The Story of Cholesterol: The Next Generation (Our Children)

The pharmaceutical industry has its eye on what could be one of the most lucrative demographics that can be tapped into: our children. With obesity rates among young people on a steady rise it was only a matter time before higher cholesterol rates were observed with an eagerness to address it with statin drugs.

Other than the elderly our children are the most vulnerable of us all. That is why special care must be undertaken to ensure a healthy and prosperous start to life. Could statin drug use in our children be the start they need?

The Effects

No one knows for sure the long term effects of statin drugs on children. The reason for this is that no long term studies have been conducted to show efficacy (benefit or harm). What is known is how it affects adults in a relatively short span of time and most often the news is not good.

Also we must consider the fact that statins lower cholesterol by inhibiting the production of hormones especially sex hormones (e.g. testosterone and estrogen). In children this could be potentially devastating altering how their bodies develop forever by interfering with puberty and proper growth. It is known that statin drugs communicate with the pituitary gland blocking or discontinuing certain hormonal functions stunting biological processes.

Children, eating habits, and exercise

According to the Centers for Disease Control childhood obesity rates have doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years. In 2010 it was estimated that nearly 1/3 of all children were overweight or obese. With these statistics there are some doctors and pharmaceutical reps chomping at the bit to get statins into the mouths of children but it doesn't have to be so.

Children tend to eat the way their parents eat. In fact, it is highly likely that if the parents are sedentary, fast food junkies so to will the children likely be. It is estimated that 1/3 of all adults in the U.S. are obese so the estimate for children makes sense. After all the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. We live in a world where we seek the path of least resistance which means we sometimes take short cuts with our health and the health of our children by doing the least possible by way of exercise and activity. We should encourage children to be more active by word and by deed. Children must be told and shown how and why to be active because their very lives depend on it. The same goes for eating habits. A healthy meal plan for the entire family is a great way to get kids involved in healthful and nourishing eating habits that will last their lifetimes.

Medications have their place but long term habitual use in our children will only lead to devastating consequences during or before early adulthood. After all, when you really get down to it, do we really expect an 11 year old child to take statins for 40-60 years without consequences when we know what it does to fully grown adults? Can you imagine the potential profit base for pharmaceutical companies over the same period of time? The average annual per patient cost for a statin is $800 X 60 (years) X 14,000,000 (number of children between the age of 6 and 17 years old that are considered obese or overweight as of 2012) = $672 billion (yes, billion with a B). This number does not take into account the portion of money covered by insurance which is covered by those who pay premiums. It also does not take into account the money that will be spent on other health issues as a result of statin drug use. What is very sad is that the figure above may be overstated because the assumption is a child of 11 would survive until their 70th birthday while taking a statin drug which is unlikely.

More fruits and vegetables, less processed and fast food and a little more movement will allow our children to grow healthy and strong while allowing parents and premium payers alike to keep our money and sanity.

Are you familiar with your AGE?

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What's troubling you or a loved one these days? Is it a chronic condition like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, etc. Perhaps it's something like a lack of energy, sex drive or a zest for life. Our lives today involve so much chronic stress and inflammatory foods it is a wonder we survive at all. Our lives are not meant for us to be mere survivors and there is one thing that is for sure; surviving is not thriving. Thriving involves quality of life while surviving focuses on quantity. So what does this philosophical posturing have to do with your AGE? Well, it is your AGE that partly determines how fast you "age" and it is the speed of your aging that helps determine your quality of life.

 What are AGE's?

AGE stands for advanced glycated end-products. They form throughout our lives in varying degrees depending on our aptitude to live healthy. In a nut shell AGE's are molecular trash formed when glucose (blood sugar) molecules bond with free amino groups like proteins, lipids and nucleic acids that may be in the blood at the same time. These free amino groups come primarily from inflammatory foods and when they bond with glucose they change structurally and become nutritionally void and useless. Not only are they useless but they accumulate in the body where they begin to change a person from thriving to surviving (more on this in a bit).

