Lifestyle: The New Genetics

Lifestyle is More Important than Genetics for Long Life

How old will you be when you die?

According to a new study, how you live your life, rather than how long your parents lived, is the major determinant. The study was in the Journal of Internal Medicine by researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.

Most of us assume that people with parents who lived to be very old are more likely to live to a grand old age themselves.

“But that’s just not true – our study shows that hereditary factors don’t play a major role and that lifestyle has the biggest impact,” said professor emeritus Lars Wilhelmsen.

Those who did not smoke, consumed moderate amounts of coffee and had a good socio-economic status at the age of 50 (measured in terms of housing costs), as well as good physical working capacity at the age of 54 had the greatest chance of celebrating their 90th birthday.

“Many of these factors have previously been identified as playing a role in cardiovascular disease, but here we are showing for the first time that they are important for survival in general.”

He believes that it is significant that the research illustrates so clearly that we do not “inherit” mortality to any great extent, but instead that we are the sum of our own habits.

“The study clearly shows that we can influence the factors that decide how old we get,” says Wilhelmsen. “This is positive not only for the individual, but also for society as it doesn’t entail any major drug costs.”

The study of men born in 1913

The 1913 Men epidemiological study started in 1963. A third of all male 50-year-olds in Gothenburg were called for a check-up that focused on cardiovascular health.

Every 10 years since, a new group of 50-year-olds has been called in and those who were already taking part in the study have been given another check-up.

This has enabled researchers to follow the development of illnesses in a specific age group, and to compare the health of 50-year-olds in 2003 with that of 50-year-olds in 1963, for example.

The men born in 1913 were examined when they were 50, 54, 60, 67, 75 and 80. Of the 855 men who took part in the study from the start, 111 (13%) were still alive at the age of 90.

Over the years, data from this long-running study has generated many research articles and doctoral theses.

Source: University of Gothenburg

We teach everyone how to stay young, healthy and active. We expect that those that make the changes in lifestyle will outlive the previous generation. Today due to the modern diet we have the first generation to have a life expectancy less than the previous generation. In other words if we live like everyone else in America our kids lives are going to be shorter than ours.

Change your lifestyle and save your children.

 

Do You ever Get Tired of Sleeping?

A Maximized Guide to a Restful Nights Sleep.

Each evening, after the sun has slowly set behind the horizon, a sleepy world dons it’s nightgowns and caps, eagerly settling into bed for a restful night’s slumber, brightly greeting the next morning with rejuvenation and clarity. Although this imagery is certainly picturesque, the reality is that sleepless nights are becoming more commonplace in today’s society. Studies have shown that insomnia affects a third to half of the general population. Factors such as stress, medications, nutritional deficiencies and simply poor sleeping habits lend their hand to most if not all of our complications with getting the restful nights sleep our bodies and our immune system needs to rebuild and reset for the next day. Studies have shown mammals that get adequate sleep have a 20% higher white blood cell count than those who don’t. In a study measuring growth hormone, men who slept 8 hours per night had a 24% increase in the secretion of the hormone than those sleeping more or less. This factor is critical for healing from disease as well as building and maintaining lean muscle mass. ¹ Other consequences of chronic sleep deprivation include: weight gain, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, depression, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, multiple sclerosis, and impaired immune function.

But, Let’s face it, in today’s fast moving world where information travels at the click of a button, we have tendencies to push ourselves to those same outrageous standards that we as a society have set, regardless of what it does to our health. That means, working extended hours, increased amounts of caffeine, late and often poor meal choices, and more stress than most of us know what to do with. Throw on top of that mixture the medications we take for problems we’ve created and you have a recipe for disaster!

