Blackstrap Molasses For Your Health

Molasses as a superfood? Who knew?  Unsulphured blackstrap molasses is indeed just that. Though this superfood  receives little recognition, it should be in everyone’s pantry.

Molasses is the byproduct of refining sugar cane to create table sugar. It is the leftover juice that is pressed out of the cane and then boiled. Unlike table sugar, which has no nutrient value and is a culprit in blood sugar spikes and insulin instability, molasses is nutrient dense and is a safe sugar substitute with a low glycemic index. Foods with a low glycemic index will release glucose more slowly and steadily, which leads to more suitable blood glucose readings after meals. 

Organic, unsulphured, blackstrap molasses: Organic means there is no pesticide residue in your food. Unsulphured molasses is the finest quality. It is made from the juice of sun-ripened cane and the juice is clarified and concentrated. Sulphured molasses is made from green sugar cane that has not matured long enough and is treated with sulphur fumes during the sugar extracting process. The triple boiling and sugar extraction process results in Blackstrap molasses being a more nutritionally dense sweetener than molasses extracted from the first or second boiling steps. Blackstrap contains the same vitamins and minerals as light or dark molasses but in a more concentrated form

Sugar cane roots go very deeply into the soil, often 15 feet down or more. That’s enough to bypass nutritionally depleted topsoil and feed off the nutrient rich earth below. Blackstrap molasses has a high iron content that can help build red blood cells and assist with issues of anemia. Add to that its concentration of B3 (niacin), B5 pantothenic acid), and B6 (pyroxidine) vitamins and you've got a nice recipe for healthy metabolism and energy production.

There is an abundance of magnesium and calcium in blackstrap molasses. Magnesium is important for the production of energy and is essential to over 300 metabolic processes in the body. It is necessary for the smooth function of our nervous system. Magnesium feeds our muscles so insufficient magnesium levels can result in muscle spasms and arrhythmia or even heart attacks. Calcium is the most abundant mineral found in the human body and is needed for more than just maintaining bone health. Healthy muscles, nerves, skin, and immune system all rely on calcium.

Blackstrap molasses also has lots of potassium. As an essential nutrient for muscles, potassium can relieve muscle cramps and ease the tension on the heart and arteries to help decrease blood pressure. The nervous system can be calmed by potassium. Important functions of the brain, like memorizing and learning, are supported by potassium. It helps hydrate the skin and balances pH levels.

Manganese, copper, and selenium will round out this liquid vitamin pill's nutritional resume. These minerals are vital to healthy hormones, bone strength, the thyroid gland, and the immune system. Other health benefits of manganese including the formation of healthy connective tissues. Chronic sprains, strains, and back pain can be alleviated with the addition of manganese.

Adding a tablespoon of unsulphured blackstrap molasses to a cup of hot water makes a great tonic. This can be a great alternative for those who want to decrease or eliminate their dependence on coffee. The low glycemic index coupled with the mineral content of molasses can create a natural energy boost without the caffeine and sugar stimulants found in coffee. can be incorporated into many foods as a sweetener. It works well in oatmeal, on pancakes, waffles, or desserts. Some people take it right off the spoon. Try it today! You'll be surprised at its rich flavor and health benefits.

