The Dark Side of Vitaminwater
by John Robbins
Author of The New Good Life, Diet For A New America, and many other bestsellers
Now here's something you wouldn't expect. Coca-Cola is being sued by a non-profit public interest group, on the grounds that the company's vitaminwater products make unwarranted health claims. No surprise there. But how do you think the company is defending itself?
In a staggering feat of twisted logic, lawyers for Coca-Cola are defending the lawsuit by asserting that "no consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking vitaminwater was a healthy beverage."
Does this mean that you'd have to be an unreasonable person to think that a product named "vitaminwater," a product that has been heavily and aggressively marketed as a healthy beverage, actually had health benefits?
Or does it mean that it's okay for a corporation to lie about its products, as long as they can then turn around and claim that no one actually believes their lies?
In fact, the product is basically sugar-water, to which about a penny's worth of synthetic vitamins have been added. And the amount of sugar is not trivial. A bottle of vitaminwater contains 33 grams of sugar, making it more akin to a soft drink than to a healthy beverage.
Is any harm being done by this marketing ploy? After all, some might say consumers are at least getting some vitamins, and there isn't as much sugar in vitaminwater as there is in regular Coke.
True. But about 35 percent of Americans are now considered medically obese. Two-thirds of Americans are overweight. Health experts tend to disagree about almost everything, but they all concur that added sugars play a key role in the obesity epidemic, a problem that now leads to more medical costs than smoking.
How many people with weight problems have consumed products like vitaminwater in the mistaken belief that the product was nutritionally positive and carried no caloric consequences? How many have thought that consuming vitaminwater was a smart choice from a weight-loss perspective? The very name "vitaminwater" suggests that the product is simply water with added nutrients, disguising the fact that it's actually full of added sugar.
The truth is that when it comes to weight loss, what you drink may be even more important than what you eat. Americans now get nearly 25 percent of their calories from liquids. In 2009, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health published a report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, finding that the quickest and most reliable way to lose weight is to cut down on liquid calorie consumption. And the best way to do that is to reduce or eliminate beverages that contain added sugar.
Meanwhile, Coca-Cola has invested billions of dollars in its vitaminwater line, paying basketball stars, including Kobe Bryant and Lebron James, to appear in ads that emphatically state that these products are a healthy way for consumers to hydrate. When Lebron James held his much ballyhooed TV special to announce his decision to join the Miami Heat, many corporations paid millions in an attempt to capitalize on the event. But it was vitaminwater that had the most prominent role throughout the show.
The lawsuit, brought by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, alleges that vitaminwater labels and advertising are filled with "deceptive and unsubstantiated claims." In his recent 55-page ruling, Federal Judge John Gleeson (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York), wrote, "At oral arguments, defendants (Coca-Cola) suggested that no consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking vitamin water was a healthy beverage." Noting that the soft drink giant wasn't claiming the lawsuit was wrong on factual grounds, the judge wrote that, "Accordingly, I must accept the factual allegations in the complaint as true."
I still can't get over the bizarre audacity of Coke's legal case. Forced to defend themselves in court, they are acknowledging that vitaminwater isn't a healthy product. But they are arguing that advertising it as such isn't false advertising, because no could possibly believe such a ridiculous claim.
I guess that's why they spend hundreds of millions of dollars advertising the product, saying it will keep you "healthy as a horse," and will bring about a "healthy state of physical and mental well-being."
Why do we allow companies like Coca-Cola to tell us that drinking a bottle of sugar water with a few added water-soluble vitamins is a legitimate way to meet our nutritional needs?
Here's what I suggest: If you're looking for a healthy and far less expensive way to hydrate, try drinking water. If you want to flavor the water you drink, try adding the juice of a lemon and a small amount of honey or maple syrup to a quart of water. Another alternative is to mix one part lemonade or fruit juice to three or four parts water. Or drink green tea, hot or chilled, adding lemon and a small amount of sweetener if you like. If you want to jazz it up, try one-half fruit juice, one-half carbonated water.
If your tap water tastes bad or you suspect it might contain lead or other contaminants, get a water filter that fits under the sink or attaches to the tap.
And it's probably not the best idea to rely on a soft drink company for your vitamins and other essential nutrients. A plant-strong diet with lots of vegetables and fruits will provide you with what you need far more reliably, far more consistently -- and far more honestly.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Water and The Brain
Water and The Brain
by Dr. Corinne Allen
www.brainadvance.org
Why is Water So Important for the Brain?
The Brain is 85% water. Optimal brain function depends on water and lots of it. Water is what keeps the brain signals going. When the quality of water is compromised the signals are short circuited. Water supports DNA and is the largest single source of energy. The brain has no way to store water and dehydration comes if all the water lost in a day is not replaced and this deficiency is accumulated. Brain cells need 2x more energy than other cells in the body. Water supplies energy. Nerve transmission consumes one-half of all the brain's energy (nearly 10% of the whole body's energy). When hydrated, you have more energy. When the brain is functioning on a full reserve of water, it will function at full capacity and you'll think better and faster. Creativity is boosted.
Brain Injury Causes Inflammation.
Brain inflammation can occur from many causes including: head injuries, premature birth, lack of oxygen, vaccinations, pesticides, accidents, and various infections. The resulting inflammation can provide dysfunction in the body's ability to detoxify harmful substances. The brain can also exhibit mitochondria that have low energy output and high free radical generation. Often those with brain challenges like Autism and Aspergers, ADD, depression, panic attacks, head injuries drink almost no water each day, only accentuating the problem in brain functioning.
In Autistics and others where brain inflammation is high, toxins can more more easily cross the blood brain, flooding the brain with free radicals. Kangen Watertm has been providing participants in the Advanced Learning & Development Institute with a strong source of antioxidants and improved hydration. In the ALDI brain programs, we observed that our expectations have been significantly exceeded by adding Kangen Watertm to the protocol program, even as much as 35% improvement in the results.
Why is Water Important in Advanced Learning & Development Institute's Brain Programs?
It is most common that those with brain issues exhibited in Autism, Aspergers, ADD, Dyslexia, Learning Disabilities, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Post Traumatic Stress, and Accidents do not drink enough water. Often those with brain challenges will drink almost no water each day, only accentuating the problems in their brain functioning.
Instead, those with brain challenges will favor drinking the very beverages that cause more brain dehydration such as beverages containing caffeine, alcohol, or sugar. Dehydration affects all functions in the brain. Mayo clinic says that the average adult loses more than 10 cups of water every day through breathing, perspiring, and eliminating wastes.