So, why lose sleep over losing sleep?  That’s why God invented sleeping pills, right? In our ‘Pop a pill’ society, convenience is key and before all else fails, we’ll gladly take that escape route, but at what cost? New studies show that sleeping pills such as Ambien, Lunesta, and Sonata are linked to a nearly four-fold increase in the risk of death, along with increased cancer risks by 35%. ² On top of that, Ambien can have bizarre and dangerous side effects such as sleep eating, sleep walking and even sleep driving, hallucinations, confusion and disorientation, complete amnesia from events that took place during the day, and depression

 When it comes right down to it, the choices we make are truly what determine how well we sleep at night.  Here are a few tips to ensure that your body gets the sleep it needs:

1. Schedule your day. Knowing that daily tasks and appointments are accounted for helps alleviate stress at bedtime.
2. Only sleep in your bed! Watching TV or working in bed will make it harder to relax.
3. Turn off all electronics 2 hours before bedtime. TV can be stimulating and hinder your brain’s natural melatonin.
4. Try not to eat at least 2 hours before bed. Late night snacks can cause on increase in blood sugar and stimulate digestion which makes it more difficult for your body to relax in time for sleep. If you do snack avoid sugars, grains and processed foods.
5. Reduce your medications; they can alter the body’s ability to secrete adequate amounts of the sleep hormone melatonin. They also can interrupt the circadian rhythm that is critical for proper sleep.

So, if you’re even slightly sleep deprived, I encourage you to implement these tips! A good nights sleep will ensure that your body can heal properly and fight off disease!

________________________________________

¹ Van Cauter E, Leproult R, Plat, L. Age-related changes in slow-wave sleep and REM sleep and relationship with growth hormone and cortisol levels in healthy men. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2000: 284:861-868.
² The Dark Side of Sleeping Pills, ebook by Daniel F. Kripke, MD

The Top 10 Back Pain Jobs

Back-breaking labor doesn’t always look like hard work.

The Top 10 Back Pain Jobs

Back pain is reported more often by male workers than female workers, with nearly one in 10 male workers reporting back pain for at least a solid week per year. What kind of work is to blame? Heavy manual labor definitely, but also skilled professional jobs and office work. Here are the top 5 jobs with the most back pain in careers that tend to have more male workers…

Carpenters: With the most pain and the highest reported incidence in a 2002 study of back pain prevalence, carpenters suffer the most of any male-dominated profession. Their backs are assaulted by repetitive motion, reaching, bending, and twisting throughout the day. This pain is further aggravated with continual heavy lifting at work, leading to a back pain rate of nearly 20% of all workers.

Auto Mechanics: Auto mechanics are an emerging group of back pain sufferers who were previously lumped in with construction workers as a class. However, continuous work while lying on their backs under cars or standing with their arms raised overhead to work on lifted vehicles places a unique strain on the major muscles of their backs. Heavy tools, vibrating tools, and the need to twist, reach, and bend while holding heavy parts also contribute to back pain in this profession.

Farmers and Farm Workers: Farm machinery may have helped ease the back-breaking work of traditional farming, but it hasn’t eliminated it. Many farming tasks require heavy lifting, repetitive motion, bending over, and the endurance to stay in one spot working a piece of ground or manipulating irrigation equipment.

Machine operators: Machine operators do a wide variety of tasks, but their primary interactions are with heavy equipment, vibrating equipment, and equipment that requires repetitive motion to produce. Pulling levers endlessly, standing for long hours at a machine, or pushing and pulling machine arms all add up to aches and pains.

Desk jockeys: It turns out sitting behind a desk isn’t an easy path out of back pain. Instead, office workers often spend eight hours glued to chairs with no back support while they hunch over a computer at their job. The net result is muscle tightness and pain throughout their backs and hips.

Other top jobs for back pain for men include truck driving, professional trades like welding, plumbing, or doing electrical work, and general manual labor work.

Women may experience statistically less back pain than men on the job, but that doesn’t mean their work lives are free from back pain. Instead, a wide variety of popular occupations for women can cause back problems. Below are the top 5 jobs that cause back pain in careers that tend to have more female workers…

Nursing: Nurses, orderlies, and attendants strain their lower backs as they bend over patients, transfer patients between beds, and assist with procedures. Modern paperwork requirements add a new element of upper back strain as nurses hunch over paperwork and computer keyboards. No wonder nurses have more back injuries than any other occupation!

Maids / Housekeepers: Maids and Housekeepers frequently spend hours bent over their work, picking things up, scrubbing things down, and carrying cleaning materials from room to room. Repetitive motion, reaching, bending, and twisting all add up to serious spinal strain potential.