AGE's also attach themselves to LDL cholesterol and once attached the cholesterol oxidizes making it sticky. At this point it is just a matter of time before atherosclerosis and other degenerative cardiovascular conditions begin to set in.

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Where do they accumulate? 

AGE's have the ability to disrupt the life of all people but it is especially true for those who suffer with diabetes. The reason for this is because of where AGE's tend to accumulate. Diabetics suffer from a wide range of "spin-off" ailments such as heart attacks, nephropathy (kidney disease), stroke, neuropathy, eye disease and erectile dysfunction. AGE's find their way into cardiovascular tissues, nerve endings (especially those in the extremities and penis), brain tissues, and eyes. Once there they lodge themselves into the tissues and begin producing free radicals at a rate that is 50 times higher than non-glycated proteins. These free radicals alter the natural state of healthy cells in the body rendering them non-functional or potentially malignant (cancerous). The retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and atherosclerosis are directly correlated to this free radical production free-for-all. You no longer need to wonder why these conditions affect diabetics so specifically anymore. Furthermore, the free radicals produced can cause aging related issues such as thinning and graying hair, deep wrinkles in the skin, bone mineral depletion (leading to osteoporosis), a weakened immune system due to chronic inflammation, and adrenal fatigue causing loss of energy, drive and libido. The aforementioned issues can occur in anyone just in case you were thinking this only applied to diabetics. It's one for the AGE's.

How to avoid them?

High blood sugar levels over an extended period of time leads to increased glycation (associated with AGE's). Blood sugar control through exercise and a healthy eating plan, which would include eating foods that are minimally processed and fresh with low glycemic loads, will go along way in the fight against AGE's. If you are diabetic right now do not rely solely on medication for glucose control. Your blood sugar levels may be within normal range but your AGE's may still be high do to poor eating habits.

A simple way to check your rate of AGE production is through a HbA1c blood test. Traditionally used to check blood glucose levels it is also a way to gauge you AGE.

Source: Reversing Diabetes by Don Colbert, M.D.

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Good Fats and How They Help You Control Your Weight

Quality Weight Loss/Weight Management Shake 

For most of us we know the old nutritional mantras like "eat healthy", "exercise", "stay away from fat". These mantras are true and should be followed but some extra thought should be given to the one about fat. In our craze to lose weight many doctors, nutritionist, dietitians and the like unfortunately began lumping all fats into the same category. It is vitally important to point out that not all fats are made the same and knowing which fats to consume in their proper quantities and which fats to stay away from in their totality is one significant key to overall health and weight loss.

Fats, Weight Gain, and the Brain

In the 1960's total calories derived from fat in the average American diet was about 45%. Americans managed to decrease their fat consumption to 38% in the 80's and down to 35% in the 90's. Remarkable, right? However, despite a steady decline in overall fat consumption in the U.S. we are still heavier. Much heavier.

Fats have become a modern day dietary boogie man sacrificed for the pursuit of good health. Interestingly, our brain is approximately 60% fat in the form of cholesterol. The fats are necessary for proper brain health. Speaking of our brain health and cholesterol, the FDA issued stronger warnings in July 2012 about how cholesterol lowering drugs could lead to cognitive dysfunction such as memory loss, confusion and fuzzy thinking. We need our fats!

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Good Fats vs. Bad Fats

Being properly informed about which fats to consume and which to stay away from is important as a matter of course so lets take a look at which fats to stay away from first.

