GOT ABS!

GOT ABS 1

Dr Michael Colgan Ph D, CNN, FACM

In response to many requests, I will try to show you in a series of posts how our ab program works. We have used it with many champion bodybuilders, physique, and fitness competitors including nine Mr and Ms Olympia, INBA,and PNBA champs.

Abs are NOT simple. First you have to know what you are dealing with. As shown in the drawing of a cross section through the body at the stomach (cakehole), there are 22 main muscles involved, with the eight heads of the abs in front that bend the torso from the sternum of the ribs to the pubic bone. That is the abs full range of movement.

So you know right away that sit-ups are not going to work, because they use mainly the hip flexors. You also know that waving your legs or arms about in weird and wonderful contortions I see daily in gyms is not going to work either, as again it involves mainly hip flexors. Most people have way stronger hip flexors than abdominals, so they take over in many of the common movements used as ab exercises.
Net result for the abs - zilch.

But, before we start the good stuff, here are the muscles you have to exercise. If you want those strong and shapely abs, you have to deal with all of them. Get a good idea of them in your head, because your perception is critical to hitting the right spot with the right exercise.

Dr Michael Colgan Ph D, CNN, FACM 10 July 2014

Here is Part 2 in the series of posts on how we do our abs program. We have used it with many champion bodybuilders, physique, and fitness competitors including nine Mr and Ms Olympia, INBA, and PNBA champs.

It’s worth repeating from Part 1 that abs are NOT simple. Most of what we see folk doing in gyms hardly works at all. As shown in Part 1, there are 22 main muscles involved, each of which you have to work correctly.

But even correct movements of those 22 muscles is not enough. There is one other big muscle you have to move right, the diaphragm of the lungs (shown in the pic). For every contraction of the abs, the diaphragm has to be in the right position for the eight heads to grow in the shape you want. That shape is an inward curve from the sternum of the ribs to the pubic bone.

Here is the principle to stick in your mind: THE ABS WILL GROW IN THE EXACT SHAPE THEY ARE IN WHEN YOU CONTRACT THEM.

The diaphragm is a huge, strong muscle. When you breathe in, it expands the lungs downward into the belly. Try it now. Breathe deeply into your belly. See how much it sticks out. If you contract your abs repeatedly while the diaphragm is in this expanded position, that is the way they will grow – sticking out.

We have seen this hundreds of times with bodybuilders. They are told in competition they have to get better abs. So they do tens of thousands of crunches with the diaphragm expanded, or not paying attention to it at all. Not only do they increase their waist by several inches, but their new, strong, abs stick out and pull the spinal erectors forward with them. That kinks the lumbar spine inward to give the victim a stuck out bum as well. If they do it desperately enough then, when you see them facing left, their body shape comes to resemble a question mark.

To train the abs to the right shape, you have to know that it is not the abdominals themselves that determine their position. Abs are a postural muscle that simply bend the spine between the sternum of the ribs and the pubic bone. As pictured in Part 1 of this series, the muscle that determines their growth shape is the thin sheet of muscle behind them called the TRANSVERSUS.

The transversus is the corset of the gut. It runs the whole circle, from the abs in front to the spinal erectors at the back. Train your abs wrong and you will stretch your transversus, increase your waist size, and kink your back.

To avoid these problems you have to make the transversus as small as possible, literally stuck to your backbone. To do this you have to get the diaphragm out of the way for every abs contraction. The only place to put the diaphragm is as far up the chest as it will go. Try it now. Inhale deeply. Exhale completely, and suck your gut in and up as far as it will go.

That’s the basic position for every abs contraction. You have to empty your lungs and hold them empty, and suck the gut in for the whole contraction movement. When the contraction is completely finished, you inhale and exhale deeply before you begin the next contraction.

Yes, it’s tough to learn and tough to do, especially if you are used to willy-nilly arm and leg waving as abs exercise. But once you learn to do it habitually, you will grow a smaller waist, great, strong, inward sloping abs, and you will protect your lumbar spine.

If there is enough interest, I will give a free ABS WORKOUT at Isagenix Celebration in August in San Diego (PRE-ENROLLMENT ESSENTIAL). And I will be giving several classes on the ISA- Barefoot Cruise in Feb 2015 (AGAIN PRE-ENROLLMENT ESSENTIAL).

