Power Eating: Food Combos Magnify Health Benefits

Would you like to combine foods that are tasty and nutritionally powerful?  I know I would!

Here are some of Dr. Rubman’s favorite one-two food punches…

TEA WITH LEMON
Made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, tea contains powerful catechins that improve digestion and reduce heart disease and cancer risk. Many tea drinkers already squeeze lemon into their cups because it tastes so great, but it also significantly increases your absorption of the disease-fighting antioxidants in the tea. To extract the most catechins, steep tea in hot water for at least five minutes and don’t reuse tea bags.

Your best bet: All tea is good for you, but white and green teas are richer sources of catechins than black tea.

BEETS WITH VITAMIN C-RICH VEGETABLES
Eating produce with a variety of colors — yellow peppers, orange sweet potatoes, purple eggplant, etc. — gives you the greatest variety of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. You can add more power yet by serving iron-rich greens such as kale, mustard greens, spinach or Swiss chard with vitamin C-packed beets (or tomatoes or lemon). The reason? Vitamin C makes plant-based iron more absorbable by your intestines.

FRUITS WITH… FRUITS
Along the same lines, eating several fruits at one time generates greater antioxidant action than eating single fruits separately. Blueberries top many “Best Fruit” lists, since they are a rich source of polyphenols that reduce inflammation. Combine them with whatever else is fresh, in season and at peak ripeness — raspberries, strawberries, purple grapes, mango, apples, oranges, etc. Aim for three to five servings (each serving one-half to one cup) of different fruits daily. Dr. Rubman said doing this will boost the synergistic effect of these phytochemicals, which work better in combination than alone.

For maximum health: Don’t eat fruit within 20 minutes of meals, before or after, as their sugars will then rest longer in the digestive tract, where they ferment and cause gas.

PASTA WITH TOMATO SAUCE
No doctor has to work hard to convince me to eat this delicious, classic combination! Tomatoes contain the potent antioxidant lycopene, which fights heart disease and certain cancers — since lycopene is fat soluble, the tomato sauce should be made with olive oil, which facilitates absorption. Dr. Rubman said that olive oil is also helpful in offsetting the challenge of digesting gluten in pasta — though he notes that this doesn’t give a pass to people with celiac disease, since the soothing mechanism isn’t sufficient to solve the problem completely.

BEEF WITH MARINADE
Marinate beef before grilling or barbecuing (even if just for 10 minutes or so) to reduce your exposure to cancer-causing heterocyclic amines (HCAs) that are created when meat is cooked at high temperatures. Make your own marinade, since sugar-infused store-bought brands end up increasing HCA production. Look for recipes that use members of the antioxidant, anti-HCA mint family — rosemary, thyme, basil, sage and oregano.

For maximum health: We actually need a little saturated fat for digestive health and other body functions, Dr. Rubman observes — just not at the levels in the typical American diet. Limit your beef consumption to one three-ounce serving per week.

FISH WITH CITRUS
You may have seen or eaten a delicious dish called ceviche, which is made by marinating raw seafood, such as fish, shrimp or scallops in highly acidic citrus juice (usually lemon or lime). What you probably didn’t know is that serving fish with citrus fruits enhances the healthful anti-inflammatory properties of both. Latin American chefs often also toss in other fresh ingredients, such as cilantro, tomato, onion and avocado — excellent sources of antioxidant phytonutrients and flavonoids that likewise discourage inflammation, boost heart health and help flush toxins from the body.

Caution: People with a compromised immune system shouldn’t take chances with raw seafood — you can achieve the same health effect by poaching, grilling or sautéing fish with citrus juice and sprinkling it with cilantro.

BEANS AND GRAINS — NOT NECESSARILY TOGETHER
If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, you probably eat beans and grains together often since it’s widely known that they contain different amino acids that are all necessary to build the complete proteins you require for good health. But did you know that you don’t have to eat beans and grains in the same meal to reap this benefit? Eating them within a single 24-hour period — for example, brown rice with dinner tonight, black bean chili for lunch tomorrow — will do the trick.

For maximum health: Even if you aren’t a vegetarian, declare “Meatless Mondays” — choosing beans and grains instead of meat even one day a week can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer.

Making a habit of eating some of these foods together regularly is a great recipe for better health!

