Butter vs. Margarine

If you enjoy butter on your baked potato, toast, or pasta, you've probably felt a pang of guilt when putting that golden pat on your plate. Or worse, you may feel conflicted and confused as to whether you should stick with butter or switch to margarine or another spread.

Although a staple of the North American diet, butter came under a great deal of scrutiny when its high levels of saturated fat were associated with increased heart disease risk. Many people accepted the demise of butter in stride, ruing the loss of its savoury flavour but agreeing that its effect on the heart might be too high a price to pay. They dutifully switched to margarine, as researchers and nutritionists suggested. Then the hazards of margarine came to light. Its high levels of trans fats packed a double whammy for heart disease by raising levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and lowering levels of HDL (good cholesterol). Many people felt betrayed or duped.

The truth is, there never was any good evidence that using

margarine instead of butter cut the chances of having a heart attack or developing heart disease. Making the switch was a well-intentioned guess, given that margarine had less saturated fat than butter, but it overlooked the dangers of trans fats.

Today the butter-versus-margarine issue is really a false one. From the standpoint of heart disease, butter is on the list of foods to use sparingly mostly because it is high in saturated fat, which aggressively increases levels of LDL. Margarines, though, aren't so easy to classify. The older stick margarines that are still widely sold are high in trans fats, and are worse for you than butter. Some of the newer margarines that are low in saturated fat, high in unsaturated fat, and free of trans fats are fine as long as you don't use too much (they are still rich in calories).

You can quickly compare the health value of spreads (including butter and margarine) simply by looking at the nutrition labels on these products. The FDA now requires nutrition labels to include information about both saturated fats and trans fats. Your goal is to limit intake of saturated fats and to avoid trans fats altogether.

Healthier alternatives to butter or margarine include olive oil and other vegetable oil–based spreads, which contain beneficial mono- and polyunsaturated fats. Next time you tear into a warm loaf of bread or roll, consider dipping it in grape seed oil, olive oil rather than coating it in butter.

What Are They and How Are They Made?

These are oils that are extracted from seeds like Soybean, Cottonseed, Sunflower and a few others.

They were never available to humans until the 20th century, because we simply didn’t have the technology to extract them.

The way these oils are manufactured is very disgusting (see video) and it is mind-baffling that someone ever thought they would be suitable for human consumption.

It involves a harsh extraction process that includes bleaching, deodorizing and the highly toxic solvent hexane.

These oils have made their way to all sorts of processed foods, including “healthy” salad dressings, butter replicates, mayonnaise, cookies and more.

Bottom Line: The processing method for industrial seed- and vegetable oils involves factories, many machines and chemicals like hexane.

 

Why Are They Harmful?

Doctor Thumbs Down

The main problem with most of these oils is that they are way too high in Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Both Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are so-called essential fatty acids, meaning that we need some of them in our diet because the body can’t produce them.

Throughout evolution, we got Omega-3 and Omega-6 in a certain ratio.

Our Omega-6:Omega-3 ratio used to be about 1:1. However, in the past century or so, this ratio in the Western diet has shifted drastically, all the way up to 16:1.

When the Omega-6:Omega-3 ratio shifts too high in favour of Omega-6, bad things start to happen in the body.

The excess Omega-6 fatty acids build up in our cell membranes and contribute to inflammation.

INFLAMMATION IS AN UNDERLYING FACTOR IN SOME OF THE MOST COMMON WESTERN DISEASES AND INCLUDE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, CANCER, DIABETES, ARTHRITIS AND MANY, MANY OTHERS.

Bottom Line: Seed oils are high in Omega-6 fatty acids. Eating an excess of Omega-6 can lead to increased inflammation in the body and potentially contribute to disease.

Consumption Has Increased Drastically

IN THE PAST CENTURY, CONSUMPTION OF THESE OILS HAS INCREASED AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER HEALTHY FATS LIKE BUTTER.

THEY WERE LABELLED AS “HEART-HEALTHY” AND THE GOVERNMENTS ALL AROUND THE WORLD ENCOURAGED US TO EAT MORE OF THEM.~~~Al(Alex-Alexander) D. Girvan.

Super Talent =Addiction, can be Much More a Curse Than a Blessing

Famous Alcoholics/Addicts: Johnny Cash, Truman Capote,  Mel Gibson, Jimi Hendrix, Mickey Mantle, Dean Martin-no one ever knew if he really was or was just pretending- Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, William Shatner, Robin Williams,

Elvis Presley Quotes: “I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to. ”

·         “To judge a man by his weakest link or deed is like judging the power of the ocean by one wave.”

·         “SAD THING IS, YOU CAN STILL LOVE SOMEONE AND BE WRONG FOR THEM.”

