Summary of What To Eat and What To Avoid

I know I sound like a broken record, however the basic information out there to eat healthier and live longer is pretty much the same since I started this blog.

Things to avoid as much as humanly possible:

Refined Sugar, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated chemically altered oils and trans fats. These items are rampant in darn near every pre-packaged, so called comfort foods, and what I call "Munchy/crunchy foods such as potato chips, pretzels, and 99% of the entire grocery isle with this type of food. It is loaded with trans fats, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, food additives, chemicals, dyes, preservatives etc.
All carbonated sodas whether Diet or regular Pepsi, coke, root beer, orange etc. These destroy your body's interstitial fluid PH balance and the regular sodas can contain anywhere from 35 to upwards of EIGHTY grams of sugar.
The Majority of the pre-packaged cereal isle. I didn't say ALL, just most of it. This is especially true for all the artificially flavored kids cereals and even most of the one's with BIG PRINT on the front indicating, contains FIBER or RDA of 7 or 9 or whatever daily vitamins. You would be better to spend the money on a quality multiple vitamin/mineral supplement and pass on all the high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, refined sugar, additives, preservatives, dyes etc. TRY Quaker oats with organic ground flax seeds sprinkled on it with FRESH or FROZEN fruit. Hey, "Ya never know".............your Kid's might actually like it.
READ LABELS on frozen foods and especially canned goods as these can contain surprising amounts of sodium, preservatives, hydrogenated oils etc.
SKIP THE bakery for the most part as almost all donuts, eclairs, cream filled or jelly filled baked goods, pies, cakes, and even a lot of the Oat/Nut or 12 grain breads etc. contain tons of hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, etc.

I know that ONE won't kill you. When was the last time you ate JUST ONE or bought just one?

CONCENTRATE:

On fresh fruits and vegetables or frozen fruit and veggies (read the ingredient label)
Select meats and seafood
Nuts such as cashews, walnuts, peanuts, pistachios etc. - preferably RAW
Purified or ionized water

Dan

Here is a link on a study of the dangers of refined sugar and how really harmful it is to you:

http://www.consumer.org.my/index.php/health/diseases/76-sugar-the-sweet-killer

EXCERPTS:

Sugar: The sweet killer

Sugar destroys the body in many ways – planting disease, eroding health and ultimately shortening our lives. In short, sugar kills!

Sugar is one of the basic elements found in starchy food. However, the refined white sugar, which we generally refer to using the term “sugar”, is industrially processed and really not suitable or safe for human consumption.

It is devoid of nutrients and acts more like a drug than a food. This substance is addictive and has been called “the most dangerous white powder known to man”. In fact, sugar does more damage to human health than any other poison, drug or narcotic.

Amazingly, refined sugar is viewed as a necessity or an “essential” food – both in the eyes of the public and the government! It is ranked among food staples such as rice and cooking oil, and is a price-controlled item. A sugar shortage is considered a national crisis – crippling eateries, drink and food manufacturers, food traders and the general public.

Malaysians are reported to be among the highest consumers of sugar in South East Asia. In the 1970s, Malaysians consumed about 17 teaspoons of sugar a day. This figure went up to about 21 teaspoons a day in the 1980s. Now, Malaysians are reported to be consuming an average of 24 teaspoons of sugar per day.

The general guideline on sugar consumption is that it should be from 0 to ten teaspoons a day. Ideally, Malaysians should be targeting the lower end of the range.

Over 60 ailments have been linked to sugar consumption, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, asthma, and allergies. Some of these killer diseases are showing worrying upward trends in just a few years.

Take for example the deadly disease, diabetes. It has already reached very alarming proportions in the country. Diabetes Type 2 is strongly linked to high sugar consumption and obesity.

In the first National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) carried out in 1986, the prevalence of diabetes was 6.3%. Just 10 years later this figure increased to 8.3%. Now, based on the latest NHMS III, conducted in 2006, diabetes prevalence has increased to 14.9%.

Most people find it hard to believe or accept that they can be consuming an average of 24 teaspoons of sugar a day. That is because we may be thinking only of the “visible” white sugar which we see and buy for use in preparations at home. However, an increasing amount of sugar that is consumed by the public is contained in industrially-prepared drinks and food.

