Disease Proof : Disease Proof : Health & Nutrition News & Commentary : Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Laura Klein of OrganicAuthority and does NOT necessarily represent the opinions of DiseaseProof or Dr. Fuhrman.

The New York Times reported that positive eating trends are on the upswing!

Remarkably the percentage of people who are currently dieting is on a decline to 29 percent in 2007 from 33 percent in 2004. In place of calorie counting, starvation and deprivation, people are adding tasty whole foods to their diets, and 53 percent more are cooking more and from scratch!

This is exciting stuff! It has always been my advice that if you don’t know where to begin in transitioning your diet to a healthy one, start by adding more delicious organic fruits and vegetables to your diet every time you grocery shop and if you can swing it, on a daily basis. Keep it simple and easy.

If you are inclined to count something, start counting chemicals in your food instead of calories. Studies are now showing that chemicals in our food are leading to serious health issues like obesity, cancer and more. If you are inclined to reach for diet sodas and diet foods, take a few seconds (literally that’s all it takes) and scan the list of ingredients and ask yourself how familiar you are with the ingredients in that packaged drink or food product.

Other reports have shown number of farmers markets across America have more than doubled since the mid-1990s. And the sales of organic foods continue to rise. We are finally beginning to follow in the footsteps of Europe.

One of the things I have discovered in my quest to discover the most delicious foods on the planet is the remarkable healing qualities of tasty, whole, organic foods. There are so many miraculous healing stories of people who have cured themselves of serious diseases, like cancer, obesity, diabetes, and more, by simply eating a delicious, organic, whole foods diet. Bottom line, delicious, whole, organic foods are commonly overlooked as one of the most powerful healing tools on the planet.

If you are concerned about the price of organic foods during these tight economic times here are some of my recommendations for creating room in your budget to add tasty, whole, organic foods to your shopping cart:

• Buy fewer prepackaged processed food products and add more whole foods to your shopping basket. Buying less junky fast foods creates room in your budget for tasty, whole organic foods!

• Eat out less. Eat at home at least one to two times more per week (or more). This will create a huge amount of room in your budget for quality organic foods.

• Buy at your local farmers markets! Not only are you buying local but many times organic produce can be up to 20-40% cheaper.

• Don't rule out non-organic when it comes to local farmers. While you are at your local farmers market, get to know your farmer! Ask if they grow organically even if they aren’t a certified organic farm. Many times local farmers can’t afford the certification but grow organically the way Mother Nature intended.

• Use a grocery list! This may seem obvious, but studies show that people who use grocery lists and stick to them save money on their grocery bill.

Overall, think about your values when you shop. Do you shop merely on price and large quantities? Or does quality and nutritional value count for something? Remember: consuming foods that are tasty and rich in nutritional value is what will keep you healthy, help in keeping the weight off and add up to less doctor visits. And knowing it's better for the planet is a nice perk!

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Earlier this month, Consumer Reports discovered kids’ cereals, like Honey Smacks and Froot Loops, have MORE sugar than doughnuts! Fortunately, Kellogg’s has an unlikely solution. Slash the sugar, but INCREASE the salt; The Wall Street Journal reports.

Wow, what GENIUS came up with that! Salt is dangerous, it heightens stroke-risk and races blood pressure. And processed foods, like cereal, are NOT health-promoting either. They contain harmful compounds called acrylamides. So, pass on the fruity loops!

Via Serious Eats.
 

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New Jersey has lost it FREAKING mind! In December, NJ became the first state to require mandatory flu-shots for ALL preschoolers. Parents were ticked!

And now, angered by the legislation which goes in effect this fall, HUNDREDS of parents rallied outside the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton on Thursday, DEMANDING an “opt out” clause; The Washington Post reports.

This is WRONG! All parents want is a choice. The government should NOT tell parents how to manage their children’s health. The push for mandatory vaccinations is un-American!

Only drug-makers benefit from mandatory vaccinations. The flu-shot is a NOT miracle. Previous reports have indicated most DON’T even work against many strains of flu.

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Food from China has suffered INTENSE scrutiny. Melamine-milk has sickened thousands and FREAKED out millions! Even Chinese green beans are causing panic.

To calm fears, China has developed an online system that TRACKS how ingredients of food-exports were sourced and what, if any, tests they’ve undergone; from NewScientist.

Seems like a passive-aggressive way to “solve” the problem. Holding people responsible, like detaining the individuals responsible for the melamine, sends a CLEARER message.

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Ozone is not JUST an environmental issue. It’s also a health issue. With ozone levels in peril, many experts insist people’s lungs are at risk. Inhaling TOO MUCH ozone can harm lungs and worsen respiratory ailments; Discovery News reports.