·         “Maybe I didn't treat you

Quite as good as I should have

Maybe I didn't love you

Quite as often as I could have

Little things I should have said and done

I just never took the time

You were always on my mind

You were always on my mind”― Elvis Presley was not a song writer- his talent was the “making” of a song- any song-he recorded his version of "Always on My Mind" on March 29, 1972, a few weeks after his February separation from wife Priscilla. The song received immense fame, critical appreciation, and is considered one of the standout songs of the '70s, and for Elvis. The song was released as the B-side of the "Separate Ways" single, which reached Gold status in the United States of North America--sales of over a million copies. It was listed as a double sided hit reaching number 16 on Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles chart in November 1972. Juxtaposition, in the United Kingdom, "Always on My Mind" was the hit song; and "Separate Ways" was the B-side. It was voted the #1 song of Presley's recording career, in a poll, conducted by ITV in 2013.

·         “WHEN THINGS GO WRONG, DON'T GO WITH THEM.”

·          “ANIMALS DON'T HATE, AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE BETTER THAN THEM.”

·          “IF YOU LET YOUR HEAD GET TOO BIG, IT'LL BREAK YOUR NECK.”  

·          “Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't going away.”

·          “Do something worth remembering.”

·          “Don’t criticize what you don’t understand, son. You never walked in that man’s shoes.”

·          “Values are like fingerprints. Nobody's are the same, but you leave 'em all over everything you do”

·          “Ambition is a dream with a V8 engine”

·          “Some people tap their feet, some people snap their fingers, and some people sway back and forth. I just sorta do 'em all together, I guess.”

·          “The image is one thing and the human being is another. It's very hard to live up to an image, put it that way.”  

·          “THANK YA THANK YA VERY MUCH”

·         “I'd rather go on hearing your lies, than to go on living without you.”

·           “Fingerprints are like values--you leave them all over everything you do”

·         “PEOPLE THINK YOU’RE CRAZY IF YOU TALK ABOUT THINGS THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND.”

 Jimi Hendrix Quotes: Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.

·         When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.

·         Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

·         Excuse me while I kiss the sky.

·         The story of life is quicker than the blink of an eye, the story of love is hello, goodbye.

·         I'm the one that has to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life, the way I want to.

·         Sometimes you want to give up the guitar, you'll hate the guitar. But if you stick with it, you're gonna be rewarded.

·         The time I burned my guitar it was like a sacrifice. You sacrifice the things you love. I love my guitar.

·         You have to give people something to dream on.

·         IF I'M FREE, IT'S BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS RUNNING.

Johnny Cash: In many ways spiraling out of control, Cash’s Frenetic Creativity was still delivered hits.

 Although Cash carefully cultivated a romantic outlaw image, he never served a prison sentence. Despite landing in jail seven times for misdemeanors, each stay lasted only a single night.

As his career was taking off in the late 1950s, Cash started drinking heavily and became addicted to amphetamines and barbiturates.  For a brief time, he shared an apartment in Nashville with Waylon Jennings, who was heavily addicted to amphetamines. Cash used the uppers to stay awake during tours. Friends joked about his “nervousness” and erratic behavior, many ignoring the warning signs of his worsening drug addiction. In a behind-the-scenes look at The Johnny Cash Show, Cash claims to have “tried every drug there was to try.”

In many ways spiraling out of control, Cash’s Frenetic Creativity was still deliverd hits. His 1963 rendition of “Ring of Fire” was a crossover hit, reaching No. 1 on the country charts and entering the Top 20 on the pop charts, and it remains his top-selling hit of all time.

The man in black fueled his outlaw image not only with alcohol, amphetamines and barbiturates, but with actions far beyond the ordinary. In 1965, Cash's car started a forest fire that consumed several hundred acres of land and killed several dozen endangered condors. He became the only person at the time to be sued by the federal government for starting a forest fire. Several years later, the country singer attempted suicide after growing tired of the pain his various addictions inflicted upon his family. High on various drugs and alcohol and feeling "barely human," Cash decided to crawl into Nickajack Cave in Marion County, Tennessee so that he might join the ranks of the many lost explorers of that cave. Cash moved into the depths of the cave until his flashlight died and his personal reservoirs of energy were spent. At this, his lowest point, Cash experienced a spiritual epiphany and a renewed vigor. After several long hours in the dark he managed to extricate himself from the cave. From that point on, Cash sought treatment and maintained sobriety, thanks to the support of his family.

Truman Capote: The American novelist and short story writer admitted to his alcoholism, drug addiction, and homosexuality. He underwent treatment in the 1970s, but his health was so compromised that he died in 1984 at the age of 59. Capote’s drunken behavior is legendary, and although he would stop drinking for several months at a time, he could not stay away from alcohol.

Mel Gibson: Began drinking at 13 and has said that alcoholism runs in his family. As a manic-depressive, alcohol aggravates his condition, and his unruly behavior has prompted accusations of homophobia, racism, anti-Semitism, sexism, and misogyny. In the past, Gibson has sought professional help and attended AA meetings. He finally went into rehab after being arrested for a DUI in 2006.

