Linda Larrowe Bergersen2013-06-19T06:43:38-04:00Linda Larrowe Bergersenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/index.php?author=linda-larrowe-bergersenCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Linda Larrowe BergersenGood old fashioned elbow grease.Sports: Is There a Level Playing Field?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.26238292013-02-20T13:04:11-05:002013-04-22T05:12:01-04:00Linda Larrowe Bergersenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-larrowe-bergersen/
There is a long list of banned substances that every professional athlete -- from Olympians to Super Bowlers -- is required to stay away from during their career performances, but not everyone is aware of the many enhancing procedures availed to them that haven't made the list... thus far.
We are quite aware of how Lance Armstrong duped everyone by keeping secret his erythropoietin (EPO) treatments, a blood hormone normally produced by the kidneys that improves oxygen transport through blood and into muscle.
EPO is commonly extracted, concentrated and injected for medical treatment in cases such as acute anemia, renal failure, cancer and HIV in order to benefit recovery. Once the correlation of improved oxygen from EPO and sport performance became clear to athletes, its use became intriguing to many, but soon put on the no-no list.
But many other medical advancements and devices are out there that more or less do the same thing, only in different ways, and they are legal. Athletes, because they can afford it, have these treatments at their fingertips at any time, unlike the common person. And they all have to do with the blood.
It's no secret, but not publicized, that many athletes use or even own their own hyperbaric chambers; Michael Phelps being one, and Tiger Woods another, who is building his own oxygen therapy room in his new home. These oxygen-enhancing machines have been around for decades, popularized by deep-sea divers needing to avoid the 'bends.' The chamber's main function is to increase the concentration of oxygen in the bloodstream. By increased pressure, oxygen is forced into the blood. Just like EPO, it has long been used in hospitals for oxygen-deprived brain injury, and accelerating wound healing. To many without injury, now it's a way of life just to feel energized. Hyperbaric not only helps wounds heal, the oxygen flows through the entire system, and the infusion of oxygen helps the body produce more red blood cells; it also simulates the effect of being in an extremely high altitude, for those players about to play in cities such as Denver. An added bonus...hyperbaric increases natural stem cell production.
Hyperbaric has not been kept a secret in the sports community; athletes are able to increase oxygen in the blood before an event to create muscle energy, and then able to repair from stress or trauma after. Any athlete has the wherewithal to have a hyperbaric session before an event. So, has the oxygen or performance level ever been checked between those who do hyperbaric before the game, and those who don't? So far, there is no documentation. But wait... hyperbaric goes beyond athletes -- they're now used for racehorses. Are you betting on the right horse? It's not just statistics that need to be researched before a race.
Now come stem cells. Injured athletes right and left are running to stem cells as an adjunct treatment along with any for injuries they suffer. As we see how the NFL prize quarterback Peyton Manning, at age 36, has miraculously recovered from his serious neck injury, no one can doubt the effects of stem cell therapy.
Dr. James Andrews is a prominent sports orthopedic surgeon who now includes adult stem cell therapy in his practice -- Adrian Peterson and RGIII being two of his patients. He believes stem cell therapy "will be a transformational event." He does not name names, and wishes to be quiet about it. "We don't advertise it, and we don't want to sensationalize it," he says.
Did you know that stem cells are very smart and calculating individuals? The cells coming from one's own body (adipose from fat, and mesenchymal from bone marrow, cord blood, peripheral blood) directed to the site of injury can induce healing, but the abundance of applied stem cells leaves many free to migrate, looking for repair of any other area in need. A large amount of stray stem cells can therapeutically give new life to any part of the body, and therefore becomes a preventive tool for halting disease before it progresses; it can be regenerative as well as rejuvenating, and now is considered to be an anti-aging property.
The word is out about stem cell regenerative therapy, and people throughout the country with the means to have it, are getting stem cell therapy just for preventive and anti-aging measures. It doesn't take an injury any more to be lured to stem cell therapy. The aging athlete can thus compete with the twenty-year-old, and this rejuvenation process is legal.
So what can be expected if half the players have the preventive stem cell treatment no matter what injury or age, and the other half do not? Are they able to evaluate the difference?
Bartolo Colon, professional baseball pitcher and Cy Young award winner, at the age of 37 in 2010, had fat and bone marrow stem cells injected into his elbow and shoulder because of ligament damage and a torn rotator cuff which were seen as career-ending injuries. The stem cell therapy subsequently renewed his career; but he was soon suspended for 50 games when his above-normal testosterone level was discovered.
It is relevant that as one gets older, testosterone levels decline. But the administration of testosterone is known to increase energy and stamina, build muscle mass and strength, and improve concentration. The therapeutic use of testosterone for older men throughout society is becoming more and more popular as its viability has become documented (mainly with bio-identical treatment), according to Dr. Abe Morgentaler, Harvard Medical School. There is no question it's a violation to the rules because of it being on the list of banned substances, but is the replenishment of testosterone to this athlete (who is almost twice the age of many fellow players) really a violation of playing on a level basis? Maybe testosterone levels should be checked before every game, and have every player's score fall within a certain range.
The testosterone advantage/disadvantage could be equated to yet another popular therapeutic device -- the altitude training tent. In the past, and, often still today, athletes coming from other cities were at a disadvantage playing in Denver, where the local players were already acclimated to the high altitude level. Now it seems to be legal to house athletes in these enclosures in order to bring them in par with the opposing team. Now they can play on an equal playing field.
But to take it further, these tents are currently being utilized by athletes, whether they are to play in a higher altitude or not, just to benefit by the oxygen enhancement induced by these devices, therefore giving those who use them a possible advantage when playing on their own turf.
And to come back to Lance and EPO injections, these oxygen-enriched enclosures are actually increasing the production of the erythropoietin hormone. As noted previously, EPO increases red blood cell production, thus increasing muscle utilization and energy. Another supplemental advantage?
Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) is yet another therapy that boosts oxygen through the blood, enhancing athletic performance by contributing to a lower lactic acid buildup through increased nitric oxide; the effect being similar to an endurance training session. This therapy was initially conceived for heart patients, and is actually FDA and Medicare approved.
An EECP machine has been and can be an integral part of an athlete's workout room, alongside the hyperbaric chamber. Shaquille O'Neil is known to use one. Cuffs are strapped to the legs, and heart sensors are attached to a monitor that follows the heartbeat. With every beat, pressure is applied to the legs, moving the blood to the heart, and increasing the blood flow. Its pressure contributes to the expansion of arteries, and increases oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart. This improves exercise tolerance, yet creating another way of energizing the system. Is this unfair advantage?
All of these techniques are pervasive throughout sports, even the Olympics. These few athletes named here are just the tip of the iceberg; think of entire teams implementing these devices... because many do.