In GOT ABS 3 we will cover the first of the movements to properly train your abs.

(PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE EXERCISES ARE VERY STRENUOUS. YOU SHOULD NOT DO THESE EXERCISES UNLESS YOU HAVE THE PERMISSION OF YOUR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, AND ARE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A QUALIFIED TRAINER.)

What happens when you cleanse toxins out of your body or detox?

Whether out for a run, grilling your favorite meats on a hot summer day, or spring cleaning the house, our bodies are exposed to millions of chemicals considered “toxins”. These toxins in our environment (exotoxins) and that our bodies produce (endotoxins) have the ability to disrupt the essential biological structures needed for the body to function such as DNA, cellular membranes, and protein. Repeated exposure to various toxins can contribute to adverse health effects in the short-term such as headaches, nausea, and fatigue; and in the long-term can contribute to weight gain and chronic health outcomes.

Detoxification is essential for ridding the body of toxins and preventing their “health robbing” effects. Although all cells have the ability to detoxify toxins, the most important organ for detoxification is the liver–known as the body’s filter and purification system.

Fat Cells House Toxins

Toxins enter the liver as either water- or fat-soluble molecules. Water-soluble toxins are rather easily metabolized and excreted into the urine. In contrast, fat-soluble toxins can be stored in fat cells where they are protected from the body’s detoxification systems.

Excess fat stores, especially organ-bathing visceral fat, are linked to several diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic dysfunction. The addition of toxin exposure to an overweight or obese individual may only serve to increase these risks.

Three Phases of Detoxification

There are three phases of detoxification (2). In the first step, the toxin is metabolized by phase I detoxifying enzymes resulting in an intermediary metabolite. Although there are several phase I enzymes, the most abundant and important are the cytochrome P-450s.

During detoxification, P-450s perform two functions: 1) they make toxins more water-soluble, and 2) they convert the toxin into a molecule usually less toxic and, therefore, less reactive towards our DNA, proteins, etc. (Interestingly, sometimes this reaction converts a less toxic molecule into a more toxic molecule, which is where phase II detoxification steps in.) The result is a more water-soluble, less toxic molecule easily transported into the blood, through our kidneys, and out into the urine for elimination.

After undergoing phase I detoxification many toxins are then subject to phase II detoxification. At its most basic level, phase II enzymes place a water-soluble small molecule onto the toxin.

One of the most important phase II detoxifying enzymes is known as glutathione (GSH) transferase. As the name implies, the GSH transferases transfer a GSH molecule onto the toxin. Like phase I detoxification, this step also serves to make the toxin water-soluble and less toxic to the body.

Besides GSH, the body uses several other molecules to bind to the toxin and increase its solubility including sulfates, amino acids, and glucuronic acid. The use of these water-soluble small molecules makes sense considering that our cells have a surplus of these molecules inside or outside the cell. However, if we’re exposed to excessive amounts of toxins they could rapidly deplete our GSH levels resulting in too little GSH to do what it does best, which is to protect against free radicals and detoxify toxins.

Finally, phase III of detoxification involves the elimination of toxins from cells. In this step, the products of phase I and II reactions are transported out of cells and into the bloodstream for elimination.

Phases of Detoxification

Proper Nutrition Essential for Detoxification

To ensure optimal functioning of our detoxification systems it is essential to have an adequate dietary intake of vitamins (B vitamins, vitamins C, and E), minerals (selenium, zinc, copper), and other bioactive nutrients such as coenzyme Q10 and polyphenols. These nutrients bolster our detoxification defenses either through their roles in phases I, II or III of detoxification or by providing antioxidant support (3). Nutritional support is essential in the detoxification process because some toxins are produced as the result of free radicals. Additionally, nutritional support is needed to counteract the oxidative damage caused by toxins.

Plant botanicals including ashwagandha, aloe vera, and turmeric (Cleanse for Life), milk thistle (Product B), resveratrol, and other antioxidant vitamins and botanicals (Ageless Essential Daily Pak) have all been shown to improve detoxification. Beyond these micronutrients, the detoxification system also needs an adequate source of the amino acid cysteine, the sulfur-containing amino acid essential for GSH production. Luckily, cysteine is abundant in whey protein found in IsaLean Shakes, Bars, and Soups.

