5 Worst Food Additives

Food additives find their way into our foods to help ease processing, packaging and storage, they have been used for centuries to enhance the appearance and flavor of food and prolong shelf life. Many of these can cause dire consequences to your health.
1. Artificial Sweeteners
Aspartame, better known as Nutrasweet and Equal, is found in foods labeled “diet” or “sugar free”, it is believed to be carcinogenic and accounts for more reports of adverse reactions than all other foods and food additives combined.

Aspartame is a neurotoxin and carcinogen, known to erode intelligence and affect short-term memory, the components of this toxic sweetener may lead to a wide variety of ailments including brain tumors, diseases like lymphoma, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue, emotional disorders like depression and anxiety attacks, dizziness, headaches, nausea, mental confusion, migraines and seizures.
Acesulfame-K is another artificial sweetener found in baking goods, gum and gelatin, has not been thoroughly tested and has been linked to kidney tumors.

You can find it in these foods: Diet or sugar free sodas, diet coke, coke zero, jell-o (and other gelatins), desserts, sugar free gum, drink mixes, baking goods, table top sweeteners, cereal, breath-mints, pudding, kool-aid, ice tea, chewable vitamins, ice cream, and even toothpaste

2. High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup is a highly-refined artificial sweetener which has become the number one source of calories in America. It is found in almost all processed foods and packs on the pounds faster than any other ingredient, increases your bad cholesterol levels, and contributes to the development of diabetes and tissue damage, among other harmful effects.

You can find it in these foods: processed foods, breads, candy, flavored yogurts, salad dressings, canned vegetables, cereals, crackers, soup, frozen dinners, and many more
3. Monosodium Glutamate
MSG is an amino acid used as a flavor enhancer in soups, salad dressings, chips, frozen entrees, and many restaurant foods, it is also known as an excitotoxin, a substance which overexcites cells to the point of damage or death.
Regular consumption of MSG may result in adverse side effects which include depression, disorientation, eye damage, fatigue, headaches, and obesity, it also affects the neurological pathways of the brain and disengages the “I’m full” function which explains a lot of weight gain.

You can find this in Chinese foods, many snacks, chips, cookies, seasonings, most Campbell Soup products, frozen dinners, lunch meats
4. Trans Fat
This is used to enhance and extend the shelf life of food products and is among the most dangerous substances that you can consume, they are formed by a process called hydrogenation, which means the fat is whipped with air until it becomes a solid, this solid does not liquefy again.
Trans fat increases LDL cholesterol levels while decreasing H cholesterol, therefore increases risk of heart attack, heart disease, and stroke, and contributes to increased inflammation, diabetes and other health problems.
You can find this in foods like: margarine, peanut butter, chips and crackers, baked goods, fast foods
5. Common Food Dyes
Artificial colorings which are found in soda, fruit juices and salad dressings, may contribute to a significant reduction in IQ.

Blue #1 and Blue #2 (E133)

May cause chromosomal damage

Found in: candy, cereal, soft drinks, sports drinks and pet foods

Red dye # 3 (also Red #40 – a more current dye) (E124)

This dye continues has been proven to cause thyroid cancer and chromosomal damage in laboratory animals, may also interfere with brain-nerve transmission

Found in: fruit cocktail, maraschino cherries, cherry pie mix, ice cream, candy, bakery products and more!

Yellow #6 (E110) and Yellow Tartrazine (E102)

Increases the number of kidney and adrenal gland tumors in laboratory animals, may cause chromosomal damage.

Found in: American cheese, macaroni and cheese, candy and carbonated beverages, lemonade and more.

http://positivemed.com/2013/05/17/worst-food-additives/

Taking the Stairs, Raking Leaves May Have Same Health Benefits as a Trip to the Gym

Jan. 29, 2013 — New research at Oregon State University suggests the health benefits of small amounts of activity -- even as small as one- and two-minute increments that add up to 30 minutes per day -- can be just as beneficial as longer bouts of physical exercise achieved by a trip to the gym.

The nationally representative study of more than 6,000 American adults shows that an active lifestyle approach, as opposed to structured exercise, may be just as beneficial in improving health outcomes, including preventing metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

"Our results suggest that engaging in an active lifestyle approach, compared to a structured exercise approach, may be just as beneficial in improving various health outcomes," said Paul Loprinzi, lead author of the study. "We encourage people to seek out opportunities to be active when the choice is available. For example, rather than sitting while talking on the phone, use this opportunity to get in some activity by pacing around while talking."

Perhaps just as importantly, the researchers found that 43 percent of those who participated in the "short bouts" of exercise met physical activity guidelines of 30 minutes day. In comparison, less than 10 percent of those in the longer exercise bouts met those federal guidelines for exercise.

Loprinzi, who is an assistant professor at Bellarmine University, conducted the research as a doctoral student working in the lab of Brad Cardinal at Oregon State University. Cardinal, a professor of exercise and sport science, is co-author of the study, which is in the current issue of theAmerican Journal of Health Promotion.