I would like to thank Dr. Andrew L. Rubman, ND, founder and director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut for brining us this tasty information! http://www.southburyclinic.com.

Soft Drinks Linked To Pancreatic Cancer

What happens to our relationship with our animal friends when we don’t have enough energy to play, train or in general take care of them?  We owe it to ourselves and our animal friends to take better care of ourselves so we have the energy to take care of them.

Drinking an average of five sodas a week doesn’t sound like much… but what would you say upon learning that they nearly double your risk of getting pancreatic cancer — one of the deadliest of all malignancies?

This shocking statistic about soda comes from a study at the University of Minnesota. Researchers analyzed medical records and diet histories of 60,524 Asian adults over a 14-year period (the records came from the Singapore Chinese Health Study, the Singapore Cancer Registry and the Singapore Registry of Births and Deaths), comparing consumption of soft drinks (in one group) and fruit juice (in another group) with the incidence of pancreatic cancer… and found that the incidence was 87% higher among those who drank soda.

The researchers established that this link was independent of other risk factors– such as smoking, body weight, type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes, caloric intake and the consumption of red meat. Having established that lifestyles in Singapore are very similar to those in the US, lead study author Noel Mueller, MPH, research associate at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, DC, assured me there’s nothing uniquely dangerous about soda in Singapore — it’s the same stuff people drink here.

Acknowledging that there are some genetic differences between the populations, he told me that he doesn’t think that those are as significant as the fact that soda drinkers likely don’t have the same healthy habits as fruit juice drinkers.

NOT SO SWEET
Researchers hypothesize that sugar is the culprit, with 12.5 teaspoons of sugar (usually in the form of high-fructose corn syrup) in a 16-ounce, 200-calorie sugar-sweetened soda, on average — that’s enough to trigger the pancreas to produce a surge of insulin.

Dr. Mueller theorizes that this habitual “blasting” of the pancreas with so much sugar may stimulate cancerous tumor growth over time. Though fruit juice is also high in sugar, researchers think that the nutrients and fiber in juices may buffer any unhealthy impact.

The resulting advice to limit sugar intake is predictable, of course — but I’m guessing that even those of us who already do that have vastly underestimated the potential damage that even a few sodas a week can do. This is no time for sweet talk: Stay away from sugary soda.

Source(s):
Noel T. Mueller, MPH, research associate, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC. http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com

Warning, Gardasil May Cause Increased Risk of Cervical Cancer

Would you consent to giving your child a vaccine that caused an increased risk of cancer? That may be exactly what you are doing when you consent to Gardasil.

According to Information the manufacturer of this vaccine presented to the FDA prior to approval, if a person has already been exposed to HPV 16 or 18 prior to injection Gardasil increases the risk of precancerous lesions, or worse, by 44.6%.

That statement bears repeating, if you have been exposed to HPV 16 or 18 prior to injection and take the vaccine, you increase your risk of precancerous lesions, or worse, by 44.6%.

Is this information advertised? No! This information was actually presented to the FDA by Merck. It came from their own safety trials. The FDA did not respond by recommending screening for HPV prior to vaccination. The FDA did not even demand a warning be included in the package insert.

Now, Merck’s research is indicating that Gardasil may also ‘provide cross-protection’ against other strains of HPV that are closely related to HPV 16 and 18. (see this article on Medpage Today) This means prior exposure to these additional strains may pose an increased risk for cervical cancer also, if combined with vaccination.

No one appears to be concerned with the increased risk of vaccination combined with prior exposure, as long as you take the vaccine. You will see no advertisements indicating the possibility of increased risk of the very cancer this vaccine is supposed to help you avoid.

Government officials will not be informed of the potential danger. They will be told HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the country and that it must be eradicated. They will be told this vaccine should be mandatory.

As a consumer, you must protect yourself. If you are sexually active or suspect you may have been exposed to HPV, ask your doctor to screen for HPV prior to taking Gardasil. If he, or she, does not know why, educate them. After all, it is your future at stake.

44.6% increased risk of cervical lesions/cancer; or HPV screening before consenting to vaccination — it is your decision. Please, make it an informed one.

I would like to thank Norma Erickson for this highly relevant information, http://budurl.com/gardasil

Sunscreen Lies, Truths and Recommendations

My good friend, Beverly Meyer (from the Diet and Health Center), was listening recently to a radio show on skin cancer.  She was so upset by what she heard that she knew she had to write an article about this, and I agreed with her and wanted to share it with you.

