These "bad" things are actually good for you!
Excerpts taken from NaturalNews.com
Though it may come as a surprise to some, many of
the dietary and lifestyle "villains" that we have all been told to
avoid for the sake of our health are actually good for us. However, a constant
onslaught of misinformation from regulatory and health authorities on the
subject has bred considerable confusion, which is costing many people their
lives and livelihoods. To help clear the air on the matter and perpetuate
truth, here are five so-called "bad" things that are actually really
good for you:
1) Sunshine. One of the more common myths that still saturates popular thought is the idea that exposing your skin to natural sunlight is harmful and can cause cancer. While overexposure to the sun can cause very serious sunburn, especially when the body is deficient in antioxidants, natural sunlight is crucial for triggering the production of vitamin D inside the body, a necessary nutrient that is blocked when sunscreen is used.
Exposing your skin to as few as 15 minutes of sunlight a day during the summer (after you have gradually accustomed your skin to direct sunlight exposure) is enough to generate optimal vitamin D levels in the body. One powerful way you can build tolerance to natural sunlight exposure is to supplement with astaxanthin, an antioxidant nutrient that has appropriately been dubbed a natural, internal sunscreen. (http://www.naturalnews.com/023177_astaxanthin_antioxidants.html)
2) Saturated fats. The phrase "low in saturated fat" has become a quintessential demarcation of health, when in fact quite the opposite is true. A large percentage of the human brain, it turns out, is composed of fats, and a steady intake of saturated fat is necessary in order for it to remain in tip-top shape. Beyond this, saturated fats have also been shown to actually improve cardiovascular risk factors, as well as improve organ, bone, nerve, and immune health. (http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/06/06/saturated-fat/)
3) Dirt. There are numerous fundamental flaws with the widely-accepted germ theory of disease, which has led many parents to guard their children from the natural elements in the name of protecting their health. But dirt, the stereotypical embodiment of germs, is actually quite beneficial and necessary for proper immune development. As explained in the documentary Dirt! The Movie, dirt contains microorganisms and other natural elements that improve health and promote life. (http://www.naturalnews.com/031597_Dirt_movie.html)
4) Cholesterol. Like saturated fat, cholesterol is another dietary bogeyman with a legitimate place in health. The brain needs cholesterol in order to function, and a chronic lack of it can lead to dementia and various other cognitive abnormalities that just so happen to be on the rise. High circulating levels of cholesterol are indicative of an underlying inflammation problem caused by other factors -- cholesterol itself is actually used by the body to repair damage caused by chronic inflammation. (http://www.charlespoliquin.com)
5) Meat, dairy and eggs. Not surprisingly, meat products, as well as dairy and eggs, have been lumped into the same category as both cholesterol and saturated fat when it comes to health because they are typically high in these two substances. But when they are derived from grass-fed, chemical-free sources, meat, dairy, and eggs can be highly beneficial for building lean muscle, promoting brain health, and boosting cellular function.
"Meat from grass-fed animals has two to four times more omega-3 fatty acids than meat from grain-fed animals," explains the group Eat Wild about the health benefits of grass-fed animal products. "Omega-3s are called 'good fats' because they play a vital role in every cell and system in your body. People who have ample amounts of omega-3s in their diet are less likely to have high blood pressure or an irregular heartbeat .. are 50 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack ... are less likely to suffer from depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder (hyperactivity), or Alzheimer's disease ... and they may reduce your risk of cancer."
(http://www.eatwild.com/healthbenefits.htm)
1) Sunshine. One of the more common myths that still saturates popular thought is the idea that exposing your skin to natural sunlight is harmful and can cause cancer. While overexposure to the sun can cause very serious sunburn, especially when the body is deficient in antioxidants, natural sunlight is crucial for triggering the production of vitamin D inside the body, a necessary nutrient that is blocked when sunscreen is used.
Exposing your skin to as few as 15 minutes of sunlight a day during the summer (after you have gradually accustomed your skin to direct sunlight exposure) is enough to generate optimal vitamin D levels in the body. One powerful way you can build tolerance to natural sunlight exposure is to supplement with astaxanthin, an antioxidant nutrient that has appropriately been dubbed a natural, internal sunscreen. (http://www.naturalnews.com/023177_astaxanthin_antioxidants.html)
2) Saturated fats. The phrase "low in saturated fat" has become a quintessential demarcation of health, when in fact quite the opposite is true. A large percentage of the human brain, it turns out, is composed of fats, and a steady intake of saturated fat is necessary in order for it to remain in tip-top shape. Beyond this, saturated fats have also been shown to actually improve cardiovascular risk factors, as well as improve organ, bone, nerve, and immune health. (http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/06/06/saturated-fat/)
3) Dirt. There are numerous fundamental flaws with the widely-accepted germ theory of disease, which has led many parents to guard their children from the natural elements in the name of protecting their health. But dirt, the stereotypical embodiment of germs, is actually quite beneficial and necessary for proper immune development. As explained in the documentary Dirt! The Movie, dirt contains microorganisms and other natural elements that improve health and promote life. (http://www.naturalnews.com/031597_Dirt_movie.html)
4) Cholesterol. Like saturated fat, cholesterol is another dietary bogeyman with a legitimate place in health. The brain needs cholesterol in order to function, and a chronic lack of it can lead to dementia and various other cognitive abnormalities that just so happen to be on the rise. High circulating levels of cholesterol are indicative of an underlying inflammation problem caused by other factors -- cholesterol itself is actually used by the body to repair damage caused by chronic inflammation. (http://www.charlespoliquin.com)
5) Meat, dairy and eggs. Not surprisingly, meat products, as well as dairy and eggs, have been lumped into the same category as both cholesterol and saturated fat when it comes to health because they are typically high in these two substances. But when they are derived from grass-fed, chemical-free sources, meat, dairy, and eggs can be highly beneficial for building lean muscle, promoting brain health, and boosting cellular function.
"Meat from grass-fed animals has two to four times more omega-3 fatty acids than meat from grain-fed animals," explains the group Eat Wild about the health benefits of grass-fed animal products. "Omega-3s are called 'good fats' because they play a vital role in every cell and system in your body. People who have ample amounts of omega-3s in their diet are less likely to have high blood pressure or an irregular heartbeat .. are 50 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack ... are less likely to suffer from depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder (hyperactivity), or Alzheimer's disease ... and they may reduce your risk of cancer."
(http://www.eatwild.com/healthbenefits.htm)
6) Salt. Contrary to what we have all heard for years, here is something that may come as a surprise: Lowering sodium intake may actually increase risk of heart attack and death.
And here's the proof: In three different trials that tested low-sodium diets on patients with kidney disease and heart failure, results linked the special diets to higher risk of hospitalizations, cardiovascular events, and death.
In a recent Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Michael Alderman (a past president of the International Society of Hypertension) called for large-scale clinical trials that will hopefully produce definitive data on what outcomes can be expected in following a reduced-sodium diet.
Even though low sodium intake is part of the standard treatment protocol recommended by heart doctors in the US, according to Dr. David McCarron--a nutritionist and University of California professor--there's currently no reliable evidence that backs up the accepted recommendation to reduce sodium intake for heart health. Dr. McCarron says the recommendation is based only on opinion and the demonization of salt by health authorities, such as the CDC.
Yet, one of the key points in the new USDA dietary recommendations is to: Significantly reduce sodium intake.
Writing about the new USDA recommendations in Canada's Financial Post, Dr. McCarron has more salt myths to bust.
Last year he led a study that measured daily salt intake in more than 19,000 subjects from about 30 countries.
The three surprising conclusions:
1) Americans consume no more salt than people in other countries
2) Salt consumption in the U.S. has NOT increased over the past 25 years
3) No matter how salty your food, your body naturally regulates your intake, so you wind up with a consistent overall intake
This is why deliberately forcing down your salt intake is a bad plan--not healthy at all. Your body takes what it needs. And it does need sodium.
My Comment:
Just a reminder that there are good fats and bad fats. We get way too much vegetable oil in our diet and we need to increase our intake of good fats like Olive, Grape Seed and Coconut oil. Flax oil is very good for you to eat, but not to cook with. If you don't like the taste of cooking with coconut oil, you can use a more refined version that has a neutral smell and taste. I can give you ordering information if interested.
If possible, use the organic form of milk, eggs and meat (grass fed is best) for much higher levels of omega 3's and to eliminate contaminants such as drugs, antibiotics, chemicals and pesticides. Use a good quality sea salt or Himalayan salt (which is now available at Costco and Trader Joes for a great price). Costco and Trader Joes also have good prices on virgin coconut oil.
FDA
Finds Lead in All Lipsticks Tested
According to a report from Florida's Department of
Health there's no amount of lead in the blood that's safe. Yet last year, the
FDA tested for lead in 22 brands of lipstick and found lead in every single one
of them. It's estimated that the average woman inadvertently consumes four
pounds of lipstick in her lifetime and even low levels of lead in the body have
been linked to developmental delays, aggression, hyperactivity, irreversible
brain damage, being antisocial, and having attention and learning problems.
Newborns are regularly found to have lead in their umbilical cord blood, so
this neurotoxin is affecting them long before their blood brain barrier has
even formed. All this, and the FDA says the lead in lipstick isn't a problem.
One study found that children with higher levels of lead in their blood were more apt to be arrested later in life. This is because having lead in the body regularly makes people violent and aggressive. But who'd think that by applying lipstick each day while you're pregnant you'd be even slightly increasing the chances that your child will behave aggressively with playmates - or increasing the chances that your child will end up behind bars later in life? It sounds far fetched, but if you connect the dots, it's really not.
To be fair, lead in lipstick is far from the only source of lead that most people are exposed to. Lead is found in paints, plastics, PVC, inks, dyes, building materials, fishing tackle, and consumer products - and it also makes its way into our bodies from these sources. But, lipstick is a product that women apply directly to their lips and our lips are porous. In fact, our lips may be more porous than our skin. So, in addition to the four pounds of lipstick that most women inadvertently consume, they're likely absorbing much more. And if you're absorbing lead into your body before becoming pregnant or while pregnant, you're exposing your child to this known poison at a critical stage in his/her development.
The lipstick with the highest level of lead had 34 times more lead than the lipstick with the lowest level - and the highest lead levels came from common, well-known brands that are often purchased at drugstores. Lead is known to build in the body with time and some of it is incorporated into our bones. Because it's stored in our bones, blood lead levels have been found to be higher in pregnant women because their bodies are breaking down the calcium in their bones to provide it to their children. But at the same time, pregnant women are also releasing their stored lead.
It's interesting to watch the FDA's position on lead when it's in toys from China and how it flips dramatically when it's brought to us from U.S. companies. But the truth is: A poison is a poison, no matter who's manufacturing it.
One study found that children with higher levels of lead in their blood were more apt to be arrested later in life. This is because having lead in the body regularly makes people violent and aggressive. But who'd think that by applying lipstick each day while you're pregnant you'd be even slightly increasing the chances that your child will behave aggressively with playmates - or increasing the chances that your child will end up behind bars later in life? It sounds far fetched, but if you connect the dots, it's really not.
To be fair, lead in lipstick is far from the only source of lead that most people are exposed to. Lead is found in paints, plastics, PVC, inks, dyes, building materials, fishing tackle, and consumer products - and it also makes its way into our bodies from these sources. But, lipstick is a product that women apply directly to their lips and our lips are porous. In fact, our lips may be more porous than our skin. So, in addition to the four pounds of lipstick that most women inadvertently consume, they're likely absorbing much more. And if you're absorbing lead into your body before becoming pregnant or while pregnant, you're exposing your child to this known poison at a critical stage in his/her development.
The lipstick with the highest level of lead had 34 times more lead than the lipstick with the lowest level - and the highest lead levels came from common, well-known brands that are often purchased at drugstores. Lead is known to build in the body with time and some of it is incorporated into our bones. Because it's stored in our bones, blood lead levels have been found to be higher in pregnant women because their bodies are breaking down the calcium in their bones to provide it to their children. But at the same time, pregnant women are also releasing their stored lead.
It's interesting to watch the FDA's position on lead when it's in toys from China and how it flips dramatically when it's brought to us from U.S. companies. But the truth is: A poison is a poison, no matter who's manufacturing it.
The information on this blog is provided for educational
purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, and
medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or suspect you
have, a health problem you should consult your physician (preferably a
Naturopath).
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