HungerForHealth

Why Dermatologists Still Deny the Link Between Acne and Diet

HungerForHealth — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:09:11 +0000

article from Newstarget.com

by Seppo Puusa (see all articles by this author)

(NaturalNews) Almost every dermatologist will tell you that diet has nothing to do with acne. With fervor, many of them argue this and you know they really believe it. In a world of ‘evidence based medicine’ you would think dermatologists would have strong scientific evidence backing it up.

It turns out that the notion ‘diet has nothing to do with acne’ is just about as scientific as the notion ‘the world is flat’. In other words, it’s pure dogma with no credible scientific backing.

Let’s take a look at how and why this started.

The two flawed studies that started it all

In the fifties and sixties, dermatologists advised their patients about diet and its role in acne. Two studies conducted in the late sixties and early seventies changed that.

Later those two studies came under heavy fire. They were so flawed that they would earn a high school science student an F.

For example, one study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine looked into the link between chocolate and acne. First, the study was funded by the Chocolate Manufacturers Association. Second, the study compared two candy bars; both equally high in sugar, calories and trans fats, but the other had some chocolate in it. This is comparing sugar to sugar. The sugar and trans fats have much more of an effect on acne than the small quantity of chocolate in the other bar. No wonder the study concluded chocolate does not cause acne.

The other one was an equally flawed study about sugar and acne. The sample size was small, and it didn’t consider the glycemic effect of processed carbohydrates. Again this study proved nothing.

Despite the flaws and scientific invalidity, the results of these two studies stuck. Since then medical students have been taught there’s no scientific link between diet and acne.

In Western society, we hold doctors in high-esteem. We trust them to know and give us advice that is based on scientific evidence. After all, Western medicine goes all hoopla about science and how it’s evidence based.

Doctors and patients are equally ignorant about nutrition

But when it comes to diet and nutrition this is almost never the case. Here’s a quote from a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

“Patients may rely on physicians to provide them with nutrition information. And physicians should be more knowledgeable about nutrition than their patients, but these results suggest that this is not necessarily true.”

K Lazarus, RL Weinsier, and JR Boker

Nutrition knowledge and practices of physicians in a family-practice residency program: the effect of an education program provided by a physician nutrition specialist

The study found you are not much better off getting nutritional guidance from a doctor than you are from the average McDonald’s patron.

Until 2002 those two were the only published studies on diet and acne.

The acne diet dogma - just one among many

As you can see, the notion diet has nothing to do with acne is not based on science. It’s a dogma.
Unfortunately the medical community is almost as dogmatic as the Catholic Church was in the middle ages.

“Dover tells the story of an early 1970s paper stating ultraviolet light doesn’t improve acne, a belief that held for decades.” “It turns out that the paper was wrong,” he says. “This is an example of dogma getting in the way of progress in science and medicine. It happens all the time. Someone really important proves something and says this is the way it is, and everybody else stops thinking. It takes about 30 years, usually a generation, until someone says, ‘Wait, this can’t be true.’”

A Clear Connection? Most dermatologists tell their patients diet plays no role in acne. New research suggests that’s wrong.

New studies link diet and acne

Luckily for acne victims the tide is turning. In recent years, a few well controlled studies have pointed towards a link between diet and acne.

One study found a correlation between dairy and acne. Another one looked into and found that foods high on the glycemic index increase acne. Finally one population-based study found acne is mainly a disease of the Western civilization. The study concluded the most likely explanation is a Western diet high in sugar, fat and processed foods.

Still, don’t expect your dermatologist to start giving you dietary advice anytime soon. The official party line remains — there is no link between diet and acne.

Dermatologists play it safe when they say food doesn’t cause acne

“Dr. Jack Krushell, chief of dermatology at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, says the food hypothesis is intriguing but “I still kind of follow the party line, which is that food doesn’t seem to be a cause of acne.”"

A Clear Connection? Most dermatologists tell their patients diet plays no role in acne. New research suggests that’s wrong.

For most dermatologists, who are swamped with patients and can’t keep up with the latest journals, following the party line is a safe and easy solution. For better or worse the medical community is conservative and slow to change. Going against the grain can kill your career.

Health is a holistic system

To make things worse the medical community likes simple and linear solutions. Such as, bacteria cause acne; kill the bacteria and you can cure acne.

Unfortunately things work differently in nature.

Health, and by extension clear skin, is a holistic system. Meaning one part (such as diet or sleep) affects and is affected by every other part. In such a system, you cannot pull out one part and say “this is it. This is the cause”.

In a weird way dermatologists are right in some regards. Diet is a big part of the equation that leads to acne (or clear skin), but it’s not the only part. And to say diet causes acne is wrong.

Your skin is a part of your body. Anything that affects the health of your body also affects the health of your skin. Therefore to find the cause (or cure) for acne, you have to take a holistic perspective and look at your entire lifestyle.

So the next time a dermatologist tells you that you can eat whatever you want, or that acne cannot be cured, don’t take it to the bank. Those two notions are not based on science. They are dogmas that the dermatologists have been taught at medical school.

Get a second opinion. Preferably from someone outside the traditional medical community.

Curing acne is simple

Acne can be cured with diet and lifestyle changes. Millions of people have done it. You can do it too.

There’s nothing strange or mysterious about curing acne. It is as simple and straightforward as losing weight.

One of the first things you probably ‘learned’ about acne is that it cannot be cured. You bought into that belief and it has kept you from finding solutions that can really help.

Get rid of that belief and open your eyes. You’ll see the road to clear skin is both simple and painfully obvious.