Why Does Kangen Water Work So Well in ALDI's Brain Program? Our clients have every brain difficulty imaginable. We see clients with many different signs of brain dehydration including: brain fog, afternoon fatigue, focus problems, depression, anger, emotional instability, grouchiness, over sensitive (including auditory, tactile, taste, smell, visual), exhaustion, headaches, sleep issues, stress, picky eaters, or cravings. Among other signs of dehydration that we see are lack of metal clarity and acuity, ability to get along with other people, pessimism and lack of vision, weakened immune system, and mental fatigue.
Even if a person is 1% dehydrated, there is a 5% decrease in cognitive function. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy, short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing. Studies show that prolonged dehydration of the brain causes cells to begin to shrink.
Water is an important factor in brain food and productivity.
Many think that they can drink soda, coffee, milk, or juice and stay hydrated. This is not true. Especially the brain needs water to send signals from the brain to the rest of the body.
Water eliminates toxins from the brain as well as delivering nutrients to the brain. When the brain is fully hydrated, the circuitry works well and functions at optimum levels. Water is essential for concentration and mental alertness. ALDI's brain program is rigorous. The participants need energy. Most brain injured don't have much energy. Kangen water absorbs into the cells and especially the brain so quickly and efficiently that energy is available instantly to keep clients able to take advantage of maximum therapy in a day.
Studies have shown that most people are permanently partially dehydrated. This means that their brain is working considerably below its capacity and potential. When there is brain injury on top of dehydration, the problems associated with dehydration cause more evident and profound symptoms.
Why does Advanced Learning & Development Institute use Kangen Water in Its Brain Program?
Since water comprises 85% of the brain and 70% of the body, when the body is hydrated with alkaline, highly ionized and micro clustered water, the ability to reduce acidity and dehydration becomes almost immediate. Water becomes a tool to balance the brain and the body. The brain is only 1/50th of the total body weight and it uses 1/20th of the blood supply. Yet, for optimal brain function, it needs a lot of water since the brain is mostly water. If there is a lack of water, it can cause mild to severe problems in the brain. Dehydration causes the level of energy generated by the brain to be decreased.
People who have brain injuries and resulting inflammation in the brain, have dysfunction in their ability to detoxify harmful substances like radiation, toxic metals, chemicals, pesticides, pollution, infections, and other free radicals. They also have mitochondria that have low energy output and high free radical generation.
Brain inflammation comes from head injuries, prematurity in infants, lack of oxygen, military receiving trauma from blasts, and infections in the brain. In autistics and other with brain injury where brain inflammation is high, toxins can cross the blood brain barrier easier allowing pollutants, radiation, chemical, pesticides, and toxic metals to flood the brain with their resultant free radicals. To stop the many sources of free radicals attacking the brain and causing brain inflammation, a strong antioxidant and powerful, supportive anti inflammatory agent like the free radical savaging, ionized, microclustered, alkaline water is needed. In the ALDI brain program, we observed that all our therapies were enhanced significantly by Kangen Water. Kangen Water and its ability to support the body's ability to deal with brain inflammation is exceptional. The results that we are now able to achieve with Kangen Water is beyond any normal therapeutic expectations.
The Advanced Learning & Development Learning Institute uses high alkaline Kangen Water to accentuate all therapies and is producing results in our clients that were never before possible so quickly.
by Dr. Corinne Allen
www.brainadvance.org
Why is Water So Important for the Brain?
The Brain is 85% water. Optimal brain function depends on water and lots of it. Water is what keeps the brain signals going. When the quality of water is compromised the signals are short circuited. Water supports DNA and is the largest single source of energy. The brain has no way to store water and dehydration comes if all the water lost in a day is not replaced and this deficiency is accumulated. Brain cells need 2x more energy than other cells in the body. Water supplies energy. Nerve transmission consumes one-half of all the brain's energy (nearly 10% of the whole body's energy). When hydrated, you have more energy. When the brain is functioning on a full reserve of water, it will function at full capacity and you'll think better and faster. Creativity is boosted.
Brain Injury Causes Inflammation.
Brain inflammation can occur from many causes including: head injuries, premature birth, lack of oxygen, vaccinations, pesticides, accidents, and various infections. The resulting inflammation can provide dysfunction in the body's ability to detoxify harmful substances. The brain can also exhibit mitochondria that have low energy output and high free radical generation. Often those with brain challenges like Autism and Aspergers, ADD, depression, panic attacks, head injuries drink almost no water each day, only accentuating the problem in brain functioning.
In Autistics and others where brain inflammation is high, toxins can more more easily cross the blood brain, flooding the brain with free radicals. Kangen Watertm has been providing participants in the Advanced Learning & Development Institute with a strong source of antioxidants and improved hydration. In the ALDI brain programs, we observed that our expectations have been significantly exceeded by adding Kangen Watertm to the protocol program, even as much as 35% improvement in the results.
Why is Water Important in Advanced Learning & Development Institute's Brain Programs?
It is most common that those with brain issues exhibited in Autism, Aspergers, ADD, Dyslexia, Learning Disabilities, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Post Traumatic Stress, and Accidents do not drink enough water. Often those with brain challenges will drink almost no water each day, only accentuating the problems in their brain functioning.
Instead, those with brain challenges will favor drinking the very beverages that cause more brain dehydration such as beverages containing caffeine, alcohol, or sugar. Dehydration affects all functions in the brain. Mayo clinic says that the average adult loses more than 10 cups of water every day through breathing, perspiring, and eliminating wastes.
Why Does Kangen Water Work So Well in ALDI's Brain Program? Our clients have every brain difficulty imaginable. We see clients with many different signs of brain dehydration including: brain fog, afternoon fatigue, focus problems, depression, anger, emotional instability, grouchiness, over sensitive (including auditory, tactile, taste, smell, visual), exhaustion, headaches, sleep issues, stress, picky eaters, or cravings. Among other signs of dehydration that we see are lack of metal clarity and acuity, ability to get along with other people, pessimism and lack of vision, weakened immune system, and mental fatigue.
Even if a person is 1% dehydrated, there is a 5% decrease in cognitive function. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy, short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing. Studies show that prolonged dehydration of the brain causes cells to begin to shrink.
Water is an important factor in brain food and productivity.
Many think that they can drink soda, coffee, milk, or juice and stay hydrated. This is not true. Especially the brain needs water to send signals from the brain to the rest of the body.
Water eliminates toxins from the brain as well as delivering nutrients to the brain. When the brain is fully hydrated, the circuitry works well and functions at optimum levels. Water is essential for concentration and mental alertness. ALDI's brain program is rigorous. The participants need energy. Most brain injured don't have much energy. Kangen water absorbs into the cells and especially the brain so quickly and efficiently that energy is available instantly to keep clients able to take advantage of maximum therapy in a day.
Studies have shown that most people are permanently partially dehydrated. This means that their brain is working considerably below its capacity and potential. When there is brain injury on top of dehydration, the problems associated with dehydration cause more evident and profound symptoms.