Restaurant workers: Cooks, waitresses, hostesses, dishwashers, and bus staff all experience back pain. Standing on your feet all day, dealing with heavy loads of dishes, and repetitive cleaning and chopping motions all put increased strain on upper and lower back muscles.

Hairdressers: Hairdressers are an emerging group being studied by back pain specialists. Salon workers often stand all day with their arms up, endlessly snipping and clipping their client’s locks of hair. Alternatively, they may remain bent over a client doing waxing work, rolling curls, or pinning down errant strands on formal hairstyles for long periods. Without a natural range of motion, repetitive reaching motions and raised arms can lead to major muscle angst.

Childcare providers: Constantly picking up children, picking up toys, and perching on child-sized tables and chairs puts a severe strain on the backs of childcare providers. Add in that children are often carried as an uneven load on one hip and you have muscle imbalances that can persist for years.

Other top back pain causing jobs for women include teaching, assembly line work, textile jobs, cashier work, and general manual labor.

Red Flags for Back Pain at Work

Even if your job isn’t on the Top 10 list of jobs for back pain, you could still be killing your spine each day you spend at work. You are more likely to experience back pain if your job description includes any of these:

–  Lifting and moving heavy objects

–  Full body vibration from heavy tools or standing on shop floors where heavy manufacturing takes place

–  Repetitive motion, especially if it is repetitive reaching, bending, or twisting

–  Sitting or standing in one position for long periods of time

–  Hunching over a workstation or computer keyboard

Any one of these red flags can be a sign back pain could be in your future. Any combination of these are especially troublesome, leading to chronic aches and pains unless you’re proactive about protecting your body from pain.

This article offered by The health back INSTITUTE

Lose Weight, Gain Health!

Obesity is a growing concern, overweight rates have doubled among children and tripled among adolescents.:

Here are 20 diseases or conditions that can be attributed to obesity:

1. Diabetes, a disorder where the pancreas is not producing enough or any insulin. Diabetes can lead to a whole host of other medical issues and obesity is one of the main causes.

2.         Cancer has many different forms and types; many of them could be prevented with more attention to a healthy lifestyle including avoiding obesity.

3.         Congestive heart failure is a condition in which your heart can’t pump enough blood.

4.         Enlarged heart a condition where the muscle of your heart becomes larger due to being overworked, which happens if you are overweight.

5.         Pulmonary embolism is a sometimes-fatal blockage of an artery. Being overweight slows you down a lack of activity can result in an embolism.

6.         Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a condition in which cysts develop in your ovaries. These can burst, causing even further problems.

7.         Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) happens when stomach acid and juices flow from your stomach back up into your esophagus. It is common in overweight people.

8.         Fatty liver disease a reversible condition in which large pockets of fat accumulate in liver cells.

9.         A hernia is caused when the hole in the diaphragm weakens and enlarges.

10.      Erectile dysfunction is the inability to develop or maintain an erection, which can be caused by obesity.

11.      Urinary incontinence is the inability to control urination. It is frequently associated with obesity, weak bladder and pelvic floor muscles

12.      Chronic renal failure your kidneys fail to work, a much greater risk to those who are overweight or obese.

13.      Lymph edema a damaged or dysfunctional lymphatic system, sometimes caused by people suffering from obesity actually crushing their own lymphatics.

14.      Cellulitis is a spreading infection, involving both the dermis and subcutaneous skin tissues, resulting from poor lymph flow caused by obesity.

15.      Stroke is caused by a lack of blood supply to your brain.

16.      Pickwickian syndrome is sleep apnea resulting from obesity placing an excessive load on your pulmonary system.

17.      Depression a person feels miserable constantly, even to the point of being suicidal. It has been shown to be worse for someone who has a weight problem.

18.      Osteoarthritis is a clinical syndrome in which low-grade inflammation results in pain in your joints. It is abnormal wearing of the cartilage due to excessive weight.

19.      Gout occurs when uric acid accumulates in your blood. Nerve endings then become irritated, causing extreme pain, which is made worse by carrying extra weight.

20.      Gallbladder disease gall stones commonly affects overweight people.

According to a Surgeon General, obesity is responsible for 300,000 deaths every year in the United States.

