8 Foods we eat in US that are banned in other countries

This brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “food poisoning.” Original list found in Dr. Jayson Calton and certified nutritionist Mira Calton’s new book, Rich Food, Poor Food.

Found in: Practically everything we eat: cake mixes, sports drinks, cheese, candy, and even MACARONI AND CHEESE.

Why it’s dangerous: Artificial dyes are made from chemicals derived from PETROLEUM, which is also used to make gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt, and TAR! Artificial dyes have been linked to brain cancer, nerve-cell deterioration, and hyperactivity, just to name a few.

Where it’s banned: Norway, Finland, Austria, France, and the United Kingdom.

For more information on artificial dyes, visit 100 Days of Real Food.

2. Olestra (or Olean): Lowers calorie counts while causing vitamin depletion and anal leakage.

Found in: Fat-free potato chips, corn chips, and French fries.

Why it’s dangerous: Created by Procter & Gamble as a substitue for cooking oil, Olestra robs your body of its ability to absorb vitamins. Fun side effects include cramps and leaky bowels.

Where it’s banned: The U.K. and Canada.

For more information on Olestra, visit Time magazine’s “50 Worst Inventions.”

3. Brominated vegetable oil: Makes food dye stick to liquid, but also may cause birth defects and major organ damage.

Found in: Sports drinks and citrus-flavored sodas.

Why it’s dangerous: Bromine is a chemical used to stop CARPETS FROM CATCHING ON FIRE, so you can see why drinking it may not be the best idea. BVO is linked to major organ system damage, birth defects, growth problems, schizophrenia, and hearing loss.

Where it’s banned: In over 100 countries.

For more info on BVO, visit Web MD’s “Brominated Vegetable Oil Q&A.”

4. Potassium bromate (or bromated flour): Great for impatient bakers, bad for your kidneys and nervous system.

Found in: Wraps, rolls, bread crumbs, bagel chips, flat breads.

Why it’s dangerous: Derived from the same harmful chemical as brominated vegetable oil, brominated flour is used to decrease baking time and reduce costs. Only problem is, it’s linked to kidney damage, cancer, and nervous system damage.

Where it’s banned: Europe, Canada, and China.

For more information on potassium bromate, visit Live Science’s “The Truth About Potassium Bromate.”

5. Azodicarbonamide: Bleaches flour, plastic, and induces asthma as an added bonus.

Found in: Breads, frozen dinners, boxed pasta mixes, and packaged baked goods.

Why it’s dangerous: Used to bleach both flour and FOAMED PLASTIC (yoga mats and the soles of sneakers), azodicarbonamide has been known to induce asthma.

Where it’s banned: Australia, the U.K., and most European countries.

For more information on azodicarbonamide, visit Food-u-cate.

6. BHA & BHT: Waxy preservatives linked to cancer and tumors.

Found in: Cereal, nut mixes, gum, butter, meat, dehydrated potatoes.

Why it’s dangerous: Used to keep food from becoming rancid, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are known to cause cancer in rats. And we’re next!

Where it’s banned: England, Japan, and many other European countries.

For more information on BHA and BHT, visit Berkley Wellness’ “Two Preservatives To Avoid?”

7. Synthetic growth hormones rBGH and rBST: Harmful to cows and linked to increasing tumor development in humans.

Found in: Milk and dairy products.

Why it’s dangerous: Growth hormones are bad for cows and people, potentially causing infertility, weakened muscle growth, and a whole array of cancers.

Where it’s banned: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, and the EU.

For more information on rBGH and rBST, visit the American Cancer Society’s info page.

8. Arsenic: Basically this ish will slowly kill you.

Found in: Poultry.

Why it’s dangerous: Used in chicken feed to make meat appear pinker and fresher, arsenic is POISON, which will kill you if you ingest enough.

Where it’s banned: The European Union.

For more information on arsenic, visit NPR’s “How Trace Amounts Of Arsenic End Up In Grocery Store Meat.”

Read more at http://www.secretsofthefed.com/8-foods-we-eat-in-the-u-s-that-are-banned-in-other-countries/#XBvXvoVw1WPhxgfM.99 

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC)

EDCs enter your body in three ways: inhalation through your nose, ingestion through eating, or skin uptake (absorption through the skin). Here's how you can limit your exposure:

