- by Dr. James Augustine, BioVeda Health & Wellness Center of Cerritos, CA

Does Fluoride Really Fight Cavities?

Amalgam Fillings Update

At the end of the two-day hearing to evaluate the safety of amalgam, the FDA’s own scientific panel – including neurologists, toxicologists, epidemiologists, and environmental health specialists – told the agency to stop amalgam use in children, pregnant women, and hypersensitive populations.

After reviewing the available scientific studies and the presentations of researchers, experts, dentists, and injured consumers, the scientists concluded that – contrary to the claims of the FDA’s in-house dentist Susan Runner – amalgam is not safe for everybody.

According to the panel, the FDA’s amalgam risk assessments were not adequate to protect hypersensitive adults, children, and unborn babies. Repeatedly, panel members expressed their concern about amalgam use in children. Pediatric neurologist Dr. Suresh Kotagal of the Mayo Clinic summed it up for the entire panel:

“There is really no place for mercury in children.”

Other panelists went on to explain that dental mercury is like lead. The panel urged the FDA to quickly contraindicate amalgam for these vulnerable populations and insisted that the FDA provide consumers with labeling containing clear warnings.

We follow the health sections of mainstream media sources such as The New York Times, CNN and WebMD, and lately we’ve been seeing more and more stories related to Complementary Alternative Medicine.  It’s exciting to see this adoption of holistic remedies by conventional health practitioners and hope that it continues to become more commonplace as we enter 2011.  Here are a few of the latest articles:

Acupuncture Goes Mainstream

WebMD: Acupuncture, which has been practiced for millennia in China, is a small part of her own practice. But she makes frequent referrals to the clinic’s Center for Integrative Medicine. There, acupuncture, which uses needles to stimulate specific parts of the body, is increasingly popular for problems like chronic pain, allergies, and asthma. Five thousand patients underwent acupuncture at the facility in 2009, up from 3,600 in 2007.

Light Therapy for Depression

The New York Times: Antidepressants like Prozac and Paxil are widely used to treat depression, but a much less costly alternative called bright light therapy, in which a patient sits under an artificial light for a set period of time each day, is not. Light therapy is typically recommended for seasonal affective disorder, the “winter blues” brought on by shorter days and limited sun. Some psychiatrists prescribe it for this condition, often as a last resort when patients fail to respond to drugs.

Green Tea May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

WebMD: Regular consumption of green tea may offer protection against Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and may also slow growth of cancer cells, new research indicates. Green tea, an ancient Chinese remedy, has been shown to have protective properties in undigested, freshly brewed forms. But a research team at Newcastle University in the U.K. set out to determine whether the protective substances remained active after digestion. And in the study, they did.

Remedies: Garlic for Athlete’s Foot

The New York Times: “Garlic has long been considered a powerful natural antifungal,” said Dr. Lawrence D. Rosen, chief of pediatric integrative medicine at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey and a pediatrician at the Whole Child Center in nearby Oradell. Dr. Rosen pointed out that studies have found garlic effective against a number of fungal infections, including those caused by Candida and other common pathogens.

EXPOSURE TO TOBACCO SMOKE CAUSES IMMEDIATE DAMAGE, SAYS NEW SURGEON GENERAL’S REPORT

Report focuses on how tobacco smoke causes disease

Report focuses on how tobacco smoke causes disease Exposure to tobacco smoke – even occasional smoking or secondhand smoke – causes immediate damage to your body that can lead to serious illness or death, according to a report released today by U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin. The comprehensive scientific report – Benjamin’s first Surgeon General’s report and the 30th tobacco-related Surgeon General’s report issued since 1964 – describes specific pathways by which tobacco smoke damages the human body and leads to disease and death. The report, How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: The Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking-Attributable Disease, finds that cellular damage and tissue inflammation from tobacco smoke are immediate, and that repeated exposure weakens the body’s ability to heal the damage. “The chemicals in tobacco smoke reach your lungs quickly every time you inhale causing damage immediately,” Benjamin said in releasing the report. “Inhaling even the smallest amount of tobacco smoke can also damage your DNA, which can lead to cancer.” “Over the last two years we have stepped up efforts to reduce tobacco use, including implementing legislation to regulate tobacco products, investing in local tobacco control efforts and expanding access to insurance coverage for tobacco cessation” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. “This will remain a key priority of this Administration.” The report also explains why it is so difficult to quit smoking. According to the research, cigarettes are designed for addiction. The design and contents of current tobacco products make them more attractive and addictive than ever before.

Today’s cigarettes deliver nicotine more quickly and efficiently than cigarettes of many years ago. Tobacco smoke contains a deadly mixture of more than 7,000 chemicals and compounds, of which hundreds are toxic and at least 70 cause cancer. Every exposure to these cancer-causing chemicals could damage DNA in a way that leads to cancer. Exposure to smoke also decreases the benefits of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments. Smoking causes more than 85% of lung cancers and can cause cancer almost anywhere in the body. One in three cancer deaths in the U.S. is tobacco-related. The report describes how the delicate lining of the lungs becomes inflamed as soon as it is exposed to the chemical mixture in cigarette smoke. Over time, the smoke can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke can cause cardiovascular disease and could trigger acute cardiac events, such as heart attack. The report describes how chemicals from tobacco smoke quickly damage blood vessels and make blood more likely to clot. The evidence in this report shows how smoking causes cardiovascular disease and increases risks for heart attack, stroke, and aortic aneurysm. Smoking causes many other harmful effects throughout the body, including making it harder for diabetics to control their blood sugar. Smoking makes it harder for women to get pregnant and can cause a miscarriage, preterm delivery, low birth weight, as well as damage to fetal lungs and brain tissue. Babies who are exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome, the report finds. “This report makes it clear – quitting at any time gives your body a chance to heal the damage caused by smoking,” the Surgeon General said. “It’s never too late to quit, but the sooner you do it, the better.” Fortunately, there are now more effective ways to help people quit than ever before. Nicotine replacement is available over the counter and doctors can prescribe medications that improve the chances of successful quit attempts. Smokers can also call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for help. To help communicate the report findings as widely as possible, the Surgeon General unveiled an easy-to-read guide with practical information about how tobacco smoke causes disease, A Report of the Surgeon General: How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: What It Means to You.