Yoga: An Alternative Treatment for Depression

HungerForHealth — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:50:43 +0000

Rex Says: Yoga and meditation have become an integral part of my journey in healing myself from cancer. I’ve said before that studies show that LONG term cancer survivors say that 50% of their healing was resolving supressed negative emotions not matter what course of treatment they chose. A year ago I would never have considered taking yoga and now I don’t feel right if I miss a class !

article from newstarget.com

Yoga: An Alternative Treatment for Depression

by Stephanie Brail (see all articles by this author)

(NaturalNews) Feeling depressed or down? Don’t automatically reach for an anti-depressant. Do some yoga. These days, the typical treatment for depression comes in the form of a pill, which can often lead to serious side effects and dependency. Prior to modern drug companies, however, sages from the East discovered a method of calming the mind and soothing the spirit. These physical exercises, called “asanas,” are what modern Westerners typically think of when they hear the term “yoga.”

The roots of yoga date back tens of thousands of years. Yoga, in the grander sense of the word, is not just physical exercise. It is more than asanas. It consists of an entire philosophy and prescription for emotional and spiritual well-being.

Yoga asanas (or postures) were developed to prepare the body and mind for long periods of meditation. Ancient yogis believed that it was difficult to reach heights of spiritual awareness with a body that was suffering from ill health. The mind also needed to become calm and serene, and this was accomplished through the physical practice of asana.

Through trial and error over thousands of years, yoga evolved to become a powerful and effective mind/body practice. Thus, yoga is a special form of exercise specifically designed to calm the mind and reduce mental chatter and worry. Certainly, you might feel some stress relief from jogging or tennis, but yoga, unlike most western forms of exercise, was actually designed to create a sense of peace and serenity.

Western studies have shown that regular exercise can provide relief from depression. In addition, yoga postures have been specifically shown to increase levels of the neurotransmitter GABA, which may alleviate depression. Furthermore, as many enthusiastic practitioners of yoga will tell you, yoga seems to go beyond the benefits of general exercise and helps increase overall happiness.

How does yoga improve mental health?

On a physical level, yoga postures are designed to massage the internal organs, increasing and decreasing blood flow to targeted areas. This circulates the blood and lymph, thus removing stale bodily fluids from vital organs and helping flush toxins. The physical movement can also stimulate certain hormones and neurotransmitters, leading to positive feelings and emotions.

Additionally, according to the Eastern medical model, yoga exercises are also designed to specifically move the “prana” or life force energy in the body (traditional Oriental medicine calls this “chi”). Keeping this life force fresh and alive is vital to well-being, according to Eastern philosophy.

Yoga poses stimulate certain aspects of the body’s energetic system, comprised of “chakras” (energy centers) and “nadis” (the yogic term for “meridians” or energy channels). As stuck prana is moved and energized, old emotional wounds manifesting as blockages in the energy centers and channels can be released. This may explain why so many yoga practitioners experience a sense of emotional release from practicing certain poses, such as a spontaneous expression of tears, providing a sense of extreme relief and peace afterwards.

The special breathing exercises that go along with yoga (called “pranayama”) also serve to energize the body by bringing fresh quantities of prana in through the breath. These breathing exercises can also alleviate anxiety and create a sense of calm and well-being.

What type of yoga should you use for depression?

Not all yoga is the same. Since its introduction to the West, yoga has branched off into a variety of styles and flavors. The type of yoga you choose should reflect your physical requirements as well as your spiritual interests.

Some kinds of yoga are very physically strenuous and can potentially create more stress if you are in a class where everyone is powering through a challenging set, leaving you feeling inadequate or overwhelmed. Yoga styles such as power yoga or ashtanga can be quite physically challenging. Yoga flow classes may be more about losing pounds and sweating out calories than creating mental peace and clarity. Unless you are already an athlete and looking for a strenuous workout, you might consider trying a more relaxed style.

If you are just starting out with yoga, you might try a beginner’s yoga class or a gentle yoga class. Restorative yoga classes can be wonderfully rejuvenating; they consist of gentle poses, often using bolsters and props to allow you to rest and relax in the pose.

Kundalini yoga is a form of yoga that involves dynamic, repetitive movements and breath work to move the energy and lift the spirit. It is the only form of yoga that specifically targets certain glands in the brain, such as the pituitary and the pineal glands, to activate them for improved health and well-being. (For an excellent book on the subject, see Meditation as Medicine by Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D. and Cameron Stauth.)

Ideally, if you are looking to yoga to improve mental health, consider finding a class that combines some meditation before or after the postures. Meditation has also been shown to increase positive emotions such as loving-kindness and happiness in some studies.

With the variety of yoga styles available, you may have to try out a few different classes to see what appeals to you the most. Do not be discouraged if you aren’t immediately drawn to the first class you attend. Be aware that not all yoga classes are equal. Some classes include pranayama breath work and others do not. Some include chanting and others do not. You may even find yoga classes in your area specifically for Christians, while others may be more secular. It’s a good idea to check out a few studios and classes and find the one that resonates with you the most.

Remember, yoga alone cannot cure depression if you are otherwise treating your body and your mind badly. Alcohol, drug use (including mind-altering prescription drugs), poor diet, lack of sleep, and other bad habits can negate the positive effects of yoga.

Doing yoga regularly will also make a huge difference in its effectiveness. Ideally, practice yoga for at least 20 minutes daily, or at a minimum three times per week. You can supplement outside yoga classes with a simple, at-home practice. With the popularity of yoga soaring, DVDs and books on yoga are plentiful.

There’s a reason why people who practice yoga often credit it for changing their lives. Unlike no other exercise on the planet, yoga provides physical as well as emotional benefits that can create true happiness and well-being. Best of all, you can do it at home for free, with no negative side effects.

About the author

Stephanie Brail is a wellness coach, healer and hypnotherapist. She provides information and perspectives on alternative health, well-being, spirituality, and more at www.feelgoodgirl.com.

