DAVID COIRO CNP

Guide to Plastic - Plastic Numbers Explained

2018-01-29T22:14:00.004-08:00

There are a few different kinds of plastic in production, some more durable and reusable than others. Plastic products are marked by a number inside the recycling symbol, typically on the bottom of the product. This symbol indicates the recyclability of the product. Usually products are marked with the numbers 2, 4 and 5 are safer choices.

The following sections provide information on each type of plastic (1-7)

Polyethylene Terephthalate ⚠

1. PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate, a plastic resin and a form of polyester.

PET is found in: Cosmetics, Household cleaners, Water, Juice, Soft drinks, Salad dressings, Oil, Peanut butter

Health Concerns
Studies have found levels of antimony (a toxic chemical) leaching from water bottles that have been placed in heat for prolonged times. Although PETE does not contain BPA or Phthalates, it’s always best to make sure that your water bottles are not temperature abused. PETE plastic should not be reused because cleaning detergents and high temperatures can cause chemicals to leach out of the plastic. Plastic #1 is only intended for one time use.

High-Density Polyethylene ⚠

2. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a polyethylene thermoplastic made from petroleum. HDPE is hard, opaque and can withstand somewhat high temperatures.

HDPE is found in:
HDPE is used in the manufacturing of toys, and the packaging of: Laundry detergent, Milk jugs, Folding chairs and tables

Health Concerns
No known health concerns

Polyvinyl Chloride ⚠

3. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a thermoplastic polymer. Through the use of phthalates, a plasticizer, it can be made softer and more flexible (phthalates are toxic).

PVS is found in: Shower curtains, Cling wrap, Waterbeds, Pool toys, Inflatable structures, Clothing, Vinyl, IV bags used in neo-natal intensive care. PVC can also be found in car interiors and vinyl flooring, resulting in the release of toxic chemicals into the air.

Health Concerns
PVC is one of the toxic plastics that should be avoided.

Purchase a shower curtain made from organic hemp, bamboo or PEVA. PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate) is a non-vinyl (PVC-free), chlorine-free, biodegradable plastic. Air out the car before getting in. Avoid using cling wrap made with PVC. Avoid inflatable structures, air mattresses, and toys made with PVC. Choose all baby toys, pool toys, and bath toys that are labeled to be PVC, Phthalate and BPA free.

Low-density polyethylene ⚠

4. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a thermoplastic made from petroleum. It can be found translucent or opaque. It is flexible and tough but breakable.

LDPE is found in: Juice and milk cartons (as the water-proof inner and outer layer). Most plastic grocery bags and some packaging material.

Health Concerns
No known health concerns.

Polypropylene ⚠

5. Polypropylene (PP)is a thermoplastic polymer. It is strong, tough, has a high resistance to heat and acts as a barrier to moisture.

Polypropylene is found in: Yogurt and margarine tubs, Plastic cups and baby bottles, Kitchenware, Microwavable plastic containers and lids

Health Concerns
Most PP are microwavable safe and dishwasher safe. NOTE: microwavable/dishwasher safe only means that the plastic will not warp when heated. It does not imply that it is a healthy practice. A better alternative is using glass containers to heat foods and to hand wash plastic instead of using the dishwasher.

Polystyrene ⚠

6. Polystyrene (PS) is a petroleum based plastic. It can either be hard or used in the form of styrofoam.

Polystyrene is found in: packaging materials and insulation. Some common items include: Disposable cutlery, CD and DVD cases, Egg cartons, Foam cups and to-go foam packaging from restaurants.

Health Concerns
Long term exposure to small quantities of styrene can cause neurotoxic (fatigue, nervousness, difficulty sleeping), hematological (low platelet and hemoglobin values), cytogenetic (chromosomal and lymphatic abnormalities), and carcinogenic effects. Styrene is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the EPA and by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Ways to avoid Polystyrene:

Package left over foods from a restaurant in your own glass or stainless steel containers.Avoid styrofoam cups or plates and instead use stainless steel, glass, or bamboo products.Bring your own silverware to fast-food restaurants instead of using their plastic ones.

OTHERS ⚠

7. Stands for “Other” which may or may not contain BPA. It is commonly used to label Polycarbonate (PC). The letters PC may be present with the recycling symbol, which would indicate that the product is made with polycarbonate.

Polycarbonate is derived from BPA (A toxic xenoestrogen)

Where is Polycarbonate found?Electrical wiring, CD/DVD cases, Baby bottles, as well as 3 and 5 gallon reusable bottles

Health Concerns
BPA has been found to be an endocrine disruptor. Choose bottles made with the #1, #2, #4, or #5 recycling codes.

CONCLUSION

Plastic products marked with the numbers 2, 4, and 5 are the safer choices. Avoid exposing your plastics to high temperatures (microwave, dishwasher) and use milder detergents for cleaning. There is no guarantee that plastics will not leach out harmful chemicals, the safest bet is to just avoid plastic altogether.

2013-04-25T08:39:00.000-07:00

Petroleum: Cosmetic Chemicals Exposed

2012-10-04T15:43:00.001-07:00

Most logical individuals look at petroleum as an industrial chemical and not as a product for human consumption. I am stating my opinion in stating that industrially produced chemicals should be limited to use in machinery this is simply not the case. People simply trying to maintain good hygiene are literally bathing in a chemical cocktail.