The sports profession seems to be primed for the spawning of stem cell therapy in America as they have the money to expend on such treatments, and as the word gets out that anyone can have this, whether injured or not. Put this together with a hyperbaric chamber, an EECP machine, housed in an oxygen-enriched workout room, and you've got one energized athlete. And yet, how can such therapies be legally justified as some players take on certain therapies and some do not? Can it ever be equal?]]>Avoid the Knife (and Drugs) With Alternative Therapytag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.23998542013-01-18T13:53:35-05:002013-03-20T05:12:01-04:00Linda Larrowe Bergersenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-larrowe-bergersen/Star Wars concept, and still is in many minds, but today this alternative therapy seems to be snowballing into becoming mainstream.
It's unfortunate that the majority of Americans still equate all stem cell therapy with embryos, but what's not as prominently known is that there are adult stem cells, which includes those derived from bone marrow, personal blood, fat cells, and donated cells of brain and skin tissue.
Today there are reported and verified cases of remarkable reversal of debilitating physical ailments such as stroke, pain, bone and ligament injuries by the injection of stem cells. It's unfortunate that Americans are still pressed to travel overseas for most stem cell treatments for the heart, but there are centers throughout the U.S. that offer options for various conditions that stem cells can benefit. A person does not have to be fearful of this any longer. The stigmas that were once attached to these precarious alternatives are now disappearing. The stigma of stem cells per se as only coming from embryos is slowly eradicating with the growing awareness that stem cells can be extracted from other sources.
John Brodie, once a dynamic NFL football quarterback, experienced a significant stroke in 2000 that left him debilitated, bedridden, without control of his bodily functions. Now, after stem cell therapy in Europe, he is walking, talking and now has a better quality of life. I personally know a woman who had been in a horrific automobile accident many, many years ago that left her legs in constant pain, recently had injections of her own stem cells derived from her own fat. Within days, her pain was gone, and walking was no longer agonizing; for the last year there has been no pain since the two treatments. Also, Peyton Manning, another notable quarterback, has reportedly undergone stem cell injections in Europe, using his own fat cells, for his recent neck injury.
Yes, stem cell therapy is costly, and like all breakthrough procedures, in time the price will go down. But stem cell therapy is just one of many alternative therapies that anyone can be offered to relieve myriad conditions; here are just a few:
Stem cell therapy
EECP therapy
Hyperbaric chamber therapy
Glutathione/chelation therapy
Medical marijuana
Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a little-known therapy that actually is Harvard-produced, FDA-approved, and Medicare-approved (for certain medical problems). This is a non-invasive procedure of electrodes applied to the chest, and attached to an electrocardiograph machine to monitor heart rhythm, while cuffs are wrapped around the ankles, thighs and buttocks to gently compress the blood vessels in the lower limbs, increasing blood flow to the heart. The completed therapy aids in restoring circulation to a functional level. Success stories include relief from angina, obstructed circulation, and congestive heart failure, yet the average patient is rarely told about this option. In fact, it does not become an option with doctors because for them there is no major financial benefit, it is a hindrance to their office structure, and not conducive with their cardiological acumen, says Dr. Richard N. Fogoros, former professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. And because of this, it is hard to find a center to go to. A series of 35 sessions is the standard allowable therapy that has been determined to achieve the optimum benefit. This is a treatment that more and more people should request in order to bring it to light. As the FDA and Medicare have approved this procedure, it makes sense to give it a try.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be the most efficient method of transporting oxygen to every cell of the body. And oxygen is what the body needs for recuperation from trauma. Hyperbaric therapy for stroke and brain injury have not had enough trials and studies to determine their degrees of efficacy, but personal successes have been continually reported over the years, since the public became aware of this after President Kennedy authorized it for his ailing baby. Successes and continual use have proven that it does warrant an option for anyone in dire need of improvement after such trauma. It is FDA- and Medicare-approved for such things as severe wound healing, carbon monoxide poisoning, smoke inhalation, and diabetic foot ulcers. In knowing this, it shows that it is deemed safe, and does have merit. And for anyone wishing to try oxygen therapy for improvement after a stroke, there are centers throughout the country that offer this, where they strongly believe in beneficial results. The necessary amount of sessions is usually at least 20 to see signs of improvement.
Glutathione and chelation therapies are nutritional, natural approaches to improving health and health conditions. Glutathione is considered "the mother of all antioxidants." We all have a natural stream of glutathione running through our system, and major trauma and disease will lower this supply. When our supply is low, our bodies suffer, and have difficulty in any recuperation process. This nutrient can get a boost by taking certain other supplements such as R-lipoic acid, milk thistle and N-acetyl cysteine, but through intravenous therapy (IV) this remarkable nutrient can be presented directly, in its purest form. IV glutathione is offered at nutritional centers all over the country. David Perlmutter, M.D., neurologist, has done research with this antioxidant and Parkinson's, and has found it to be "quite effective" in improving symptoms. It has had great results in treating fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, Alzheimer's, autoimmune diseases, liver and brain detoxification, and autism. A study in 2010 involving the Cleveland Clinic has shown marked improvement in treating male infertility.
Chelation is another natural approach to improving health. This IV procedure introduces EDTA into the body, a synthetic amino acid first introduced in the 1940s that draws out heavy metals and free radicals from the body naturally. It is a proven treatment for lead poisoning in hospitals. Doctors throughout the country offer chelation for detoxification purposes, and purport that it may also have the ability to dissolve plaque and calcium blockages. Larger studies are needed to show proof to the medical community, FDA and Medicare, that it can be a preventive measure in heart disease before approving it. Lead poisoning is something much more prevalent and harmful to children than adults. The symptoms can include:
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Aggressive behavior
• Anemia
• Constipation
• Sleep disturbance
• Headaches
• Irritability
• Loss of previous developmental skills (in young children)
• Low appetite and energy
• Reduced sensations
Lead and other heavy metals accumulated in the body can cause health maladies at any age, like joint pain, circulation problems and autoimmune diseases. Length of treatment relates to each particular ailment.
Medical marijuana of course is a controversial treatment, legal in just 16 states at the present. But studies have shown its effectiveness in helping with chronic pain, especially in cancer patients, as well as helping with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. It has helped many with sleep disorders; those with major debilitating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis or HIV, use it to cope with side effects. For end-stage disease, medical marijuana could be considered for bettering the quality of remaining life.
There are suggestions that the beneficial substance in marijuana, THC, should be made into a drug instead of allowing the patient to smoke marijuana in its original form. Because it cannot be patented since it's not a drug, the FDA has yet to approve it. Several independent companies are currently in the process of producing pill-form marijuana by extracting certain compounds such as cannabidiol that seems to be effective on pain and inflammation but does not give the high effect.
"Marijuana contains anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and probably anticancer compounds in it," says Dr. Donald Abrams, an oncology physician and professor of clinical medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). "I'm a cancer doctor and I often suggest to my patients that they consider marijuana for their loss of appetite, nausea, pain, depression, and insomnia. That's one medicine they can use instead of five."