Aspartame — History of Fraud and Deception

HungerForHealth — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:35:50 +0000

Lisa Says: this is probably one of the worst things you can put into your body. REALLY. Luckily there are so many other natural sweeteners such as stevia that when you switch, the only this you’ll miss is poor health ! Don’t use artificial sweeteners at all. Use organic turbinado sugar if you want - milled sugar cane. TAKE THE 30 CHALLENGE - use no artificial sweeteners for 30 days, and see how your body changes for the better. You’ll be amazed !

article from www.mercola.com

Today we have “Nutra-Sweet”, which is widely used in a plethora of consumables, despite a demonstrated neurological reaction in some people. In February 1996, it was decided to also use the product name “Benevia”. It is estimated that as many as 20,000,000 people cannot metabolize phenylalimine, and this inability is genetically inherited by children. The inability to metabolize phenylalinine can lead to mental retardation in children. This means a risk of retardation for millions of children. A multi-billion dollar enterprise, this substance is said to be “refined” from “natural” substances. Like other “refined” substances, it represents a health threat to the general public. No long term studies have been performed to evaluate the physiological effects of this substance, yet the public is lead to believe it is absolutely safe. Technically, the chemical is called aspartame, and it was once on a Pentagon list of biowarfare chemicals submitted to Congress. [1] Aspartame is in over 4,000 products worldwide and is consumed by over 200 million people in the United States alone. What follows is a skeletal examination of the chronology related to aspartame. A more detailed chronology is given later in this chapter based on information provided to us by the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network.

Aspartame is produced by G.D. Searle Company, founded in 1888 and located in Skokie, Illinois. Searle is now owned by others. It is about 200 times sweeter than the refined sugar that it is meant to replace, and it is known to erode intelligence and affect short-term memory. It is essentially a chemical weapon designed to impact populations en masse. It is an rDNA derivative made from two amino acids, L-phenylalanine, L-aspartic acid and methanol. Originally discovered during a search for an ulcer drug in 1966, it was “approved” by the FDA in 1974 as a “food additive”.

Approval was followed by a retraction based on demonstrated public concern over the fact that the substance produced brain tumors in rats. According to the 1974 FDA task force set up to examine aspartame and G.D.Searle, “we have uncovered serious deficiencies in Searles operations and practices, which undermine the basis for reliance on Searle’s integrity in conducting high quality animal research to accurately determine the toxic potential of its products.” The task force report concluded with the recommendation that G.D. Searle should face a Grand Jury “to identify more particularly the nature of the violations, and to identify all those responsible.” [2]

In 1976, an FDA “task force” brought into question all of G.D. Searle’s aspartame testing procedures conducted between 1967 and 1975. The final FDA report noted faulty and fraudulent product testing, knowingly misrepresented product testing, knowingly misrepresented findings, and instances of irrelevant animal research. In other word, illegal criminal activity. Understandably scared, Searle officials sought to suppress the FDA findings and obstruct justice. They turned to Nixon and Ford administration operative Donald Rumsfeld and elected him “chairman of the Searle organization.” In 1977, the Wall Street Journal detailed the fact that Rumsfeld made efforts to “mend fences” by asking “what Searle could do” in the face of the changes. Also in 1977, Dr. Adrian Gross, a pathologist working for the FDA, uncovered evidence that G.D.Searle might have committed criminal fraud in withholding adverse data on aspartame. [3]

The FDA requested that U.S. Attorney Samuel Skinner be hired to investigate Searle’s aspartame testing procedures in January 1977. Samuel Skinner was the federal prosecutor responsible for convincing the Grand Jury to investigate whether Searle willfully and criminally withheld data that cast doubt on the safety of aspartame. In February 1977, Skinner met with Searle attorneys at the Chicago law firm of Sidney & Austin. Suddenly, newly elected President Carter announced that Skinner would not remain in office, and Skinner thereafter announced that he would be hired by Sidney & Austin. Obviously, Skinner then had to recuse himself from the Searle prosecution. The case was taken over by US Attorney William Conlon, who essentially sat on the case, despite complaints from the Justice Department, which was urging that a grand jury be convened to prosecute Searle Company for falsifying Nutra-Sweet test data. Failing to perform his duty, Conlon also joined Searle’s law firm in January 1979.

Skinner’s defection from the FDA might have been prompted by the results of the review of the Searle studies. David Hattan, deputy director of the FDA Division of Toxicological Review and Evaluation, concedes that anyone reading the original FDA investigation reports is likely to be “shocked” by what they reveal. He says that the ensuing review of the Searle studies, in which he was involved from the time of his arrival in 1978, was one of the most thorough in the agency’s history. It included an unprecedented hearing before a public board of inquiry composed of experts from outside the agency. Arthur Hayes, Jr., then Commissioner of the FDA appointed by Reagan, agreed with Searle and the FDA’s Bureau of Foods (now the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition) that “an appropriate analysis of the data showed no significant increases in tumor incidence in rats exposed to aspartame or DKP, one of the breakdown products of aspartame. The board of inquiry rejected concerns that aspartame’s components could cause neurological damage.[4]

In 1981, under pressure from the soft drink lobby, FDA Commissioner Hayes approved the initial use of aspartame in dry foods and as a tabletop sweetener, discounting public complaints as anecdotal and ignoring three FDA scientists.[5] who voiced the fact that there were serious questions concerning brain tumor tests after having done an in-house study. Hayes was widely profiled as a man who believed that approval for new drugs and additives was “too slow” because “the FDA demanded too much information.” Hayes also ignored the fact that the biased scientific studies paid for by Searle were faulty.[6] After leaving the FDA, Hayes took the post of senior medical consultant for the public relations firm retained by Searle..[7] A subsequent inquiry “found no impropriety”.

In July 1983 it was approved for use in soft drinks in the United States, followed three months later by approval in Britain by the Ministry of Agriculture. All this was done despite the fact that the Department of Defense knew that aspartame was neurotoxic and harmful to human health. These facts were deliberately suppressed by the government. It is also interesting that in 1981 FDA scientist Dr. Robert Condon, in an internal government document, said “I do not concur that aspartame has been shown to be safe with respect to the induction of brain tumors.” All safety was thrown aside because of pressure from Searle. Considering the connections the drug companies have to the medical and intelligence community, it would not be surprising that there were other factors involved in the pressure to adopt aspartame into the diet of the population.