Calorie Restriction and Intermittent Fasting Stimulate Detoxification

Although not yet extensively examined in humans, subjecting animals to calorie restriction (CR) or intermittent fasting (IF) has also been shown to increase efficiency of detoxification pathways. The precise mechanisms responsible for the benefits of CR or IF on detoxification are unclear, but it’s thought that these two cleansing protocols “turn on” genes that increase synthesis of our detoxification enzymes within the phase I, II or III pathways.

Additionally, the reduction of fat mass—the primary target for toxin storage—stimulates the release of toxins into the circulation. Once in the bloodstream toxins are more easily metabolized and excreted from the body. When the body has the additional nutritional support of amino acids, vitamins, polyphenols, and other bioactive ingredients, the detoxification enzymes can perform at peak function.

The Isagenix system ingeniously incorporates both intermittent fasting on Cleanse Days and calorie restriction on Shake Days to help you burn fat and stimulate the release of fat-stored toxins. The polyphenol-rich nutrients and plant extracts found in Cleanse For Life provide plant-based antioxidants (4-7) that support the detoxification enzymes responsible for toxin elimination. Also, the whey protein in IsaLean Shake supplies essential amino acids such as cysteine that can boost GSH production (8,9) and facilitate toxin removal.

References:

1. Holtcamp W. Obesogens: an environmental link to obesity. Environ Health Perspect 2012;120:a62-a68.

2. Liska DJ. The detoxification enzyme systems. Altern Med Rev 1998;3:187-98.

3. Yang YM, Noh K, Han CY, Kim SG. Transactivation of genes encoding for phase II enzymes and phase III transporters by phytochemical antioxidants. Molecules 2010;15:6332-48.

4. Vinson JA, Al KH, Andreoli L. Effect of Aloe vera preparations on the human bioavailability of vitamins C and E. Phytomedicine 2005;12:760-5.

5. Kim BH, Hong SS, Kwon SW et al. Diarctigenin, a lignan constituent from Arctium lappa, down-regulated zymosan-induced transcription of inflammatory genes through suppression of DNA binding ability of nuclear factor-kappaB in macrophages. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2008;327:393-401.

6. Ahmad MK, Mahdi AA, Shukla KK et al. Withania somnifera improves semen quality by regulating reproductive hormone levels and oxidative stress in seminal plasma of infertile males. Fertil Steril 2010;94:989-96.

7. Krikorian R, Shidler MD, Nash TA et al. Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults. J Agric Food Chem 2010;58:3996-4000.

8. Bounous G, Gold P. The biological activity of undenatured dietary whey proteins: role of glutathione. Clin Invest Med 1991;14:296-309.

What Happens to Body Fat When You Cleanse?

May 17, 2013

Fat loss involves complex metabolic processes that begin at the cellular level.

Ah, the visual joy of weight loss—your face is more defined, your belly no longer protrudes over the waist of your pants, and parts that used to jiggle are now toned. On the outside, fat loss seems like a fairly simple process. However, what happens in your body during weight loss involves an intricate web of metabolic changes that include structural transformation of fat cells, the breakdown and use of fat for energy, as well as changes in hormone production.

Performing Isagenix Cleanse Days—a combination of intermittent fasting with herbs and vitamins that support detoxification—is an effective approach for weight loss, especially for targeting fat loss. In fact, the UIC study using Isagenix products found that those who follow the Isagenix system had more fat loss and twice as much visceral fat loss than those who followed a “heart healthy” diet.

How does fat loss occur when you incorporate Cleanse Days into your routine? To understand, we’ll have to start with the basics, or Fat 101:

Getting to know fat

Adipose tissue—or body fat—is comprised of millions of fat cells, also called adipocytes, with the average adult having around 40 billion. The weight of adipose tissue is about 20 percent of body weight, making it one of the biggest organs in the body.

Fat can be defined by where it’s found in the body: subcutaneous fat is located just below the surface of the skin while visceral fat is found in the abdominal cavity, surrounding the internal organs. Furthermore, there are two types of adipose tissue: white and brown. White adipose tissue is primarily used as an energy reserve and brown adipose tissue functions to generate heat.

Adipose tissue is a metabolically active organ rather than just an inert mass as many may have guessed. In fact, each depot of the organ even receives its own vascular and nerve supply.