The speakers were completely focused on blocking the sun’s rays as THE cause of and protection for skin cancer.  They never discussed the very toxic and disturbing studies on sunblock use, and they never discussed the dangers of hydrogenated oils (trans fats) in the diet, and chemicals in skin care products and in our food and water as additional known causes of skin cancer.

From a naturopathic point of view, hydrogenated oils in fast foods, baked goods, chips, salad dressings, cereals, margarine, fried foods and more, poison the skin cells that use our natural cholesterol to react with the sun to form Vitamin D.  Yet another reason to never eat these oils again!

Let’s talk about sunscreens a bit.

First of all, our modern obsession with skin cancer and skin aging is/was unknown to traditional farmers and hunters who spend their lives outside, or to our grandparents’ generation who farmed and ranched (before hydrogenated oils and toxic skin care products became ubiquitous).

Humans turn brown in the sun by producing melanin to protect the skin. Humans evolving in equatorial climates developed dark skin.  Those who then migrated to cooler climates with less direct sun have light skin.  So, our skin understands sunlight and knows how to handle it.

But if you have light skin and want to be outside for hours in the sun, what do you do?

The FIRST line of defense is shade, hats, and clothing.  And limiting the length of sun exposure so you do not burn. Avoid direct overhead sun at all times, if possible.  Having a tan will help protect you from burning. Moisturize with chemical-free oils and lotions (such as Aubrey or Weleda) to feed the skin after sun exposure.

Secondly, if sunscreens must be used, research by the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org ) says to choose “mineral” sunscreens over “chemical” sunscreens. The “mineral” sunscreens will usually use that term right on the label. More on this in a minute…

Here are some facts about sunscreens:

1).  Sunscreens prevent sunburn, but beyond that, surprisingly little is known about their safety or efficacy.  They do NOT protect against radiation damage.

2).  There is NO consensus on whether sunscreens prevent skin cancer.  The FDA said in 2007 that “The FDA is not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps to prevent skin cancer”.

3).  There is some evidence that sunscreen use may actually INCREASE the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.  Why?  Perhaps because we stay in the sun’s radiation longer, or the free radicals released in sunscreen chemicals break down in sunlight, playing a role in “poisoning” the skin.

4).  There is no proof whatsoever that SPF’s over 50 are of increased value.  Indeed, SPF 15 is all we really need and can utilize.  The rest is just marketing.

5).  Sun screens block Vitamin D, one of the most important of all Vitamins.  We are supposed to get 15 minutes daily of unblocked sun, full body.  But who is doing that?  So, for most of us, getting a little sun may mean the difference between breast cancer, osteoporosis, asthma, depression, colon cancer, or, healthy old age.

6).  Topical Vitamin A reacts to sunlight and forms compounds that may increase development of skin cancer.  40% of all sunscreens have retinyl palmitate in them and should NOT be used. (It’s OK if your skin lotions and night moisturizers have Vitamin A – just don’t sit in the sun with them).

7).  Both UV radiation and many common sunscreen ingredients generate free radicals that damage DNA and skin cells, accelerate aging, and CAUSE skin cancer.  An effective sunscreen PREVENTS more damage than it causes, but sunscreens are far better at preventing burn than limiting free radical damage.  If you use too little screen, or apply it too infrequently (reapply every two hours or as label directs), it can cause MORE free radical damage than UV rays on the bare skin.  Tanning beds are prime offenders as they use focused ionizing radiation.

8).  So we have 3 choices.  First, take your sun when the sun is not directly overhead.  Add a hat, light clothing, shoes, and some shade.  If you are to get direct sun, cover what you can, and choose your sunscreen carefully.

Secondly, the best screens use Zinc or Titanium as mineral blockers to prevent the sun entering your skin.  They are stable in the sun (which “chemical” sunscreens are not), they don’t penetrate the skin and move toxic substances into the body, and they offer UVA protection (which “chemical” screens do not).

The best brands, according to the Environmental Working Group, include Badger, California Baby, Jason, Kabana, Loving Naturals, and Soleo Organics.  I would try Whole Foods, SunHarvest, or the Internet for these.

