5 Januari 2011

Now They Want Your Vitamin C

URGENT ALERT


From ANH - The FDA has just notified small pharmacies that they will no longer be allowed to manufacture or distribute injectable vitamin C—despite its remarkable power to heal conditions that conventional medicine can’t touch. Please help reverse this outrageous decision!
Let’s get this straight. The government acknowledges the risk of a worldwide flu pandemic. It acknowledges that conventional drugs cannot cure big viruses-like the mononucleosis and hepatitis viruses, many influenza viruses, and many others. It acknowledges that many bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics and are killing increasing thousands. It acknowledges the risk of a worldwide drug-resistant TB pandemic.
Despite acknowledging all this, it now insists on wiping out one of the best potential treatments for these conditions and for certain cancers as well. And why is this being done? What possible rationale is offered? Because it’s dangerous? No. Because it can’t be patented and therefore won’t be taken through the standard FDA approval process. No matter that vitamin C is one of the least toxic components of our food supply and liquid forms of it have been used safely for decades.
By the way, here is what is not safe. Don’t substitute home-made vitamin C solution for pharmaceutical grade liquid. That is not safe for injection. If the FDA action leads someone to do that, the FDA should be held responsible for the results.
The government, instead of banning intravenous vitamin C, should instead be supporting research into it. Even though IV C is being used in burn units around the world, including in the US, and has been adopted by the military for this purpose, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) refuses to fund any studies using intravenous C in patients. There are privately funded studies currently underway, but of course these cannot continue if the FDA bans the substance.
With at least one of the pharmacies, the FDA seems to be banning injectable magnesium chloride and injectable vitamin B-complex 100 as well. These two substances are routinely added to intravenous C to make the “Myers Cocktail,” used especially for conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, and infectious diseases such as hepatitis, AIDS, mononucleosis, and flu. The FDA is not going after the Myers Cocktail directly, but is rather attacking each individual substance used to make the cocktail, and may conceivably be going after injectable vitamins and minerals in general, despite such injections being given under the care of a qualified physician.
Please contact the FDA right away, and tell them to stop this foolish war on intravenous vitamin C!
Each of us reading this should think, “Intravenous C could someday save my life.” Dr. Jonathan Collin, editor of the Townsend Letter, discusses the case of a man in New Zealand who nearly died from swine flu. After developing a severe fever and upper respiratory infection, his condition deteriorated and he became comatose. Eventually even a ventilator was insufficient to keep him breathing because his lungs were so compromised by pulmonary edema. After weeks of heroic intervention, doctors decided there was no chance of survival and nothing further should be done for him.
The family asked the hospital to administer intravenous vitamin C. After much disagreement, the hospital gave him 25 grams of vitamin C every 6 hours. There was so much improvement over the next two days that the hospital decided to reinstate his intensive care—but they discontinued the vitamin C, saying that he had improved only because they had rolled him onto his side or his stomach instead of keeping him on his back! Not surprisingly, his condition once again deteriorated.
The family moved him to another facility that reluctantly allowed the IV vitamin C (albeit at a lower dose), and his lung function gradually improved. He came out of coma after four weeks, and after taking vitamin C orally, he gradually improved enough to be discharged. One year later, he was back to flying his plane and surveying his farm in New Zealand. None of the doctors who fought so hard to prevent his treatment with vitamin C have ever acknowledged their error.
Even people in perfectly good health may not be getting enough vitamin C. We recently noted the research that up to 87% of Americans are vitamin D deficient. But studies also show that many people may be deficient in vitamin C as well. A recent study on 1,000 Canadian adults found 33% had suboptimal levels of vitamin C—one in seven was “very deficient”—which could place them at increased risk for chronic health problems. Those who were vitamin C deficient were also more likely to have larger waists, greater body mass, and higher blood pressure.
The study’s author, Dr. Ahmed El-Sohemy, suggested eating fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits and peppers, or taking supplements. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) in nonsmoking adults is 90 mg per day for men and 75 mg for women, though some experts say a minimum daily dose of 120 to 200 mg is more appropriate, and some routinely take much higher doses themselves. Research also shows that people suffering from various diseases may benefit from larger amounts. In the case of the common cold, a review of published trials found that amounts of 2 grams per day appear to be more effective than 1 gram.
But there is a big difference between oral vitamin C and intravenous C. One maintains your health. The other seems to directly attack pathogens and cancer cells. Vitamin C taken orally will not do this, because the concentration does not seem sufficient to accomplish the task.
Please take action immediately! Please contact the FDA, and tell them to take their job of protecting our health seriously—by allowing injectable vitamin C, magnesium chloride, and vitamin B-complex 100 to continue being manufactured and sold! And don’t accept the answer that these substances need to be taken through the full FDA approval process. These are not patentable substances and no one will pay billions to do that. To require a standard approval process for them is identical to banning them, as the FDA know full well.

