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This
month, let’s talk about the epidemic of obesity and the problems that ensue
from this epidemic. There is no question that the two main causes of
obesity are toxicity and inflammation. You’ve heard me talk about toxicity
before and I will do so again, since that is a specialty of mine. However,
let’s deal with inflammation in this issue.
Much
of what I will say in this issue comes from a series of reports sent to me
by Eve Bashoff—thanks to Eve for her eagle eye!
What
is the main cause of inflammation and consequently obesity? It’s sugar consumption! And the main source of sugar in our diet
is soda pop. The average teenager drinks 868 cans of soda pop each year.
Americans are spending $54
Billion on soda pop each year. That’s twice what we spend on books!
Sugar depletes magnesium and calcium, two of the most important nutrients
for our bodies. Soda pop has high levels of phosphoric acid which is what
causes Naval Jelly to remove rust!
A
2006 Norwegian study showed that teens who drank the most soda pop
(averaging four or more glasses per day) scored highest on measures of
behavioral difficulties, hyperactivity, mental distress and overall mental
health problems.
Cans
of soda pop and other canned goods are lined with plastics and this plastic
leaches bisphenol A (BPA) into the contents. This is especially true of not
only soda pop, but also of acidic foods like tomato sauce. Both Coke and
Pepsi have confirmed that BPA is used in the linings of their beverage
containers. BPA is scientifically associated with: prostate cancer, early
puberty, alterations in gender-specific behavior, decreased sperm count,
affects on female fertility, obesity and insulin resistance, hyperactivity,
increased aggressiveness, impaired learning, and it also mimics natural
estrogen. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (note the
Prevention—that’s the real name of the organization—don’t hear that much,
do you?) has said that 100% of Americans have BPA spilling over into their
urine!
And
then there is food colorings, preservatives, and hyperactivity! One of the
largest studies ever done concerning children (ages 3-8) and food coloring
and preservatives was done at Southampton U. Three hundred children were
tested and results clearly demonstrated and increase in hyperactivity with
use of common fo od colorings
and the preservative sodium benzoate. Of even more importance, the
study showed deterioration in behavior occurs in children in the general
population, not just in those already identified as hyperactive. The
results of the study were that “We now have clear evidence that mixtures of
certain food colors and benzoate preservative can adversely affect the
behavior of children.”
Food
colorings, believe it or not, are often derived from textile dyes and are
used entirely for cosmetic purposes—to make junk food appealing. These
additives would be banned under “organic” standards. Food dyes are absorbed
via toothpaste, shampoo (through the scalp), hand lotion (through the
skin), cereal, juice drinks, mac ‘n cheese, etc. The National Academy of
Sciences says that most people in the USA eat 317 mg of food dyes per day!!!
As
for sodium benzoate, it is without question a cause of cancer. It forms
benzene (one of the substances we test for on our Environmental
Pollutants Test which we do in conjunction with our Organic Acid
Test), and this is a potent carcinogen. Benzene damages the bone
marrow, and can cause anemia. It depresses the immune system. Recent
studies have found high levels of benzene in some soda pop brands.
These
chemicals damage the very DNA of the cells in the body!
So
you say, “I don’t drink that awful soda pop that is full of sugar.” Think
again! Diet sodas are worse than regular sodas. “But, I want to lose
weight!” Well, diet sodas
actually contribute to weight gain!! This is the prime example of
the triumph of marketing over knowledge.
The
U. of Texas at San Antonio reported that, while soft drink use was linked
to overweight and obesity, people drinking only diet soft drinks had a 41%
higher risk of being overweight than those drinking regular soft drinks.
There is a reason for this—sweet tastes promote the release of insulin.
Insulin promotes the storage of fat. So sweet diet drinks promote the
storage of fat. This is not theory—it is scientific fact! But, diet drinks
do not have any sugar, so the body stores the glucose already present in
the blood and energy takes a dive. The person feels lethargic and becomes
hungry, eats more, and gains weight. Answer: reach for another diet drink
or some candy!
But,
far more important than the weight gain is the damage done by artificial
sweeteners such as aspartame or Splenda. One diet soda has approximately 4
½ packets of NutraSweet! On the label of the aspartame used in scientific
research it says, “WARNING: this product contains a chemical known to cause
cancer, birth
defects,
or other reproductive harm.”
When
ingested, aspartame breaks down into methanol as well as DKP, a brain tumor
agent. When ingested, methanol breaks down in the body to formaldehyde
“which is known to cause cancer, accumulating slowly without detection in
the body.” The body lacks the specific enzymes to detoxify methanol. A 12
ounce aspartame-sweetener soft drink has 10 mg of methanol.
Sandra
Cabot, MD has said “You have companies selling an excito neurotoxic
carcinogenic drug to the population as a sugar free diet product knowing
full well this government-approved artificial sweetener is actually causing
the obesity its marketers claim to be preventing. They also know that
aspartame is addictive and that the methanol component is classified as a
narcotic.”
As
far as Splenda (sucralose) is concerned, it is simply chlorinated sugar, a
chlorocarbon. Chlorine is nature’s Doberman attack dog. It is a highly
excitable, ferocious atomic element employed as a biocide in bleach,
disinfectants, insecticide, and hydrochloric acid. It works to cause swollen
livers and calcifies the kidneys.
And
not only do diet sodas poison the brain and every other organ in the body,
but specifically the chlorine in Splenda and formaldehyde in aspartame (as
opposed to hydrating your body with pure water daily) will create
unnatural sedimentation (read—stones) in your kidneys.
And
remember, sodas in aluminum cans are even worse. Talk about poison to the
brain—along with mercury, aluminum is tied for the worst!
Common
sense tells you that diet foods are a problem. Despite how much of them
America has consumed in the last 15 years, obesity has become epidemic!
Read the labels on so-called “health food” bars and you will find they too
are loaded with sugar or artificial sweeteners. Soda is just plain bad
news—regular or diet.
If
your kids want soda, use club soda. Add some fruit juice for taste. This is
like making a fruit-flavored sparkling water. If you use lemon or lime and
you feel you must sweeten the drink, or if you must sweeten anything else,
use Xylitol or Stevia. We have both available in the office, and every
health food store carries them both. These are truly natural sweeteners
that do not spike insulin levels like refined table sugar, and they do not
have the dangerous make-up of the synthetic diet sweeteners. And how about
this idea from our Granddaughter, Grace: in a blender, combine almond milk or
organic fruit juice with frozen organic berries of any type along with
other fruits like Kiwi’s, bananas, etc. Put in a scoop of protein powder
and mix. This is a “Smoothie” from heaven!! Thanks, Gracie!
Please
tell your family, friends, co-workers, and everyone you know to please sign
up for the Newsletter Pathways to Optimal Health at www.wholebodyhealth.us and tell
them it’s free!
As
always, your questions, comments, and suggestions are welcomed!
All of Dr. Baldwin’s recommendations are based on
solid scientific research. However,
no one Nutritional Plan will work for ever person, nor will any one
Nutritional Plan work for every disease or degenerative condition. Pathways is not a substitute for
proper medical diagnosis of conditions which may require medical or
surgical intervention. Our
Diagnostic System allows us to treat the person with the condition and not
the condition that has the person.
Our program is not simply a weight loss program. It is a program intended to help
the client learn how he or she can attain optimal health and
wellness with a healthy immune system.
We maintain that everyone should be able to live life to the fullest
and enjoy each day of life. To get in touch with us, dial 410-326-6690 and
we will be only too happy to help you!
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