adverse effects at all.  As the dendritic cells are harvested from the patient’s own body for culturing in the laboratory, then introducing them back into the patient’s body, there is no harmful reaction.  There are few side effects; at worst, some patients experienced mild fever or flu-like symptoms.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Hidden Health Secrets of Lemons


Do you know the Ancient Egyptians believed that eating lemons and drinking lemon juice was an effective protection against a variety of poisons, and that recent research has confirmed this belief?

There are many health benefits of lemons that have been known for centuries. The two biggest are that lemons have strong antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-boosting powers and their use as a weight loss aid because lemon juice is a digestive aid and liver cleanser. Lemons contain many substances--notably citric acid, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, bioflavonoids, pectin, and limonene--that promote immunity and fight infection.

These are well-known health facts about lemons. But there are so much more to this little yellow fruit. Here are 15 that I bet you do not know. Whether you use them in the form of juice, teas, drinks, dressings, poultices or in the bath, take advantage of the lemon’s natural healing power.

Abolish Acne   
Lemon contains citric acid, which can be effective in treating acne. The vitamin C found in citrus fruits is vital for that healthy glowing skin while its alkaline nature kills some types of bacteria known to cause acne. In addition to drinking lemon juice with water first thing in the morning, here are some suggestions on how to prepare a homemade acne treatment using lemon:
With your finger or a cotton ball, apply fresh lemon juice on the acne and leave it overnight. Wash with water the following morning. There may be an uncomfortable sensation of burning at first, but it will soon disappear.

Mix one part of freshly squeezed lemon juice with an equal part of rose or honey water. Put the mixture on affected areas for at least half an hour. Wash it afterwards with water. This application should be repeated twice daily, ideally in the morning and the evening.
Note: these remedies are safe and natural, but if the acne is severe or there are open wounds, consult your doctor first.

Abandon Your Anxiety 
Research has shown that lemon balm has a calming effect and therefore may be able to help remove fatigue, exhaustion, dizziness, anxiety, nervousness, and tension. It is also believed that inhaling lemon oil helps in increasing concentration and alertness. It can therefore be used as a room freshener in offices to increase the efficiency of the employees. If you are feeling tense, sprinkle a few drops of lemon balm essential oil (Melissa officinalis) on a handkerchief to inhale.

Canker Sore, No More   
The proven antibacterial and antiviral properties of lemons can accelerate the healing process in the case of cankers. Mix the juice of freshly squeezed lemon into a glass of lukewarm water and rinse your mouth with this solution; do this three times a day. There may be a burning sensation when the lemon juice comes into contact with the canker, however, the more frequently you use it, the less burning there will be.

Leave the Fever   
Chills and fevers may be due to a variety of causes, but the lemon is always a helpful remedy. Here is a method that can ease symptoms: add the juice of 1 lemon to a cup of hot water with honey and drink at once, then every 2 hours until the fever or chill subsides.

Cold and Flu Got You Blue?   
When you have a cold, the healing power of lemons works both internally, by supplying urgently required vitamin C to your defense cells, and externally, through the application of its antiviral properties to the virus on the mucous membranes in the nose and throat.

At the first indication of a cold, a runny nose or sore throat, try to give your body as much immune-boosting vitamin C as you can so that the virus is eliminated before it gets a chance to take hold. Drink the freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon in a glass of lukewarm water every 2 hours.

If you have a sore throat, add the juice of 1 lemon and 1 teaspoon (5ml) of sea salt to 1 cup (250ml) lukewarm water. Gargle three times a day for 1 minute to diminish the burning sensation. If it is a case of tonsillitis, gargle every 2 hours for at least 30 seconds with the freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon. Tilt the head back to allow the antibacterial and antiviral properties of the juice to flow into the back of the throat. You can swallow the juice when you have finished gargling thereby benefiting from an immune-boosting vitamin C shot.

Cure Corns and Calluses
Lemon poultices applied overnight are a good home remedy for corns and calluses. Place a slice of lemon approx 5 mm thick on to the corn, bandage and fasten it. Dabbing the affected area with lemon essential oil also helps accelerate the healing process. Take care to only use the undiluted oil on the callused area using a cotton ball or Q- tip, as it is too strong for un-callused skin.

Erase Eczema
If you suffer from skin infection such as eczema, a lemon wrap may offer relief. Add 8 drops of lemon essential oil to 1 cup (250ml) lukewarm water and 1 tablespoon (15ml) of liquid honey. Honey also has anti-inflammatory effect and strengthens the healing power of lemon.
 Soak a linen cloth in the liquid, squeeze out the excess, and gently place the cloth on the affected area for 15 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day. Not only will this ease the infection, it will counter the overwhelming urge to scratch.