Quit smoking today!

Learn More About BioVeda’s Just Stop! Smoking Cessation Program.

Your health demands it!!

Copies of the full report, executive summary, and the easy-to-read guide may be downloaded at www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/tobaccosmoke/index.html.

From Dr. Andrea Dobrich, BioVeda Health & Wellness Center of Harrisburg, NC

By Guest Blogger, Linda Sperl

I recently read that instructions for living through the next few months should be simple. Winter is approaching and nature tells us that it is natural to slow down and become quiet and introspective. Yet, as we approach the holiday season, it seems that for many of us, the exact opposite becomes true. Our daily to-do lists begin to become filled with frenetic shopping for holiday foods and gifts, rushing to meet deadlines, overextending our social commitments, skipping regular meals, and perhaps taking in those extra cups of coffee just to keep up the pace. It is no wonder that by the time the holidays do arrive, we are drained, tired, and cranky. We have overworked ourselves into such a state that we have lost our opportunity to enjoy and relax into the quiet and tranquil season of winter.

As the season of winter approaches, please join me in initiating a to-do list makeover. Allow your body, mind, and spirit to naturally follow the inclinations of their natural winter states. Here are a few suggestions that may get you started on resetting your winter buttons:

1. Rest more- Although we may feel that we don’t have the time to take brief pauses in our day, rest is imperative. A short, daily cat –nap, 10 minutes of viparita karani (legs up the wall), or stopping to drink a hot, soothing cup of tea are all simple and manageable techniques that can greatly benefit and refuel our energy reserves. It is interesting to note that the idea of a coffee or tea “to go” is relatively unknown in many other countries. Stop, breathe, and enjoy.
2. Prepare and eat warm, nourishing meals- Winter gently reminds us that comforting, warm foods allow our bodies to sustain the cold weather season. Preparing warm oatmeal, hot soups, and stews are wonderful antidotes during the cold and flu season. Making big batches of soups can also free up time during the rest of the week. Set the ambiance. Enjoy selecting fresh ingredients. Play soothing music. Become mindful during food preparation. Notice the chopping, stirring, and aromas. Resist answering/talking on the phone or checking your e-mail while cooking and eating. Eat your meals with a grateful heart.
3. Practice yoga- Sometimes, the colder season makes us feel like not doing much of anything physically. The good news is that winter is yin season which can mean a quieter, softer practice. Poses may be held for longer periods of time and stretches are gentler and more restorative. Continuing to practice our yoga and gentle movements during these long, dark months benefit, not only our bodies, but our states of mind. Breathe and allow the practice of yoga to nurture and sustain your body, mind, and spirit throughout the season.
4. Enjoy winter’s nature- Don’t let the cold keep you indoors for the next few months! Go outside and enjoy the beauty of the season! There are many winter days that are perfect for walks in nature. Have you recently visited Morton’s Bird Sanctuary in Sag Harbor where sweet, little birds will land in the palm of your hand with the promise of a seed? Or the ocean or bay on a sunny afternoon? How about an evening walk with the brilliance of a thousand stars above or a stroll through freshly fallen snow? A connection with nature can reset our winter buttons and freshen our perspective on the season. Practice this regularly to keep your body and soul connected to the earth.
5. Go inward- Winter is often considered the most reflective time of year. Consider getting in touch with feelings and thoughts through the practice of journaling. Or begin to sit for meditation for 5-10 minutes everyday. Why not melt away the day with a warm bath before bed? Noticing our thoughts and feelings and allowing them to pass through us can improve our attitudes and our spirits and allow us to move through this season with a lightness of being and a warm heart.

Re-choosing how to enter this season has become an exploratory exercise in self-inquiry. I am suddenly looking forward to my re-vamped to-do list. So, I ask you, what does your to-do list make-over look like?

Wishing you an abundance of blessings this winter season. Namaste!

Linda

BioVeda Health & Wellness Centers can help you enjoy a stress free holiday season! Give yourself and others the gift of health. Visit a BioVeda Health & Wellness Center today!

Darvocet was pulled off the market this past week at the Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) request due to safety concerns. A new study links the active ingredient in painkillers Darvon and Darvocet to serious and sometimes fatal heart rhythm abnormalities. This is a product that has been widely available in the United States for years. According to the LATimes.com article, “Painkillers Darvon and Darvocet Withdrawn at FDA’s Request“:

Sidney Wolfe of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group blasted the FDA’s action as too late and called for congressional hearings into why the agency took so long. Public Citizen tried for more than three decades to limit use of the drug and petitioned the FDA to ban it in 2006.