• Trans Fats - These highly toxic fats had long been a cornerstone of the American diet for years.They are man-made fats that create inflammation, raise cholesterol levels and lead to adverse cardiovascular conditions such as arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis. Trans fats is also a leading contributor to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity and cancer. These poisonous fats can be found in fast foods, processed foods like crackers, cookies, pies, cereals and bread (just about anything that comes in a box), margarine, shortening and deep-fried foods. 
• Hydrogenated Fats - These are the "new" trans fats since many people are starting to catch on to the fact that trans fats are terrible for you. Make no mistake, however, hydrogenated fats and oils are notoriously harmful to our bodies and a detriment to our health. All the things highlighted above that trans fats do to our bodies just keep that in mind here. In 2007 the FDA nearly banned Crisco because of trans fat issues but the not-so-happy compromise ended up being hydrogenated fats. Be watchful because the words "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" will appear on ingredient lists of both products in grocery stores and on restaurant nutrition information guides.
• Refined Polyunsaturated Fats - These are fats that were heated during the manufacturing process to a temperature that rendered them rancid and therefore toxic. These fats help contribute to weight gain since they tend to increase insulin resistance in the body. Most salad dressings and vegetable oils such as sunflower, corn, cottonseed, safflower and soybean oil contain these fats. For your health and safety insure the salad dressings and cooking oils you use are not refined. Search for cold pressed or expeller oils to use.
• Deep Fried Foods - These foods are are cooked in super heated oils that become rancid because of the high heat. The oils are absorbed by the food that it is frying because oil displaces water in high heat situations. These rancid oils are consumed and are extremely detrimental to the body causing significant inflammation and has been known to be a carcinogen.
• Saturated Fats - This is partially a spin-off from deep fried foods but they also include fats from other familiar sources such as milk, cheese, processed meats, pork, red meat, butter and the skins of poultry. While all deep fried foods should be avoided some of the other items may be perfectly fine unless you consume them in excessive amounts. Saturated fats, excessively consumed, can lead to inflammation increasing cholesterol and setting you up for systemic and chronic cardiovascular issues.  

Now we will discuss the good fats. These are the fats that help build and maintain our brain, cardiovascular systems, endocrine systems and help reduce inflammation. Without these fats it would be difficult to produce certain hormones, cholesterol (for inflammation control) and reduce free radicals in the blood and tissues. Good fats are also great sources of fuel second only to carbohydrates. A word of caution, however. There is a such thing as too much of a good thing. While we do need to incorporate these fats into our diets we do not need to over do it. In a bit we will discuss how much and how often to consume these beneficial fats but first things, first. Let us identify these valuable fats and what they do for us:

• Omega 3 - An essential fatty acid that is well known for reducing inflammation, lowering triglyceride levels, supporting immune function, prevent or reverse insulin resistance, prevention and treatment of heart disease and helps the body release stored fat. Sources of omega 3's are cold water fish and fatty fish (cod, salmon, herring, sardines) and flax seed and flax seed oil. There are three forms of omega 3 with two forms found in fish (EPA and DHA) and one form found in flax seed and flax seed oil (ALA) it is a good idea to get a healthy mix of both sources or take a high quality supplement. It is estimated that approximately 99% of Americans are deficient in omega 3's. 
• Omega 6 - This fatty acid Americans tend to get readily usually from grain sources and meat sources (because they tend to be grain fed). This necessary fat helps the body produce the type of prostaglandins that allows for inflammation which is a necessary bodily function when repairs are required to take place. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 should be around 4 to 1. Most Americans consume way too much omega-6 in the form of processed foods which distorts the ratio to 20 to 1. Healthy, unrefined sources of omega-6 (the kind you should focus on) include expeller or cold pressed oils, most seeds and nuts, and grass fed chicken or beef. Avoid omega-6 from grain fed poultry or beef, refined oils (corn, soy, safflower and cottonseed), processed foods, fast food and restaurant food.
• Omega 9 (including Monounsaturated Fats) -  These fats can actually be produced by the body from converting other fats and therefore are not considered to be essential. They are often left out of the conversation concerning fats but are very beneficial nonetheless. They have anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to lower LDL cholesterol which is a major benefit for almost everyone consuming a Western style diet. Foods high in these fats include olives, olive oil, avocados, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds to name a few things.
• Certain Saturated Fats - This may seem counter-intuitive but hold on just a second. The saturated fats found in, around and on the flesh of animals should be avoided whenever possible. This is not healthy. However, short-chain varieties of saturated fats are an excellent source of fuel for the body and are easily digestible which makes them healthier and less likely to increase cholesterol. The good version of saturated fat can be found in unrefined coconut oil and palm kernel oil.