Fight Fatigue 
Long distance walkers, world travelers, and explorers look upon the lemon as a Godsend. When fatigue sets in, they might suck lemon juice by piercing the top of the fruit with a straw, giving themselves a quick-acting medicine and a lovely refreshment.
Explorers also use lemon for protection against many infections of the tropics. A small amount of lemon juice will quench thirst more effectively than many times the amount of water. Experienced travelers declare that when they add lemon juice to ordinary drinking water, in various localities, it acts as an antiseptic and prevents illness due to allergy to different water supplies.
Lemon oil also seems to be able to stimulate brain activity so whenever you feel tired for no reason or are finding it hard to focus or concentrate, add 4 drops of lemon oil to a water-filled aromatherapy lamp. 

Alternatively, drink a glass of lemon water every few hours.

Hexed with Halitosis?
Lemons can help freshen breath that has gone sour after consuming certain spices, alcohol, cigarettes, or that is caused by insufficient salivation. To keep breath fresh, thoroughly rinse your mouth several times a day with the freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon in a glass of lukewarm water. Chewing on a lemon slice after every meal will also help.

Healing Hypertension
Garlic and onions have been shown to be effective in the fight against hypertension, and they combine well with the healing power of lemon. Add 3 crushed garlic cloves and 1 chopped onion to 1 quart or cold skimmed or low fat milk or soy milk. Slowly bring to the boil and let it stand for 5 minutes. Pour through a sieve and chill. Add the freshly squeezed juice of 3 lemons and sip throughout the day.

 And if you suffer from high cholesterol, don’t forget that the pectin power in lemons along with its other metabolism and circulation boosting nutrients can help lower cholesterol.

Smite a Bug Bite
If the stinger is still in the skin, take it out with a pair of tweezers. Massage 1 to 2 drops of lemon oil, mixed with 1 teaspoon of honey, into the skin around the bite.

To repel insects, add 20 drops of lemon oil to 1 cup (250ml) of water and spray into the air. It smells great and repels insects at the same time. Another home remedy is to place a cotton ball soaked in lemon oil in your bedroom. If you are sitting outside in the evening, apply lemon scent to skin areas not covered in clothing. Or, add 10 drops of lemon oil to 1½  oz of sunflower oil and rub into the skin.

Put Insomnia to Rest
Several studies have found that lemon balm combined with other calming herbs (such as valerian, hops, and chamomile) helps reduce anxiety and promote sleep. In a recent double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 18 healthy volunteers received two separate single doses of a standardized lemon balm extract (300 mg and 600 mg) or placebo for 7 days. The 600 mg dose of lemon balm increased mood and significantly increased calmness and alertness.

Pulverize Pain  
Even though it tastes bitter, lemon juice has a powerful alkaline effect in the body and is therefore a natural agent against excess acid, which is in part responsible for rheumatism. Drink the freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon in a glass of lukewarm water 3 times a day and if you experience severe pain add the juice of 2 lemons 3 times a day.

Lemon oil has pain-relieving qualities, so to inhibit inflammation and ease pain, massage the affected area daily with several drops of lemon oil mixed with 1 tablespoon (15ml) jojoba oil.

Save your Stomach
Drink the juice of 1 freshly squeezed lemon in a glass of lukewarm water after each meal. The lemon acid will stimulate the production of stomach acid and the activity of stomach muscles.

Say Adios to Varicose
Lemon oil has vessel-strengthening properties that can help fight varicose and spider veins. For spider veins, take 2 to 3 drops of lemon oil every day and mix in a small bowl with jojoba, avocado or almond oil and massage the affected area.

For varicose veins,add 6 drops of lemon oil to 1 and a half oz (50 ml) wheat germ oil, and 2 drops each of cypress and juniper oil and use this mixture daily for a gentle massage of the legs from bottom to top, in the direction of the heart. For a vein and vessel-rejuvenating bath add 8 drops of lemon oil to a warm bath. Also add 4 drops of cypress oil blended with 1 tablespoon (15ml) of honey. Soak in the bath for 15 minutes and when you come out, pat your skin dry, don’t rub it..