Petroleum and petroleum jelly or petrolatum for example do not necessarily look the same but consider that petrolatum has been deoderized, bleached, and treated to look, feel, and smell the way it does. Essentially using petroleum jelly is like using a form of plastic or gasoline just tailored for skin. Petrochemicals are industrially produced and are known carcinogens.

According to David Suzuki "A petroleum product, petrolatum can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Studies suggest that exposure to PAHs — including skin contact over extended periods of time — is associated with cancer. i On this basis, the European Union classifies petrolatum a carcinogen ii and restricts its use in cosmetics. PAHs in petrolatum can also cause skin irritation and allergies."

A study linking the petrolatum impurity polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs to breast cancer was completed at Columbia University. The study indicates that breast tissue of women with breast cancer were 2.6 times more likely to have increased amounts of PAHs attached to their DNA than the breast tissue of women without breast cancer. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are found in oil, coal and tar deposits as byproducts of fuel burning. Researchers June K.Dunnick, Michael R.Elwell, James Huff and J.Carl Barrett of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC also found that PAHs were found in the mutated genes of test animals with mammary gland cancer.

There is no regulatory restriction in Canada concerning the production and sale of petrolatum and petrolatum products. Petrolatum has been flagged for future assessment under the government's Chemicals Management Plan, but many uninformed Canadians remain in the dark concerning this chemical. In the European Union, petrolatum can only be used in cosmetics "if the full refining history is known and it can be shown that the substance from which it is produced is not a carcinogen." http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/chemicals-in-your-cosmetics---petrolatum/

Adults widely purchase carcinogens, some knowingly, others unknowingly, but where my concern lies is with the voiceless children. There are safer products that can be used on their growing little bodies, and unfortunately misinformed parents often use petroleum jelly products on their babies.
Petrolatum is also used as an artificial food additive, often represented in ingredients lists as E905B. It's applications can be broad but is "recommended" as a wax/gelling agent. Yum? The FDA provides updated information about all food additives allowed into the food supply. This is how much petroleum you might be ingesting:
(c) petrolatum is used or intended for use as follows:
In bakery products; as release agent and lubricant. With white mineral oil, not to exceed 0.15 percent of bakery product.
In confectionery; as release agent and as sealing and polishing agent. Not to exceed 0.2 percent of confectionery.
In dehydrated fruits and vegetables; as release agent. Not to exceed 0.02 percent of dehydrated fruits and vegetables.
In egg white solids; as release agent. Not to exceed 0.1 percent of egg white solids.
On raw fruits and vegetables; as protective coating. In an amount not to exceed good manufacturing practice.
In beet sugar and yeast; as defoaming agent. As prescribed in 173.340 of this chapter.
For more information from the FDA: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=172.880&SearchTerm=petrolatum

SOMETHING FOR THE LADIES:

Created by: CosmetologySchool.org

Might I reiterate this is pretty much plastic, which is an endocrine disrupting, carcinogenic, xenoestrogen.
SOMETHING FOR THE GENTS:

It might be a good idea to consider consulting a qualified Nutritional Practitioner in the future if you are unsure of what chemicals are truly derived from nature and which are synthetic. Nutritionists such as myself are trained experts in the field of food, herbal medicine, and supplementation. There are alternatives to synthetic chemicals available, you just have to find them. Coconut oil is superior in virtually every way to petrolatum, and from generations of consumption we know it can be safely used internally as well. For baby's there are a multitude of products available as well, the cheapest but closest to petrolatum is sheep lanolin. For more information feel free to email me or contact me via FaceBook.

2012-09-17T14:50:00.000-07:00

World No Tobacco Day 2012

2012-05-31T14:01:00.003-07:00

This May 31 2012 is international No Tobacco Day. We all know someone personally who smokes, weather its a loved one, friend, or co-worker. As a non-smoker and nutritionist I find myself constantly telling people they should not smoke. They should not smoke this or that, or anything at all, but often simply telling someone to quit does not do much. People first must have the will and desire to quit, and then there are techniques which can be applied to assist them through the process.
Upon Conducting some research I could gather that cigarettes contain toxic contaminants including cadmium (which affects the kidneys, arteries, and blood pressure), lead, arsenic, cyanide, and nickel. Dioxin, the most toxic pesticide chemical known to date, has been found in cigarettes. Also noteworthy dioxin has been banned in North America yet it is still in basically every cigarette. Acetonitrile, another pesticide, is also found in tobacco. The smoke as we all know is carcinogenic, and is often a significant contributor to many forms of cancer. Cigarette smoke damages our DNA and has many negative heath implications throughout the life of that smoker.
Vitamin C is protective against many of the carcinogens found in cigarettes but extra vitamin C is needed by those who smoke. Smoking itself reduces the absorption of vitamin C. Smokers have 30-40 percent lower blood levels of vitamin C than non-smokers.

The following is taken from today's article of the Huffington Post about World No Tobacco Day 2012:
Switch Up Your Diet
Certain foods make cigarettes taste tasty -- and others not so much. Researchers at Duke University asked smokers to list the foods that made them savor the flavor of cigs. Seventy percent reported that red meat, coffee and alcohol enhanced lighting up. On the flip side, about half the group said good-for-you foods, like fruits, vegetables, juice and milk, made cigarettes taste lousy. "Loading up on fruits and vegetables even before quitting might help cigarettes seem less appealing," says F. Joseph McClernon, Ph.D., director of Duke's Health Behavior Neuroscience Research Program. Can't hurt to have your taste buds on your side.