In 1984, the Arizona Department of Health began testing soft drinks to ascertain the level of toxic deterioration by-products in soft drinks. It was determined that soft drinks stored in elevated temperatures promoted more rapid deterioration of aspartame into poisonous methyl alcohol (methanol). The FDA decided to ignore these results. Public complaints about the effects of aspartame began to come in. People complained of headaches, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, blurred vision, seizures, convulsions and a host of other reactions to aspartame.

Also in 1984, the Centers for Disease Control made the fraudulent announcement that “no serious, widespread” side effects of aspartame had been found. It was an outright lie, and this announcement was quickly followed by another from PepsiCo that it was dropping saccharin and adopting aspartame as the sweetener it all its diet drinks. Others followed suit, despite the January 1984 broadcast on CBS Nightly News where the chief scientist for the FDA task force investigating Searle publicly stated that Searle company officials made “deliberate decisions” to cloak aspartame’s toxic effects.

When a human consumes “Nutra-Sweet”, it breaks down above 85° not only into its constituent amino acids, but into methanol, which further breaks down into formaldehyde, which is carcinogenic[8] and very toxic, as well as formic acid and a brain tumor agent called diketopiperazine (DKP). In a meek attempt to ward off further public inquiry, the FDA in 1984 announced that “no evidence has been found to establish that aspartame’s methanol by-product reaches toxic levels”. This was a direct lie, since Medical World News reported in 1978, six years earlier, than the methanol content of aspartame is 1,000 times greater than most foods under FDA control. Furthermore, the methanol in aspartame is “free methanol”, which is never found in nature. Methanol in nature is always accompanied by ethanol and other compounds which mitigate the methanol when introduced into the body.

In 1985, Searle Company was bought by Monsanto, the maker of other insidious substances that manage to find their way into human food, including Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH). Senator Metzenbaum, commenting on the FDA relative to the aspartame issue in 1985 said, “the FDA is content to have Searle conduct all safety tests on aspartame. That’s absurd.”

Supreme Court Collusion in Aspartame Coverup Clarence Thomas Former Monsanto Lawyer

In 1986, the Washington Post reported that the Supreme Court refused to consider arguments that the FDA had not followed proper procedures in approving aspartame, despite arguments that the product “may cause brain damage.” (Supreme Court obstructing Justice). Since Bush-nominated Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
is a former attorney for Monsanto [9],it is unlikely that hundreds of millions of people will find redress. There are also indications of ties between Monsanto and elements in the CIA.

University of Illinois Fraudulent Study on Aspartame

In August of 1987, the University of Illinois, a recipient of funding from Monsanto, issued a study “exonerating aspartame of causing seizures in laboratory animals.” The fact that they were paid by Monsanto automatically invalidates the results. US Senate hearings in 1987 showed that G.D.Searle used “psychological strategy” to get regulators at the FDA “into a yes-saying habit” to “bring them into a subconscious spirit of participation.” .[10] More than half of 69 medical researchers polled by the FDA in 1987 said they were concerned about aspartame’s safety.[11]

FDA Ignores Complaints of Neurological Symptoms

In 1989, the FDA received over 4,000 complaints from people who described adverse reactions. Because the FDA conveniently lists aspartame as a “food additive”, it removes the legal requirement for adverse effect reporting to any Federal agency and the necessity for safety monitoring processes. Research also indicates that aspartame, when combined with glutamine products (such as MSG, widely used in foods) increase the likelihood of brain damage occurring in children.[12]

Aspartame Affecting Airline Pilots

Some of the more interesting developments in 1989 surfaced in the Palm Beach Post on October 14th, where an article by Dr. H.J. Robert described several recent aircraft accidents involving confusion and aberrant pilot behavior caused by ingestion of products containing aspartame.[13] Soft drink makers were notified of this problem in 1991. It is interesting to note that after Samuel Skinner left Sidney & Austin, Searle’s law firm, he was appointed Secretary of Transportation. Hence, he was in charge of the FAA, just in time to head off complaints from pilots affected by aspartame. His wife was employed by Sidney & Austin. Later as George Bush’s Chief of Staff in 1991, during the Gulf War, he was in a position to head off all inquiries relative to aspartame, no matter where they were directed - to the FDA, FAA or Department of Defense. This constitutes criminal negligence and racketeering. George Bush, of course, was an ex-director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

British News: “Nutrasweet Tests Faked”

On July 20, 1990, an article in the national British newspaper The Guardian, entitled “NutraSweet test results ‘faked’”, revealed that the British government had finally been persuaded to review the safety of aspartame after “receiving a dossier of evidence highlighting its potential dangers.” According to The Guardian, the dossier alleged that laboratory tests were falsified, tumors were removed from laboratory animals and animals were ‘restored to life’ in laboratory records.[14] The dossier against NutraSweet was compiled by Erik Millstone, a lecturer at the Science Policy Research Unit at Sussex University and author of two books on food additives. It was based on thousands of pages of evidence, much of which was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. The COT, Committee on Toxicity, was at the time looking into consumption of artificial sweeteners and did not possess the key documents covering alleged mishandling of the safety tests which Millstone was asked to provide.

The British Ministry of Agriculture and Department of Health have never revealed the evidence upon which approval was given in England for the distribution of aspartame, maintaining that “these are matters of commercial confidence.” The British government does not testing of its own but relies on safety tests provided by the manufacturer, which of course constitutes a conflict of interest. The 1990 article quoted the British Department of Health as saying “NutraSweet is not a health hazard on the available evidence, but people do suffer ‘ideosyncratic reactions’ to food additives.” Interestingly, it was pointed out that three out of 14 members of the Committee on Toxicity have direct or indirect links with the artificial sweetener industry, according to David Clark, the Labour Party Agriculture spokeman, who requested a Parliamentary Answer to address questions of conflict of interest. Aspartame is also sold in England under the product name “Canderel.” In 1990, the market for aspartame in England was estimated at £800 million.