Given the withdrawal of Darvocet on the heels of the Tylenol recall, it may be time to consider more natural approaches to pain management. One option is Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT). Low Level Laser Therapy is one of the most important developments in health and wellness and a critical part of the integrated approach at BioVeda. We utilize LLLT to dramatically reduce musculoskeletal pain and inflammation as well as promote tissue repair in targeted areas. Because this is a cold laser, it is not a heat treatment and does not have any of the risks associated with other types of lasers. LLLT promotes tissue growth and healing.

Low Level Light Therapy brings in oxygen to the cells and stimulates the lymphatic system thereby reducing inflammation in targeted areas. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production is stimulated on the cellular level, boosting their energy levels to foster normal function. The pain reflex is broken, offering what is in many cases, immediate relief of joint, muscle and arthritic pain.

Our therapy does not require any drugs or surgery, there are few side effects and risks, it is quick and convenient, completely noninvasive, highly effective and easily-applied. The number of treatments can vary depending on the nature and severity of your ailment. Most patients however see improvement in after the very first treatment. Contact a BioVeda Health & Wellness Center to learn more!

- by Dr. Eric Herman, D.C. BioVeda Health & Wellness Center of Bethlehem

What causes allergies and chemical sensitivities?
Over the last decade, important breakthroughs have occurred in the identification and treatment of allergies. Dr. Robert Gardner, Ph.D. professor of nutrition at Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah), discovered that specific key chemical agents cause allergic reactions including hayfever. These naturally occurring chemical agents called “phenolic” (aromatic) compounds, are regularly found throughout our environment in thousands of items including most foods, pollen and chemicals.

What is the relationship between allergies and asthma?
Many forms of asthma are caused by allergic reactions from both airborne phenolic compounds and those found in foods. Asthmatic individuals can be helped in the same way as others suffering from allergies. Airborne phenolic compounds are often found in pollen, tobacco smoke, house dust, air pollution, kapok, wool, feathers, animal hair or dander, building materials, furniture stuffing, cottonseed, and chemical odors. Some examples of foods that are most likely to be factors associated with asthma are those eaten daily such as wheat, eggs, chocolate, corn, peanut butter, citrus fruits, potatoes and tomatoes. We have helped many people suffering from asthma by first testing for those phenolics and other agents that can cause or contribute to asthma. We then screen and treat allergies, if indicated, utilizing our clinics’ painless techniques. This treatment also helps strengthen the immune system.

Do I have to restrict my diet to avoid allergies?
Not usually. Since phenolics are found in so many foods and other materials, it would be virtually impossible through dietary restrictions to avoid the phenolics causing the reactions. For instance, one of the phenolics, gallic acid, occurs in about 70% of the foods we eat! Restricting a persons diet or giving injections of whole food extracts in an attempt to avoid this compound seems impractical in light of these discoveries.

However, there is a small, select group of people that are critically sensitive to some foods and should still avoid those items. These people require special therapeutic programs and instructions.

Why should I have allergies and feel tired even if I eat only “good foods”?
The fact that a person eats only “good foods” or even “health foods” may have little to do with whether or not they suffer from allergies. Phenolic compounds occur in “good” foods as well as those items commonly thought of as “junk” foods.
The solution is to strengthen the body’s immune system by neutralizing and desensitizing phenolic compounds within the foods, NOT by avoiding the foods themselves!

What are some of the symptoms of allergies?
Allergies affect people in differing degrees. In fact, many people suffer the effects of allergies but often don’t recognize that their problems are related to an allergy! In the course of treating allergies, the patient is often quickly benefitted by being relieved of symptoms (such as fatigue) that was not originally associated with the allergy. For example, Dr. Abram Ber, M.D. has found that sensitivity to gallic acid contributes to chronic lower back pain, nasal congestion and fatigue.
Furthermore, many other problems such as depression, bedwetting, hayfever, headaches, stomach and intestinal disorders and skin problems have been helped by phenolic neutralization.
Remember, the body is a very complex system. Relief from a stressful condition (such as an allergy) can very easily relieve stress in other parts of the body. In severe cases, it is like removing a crushing pressure from the body which has been held in a “vice-grip” for years!

Are there ways I can tell if I or someone in my family, especially my child. has an allergy?
Many of the symptoms of allergies in children are similar to allergies in adults. Doris J. Rapp, M.D. has reported that some children with allergies show black, blue or red circles under the eyes (called allergic shiners) which appear after a person gets near or eats something to which they are allergic. Another clue is bags under the eyes. Some children have puffiness directly below the eyes and others also have little bags below the outer edge of each eye. Deep creases or wrinkles under the eyes are typical of persons with an allergy. [9] Allergies to foods and chemicals are also linked to learning disabilities, hyperactivity and behavioral problems in children (and adults).

How can allergies be treated painlessly?
Physicians using the homeopathic phenolic neutralization and desensitization techniques utilize advances in technology to help hundreds of people overcome their allergy problems. The use of painless, non-injection methods of diagnosing and treating allergies is the most effective method we have personally witnessed.

These methods have been especially welcomed by parents with children who have suffered from a fear of needles and the discomfort of skin reactions, nausea and other unpleasant reactions caused by conventional provocative allergy testing.

Symptoms of Phenol Sensitivity
Some typical symptoms indicating your child may have a phenol problem are [not all of these need be present]: dark circles under the eyes, red face/ears, diarrhea, hyperactivity, aggression, headache, head banging or other self-injury, inappropriate laughter, difficulty falling asleep at night, and night waking for several hours. The typical adult symptom of phenol intolerance is chronic fatigue syndrome, which is the opposite symptom that most children have, altho some children do present as always tired/lethargic, instead of hyper with sleep and other issues.