Too many times patients are not given the options of the preventive treatments that can save them from forthcoming surgeries, unnecessary harmful prescription drugs, and debilitating pain. With the onset of the increased awareness concerning alternative therapies, everyone now has more options to improve their health and well-being. Personal physicians should be queried about these options, but if they do not have the knowledge or do not approve, then, as patients, second opinions are warranted. We are in control of our health, and can and should be proactive. Without physician referral, it is imperative that we take upon ourselves the initiative to research and explore these and any natural therapeutic options.
For more on natural health, click here.]]>Is Your Yogurt the Best It Can Be?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.14122562012-04-11T12:04:37-04:002012-06-11T05:12:02-04:00Linda Larrowe Bergersenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-larrowe-bergersen/Five Ways To Make Yogurt Better For You
When you think about it, true yogurt is just milk and bugs. And, really, that's all it should be... the proliferation of probiotic strains of bacteria that grew in a warm bath of milk. But today yogurt has turned into more of a dessert than the health food it was designed to be. Most are laced with anti-nutrient additives such as high-fructose corn syrup, fructose, refined sugar, corn syrup, sucralose, and/or aspartame to make it sweet; gelatin or cornstarch to make it thick when bacteria isn't allowed to multiply en masse; and artificial coloring to make it appealing to the eye. If you find a yogurt that has ingredients as simple as milk and probiotic cultures, it's a rare, but more healthful treat. (Pectin is a natural substance, and is fine.)
Although to start, milk itself is not the milk of the past, at the time yogurt was developed. Back then, there was nothing but raw milk, and so raw milk was the substrate for making yogurt. But living on such a populated earth, we are stuck with the pasteurization and homogenization of products that really degrade milk and make it just another "processed food." There may be raw milk yogurts out there, but they are very hard to find, and I'm sure most consumers are turned off by the word raw, anyway, let alone the fact that most states have unfortunately banned raw milk to begin with.
So here are some tips on making a common yogurt of today more healthful than it actually is:
1. Avoid all commercial yogurts except the "plain" variety
Read the label for ingredients; it should list milk and active cultures, and that's about it. Maybe some pectin. The addition of fruit in these commercial yogurts does not make it healthier because the fruit is also pasteurized and void of natural enzymes. By simply adding fresh fruit to yogurt yourself, the beneficial enzymes remain intact, plus you add more vitamins and minerals. When manufacturers add sugars to yogurt they actually defeat the most important feature of yogurt, and that is increasing the good bacteria in the intestinal tract for better health. Sugar contributes to the growth of candida or fungus bacteria (considered bad bacteria), and these will eventually overtake the good bacteria in number.
2. Buy goat yogurt
Actually, goat milk is consumed three times more than cow milk throughout the world. It is found to be more nutritious than cow milk (the American standard) in many ways. The fat molecules in goat milk are much smaller and therefore much easier to digest. The structure of goat milk is closer to human milk, and easily accepted by the human body, especially babies. And some research has indicated that goat milk has "more beneficial properties to health than cow milk," one is that it has a higher bioavailability of iron and minerals that aid in preventing iron deficiency and softening of the bones.
3. Add whey powder
Greek yogurt is "Greek yogurt" because it has the whey removed (water) in order to make it a thicker product. Whey is such a nutritious natural substance that eating Greek yogurt, in my opinion, does not make sense. By adding a tablespoon of whey powder to your bowl of yogurt, you would be doing your body good by giving it added protein, essential amino acids, and some immune enhancing components. Whey is taken out of cheese as well to make it hard, thus considered a by-product, and that is how it was discovered. Whey is also the liquid floating in your cottage cheese. But to remove it from yogurt does not make sense, just like removing it from cottage cheese.
4. Add or supplement with taurine and carnitine powder
Cow milk has very low quantities of the amino acid taurine, and carnitine is so beneficial to the human body that it is even one important additive to baby formula. These two amino acids are considered "conditionally essential" to the human body because not everyone can synthesize them properly within the body, or do not adequately obtain them through dietary sources. Both taurine and carnitine are good for muscles, heart, and brain health and function. The powder of these two beneficial amino acids can be directly added to the yogurt.
5. Add a broad-spectrum probiotic
Many yogurts on the market include one or two strains of probiotic, and yet there are so many more that can cover many aspects of health. Acidophilus is the mainstay of yogurt products. A good list of helpful strains that could be included are thermophilus, bulgaricus, casei, rhamnonus, bifidum, and even more. A good probiotic capsule should contain at least five or six different strains. So if you have a powerful, broad-spectrum probiotic on hand in your refrigerator that you take daily, just open the capsule and stir the cultures into the yogurt.
For more on diet and nutrition, click here.]]>How Do You Get the Gout?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.8476852011-05-18T05:33:00-04:002013-03-06T16:21:18-05:00Linda Larrowe Bergersenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-larrowe-bergersen/
Are they serious?!
They want you to take a drug to relieve gout, yet it may cause gout, and if it does then you may be given an additional drug to help with that! When does it end?
This manufacturer also wants you to believe that "you aren't the cause of your gout." Well, actually, you are and you aren't; but either way, it's created by certain foods and/or substances ingested, and can simply be prevented.
Gout is an ugly sounding name for an ugly and painful affliction. It is not something you catch.
'Purines' are natural components contained in most foods, but there are certain foods that contain higher amounts, and these can get you into trouble. When the body breaks down purines, the by-product created is 'uric acid', which crystallizes like tiny pieces of salt. Gout is the term for the end result of the buildup of these crystals that tend to accumulate in joints, and eventually inflame and create pain.
Doctors can monitor a person's uric acid level by a simple blood test. The more times a person experiences gout in their life, the more permanently debilitating it can be.
I will get to the foods that contribute to gout later, but the kicker is that there are also certain prescription drugs and nutritional supplements that can then accelerate the onset of gout. Here is a list of most of them:
1. Diuretics. Diuretics are prescribed to over 12 million Americans yearly, usually for high blood pressure or congestive heart failure. They are the biggest contributor of uric acid in the system; taking the diuretic may not give you gout, but if it is taken in conjunction with other gout-causing substances, watch out.
2. Niacin. Niacin comes in many forms. The beneficial vitamin B3 found in meats, seafood, and grains, it adds to cellular energy, aids the nervous system, and good for healthy skin. But currently it is very often prescribed in very high dosages for lowering cholesterol and triglycerides. The prescription drugs Niaspan and Niacor are made with niacin. These high doses elevate the levels of uric acid. Unfortunately, it may be prescribed to those also taking diuretics, and here again it becomes a problem (50 mg. is usually fine).