Aspartame

Dosing of the Military in the Gulf War

During the 1991 Gulf War, all military personnel were provided free supplies of aspartame-laced soft drinks together with experimental vaccines, nerve gas antidotes and personal insecticides. They were also treated to direct biochemical warfare compounds. The result is Gulf War Syndrome, which is communicable and deadly, and 50,000 military personnel and their dependents are wasting away before our eyes. Criminal negligence? Of course. Criminal conspiracy? Yes. Genocide? Probably - we’re waiting to see.

Aspartame Alters Brain Chemicals That Affect Behavior

Independent tests on animals have shown that aspartame alters brain chemicals that also affect behavior. The chemical nature of aspartame was also shown to defeat its own alleged “purpose” as a “diet aid”, since high doses instill a craving for calorie-laden carbohydrates. Then, the aspartame-carbohydrate combination further increases the effect of aspartame on the brain.[15]

Fraudulent Claims of Aspartame as a “Diet Aid”

Interestingly, even the American Cancer Society confirmed that users of artificial sweeteners gained more weight than those who didn’t use the products, further undermining the supposed “purpose” for the existence of aspartame in the food.[16] Haven’t we heard this kind of criminal fraud before?

The major selling point of aspartame is as a diet aid, and it has been demonstrated that the use of this product actually causes people to consume more food. Normally, when a significant quantity of carbohydrate are consumed, serotonin levels rise in the brain. This is manifested as a relaxed feeling after a meal. When aspartame is ingested with carbohydrates, such as having a sandwich with a diet drink, aspartame causes the brain to cease production of serotonin, meaning that the feeling of having had enough never materializes. You then eat more foods, many containing aspartame, and the cycle continues. Monsanto’s profit from its NutraSweet Division was $993 million in 1990.

Governments Continue Suppression and Coverup on Aspartame

In 1991, the National Institutes of Health.[17] listed 167 symptoms and reasons to avoid the use of aspartame , but today it is a multi-million dollar business that contributes to the degeneration of the human population, as well as the deliberate suppression of overall intelligence, short-term memory[18] and the added contribution as a carcinogenic environmental co-factor. The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control continue to receive a stream of complaints from the population about aspartame It is the only chemical warfare weapon available in mass quantities (should keep the cone-heads happy) on the grocery shelf and promoted in the media. It has also been indicated that women with an intolerance for phenylalinine, one of the components of aspartame, may give birth to infants with as much as a 15% drop in intelligence level if they habitually consume products containing this dangerous substance.[19]

FAA Collusion in Suppression of Facts on Aspartame

The March 1995 issue of The Pacific Flyer published a pro-aspartame article in which it stated, “the Federal Aviation Administration conducted its own cognitive research and, according to experts, found no contraindications that would prevent pilots, or anyone, from ingesting aspartame.” This flies in the face of consistent reports from pilots who maintain they have suffered severe and dangerous repercussions in the air after drinking soft drinks containing aspartame. Virtually every time, symptoms disappeared when aspartame-laced drinks were discontinued.[20] Over 600 pilots have reported this problem.

FDA “Findings” on Aspartame Remain Based on Faked Tests

So, the faked Searle tests remain. The FDA bases its findings on the faked Searle tests, and the Journal of the American Medical Association, examining the FDA findings, based on the faked Searle tests, announced “the consumption of aspartame poses no health risk for most people.” Searle officials argue that the use of aspartame as an artificial sweetener “has been officially approved not only by the FDA, but by foreign regulatory agencies and the World Health Organization” - based on Searle-sponsored aspartame research, not independently conducted tests.

Symptoms of Aspartame Intoxication: Minimal to Severe

The symptoms of aspartame intoxication include severe headaches, nausea, vertigo, insomina, loss of control of limbs, blurred vision, blindness, memory loss, slurred speech, mild to severe depression often reaching suicidal levels, hyperactivity, gastrointestinal disorders, seizures, skin lesions, rashes, anxiety attacks, muscle and joint pain, numbness, mood changes, loss of energy, menstrual cramps out of cycle, hearing loss or ringing in the ears, loss or change of taste, and symptoms similar to those in a heart attack. In addition, aspartic acid chelates (combines) with chromium - which is a necessary element for proper operation of the thyroid gland. People who consume large quantities of aspartame may end up with a false diagnosis of Graves disease and suffer allopathic irradiation of their thyroid gland for no reason. Complaints about aspartame represent 80-85% of all food complaints registered with the FDA. More than 6,000 complaints have been made concerning the effects of aspartame. Thirty independent doctors and scientists have conducted research on the adverse effects of aspartame or have compiled supporting data against its use.The use of NutraSweet® or Equal® should be seriously curtailed or stopped.

Aspartame Use Part of Planetary Biomedical Genocide

The fact that tons of aspartame is pumped into the world population each year, knowingly and deliberately, especially with the historical and documented record of fraud and misrepresentation, constitutes a conspiracy of the highest order, as well as criminal negligence. The rewards of continued use are increased profits for the medical and pharmaceutical industries and chemical companies who produce aspartame and treat people suffering from the effect of it. Aspartame is the only biochemical warfare product on grocery shelves. And, the band plays on ….

List of GMO and Non-GMO food brands - The True Food Shopping Guide

HungerForHealth — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:29:04 +0000

Lisa Says: The List is long so look at the categories below, and click on the link for the brand and product listing. Very eyeopening !

http://www.truefoodnow.org/shoppersguide/guide_printable.html

The True Food Shopping Guide

Browse the Guide by category or start with baby food and scroll through the entire list!