 Jimi Hendrix: Hendrix is truly the most innovational rock guitarist of all time. Single headedly defining Hard Psychedelic Rock, Hendrix combined incredible proficiency and creativity to produce the recognisable and brilliant sound that was "The Jimi Hendrix Experience." His riffs were Crazy Enough to Melt Your Face, but he also played with immense heart and soul which makes him the greatest guitar player ever. Tracks like "Fire" and "Purple Haze" are one of a kind songs created by a one of a kind musician. THANK YOU JIMI, REST IN PEACE. What Kind of Drugs Did Jimi Hendrix Take?

There are a few allegations of drug usage involving Jimi Hendrix that cannot be verified, but there are just as many - if not more - that certainly appear to be the truth.

Drugs Taken By Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix took a variety of different kinds of drugs during his lifetime.

·         Alcohol-Alcohol is an addictive drug that Jimi Hendrix used and abused. Hendrix told people that he got foolish when he drank, reporting that he gave away money. His band mates and the people around him would also vouch that he also often became violent when he drank. He was accused of attacking and abusing several people while he was drunk.

·         Marijuana: You might not think that smoking marijuana is a big deal, since such a large portion of people across the world try it out at some point in their lives. However, think about not only the combination of marijuana and alcohol, but also the combination of marijuana and the other drugs that we are going to discuss. The mixing of drugs can quickly become dangerous, no matter how "safe" each of them are individually.

·         LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) Jimi Hendrix was known to use LSD while touring. LSD is a psychedelic drug which makes you hallucinate. When you take LSD, you will also have an altered experience of time, depth, and just your general experience. You will not be able to think straight. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, LSD IS NOT ADDICTIVE. However, that does not by any means imply that it is safe!

·         Amphetamine: Jimi Hendrix was also known to have used amphetamines while he was on tour.Amphetamines include the following types of drugs:Stimulants, Entactogens, Hallucinogens-A commonly known drug that belongs to this group is Ecstasy.

Drugs and Jimi Hendrix's Death

Examining the different drugs that Jimi Hendrix took might lead you to question if the drugs led to his death. However, we cannot answer that as the circumstances surrounding Jimi Hendrix's death are extremely sketchy.

His girlfriend Monika Dannemann claims that Hendrix took nine Vesperax sleeping pills (18 times the recommended dosage) which could have lead to his death, while the doctor who first examined him said that he had drowned on his own vomit which was comprised of mainly red wine.

We may never know what exactly killed Jimi Hendrix, but we do know POSITIVELY; that drugs played a role.

Mickey Mantle: One of the legendary great Yankees of all time. Most of his games were played under the influence of alcohol or hung over. Mantle died as a result of health related issues due to drinking.

Dean Martin: NO ONE EVER KNEW, if he was pretending to be drunk all of the time as part of a well-crafted comedy shtick, or was really an alcoholic in real life. Of course, he didn't help matters by placing a vanity license on one of his vehicles that read "Drunky." Either way, he was one of the most famous alleged celebrity alcoholics of his era. He sang, ran with the "rat pack" and co-starred in hilarious movies with fellow actor Jerry Lewis. He stayed high profile until the 80's when he slowly began to drift out of the public eye. He died in 1995 from respiratory failure. However, the public can still see him late night on refurbished DVD's of comedy roasts. Puffy-eyed and with drink in hand, Dean Martin aimlessly makes jokes about his actor friends and appears to all viewers as the "lush" of the party. "

Elvis Presley: To the world he seemed to have it all but he had things missing in his life and that pained him. The first time Elvis Presley played Las Vegas, the critics hated him. Appearing in the Venus Room at the New Frontier Hotel in the spring of 1956, the 21-year-old hillbilly crooner with the dreamy eyes and well-lubricated hips was billed as "America's only atomic-powered singer." Two years earlier, he had been driving a truck in Memphis for $45 a week. Now he had a contract with RCA Victor Recordings and a movie deal with Paramount Studios.

At the time, Vegas was still known for its mobbed-up glamour.  It was the era of The Rat Pack.  -- bent-nose guys in fedoras, ladies in white gloves. The furniture was mid-century modern, the patrons were well-dressed, the food and drink were expensive, and the nightclubs were ruled by hepcats like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

The audiences packing the venues, however, were somewhat old by today's standards, mostly in their 50s and 60s. After World War II, veterans had gotten a late start on life. The youth culture pioneered by their children, the baby boomers, was still in its embryonic stage. And still misunderstood.

"As he stands up there clutching his guitar, he shakes and shivers like he is suffering from itchy underwear and hot shoes," wrote Ralph Pearl in the Las Vegas Sun.

"For the average Vegas spender or showgoer, [Elvis is] a bore," wrote another of the Sun's critics, Bill Willard. "Suffering high blood pressure, liver damage, glaucoma and an enlarged colon Presley died of a heart attack in his bathroom, his body pumped full of prescription pills,

 Frank Sinatra: Classified as a "functioning alcoholic," battled alcoholism for many years. However the 2 weeks before a recording session, Sinatra would save his voice by not having one drop of alcohol or a single cigarette. In comparing Sinatra's music from the early 50's to late 50's it is painfully evident that his massive alcohol abuse and smoking took a toll on his voice. The singer's biographer was quoted as saying "Sinatra's use and abuse of alcohol was much more important than anyone understood."