Your body is designed to operate best when it’s ideal weight. Carrying extra pounds will increase your risk of developing just about every chronic degenerative disease.

Obesity itself is not the underlying cause of health problem. The underlying cause is usually an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and a lack of chiropractic adjustments to reduce the stress on the nervous system.

Most people don’t want to lose weight to get healthy. They want to lose weight to look better, and this could be dangerous. Loosing weight on the Twinkie Diet is not a good thing. Maintaining a healthy body weight is about having more energy, fighting disease, protecting your heart and, above all else, choosing a lifestyle that will support your entire body and your health.

If you are interested in learning more about losing weight and gaining health, Dr. Tina will be doing a workshop this coming Wednesday, July 25th at 6:00 PM. The event will be held at Crowley Chiropractic Clinic and will be open to the public. We encourage anyone that’s even the least little bit interested in the benefits of Nutrition and Exercise to come out and join us! 

Sources

• Scientific Laboratory for Food Intolerance

The 12 Safest And Most Effective Pain Relievers

We know, if you’re our patient, you’ve hear over and over again, that inflammation is the cause of pain.  Well, that’s because its true!!

The following anti-inflammatories are some of the most powerful, safest, and most effective pain relievers in the world. By feeding your body with the following ingredients, you’ll give your body a powerful and proven one-two punch against inflammation and pain.  As usual, if you need more information, please schedule a consultation with Dr Tina.

Proteolytic Enzymes

Source: Supplement, raw (organic) unprocessed foods that are naturally high in active enzymes.

Research indicates these enzymes work throughout your entire body to help it fight inflammation… dissolve scar tissue… cleanse and thin the blood… plus even boost cardiovascular, respiratory and immune function.

In other words, proteolytic enzymes are the final line of defense against disease, illnesses, pain and everything else that happens inside your body.

And unfortunately with the nutrient-deficient food we’re eating today, the vast majority of adults today have dangerously low levels of these enzymes!

Bromelain

Source: Supplement, pineapple

This special natural compound which is extracted from pineapple contains several proteolytic enzymes that have been shown to short-circuit multiple pain pathways in the body.

It has been studied extensively since it’s discovery in 1957 and hundreds of studies have shown it to reduce inflammation, reduce and prevent swelling and remove waste and toxins from the blood.

Turmeric Extract

Source: Supplement, cooking with it (organic)

Turmeric has the unique ability of using its antioxidant powers to seek out and destroy free radicals in the body which contribute to pain and swelling.

A recent study was done at the prestigous Sloan-Kettering Cancer Research Center in New York.

In this study they found that Turmeric was more safe and precise than asprin in stopping inflammation by shutting down the COX2 enzyme responsible for pain.

And Turmeric caused none of aspirin’s typical gastrointestinal irritation!

Papain

Source: Supplement, eating papaya fruit (organic)

Papain is unique in that it’s been shown to actually attack tumor cells and boost the immune system!

It also contains a widerange of proteolytic enzymes and works by breaking down proteins.

In studies it has been shown to be effective in the treatment of numerous conditions such as diabetes, herpes, cancer and digestion issues like bloating and chronic indigestion.

It’s an enzyme very few people have enough of, yet if they did, would reduce the frequency of a lot of common diseases and disorders!

Devil’s Claw

Source: Supplement

Numerous studies have proven it’s effectiveness in reducing pain and inflammation.

In fact, one study found that Devil’s Claw was as effective in treating arthritis pain as common drug, phenylbutazone… which is so strong it’s even used to treat pain in horses!

There have also been several studies on humans which show that Devil’s Claw is as effective as COX-2 inhibitors… without the deadly side effects!

A series of studies completed in Germany found that the main ingredient in Devil’s Claw was indistinguishable from Vioxx in the treatment of chronic low back pain!

Boswellia Extract

Source: Supplement

One of the most widely used herbs in Indian medicine, it has been used for centuries by traditional Indian healers to reduce pain and inflammation.

Hundreds of studies have been done proving it’s effectiveness and in addition to being a powerful and safe, natural anti-inflammatory, Boswellia has also been shown to support healthy blood circulation.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study, 30 patients received 333mg, 3x a day of Boswelia.

