natural health

Eat Grass Fed Beef to Reduce Your Heart Disease Risk

7 min read | Author - Susan Patterson

The old saying, “You are what you eat,” is true and also accurate is the saying, “You are what you eat has eaten.” Let me break it down for you. If you consume fish, chicken, beef, or other meat, how that fish or meat was raised and what it has eaten during its lifetime has a direct impact on your health.

That’s right. Take beef, for example; cattle that are allowed to free-range on grass, move around under the sun, and live a stress-free life are much healthier than beef that comes from cows raised on industrial farms and fed things they should never eat. Let’s take a closer look.

The first thing that we need to do is set straight some terminology as it pertains to various types of beef.

The difference between grass-fed beef and grain-fed beef

Cows are naturally meant to graze on grass in wide-open pastures. However, with the increase in demand for meat, farmers began to feed cattle grain-based feed made from corn and soy.

The difference between grass-fed beef and grass-finished beef

Most of the cattle raised by responsible farmers graze in open pastures during the warm months, but that is not an option in the colder months when there is snow on the ground. During the winter, farmers feed their cattle feed containing corn and soy. However, since they graze for the majority of the year, they may be labeled grass-fed.

Beef that is from a cow raised entirely on grass will say “grass-finished” on the label. These animals will graze on grass during the summer and eat alfalfa in the winter. This term is not regulated by the USDA.

Is grass-fed beef also organic?

Organic and grass-fed or grass-finished beef are two completely different things. The USDA regulates the term “organic.” To be certified organic, farmers have to complete an onerous certification process that can take up to three years. Organic beef needs to be raised on a farm that does not use pesticides, genetic engineering, or sewer sludge.

In the case of beef, you can purchase organic, grain-fed beef. What this means is that cows from an organic farm were given organic feed, which includes organic corn or soy-based products. In addition, animals raised on an organic farm must live in a way that protects the welfare of the animals.

Choosing the best grass-fed beef

When shopping for grass-fed beef, look for meat that has the American Grassfed Association (AGA) stamp of approval. The AGA is a trustworthy group that guarantees that animals do not receive hormones, antibiotics, or grains.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated.” By his standards, the commercial meat industry in the United States points to grim flaws in our national character. However, there is good news. More and more farmers and ranchers are choosing to graze their cows, bison, sheep, and goats on ranges, where they feed on pasture grasses…just as nature intended.

As mentioned, grass-fed animals are treated humanely and fed only natural grasses, and as a result, the meat and milk that comes from these animals has significant health benefits. Most animals commercially raised for meat and dairy products in the United States come from Confined Animal Feeding Operations, also known as CAFOs. Animals that are raised in CAFOs often have no space to walk or move around at all. The stress and abuse of these conditions are truly horrifying, and many meat-eating Americans choose not to think about it, which only perpetuates the cycle of mistreatment.

Health benefits of grass-fed beef

Known as a nutritional powerhouse, grass-fed beef has numerous health benefits that make it well worth the extra you might have to pay.

Grass-fed beef helps balance blood sugar levels – When you enjoy beef from cows that have grazed on grass, you reap the benefit of the fatty acid CLA (conjugated linoleic acid). This fatty acid has been found to reduce the risk of several diseases and conditions, including obesity and diabetes. In one randomized, double-blinded study, it was found that 37% of people given CLA had better insulin sensitivity when compared to those who were not given CLA. Insulin sensitivity helps to promote healthy blood sugar levels.
Grass-fed beef is a potential cancer fighter – There are 16 different types of CLA. Each of them has a unique health benefit. In research studies, CLA has been found to be a cancer-fighting food. In one study that was published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer, researchers discovered that women who had the highest levels of CLA in their diets also had a lower risk of breast cancer when compared to those without CLA in their diet.
Grass-fed beef can boost your immune system – Grass-fed beef is rich in bioavailable vitamin A that is vital for growth, reproduction, vision, and a healthy immune system. Heme iron, found in grass-fed beef, is also important for a strong immune system, sexual function, and the production of stomach acid. Beef from cows fed grass also contains B12 that helps keep nerves, blood cells, and DNA healthy. The vitamin K2 found in grass-fed beef is good for your heart, blood vessels, and bones.
Grass-fed beef can reduce the risk of heart disease – The CLA found in grass-fed beef has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. Because this type of meat contains less unhealthy fat than beef from cows fed grain, it can help promote a healthy heart. It also contains less dietary cholesterol, high levels of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and heart disease-fighting antioxidant vitamins, including vitamin E.

Grass-fed cows are happy and healthy cows

As stated earlier, cattle that are allowed to range freely on grass are generally happy cows that are not crammed into tight spaces where disease can run rampant. Almost 80% of antibiotics sold in the United States go to conventionally raised livestock like beef. Sadly, as the demand for meat skyrockets, farmers crowd animals into smaller and smaller spaces where they can get sick easily. Using antibiotics in meat causes antibiotic resistance in humans. Additionally, grain-fed cattle have acidic intestinal tracts that can cause issues like E. coli, which can be fatal in people who eat undercooked beef.

According to Consumer Reports research:

“One of the most significant findings of our research is that beef from conventionally raised cows was more likely to have bacteria overall, as well as bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, than beef from sustainably raised cows. We found a type of antibiotic-resistant S. aureus bacteria called MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), which kills about 11,000 people in the U.S. every year, on three conventional samples (and none on sustainable samples). And 18 percent of conventional beef samples were contaminated with superbugs — the dangerous bacteria that are resistant to three or more classes of antibiotics — compared with just 9 percent of beef from samples that were sustainably produced. We know that sustainable methods are better for the environment and more humane to animals. But our tests also show that these methods can produce ground beef that poses fewer public health risks.”

Raising cows as they should be raised is good for the planet earth

Not only is grass-fed beef good for your health, but it is also good for the environment. Research shows that traditional grass-based beef production can help decrease greenhouse gas emissions, create a diverse ecosystem, and improve the quality of run-off water from pastures where cows graze. In short, raising cattle as they were meant to live creates a much smaller footprint, and unlike conventional cattle farming in tight quarters, it brings much good to the earth.

Keep in mind that moderate consumption of meat is recommended. A good rule of thumb is to treat meat like your side, not your main dish.

-Susan Patterson, Certified Health Coach, and Master Gardener

This Secret Silver Solution Fights Bacteria and Boosts Immunity

5 min read | Author - Susan Patterson

The human body is an amazing machine, capable of self-regulation and internal healing. Plus, it is loaded with natural ways to prevent sickness and disease. Eating a healthy diet full of fresh fruits, veggies, healthy fat, and proteins gives the body great fuel to work with. There are a few additional ways to supercharge your immune system, and this powerful silver solution is one of them. Colloidal silver has long been used to fight the growth of bacteria and unwanted microorganisms — even the simple practice of dropping a silver coin into a jug of milk to prevent it from spoiling. Similarly, silver particles can be used to disinfect unsafe drinking water. It was used in antibiotic medications prior to the 1940s when modern drugs became patented and popularized.

What is colloidal silver?

Colloidal silver is simply distilled water with nanoparticles of silver added. It is created by placing strips of pure elemental silver into the water and applying a small electric current. The silver releases tiny particles into the water. This mixture can then be consumed, inhaled, used topically, or as a suppository.

Colloidal silver benefits

Silver is naturally found in small amounts in soil and food, and when used in a concentrated solution, it has many health benefits.