4 Januari 2011

Putting This Out to the Universe


This year has just dawned, so let's start it out well.
I have mentioned that I have a couple side projects brewing. I am not really ready to announce them, but in the spirit of timing I am going to force them out into the world and see what y'all think.

The first project is this. I want to write and publish a book in 2011.

I have been toying with the idea and even written several pages within the last few months. The book that I wanted to write has changed dramatically from a cookbook to a 'how to' real foods book, all of which has been done before, probably better than I could do it. But in thinking about why it is that you folks, who don't know me, come back to my site every day to read what is essentially my diary, it struck me. I want to write a book about this, my blog. I have come a long way in the last 9 months, not just with what I eat and how I shop, but with who I am and how I define myself. The experience has been bigger than "eat grass fed meat". I have repaired my once dysfunctional relationship with food. And the road there has been interesting, at least I think so.

I have told myself a hundred times that no one wants to read a book about me. But between my Blogger followers, Facebook friends and RSS subscribers, I believe there are 150-200 people already reading my book. Sometimes we must remind ourselves what is on the other side of the mountain, rather than focusing on the mountain.

I took off last week from posting because I am working on a Book Proposal. But I got less done than I wanted to. Mostly because I spent most of the week working on this next project.

I have for a long time been appalled by the amount of additives that are in foods. But one can find additive free food if one is so motivated. I recently discovered how many additives are in skin care, lotions, shampoos, soaps, etc. But I have been hard pressed to find any products that even come close to representing my ideals. What I have found are alot of chemical detergents, petroleum byproducts, and a bunch of other stuff I can't even identify. So I have started to make my own body lotions and shampoos out of nothing more complicated than high quality oils and castile soap (which is also made from just oil and a little sodium or potassium hydroxide). The more I read about making soap at home, the more I realize that our commercial skin care products have been just as adulterated as our food system. And skin care is just the same as food, our body absorbs it and so it should be simple and nourishing. I am also convinced that some of the fillers used set up a lousy cycle. They dry skin just enough that you have to keep buying their products. I am also frustrated the the products in line with my ideals are so expensive that they are more "gift-y" than something you would buy for yourself or your family for every day use.

So my second big project for 2011, start a skin care company that focuses on botanical oils, essential oils and uses no preservatives. In my spare time. Because remember, I do have a full time job (that I really like--have I mentioned that before??)

I wasn't going to say anything for the first couple of weeks of 2011. I was going to keep thinking and rolling things over in my head. But then I got this email from the universe....and I decided that in order to be successful, I had to put it out there.

So I have a few questions for you. Do you think I am crazy? Would you be willing to try my products once I have more recipes? I have a couple good ones so far, but I need to work on creating a whole line of items. Does anyone think that there is or isn't a market for additive free skin care? Is there someone already doing this? Does anyone have suggestions for where to sell? I cannot sell in the Union Square Farmer's Market because they do not allow non-food or non-local items to be sold there (duh), but I am not sure about other NYC markets. Does anyone have any recommendations?

In terms of a book, would you read it? Does anyone know any publishers that might be interested in a food literature book? Does anyone have any suggestions? Have I lost my mind? Should I delete this post and get back to writing about my Things? Please tell me what you really think.
Please

Words to the Wise 2011

There is a big gap between what you're told to believe and the conclusions you draw yourself. There are lies and hidden information at the root of the disparity. You're challenged to dig deeper into territory forbidden by popular opinion.

3 Januari 2011

A New Year, And a Little Back Tracking


Happy New Year!!

I have been working on a few of projects, the first of which you see all around you-my new blogger layout! I am thrilled with the graphic design, courtesy of my dear friend Elizabeth Harris Berglund. If you are ever looking for a creative thoughtful person who knows their way around a website to do your graphic design, you gotta contact her! My other projects are still brewing (I am not talking about my Kombucha, which is incidentally still brewing), so you'll have to wait a tad longer.

So I have been busy in the last week even though I have not been posting. It has been nice to get a little ahead. Christmas and New Year's were lovely. There was a little too much chocolate, a little too much pink eye and not enough sleep. But we are through it now and into 2011! I have a feeling that this is going to be an exciting year. At least it better be because Susan Miller has been telling what a great year this will be for at least 6 months, and if it doesn't pan out, I might just stop reading her website.