Adipose tissue has been identified as an endocrine organ because of its production of hormones known as adipokines. These signaling proteins influence several important functions including glucose and lipid metabolism, blood coagulation, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, and steroid hormone modulation (1). Excessive adipose tissue has been shown to disrupt the normal endocrine functions of fat cells and can negatively affect health through insulin resistance, abnormal blood lipids, and even increased cardiovascular disease risk.

Leptin is an adipokine that regulates hunger and appetite by telling the brain, “I’m full!” Although intuition may assume that leptin levels would be low in obese individuals due to chronically excessive food intake, the opposite is true. Leptin has been shown to be tightly related to fat cell size: the bigger the adipocyte, the greater the expression of leptin (2).

This would mean that obese persons are constantly feeling full, right? Wrong. Obesity is associated with resistance to the effects of leptin on the brain appetite centers, so they actually end up having an impaired response that doesn’t indicate fullness. This exemplifies how complex the relationship is between adipose tissue and the endocrine system.

Fat cells increase in size, then in number

When energy balance becomes positive (meaning there are more calories consumed than burned), the adipose organ increases, particularly in the amount of white adipose tissue. White adipocytes undergo hypertrophy (increase in volume) followed by hyperplasia (increase in number).

It’s been proposed that adipocytes have a maximum volume, referred to as “critical cell size” that may be genetically determined (3). This means that fat cells can only get so big. Once they reach their critical cell size, they trigger production of new adipocytes. In other words, your existing fat cells are filled until they reach their capacity (much like a balloon) and then signal the body to make more fat cells.

You are more likely to make additional fat cells at certain times in your life. Research has shown that the natural production of fat cells steadily increases during childhood and levels off in early adulthood (4). Although more research is needed, this could indicate that children who are obese are more likely to be obese as adults and experience greater difficulties in trying to achieve weight loss.

How the body burns fat

When energy balance is negative in the body (meaning there are more calories being burned than consumed), the hormones that access stored fuel are increased, namely glucagon. In short, the body flips from an energy-storing state to an energy-burning state.

First, the body will burn stored carbohydrate, also known as glycogen, which is found mostly in the liver and muscles. Once the glycogen energy reserve has been exhausted, the body breaks down fat in a process called lipolysis.

What happens to fat cells during weight loss?

During negative energy balance such as on Cleanse Days, the body will use the fat for fuel causing the fat cells to shrink in size. As fat cells decrease in size, so too does the amount of signaling molecules produced. Over time, this reestablishment of normal endocrine function can be immensely beneficial for health including decreasing the molecules that induce inflammation.

Additionally, fat loss accompanied by adequate intake of optimal nutrition—such as  vitamins (B vitamins, vitamins C and E), minerals (selenium, zinc, copper), and other bioactive nutrients including coenzyme Q10 and polyphenols—support the detoxification systems of the body in the removal of toxins. (Read more in The Basics of Detoxification.)

It is interesting to note that fat cells have the ability to shrink but rarely decrease in number. However, during fat loss, cells can decrease as much as 400 percent in size! For many, this morphological transformation supported by dietary interventions such as Cleanse Days means more than just a slimmer appearance; it can improve health and even add years of quality life.

References

1.    Rossmeislova L, Malisova L, Kracmerova J, Stich V. Adaptation of human adipose tissue to hypocaloric diet. Int J Obes (Lond) 2013;37:640-50. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2012.80

2.    Skurk T, Alberti-Huber C, Herder C, Hauner H. Relationship between adipocyte size and adipokine expression and secretion. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007;92:1023-33.

3.    Cinti S. The adipose organ at a glance. Dis Model Mech 2012;5:588-94.

4.    Spalding KL, Arner E, Westermark PO et al. Dynamics of fat cell turnover in humans. Nature2008;453:783-7. doi: 10.1038/nature06902

If you eat margarine you need to know what you are eating...

Polyunsaturated margarine became a major part of the Western diet and had overtaken butter in popularity in the mid-20th century. Despite their best efforts, the margarine lobby has failed to convince most people that their synthetic concoctions are healthy. So what is not obvious to most of the people who consume it? The manufacturing process of course, which is very similar to the way plastic is produced.

Did you know that numerous types of margarine carry the approved recommendations and seal of agencies that also promote cardiovascular health, such as heart and stroke foundations? 