For instance, some soft drinks contain an average of at least 7 teaspoons of sugar per can. During CAP surveys, we noted a number of the commercial drinks and food contained over 10 teaspoons of sugar in just one serving. Consumers are often unaware of how much sugar they are consuming in total throughout the day.

Urgent action needs to be taken to curb our national sugar consumption. In view of the alarming situation, CAP calls on the Government to:

• Work with manufacturers to reduce sugar contents in their products.

• Require manufacturers to amend their labels to clearly depict the amount of sugar in their food. To ensure that this information is understood by consumers, the sugar content could be shown graphically in terms of the number of teaspoons of sugar. (One teaspoon is approximately equivalent to 5g). With this improved labeling, consumers can instantly see the amount of sugar that they will be consuming and adjust their habits accordingly.

• Institute “traffic light” labeling to further enhance consumer awareness. This scheme has been shown to be effective in enabling consumers to assess the significance of nutrient levels within a particular product, and also allows for comparison between products. Under this scheme, red, orange and green colour coding would indicate whether the levels of these ingredients of concern are high, medium or low. The presence of the red, orange or green signals on food packaging would serve as an instant notice for consumers – even children or those with limited nutritional knowledge or numerical skills would easily be able to comprehend these signals. It would also act as a prompt for manufacturers to reformulate healthier versions of their products.

• Bring to a halt the advertisement of highly-sugared and other junk food and drink during children’s television viewing hours. Many junk food advertisements, including those for sweets, chocolates and soft drinks are shown just before or after children’s programmes. Children are susceptible to media pressure.

• Educate school children on the dangers of excessive sugar intake through health education, home science and cookery lessons.

• Educate the public on the dangers of sugar intake through the media especially through the television, radio and the popular press.

• Encourage children to avoid sweet drinks in schools by providing drinking water in water dispensers around school premises. Sweet drinks should not be sold in school canteens so that children learn to select water as a first-choice drink.

• Have a total ban on the sale of junk food in school canteens.

• Ban food hawking within a fixed perimeter around schools so that schoolchildren are not tempted to purchase and consume unhealthy foods.

• Put an end to child-height confectionery displays at supermarkets and grocery stores which are usually placed near checkout counters to attract children.

• Initiate the removal of vending machines dispensing junk food and sugary drinks from areas such as hospitals, airports and schools.

Parents can play an effective role in:

• Ensuring that highly-sugared products and sweets are not stocked in their homes.

• Setting a healthy example for the young by not eating sweets, chocolates and junk food in their presence.

• Not displaying their love for their children by rewarding them with sweet things.

• Making vegetables and fruits appealing to children and clearly explaining the benefits of these foods to them.

Dangers of Excess Insulin

Anyone whose blood sugar is not under optimum control is exposed to the dangers of chronically elevated insulin levels. Our bodies continue to pump out insulin as long as our blood sugar levels are above normal and can result in an insulin level that is dangerously high in an effort to keep blood sugar at a normal level.

While insulin is useful and a necessary hormone responsible for driving  blood sugar into cells where it can be burned for energy, too much insulin can be deadly. Insulin is also a powerful growth factor. As a healthy adult there is a limited need for more growth factors. Excessive growth factor production can trigger cell replication in places it isn't wanted or needed. Too much insulin and growth factors are linked to cancer where unregulated cellular reproduction can produce deadly malignancies. It also plays a role in the thickening and poor responsiveness of smooth muscle cells which line the arterial walls and contribute to cardiovascular disease. Excessive insulin production is the result of "insulin resistance" or pre-diabetes. High insulin levels are associated with an approximate 37% increase of dying from cancer whether or not you even have diabetes.

Something I did not know is that most anti diabetic drugs aim to ONLY drive blood sugar levels lower while having NO EFFECT on your insulin levels. Other drugs actually increase your insulin production in an attempt to again lower your blood glucose levels. Human studies have shown that (transflucosidase has a positive effect in lowering excess insulin over time. In one study patients who already had diabetes and elevated insulin levels, after 12 weeks of transglucosidase supplementation led to significant drops in insulin concentration overall.