William Shatner; The actor is often lovingly joked about as an alcoholic. His famous role as Captain Kirk on the TV series Star Trek along with his celebrity status has given him a public pass. However, life always has a way of catching up with people dealing with the dreaded disease of alcoholism. After winning his own battle with the bottle, Shatner met and married a beautiful model named Nerine. Unfortunately, she was a hopeless alcoholic. Friends warned him about the troubles he would incur as a spouse of an alcoholic, but he didn’t listen. Shatner thought his love for her would conquer all. Unfortunately, it wasn’t strong enough and Nerine died in an alcohol-related accident sometime later. This event devastated William Shatner and caused him to go public about the negative effects of alcoholism. Now, through the Nerine Shatner Friendly House, he helps other people struggling to get and stay sober.

Robin Williams: The infamous comedian was addicted to cocaine and alcohol early in his career, but quit when friend and fellow comedian, John Belushi, died of a cocaine overdose in 1982. When he began slipping into alcoholism again in 2006, he immediately sent himself to rehab.

Poor Health, Especially Among Men, Costs Canadian Taxpayers $36.9 Billion a Year.

THE EVEN BETTER NEWS IS

Research has shown, time and time again-should the Canadian male, or female just make the decision to (although for senior’s on pension “BENEFITS” the SCAM term politicians prefer to use; when referring to the pensions working Canadians have paid for all their lives and been FORCED to allow the GOVERNMENTS to ADMINISTER such is often next to impossible) to live tobacco free, eat well, participate in regular physical activities, and to do what we can to prevent chronic disease there is absolutely no OTHER reason they should not live to be over  one hundred twenty five (125) years old.

It’s not all or nothing, even small improvements in nutrition and activity add up to big benefits later.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia June 15, 2015 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadian Men's Health Week is kicking off (more cost, [but, possibly worthwhile, in the ling run] to the taxpayer) with an urgent message: Unhealthy lifestyle choices are running rampant, and they are costing TAXPAYERS (this country) NOT THE GOVERNMENTS an arm and a leg.

A NEW??? ground-breaking study released today shows that smoking, excess weight, over-consumption of alcohol and physical inactivity (I thought we already knew that, one or two thousand years ago) are some of the leading causes of chronic disease, among Canadian men.

The annual economic burden attributable to these four factors is staggering: $36.9 billion. No wonder the second annual Canadian Men's Health Week is striving to raise awareness about this issue and is encouraging men to make small but essential changes to their lifestyles.

The cost of Peoples (men and women) poor health is a huge problem that more and more people are talking about but few are DOING ANYTHING ABOUT. Encouraging men (and women) to make some changes in their lifestyle is helping to prevent up to 70% of these problems without adding another doctor, hospital, or taxpayer expense to the health care system.

The study, commissioned by Canadian Men’s Health Foundation, breaks down the economic burden: Direct health care accounts for $11.9 billion, with the remaining $25.1 billion caused by premature mortality ($14.0 billion), short-term disability ($2.4 billion) and long-term disability ($8.6 billion). Of this, $13.0 billion is attributable to smoking, $11.9 billion to excess weight, $7.6 billion to alcohol, and $4.4 billion to inactivity.*

These four risk factors contribute to approximately 40 different chronic conditions including 78% of chronic lung diseases, 73% of cancers of the head and neck, 72% of lung cancers, 67% of type 2 diabetes, 58% of heart diseases, 56% of strokes, 52% of colorectal cancers, and 30% of chronic back pain.

Should OUR governments ever take some responsibility; start doing-EVEN A SMALL PORTION-of the job to which they have been entrusted; this report reaffirms that healthy life choices by British Colombians WOULD help in lowering the strain on the health system and THE CANADIAN TAXPAYER.

The report is a reminder for all men (and women) of how critically important it is for every one of us try to make better choices – to live tobacco free, eat well, participate in regular physical activities, and to do what we can to prevent chronic disease.

Wake-up to the huge personal and economic costs associated with excess weight, inactivity, smoking and drinking.

The personal costs associated with family tragedy are incalculable.

Poor lifestyle choices are costing Canadians $11 billion in short and long term disability. Health care costs that already absorb more than 40 cents of every ((presently virtually worthless) dollar spent on programs-other than political “PERKS” and SALARIES.

While the economic costs are high, the effects on men's families and communities are even higher.

Widows DO account for 45% of all women aged 65 and over. We men DO need to start making changes to take better care of ourselves, not just for us, but also for the people who count on us and for our communities."

A Universal Prescription Drug Plan Would Reduce Total Spending on Medications in Canada by Billions and Cover Everyone, at an Affordable Price for Taxpayers

IF, elected Canadian politicians, those unworthy individuals now comprising our Government??? could or would just manage to fulfil a small part of their jobs by carrying through with “UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE” ;  a Universal Drug Plan –a necessary part of health care-Would Save Billions, University of British Columbia researchers say.