Give your immune system a boost with colloidal silver

Many people swear by colloidal silver’s ability to fight the common cold and the flu. The metal disarms a wide range of disease-causing microorganisms and encourages the healing of inflamed tissues. It’s no surprise that hospitals use catheters and dressings that are impregnated with silver to prevent infection.

Many viruses fear colloidal silver

Several serious viruses can be warded off by colloidal silver, including HIV, pneumonia, herpes, shingles, hepatitis, and warts. This is particularly exciting because modern medicine has no solution for viruses.

Colloidal silver is a natural antibiotic

The most celebrated use of colloidal silver is as a natural antibiotic. One researcher documented that over 650 different disease-causing microorganisms could be destroyed within a short period of time thanks to exposure to tiny amounts of silver. More recent research has shown that it is even able to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

The reason colloidal silver is so effective against bacteria is that it destroys important enzymes that protect pathogens from oxidation. It is even able to specifically seek out bad bacteria because its electric charge attracts the negatively charged bacteria.

For this application, colloidal silver can be consumed in an eyedropper, used in a neti pot, or sprayed directly into the nose.

Colloidal silver works wonders on skin

Colloidal silver can be used to stimulate the healing of skin conditions, wounds, and infections. Try putting one or two drops into the eyes to treat pinkeye, apply two to five drops directly onto skin conditions and injuries, or use as a rinse for gum disease. Other conditions that can be helped include ringworm, thrush, psoriasis, and eczema.

Colloidal silver is an infection fighter

Since colloidal silver can destroy so many different types of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, it is very effective against ear infections, which can be caused by unidentified microorganisms. Similarly, sinus infections caused by either bacteria or viruses can benefit from the inhalation of a colloidal silver spray. This may also help fight allergies and asthma. In addition, colloidal silver can be used on fungal infections. It can be applied directly to affected nails, or consumed orally with a spoonful of aloe vera, to fight candida yeast overgrowth.

Ease digestive distress with colloidal silver

Colloidal silver is perfect for gastrointestinal conditions such as traveler’s diarrhea or food poisoning. For this purpose, most experts recommend swallowing a teaspoon of colloidal silver a few times a day.

Types of colloidal silver

There are three types of colloidal silver, which are considered beneficial in varying degrees. Ionic silver is the least expensive to produce and only contains silver ions, not actual nanoparticles. Silver protein contains larger silver particles suspended in gelatin and water.

These cheaper varieties are not considered as effective as true colloidal silver, which does not contain any additives and is labeled with a definite measurement of silver nanoparticles in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or parts per million (ppm). Experts recommend choosing a brand that contains ten parts per million and has the smallest possible particle size.

How to use colloidal silver safely

Many mainstream sources have popularized the notion that colloidal silver is dangerous. Natural health experts maintain that discounting its effectiveness is a way to protect the patents and profit interests of the pharmaceutical industry.

A few cases of severe side effects have been noted — prolonged use of large amounts of a crudely produced colloidal silver can result in a strange and rare condition called argyria, where the skin turns blue. Colloidal silver can also interact with prescription medications and occasionally cause allergic reactions.

This is why it’s important to purchase high-quality colloidal silver and use only small amounts for a limited length of time. Holistic physician Dr. Josh Axe recommends using just one to two drops for most applications, or a maximum of 10 drops in some cases. Daily use should never extend past 14 days.

Popular natural health expert Sarah Ballantyne maintains that colloidal silver should not be swallowed, but rather should only be applied topically, or at most, used for gargling. Others suggest that the digestive system can be bypassed by nebulizing and inhaling colloidal silver, which can be achieved using a small spray bottle. This method allows the tiny silver particles to enter the lungs and go directly into the bloodstream.

You can also use colloidal silver gel and take a good whiff

If you don’t have a nebulizer, it is recommended that you use a colloidal silver gel and rub it on the inside of your nose and towards the nasal cavity. After this, inhale quickly through your nose to activate the gel. Another way to encourage the silver particles to enter the bloodstream directly is to hold the liquid in the mouth and allow the ultra-thin tissues in the cheeks and gums to absorb the colloids. The safety of taking oral colloidal silver is a contested issue. Before you consider using colloidal silver, remember to consult a trusted practitioner to ensure that your personal situation and health are taken into account.

Are you ready to take prevention and immune-boosting to the next level?

-The Backyard Vitality Team

Is Zapping Your Food Harming Your Health?

8 min read | Author - Susan Patterson

Start talking about microwave safety amongst mixed company and you are sure to spark up a “heated” debate. Some might warn you that even getting within two feet of a running microwave will harm you, while others will tell you that the issues are not so much with the microwave itself but rather with the nature of the food being microwaved, as well as its packaging.

The latest statistics tell us that over 90 percent of Americans eat microwave meals. In fact, because they are so convenient and cost-effective, few households and eating establishments are without one.

Discovered by accident

No one actually set out to construct the microwave to cook food. Its food cooking ability was discovered quite by accident. During World War ll, microwaves were used in our spy efforts, and it was later discovered that these radar waves actually melted candy bars.

Soon it was found that microwave heating was twice as fast as oven heating, and the first commercial microwave was marketed in 1954. The domestic oven, marketed as a “radar range,” became popular by 1967, and has now become a common fixture in homes across America. It is also used extensively in our restaurant and fast food industry.

Just how do they work?

Microwaves are a type of electromagnetic energy, similar to light waves or radio waves. They are very short waves of electromagnetic energy that travel fast. In fact, they travel at the speed of light – 186,282 miles per second.

The same microwaves that are used to cook food are also used to send long-distance telephone signals, computer information, and television programs all over the earth, or up to a satellite in space.

Food molecules become hot when they are moved by the waves. When a wave enters food, it heats the food from the outside in.

The very sad truth of the standard American diet

Our ancestors cooked their freshly-caught meat and fish over an open fire, roasting it to perfection and enjoying it. They gathered herbs, berries, nuts, and other wild edibles and ate them fresh, with no processing, no additives, and no packaging. Today, over 90 percent of what Americans spend on food is spent on processed items – this paints a very grim picture indeed.

The majority of commercially prepared frozen and boxed meals are processed, and often cooked in a microwave for convenience. No more sweating around a hot stove, simply pull a meal from the freezer and pop it in the microwave. In a few short minutes, dinner is ready.

However convenient it may be, hyper-processed food may sustain your life, but it is void of the real nutrition that the body needs to be strong and vital. Many frozen and processed meals contain high amounts of sodium, trans fats and sugar. From coughs and colds to degenerative diseases, without proper nutrition, the body will not have the energy it needs to stay well.

There are two areas where most microwave debaters can find at least some common ground. These two areas are enough to warrant serious considerations of when and how you use a microwave:

Packaged microwave food may be dangerous

Popcorn is an all-time favorite microwave treat. However, many microwave popcorn bags are heavily treated with a chemical coating (fluorotelomer), best known as Teflon. This coating contains mixtures of long-chain chemicals that can be metabolized to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a likely carcinogen.

These bags are dangerous because a large amount of the coating is used, and the popcorn is heated to extreme temperatures, which increases the risk of the fluorotelomers entering the food.

The January/February 1990 issue of the Nutrition Action Newsletter reported that a number of toxic chemicals from packaging of common foods cooked in the microwave, such as popcorn and pizza, leaked when the food was cooked.

Most plastics, including film food wrap and styrofoam containers, have been shown to migrate from the packaging into microwaved foods. This includes warping that displays a number 4 recycling symbol, and polystyrene displaying a number 6 recycling symbol. Scientists agree that contamination of food is possible, but disagree on the health implications of such contamination.