• Check your makeup and personal care products — choose all-natural products and toss out any that contain man-made, synthetic chemicals.
• Make sure the rest of your personal care products are free of synthetic fragrance.
• Buy organic. Follow the "Dirty Dozen" concept. That means the following fruits and vegetables should always be purchased organic: Peaches and nectarines, blueberries, apples, grapes, cherries, strawberries, celery, bell peppers, spinach, kale and collard greens, and potatoes.
• Drink purified water.
• Use natural cleaning products. You can't beat vinegar and baking soda for most cleanup needs.
• Eat whole foods — nothing that's processed or laced with preservatives.
• Make smart seafood choices and go for low-mercury fish (like sardines).
• Buy VOC-free for your house when possible (VOC = volatile organic compounds). Whether you're buying new kitchen cabinets, a new mattress, or new flooring, purchase natural products if feasible.
• Start a kitchen garden and grow your own herbs (or buy organic herbs).
• Take off your shoes when you go in your house — and ask guests to do the same. This limits the amount of pesticides tracked into your home.
• Quit using insecticides and rodent poisons. Find a natural way to eliminate pests.
• Buy grass-fed meat. As a bonus, it tends to be leaner than meat from animals raised on grain.
• Cook with cast-iron cookware or stainless steel pots and pans. Avoid Teflon at all costs. 

    And here's how you can work to get rid of EDCs already in your system:

• Detox regularly. www.fatbgone.org
• Take turmeric supplements. They've been shown to help filter chemicals like BPA out of your body.
• Eat plenty of fiber to ensure you have a minimum of one bowel movement a day.
• Take probiotics, or add kefir to your diet, to help your gut escort toxins through your body and out of it.
• Drink water: number of ounces should be equal to half your body weight in pounds. For example, if you weigh 150, drink 75 ounces of water (vs. the 64 ounces or 8 cups you sometimes hear about). This helps push toxins through your system.
• Appropriate levels of calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, and iodine in your diet can help decrease toxin absorption.

 Overcome this worldwide health failure

    The scariest thing about it all is that we don't know the true extent of the chemical risks we face. There are still significant knowledge gaps when it comes to EDCs and endocrine-based diseases. Right now, there's a strong association between EDC exposure and endometrial and ovarian cancer, but health policy makers are waiting for "proof."

    There's a worldwide failure when it comes to addressing these health concerns. Even if we did know more, our current healthcare system isn't capable of managing these risks and dealing with these disorders, and won't be any time soon.

    So while we wait for the government to reduce exposure through bans and restrictions (don't hold your breath), the best we can do is independently limit exposure and detox regularly. I'll add to the tips above in the coming months.

Discover the health benefits of black foods

Rainbow colored, whole organic fruits and vegetables have become a staple in most health conscious individuals' diets.

Most already know antioxidants are a key health benefit of brightly colored whole organic food. But how many know that black or dark foods are even more powerful antioxidant powerhouses?

One particular antioxidant from the dark side is the superstar anthocyanin. Anthocyanins are powerful phytonutrients, a type of flavonoid consisting of water soluble pigments that serve numerous functions in plants.

The most concentrated natural sources of anthocyanins are purple, blue, red, and black whole foods including spices and seeds.

Studies suggest anthocyanins may help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer. Some evidence indicates these purple pigments may protect our brain as we age.

In fact, "Black foods have more antioxidants than light-colored foods because of their high pigment content," says Cy Lee, PhD, a professor of food chemistry at Cornell University.

Three super healthy black foods

Black pepper's peppercorns are the fruit of the vine from the Piper Nigrum plant. Incredibly, black pepper increases nutrient absorption from other foods up to 2,000 percent!

WebMed reports that black pepper has numerous health benefits including antibacterial properties and enhancing digestion. It has been used extensively as a restorative and digestive aid in Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old healing system from India.

Black pepper simulates digestive enzymes and significantly reduces gastrointestinal food transit time which helps to remove gas and bloating after a meal.

According to a HuffPost UK article: Studies indicate that Piperine could increase metabolism via genes. It also increases the bioavability of curcumin by twenty-fold, so be sure to grind some fresh, black pepper into your next curry or turmeric dish.

Black tea is derived from the evergreen tree Camellia. It's teeming with antioxidant polyphenols. Black tea's polyphenols have been shown to help brain injury, hearing loss, and it looks promising for treating Parkinson's disease.

You can reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems with black tea. In 2001, research conducted at Boston University revealed that black tea reverses a coronary artery disease called endothelial vasomotor dysfunction. This condition is a precursor to more serious cardiovascular problems.

The 2006 online edition of the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition did a review of the research literature from 1990 to 2004 and concluded: "A daily cup of black tea can reduce the risk of heart disease."

That meta-analysis also noted that black tea helps bone density issues and protects teeth from cavities. All this from a tea not praised for health as much as pricier green tea.

Black lentils look like caviar after cooking, hence the name Beluga lentils. Nutritionally, tiny black lentils are low in fat and high in fiber, iron and protein. Lentils are an excellent energy source that can stabilize blood sugar.

They contain a whopping 24 percent more easy to digest plant protein than any other lentil variety. One cup of black lentils contains about 50 percent of the daily recommended iron allowance for women.

