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Don’t Take Coconut Oil Without Reading This!

September 1, 2012 by 1 Comment

The last several years have seen the growing presence of coconut oil, on the selves of health food stores. How can coconut oil, which contains more saturated fat than lard or butter, be considered a health food?

Melissa Clark of The New York Times, wrote an article in early 2011 regarding the emergence of coconut oil on the health food scene. In her article, she interviewed Dr. Thomas Brenna of Cornell University. Dr. Brenna is a professor of nutritional sciences, and an expert on coconut oil.

Dr. Brenna has concluded many studies involving research on coconut oil are flawed. He stated:

“Most of the studies involving coconut oil were done with partially hydrogenated coconut oil, which researchers used because they needed to raise the cholesterol levels of their rabbits in order to collect certain data…”

Dr. Brenna further stated:

“Virgin coconut oil, which has not been chemically treated, is a different thing in terms of health risk perspective. And maybe it isn’t so bad for you after all.”

The partial hydrogenation process destroys the quality of most of the antioxidants and essential fatty acids (EFAs) present in virgin coconut oil. Additionally, this process leads to the creation of trans fats. At issue, are the negative effects trans fats have on reducing your HDL “good” cholesterol, while at the same time increasing your “bad” or LDL cholesterol. All of which increases your risk of heart problems.

Dr.Bruce Fife, ND, is a naturopathic physician practicing in Colorado. Also, Dr. Fife is a certified nutritionist. He’s the author of several books, including The Coconut Oil Miracle.

In the following video, Dr. Fife explains his opinion on the improvement diabetics may see in their condition, by adding virgin coconut oil to their current health regime. This video is courtesy of ihealthtube.com.

Health Videos – Impact of Coconut Oil on Blood Sugar and Diabetes

Dr Fife’s strong opinions are based on his research and interactions with his patients.

From my own research, most experts see nothing harmful with taking organic or virgin coconut oil, as long as you do in moderation. However, I found a wide range of what’s considered moderate usage.

Dr. Fife suggested 2 to 3 “spoonfuls” per day in his video. But, I’ve found other experts suggesting anywhere from 1 tablespoon to as many as 14 tablespoons daily. This concerns me because there appears to be no clear agreement, on what amount of coconut oil should be taken on a daily basis.

Kathleen M Zelman is a dietitian. She stated in a recent article for Webmd.com:

“One tablespoon of coconut oil contains 117 calories, 14 grams of fat, 12 grams of saturated fat and no vitamins or minerals.”

So, if you’re obese or overweight, consuming too much coconut oil may hinder your weight loss goals. You must talk with your doctor or other health practitioner, before taking any coconut oil.

The Bottom Line: It appears virgin coconut oil may benefit some people with certain health conditions. However, don’t go it alone. Discuss your interest in and concerns about coconut oil with your doctor. Also, don’t hesitate to get a second opinion. What may be good for one person, may not be good for another.

It’s your life, live well.

twitt Dont Take Coconut Oil Without Reading This!

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  2. Can This Man Save You From Heart Disease? (Part 2)
  3. Don’t take vitamin D without reading this! (Part 3)
  4. Are Your Eggs Really Organic?
Filed Under: Natural/Organic, Quality & Safety Tagged With: , , , ,

Are Your Eggs Really Organic?

August 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment

You’ve seen the cartons of eggs labeled “organic” at the grocery store. Would you be disappointed to find out not all organic eggs are created equal?

Thanks to the Cornucopia Institute, a non-profit organization advocating the interests of family-scale farms, you have a new tool to get the highest quality organic eggs for your family.  It’s called the Organic Egg Scorecard.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has regulated food labels using the word “organic” since 2002. However, industrial-scale egg producers, which account for over 80% of organic eggs in America, have found ways to bend the “USDA Organic” seal requirements to their advantage.

One such requirement, is that egg laying hens be given “outdoor access” on the farm.  However, large-scale producers usually keep their birds in enormous hen houses containing up to 80,000 birds, kept in cages.  Family-scale farms on the other hand, keep their hens on pastures with either full or substantial outdoor access.

The following video points out the major differences between the large and small players in the organic egg production.  This video is courtesy of Cornucopia Institute and NaturalNewsTV:

This video paints a rather negative picture of the large-scale egg producers.  Beyond the issue of animal welfare, there’s the issue of nutritional value as well.

The folks at Cornucopia reviewed studies regarding the additional nutritional value found in eggs from small producers  Here’s one of the studies cited:

“Research at Pennsylvania State University reveals discernible nutritional benefits to the consumer from raising lying hens on a pasture.  When compared with caged hens fed only a commercial diet, pastured hens produce eggs with twice as much vitamin E and 2.5 fold more healthy omega-3 fatty acids.”