3. D-Ribose. A natural simple sugar created in the body works on muscle to improve endurance and stamina, and commonly used by athletes or people with heart conditions. Unfortunately a rare side effect is that it contributes to the buildup of uric acid.
4. L-Arginine. A basic amino acid that benefits heart function, and is known to produce increased nitric oxide levels in the body that dilate arteries, aiding in circulation. Because of this side effect, it is currently popular for use with erectile dysfunction. But this common amino acid also contributes to the buildup of uric acid.
5. Glycine. Another amino acid that converts to uric acid more rapidly in those prone to gout.
6. Aspirin. Common everyday aspirin can impair the excretion of uric acid from the kidneys. Many think that taking aspirin might help relieve the pain of gout, but it's just the opposite.
As for foods, there are a number of various healthful as well as unhealthful foods that have the high purine content that causes gout. By eating too many from this list within a certain period of time, along with lack of enough water to flush it out, the uric acid will find its way into the joints, and gout will flare.
7. d-Mannose
8. Chlorella
9. Cyclosporine
10. Pyrazinamide
11. Levodopa
12. Certain antibiotics
Foods to avoid if taking the above drugs or supplements are: Shellfish
Anchovies
Sardines
Spinach
Peanuts
Caffeine
Beer/alcohol
Asparagus
Organ meats
Peas
Refined sugar
Refined flour products
Fried foods
Beans (legumes)
Cauliflower
Mushrooms
High fructose corn syrup
Cashews An abundance of meat and fish can contribute to problems as well.
Foods to help fight off uric acid and gout are: Celery
Green/string beans
Artichoke
Pineapple
Apple
Cherries
Nuts
Eggs
Greens (except spinach)
Strawberries
Yogurt/cheese
Tomato
Barley
Other natural substances to help relieve gout are: Black Cherry Extract
Bicarbonate of Soda
Lemon Juice
Apple Cider Vinegar
Ginger
Taurine Cetyl myristoleate
Malic acid
B6
If these foods are taken alone for a few days, along with a large amount of water consumption, gout most often disappears.
So don't be sold on the idea that gout cannot be naturally controlled or cured. It results from three things, and can be eliminated by controlling the intake of these three things:
1. eating too many purine rich foods within a number of days;
2. not drinking enough water daily to flush out the uric acid;
3. taking certain prescription drugs and nutritional supplements along with or without the high-purine foods.
Think about it; if you were to consume shrimp, meat, peanut butter, spinach, cauliflower, asparagus, refried beans, while taking an 800 mg. dose of niacin, and a diuretic for days at a time, gout would be most inevitable.
Once seen as an "old person's" illness, it has crept into the lives of the younger population as well, and mainly because of diets containing more processed foods, and because of the over-prescribed diuretic drug. Nature has a way of balancing the system into a good state of health; we just have to find the right path to accomplish that.
Doing so, we can check off another drug and another malady.]]>Fructose: What Is It?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.8316632011-03-10T08:46:38-05:002011-05-25T18:35:25-04:00Linda Larrowe Bergersenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-larrowe-bergersen/
This video captures the lecture of Dr. Robert Lustig, a neuroendocrinologist and professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of San Francisco. He is currently investigating the child obesity epidemic, and what he and his colleagues have uncovered and reported could open your eyes to sugar in a new light ... at least it did mine.
I wish to be the messenger here, and most of the information I relate is gleaned from Dr. Lutsig's lecture and interviews, because I agree that there is a need for the public to be aware of what is happening to our food options.
Fructose is the natural sugar within all fruits and vegetables, and fructose is a major sugar in the extracted juice of any fruit. It's a good thing -- as long as it is accompanied by fiber, its natural partner. A fruit is a complete package of nutrients nature has provided meant to stay and work together. Because fruit juice is so readily available, so widely consumed, and pushed as a nutritional drink, this commodity is one big threat to our health. Another is agave nectar. It is now so popular, yet consumers are unaware that it is highly processed and is predominantly fructose.
Dr. Lustig wants us all to realize that the obesity epidemic has been driven by the extreme use of both fructose and HFCS (a more refined sweetener) over the last few decades; it's not the only reason, of course, but a huge contributor, along with the consumption of all the refined flours in our diets.
Dr. Lustig declares our environment is "fructose rich and fiber poor." The increased use of fructose without fiber, and the replacement of refined sugar with HFCS in sodas, began roughly 30 years ago, correlating with the onset of the obesity increase.
If there was any skepticism in anyone's mind about HFCS one way or the other, then this is the video to watch. Sugar: The Bitter Truth is found on YouTube, and has been viewed almost a million times. And yes, Dr. Lutsig does point out that fructose is just as bad as HFCS, and his explanation shows that this is mainly due to the elimination of fiber with its use.
As you cruise the internet concerning this video, articles trying to debunk or disagree with this report pop up here and there, but none is ever clear on what they are trying to say, or none of their information outweighs the facts presented by Dr. Lustig. For all we know, some may be written by food manufacturers themselves to defend their products. In fact, after an article I wrote posted on the internet about yogurt ingredients, I personally received emails from the president of the Corn Refiners Association in regard to my simple mentioning that HFCS was "a very negative form of sugar." She wanted to point out that the American Dietetic Association, the American Medical Association, and the FDA all feel that HFCS is not a threat to our health. Maybe these organizations need to view Dr. Lustig's video and its supporting research.
Not only does fructose and HFCS contribute to obesity or just belly fat, it's important to remember there are a number of detrimental effects they have on health. These include diabetes, increased triglycerides, inflamed arteries or inflammation, and fatty liver. They also contribute to gout and hypertension, which may lead to cardiovascular disease, indicates Dr. Richard Johnson, professor of medicine at the University of Colorado in Denver, and the author of The Sugar Fix.
I realize there are several complex, technical sugar processes that occur within the body with the various forms of sugar we consume, but I do not have the space to go into all of them here; for now, a strong focus on fructose and HFCS is warranted as we see that neither obesity nor cardiovascular disease have declined over the years despite diets and drugs.
Dr. Lustig and his colleagues are adamant about the importance of their research. The video, which was not really made for the public but was simply a taped lecture, rivals the impact of the U.S. Surgeon General's report in 1964 that condemned the use of tobacco by saying it indeed causes cancer and heart disease. It is a free mini-course in nutrition 101, and you don't have to leave the house.
]]>New Report Questions Health Benefits of Olive Oiltag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.8160112011-02-01T12:27:20-05:002011-05-25T18:30:24-04:00Linda Larrowe Bergersenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-larrowe-bergersen/
In the most remarkable recent discovery about olive oil, Dr. Robert Vogel at the University of Maryland reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that olive oil was found to reduce blood flow in arteries by 31 percent after consumption. This is significant in relation to blood clots and heart attacks, as well as angina. It's suggested that people be aware of any relationship between consuming olive oil and an angina attack. Also, it was found that olive oil "causes significant damage" to the endothelial cells that line the inside of arteries. This damage causes inflammation which leads to atherosclerosis.