Thirdly, chemical screens can be extremely dangerous and I do not recommend them to anyone.  Your body absorbs these man-made chemicals and, as said above, they may actually do harm to the skin.  I know they do harm to your liver!

That being said, the best chemical brand is Coppertone, especially these particular products:  Ultra Guard Sunscreen Lotion SPF 15; Oil-Free Lotion SPF 15; and Sport Sunblock SPF 15.

9).  Last but not least.  Change ALL your skin care products to organic, natural, chemical- free goods with no parabens, no SLS, no colors, fragrances, or five syllable words!  Anything you put on your skin goes into your body.

If it’s not good enough to eat with a fork, don’t put it on your skin…

If you would like to join Beverly Meyer’s newsletter list please visit www.dietandhealthcenter.info

4 Words That Silently Kill Relationships

It has been my experience that a great amount of the stress that occurs in a home/family situation comes from a lack of trust, or an inability to communicate effectively.  Your animals are ALWAYS directly affected by this type of stress.  Consequently, your animals may form behavior issues in an effort to deal with the stress in the home.

When I read this article by Susie and Otto Collins I thought that they did a wonderful job of boiling the core message of mistrust into some simple to understand statements.  And, they give some great tips on how to overcome mistrust in your relationships.

By Susie and Otto Collins

There are four words that almost NO one actually says out loud but millions of men and women sure think this about their spouse or partner.

What’s underneath these four words can literally suck the life and passion out of an otherwise good relationship. That’s why we say these four words are silent relationship killers. We know this sounds dramatic and we know what you’re probably thinking…

If they’re almost never spoken, how do they kill relationships? Good question. Glad you asked.

They kill relationships because they represent the predominant thought one person has for another–and what isn’t spoken can be just as powerful or even more so than what is spoken.

What are these 4 dangerous words?

They are, “I don’t trust you.”

Before you think all we’re talking about is what happens because of an affair, infidelity or one or both partners cheating on each other…

We’ll tell you that you certainly might feel like that if you’ve been lied to or cheated on but there’s much more to it when it comes to those four little words…

“I don’t trust you…”

What we’re talking about is taking you a little deeper into the whole idea of trust in an intimate relationship. The idea of “I don’t trust you” and a lack of trust can play out in a million different ways in a relationship.

For example…

*I don’t trust you to bring home your share of the money to pay our bills.”

*I don’t trust that you’ll be home on time for dinner as you said you would.”

*I don’t trust that you’ll not spend us into debt.”

*I don’t trust that you’ll watch the kids the way I do.”

*I don’t trust that you’ll do the laundry and not ruin my shirts.”

*I don’t trust that you’ll be open to making love with me tonight.”

*I don’t trust that you’ll be honest with me.”

You get the idea…

And if you’re honest with yourself, you can recognize where you’ve had those thoughts over and over about the person you love–we certainly have. While these thoughts of “I don’t trust you” are pretty normal, it’s important for you to become aware of them because of how they can negatively impact your relationship.

Early in our relationship, Otto would tell Susie every now and then that she didn’t trust him in certain ways. She denied it, but it turned out that when she really looked at her thoughts, it was true.

She didn’t trust him in certain ways that had nothing to do with him cheating. But her mistrust could have driven a huge wedge between the two of us if we hadn’t talked it out.

If mistrust becomes your predominant thought about your partner, you’re automatically building walls between the two of you. The other person feels your doubt and can withdraw or become angry, leaving the two of you with a lot that’s left that’s unsaid. And these walls affect your communication, your openness to intimacy, and whether your love grows or dies.

One of the agreements the two of us made at the beginning of our relationship was that if we were upset with something that the other had said or done, we would talk first with him or her and not first with people outside our relationship. That wasn’t always the case in our previous relationships and we paid the price of disconnection and the eventual end of those relationships. We didn’t trust that our previous partners would listen to what we had to say and that we could calmly talk about whatever we needed to–so we talked to other people instead of our partners.

So, what do you do if you have the thought that you don’t trust the other person to do or not do whatever it is that’s your issue–and you have good reason for your mistrust? You may have had that experience with this person in the past and you can’t turn your back on the idea that it will probably happen again. Or your lack of trust might have nothing to do with your partner, but rather experiences you’ve had in past relationships and as you were growing up.