STEPS TO CONSIDER:

A broad, comprehensive approach could be:

• It makes sense to me to alter one's diet so as to dramatically reduce the amount of refined carbohydrates which turn into simple sugars quickly in the digestive track. In other words, take action to dramatically reduce the consumption of refined carbohydrates and empty calorie foods at the source ........your mouth and fork and spoon.
• Walk at least 1/2 hour or more every day - alternate walking at your normal pace with short intensive bouts of walking as fast as you can
• If you are able, do some weight resistance exercise such as squats with the weights, pull ups, chin ups, push ups, biking etc. every other day.
• Stop drinking carbonated sodas whether diet or regular - they are bad for your PH and the regular sodas are a source of empty calories and concentrated excessive amounts of sugar. If your PH is acidic that causes inflammation which is strongly linked to dozens of diseases including, but not limited to Type 2 Diabetes.
• Purchase a supplement containing adequate amounts of transglucosidase and take a capsule before your heaviest meal of the day or any starchy meal. (SEE my last post on two sources of supplements available with this critical enzyme) I recommend Life Extension Magazine's supplement for best potency and pricing.
• Make a conscious effort to get more soluble and insoluble fiber in your diet, especially with any carbohydrate or starchy meal. This should total 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day. MOST of us NEED more FIBER.
• Consider taking a high potency broad spectrum multivitamin/mineral supplement
• IN addition to that supplement consider also taking: Olive leaf extract, Testofen if your testosterone levels are low, tart cherry caps (for inflammation), pycogenol, CQ10 (especially if you are on any statin or cholesterol lowering drugs), a better product to lower cholesterol and trigycerides would be (CHOLESLO), Taurine caps, Milk thistle for your liver, a B-compex vitamin, Magnesium-L-Threonate, and a daily Kelp tablet for iodine
• LINK on Pycogenol and its benefits:
• http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2012/aug2012_Pycnogenol_01.htm
• In addition I would strongly consider purchasing a Vita Mixer (or similar machine) and learn to make and drink a green smoothies every day for your body's interstitial fluid PH.
• Lastly I would consider a complex pro-biotic and/OR  perhaps learn how to make water kefir (very inexpensive) and also good for your PH, lowering inflammation and your overall digestive health.

Sounds somewhat expensive and a lot of work and things to remember. That being said, having your legs amputated, going blind, getting cancer, heart attacks, diabetic neuropathy etc. is a little confusing, expensive and inconvenient also.

For the record, I have no personal connection to and do not derive any income from your purchase of any of these supplements and products. I also have NO formal medical training. I am just a guy with type 2 diabetes who is interested in living a long time and getting the most quality out of life that I can.

Dan

Isa 53:4-5

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

The way you think, the way you behave, the way you eat, can influence your life by 30 to 50 years.
Deepak Chopra 

Red Beet Juice for Lowering Blood Pressure

Here is a NEW twist on your green smoothies.....adding red beets to the mix. Beet juice has shown great promise in lowering blood pressure. Here is information as to why this happens:

The effective dose seems to be 500ml or approximately one pint of red beet juice a day can play a significant role in lowering blood pressure. British researchers at Barts and the London School of Medicine found that the beet juice contains nitrate which is responsible for lowering BP. It seems the bacteria in your saliva convert the nitrate into NITRITE which either circulates in the body or is converted to Nitric Acid in the stomach.

They also found out that nitrate is found in green leafy vegetables. Prior evidence was linked to the anti-oxidants in green leafy vegetables that made them so healthy. Now they are realizing it may be the NITRATE.

Are you a scientist? Neither am I and I haven't been in a lab since my high school chemistry class. I am not going to let that stop me from taking advantage of the good stuff that God put into vegetables.

I will start adding beets to my VitaMix smoothies. Beets by themselves might be a little strong for drinking, so by adding in the celery, the spinach, 1/2 cucumber, a nice crisp apple, banana, orange, etc. you can end up with a great tasting smoothie and keep your blood pressure in check at the same time.

Anytime I  can replace a prescription drug with a natural cure, I will take the natural route. IF you have very high blood pressure and are on one or more prescription drugs  to help with that, let your doctor know that you are starting a red beet, celery, apple, cucumber, baby spinach, orange, banana, cucumber (etc.) green smoothie regimen and would like to try and wean yourself off the drugs.

BUY yourself a wrist blood pressure monitor and take it often to monitor the results.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) Genesis 1:29
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Dan

Today's Green Smoothie

Today I tried something a little different for a green smoothie. You have to sort of mix it up and experiment a little so you don't get bored. It also helps to try different veggies and fruits so you get a well rounded mix of vitamins, minerals, enzymes etc. every day.

Today I used 3 stalks of celery, one medium peeled orange, 1/2 cucumber, handful of baby spinach, handful of red seedless grapes, 1/2 banana, stevia in the raw to taste, 5 ice cubes, and enough ice cold water for consistency.

I think it is well balanced with (3) green veggies and (3) fruits.

Psalms 103:3 "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;"

Isaiah 53:4 "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:"

Isaiah 53:5 "With his stripes we are healed."

Dan

Here are some others to look at. See the LINK below:

http://www.melslife.com/c265/l153/Diabetes_Juices.html

EXCERPT:

Juices Nearly every health condition responds well to appropriate fruit and vegetable juices, but diabetes is a very complicated disease and affects people differently. The first thing you should do is consult a doctor and work together on finding the best diet for your specific diabetes symptoms. In general, if you are only concerned with your diabetes, you should have chromium-rich juices like tomato and grape, but they need to work into your eating plan, which usually includes the low Glycemic Index. Keep in mind that sugar is sugar, whether it’s in the form of a juice or granulated. Here are four juice cocktails I recommend to diabetics: Tomato juice and garlic (spicy too) Carrot ginger, celery, parsley, spinach Red lettuce, spinach, carrot, garlic (at least one clove), and ginger String beans, parsley, cucumber, celery and watercress If you have diabetes and are trying to reduce your blood pressure, lower your cholesterol and improve your heart, I recommend beet, carrot, celery, currant, spinach, grape, cherry and watermelon juices. If you are taking medication and are deficient in potassium, magnesium, or calcium, add these juices: honeydew melon, cantaloupe, apricot, banana, peach, orange juice, parsley and broccoli. If you have high blood pressure, I recommend three juice cocktails: Carrot, parsley and celery juice Lime juice and whey powders Grape and carrot juice To help reduce your cholesterol levels, I recommend these two juice cocktails: Beet, blackberry, parsley and pineapple juice Carrot, apple and ginger If you are only focusing on a healthy heart, I would recommend threes juice combos: Carrot, pineapple, and ginger (you could add a touch of honey) Parsley, alfalfa and pineapple Watercress, parsley and grape Whey can have a lot of sodium; buy the whey with the least amount of sodium. If you want a zesty juice cocktail, mix a cup of water, two ripe tomatoes, one tablespoon of tarragon, paprika, turmeric and cayenne. Add some basil leaves and the juice of a half-lemon, and mix well. Like many fruit juices, pomegranate juice contains antioxidants, especially polyphenols. However, pomegranate juice contains antioxidants at much higher levels than other fruit juices, which many experts believe will help you diabetes. Antioxidants are thought to provide several heart-protecting benefits, including reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol. Most studies have used a daily dose of 1.5 ounces of pomegranate juice to ensure maximum benefits. If you want to create your own juice cocktail, here’s a list of other complementary juices to provide vitality and help lower your blood pressure: Juice from green leafy veggies (think kale and spinach) are excellent sources of B-complex vitamins Carrot, apple, ginger, orange and strawberry juices have been known to lower bad cholesterol For natural zinc, drink ginger, turnip, parsley (even though it’s bitter tasting), garlic, or carrot juice If you want to increase your potassium, drink parsley, garlic, spinach, cantaloupe and banana juice together For more bioflavanoids, drink grape, parsley, lemon, or lime juices For more vitamin C, drink kale, green pepper, or parsley juice The best vitamin E juices for you are spinach, carrot and asparagus More magnesium could possibly raise your good cholesterol. Those juices are beet, garlic, parsley, and spinach Low on copper? Drink carrot, garlic, or ginger juice Studies have shown that chromium might raise good cholesterol levels. These juices include potato (pasty flavor), green pepper, apple and spinach juice While I’m recommending juices, be aware that many juices are high in calories and should be consumed in moderation. Fresh juices should be a part of a healthy diet, and avoid juices with added sugar. Make sure to read all labels for ingredients and choose 100% fruit juices not made from concentrate. Extra sugar means extra calories and it is always better to eat your calories than to drink them.

Diet and Regular Carbonated Sodas Are HARMFUL

I know I sound like a broken record concerning getting OFF all carbonated sodas whether they are diet or regular. Here is why:

http://www.juicing-for-health.com/harmful-soft-drinks.html

EXCERPTS:

The lure of soft drinks

"Soft drinks" is a term used for beverages that don't contain alcohol ("hard" liquor). If you really know what the contents of soft drinks are, you would not think it is "soft". It is really "hard" on your health.

Soft drinks have become so much a part of modern living, especially in major cities around the world. It particularly appeals to the younger generation who drinks soft drinks in place of water.

Soft drinks advertisements target young people who are oblivious to the harm these drinks can do to their bodies. No wonder the people love drinking soft drinks too--they give the refreshing feeling and seem to quench thirsts on a blistering hot day. Vending machines are making the "killing" easier.

If you drink soft/carbonated drinks regularly, I beg you to please stop and read what is it that you are putting into your body. Understand what these soft drinks contain:

Sugar

A majority of soft drinks contain large amounts of refined sugar content of up to 15 teaspoons each in a 325 ml can. One can a day gives you more sugar than is necessary for your body.

Sugar erodes teeth, increases your risks of diabetes, heart disease, indigestion and skin problems. As sugar enters the bloodstream and increases the sugar level rapidly, it causes a dependency situation whereby the body craves for a constant flow of sugar to maintain its levels. This keeps you craving for more, creating a vicious cycle that gets you hooked.

Artificial Sweeteners

Soft drinks disguised as "diet soda" or "tonic water" contain calorie-reduced sweeteners such as aspartame, acesulfame-K, saccharin or sucralose.

• Aspartame is 200 times sweeter than sugar, so very little is used to sweeten the soft drink. It does enhance the taste of the drink but it also cause numerous adverse side-effects. Common complaints include migraine, memory loss, emotional disorders, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, heart palpitations and shortness of breath.
• Acesulfame-K (Ace-K) is 100-200 times sweeter than sugar, with a slight bitter after-taste. Initial tests have indicated that this substance may be carcinogenic. Even though thorough tests are still incomplete, there are reasons to be careful not to ingest this compound as tests on lab animals have shown rapid increase in cancerous tumors.
• Saccharin is a non-nutritive sweetener which is 300 times sweeter than sugar. It has been proven to cause bladder cancer and is banned in Canada, New Zealand and several European countries. Saccharin is found to be present in Pepsi Diet, Diet Coke and Diet Sarsi.

Caffeine

Caffeine is an addictive drug that enhances the soda flavor. It artificially stimulates the nervous system and increases the heart rate. When consumed, it may temporarily arouse the intellect and diminish fatigue.

Over-stimulation depletes the body of vital energy as it struggles to deal with the toxin that enters the bloodstream. Excessive caffeine consumption is linked to cancers of the bladder and stomach, raised blood pressure and aggravating diabetes symptoms. Worst of all, it may even contribute to birth defects in babies.

Drinking soft drinks after a physical workout can cause calcium and potassium loss which in turn can cause sore muscles and delayed recovery time after exercise.

Acids

Most soft drinks contain acids such as citric, phosphoric and malic or tartaric acids. These acids are what give the drink the refreshing "bite" or "sting" and at the same time preserving the "quality" and sweetness of the drink.

A study was done where extracted human teeth were placed in cola drinks. Within two days, the teeth became very soft and the enamel surface lost much of its calcium.

If you think you would brush your teeth after drinking soft drinks, hear this: Brushing your teeth after drinking an acidic soft drink can increase the damage to your tooth enamel, and dissolving down the gum line.

Many diseases thrive in an acidic environment. For example, the phosphoric acid upsets the body's calcium-phosphorus ratio and dissolves calcium rapidly, resulting in premature osteoporosis. This same acid burns the human insides.

Consider this, phosphoric acid is used for removing rust from chrome and for cleaning automobile battery connectors. (Do a search on Google if you don't believe me!) Just imagine what horrendous things these acids are doing to your body, and I'm not even half way done telling yet.

An acidic blood condition weakens the immune system, causes inflammation, headaches, aggravates diabetes and many other diseases. Some cells die in this acidic condition, but some cells actually try to adapt to survive by becoming abnormal malignant cells.

---

Research has shown that in order to neutralize
a glass of cola, you would have to drink
32 glasses of high pH alkaline water.

---

To top

Here's a list of pH value in soft drinks, to show you how alarmingly acidic these beverages are. Human blood has a pH value ranging between 7.3 and 7.45. Anything under a pH of 5.5 can have a terribly adverse effect on the body.

Carbon dioxide

Carbonated drinks are made by injecting carbon dioxide into the water under pressure. The more carbon dioxide injected, the lower the pH, the more acidic it gets, the more fizzy it is.

We all know that carbon dioxide is a waste product exhaled by human. We don't need carbon dioxide, so why are we taking it by drinking soft drinks? Too much carbon dioxide kills healthy cells. Dead cells cause an acidic environment. As mentioned above, in an acidic environment, some cells may survive by becoming abnormal malignant cells.

Preservatives

Preservatives are added into soft drinks to prevent spoilage, and to prolong shelf life. Storage conditions and time can affect the taste and flavor, and these preservatives help to preserve that.

The labels may list these as "permitted preservatives" but the exceeded amount can cause untold number of health problems.

• Sodium benzoate (a.k.a. benzoic acid) is present in most soft drinks. This chemical is known to cause asthma, rashes and hyperactivity.
  

• Sulphur dioxide is also used in some soft drinks to preserve the color of say, carbonated lemon juice from turning brown. This chemical is used for industrial bleaching. It is so toxic that repeated exposures to it can cause fainting spells, skin eruptions, swelling, tightening of the chest, shock, coma and even death.

Artificial flavorings and colorings

Artificial flavorings are commonly used in making soft drinks to give each flavor its distinctive taste. These have adverse effect on hyperactive children and must be eliminated from their diet.

Tartrazine is an orange-yellowish drink coloring that is banned in Norway and Finland. It can cause allergic reactions like skin rashes, swelling, excessive mucus and bloodshot eyes.

Carmoisine is a reddish drink coloring that is banned in the US and Canada. It can cause allergic reactions, food poisoning and even cancer.

Brilliant Blue is another cancer-causing agent that is now banned in many developed countries. Sadly, it is still being used in my country to produce soft drinks. This chemical can cause chromosomal damage and allergic reactions.

Sodium

Most soft drinks contain some inorganic sodium. Sodium is used as an emulsifying, stabilizing and thickening agent to ensure that the contents of the drinks are kept evenly distributed. Excessive consumption of inorganic sodium thickens and stiffens arteries, leading to stroke, cardiac failure, high blood pressure and many other diseases.

What do we do?

Need I say more? Doing this research has given me a major jolt. It is sad that the government allows the manufacture of these killer drinks. It is even sadder that many people I know still drink soft drinks like water, thinking that "they need it" to keep them awake, sigh.

Do yourself and me a huge favor--please cut down or stop drinking any form of soft/carbonated/soda drinks. Instead, turn to healthy fresh fruit and vegetable juices if you value your health. Start today, it is not too late. You can still reverse the damages already done to your body, by taking the first step to learn what is beneficial for you. Choose to live healthy.

(MY INPUT)

I know, I know that a lot of you already know that, but your HOOKED on them. Try to wean yourself off by promising yourself you will go ONE WEEK..........just 7 days with no sodas. The first day is hard, the second just as bad, by the third day you are thinking, "Hey, I can do this", and by the 7th day you have replaced a BAD HABIT with a good one. Drinking MORE water, and use the money you will save from vending machines to purchase a reconditioned Vita Mixer or a NINJA MAX and start turning celery, cucumbers, kale, apples, red grapes and perhaps a mango into green smoothies to counteract all that acid you have been drinking for so long.

You will will so much better after 30 days of NO sodas and you will be happy about the weight loss and your reduced A1C next time you visit your doctor.

PLEASE TRY IT, then write back to me.

Dan

Flawed Pharmecutical Drug Testing?

I came across an article recently concerning the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) shutting down POM Wonderful's health claims concerning their own product from Pomegranate Juice.

The gist of the article is NOT a slam on POM Wonderful juice drink per se. It is an article exposing the fact that drug companies are guilty of the main complaint by the FTC in that POM Wonderful funded their own studies of their product. The drug companies are essentially funding their own studies too and most of them are NO WHERE NEAR as complete and extensive as was POM  Wonderful's testing and documentation was. Thought you might find it interesting and enlightening.

Enjoy the 4th of July and God Bless,

Dan

HERE is the link to this story:

http://blueheronhealthnews.com/site/?p=5499

ANOTHER link to the POM Wonderful products:

http://www.pomwonderful.com/health/health-story/

DRINK MORE WATER.........Most of Us Do NOT Get enough

OK, so now you are walking more, doing some push ups, some abdominal exercises, some stretching, and you have given up the Coca Cola, disassociated yourself from the Pepsi generation and stopped drinking soft drinks in general. You are eating more veggies and you are even starting to look forward to eating a plate of steamed broccoli, summer squash, green beans and kale, with some extra virgin olive oil and Bragg's Apple cider vinegar added for taste. You have exchanged your sugar coated chocolate nuggets type cereal with 27 additives you can't even pronounce, and a shelf life of (2) centuries for a bowl of oatmeal with some organic ground flax seeds and stevia added for taste. You have also developed a taste for raw peanuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, walnuts, pistachios and no more than 2 or three Brazil nuts per day. You even bought a couple of 20 pound dumb bells and you are doing a set or two of squats and lunges every other day. You are even dabbling in drinking some real KEFIR drinks every day. To top it all off, you purchased a NINJA blender on steroids or a Vita Mixer and you just love green smoothies. Enough is enough, what else should I be doing you ask?

(ans.) DRINK MORE WATER

WHY?  ....................good question, so let's take a look:

• Flush toxins
• Healthier skin
• Have more energy and alertness
• Be regular
• Lessen your risk of heart attack
• Regulate your body temperature
• Cushion and lube your joints and muscles
• Reduce your risk of disease and infections
• Drinking water temporarily increases your metabolism
• Possibly lower your blood pressure

IS IT POSSIBLE to drink too much water? YES IT IS, so don't go crazy.

I drink a full glass of cold water first thing every morning. You also need to study the signs of dehydration.

http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/healthy_living/JohnsHopkinsHealthyLivingDigestiveDisorders_647-1.html

Excerpt from above link:

Researchers at Tufts University have devised a food pyramid for older people which recommends at least eight 6-oz. servings (48 oz.) of any liquid per day. Hydration can therefore come from a variety of sources, including fruit or vegetable juice, nonfat milk and low-sodium soup. Even coffee, tea, beer, wine or mixed-alcohol drinks are acceptable in moderation, since all contain large amounts of water. Drinking straight hard liquor, on the other hand, can cause dehydration and is not recommended. Many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, berries, grapes, peaches, tomatoes and lettuce, are almost 100 percent water. Even meat is chock full of water. Water from foods typically accounts for 20 percent of your recommended total fluid intake.

Most people get enough water from the foods and drinks they enjoy without having to worry about dehydration, but certain situations call for more care. Instances where you should increase your fluid intake beyond the recommended eight servings to avoid dehydration include:

• While you exercise. For an hour of light to moderate exercise, 2–3 cups of fluid are recommended to stave off dehydration.
• If it is unusually hot. You will naturally lose more fluid and will require extra replenishing.
• If you’re constipated. Increasing fluid intake adds moisture to the large intestine, which helps your body eliminate waste. Also, laxatives can cause dehydration.
• If you’re prone to urinary tract infections and kidney stones. Fluids may prevent urinary tract infections and stop kidney stone formation.
• If you’re sick. High fever, vomiting, and diarrhea can cause rapid dehydration, a condition that can be life threatening.

Warning signs of dehydration: If you notice that you’re urinating less than usual or if you don’t feel thirsty very often, check the color of your urine. It should be the color of straw if you are properly hydrated. If it’s much darker, it’s a sign that you need more fluids. Other warning signs of dehydration include dry mouth, decreased salivation, dizziness, sunken eyes, rapid pulse and a loss of skin elasticity.

(MY NOTE) Dry mouth can also be a side effect of many prescription drugs and it is not caused by not getting enough water. You either need to get off that drug or drugs IF possible OR perhaps use a product specifically to correct dry mouth syndrome.

Here are some to consider and can be found on line or at your local drug store:

• Chewing gum with XYLITOL in it
• Biotene oral balance gel
• Biotene mouthwash rinse
• XYLImelt discs

Psalm 107:20" He sent His word and healed them from their destruction's"