Sweet Relief
Some of the gnawing hunger that quitters have for cigarettes may be a hankering for something else. "Perhaps as much as 30 percent of a smoker's cravings are actually for carbohydrates rather than nicotine," says Jonathan Foulds, Ph.D., professor of public health sciences and psychiatry at Penn State College of Medicine. Studies show that sucking a few glucose tablets -- the type drugstores sell for diabetics -- helps to satiate the longing. Anecdotally, Foulds says, patients list Jujubes as the candy of choice -- they're long lasting and low cal (120 calories per 1.5-ounce box). As he puts it, "It's not that sugar is good for you, just that smoking is worse."

Get A Move On
Working out works for cravings, too. Research at Brown University showed that women who exercised vigorously -- at around 80 percent of their maximum heart rate -- improved their quit rates (19 percent versus 10 percent at the end of the 12-week program) and had a longer string of no-relapse days than non-exercisers. The researchers suggest that exercise may help prevent depression, relieve tension and reduce weight gain in women trying to kick the habit. In addition, research at the University of Exeter in the UK suggests that exercise triggers changes in brain activity. In that study, smokers who cycled at a moderate pace had fewer cravings after abstaining from nicotine for 15 hours, as measured by MRI reactions to cigarette images, than non-cyclers.

Kick Butts
Paging Bruce Lee! Researchers at the University of Miami tested the effectiveness of the ancient martial art tai chi in helping smokers quit. Participants took tai chi classes for one hour, three times per week. After 12 weeks, and with no other formal cessation component, nearly 60 percent had stopped smoking, says Jef Morris, the tai chi master trainer who runs the program. What's the connection? "Smoking gives people a feeling of relaxation in the way they breathe. With tai chi, they breathe well and feel stronger, and they find that the conscious breathing and flow of movement also reduce stress," Morris says.

Time It Right
Turns out going whole hog on a diet and exercise program just as you quit smoking may be biting off more than you can chew. "We found those who succeed at quitting smoking while not gaining weight are those who approach it sequentially -- quit now, diet later," says Bonnie Spring, Ph.D., professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. How much later? From a few weeks to two months. "It's so easy to get overwhelmed with quitting that it's wiser not to wholly change your diet or exercise regime simultaneously," says Spring.

Buddy Up
There's strength in numbers when it comes to quitting. After analyzing the quit rates of 1,000 people in treatment programs -- some who met one on one and others who met with a group -- researchers at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Public Health found the group quit rate at six months was 41 percent (12 points higher than the one-on-oners). Other UMDNJ research concurs. Forty to 50 percent of people who attended six group meetings at their workplace -- sharing stories, laughs, compassion -- were successful quitters six months out. Join the group!

Talk The Talk
It sounds too simple to be true: Talking to your doctor about smoking increases the chances you'll quit. A review of 31,000 smokers in the UK found that even brief doctor-patient chats up the odds of quitting by 3 percent -- for up to a year. How you talk to yourself counts, too. "Stop, quit, give up -- so much of the language of quitting is negative," says Janet Konefal, Ph.D., assistant dean of complementary and integrative medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. "We tell people to talk positively to themselves when they're ruminating about a cigarette. Something simple like 'I can do this' can be remarkably powerful."

Get Hip To Hypnosis
Can you hypnotize away a habit? Maybe, according to research at Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Texas, where patients underwent eight hypnotherapy visits over a two-month period. By the last visit, 40 percent of them had quit. A different study suggests that men are more likely to succeed with stop-smoking hypnosis than women. "Hypnosis can be very helpful -- even one session can have an impact -- but its success depends on both the willingness of the patient and the skillfulness of the practitioner," says Konefal.

Stick It To Cravings
Acupuncture, the ancient practice of Chinese medicine, needles away cravings, at least anecdotally. The clinical evidence is more limited. A meta-analysis of 33 studies of acupuncture and related techniques found that acupuncture was less effective than traditional nicotine-replacement therapy -- but it also found that many of the acupuncture studies were themselves flawed. Konefal notes that research shows acupuncture enhances the production of serotonin in the brain, which smoking cessation decreases. "For this reason, we believe acupuncture works best if you get treatment the day you quit or within the first 72 hours," she says. "We use ear, or auricular acupuncture, and have found a total of six treatments increases quit rates by 30 percent."

Put Your Mind To It
Listening to a CD to practice "mindful meditation" may turn up the volume on quitting. A pilot study of longtime smokers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health found more than half -- 56 percent -- stopped smoking after eight group sessions teaching meditation and daily practice with a CD. Those who spent an average of 45 minutes a day meditating did better than those who spent 20-something minutes per day. iTunes is full of meditative picks. All together now: Ommmmm.

Below you will find a study conducted by UCLA about how Fruits, vegetables, and teas may protect smokers from lung cancer.

Fruits, vegetables, teas may protect smokers from lung cancer

Date: May 29, 2008

Contact: Kim Irwin (email)
Phone: (310) 206-2805

Tobacco smokers who eat three servings of fruits and vegetables per day and drink green or black tea may be protecting themselves from lung cancer, according to a first-of-its-kind study by UCLA cancer researchers.