How can you stop saying to yourself “I don’t trust you” when you really don’t trust him or her? If you’ve identified some places in your relationship and in yourself where you don’t trust and you don’t want to continue to allow this mistrust to come between the two of you–even something very small…

1. Identify what and who you really don’t trust. Look within for the real issues of your mistrust which may have started long before your current partner.

Take out pen and paper and write the words “I don’t trust you because…” and then keep writing anything that comes into your mind. Just keep writing and see what comes up.

2. Identify the source of your trust problem. If it turns out that you need to do some forgiving of someone in your past, remember that you are forgiving for YOU and not condoning what the person did–assuming that you are no longer being subjected to those actions anymore.

Actively choosing to no longer be tied to these wrongs that were done to you can be extremely freeing. You may need the help of a qualified therapist or coach to support you in this process.

3. In order to start trusting another person, you have to get in your mind what he or she has to do to become trustable to you. So start making your list and be specific.

4. Be courageous and talk with your partner about what’s been holding you back and ways you’ve been mistrusting him or her. Create some agreements and plans to move from mistrust even if it’s about something very insignificant.

One of issues of trust for us has been keeping our home straightened up, especially with Otto’s 21 year old son living with us. One of the “Magic Words” phrases that we use is “Tell me your plan for _______.”

Instead of worrying about whether whatever is in question will be put away or not., this phrase opens up communication instead of resentment.

Our suggestion to you is to make sure you don’t allow hidden mistrust to silently kill your love for each other. Take action and bring more love into your life.

If you would like to learn more about their Relationship Trust Turnaround program please visit http://budurl.com/k2k4

The Death of High Fructose Corn Syrup

If you’re wondering what that slight tapping sound is, that’s us at Health Freedom Alliance patting ourselves on the back. And please do the same for yourself! The double whammy announcements that PepsiCo (PEP) is ditching high fructose corn syrup in Gatorade along with the results of a scathing new study from researchers at Princeton make it official – allies of the controversial sweetener have lost the war.

For years, the Corn Refiners Association, a trade group consisting of companies like Cargill and ADM (ADM), has been hammering away at the bad press gushing out about high fructose corn syrup. In ads, in the press and online, they argue that the sweetener is a perfectly natural product and that it is no worse for you than regular old sugar.

To which we at HFA and consumers have responded with a collective “Yeah, right.” Con Agra (CAG) is taking HFCS out of its Hunt’s ketchup, Kraft (KFT) is banishing it from Wheat Thins and you will no longer find it in Snapple drinks. It’s all in response to what food companies say is overwhelming consumer demand. “We know moms don’t like it, and they don’t want to feed it to their kids,” supermarket expert Phil Lempert told Ad Age. Last month, outraged San Francisco parents forced high fructose corn syrup out of chocolate milk in the school system. More products are sure to follow.

Now I personally think that’s news worth passing on to my blog readers!  HFCS is way high on the list of food NOT to eat!

Brand Vs. Generic Drugs – Muscle Testing Helps Determine Which is Better for You

Beverly from the Diet and Health Center in San Antonio, Texas, gives us some sound advice on generic versus brand prescription medication.

We are told that Generic versions of the original patented Brand versions of medications are the same formula.  I do not quite understand this, but whenever I muscle-test the Brand vs.the Generic, the Brand almost always tests to be superior.

I have spoken about this with several physicians, and with doctors who do muscle-testing and they all agree with me on this point.
The question is – What are you really getting in that Generic??

My personal experience in my low-dose seizure medicine Brand Depakote vs. Generic Valproic Acid was quite distinct. I had very different reactions to the two of them, and it was clear that I needed the Brand. My doctors now routinely prescribe Brand for me.

I have learned the hard way that you must repeat this instruction two or three times to the nurse writing out your prescription, and again must request Brand dropping it off at the pharmacy. When picking up, DO NOT drive away from the window without looking inside the bottle. I have several bottles of unusable Generic Valproic Acid that I did not notice were substituted for Brand. The pharmacy, by law, could not take them back since I had driven a few feet away from the window!

Whenever you get placed on a new drug, please insist from your doctor to make it Brand. Tell him that you wish to try it for several months and then will try Generic for a month. If there is no noticeable difference in a month, stick with the Generic. Otherwise, go back to Brand.

For prescriptions you are already on, ask your doctor to switch you to Brand as you have “read the research” that the Brand in this product may be superior to the Generic.