Dr. Dean Ornish reported these findings in an article written for Reader's Digest, and now recommends canola oil as the best alternative in cooking, since it contains much higher levels of omega 3, whereas olive oil has almost none. Studies in the past have suggested that olive oil lowered cholesterol when it replaced oils higher in saturated fat. Dr. Ornish points out that it's not that olive oil is better for you, it's that olive oil is better than the higher saturated fat oils. That's because it didn't raise cholesterol as much.
The Pritikin Longevity Center agrees that olive oil "is not heart-healthy;" many other plant foods are more heart-healthy than olive oil. Dr. Vogel also reveals in his book, "The Pritikin Edge," that olive oil inhibits the release of nitric oxide into the body, but canola oil does not. Nitric oxide is the natural nitroglycerin of the body, expanding blood vessels and decreasing inflammation. The lack of nitric oxide also is correlated with a lack of penile erection.
On another note, laboratory testing done at the University of California at Davis in conjunction with the Australian sensory panel of 20 extra virgin olive oils sold at California retail stores revealed some surprising results. Sixty-nine percent of the imported olive oils and 10 percent of the California olive oils did not pass the standards of California, Australia and Germany for "extra virgin." Some were rancid, oxidized or of poor quality in general. One that passed with flying colors was Costco's Kirkland Organic brand. Some that didn't include Mazola, Pompeian and Bertolli. So even though we seek the best, there is no guarantee.
I have since begun to shy away from using olive oil as I did before. I used to add it to soups and sauces; I no longer do. I used to cook eggs with a tablespoon of olive oil; I no longer do. I used to use it in my salad dressing; I now use canola oil.
New information is constantly popping up about the foods we eat, and it's difficult to think that a food we think is healthful one day is junk the next. On the other hand, some foods, like eggs, that we once thought were bad for us, may have some health benefits. We can conclude that nothing is set in stone.
We need only to think back on what humans ate long before we began to process food, can food and before the creation of additives and preservatives. After all, olive oil is a processed food so to speak; just as fruit juice has been extracted from the whole fruit, but often contains added ingredients that make it unhealthy. We need to think about that. And so tomorrow is another day to evaluate yet another so-called wholesome food. What will be next?
]]>Multivitamins: What to Look for When Choosing Onetag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.8099582011-01-17T12:42:25-05:002011-05-25T18:25:24-04:00Linda Larrowe Bergersenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-larrowe-bergersen/
One large difference in some supplements is the fact that the pricey ones are derived from whole food sources, while cheaper pills can be from lab created chemicals. Those manufactured from whole foods will definitely let you know right up front on the label because they are proud to be of high quality, and the list of ingredients will indicate the names of foods they are derived from. The unsuspecting consumer who does not know how to do his homework, does not realize that the multivitamin they are purchasing may be an inferior product.
NOTE:Any clear benefit from multivitamins remains uncertain. They should be taken as supplements, not substitutes for healthful eating.
If you do choose to take a supplement, here are the major things to look for and avoid. These can easily be discovered by looking at the typical labeling of ingredients on the bottle:
1. Oxide. If you find the word "oxide" anywhere within the ingredients, avoid this product. The oxide form of any nutritional supplement is the cheapest source of that mineral, usually as magnesium, zinc and/or copper. Most inexpensive supplements will include oxides to save on expense, unfortunate for we consumers; it's not doing our body good. There are several other forms of minerals used, such as citrate and glycinate, that are much better utilized in the body.
Oxide salts break apart in metabolism and the oxide requires an antioxidant to neutralize it. Why spend the body's precious antioxidants neutralizing a low quality mineral supplement? Dr. Mark Hyman, Chairman of the Institute for Functional Medicine, reports they are poorly absorbed. Inorganic minerals such as oxides tested were found to consume more than four times the amount of oxygen than in the natural or organic forms.
2. Cyanocobalamin (B12). Another cheaper form of a vitamin, and most commonly used, is cyanocobalamin used for vitamin B12. It is synthetically produced, and does not normally occur in plants or animal tissues. The prefix "cyan" refers to its relationship to the cyanide molecule. Its small amount is of course not much to worry about, however the body still sees it as a threat and takes measures to eliminate it. The detoxification removal process used for this expends useful antioxidants that could be working elsewhere. Also, there is the process of converting cyanocobalamin to methylcobalamin that the body undertakes, thus using up more energy and enzymes. Methylcobalamin form of B12 is better absorbed. Cyanocobalamin is less expensive.
3. Vitamin E ingredient of dl-alpha tocopherol. Two common forms of vitamin E in supplements are "d-alpha tocopherol" and "dl-alpha tocopherol". The "d" form of the chemical structure is what is found in foods and is what the body knows how to absorb. The "dl" indicates it is synthetically manufactured, a petroleum by-product not easily utilized by our bodies. And again, less expensive. According to his website, Dr. Andrew Weil advocates avoiding the synthetic dl-alpha supplements and opting for the whole food Vitamin E. The chemical-based ingredients are more difficult to absorb, create more work by the body to synthesize, and benefit the body much less than the natural forms.
4. B Vitamins, Less than 10 mg. The B Complex vitamins are an important part of the synergy of the multi-vitamin, and each B vitamin is important to the synergy of the B Complex grouping. It's a red flag if the B vitamins are at such low levels that they are insignificant and unhelpful to the human system in creating a strong basis for protection.
It's true that the bare minimum amounts, the minimum daily requirements (MDR) established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will keep you from getting certain diseases that were prevalent in the past centuries when there were no multivitamins available, such as beriberi caused by B1 deficiency, and birth defects caused by folic acid deficiency; however, now more than ever in a time of processed foods and deficient soils used for growing grains, fruits and vegetables, and the acceleration of arterial disease, the needs for a higher dose of the B complex vitamins are warranted. Refined grains of today have been stripped of the bran and germ that possess a high value of the B vitamins.
A supplement that contains less than 10 mg. each of some of the B vitamins (30 mcg. accordingly of others, and especially 400 mcg. of folic acid), is insufficient for the optimum health of the consumers in times of diets lacking in whole grains and other nutrient-filled foods. Some supplements do not even include all of the B Complex vitamins, which are thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), biotin, folic acid, and cobalamins (B12).
Among the many functions to which B vitamins are essential, they are meant to clear the homocysteine levels in the body, and high homocysteine has been indicated as a precurser for heart disease. It's thought that the lack of B vitamins in our diet today may be one reason why there is so much heart disease in our country.
These are simple things to look for in buying a beneficial multivitamin. At the sight of one of these red flags, put it back on the shelf. Simply speaking, why put these synthetic nutrients and deficient quantities in our fine-tuned systems? The price may be less, but the benefit is lacking, if not jeopardized.