Also, Cornucopia reviewed a study from Mother Earth News which stated:

“…comparing the nutritional qualities of conventional eggs with those produced by pastured hens.  Their tests found that pastured-raised eggs contain one-third less cholesterol, one-quarter less saturated fat, two-thirds more vitamin A, two times more omega-3 fatty acids and three times more vitamin E.”

These studies and others make a compelling case for eggs produced on small-scale farms.  Which eggs would you prefer to buy?

To help consumers, Cornucopia has created an Organic Egg Scorecard.  This valuable report rates organic egg producers and brands throughout America, on a set of 22 factors.  I suggest you go to this link and download your free scorecard today.  It will help you find the best brands and highest quality organic eggs in your locale.

The Bottom Line: It’s all about quality and nutritional value.  I’m not a big egg person, but I believe consumers should have the information to make the best decisions regarding what they eat.  Don’t let the large-scale “organic” egg producers fool you.  They want your money, but it’s an inferior product they’re offering you.

It’s your life, live well.

 

twitt Are Your Eggs Really Organic?

Related posts:

  1. Are Hidden Dangers Lurking In GMO Foods? (Part 2)
  2. Don’t Take Coconut Oil Without Reading This!
  3. What’s The Big Deal About Omega3s? (Part 4)
  4. Can Black Cohosh Keep Women Cool?
Filed Under: Natural/Organic, Omega 3s, Quality & Safety Tagged With: , ,

Are Hidden Dangers Lurking In GMO Foods? (Part 2)

August 15, 2012 by 2 Comments

In the previous post, we looked at the increasing presence of genetically modified products (GMOs) in our food supply.  The primary concerns are the lack of clinical studies of long-term effects in humans, and the resistance of food companies to label these products.

This post will examine efforts to get food companies to label products, so that consumers can make an informed decisions about consuming GMO foods.  Also, you’ll get three easy ways to avoid your exposure to GMO foods.

Why Should GMO Labeling Be Required In America?

I believe consumers have a fundamental right to know what’s in the food they’re eating.  There are already extensive labeling requirements for ingredients present in food products, and their nutritional values.  But, the lobbyists for the food industry are fighting any required labeling regarding the presence of GMOs.  What are they trying to hide?

Senator Bernie Sanders stated in a recent Huffingtonpost blog post:

“In 49 countries around the world, including all of Europe, people have the opportunity of knowing whether or not they are eating food which contains genetically engineered ingredients.  In the United States, we don’t.”

Senator Sanders goes on further stating:

“Poll after poll during the past decade showed that nine out of 10 Americans agree that food with genetically engineered ingredients ingredients should say so on the label.”

Despite the efforts of Senator Sanders to present legislation on the GMO labeling issue, the GMO food producers are fighting hard to prevent labeling.

However, this coming November there will be an proposal on the ballot in California, to require labeling of GMO foods sold in the state.  Over 1 million Californians signed a petition to get the GMO labeling proposal on the ballot.

Additionally, there’s similar legislation regarding GMO labeling pending in the State of Vermont.  So, may be there’s hope  after all.

Here’s a link for more information on the Just Label It Project.

How Can You Protect Yourself From GMO Foods?

Lisa Gosslin, Editorial Director at Eating Well Magazine, has the following suggestions for avoiding food produced with GMOs:

  1. Buy Organic, look for the “USDA certified organic” label.
  2. Buy food with the Non-GMO label.  While this certification provides assurance that the food is free of GMOs, it’s not an indicator that the food is organic.
  3. Purchase only rBST or rBGH free milk.  This will help you to avoid milk from cows injected with growth hormones.

These are your tools until GMO labeling is required.

Here’s an entertaining video from the Mike Adams, AKA the Health Ranger.  The video is courtesy of Natural News.

Very funny video, thats’ also very true.

The Bottom Line: You already have enough to think about in your efforts to stay healthy.  If you’re not worried about eating GMO foods, good for you.  However, don’t you believe at the very least, you should have the right to know what’s in the food you’re eating?  Let’s see what happens in this GMO debate.

It’s your life, live well!

 

twitt Are Hidden Dangers Lurking In GMO Foods? (Part 2)

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  2. Watch Out For Food Label Tricks!
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Filed Under: Mens Health, Natural/Organic, Quality & Safety, Womens Health Tagged With: , , ,

Are Hidden Dangers Lurking In GMO Foods? (Part 1)

July 30, 2012 by 2 Comments

Could an ear of corn be dangerous for your health?  The sad truth is at this moment, there’s no way to know for sure.