Researchers who study “invisible” changes occurring within the cells, including metabolic patterns, find a reason for concern over the use of plastic in microwave ovens. The same concern does not exist with the use of glass, Pyrex, or ceramics.

“In my family, we have always preferred to use our stovetop or countertop toaster oven for cooking and reheating. If you choose to use a microwave, the most important piece of health advice to remember is that you should NEVER EVER put food in plastic containers in the microwave oven. There are toxic chemicals embedded in plastic food containers (like phthalates, Bisphenol-A, and others) that will leach from the container right into the food you are about to eat. Not so yummy…” – Joshua Levitt, ND (Alternative Daily Expert)

Microwaves cook food unevenly

According to Consumer Reports, microwaving frozen or refrigerated convenience food can make you sick. Over 76 million cases of foodborne illness occur each year in America – many due to the consumption of undercooked foods. When food is not cooked evenly to an internal temperature that kills harmful bacteria, the risk of illness increases greatly.

What about loss of nutrients and other concerns?

One of the biggest arguments put forth against microwaves is that they negatively impact food nutrients. First and foremost, we must remember that the nature of most microwaveable food is nutrient-void, to begin with.

However, if you are cooking real food, there are some documented concerns that we would be remiss not to mention.

A Scandinavian study done in 1999 indicates that asparagus spears cooked in the microwave had a reduction in vitamins.
Garlic cooked in the microwave for just 60 seconds inactivates alliinase, the principal active anticancer ingredient.
In November of 2003, a study published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture found that broccoli that had been cooked in the microwave with water lost 97 percent of its antioxidants versus steamed broccoli, which lost only 11 percent.
A 1992 study found that microwaved breast milk lost antibodies and lysozyme activity, as well as fostered the growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria.
A short-term study found changes in the blood chemistry of individuals who consumed microwaved milk and vegetables. Hemoglobin and white blood cell count decreased while cholesterol increased.
Microwaving food seems to create new compounds not found in nature. These compounds are known as radiolytic byproducts. If ingested over a long period of time, it is thought that these compounds may cause problems and are potentially harmful to young children.
Cooking foods that contain protein in a microwave for more than 10 minutes may cause the chemistry of the meat protein to change. Deformed protein molecules may have a negative impact on health.
Several laboratories in America have found that continual exposure to low-level radiation may cause problems with the eyes, resulting in an increased risk of cataracts.

“There may be dangers associated with microwaving food… there is a question as to whether microwaving alters protein chemistry in ways that might be harmful.” – Dr. Andrew Weil

What does the FDA say?

The FDA currently states:

“Controlled, long-term studies involving large numbers of people have not been conducted to assess the impact of low-level microwave energy on humans. Much research has been done with experimental animals, but it is difficult to translate the effects of microwaves on animals to possible effects on humans… The fact that many scientific questions about exposure to low levels of microwaves are not yet answered requires the FDA to continue the enforcement of radiation protection requirements. Consumers should take certain common-sense precautions.”

Common sense precautions

If you must use a microwave, it is best:

to use it for reheating only
not to prepare frozen or packaged meals
not to stand directly in front of it while it is cooking
to use only microwave-safe glass, Pyrex, or ceramic
not to operate the microwave when it is open

Perhaps a return to slow food is best

There is, at present, a growing Slow Food Movement. The Slow Food organization has tens of thousands of members across 50 countries, including the United States. Its core principles include raising awareness of local, sustainable foods, protecting biodiversity, protecting and promoting foods that are at risk of extinction, supporting local farmers and culinary artisans, and celebrating wholesome food and the experience of cooking and dining.

The Slow Food organization believes that food is a universal right, and that it should be accessible to all people. Food should be grown naturally, cooked with care, eaten mindfully, and thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed. Slow Food is about getting back in touch with the true purpose and pleasure of cooking and eating. It is about a richer, more vital relationship with our food, an attitude that existed before fast food and microwaves.

Since the long-term impacts of microwaves have not been fully uncovered, it is best to play it safe and go slow.

-Susan Patterson, Certified Health Coach, and Master Gardener

Sources:
Kidmose U and Kaack K. Acta. Agriculturae Scandinavica B1999:49(2).110-117.
Vallejo F, Tomas-Barberan F A, and Garcia-Viguera C. Phenolic compound contents in edible parts of broccoli inflorescences after domestic cooking. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
Quan R (et al). Effects of microwave radiation on anti- infective factors in human milk. Pediatrics 89(4 part I). 667-669.
On Call,’ Dr. Jonathan Wright, MD, Let’s Live magazine, Mar. 1994.
Natural Health magazine, Dr. Andrew Weil, Nov./Dec. 1995

Chemical Banned in Paint Strippers Discovered in Decaf Coffee

10 min read | Author - Susan Patterson

We are a coffee-guzzling country, and our drinking habits are on the rise. According to the National Coffee Association, over 64% of Americans enjoy at least one cup of coffee daily. But, has your doctor urged you to cut down on caffeine? How much do you really know about that decaf cup of Jo you enjoy each day? Perhaps not enough to know that you may be drinking some hazardous chemicals right along with your favorite cup of coffee.

A recent investigation by The Clean Label Project revealed that there is cause for concern. Truth: A dangerous chemical recently banned from paint strippers is being used in the decaffeination process in many well-known coffee brands. Perhaps even the one that you are enjoying right now.

What you need to know about the decaffeination process

All coffee beans naturally contain caffeine. In order to make coffee that does not, the caffeine must be removed from each and every bean. It is impossible to remove all caffeine; therefore, no coffee is truly 100% caffeine-free. The method used to remove the caffeine from beans varies, and there is currently no requirement for coffee makers to reveal the method used on their packaging.

How bad could this lack of transparency really be, you might ask? Read on to find out.

Methods of nonsolvent decaffeination

Here are the most commonly used methods to decaffeinate coffee without the chemicals.

Water-based decaffeination process

This process is also known as Swiss Water Process, SWP Method, Activated Charcoal Decaffeination, or Dihydro-oxide Process. No chemicals are employed in this process that was pioneered in Switzerland in 1933. In 1988, SWP was introduced to the market, and the Swiss Water Company’s decaffeination facility near Vancouver, British Columbia, is certified organic and Kosher.

SWP uses water, temperature, and time and does not directly or indirectly add chemicals to pull out caffeine from beans. The process, instead, relies on solubility and osmosis to decaffeinate the beans. At the start of the process, green beans are cleaned and also hydrated using pure, local water. The use of an internally developed Green Coffee Extract is employed for caffeine removal. The process removes 99.9% of the caffeine without compromising flavor.

Carbon dioxide decaffeination process

The carbon dioxide method is also known as CO2 Method, Liquid Carbon Dioxide Method, and the Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Method. This is the most recent nonsolvent method for removing caffeine and was developed by scientist Kurt Zosel of the Max Planck Institute. Using liquid CO2 in place of chemicals, this process places soaked beans in a stainless-steel container. The extractor is sealed, and liquid CO2 is forced into the coffee at a pressure of 1,000 pounds per square inch to pull out the caffeine. This process is costly and is often used to decaffeinate large quantities of commercial-grade coffee usually found in grocery stores.

Solvent-based decaffeination process

Solvent-based caffeine removal uses a number of toxic solvents to draw out caffeine. These have included benzene, trichloroethylene, dichloromethane, and even chloroform. Recently, methylene chloride and ethyl acetate are more often used. If a solvent process is not mentioned on the coffee label, it has likely been decaffeinated via direct or indirect solvent methods. In fact, it is estimated that 70% of all coffee is decaffeinated using solvents.