Once again, you get what you pay for.
]]>The Omnipresence of Corntag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.7856692010-11-22T10:35:43-05:002011-05-25T18:15:22-04:00Linda Larrowe Bergersenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-larrowe-bergersen/
It's more than likely that most every meal eaten throughout the day will contain a form of corn. And because most of that corn is processed -- from mildly processed to extremely processed -- we would be better off if we weren't so frequently exposed to it.
We could be having corn cereal for breakfast; tortillas or deli-meat containing corn syrup on bread containing high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) for lunch; popcorn or corn chips for a snack with a soda containing HFCS; corn on the cob for dinner with either corn-fed chicken, turkey or beef; a dessert made with cornstarch; and to top it off, a nightcap of whiskey made from corn. It's difficult to avoid. Here is a list of everyday products made with corn we could be consuming daily:
Cereal
Cornmeal
Corn Oil
Cornstarch
Animal Feed (passes on to the consumer)
Corn Chips
Popcorn
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Tortillas/Masa
Whiskey/Gin/Vodka
Luncheon meats contain corn syrup or other corn derivatives.
Breads, salad dressings, cereals, yogurts, condiments often contain HFCS.
Even some pharmaceutical or over-the-counter pills contain cornstarch.
The additive dextrose can often be from corn sugar.
Natives to the Americas have eaten corn for the last 7,000 years, and the rest of the world has enjoyed it for just the last 500 years, thanks to its discovery by Christopher Columbus. It's now considered a dietary staple, and is the largest selling crop in the U.S. The U.S. is the largest producer of corn in the world, and it is a major export commodity to countries such as Japan, which imports more than any other country.
Corn, however, has a high omega 6 oil content, and this is what is troubling in our diet. With its extreme use, the corn additives and junk foods have disrupted the omega 3/omega 6 balance of oils in our diet, causing an increase of inflammation, in turn creating more sickness.
And even more troubling is the highly processed corn. A study at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found that pancreatic cancer cells are fueled by ingestion of refined fructose products, which includes high fructose corn syrup (HFCS); it is actually a refined food that has been again refined. The study shows that cancer cells grow and multiply on a diet filled with high fructose corn syrup. The American consumption of high fructose corn syrup went up 1,000 percent between 1970 and 1990, correlating with when the substitution of refined cane sugar with HFCS in soft drinks took place, mainly because it is cheaper to use.
On the other hand, the freshest natural corn from the cob has been found to be very nutritious. Whole kernel corn has high fiber, and has a great amount of folate (or folic acid), which is known to deter birth defects during pregnancy, and lower blood pressure and the risk of heart disease by lowering homocysteine in the arteries.
Researchers at Cornell University found that cooking corn actually releases significant amounts of its antioxidant properties. They also found that cooked corn beneficially unleashes an ingredient known as ferulic acid.
Ferulic acid is found in fruits and vegetables, but for some reason it is at very high levels in corn. The University researchers indicate that this potent nutrient is actually a very tough cancer fighter, and eating foods rich in ferulic acid can help prevent the beginnings of cancer since it is a very effective scavanger of the free radicals that contribute to causing cancer.
Another study done at Ohio State University found that purple corn was rich with a potent antioxidant called anthocyanin that inhibits the growth of cancer cells as well.
Corn has been put down as having too much starch, but, in fact, it contains what is called resistant starch that "resists" digestion in the small intestine. The high fiber content goes hand in hand with this, making corn one of the top eight foods best to clean the colon. Even popcorn has its great quality of being a high fiber food. As long as it's eaten without tons of salt and artificial butter, you're good to go.
We've been advised to avoid corn because of its high sugar content, but its beneficial qualities outweigh this aspect, especially since the high fiber works in controlling the release of its sugar.
It's also interesting to note that the high-temperature alkaline process used for making masa -- the corn meal in tortillas, tamales, etc. -- actually increases the availability of nutrients such as calcium and niacin. And the nutritious germ of the kernel in masa is not removed as in corn flour.
Learning that it is lurking everywhere in many forms, we can be mindful to try and cut down on foods that contain the more processed corn, and then balance our diet with more of the omega 3 foods such as walnuts, beans, virgin olive oil, wild fish, butternut squash, and flaxseed.
Just as it is with most foods, it is the processing that get us into trouble. As you can see, Mother Nature offers us naturally nutritious corn to make us healthy.
]]>Eggs and Health: Understanding the Risk vs. Nutrition of Eggstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.7732432010-10-27T09:45:31-04:002011-05-25T18:05:23-04:00Linda Larrowe Bergersenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-larrowe-bergersen/The New York Times has labeled this as a "longstanding conceptual error" pertaining to heart disease.
Learning the natural workings of cholesterol in the body dispels the harm. Whether we eat foods with cholesterol or not, our bodies manufacture its own cholesterol in order to maintain a healthy system. Cholesterol is a beneficial component of hormone, nerve and brain function. If the body is low on cholesterol, the liver will produce more; if the body has enough, production will halt. Also to dispel the egg cholesterol theory, in 2001, researchers at Kansas State University showed that a nutrient called phosphatidylcholine actually deters the cholesterol in eggs from getting into the body.
We need to accept that the reason for high cholesterol rates are still unanswered, and that cholesterol is not the only determining factor in heart disease. A Harvard School of Public Health study shows there is no significant link between eating eggs and developing cardiovascular disease. Facts show that aging, hormonal imbalance, even diabetes play roles in increasing cholesterol numbers. But diet and eating too much of unhealthful foods is the number one factor in all of it.
Cholesterol can definitely be found in artery plaque, and that is because cholesterol naturally travels through the system constantly, and works like a bandage to repair arterial breaks caused by inflammation. It goes to the damaged area, and will build up the more an artery has inflammation. This is how cholesterol has come to be determined a threat. Yet it's the processed foods that create the damaging inflammation.
The egg is a natural food considered to be one of the most nutritious. It's a complete natural package of a bundle of nutrients. And as long as the egg is "natural," unprocessed, and eaten whole, it is healthful.
(NOTE: While eggs, in moderation, can add nutrition to a balanced diet, people on low-fat, low-cholesterol diets for heart disease should still limit their intake of eggs.)
Unfortunately, eggs are another food in our diet whereby their development has been altered and jeopardized, much like beef. The beef we used to consume was from grass-fed cattle, and now the majority we eat is typically from corn-fed cattle. The omega 6 oil in corn disturbs the nutritional balance in relation to the omega-3 content, causing more inflammation. The majority of chickens are fed a diet consisting of corn, soy and/or grains, and not the grass, seeds and bugs that are filled with protein they should naturally be consuming. Free-range chickens have a better chance of having a more naturally balanced diet, but it is very difficult to find chickens that have corn-free feed.