 Through Responsible Administration and Management, a Government??? plan could save the Canadian, citizen/consumer/taxpayer, Billions Of Dollars while keeping drug costs affordable, study suggests.

Canada is the only developed country with universal health insurance coverage that does not also offer universal prescription drug benefits. Presently, about one in ten (10% of) Canadians-many seniors- say they can’t afford to take their medications as prescribed-so, really, they have Universal Nothing-they can not afford GOOD HEALTH.

A universal prescription drug plan could reduce total spending on medications in Canada by billions and cover everyone at an affordable price for taxpayers, health policy researchers say.

Thomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas, PC CC SOM (20 October 1904 – 24 February 1986) was a Scottish-born Canadian social democratic politician and Baptist minister. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1935 as a member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). He left federal politics to become the Saskatchewan Co-operative Commonwealth Federation’s leader and then the seventh Premier of Saskatchewan from 1944 to 1961. His government was the first Democratic Socialist government in North America, and it Introduced The CONTINENT'S First “Single-Payer, Universal Health Care Program.”

After setting up Saskatchewan's Medicare Program, Douglas stepped down as premier and ran to lead the newly formed federal New Democratic Party (NDP), the successor party of the National Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. Douglas elected first federal leader of the New Democratic party in 1961.

Although Douglas never led the party to government, through much of his tenure, the party held the balance of power in the House of Commons. He was noted as being the main opposition to the imposition of the War Measures Act (Pierre Idiot Trudeau) during the 1970 October Crisis.

[Although, "reason before passion" was  supposedly his personal motto, from the late 1960s until the mid-1980s, following the example of the Kennedys in the United States of the Americas, Pierre Trudeau personality dominated the political scene to an extent never before seen in Canadian political life, arousing passionate and polarizing reactions throughout Canada. However, many of the laws he implemented were not too bright, very costly to the Canadian taxpayer, very poorly thought out, and had much more to do with his own ego, and pocket book, than any perceived benefit to Canada. Really, most, to this day have never, been successfully implemented.]

Tommy Douglas resigned as leader the next year, but remained as a Member of Parliament until 1979. He was awarded many honorary degrees, and a foundation was named for him and his political mentor Major James Coldwell during 1971. In 1981, he was invested into the Order of Canada; and became a member of Canada's Privy Council in 1984. Tommy Douglas died in 1986 after a battle with cancer.

In 2004, a CBC Television program named Tommy Douglas "The Greatest Canadian", based on a Canada-wide, viewer-supported survey. ©Al (Alex-Alexander) D Girvn. All rights reserved.

Diets of People Worldwide are Worsening Despite Improved Access to “Healthy” Food

True, initially, the animals and plants now harvested for introduction into the food supply many have been healthier than they were in former times. But then again, maybe not--Mad Cow Case Confirmed In Alberta. Most of the evidence, so far however, does seem to indicate that we have developed some superior strains of both animals and plants; plus, or so it is generally claimed disease, sanitation and pest control, have both been improved. Unfortunately, due to handling, processing, and marketing standards the food products produced from them are not.

Poor food choices-Health Depriving Diets Can Be Curbed By Taxpayers DEMANDING Government Action—DEMANDING that Governments??? and the grossly overpaid politicians entrusted to the job of ADMINISTERING to the affairs of our country do at least some small part of their job.

If Taxpayers DEMANDED the Regulating Food Advertising; most of all if taxpayers DEMANDED the enforcing laws against deliberate introduction dangerous bacteria, by products, viruses and other material into animal foods-including human; and, by NOT allowing politicians to look for another TAX-better described as: another way of padding their own wallet the government would be forced to actually do something worthwhile in the way of helping improve the situation.

 There may be more fruit, vegetables and health friendly options available than ever before, but the world is mostly hungry for tasty convenient nutritious, non-fattening ready prepared Not The Presently Government Endorsed And Promoted, Global Free Trade Junk Food GARBAGE Now Being Forced Upon Them, according eating habits in nearly 190 countries.

International researchers combed through more than 320 self-reported diet surveys from 1990 to 2010 and looked at how often people said they ate 17 common foods, drinks and nutrients including health SUPPORTIVE choices like fruits, vegetables and fish and unhealthier alternatives like salt, processed meats and /or other “snacks” and sugary drinks.

Experts found that even though people are eating more health friendly foods –of course, we all realise, the foods, themselves, are neither healthy or unhealthy-including whole grains nor fish, there has been an even bigger jump in the amount of highly processed, additive saturated, TRUE JUNK FOOD eaten. The study was paid for by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Britain's Medical Research Council and was published online Thursday in the journal, Lancet Global Health, as part of an obesity series.

Some Other key Findings About Our Diets:

·        Poor, unwise, dietary choices are now a greater threat to global health than tobacco .

·        Older adults ate better than younger adults and women ate healthier than men.

·        Some of the best nutritional improvements were seen in Mongolia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

·        Countries needing to curb their junk food habits included Bosnia, Armenia and the Dominican Republic, NORTH AMERICA.