Brand always costs more, sometimes a lot more. But if you really need a medication, then why not try the real thing? It may work much better for you, and a lower dose may suffice too.

Almond and Pecan Flour Healthy Alternative to Wheat Flour and Tastes Better Too!

My favorite San Antonio health food store sent this article out in their latest newsletter, which I thought was profoundly useful information!

Almond or Pecan Flour – A Much Better Alternative to Standard Wheat Flour

I have often said that grains and flour are “the booby prize” of the food world. Why?? Because humans did not eat grains (the seeds of grasses) until agriculture began.  Having never eaten them before, we never evolved to process their high starch carbohydrate fibers.

When we did begin to eat grains, they were only eaten sprouted, so that they were basically fresh green vegetables, not dried seeds, or flour. Or, they were fermented for days or even weeks, changing their nutrition and digestibility.

Grass seed from wild wheat, rice, rye, corn, barley and oats are normally consumed by deer, bison, birds, and so on. It was only with the advent of agriculture that we began to gather the seeds to plant, and then, probably by accident, discovered that they were edible by humans if we let the seeds/grains soak in water and then sprout.

The sprouts were probably chopped up, patted loosely into “cakes” and dried in the sun. This is the original version of what we get with Sprouted, or Essene Breads, sold in the freezers at Whole Foods. These are the only reasonably healthy breads I know.

Grains are highly genetically altered now, having been tinkered with over thousands of years. And we usually eat them now as dried, ground flour baked into “bread” or cookies.

Think for a moment about what flour really is. Did you ever make paper mache sculptures or pinatas as a child? Paper mache is just flour and water, mixed, applied to a wire frame with newspaper, and covered with the flour and water glue. So what is flour and water? Not bread, but GLUE!

Consider instead the lovely almond. Almonds are high in protein and good fat, both of which are sorely lacking in grains. Nuts are basically a perfect food, being about 30% each protein, fat and carbohydrate. Almond flour or pecan flour can be used to make high protein pancakes and muffins that won’t make you or your kids’ blood sugar go crazy.

There are many free recipes on the web.  Simple pan-cakes can be cooked up, frozen, and popped into the toaster when “bread” is desired, mostly as a good excuse to have some nice Organic Butter, Coconut Butter or Nut Butter slathered on. The flour can be used to coat foods before baking, and it makes a good crust for quiches and such. It won’t rise like wheat flour, but it makes excellent muffins and small loaves leavened with baking powder. Please keep refrigerated, as with all flour, nuts, cereals, etc.

Almonds are much easier to digest than grains, and can be a real gift to those of us with sensitive intestines and grain allergies. Lower in carbohydrates, higher in protein and good fats – what more could you want? Oh yes – it’s delicious too….

10 Life Saving Reasons to Stop Microwaving Your Food!

Thanks to an eagle-eyed Reader, it turns out that this article regarding a study about the possible harm that microwaving does to us and plants may not be true.

Snopes says they did their own study to verify these findings and they have proven that the claims in the report is false.  For more information on the Snopes study please visit:

http://www.snopes.com/science/microwave/plants.asp

But there are many other sources out there with opposing viewpoints, such as the Museum of Hoaxes:

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/weblog/comments/4108/

And, on this subject I have a story to share with you.

The house I live in was originally purchased new by a couple who lived here a total of 5 years.  The house is over 30 years old now, and came with new (then) appliances, which included a microwave manufactured in the late 1970’s.

The wife came down with cancer and died, and the husband sold the house.

My husband and I lived here for 15 years, using the original appliances, and he also died of liver cancer.

The thing that struck me about the article I shared and what made it ‘ring true’ for me was the fact that my cats would always caution me about the microwave.  They’d leave the vicinity anytime either of us would use it, and act very upset.

TuffyTiger would tell me that the energy disturbance around that machine was ‘not good’ and it worried her a lot.  She encouraged me to stay away from it, or at least leave the kitchen completely.  She even mapped out for me the area of concern which extended about 30 feet, sometimes more.

I’ve since replaced that old microwave with a new, younger model, but rarely use it anymore.

Are the connections with the health problems here and our ancient microwave merely a coincidence?  Maybe.  There are other factors involved here for sure, because these are complex issues.