Conclusion

It is far too simple a matter to completely dismiss fats from our eating regimes. The good types of fat are vitally important to our health whether it applies to weight maintenance, cardiovascular issues, hormone support and proper brain function. To figure out how much of the good fats to consume calculate your average caloric intake for a given day. Your healthy fat intake should be 20-35% of your total calories. Incorporate the good fats, eliminate or sharply curtail the bad ones and live a healthy, balanced, and productive life!

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A Healthy Liver Equals A Healthy You Update!

We have come to the end of the first cleansing cycle for our livers. It is certain that this juice combination is powerfully strong and invigorating. If you have followed along I'm sure you agree. I'm also sure you would agree that it takes a bit of getting used to because of its potency.

Still our liver health is certainly worth the cleanse. Just think of these powerful natural juices coursing through your liver to help re-energize and tone the organ that is so vital to our health and well being. Help your body power away the impurities and fatty deposits that have built up over time from poor eating habits, smoking, alcohol use and prescription drug use. Of course there are other ways to cleanse the liver with some being more pervasive than others. The current state of your health should be the determining factor as to how much, how long and how detailed your liver cleanse should be.

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If you are seeing this post and have no idea about the liver cleanse that has been discussed allow me to refer you to "A Healthy Liver Equals a Healthy You" where all will be explained! Go in good health.

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Treating Constipation: Nutrition

Constipation is a very real and daily preoccupation for some. The pain and general discomfort is unfortunate and because of this many seek to chemically remedy their situation only to exacerbate the problem. How then, can a person pull themselves from this seemingly unending daily cycle? There are three specific techniques to utilize on the daily basis (note the emphasis which is mine) for long term, lasting relief. Proper nutrition, stress relief and detoxification are essential for great intestinal health. This article will focus on nutrition.

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Proper Nutrition

We in the western world have a fast food problem leading us down a road of epidemic health concerns. Obesity, hypertension, malnutrition (more on this later) and of course constipation are just a few of the outcomes of constantly pulling around to the drive-thru window. Before we go any further in this discussion the need to explain what fast food is arises so we can all be on the same page. We have our usual suspects of course. Those places labeling themselves as “fast food” or the new catch phrase “quick service” restaurants (in an attempt to confusion and befuddle people who are on to them) are obvious but there are other types of fast food. Please consider that just about anything you can microwave as a meal or snack from your grocers freezer or shelf  is “fast food”. We don’t traditionally think of restaurants that you sit down and order from a menu without numbers as being fast food but they most certainly can be. Fast food isn’t about how quickly you get your food. It’s about how processed the food is and it is these highly processed foods (to include junk food) that wreak havoc on our digestive health and then our health overall. 

When it comes to proper nutrition a great place to start is with fruits and vegetables. Obvious, right? Fruits and veggies should comprise at least 60% of the diet especially if you are prone to constipation. Not only are fruits and vegetables nutrient rich but they are easily digested which is extremely important where constipation issues are concerned. 20% of the diet should come from complex carbohydrates (whole grains, cereals), 15% from proteins and 5% from fats (quality fats like Omega 3 and Omega 6 found in legumes and nuts). Here is an interesting fact. Adding 20g (just under an ounce) of bran to the daily diet will increase fecal weight by 127% and reduce food transit time in the digestive tract by 40%! Food transit time is a great indicator for how well the digestive tract is functioning.

There are many people who now avoid carbs like the plague but without complex carbs, where the majority of our fiber comes from, we risk chronic constipation. Our bodies were built with some level of balance in mind not extremes. The extreme of avoiding all carbs will only cause issues. It is agreed that all simple carbs should be avoided when possible (highly refined sugars and highly refined flour products) but complex ones should be embraced. Extremes in any form will ultimately lead to suffering. 

