This Bottled Water You Drink Makes You Fat and Causes Hormonal Imbalance

You might think that clear purified bottles water you buy  would be the best water for your body, however, the truth is that many bottled waters can cause a lot of health problems.  They may be making you fat.

Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical component in water bottles has been found to reduce insulin sensitivity and accelerate the formation of fat cells in animal studies by 1,300%. Even in minute amounts, the animal subjects gained weight when exposed to BPA.  

A new study from Harvard School of Public Health and published in the journal Environmental Health found that commonly-found toxins in plastics are linked to both general obesity and abdominal obesity. Known as Bisphenol A or BPA for short, these hormone disruptors have been primarily found in plastic, including plastic food and beverage packaging.  

Bottled Water Causes Hormonal Imbalance

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC’s) also referred to as “Xenoestrogens” or synthetic estrogens, cause serious health problems because they mimic estrogen among other hormones. Hormone disruptors can affect how estrogen and other hormones act in the body, by blocking them or mimicking them, which throws off the body’s hormonal balance. Because estrogen can make hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer develop and grow, many women choose to limit their exposure to these chemicals that can act like estrogen.

“Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that at certain doses, can interfere with the endocrine in mammals. These disruptions can cause cancerous tumors, birth defects, and other developmental disorders. Any system in the body controlled by hormones, can be derailed by hormone disruptors.”

   

What chemical can be used to do this? BPA. BPA is a Endocrine disruptor.

“Bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogenic endocrine disruptor widely used in the production of plastics. Increasing evidence indicates that in utero BPA exposure affects sexual differentiation and behavior…We hypothesized that BPA may disrupt epigenetic programming of gene expression in the brain…BPA exposure induced persistent, largely sex-specific effects on social and anxiety-like behavior, leading to disruption of sexually dimorphic behaviors.”

Tank Man

 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests

Twenty years ago, on June 5, 1989, following weeks of huge protests in Beijing and a crackdown that resulted in the deaths of hundreds, a lone man stepped in front of a column of tanks rumbling past Tiananmen Square.

Are you buying your children happy meals? You won’t be so happy when you read what are in these meals.

San Francisco’s has already made nutritional changes, and now a NYC Councilman, Leroy Comrie is proposing a bill to ban Happy Meals as well as other fast foods that are nutritionally deficient and marketed directly to kids. This is a great start, but what about all the artificial and synthetic ingredients that are dangerous to our children’s health. 

Why You Should Never Feed Your Kid a McDonald’s Happy Meal

Chicken nuggets:

“White boneless chicken, water, food starch-modified, salt, seasoning (autolyzed yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring (botanical source), safflower oil, dextrose, citric acid, rosemary), sodium phosphates, seasoning (canola oil, mono- and diglycerides, extractives of rosemary).

Battered and breaded with: water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, whey, corn starch.

Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.”

-TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone): TBHQ comes from petroleum and is related to butane. This can be toxic and also cause nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ear, delirium and collapse. It is shown to cause stomach cancer in lab rats, fragment DNA and cause damage to humane lung and umbilical cells. In children it can cause anxiety, restlessness, and intensify the symptoms of ADHD. 

-Hydrogenated soybean oil: Is an unnatural man-made fat (from one of the most unhealthy oils-soybean oil) that causes cellular dysfunction. This dysfunction can cause cancer, autoimmune disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, heart disease, bone degeneration, increased levels of “bad” cholesterol and decreased levels of “good” cholesterol, reduces immune function, creates reproductive problems and causes interference with our body’s ability to utilize omega-3 fats.

-Modified starch: This is treated with acid to lower viscosity. These starches are difficult for the body to digest. The gluten in modified starch can make celiac disease worse and people can be allergic to it. It may lower blood sugar levels making it dangerous for diabetics. Modified starch may interfere with blood sugar levels during and after surgery and should be avoided 2 weeks before scheduled surgery. Physical discomforts from ingesting this starch include, nausea, gas, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, bloating and vomiting.

-Sodium phosphate: Trace amounts of arsenic can be found in sodium phosphate which is a carcinogen. It can also cause kidney problems, dizziness, vomiting and dehydration

-Dimethyl ploysiloxane is a form of silicone used as an anti-foaming agent found in Silly Putty, caulking agents, sealants, cosmetics and McNuggets.