They are a good source of energizing B vitamins and minerals, including phosphorous, manganese, and magnesium. Magnesium is considered the master-mineral, supporting 300 metabolic processes and protecting the heart.

Black lentils also contain tannins, phytochemicals that can prevent cancer growth. Lentils reduce inflammation in the body and are an excellent food-as-medicine choice to reduce inflammation generally and for individuals suffering from chronic inflammatory related diseases.

Chronic inflammation is the major culprit behind most leading diseases including cancer, Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, pulmonary disease, arthritis, diabetes type 2, and other autoimmune diseases.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/040968_black_tea_chronic_inflammation_foods.html#ixzz2XTzTh1SH

Help your kidneys

Use this simple steps to "help" your kidneys and detox them

Step 1

Eat fresh vegetables. Cut out the processed foods. Stop eating food out of a box. The more junk you eat the more your body has to work to get rid of it. Cook your own food. Knowing what you put in your body is important and when you cook your own food you know exactly what ingredients you're using. Aim for organic products, especially if you eat meat.

JUICE! Juice. Juice. Juice fresh dark green leafy vegetables. Chlorophyll does wonders for your body.

Eat and juice alkalizing foods. Keeping your body's pH at the desirable level (neutral pH) is important because you're helping your body work at an optimal level without having to work overtime to get rid of unwanted and harmful toxins. The better you eat, the healthier you eat and the more you MOVE then the less your body has to spend time working to eliminate toxins and has more time to make you feel good by giving you energy and helping you feel your best.

There are simple things you can do to detox...like again eliminating processed foods and at least juicing fresh organic vegetables 2-3 times a day.

Step 2

Cranberries are excellent for your kidneys and bladder, especially for preventing and treating urinary tract infections. Cranberries contain a compound called hippuric acid. Hippuric acid helps acidify the urine and inhibit bacteria. This is important for people with bladder infections. Cranberries are great for your kidneys because they contain an antioxidant called proanthocyanidin. (2) Not only are cranberries beneficial for your kidneys and bladder but they are also great for reducing risks of heart disease, have anti-cancer properties, are great for your gums and much more.

It's best to either juice fresh cranberries or blend them. Store bought juice (even organic) is packed with sugar. If you can't find fresh organic cranberries, try frozen organic cranberries and blend them up.

Check out how to make your own cranberry blend yourself.

Step 3

Magnesium deficiency is not beneficial for helping your kidneys. Magnesium plays a key role in regulating blood pressure naturally. Magnesium supplements and a diet including plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are good sources of potassium and magnesium, are consistently associated with lowering blood pressure. Magnesium is also important for diabetes, preventing osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and much more.

Step 4

 When you juice dark green vegetables you are instantly getting high amount of nutrients and vitamins.

1. Many people ask me why they should juice when they could eat the vegetables or fruits.When you extract the juice from the vegetable all you are left with are beneficial micro-nutrients. Since your body doesn't have to break down any components like insoluble fiber, your body is quickly absorbing micro-nutrients  antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and much more from the juice. That’s why often you get instant energy after having a juice!

2. Juicing also allows you to consume the needed vegetables and fruits that your body craves and needs for optimal health. If you find it difficult eating raw vegetables and fruit, then juicing is perfect for you. With juicing you are also getting a wide variety of different vegetables into your daily intake.

3. Juicing is a way to change the way you eat and will change the way you live. After you juice for a week, you will see and feel instant results.

And fifth way for healthy heart

Eat dark chocolate

A number of studies suggest that eating dark chocolate may decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. A study presented last year at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd annual meeting found that, of 44,000 participants, those who ate a weekly serving of chocolate were 22 percent less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate no chocolate.
Another study found that those who eat a small amount of dark chocolate, about 6.7 grams a day, had lower levels of a protein in their blood that is associated with inflammation. And still other research suggests chocolate consumption may lower blood pressure, help prevent formation of artery plaques and improve blood flow.
The benefits from chocolate may come from flavonoids, compounds in chocolate thought to help protect cells against damage. They are present in higher amounts in dark chocolate. Another recent study found that dark chocolate helps to inhibit an enzyme known as ACE, which is involved in regulating blood flow. Deactivating ACE lowers blood pressure, and some blood pressure drugs specifically target the enzyme.

4th way for healthy heart

Beware of diet soda

Consuming diet sodas may increase your risk of stroke, a recent study found. The study, which included 2,564 participants, found that those who drank diet soda every day had a 48 percent higher risk of stroke and heart attack than those who did not drink any soda at all.
The results held true even after the researchers accounted for factors that might influence heart disease and stroke risks, such as whether or not the patient had metabolic syndrome or a history of heart disease.
However, the researchers cautioned, the study only showed an association, and not a cause-effect link. The findings are preliminary and more research will be needed to back them up. The study was presented Feb. 9 the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles.