REDUCE HEART ATTACK & STROKE RISK BY REDUCING THIS

Everywhere you turn, whether it be on grocery store shelves, or any variety of restaurant, we are bombarded with high salt options more than ever before.  Why do we have this obsession with this age old ingredient?  We love our flavor!  Ironically, the more salt we eat, the more we damage our taste buds which requires us to use even more of it over time!

The American Heart Association recently dropped their recommended daily amount of sodium intake from 2300 mg to 1500 mg.  The average daily dietary intake of sodium in the U.S. today sits at more than two times that amount at about 3500 mg per day.  Again, we like our taste, and the food industry is happy to fill that need, even if its to our detriment health wise.  

What are the consequences of having a high sodium diet?  Most notably, raising blood pressure which leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.  Americans have a 90% chance of developing high blood pressure in their lifetimes.  Every year in the U.S., 780,000 people die from heart disease.  Coronary heart disease causes 1 out of every 6 deaths in the U.S. every year.  On average, someone dies from heart disease every 39 seconds.  

To put this in perspective, the amount of annual deaths related to heart disease is the equivalent of 9-11 occurring 260 times annually.  Sadly, the vast majority of those deaths are entirely preventable if people would just be willing to change their diets instead of the popular choice of using prescription medications which don't address the root cause and only treat the condition.

I am in disbelief at the number of people I hear that are having heart attacks at younger and younger ages in this country.  I'm sure all of you reading this post can think of loved ones or your friend's loved ones who were lost at an early age to this, the number one cause of death in our country today.  Let's take a look at how we can make sure that we and our loved ones don't fall pray to this silent killer by taking control of our diets.  Here's three helpful tips to help you fight heart disease:

1. Change what you eat when eating out (especially fast food).  Let's say I'm in a hurry at lunchtime and decide to swing through a Burger King drive through for a quick lunch.  If I order a Whopper with cheese and a large fry, I've just taken in more than the recommended daily of sodium at over 2100 mg in one meal!  

Don't think that this isn't the case at most sit down restaurants as well.  You need to take control by learning what the sodium amounts are in each of the options offered by the restaurant you're going to.  Let's say you're going to Olive Garden for dinner and decide to go with their Chicken Parmesan.  Seems pretty harmless, right?  Wrong.  You just doubled your recommended daily allowance of sodium at 3380 mg!  If you had gone online and Googled "Olive Garden nutrition" and pulled up their PDF listing of entrees with nutritional information, you would have known that.  Instead, you may have gone with the spaghetti w/ meat sauce at 1340 mg, the Venitian apricot chicken at 1290 mg, or better yet, the herb grilled salmon at 360 mg.

This is the case with almost all dine out options.  You just need to arm yourself with information before dining out.  A good tip is to simply go online before dining out and Google the name of the restaurant and the word nutrition after it.  Many restaurants will offer a PDF that shows the nutrition information for all of their dishes.  Here's the example I used for Olive Garden:

http://www.olivegarden.com/core_content/pdfs/olive_garden_nutrition.pdf


2. Check out the labels for sodium content at the supermarket.  This one seems pretty obvious, but most people just throw it in the cart if it looks good without taking the time to look at this.  If you take more time to do this the next time you go shopping, I'll bet you'll be amazed at how much sodium is in some of your favorites.  Look for lower sodium alternatives if you are.

3. Incorporate foods that naturally prevent cardiovascular problems and lower cholesterol.  Here's a list of natural foods that significantly reduce your cholesterol and your chances for developing heart disease:

- Berries such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries

- Beans are high in soluble fiber, which reduces blood cholesterol levels

- Monosaturated fats which are also known as the "good fats".  These can be found naturally in avocados, flax seeds, chia seeds, nuts, and cold water fish like salmon.  These decrease inflammation, and lower saturated triglyceride levels.

- Dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, chard, and arugula are high in fiber and loaded with antioxidants.  These are natural heart disease fighters.

- Whole grains such as oats, whole wheat, brown rice, quinoa, and other unprocessed grains contain fiber, and minerals which reduce the risk of heart disease.

Other things that we can do to significantly lower our risk of heart disease:

- Lower our intake of highly salted chips and crackers

- Reduce the amount of fried foods that we eat

- Limit the amount of processed meats we eat such as sausages, hot dogs, etc.

- Make red meat such as steak and burgers a "once in a great while" aspect of our diet

- Substitute whole wheat pasta for refined pasta which is high in fat and calories

- Substitute low fat frozen yogurt over ice cream which is high in fat and sugar

- Avoid doughnuts.  There is NOTHING beneficial about eating these.