Malnutrition was mentioned earlier because not many people know or realize just how malnourished we are as a society. We think we have plenty of food but we do not. What we have is plenty of “stuff” designed to look and taste like food and can be highly addictive (a subject for another article most likely). The truth is most of what we consider food today is void of the most basic nutrition and as such is extremely difficult to eliminate from our bodies. The “stuff “ we eat turns into a sort of gelatinous goo which coats the intestines preventing the uptake of nutrients when we do get something wholesome into our stomachs. The result is constipation. The result is malnourishment. The result is degenerative disease. The result then becomes premature death. After all, it has been noted by ancient physicians and new that death begins in the belly. 

Not So Fun Fact: It is estimated that 90% of all acid reflux issues are due to slow digestion predicated by poor elimination of waste in the colon (i.e. constipation).

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Estrogen Dominance in Men and Women Part III

Restore healthy by nourishing beneficial cell growth and regeneration

In this article are some keys to avoiding estrogen dominance and other hormone imbalances caused by environmental factors. These keys include what foods to consume and avoid. Also we need to know where to purchase trusted health and personal care products that will not contribute to hormone imbalances.

Organic and Natural Meat

When it comes to what we put in our bodies there is no better place to start than with the meat we consume. One should make an earnest effort to consume meat that is certified organic or meat that is labeled “all natural“ when the source can be verified. Why? The producers of organic and all natural meat would not use rBGH or any other type of growth hormone which could pollute and harm the body. In addition, these meats tend to be less fatty and absent of excess inflammatory material produced in the body of the animal. Less fat and inflammation in the animal leads to less fat and inflammation in ‘we the people’ but I digress. There is no mistaking that residual hormones do find their way into our bodies and affects our lives.

Where to Purchase Products That Do Not Contribute to Hormone Imbalances

It is a rare thing, indeed, to find responsible stewards that care about our health while maintaining corporate profits. In fact, profits are the very reason why we continue to be poisoned without conviction by many major manufacturers. Some of the largest and most well respected manufacturers of personal care products and cosmetics continue to push their merchandise on the market that contain Parabens, TEA, Phthalates, and DEA to name a few despite the health risk. One company in particular has come along, however, to stop the dizzying madness that has gripped the common consumer. Sisel International has stepped in and made their position plain to consumers and industry alike: Poisonous chemicals (including hormone mimickers) in consumer products are not necessary, are irresponsible and will not appear in our products. Sisel International makes over 120 products at its own manufacturing facility where the products assembled are guaranteed to be free of any known adverse chemical and all nutritional supplements are synthetic free all while being affordable to the masses. For too long these types of products have been out of reach of the common man and set aside exclusively for the monied elite. Well no longer. We must take back our health. Whether it is cosmetics, shampoo, lotion, a liquid nutritional or any of the other numerous products expect quality, affordability and above all else expect to not be poisoned! I am proud to have affiliated myself with this wonderful company and look forward to seeing what other products they can formulate that I would confidently support. For more information on Sisel International and our products please visit: mysisel.com/thoughtfulhealth.

A Word about Soy

Soy gained substantial prominence during the 1970’s and 80’s as vegetarianism really began to take off. Soy was seen as a great meat substitute because of its high protein nutrient value and heartiness which helped with satiety. Besides, soy has been consumed by millions of people for thousands of years. There are some things to consider when consuming soy, however. Soy is well known for its strong estrogenic effects. Many cultures, especially those in Asia, often ferment their soy to combat this. Once again we do not want excess estrogen to gain dominance in our bodies even through our food. Another matter to consider is how often and heavily soy crops tend to be sprayed with harmful chemicals that can also serve to mimic hormones and retard our endocrine systems. Many pesticides work directly on slowing the metabolic rates of pest to the point of death and this is what we consume! Who wants to slow down their metabolism anyway? I’m sure you wash all your veggies thoroughly, though. Even still there is another way to get you. Almost all of the soy crops in the U.S. are now genetically modified and are “Round Up” ready which means the pesticides are built in. You couldn’t wash that out if you tried. It all adds up to this: If you are going to consume soy do so in moderation and insure it is organic and not genetically modified in any way.