   * baby food
    * baking
    * bread
    * breakfast
    * cereal
    * chocolate
    * condiments
    * cookies
    * crackers
    * frozen dinners
    * dressings & salad oils
    * energy bars & drinks
    * heat and serve meals
    * meat & dairy alternatives
    * meal mixes
    * frozen pizza
    * snack foods
    * sodas & juice
    * soup
    * tomatoes and tomato sauce

The Most Evil Company on the Planet — Monsanto

HungerForHealth — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:26:07 +0000

Rex Says: Let’s use some Common Sense here people. You can’t tamper with nature, and not get burned.

article from www.mercola.com

In an interview with The Real News Network, filmmaker Marie-Monique Robin discussed her recent film ‘The World According to Monsanto.’ The documentary exposes Monsanto’s controversial practices, which range from concealing knowledge of toxicity of PCBs to producing genetically modified seeds and related herbicides.

A Monsanto declassified file stated that “we can’t afford to lose one dollar” to worries about PCB toxicity. This, Robin says, sums up Monsanto’s philosophy rather well.

Sources:

Organic Consumers Association June 23, 2008

Dr. Mercola’s Comments:

Monsanto, the chemical manufacturer turned agricultural giant, is indeed gaining control over the world’s population, one seed at a time.

Marie-Monique Robin’s documentary “The World According to Monsanto” tells the whole story. It was actually aired on French television earlier this year, but if you live in the United States don’t expect this eye-opening expose to hit the mainstream press. Fortunately, I’ve posted the entire video so that everyone can see it.

And I believe it is one of the most important videos you could ever watch.

It may sound outrageous that a corporation could prevent farmers from reusing seeds produced after each harvest, as has been done since the beginning of agriculture, but this is already going on thanks to Monsanto.

Since the 1980s, Monsanto has become the world leader in genetic modification of seeds and has won 674 biotechnology patents, more than any other company.

But Monsanto is not only patenting their own GMO seeds. They have also succeeded in slapping patents on a huge number of crop seeds, patenting life forms for the first time — without a vote of the people or Congress.

Farmers who buy Monsanto’s Roundup Ready seeds are required to sign an agreement promising not to save the seeds or sell them to other farmers. The result? Farmers must buy new seeds every year, and they must buy them from Monsanto.

The Monsanto Mafia

Monsanto has actually hired an army of private investigators and agents to secretly videotape and photograph farmers that may attempt to reuse their seeds. These “seed police” as the farmers call them have infiltrated community meetings and attempted to pressure farmers into signing papers giving Monsanto access to their private records.

Quite fittingly, farmers have described Monsanto’s tactics as similar to the “Gestapo” and “Mafia.”

Monsanto has also considered using what’s known as terminator technology on a wide-scale basis. These are seeds that have been genetically modified to “self-destruct.” In other words, the seeds (and the forthcoming crops) are sterile, which means farmers must buy them again each year.

Yet, most farmers cannot afford to buy new seeds every year, so collecting and replanting seeds is a crucial part of the agricultural cycle. This is the way food has been grown successfully for thousands of years.

Further, the traits from genetically engineered crops can get passed on to other crops. Once the terminator seeds are released into a region, the trait of seed sterility could be passed to other non-genetically-engineered crops, making most or all of the seeds in the region sterile.

If allowed to continue, every farmer in the world could come to rely on Monsanto for their seed supply … and this is not a company that you want in control of your food supply.

Monsanto’s Toxic Past

Monsanto tries to pass itself off as an innovative agricultural company, when in reality they produced two of the most toxic substances ever known — polychlorinated biphenyls, known as PCBs, and dioxin (Agent Orange).

Monsanto may also be responsible for more than 50 Environmental Protection Agency Superfund sites, and they’re the masterminds behind some of the most dangerous products on the market today:

Genetically modified crops (Monsanto provides the seeds for 90 percent of the world’s GM crops)
Fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides
Aspartame
Recombinant bovine somatotropin, or rBST, a genetically engineered growth hormone given to dairy cows to make them produce more milk

Monsanto is also deeply entrenched with the pharmaceutical industry. Pharmacia Corporation was created in April 2000 through the merger of Pharmacia & Upjohn with Monsanto Company and its G.D. Searle unit.

How to Fight Back Against Monsanto

First, I urge you to get informed on the issue. Along with “The World According to Monsanto,” you can watch The Future of Food. This in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind genetically modified foods is one of the best documentaries I have ever viewed. It will help you understand the very real threat that ALL future generations face as a result of genetic engineering.

Please do not be shy about forwarding this video to all of your friends and family, as it is something that everyone should see.

Next, you can hit Monsanto where it really hurts — using your pocketbook. Avoid buying anything that contains GMO ingredients.

Seven out of every 10 items in your typical grocery store have been genetically modified, so avoiding GM foods means avoiding most processed foods. Show Monsanto how you really feel by getting your food from local farmers who still control their own seed supply.

Related Articles:

Can You Really Trust Monsanto? — How They Corrupted Science

How Monsanto Manipulates the System to Poison Your Health

Seeds of Doubt

How much GE food are you eating?

HungerForHealth — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:20:47 +0000

Lisa Says: GMO ( or Genetically Engingineered) foods are causing untold health issues and are of grave concern for the literal future of the world’s food sources. Rex and I are not conspiracy theorists but practically speaking, this is COMMON SENSE. We grow heirloom organic veges based on what space allows and actively shop for non-GMO foods.

article courtesy of www.thecoachingpair.com

Talking about this subject will not win me any friends nor will I have my phone ringing off the hook with people wanting more information. However, those of you who know me, know that I feel “called” to reveal truth (and expose lies) around the food and drug industry. The issue of GMO foods can no longer slide under the radar. Today’s link offers a mouth-dropping expose on the company responsible for the rapid demise of our food supply.