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 “The emergency flag has gone up! We are not doing nearly enough.”
This is a direct quote from Kelly Brownell, the Dean of Stanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. What could this be about?! American obesity. Yup, you heard me right. It’s THAT bad.
The obesity level in America has increased 5% in the last 10 years which means that 38% of Americans are considered obese. What’s even worse is that 17% of all children ages 2-19 years of age are obese. It also seems like people of color have been hit the hardest; 57% of all black women and 46% of all Hispanic women are considered obese. We are not talking “overweight” but obese.
What is the definition of obese and how does it differ from overweight? Obesity is defined as a “bodily condition marked by excessive generalized deposition and storage of fat and having a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or more” whereas overweight is “a condition where the person weighs more than what is considered normal for that height, age, and sex with a BMI between 25 and 29.” In simpler terms: Obese= excess fat. Overweight= extra weight. There are a lot of health risks that come along with being obese such as: coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and hypertension. All which are fatal.
Okay, we’ve got your attention.
It would be easy to fix this alarming issue if there was one clear culprit, but as with most issues in life, nothing is that simple. The causes are many and likely very interconnected with power structures, current lobbying efforts, and million dollar ad campaigns that brainwash us into thinking synthetic foods are just as good as pure, organic foods.
But with knowledge comes power.
This is a multifaceted problem and once you start digging, you find yourself going down a rabbit hole as you learn how we got to this point. Take a look at farm subsidies with corn and soy that make those two so ubiquitous in our food supply. Look at the benefits given to (so-called) conventional farmers that use pesticides while organic farmers are forced to shell out tons of money to get certified. Examine the demographics of the areas that have “food deserts.” Pay attention to what children are being fed in our public schools and hospitals. Note that our Medical Industry does not teach nutrition or a proactive approach to health (in most cases), but rather profits from drugs and surgeries. When you look closer you will see that nothing short of a revolution can get us our nation on a new track. A Real Food Revolution!
Here are a few things you can do to help make a positive influence:

1.  Knowledge is power! Get educated and to share your knowledge. Learn from people you can trust as to what to avoid and what foods and lifestyle habits to incorporate. Read books like “The Green Foods Bible” by David Sandoval for a better understanding as to how green foods are integral to the Real Food Revolution (spoiler alert – they make every system in the body work better!). Read books like “The Real Truth About Vitamins & Anti-oxidants” by Judith De Cava and “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas M. Campbell II, MD for information on why you need to get nutrients from whole foods as opposed to “enriched” foods & so-called multivitamins, and why you want to limit animal fat to less than 20% of your diet, respectively.
2.  Vote with your dollars – The best way to help the Real Food Revolution is to make sure you are not contributing your money to companies that use artificial ingredients or other potentially harmful ingredients. The more we avoid GMO corn, and soy, for example, the less marketable it will be.  Start reading the labels! Genetically modified corn is in cornstarch, high fructose corn syrup (which is trying to sneak on our labels via another name!), popcorn, etc. Soy is used in lecithin and many other derivatives. Stay up to date on the latest food news and only support companies you can trust.

3.  Break your food addictions – Don’t let synthetic food companies keep their stronghold on your diet! Food scientists spend countless hours crafting their products to get you hooked on their creations that are packed full of sugars, preservatives, and artificial ingredients. Refuse to be brainwashed by clever marketing campaigns and chemically-addictive foods. It is no secret that most of the foods they create are often more addictive than heroin!
The best way to teach our children how to live by the tenets of the Real Food Revolution is to live it ourselves. As a way to help make it easier to jumpstart a personal Real Food Revolution, David Sandoval has created a very unique 10-Day Transformation Cleanse. Originally designed to help save the life of a 900 lb Sumo wrestler named “Tiny,” this anabolic cleanse can help retrain your taste buds, help you break your junk food addiction, fuel your body with nutrient-dense superfoods, and start you off for a healthier and happier lifestyle. It’s not going to be easy, the 10-Day Transformation is definitely a journey in all senses of the word… but it will be worth it. Your future self (and your children and grandchildren) will thank you!

What's in Your Water?

We are constantly losing water from our bodies via urine, sweat, and plain old metabolism. There are many different opinions on how much water we should be drinking every day. The health authorities (you know, the same health authorities in charge of Flint, Michigan) commonly recommend eight 8-ounce glasses, which equals about half a gallon. That's a generic, blanket figure which does not take into consideration body size, age, activity level, amount of sunshine one is exposed to, or pregnancy. There is no simple answer and science hasn't made a concrete determination. Personally, I use "Grandma's Rule." Many years ago, as a young bachelor, I asked my grandmother, "How long do you cook a chicken?" Her reply was, "Till it's done." I drink water...until I'm done.

