Food | Rejuvenation Institute of Natural Health

Category: Food

New Study Links Monsanto’s Roundup A Host Of Diseases

March 1, 2018March 31, 2018
by mkent52

A new study published last week in Entropy suggests that Glyphosate, the most popular herbicide in the world and a key ingredient in Monsanto’s roundup, has been linked to gastrointestinal disorders, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, autism, infertility, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Scientist Anthony Samsel and MIT Researcher Stephanie Seneff found that Glyphosate inhibits cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes – “an overlooked component of its toxicity to mammals”.

Monsanto and other proponents of conventional farming have denied the presence of herbicide and pesticide residues as well as their potential health risks, but this new research may prove otherwise. Various groups including the Environmental Working Group (guide to pesticide residues here) have confirmed the presence of pesticide and herbicide residues in produce. This new research could provide insight into just how dangerous those residues may be. As Samsel and Seneff point out, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, autism, infertility, cancer and Alzheimer’s represent an increasingly common set of disieases and conditions commonly associated with a Western diet.

photo by kdwood2

Food

Organic Produce Exposed At A Middle School Science Fair

April 20, 2013August 18, 2013
by mkent52

The decades-long organic food debate has found its way from laboratories to farms and our very own kitchens. So, is organic produce really healthier for you? In 2010, Ria Chhabra’s parents were having this very argument when she decided to find an answer.

With a little bit of research, 13-year-old Ria found fruit flies to be the usual suspects for this type of experiment. She reached out to several fly laboratories and peaked the interest of Johannes Bauer, an assistant professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. What began with a middle-school science project has turned into three years of research, science fairs and national competitions. Ria’s work has even been published in the Public Library of Science (PLoS).

Ria’s early experiments with fruit flies confirmed the fact that organic foods contain higher concentrations of vitamin C. Following her early success, Ria moved on to explore the effects of organic foods on overall health. She used the flies to test both organic and conventional foods finding organic foods to be far better for the flies. In fact the flies that consumed organic produce displayed better fertility, stress resistance and longevity than those fed conventionally grown produce.

Dr. Bauer admits that more research is needed to determine causation, but there are a few obvious possibilities. Maybe these results are due to pesticide and fungicide residues in conventionally raised produce or maybe organically raised produce has higher nutrient levels. Another popular possibility is that organically raised plants produce more natural compounds to protect themselves from pests and fungi, which may make the plants healthier.

Today Ria is using the flies to observe the affects of natural remedies like cinnamon and turmeric on Type 2 diabetes. To read Ria’s research, check out Organically Grown Food Provides Health Benefits to Drosophila melanogaster

Source: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/is-organic-better-ask-a-fruit-fly/?ref=health
Photo credit: servitude

Children

School Snacks Take A VERY Small Step In The…

February 2, 2013February 4, 2013
by RejuvInstitute

Yesterday, the USDA shared its next generation of proposed regulations in the fight against childhood obesity. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 was the first school lunch reform in over three decades – the same three decades that saw a 300% increase in childhood obesity. Last year, the government targeted school lunch standards and this newest piece of legislation is aimed at “competitive foods” such as those found in vending machines and snack bars.

This is a big story for all of us because soda, sports drinks and fruit juices are prominent sources of sugar in our children’s diets. Habitual consumption of these beverages is augmented by candy, chips and pastries, causing significant health concerns for future generations. The new rules, which are subject to a 60-day comment period, would limit calories, fat, sugar and sodium on a per portion basis. To the government’s credit, exceptions will be made for some healthy fats including cheeses (though only reduced fat), nuts and nut butters.

Margo Wootan, nutrition policy director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said “This is great news for the country, for children, for families, It’s a step toward getting junk food out of vending machines and schools.” So what exactly will this look like? Take a look at some of the healthier options that will be blessing our schools’ vending machines:

Examples of “Healthier” School Snacks

Low Calorie Soda
The only difference between regular soda and low calorie or diet soda is that the sugar in regular soda is replaced with chemicals known as excitotoxins. If the name doesn’t tell you everything you need to know, feel free to read more about them here: Excitotoxins: Chemicals that Destroy Your Health.

Dried Fruit
One of the biggest food myths in our culture is that sugar from fruit is somehow better for you. 2-3 servings of fresh fruit is already pushing it and dried fruit has astronomically higher sugar content by volume, even if none was added during processing.

Fat Free Chocolate Milk
We looked at five popular brands of fat free chocolate milk and found that on average, each serving had about 24 grams of sugar. FYI: A standard Snickers bar has 27 grams.

Granola Bars
Everyone seems to think that granola bars are so much better than candy bars, but in reality, most are not. Whole grains, dried fruits and added sweeteners spike blood sugar too.

This raises a great deal of concern about the definition of “junk food”, but even more about how people are identifying “healthy”. One article on CTV News even mentioned “low-fat hamburgers” as a new addition to the party. ah…???…um…ok, moving on.

Big Picture: Is This A Step In The Right Direction For School Snacks?