·        There was a mixed picture in Canada and the United States of the Americas, with increases both wise health friendly and not so wise not so health friendly dietary choices.

·        Westerners are, STILL the biggest eaters of highly processed additive saturated garbage junk food. However, China and India are catching up due to the fact that their politicians and more ‘DEMOCRATID” style governments have been allowed to step in and scam additional self-profit.

Government researchers have found that in some countries in Africa and Asia, there has been no improvement in their diet -or in government Tax Revenue during the past 20 years. Politicians now claim "We can't leave it unchecked”.

 ©Al (Alex-Alexander) D Girvan. All rights reserved

Study Links Pesticide Exposure in Pregnancy to Autism (Reuters Health)

“Ours is the third study to specifically link autism spectrum disorders to pesticide exposure, whereas more papers have demonstrated links with developmental delay,” said lead author Janie F. Shelton, from the University of California, Davis. There needs to be more research before scientists can say that pesticides cause autism, she told Reuters Health in an email. But pesticides all affect signalling between cells in the nervous system, she added, so a direct link is plausible.

“We already knew from animal studies as well as from epidemiologic studies of women and children that prenatal exposure (to pesticides) is associated with lower IQ,” Landrigan told Reuters Health. “This study builds on that, uses the population of a whole state, looks at multiple different pesticides and finds a pattern of wide association between pesticide exposure and developmental disability.”

“One lesson or message for parents is to minimize or eliminate use of pesticides in their own homes,” Landrigan said.

Developmental delay, in which children take extra time to reach communication, social or motor skills milestones, affects about four percent of U.S. kids, the authors write. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in 68 children has an ASD, also marked by deficits in social interaction and language.

Children of mothers exposed to organophosphates were 60 percent more likely to have an ASD than children of non-exposed mothers, the authors report in Environmental Health Perspectives.

Autism risk was also increased with exposure to so-called pyrethroid insecticides, as was the risk for developmental delay. Carbamate pesticides were linked to developmental delay but not ASDs.

For some pesticides, exposure seemed to be most important just before conception and in the third trimester, but for others it didn’t seem to matter when during pregnancy women were exposed.

Dr. Philip J. Landrigan speculated that the pesticides probably drifted from crops through the air, and that’s how pregnant women were exposed.    Landrigan directs the Children's Environmental Health Centre at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York and was not involved in the new study. The new study did not measure airborne pesticide levels, however. For city-dwelling families, instead of spraying for cockroaches every month, integrated pest management is a better choice. That approach makes chemical pesticides the last resort - first steps are to seal up cracks and crevices in the home, clean up food residue and try relatively non-toxic options, like roach motels. If there’s one thing that parents can control it’s what comes into their home, he said.

 “It would be a great first step to stop using organophosphates and pyrethroids inside the home,” Shelton agreed.

2013-02-19 – HEALTH HAZARD ALERT: Two of Canada's largest grocers have once again announced nationwide food recalls.

2013-02-19 – HEALTH HAZARD

MANY CANADIAN FOOD PRODUCTS

SHOULD NOT BE CONSUMED, OR 

EVEN TAKEN INTERNALLY.

ALERT: Two of Canada's largest grocers 

have once again announced nationwide food 

recalls.

Canada Safeway is recalling certain frozen beef burgers that may be contaminated with E. coli. They are under their in-store Gourmet Meat Shoppe and Butcher's Cut brands, and were distributed to their stores throughout Western Canada.

The affected products have a best before date of August 14th.

Meanwhile Loblaw’s, who operate stores including Superstore, Extra Foods and Wholesale Club, is advising customers not to eat President's Choice White Corn Black Bean Salsa, or PC Salsa Mild, because they may both contain pieces of plastic.

More information on this; just the latest of the many meat recalls since 1995, is available online at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's website.

Raise Your Kids to be Deaf, Dumb, and Obese.

Buy them I-tunes, an I-phone, make certain they watch at least four hours of TV a day, and be certain that they are " Loven It"; like "Chubby Chicken", and "The Three Little Pigs".

COCA COLA, PEPSI COLA, ENERGY DRINKS--DRAIN ON THE HEALTH SYSTEM-SHOULD BE VERY HEAVILY TAXED.

A SERIOUS-major-major, drain on the health care system.

QUITE POSSIBLY AS GREAT AS THAT CAUSED BY ALCOHOL AND  TOBACCO COMBINED.

COKE, PEPSI, SODA=POP

Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad;

Bad for your health,

Bad for your teeth,

CORPORATE MANUFACTURES AND ADVERTISING COMPANIES-not the brainwashed, naive, and gullible, consumers-should be VERY HEAVILY TAXED, and a fund set up; similar to, and serving the same purpose, the one set up in order to compensate families, and victims, of the asbestos producers.

It is not just the sugar, which leads to obesity, all carbonated drinks contain phosphoric acid; which destroys your stomach lining possibly leading to ulcers, and destroys tooth enamel which leads to tooth decay and probable malnutrition. The acid is added to activate the Sodium Bicarbonate( like salt, the sodium content here is linked to heart disease), creating the bubbles. Health recommendation--If you must--FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT A HISTORY OF HEALTH DISEASE--no more than 1(not a misprint, one) soft drink a week. Drink using a straw. 