The bottom line is that heart disease is the number one killer in our country and many of those deaths are preventable.  A high salt diet (along with bad cholesterol and highly processed foods) is the main culprit.  The average American lives on a 90% processed and 10% whole food diet.  If we were all committed to making the majority of our diets whole foods, and the minority processed, high salt options, we would see the annual death toll from heart disease drop by the hundreds of thousands every year.  Cut the salt, cut the cholesterol, and watch your blood pressure drop!

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CHEWING GUM CAUSES MORE DAMAGE THAN JUST CAVITIES

Many of you who read my blog know that my youngest son Kyle is somewhat of a sugar-a-holic. When we started to learn the truth about many of the harmful ingredients in the candy that he loved to eat, we knew that we had to make changes.  We learned that what he loved not only made him hyper active, but it literally damaged brain cells and that many of the types of candies he loved had known carcinogens which have the potential to cause cancer when ingested consistently.

For this reason, we set out to find alternatives.  One of the biggest ingredients that we were dead set on removing from his diet was aspartame for a number of reasons.  If you're not familiar with what it can cause, please read my February 7th blog that covers it in detail.  We had always thought that we were doing Kyle a favor when buying sugarless gum until we realized that aspartame is in all of it!  We then figured that buying gum with good old fashioned sugar in it like Big Red and Juicy Fruit was a better option as long as we made him brush to avoid cavities.

It wasn't until today when he asked me for some when I filled up at the gas station that I realized that these options along with regular old bubble gum have aspartame and a number of other terrible ingredients that should be avoided at all costs!  Let's take a look at the Big Red gum that I almost bought.  The breakdown of ingredients below was provided by thesmilingman.hubpages.com:

Big Red ingredients: Sugar, gum base, corn syrup, natural and artificial flavors; less than 2% of: Glycerol, soy lecithin, aspartame-acesulfame, hydroxylated soy lecithin, color (red 40 lake, blue 1 lake), BHT (to maintain freshness).Phenylketonurics: Contains phenylalanine.

1. Sugar: A sweetening additive. Made mainly from sugar cane and sugar beet.

Health effects: Safe if eaten in small amounts. Consumption of large amounts over time has been  linked to tooth decay, periodontal disease, obesity, hyperactivity, B vitamin deficiencies, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

2. Gum base: A non-nutritive masticatory substance used as a support for the edible and soluble portion of chewing gum.

Gum Base is made from a mix of raw materials which are categorized in five classes:

- Elastomers: act as the key ingredient and provide elasticity and bounce. Can be made from natural latexes such as couma macrocarpa, loquat, tunu, jelutong, chicle, or synthetic rubbers such as butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, and polyisobutylene.
- Resins: Act as binders and softeners, providing a cohesive body or strength and usually made from glycerol esters of gum, terpene resins, and/or polyvinyl acetate.
- Waxes: Render the elastomer soft to ensure thorough blending of the gum base. Usually made from paraffin or microcrystalline wax.
- Fillers: contribute to the overall texture. Made from calcium carbonate (chalk) or talc.
- Antioxidants: prevent oxidation of the gum base and flavors and extend shelf life. BHT is most commonly used.

Health Effects: Unknown. Though caution is advised due to the use of synthetic ingredients. Synthetic ingredients tend to be carcinogens.

3. Corn syrup: A sweet syrup made by treating corn starch with acid enzymes. May be genetically modified.

Health effects: Considered safe if eaten in small amounts. May cause allergic reactions.

4. Natural flavors: Any flavor not chemically derived. Obtained by physical processes from plants or animals. Made to provide flavor to a food rather than nutritional value. May contain MSG.

Health effects: Unknown.Different foods use different natural flavors and processes. Naturally derived ingredients may be altered, rendered unsafe. It should be noted that the use of the word “natural flavors” is often used to mask the use of harmful, naturally derived flavors.

5. Artificial flavors: A synthetic mixture not found in nature, designed to mimic a natural flavor. May contain MSG. Over 1,700 artificial flavors are approved by the FDA.

Health effects: Unknown. Companies are not required to identify the various synthetic mixtures (1,700 to date) used in foods, requiring only that they be listed under the umbrella of the “artificial flavors” listing. Some individuals are sensitive to artificial flavors, experiencing headaches, nausea, and drowsiness, among other symptoms.

Artificial flavors sample list: benzyl isobutyrate, ethyl acetate, ethyl methylphenylglycidate (petroleum derivative), methyl benzoate (petroleum derivative), hydroxyphenyl-2-butanone. An artificial flavor may be made up of any number of synthetic chemicals.

