The Dangers of Drinking Cow’s Milk
Due to the extreme processes that milk goes through and the high amounts of antibiotics, hormones, and genetically-modified substances that cows are continually exposed to, I believe there are real and eminent concerns associated with drinking milk from cows. All cows release toxins through their milk, as milk is a natural exit-portal for substances that the body cannot use.
“Ingredients” Added to Cow’s Milk
- A Veritable Hormone Cocktail: including pituitary, steroid, hypothalamic, and thyroid hormones (remember most cows are extremely stressed)
- Gastrointestinal Peptides:
Nerve and epidermal growth factors, and the growth inhibitors MDGI and MAF
- rBGH (Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone): a genetically engineered hormone directly linked to breast, colon and prostate cancer. This is injected into cows to increase milk production. [1]
- Pus: National averages show at least 322 million cell-counts of pus per glass! [2] This is well-above the human limit for pus-intake, and has been directly linked to paratuberculosis bacteria, as well as Crohn’s disease. The pus comes from infected udders on the cows known as mastitis.
- Blood Cells: The USDA allows up to 1.5 million white blood cells per milliliter of commonly-sold milk. [3] Yes, you are drinking cows blood in the milk and the USDA allows this!
- Antibiotics: Currently, cows are in such a state of disease and mistreatment that they are continually being injected with antibiotic medicines, and rubbed down with chemical-laden ointments to deal with their chronic infections. Currently, regulating committees only test for 4 of the 85 drugs in dairy cows. This means that the other 81 drugs in cow’s milk are coming directly into your glasses and bodies. Estimates show that 38% of milk in the U.S. is “contaminated with sulfa drugs or other antibiotics,” according to a study by the Centre for Science in the Public Interest and published in the Wall Street Journal on December 29, 1989. A study from the FDA data showed that over half of all milk was laden with traces of pharmaceuticals yet nothing has been done to control this.
How Does This Affect the Cows?
Milk Cartoon
Not only are people drinking these toxins, they are also taking in the energetic effects of the life of the cow.
Studies show that many cows are infected with incredibly painful infections such as mastitis. [4] Due to over-milking, artificial hormones, bacteria and medications, cow’s udders can become chronically inflamed, thus altering the color and taste of the milk.
Over time, this bacterial invasion causes harm to the cow’s mammary gland, reeking havoc on the milk being produced. From parasitic worms to cancerous tumors, these diseases are often passed along to the next generation of cows, and more often, into the milk we drink.
Often times the conditions in which cows live, as well as the rigorous milking regimes, cause dairy cattle to live in a permanent state of sympathetic (stress) response, as well as adrenal over-load. When our adrenal glands are overworked for long periods of time, there is a overload of cortisol in the blood. When we drink this milk, we are then exposed to the millions of stress-response cells in the milk of cows. It is no wonder that we are a chronically stressed society! Read more
Expert: Relying on willpower alone is a sure way to diet failure
An estimated 45 million Americans go on a diet annually, spending a whopping $33 billion on weight-loss products to achieve their slimming goals. Unfortunately, it's no secret that many of these people eventually stray from their healthy habits, giving into several slices of pizza or check-out aisle candy bars. They often chalk up their inability to stay on track to having a lack of willpower, saying they can't exercise self-restraint when an eclair is staring them in the face.
However, weight loss expert Dr. Sally Norton suggests that the notion of willpower should be tossed to the curb; she maintains that it's basically an outdated thought that fails to address the real issue behind a dieter's urge to reach for unhealthy foods. "So many people think they can just cut back on food and rely on willpower to lose weight," Norton says. "Unless you understand your 'who, where, why and when' weak spots, your willpower will fail you – guaranteed."
How the four Ws can help dieters achieve weight loss goals
Instead, the four Ws Norton references are thought to be significantly better ways to achieve weight loss. They encourage dieters to delve into the reasons behind overeating or gravitating towards unhealthy foods so they can stop themselves from engaging in the diet failure cycle. A better understanding of these triggers, according to Norton, is much more effective in achieving weight loss than dabbling in willpower nonsense.
Here's a closer look at how the four W's can help people who are trying to lose weight:
- Who: Norton suggests being more mindful of the people around you that might be causing you to overeat. This could be a friend who always offers to pay for decadent desserts or a colleague who jokes about how "just one candy bar won't hurt." By being aware of the people who could be sabotaging your weight loss efforts, you can learn to avoid certain people or say no to their junk food temptations.