Surveys show that parents are in favor of lunchroom changes, so it is good to see that something is happening. A the end of the day, it is good to replace extremely unhealthy foods with slightly less unhealthy foods, but that doesn’t mean we should feel good about our kids eating them. It is also imperative that we don’t start teaching our children that these foods are healthy. The bottom line is that currently, there are no healthy foods in vending machines and we need to protect our children because right now we filtering their cigarettes instead of throwing them in the trash.

Do you think these new school snack rules are a meaningful step? Leave your comment below.

Photo Credit: irrezolut

Chemical Stress

Family Meals: A Potential Link To Life Or Death For Your Children

New evidence has emerged supporting the health benefits of family meals for children. Take a look at the list mounting evidence in support of family meals.

Women’s Health: Hormone Balancing Food Plan

It seems like new articles are constantly published with “a completely different” idea about how we should eat. We are every bit as tired of them as you are, but because each of us is different, we thought some of these tips may be good for you to try.

Photo Credit: www.CourtneyCarmody.com/

Children

Family Meals: A Potential Link To Life Or Death…

December 22, 2012December 24, 2012
by RejuvInstitute

It’s no secret that our society has moved away from both family meals and the dining room table, but new research suggests that this may be contributing to a host of problems for our children.

The study found that when families always eat meals together at a table, children averaged the recommended 5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables daily while those who sometimes or never ate meals together fell short. Children in the sometimes group ate 4.6 servings on average and those in the never group averaged 3.3 servings. Cutting up fruits and vegetables for the child was also shown to increase consumption.

A Word of Caution About Fruits & Vegetables

When fruits and vegetables are grouped together, people often think they they are interchangeable. Keep in mind that while fruits are important, they have much higher sugar content than vegetables. in addition, leafy green vegetables are widely regarded as one of the best things you can put in your body. As a result, many experts would agree that vegetables should be eaten in far greater quantity than fruit.

More Support for Family Meals

Various studies have been conducted about family meals in recent years. Family dinners have been linked to:

Lower junk food consumption
Development of healthy eating habits into adulthood
Fewer weight issues
Lower risk for alcohol, tobacco and drugs dependence
Better grades in school
Healthier social development

Our two cents on family meals.

A lot of love and learning can be shared by a family around a table and they won’t be young forever. Cooking can also be therapeutic, so slow down and smell the basil, because the list of benefits for you probably rivals that of your children. Finally, our society has a clear disconnect with our food, how it’s made, whats in it and where it has been between the farm and your table, so lets do ourselves a favor and share food together.

Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20762105
http://jech.bmj.com/content/early/2012/12/11/jech-2012-201604

The benefits of family dinner time

Contamination

Alert: Recall on Mangos Due To Salmonella Connection

August 28, 2012
by RejuvInstitute

According to USA Today, Splendid Products of Burlingame, California issued a recall on Daniella-brand mangoes imported from Mexico. The recall was issued Monday in the wake of growing outbreaks around the US and Canada. A Daniella-brand representative attempted to downplay the significance of the recall, stating that it was “out of an abundance of caution”.

Our friends at USA Today were kind enough to clue us in on the fact that around 49 salmonella victims in California alone have reported eating mangos. In addition there have been 22 confirmed cases in Canada and various others being investigated nationwide.

USA Today wrote this:

Giant Food, which operates 173 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia, issued a recall of the mangoes Monday. The mangoes were sold between July 12 and Aug. 24 and carried a price look-up code of PLU 4959.

Eating foods contaminated with salmonella can cause salmonellosis, a common bacterial food-borne illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants and the elderly. Salmonellosis can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within eight to 72 hours, as well as chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

Food

Food Injustice Behind Prison Walls

July 20, 2012August 8, 2012
by RejuvInstitute

In late June, the Weston A. Price Foundation announced that they were sponsoring a lawsuit against the state of Illinois. The target of their suit is the “cruel and unusual punishment” of the state’s prison inmates…but it’s probably not what you think.

The “cruel and unusual punishment“ that inmates have been subject to is excess amounts of soy, a low cost food additive and filler, in their diets. Analysis of prison menus revealed that prisoners are fed roughly 100 grams of soy protein each day in everything from “meat” to sauces and baked goods.

Inmates have reported a myriad of diet related symptoms including sharp digestive pain, fainting, acne, insomnia, panic attacks, depression and multiple symptoms of hypothyroidism, a condition often left undiagnosed.

Physician David Brownstein, toxicologist Mike Fitzpatrick and researcher William Shaw, PhD are keys to the case. These three back the theory that the symptoms are related to soy ingestion and they think they can prove it. I guess we will see when the case goes to court.

So what’s our take? We encourage you to always weigh the facts and make a decision for yourself. We can tell you however, that writing has been showing up on the wall for years. So before you discount these theories please take a good hard look and keep in mind that this issue affects more than just inmates. In fact, soy is an incredibly common additive in all kinds of mainstream foods. Know thy food friends!