The direct-solvent process starts with the beans being steamed for 30 minutes to make them more soluble. They are then rinsed with a solvent for ten hours to remove caffeine. Finally, the solvent is drained away, and the beans are steamed again to remove residual solvent

The indirect-solvent method begins with soaking beans in almost boiling water for several hours. This extracts some of the caffeine, flavor, and oils from the beans. The water is pulled off and the beans are washed for about ten hours in a solvent. The solvent molecules bond with molecules of caffeine and the mixture is heated to evaporate the solvent and caffeine. The beans are then reintroduced into the liquid to reabsorb oils and flavors.

The problem with the solvent process

In recent years, there has been increased pressure on the coffee industry to relax or cease the use of chemicals in the decaffeination process. A 2017 study conducted by Consumer Reports noted that while coffee manufacturers have switched to “safer” chemicals, they still employ toxic chemicals to strip away caffeine. These include methylene chloride and ethyl acetate.

What’s the big deal with methylene chloride?

Also known as dichloromethane or DCM, methylene chloride is a colorless, non-flammable volatile hydrocarbon, found in paint strippers, lubricants, adhesives, automotive products, and general cleaning products.

In 1982, the National Toxicology Program released a study that found that rats who were fed DCM developed cancer in the liver and other organs.

Sadly, this study was discarded because of issues regarding how it was conducted. However, in 1985, the FDA announced that methylene chloride was indeed very dangerous. This resulted in a ban on the chemical in cosmetic use. However, use in decaffeination of coffee was allowed to persist, with the FDA stating that the levels found in decaf coffee were extremely low.

“The FDA concluded that methylene chloride is carcinogenic to animals when inhaled, and may be carcinogenic to humans.”

At this time, it was found that manufacturers using methylene chloride showed that it was at levels of 1 part per million or less. However, the Clean Label Project’s investigation revealed that some products tested exceeded this level.

The California Environmental Health Hazard Assessment added it to its Prop 65 list. The State of California evaluation that during pregnancy, methylene chloride can pass from mother to baby.

Methylene chloride banned from paint thinners

In March 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency ruled that it would prohibit the manufacture, processing, and distribution of methylene chloride in all paint removers/thinners for consumer use. The announcement came after 13 controversial deaths were linked to its use.

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler had this to say,

“After analyzing the health impacts and listening to affected families, EPA is taking action to stop the use of this chemical in paint removers intended for consumers. Today’s decision reflects EPA’s commitment to ensure that chemicals in the retail marketplace are safe for the American public.”

Symptoms like instant dizziness, loss of consciousness, and irritation of both the nose and throat can occur if the chemical is inhaled. Death of the nervous system can occur when the exposure is acute. The US Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration says that workers exposed to DCM have an increased risk of developing cancer and can experience negative effects of the heart, nervous system, and liver as well as skin and eye irritation.

Methylene chloride found in a number of consumer products

In 2018, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, a consumer advocacy group ignited efforts to have paint thinners that contained DCM removed from stores. In 2019, the organization was joined by 18 state, local, and national organizations. A letter was sent to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler drawing attention to the EPA’s recently released draft risk evaluation of the chemical. The evaluation highlights 15 consumer products in addition to paint thinners, that contain DCM – all showing similar acute risks to paint thinner. This solvent was banned for use in paint strippers by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2019.

One of the scariest things is that the methylene chloride tolerance in decaffeinated coffee has not been re-evaluated by federal authorities in 35 years.

The Clean Label Project steps in to uncover something really scary

As mentioned above, The Clean Label Project carried out its own investigation on decaf coffee to see just which brands ranked highest for levels of DCM, a chemical banned from paint thinners but still found in consumer products like decaf coffee.

I had the opportunity to ask the Executive Director of The Clean Label Project, Jaclyn Bowen, a few questions related to an investigation that they recently conducted on decaffeinated coffee and DCM. Here are some excerpts from our interview:

First off, can you tell me a little about the Clean Label Project and why it exists?

“Clean Label Project is a national nonprofit with the mission to bring truth and transparency to consumer product labeling. We believe that sometimes what’s NOT on a label is what matters most. Food and consumer product safety attention and regulation have largely been focused on short-term acute exposure to food-borne pathogens like salmonella, e.coli, and listeria. The long-term threat of cancers and reproductive disorders linked to industrial and environmental contaminant exposure from heavy metals, pesticide residues, plasticizers, and other chemicals of concern has largely gone unnoticed, untested, and therefore unregulated in food and consumer products, until now.”

“Through data, science, and benchmarking, Clean Label Project uses actual retail sampling and testing to reveal levels of contaminants in America’s best-selling consumer products. We believe that the power of transparency and consumer awareness can change the status quo.”

“Together, we are changing the definition of food and consumer product safety in America.”

What prompted the decaf coffee investigation?

“There has been a series of investigations and calls-to-action about the decaffeination process in coffee over the years. The recent ban on methylene chloride in paint strippers naturally begged the question- so it’s bad enough that we don’t want it in our consumer paint strippers, but are we still allowing it to be used to decaffeinate coffee?”

Were you surprised at what was found?

“I was surprised. I was most surprised that some of the same retailers that banned the sale of methylene chloride paint strippers would allow its use in their private label decaffeinated coffee. This should be considered especially prudent given the sensitive populations that are the most frequent consumers of decaffeinated coffee- pregnant women and people with heart disease.”

Do you think that most people are unaware of the dangers of many products that they eat and drink on a regular basis?

“I would agree, but the times are definitely changing – and quickly. Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the content of the food and consumer products they buy for themselves and their families. This is especially true for sensitive populations like pregnant women, infants, children, and those with health conditions. With all the food investigations that are taking place, there is a growing divide between the court of law and the court of public opinion when it comes to food and consumer product quality and safety. Complying with federal law should be viewed as table stakes. Brands should proactively align themselves with evolving consumer expectations of safety and quality.”

What do you suggest the average consumer do to protect themselves and their family from dangerous chemicals and toxins found in food and drinks?

“Be a conscious consumer. Ask questions and demand answers. So many brands make claims of natural and wholesome goodness, it’s a matter of demanding transparency. Hold brands and your favorite retailers accountable. Social media is an incredibly valuable tool for getting your voice heard. Reach out to brands, publicly, and ask for more details about their products. For our decaf coffee investigation, we are asking consumers to reach out to their favorite brands and demand that the decaffeination process be disclosed.”

If you could give consumers one warning, what would it be?

“The unfortunate reality of today’s consumer product marketplace is caveat emptor (“buyer beware”). The onus is on consumers to investigate brands and products to evaluate what products are best for themselves and their families. Think of your dollars as a vote for the food philosophies you believe in and invest accordingly.”

Be an informed consumer

We thank Jaclyn Bowen and everyone at The Clean Label Project for what they are doing to inform and protect consumers. We congratulate all consumer advocacy groups that are taking the initiative to call out what should be public knowledge and to speak in truth.

We encourage you to be a savvy consumer. Do your homework before you feed your family. Demand your right to know and support those who are pushing initiatives forward for more transparency in the labeling of consumer goods!