Why does Advanced Learning & Development Institute use Kangen Water in Its Brain Program?
Since water comprises 85% of the brain and 70% of the body, when the body is hydrated with alkaline, highly ionized and micro clustered water, the ability to reduce acidity and dehydration becomes almost immediate. Water becomes a tool to balance the brain and the body. The brain is only 1/50th of the total body weight and it uses 1/20th of the blood supply. Yet, for optimal brain function, it needs a lot of water since the brain is mostly water. If there is a lack of water, it can cause mild to severe problems in the brain. Dehydration causes the level of energy generated by the brain to be decreased.
People who have brain injuries and resulting inflammation in the brain, have dysfunction in their ability to detoxify harmful substances like radiation, toxic metals, chemicals, pesticides, pollution, infections, and other free radicals. They also have mitochondria that have low energy output and high free radical generation.
Brain inflammation comes from head injuries, prematurity in infants, lack of oxygen, military receiving trauma from blasts, and infections in the brain. In autistics and other with brain injury where brain inflammation is high, toxins can cross the blood brain barrier easier allowing pollutants, radiation, chemical, pesticides, and toxic metals to flood the brain with their resultant free radicals. To stop the many sources of free radicals attacking the brain and causing brain inflammation, a strong antioxidant and powerful, supportive anti inflammatory agent like the free radical savaging, ionized, microclustered, alkaline water is needed. In the ALDI brain program, we observed that all our therapies were enhanced significantly by Kangen Water. Kangen Water and its ability to support the body's ability to deal with brain inflammation is exceptional. The results that we are now able to achieve with Kangen Water is beyond any normal therapeutic expectations.
The Advanced Learning & Development Learning Institute uses high alkaline Kangen Water to accentuate all therapies and is producing results in our clients that were never before possible so quickly.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Wash your clothes, chemical free with Kangen(TM)!
Taken from Enagic............
Summer brings fun outdoor activities for all ages. From camping to soccer, beach volleyball to water skiing, and everything in between, summer is certainly the time to get out and get active! But after you come home and wind down, you’re left with the inevitable aftermath of summer fun: laundry.
Have you ever stopped to question your trusted laundry detergent? Here are some startling truths you may not have known:
Companies who manufacture laundry detergents are not required to list all their ingredients on the product label.
» Most laundry detergents contain a chemical called nonylphenol ethoxylate, which is actually the same toxin found in many pesticides.
» Your skin absorbs every chemical found in laundry detergents – it doesn’t wash out in the washing machine!
» In order to mask the unfavorable smell of these chemicals, many companies add “fragrances,” which are actually just more chemicals (not natural ingredients)
» Americans spend more than $3 billion a year on laundry detergents
If you’re thinking of switching out your laundry detergent for something more healthy, economical, and environmentally-friendly, look no further than Kangen Water. Strong Kangen Water, with 11.0 pH level, is great for fighting stains. Even the dreaded coffee, oil, and grease stains are no match for this highly alkaline water! Regular Kangen Water can be used to make your own all-natural laundry detergent. Here’s a wonderful “recipe”:
» Soak 1 cup of soap nuts in 4 cups of Kangen Water overnight. These can usually be found in your local health food store.
» In the morning, liquefy the mixture in your blender
» Strain the liquid into a bottle through a very fine sieve or cheesecloth
» Use 1 cup of detergent with each load, or as needed.
Imagine finally getting rid of all those chemicals in your clothes when you use Kangen Laundry Detergent!
So enjoy your outdoor fun with peace of mind, knowing your clothes and skin can stay chemical and toxin-free, even after the laundry is done.
Summer brings fun outdoor activities for all ages. From camping to soccer, beach volleyball to water skiing, and everything in between, summer is certainly the time to get out and get active! But after you come home and wind down, you’re left with the inevitable aftermath of summer fun: laundry.
Have you ever stopped to question your trusted laundry detergent? Here are some startling truths you may not have known:
Companies who manufacture laundry detergents are not required to list all their ingredients on the product label.
» Most laundry detergents contain a chemical called nonylphenol ethoxylate, which is actually the same toxin found in many pesticides.
» Your skin absorbs every chemical found in laundry detergents – it doesn’t wash out in the washing machine!
» In order to mask the unfavorable smell of these chemicals, many companies add “fragrances,” which are actually just more chemicals (not natural ingredients)
» Americans spend more than $3 billion a year on laundry detergents
If you’re thinking of switching out your laundry detergent for something more healthy, economical, and environmentally-friendly, look no further than Kangen Water. Strong Kangen Water, with 11.0 pH level, is great for fighting stains. Even the dreaded coffee, oil, and grease stains are no match for this highly alkaline water! Regular Kangen Water can be used to make your own all-natural laundry detergent. Here’s a wonderful “recipe”:
» Soak 1 cup of soap nuts in 4 cups of Kangen Water overnight. These can usually be found in your local health food store.
» In the morning, liquefy the mixture in your blender
» Strain the liquid into a bottle through a very fine sieve or cheesecloth
» Use 1 cup of detergent with each load, or as needed.
Imagine finally getting rid of all those chemicals in your clothes when you use Kangen Laundry Detergent!
So enjoy your outdoor fun with peace of mind, knowing your clothes and skin can stay chemical and toxin-free, even after the laundry is done.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Pesticides in and on your foods? NOT ME!
We are all going to be see more and more information and warnings of the dangers of eating foods with pesticides. Only one home unit produces the 11.5 pH Alkaline Water capable of cleaning pesticides from foods. That is the Enagic SD501. Ed Johnson
Why Should You Care About Pesticides?
The growing consensus among scientists is that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can cause lasting damage to human health, especially during fetal development and early childhood. Scientists now know enough about the long-term consequences of ingesting these powerful chemicals to advise that we minimize our consumption of pesticides. SOURCE: http://www.foodnews.org/sneak/EWG-shoppers-guide.pdf See EWG's 2010 "Shoppers Guide to Pesticides."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Pesticide Dangers of Eating Fruits and Vegetables [that are Not Cleaned with 11.5 pH Alkaline Water.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoy Berries ... Safely By Vera Tweed Wed, June 16, 2010 SOURCE: CLICK HERE
Berries are some of the most nutritious and delicious fruits we can eat and they're most plentiful and affordable during the summer. However, if you want to get maximum health benefits from these little gems, pesticides are a major pitfall to avoid.
Berries contain extremely beneficial antioxidants that protect against every imaginable ailment, from heart disease to cancer and diabetes. Unfortunately, they are also among the top sources of pesticides in our diets, and washing the fruit doesn't remove residues.
[NOTE: The author obviously does not know about washing fruits in 11.5 pH water. ED JOHNSON]
Pesticides damage the nervous systems of pests and people. They also contribute to the incidence of cancer and disrupt hormones.