These days there are other con artists such as Earth's Balance deceiving consumers and convincing perhaps millions of unsuspecting vegetarians and vegans into thinking they have the next best spread to replace butter when all they contain is genetically modified ingredients and more toxic oils like Canola.

Many consumers are also now choosing a particular imitation buttery spread because its label says it contains omega-3, not realizing the fatty acid is inferior compared with omega-3 from fish oil. For instance, Unilever Canada has been actively promoting the health aspects of margarine, particularly with its Becel line of products. Nearly all Becel products contains omega-3 derived from plant oils and usually through toxic extraction.

The problem is most consumers don't have the nutrition savvy to know or understand how omega-3s are extracted and that they are not all the same.

Many of these spreads are only accentuating the all too pervasive imbalance that vegetable oils are causing with our omega-6 to omega-3 ratios. That imbalance has been linked to an increased risk for heart disease and may contribute to cancer, asthma, osteoporosis, inflammation, depression and other ailments. A growing body of evidence suggests the overconsumption of omega-6 needs attention. 

Toxic GMO Soybean oil alone is now so ubiquitous in fast foods and processed foods that an astounding 20 percent of the calories in the American diet are estimated to come from this single source. 

The ideal ratio between these two fatty acids is 1:1 and the nutritional habits of most people in developed nations has this ratio soaring more than 15:1 (omega 6: omega 3). So unless you are consuming reasonable amounts of omega 3 in your diet, you should stay away from any type of spread or oil saturated with omega 6. Omega-3 and omega-6 compete for the same metabolic enzymes. The dietary imbalance that exists in rice bran oil can create all sorts of problems to body processes, including a tendency towards inflammation. 

Melatonin or Chunky Thighs?

Posted on April 14, 2014 by admin

Dr. Michael Colgan 13 April 2014

In 1958, Aaron Lerner at Yale discovered a powerful hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the center of the brain and regulated by light. He named it melatonin. It has proved one of the most important scientific advances of the 20th century.

By the 1980s we established that melatonin is the circadian pacemaker of the body. By sensing light, it programs thousands of bodily functions to the 24-hour revolution of the Earth, and the seasonal changes of the annual revolution of the Earth around the Sun. Melatonin times every aspect of your physiology, as it does for almost all living creatures.

In animals that are seasonal breeders, including all birds, melatonin controls their annual cycle of physiology and behavior, the seasonal changes in plumage, the changing melodies of birdsong, nest building, and nurture of the young.

It works the same in mammals. The annual growth of antlers in deer, for example, the seasonal changes in their fur, their mating cycle, and their reproduction are all controlled by melatonin.(3)

Melatonin also times all the vast animal and bird migrations throughout the world, in response to the seasonal changes of the light. The largest migration of animals on Earth occurs every day though most folk never see it. The biomass of plankton in the oceans far exceeds the biomass of all other creatures put together. Uncountable millions of tons of biomass swim up and down in the ocean every day in rhythm with the variations in the light. All this movement is controlled by melatonin.(3) It is the first hormone that occurred on Earth about 320 million years ago which enabled primitive organisms to move in response to light and thereby ingest sustenance.

By the 1980s, melatonin had proved to be non-toxic, even in very high doses. Realizing that it is one of the most important hormones in the human body, groups of scientists, including myself, petitioned the US government to make it freely available. Because melatonin times the sleep cycle, and because the US National Center for Sleep Disorders was more than swamped with cases at the time, and for various other reasons, we managed to persuade the politicians to make it an over-the-counter sleep aid.

We also persuaded the politicians in Canada though it took a couple of decades longer. We knew that melatonin was much more important for health than a mere sleep aid. But, for political approvals you have to keep it simple. Because of the simple story used to get it allowed, the general public came to believe that melatonin is merely a sleep remedy, akin to aspirin for a headache. No way!

People in North America don’t realize how lucky they are, because melatonin is still an expensive prescription drug in Britain, Australia, and the whole of Europe. Here is a bit of the latest science behind your enormous stroke of luck to have free access to very inexpensive melatonin, an essential supplement for extending healthy life.

Melatonin declines rapidly with aging. At age 25, melatonin output is about 50 pg/ml per day. By age 50, it drops to about 20 pg/ml, and to 10 pg/ml by age 70.

No one knows the exact level of melatonin required to maintain health. But from the hundreds of studies over the last 40 years, numerous scientists, including me, conclude that 40 pg/ml is the lower end of the range that will support healthy melatonin function in the body You start to dip below that level about age 35.