After consideration and introspection to find my own inner Guidance, I do find that there is a grain of truth to this, even if the actual experiment was somehow flawed.  You have to decide what you believe yourself.

The lesson learned is this:  Don’t automatically assume something is true – or false – until you do your own research and investigation.  You should be skeptical, but not so closed minded that you don’t consider things honestly – and not so open minded that your brains fall out either!

So what you need to know is that this issue has been controversial for many years.  The skeptic sites findings may also be in error, depending on their point of view.  Not all research studies are valid, and the ones I question the most are the ones that are funded by a company who benefits from getting the ‘right answer’, or discrediting a study.

There is a lot of conflicting information and disinformation out there based on various skeptic’s and researchers (and corporate) viewpoints and what they wish to prove or disprove.  Also, we always have to question the results of sponsored/funded research studies.

For me, I’m planning on replacing my microwave.  And I may do that plant experiment myself!  Let me know if you decide to try it too, ok?

Many blessings,

Val

Original Post

A health conscious friend cared enough about me to forward this report/article to me.  My thanks to her!  I’d like to share it with you.

Prepared By: William P. Kopp A. R. E. C.. Research Operations

From the conclusions of the Swiss, Russian and German scientific clinical studies, we can no longer ignore the  microwave oven sitting in our kitchens. Based on this research, we will conclude this article with the following:

1). Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term – permanent – brain damage by “shorting out” electrical impulses in the brain [de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue].

2). The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in microwaved food..

3). Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating microwaved foods.

4). The effects of microwaved food by-products are residual [long term, permanent] within the human body.

5). Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all microwaved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.

6). The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in microwave ovens.

7). Microwaved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths [tumors]. This may explain the rapidly increased rate of colon cancer in America .

8). The prolonged eating of microwaved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.

9). Continual ingestion of microwaved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and blood serum alterations.

10). Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence.

Here is a picture of a science fair project where a student watered two identical plants with microwaved water and boiled on the stove water.

Have you tossed out your microwave oven yet?  After you throw out your microwave you can use a toaster oven as a replacement. It works well for most and is nearly as quick.

Beware these 7 “Health” Foods that Aren’t so Healthy

Dr. JJ Virgin, wellness coach to the celebrities, shares with us these 7 foods that you may be eating everyday that are harming you instead of helping you!

1.  Light Yogurt. Yogurt plus artificial sweeteners does not equal good health!  Plus regular yogurt is a carb bomb and the sweet taste just leaves you craving more sweet.  Lateral shift:  Greek yogurt.

2.  Soymilk. You get a load of sugar and a cupful of potential negative effects from soy including lowered thyroid function.  Soy is one of the top genetically modified crops, bred so that it can withstand the effects of Roundup.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t kill the plant but it soaks right up into it which means you get some too.  Lateral Shift.  Heart healthy coconut milk.

3.  Flavored Power Waters. The power is really a blood sugar spike because these drinks are sugar, sugar and more sugar, or if you are getting the “light” version – artificial sweeteners.  Lateral Shift:  Sparkling water with some Emergen-C

4.  Energy Bars. Sugar, artificial flavorings, soy protein…check the label and see if you can pronounce much of what are in these.  They are adult candy bars.  Lateral Shift:  Try a piece of fresh fruit or better yet, skip it altogether, because you don’t need this high calorie snack or any snack if you are eating three great meals a day.

5.  Lowfat Muffins. It is just an adult version of cake.  Many supposed healthy muffins that call themselves banana bran whatever are just 500 calorie, sugar-packed carb bombs.  Lateral shift:  2 poached eggs and steel cut oatmeal.

6.  No Sugar Added Jam. Remember that no sugar added means that there is already sugar from the fruit and then more added by concentrating that fruit, but they are just not dumping in table sugar.  Lateral shift:  spread a little almond butter on your toast and top with apple slices.

7. Cereal and Milk. A total carb bomb that sets you up for mid-morning blood sugar blues.  Lateral Shift:  Try not eating breakfast for breakfast.  You can take your protein from last night plus leftover grilled veggies and make a deelishis wrap.  That you definitely satisfy you until lunch.

For more information on how Dr. JJ Virgin can help you with your weight and health management I invite you to listen in on her next free call on February 18, 2010.  To register for the free call visit http://www.budurl.com/JJVirgin