Do you realize that water is the ONLY liquid essential to life? Our body has no need for coffee, soda, juice, energy drinks, alcohol, or sugar laden bottled tea; none of it. Of course breast milk is paramount to health during a child's first few years but moving beyond that...water is all we need. Surely, we can combine other things to our miracle elixir to "spice it up" such as lemon or lime, Bragg's apple cider vinegar and honey, or a pinch of ground ginger. These inclusions will add some vital electrolytes, vitamins, and nutrition to our cup of H20 but water is still the only liquid essential to life. 

As our bodies are some 2/3 water, it is important to maintain hydration. The brain and the lungs alone are 70% and 90% water, respectively. Water allows every cell in our body to function more efficiently. It regulates our temperature. It protects our joints, spinal cord, and brain. Adequate water intake enables our body to excrete waste through defecation, urination, and perspiration. Water aids in digestion beginning with the production of saliva (enzymes found in saliva help to break down food) and continues all the way through the bowel. Water helps soluble fiber dissolve easily and benefits our bowel health by making well-formed, soft stools that are easy to pass. 

What is your source of water? One thing is for sure. We should never drink straight from the tap. The toxic levels of lead found in Flint, Michigan's water has taught us that the government has no interest in our safety. Governmental regulations have failed us. The Environmental Working Group found 316 chemicals in tap water throughout the country; 202 of which are not regulated. Fluoride, chlorine, trihalomethane, arsenic, radioactive contaminants, lead, aluminum, and pharmaceutical drugs including birth control pills and antidepressants are just a few of the ingredients found in our toxic tap. 

Bottled water is no better. Most bottled water is glorified, overpriced tap water. Bottled water samples have shown to contain phthalates, mold, microbes, benzene, trihalomethanes, and arsenic. BPA and other chemicals in the plastic can seep into the water if the bottles are exposed to heat or sit around for a long time. Some of these chemicals are possible endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that may interfere with the body’s hormone system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects.


Needless to say, filtering our water is imperative. What filter do I use? The counter top PiMag Waterfall. This several stage filtering system mimics nature's forces with gravity assisted filtration and re-minerlization to alkalize the water. The PiMag Waterfall also uses a magnetic field to help condition the water without adding salt or other chemicals.

Here a video for you to check out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hFb7w0VZHU

Brussels Sprouts. You Heard Me Right. I Said "Brussels Sprouts"!

Gross. Yuck. Disgusting. I know. I know. That was my response until a few years ago when my wife made me try one. It was delicious! It's become my favorite vegetable. Now, I hear all your complaining but have you ever really eaten one; one that was cooked properly, or are you just mimicking everyone else? The recipe is so simple. We cut off the tip, slice them in half, and lay them out on a baking sheet. Next, we drizzle them with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss them in the oven for 10 - 15 minutes at 350 degrees. They are done when they are fork tender.

Still not convinced? Brussels sprouts are a great source of vitamin C and K. They have moderate amounts of thiamine, folic acid (B9), pyridoxine (B6), manganese, choline, copper, omega -3 fatty acids, and are a good source of fiber.  As with broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, Brussels sprouts contain sulfur.

Vitamin C is essential for normal growth, development, and repair. It feeds your immune system and helps maintain the health of your skin, teeth and gums. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin which plays an important part in blood clotting and bone health. Thiamine is needed in many body functions, including the flow of electrolytes in and out of nerve and muscle cells, digestion, and carbohydrate metabolism. Folic acid is vital for proper brain function as it is necessary for mental and emotional health. It aids in the production of DNA and RNA and is therefore important when cells and tissues are growing rapidly such as in infancy, adolescence, and pregnancy. Folic acid also helps to make healthy red blood cells. Pyridoxine aids in convert food into energy, makes neurotransmitters, red blood cells, and hormones.

Shall we continue? :-) Manganese is active in our metabolism. It is essential for bone health, the formation of connective tissue, absorption of calcium, proper functioning of the thyroid gland and sex hormones. Manganese helps regulate blood sugar level. Choline is utilized in the body by aiding nerve signaling, muscle function, maintenance of cell membranes, and in early brain development. Choline is vital in keeping the liver healthy. The health benefits of copper include proper growth of the body as well as improved health of connective tissues, hair, and eyes. Copper is integral for preventing premature aging and increasing energy production. Regulating heart rhythm, thyroid health, bone health, quick wound healing, red blood cell formation are other health benefits of copper.