For years I’ve known that Monsanto was responsible for manufacturing and marketing aspartame, the artificial sweetener that is poisoning our nation, one soft drink at a time. In more recent years, great controversy has arisen around this entire GMO food subject. I’m not extremely knowledgeable about this, but there is enough information now available to warrant blowing the whistle of alarm.

According to Wikipedia.com, a genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically engineered organism (GEO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. With this technology, DNA molecules from different sources are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. This DNA is then transferred into an organism and causes it to acquire modified traits.

Another source says it a little more directly. “Genetic Engineering (GE) is a radical new technology that manipulates the genes and DNA — the building blocks of all living things. Unlike traditional breeding, genetic engineering creates new life forms that would never occur in nature, creating new and unpredictable health and environmental risks. To create GE crops, genes from bacteria, viruses, plants, animals and even humans have been inserted into plants like soybeans, corn, canola, and cotton.” This goes totally against God’s design for life and health.

In his book, Seeds of Deception, Exposing Industry and Government Lies About the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You’re Eating, Jeffrey Smith, a former executive with the leading independent laboratory testing for GM presence in foods, documents the serious health dangers of these foods and explains how corporate influence and government collusion have been used to cover them up. Today’s article merely introduces the subject of GMO foods. There is other valuable information available on the Internet and through published books. Begin searching out the truth on what you’re really eating.

Prayer Power

Father, we don’t walk in fear but we do want to take care of our bodies in a responsible way. Thank you for giving us wisdom to discern truth.

Link of the Day

The Most Evil Company on the Planet — Monsanto

Blessings on you as you continue to learn more about what you’re eating and drinking.

Jerry and Sharon

The Coaching Pair
Jerry Graham, Ph.D., D.Min.
Sharon Graham, R.N.

Brain Function - Changing Negative Thought Patterns and preventing Cognitive Decline

HungerForHealth — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:23:27 +0000

Lisa Says: Rex and I are learning that you truly can change - your attitude, your thought patterns, your behavior patterns - not just preventing cognitive decline. It’s amazing.

ARTICLE from Jerry Graham [drjerry@thecoachingpair.com]

Plastic Brains

Did you know that your brain has characteristics like plastic, i.e., pliable, capable of being molded? Now, while I don’t think this is what Mr. McGuire had in mind when he uttered that now famous one-word tip, it was indeed a prophetic word even though spoken in ignorance. (Prophetic, but certainly not divinely inspired as with Caiaphas in John 11:49-52.) In the context of the brain, plasticity is otherwise known as neuroplasticity, defined as the ability of brain cells to make new connections. Right now, as you read this Daily Gram, your brain cells are making an average of one million new connections per second.

My purpose in bringing this up is to share some of the exciting new discoveries that have been made in the last decade regarding our brains. And frankly, I’m more focused on the brains of those of us who are approaching our senior years rather than on the brains of the very young…although there have been some pretty incredible new insights in that arena that I may share in the coming weeks. Sharon and I are dealing first-hand with the challenges presented by aging parents, and if you are not, you probably will in the years to come. It’s an exploding issue as the Baby Boom generation matures.

In our case, we are not dealing with cognitive decline and dysfunction (praise God), but as you know, Alzheimer’s has become a very common malady. Up until recently, medical science has largely blamed such cognitive issues on aging–what you can, or even should, expect as you grow old. (Talk about a word-curse! By the way, one of my pet peeves is to blame everything on the effects of aging when the real answer is simply, we don’t know what we don’t know yet.)

As quoted in today’s link, “Some of the myths about the brain–that it was not changeable, that there was nothing you could do about cognitive decline–have really been dispelled in the past 10 years.” Folks, that’s pretty exciting news! While we’re not endorsing everything the article says and promotes, the basic premise is really exciting…there are things you can do to keep your brain fit and head-off (pun intended) that terrible decline once thought to be inevitable. And guess what, just as is true with keeping fit physically, vegging in front of the “boob tube” won’t keep your brain fit either.

Your brain’s plasticity makes it possible for you to learn new patterns of thought and behavior. You are not a victim, hardwired, as so many have been taught. “That’s just the way I am!” doesn’t work anymore. God made your brain capable of making changes and learning new skills. You can indeed “teach an old dog new tricks.” As we grow older, it is more and more important to choose to engage in activities that maintain or increase our neuroactivity, because doing so increases our intelligence and our ability to find new answers to old problems.

So, choose to stay active, read books, do puzzles, play games that require you to think, write blogs, etc. You (and your children) will be glad you did. The brain you save could be your own. Hallelujah!!!

Healthy lifestyle triggers genetic changes: study

HungerForHealth — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:22:35 +0000

Rex Says: our son found this article from Riyadh. How did this not make National Americal News ????

Healthy lifestyle triggers genetic changes: study

By Will DunhamMon Jun 16, 9:21 PM ET

Comprehensive lifestyle changes including a better diet and more exercise can lead not only to a better physique, but also to swift and dramatic changes at the genetic level, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

In a small study, the researchers tracked 30 men with low-risk prostate cancer who decided against conventional medical treatment such as surgery and radiation or hormone therapy.

The men underwent three months of major lifestyle changes, including eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and soy products, moderate exercise such as walking for half an hour a day, and an hour of daily stress management methods such as meditation.

As expected, they lost weight, lowered their blood pressure and saw other health improvements. But the researchers found more profound changes when they compared prostate biopsies taken before and after the lifestyle changes.

After the three months, the men had changes in activity in about 500 genes — including 48 that were turned on and 453 genes that were turned off.

The activity of disease-preventing genes increased while a number of disease-promoting genes, including those involved in prostate cancer and breast cancer, shut down, according to the study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The research was led by Dr. Dean Ornish, head of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California, and a well-known author advocating lifestyle changes to improve health.