"You hear that less than 10 percent of Americans exercise and it gives the perception that people are lazy," Cardinal said. "Our research shows that more than 40 percent of adults achieved the exercise guidelines, by making movement a way of life."

Cardinal, who has studied the "lifestyle exercise" model for more than 20 years, said one of the most common barriers people cite to getting enough exercise is lack of time. He said the results of this study are promising, and show that simply building movement into everyday activities can have meaningful health benefits.

"This is a more natural way to exercise, just to walk more and move around a bit more," Cardinal said. "We are designed by nature as beings who are supposed to move. People get it in their minds, if I don't get that 30 minutes, I might as well not exercise at all. Our results really challenge that perception and give people meaningful, realistic options for meeting the physical activity guidelines."

For example, Cardinal said instead of driving half a mile, try biking or walking the same distance; instead of using a riding lawn mower, use a push lawn mower. Instead of sitting through TV commercials, try doing some sit-ups, push-ups, or jumping jacks during the commercial breaks; and instead of sitting and being a spectator at a child's sporting event, try walking around during the halftime break.

The researchers said the participants in this study wore accelerometers, which is an objective tool to measure physical activity. Those who participated in the short bouts of activity could be moving as few as one or two minutes at a time. The people in the "short bouts" group had positive results in areas such as blood pressure, cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, and waist circumference.

For instance, the study showed those in the shorter exercise group who met physical activity guidelines had an 89 percent chance of not having metabolic syndrome, compared to 87 percent for those meeting guidelines using the structured exercise approach.

Loprinzi said the one area where small bursts of activity did not seem to equal the benefits of longer, sustained exercise was in Body Mass Index, or BMI. However, the researchers cautioned that these findings do not necessarily mean that short bouts of activity do not help with weight loss, especially since they did find a benefit on weight circumference.

"There are inherent limitations in BMI as a surrogate measure of fat and health in general," Cardinal said. "People can still be 'fit' and 'fat.'"

The researchers emphasized that for health benefits, people should seek out opportunities to be physically active.

"In our society, you will always be presented with things that entice you to sit or be less active because of technology, like using a leaf blower instead of a rake," Cardinal said. "Making physical activity a way of life is more cost-effective than an expensive gym membership. You may be more likely to stick with it, and over the long term, you'll be healthier, more mobile and just feel better all around."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130129100118.htm

Healing Scars Naturally

Several people email and ask us how to get rid of scar tissue, stretch marks, etc. Much of your ability to not show scars depends on genetics, but there are some natural remedies that can visibly improve the appearance of scars and stretch marks over time. These include bentonite clay (topically) and carrot juice (orally). check out this poster for more:

Bentonite clay is a unique substance and an internal and external cleanser for very good reasons; it is primarily formed of an extremely flat crystal flake that carries a relatively strong negative ionic charge called Montmorillonite, which elevates your body’s PH and absorbs some of the hydrogens from your cells enabling them to fill that space with the oxygen you so dearly need.

Coconut oil’s ability to nourish and heal the skin and its wonderful moisturizing and healing powers have been known for generations. As a saturated fat consisting primarily of medium chain fatty acids (MCTs), it is not easily oxidized and does not cause harmful free radical damage like polyunsaturated vegetable oils.

Aloe Vera juice not only soothes inflamed skin it is a fantastic way to remove scars, boost the immune system and regenerate damaged tissue. Aloe Vera has acerbic qualities that ensures, with regular usage, that acne breakouts or scars would be easily prevented resulting in a softer skin, decreased swelling and invigorating new cell growth and thereby reduced acne scars which eventually fade over time.

Carrot juice is very rich in nutrients that help our skin such as potassium, which prevents skin dryness and reduces blemishes and scars and maintain our skin well-hydrated. It has anti-inflammatory property, and helps to revitalize and tone the skin. Drinking the juice regularly will keep your skin moisturized, smooth, soft and supple. It is also packed with antioxidants that prevent skin problems like eczema, dermatitis, wrinkles and even rashes.

Hazelnut oil can be used as a skin cream and/or lotion. This oil resists spoiling, allowing you to keep your homemade skin creams longer. Hazelnut oil is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids. Vitamin E may help reduce the appearance of scar tissue.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant and can help protect your body from sun damage, because of this, it’s added to many over-the-counter skin care preparations and it’s naturally found in foods like fruits and vegetables, and is an essential part of your everyday diet.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant which helps to reverse skin damage. You could use lemons on your skin since this is a strong form of Vitamin C, BUT this could result in drying out, so you need to do one in one form and the other in another form, meaning use vitamin E oil on your skin, but take vitamin C orally.

Asparagus and certain herbs renew your natural skin moisture and youthfulness.

http://positivemed.com/2013/04/09/healing-scars-naturally/

WHEN YOU LOSE FAT

http://positivemed.com/2012/04/04/lose-fat/