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

A return in imminent!!!

Dear readers of this blog:

I will return shortly to posting full content weekly. I am in the midst of finishing up my certification work in nutritional consulting. It will definitely enhance the content of the blog and will allow me to continue on with my course work in holistic health. Thank you for your patience and go in good health!

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!

Milk: Another White Lie Part 3

This may seem a little strange to see in print but there is a lucky minority that exist when it comes to milk. That group consist of people who are lactose intolerant. Why do I consider them lucky? It's because their bodies readily identify that dairy is not the best choice for us after being weened from our mothers. Most people lack the enzyme lactase which we tend to stop producing after about two years of age. Lactose intolerance is an extreme version of the allergic reactions most of us encounter. The most common allergic reaction is stomach upset such as bloating, gas and diarrhea. The lesser known reactions occur most often in people who don't consider themselves to be lactose intolerant or allergic to milk in general. Chronic sinus infections are most often blamed on pollen, pet dander, dust, aliens and Bill Cosby. While these things do have a place in our nasal miseries (not you Mr. Cosby) you will be hard pressed to find anyone who blames the massive amount of dairy consumed each day by unsuspecting folks. Thanks to the flood of dairy propaganda that milk is wholesome and does a body good we would never question milks role. The irony is that milk is the most common food allergy but rarely is recognized as such. Besides the lactose intolerance the protein found in milk also contributes to allergies as well so the lactose isn’t the sole villain.
Babies are especially susceptible to milk allergies. The American Society of Microbiologist found that some cases of crib death could be attributed to milk allergies in infants. The symptoms for these allergies can range from diarrhea, persistent colic, and vomiting to eczema, hives, bronchitis, asthma and sleeplessness. It is suggested that cows milk not be given to infants younger than four months old.
​If you are suffering from chronic sinus infections or gastrointestinal issues check your dairy consumption and ask yourself could it be the aliens or the milk?

​Sources:
​The Optimum Nutrition Bible by Patrick Holford

​http://www.naturalnews.com/026461_products_food_butter.html

​http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/health-news/2009/09/07/more-mums-give-their-kids-organic-milk-as-survey-confirms-reduced-risk-of-asthma-and-eczema-86908-21654409/

Milk: Another White Lie Part II

IGF, or insulin-like growth factor, is a hormone that occurs in the human body naturally. As its name implies it assist with growth and is found in large quantites in children. By adulthood IGF is nearly non-existent because growth is done.


IGF-1 is found in cow's milk and is intended to assist baby cows in their growth and developement. Adding to already high levels of IGF-1 todays milk practices increases those levels through the use of rBGH (recombinate bovine growth hormone). Increased rBGH use has exposed more people to increased the amount of IGF-1 consumed.

Why is IGF-1 consumption such an important issue? As previously mentioned IGF helps things grow. All sorts of things in fact. Unfortunately for humans some of the things excess IGF can help grow are cancerous and non-cancerous tumors. Research has shown how moderate IGF-1 level increases can cause adverse health conditions. For example, men with an 8% increase in circulating IGF-1 were seven times more likely to develope prostate cancer. Women who had increased IGF-1 levels also had increased incidences of breast cancer. In fact a study conducted in China found that women in the top 25% of IGF-1 levels as compared to other women had a 2-3 times greater occurrence of breast cancer. A similar study conducted in England on men found a similar correlation. Those men in the top 25% were 3 times more likely to develope prostate cancer.

Are you wondering why cancer correlations deal specifically with breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men? IGF-1 is produced in abundance in the young especially during puberty. During puberty one of it's key functions it's to simulate the growth of breast tissue in girls and prostate growth in boys. After puberty IGF-1 production falls off to very modest levels having done that bulk of it's work. We, as humans, can increase our circulating IGF-1 levels threw consuming dairy products but for some it will be at our own cancer causing risk.

The next post will address the issue of lactose intolerance and other milk allergies.

Milk: A Different White Lie Part I

The dairy industry has garnered a windfall from it's advertising campaign with it's widely known "Milk. It does a body good" slogan. Does milk do a body good? Evidence that milk is only intended for unweaned creatures, including humans, has been mounting for years. With all the television and print commercials along with huge government subsidies you wouldn't know it. Milk, without doubt, has issues as it relates to the human body. We have been told to drink milk for its nutrient packed goodness especially as it pertains to calcium but a closer look is needed to assist in making an informed decision.