List of High Phenol Foods
Here is a short list of high phenol foods from Karen Seroussi’s book. They are food dyes, tomatoes, apples, peanuts, bananas, oranges, cocoa, red grapes, colored fruits, and milk.

Here is the Feingold list of highly phenolic/high salicylate foods: toiletries, cleaning supplies, art supplies — that has any of the following ingredients: Synthetic/artificial colors and flavors [for example, FD&C colors, vanillin], BHA, BHT, TBHQ, [all the preceding are made from or related to petroleum], Natural Flavoring (may contain salicylate), Natural Coloring (may contain salicylate), Aspirin and products containing aspirin or salicylic acid, Salicylates, Almonds, Apples, Apricots, Berries (all), Cherries, Chili powder, Cider & cider vinegar (apples), Cloves, Coffee, Cucumbers & pickles, Currants, Grapes & raisins, Nectarines, Oranges, Paprika, Peaches, Peppers (bell & chili), Plums, Prunes, Tangerines, Tea, Tomatoes, Wine & wine vinegar (grapes), Oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate). Other items to consider are perfumes and fragrances, nitrites and nitrates, monosodium glutamate [MSG], Hydrolized Vegetable Protein [may contain MSG], sulfites/sulfiting agents, benzoates, and corn syrup [made from hydrogen sulfide + corn starch and many other added chemicals].

Advanced Treatment
Allergies are an error! The body is reacting inappropriately to a completely harmless substance, food or stimuli. STRESSORS are substances, foods or stimuli that place STRESS upon your nervous system.

Many of these STRESSORS can cause symptoms of allergies and sensitivities!

Your body can be retrained to accept these STRESSORS by no longer perceiving them as a threat. We do not treat and chase the symptoms, rather we get to the core of the problem…the nervous system’s inappropriate response to these STRESSORS. “We treat the person, not the condition”  Learn more:  Contact a BioVeda Health & Wellness Center near you!

CNN recently reported in the article “Your top health searches, asked and answered” that many people look to the internet for answers about their health rather than seeing their physicians.  The article explores five of the most commonly searched conditions along with online resources for each, which follow below. While the article offers some valuable information about each condition, it’s important to remember that effective health care treats the patient, not the condition.  At BioVeda Health & Wellness Centers, our practitioners offer a patient-centered approach.  They take the time to get to know you and your complete health history, and get to the root of the cause of a condition, instead of just addressing the symptomatic expression.  In this manner, you get well and stay well.  Please contact us to learn more!

CNN’s article offers links to resources for each condition that is commonly searched online, as follows:

Herpes

Herpes is No. 2 on Yahoo’s mobile list, and No. 10 on Google’s regular list.

Search results Empowered Patient found most useful:

• Overview of herpes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Herpes symptoms in women have from the National Women’s Health Information Center.

• Herpes symptoms in men from Livestrong.

• Where to find a herpes testing site near you from the CDC.

• First-person accounts of people who’ve had herpes from The American Social Health Association

• State-by-state list of herpes social and support groups from Dating with Herpes.

• A calendar of social events for people with herpes from the National H Club.

• Animation on how to use a condom to try to keep yourself from getting herpes from the American Social Health Association.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy is No. 1 on Yahoo’s mobile list. On Yahoo’s regular list, “pregnancy/symptoms” is No. 7 and “pregnancy week by week” is No 10.

Search results Empowered Patient found most useful:

• The first signs of pregnancy from the Mayo Clinic

• A quiz to find out if you’re pregnant from Drspock.com.

• A pregnancy due date calculator from the Mayo Clinic

• A pregnancy week-by-week calendar from “Parenting” magazine

• Pregnancy dos and don’ts from the National Women’s Health Information Center.

Depression

Depression is No. 3 on Yahoo’s list of top searches.

Search results Empowered Patient found most useful:

• Overview of depression from the National Institutes of Health.

• The symptoms of depression from the Mayo Clinic.

• A quiz to see if you need help with depression from PsychCentral.com

• The best websites for the elderly with depression from Health.com.

• A national list of support groups from the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

• Comparison of costs of antidepressants from Consumer Reports.

Heart disease

“Heart” is the second most popular search term on Google.

Search results Empowered Patient found most useful:

• An overview of heart disease from the National Institutes of Health.

• An overview of heart disease in women from the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.

• Warning signs you’re having a heart attack from the American Academy of Family Physicians.

• A quiz to find out how much you know about heart disease from the American Heart Association.

• A video of the new guidelines for performing CPR from the American Heart Association.

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is No. 4 on both Yahoo’s regular and mobile list.

Search results Empowered Patient found most useful:

• An overview of breast cancer from breastcancer.org

• A tool to assess your risk of breast cancer from the National Cancer Institute

• A video on how to do a breast self exam from healthcentral.com

• First-person accounts from breast cancer patients and survivors from Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

• What to do when you’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer from Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

• Talk to a breast cancer survivor at Breast Cancer Network of Strength

The obesity epidemic is real.  In fact, it is estimated that by the year 2020, three out of four Americans will be obese.  This uncontrolled weight gain can be attributed to poor diet choices on a personal level, however can it also be said that the corporations and organizations that control our food are to blame?  What follows is an opinion piece from Justin Stoneman that appeared on HuffingtonPost.com.  What do you think?  Is America a big, fat, stupid nation? Is the obesity epidemic a result of corporate control over dietary recommendations?