UCLA researchers found that smokers who ingested high levels of natural chemicals called flavonoids in their diet had a lower risk of developing lung cancer an important finding, since more than 90 percent of lung cancers are caused by tobacco smoking.

The study appeared this month in the peer-reviewed journal CANCER, published by the American Cancer Society.

"What we found was extremely interesting, that several types of flavonoids are associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer among smokers," said Dr. Zuo-Feng Zhang, a researcher at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center and a professor of public health and epidemiology at the UCLA School of Public Health. "The findings were especially interesting because tobacco smoking is the major risk factor for lung cancer."

Flavonoids are water-soluble plant pigments that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, both of which can counteract damage to tissues. For the UCLA study, researchers looked at 558 people with lung cancer and 837 people who did not have lung cancer and analyzed their dietary history.

Researchers found that study participants who ate foods containing certain flavonoids seemed to be protected from developing lung cancer. Zhang said the flavonoids that appeared to be the most protective included catechin, found in strawberries and green and black teas; kaempferol, found in Brussels sprouts and apples; and quercetin, found in beans, onions and apples.

So should smokers run out and stock up on the teas, apples, beans and strawberries? Quitting smoking is the best course of action, Zhang said, but eating more fruits and vegetables and drinking more black and green teas won't hurt.

"Since this study is the first of its type, I would usually be hesitant to make any recommendations to people about their diet," Zhang said. "We really need to have several larger studies with similar results to confirm our finding. However, it's not a bad idea for everyone to eat more fruits and vegetables and drink more tea."

Zhang said flavonoids may protect against lung cancer by blocking the formation of blood vessels that tumors develop so they can grow and spread, a process called angiogenesis. They also may stop cancer cells from growing, allowing for naturally programmed cell death, or apoptosis, to occur.

The antioxidant properties found in the flavonoids also may work to counteract the DNA-damaging effects of tobacco smoking, Zhang said, explaining why they affected the development of lung cancer in smokers but not in nonsmokers.

"The naturally occurring chemicals may be working to reduce the damage caused by smoking," Zhang said.

The next step in research, Zhang said, involves laboratory-based studies of flavonoids on cell lines and animal models to determine how they are protecting smokers from developing lung cancer. And in addition to larger studies to confirm these findings, other studies need to be done to see if the protective effects of flavonoids extend to other smoking-related cancers, such as bladder, head and neck, and kidney cancers.

Zhang and his team also plan to study which types of fruits and vegetables have the highest levels of the flavonoids found to be helpful in this study and what the optimal number of servings per day might be to provide the greatest protection.

http://www.ph.ucla.edu/pr/newsitem052908.html

Aspartame

2012-05-30T09:50:00.000-07:00

Aspartame is one of many artificial sweeteners. It is added to many sugar free/diet beverages, gums, foods, and candy. Aspartame is said to be a safe alternative to sugar, but in reality it is a chemically synthesized substitute that wreaks havoc throughout the body. Not only can it not be metabolised or synthesized by the body into anything useful, the breakdown products it yields as we attempt to digest it are horrific. Upon ingestion aspartame can break down into formaldehyde, methanol, and formic acid; looking up all of these chemicals will reveal they are nothing you want in your body. Typically formaldehyde is a tissue fixative and embalming agent. Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen. As for methanol, it can cause blindness if more than 10ml is ingested, and 30ml can be fatal.
Some regulatory bodies like the FDA and others suggest that after investigating aspartame it is safe for human consumption and is not carcinogenic. However, some new studies suggest that since aspartame has been introduced into the food chain certain cancers such as brain cancer incidence has increased http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8939194.

How much aspartame do Americans eat? The average american consumes over 14 pounds of aspartame each year and this amount has been rising daily. Since many of you out there and I avoid it completely, some of you are ingesting a lot more than 14 pounds per year. In April, 1993, Aspartame was approved for use in baked goods and mixes which greatly added to the 4200 products already containing the synthetic sweetener.

To help those of you who are currently diabetic or just looking to live sugar free please read about and try Xylitol, and Stevia. Use honey, maple syrup, stevia, or xylitol; and avoid sugar, fructose, corn syrup, and agave (high fructose corn syrup from the agave cactus).
If you would like to learn more please watch Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World.

Lemon Water

2012-04-23T22:10:00.000-07:00

Lemon water has a multitude of health benefits. Lemon water detoxifies and balances pH levels throughout the body. Lemon water can also aid digestion in a number of ways, improving: heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, and bloating. Lemons are also an excellent source of Vitamin C and flavonoids. For many of the reasons just mentioned lemon water can also be helpful to people trying to lose weight. Considering how refreshing the drink is we should all be in agreement that drinking it, and often is a good thing.

A raw lemon is packed with enzymes not to mention vitamins and minerals. The enzymes specifically are going to also be useful for healthy digestion. The citric acid in lemons helps maximize enzyme function, which stimulates the liver and aids in detoxification. You might also get lucky enough to have a little limonene trickle into your glass. Limonene is a potent oil found inside the lemon peel and it is antibiotic as well a potential chemopreventative agent.
Lemons are also great for keeping a clean liver and gallbladder. With the liver performing over 600 functions, and the poor gallbladder often being overworked and underpaid, this is prevention at its finest.

