Do you know the dangers linked to genetically modified foods?
A few weeks ago I listened to a really interesting interview with Jeffrey Smith. At that time, I made myself a note to share some of Jeffrey’s information with you, which is what I’ve provided below. I hope you find it as interesting as I did!
Doctors Warn: Avoid Genetically Modified Food
On May 19th, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) called on “Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community, and the public to avoid GM (genetically modified) foods when possible and provide educational materials concerning GM foods and health risks.”[1] They called for a moratorium on GM foods, long-term independent studies, and labeling. AAEM’s position paper stated, “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. They conclude, “There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects. There is causation,” as defined by recognized scientific criteria. “The strength of association and consistency between GM foods and disease is confirmed in several animal studies.”
More and more doctors are already prescribing GM-free diets. Dr. Amy Dean, a Michigan internal medicine specialist, and board member of AAEM says, “I strongly recommend patients eat strictly non-genetically modified foods.” Ohio allergist Dr. John Boyles says “I used to test for soy allergies all the time, but now that soy is genetically engineered, it is so dangerous that I tell people never to eat it.”
Dr. Jennifer Armstrong, President of AAEM, says, “Physicians are probably seeing the effects in their patients, but need to know how to ask the right questions.” World renowned biologist Pushpa M. Bhargava goes one step further. After reviewing more than 600 scientific journals, he concludes that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a major contributor to the sharply deteriorating health of Americans.
Pregnant Women And Babies At Great Risk
Among the population, biologist David Schubert of the Salk Institute warns that “children are the most likely to be adversely effected by toxins and other dietary problems” related to GM foods. He says without adequate studies, the children become “the experimental animals.”[2]
The experience of actual GM-fed experimental animals is scary. When GM soy was fed to female rats, most of their babies died within three weeks—compared to a 10% death rate among the control group fed natural soy.[3] The GM-fed babies were also smaller, and later had problems getting pregnant.[4]
Will a Checklist Reduce your Risk of Being Readmitted to the Hospital?
Do you go to your doctor’s appointment with a checklist? Creating a checklist is an easy way to go prepared and ensure you go home with what you need to know.
A small study was conducted on patients admitted to the hospital for heart problems. Half the patients went through a 27 steps checklist prior to discharge, while the other half received standard discharge instructions.
So in this study, this was a checklist DOCTORS used to ensure they covered everything prior to discharging a patient. The checklist served as a reminder to doctors and prompts them to be sure and cover things like medication recommendations, diet instructions, warning signs to watch for, referrals to other health professionals if applicable, and so on.
The study found those who were discharged using the checklist were more likely to take their medications as prescribed. For patients discharged with doctors utilizing the 27 step checklist, only 2% were readmitted to the hospital within one month. For the other patients that were discharged without the checklist, 20% found themselves readmitted to the hospital within a month.
Continue reading
The Connection Between Sleep Deprivation, Weight Gain, and Heart Disease
A lack of sleep can directly impact your weight and overall health.
Studies have shown a lack of sleep promotes the expression of a gene linked to obesity. Both sleeping too little (less than 5-6 hours per night) and too much (greater than 9-10 hours per night) are associated with weight gain.
Researchers also propose a lack of sleep can lead to a vicious cycle, meaning poor sleep equals weight gain equals conditions that interfere with sleep which equals continued sleep deprivation.
Appetite
Sleep quality and quantity impact the appetite regulation hormone ghrelin. Ghrelin levels decrease after a meal and increase between meals.
Leptin is another hormone that reduces feelings of hunger. Leptin levels increase during the day and peak at night.
Adipose tissue secretes leptin while the stomach secretes ghrelin.
Sleep deprivation has been shown to increase the ratio of ghrelin to leptin leading to increased appetite and specifically increased carbohydrate cravings. Many studies have shown a lack of sleep leads to increased caloric intake throughout the day.
Breathing Disorders
Continue readingSpices – 4 Natural Health Remedies in Your Kitchen
You don’t necessarily need mega doses of specific vitamins and minerals in pill form to treat an illness. Fruits and vegetables are one natural source high in both vitamins and minerals.
Today let’s discuss four spices linked to health benefits and why.
Cloves
Cloves are a natural way to reduce blood sugar, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels. This was clearly supported by a published 2006 placebo-controlled study that divided diabetics into four groups. Group 1 received a placebo supplement, group 3 received 1 gram of cloves daily, group 3 received 2 grams of cloves daily, and group 4 received 3 grams of cloves daily. All groups continued their daily supplement for 30 days. All participants receiving some level of cloves experienced improvements.
Cloves are rich in phenolic compounds that interfere with the artery clogging oxidation of LDL cholesterol.
Curry (Turmeric)
Curry is a powerful antioxidant and works to eliminate free radicals and inflammation. This means curry can be an effective tool for treating arthritis, heart disease, and cancer.
Is Social Media Causing You to Gain Weight?
The new social media site Pinterest is coming under scrutiny for wrecking diets and causing increased calorie intake. Why? All those delicious pictures of sweet desserts!
As the third most popular social media platform, Pinterest now has more than 20 million users with a majority being women.
When users “pin” their favorite recipes the recipes tend to lean towards the unhealthy high calorie choices.
Red Velvet Cake
Chicken Taco Chili
Oreo Layer Dessert
Strawberries and Cream Dessert Squares
Gnocchi, Sweet Corn, & Arugula in Cream Sauce
Pumpkin Spice Donuts
Tin Roof Ice Cream Cake
And the list goes on. . .
All sounds delicious, right? On the negative side, the recipes tend to be high in added sugars, saturated fat, and calories.
Continue reading
How to Select a Bar that is Heart Healthy
It seems like we a constantly on the go, which makes quick and easy snacks a regular part of our daily routine. This is why bars are so popular; however, I don’t want you to assume a granola bar is automatically a heart healthy choice. Let’s cover what you need to look at when selecting a bar in a little more detail.
Carbohydrates
The high carb bars were originally intended for endurance athletes that require high energy food (i.e. high calorie food) to support there high levels of activity. This is not what you need to make it through everyday activities. Look for a bar that provides 40% or less of it’s calories from carbohydrates.
Protein
Find a bar that providers between 15 to 20 grams of protein per bar. Soy is frequently used as a protein source in bars. Due to the potential negative side effects of a diet high in soy, I encourage you to look for a bar that does not include soy. Instead, look for bars that utilize whey as the primary protein source.
Continue reading