Processed eggs include dehydrated, liquefied, packaged, etc. Omelets or scrambled eggs served at restaurants are very often made from liquefied eggs bought from a distributor that are packaged in ready-to-pour cartons. Because they are packaged, they also contain preservatives, sugars and/or possibly hydrogenated oils. It's best to order poached or soft boiled, or ask if the scrambled eggs are made from fresh whole eggs just to make sure.
Eating just the egg whites equates to not eating a "whole food." The entire egg is the complete package. Each component of the egg holds a variety of nutrients that complement the other, but it is the yolk that contains more of the nutrients and 50 percent of the protein.
Some researchers say that if eggs are not cooked properly they can also cause inflammation. They indicate that cooking the egg yolk at high heat will oxidize its cholesterol and cause free radicals in the body, but others, such as the author of Cholesterol Myths, Uffe Ravnskov, believes otherwise. Precaution could always help by eating more eggs sunny-side up, soft-boiled or poached. Another good practice is to cook eggs at the lowest temperature possible; just put a cover on the pan, turn the heat down and let it cook. It takes longer but is actually more tasty.
(Warning: Use caution when cooking runny eggs; raw eggs can contain salmonella.)
So if you're feeling guilty about eating eggs at breakfast, consider all the factors. And look around your plate; is there refined bread for toast? Processed and pasteurized fruit juice without the fiber? Sugary syrup on the refined pancakes made with hydrogenated oil? It's not just the eggs you need to worry about.
]]>Why Fruit Juice Isn't That Good for Youtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.6778302010-08-13T12:43:00-04:002011-11-17T09:02:45-05:00Linda Larrowe Bergersenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-larrowe-bergersen/
Forever I drank orange juice for breakfast and then some; I was an orange juice fanatic, honestly believing that it added nutrition to my diet, if nothing else. It was my coffee in the morning. But along came the true reality of it all. Fruit juices are hazardous to your health -- and this is not a joke. I stopped drinking, with not too much withdrawal.
It is difficult to accept at first, but when all is said and done, the processing of the commercial fruit juices on the market today leaves almost nothing but fructose to race through your arteries.
The popular fruit juices that adorn our breakfast tables every morning (excluding freshly squeezed), whether at home or in restaurants, has the skin removed, fiber extracted and has most likely undergone the pasteurization process to kill all bacteria -- good and bad. This includes destroying all the natural enzymes that are alive in the natural fruit which aids in both digestion and other natural bodily functions; pasteurization also destroys a large amount of the vitamins and minerals. The CDC reports that about 98 percent of all fruit juices sold in the United States have been pasteurized. If it's canned, bottled or in a carton, fruit juice does more harm than good.
A study at Baylor College of Medicine found no association between 100 percent fruit juice consumption and weight gain, but it has been shown to increase blood sugar and blood pressure levels, and increase triglycerides. The sudden surge of acidic sugar (no matter what the source) can inflame the arteries, and too much inflammation in the body leads to arterial disease.
A wide variety of the supermarket fruit juices even have added sugar, thus increasing the chance of damage. The manufacturers of these so-called fruit drinks use marketing techniques that fool the public into thinking their products are nutritious when in fact they contain more sugar (or even high fructose corn syrup) than the juice itself. Also remember, whenever a label reads juice cocktail, it will invariably have added sugar.
One particular group of fruit juices to take a look at include those promoted as super-power drinks: acai, noni and mangosteen. Of course these fruits are high in antioxidants and highly nutritious, but remember, again, the bottles on the most part contain only juice -- no skin, no fiber, no enzymes. Their exotic names and testimonials are highly promoted, but keep in mind the bottles do not always contain 100 percent juice; they are very often mixed with other common fruits, and the price is way out of line compared to whole fruits like blueberries that can be bought frozen, and contain very similar antioxidant value. The exotic berries would be very nutritious to munch on, but they are hard to come by, seeing how costly they are to transport. Juice is juice just the same.
Fruits are meant to be eaten whole, and, except for a few fruits that have a tough protective outer layer like the pineapple and banana, all parts of the fruit are full of valuable nutrients that the body is waiting to utilize. In most cases, the skin of the fruit can contain more nutrients than the flesh.
There is such a concern with fruit juice consumption that the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a warning to parents that "Although juice consumption has some benefits, it also has potential detrimental effects," and suggests its use should be limited.
Schools recently are beginning to replace the soft drinks in vending machines with 100 percent fruit juices, however the Harvard School of Public Health indicates that fruit juices are not a better option, pointing out the fact that it may have more nutrients, but "ounce for ounce it contains as much sugar and calories as soda pop."
If and when the craving for a fruit juice comes about, the best bet would be to put the whole fruit in a blender with a little water, and make your own. Peel an orange and use the entire contents inside; blend fresh or frozen berries, maybe add a little lemon. It can all be very refreshing and nutritious, just the way nature intended. ]]>What Makes a Food Junk?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.6635712010-08-04T12:00:00-04:002011-11-17T09:02:45-05:00Linda Larrowe Bergersenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-larrowe-bergersen/
Now the light bulb has gone on. Delving and analyzing of the ingredients commonly used in so-called junk foods uncovers the prevalent anti-nutrient theme throughout - processing.
The processing of foods isn't something new, but it has become more and more invasive and pervasive into our diet sources, and half the time it's not realized how much of these processed foods we are eating. Desserts, packaged snacks and fast foods are readily seen as the culprits, but there are tons of foods included in our daily diet that contribute to major diseases, and it all starts with the refined ingredients. Everyday choices in supermarkets are full of junk made by processing; foods with negative nutritional effect are included daily in our diets either with or without us knowing it, and they are making us just as ill as are the so-called junk or fast foods. Here's a small list to begin pondering of commonly used and trusted foods that are mostly highly processed or may contain processed sugars or hydrogenated oils, depending on types and brands:
One of the first foods to be processed by man was sugar around 600 A.D. Over the centuries the refinement developed more and more into the white sugar we use today. A popular sweetener currently, agave, is also highly processed and contains at least 70 percent fructose. Most doctors, including Dr. Nicholas Perricone, anti-aging expert and author, agree that fructose without the fiber will increase triglycerides and contribute to hardening of the arteries. The fruit juices we have with breakfast every morning fall into this category. It's interesting to note that the fresh juice from the raw sugarcane is one of the most nutritious things a person can consume.
The 1800s brought refined flour and the invention of canning foods. It was Napoleon who spurred the inception of canning by seeking a better way to feed his troops, but natural enzymes are lost, and refined additives such as salt are added. The process of refining flours came about to make the shelf life longer as well as improving the texture and taste. The taste was incredibly delicious, but the increased price of making refined grains made the white bread products a luxury only the rich could afford. Isn't it ironic that now it's just the opposite -- refined bread can now be purchased for less than a dollar a loaf, especially in the day-old bakery outlets, and 100 percent whole grain is at the luxury price.