Pesticide Loads
In a ranking of pesticide levels on the 49 most popular fruits and vegetables, strawberries scored third worst and domestic blueberries came in fifth. Each of these commonly contained 13 different pesticides, in U.S. government tests of samples from around the country.
Red raspberries ranked much better, in 23rd place, and cranberries were 33rd. Other berries weren't ranked as they are not eaten as often in the United States. You can see the complete list, compiled by the non-profit Environmental Working Group, at www.foodnews.org.
How to Avoid the Toxins
Buying organic berries is an obvious way to reduce your pesticide intake but it isn't the only one. Many farmers don't use pesticides even though their produce isn't certified organic.
At a strawberry festival in Southern California, I once made a point of asking virtually all the farmers who didn't claim their fruit was organic about their pesticide practices. I was surprised to learn that none of them used pesticides because many local supermarkets demanded pesticide-free strawberries.
Personally, I still buy only organic strawberries in supermarkets because I can't tell how that particular fruit was grown. However, if I buy directly from a farmer, I don't insist on organic certification if the farm doesn't use pesticides. The prices are much lower, especially just before closing time at a farmers market.
It's also a good idea to tell your local supermarket that you don't want pesticides. If enough of your neighbors share and voice similar views, the store buyers will oblige.
Berry Mistakes
All too often, we view berries as garnishes instead of delicious foods. It's commonplace to see a half-dozen little blueberries perched on top of a big bowl of ice cream, or a few lonely slices of strawberries floating in mounds of whipped cream between slabs of shortcake.
When berries are in season, look for pesticide-free ones, think like a bear and eat lots of them. In this case, more really is better.
C 2010 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments from Ed Johnson, J.D., Attorney.
Regarding the cleaning of fruit and vegetables with 11.5 pH water. There are several ways that the Enagic SD501 can and will literally pay for itself. Cost savings, by not having to buy and use chemical household cleaners every day is one way, but much more importantly, we are not ingesting the oil based, poisonous pesticides that are imbedded in fruits and vegetables that ordinary tap water cannot emulsify and wash off.
"Cide" is a Latin word meaning "to kill." "Pesticide" therefore, means "to kill pests." If we do not clean our foods of the pesticides by removing them, we are eating the very thing imbedded in them used to kill pests (bugs and worms). Think about this: How many pounds of pesticide have each of us ingested over the past decades, by eating fruits and vegetables impregnated with pesticides? Yet, literally everyone who does not have a way of cleaning their foods is continuing to do so. Selah!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Consider the following US Facts and Statistics.
888 million pounds of pesticides are applied each year in the US!! That's nearly 3 pounds per person in the US.
14 different pesticide residues were detected in one strawberry sample (697 of 741 tested positive for residues.) 6 suspected hormone disruptors were found on cranberries. These chemicals are linked to cancers, obesity, and development disorders. Atrazine, a pesticide is found in 94% of US drinking water. Banned in Europe, atrazine disrupts hormone systems. An average child gets 5+ servings of pesticide residues in their food and water each day. SOURCE: www.whatsonmyfood.com."
"A New Study out of Harvard shows that even tiny, allowable amounts of a common pesticide class can have dramatic effects on brain chemistry. Organophosphate insecticides (OP's) are among the most widely used pesticides in the U.S. & have long been known to be particularly toxic for children. This is the first study to examine their effects across a representative population with average levels of exposure. Conclusion :: Kids with above-average pesticide exposures are twice as likely to have ADHD."
Read the full Report, entitled "Attention Deficit Disorder and Pesticides on Food" at www.whatsonmyfood.com
Ed Johnson, J.D., Attorney
Focusing on Health By Hydration
Why Should You Care About Pesticides?
The growing consensus among scientists is that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can cause lasting damage to human health, especially during fetal development and early childhood. Scientists now know enough about the long-term consequences of ingesting these powerful chemicals to advise that we minimize our consumption of pesticides. SOURCE: http://www.foodnews.org/sneak/EWG-shoppers-guide.pdf See EWG's 2010 "Shoppers Guide to Pesticides."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Pesticide Dangers of Eating Fruits and Vegetables [that are Not Cleaned with 11.5 pH Alkaline Water.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoy Berries ... Safely By Vera Tweed Wed, June 16, 2010 SOURCE: CLICK HERE
Berries are some of the most nutritious and delicious fruits we can eat and they're most plentiful and affordable during the summer. However, if you want to get maximum health benefits from these little gems, pesticides are a major pitfall to avoid.
Berries contain extremely beneficial antioxidants that protect against every imaginable ailment, from heart disease to cancer and diabetes. Unfortunately, they are also among the top sources of pesticides in our diets, and washing the fruit doesn't remove residues.
[NOTE: The author obviously does not know about washing fruits in 11.5 pH water. ED JOHNSON]
Pesticides damage the nervous systems of pests and people. They also contribute to the incidence of cancer and disrupt hormones.
Pesticide Loads
In a ranking of pesticide levels on the 49 most popular fruits and vegetables, strawberries scored third worst and domestic blueberries came in fifth. Each of these commonly contained 13 different pesticides, in U.S. government tests of samples from around the country.
Red raspberries ranked much better, in 23rd place, and cranberries were 33rd. Other berries weren't ranked as they are not eaten as often in the United States. You can see the complete list, compiled by the non-profit Environmental Working Group, at www.foodnews.org.
How to Avoid the Toxins
Buying organic berries is an obvious way to reduce your pesticide intake but it isn't the only one. Many farmers don't use pesticides even though their produce isn't certified organic.
At a strawberry festival in Southern California, I once made a point of asking virtually all the farmers who didn't claim their fruit was organic about their pesticide practices. I was surprised to learn that none of them used pesticides because many local supermarkets demanded pesticide-free strawberries.
Personally, I still buy only organic strawberries in supermarkets because I can't tell how that particular fruit was grown. However, if I buy directly from a farmer, I don't insist on organic certification if the farm doesn't use pesticides. The prices are much lower, especially just before closing time at a farmers market.
It's also a good idea to tell your local supermarket that you don't want pesticides. If enough of your neighbors share and voice similar views, the store buyers will oblige.
Berry Mistakes
All too often, we view berries as garnishes instead of delicious foods. It's commonplace to see a half-dozen little blueberries perched on top of a big bowl of ice cream, or a few lonely slices of strawberries floating in mounds of whipped cream between slabs of shortcake.
When berries are in season, look for pesticide-free ones, think like a bear and eat lots of them. In this case, more really is better.
C 2010 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments from Ed Johnson, J.D., Attorney.
Regarding the cleaning of fruit and vegetables with 11.5 pH water. There are several ways that the Enagic SD501 can and will literally pay for itself. Cost savings, by not having to buy and use chemical household cleaners every day is one way, but much more importantly, we are not ingesting the oil based, poisonous pesticides that are imbedded in fruits and vegetables that ordinary tap water cannot emulsify and wash off.