Drinking a single glass of lemon water in the morning can balance a persons pH and keep your skin clean and glowing. Not only that but it will stimulate and support digestion in the morning hours and throughout the day. Indian medicine touts lemon water to be cleansing, and also recommends it be taken in the morning. Lemon will help overall hydration and oxygenation so drink a sour glass on your way to sweet health.

2012-04-23T21:58:00.000-07:00

2012-04-23T20:58:00.001-07:00

Cold and Flu Continued - Foods

2012-03-30T02:33:00.002-07:00

If you have read my last post you are starting to see that the immune system is dependent on a number of nutrients. The following is intended to elaborate on the last post, in order to provide some of the top food sources of the nutrients previously mentioned. So read up, and eat up!

Squash, such as zucchini or butternut squash, contain Flavonoids, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and excellent dietary fiber. The darker the color of squash the more flavonoids it contains. Flavonoids support your immune system by working as an antioxidants and anti-inflammatory. Squash is among the top ten sources of Beta-Carotene. Beta-Carotene is of course metabolized by our bodies into Vitamin A, stimulating white blood cells, enhancing resistance to infection, and maintaining proper integrity of skin and mucous membranes. Other food sources of Beta-Carotene include: Carrots, Pumpkins, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, Kale, Beet Greens, and Cabbage.

The B-Vitamins come from a variety of sources across the food spectrum. Many animal and vegetable foods are excellent sources of B-Vitamins. Firstly these foods should be whole, unprocessed and organic (which is always strongly recommended wherever possible). B-Vitamins are crucial to immune system health because they affect lymphocytes directly as is the case with B-6. This makes the B-Vitamins crucial to white blood cell and antibody integrity. Chief food sources of B-Vitamins include: Turkey, Tuna, Liver, whole grains, bananas, lentils, chilli peppers, beans, mushrooms, berries, nutritional yeast, brewers yeast, and molasses.

Next is the world famous Vitamin C. Highly publicized and widely supplemented with, this essential nutrient cannot be manufactured by the body and thus must be obtained in the diet. Vitamin C is found in high concentrations in immune cells, and stores diminish during infections. It has been hypothesized to modulate the activities of phagocytes, the production of cytokines and lymphocytes. Vitamin C also happens to increase the uptake of many other nutrients and works extremely effectively as an anti-oxidant. Food sources include: rose-hips, gooseberries, papaya, parsley, blackcurrant, red pepper, chilli pepper, sprouts, brussels sprouts, wolf-berry, broccoli, kiwifruit, and citrus fruits (citrus fruits ranking lower than all the other foods mentioned in total Vitamin C content).

A journal from the National Institute of Health suggests that, "Even a marginal vitamin E deficiency impairs the immune response, while supplementation with higher than recommended dietary levels of vitamin E enhances humoral and cell-mediated immunity. The current RDA level of vitamin E prevents clinical deficiency syndrome but in some situations, especially in older subjects or in a disease state, fails to maintain optimal host defense. The immunological parameters reviewed are all sensitive to changes in the availability of vitamin E and, therefore, may reflect the vitamin E status of a given individual more accurately than conventional methods."[Vitamin E status and immune function]. Foods with the highest concentrations of Vitamin E include: Sunflower Seeds, Red Chilli, Paprika, Almonds, Pine Nuts, Basil, Oregano, Green Olives, Spinach.

Zinc is a very important mineral, especially in relation to immune system health. Zinc works to all around maintain the integrity of the immune system throughout the body. It acts as an anti-oxidant, and has been noted to speed up wound healing time. Researchers have hypothesized that zinc could reduce the severity and duration of cold symptoms by directly inhibiting rhinovirus binding and replication in the nasal mucosa and suppressing inflammation [65,66]. Although studies examining the effect of zinc treatment on cold symptoms have had somewhat conflicting results, overall zinc appears to be beneficial under certain circumstances. Several studies are described below in which zinc is administered as a lozenge or zinc-containing syrup that temporarily "sticks" in the mouth and throat. This allows zinc to make contact with the rhinovirus in those areas.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 50 subjects (within 24 hours of developing the common cold) took a zinc acetate lozenge (13.3 mg zinc) or placebo every 2–3 wakeful hours. Compared with placebo, the zinc lozenges significantly reduced the duration of cold symptoms (cough, nasal discharge, and muscle aches) [67]. Some great food sources containing zinc include: Pumpkin Seeds, Dark Chocolate, Garlic, Sesame Seeds, Watermelon Seeds (so buy organic/non-gmo - not seedless), and Chickpeas.

Selenium is another essential component of the immune system. Although its actions can be interpreted as directly improving immune function the anti-oxidant activity is so significant it actually gives the immune system a boost. Unlike most of the other vitamins and minerals mentioned only very little selenium is needed to be enough. Low soil levels of selenium are associated with higher cancer rates (whereas selenium-rich areas have below-average cancer rates, particularly for breast, colon, lung and prostate cancer). Other problems it helps include heart disease, skeletal and muscle problems, growth retardation, reduced immune function, depression, and higher risk of miscarriage. A deficiency of selenium may lead to premature aging. This is because selenium preserves tissue elasticity. Selenium may improve energy levels, prevent and relieve arthritis, slow down the aging process by attacking free radicals and prevent cataracts. Food sources of Selenium include: Brazil Nuts, Sunflower Seeds, Wheat Bran, Rice Bran, Oat Bran, and deep sea ocean fish.