I want to push sulfur to the head of the class here. This is why: Sulfur is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body behind calcium, phosphorous, and potassium. Sulfur is needed for insulin production. It helps detoxifies our cells and keeps our blood vessels soft and pliable. Sulfur is one of the basic building blocks of a vibrant body. It helps makes vital amino acids used to create protein for cells, tissues, hormones, enzymes, and antibodies. Collagen is found in our bones, muscles, skin, and tendons where it forms a scaffold to provide strength and structure. Collagen production in our body is dependent on sulfur. If you are taking MSM, glucosamine sulfate, or chondroitin sulfate supplements for joint pain, these all have a sulfur component to them.

There are many scientific studies that focus on the health benefits of Brussels sprouts in relationship to cancer. Brussels sprouts' unique nutrient makeup supports the body's detoxification process, its antioxidant system, and its anti-inflammatory controls. Among all types of cancer, prevention of bladder, breast, colon, lung, prostate, and ovarian cancer is most closely associated with intake of Brussels sprouts.

With all this going for it, won't you give Brussles sprouts one more try?  Here are 11 recipes to tantalize your palate. http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/recipe-collections-favorites/popular-ingredients/brussels-sprouts-recipes

Vaccines Cause Brain Damage

There are over 15,000 articles in the medical literature describing the adverse health effects on the human body with exposure to varying amounts and forms of mercury and other heavy metals in vaccines. Here are a few.

Neuroendocrinology Letters Vol.26 No.5, October 2005
Mercury and autism: Accelerating Evidence?
http://store-5c5c7.mybigcommerce.com/content/AUTISM%20AND%20Hg/autism_reprint.pdf
Taken together, all the above mentioned data from experimental, clinical and partly from epidemiological studies appear to show that repetitive mercury expo-sure during pregnancy (through thimerosal and dental amalgam), and after birth, through thimerosal containing vaccinations in genetically susceptible individuals is one potential pathogenetic factor in autism.

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Volume 70, Issue 12, 2007
Mercury, Lead, and Zinc in Baby Teeth of Children with Autism Versus Controls http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15287390601172080
This study suggests that children with autism had a higher body burden of mercury during fetal/infant development. Higher use of oral antiobiotics in the children with autism may have reduced their ability to excrete mercury, and hence may partially explain the higher level in baby teeth. Higher usage of oral antibiotics in infancy may also partially explain the high incidence of chronic gastrointestinal problems in individuals with autism.

Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, Volume 8, Number 3, Summer 2003
A Case-Control Study of Mercury Burden in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders
http://www.vaccinationnews.org/sites/default/files/DailyNews/2003/September/07/Bradstreet7.pdf
Analysis of post-DMSA urinary mercury excretion found a strong, statistically significant association between greatly increased urinary mercury concentrations and the presence of autistic spectrum disorders in vaccinated children.

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Volume 17, Issue 4, pages 291Ð296, June 2006 
Assessment of Metallothionein and Antibodies to Metallothionein in Normal and Autistic Children Having Exposure to Vaccine-derived Thimerosal
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1399-3038.2005.00348.x/abstract;jsessionid=93B3CCCF0CD5D93836FDFEEFE0A17EBD.f03t04?userIsAuthenticated=false&deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=
Allergic autoimmune reaction after exposure to heavy metals such as mercury may play a causal role in autism, a developmental disorder of the central nervous system.

Journal of Toxicology, Volume 2009 (2009), Article ID 532640
The Severity of Autism Is Associated with Toxic Metal Body Burden and Red Blood Cell Glutathione Levels
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jt/2009/532640/
Variations in the severity of autism may be partially explained in terms of toxic metal body burden.