It is time for us to be mindful of what we put in and on our bodies. It is time for us to wake up from the slickly advertised corporate nightmare that would have us poison ourselves with great loyalty to the poisoners. It is time for us to take back our lives!

Restore healthy by nourishing beneficial cell growth and regeneration

Estrogen Dominance in Men and Women Part II

Reverse aging and rejuvenate the body

Estrogen dominance and hormone imbalances in general, have become an increasing chronic health issue. It is leading to increases in obesity and cancer rates. In order to reverse this trend we must learn how to decrease our exposure to xenoestrogens and xenohormones. Limiting exposure to food sources and personal care products that contain these chemical hormone mimickers is key.

Food Sources

The use of excess hormones in Livestock has proliferated over the past 50 years. Used to increase the size of cattle for their flesh and milk production, hormone use has led to big business. However, this increased business (and by business I mean profits) has been at our own demise. Contrary to industry assertions residual hormones find their way into the flesh and milk of the animals we consume. rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone) is a known hormone mimicker that not only causes bovines to grow but also causes humans to grow as well. rBGH interferes with the endocrine system and fools the body into thinking there is natural human estrogen in the body. Growth in girls is accelerated and the development of the sex organs in boys is stunted or otherwise compromised. Some European nations have an outright ban on the use of rBGH or any other hormone or growth accelerant. People from around the world are choosing more often to consume meat and dairy products that are either organic are all natural to avoid excess hormones. If consuming products that are labeled “all natural” please ensure no hormones are used or added since there is no legal definition to govern these products.

Personal Care Products

One aspect of estrogen consumption is not well known which could lead to devastating effects. Our personal care products is helping to fuel increases in worldwide obesity and cancer rates in addition to other negative health issues. Xenoestrogens or chemicals that look like estrogen to the body are plentiful and prolific in the products we use most often. What products, exactly? The soaps, lotion, shampoo and cosmetics (lipstick, blush, eye shadow, etc.) that line our cabinets. Chemicals like parabens and phthalates are used often and heavily in addition to many other chemicals like TEA, DEA, and PEG to name a few. These chemicals enter the bloodstream and are confused with natural hormones or otherwise cause our endocrine system to behave improperly or poorly. Almost all of the most popular brands use these endocrine damaging chemicals with no distinction between brands or price of the products. Some of the most expensive brands contain as much as or more endocrine system disrupting chemicals as the less expensive brands.

The next article posted will discuss in more detail how to avoid xenoestrogens and give practical advice on personal care products that do not contain them. If you cannot wait until then copy and paste the following link to have a look at non-toxic, non-xenoestrogen containing products: mysisel.com/thoughtfulhealth.

Reverse aging and rejuvenate the body

Distracted to Death: The Taco Bell Lawsuit

Taco Bell has found itself in the midst of a lawsuit and the gest of it is this: Taco Bell sells a beef mixture as opposed to 100% beef as it claims. A class action suit brought by an Alabama law firm alleged that the 'beef' in Taco Bell products are nowhere near the 100% claim but is actually closer to 35%. The remaining 65% is a combination of grains, spices, and chemical fillers and binders.

According to the USDA, if the ingredients are as the suit alleges, Taco Bells meat mix does not meet the minimum requirements to be called beef.

The class action suit didn't seek any monetary damages. Indeed, all that was sought was advertising that is no longer deceptive by making Taco Bell tell the truth about their so-called 'beef'. It seems like a reasonable request worthy of the time and attention or is it?

Taco Bell's current legal woes has been created by the good intentions of others but we know where the road paved with good intentions lead to. There's no doubt that if Taco Bell is being deceptive they should be held accountable. However, most people who consume food products from the Bell aren't likely to care that their burrito or chulupa is mostly a hybrid beef concoction. In fact, most consumers of Taco Bell are only interested in a quick, cheap meal.