The Common Cold and Flu

2011-12-08T15:17:00.000-08:00

Winter has arrived and its a time where many of us are prepared to freeze a little, huddle a little (public transit), and hear about what flu is fashionable this year from the media. So what predetermines an individuals susceptibility to illness? Is it the virility of the impending annual flu virus? Or is a persons immune system and physical being of more significance? What about NEW super-bugs and antibiotic resistant bacteria? These questions get publicity in the media but the public is often left hanging when it comes to multiple solutions. Apart from the fear mongering that goes on, usually the tools offered are limited to and censored by Big Pharma; so people are often left with largely ineffective, dangerous, overpriced (+tax), vaccines, anti-biotics, and over the counter syrups. Fortunately for you there is nutrition, and its been around as long as mankind itself.

First lets discuss possible factors that lead to the development of a cold. The notion that the immune system is responsible for fighting off a cold is common, yet most only have a vague understanding of what the immune system actually is. A deficiency in the immune system can lead to increased susceptibility to infection, autoimmune diseases, allergies, and especially colds and flu's. An intact immune system however ensures the individual health even sometimes under unbelievable circumstances. Poor sanitary conditions and poor nutrition still remain to this day the leading causes of a weak immune system. To sum these two factors into one, think of the role of intestinal micro-flora and the immune system. Bacteria is not all bad when considering their relation to colds and disease. The friendly bacteria living inside your gut like lactobacillus acidophillus, and bifidobacterium; are responsible for some of the most important digestive work in the body, and control bad bacteria from yeast to staphylococcus[1]. This is just one limited example of how the immune system works, it is largely co-dependent on the self awareness and receptivity of the individual. Unfortunately those using anti-biotics are usually unaware that they are contributing to a cycle of immune imbalance. Essentially what is happening is the good bacteria are being wiped out by anti-biotics, and are not given a chance to recolonize. Thankfully with a little guidance supplementation of probiotics can be utilized to recolonize a neglected digestive tract. Natural food sources of probiotics include: kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, kefir, wine/vinegar[2]. Through fermentation probiotics actually manufacture many of the nutrients that we need to survive.

Exposure to sick people is often thought to be the way to "catch" a cold. Transmission of bacteria, and viruses is possible through air, contact, and fluids; however where we differ from one another is in our inherent susceptibility to becoming ill.

Although the cold and flu do share some common symptoms they are not the same. The flu is usually associated with more sever symptoms, like vomiting, diarrhea, gastroenteritis (stomach flu), nausea, and especially fever. Unfortunately for those who rely on anti-biotics they are no good against a viral infection like the flu, because they only work on bacteria. There are many different strains of flu virus, however most of which are very similar in nature. The best defense against colds and flu's is you own immune system. So the next section will focus specifically on what nutrients and herbs maintain a strong immune system.

For a properly functioning immune system, consider the following nutrients:

Vitamin A - can reduce the incidence and severity of infectious illnesses
(Clin Infect Dis, 1994; 19: 489-99; J Nutr, 1995; 125: 1211-21).
The usual dose is 8000-12,000 IU daily
B-complex - vitamins such as B6, B12 and folic acid support immune function and are especially useful for stressed individuals
(J Am Med Assoc, 1981; 245: 53-8; Clin Sci, 1984; 66: 241-8).
Daily doses range from 25-100 mg as part of a complex
Vitamin C - is the best-known immune-enhancing nutrient.
Aim for 1000 mg daily
Vitamin E - significantly decreases susceptibility to infections. Supplementation can benefit both the healthy and the ill.
(Arch Immunol Ther Exp, 1987; 35: 207-10; Ann NY Acad Sci, 1989; 570: 283-90).
A daily dose should be around 200-400 IU
Ubiquinone - (coenzyme Q10) - can compensate for immune deficiencies due to ageing or disease
(Med Hypoth, 1992; 38: 315-21; Mech Ageing Develop, 1978; 7: 189-97).
Daily doses range from 20-200 mg
Zinc gluconate - has shown a modest benefit on the duration of cold symptoms whereas zinc acetate did not.
(Clin Infect Dis, 2000; 31: 1202-8).
Daily doses range from 15 mg for prevention to 100 mg during an infection
Selenium - if deficient has been associated with lowered immunity. Its role as an antioxidant may be an important factor.
(Fed Proc, 1979; 38: 2139-42).
Try 25-100 mg daily
Probiotics - are technically not nutrients, but have a role in improving immune function. (Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol, 1992; 14: 331-40; Int J Immunother, 1993; 1X: 23-8).
Supplements should contain at least three billion viable bacteria per capsule.
http://www.wddty.com/nutrients-that-aid-immunity.html[3]

Also consider Wild Oil of Oregano, it is one of natures most potent anti-biotics. Remember to take all anti-biotics including natural herbal anti-biotics away from probiotics to ensure they both do their job.

Ginger - contains potent compounds that fight foreign invaders and improve natural defenses. (stomach flu-recommended)
Lemon/Honey - taken mixed together or separately is an excellent immune enhancer and throat soother.
Garlic - Contains potent volatile oils that penetrate bodily tissues deep and provide antibiotic, circulatory, and digestive benefits.
Cayenne - contains capsaicin, which is known for reducing congestion when eaten. Cayenne also contains many times more vitamin c than oranges by weight, and helps circulation.
White Willow Bark (tea) - Original aspirin, used since ancient Greece can reduce fevers naturally, and when taken frequently has a cumulative effect on pains. (drug contraindications with blood thinners, heart medications)

Don't Blame someone else for an inadequate immune system- Take Responsibility and build up yours today!