Medical Precautions - Note:  If you suffer from heartburn, kidney or gall bladder problems or have a citrus allergy, consult your doctor before using these remedies or drinking lemon juice. To protect your teeth enamel, wait at least half an hour before brushing your teeth after chewing, drinking or rinsing with lemon juice. Rubbing lemon juice or oil and drinking lemon juice is not suitable for children under the age of 10. Lemons are effective home remedies for a variety of health concerns but in the case of serious illness always consult your doctor first.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

CDC Adjusts Fluoride Poisoning of America's Water Supply to a Lower Leve

 By Mike Adams

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) today issued a startling report that admits 2 in 5 children in 
America show signs of fluoride poisoning (streaking, spotting or pitting of teeth due to dental fluorosis). The agency concluded that fluoride levels need to be lowered in municipal water supplies, reducing fluoride to 0.7 milligrams per liter (the previous recommended upper limit was 1.2 milligrams per liter).

This ends over five decades of the U.S. government recommending up to 1.2 milligrams of mercury in every liter of water. But even the new lower levels are still more than enough to cause serious harm to children, and when mothers make infant formula using fluoridated tap water, they inadvertently poison their infants with hundreds of times the level of fluoride that would normally be found in healthy human breast milk.

Click HERE to see images of what fluoride does to human teeth: (warning, graphic images!)

Fluoride is still a poison 
It's so rare to find any agency of the federal government actually doing anything that even resembles a good decision these days that the CDC's decision deserves some level of kudos. Even though it doesn't end the destructive practice of poisoning the water supply with fluoride, it's a step in the right direction. But it doesn't go nearly far enough, say industry watchdogs.

"It' a good start that they've finally recognized that after 65 years they needed to lower the 'optimal' level of fluoride," Professor Paul Connett told NaturalNews. He's the executive director of the Fluoride Action Network (www.FluorideAlert.org), which is spearheading the fight against water fluoridation in the United States. "It should have happened years ago."

Connett goes on to explain why the CDC's decision doesn't go nearly far enough:

"The bad news is that the CDC and ADA are still trying to maintain that the only issue of concern is dental fluorosis [while] they are trying to ignore all the other health concerns. If they were really serious about reducing dental fluorosis, they would stop fluoridated water altogether. But short of that, if they were really serious, then the next best thing would be to warn parents in fluoridated communities not to use fluoridated tap water to make baby formula. That's the most practical thing to do."

It is unknown how many children in America and around the world have been poisoned by infant formula made with fluoridated tap water, but that number continues to grow each day that water fluoridation continues.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Dr. Oz's 8 New Year's Resolutions to Make Right Now

When it come to health, most of us have a few nagging "shoulds" that we never quite get around to tackling (I really should exercise more, snack less, meditate...at all). But what if the shoulds were shrunk to a manageable size? For the New Year, I've zeroed in on eight small but smart changes that yield big results.

1. Drop a Pound a Month This Year
Studies on overweight people of varying sizes have shown that 10 pounds is the magic weight loss threshold for achieving astounding health benefits: Passing that mark reduces your risk of heart attack, diabetes, and arthritis by 50 percent, lowers your blood pressure, and may decrease your chances of developing breast cancer. The first 10 pounds can save your life; the last two are icing on the cake.

2. Leave Shoes at the Door

We track all sorts of pollutants into our homes, including lawn pesticides (which have been linked to certain cancers and neurological and reproductive disorders), coal tar from asphalt surfaces (which contains carcinogens), lead, and even E. coli. Taking off your shoes when you get in is an easy way to keep those toxins out.

3. Sweat to the Commercials

Research from the University of Massachusetts has found that eating in front of the TV can add an extra 288 calories to your daily intake. During the commercials, swap out the snacks for a minute of "stand-up-sit-downs"—repeatedly standing then sitting as many times as possible—which will give you a boost of feel-good chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins.
CLICK HERE to continue……..

Acid/Alkaline Theory of Disease Is Nonsense - According to Dr.Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

Have you seen advertisements for products such as coral calcium or alkaline water that are supposed to neutralize acid in your bloodstream?
 Taking calcium or drinking alkaline water does not affect blood acidity. Anyone who tells you that certain foods or supplements make your stomach or blood acidic does not understand nutrition.
 
You should not believe that it matters whether foods are acidic or alkaline, because no foods change the acidity of anything in your body except your urine. Your stomach is so acidic that no food can change its acidity.
 
 Citrus fruits, vinegar, and vitamins such as ascorbic acid or folic acid do not change the acidity of your stomach or your bloodstream. An entire bottle of calcium pills or antacids would not change the acidity of your stomach for more than a few minutes.
 
All foods that leave your stomach are acidic.