And now for the back tracking part. As if by a cosmic (or Godly) wave of the hand, as soon as I said in my post It Takes Some People A Little Bit Longer... that I had not been sick this Fall, sure enough my whole clan came down with an awful bug. I am not sure where we picked it up, but it came complete with hacking coughs, sleepless nights and finally PINK EYE! How fun! Thing One actually woke up with a 104 degree fever during that awful blizzard that shut down every airport on the eastern seaboard for 48 hours. We also had just run out of children's ibuprofen and I seriously thought to myself "How would I get my kid to the Hospital right now, with a foot of snow on the ground and 40 mile an hour wind gusts." It was a scary moment. Actually, I didn't get sick like the kids did, but we had to cancel our annual New Year's Eve Party, which is the highlight of my Holiday Season every year (and I think some other folks' too). So that was a bummer. So there you go Fate-I am sorry. So sorry that I would tempt and tease you by saying how healthy we were from eating coconut oil. I had no right to speak so brashly. But it could have been worse. Thing One's fever cleared mostly by morning, the pharmacy reopened on time the next day, and even Thing Two's pink eye, while disgusting, was mostly a 48 hour ordeal.

I also want to back track on the post where I told the world that I just don't gain weight during the holidays. Again, like some evil b**** I announce to the world "I simply don't have average problems. I am blessed with an amazing metabolism, and am able to eat whatever I want!" Jeez, couldn't you just strangle me? Well guess what, it ain't true. I weighed myself for the first time in a long time and I have gained 7 pound sometime between my trip to Morocco and now. I have noticed that my pants have been a little tight recently, but I didn't pay it much mind. But now that I have had a couple days off I have come to the conclusion that I really can't eat everything I want, fresh vegetables are VERY important (not that I didn't already know that) and portion control is next to Godliness. First order of business in the New Year? Lose 7 pounds.

How do I plan on losing the weight you might ask? First off is portion control. I will be eating less overall. I will be eliminating snacks mostly. I think snacks have been my down fall. And I believe that while I am still firmly of the belief that fat doesn't make you fat, I do believe that I have been eating too much fat. So I am going to make sure that my total food consumption is in line with proper nutrition, lots of fresh veggies, the right amount of fats, etc, and not eating when I am already full. More on that later....

*********************************************************

I have always noticed a shift in the light around this time of year. Perhaps it is the winter solstice? I see December as being lit with sepia tones, whereas January is a bright icy blue. January just seems lighter and brighter, even if colder. So perhaps my new awareness of my extra poundage is my body's way of telling me that it has gained these 7 pounds to get me through the cold winter, and I don't have to keep packing it on anymore.

When I first lost my baby weight after Thing 1 in 2008, I began my journey into food and nutrition in the month of January. By January 2009 I was pregnant again and I was not worrying about losing any Christmas weight. By January of last year, 2010, I was again embroiled in a structured weight loss program to lose my baby weight from Thing 2. This year, January 2011, is the first time I have weathered a full Holiday season under normal non-pregnant circumstances. Perhaps this will be a learning experience. Perhaps this weight gain is perfectly normal, and will come off naturally by March when the first crocuses peak their purple heads up out of the snow. Perhaps this is one more opportunity for me to become a more conscious, connected eater. Either way, this time I am NOT throwing out my skinny pants.

Are Artificial Sweeteners Safe?

Creating Health Institute and Natural Health News have been covering the problems with artificial sweeteners for a very long time.  Today another problem has been reported clearly establishing the too-close tie between agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack and Monsanto.
This weight loss tip tells the story -
Skip the sweetenerIn a 5-week study by Purdue University researchers, rats given unlimited access to artificially sweetened yogurt consumed more calories, gained more weight, and packed on more fat than those that ate sugar-sweetened yogurt. Researchers believe artificial sweeteners may hinder your body's ability to regulate calories based on taste, so you end up overeating. Go with a little bit of natural sweetener, such as raw sugar or honey, instead.

Neotame: Threat to Organics Sponsored by Monsanto or Internet Hoax? January 6th, 2011 Cornucopia Institute comments on the story snippet about neotame:- We have received several inquiries about the artificial sweetener Neotame, and the Internet rumor that this synthetic additive is allowed in certified organic foods. Neotame, as a synthetic additive, is not allowed in organic foods, contrary to the Internet rumor.