DAVIDs TEA

2011-10-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

Tea is an amazing drink that comes in a rainbow of flavors with a multitude of uses. Important to note that "tea" and "herbal tea" are two fundamentally different products. Tea (Camellia sinensis) falls into the broader category of herbal tea, as one variety of herb commonly consumed as a tea infusion. Herbal tea has no typical use as some use it socially, medicinally, as a part of tradition, or as a form of habit; teas versatile use is documented in history throughout the globe. Fundamental cultural principles concerning tradition, health, and medicine often find their roots within the herbal teas of the world.

The transport of various plants across the earth throughout history is a very interesting subject. Tea plants are native to East and South Asia with a large portion of their history set in China, and Tibet. The exact origin of tea as a beverage can not be definitively known. The tea trade originating between the Chinese and Western nations in the 19th century brought the world tea for the first time. Tea was imported to Europe during the Portuguese expansion of the 16th century, at which time it was termed Chá (which is the actual pronunciation of the word tea in Portuguese). Tea and herbal teas are still grown today in Portugal on the islands of Azores. Interestingly Portugal is its own major supplier of tea still to this day. It was not until the 19th century that Britain adopted tea as the common drink it is today.

The world of herbal tea has all the social and even trade functions implicated above but to better understand our infatuation with tea, their composition including medicinal properties should be looked at from a scientific and medicinal perspective. For a fairly extensive beginners list of herbal teas check out the following list of HERBAL TEAS from Wikipedia. Some of my personal favorites for tea include: Ginseng, Ginger, Hawthorne Berry, and Rose Hips. If bulk tea and tea balls are not your cup of tea then try out some formulations from TRADITIONAL MEDICINALS available in most stores.

Hawthorne

---------->

Rose Hips

<----------

This following section dedicated to TEA (Camellia sinensis) in the forms of Black Tea, White Tea, Green Tea, and Matcha Green:

Matcha is a fine ground, powdered, high quality green tea and not the same as tea powder or green tea powder. Unlike traditional tea, consumed throughout the world, Matcha is most popularly consumed in Japan. The tea leaves are not even grown conventionally, as they are "shade" grown, away from direct sunlight, allowing a different amino acid composition, sweeter taste, and distinct color. It can take quite a long time to grind a fairly minute amount of Matcha, one of many reasons behind its high price. In 2003, researchers from the University of Colorado found that the concentration of the antioxidant Epigallocatechin Gallate EGCG available from drinking Matcha is up to 137 times greater than the amount of EGCG available from other commercially available green teas. Matcha is also said to boost metabolism, and help reduce cholesterol levels when drunk regularly. It delivers a high potency of antioxidants, catechins, and chlorophyll. By weight it contains more antioxidants than blueberries and pomegranates.

PREPARATION: Half a tea spoon in about 100ml of water makes a decent batch. It is an acquired taste and is very different from conventional green tea, adding sea salt makes it more tasty.

Next up is Traditional Green Tea:

This is the type of green tea that most people are familiar with. It is considered to be a healthier choice when compared to black tea, or white tea, due to its lower caffeine content. The flavor and aroma of green tea is pleasant, and unless strongly brewed is less powerful than black and white tea. Traditional Chinese Medicine has many uses for this tea including as an aid in asthma, angina, and other vascular conditions.

White Tea and Black Tea, by contrast to Green Tea, have a stronger more noticeably bitter taste. Their consistent strong flavor is probably what makes them popular. These teas as well as green tea have a mild antibiotic effect, increase metabolic rate, and provide a nice drinkable amount of nutrients and antioxidants. The drawbacks to tea should not be overlooked in spite of all the benefits discussed. Essentially by nature Tea leaves (NOT most herbal tea) contain a good amount of fluoride, and caffeine. Two commonly consumed substances that have the implication of cumulative toxicity to all of us. Considering the caffeine in coffee and the fluoride in just about everything but most insidiously in our toothpaste and tap water, tea can be considered beneficial for almost everyone.

Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce

2011-09-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

Often I receive generalized questions from people about what they should eat. The truth is everyone might benefit from a slightly different diet but the principles of good in equals good out will always remain true. That having been said, and this article being about fresh whole produce most people just don't get enough. On top of that once everyone begins to realize some of the most commonly consumed produce is actually the worst for pesticide residues they become even further deterred.

Good in equals good out means that if the food we eat is truly whole, fresh, and organic then only good can come out of it. Its also a little toilet humor if you can interpret the statement in relation to stool quality.
Crucial to remember that the benefits of fruits and vegetables outweigh the shortcomings of pesticide exposure. Thankfully for everyone the Environmental Working Group (EWG) is working around the clock with their team of scientists, engineers, lawyers, and computer programmers to bring reviewed government data forward to contribute to awareness on this issue.