Then they enter your intestines where secretions from your pancreas neutralize the stomach acids. So no matter what you eat, the food in stomach is acidic and the food in the intestines is alkaline.
 
Dietary modification cannot change the acidity of any part of your body except your urine. Your bloodstream and organs control acidity in a very narrow range.
Anything that changed acidity in your body would make you very sick and could even kill you.
 
Promoters of these products claim that cancer cells cannot live in an alkaline environment and that is true, but neither can any of the other cells in your body.
 
All chemical reactions in your body are started by chemicals called enzymes. For example, if you convert chemical A to chemical B and release energy, enzymes must start these reactions.
 
All enzymes function in a very narrow range of acidity. (The degree of acidity or alkalinity is expressed as "pH."). If your blood changes its acidity or alkalinity for any reason, it is quickly changed back to the normal pH or these enzymes would not function and the necessary chemical reactions would not proceed in your body.
 
For example, when you hold your breath, carbon dioxide accumulates in your bloodstream very

rapidly and your blood turns acidic, and you will become uncomfortable or even pass out.
 
This forces you to start breathing again immediately, and the pH returns to normal. If your kidneys are damaged and cannot regulate the acidity of your bloodstream, chemical reactions stop, poisons accumulate in your bloodstream, and you can die.
 
Certain foods can leave end-products called ash that can make your urine acid or alkaline, but urine is the only body fluid that can have its acidity changed by food or supplements.
 
ALKALINE-
ASH FOODS include fresh fruit and raw vegetables. ACID-ASH FOODS include ALL ANIMAL PRODUCTS, whole grains, beans and other seeds. These foods can change the acidity of your urine, but that's irrelevant since your urine is contained in your bladder and does not affect the pH of any other part of your body.
 
When you take in more protein than your body needs, your body cannot store it, so the excess amino acids are converted to organic acids that would acidify your blood.
 
But your blood never becomes acidic because as soon as the proteins are converted to organic

acids, calcium leaves your bones to neutralize the acid and prevent any change in pH. Because of this, many scientists think that taking in too much protein may weaken bones to cause osteoporosis.
 
Cranberries have been shown to help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections, but not because of their acidity. They contain chemicals that prevent bacteria from sticking to urinary tract cells.
 
Taking calcium supplements or drinking alkaline water will not change the pH of your blood. If you hear someone say that your body is too acidic and you should use their product to make it more alkaline, you would be wise not to believe anything else the person tells you. 
(Dr. Gabe Mirkin is a practicing physician for more than 40 years and a radio talk show host for 25, Dr. Mirkin is a graduate of Harvard University and Baylor University College of Medicine)

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Aspartame Exposed - GM Bacteria Used to Create Deadly Sweetener

The manufacturers of the most prevalent sweetener in the world have a secret, and it`s not a sweet one. Aspartame, an artificial sweetener found in thousands of products worldwide, has been found to be created using genetically modified (GM) bacteria. What`s even more shocking is how long this information has been known. A 1999 article by The Independent was the first to expose the abominable process in which aspartame was created. Ironically, the discovery was made around the same time as rich leaders around the globe met at the G8 Summit to discuss the safety of GM foods.

The 1999 investigation found that Monsanto, the largest biotech corporation in the world, often used GM bacteria to produce aspartame in their US production plants. The end result is a fusion between two of the largest health hazards to ever hit the food industry -- artificial sweeteners and an array of genetically altered organisms. Both have led to large-scale debate, with aspartame being the subject of multiple congressional hearings and scientific criticism. Scientists and health advocates are not the only ones to speak out against aspartame, however. The FDA received a flurry of complaints from consumers using NutraSweet, a product containing aspartame. Since 1992, the FDA has stopped documenting reports on the subject.

The process in which aspartame is created involves combining an amino acid known as phenylalanine with aspartic acid. First synthesized in 1965, aspartame requires bacteria for the sole purpose of producing phenylalanine. Monsanto discovered that through genetically altering this bacteria, phenylalanine could be created much more quickly. In the report by The Independent, Monsanto openly admitted that their mutated bacteria is a staple in the creation process of aspartame.

"We have two strains of bacteria - one is traditionally modified and one is genetically modified," said the source from Monsanto. "It's got a modified enzyme. It has one amino acid different."

Multiple studies have been conducted regarding genetic manipulation, with many grim conclusions. One study found that the more GM corn was fed to mice, the fewer babies they had. Another study, published in the International Journal of Biological Sciences, found that the organs that typically respond to chemical food poisoning were the first to encounter problems after subjects consumed GM foods. The same study also states that GM foods should not be commercialized.

"For the first time in the world, we've proven that GMO are neither sufficiently healthy nor proper to be commercialized. [...] Each time, for all three GMOs, the kidneys and liver, which are the main organs that react to a chemical food poisoning, had problems," indicated Gilles-Eric Seralini, an expert member of the Commission for Biotechnology Reevaluation.

Consumer groups are now curious as to whether or not other products secretly contain genetically modified ingredients. Due to the fact that the finished product`s DNA does not change when using genetically modified bacteria, it is hard to know for sure. With the FDA ruling against the labeling of GM salmon, it is becoming more of a challenge to determine whether or not a product contains GM ingredients. Consumers are voicing their opposition for GM ingredients going incognito, with the largest growing retail brand being GMO-free products.

"The public wants to know and the public has a right to know," said Marion Nestle, a professor in the Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health Department at New York University.

Unveiling the secret process in which aspartame is created acts as yet another reminder to stay away from artificial sweeteners, and one should choose natural alternatives such as palm sugar, xylitol, or stevia.



More Good News About Eggs

1. Eggs are great for the eyes. According to one study, an egg a day may prevent muscular degeneration  <http://www.healthdiaries.com/macular-degeneration.htm> due to the carotenoid content, specifically lutein  <http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/lutein-and%20-eye-health.html> and zeaxanthin.  Both nutrients are more readily available to our bodies from eggs than from other sources.

2. In another study, researchers found that people who eat eggs every day lower their risk of developing cataracts, also because of the lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs.

3. One egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids.

4. According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, there is no significant link between egg consumption and
heart disease  <http://www.healthdiaries.com/heart_conditions/> .  In fact, according to one study, regular consumption of eggs may help prevent blood clots, stroke  <http://www.healthdiaries.com/stroke-survivors.htm> , and heart attacks  <http://ww%20w.healthdiaries.com/heart-attack.htm> .

5. They are a good source of choline.
 One egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline. Choline is an important nutrient that helps regulate the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.

6. They contain the right kind of fat.  One egg contains just 5 grams of fat and only 1.5 grams of that is saturated fat.

7. New research shows that, contrary to previous belief, moderate consumption of eggs does
not have a negative impact on cholesterol. In fact, recent studies have shown that regular consumption of two eggs per day does not affect a person's lipid profile and may, in fact, improve it.

Research suggests that it is saturated fat that raises cholesterol rather than dietary cholesterol.

8. Eggs are one of the only foods that contain naturally occurring vitamin D .

9. Eggs may prevent breast cancer  <http://www.healthdiaries.com/breast-cancer.htm> . In one study, women who consumed at least 6 eggs per week lowered their risk of breast cancer by 44%.


10. Eggs promote healthy hair and nails because of their high sulphur content and wide array of vitamins and minerals.  Many people find their hair growing faster after adding eggs to their diet, especially if they were previously deficient in foods containing sulphur or B12.

  

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Healing and Cleansing with Barley

High in fibre, barley is also a kidney cleanser. Better yet, regular intake of it helps  prevent heart disease. BARLEY water was always a regular drink  when we were still living at home. Whenever we had to go for a medical exam that included a urine test, my mum would make us drink barley water a day before it to make sure we got a positive result!

My mother was a wise woman. I later found out from an Australian naturopath that barley is known to be a kidney cleanser, and she happily downed glasses of it at a meal we had in a coffee-shop here.

Barley is good for your intestinal health too. Try to eat the barley grains you find in your drink or sweet broth with fu chook (beancurd skin) and ginkgo nuts.

It's high in fibre which feeds the friendly bacteria in the colon and helps speed up the transit of fecal matter in it. In this way it helps prevent haemorrhoids and colon cancer.

The propionic acid and beta glucan from barley's insoluble fibre also help lower cholesterol and prevent the formation of gallstones.

Eating barley regularly is a preventive step against heart disease as, besides the fibre content, it is also high in niacin, a B vitamin good for lowering cholesterol.

Diabetics
should eat more barley as the fibre will prevent blood sugar levels from rising too high. It also provides relief from constipation or diarrhoea for those suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Barley is rich in selenium which prevents cancer and relieves symptoms of asthma and arthritis. It is a good source of manganese, copper and phosphorous.

Malt sugar comes from sprouted barley which, when fermented, is an ingredient in beer and other alcoholic beverages.

Barley, whose Latin name is " hordeum vulgare" , has been cultivated for more than 10,000 years.