America: A Big, Fat, Stupid Nation

- by Justin Stoneman

America, I love you. Sure, you’ve had your naughty moments, but what country hasn’t? Ultimately, I believe your filthy, battered heart is in the right place. This particular Irishman gazes over the ocean, happy to dream your dream.

Yet, the title staring down at you is said as ‘fact’. Disagree? OK, good, then let us begin…

Latest figures confirm the ridiculous: three out of four of you will be ‘overweight or obese’ by 2020. To gauge perspective: there are now more ‘fat’ people than ‘white’ people in America. Perhaps our bigots of the future will swing their hatred away from ‘race’ to the slim and healthy.

The shrinking minority are, indeed, the shrinking minority.

Stupid? Welcome to a population who know less about what they put into their mouths than they do about, well, take your pick…celebrities or cars or American Idol or iPhones? Animals have the intelligence to know what to eat and to never get fat (except the ones fed by humans). Yet that simple challenge, gaining nourishment without destroying the body, is beyond your capabilities?

Perhaps this crime is forgivable, purely symptomatic of the dietary ‘misinformation’ in circulation. However, the truly unforgivable stupidity has been in allowing this misinformation to propagate. To have believed the lies, to have fallen for the tricks, to have remained oblivious to the motives. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

“Insanity,” declared Einstein. “Is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” Was the sharp little man predicting your strategy against the impending obesity epidemic? Thirty years of repeating the same mistakes. Not just failing to halt the crisis, but actually exacerbating it.

And the new plan today? Fundamentally, it is identical. Michelle Obama’s current, corporate-led, child obesity campaign scores 100% on well meaning — and 0% on wholesale change. All that matters, what you are told to put in your mouth, is aligned to the same destructive, corporate-sponsored dietary doctrine. I apologize for my original accusation America, this is not stupidity — it is insanity.

Einstein is no longer around to identify and solve your problems. However, a little-known Welsh obesity researcher, Zoe Harcombe, may be the surprising, next-best hope for salvation. For the last six months, I have been peeling through the twenty years of obesity research that she has accumulated. Some insight will be shared in her upcoming publication ‘The Obesity Epidemic’. If you want to know why you’re fat, and who wants to keep you that way, I suggest you head to the Welsh valleys and plead with her for a little chat.

From an informed perspective, let me shine a little light…

Americans (still) rule the world. They can stroll on the moon, influence global diplomacy, finance unstable countries around the world…yet they cannot keep their own people relatively healthy? Of course they could, if it were actually desired. Unfortunately, for the world’s most powerful companies, an unhealthy America is, perversely, a very profitable America.

If I own a sock company, I need people with feet to maintain my business. Similarly, if I own a diet company (total combined U.S. industry value: est. $45-$100 billion), I need fat people. Luckily for the diet industry, the even more powerful food industry (estimated value: astronomical — U.S. food-based retailing alone >$1,200 billion) make their main profits from cheap processed foods. Foods which make people fat.

The medical industry is similarly grateful — the unhealthy obese are as vital for their profit margins as oil is to the oil business. And we’ve seen what happens when the oil industry has their supply stream compromised.

So, if industries (with a combined net worth and power exceeding many actual countries), need a vital supply chain to survive, we can safely say that they will probably work out how to get it.

They need fat people. So what do they do?

People in America like to think that they eat with freedom. Ultimately, however, they can only pick what is presented to them, and what they can afford. Then, the decision is based on what they believe to be healthy, tasty and safe. With that in mind, can you imagine how great it would be for the industries mentioned above, if dietary advice given could be contained and restricted to just one organization that they could pour money into? That scenario is not just some North Koreanesque wet dream. It is USA 2010.

The ADA (American Dietetic Association) has complete monopoly on dietary advice. To keep the bubble airtight, the full might of the law has even been implemented. Kim Jong-il would be proud of the attention to detail.

Staggeringly, in 46 out of 50 States, the message the authorities want you to have is protected. The law determines who is able to provide you with nutritional advice.

The Commission on Dietetic Registration is the credentializing agency for the ADA. A practicing dietician not registered with the ADA or CDR is liable to face prosecution in over 90% of the country.

With that in mind, who precisely is ‘sponsoring’ the ADA and the nutritional advice you receive?

My friends, it is a beautiful army. Partners (recent and current — and their latest annual revenue figures):

Coca Cola (revenue $31.4 billion), GlaxoSmithKline (revenue $42.5 billion), Hershey’s (revenue $5.3 billion), Unilever (revenue $55.8 billion), Aramark (revenue: $12.3 billion). There are even some ‘premier sponsors’: Mars (revenue: $30 billion), PepsiCo (revenue $44.3 billion), Truvia sweetener (revenue of parent company Cargill: $116.6 billion), Kellogg’s ($12.7 billion).
ADA ‘sponsors’ have combined revenues of over $400 billion.

Why are these gargantuan companies — whose only intention is to make money, not make you healthy — allowed to fund the ADA?

The ADA themselves can perhaps assist us. On their own website (in the section where they are trying to seduce corporate America), they offer a helping hand: Why Become an ADA Sponsor?

As ADA past president Martin Yadrick stated in a 2008 US News & World Report article: “We think it’s important for us to be at the same table with food companies because of the positive influence that we can have on them.”