6. Glycerol: (Glycerine) A natural or synthetic (petroleum) byproduct of soap manufacturing. May be animal based. May be corn, peanut, or soy based. May be genetically modified. Used as a humectants (maintain moisture).

Health effects: Excess may cause headaches, nausea, elevated blood sugar,and may affect stomach and reproduction.

7. Soy lecithin: Made from soybean waste. Extracted with hexane, a gasoline byproduct, through a “hexane bath”. May contain pesticide residues. May be genetically modified.

Health effects: The use of hexane in the making of soy lecithin raises issue since hexane is a neurotoxin.

8. Aspartame: Artificial sweetener. Made from aspartic acid and phenylalanine.

Health effects: Studies link it to cancer in rats. May cause neurological and behavioral issues. Reported symptoms include irritability, headaches, insomnia, hyperactivity, seizures, memory loss, migraines, depression, vision problems, memory loss. Should be avoided by those with the genetic disorder phenylketonuria.

9. Acesulfame: Artificial sweetener. Not digested by the body, eliminated through urine.

Health effects: In animal studies, cause lung tumors, breast tumors, respiratory disease, leukemia, and cancer. Emits toxic fumes when heated to decomposition.

10. Hydroxylated soy lecithin: An emulsifier made from soy lecithin, which is made with hexane.

Health effects: The use of hexane in the making of soy lecithin raises issue since hexane is a neurotoxin.

11. Red 40 lake: Pigment manufactured to make insoluble color. Done by combining red 40 (a coal tar derivative) with a form of aluminum, calcium, barium potassium, strontium, or zirconium.

Health effects: A suspected carcinogen. Has been linked to hyperactivity, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and lower IQs in children. Some scientists question its safety since all tests were conducted by the manufacturer instead of the regulator, the FDA. May contain aluminum, which has been linked with lung & kidney disorders, and reduced skeletal mineralization. Alzheimer’s victims have been found with aluminum deposits in their brains, implicating aluminum as a factor in Alzheimer’s disease.

12. Blue 1 lake: Pigment manufactured to make insoluble color. Done by combining blue 1 (a coal tar derivative) with a form of aluminum, calcium, barium potassium, strontium, or zirconium.

Health effects: Produces malignant tumors at the site of injection and by ingestion in rats. Possible effects include asthma, hives, hay fever, low blood pressure, allergic reactions. Caution is advised if aspirin sensitive. May contain aluminum, which has been linked with lung & kidney disorders, and reduced skeletal mineralization. Alzheimer’s victims have been found with aluminum deposits in their brains, implicating aluminum as a factor in Alzheimer’s disease.

13. BHT: (Butylated hydroxytoluene)Antioxidant made from petroleum. Banned in the United Kingdom.

Health effects: Possible carcinogen. May cause chronic hives, asthma, aggressive behavior, and may affect liver, kidney, stomach, and reproduction.

Pregnant mice fed BHT gave birth to offspring with abnormal behavioral patterns. Possible link to DNA damage in mouse gut. Toxic to aquatic organisms.

A special thanks goes out to the Wrigley company for caring about their customers health so much by putting these ingredients in their products (NOT!).  So what can we do when we or our kids have the urge to chew on some gum if we don't feel like paying for it with a long list of potentially harmful side effects?

1. Order Glee Gum (www.gleegum.com)  Here's a link to their aspartame free gum options:

http://www.gleegum.com/aspartame-free-gum.htm?c1=GAW_CM_NW&source=GUM&kw=aspartame_in_chewing_gum&cr5=17098219448&gclid=CKTpmO_VhLYCFW2oPAodQUMAmQ

It has:

• No aspartame or other artificial sweeteners
• No artificial coloring or flavoring
• No preservatives
• No GMOs
• Sugar-free flavors sweetened with 100% xylitol
  for dental health
• Classic flavors sweetened with Fair Trade sugar
  & brown rice syrup
• Made with chicle to help conserve the rainforest
• Packed in biodegradable, recycled cardboard

2. Pur Gum (www.pur-gum.com)

PÜR Gum is sweetened with Xylitol, a naturally-occurring sugar alcohol found in corn cobs and stalks which a healthy alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners.  Available in four delicious and tantalizing flavors: Wintergreen, Pomegranate Mint, Spearmint and Peppermint. YOU can KICK ASPARTAME to the curb with PÜR Gum.  Also, PUR Gum prides itself on the use of all-natural flavors, colors, and sweeteners, and their products are 100% GMO-free.