30 Scientific Studies Showing the Link between Vaccines and Autism  
http://healthimpactnews.com/2013/30-scientific-studies-showing-the-link-between-vaccines-and-autism/#sthash.Q8s1LRWM.dpuf

Journal of Neuroinflammation, March 11, 2010, 7:20
Mercury Induces Inflammatory Mediator Release from Human Mast Cells
http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/content/7/1/20
HgCl2  stimulates VEGF and IL-6 release from human mast cells. This phenomenon could disrupt the blood-brain-barrier and permit brain inflammation. As a result, the findings of the present study provide a biological mechanism for how low levels of mercury may contribute to ASD pathogenesis.

The Indian Journal of Medical Research, Nov 2008
A Comprehensive Review of Mercury Provoked Autism
http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mark_Geier/publication/23688112_A_comprehensive_review_of_mercury_provoked_autism/links/0912f50d144fef0870000000.pdf
The overwhelming preponderance of the evidence from the peer-reviewed scientific and medical literature favors acceptance that medicinal, dental and environmental Hg exposures are capable of causing the set of symptoms commonly used to diagnose autism.

Whistleblower Says CDC Knew in 2003 of Higher Autism Rate Among African-American Boys Receiving MMR Shot.
http://healthimpactnews.com/2014/cdc-whistleblower-cdc-covered-up-mmr-vaccine-link-to-autism-in-african-american-boys/

Acta Neurobiol Exp 2010, 70: 165Ð176
Sorting Out the Spinning of Autism: Heavy Metals and the Question of Incidence
http://www.ane.pl/pdf/7021.pdf
The discussion states: Today, because many rather than few children are exposed to all sorts of neurotoxins with lesser resources to detoxify the body (environment, diet, lifestyle) those that are vulnerable, may develop autism.

Entropy 2012, 14, 2227-2253; doi: 10.3390/e14112227
Empirical Data Confirm Autism Symptoms Related to Aluminum and Acetaminophen Exposure
http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/14/11/2227/pdf
We have presented some analyses of the VAERS database which strongly suggest that the aluminum in vaccines is toxic to vulnerable children.

Int Rev Neurobiol. 2005; 71:317-41.
Immunological Findings in Autism
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/16512356/
A mercury link with the immune system has been postulated due to the involvement of postnatal exposure to thimerosal, a preservative added in the MMR vaccines. MMR antibodies are significantly higher in autistic children as compared to normal children, supporting a role of MMR in autism.

Vaccines Cause Autism. Leaked Confidential Document From GlaxoSmithKline.
https://autismoevaccini.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/vaccin-dc3a9cc3a8s.pdf
Several hundred pages in, it's revealed that vaccines are tied to autism as outlined in a chart along with a long list of other conditions caused by vaccines, including motor development delay, tremor and altered state of consciousness. Autism is listed in this chart as a nervous system and mental impairment disorder associated with receiving GSK's Infanrix hexa vaccine.

Prog Health Sci 2012, Vol 2, No1
Neurologic Adverse Events Following Vaccination
http://www.mednat.org/vaccini/danni_neurologici_vaccini.pdf
Despite the assurances of the necessity and safety of vaccinations, there are more and more questions and doubts, which both physicians and parents are waiting to be clarified. It would be worthwhile to apply the precautionary principle-the ethical principle (from 1988) according to which if there is a probable, although poorly known, risk of adverse effects of new technology, it is better not to implement it rather than risk uncertain but potentially very harmful consequences.

Medical Veritas 5 (2008) 1610Ð1644
Key Realities about Autism, Vaccines, Vaccine-injury Compensation, Thimerosal, and Autism-related Research
http://www.medicalveritas.com/vaccinemyth.pdf
The propaganda dispensed by Public health care and vaccine apologists is, at best, a weak attempt to rationalize the health-care establishmentÕs positions using all the tools of doublespeak to: (a) mislead, (b) distort reality, (c) pretend to communicate, (d) make the bad seem good, (e) avoid and/or shift responsibility, (f) make the negative appear positive, (g) create a false verbal map of the world, and (h) create dissonance between reality and what their narrative said or did not say.