– Susan Patterson, Certified Health Coach and Master Gardener

Combine These Two Deliciously Acidic Foods for Great Digestion and a Healthy Liver

3 min read | Author - Susan Patterson

Think about the foods that most people crave on a daily basis. Things like chips, candy bars, french fries, cookies, and pizza. What do these foods have in common? They are “engineered” foods that have been created by the food industry to have the perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors, and pleasing texture

Now think about the opposite flavors, such as sour and bitter. These are the tastes that make us pucker our lips, pop our eyes wide open and shake our heads. They’re not the flavors we usually seek out to enjoy every day. In fact, many of us have virtually eliminated these flavors from our lives altogether.

This movement toward a “lazy” palate, which prefers easy-to-eat tailored junk over the diverse flavors of real food, is theorized by many experts to be of huge detriment to the human race. The natural foods consumed by our ancestors had a wide variety of flavors that stimulated the tongue and indeed had many different effects throughout the body.

Traditional cultures emphasized the consumption of bitter foods and revered them for their therapeutic properties, while such foods are largely viewed as disagreeable in our society today. Read on to discover some important reasons for incorporating bitter foods into our daily diets, and even using them as natural remedies.

The importance of eating bitter foods

Bitter-tasting foods were a natural part of the human diet until recent years, and this is not without reason. When we taste bitter flavors, many things happen in the brain and body which support good health and fight disease.

The most important benefit of these foods is to stimulate digestion. When a bitter flavor hits the tastebuds, the digestive system begins to produce saliva and enzymes. This is why many societies still consume drinks like aperitifs and digestifs — they really work!

Improving digestion can have numerous benefits, such as boosting energy and revving up your metabolism. You may find that bitter foods help you fight sugar cravings and lose weight, too.

Digesting food more effectively also means that more nutrients are absorbed. While many of us have nutritional deficiencies due to modern foods and medications, we can start to rectify these problems by consuming more nutrient-dense, real foods and improving digestion by working in those bitter flavors.

The liver gets lots of benefits from the consumption of bitter foods, too. The boost in digestion that we get from bitter tastes leads to more bile production in the liver, and thus a more effective detoxification process. Many bitter foods contain sulfur, which is an important nutrient to support liver health.

CoffeeDarkChocolateBalanceHormonesSkinRadiant_640x359 Individuals with hormonal imbalances may find that consuming bitter foods such as dark chocolate and organic coffee is beneficial to get everything back in check. This, in turn, may result in healthier blood sugar levels, less constipation, and healthier-looking skin.

Incorporating bitter flavors into your diet can even improve unhealthy cholesterol levels and fight inflammation! This could be tied to the traditional Chinese medicine belief that bitter foods help to remove excess heat from the body.

Bitter foods that you should eat on a regular basis

While the best way to consume bitter foods is to forage wild fruits, roots, and vegetables from the natural environment, this isn’t always practical. Here are some options you can easily find in the local supermarket.

Dandelion greens
Arugula
Coffee
Hops
Olives
Raw, dark chocolate
Bitter melon
Dill
Jerusalem artichokes
Kale
Saffron
Sesame seeds
Turmeric
Endive
Radicchio
Cranberries

You can also use a supplemental herbal blend of bitters to stimulate digestion, balance appetite, and encourage detoxification. You can find digestive bitters in health-food stores or online. They typically include herbs such as gentian, cascarilla, cassia, orange peel, and cinchona bark. However, whenever you purchase a supplement, make sure you find a high-quality product from a source you trust.

The more bitter things you taste, the more you will start to crave them as your body readjusts and finds balance in a variety of flavors. Will you try bitters to help ease chronic health issues and discover robust wellness naturally?

-The Backyard Vitality Team

Drink THIS Every Day To Pee Out More Toxins

6 min read | Author - The Backyard Vitality Team

The kidneys are arguably the unsung heroes of the human body. While other high-flying organs and muscles like the brain, liver, and heart bask in the attention of the health and medical world, the kidneys are hard at work keeping you alive. It’s a decidedly unglamorous job. Their role is to filter out all the unwanted compounds (i.e., waste) from your blood and send it over to your bladder for expulsion via urination. You often hear health specialists saying, “It doesn’t matter if you eat or drink too much so and so, as you’ll pee out the excess.” Ever wonder how that happens? Yup, none other than your trusty kidneys.

Without the kidneys, your body would be unable to regulate the balance of sodium and other electrolytes in the bloodstream. The downstream effects of this would be numerous, including an inability to:

regulate pH
maintain healthy blood pressure
assist in red blood cell production, and
synthesize vitamin D

When your kidneys are overlooked, health suffers

Unsurprisingly, when the kidneys are a bit under the weather, your body suffers. What is surprising, however, is the fact that we often overlook the health of our kidneys and the critical function they perform. And our kidney stats aren’t great. An estimated 14 percent of Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease, with over 660,000 Americans diagnosed with kidney failure every year. That’s over half a million of us accumulating more and more waste in our bloodstream every day.

Given the diet and lifestyle of the average American, most of us are putting some serious pressure on our kidneys. They can only process so much waste at a time, and like the overworked employee, they occasionally need some serious vacation time to unwind and recharge.

What you need is a kidney cleanse. And here are five natural diuretics to help you do just that:

Ginger

Ginger is one of my favorite go-to’s for when I’m feeling a little on the sick side or a natural detox is in order. Ginger gets plenty of attention for its ability to assist in detoxification of the liver, and it performs much the same function on the kidneys. It’s also loaded with plenty of health-supporting vitamins and flavonoids, helping your body to support robust kidney function.

Getting your daily dose of kidney cleansing is super easy. My approach is to either finely chop or grate an inch or so of fresh ginger root, pour boiling water over it and let it steep for five to ten minutes. To really get that diuretic effect and pee out more toxins, drink this ginger two to three times per day. The bonus of this regime is that you’ll be virtually immune to colds and sore tummies!

Dandelion root

Many of the most popular detox teas on the shelves these days contain dandelion root, and for good reason. It’s a powerful natural diuretic that increases urine production and helps both the kidneys and the liver cleanse themselves. But consider yourself warned: dandelion root isn’t for everyone! It took me a while to get used to the super bitter taste of this flowery root, but once I did I learned to love it.

Here’s how to make a kidney-cleansing cup of dandelion root tea:

Place 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried dandelion root into a cup, then pour over boiling water.
Cover and allow to steep for ten minutes.
Once it’s cooled to touch, add in an optional 1/2 teaspoon of raw honey to ease the bitterness and provide a digestive enzyme boost.

Either that or simply pop down to your supermarket or nearest health food store and invest in a pre-fabricated tea that contains plenty of dandelion root!

Parsley

You were bound to see parsley somewhere on this list, am I right? My mother always held great esteem in a good bunch of parsley, declaring that it’s one of nature’s greatest detoxifiers. And it turns out she was bang on!

A 2002 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that similar to dandelion root, the diuretic effect of parsley is mediated by a potassium-sodium imbalance, creating osmotic water flow effect that encourages greater urine excretion.

That’s the science behind it, anyway. All you really need to know is how to get the most kiddy-supporting effects from that bunch of parsley. You could always make a tea by pouring boiling water over the fresh leaves and stalks and allowing the mixture to steep, but my favorite way to enjoy it is in a delicious green smoothie.

Personally, I don’t see any real need to specifying any particular ingredients for your green smoothie. You can throw almost anything in there, as long as you chuck in a good-sized handful of parsley to get that diuretic effect! Some of my go-to ingredients include raw organic milk (or full-fat coconut milk), frozen berries, banana, cinnamon, mint, and spinach.