These are just a couple of options available to spare you and your family from the health hazards that we face by instinctively grabbing for the terrible options available to us at the check out lines.

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THE HEALTH RISKS OF FAST FOOD

Every day, we are bombarded by ads telling us about the latest deal or addition to the menu that fast food companies are offering us.  It's estimated that the fast food industry buries us in $4.2 Billion in annual advertising.  Compare that to the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion's annual budget of $6.5 Million, and it's easy to see why we're the fattest and least healthy nation on the planet.  That's 1/10th of a penny for every dollar spent by the fast food juggernauts.

You can't drive a block in any given town in America without seeing one of the logos above as a choice to fill our stomachs.  We've even exported our unhealthy way of life around the globe to see other country's health statistics moving in the wrong direction.  How about a late night "4th meal" to satisfy those cravings?  

Just what are the statistics that can be connected to our fast food addiction?  68.8% of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese.  It's involved in 5 of the top 10 contributing factors of death in America.  In adults 20 and older, more than 1 in every 10 people suffers from diabetes, and in seniors (65 and older), that figure rises to more than 1 in 4.  

How about children?  Today about 1 in 3 American kids and teens is overweight or obese, triple the rate in 1963.  It is estimated that 1 in 3 children born after the year 2000 will develop Type 2 diabetes.  This epidemic could prove to be devastating if we don't address it soon.  

I strongly believe the main culprit in all of this is what is in the foods we eat, and today we'll tackle it head on.  There is a direct correlation to the number of times a family eats fast food, and  whether or not they become one of the statistics previously mentioned.  Unfortunately, most people have no idea what these companies put into their foods to attract their customers and keep them coming back by adding addictive substances.  This post will make it perfectly clear as to what is in them, and how it impacts the human body so that you can make an educated decision as to how often you'll want to eat there (if at all).  

If you are armed with a list of what's in all of the products offered by the top 4 fast food peddlers, and what these ingredients do when consumed, you'll be armed with the knowledge you need to avoid the health risks associated with them.  Let's start with links to the full ingredients lists of each of them:

McDonalds:  
http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/getnutrition/ingredientslist.pdf

Burger King:

http://www.bk.com/cms/en/us/cms_out/digital_assets/files/pages/MenuNutritionInformation.pdf  

Wendy's:  http://www.wendys.com/food/pdf/us/nutrition.pdf

Taco Bell:  http://www.tacobell.com/nutrition/ingredientstatement


When I look at the associated calories, fat and saturated fat grams, trans fats, sodium and sugar in some of these meals, I can feel my heart skip a beat!  Here's a list of some of the ingredients that you'll see over and over again in each of their menus, and what side effects that they can cause:

High Fructose Corn Syrup:  Some of the best known side effects associated with HFCS include, obesity, diabetes, tooth infection and decay, cholesterol increase, increased risk of heart attack, anemia, lowered immunity levels, fatigue, and mood swings and withdrawal.

Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil:  This is also known as trans fat.  These do not exist in nature.  Side effects include increased high blood pressure leading to heart disease, high cholesterol, increased risk of cancer, and fatigue.  Putting this  additive into their products prevents them from spoiling over long periods of time.  Check out this picture below of what a McDonald's hamburger and fries looks like after laying out for 171 days.  If a food never goes bad, it shouldn't go into our bodies!  Coincidentally, if you put this "meal" in front of most pets, they won't eat it.  In some ways, they are smarter than us. 

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG):  Food manufacturers hide this destructive ingredient under alternative names such as Glutamic acid (E 620), Glutamate (E 620), Monopotassium glutamate (E 622), Calcium glutamate (E 623), Monoammonium glutamate (E 624), Magnesium glutamate (E 625), Natrium glutamate, Yeast extract, Anything “hydrolyzed”, Any “hydrolyzed protein”, Calcium caseinate,  Sodium caseinate
Yeast food, Yeast nutrient, Autolyzed yeast, Gelatin, Textured protein, Soy protein, soy protein concentrate, Soy protein isolate, Whey protein, whey protein concentrate, Whey protein isolate.  MSG is a processed food additive.  MSG is an extremely dangerous neurotoxin (excitotoxin) that shrivels and kills brain cells in the hypothalamus and has been linked to weight gain, migraines, seizures, ADD/ADHD, heart palpitations, tremors, and MANY other symptoms that can even be fatal.    