J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2011;74(14):903-16. doi: 10.1080/15287394.2011.573736.
A Positive Association Found Between Autism Prevalence and Childhood Vaccination Uptake Across the U.S. Population.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21623535/?ncbi_mmode=std
The higher the proportion of children receiving recommended vaccinations, the higher was the prevalence of autism.

Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons Volume 8 Number 1 Spring 2003
Thimerosal in Childhood Vaccines, Neurodevelopment Disorders, and Heart Disease in the United States
http://www.whale.to/a/pdf/geier2.pdf
In light of voluminous literature supporting the biologic mechanisms for mercury-induced adverse reactions, the presence of amounts of mercury in thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines exceeding Federal Safety Guidelines for the oral ingestion of mercury, and previous epidemiological studies showing adverse reactions from such vaccines, a causal relationship between thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines and neurodevelopment disorders and heart disease appears to be confirmed.

Brain Neuron Degeneration via Mercury
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHqVDMr9ivo
This 5:00 video is from the University of Calgary, Department of Physiology and Biophysics.  It shows how mercury kills brain neurons.

J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2007 May 15; 70(10):837-51
A Case Series of Children With Apparent Mercury Toxic Encephalopathies Manifesting With Clinical Symptoms of Regressive Autistic Disorders.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17454560/?ncbi_mmode=std
Mercury exposure can induce immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions similar to traits defining or associated with ASDs. Patients examined were exposed to significant mercury from Thimerosal-containing biologic/vaccine preparations during their fetal/infant developmental periods, and subsequently, between 12 and 24 mo of age, these previously normally developing children suffered mercury toxic encephalopathies that manifested with clinical symptoms consistent with regressive ASDs.

Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons Volume 9 Number 2 Summer 2004
Detection of Measles Virus Genomic RNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Children with Regressive Autism: a Report of Three Cases
http://www.jpands.org/vol9no2/bradstreet.pdf
Geier and Geier, in evaluating the U.S. VAERS database, found a positive association of MMR and autism.

Vaccines & Autism: CDC Now Admitting to Omitting Vaccine Study Data showing 340% Increased risk of Autism in Black Babies
http://www.educate4theinjured.org/#!Vaccines-Autism-CDC-Now-Admitting-to-Omitting-Vaccine-Study-Data/c4nx/96DBBE9B-4D0F-400B-9065-3D1CF65FCDCF
Confession by whistleblower William Thompson, Senior Scientist with the CDC and Prevention.

Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, Volume 105, Issue 11, Nov 2011, Pages 1489Ð1499
Do Aluminum Vaccine Adjuvants Contribute to the Rising Prevalence of Autism?
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0162013411002212
Aluminum is a neurotoxin and the most commonly used vaccine adjuvant. Our results, supported by the Hill's criteria for establishing causality between exposure and outcome indicate that a causal relationship may exist between the exposure to Al from vaccines and the rising prevalence of autism.

Immunologic Research July 2013, Volume 56, Issue 2, pp 304-316
Aluminum in the central nervous system (CNS): toxicity in humans and animals, vaccine adjuvants, and autoimmunity
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12026-013-8403-1
In young children, a highly significant correlation exists between the number of pediatric aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines administered and the rate of autism spectrum disorders.

Entropy 2012, 14(11), 2227-2253; doi: 10.3390/e14112227
Empirical Data Confirm Autism Symptoms Related to Aluminum and Acetaminophen Exposure
http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/14/11/2227Food
Our results provide strong evidence supporting a link between autism and the aluminum in vaccines.

Current Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 18, Number 17, June 2011, pp. 2630-2637(8)
Aluminum Vaccine Adjuvants: Are they Safe?
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/cmc/2011/00000018/00000017/art00011
Experimental research, however, clearly shows that aluminum adjuvants have a potential to induce serious immunological disorders in humans. In particular, aluminum in adjuvant form carries a risk for autoimmunity, long-term brain inflammation and associated neurological complications and may thus have profound and widespread adverse health consequences.