You will now find Neotame in your organic food, thanks to this cozy bed-fellow arrangement. Just when we thought that buying Organic was safe, we run headlong into the deliberate poisoning of our organic food supply by the FDA in collusion with none other than the folks who brought us Aspartame. NutraSweet, a former Monsanto asset, has developed a new and improved version of this neurotoxin called Neotame. Source
Original post from 2005, Natural Health News -
March 23, 2005 -
WebMD gets the low down on artificial sweeteners on the shelves and in the pipeline.
By Denise Mann, Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

WebMD gets it wrong, very wrong!
Artificial sweeteners are not so safe, so if you want to stay sweet and healthy read more here to get the facts. Too bad WebMD won't give equal time to the experts that can clearly explain to thousands about the health risks of artificial sweeteners.
Natural Health News has more than 8 pages of posts related to artificial sweeteners. You can find more at www.leaflady.org

Artificial Sweetener Causes Cancer December 2005
Aspartame Awareness 2006

2 Januari 2011

Frozen Water

The recent snow in Atlanta was delightful.  It was enough to be beautiful and not too much to be bothersome.  As the cold weather lingered on, snow remained on much of the ground, especially in the shadier areas like my side of the street. When the snow melted, it slowly soaked the ground much like a light rain would do.  Liquid or frozen, it’s all good when it comes to water that feeds the environment.

Georgia depends on winter and spring rains to recharge soil moisture, groundwater, rivers and streams.   Groundwater – an interesting concept, learn more about it here
– is the water beneath the soil’s surface, water which resides in soil pore spaces and the fractures of rock formations.  For those of us that live in areas with clay soil, the soil pore spaces are smaller and the water drains through them more slowly (allowing the plants to benefit from it longer!) Sandy soil, by contrast, has larger pore spaces, allowing the water to drain through much faster.  Given the choice of the two, I'd have to pick clay soil over sandy - I love the way my soil holds water.  Here a patch of moss plumps up in response to the snow melt.


The drought of recent years (2008-09) is not far enough away for me to forget it.  As a gardener and a supporter of native plants and natural environments, it was a very painful time.  Throw in what it did to businesses that grow plants (and food) and it was even more painful.  Some nurseries went out of business as people bought fewer plants during the water restrictions.  Memberships in plant societies dropped – I would guess that about 25% of my own native plant society’s membership did not renew during that time.  However, we gained a few new members that were interested in how native plants might fare BETTER than non-natives in a drought environment.


Plants like this Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) that I spotted on my snowy walk. The dangling structures are the staminate flower catkins, the “cones” are from last year’s fruit.  Despite the cold and the snow, this plant is on track to flower in late winter.
Alnus serrulata








No one likes severe weather events - but we get them occasionally.  The 13 inches of snow in March 1993 were no fun, and the 20+ inches of rain in September 2009 caused a lot of property damage.  But cloudy days (which slow up transpiration, the evaporation of water from plants) and drizzly days make me happy.  Throw in a decent shower and I am over the moon …  But as those used to more snowfall know, two inches of slowly melting snow provide good direct moisture for plants versus the same amount of rain that might be partially lost to runoff (although to be fair, a good portion could make it into groundwater regardless).  Here a pine seedling benefits from the melting snow.












 
So if a little precipitation comes your way, enjoy it as best you can. Yes, it might be inconvenient and it might mess up your hair ... but it is the essence of life for the plants that sustain us.  Oh, and sometimes it makes really cool ice caterpillars!

Mental Health - maybe some one has been listening

Natural Mental Health

MIND Reviews: What is Mental Illness?

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=mind-reviews-what-is-mental-illness

by Richard J. McNally. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2011
When a breakup is one-sided, the rejected party’s behavior and mental state often change dramatically. A veil falls upon the world. Sleep becomes elusive. Food and sex are suddenly strangers to pleasure. Concentration dwindles to a rare resource. Intrusive memories and spiraling pessimism worm their way into every moment of consciousness.
These changes are an expected response to loss. Sometimes, however, they are also symptoms of major depression. In his new book, What Is Mental Illness?, experimental psychopathologist Richard J. McNally explores how to identify the line that separates an appropriate response to loss from a dysfunctional one. In other words, how do we distinguish mental distress from mental disorder? “There is a fuzzy boundary, but mental illness has properties that mental distress does not have,” McNally says.
Although McNally asks a direct and important question, he never gives a straightforward answer. Instead of clearly outlining exactly how mental illness and mental distress differ, he swims through eight chapters in which he tries to answer a series of new and daunting questions. For instance, the chapter “Are We Pathologizing Everyday Life?” asks whether we misdiagnose our reactions to stressful events, such as going through a breakup or getting a speeding ticket, as more grave than they actually are. And in the chapter “Is It in Our Genes?” McNally tries to parse out to what extent our biology dictates our mental health. When we arrive at the final chapter, “So What Is Mental Illness Anyway?” we can only conclude that the most succinct and accurate response is, “Well, it depends.”
In the end, that is actually McNally’s main point. Understanding mental illness requires context, and when making a diagnosis, we cannot simply tick off criteria on a checklist. We need to consider the symptoms and the causes as well as our biology, genes and culture.
If you are looking for definitive answers to complex questions, this is not the book for you. If you want to delve into the complexities of mental illness, however, then join McNally in grappling with some of the toughest issues facing psychology today.

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