Marshmallow root

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that marshmallow root is a powerful diuretic that can be used to cleanse the kidneys. Why? Because I’m absolutely obsessed with marshmallows! I buy a large bag of ground marshmallow root from my local health food store every couple of weeks, and along with gelatin, vanilla, and honey, I make the most delicious, nutritious marshmallows… not the fake kinds you get from the supermarket, which don’t actually contain any actual marshmallow root!

In addition to helping cleanse the kidneys of excess toxins, marshmallow root has also long been used to treat coughs and colds, increase saliva production, treat bacterial infections, and protect against free-radical damage. It’s an all-around good guy when it comes to your health, but if you don’t have the time to make real marshmallows, simply make marshmallow root tea using the same methods I’ve listed for the above herbs.

Celery

If you’re in the habit of buying detox smoothies or juices from your local “hip” cafe, you’ll probably already know that celery is almost always a key ingredient. There’s a reason for that: celery is a natural diuretic, which as we know aids in the removal of toxins from the body and increases urination. It also contains specific nutrients that stimulate the kidneys and prevent kidney infections.

Celery is a pretty darn versatile vegetable and can be enjoyed in a wide variety of ways. Whenever I’m hungry, I’ll grab a stick of celery and munch happily away on it, or dip it in some organic peanut butter for an ultra-tasty snack. It also makes a great base for juices and green smoothies jazz up a boring salad and is great in soup. There’s really no excuse!

-The Backyard Vitality Team

27 Lemon Fixes That Work

11 min read | Author - Susan Patterson

The lemon was first created as a cross between a lime and a citron, and all three grow on evergreen shrubs. The Arabs introduced this small citrus fruit to the Europeans, who then brought them to Spain in the 11th century. Along with other fruits and vegetables, Christopher Columbus brought lemons with him on his second voyage to the New World in 1493, and they have been growing in Florida since the 16th century.

Besides large amounts of vitamin C, lemons also contain riboflavin, thiamin, iron, magnesium, pantothenic acid, fiber, vitamin B6, potassium, copper, calcium, and folate.
Here’s an interesting fact: lemons protected miners against scurvy during the California Gold Rush, and cost as much as one dollar each in 1849.

Although we may not be overly concerned about scurvy in America today, here are 27 extraordinary ways to put lemons to work in your life:

1. Lemons fight free radicals

Vitamin C is the most important antioxidant. This vitamin neutralizes free radicals both inside and outside of cells. Free radicals are responsible for damaging cells and cellular membranes, which lead to inflammation, chronic diseases, and accelerated aging.

Free radicals can also damage blood vessels and alter cholesterol so that it builds up on artery walls. Vitamin C helps prevent this buildup and consequently helps to stop the progression of atherosclerosis and heart disease in diabetics.

2. Boost immune system

Lemons contain vitamin C to help boost your immune system.

When cold and flu season arrives, it is always a good idea to keep a bag of fresh lemons handy. Citric acid, bioflavonoids, vitamin C, calcium, pectin, and limonene do a great job of boosting your immune system and keeping infections at bay.

3. Protect against cancer

Lemons contain 22 anti-cancer compounds including limonene, an oil that has been shown to halt the growth of cancer tumors in animals. In addition, they also contain flavonol glycosides, which stop the division of cancer cells.

A 2005 study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that limonoids in citrus fruits protect cells from damage that can lead to cancer. Another study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry stated that limonoids can inhibit tumors in the mouth and stop the growth of cancer cells once a tumor has formed.

4. Balance pH

Lemons are considered one of the most alkalizing foods you can eat. This may seem counterintuitive, as they are acidic on their own. However, in the body, lemons are alkaline; the citric acid does not create acidity once it has been metabolized.

The minerals in lemons actually help to alkalize the blood. Most people are too acidic, and lemons reduce overall acidity, drawing uric acid from the joints. This reduces the pain and inflammation which many people feel.

5. Aid oxygen uptake

Lemons have a purer concentration of negatively charged ions than any other fruit. Dr. Pierce J. Howard, author of “The Owners Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind Brain Research,” says, “Negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain, resulting in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness, and more mental energy. They also may protect against germs in the air.” The first man to reach the top of Mount Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary, said that he attributed much of his success to lemons!

Fact: One lemon tree can produce up to 600 pounds of lemons in a year. If you live in an area where you can grow a tree, you should plant one or two!

6. Add fiber

Most people fall far short of the 20 to 38 grams of fiber recommended daily. Without proper fiber, however, you can easily become constipated or develop hemorrhoids. Consuming adequate fiber has been shown to reduce the risk of developing health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and diverticulitis.

In fact, the American Diabetes Association includes lemons on their list of superfoods because of their high fiber content. In addition, the pectin fiber in lemons can help keep you from getting hungry and overeating.

7. Boost mood and energy

Lemons can naturally improve your mood and energy levels.

Have you ever gotten up on the “wrong side of the bed?” If you are often lethargic and cranky in the morning, or any time of the day, for that matter, you may want to consider munching on a lemon.

Our energy comes from atoms and molecules in our food. When positively charged atoms flood the digestive tract and mingle with those that are negatively charged, a positive reaction occurs.

Lemons contain more negatively charged ions than positive ions, which gives you a boost as the lemon enters your digestive tract. Just the scent alone of lemons can improve your mood and elevate your energy levels. Lemons also promote clear thinking and help reduce anxiety and depression.

8. Improve digestive health

Your body works hard to digest all that you give it. Lemon juice helps flush away unwanted materials and toxins left from the digestive process. Because lemon juice is similar in atomic composition to digestive juices and saliva, it does a great job breaking down material and encouraging the liver to produce bile.

9. Clear skin

Sometimes we forget that the key to clear and beautiful skin starts with great nutrition. Thanks to the vitamin C in lemons, these little citrus fruits can help decrease wrinkles and blemishes. Lemons help to push toxins from the body and support healthy liver function, which also keeps skin clear and supple.

10. Protect against kidney stones

When you don’t have enough citrate in your urine, you are at an increased risk of developing kidney stones. Eating lemons on a regular basis can help raise the citrate levels in your urine. They may prevent stones from forming by coating very small stones and keeping other material from attaching to the small stones and enlarging them.

11. Reduce blood pressure

Lemons are high in potassium, which is an important mineral that helps to keep blood vessels soft and flexible. This, in turn, helps to reduce high blood pressure. Vitamin B in lemons is also beneficial to heart health.

12. Refresh cutting board

No matter how clean you try to keep your cutting boards, it is inevitable that they will capture the odors of the foods that you cut on them. After each use, cut a lemon in half and rub the cutting board down. You can also pour some lemon juice in a small spray bottle and spritz the board after each use. Rinse well and allow the board to air dry.

13. Repel insects

If you have small children or pets you may be leery of using a chemical treatment for insects that decide to take up residence in your home. To keep ants and other insects out spray a little juice on door thresholds and windowsills.

If you can see where the ants or other unwanted guests are coming from, squeeze a little juice into holes or cracks. You can also cut up small pieces of lemons outside of doors as well. To deter roaches and fleas, mix the juice of four lemons, with rinds left on, with 1/2 gallon of water and wash your floors.

14. Lighten age spots

Age spots, also known as liver spots, are spots that generally appear in people over 50. They can sometimes be the result of sun exposure and are completely harmless, although some people don’t like the way they look.

If you are one of those people, you can lighten these spots naturally with lemon. Simply apply some real lemon juice to the dark area (a spray bottle works well), and let it sit on the spot for about 15 minutes before rinsing off. Keep this up daily and you will see a lightening effect in no time.