But, Martin, darling, they are paying you to be at their table. You are publicly telling America that you are somehow the one wearing the trousers in the relationship? My headline must be correct — even the ADA seem to think that America is stupid.

So, with the system in place, what would be the ideal message that corporate America could choose to create to strengthen their businesses?

If you want to know when (and how) the obesity epidemic started, you do not need a degree in science to understand the details. Just a simple little line, that a child could understand, will tell you all you need to know.

Have a look at the graph below. Notice the steady line for decades and then the upward leap from 1977 onwards?

What strange event happened in 1977? Elvis died; perhaps the aliens who took him started to replace his fellow Americans with clones of fat, singing, hamburger-addicts? The truth is no less remarkable.

In 1977 America changed its health advice. In a nutshell (or, more likely, an ADA approved Mars bar): Eat more starchy foods, eat more carbohydrates, saturated fats are bad. If that sounds like pretty good advice to you, then you don’t know enough about what you are putting into your mouth.

Your grandparents were raised in a generation aware that God’s supermarket was better than man’s. Saturated fat was a vital part of their diet. For them, obesity was not a common health problem. They were not suffering malnutrition in the fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K). Remarkably, you, dear Western reader, probably are.

A processed product with ‘zero fat’ stamped on it (invariably high in sugar, chemicals and carbs instead) is great for making profits, but useless for losing weight. Wreaking havoc with insulin and your body’s biochemistry is not clever. The majority of the western world now do so on a daily basis.

If you want to have some fun with graphs, you can go and look at the corresponding obesity spikes in other countries when they followed the 1977 change in US advice.

In Canada, the point was near-parallel. In Britain it happened in 1983. The Australians struck around the time of the Brits, launching their magically stupid ‘Health Pyramid‘. The obesity rate in each territory began its steady ascent. Big fat corporate party time.

Your commercially sponsored weight loss advice is making you gain weight. It would be laughable, a comic irony, if the consequences were not so tragic. From diabetes to obesity to cancer to heart disease, the price being paid for corporate profit is in lives.

It is not up to me to tell you the science; research that yourself. Do it thoroughly, the corruption and manipulation of facts is on a far greater, more shocking scale than the story I have detailed so far.

Look at the true details of the Keys’ ‘Seven Countries‘ study. How the food industry have used it to falsely demonize fats and change global policies. How we have been lied to about the relevance of calories. How the false ‘crimes of cholesterol’ can be simply resolved by picking up a globe and looking at the proximity to the equator of the ‘Seven Countries’ involved in the study.

Educate yourself and spot the lies that your trusted sources are feeding you. Alarmingly, few supposed ‘experts’ are free from bias. Including many learned figures who try to voice opinion on this great site. Do not ever underestimate the power of industry and the corrupting influence of money. People have vested interests and through intent, ignorance (or a dangerous combination of both), preach some unforgivable lies.

This issue is about money. This issue is about race. Obesity in black Americans is 50% higher than that of white Americans. Obesity in Hispanics is 25% higher than that of white Americans.

Obesity rates are highest in the poor – they are the ones who rely on cheap processed foods to feed their families.

The poor, carb-addicted fatties make the thin, rich shareholders very happy.

America is, of course, no more ‘stupid’ than other nations. Across the western world, nutritional advice has been polluted by the omnipotent corporations who profit from ill health. However, USA, the world looks to you for a guiding light.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist. Spot the devil. Uncover the scientific facts about fat and carbohydrates. Stand up for the truth. Or stay big, stay fat and stay stupid.

Several articles came to our attention this week as must reads when it comes to a natural approach to overall health and wellness.  Here’s the latest in health news across the web!

Food Allergies Make Kids a Target (CNN.com)

More children with food allergies may experience acts of bullying and other targeted negative behaviors than their peers, Sicherer said. A 2001 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development study found that about 17 percent of children in grades six to 10 reported being bullied. By comparison, 50 percent of kids in that age group in the food allergy study were reported to have experienced bullying, teasing or harassment. Read more.

Top Ten Toxins and How to Protect Your Family (USA Today)

What can you do to protect your family from everyday toxins? Plenty, writes USA TODAY health reporter Liz Szabo, in Fresh: Women’s Health Guide, a new USA TODAY publication that hits newsstands today. Here’s Szabo’s list of the toxic 10, in no particular order, with ideas for avoiding them. Read more.

What’s Wrong with Our Food “System”? (TedX Next Generation)

Why go organic?  11 year old, Birke Baehr speaks out about the risks of genetically modified foods, CAFOs, synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and food irradiation.

Watch the video.

Hot Pepper for High Blood Pressure (Dr. Andrew Weil)

Capsaicin, the compound that adds the spicy zing to hot peppers, seems to have some benefit in blood pressure control. Chinese researchers have reported that long term consumption of capsaicin as part of the normal diet of rats bred to have high blood pressure helps relax blood vessels so that pressure falls. Read more.

The following is the third and final piece of a three part series that comprises a white paper report on Nutritional Protection Against Excitotoxins.  In this series we explore the importance of nutrition in protecting the body and brain from harmful toxins and free radicals.  To read the complete report on Nutritional Protection, click to download. This is for reference only, all rights are reserved.

Free Radicals:

Research now shows us that as we age our cells, including neurons, lose a significant amount of their ability to generate energy. Most cells generate the majority of their energy from electrons passing through a series of enzymatic reactions within the mitochondria, known as the electron transport chain. These electrons are derived from the breakdown of glucose in the kreb’s cycle.