The calcium content of milk as long been the trumpet sounded by the dairy industry as to why we should consume their products. We, the consumer, have obediently danced to the sound of their music in order to sustain growth, especially in children, and maintain strong, healthy bones. Rarely, if ever, are the biological mechanisms of calcium absorption discussed. For calcium to be absorbed it must be found in a 2:1 ratio with magnesium. That is to say for every 2 parts of calcium consumed there must be at least 1 part of magnesium present to make the calcium available for use in the body. Milk is calcium rich but magnesium poor. In fact the calcium/magnesium ratio in milk is 10:1! That makes the excess calcium in milk unavailable to the body. Why, do you ask? Calcium from milk must be converted into a usable form by magnesium which also helps to solidify calcium into bone. A person would have to take a magnesium supplement with milk to absorb all the calcium or risk creating a magnesium imbalance in the rest of the body as magnesium is diverted from other functions to attend to the excess calcium floating around. Consuming cheese for its calcium content is even worse when you consider the calcium/magnesium ratio is 28:1. A study involving 120,000 U.S. women printed in the American Journal of Public Health, 1997 had some startling results. The 12 year study found that women who consumed 2 or more glasses of milk per day had a 45% higher risk of hip fractures and 5% increase in forearm fractures than women who drank less. The study director, Diane Feskanich, advises not to rely on milk for prevention of osteoporosis. Good sources of calcium and magnesium can be found in dark green leafy vegetables, almonds and figs.

Next week the discussion will focus on a seldom discussed but udderly (cheesy pun...wow a pun in a pun!) important hormone called insulin-like growth factor or IGF for short.

The Protein Fallacy and How Best to Utilize Protein in Your Diet

Is there a such thing as too much protein? If you ask most people the answers would range from "I don't know" to "no". The reason for this is because of how protein is presented to us in our everyday lives. There are many products and diet trends that emphasis protein pushed through various mediums relentlessly. So, for the sake of clarity let's take a closer look at protein.

Increased Acidity

Protein is comprised of 25 amino acids which are the building blocks of the body. Protein also serves as an important transporter of materials and is used in the production of antibodies, enzymes and hormones. Protein, in other words, is very important to the body but over-consumption can have detrimental effects on the body. All protein metabolizing increases blood acidity. Increased blood acidity from protein is generally not a problem when it is consumed moderately. When consumed in excess the uric acid produced is high enough to lead to inflammation. If you are already predisposed to pain the increased acidity will only exacerbate it. In addition to increased inflammation and pain, higher blood acidity must be balanced by the body (since the body requires blood to be slightly alkaline for proper functioning). The two ways this is accomplished is through sodium and calcium. Once sodium stores are consumed the body removes calcium from the bones in order to bring blood pH to proper levels. Considering the average mineral and vitamin deficient diets of today the stores of sodium and calcium are depleted quickly. Overtime, bone calcium that has been depleted and not replaced leads to the condition of osteoporosis.

Digestion

Protein, especially animal protein, is notoriously difficult to digest. The primary cause of this difficulty is based on our nutrient deficient diets. Without the proper amount of B Vitamins and Zinc the body is heavily taxed to breakdown proteins its amino acid components and utilize them into efficiently.

Building Muscle

If you have been to a gym or health food store lately you undoubtedly saw many protein products most of which is aimed at people who want to build muscle. You know the ones in huge containers just waiting for pre and post workout consumption. Athletes and body builders have chased protein dreams of greatness mostly unaware of basic biological facts. Consider this point as illustrated in "The New Optimum Nutrition Bible": The body requires less than 2 lbs. of protein per year to gain 9 lbs. of muscle (muscle is approximately 22% protein). That averages to about 2.5 g of protein per day. You can get that much protein from just a few almonds. The inability to build muscle is seldom due to a lack of protein. Most often the lack of essential vitamins and minerals such as B3, B6 and Zinc are to blame.

How Much Protein

The recommended amount of protein consumption is approximately 15% of total calories consumed during the day. That's about 35 g for most people. Another point to consider is the quality of the protein. Quality proteins are more easily digested and assimilated into the body. Typically, protein of higher quality can be found in vegetables, nuts, and legumes. Animal products are not an ideal source of protein due to how taxing uptake can be as mentioned earlier.

Final Thought

The American (and Western) diet is heavily meat oriented. Very often most people exceed the recommended amount of protein on the daily basis. It's no wonder acidosis is becoming more prevalent with each passing day. Have you seen the commercials for a new drug called Uloric? Uloric is a drug a person can take to assist in ridding the body of uric acid which can often result in gout, a painful type of arthritis, and other conditions. It's just one more pill to correct what a well thought out meal plan could help avoid.