15. Highlight hair naturally

Do you dream of beautiful hair highlights but dread using heavy chemicals? Using lemons for lightening your hair is a wonderful way to get lovely highlights without exposing yourself to toxins. Mix 1/4 cup of lemon juice with 3/4 cup water and use this mixture to rinse your hair. After you rinse, sit in the sun until your hair dries. Repeat this once daily for up to a week until you see the desired results.

16. Fight dandruff

Many people are plagued with dandruff and tirelessly seek relief. Thankfully, there is a very easy way to ease dandruff using lemon juice. Massage two tablespoons of lemon juice into your scalp and rinse with water. Next, stir one teaspoon of lemon juice into a cup of water and rinse your hair with it. Repeat this until you see an improvement in your dandruff.

17. Freshen breath

Rinsing your mouth with juice from lemons can give you fresh breath.

For long-lasting fresh breath, rinse with straight lemon juice. Rather than spitting the juice out, swallow it. Citric acid, found in lemon juice will alter the pH level in your mouth, killing the bacteria that cause breath odor. Rinse your mouth and teeth well, as long-term exposure to the acid can damage tooth enamel.

18. Remove berry stains

Berries are a delicious and nutritious treat and so much fun to go pick yourself. If you find that your fingers become stained from the berries (and they will if you pick enough), you will also find that regular soap and water will not come close to removing the stains.

However, pour some undiluted lemon juice on your hands, wait a few minutes, and wash with warm and soapy water. Repeat until your hands are stain-free; it shouldn’t take more than a couple of washes.

19. Clean brass and chrome

Does your brass or chrome need a pick-me-up? If so, let lemons do the work for you. You can easily make a paste with lemon juice and baking soda. Just mix enough of each to make the consistency of toothpaste. Apply the mixture to your brass or chrome and let it sit for about five minutes. Wash it off with warm water, then dry and polish with a clean cloth. You can also clean your kitchen sink with this mixture. The bonus is that it smells amazingly fresh. It will work to remove mineral deposits as well.

20. Clean and whiten nails

Whether you dig in the dirt a lot, have yellow stains from nail polish, or just have dull and listless nails, lemon juice is just what you need for your nail revival. Lemons contain natural bleaching power that can restore your nails to a vivid white. Fill a bowl halfway with fresh lemon juice.

Place your nails in the juice for about fifteen minutes. Use a soft brush or even a toothbrush to gently scrub the yellow from your nails. Rinse your hands with lukewarm water and apply a thin coat of coconut oil. Do this daily until your nail color has been restored.

21. Firm up soggy lettuce

Do you hate soggy lettuce and often find yourself throwing it out? Before you do, try this: add the juice of half a lemon to a bowl of cold water and place the soggy lettuce in this bowl in the fridge for an hour. You will be amazed at what happens to your limp lettuce. Just take the leaves out of the lemon juice mixture and dry them off before using them in your salad.

22. Aid in proper food and water absorption

A daily glass of lemon water with Himalayan salt may provide a better overall mineral balance, which promotes proper food and water absorption in your body. This allows essential nutrients to get where they need to be.

23. Get rid of allergies

Drinking lemons in warm water can help combat allergies.

It has been suggested that the combination of lemon and salt, specifically mixed into warm water, acts as a natural antihistamine for allergies. It may be the perfect alternative to those pink pills that leave you feeling drowsy.

24. Exfoliate lips

If you are suffering from dry lips, apply a bit of raw lemon juice to your lips before bedtime. In the morning you will find your lips noticeably softer. Repeat this process for several weeks to promote hydration and remove dead skin cells.

25. Boost libido

The vitamin C content and hormone-balancing properties of lemon water can help lift your mood. This might be all it takes to boost your libido, without the need for that little blue pill.

26. Get rid of blackheads

Lemons have both antibacterial and astringent properties that help promote the elimination of waste and excess oil on the skin. To help reduce blackheads, rub some lemon on your skin and let it sit for ten minutes. Splash your face with cold water. Repeat as necessary. Do not use this treatment before spending time in the sun.

27. Fight stinky armpits

Lemons have properties that help them act as a natural deodorant. Citric acid kills bacteria that cause bad odors. Simply rub the juice of a fresh lemon under your arm for a practical and effective emergency deodorant.

What is the difference between real lemons and bottled lemon juice?

Real lemons contain about 139 percent vitamin C, while bottled juice contains 100 percent of the daily value. The calcium content in real lemons is seven percent, while in bottled juice it is three percent. In addition, some bottled lemon juice may also contain fructose and other dangerous additives. Make sure you are using the real thing — it will make a difference.

-Susan Patterson, Certified Health Coach and Master Gardener

Debunking The Connection Between Cholesterol and Heart Disease

6 min read | Author - The Backyard Vitality Team

The documentary Statin Nation: The Great Cholesterol Cover-Up, presented by Rethink Productions, provides strong evidence that the widely-believed ideology that high cholesterol leads to heart disease is completely false. It details how the scientific groundwork that this belief is based upon was heavily manipulated from the start and presents large-scale studies that clearly show the lack of connection between cholesterol levels and heart disease.

In short, mounting evidence shows that our focus on lowering cholesterol, and our growing reliance on statins, a class of cholesterol-lowering pharmaceuticals, is both drawing research focus away from investigating the actual causes of heart disease, and, literally killing us.

The idea that saturated fats and high cholesterol levels cause heart disease, nicknamed the ‘diet-heart hypothesis,’ was invented by Ancel Keys, a 20th-century physiologist and advisor to the Department of Defense during World War II.

It was Keys, who had a dark history of performing inhumane medical experiments, that came up with the Seven Countries Study, which shows a linear relationship between high cholesterol levels in seven countries, and corresponding high rates of heart disease.

The graph Keys drew shows that in his chosen seven countries, the higher the cholesterol levels, the higher the rate of heart disease was in that country. However, he omitted 22 countries from his graph, which when added, showed that the relationship was not linear at all.

Many countries that he failed to include had high cholesterol levels, and low rates of heart disease. Due to his selective omissions, the Seven Countries Study was an entirely fraudulent representation that created an assumed relationship between cholesterol and heart disease where none actually existed.

Statin Nation interviews medical experts from a variety of fields, who each present a wide array of large-scale studies showing that there is no evidence-based relationship between high cholesterol and heart disease at all.

In fact, studies have found that LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol is actually LOWER in heart disease patients than in the general population, and also that low cholesterol levels are associated with earlier death. Additionally, a study performed in Japan found that those with the lowest cholesterol levels had a three-fold higher likelihood of dying of cancer.

Sweden, a nation that has rejected the diet-heart hypothesis and instead has embraced a low-carb, high-fat diet, is reporting significant improvements in the overall health of its citizens.

Today, over 40 million people worldwide take prescription statins to lower their levels of LDL cholesterol. However, in doing so, important cellular functions are severely compromised.

HDL and LDL cholesterols serve as carriers of essential CoQ10, beta carotene, and vitamin E to the mitochondria, the energy source of cells. CoQ10 is essential to the functioning of heart muscles, and cholesterol itself is vital for the body’s overall function, including brain function and hormonal stability.

When cholesterol is prevented from doing its job, the body is not able to work as it should. Numerous statin patients testify that they developed a number of new health conditions when they started taking statins, which gradually improved when statin use was stopped.