The various steps in energy generation by the electron transport chain have been designated Complex I through V as listed in the table below:

Electron Transport Chain:

• Complex I-NADH – Ubiquinone oxidoreductase
• Complex II – Succinate: ubiquinone oxidoreductase
• Complex III – ubiquinonl: ferricytochrome c oxidoreductase
• Complex IV – ferrocytochrome c: oxygen oxidoreductase
• Complex V - ATP synthease

Anything that blocks one of these enzymatic steps severely interferes with the cells’ ability to produce energy, primarily in the form of ATP. But to better understand how energy deficits occur we must go back one more step.

Even before energy production declines another process begins to develop as we age — the cells begin to accumulate free radicals in larger amounts. We know that free radicals can damage cell membranes, intracellular components, and even the DNA itself. One reason for all of this increase in free radicals is the reduction in the cell’s protection mechanisms. For example, we know that all cells contain three antioxidant enzymes–glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismustase — as well as a multitude of scavenging vitamins and minerals (Vitamins C, E, K, beta carotene, selenium, magnesium, and zinc). Even co-enzyme Q10 acts as a powerful free radical scavenger and a regenerator of antioxidants vitamin C and E.

As we age, there is a progressive decline in reduced glutathione, as well as the other antioxidants, within the cellular environment. ³ This is partly due to the increased production of several oxygen radicals, such superoxide and the hydroxide radical, which in essence overwhelm the antioxidant enzymes. A combinatimon of decreased availability of the antioxidant enzymes, depletion of the dietary antioxidants, and increased generation of free radicals puts all cells at considerable risk of serious injury or death.

In humans, we know that lipid peroxidation, a process of free radical injury to cell membrane lipids, results in the accumulation of “age” pigments within the brain called lipofuscin. Animals fed diets low in vitamin E develop a dramatic increase in these “age” pigments. ⁴ Vitamin E supplementation dramitically reduces brain lipofuscin.

One of the early finding in Parkinson’s disease, is a dramatic fall in the glutathione levels within the neurons of the primary area of the brain affected, the substantia nigra. This is accompanied by a buildup of peroxides and the dangerous hydroxide radical. Iron accumulation within the affected neurons act as powerful free radical generators as well. A recent study also indicated that there may be an accumulation of copper in addition to iron. ⁵ Copper, too, is a powerful generator of free radicals. Interestingly, iron is also known to be increased in the frontal lobes in cases of Alzheimer’s disease. ⁶ And, as one could expect, there is an increase in lipid peroxidation in cases of Alzheimer’s disease. Microscopically, free iron seems to concentrate in and around the neuritic plaques common to Alzheimer’s disease patients.

The buildup of free radical within the neurons with aging not only affects energy production (complex I is especially sensitive to damage by free radicals) but also produces sever damage to the mitochondrial DNA. ⁷ Cells posses two types of genetic material. One found in the nucleus (most think of this) and another within the mitochondria. The latter is responsible for reproduction of the mitochondria within the cell.

Damage to the mitochondrial DNA affects only the involved mitochondria and not the genetics of the cell itself. But, when that mitochondria reproduces itself the defect is passed on to the new mitochondria as well. In today’s time, we know that there is a growing list of diseases caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. We know that many of these diseases do not present themselves until later childhood or even adulthood. The explanation for this may lie in the fact that until greater than 60% of the mitochondria are affected no disease occurs. That may take many years or even decades.

It is known that mitochondrial DNA mutates at a rate ten times that of chromosomal DNA. ⁸ Most likely this is because the former lacks histones and repair enzymes. An interesting study was done by Dr. Allen C. Bowling that demonstrated an age dependent impairment of electron transport chain enzymes in the primate cortex. ⁹ They found that complex I and IV in the brain were especially vulnerable to age-related damage; these are the same two complexes damaged in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disorder. A portion of these two complexes are encoded in the mitochondrial DNA. Complex II, III, and V were preserved, this is not surprising, since they are encoded by the chromosomal DNA only. Complex I is known to be very sensitive to destruction by the hydroxl radical and complex IV to peroxide.

It is also important to note that glutamate not only damages the microtubules within the dendrites, even in lower doses, but it also damages the DNA as well. ¹⁰ Dr. S.E. Shepard, in a recent study, found that aspartame (NutraSweet), when nitrosated in the stomach, shows a significant mutagenicity, ¹¹ causing damage to the genetic structure of the cell. In fact, they found that the nitrosated aspartame was quite toxic to cells themselves.

Protection For Our Neurons Against Free Radicals
Since the primary defect causing neurons to have difficulty generating energy is related to free radical generation, our primary concern should be to restore the cell’s ability to combat these accumulating free radicals. There are several things we can do.

Multiple Vitamins Vs. Single Antioxidant Vitamins:
It is better to take several different types of antioxidants. There are many different types of free radical–peroxides, hydroxide radical, superoxide, and singlet oxygen. The antioxidants each specialize in removing specific types of free radical. For example, vitamin E scavenges in the propagation phase of lipid peroxidation. But, for most forms of vitamin E, it does so only in the lipid fractions of the cell, that is the fatty membranes. Water soluble vitamin E appears to concentrate in the cytosol of the cell as well. Coezyme Q10, on the other hand, blocks both the initiation as well as the propagation of lipid peroxidation.