Realizing this made Taco Bell's reaction very curious, however. They went on an all out advertising campaign with TV commercials and full page newspaper ads but who are they trying to convince? On the one hand you have a class action lawsuit that would not have changed much of anything if it succeeded or failed (it has since been dismissed). On the other hand Taco Bell is defending itself to a public that doesn't care what percentage of beef is in their products.

The beef percentage isn't the main problem

Lost among the ad blitzs and lawyers is a real and material matter that has a point that needs to mercifully emerge for a better, healthier tomorrow. That point lies in the ingredients and how they affect the body. Let's take a closer look at the ingredients which are:

Beef, Water, Seasoning [Isolated Oat Product, Salt, Chili Pepper, Onion Powder, Tomato Powder, Oats, Soy Lecithin, Toasted Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Maltodextrin, Sugar, Soybean Oil (Antidusting Agent), Black Pepper, Oregano, Cumin, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Cocoa Powder (Processed With Alkali), Lactic Acid, Natural Flavors, Natural Smoke Flavor, Modified Corn Starch], Salt, Sodium Phosphate.

Right out of the gate some hidden allergy issues must be addressed. It is not uncommon for people to be allergic to soy, oats or maltodextrin (maltodextrin is derived from corn) which could lead to life threatening situations or other allergic reactions that are simply regarded as nuisances. Consumers would likely never know out was the 'meat' in their Nacho Supreme that caused their reaction. And since a list of these ingredients are not prominently posted in the restaurant how would a consumer know.

Along with the potential allergic reactions is the nearly automatic inflammatory response caused by more than a few of the ingredients. Chronic inflammation is a mostly unaddressed negative hallmark of human health today. One of the chief causes of inflammatory responses is sugar especially refined sugar. When you take a look Taco Bell's beef ingredients you may be surprised that they use four different kinds of refined sugar (maltodextrin, sugar, caramel color, cocoa). These simple sugars enter the blood stream quickly creating inflammation and spiking insulin and triglyceride levels. Consistent increases and spikes of insulin and triglyceride levels leads to metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity which is reaching epidemic proportions in western societies.

A third and final point to be made is the hidden MSG used by Taco Bell. It's called autolyzed yeast extract and it is a well known excitotoxin. The "excito" part explains how it stimulates nerve cells in the brain. The "toxcin" part describes the fact that the simulation leads to damaged nerve cells in the brain and eventually cellular death. In addition, it is thought to cause scarring in the hypothalamus which controls appetite. A damaged hypothalamus leads to increased appetite leading to more consumption making people heavier (obese). There are a few more ingredients of concern but for the sake of brevity we'll move on.

Taco Bell is certainly not the only questionable food entity out there. The fast food industry as a whole needs to be addressed. With that said the lawsuit being leveled against Taco Bell was a honorable endeavor. No know one wants to be lied to but it must be seen for what it is: a distraction. When it comes to what really matters, however, the true mark is missed. We simply end up going in circles without the information that would truely benefit society and we end up distracted to death.

Sources

tacobell.com

msgmyth.com

naturalnews.com/009379.htm

msgtruth.com

www.foxnews.com/health/2011/01/25/wheres-beef-taco-bell-sued-ingredients/?cmpid=cmty_email_Gigya_Taco_Bell_Sued_Over_Meat_That's_Just_35_Percent_Beef

USDA Guide to the Obvious

The USDA has issued new dietary guidelines for the American consumer. These guidelines are intended to improve the health and well being of concerned citizens who wish to lead healthier lives. With heart disease and obesity reaching unheard of levels the potential guidance is needed now more than ever. And what gems has the USDA come up with? How about eating less fats and sugar, exercising more, and consuming fewer calories. Great advice for the masses but it's hardly a revelation. Most people know to do these thing already. Check out my article at QW Magazine: http://qwmagazine.co.uk/science/8793
to get my full view on this subject and a little advice to boot!