Thanks to EWG there has been a growing awareness concerning environmental toxins like pesticides. In fact the EWG is responsible for creating the Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in produce.
For the downloadable PDF version of the Shoppers Guide to Pesticides click this DOWNLOAD.
Or view the guide I have created conveniently below:

So who is profiting from the increased use of pesticides in agriculture? Big surprise, pharmaceutical and chemical corporations. Take for example the following graph showing profits from the agrochemical industry:

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO MONSANTO - Watch The Documentary

Garlic - Superfood

2011-09-15T22:56:00.000-07:00

Garlic is a super-food in every sense. It contains a plethora of nutrients and unique phyto-chemicals that give garlic its reputation. The most notorious and unique of these is 'Allicin', a potent anti-biotic, and anti-fungal compound. Due to its sulfur compounds garlic promotes tissue healing, as well as immune system health. Garlic can aid digestion, and when its raw it can knock out many commonly consumed pathogens (example: E.coli). Garlic can aid in digestion by stimulating the secretion of gastric juices. Garlic can also quickly aid in poor circulation, or complaints of being cold.

Garlic can be added to a multitude of dishes including: salads, soups, meats, breads, sauces, veggies, and just about anywhere even creatively in desserts. How you choose to eat and prepare it is up to you. Note that when cooking garlic it does make it a little more aromatic, and a little less powerful. But when considering the power of a super-food like garlic its a fair trade off considering the overall nutritional content. For individuals who find it difficult to tolerate how powerful raw garlic is, cooking is a good way to please their pallet while improving digestibility.

Garlic happens to contain an abundance of antioxidants/vitamins, and essential minerals. When garlic bulbs are broken down allicin changes into other active compounds which give garlic its taste and smell. These compounds are considered the primary active substances responsible for garlic's health benefits. Not all garlic products contain the same nutritional content, and a wide variation of these substances occur in both fresh garlic and garlic supplements.

Some nutrients included in this super-food powerhouse include:

Sprouting - In the Pursuit of Optimal Health

2011-08-01T16:11:00.001-07:00

Sprouting is a cost effective way to have fresh local vegetables available to you all year. Sprouts are packed with vitamins and minerals, not to mention their huge fiber and water content.
How does a seed turn from seed to sprout? Just add water. The process takes around three days give or take depending on the family of seed being used. Some more commonly sprouted seed varieties include: alfalfa, fenugreek, mung bean, lentil, pea, chickpea, sesame, sunflower, almond, hazelnut, linseed, broccoli, carrot, spinach, cabbage, celery, fennel, onion, parsley, radish, turnip, leek, watercress, mustard, arugula, lemon grass, lettuce, clover, oat, wheat, rice, barley, rye, kamut, quinoa, amaranth, and buckwheat.
Most foods are created today to have a long shelf life, not to necessarily be nutritionally optimal. Many foods are created today with the best interests of the producer coming before those of the consumer. What this means is despite technological and agricultural advancements food has not changed for the better in past decades.
Raw food is not just a diet, its natures way to eat. When fruits and vegetables are consumed raw they contain enzymes to aid digestion, and their vitamin and mineral content remains in its entirety. When you change food from its raw form, it changes the way that food interacts with our bodies, and usually this change is not beneficial [example: food cooked on a barbecue contains significant amounts of carcinogens especially in burnt/blackened parts].
WHAT YOU NEED:
1. Jar/Mason Jar
2. Cheesecloth
3. Elastic Band
4. Seeds
DIRECTIONS:
- Sunflower Seeds - Fenugreek - Red Clover - Alfalfa -
1. Soak for 8 hours on day one
2. Transfer to jar with cheesecloth
3. Rinse and Drain 3 Times/Day
4. Harvest is advised between days 3-5
5. Serve in a salad, soup, sandwich, or just about anywhere you like. ENJOY!
When comparing the nutritional value of cereals and seeds to sprouts it is evident that sprouts are far superior in quantity and quality.
More Pictures and Video coming soon...

Nutritional Background and Influence

2011-02-09T19:44:00.000-08:00

Nutrition, in my opinion, is the medicine of the future. By providing the body with the necessary nutrients it requires, it can repair, maintain, and improve itself. Provided a persons constitution is considered, their optimal nutritional requirements can be assessed based upon dietary, lifestyle, and environmental factors.

The absence of severe disease does not indicate the presence of good health. Good health is something to strive for, and something one must work to attain and maintain. Everyone knows when something serious is afflicting us we have to investigate what the problem is, and even with all the quirks in the modern medical model its still nice to know we live in a country where defibrillators are readily available. That being said an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, preventing the need to use defibrillators.

All too often however do we neglect to consider the delicate and sensitive mechanisms of the body. Prevention is not considered until it is too late. Usually we wait until a problem manifests before we worry about a solution to it. But rather than undertaking the more difficult task of pulling someone from drowning down a river, let us prevent them from being thrown in up the river.

Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit (Matthew 12:33). As a tree is always growing in its life so are we. A tree is a product of its environment. In an ideal setting the tree would have ample sunshine, clean air, clean water, and good nutrient rich soil to grow its roots in. The same story can be told regarding human health.

This is my first blog and I just wanted to take the opportunity to share some nutritional ideology with you. I have made the personal choice in my life to let my food be my medicine. I urge all of you reading this to take control of your health, and take responsibility for it. By becoming conscious about yourself (not self conscious of yourself) you can learn what your body is trying to tell you, by understanding your symptoms better, and by learning what your unique individual needs are.

Be Well,
David