Azodicarbonamide:  This little beauty is so destructive to the human body that it's banned in Europe and Australia, and putting it into any food products in Singapore will land you with a 15 year jail term and a fine of $450,000!  It's essentially a chemical whose primary use is  “in the production of foamed plastics.” In the United States it is also used as a food additive and flour bleaching agent.  You'll notice this in the buns for the burgers and sandwiches at each of the three burger chains listed.  If you ever buy one of the burgers from these restaurants, you'll notice how spongy the buns feel if you squeeze them.  That's because this ingredient is also used to manufacture the soles of shoes! (I'm not making this stuff up).  I was upset to learn that even Subway uses this to make their breads.


Sodium Benzoate:  This preservative that is used to prevent food from molding has been shown to deprive bodily cells of much needed oxygen, and break down the immune system.  When combined with both vitamin C and vitamin E it produces benzene, which is a known carcinogen or cancer causer.  

TBHQ:  Tertiary Butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ as it is more commonly referred to as, is in fact a chemical preservative which is a form of butane.  Consuming high doses (between 1 and 4 grams) of TBHQ can cause nausea, delirium, collapse, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and vomiting.  There are also suggestions that it may lead to hyperactivity in children as well as asthma, rhinitis and dermatitis. It may also further aggravate ADHD symptoms and cause restlessness. Long term, high doses of TBHQ in laboratory animals have shown a tendency for them to develop cancerous precursors in their stomachs, as well as cause DNA damage to them. It is also suggested that it may be responsible for affecting estrogen levels in women.

BHA and BHT:  Preservatives used mainly to keep oils from going rancid and food from changing color or flavor.  According to the National Toxicology Program, both can be "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen", which means they can possibly cause cancer.  They also cause increased liver weight, abnormal cell behavior, allergies, effect the brain and alter behavior.

Dimethylpolysiloxane:  a silicone based agent used as an anti-foaming, anti-caking agent and emulsifier in processed foods.  It's also found in silly puddy and cosmetics.  

I can keep going with this, but I think you get the picture.  The fast food industry adds these things to prolong shelf life, improve flavor, and cut costs associated with using fresh or higher quality ingredients, and they are not healthy to eat on a regular basis.  

The sad thing is that other countries have caught on to these ingredients in fast food being a problem and have banned them from being used.  Check out the difference in McDonald's fries between the United States and the U.K.:

Seeing how differently we're treated by these fast food chains when compared with other countries is just another example of how the FDA is asleep at the wheel and has no intentions on looking out for our best interests.  

Now I'll be the first to admit that some of the things being offered by fast food restaurants used to actually appealed to me.  But that's by design!  I used to occasionally eat them until I learned what's in them and how they make me feel after I eat them.  These chains add all of these ingredients to appeal to us and actually get us addicted to them much like a drug. 

If you are a regular fast food user, I'd like you to take a challenge.  For one whole week, replace your normal fast food with a healthy choice like a salad, or something healthy that you prepare at home beforehand.  I guarantee that you will feel better, have more energy and lose weight.  On the contrary, if you go back to your normal fast food habit after doing this, you'll see fatigue and weight gain come right back.  It's all in the ingredients!

If you decide to take your family out for fast food, please make sure that it is only occasionally.  The best decision is to pass on them all together and opt for food that actually provides some nutritional value.  If I or someone in my family needs to get something on the run, we'll look for a Panera Bread, or a Chipotle.  My son Kyle also loves Red Mango which is a healthy yogurt shop with all natural ingredients.  We like to opt for something that offers food products that are hormone and antibiotic free without all of the empty calories and additives and preservatives that you'll find in the average fast food restaurant.  

Until Americans wake up to the harmful side effects of eating fast food in this country, the industry will continue to include these harmful ingredients, and our nation's health and weight epidemics will continue to worsen.  Let's commit to improving the health of our families and vote with our wallets to bring about change!  Hopefully by doing so, we'll continue to see more of the new "fast food" restaurants like the one's just mentioned that offer healthier options for us all. 

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THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY. MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, making sure kids get a healthy start is a priority. Today's breakfast cereals run the gamut from heart-healthy, high-fiber bran, to sugary treats that could be called dessert. Did you know that some popular kids' breakfast cereals are almost 50% sugar? They also contain other hidden gems that are known carcinogens, can cause ADHD, and can trigger allergies among other negative side effects.   A close look at the nutrition facts of General Mills and Kellogg's cereals reveals some startling numbers. Here are some of the worst* breakfast cereals for kids:

*"Worst" for this analysis is classified as cereal with more than a 30% sugar content and less than 3 grams of fiber per serving.

