Thursday, July 10, 2014

The Plain Truth: Research that shows how dangerous carrageenan is!!...

The Plain Truth: Research that shows how dangerous carrageenan is!!...: Study after study -- for over 40 years -- have shown this common food ingredient to be deadly. It can cause GI problems, stomach inflammati...

Research that shows how dangerous carrageenan is!!

Study after study -- for over 40 years -- have shown this common food ingredient to be deadly.

It can cause GI problems, stomach inflammation, intestinal lesions and even colon cancer!

That's right, colon cancer.

So what is it doing in ice cream, cottage cheese, yogurt, and, believe it or not, baby food? I even found it in one of those almond "milk" drinks.

And because it's called "all natural" it can turn up anywhere -- even organic products!

The FDA has been sitting on its hands about this additive for decades. Top scientists have even asked that it be banned from our food supply, but were ignored.

So before you take another spoon of ice cream, sip of soymilk or pour any more creamer in your coffee, here's what you need to know about the easy way to get this dangerous additive out of your diet.


Like poison ivy


It sounds innocent enough -- after all, it's "natural" and is made out of seaweed. What could be wrong with that?

It turns out, plenty. And researchers have been sounding the alarm about carrageenan for decades.

Dr. Joanne Tobacman is a well-respected scientist at the University of Illinois. Over six years ago she sent a petition in to the FDA asking that carrageenan be banned from food. It's just too dangerous, she said.

And Dr. Tobacman should know. For 20 years she's been researching how this extract from seaweed can damage the intestines. It does that by causing inflammation, especially in the colon.

After her petition sat at the FDA for almost five years, the agency turned her down. It said that all the studies she submitted -- ones showing how carrageenan can cause cancer, inflammation and allergic reactions -- just weren't good enough.

The Cornucopia Institute, a non-profit research group, was outraged at the FDA's position. It sent a letter to the agency asking it to reconsider.

The group said "When a body of publicly funded scientific literature points to harm from consuming a common, widely used yet unnecessary food ingredient, the FDA should act in the interest of public health."

The group also said that "carrageenan appears to do to your gut what poison ivy does to your skin."

Carrageenan is "unnecessary" because it doesn't add any taste or even extra nutrients to food. All it is used for is to make food thicker. What the industry calls "mouth feel." For that reason, it's put in a lot of diet and low-fat dishes to make them seem more appetizing.

But Big Food likes carrageenan -- a lot. When it's used in a beverage, things will stay all mixed together and you won't have to shake the carton. Well, that's certainly hard to do!

But while the FDA has pretty much ignored Dr. Tobacman, there's one group that follows her every move. Wait till you hear this one!

The Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (yes, there is such an association!) is hopping mad at her. They claim that all the "fisher folks" there are not going to be able to make a living if people listen to her and stop eating foods with carrageenan in them. They've even threatened to sue her.

Are you kidding me! This industry group in the Philippines wants us to risk bowel disease and colon cancer so they can keep selling seaweed?

And despite all the research that shows how dangerous carrageenan is, it's even allowed to be added to organic foods!

But there is an easy way to avoid it. By law, it has to be listed on a product's ingredient label. And there lots of brands that have stopped using it -- you don't have to give up ice cream, soup, yogurt or even that almond drink.

Also, the Cornucopia Institute recently issued a shopping guide that lists foods and beverages that don't have carrageenan in them. It makes avoiding it that much easier.As Always The Plain Truth!

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

The Plain Truth: Billions are being spent on developing more and mo...

The Plain Truth: Billions are being spent on developing more and mo...: It's probably what we fear the most. Slowly losing our memories, forgetting the names of our kids, losing touch with life. We see pe...

Billions are being spent on developing more and more drugs for Alzheimer's! Do they Really Work?

It's probably what we fear the most.

Slowly losing our memories, forgetting the names of our kids, losing touch with life.

We see people with Alzheimer's disease on television, in the movies, and often in our own families. And it's terrifying.

And the disease is on the rise, in a really scary way. That makes Alzheimer's drugs a big opportunity for Big Pharma. But so far...nothing.

Billions have been spent on developing these new drugs. But experts say they have only "worsened the patient's symptoms" when tested on them.

But all this time other researchers have been busy looking at what might actually prevent the disease in the first place. And even ways to help those who already are showing signs of dementia.

It's not a drug or a vaccine.

It didn't cost billions or take years of research, and there are no side effects!

The best part is, you can start right now, without a prescription or single doctor's visit.


Food for thought!


Recently, scientists announced that they may have finally discovered the secret behind what causes Alzheimer's patients to lose their ability to remember.

Researchers from Penn State University think that the brain plaques in those with Alzheimer's trigger overproduction of a chemical in the brain that causes the memory loss.

And they can't wait to start developing drugs that might "fix" this.

Other scientists are working hard on a vaccine that would wipe out the brain plaques. So far, the vaccine "fix" hasn't worked on people who have the disease, but not to worry... The plan now is to see what happens if they start vaccinating people in their 40s and 50s!

But there has also been other research going on. And it's not about drugs.

Recently two big doctors in the field of neurology got together and looked at all the studies that have been done for the past 12 years about how diet can both lower your risk of the disease and even help those who already have it.

And what they found was amazing.

First, B vitamins -- folic acid, B6 and B12 -- can improve mental abilities in those who are having problems with their memory and understanding things.

But most exciting was how the "Mediterranean diet" can help those with Alzheimer's. Numerous studies have shown it can not only decrease the risk of the full-blown disease for people who are already showing signs, but even for those who are healthy!

Traditional Mediterranean fare includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and small amounts of meat and milk, not too many sweets, and healthy fats -- mostly the kind that come from olive oil and fish.

The doctors looking at this research also found that studies show omega-3 fatty acids -- the kind you can get from certain fish and nuts -- can slow down the signs of Alzheimer's and that regularly eating blueberries and strawberries can "delay symptoms."

So what's being done with all these exciting discoveries about how we may be able to prevent this terrible disease?

So far, not much.

The doctors who analyzed all these studies said they are currently looking at ways to "teach people about these brain-healthy dietary strategies."

They also said that doctors are busy and may not have the time, or be "comfortable" telling patients what to eat.

Are you kidding me? Docs can be "comfortable" prescribing dozens of risky drugs to a patient but are uneasy about recommending blueberries or strawberries!

And those studies the doctors reviewed are just the tip of the iceberg about how these foods can help!

So while billions are being spent on developing more and more drugs for Alzheimer's, it just might be that the best way to ward off this mind-robbing disease has been available in your neighborhood supermarket all along.As Always The Plain Truth!!