"Cide" is a Latin word meaning "to kill." "Pesticide" therefore, means "to kill pests." If we do not clean our foods of the pesticides by removing them, we are eating the very thing imbedded in them used to kill pests (bugs and worms). Think about this: How many pounds of pesticide have each of us ingested over the past decades, by eating fruits and vegetables impregnated with pesticides? Yet, literally everyone who does not have a way of cleaning their foods is continuing to do so. Selah!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Consider the following US Facts and Statistics.
888 million pounds of pesticides are applied each year in the US!! That's nearly 3 pounds per person in the US.
14 different pesticide residues were detected in one strawberry sample (697 of 741 tested positive for residues.) 6 suspected hormone disruptors were found on cranberries. These chemicals are linked to cancers, obesity, and development disorders. Atrazine, a pesticide is found in 94% of US drinking water. Banned in Europe, atrazine disrupts hormone systems. An average child gets 5+ servings of pesticide residues in their food and water each day. SOURCE: www.whatsonmyfood.com."
"A New Study out of Harvard shows that even tiny, allowable amounts of a common pesticide class can have dramatic effects on brain chemistry. Organophosphate insecticides (OP's) are among the most widely used pesticides in the U.S. & have long been known to be particularly toxic for children. This is the first study to examine their effects across a representative population with average levels of exposure. Conclusion :: Kids with above-average pesticide exposures are twice as likely to have ADHD."
Read the full Report, entitled "Attention Deficit Disorder and Pesticides on Food" at www.whatsonmyfood.com
Ed Johnson, J.D., Attorney
Focusing on Health By Hydration
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Dr. Sang Whang, author of "Reverse Aging."
By Dr. Sang Whang, author of "Reverse Aging."
Cancer June 14, 2010
Cancer is the most dreaded disease in the world. We collect so much money per year for “research” to find the cure for cancer and many people “walk” to raise money. Every year we raise more money for cancer research, yet we do not find any basic solutions for the cure of the disease.
Why? They must be missing some basic facts. They are missing the facts that cancer is caused by too much acids.
Cancer cells are acidic and healthy cells are alkaline.
Cancer cells die in an alkaline environment while,
Healthy cells die in an acidic environment.
Adding alkaline buffer to the blood is the best cancer prevention.
Cancer can be caused by viruses such as hepatitis B, inherited by the family. Good things are the factors that cancer tumors do not seem to spread. Also if one operates on the tumor, and removes the tumor, it does not seem to recur, because the environment is alkaline, not acidic any more. If the environment remains acidic, the tumor keeps coming back.
To keep the environment alkaline, one must have more alkaline buffer in the blood, rather than acid buffer. Acid buffer is H2CO3 which is water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). This acid buffer is abundantly available as the natural result of burning carbohydrate.
Alkaline buffer is HCO3- which is not naturally available. The stomach produces alkaline buffer when it produces hydrochloric acid. When we drink alkaline water, the stomach produces hydrochloric acid (HCl) to bring down the stomach pH to the original low value. If we drink acidic drinks such as cola or diet cola, the stomach pH goes down (more acidic) and the stomach does not produce hydrochloric acid; therefore, the blood is deprived of alkaline buffer.
After the smoking, drinking cola or diet cola is the worst things that we can do to our body. When we stop drinking carbonated drinks, the cancer rate will drop. This is the scientific prediction.
Acid Coagulates Blood
June 4, 2010
One of the major problems of acidic wastes is the fact that acid coagulates blood. This coagulation thickens our blood and causes poor blood circulation. Poor blood circulation is the cause of pain and aching in the body. With poor circulation, our arteries become clogged up by the build-up of lipids, plaque, and cholesterol, which can eventually lead to a more serious problem such as heart attack.
Massages and muscle vibrators can improve blood circulation, relieving pain and reducing the chance of heart attacks. However, massages and muscle vibrators also can break-up acid build-ups into smaller particles which can flow into a capillary vessel in the brain and potentially cause a stroke.
These solid build-ups occur chemically and gradually through the years. It is actually possible to melt these buildups over time by means of bicarbonate. For this, alkaline products are the best.
Weight Loss and Water May 21, 2010
When we talk about weight loss, we often talk about the number of calories in food. We believe the fewer calories consumed, the less weight gained. It‟s the same with drinks: diet drinks are preferred over regular (higher-calorie) drinks when it comes to weight loss. Consumption of diet soda today is skyrocketing because of this.
Everyday drinking water can help remove weight more than diet soda can, because although club soda may have no calories, it is highly acidic and has low pH. Plain drinking water has a higher level of pH which stimulates a unique process in the stomach.
Stomach cells work to keep the stomach acidic for the breaking down of food. When high pH water enters the stomach, the stomach produces hydrochloric acid to bring the pH level back down (see diagram, Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology by Frederic H. Martini, page 881). A byproduct of this chemical reaction is bicarbonate, which increases the blood‟s bicarbonate level, and this bicarbonate dissolves excess acid (i.e. cholesterol and/or fatty acid) in the body. When we drink club soda or any carbonated drinks, our stomach does not produce any hydrochloric acid, and as a result, our blood does not receive any bicarbonate.
If drinking regular water can melt away excess acid, can you imagine what drinking alkaline water can do?
Regarding weight loss, what is commonly taught is to burn off fat, but there is a way to neutralize and melt it away. Alkaline buffer (bicarbonate) reduces fat cleanly and easily.
Alkaline Water and Stomach Acid
One of the most recurrent questions about drinking alkaline water is this: how can the body feel the benefit of alkaline water if stomach acid neutralizes it?
Here is what actually occurs when alkaline water is ingested: the stomach pH temporarily goes up; however, the stomach has its own happy acid pH level and will try to lower the pH value to its original value by producing hydrochloric acid. This is the homeostasis action. The real question is: how does the stomach produce hydrochloric acid?
The chemical equation for the production of hydrochloric acid by the stomach is: H2O (water) + CO2 (carbon dioxide) + NaCl (table salt) = HCl (hydrochloric acid) + NaHCO3 (sodium bicarbonate).
For each molecule of hydrochloric acid the stomach produces, one sodium bicarbonate molecule (alkaline buffer) is also produced. The hydrochloric acid goes into the stomach and the sodium bicarbonate goes into the bloodstream, thus increasing the alkaline buffer in the blood. The sodium used here is already in the body. We are not adding extra sodium to the body.