#10: General Mills Cinnamon Toast Crunch: 34 % sugar
Over a third of this popular kids' cereal is made entirely of sugar, which means kids are eating about 10 grams of sugar and a measly 1 gram of fiber per ¾ serving. This breakfast cereal is available in a reduced sugar version that clocks in with just 2 grams of sugar and 3 grams of fiber, but is heavily sweetened with Splenda artificial sweetener which may not be healthy for kids with food sensitivities or allergies.

#9: Frosted Rice Krispies: 39% sugar
Made with rice, sugar, and high fructose corn syrup, Frosted Rice Krispies will deliver an instant energy boost followed by a major crash. Kids are getting 12 grams of sugar from a ¾ cup serving, and zero grams of fiber. While the cereal will definitely wake them up in the morning, it offers very little nutritive value.

#8: Kellogg's Frosted Flakes: 39% sugar
This popular sugar-topped cereal contains 11 grams of sugar per serving, and is made with high fructose corn syrup which is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and may be linked to hyperactivity. While Frosted Flakes are fat free and low in sodium, they only contain 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. Ultimately, this cereal is just plain carbohydrate from corn and sugar.  Look at the number of times sugar is mentioned in the ingredients list.  Partially hydrogenated soybean oil equals trans fat which is one of the worst things we can put in our bodies.  We covered what high fructose corn syrup does in a previous post.  This along with most cereals on this list contains BHT.  In addition to causing hyperactivity in children, BHT  is considered a carcinogen by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Yet the FDA allows them to be used in foods?! What’s wrong with this picture???

#7: Reese's Puffs: 40% sugar
A ¾ cup serving (smaller than your fist) of this chocolate-peanut butter treat contains 12 grams of sugar and is made primarily with real sugar, corn and peanut butter. It's not a healthy choice for kids who need to keep fat at a minimum, because the ¾ cup serving also contains 3 grams of fat (0.5 grams of which are saturated fat). Even though the puffs are made with corn, there are also traces of wheat in this product, so they are a definite 'no' for kids with wheat allergies.

#6: General Mills Apple Cinnamon Cheerios: 42% sugar
One serving of Apple Cinnamon Cheerio's contains 12 grams of sugar and just 1 gram of fiber. Even though this cereal is made with heart-healthy whole grain oats, it also contains corn syrup, brown sugar and white sugar. A healthier option would be plain oatmeal topped with real cinnamon and a few chunks of fresh apple mixed in.

#5: Kellogg's Apple Jacks: 42% sugar
It's flavored with apple juice and cinnamon, but Kellogg's Apple Jacks is also chock full of sugar. The first ingredient in this cereal is sugar, followed by corn flour, wheat flour and oat flour. One cup of Apple Jacks contains 12 grams of sugar and 0.5 gram of fat. It's also low in fiber and protein.

#4: Trix: 43% sugar
Trix are for kids...on their way to poor nutrition. Those fruity flavors are made entirely out of whole grain corn, sugar and corn syrup, and 1 cup of the sugary cereal contains 12 grams of sugar. The low fiber count and 1 gram of protein per serving offer little nutritive value for kids who need a more substantial breakfast.

#3: Kellogg's Smorz Cereal: 43% sugar
Graham cracker pieces, marshmallow bits and chocolate sound like an ice cream concoction, and dessert may be just what kids are getting when they reach for a serving of Kellogg's Smorz One cup of this cereal contains 13 grams of sugar and 2 grams of fat.

#2: Kellogg's Froot Loops: 45% sugar
The first ingredient is sugar because nearly half of the cereal is made of the sweet stuff. Kellogg's Froot Loops contain 12 grams of sugar per one cup serving, and have less than 1 gram of fiber. They may be a sweet start to your kids' day, but the sugar high will only last a couple of hours before they're hungry again.  Has many of the same ingredients to avoid in the other cereals with the addition of Red #40, Blue #2 and Yellow #6.  These synthetic dyes have all been identified as being, or being contaminated with, potential cancer-causing chemicals, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. And Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 are known to trigger reactions in those with allergies.

#1: General Mills Cocoa Puffs: 47% sugar
Perhaps one of the worst of the pack, General Mills Cocoa Puffs cereal is almost 50% sugar. This chocolaty treat may belong on the dessert table with its empty calories and low nutritive value. Each ¾ cup serving contains 12 grams of sugar and 1.5 grams of fat. The cereal is made with whole grain corn, sugar, corn syrup and cocoa, and is sure to put your kids on the sugar rollercoaster in no time flat.

Our family avoids these cereals like the plague not only due to the massive sugar crash that they cause, but also due to all of the other potential negative consequences as a result of ingesting things like HFCS, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, BHT, and artificial dyes.