The group who received the Boswelia had a significant reduction in pain and swelling and experienced an increase in joint mobility and flexibility as compared to the placebo group.

Vitamin E

Source: Supplement

This fat-soluble vitamin is an essential nutrient for humans and is known for it’s powerful anti-oxidant properties.

Vitamin E has been shown to be beneficial in numerous situations and conditions such as controlling high blood pressure, maintaining healthy and balanced cholesterol levels and boosting immune system function.

Plus… it has also been shown to improve circulatory conditions, skin health, memory and more.

In short, it benefits virtually your entire body!

Ginger Extract

Source: Supplement, eating it, cooking with it

Used for over 2,500 years in Asia, Ginger has been used to treat nausea and to reduce pain and inflammation.

It works by decreasing the amount of prostaglandins, which are what cause you to feel pain. In other words, it does what NSAID’s and prescription pain meds do, but in the way nature intended it to do so… instead of forcing it and causing side effects!

Rutin

Source: Supplement

Found naturally in a variety of plants and fruits, this flavanoid has been shown to have a strong anti-inflammatory effect due to it’s powerful anti-oxidant activity.

Reducing your inflammation leads to changes throughout your entire body.

Changes such as … a reduction of pain… increased circulation and dozens of other health benefits which ramp up your energy!

Citrus Bioflavanoids

Source: Supplement

Citrus bioflavanoids aid in the absorption of vitamins and act as important anti-oxidants.

They also inhibit collagenase and elastase, the enzymes responsible for the breakdown of connective tissue.

That way your joints and ligaments stay as healthy as when you were a teenager!

In addition to protecting connective tissues, they also protect against free radical damage.

Mojave Yucca (root)

Source: Supplement, eating it, cooking with it

The Mojave Yucca root has more benefits than you could shake a stick at!

These improvements in your health include migraine relief… decreased blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides…better digestion… reduction of muscle spasms… improved blood circulation… treating various skin conditions… healing wounds… and it even promotes shiny and healthy hair.

L-glutathione

Source: Helping your body make it with good living!

Another word you’ve from Dr John & Dr Tina… repeatedly!  There are literally over 20,000 research studies available on how glutathione can help your body in everything from cancer prevention to more supple skin.

Glutathione is quite literally THE most important antioxidant in your body.

The benefits of increased glutathione are virtually endless, since glutathione is the a   ntioxidant that controls ALL other antioxidants in your body.

It is the ONLY antioxidant in your body that has the ability to eliminate ALL free radicals, not just specific types!

We hope to see you soon!  Sign up for any of your open to the public workshops anytime! 

 

Cancer & The Not So Sweet Truth About Artificial Sweeteners

A seven-year study on aspartame (known as Nutra-Sweet or Equal) has linked it to high rates of lymphomas, leukemias, and other cancers. The study showed it only took 4 diet sodas a day to increase these cancers.

The carcinogenic effect of aspartame occurs at levels as low as 20 milligrams a day. This is far less than current daily limits in America (50 milligrams) and the UK (40 milligrams).

When the initial findings were released almost a year ago, they were met with criticism from, guess who the artificial sweetener trade groups.

No government regulatory agency has yet acted on the findings; there have been calls for a ban from the public. United States FDA officials have said that they intend to conduct a review. Not we will conduct a review or are in the process but they are thinking about it.

Dr. Morando Soffritti and his team of researchers have been investigating the link between aspartame and leukemia for a number of years. His study is finally published, and the news is as bad as you probably expected. More than 200 million people consume aspartame in their foods, drinks, vitamins and toothpaste, among other things, and their exposure to it frequently begins in the womb, so there’s simply no telling how massive the problem truly is.

It will probably retain its profit-motive driven defenders, such as CEO Donald Rumsfeld, who is now reaping in millions from his Tamiflu involvement. But despite their claims, the evidence is in, artificial sweeteners are not good for you leukemia is just one of more than 90 different related symptoms that have been documented.