Eggs-actly What the Doctor Ordered

I want to take a moment here and thank all the chickens around the world for giving us such a great and powerful superfood; the incredible egg. There’s too much cholesterol in eggs, you say? Bah! That’s bad science propagated through ignorant outlets promoted by companies who profit from low fat diets. These are the same brilliant scientists who told us butter was bad and to switch to margarine. Now we know how bad that advice was. Yes, all you low fat egg substitute wanna-bees and egg white omelet eaters, you’ve got it all wrong. Historically, all over the world, eggs have been considered a nutrient rich food. It’s only when scientists discovered cholesterol that this basic staple was quickly vilified without completely understanding the role of cholesterol and by misunderstanding the true cause of heart disease. High cholesterol is an invented condition that never needed a savior. 

Not all eggs are created (and processed) equal. When a chicken lays an egg, the outer surface is covered with a natural “bloom” sealing the egg and helping prevent bacteria from entering. However, before the eggs get to your supermarket (even the organic ones), they are subject to a chlorine bath, or rinsed in lye, and most get a mineral oil coating. The egg shell is a porous membrane much like our skin. What goes on the outside of the shell can leach into the egg inside. Personally, I’m not a fan of eating chlorine, lye, or petroleum derived mineral oil. Washing a freshly laid, dirty egg covered with a stray fluffy feather, with vinegar just before use is a much better cleaning method. 

From here on out, when I used the word “egg” I am referring to an egg laid by a pastured, free range chicken who clucks in nature’s sunshine and whose diet consists of broad leaf weeds, bugs, and worms. Look for a local farmer’s market or check out www.realmilk.com for a farm or co-op near you. Of course Google can assist in the search as well. 

Not only is cholesterol important but the egg is a good source of protein, vitamin A, D, and E, thiamine, riboflavin, folate, pyridoxine (B6), cobalamin (B12), pantothenic acid, choline, calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, zinc, selenium, and copper. It has lesser amounts of vitamin k, niacin, magnesium, potassium, and manganese. That’s one heck of a vitamin pill. And the best way to eat them: Raw! Have you forgotten about Rocky and his workout drink? Now, I’m not about to do that. However, I do put a raw egg in my homemade breakfast smoothie: ½ an avocado, a banana, big spoonful of organic yogurt, some fruit, and a raw eggs. Over the top nutrition and you will never taste the egg or feel its consistency.

So what about that cholesterol business? Science was just dead wrong. Time Magazine had it as their cover story in June, 2014. Cholesterol is vital for building healthy sex hormones and hormones that actually protect against heart disease, not cause it. Vitamin D needs cholesterol for proper utilization. Bile is critical to the digestive process and absorption of dietary fats. Bile salts, made by the liver, require cholesterol. It is vital for proper brain and nerve function. Cholesterol is critical to repair of damaged cells. When science declares that there is too much cholesterol in your blood vessels, this is not a finite disease but rather a symptom of cellular breakdown. It is your blood vessels that are weak, losing their integrity, and thus cholesterol comes to the rescue…acting like a Band Aid. 

Instead of gobbling up our nutritious eggs and fats, our medical doctors and pharmaceutical companies have strung us out on statin drugs designed to lower cholesterol. These statin drugs come with a long list of side effects. The most common side effect is muscle pain and weakness due to the depletion of Co-Q_10. Add to that, neuropathy, heart failure, dizziness, cognitive impairment, cancer, depression, pancreatitis and an increased risk of raised blood sugar levels and the development of Type 2 diabetes.

It’s time to throw that bad science out in the recycle bin. It’s time to reclaim our health and eat our eggs without guilt. It’s time to give our body much needed nutrition that it has been denied. That is, of course, unless you prefer ill health and all the side effects from statin drugs.

Vitamin A: Beauty or Beast?

One doesn’t have to look far to find information demonizing high levels of vitamin A as being toxic. This erroneous information is dutifully paraded about in front of pregnant women warning them about birth defects. It’s been reported that high levels of vitamin A can cause osteoporosis and be a precursor to hip fractures. Other side effects include fatigue, irritability, nausea, and excessive sweating. 

Nonetheless, vitamin A is essential to health and life. Our vision (and eye health in general) is dependent on vitamin A. Night blindness is a direct result of vitamin A deficiency. Adequate levels of vitamin A are imperative for embryonic development and proper transcription of the DNA (conflicting the data cited above). Cleft palate and harelip are results of vitamin A deficiency. Strong bones and teeth, healthy skin and mucous membranes, the thyroid and adrenal gland, rich blood, and the immune system are all reliant on vitamin A. Measles is a result of vitamin A deficiency. Wound healing depends on vitamin A. So, does vitamin A harm or heal? 

In 1919, vitamin A in egg yolks was the first fat soluble vitamin to be discovered. In 1924, it was found that vitamin A in butter or cod liver oil could help prevent xerophthalmia (dry eyes) in children. By 1947 though, science had moved in, created, and accepted a refined, synthetic chemical structure resembling vitamin A and began mass producing it in the laboratory. However, Vitamin A is not one isolated, man-made molecule. It is a family of compounds consisting of carotenoids (not just beta carotene but also alpha and gamma), and a group of retinoids. It is always found in nature buddying up to its synergistic fatty acids, enzymes, trace minerals, chlorophyll, and other vitamins. Vitamin A is really a mosaic of several interwoven complexes.

Herein lies the folly of the misguided, research claiming vitamin A can be harmful. We must make, and understand, the distinction between lifeless, isolated, inert, molecules made in a laboratory by a finite thinking man and a live, whole food, independently active, vitamin A complex perfected by an infinitely wise Mother Nature. Yes, synthetic vitamin A can be toxic as can be any artificial supplement, pharmaceutical, or additive. I would not recommend this at all. On the other hand, vitamin A from a whole food source such as raw butter from grass fed cows, egg yolks from pastured chickens, and liver and organ meats from free range animals are indispensable! 

Accutane is a synthetic form of retinol used to treat acne. It has been pulled from the market due to its mounting health concerns. Though the FDA refuses to ban the drug, they issued an alert that Accutane contributed to suicidal thoughts and actions. Some children whose mothers took Accutane during pregnancy were born with nervous system defects, brain damage, and congenital heart disease. 

The vitamin A complex, unlike the synthetic version, is so vital to life and our bodily functions that nature has created a storage system for it. Excess vitamin A gets stored in our fat cells. It is a survival mechanism. When supply becomes low (in tribal times when poor hunting conditions produced little to no yield) we have a reserve tank. Strenuous exercise, periods of physical growth, stress, infections, and pregnancy/lactation quickly deplete vitamin A stores. 

Do you eat raw butter, cod liver oil, or organ meat regularly? How many eggs do you eat in a week? In a day? Raw eggs are best. I put one in a blender with some yogurt, a banana and other fruit, and ½ an avocado. That makes a great smoothie and you will never taste the egg or feel its texture. 

Well, what about the vitamin A in a carrot, sweet potato or other orange fruits and vegetables? The difference between vitamin A in animal products and that in plants is that animal sources contain retinol and plant sources contain carotene. Retinol is converted to vitamin A and is immediately available for the cells to use. Carotene, in contrast, must be converted to retinol first and that conversion ratio is poor. The accepted ratio of how many units of beta-carotene are needed to produce one unit of vitamin A is 6:1. What this means in English is that you have to eat an awful lot of fruits and veggies to obtain even the daily minimal conversion. Carotenes also need the assistance of fat, zinc, iron, vitamin E, and a thyroid hormone called thyroxine to be converted to retinol. I am not telling you to ditch the carrots. The carrot has infinite nutritional value. The moral to the story here is that a balanced diet including clean meat/organs/fat is vital to maintaining health. 

Raw butter may be found by searching through www.realmilk.com for a farm or food co-op near you. I highly recommend cod liver oil from www.greenpasture.org. It has not been refined and does not have synthetic vitamins added to it.