In fact, the majority of corn grown in America has been produced from genetically modified organisms (GMO) seeds.  However, after 20 years in our food supply, there have yet to be any clinical trials on humans, attesting to the long-term safety of consuming these foods.

If… it doesn’t concern you what’s in the food products you’re eating, good for you.  You’re an adult, and have the freedom to make your own choices regarding your life.

However, if you believe it’s to your benefit to know if your food has been genetically engineered, I suggest you read further.

What Are GMO foods? 

The best definition I’ve found for explaining GMO foods, comes courtesy of an article from ScienceDaily.com. Here’s a quote from that article:

“A genetically modified food is a food product derived in whole or part from a genetically modified organism (GMO) such as a crop plant, animal or microbe such as yeast.”

“A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using techniques in genetics generally known as recombinant DNA technology.”

In other words, the existing DNA of corn is altered to introduce a new DNA structure to accomplish a particular purpose.  For the big business of corporate agriculture, the primary purposes are:

  • Crops with greater resistance to pests;
  • Greater resistance in crops to herbicides;
  • Larger crop yields, leading to increased food production.

This sounds perfectly reasonable on the surface.  With Earth’s rapidly growing population, there’s a lot more people who need food to eat. But, as the old saying goes, you are what you eat!

Here’s an interesting video, featuring Dr. Robert DeMaria, expressing his views on why you should avoid GMO foods.  The video is courtesy of ihealthtube.com.

Health Videos – Main Reasons to Avoid GMO

Dr. DeMaria has a compelling argument.  We don’t know the long-term effects of genetically altered DNA in plant crop seeds, will have on the DNA of people consuming GMO foods.  To which, big agribusiness tells us not to worry.  Do you trust their words?

Purge These GMOs From Your Diet!

Recently, Elizabeth Renter wrote an article for NaturalSociety.com, in which she listed her Top 10 Worst GMO Foods.  Her list doesn’t include all GMOs, but you can start eliminating these from your diet.  The list has these offenders:

  1. Corn;
  2. Soy;
  3. Sugar beets;
  4. Aspartame;
  5. Papayas;
  6. Canola;
  7. Cotton oil;
  8. Dairy products;
  9. Zucchini; and
  10. Yellow squash.

Unless these foods are Certified Organic, they have a higher probability of GMOs to resist herbicides, viruses, pests and the presence of substantial chemical alteration.  In other words, they’re probably bad news for people eating them on a regular basis.

How can you protect yourself?  In the next post, we’ll look at initiatives in America to have mandatory labeling of foods produced with GMOs.  Also, we’ll look at 3 simple ways you can use to ensure your foods are free from these pesky products.

Until then, always remember this!

It’s your life, live well.

twitt Are Hidden Dangers Lurking In GMO Foods? (Part 1)

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Filed Under: Mens Health, Natural/Organic, Quality & Safety, Womens Health Tagged With: , ,

Is Vitamin Water Good For You?

February 9, 2012 by 7 Comments

The beverage named “Vitamin Water”, certainly has a healthy appeal.  However,  you’ve probably heard the old saying about judging a book by it’s cover.  Sadly, Vitamin Water turns out to be nothing more than “sugar water” and it’s bad for your health.

Mike Adams, AKA “The Health Ranger”, has done an outstanding report on the Vitamin Water scam.  A 20 oz bottle of this beverage has about 32.5 grams of sugar.  Needless to say, the only thing this drink will do for you is increase your exposure to weight gain, obesity, and diabetes.

While the marketing slogans imply Vitamin Water is good for your health, you’re actually being misled.  Vitamin Water  in fact, contains only small amounts of cheap synthetic vitamins, which are of little benefit for improving your health.

Check out this interesting video, courtesy of NaturalNews TV and Food Investigations.com.  It shows how marketing has taken preference over what’s best for consumer wellness.

The Bottom Line:  I’m becoming more and more concerned about the companies seeking to benefit financially, by misleading you about the quality of their products.  If you’re already prediabetic and you drink Vitamin Water, the effects on your health could be very serious.  Read the product labels.  Protect yourself from implied “health benefits” by ignoring the marketing hype.  Research a product before you buy it.  The life you save… could very well be your own.

It’s your life, live well.

twitt Is Vitamin Water Good For You?

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  2. The New Secret Of Vitamin C!
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Filed Under: Mens Health, Quality & Safety, Vitamins, Womens Health Tagged With: , , , ,
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