This has been a problem for a LONG time now. Previous reports have shown ozone levels can increase stroke risk, heighten the chance of premature death and even SHUT DOWN immune responses in the lungs. So screw it, I’m staying inside!

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Yesterday, Connecticut, New Jersey and Delaware urged baby bottle-makers to STOP using bisphenol-A (BPA). Reacting to research claiming BPA exposure causes learning impairments and depression.

And now, a new study discovered the SAME contaminants in tap water, turned up in popular brands of BOTTLED water, immediately challenging the belief that bottled water is purer; the Associated Press reports.

A similar story broke last year. Pepsi had to admit that its bottled water brand, Aquafina, is actually TAP water; responding to heat from environmental watchdogs claiming plastic bottles HARM the planet.

Ditch the freaking plastic already! Get yourself a metal water bottle, I did.
 

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Representatives from Connecticut, New Jersey and Delaware have sent letters to 11 baby bottle manufacturers and formula-makers URGING them to stop using BPA; via AHN.

The action is in RESPONSE to the Yale School of Medicine’s research claiming bisphenol-A (BPA), interferes with brain cells, causing learning impairments and depression.
 

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This is an excerpt from Dr. Fuhrman’s book Eat For Health.

As your body’s detoxification activities increase in the first week or two of this program, the symptoms of toxic hunger could increase. These feelings could include lightheadedness, fatigue, headaches, increased urination, sore throat, flatulence, and, very rarely, fever, body itching, and rashes. These uncomfortable sensations rarely last longer then one week and, even if they do, they will lessen with time.

Occasionally, people find it takes time for their digestive tract to adjust to all the additional raw fiber, and they experience an increase in gas or bloating or have looser stools. This is usually caused by the increased volume of raw vegetables and because you swallow more air when eating salads. It is remedied by chewing better so the air is out of the mouth before swallowing. Better chewing also breaks down the cells, making them easier to digest. For those with this problem, the amount of raw salad can be increased in a more gradual fashion. You can also eat less raw foods and more cooked vegetables, such as steamed zucchini, squash, brown rice, potato, and sweet potato. When the symptoms subside, gradually increase the amount of raw greens and cruciferous vegetables in your diet. Dried fruits, roasted nuts, and beans can also contribute to digestive problems at the beginning of transitioning to this way of eating. To combat these issues, use raw nuts, avoid dried fruit and other sweet substances, and soak beans in water overnight or eat them in smaller amounts until you adjust.

So, if you are troubled by digestive problems, try the following:

• Chew food better, especially salads.

• Eat beans in smaller amounts.

• Soak beans and legumes overnight before cooking.

• Avoid carbonated beverages.

• Do not overeat.

• Eat less raw vegetables and increase the raw vegetables gradually.

Be patient and give your body a little time to adjust to a different eating-style. Remember, your digestive tract can make the adjustments if allowed to do it gradually.

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At this point, the Chinese melamine milk scare is a full-blown epidemic. According to a new report, MORE than 10,000 children are still in serious condition after consuming powdered milk contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine; the Associated Press reports.

Over 10,000 is a STAGGERING figure! But how widespread the danger extends is even MORE amazing. So far, countries like South Korea and the United States have also issued warnings about Chinese-made food products; like baby formula, chocolate and candy bars.

A clear-cut example that NOT only do national food safety agencies, like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, need to SETUP their enforcement, but global health organizations, like the World Health Organization (WHO), also NEED to become better watchdogs.

Actually, the WHO acknowledges this on their website, “Recent trends in global food production, processing, distribution and preparation are creating an increasing demand for food safety research in order to ensure a safer global food supply.” Well, let’s get to it!

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When I was little, I had hermit crabs, frogs, birds, toads, lizards and goldfish, but apparently some of those AREN’T safe for children. Exotic pets, like hedgehogs, hamsters, baby chicks, lizards and turtles, can make kids SICK; the Associated Press reports.

Oh crap. I used to share fruit with my chameleon! Speaking of crap, kitty litter can also be a DANGER. Dr. Fuhrman suggests pregnant women should AVOID cat litter and cat feces because it contains a parasite that spreads a disease called toxoplasmosis.

Our poor pets! They’ve got problems too. In Australia, the obesity epidemic is EVEN making pets fat, and, there’s actually a LINK between fat pats and fat owners. So, if you’re looking to stay healthy. You could always get a pet kiwi fruit instead!

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Flu shots ALWAYS stir up controversy! Last year, New Jersey went INSANE by trying to force mandatory flu shots, insisting it is the best option of public health, but get this! New research claims flu shots have been largely INEFFECTIVE over the past few years.