-Corn oil and corn starch are derived from corn. As of 2012, 94% of non-organic corn is genetically modified. 60 countries have completely banned GMOs but here in the USA, labeling requirements have been up to the discretion of each state.
McDonalds purchases over 3.4 billion pounds of pesticide drenched potatoes every year. These chemicals include pendimethalin, PCNB, 2,4-D and chlorothalonil. The U.S Enviornental Protection Agengy categorized these chemicals as “highly toxic, probably carcinogens”.

French fries ingredients

Potatoes, canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, safflower oil, natural beef flavor, dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate, citrus acid, Dimethyl ploysiloxane, vegetable oil, TBHQ

-Sodium acid pyrophosphate is used to keep the color (of the french fries in this case) looking fresh. On the chemical industry’s safety data sheet this ingredient is listed as “hazardous for ingestion”.  

TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone): TBHQ comes from petroleum and is related to butane. This can be toxic and also cause nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ear, delirium and collapse. It is shown to cause stomach cancer in lab rats, fragment DNA and cause damage to humane lung and umbilical cells. In children it can cause anxiety, restlessness, and intensify the symptoms of ADHD.

-Hydrogenated soybean oil: Is an unnatural man-made fat (from one of the most unhealthy oils-soybean oil) that causes cellular dysfunction. This dysfunction can cause cancer, autoimmune disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, heart disease, bone degeneration, increased levels of “bad” cholesterol and decreased levels of “good” cholesterol, reduces immune function, creates reproductive problems and causes interference with our body’s ability to utilize omega-3 fats.

-Dimethyl ploysiloxane is a form of silicone used as an anti-foaming agent found in Silly Putty, caulking agents, sealants, cosmetics and McNuggets.

A Russian consumer rights’ group files a lawsuit against McDonalds. The consumer groups say McDonald’s milkshakes are “falsely named because they contain very little milk”. Analysis of McDonald’s milkshakes report these cold drinks are more vegetable oil than any dairy product.

McDonald’s strawberry milkshake ingredients

59 ingredients in this popular milkshake flavor, but no strawberries!
Milkfat and nonfat milk, sugar, sweet whey, high-fructose corn syrup, guar gum, monoglycerides and diglycerides, cellulose gum, sodium phosphate, carrageenan, citric acid, E129 and artificial strawberry flavor.

-Sodium phosphate: Trace amounts of arsenic can be found in sodium phosphate which is a carcinogen. It can also cause kidney problems, dizziness, vomiting and dehydration

-Mono and diglycerides: are food additives that are used to combine fats and water within the product. Many different chemicals are used in the manufacturing process of creating this food additive. Many of the chemicals can still be found in the final product. Other compounds used for creating mono and diglycerides are, tartaric acid, synthetic lactic acid, nickel, ricinus fatty acids and sodium hydroxide which all pose health risks of their own.

-Sugar and corn sugar (high fructose corn syrup). Rats fed HFCS gained 300% more fat than those being fed (even slightly more amounts of) regular sugar or sugar from fruit. It also fattens your heart with bad cholesterol, causing plaque build up, leading to hypertension, heart disease and even stroke. Liver, gallbladder and kidneys process HFCS. It is highly destructive to the liver and can cause fatty liver. Scarring of the liver diminishes its ability to process out toxins that will make you sick. HFCS is also high in Mercury levels. Exposure (in young, growing children especially) can result in irreversible brain and nervous system damage.

-Carrageenan: lowers blood pressure, slows blood clotting, causes intestinal lesions, ulceration and malignant tumors.
In the past 4 decades, Scientists have repeatedly warned carrageenan is not safe for human consumption

-The artificial strawberry flavoring alone contains these chemicals:
Amyl acetate, amyl butyrate, amyl valerate, anethol, anisyl formate, benzyl acetate, benzyl isobutyrate, butyric acid, cinnamyl isobutyrate, cinnamyl valerate, cognac essential oil, diacetyl, dipropyl ketone, ethyl butyrate, ethyl cinnamate, ethyl heptanoate, ethyl heptylate, ethyl lactate, ethyl methylphenylglycidate, ethyl nitrate, ethylpropionate, ethyl valerate, heliotropin, hydroxyphrenyl-2-butanone (10% solution in alcohol), ionone, isobutyl anthranilate, isobutyl butyrate, lemon essential oil, maltol, 4-methylace-tophenone, methyl anthranilate, methyl benzoate, methyl cinnamate, methyl heptine carbonate, methyl naphtyl ketone, methyl salicylate, mint essential oil, neroli essential oil, nerolin, neryl isobutyrate, orris butter, phenethyl alcohol, undecalactone, rum ether, rose, vanillin and solvent.

I’m NOT “lovin’ it”!!

The Actual Benefit of Diet vs. Drugs

One of the reasons people may undervalue diet and lifestyle changes is an overconfidence in the ability of pills and procedures to prevent disease. For example, people tend to wildly overestimate the power of things like mammograms and colonoscopies to prevent deaths from breast and bowel cancer, or the power of drugs like Fosamax to prevent hip fractures, or the power of cholesterol drugs to prevent fatal heart attacks. Patients believe statin drugs like Lipitor are about 100 times more effective than they actually are in preventing heart attacks. Most people wouldn’t take multiple blood pressure medications if they knew the truth.

For most people, the chance of benefit is normally less than 5 percent over five years for cholesterol, blood pressure and blood thinning drugs. Patients don’t want to take drugs unless they have at least a one in five chance—even those who just had a heart attack. It’s no wonder that doctors seldom share these figures. Therefore, informing patients of the percentage chance of benefit from preventive drug strategies will likely substantially reduce the uptake of such drugs.

For the individual, this is unlikely to be detrimental; after all, there’s a 95 percent chance it won’t do anything for them. But for the population at large, it would make a difference, so doctors and drug companies oversell the benefits by conveniently not mentioning how tiny they actually are, knowing most patients wouldn’t take them if doctors divulged the truth. To practice non-lifestyle medicine is to practice deceptive medicine. 

The best that cholesterol-lowering statin drugs appear to do is an absolute risk reduction of 3.1 percent over six years. If Dr. Esselstyn’s work can be replicated in a randomized, controlled trial, then a whole foods plant-based diet will have been shown to work twenty times better, an absolute risk reduction of 60 percent after less than four years. In Esselstyn’s study, 99.4 percent of patients that stuck with the diet avoided major cardiac events, such as death from heart attack.

When we have to decide whether we want to go diet versus drugs, we’re not making a choice between eating healthy to prevent a heart attack or taking a pill to prevent a heart attack. Because in 97 percent of cases in the near-term, pills don’t do anything. We’re risking side effects for nothing, whereas if we treat the underlying root cause of the disease by eating a healthy, cholesterol-free diet, we may even reverse the progression of the disease.

If we stop eating an artery-clogging diet, our bodies can start dissolving that plaque away, opening up arteries in some cases without drugs or surgery. A healthy whole food plant-based diet by itself may work 20 times better than drugs to combat our #1 killer.

Now that’s something doctors may want to tell their patients. 

11 Ways to Get More Fiber Without Eating More Grains

It lowers glucose levels. It protects against diabetes and heart disease. It helps lower cholesterol. And it keeps you regular. We’re talking about our best friend fiber, and its list of benefits seems to grow every day. Just last month, new research found a link between higher fiber intake (more than 17.5 grams per day) and a lowered risk of lung disease. And earlier this week, a long-term study of 44,000 women found that those who consumed 28 grams of fiber per day on average had a 24 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer before menopause, compared to women who ate 14 grams a day on average.

If you want to increase your intake, the magic numbers to keep in mind are 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men per day, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. And though we’re often used to hearing the words “fiber” and “whole grains” in the same breath, there are actually plenty of other (often healthier) options for getting more fiber without piling our plates high with bread and rice. Whether you’re just watching your grain intake or eating a strictly low-carb diet, fear not for your bowels—we’ve got you covered with the following high-fiber, grain-free (and some low-carb) fiber sources:

Avocados: Sprinkled with a little sea salt and eaten with a spoon or whipped up into guacamole, avocados are packed with potassium, heart-healthy fat, vitamin K, vitamin E, magnesium and fiber—13 grams of it in the average 200-gram avocado. And with only 17 grams of carbohydrates total, including fiber, it’s a great low-carb food too. Prefer something sweet? Try it in a flour-free chocolate cookie recipe!

 Artichokes: One large artichoke (about 162 grams) will up your fiber intake by about 9 grams. And with only 17 grams of carbs total, they’re a great low-carb option, whether they’re part of a salad, in a stew or paired with spinach for a dip.

 Berries: As far as fiber-rich fruits go, prunes are up there, with 12 grams of fiber per cup—but they also tend to be packed with sugar. For a lower-sugar, high-fiber fruit, opt for berries like blackberries and raspberries, which contain about 8 grams of fiber per cup and only 5-7 grams of sugar. 

 Black Beans: Bring on the chili! Throw some ground beef in a slow cooker and make sure you add a few cups of beans. A cup of black beans (about 194 grams) will add 30 grabs of fiber. Lima beans add 13 grams of fiber per cup, and, if you’re watching your carb intake, black soy beans contain 7 grams of fiber and only 8 total grams of carbohydrates.

Chia Seeds: Chia seed pudding has been having a moment, but the mighty seeds are also great in baked goods, green smoothies, sprinkled on grilled veggies and in gravies and stir-fry sauces (check out some of our favorite chia seed recipes here). In addition to being rich in omega-3 fatty acids, just one ounce (or two tablespoons) of chia seeds will add 10 grams of fiber to your day (and only another 2 grams of non-fiber carbs, making them perfect for low-carb eaters).

 Cauliflower: Crunch on it raw for a midday snack, grill it up with dinner or cover it in cheese. However you eat it, one small head (about 4 inches in diameter, or 265 grams) will get you 5 grams of fiber. And with only 13 total grams of carbohydrates (including fiber) per small head, it makes a great grain-free, low-carb replacement for rice too—rice it in a food processor and use it in place of regular rice in any dish.

 Coconut Flour: You don’t usually see cake on a list of high-fiber foods, but you can get both a sweet fix and a fiber boost when you bake with coconut flour instead of all-purpose flour. Case in point? This gluten-free cinnamon cake with a coconut glaze, made with almond flour, coconut flour, coconut milk, eggs, grated apples and other healthy goodies. Use it in place of traditional breading for grain-free, low-carb fried chicken fingers, too—just two tablespoons contain about 5 grams of fiber.

 Flaxseed Meal: Four tablespoons of flaxseed meal will add 8 grams of fiber to your day, along with benefits like stabilizing blood sugar, warding off infections and lowering cholesterol. Sprinkle them into a salad, use them in baking or mix with a morning yogurt or smoothie.

 Nuts: Love to snack? Remove your hand from the bag of Cheetos and dip into a can of nuts instead. If you’re counting calories, count carefully—the calories in nuts add up fast when you’re mindlessly snacking. But they’re also a healthy fiber boost if you’re replacing a junk food snack with them. One ounce of almonds will give you 3.5 grams of fiber, while pecans and hazelnuts give you a little under 3.

 Psyllium Husks: With 5 grams of fiber per teaspoon, psyllium husks make for an easy, low-carb fiber boost—especially since it dissolves easily in water and comes in capsules. Making a snack out of it? Mix it in with a couple of tablespoons of peanut butter for a sweet but healthy nosh.

 Veggie Purees: Okay, so a big bowl of cauliflower, beans and avocados probably won’t make it into your dinner rotation. But whip out a blender and you can get creative with vegetable-based soups and sauces that easily work with your favorite entrees. 

13 Herbs and Spices That Can Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation is your body’s protective response to injury or damage. It helps your natural healing and repair processes. A problem starts when your body is chronically inflamed. Many modern stressors, such as pollution, food sensitivities and carrying extra weight, can lead to chronic inflammation.

Chronic inflammation has been linked to a wide variety of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and attention deficit disorder (ADD).

You don’t have to accept inflammation as a part of modern life. There are many different herbs that can help you reduce or prevent inflammation in your body.

1. Turmeric (Curcumin)

The anti-inflammatory agent in turmeric is its yellow pigment called curcumin. Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines have long used turmeric and curcumin to reduce inflammation as well as treat digestive disorders, wounds and infections.

Studies have shown that curcumin also acts as an antioxidant and may combat cancer. Fresh or powdered turmeric is excellent in curries, soups or other dishes. Fresh turmeric can be added to fresh vegetable juices. Supplements of curcumin are also available.

2. Green Tea

The preventative effects of green tea against cardiovascular disease and cancer are well established. More recent studies have shown that green tea can be an effective anti-inflammatory, particularly in the treatment of arthritis. It can also reduce inflammation of the digestive tract, potentially helping conditions like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

It’s recommended to drink 3 to 4 cups of tea daily. Green tea extract can also be found in pill form. And for those who don’t want the caffeine, decaffeinated green teas are available.

3. White Willow Bark

White willow tree bark has been used as a treatment for pain and inflammation since ancient Egyptian and Roman times. Many studies have shown that white willow bark has a comparable effect to aspirin, but with fewer side effects than aspirin.

The usual dose of white willow bark is 240 mg per day for ongoing conditions. There are also herbal blends that contain white willow bark which can be used for an acute event, such as a headache. 

4. Maritime Pine Bark (Pycnogenol)

Bark from the maritime pine tree (Pinus maritima) can be processed into pycnogenol. This extract has been used for over 2,000 years to help heal wounds, scurvy and ulcers as well as reducing vascular inflammation. It is one of the strongest antioxidants known today.

Studies have shown that pycnogenol is 50 to 100 times more potent than vitamin E in neutralizing free radicals in the body. It has also been found to reduce blood pressure and the risk of blood clots. A typical dosage is 100-200 mg daily.

5. Chili Peppers (Capsaicin)

The countless varieties of hot peppers we have today began as one small shrub (Capsicum annum), native to tropical regions of the Americas. The chemical capsaicin is what makes a pepper hot. And it’s capsaicin that’s been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect in your body.

Any type of chili pepper, such as cayenne or jalapeno, contains capsaicin. You can use chili peppers fresh or powdered in a wide variety of dishes, including desserts. Supplements containing capsaicin are often mixed with other herbs to create natural anti-inflammatory blends.

6. Frankincense (Boswellia serrata)

Boswellia is a tree variety native to India, Somalia, Ethiopia and the Arabian Peninsula. Frankincense is a resin extracted from the trees. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and pain-controlling properties. Boswellia resin is currently used to treat degenerative and inflammatory joint disorders.

One study showed that a combination of Boswellia and curcumin was more effective for treating osteoarthritis than a commonly used synthetic drug. It’s recommended to take 300-500 mg of Boswellia extract two or three times a day for ongoing inflammatory conditions.

7. Black Pepper

This unassuming spice actually packs an anti-inflammatory punch. The distinctive flavor of black pepper comes from the chemical piperine. Even at low doses, piperine has been shown to reduce inflammation. It can inhibit the spread of cancer and has been shown to suppress the perception of pain and arthritis symptoms.

8. Resveratrol

This is an antioxidant found in many plants. The highest amounts have been found in Japanese knot weed (Polygonum cuspidatum) and in the skins of red wine grapes. Resveratrol has been shown to be a strong anti-inflammatory. It also protects against DNA damage and mutations. You can find resveratrol as a common supplement in natural food stores. A typical dosage is from 50 to 500 mg per day.

9. Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa)

This herb is derived from a woody vine native to Peru. The bark of cat’s claw has traditionally been used to treat arthritis, bursitis and intestinal disorders. Studies have shown that it can reduce inflammatory responses in the body and it has a protective effect against gastrointestinal inflammation.

You can make a tea from cat’s claw from either a prepared tea or use 1000 mg of the bark to 8 ounces of water. It is also available as a dry extract in a capsule. It’s recommended to take 20 to 60 mg daily.

10. Rosemary

In one study, participants were given small amounts of various common herbs and spices for a period of 7 days. Rosemary showed one of the strongest protective effects against inflammation and oxidation.

The other top spices were turmeric, cloves and ginger. The researchers noted that the amounts given of each herb were no more than what someone would normally eat in a seasoned soup, sauce or other dish.

11. Cloves

Clove oil can be applied directly to the gums to help with a toothache or for pain control during dental work. Cloves have been shown to reduce mouth and throat inflammation. Cloves can also be used to treat diarrhea, nausea, hernia, bad breath and as an expectorant.

The powdered or whole dried flower buds are delicious in many savory dishes as well as in desserts and hot drinks.

12. Ginger

Research has shown that ginger has a better therapeutic effect than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to treat pain and inflammation. Ginger also inhibits the activation of several genes involved in an inflammatory response.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, ginger may help prevent or treat nausea and vomiting from motion sickness, pregnancy and chemotherapy. It can also be used to reduce osteoarthritic pain and heart disease. Ginger is delicious in many savory dishes, as well as in teas, juices and desserts.

13. Cinnamon

This popular spice is made from the bark of cinnamon trees native to China, India and Southeast Asia. In addition to being anti-inflammatory, cinnamon has been shown to have antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer and lipid-lowering properties. It has even been found to act against neurological disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

Cinnamon goes well in anything from breakfast grains, to soups and stews, to desserts and drinks. Any pre-made apple pie or pumpkin pie spice mixes will often have cinnamon, cloves and ginger all in one tasty blend. 

The Old Vet and His Tank

 This is so touching: an old WW2 Russian tank army veteran has finally found his own tank on which he passed through all the war standing in small Russian town as a monument and got emotionally shocked that people worried his heart won’t be able to cope with this.