Why SUGAR makes you fat

Well, not sugar, but more particularly FRUCTOSE:
Dr. Robert Lustig, Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco, has been a pioneer in decoding sugar metabolism. Here are a few important facts about fructose:

•After eating fructose, 100 percent of the metabolic burden rests on your liver. With glucose, your liver has to break down only 20 percent. The fatty acids created during fructose metabolism accumulate as fat droplets in your liver and skeletal muscle tissues, causing insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Insulin resistance progresses to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
•Fructose converts to activated glycerol (g-3-p), which is directly used to turn free fatty acids (FFAs) into triglycerides that get stored as fat. The more g-3-p you have, the more fat you store. Glucose does not do this. When you eat 120 calories of glucose, less than one calorie is stored as fat. 120 calories of fructose, however, results in 40 calories being stored as fat. Consuming fructose is essentially consuming fat!
•The metabolism of fructose by your liver creates a long list of waste products and toxins, including a large amount of uric acid, which drives up blood pressure and causes gout.
•Glucose suppresses the hunger hormone ghrelin and stimulates leptin, which suppresses your appetite. Fructose has no effect on ghrelin and interferes with your brain's communication with leptin, resulting in overeating. For further confirmation on this, check out this 2008 study published in the Journal of Nutrition. The researchers concluded that fructose turned into body fat much quicker than glucose, and that having fructose for breakfast changed how the body handled fats at lunch.
Ironically, the food products that most people rely on to lose weight—low-fat diet foods—often contain the most fructose! So beware, and always read the content labels.

Ref: #1

Also of note is a study countering the incorrect notion we've all been slammed with that weight depends on calories in minus calories burned. Quality is More Important than Quantity (watch the potato chips) from the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

Aspartame

A link for now.  Aspartame
More quick read from Amazon reviews and summaries.
There is more elsewhere on this blog under Artificial Sweetners.

If it says "Diet", "Lite", or "Reduced calories"  BEWARE!  It'll probably make you fat!

GMO Update

More research continues to reveal the damage done by GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms), as well as the assault on scientists who research in this highly lucrative field (follow the money once again).

Kidney & Liver Damage, etc. (note - long and technical)
Summary of above
Letter to Court

Prostate Cancer Screening not valid for older men

FYI: Reuters

Sodium Fluoride Drops for Infants - research

Some dentists and pediatritions are prescribing sodium fluoride drops for infants - why?!
Research:
1. Presentation against fluoride in drinking water, Austin, TX (21 Mar 2011).
2. Natural Dentistry advice.
3. Scientists and Professionals against fluoridation due to adverse biological effects.
4. Fluoride results in better teeth - ops, maybe not.
5. Fluoride layer so thin that protection is questioned (PubMed 21 Dec 2010).
6. For The Record - The ADA recommendations.

Vaccine Update (again)

In many countries, government officials and drug companies aggressively resist conducting studies that compare the health of vaccinated and unvaccinated children. But such studies have been conducted in Africa.

One such study, from Guinea-Bissau, shows a doubling of the mortality rate among infants vaccinated with a single dose of DTP vaccine. The mortality rate more than quadrupled after the second and third dose.

Ignore the data, if the fox (BigPharma) says everything is fine in the hen house, it must be!
Vaccination Study

Premature Birth Drug - FDA helps again

A drug which the FDA approved more than half a century ago—which doctors have been prescribing for their patients with high-risk pregnancies through compounding pharmacies with great success—was designated by the FDA an “orphan drug.” Now KV Pharmaceutical has been given the exclusive right of production and sale (not to mention drug trial tax breaks!). They immediately raised the price from $10 per dose to $1,500—simply because they could.
See Details.

Midwifery/Natural Birthing/Diapers

I really don't remember how I got off on this subject, but with all the dangerous and often unnecessary interventions now used in hospital births, I thought it would be good to include some information on alternatives.

Interesting Midwife site. Midwife Certification. Find a Midwife.