Food

Why Grocery Store Tomatoes Taste Bland

July 1, 2012
by RejuvInstitute

We have found ourselves increasingly disappointed by the bland, mealy tomatoes showing up on grocery store shelves. Have you ever noticed that tomatoes you buy at the grocery store taste a little bland compared to your favorite tomato memories?

Well, the Los Angeles Times recently reported on a new body of research that has found the answer. As it turns out, consumers favor tomatoes that have consistent color patters. As a result, tomato breeders work very hard to make sure that their crop will possess this consistency. “But the new study, published this week in Science, found that the mutation that leads to the uniform appearance of most store-bought tomatoes has an unintended consequence: It disrupts the production of a protein responsible for the fruit’s production of sugar.” (LA Times)

In short, genetic engineering of our food strikes again. Unintended proteins (usually from other animals) that have fueled the battle against GMOs. Here, a naturally existing protein is causing bland tasting produce. This is another great example of why we should eat things the way they were originally created.

Other factors can make tomatoes taste bland also. Sunlight, watering techniques and amount of time on the vine (letting blush before picking) also have a definite impact. The best way to avoid bland tasting tomatoes at your grocery store are to purchase heirloom varieties or buy from smaller farms until you find one that is doing it right.

Don’t let big farmers ruin these delicious gems for you. Lets put an end to bland tasting grocery store tomatoes once and for all!

Food

The Health Benefits of Dandelions

June 6, 2012
by RejuvInstitute

Spring marks the beginning of an epic battle against the dreaded dandelion, but this resilient weed has a ton of health benefits. Dandelions, a good source of fiber, potassium, micronutrients, vitamins and calcium, are typically used for their benefits to the liver and digestive system.

This herb is a perfect addition to your diet. In fact, dandelions routinely find their way into lists of the top 10 vegetables. Since a diverse selection of leafy green vegetables has been shown to work wonders for your body, why not add dandelions to your daily salad, smoothie, tea or stir-fry?

The main benefit of course is that dandelions are free. Who says you only get what you pay for? As usual, it is important that you are eating organic dandelions, so it is best to find some that haven’t been sprayed with harmful chemicals (or every dog in the neighborhood). So get out there and pick some good clean dandelions. With a little creativity, you can reap the health benefits of this free super food.

Do you incorporate dandelions into your diet? If so, share some of your favorite uses in the comments section below.

Food

Is wheat evil?

May 10, 2012May 10, 2012
by mkent

Up until recently, we were under the impression that it was ok to consume a few servings of wheat or other grains daily. In fact, we were surprised to see minuscule wheat consumption negatively impacting our client’s weight. The food pyramid’s 6 – 11 servings are obviously bogus, but aren’t wheat and other whole grains supposed to be a major players in our diet?

Mounting evidence suggests that any wheat, even one serving, is too much. After all, isn’t just one cigarette per day still too much? It turns out that wheat may have more in common with cigarettes than you could ever imagine. Wheat expert, William Davis, MD says that wheat is addictive and choosing whole wheat over white flour products is pretty much like smoking filtered cigarettes. Filtered or unfiltered, they’re going to kill you eventually.

Lets explore the case against wheat. Here are some of the reported facts:

Wheat and wheat flour are known to raise blood sugar even higher than the sugar that that you put in your morning coffee. That’s right, wheat causes a larger spike in blood sugar than that indulgent candy bar! Did we mention that sugar may be the most dangerous in our diet, causing excess fat, diabetes, cataracts, arthritis, cancer, heart disease and more.
Wheat is a known to contribute to inflammation, cravings, Candida, hair loss, bone issues, ADD, adrenal fatigue, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, leg swelling and numbness trouble thinking, insomnia, emotional problems, joint pain and obesity. The 1000 other proteins in wheat are thought to be responsible. Wheat contains a protein called gliadin that interacts with morphine receptors in the brain. This has been linked to wheat addiction and increased desire for foods containing wheat.
Gluten is like glue in your body and can trigger immune diseases like celiac, rheumatoid arthritis and dementia.
Hybridization of wheat has caused a significant drop in protein and micronutrients over the past few decades.
According to EPA regulations, non-organic wheat can be grown using sewage sludge, increasing risk for heavy metal toxicity and E. coli contamination.

It is probably important to not here that wheat can be found in virtually every kind of processed food. Some experts say it is because of wheat’s addictive properties, while others blame its abundance. Regardless, the average person eats a lot of wheat. Most of these health risks are attributed to the hybridization of wheat over the past 40 or so years. As it turn out, in that short time, the genetic makeup of the worlds wheat has undergone lightyears of change.

So is wheat evil?

We will leave that decision up to you. The good news is that you don’t need to blindly take a side in the great wheat debate. There are plenty of resources on both sides and as always, it is a good idea to test your own body. Try cutting wheat for just a week or two and see how you feel. Then have a piece of bread and pay attention to how your body reacts. Often your body will tell you all that you need to know.