The study appears in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. HealthDay News reports:

Dr. Peter G. Szilagyi, from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and Strong Memorial Hospital, found that children who got the flu were less likely to have been vaccinated, compared with children who didn't get sick.

However, after they adjusted for flu risk factors -- such as a child's location, sex, insurance status, chronic health conditions or timing of the vaccine -- the effectiveness of the vaccine could no longer be shown. The effectiveness of the flu shot ranged from 7 percent to 52 percent for 6- to 59-month-old children who had been fully vaccinated, the researchers found.

The less-than-perfect match between the strain of flu in the vaccine during the two seasons studied and the flu that was actually circulating may have contributed substantially to the poor effectiveness of the vaccine, Szilagyi's team speculated.

We shouldn’t be too hasty to stick ourselves with things, especially kids! American children are already the MOST drugged up. Also, the flu shot is NOT the be-all, end-all of flu prevention.

According to Dr. Fuhrman, washing your hands, not touching your face in public places and eating a healthy diet, can help your body prevent and combat the flu virus.

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Cold medicine made BIG news last year. Pediatricians claimed over-the-counter cold remedies posed MAJOR health risks for young children. This prompted retailers nationwide to yank medicines aimed at kids under the age of two from stores.

In January, the FDA supported action AGAINST children’s cold medicine, but now, about a year later, officials are STILL pondering a ban and may extend it to remedies for children up to age six; CBS News reports.

In the report, pediatrician Dr. Alanna Levine refers to studies showing that cold medicines DON’T actually work and Early Show host, Harry Smith, mentions that poison control cases have dropped by HALF since cold medications were pulled.

Now, Dr. Fuhrman is NO fan of suppressing fever, cough and cold. This could lead to prolonged illness, like pneumonia. Dr. Fuhrman also points to research showing the futility of over-the-counter cold remedies. Efficacy of cough suppressants in children; via PubMed.

So, considering all this, a ban seems like a REALLY good idea!

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New research in the International Journal of Cancer claims omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, found in vegetable oil, may increase breast cancer-risk in postmenopausal women, but heterocyclic amines in cooked meat and fish DON’T up cancer-risk; Reuters reports.

I asked Dr. Fuhrman for his thoughts on the study. Here’s what he had to say:

Of course processed foods, including refined carbohydrates such as white flour and sugar increase a women's risk of breast cancer. And, the findings in this study are also logical, that the use of vegetable oils, which are also low-nutrient processed foods, would increase risk of breast cancer as well.

As humans we are designed to eat and thrive on natural foods in their natural state. Eating an avocado is nothing like consuming avocado oil and eating corn oil cannot be compared to eating corn. Oil is high calorie, low nutrient food; the definition of junk food. When we eat plant fats in their natural state, such as in seeds and nuts, the scientific studies are clear, they have the opposite effect (of oil), lowering risk of all-cause mortality and extending lifespan.

Even olive oil is junk food! Olive oil MIGHT be an improvement over saturated animal fats, but Dr. Fuhrman insists, processed oils are a MAJOR contributor to our overweight modern world.

As for heterocyclic amines, they’re NOT healthy either. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine points to studies linking both grilled meat and grilled chicken with cancer-risk. Water-based cooking, like steaming, is MUCH safer.

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Energy drinks are EXTREMELY popular. I DON’T drink them. For good reason! A recent study linked Red Bull with an increased risk of stroke. Other reports have suggested high-caffeine drinks are particularly dangerous for young children and teenagers.

Civic groups have also spoken out AGAINST energy drinks. The San Diego County Youth Council claims consumers CAN’T tell the difference between energy drinks with alcohol and those without—specifically children; via EMaxHealth.

Even attorney generals are worried. Last year, attorney generals from 28 states THRASHED beverage makers for wooing young people with "outlandish" and "outrageous" health-related claims. And now, experts at Johns Hopkins urge WARNING labels for high-caffeine drinks; Reuters reports.

“Caffeine is one of the most addictive substances in a standard diet,” explains Dr. Fuhrman; citing health-risks like heart disease and breast cancer. For optimal health, Dr. Fuhrman recommends avoiding caffeine and other toxic substances—as well as alcohol.

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Melamine, a chemical pesticide and fire retardant, has caused MASSIVE panic in the China by turning up in infant formula—and even chocolates sold here in the United States! In response, China is urging its citizen to return to breastfeeding; Reuters reports.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers AGAINST purchasing Chinese-made formula. China has reacted by detaining 22 people suspected of introducing melamine into the food supply; more from Reuters.

In 2007 FDA officials determined eating chicken, fish, pork or eggs from animals inadvertently fed melamine was UNLIKELY to pose a health-risk to humans. Nice job FDA! The tainted Chinese baby formula has killed 4 infants; via The Earth Times.

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