As we age, some of us lose the ability to produce hydrochloric acid by the stomach. In that case, alkaline liquid (NaOH) goes into the intestine and is sucked into the blood. This could tend to increase the pH value of the blood. However, when that happens, the acid buffer (H2CO3) reacts with it according to the formula NaOH + H2CO3 = NaHCO3 + H2O. This results in alkaline buffer and water. Could we run out of acid buffer (H2CO3)? The answer is no. H2CO3 is a combination of water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). As long as we eat carbohydrate, we produce carbon dioxide and this produces carbonic acid (H2CO3) which is acid buffer. We create so much carbonic acid that our lungs must exhale excess carbon dioxide. As long as we live, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide.
What is diminishing, as we age, is the alkaline buffer. To maintain the alkaline–acid balance in the blood, we must recharge alkaline buffer in the blood. Drinking alkaline water is the best way. This is better than any alkaline food.
March 3, 2010
When I first published “Reverse Aging” in 1990, little was known about the alkaline-acid balance. The only concept that people were familiar with was alkaline food and acid food. Drinking alkaline water was considered to be a hoax because the stomach is acidic and would neutralize alkaline water. We‟ve come a long way in twenty years.
Today we know that alkaline-acid balancing is carried out in the blood by an alkaline buffer (bicarbonate) and an acid buffer (carbonic acid). As we age, we lose bicarbonate in the blood causing alkaline-acid imbalance, especially after 45 years of age. Alkaline-acid balancing means to replenish diminishing bicarbonate in the blood. It is not balancing pH values of the blood.
If the artery blood pH value goes down in proportion with the bicarbonate diminishing, we would all be dead after 55 years of age. In spite of the diminishing bicarbonate in the blood after 45 years of age, the body plays amazing survival tricks to maintain pH values and extend life. The price that the body pays to extend life are old age diseases such as osteoporosis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, lipids, clogged artery, heart attacks, cancer, etc.
Cancer June 14, 2010
Cancer is the most dreaded disease in the world. We collect so much money per year for “research” to find the cure for cancer and many people “walk” to raise money. Every year we raise more money for cancer research, yet we do not find any basic solutions for the cure of the disease.
Why? They must be missing some basic facts. They are missing the facts that cancer is caused by too much acids.
Cancer cells are acidic and healthy cells are alkaline.
Cancer cells die in an alkaline environment while,
Healthy cells die in an acidic environment.
Adding alkaline buffer to the blood is the best cancer prevention.
Cancer can be caused by viruses such as hepatitis B, inherited by the family. Good things are the factors that cancer tumors do not seem to spread. Also if one operates on the tumor, and removes the tumor, it does not seem to recur, because the environment is alkaline, not acidic any more. If the environment remains acidic, the tumor keeps coming back.
To keep the environment alkaline, one must have more alkaline buffer in the blood, rather than acid buffer. Acid buffer is H2CO3 which is water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). This acid buffer is abundantly available as the natural result of burning carbohydrate.
Alkaline buffer is HCO3- which is not naturally available. The stomach produces alkaline buffer when it produces hydrochloric acid. When we drink alkaline water, the stomach produces hydrochloric acid (HCl) to bring down the stomach pH to the original low value. If we drink acidic drinks such as cola or diet cola, the stomach pH goes down (more acidic) and the stomach does not produce hydrochloric acid; therefore, the blood is deprived of alkaline buffer.
After the smoking, drinking cola or diet cola is the worst things that we can do to our body. When we stop drinking carbonated drinks, the cancer rate will drop. This is the scientific prediction.
Acid Coagulates Blood
June 4, 2010
One of the major problems of acidic wastes is the fact that acid coagulates blood. This coagulation thickens our blood and causes poor blood circulation. Poor blood circulation is the cause of pain and aching in the body. With poor circulation, our arteries become clogged up by the build-up of lipids, plaque, and cholesterol, which can eventually lead to a more serious problem such as heart attack.
Massages and muscle vibrators can improve blood circulation, relieving pain and reducing the chance of heart attacks. However, massages and muscle vibrators also can break-up acid build-ups into smaller particles which can flow into a capillary vessel in the brain and potentially cause a stroke.
These solid build-ups occur chemically and gradually through the years. It is actually possible to melt these buildups over time by means of bicarbonate. For this, alkaline products are the best.
Weight Loss and Water May 21, 2010
When we talk about weight loss, we often talk about the number of calories in food. We believe the fewer calories consumed, the less weight gained. It‟s the same with drinks: diet drinks are preferred over regular (higher-calorie) drinks when it comes to weight loss. Consumption of diet soda today is skyrocketing because of this.
Everyday drinking water can help remove weight more than diet soda can, because although club soda may have no calories, it is highly acidic and has low pH. Plain drinking water has a higher level of pH which stimulates a unique process in the stomach.
Stomach cells work to keep the stomach acidic for the breaking down of food. When high pH water enters the stomach, the stomach produces hydrochloric acid to bring the pH level back down (see diagram, Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology by Frederic H. Martini, page 881). A byproduct of this chemical reaction is bicarbonate, which increases the blood‟s bicarbonate level, and this bicarbonate dissolves excess acid (i.e. cholesterol and/or fatty acid) in the body. When we drink club soda or any carbonated drinks, our stomach does not produce any hydrochloric acid, and as a result, our blood does not receive any bicarbonate.
If drinking regular water can melt away excess acid, can you imagine what drinking alkaline water can do?
Regarding weight loss, what is commonly taught is to burn off fat, but there is a way to neutralize and melt it away. Alkaline buffer (bicarbonate) reduces fat cleanly and easily.
Alkaline Water and Stomach Acid
One of the most recurrent questions about drinking alkaline water is this: how can the body feel the benefit of alkaline water if stomach acid neutralizes it?
Here is what actually occurs when alkaline water is ingested: the stomach pH temporarily goes up; however, the stomach has its own happy acid pH level and will try to lower the pH value to its original value by producing hydrochloric acid. This is the homeostasis action. The real question is: how does the stomach produce hydrochloric acid?
The chemical equation for the production of hydrochloric acid by the stomach is: H2O (water) + CO2 (carbon dioxide) + NaCl (table salt) = HCl (hydrochloric acid) + NaHCO3 (sodium bicarbonate).
For each molecule of hydrochloric acid the stomach produces, one sodium bicarbonate molecule (alkaline buffer) is also produced. The hydrochloric acid goes into the stomach and the sodium bicarbonate goes into the bloodstream, thus increasing the alkaline buffer in the blood. The sodium used here is already in the body. We are not adding extra sodium to the body.
As we age, some of us lose the ability to produce hydrochloric acid by the stomach. In that case, alkaline liquid (NaOH) goes into the intestine and is sucked into the blood. This could tend to increase the pH value of the blood. However, when that happens, the acid buffer (H2CO3) reacts with it according to the formula NaOH + H2CO3 = NaHCO3 + H2O. This results in alkaline buffer and water. Could we run out of acid buffer (H2CO3)? The answer is no. H2CO3 is a combination of water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). As long as we eat carbohydrate, we produce carbon dioxide and this produces carbonic acid (H2CO3) which is acid buffer. We create so much carbonic acid that our lungs must exhale excess carbon dioxide. As long as we live, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide.
What is diminishing, as we age, is the alkaline buffer. To maintain the alkaline–acid balance in the blood, we must recharge alkaline buffer in the blood. Drinking alkaline water is the best way. This is better than any alkaline food.
March 3, 2010
When I first published “Reverse Aging” in 1990, little was known about the alkaline-acid balance. The only concept that people were familiar with was alkaline food and acid food. Drinking alkaline water was considered to be a hoax because the stomach is acidic and would neutralize alkaline water. We‟ve come a long way in twenty years.
Today we know that alkaline-acid balancing is carried out in the blood by an alkaline buffer (bicarbonate) and an acid buffer (carbonic acid). As we age, we lose bicarbonate in the blood causing alkaline-acid imbalance, especially after 45 years of age. Alkaline-acid balancing means to replenish diminishing bicarbonate in the blood. It is not balancing pH values of the blood.
If the artery blood pH value goes down in proportion with the bicarbonate diminishing, we would all be dead after 55 years of age. In spite of the diminishing bicarbonate in the blood after 45 years of age, the body plays amazing survival tricks to maintain pH values and extend life. The price that the body pays to extend life are old age diseases such as osteoporosis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, lipids, clogged artery, heart attacks, cancer, etc.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
A Question.....
If I gave you a glass of water from your toilet bowl, would you still tell me that all water is the same?
This Potent Spice Taken as Little as Once a Week Can Fight Dementia
This Potent Spice Taken as Little as Once a Week Can Fight Dementia
Posted By Dr. Mercola | June 23, 2009
New research shows that eating curry once or twice a week could help prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The key reason is curcumin, a component of the spice turmeric.
Curcumin prevents the spread of amyloid protein plaques, which are thought to cause dementia. Amyloid plaques, along with tangles of nerve fibers, contribute to the degradation of the wiring in brain cells.
There is evidence that people who eat a curry meal two or three times a week have a lower risk of dementia. Researchers are currently testing the impact of higher doses, such as the equivalent of going on a curry spree for a week, to see if they can maximize the effect.
Sources:
BBC News June 3, 2009
Royal College of Psychiatrists' Annual Meeting, Liverpool, UK, June 2-5, 2009
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
I know many outstanding clinicians and health experts and it is amazing how the vast majority of them are in complete agreement that the active ingredient of turmeric, curcumin, the pigment that gives spicy turmeric its yellow-orange color, may be one of the most useful spices for health out there.
For years now turmeric, with its active ingredient curcumin, has shown powerful benefits to your brain health. One of the ways that it works, similar to vitamin D, is modulating large numbers of your genes.
The potential healing power of this spice, which is an important part of Eastern cultural traditions including traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, perhaps first came about when it was noticed that the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease among older adults in India is more than four times less than the rate in the United States.
Why such a significant difference?
Some researchers believe the answer for this drastic disparity in Alzheimer's patients is a direct result of curcumin.
The researchers in this most recent study said curcumin appears to prevent the spread of amyloid protein plaques, which are thought to cause dementia in your brain.
In 2004, meanwhile, a study involving genetically engineered mice suggested that curcumin could inhibit the accumulation of destructive beta amyloids -- a component of the neurofibrillary tangles and plaques attributed to Alzheimer's disease -- in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, as well as break up existing plaques.
Based on the findings, researchers determined:
• Curcumin is more effective in inhibiting the formation of the protein fragments than many other potential Alzheimer's treatments
• The low molecular weight and polar structure of curcumin allows it to penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively and bind to beta amyloid
• Alzheimer's symptoms caused by inflammation and oxidation are eased by curcumin's powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
It seems, too, that even eating curry just a couple of times a year may offer some benefit. In one study that tested the brain power of more than 1,000 Asian people, those who ate curry even just once every six months had better results than those who said they "never or rarely" ate it!
Further, UCLA researchers tested the effect of curcumin on isolated cells called macrophages (part of your body's immune system that eliminates waste products like the disease-causing amyloid beta) in blood samples taken from a half-dozen Alzheimer's patients for a day.
The blood samples from three Alzheimer's patients improved dramatically after being treated with curcumin, improving the digestion of the amyloid beta cells by the macrophages, present from birth in your body's innate immune system.
One important fact: Blood samples from younger patients responded better to curcumin, meaning the earlier Alzheimer's is recognized, the better the curry chemical appears to work.
“Holy Powder’s” Benefits Reach Far Beyond Your Brain
People in India refer to turmeric as “holy powder” because it has such a broad range of health effects. In fact, curcumin has been shown to influence more than 700 genes, with benefits that include:
• Strengthening and improving your digestion
• Supporting healthy liver function and detoxification
• Purifying your blood
• Fighting cancer and arthritis
• Anti-inflammatory properties
Further, evidence suggests turmeric may play a beneficial role in the following diseases:
• Cystic fibrosis
• Type 2 diabetes
• Crohn’s disease
• Psoriasis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Cataracts
• Gallstones
• Muscle regeneration
• Inflammatory bowel disease
To take advantage of some of these benefits you can absolutely use turmeric in your cooking, and in case you haven’t tried it, it has a warm, peppery flavor. However, be sure to choose a pure turmeric powder rather than a curry powder, as at least one study has found curry powders tend to contain very little curcumin compared to turmeric powder.
Be sure to listen to your body as always. If you love curry then feel free to indulge in it often. But if turmeric is a spice you do not enjoy it may be a sign that it’s not right for your body. If you are not one who enjoys the flavor of curry, you can also get the benefits of turmeric by taking it in a high-quality, organic supplement form.
Ten Important Ways to Avoid the Coming Alzheimer’s Epidemic
By 2010 there will be 500,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed each year, so NOW is the time to start taking action. Fortunately, your lifestyle can make a major difference in your risk of this disease. The tips that follow will bolster your brain health and keep your mind in top working order even as you get older.
1. Optimize your vitamin D levels through safe sun exposure, a safe tanning bed and/or vitamin D supplements.
2. Eat a nutritious diet with plenty of vegetables based on your nutritional type, and pay special attention to avoiding sugar.
3. Eat plenty of high-quality, animal-based omega-3 fats in the form of krill oil. Avoid most fish (high in omega-3, but often contaminated with mercury).
4. Avoid and remove mercury from your body. Dental amalgam fillings are one of the major sources of mercury, however you should be healthy prior to having them removed.
(Be sure to only use a high-quality biologically trained dentist who is familiar with the removal of amalgam fillings or your health could get ruined.)
5. Avoid aluminum, such as in antiperspirants, cookware, etc.
6. Exercise for three to five hours per week. According to one study, the odds of developing Alzheimer's were nearly quadrupled in people who were less activeduring their leisure time, between the ages of 20 and 60, compared with their peers.
7. Avoid flu vaccinations as they contain both mercury and aluminum!
8. Wild blueberries, which have high anthocyanin and antioxidant content, are known to guard against Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases.
9. Challenge your mind daily. Mental stimulation, such as traveling, learning to play an instrument or doing crossword puzzles, is associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer's. Researchers suspect that mental challenge helps to build up your brain, making it less susceptible to the lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease.
10. Avoid fluoride, which is another powerful neurotoxin. The most common sources would be in your water and toothpaste. But it is also a part of some antibiotics (like Cipro), soy protein, and pesticides, so seek to have as much of your food organically grown as possible.
Posted By Dr. Mercola | June 23, 2009
New research shows that eating curry once or twice a week could help prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The key reason is curcumin, a component of the spice turmeric.
Curcumin prevents the spread of amyloid protein plaques, which are thought to cause dementia. Amyloid plaques, along with tangles of nerve fibers, contribute to the degradation of the wiring in brain cells.
There is evidence that people who eat a curry meal two or three times a week have a lower risk of dementia. Researchers are currently testing the impact of higher doses, such as the equivalent of going on a curry spree for a week, to see if they can maximize the effect.
Sources:
BBC News June 3, 2009
Royal College of Psychiatrists' Annual Meeting, Liverpool, UK, June 2-5, 2009
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
I know many outstanding clinicians and health experts and it is amazing how the vast majority of them are in complete agreement that the active ingredient of turmeric, curcumin, the pigment that gives spicy turmeric its yellow-orange color, may be one of the most useful spices for health out there.
For years now turmeric, with its active ingredient curcumin, has shown powerful benefits to your brain health. One of the ways that it works, similar to vitamin D, is modulating large numbers of your genes.
The potential healing power of this spice, which is an important part of Eastern cultural traditions including traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, perhaps first came about when it was noticed that the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease among older adults in India is more than four times less than the rate in the United States.
Why such a significant difference?
Some researchers believe the answer for this drastic disparity in Alzheimer's patients is a direct result of curcumin.
The researchers in this most recent study said curcumin appears to prevent the spread of amyloid protein plaques, which are thought to cause dementia in your brain.
In 2004, meanwhile, a study involving genetically engineered mice suggested that curcumin could inhibit the accumulation of destructive beta amyloids -- a component of the neurofibrillary tangles and plaques attributed to Alzheimer's disease -- in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, as well as break up existing plaques.
Based on the findings, researchers determined:
• Curcumin is more effective in inhibiting the formation of the protein fragments than many other potential Alzheimer's treatments
• The low molecular weight and polar structure of curcumin allows it to penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively and bind to beta amyloid
• Alzheimer's symptoms caused by inflammation and oxidation are eased by curcumin's powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
It seems, too, that even eating curry just a couple of times a year may offer some benefit. In one study that tested the brain power of more than 1,000 Asian people, those who ate curry even just once every six months had better results than those who said they "never or rarely" ate it!
Further, UCLA researchers tested the effect of curcumin on isolated cells called macrophages (part of your body's immune system that eliminates waste products like the disease-causing amyloid beta) in blood samples taken from a half-dozen Alzheimer's patients for a day.
The blood samples from three Alzheimer's patients improved dramatically after being treated with curcumin, improving the digestion of the amyloid beta cells by the macrophages, present from birth in your body's innate immune system.
One important fact: Blood samples from younger patients responded better to curcumin, meaning the earlier Alzheimer's is recognized, the better the curry chemical appears to work.
“Holy Powder’s” Benefits Reach Far Beyond Your Brain
People in India refer to turmeric as “holy powder” because it has such a broad range of health effects. In fact, curcumin has been shown to influence more than 700 genes, with benefits that include:
• Strengthening and improving your digestion
• Supporting healthy liver function and detoxification
• Purifying your blood
• Fighting cancer and arthritis
• Anti-inflammatory properties
Further, evidence suggests turmeric may play a beneficial role in the following diseases:
• Cystic fibrosis
• Type 2 diabetes
• Crohn’s disease
• Psoriasis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Cataracts
• Gallstones
• Muscle regeneration
• Inflammatory bowel disease
To take advantage of some of these benefits you can absolutely use turmeric in your cooking, and in case you haven’t tried it, it has a warm, peppery flavor. However, be sure to choose a pure turmeric powder rather than a curry powder, as at least one study has found curry powders tend to contain very little curcumin compared to turmeric powder.
Be sure to listen to your body as always. If you love curry then feel free to indulge in it often. But if turmeric is a spice you do not enjoy it may be a sign that it’s not right for your body. If you are not one who enjoys the flavor of curry, you can also get the benefits of turmeric by taking it in a high-quality, organic supplement form.
Ten Important Ways to Avoid the Coming Alzheimer’s Epidemic
By 2010 there will be 500,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed each year, so NOW is the time to start taking action. Fortunately, your lifestyle can make a major difference in your risk of this disease. The tips that follow will bolster your brain health and keep your mind in top working order even as you get older.
1. Optimize your vitamin D levels through safe sun exposure, a safe tanning bed and/or vitamin D supplements.
2. Eat a nutritious diet with plenty of vegetables based on your nutritional type, and pay special attention to avoiding sugar.
3. Eat plenty of high-quality, animal-based omega-3 fats in the form of krill oil. Avoid most fish (high in omega-3, but often contaminated with mercury).
4. Avoid and remove mercury from your body. Dental amalgam fillings are one of the major sources of mercury, however you should be healthy prior to having them removed.
(Be sure to only use a high-quality biologically trained dentist who is familiar with the removal of amalgam fillings or your health could get ruined.)
5. Avoid aluminum, such as in antiperspirants, cookware, etc.
6. Exercise for three to five hours per week. According to one study, the odds of developing Alzheimer's were nearly quadrupled in people who were less activeduring their leisure time, between the ages of 20 and 60, compared with their peers.
7. Avoid flu vaccinations as they contain both mercury and aluminum!
8. Wild blueberries, which have high anthocyanin and antioxidant content, are known to guard against Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases.
9. Challenge your mind daily. Mental stimulation, such as traveling, learning to play an instrument or doing crossword puzzles, is associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer's. Researchers suspect that mental challenge helps to build up your brain, making it less susceptible to the lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease.
10. Avoid fluoride, which is another powerful neurotoxin. The most common sources would be in your water and toothpaste. But it is also a part of some antibiotics (like Cipro), soy protein, and pesticides, so seek to have as much of your food organically grown as possible.
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