From a very large number of cases who have taken programs with the Colgan Institute over the last 40 years, we have had excellent results in raising melatonin levels above 40pg/ml, the average level of melatonin at age 35. For some people this requires only 1.0 mg of liquid melatonin per night. For others it requires 25 mg.

Our cases agree with the controlled studies. Blood levels of 40 pg/ml seems to be the minimum required for long-term health of the hormone cascade, sleep pattern and quality, normal immunity, bone structure, control of body fat, and inhibition of aging of the brain.

The evidence from hundreds of studies is now irrefutable. Unless you have sufficient melatonin, you gradually lose the temporal organization of many physiological systems, causing degenerative changes in the brain and bones, insulin resistance, overweight, and widespread organ damage. Low melatonin levels will do this to you despite the very best diet and regular exercise.

I could cite many studies, but will stick to just one, the latest review on melatonin and overweight. I just received it from world expert on melatonin, Professor Russell Reiter of the Dept of Structural Biology at the University of Texas, San Antonio. The paper just came out in epublication in the Journal of Pineal Research on 21 March 2014, and covers many of the earlier reviews.

So that you don`t think I`m exaggerating, I will quote directly from the summary of Professor Reiter`s paper.
QUOTE “ Experimental evidence demonstrates that melatonin is necessary for the proper synthesis, secretion, and action of insulin. Melatonin is a powerful chronobiotic being responsible, in part, for the daily distribution of metabolic processes so that the activity/eating phase of the day is associated with high insulin sensitivity, and the rest/fasting phase at night is synchronized to the insulin-resistant metabolic phase of the day. The reduction in melatonin production, during aging, shift-work or illuminated environments during the night, induces insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, sleep disturbance, and metabolic circadian disorganization leading to obesity.“

O.K. That`s plain enough. If you have insufficient melatonin, you will get fat and sick and old in short order, no matter what else you do to avert it.
But before you rush out to buy melatonin pills, let me tell you I have done research on melatonin supplementation for 40 years. It is not a simple substance like aspirin. It is a complex hormone. Swallow it in a pill and up to 90% is broken down and destroyed by your digestive acids and the first pass through your liver. Melatonin is effective only if you take it as a liquid and hold it in your mouth for absorption. Now you know why we designed the Sleep Spray. You can find it at fatbgone.org

1. Lerner AB, Case JD. Melatonin. Fed Proc, 1960;19:590-592.
2. Sanus HV. Aging. The loss of temporal organization. Perspect Biol Med, 1969;12:95-102.
3. Reiter RJ. Melatonin. New York: Bantam Books, 1995.
4. Rojansky N, et al. Seasonality in Human Reproduction: An Update. Human Reproduction, 1992;7:735-745.
5. Pierpaoli W, et al, (eds). The Aging Clock. New York: New York Academy of Sciences, 1994.
6. Colgan M. Hormonal Health. Vancouver: Apple Publishing, 1996.
7. Drake MJ, et al. Melatonin pharmacotherapy for nocturia in men with benign prostatic enlargement. J Urol, 2004;17:1207-1208.
8. Maestroni G. The immunoendocrine role of melatonin. J Pineal Res, 1993;14:1-10.
9. Cutolo M, Maestroni G. The melatonin-cytokine connection in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005 August; 64(8): 1109–1111.
10. Cardinali DP, Esquifino AL. Circadian disorganization in experimental arthritis. Neurosignals, 2003;12:267-282.
11. Erren TC, et al. Light, timing of biological rhythms and chronodisruption in man. Naturwissenschaften, 2003;90:485-494.
12. Dawson KA. Temporal organization of the brain: Neurocognitive mechanisms and clinical applications. Brain Cogn, 2004;54:75-94.
13. Cipolla-Neto J1, Amaral FG, Afeche SC, Tan DX, Reiter RJ. Melatonin, energy metabolism, and obesity: a review.J Pineal Res. 2014 Mar 21. Doi 10.1111/jpi.12137. [Epub ahead of print]

If Cows Could Talk. . .
     They’d Tell You to Steer Clear of
     Bovine Growth Hormones!

Yes ma’am, Brown Bessie & all her gal pals are just sick about what’s being added to their milk – literally!

The problems started in 1993 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) to increase milk production. Farmers inject rBGH into cows biweekly to induce them to produce more milk than they normally would.

According to the American Cancer Society, Canada, the European Union and some other countries have not jumped on the bandwagon. You won’t be surprised when you learn what this stuff is and what it does. . .

This hormone is genetically engineered, which ought to make you suspicious right away. It’s manufactured by Monsanto and is sometimes called Bovine Somatotropin (rBST). It is similar, though not identical, to a hormone that cows naturally produce - another factor that should make you suspicious. The difference between "similar" and "identical" is all the difference in the world.

Unnaturally high levels of this hormone boost milk production… but as you may have guessed, rBGH causes a number of problems with the milk, including:

• Increased levels of pus
• Residues of antibiotics
• Higher levels of a hormone called Insulin Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1)

Each of these consequences is cause for alarm, but the production of the hormone IGF-1 is especially troubling.

This hormone is directly responsible for increasing milk production. According to some Monsanto studies, using rBGH raises IGF-1 levels about five times above normal levels.

IGF-1 is a naturally-occurring hormone that’s found in both cow’s milk and human milk. Its purpose is to help cells grow. It’s responsible in part for the quick growth of infants in both species.

But here’s the difference…

The IGF-1 hormone in humans is usually bound to protein and thus has a weaker effect than unbound IGF-1 in milk. And please note, IGF-1 is NOT destroyed in the pasteurization process nor during human digestion and is therefore biologically active in humans.

So when young children, adolescents and adults drink cow's milk — it’s likely that IGF-1 behaves as a cancer-accelerator! The substance encourages cell division in your body. Healthy cells divide and then are signaled by their genes and hormones when it’s time to STOP dividing.

After a certain amount of time (or cell divisions), healthy cells are actually instructed to die—that is, undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis)—to make room for new cells.

If something throws this process out of whack and prevents programmed cell death from occurring, it can cause cells to grow out of control.

Uncontrolled cell growth is more or less another way of saying cancer (it is characteristic of some other diseases, too, but it’s the defining feature of cancer). So it’s no surprise to find that studies have linked excess IGF-1 to cancers of the breast, colon and prostate.

But aside from causing cancer in us humans, this unnatural chemical intervention inflicts some damage on the cows that can pose additional health problems for humans…

You won’t want this ‘secret ingredient’
in your milk!

Whenever rBGH is used to rev up milk production, the cows tend to become more susceptible to udder infections classified as mastitis.

A mastitis infection can increase the amount of cow’s pus which ends up in milk. Monsanto has admitted that their study data show a whopping 79 percent increase in mastitis in cows injected with rBGH.

This, in turn, causes a 19 percent increase in the amounts of pus and bacteria in milk.

Monsanto even admits this on the warning label for their Posilac drug (their brand name for rBGH). Besides the increased possibility of pus and bacteria in your milk, the label also states:

“…use of POSILAC may result in an increase in digestive disorders such as indigestion, bloat, and diarrhea.... Studies indicated that cows injected with POSILAC had increased numbers of enlarged hocks and lesions (e.g., lacerations, enlargements, calluses) of the knee...and...of the foot region.”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t find it appetizing to think about — much less drink — pus-contaminated milk from sick cows. But you might be wondering if there’s something that can be done to help the cows heal so that no pus winds up in milk.

Well there IS, but it happens to be…

Antibiotics that DON’T do a body good!

Cows suffering from mastitis are treated with antibiotics to help eliminate the infections. But this only increases your chances of having antibiotic residues present in your milk. The American Cancer Society and other defenders of rBGH insist that any such residues will not pose a significant risk to human health. But a quick scan of today’s health headlines will tell you that a different scenario is more likely: Increased antibiotic use in food animals may contribute to the development of more strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

This, in turn, can lead to an increase in human infections that are difficult to treat.

So what can you do if you’re concerned about excess hormones and other nasty ingredients creeping into your milk supply? Well, some folks opt for purchasing organic and sustainably produced milk.

Still others have switched to using almond and rice milks.

I’ve reduced milk products from my own diet. On the rare occasions when I have milk, I make sure it’s produced without rBGH, other hormones, or antibiotics by buying organic or using goat's milk.

I urge you to do the same. These steps can go a long way toward protecting you from ingesting excess hormones and the health nightmares that can result!