Diapers - What's this doing here?! How do you 'do' diapers? Disposables right? And what do you put the disposables in when done? Any idea the effect these have on the environment; how long this toxic mess takes to disentigrate?! (some of it doesn't). Of equal concern is what do these disposables do to your baby?
If you are the typical 'modern' mom - you really don't want to consider this, but there are some alternatives to disposables. Here is one of many online resources: Diapers

Here is a throw-in from the Environmental Working Group:
(This is not an endorsement of these products - make up your own mind)
EWG's baby gift list (links to Amazon.com):
Glass baby bottles
If you need to use plastic, buy BPA-free baby bottles
A natural wood, unpainted rattle
Chlorine-free disposable diapers or cloth diapers
Your favorite baby book -- in cardboard or wood (Alex is partial to Dr. Seuss!)
Organic cotton onesies

Diabetes and Insulin Resistance

Although I've run across a lot of literature and information on the Internet on this subject, I've not posted anything here.

Since it is becoming epidemic I think I will spend a little time investigating natural cures and pharmaceutical drug dangers.

A start:

Jon Barron on diabetes.

Here is a LONG list of articles addressing various issues relating to diabetes. (Note, you may have to register for this site - it's a pain, but I've found the site safe and worth it.).

Oh, by the way, if your doctor has recently put you on statin drugs, hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) is a frequent side effect!

A short summary is: Cut out sugar, particularly soda!! Diet, low calorie, fat free, etc., cut ALL pop and soda out of your diet. Try water. Next, cut back on processed foods [hint - it comes in a package and has more than 5 items listed on the ingredients label - most of which you can't pronounce!]; along with this, cut out processed carbohydrates, better known as junk snack food. Consider increasing your vitamin D3 intake and thiamine (a B-vitamin). Become very conscious of labels and read them - this takes some patience and study to get smart. DON'T get sucked into buying stuff just because it says "Fat Free", 'Low Calorie", or "Lite". These will sabotage your weight control every time! See my post on how to get fat.

Cholesterol

Does your doc say you need to lower your cholesterol? And here's just the drug for it?
You may want to investigate the side effects of those drugs including the fact statin drugs (and others), block the same mechanism whereby your body makes coenzyme Q-10. Don't know what that is? Find out - your life depends on it!

Next here are some links that refute the whole cholesterol/cardio link. But research carefully, as there are many other factors that relate to heart disease.

THINCS - Note: This site is a little tedious to navigate, but don't give up.

Health Journal - He IS a doctor and almost always has something interesting to say; plus he isn't selling anything!

Also look on this Blog for information on Statin Drugs:
Statin Drugs - Updates
Statin Drugs - Muscle Problems
Statin Drugs - Or Niacin
Here is an OLD article on the ineffectiveness of Vytorin and Zetia in particular.

An interesting book to read on the subject is "The great American Heart Hoax" by Michael Ozner. You might try your local library. [ISBN: 9781933771540
1933771542]

Comments are welcome by the way.....

Harbin Ice and Snow Festival

I got sidetracked on this one. Someone sent me a power point show of the Harbin, China Ice and Snow Festival. Here is the link to a photographer with beautiful work - and it includes several of the Harbin festivals - Enjoy! You might want to explore some of his other photo's.

Here is a 2010 update from the Boston Globe.

Bone Density/Ostioporosis Drugs and Osteonecrosis

This is a placekeeper for further investigation - I gotta keep it somewhere!

Osteoporosis drugs such as Fosamax, Boniva, and Actonel are now being linked to osteonecrosis (bone death) in the jaw according to a new study by the University of Southern California's School of Dentistry.

The study's findings

According to a study by the University of Southern California's School of Dentistry (USCD), osteoporosis (a bone disease that leads to an increased risk of fracture) drugs such as Fosamax, Boniva and Actonel that are prescribed to nearly 30 million Americans each year may be the cause of jaw bone death, or osteonecrosis. The drugs, also known as bisphoshonates, became part of a USCD study after patients taking the drugs started showing unusual jaw infections.