What do we do?  We go organic.  Here are some of our favorite choices:

Cascadian Farms has a huge variety of cereals to choose from and the ingredients in them are certified organic.  It took a while, but my boys now love these cereals.

I personally like Kashi organic cereals.  Cinnamon Harvest is my favorite!

Kellogg's is also starting to feel the pressure from consumers and is introducing their own line of organic cereals.  If we keep up the pressure (with our wallets) eventually organic ingredients in cereals will become the rule and not the exception.  We need to be educated about what these ingredients do to our children, and avoid them at all costs.  If we do, the cereal companies will eventually eliminate these harmful additives from their ingredients lists.

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Aspartame: how it was approved and what it does to us.

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1981. Marketed under the brand names NutraSweet® and Equal®, aspartame now sweetens over 6,000 food and beverage products, ranging from diet soft drinks to low-calorie yogurt, jams, desserts, juices, chewing gum and sugar-free condiments.

Aspartame gives food that sugary taste that is also quite addictive.  Many people drink diet sodas to avoid the calories and sugar (high fructose) that they see in normal sodas.  What they don't realize is that aspartame actually makes you CRAVE CARBS which ends up worse for people looking to keep their weight down in the long run.   Your body actually craves more calories than you would if you eat real sugar.

Aspartame also has other side effects such as:

• Headaches/migraines

• Nausea
• Abdominal pains
• Fatigue (blocks sufficient glucose entry into brain)
• Sleep problems
• Vision problems
• Anxiety attacks
• Depression
• Asthma/chest tightness.

But this is only the tip of the iceberg.  Long term, consistent ingestion of this product can cause severe health risks.   I recently read a report where the FDA actually admitted that Aspartame has been linked to over ninety symptoms.  If you would like to learn more about them, a report can be found at: 

http://www.relfe.com/aspartame_92.html

Okay, if you're like me, you're now asking yourself how this stuff can find its way into our food supply if it causes these kind of reactions???  To get your answer, we have to travel back to the time of disco and bellbottoms, the 1970's. This was when the chemical company known as G.D. Searle requested the FDA for approval of the sweetener.  In 1974, the FDA commissioner Alexander Schmidt in a first ever move assembled a public board of inquiry to investigate the artificial sweetener.  Their findings cited a study by a neuropathologist, Dr. John Olney of Washington University, who had linked aspartame to brain lesions in mice.  They also went on to say that Searle severely distorted its studies to gain approval and that their integrity could not be relied upon.  Aspartame was subsequently not approved by the board.  At this point in time the FDA actually did its job in protecting its citizens.

Fast forward to 1977 when Searle hired Donald Rumsfeld (yes, that Donald Rumsfeld) as their new President and eventually CEO.  From day one, Rumsfeld's main goal was to somehow get aspartame approved and into as many household food items as possible.  The potential profitability to the company was enormous.  His first order of business was to derail a potentially harmful situation.  

The U.S. attorney was investigating Searle's purposeful misrepresentation of the effects of aspartame in its studies to bring before a grand jury.  Searle was able to dodge that bullet not once but twice.  The first instance was when the Chicago U.S. Attorney Sam Skinner handling the case decided to step aside and take a lucrative position with Searle's law firm instead.  The second time was when the new Assistant U.S. Attorney on the case, William Conlin, left to join their firm as well.  How's that for power and influence?  By that point, enough time had gone by for the statue of limitations to expire on its allegedly false statements about aspartame.

With that potential threat out of the way, Rumsfeld could focus on somehow pushing it through for approval. In October 1978, with the help of FDA official Dr. Howard Roberts, an FDA review was ordered to "help get Searle's petition back on track".  Robert's subsequently went on to serve as VP of the National Soft Drink Association, today's leading purveyor of aspartame.  Despite all of the industry influence, on September 30, 1980, the FDA's Board of Inquiry ruled against the approval of aspartame.  It leads you to wonder what the scientists had really seen.

The good news for Rumsfeld and Searle was that one month later, Reagan defeated Carter and a new FDA commissioner would be appointed in due time.  On July 18, 1981, Arthur Hull Hayes, Jr. was appointed and less than 3 months later, aspartame was approved for use in all dry foods, and eventually soft drinks.  On a side note, Searle went on to be acquired by the friendliest Bio Tech company of them all, Monsanto!