Since ancient times, barley has been used for healing purposes and has been known to the Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Athletes in Greece and Rome in those days were known to eat barley bread to give them strength.

Besides the usual things we do with barley, I enjoy having it in a western soup. The larger pearl barley is used and I love the sticky bite of it.

Here's a recipe for barley soup:

Barley soup with roasted garlic


1 cup pearl barley
5 cloves whole garlic, roasted
2 litres chicken stock, steeped from 1 chicken breast simmered in three litres water
2 tbsps vegetable oil
2 large onions, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
150g turkey ham, cut up
1 tsp ground white pepper
1 tsps sea salt or to taste
1 tbsp chopped parsley

  Method


1. Wash barley and soak it in a bowl of water for three hours. Drain.

2. Heat oil in pan and fry onions. Add carrots and celery, then the barley and fry for three minutes.

3. Add chicken stock, pepper and roasted garlic and simmer over low heat for at least an hour, or until barley is soft.

4. Add salt to taste and serve the soup garnished with chopped parsley.
 
 
 

A Cancer Killer in the Kitchen - Ginger

The powerful healing effects of ginger have been well documented. It's a proven remedy for upset stomach. Reams of studies show that it inhibits inflammation. And there is substantial evidence that it fights cancer too.

For instance, a recent University of Michigan study showed that when ginger was added to ovarian cancer cells in the laboratory, it caused the cancer cells to self-destruct (a process known as "apoptosis"). In a separate study at the University of Minnesota , researchers injected colon cancer cells into mice that were bred to have no immune system.

Half of these mice were routinely fed gingerol, the main active
component in ginger. The researchers found that the mice that were fed gingerol lived longer, their tumors were smaller, and the cancer did not spread as widely as in the control group.


With all these health benefits, you should be using ginger as often as you can. The best way I've found to get a healthy serving of ginger is to juice it. (The brand of juicer I use is an Omega.) Two or three days a week, I juice an apple or two, some carrots, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, and a big piece of ginger root.

 


Four Reasons Why People Become Vegetarian

There are multiple reasons why people choose to become vegetarian (or even vegan). Some people do it for just one reason (for example, some people do it to protect their health), while others do it for varied reasons. Here are four reasons why people make this choice (and why other people might decide to make this lifestyle change now).

 


Health: Many people choose to go vegetarian or vegan for the health benefits this lifestyle has to offer. While it is possible for a vegan to eat unhealthy foods (such as eating foods made with trans fats or foods with sugar and salt), by and large most vegans and vegetarians have healthier diets. It isn't possible to get fiber through meat or dairy products, but vegetarians usually eat lots more fiber than their meat-eating counterparts. Furthermore, cholesterol comes from eating animal products, and people who eat less or no animal-based foods will benefit from this diet. Finally, overall, vegetarians and especially vegans usually weigh less than people who eat meat.

Environment: There are several ways in which a vegetarian (and especially a vegan) diet protects the environment. Excessive amounts of water are used in raising beef and other livestock, water that could be used for other purposes. Furthermore, cattle that are raised for consumption produce large amounts of methane, and methane is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Meat-eating diets also indirectly contribute to deforestation: land is cleared for either the purpose of raising cattle or for growing grain for said cattle. Many people feel good about going vegetarian when they know what they're doing for the environment.

Ethical Reasons: Still other vegetarians and vegans choose to adopt a meatless lifestyle because they care for animals. Many people don't want to eat something that had to die just so they could be nourished; in addition, vegans don't want any animal exploited for any reason, and they often equate eating animal products (or wearing things made from animals, for example) to enslavement.

Global Food Shortage: As was mentioned earlier, raising cattle requires massive amounts of water that could be used elsewhere; more than that, though, the amount of grain grown to feed cattle could be used to feed starving nations. According to The Vegan Society, more than one-third of the grain grown worldwide is fed to animals. Imagine how many people those grains could feed.

There are even more reasons why people choose a meatless lifestyle. While many people resist removing meat (or all animal products) from their diet, just these four reasons show why people should strongly consider making these dietary changes - for their health, the environment, their conscience, and the global community.

Sources:
http://www.nursingdegree.net/blog/1...
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/a...
http://www.vegsoc.org/environment/l...
http://www.vegansociety.com/resourc...

About the author

Cindy Jones-Shoeman is the author of Last Sunset and a Feature Writer for Academic Writing at Suite101. Some of Cindy's interests include environmental issues, vegetarian and sustainable lifestyles, music, and reading.