The hydrogenation of oil -- the altering of fat molecules -- began in the early 1900s, designed to increase the shelf life of packaged products. Even though an oil can be identified as not hydrogenated or trans fat, the instant certain oils have been subjected to a certain high temperature, it becomes a trans fat and causes havoc in the body.
The processing of a food eliminates fiber, alters its natural molecular structure and eradicates nutrients.
Just the simple act of peeling fruits and vegetables is a process that alters the nutritional value of these foods. Of course we don't want to eat banana peels and pineapple rind, but it's easy and nutritious to eat the skins of yams, potatoes (even mashed), zucchinis, peaches, etc. In fact, there are more nutrients in the rind of a watermelon than in the flesh inside.
We have epidemics in so many areas related to diet such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and the variety of drugs for the treatment of these illnesses just grows and grows along with them. It's easy for doctors to prescribe the pills, but not easy for them to explain that it's all about diet, and even more difficult to get a person to change what they eat. The first step is to identify what foods are processed, and stay away from them as much as possible. Reading the label's ingredients is the number one step in making changes.
Now when I look at a pizza, this is what I see: white bread that has most of the natural nutrients depleted, with added refined sugar and possibly hydrogenated oil; tomato sauce that has added sugar; and cheese that has been through pasteurization and homogenization processes disrupting the good bacteria and enzymes as well as the altered milk fat molecules which contribute to inflammation.
But don't fret... a pizza can be made to be nutritious. With a crust of 100 percent whole grains, fresh tomatoes or a tomato sauce without added sugar, raw cheese, extra virgin olive oil and veggies, it can be a deliciously healthy meal without guilt.]]>How Far Can You Go on a Tank of Gas?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.5960802010-06-01T11:27:13-04:002011-11-17T09:02:45-05:00Linda Larrowe Bergersenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-larrowe-bergersen/
Traveling in it requires that we keep it fueled, keep it tuned, and keep good treads on the tires. It is so appropriate to relate how we take care of our body to how we take care of our automobiles as they both require sophisticated maintenance. In our society we seem to treat our automobiles with more care and respect than we do our own bodies, and we need to turn this around. For some reason the functioning of our bodies is so highly taken for granted; that is, until we grow older or suddenly affronted with a catastrophic illness. It may be that we are more concerned about automobile parts than our own internal parts.
It is a law that automobiles on the American highways be safe and non-polluting to society. As law-abiding citizens, we abide by the environmental and safety standards that we as a society adopt. If a car is seen on the road spewing out smoke from its tailpipe, it can be cited for polluting the environment, and ordered to be fixed.
In the human body smoking is the cause, and in the automobile, smoking is the effect. We inhale smoke, we cause damage; cars emit smoke, signifying trouble; this indicates that the car is the more intelligent of the two. At least the car is trying to tell us something. The body that ingests smoke and nicotine inevitably signals that something is wrong by sending a red flag; the red flag could be cancer or stroke.
It is a luxury to have a good-working car at our whim to be free to travel anywhere at any time. We all know how confining and frustrating it would be to not have one, and only be able to rely on impersonal buses and trains. So the importance of getting to work on time and being able to run down to the corner store for bread on a rainy night lends us to be vigilant about the minor noise in the engine or the minor leak underneath, not to mention the intermittent maintenance we must do to prevent the horrific breakdown in the middle of nowhere.
People find it a necessary and preventive routine to have regular oil changes on their car; or rotating tires and aligning the front-end. It is so important for everyone to maintain their automobile so it can get them around for an extended amount of time, but how about the body that gets you around more than anything? A question to pose to the ardent automobile owners (which is a vast majority in the United States), those who cherish their cars for their utility, freedom of travel and commuting, and of course for a statement of identity, is: why not treat your body as well as you treat your car? Isn't that a fair enough thing to do? YOUR vehicle needs to work before your automobile will be of any use to you. The body deserves preventive maintenance. Why not clean your body out once a year? Why not keep it lubricated with the most adequate oil? Why not give it the proper fuel? Unfortunately, too many think they ingest the proper fuel, but really do not because of misinformation or temporary blindness to hang on to comfort foods.
Eat right, keep fit, and you'll still die. No matter what anyone tells you to do with your body, we all know that there is an inevitable end to our existence. Even by following rigorous nutritional diets, no one can dispute the fact that people still become sick with disease, some at younger ages than others, and even some of us who seem to treat our bodies with respect as opposed to those who abuse their bodies. The natural decline of nutrients happens in all of us over the years.
However, eating right and exercising play big roles in helping to prevent, alleviate or minimize what can happen to your body, whether it be inherited or acquired. Most importantly, proper health maintenance will afford you a better, more comfortable vehicle, in which to travel this planet while you are here on earth. It could mean the difference between living thirty years longer (especially in cases of heart failure, cancer) or, more realistically, maybe only five or ten. But most importantly, a nutritionally enhanced way of eating, along with exercise, will lead to a better quality of life in the years that we live.
Health is internal, external, physical, emotional and psychological. People invariably point to one thing, one cause, when they become ill, when instead people should search in each of these five areas to come to a more realistic reason. A person who contracts skin cancer may point to the sun for the cause. But in reality, this type of thinking needs to change because it is not the sun alone that creates a cancer within the body.
Why is it that some people get skin cancer and some do not? Our bodies are built with defenses, and some people have a better internal defense built up within than others; this defense is called our immune system. Without such things as white blood cells, antibodies, antioxidants, and T-cells circulating and patrolling within our body, we could not stay alive too long. So as the drivers of our own vehicle, our body, we must do all we can to keep its defenses up against intruders such as viruses, bacteria, toxins, free radicals, etc. The amount of harmful intruders entering our bodies is relevant to the amount of defenses stored within our bodies, our internal soldiers, so to speak. By building up our internal army, we can fight against disease. But for a person who smokes, drinks alcohol profusely, doesn't get enough sleep, ingests very little fiber, ingests large amounts of sugar and oxidized or trans fats, defenses will be destroyed on a daily basis by these substances, and the body will be left very mildly guarded. Lack of defense will surely let the invader enter. Put sugar in your gas tank, and find out what happens. The effect of sugar in your body can be eerily similar.
Nothing could be more important than monitoring the wellbeing of your body on a daily basis. Your car will run its best on the fuel that is made for its particular engine. Your body will run its best on the type of fuel it gets. The better the fuel, the better it runs; the higher the octane, the more energy you have.
For those who are ignoring the signs of a faulty engine or such, it's a good time to listen to your body so it can stay around as long as possible. If your body is out of tune, it's telling you to eat more nutritious foods, and stop clogging the filters with junk. It's telling you that it's doing all it can on its part to repair damage within, and that it's time you backed off consuming crap and gave it a break. It's your choice...your car or your health? Let me know where you leave the keys. ]]>