- Where: Whether it's a pastry shop you see while walking to work or an unending menu at a restaurant, plenty of unhealthy food choices abound. Norton urges dieters to pay close attention to the environment they're in and how it might produce irresistible urges that lead to diet failure. For example, if passing by that pastry shop is too tempting, Norton suggests re-routing your walk. Even crossing the street prior to the bakery may suffice. At restaurants, she suggests avoiding menu temptations by reviewing menus online first so you're less inclined to gravitate towards diet-ruining choices that people often order during in-the-moment scenarios.
- Why: Many people overeat when they're under emotional duress. Therefore, Norton thinks it's a good idea for dieters to pause and ask themselves why they are reaching for a pint of ice cream. Are you attempting to silence a fear through food? Are you bored, angry or anxious about something?
- When: By getting in tune to the specific times dieters tend to overeat, Norton maintains that they can get a better handle on their weight loss efforts. Noticing if mid-day munchies are the norm or after-dinner refrigerator trips are common is important so that efforts can be made to change them. Norton suggests that dieters engage in activities that distract them from overeating during those times, which might even be as simple as going to bed earlier. Read more
Many non-dairy milk alternatives are loaded with chemicals
Allergies to lactose, casein, and other milk derivatives are on the rise in the industrialized world, and many people are turning to milk alternatives made from soy, rice, and almonds instead. But a large percentage of these products contain added fillers and chemicals that are perhaps more harmful to health, and may even contain ingredients linked to causing cancer.
Soy milk is an endocrine disruptor that can cause major health problems
Soy milk, for instance, is made from processed soybeans, which have been shown in their unfermented state to cause endocrine disruption http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/10/3/179.full, especially in men. More recent research has linked soy consumption to infertility and other reproductive problems http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/soybean-fertility-hormone-isoflavones-genistein/.
Genetic engineering is also problematic with regards to soy milk, as the vast majority of conventional soybeans grown in the U.S. have been modified to resist Monsanto's Roundup herbicide. Soy crops are heavily sprayed with the chemical cocktail, which contains glyphosate, and residues end up making their way into the beans, which are then turned into liquid.
Soy and other milk alternatives often contain toxic carrageenan, which may cause cancer
In order to make the liquid palatable in a way that resembles actual dairy milk, companies often add fillers like carrageenan, a thickening compound derived from seaweed that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies as a potential human carcinogen. IARC is part of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Carrageenan is also highly inflammatory to the digestive tract. Though extracted from natural seaweed, carrageenan has repeatedly been shown to cause intestinal lesions, ulcerations, and even malignant tumors http://www.cornucopia.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Carrageenan-Report1.pdf, which is why many cutting-edge health experts recommend against its consumption.
Milk alternatives contain all sorts of synthetic vitamins, some of which are toxic
Then, there is the laundry list of synthetic vitamin chemicals added to milk alternatives that, in most cases, are not even digestible. Vitamin A palmitate, for instance, is a common additive that might make a milk alternative product appear healthy, but that the body cannot use. The same is true of vitamin D2, a form of vitamin D that is actually toxic to the body.
"When synthetic, or incomplete vitamins are introduced into the body, the body attempts to 'build' a complete vitamin complex by adding the missing factors that it knows should be there, specifically minerals and other vitamin co-factors," explains the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) about the nature of synthetic vitamins.
"This "building" process depletes the body's nutritional reserves, creating an overall deficiency."
Be sure to check out this extensive piece on why synthetic vitamins don't work, and why your body needs full-spectrum vitamins and minerals for optimal health:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_3697.cfm
Stick with clean milk alternatives or just make your own at home
Soy milk isn't the only milk alternative that contains carrageenan, fake vitamins, and other synthetic additives. A majority of commercial hemp, rice, almond, and coconut milk products contain these ingredients, which is why it is critical to carefully read labels and only consume the cleanest products available. Read more
The Benefits of Resveratrol for Blood Pressure
According to statistics from the CDC, around 70 million people–1 in 3 Americans–suffer from high blood pressure. Half of these individuals have their blood pressure under control, probably under some form of blood pressure medication. [1] Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can be a silent yet deadly disease, one that doesn’t necessarily need to be managed by medication. While there are some rare hereditary conditions that make it impossible to control blood sugar with just exercise and diet, most people have the ability to use dietary strategies as their first line of defense.
How Resveratrol Supports a Healthy Blood Pressure
Resveratrol is a natural plant compound typically found in grapes, chocolate, and almonds. Its antioxidant capabilities have been studied for years, with each study revealing some type of benefit for health. Whether it’s protecting cells and DNA, regulating a healthy blood sugar, or protecting skin from UV damage, there seems to be a wide range of benefits associated with the compound. [2] [3] A recent meta analysis shows that resveratrol may play an important role in supporting blood pressure health by regulating systolic blood pressure. [4] While the research is far from conclusive, it does lead many to wonder how powerful plant compounds really are.