According to an article in Science Daily (www.sciencedaily.com) and the April issue of the Journal of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery (www.joms.org/), the USCD looked at microbial biofilms (which relates to bacteria) in the bones of patients taking these drugs and found a correlation between the drugs and jaw bone disorders.

Bisphosphonate manufacturers

The following companies manufacturer bisphosphonates:

•Fosamax - manufactured by Merck & Company.
•Boniva - manufactured by Roche and GlaxoSmithKline and made popular due to its celebrity endorser, Sally Field
•Actonel - manufactured by Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi Pharmaceuticals.
•Skelid - manufactured by Sanofi Pharmaceuticals
•Didronel - manufactured by Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals
•Reclast and Zometa - manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals
What is Osteonecrosis?

Osteonocrosis is bone death resulting from poor blood supply to an area of bone. Often known as jaw death, it is a condition that has been linked to patients on bisphosphonate therapy and may also result in pain, swelling, infection of soft tissue, drainage, loosening of teeth, exposed bone, numbness, and heaviness of the jaw. The U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and pharmaceutical giant Novartis, warned dental professionals in 2004 about a possible link to osteonecrosis and bisphosphonates over Novartis's drug Aredia which is no longer available to U.S. consumers.

Fructose - update - how to get FAT

This will change your life. Want to get fat? Eat more fat - right? WRONG! Eat FRUCTOSE! Whether it is high fructose corn syrup, or apple juice, or . . . . . almost any low fat packaged food. Look on the label - low fat -> hi sugar! Usually in the form of fructose. Also watch out for sugar substitutes - especially Aspartame!

Do you really believe calories in = calories burned + fat stored. Which means eat less and exercise more and you will lose weight. Does it work? Look around you - that's the story all the overweight people around you have swallowed. If it works why is the U.S. one of the most obese nations on earth? What is your experience?!

So do not watch any TV today and watch THIS
(WARNING - it takes 90 minutes - no commercials) and don't worry about all the technical, but informative, explanations - just listen for the message. And change your lifestyle for the better.

PCOS

PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormone imbalance that can cause irregular periods, unwanted hair growth, and acne. PCOS begins during a girl’s teen years and can be mild or severe.

What are the signs of PCOS?
Teen girls and young women with PCOS commonly have one or more signs. Some of the most common signs include:
Irregular periods that come every few months, not at all, or too frequently
Extra hair on your face or other parts of your body, called hirsutism (her-suit-is-em)
Acne
Weight gain and/or trouble losing weight
Patches of dark skin on the back of your neck and other areas, called acanthosis nigricans (a-can-tho-sis ni-gri-cans)

The rates of PCOS among teens has skyrocketed since the 80's and is due to poor nutrition from processed foods and environmental toxins.

PCOS is caused by an imbalance in the hormones (chemical messengers) in your brain and your ovaries. Many girls also have higher than normal levels of insulin from the pancreas. PCOS usually happens when a hormone called LH or levels of insulin are too high, which results in extra testosterone production by the ovary.

In the 1980's, the fat-free philosophy reigned supreme. As fat in foods dwindled, sugar and artificial sweeteners came into ascendancy. So did obesity
Scientists & doctors at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, collected data for eight years and discovered that people who drank diet soda did not lose weight, but rather gained weight."

High fructose corn syrup arrived in the 1970's, made with cornstarch from genetically modified corn. Since that time, obesity and diabetes rates have soared. This 'engineered' fructose causes high triglyceride levels, fatty liver, insulin resistance, and seemingly unstoppable hunger since it also turns off your brain's ability to respond to leptin. Leptin is the hormone that lets you know when you're full.

An excellent site that further explains PCOS & natural alternatives to drugs:
http://www.sensible-alternative.com.au/female-hormones/polycystic-ovarian-syndrome

Do you drink bottled water? Use canned foods/soups? Microwave in plastics? These are all sources of BPA's which are known hormone disrupters.

Another gland involved with PCOS is the thyroid gland. The detrimental effects of fluoride on on this gland are well proven, but not well publicized. What's in your toothpaste? Read the warning label. The toxic effects of fluoride are magnified by aluminum.

Many PCOS teens suffer from sugar addiction characterized by a diet high in white flour products (white bread, bagels, cookies, pastries), potatoes & potato products like chips, French fries, etc. Closely related are corn based snacks.

Cataracts

Here is some information on cataracts - some of which I wish I'd known many years ago!

What is a cataract? And what does it look like? Go HERE (good site with pictures).

I just had cataract surgery after having worn glasses for the past 50 or so years.

Here is a long audio (51 min) on what you can do to prevent cataracts. Or, go to the same website and read the important points below the audio player first.

Want to know what cataract surgery looks like today - check it out. (Video)

Do you have cataracts and wonder what to do?
1. Most insurance (US) will cover the surgery and lens replacement with a monocular lens.
2. If you have severe astigmatism, are extremely near sighted, or have other eye conditions other than presbyopia, nearsightedness, or farsightedness you may have to get a more complicated (and expensive) lens. Talk to your opthalmologist about what he recommends.
3. You may also opt to get a 'premium' ($$) lens such as:
. a. Multifocal lens (see below).
. b. Accommodating lens (also below).

c. Mix & Match, or a combination of the different lenses. One in one eye, another kind in the other eye.

Types of lenses:
1. Monofocal: Corrects vision for one distance - usually far vision, then you have to use reading glasses or similar for close up. But if you do most of your work up close you could get a monofocal lens that corrects for up close and glasses for medium and far vision. It is possible to have one eye focused for far and the other for near - this is called monovision. This has been successful with people using contact lenses, but I've not talked to anyone who has had monovision using implants or "IOL's". I was initially considering it, but decided to go for the more expensive multifocal ReSTOR lens.
2. Multifocal: There are three contenders here at this time - Tecnis, ReZoom and ReSTOR. For me it was a toss-up between the Tecnis and the ReSTOR. As I understood it, the Tecnis gave better near vision in dim light than the ReSTOR, but more glare from headlights in night driving. I finally went with the ReSTOR. And it may be the doctor just likes those better, it's a hard decision to make - especially since you can only do it once!
3. Accomodating: This is the Crystalens. It is supposed to work just like your lens did when you were younger and be able to change shape as it is hooked to the same muscles that focused your natural lens once upon a time. According to my doctor, he hasn't had such good luck with them and people end up with poor near focus as the lens tends to pop out of place and move forward. He will not use them.

Post-Op experience. As I'm writing this, I've only had my right eye done (next eye in a week) and I'm quite pleased with the results. At present (operation + 1 week) I can't see that well for reading. They say it will get better. My eye is not 20/20 far, 20/35 near, and the night glare of bright lights doesn't seem to be a bother. Before surgery I was in otherwise excellent health, not on any meds, and no other complications other than the cataracts.

State of Health

So what is your state of health? Or more precisely, how does your state (of the U.S. States) compare? Fun site. Then check out counties in your (or any) state.

Antibiotics - is yours a fluoroquinolone?

"The Fluoroquinolone Drugs are the most toxic and dangerous antibiotic in clinical practice today"

A very dangerous group of antibiotics known as fluorquinolones are given out like candy by ignorant physicians every day. Check here for the common names of many of them.

Then set back for a good read and check out the many side effects of these drugs. Many have been taken off the market due to the severe damage they cause, but many are still out there reaping havoc as well as profits for the pharmaceutical companies as they sell drug after drug to address the damage originating with these drugs - and most medical practitioners are totally unaware of this. Don't be as ignorant - the quality of life you save may be your own!

How about tendinitis or a ruptured tendon? Peripheral neuropathy? Sudden change in blood sugar? Tinnitus? Floaters? Fibromyalgia? The list goes on - and on - and ON!

Or just use your search engine and enter 'fluoroquiolone'. And next time you're at your doctor's office, ask them how often they have prescribed Cipro; then ask if they know what signs to warn them of in case of an adverse reaction.

Vaccine Resource Information

1-27-11: More in from the Health Ranger. Although he comes across a little too candid, and sometimes opens his mouth before thinking (gee, I never did that..), many of the articles are well thought out and researched. Here's more on the Dr. Wakefield controversy:
Wakefield Research

1/24/11: Interesting article on link between SIDS and vaccinations.
6/3/10: Vitamin D has been scientifically proven to be five times more effective than vaccines at preventing influenza infections and without ANY complications or side effects. See double blind investigation. Note - these children were given only 1200 IU/day. When under stress, the body needs much more than this. It is quite suprising that the results were this good with these small amounts.
I try to take 10,000 IU/day, but sometimes forget, so I probably average 40,000 to 50,000 per week in the winter.

6/5/10: Once again, follow the BIG money to see WHO pulled some strings in the flu pandemic of 2009-2010. Will we fall for the same game in 2011?

4/11/10: Rotarix vaccine contamination.

4/11/10: Another voice in the wilderness: Doctors against vaccines.

4/?/09: Generation Rescue, Inc. Let's ignore these numbers OK?

4/10/10: Dr. Mercola interview with Dr. Wakefield on MMR shots, Bowel disease & autism.

Posted 4/5/10: Polish Health Minister Ewa Kopacz didn't fall for flu scam.

FDA info on Therosal content of vaccines (does not address other adjuvants such as squaline)

More on scam - Examiner

More goodies on vaccines - I'm trying to determine if this is real, not sure how I can actually do that. Deadly Immunity (part 1 of 3) Note -This only covers the thimerisol question - be sure to check Part II as well as Part III. Another admitidley biased source (willing to look at the evidence?) can be found here Put Children FIRST.

If the previous post (hep-b for newborns), makes you wonder about the motives of an industry protected from any kind of misconduct, guaranteed profits by laws they pushed into place, by pawns they placed in key positions - THEN here is a place to go where you can find out how to protect yourself and your child. State Vaccine Requirements Just scroll down and click on the state of interest. There you will find the requirements and the legal means to be exempt from those requirements.

And while we are on the subject, I've wondered why people are so paranoid about a few others in their midst who aren't 'fully vaccinated'. Like they are a time bomb waiting to explode or something. If vaccines are so great and do such a good job of protecting us from getting a disease, then they should be fully protected, right? So where is the problem?

More later.....

Organic Farming - Better Food

The quantity, quality, and diversity of nutrients in fruits and vegetables is directly related to the health benefits of those who eat them. The amount of these health promoting minerals and nutrients in our food are decreasing due to 'modern' farming methods.

Here are some related supporting documents: The Organic Center ; eartheasy ; msnbc ;

- under construction -

Hexavalent Chromium in your water supply

If you are one of the older generation, you may remember the movie Erin Brockovich staring Julia Roberts. It was about a little town just south of where I used to live - Hinckley, CA - that had twice the cancer rate of San Bernardino County. The problem was Hexavalent Chromium in the water supply that was causing the cancer. I'll not go over the movie, but its still a problem in spite of the popularity of the movie.

My attention was drawn to this by a recent study of 'Hexachrome' in city water supplies.

Here is a chart of what was found:

Wikipedia also gives an interesting post.

I think that is where I hunted down the chart.

Hinckley, CA had Hexachrome levels varying from 1.19 to 31.8 ppb (parts per billion).

The red vertical line is a proposed 'safe' level by the California EPA.

While poking around, I found the real Erin Brockovich is still fighting the battle.

And don't press the US EPA for any great wisdom. They have set a level of total chromium at 100 ppm and seem to be happy with that. And they don't seem to bother with the difference between the cancer causing hexavalent chromiun and the trivalent chromium essential for health. I've used it to reduce insulin resistance to ensure I am not one of those diabetes statistics.