It crushed me to learn that this type of thing can happen "behind closed doors" within our government.  Favors being granted to allow harmful synthetic ingredients into our food supply that for all intents and purposes makes us guinea pigs.  With the downturn in health and rise in illness and disease in this country, we're learning the results decades later.  This was a valuable lesson for me.  I came to realize that we're on our own when it comes to researching these things and truly learning what's potentially dangerous to ourselves and our families.  Unfortunately, this was one of countless examples of the FDA being completely negligent when it comes to doing their job and protecting us.

It's for that reason that I will continue to bring these things to light on as many potentially harmful ingredients in our food supply as possible.  Aspartame is one that you should definitely remove from your diet immediately.  Now that you know how it was approved and made its way  into our foods, soft drinks, gum and many other products, don't you think you should share this with the people you care about?  If so, click any of the share buttons below and spread the word!  The only way we as consumers win is when we vote with our wallets.  Trust me, if enough people stopped buying products with aspartame and other artificial sweeteners in them, food companies would get the message and remove them from their products.

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Something EVERYONE should take EVERY DAY

I wanted to start by saying thank you to those of you who have reached out to say how beneficial the information that I have shared so far has been.  It's exciting to me to know that the information is both appreciated and beneficial!  Getting this feedback has me motivated to continue sharing, so I'll do so as long as people find my information to be both informative and entertaining!

I have started by sharing a handful of ingredients that unfortunately find their way into a ton of the food options we see in our supermarkets today.  I shared some common examples of what you'll find them in, and examples of alternatives that my family has found to remove these toxic chemicals from our pantry and refrigerator.  I'll continue to do this in the day's and weeks to come, but I wanted to change it up today to share something that we SHOULD be incorporating into our diets.

There are so many harmful toxins in the foods that many of us eat on a daily basis, and it's difficult if not impossible to remove them all and feed ourselves and our families three healthy meals a day with healthy snacks in between.  As busy as our lives have gotten (especially with our two teens) you simply can't avoid everything.  For those times when you can't (think Super Bowl parties everywhere yesterday), you need some assistance with flushing those toxins out of your body while properly digesting the good ingredients that we need to fuel our bodies.

For this reason, my family and I take a Probiotic on a daily basis.  The word "probiotic" is a compound of two Greek words: "pro," to signify promotion of and "biotic," which means life. The very definition is something that affirms life and health.  Here's a picture of the one that we take:

What many people don't realize is that 70-80% of our overall health is determined by how healthy our "guts" are.  Our intestines are filled with thousands of healthy bacteria or "flora" that assist us with the digestion process and the effective processing of waste out of our bodies.  Taking a probiotic daily allows these flora to thrive thereby boosting our immune systems in a big way. It will also assist in flushing the harmful toxins found in many of the foods we eat.  

Finding one with a higher number of live cultures per capsule is the best option.  You'll notice that the one we take has 20 Billion.  It's also better to take probiotics that require refrigeration as they tend to be more effective.

People that load up on foods that have these harmful toxins without being able to flush them from their bodies efficiently can develop what's known as "leaky gut".  These toxins actually leak through the intestinal walls into the body and become free radicals that our white blood cells need to fight.  Tying up our white blood cells to fight these free radicals can lower our immune system, invite sickness, and even diseases in the long term.

My family and I skip the flu shot every year and all incorporate probiotics, take Vitamin D3 daily, and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.  If buying these supplements isn't an option, then going with the real thing through juicing on a regular basis may be an option.  We do this almost daily as well!

Luckily, we have been able to avoid the nasty flu strains that have been punishing many of us this season by incorporating these things and regular exercise into our routine.  This is extremely important with my wife Deb battling cancer right now.  Contracting the flu would land her in the emergency room without question.  Unfortunately, Piers Morgan wasn't so lucky after having Dr. Oz administer the flu shot to him as seen here.  I don't buy the effectiveness of the flu shot for a minute!

If purchasing and taking a probiotic on a daily basis is not an option for all of your family members, then there are other methods for boosting the healthy flora in your gut.  The most popular would be to incorporate yogurt into your diet.  If you decide on this, be sure to avoid the ones with any detrimental ingredients such as high fructose, artificial colors, or aspartame.  We buy Greek organic that we like.  Here are a few other probiotic rich foods:

• Kefir
• Sauerkraut
• Miso
• Pickles
• Tempeh
• Kimchi and
• Kombucha tea.

It's so important for us to have a "healthy gut" to maintain our overall health.  With all of the harmful toxins in many of the foods that we eat in this country, taking a probiotic can be the key to maintaining our health by boosting our immunities, especially during flu season!

*If you feel the information shared here can benefit friends or loved ones, please hit the share button below and spread the word!

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