"Coca-Cola the largest seller: is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines internationally. The Coca-Cola Company claims that the beverage is sold in more than 200 countries.^[1] It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke (a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company in the United States since March 27, 1944). Originally intended as apatent medicine when it was invented in the late 19th century by John Pemberton, Coca-Cola was bought out by businessman Asa Griggs Candler, whose marketing tactics led Coke to its dominance of the world soft-drink market throughout the 20th century.

The company produces concentrate, which is then sold to licensed Coca-Cola bottlers throughout the world. The bottlers, who hold territorially exclusive contracts with the company, produce finished product in cans and bottles from the concentrate in combination with filtered water and sweeteners. The bottlers then sell, distribute and merchandise Coca-Cola to retail stores and vending machines. Such bottlers include Coca-Cola Enterprises, which is the largest single Coca-Cola bottler in North America and western Europe. The Coca-Cola Company also sells concentrate for soda fountains to major restaurants and food service distributors.

The Coca-Cola Company has, on occasion, introduced other cola drinks under the Coke brand name. The most common of these is Diet Coke, with others including Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola, Diet Coke Caffeine-Free, Coca-Cola Cherry, Coca-Cola Zero, Coca-Cola Vanilla, and special editions with lemon, lime or coffee."

That Healthy???Glowing Golden Skin, Is It Worth The High Cost?

• A COST THAT MAY INCLUDE---YOUR LIFE.
• Tanning and Tanning beds now listed among top cancer risks.
• Tanning and the use of tanning beds are a huge drain on the Health System.
•  International cancer experts have moved tanning beds and other sources of ultraviolet radiation into the top cancer risk category, deeming them as deadly as arsenic, asbestos, mustard gas, and tobacco use.
• In the long run, that "healthy glowing skin", will make you look at least twenty years older than you actually are but it all evens out as there is a very good chance that it will shorten your life span by twenty years as well..
• Remember that tanning, tanning beds, and cataracts/eye damage go hand-in-hand.
• Most lights used in tanning beds give off mainly ultraviolet radiation, which cause skin and eye cancer, according to the International Agency for Cancer Research.
• Damaged skin also damages you immune system.
• Sunlight does provide the body with much needed vitamin D; but, direct or lengthy exposure is not required. Dead, damaged, or nicely broiled skin provides nothing that is of any benefit.

Talks Resume On Plan To Ban Tanning Beds

TIMES COLONIST SEPTEMBER 19, 2010

Public hearings on a proposed bylaw to ban anyone under the age of 18 from using tanning beds will be held again this week.

The bylaw is intended to protect minors from the damaging ultraviolet light emitted by tanning beds, said chief medical health officer Dr. Richard Stanwick, who proposed the bylaw earlier this year. He said the use of such facilities is dangerous to public health as they emit a recognized carcinogen. Some countries ban tanning beds for adults as well.

Public hearings were held this past week in Sidney and the West Shore. Two others are planned for this week, on Wednesday at the Gordon Head Recreation Centre at 4100 Lambrick Way, and on Thursday at the Ambrosia Conference and Event Centre at 638 Fisgard St. Both start at 6 p.m.

Stanwick and a tanning industry representative will be at the hearings providing information. Others wishing to speak at the hearings should register by calling 250-360-3221.

© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

 Sunlight contains different wavelengths of UV light. UVA rays penetrate deeper into your skin and cause tanning. UVB rays damage the more superficial skin layers and cause sunburn Many tanning salons claim that indoor tanning is safe because you are exposed to more tanning UVA rays than burning UVB rays. Medical research disproves this claim. Skin cancer is certainly associated with sunburn from UVB rays, but scientists at the FDA and other respected institutions now have evidence that even moderate tanning due to UVA rays produces the same long-term skin damage as a sunburn, increasing your risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging, and damaging your immune system. UVA rays penetrate deep into your skin, causing significant destruction and loss of skin elasticity- this is what causes you to look so much older than you actually are. UVA exposure is associated with an increased risk for squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma.

Indoor Tanning: The Risks of Ultraviolet Rays

Sunlamps and tanning beds promise consumers a bronzed body year-round, but the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from these devices poses serious health risks.

“Although some people think that a tan gives them a ‘healthy’ glow, any tan is a sign of skin damage,” says Sharon Miller, M.S.E.E., a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientist and international expert on UV radiation and tanning.

“A tan is the skin’s reaction to exposure to UV rays,” says Miller. “Recognizing exposure to the rays as an ‘insult,’ the skin acts in self-defence by producing more melanin, a pigment that darkens the skin. Over time, this damage will lead to prematurely aged skin and, in some cases, skin cancer.”

Two types of UV radiation that penetrate the skin are UV-B and UV-A rays.

UV-B rays penetrate the top layers of skin and are most responsible for sunburns.