The phenylalanine in aspartame dissociates from the ester bond and increases dopamine levels in your brain. This can lead to symptoms of depression because it distorts the serotonin/dopamine balance. It can also lead to migraine headaches and brain tumors through a similar mechanism.

Then the ester bond in aspartame is broken down to formaldehyde and methanol, which have their own toxicities. So it is absolutely no surprise that leukemia is associated with using it.

If you’re drinking them in an attempt to lose weight, they won’t help you; diet soft drinks can double your obesity risks. If you want to lose weight, eat to get healthy. Eat nontoxic food and exercise regularly with the T3 video. Get in the office for our classed apply the knowledge and you will look great but more importantly you will be fit and feel great.

Sources:

• Environmental Health Perspectives March 2006; 114(3): 379-385
• New York Times February 12, 2006

Why do you need a Nutritional Counselor?

A Nutrition & Wellness Consultant offers nutritional plans for optimizing health.

Top Five Reasons to see a Nutritional Counselor

1. You want to improve your sports performance.
2. You want to eat smarter and healthier.
3. You need to safely gain or lose weight.
4. You have questions about dietary supplements.
5. You want to prevent heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and/or cancer.

Who Can Benefit From Nutritional Counseling?

A variety of people benefit from nutritional counseling. This type of counseling assists all ages, ranging from pregnant women, to vegetarians, to the elderly and people with different medical complications. Those who may benefit include those with:

• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• Poor nutrition and eating patterns
• Eating disorders (some of which may require eating disorder treatment)
• Digestive complications
• HIV
• Cancer
• Hypertension
• Nausea
• Nutritional questions
• Allergies
• Organ problems
• Obesity
• Hypoglycemia
• Menopause
• Fitness goals
• Heart diseases

For many people with eating disorders, this type of advice is very beneficial. 

Benefits of Nutritional Counseling

Various benefits of nutritional counseling include:

• Increase in energy
• Healthier lifestyle and food choices
• Better quality sleep
• Reduced symptoms of disease
• Less drastic range of emotions
• Happiness
• Possible increase in longevity
• Strengthened immune system
• Lesser chance of disorders and disease appearing
• Better ability to concentrate

So make your appointment with Dr. Tina today!

Exercise Does What?

If you need more motivation to start or continue the 12minute exercise program: Science has some surprising things to say about the benefits.

1. It boosts memory. After 1 year of 3 workouts a week age related brain shrinkage REVERSED.
2. It fights colds. Intense short term workouts reduce the odds of a cold by 40%
3. It fights CANCER. Studies show a 20% to 80% reduction in breast cancer, 30-40% reduction in colon cancer, 20% reduction in lung cancer.
4. It prevents diabetes. Research shows that exercise increases insulin sensitivity by 34% that is a 34% improvement or in some cases reversal of type 2 diabetes
5. Depression? The release of endorphins the increase in self esteem and body image as a result of exercise has been proven to be twice as effective as antidepressants

I think we all know that it lowers blood pressure, improves cholesterol, increases bone density and slims your waistline. All that in just 12 minutes wow!

12 Minute workout with Max T3.

 

If you’d like Dr. John to come teach an Exercise workshop to your business, church, or group, visit our webpage: http://brunswickmaxchiro.com/ContactUs.aspx

Journal of sports med 2001; 35: 114-117
Stroke 1996; 27: 373-380
Circulation 2001; 104: 1577-1579
American Heart Association January 2011
January/ February 2012 issue Cancer Journal for Clinicians
American Diabetes Association December 9, 2010

Tight jean syndrome?

Plan of lumbar plexus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

From Dr Weil….

Q	What Is Tight Jean Syndrome? A friend tells me she has been diagnosed with “tight jean syndrome.” Is this a joke? She swears that her doctor also told her that wearing tight clothes can cause nerve problems, heartburn and lower back pain. He also warned that wearing spike heels can deform the feet. Is any of this true?
A	Answer (Published 4/26/2012)
All true. Wearing tight clothes can compress a sensory nerve called the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve that runs from the abdomen through the thigh. The compression can cause numbness, tingling, and a burning pain in the legs above the knees, a condition called “meralgia paresthetica,” also known as “tingling thigh syndrome” and now sometimes termed “tight jean syndrome.” Tight clothes are not always to blame; weight gain, pregnancy, trauma and diabetes are also associated with compression of the nerve. Another risk: if you combine today’s fashionable tight jeans with equally stylish spike heels, you can make matters worse – the shoes push the pelvis forward, which adds to the pressure of the jeans on the relevant nerve. Clinical appraisal suggests that tingling thigh syndrome may affect policemen who wear their guns on their hips and construction workers who wear heavy tool belts.