Vitamin C and beta carotene block free radicals within the watery parts of the cells (cytosol) and in the space out the cell (extracellular space) but not in the lipid membranes. It is also important to note that vitamin C and coenzyme Q10 can recycle vitamin E, thereby restoring its antioxidant function. ¹² Glutathione also recycles vitamin C.

It is for these reasons that the antioxidant vitamins and minerals should be taken in combination. Clinical studies confirm this.

Free Radical Generators
We must emphasize that all excitotoxins — glutamate, aspartate, and L-cysteine–stimulate large amounts of free radicals within exposed neurons. In all cases, we know that excess excitotoxic stimulation results in the buildup of free radicals within the involved neurons. Catherine Bergeron has stated that the best theory for excitotoxity in ALS was that it initiated oxidative stress and the arachidonic cascade (by phospholipase A2), therefore generating large concentrations of free radicals in the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord. ¹³ In time, this results in the progressive death of motor nuerons and the onset of progressive weakness.

There are many similar scenarios carried out in the other neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. In all cases, it has been shown that excess excitotoxic stimulation results in the buildup of free radicals within the involved neurons, eventually overwhelming the cell’s ability to neutralize these harmful items.

Stimulation of Mitochondrial Energy Production
Once we have corrected the problem of excess free radical generation, we are still left with damaged mitochondria that lack the ability to produce a sufficient amount of energy for normal functioning and survival. Research has shown that there is a growing list of mitochondrial diseases that are being recognized. Up until just recently, treatment for these diseases were hopeless. What changed this was the realization that these are metabolic defects and that by manipulating the cell’s metabolism one could correct some of these defects.

Early treatment involved the use of riboflavin and L-carnitine. The end results were surprising. Many patients became functionally independent for the first time.

Enter Coenzyme Q10
Research has shown us that certain mitochondrial toxins can mimic these type of disorders. Dr. Flint Beal conducted a study, using animals, and found that if the animals were given a mitochondrial toxin they developed lesions deep in their brains. ¹⁴ However, if the animals were treated beforehand with the coenzyme Q-10 the lesions could be prevented.

Conclusion
It is becoming extremely evident that most if not all of the neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system begin with an impaired energy production system. This in return, leaves the neuron vulnerable to excitotoxin injury. By using nutritional products to increase mitochondrial energy production this final destructive step in prevented.

Krill Oil : Top Notch Antioxidant Protection — krill oil contains the unique antioxidant which may protect you from damaging free radicals. Past evidence has shown us that phospholipids are the safest and most effective carriers of DHA and EPA. Sadly though, standard fish oils and some low quality krill oil brands lack the phospholipid complex. Instead they contain omega-3 in the free-triglyceride form. This is less beneficial form. Phospholipids are the building blocks of your cell membranes; they regulate cellular transport and act like the “gate keepers of the cell.” This means that they protect the cell membrane from free radical attacks. If that’s not enough important facts, the most dominant phospholipid in krill oil is phosphatidyl choline, which is slightly composed of choline. Choline has been shown to be crucial in brain development, learning and memory. We also know that choline is important for fetal and infant brain development. Choline is the much needed neurotransmitter acetylcholne (this sends nerve signals to the brain) and trimethylglycine, a highly acclaimed liver protecter.

Fish Oil: EPA/ DHA is an essential fatty acid which stands for docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. This essential fatty acid is an Omega 3 fat, which is usually found in cold water fish. EPA/ DHA are highly unsaturated fat because they contain 6 and 5 double bond’s on their long structural chain. These polyunsaturated fats play a very important role with the function of our bodies. EPA and DHA are vital nutrients and may be taken to maintain healthy function of the following: Brain and Retina- DHA is a building block of tissue in the brain and retina of the eye. It helps with forming neural transmitters, such as phosphatidylserine, which is important for brain function. DHA is found in the retina of the eye and taking DHA may be necessary for maintaining healthy levels of DHA for normal eye function. Mega EPA/DHA is something everyone can benefit from!

Cell Manna: Complete Cellular Whole Food Support – Cell Manna is unlike any other product on the market due to its anti-aging benefits. With over 80 different ayurvedic and Korean herbs, this product’s key benefits are anti-aging, hormonal balance, and overall harmony. Cell Manna was created to provide the nutrients to the cells within the body. We call this micro nutrition which is used to feed specific cells you are targeting (ex. Liver, kidney, etc.). Taken by itself it is an overall rejuvenator for every cell within the body.

CoQ Support: CoQ10 has been available for decades, but now there is an amazing new form of Co Q10 called ubiquinol. Why is this so beneficial? CoQ10 is one of the key elements in the aging process and free radical production. These free radicals are oxygen atoms deficient in electrons that become highly reactive. This in turn causes potential damage to your tissues and DNA. If there was something you could do to limit the free radical production, then you could change the aging process. One nutrient that can help you do just that is Co Q10. The problem is your body requires the reduced form of Co Q10 (ubiquinol) to help you limit free radical production. If you’re younger than 25 years old, this isn’t an issue because your body is capable of converting Co Q10 from the oxidized to the reduced form. but, if you’re older, your body becomes more and more challenged to convert the oxidized Co Q10 to ubiquinol. Another very important reason for using a Co Q10 supplement is to help boost your body’s cellular energy production. Co Q10 helps facilitate the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy “currency for all your cells. But if you’re over 25, you need the reduced form of Co Q10, ubiquinol, to efficiently do this. So even if you do your best to eat a healthy diet, your body’s ability to produce Co Q10 and convert it to ubiquinol declines over time.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.