UV-A rays penetrate to the deeper layers of the skin and are often associated with allergic reactions, such as a rash.

Both UV-B and UV-A rays damage the skin and can lead to skin cancer. Tanning salons use lamps that emit both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

Cancer Risk

Exposure to UV radiation—whether from the sun or from artificial sources such as sunlamps used in tanning beds—increases the risk of developing skin cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is linked to getting severe sunburns, especially at a young age.

A "Safe Tan"?

There's No Such Thing.

A TAN, whether you get it on the beach, in a bed, or through incidental exposure, IS BAD NEWS 
any way you acquire it.

 Tans are caused by harmful ultraviolet (UV/UVA) radiation from the sun or tanning lamps, and if you have one, you’ve sustained serious skin cell damage. No matter what you may hear at tanning salons, the cumulative damage caused by UV radiation WILL lead to premature skin aging (wrinkles, lax skin, brown spots, and more), as well as, skin cancer, and early death.

Now, to avoid both skin and eye damage from tanning beds, we are providing you with some easy to follow instruction. First, always visit a reputable tanning salon that uses quality beds, disinfects them carefully after each person, changes out bad bulbs, and monitors the amount of time people use the beds. It can be far too tempting to go with a cheaply priced salon but in this case, you do not want to skimp on quality.

For the eyes, many studies have shown that increased exposure to ultraviolet rays greatly increases the possibility of developing certain types of cataracts. While cataracts can be removed surgically, they can present as a serious problem. However, overexposure can cause other eye problems such as pterygium, which is tissue growth on the white part of the eye, and macula degeneration, which is damage to the retina.

Therefore, above anything, always wear the protective eye gear. Remember that not all tanning salons enforce the wearing of goggles so ultimately, you have the responsibility to protect your eyes. If you notice the goggles not fitting correctly, ask for another pair until you find one that does. Many people who tan on a regular basis will buy their own goggles, ensuring their eyes have the best possible protection.

Finally, if at any time you see a tanning salon advertising that their beds do not produce glare so goggles are not needed, you should run away as fast as you can. This is a false claim that is highly irresponsible on the side of the tanning salon owners. This is serious business and you only have one set of eyes so do everything you can to protect them for life.

Indoor Tanning  Increases Melanoma Risk  by 74 Percent Indoor ultraviolet (UV) tanners are 74 percent more likely to develop melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors. Additionally, the more time a person has spent tanning indoors, the higher the risk.  Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, killing approximately 8,650 Americans in 2009. “We hope that these findings, along with what we already know about the risks of indoor tanning, will keep people from using tanning beds,” said Allan C. Halpern, MD, MSc, Chief of the Dermatology Service at New York City’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Vice President, The Skin Cancer Foundation. In a study of 1,167 melanoma cases and 1,101 people without melanoma (controls) appearing in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, researchers, led by DeAnn Lazovich of the University of Minnesota, found that almost 63 percent of the melanoma patients but just over 51 percent of the control group had tanned indoors. Ultraviolet radiation from tanning machines is cancer-causing to humans, according to a 2009 report released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), affiliated with the World Health Organization. The IARC also includes solar radiation in its list of the most dangerous types of cancer-causing substances.  Read more:http://www.timescolonist.com/health/Talks+resume+plan+tanning+beds/3546401/story.html#ixzz10BiW

Teens determined to tan, no matter what

Young Canadians use risky and safe behaviours in the pursuit of bronzed skin.

About one in nine teens uses sunless tanning products, according to a new study, but the products are being used in addition to tanning beds and lying out in the sun.The coupling of these safe and risky sun behaviors means that there is likely a shared driving force – the desire to have tanned, golden skin – that can be tapped and used in skin cancer prevention efforts. The findings help us address how we tackle behavior changes and safer alternatives that, in the long run, will reduce overexposure to UV, sunbathing and indoor tanning. However, the same group of teens also reported using indoor tanning beds and getting a lot of sunburns

 Avoiding tanning beds, limiting sun exposure and applying sunscreen can lower one's risk.In the study, more than 1,500 adolescents between the ages of 11 and 18 were surveyed by phone about their tanning behaviors. Nearly 11 percent of boys and girls said they used sunless tanning products. Among 16- to 18-year-olds, 13.7 percent of boys and girls and 19.2 percent of girls said they used the products, according to the  study.

However, the same group of teens also reported using indoor tanning beds and getting a lot of sunburns, Cokkinides said.

40 percent say addicted to tanning

Women who learned about the dangers of tanning and the benefits of sunless tanning products, including instructions on how to apply the products, were more likely to stop sunbathing than women who didn't receive the information, the study found.

In the study, 250 women at a beach were recruited in the summer of 2006 to participate. Half of them were given information about sunless tanning and free product samples, and the other half were given general cosmetics samples and no information about tanning alternatives.

The next summer, researchers contacted both groups of women again and found those who had been given the sunless tanning information said they didn't sunbathe as often anymore, whereas the other group didn't report a difference in sunbathing habits, the researchers said.