“It’s an exciting finding because so often people say, ‘Oh, it’s all in my genes, what can I do?’ Well, it turns out you may be able to do a lot,” Ornish, who is also affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco, said in a telephone interview.

“‘In just three months, I can change hundreds of my genes simply by changing what I eat and how I live?’ That’s pretty exciting,” Ornish said. “The implications of our study are not limited to men with prostate cancer.”

Ornish said the men avoided conventional medical treatment for prostate cancer for reasons separate from the study. But in making that decision, they allowed the researchers to look at biopsies in people with cancer before and after lifestyle changes.

“It gave us the opportunity to have an ethical reason for doing repeat biopsies in just a three-month period because they needed that anyway to look at their clinical changes (in their prostate cancer),” Ornish said.

(Editing by Julie Steenhuysen and Xavier Briand)

Water or coke?

HungerForHealth — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:02:30 +0000

Water or Coke?

WATER

#1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
(Likely applies to half the world population)

#2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak
that it is mistaken for hunger.

#3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 3%.

#4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs
for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of
Washington study.

#5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

#6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of
water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain
for up to 80% of sufferers.

#7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term
memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on
the computer screen or on a printed page.

#8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of
colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast
cancer by 79%., and one is 50% less likely to develop
bladder cancer. Are you drinking the amount of water
you should drink every day?

COKE

#1. In many states the highway patrol carries
two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from
the highway after a car accident.

#2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Coke
and it will be gone in two days.

#3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the
toilet bowl and let the “real thing” sit for one hour,
then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes
stains from vitreous China .

#4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers:
Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds
Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

#5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour
a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble
away the corrosion.

#6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Apply a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola
to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

#7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into
the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake.
Thirty minutes before ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix
with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.

#8… To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of Coke
into the load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run
through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen
grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your
windshield.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

#1. the active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid.
It will dissolve a nail in about four days. Phosphoric
acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major
contributor to the rising increase of osteoporosis.

#2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup! (the concentrate) the
commercial trucks must use a hazardous Material place
cards reserved for highly corrosive materials.

#3. The distributors of Coke have been using it to clean
engines of the trucks for about 20 years!

Now the question is, would you like a glass of water?

or Coke?

Juices May Reduce Alzheimer’s Disease Risk

HungerForHealth — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:57:15 +0000

Rex Says: eat your fruit but drink your veges. Fruit juices UNLESS HOMEMADE are generally too high in sugars. We juice our veges every morning with an apple or such thrown in. It’s great and takes less than 10 minutes start to finish.

ARTICLE: Thursday, May 15, 2008 by: Leslee Dru Browning

(NaturalNews) In a large epidemiological study, researchers found that people who drank three or more servings of fruit and vegetable juices per week had a 76 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than those who drank juice less than once per week.

The study by Qi Dai, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Medicine, and colleagues appears in the September issue of The American Journal of Medicine. The researchers followed a subset of subjects from a large cross-cultural study of dementia, called the Ni-Hon-Sea Project, which investigated Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia in older Japanese populations living in Japan, Hawaii and Seattle, Wash.

For the current study, called the Kame Project, the researchers identified 1,836 dementia-free subjects in the Seattle population and collected information on their dietary consumption of fruit and vegetable juices. They then assessed cognitive function every two years for up to 10 years.

After controlling for possible confounding factors like smoking, education, physical activity and fat intake, the researchers found that those who reported drinking juices three or more times per week were 76 percent less likely to develop signs of Alzheimer’s disease than those who drank less than one serving per week.

The benefit appeared particularly enhanced in subjects who carry the genetic marker linked to late-onset Alzheimer’s disease –- the most common form of the disease, which typically occurs after the age of 65.

The researchers chose to study this group because of the low incidence rate of Alzheimer’s disease in the Japanese population. However, the incidence of Alzheimer’s in Japanese people living in the United States is higher, approaching the incidence rates in Americans. This pointed to environmental factors like diet and lifestyle as important contributors to disease risk.

Originally, researchers suspected that high intakes of antioxidant vitamins (vitamins C, E and Beta-carotene) might provide some protection against Alzheimer’s disease, but recent clinical studies have not supported this hypothesis.

“We thought that the underlying component may not be vitamins, that there was maybe something else,” Dai said.

Dai began to suspect that another class of antioxidant chemicals, known as polyphenols, could play a role. Polyphenols are non-vitamin antioxidants common in the diet and particularly abundant in teas, juices and wines. Most polyphenols exist primarily in the skins and peels of fruits and vegetables. Recent studies have shown that polyphenols (like resveratrol in wine) extend maximum lifespan by 59 percent and delay age-dependent decay of cognitive performance in animal models.

“Also, animal studies and cell culture studies confirmed that some polyphenols from juices showed a stronger neuroprotective effect than antioxidant vitamins. So we are now looking at polyphenols,” Dai said.

The next step, said Dai, is to test the subjects’ blood samples to see if elevated levels of polyphenols are related to the reduced risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. This would provide further evidence of the role of juice polyphenols in Alzheimer’s disease risk. It also may point to the types of juice that would be most beneficial. “We don’t know if it is a specific type of juice (that reduces risk). That information was not collected in the current study,” said Dai. “But we can use plasma to narrow down the kinds of juices.”

However promising the study results appear, Dai cautioned, it’s important that the general public not jump the gun regarding the value of juice as a preventive measure for Alzheimer’s disease.

“A few years ago, hormone replacement therapy, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and antioxidant vitamins showed promise (in preventing or slowing Alzheimer’s disease), but recent clinical trials indicate that they do not,” Dai said. “More study, I think, is needed.”

From my natural healing perspective I would recommend pomegranate, tart cherry, red grape juice and, of course, a glass of red wine. I would also think that juiced vegetables would be a good preventative against Alzheimer’s disease.

Source:

Newswise
(http://www.newswise.com:80/articles/view/523070/)