Some of the most common was severe memory impairment, a loss of energy, depression, muscle pain, and eye problems. Researchers estimate that only about 1 in 200 adverse effects of statins are actually reported by physicians.

One of the most frightening facts about statins is that in 75 percent of cases, they are prescribed to healthy individuals for preventative purposes, as a ‘primary prevention’ measure against heart disease. However, overwhelming research shows that using statins for primary prevention does nothing to increase life expectancy.

Studies show that the instances of heart attacks in statin patients were somewhat lower, but this was canceled out by the other diseases that occurred in these patients while on statins, very likely caused by the statins themselves due to their inhibition of cellular function and their blockage of vital nutrients.

In the 25 percent of patients prescribed statins after a cardiac event, stroke, or surgical heart intervention, the statins did increase life expectancy slightly. However, when the statistics were compiled, the life expectancy of these patients rose by only 14 days.

Statins are one of the most widely prescribed classes of drugs in the world and provide the pharmaceutical industry with billions of dollars in profits each year. Dr. John Abramson of Harvard Medical School explains how the scientific evidence backing statin use is entirely influenced by commercial interests.

In an interview, he details how starting in the Reagan administration, government funding for research in the public interest was significantly cut, and how the great majority of funding for research now comes from the drug companies themselves.

“You have 5 times better odds of getting the results you want if you pay for the science,” Dr. Abramson states. “The real data is not available to the editors of the journal or the peer reviewers.”

One example of how the pharmaceutical companies with a commercial interest in statins doctored studies supporting their use is the Jupiter Trial. Several years ago, this extremely popular study presented that statins reduce the risk of heart attacks by 54 percent, causing doctors worldwide to prescribe them in huge numbers.

However, Dr. Abramson explains that this was a ‘relative percentage,’ and when the actual numbers were analyzed, it was discovered that heart attacks were only reduced by 0.48 percent.

Nevertheless, the media took the Jupiter Trial as fact, and widely reported the success of statins. According to Dr. Abramson, “the only media in the United States that got it right was that renowned medical expert Dr. Stephen Colbert, who said, ‘the Jupiter Trial was a great breakthrough in figuring out how to get people to take drugs who don’t need them.’”

Heart disease is a serious problem worldwide, causing 7.8 million deaths in 2008. As the death toll continues to rise, it is no surprise that people are afraid, and wish to take preventative measures.

However, increasing evidence shows that lowering cholesterol is not the answer, and the use of statins causes great harm with very questionable benefits, at best. Statin Nation proposes a strong link between stress levels and heart disease, a link that demands further study, as it may hold the key to saving a great number of lives.

As far as statins, Dr. Abramson puts it bluntly: “hopefully when we look back on this era, and we see the fraud that went on in misleading physicians about the scientific evidence, we’ll see that this stands as organized crime…. of a higher-tech nature than robbing banks with machine guns. But there’s a lot more money in this, and in fact, many, many more people get hurt.”

Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride agrees. She urges us to rethink our obsession with cholesterol. “The last thing you want to do is interfere with your blood levels of cholesterol. Your body knows what it is doing. Whatever level of cholesterol you have in your blood at that moment is the right level for you. Don’t mess around with it.”

-The Backyard Vitality Team

Kill Stubborn Muffin Top in Just 20 Minutes a Day

4 min read | Author - The Backyard Vitality Team

Compared to our ancestors, today we live overwhelmingly sedentary lives. Every day revolves around immobility, as we force ourselves out of bed, sit down to breakfast, walk a few steps to the car, sit in traffic as we commute, then sit at work for hours. At the end of the day, we go home, sit on the couch, watch TV for a few hours, then return to bed.

Sitting around doing nothing isn’t a good thing, and it’s certainly not promoting a healthy lifestyle. As we sit in front of our computer at work or chow down on a bag of chips, images of our burgeoning bellies or rapidly expanding thighs guilt us into making a visit to the gym. You might work out for a while, sit on a bike reading a magazine or lift some weights or dumbbells — and suddenly the guilt is gone! We’ve avoided weight gain and got the blood pumping in one fell swoop, and a whole day of immobility has been washed away in a single hour.

Sadly, it seems that this reasoning is incorrect. A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that a sedentary lifestyle is responsible for twice as many deaths as obesity. Conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge, the study measured the height, weight, and waist circumference against self-reported physical activity levels of over 330,000 European men and women for a whopping 12 years.

Researchers estimated that 337,000 of 9.2 million recorded European deaths were attributed to obesity, while 676,000 can be blamed on inactivity — sitting around and not moving regularly. And spending an hour at the gym after a day of immobility is not sufficient to counteract the detrimental effects.

The good news? A 20-minute walk every day could offset the effects of a sedentary lifestyle and add seven years to your life, reducing your chances of premature death by between 16 and 30 percent. The study showed that the benefits of a brisk 20-minute walk, which typically burns between 90 and 100 calories, were observed largely in those people studied who had normal weight. As the body mass index of test subjects increased, the benefits of that 20-minute walk decreased.

Researchers stated that although 20 minutes a day, every day, could make a huge difference to people’s health and longevity, this is the absolute minimum. Professor Ulf Ekelund, who led the study, stated, “Although we found that just 20 minutes would make a difference, we really should be looking to do more than this — physical activity has many proven health benefits and should be an important part of our daily life.”

The message is clear: The more you move around during the day, the healthier you’ll be and the longer you’ll live. While doing intensive exercise at the gym is certainly helping you to stay in shape, a daily trip to the gym alone is not enough.

The good news is, it’s ridiculously easy to incorporate movement back into your life. When you wake in the morning, take five minutes to move around with some gentle yoga or a few basic stretches. As cliché as it sounds, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park your car further away in parking lots so that you have an excuse to walk for longer to wherever you’re going. Instead of sitting around watching YouTube videos on your computer at lunch, grab a buddy and head outside for a 20-minute walk before or after eating. And find excuses throughout the workday to walk around. Make multiple trips to the cooler for water, or take the long way to the toilet. Simple things make all the difference.

Government guidelines state that adults should aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, carrying it out over 10 sessions or more. This should be your baseline for staying healthy and “stopping the clock.” Mix up your exercise routine by going for a long walk in the park or on the beach one day, enjoying a bike ride the following day, then going for a swim the next day, and so on. Keep things varied and you’ll really look forward to your daily bout of movement.

Got your attention? Find out how exercise — in addition to prolonging your life — can actually support healthy brain function and fight off dementia.

-The Backyard Vitality Team

Sources:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2910206/Lack-exercise-kills-TWICE-people-obesity.html
http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/10593521
http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/8778547
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=387973
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/151/3/293.short
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/151/3/293.short

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When your kidneys are overlooked, health suffers

Ginger

Dandelion root

Parsley

Marshmallow root

Celery

1. Lemons fight free radicals

2. Boost immune system

3. Protect against cancer

4. Balance pH

5. Aid oxygen uptake

6. Add fiber

7. Boost mood and energy

8. Improve digestive health

9. Clear skin

10. Protect against kidney stones

11. Reduce blood pressure

12. Refresh cutting board

13. Repel insects

14. Lighten age spots

15. Highlight hair naturally

16. Fight dandruff

17. Freshen breath

18. Remove berry stains

19. Clean brass and chrome

20. Clean and whiten nails

21. Firm up soggy lettuce

22. Aid in proper food and water absorption

23. Get rid of allergies

24. Exfoliate lips

25. Boost libido

26. Get rid of blackheads

27. Fight stinky armpits

What is the difference between real lemons and bottled lemon juice?

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