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Artificial Sweeteners – Again!
For many years I have warned about the side-effects and dangers of artificial sweeteners. Although some seem benign, in that they increase your desire or cravings for sweets and can sabotage any well meaning dieter, others are much more harmful and truly affect our neurology. Aspartame (the blue one) is a neuro-toxin and can be converted to formaldehyde – severely compromising brain function.
Some of the most commonly reported neurological symptoms of artificial sweeteners include:
- Headaches
- Changes in behavior or mood
- “Fuzzy” thinking
- Seizures
- Depression
Read more here
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/07/31/aspartame-update.aspx?aid=CD945
Corn – Is Not “Gluten Free”, although many claim it is
Celiac Patients React to “Gluten Free” Bread
A recent study found that patients with celiac disease can react to “gluten free” bread made with maize (corn) protein. Serum IgA was measured against the prolamine in corn. Previous studies have found similar reactions with corn in patients with gluten sensitivity.
J. Agric. Food Chem, 2008, 56 (4), pp 1387–1391.J. Agric. Food Chem, 2008, 56 (4), pp 1387–1391.
Gluten Free Society recommends the avoidance of corn. Typically, people with celiac disease are instructed that corn is a safe food to consume. They are told that is is “gluten free”. The reality is – corn contains gluten. The gluten in corn has not been studied as aggressively as the gluten in wheat and other common grains associated with gluten intolerance. Several recent studies have shown that people with gluten sensitivity react to the gluten in corn.
Remember that most studies focus on antibody production as the outcome for a reaction. Because many celiac patients have IgA deficiency, the test often yield false negative results. The above study used IgA as an outcome measure and (fortunately) found that celiacs react to corn gluten.
The immune system is complex. IgA, IgG, IgM, IgD, and IgE antibodies are only a small part of immune system reactions. Immune cells create a myriad of different inflammatory molecules in response to the environment. Leukotrienes, prostaglandins, eicosanoids, histamines, cytokines, serotonin, etc. Most lab tests focus only on antibody production. This is a major part of the problem in accurately diagnosing food reactions.
Vaccination
Every state allows exemptions for vaccination.
Please be informed about your options for vaccination. Even if you do want to vaccinate, you can break them up (ie: the MMR – instead of one possibly overwhelming vaccine, you can break into 3 individual ones that allow the body to react less violently).
http://www.nvic.org/Vaccine-Laws/state-vaccine-requirements.aspx
Are You Buying Products for ORAC Value?
Mangosteen, Acai, Pomegranate, Blueberry – you’ve probably been bombarded about the anti-aging benefits, and may even have tried some of the products, often found in the form of tantalizing juices in glamorous bottle that our out there (sometimes $80 – $100 per bottle!). I often have clients ask for my opinion on these products, and most of the time I remind them about balancing blood sugar, and that drinking too much sugar without balancing protein and fat is not what we are aiming for, vs. determining which product is the “best”. So, before you shell out your hard earned $$$, on these often multi-level-marketing juices and tonics, here is well presented look at how to evaluate the ORAC value in your favorite concoction, and whether it truly has the miraculous fountain-of-youth-potion in a bottle.
Ginny Bank, an industry expert in antioxidant research explains that ORAC measurements have changed in the past few decades and that deceptive marketing allows companies to compare new ORAC values with older values and technically not be “lying”. Also, failing to report serving size values can also be misleading in that ORAC statements may actually be for the entire bottle vs. a single serving.
For more details and the full story – click the link below
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/08/28/ginny-bank-on-orac-values.aspx
Vitamin D3 – Daily Intake
Did you know that we use approximately 4,000 IU of Vitamin D everyday.
Unfortunately the RDA is only a FRACTION of that amount at 400 IU per day. It is easy to see why so many American’s are Vitamin D deficient – we are at a loss every day.
5,000 IU has been shown to be a safe dosage every day. Even up to 10,000 IU per day to address certain conditions is totally safe.
Be sure your supplements are Vitamin D3 – not D2, and come from a reputable manufacturer. Higher doses of Vitamin D3 may benefit from a combination of emulsifiers and other enzymes / co-factors to improve absorption.
If you do not know what your Vitamin D status is, or if you have an autoimmune condition such as Hashimoto’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Colitis, Celiac Disease, you will likely benefit from improved Vitamin D status.
Additional information can be seen at
www.vitamindcouncil.org/vitaminDToxicity.shtml