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA401102/What-Is-Tight-Jean-Syndrome.html

Related articles

• Squeezing Into Your Clothes Can Cause Health Issues, Doctors Warn (chicago.cbslocal.com)
• Spanx/Skinny Jeans Syndrome (theafterburnsg.wordpress.com)
• How Your Wardrobe Impacts Your Health (snspost.com)
• The 7 Most Dangerous Fashion Items For Your Health (glamour.com)
• The Doctor Is In: Take care of your body by not wearing dangerous clothing (naplesnews.com)
• Dangerous Dressing: Stealthy Source of Woe (abcnews.go.com)

Do you really know what’s in your food?

The Corn Refiners Association has launched a major advertising and public relations campaign designed to rehabilitate the reputation of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

The group is spending $20 million to $30 million on the campaign, including full-page ads in more than a dozen major newspapers, claiming that the product is no worse for you than sugar.

The Corn Refiners Association “has been trying to counter the bad publicity around HFCS since 2004,” but concluded it “could no longer afford to rely on simple grass-roots marketing tactics such as talking with nutritionists and doctors.”

In June of 2008 a nearly $5 billion merger of Corn Products International and Bunge Ltd. signaled that corn manufacturers mean business. Revenues increased by 29 percent in 2008 to reach $4 billion.

HFCS is finally getting the reputation it deserves, and although most processed foods and sodas still contain it, even companies like Kraft are now touting foods that are HFCS-free.

In a sense, it’s a good thing because it means the word is getting out about just how bad HFCS really is. On the other hand, most people are not as in-tune to the real motives of these associations as you are. What these ads are really about: money.
Consumption of beverages containing fructose alone rose 135 percent between 1977 and 2001. That is until about 2003. The per capita consumption in the United States actually went down from 2 ounces daily in 2000 to 1.8 ounces a day in 2005. This is still far too much corn syrup to be consuming in a day. But the trend is declining for the first time in over three decades. That’s a really good sign for the health of the community, but a bad one for the companies that sell HFCS.

Part of what makes HFCS such an unhealthy product is that it is metabolized to fat in your body far more rapidly than any other sugar, and, because most fructose is consumed in liquid form (soda), its negative metabolic effects are significantly magnified. It contains no enzymes, vitamins or minerals, and it pulls micronutrients from your body.

To add even more fuel to the fire, HFCS is almost always made from genetically modified corn, which is fraught with its own well-documented side effects and health concerns.

The more than 76 million acres of corn grown each year in the United States is hurting the land. Each year:

• Corn crops are sprayed with 162 million pounds of chemical pesticides
• About 18 billion pounds of synthetic fertilizers are used on corn crops every year, contributing 35 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions

The Corn Growers Association wants you to believe that HFCS has the “same natural sweeteners as table sugar and honey.” But don’t fall for it. HFCS is highly processed and does not exist anywhere in nature.

The good news is that avoiding the largest source of HFCS, soda, is one of the easiest things you can do to improve your health. Right off the bat, you can eliminate all soda and sugary drinks from your life.

So ideally avoid ALL sodas, but if you have a choice between soda sweetened with HFCS or artificial sweeteners, choose HFCS. The best and safest sweetener (although illegal to use according to the FDA) would be the herb Stevia.

To learn more about how you can live a lifestyle that’s devoid of HFCS, visit our website at http://www.brunswickmaxchiro.com

http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Good-News–High-Fructose-Corn-Syrup-Blacklisted-More-by-Food—Beverage-Makers-36809.aspx

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/06/14/calories-america.aspx

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/08/enjoy-pesticides-in-every-bite-of-gmo-food.aspx

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/05/04/turbo-tapping.aspx