One of the emerging areas of research in relation to resveratrol is in the field of healthy aging. Resveratrol may provide similar effects of calorie restriction in terms of cellular protection. [5] Its effects on blood pressure are not surprising, if you consider the fact that resveratrol may reduce irritation and improve blood flow through vessels. Resveratrol may even support hormones that play a role in blood pressure. Foods high in resveratrol may also contain a number of other beneficial compounds and nutrients, like antioxidants and fiber, that are responsible for supporting blood pressure. Read more
9 Facts Everyone Should Know About Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for maintaining your health, but many people don’t know just how important it is. Almost all of us at one point or another have experienced low vitamin D levels, whether we have realized it or not. Symptoms often manifest as poor energy, insomnia, compromised immune system, and mood imbalance. That’s why I want you to know these 9 facts about D. Everyone needs to know these, so let’s dive right in!
Vitamin D: What You Need to Know
You probably already know that the best source of vitamin D is the sun, something all of us rarely get access to on a daily basis. Without appropriate sunlight exposure, our vitamin D status decreases and our health follows. Here are a few things you should know about vitamin D:
1. Most of Us Don’t Get Enough Vitamin D
In the U.K., not only is the recommended daily allowance (RDA) much lower than in the U.S., but also many people don’t realize how important this vitamin is for bone health. [1] Because of this, many kids and adults there don’t get enough. [2] But while U.S. RDA can sometimes be as high as 4000 IU, a higher guideline doesn’t mean all Americans will get enough either. Since you get Vitamin D from both diet and sunlight, make sure you’re getting enough.
2. Vitamin D is Insanely Good for Your Health
Some experts say Vitamin D not only helps in bone health but can also aid in heart, brain, and immune system function, even noting that lower levels can be associated with asthma. [3] Some suggest it could even protect against certain forms of cancer. [4] It’s fairly well established, though, that maintaining proper levels can stave off infections and prevent bone brittleness. [5] [6]
3. Vitamin D Can Cut the Risk of Breast Cancer
I’m not saying a vitamin D supplement will cure or prevent breast cancer but a recent study suggests spending some time in the sun each day can reduce your risk for breast cancer. This exposure stimulates Vitamin D production in your skin, and that alone could cut your risk for breast cancer in half. [7] Opt for around 20 to 30 minutes of sun exposure per day without sunscreen.
4. Vitamin D May Reduce Risk of MS
In Scotland, where sun exposure is typically low, there’s a push to supplement the nation’s food with Vitamin D. One source of Vitamin D is from the sun. Because of this, much of the population is deficient, and some experts blame that deficiency for a high rate of multiple sclerosis—one of the highest in the world. Studies suggest there could be a link between the two, and that Vitamin D could offer some neuroprotective effects. [8]
5. Vitamin D Supports Verbal Communication
I wouldn’t have thought about this unless I’d read the study but a recent report suggests pregnant women with low Vitamin D levels are two times as likely to have children with language difficulties. [9] It’s important to remember that a developing baby relies entirely on the mother for vitamin D. This makes it doubly important for expectant mothers to get enough of the vitamin!
6. Vitamin D Deficiency is Linked to Autism
With sunlight as a main source for Vitamin D production, increased sunscreen use, declining vitamin levels, and rising autism rates have had many wondering if there could be a connection. [10] While one study noted that autistic children do, in fact, have lower vitamin D levels than non-autistic children, more studies must be done before drawing a conclusion of any kind. [11] Regardless, it certainly seems to show how important Vitamin D can be to brain health. Read more
The 6 Best Vegan Supplements
As a vegan, making sure you get adequate nutrition is very important. Since many vitamins and minerals http://www.dreddyclinic.com/vitamins/vitamins-index.php are more readily available from animal sources, it’s important to know how taking certain supplements could affect your health. Fortunately, a vegan diet can be quite nutritioushttp://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=31926 and contain most of the essential nutrients you need. Still, there are some minerals and vitamins you may be missing. Here are just a few of the best supplements every vegan (and non-vegan) should know about.
Six Vegan Supplements You Should Have
Being a vegan has its share of benefits, but there are also some drawbacks you should be aware of. Vegan diets are missing crucial nutrients, like vitamin B12 and even vitamin D, so supplementing should definitely be on every vegan’s mind. While plant foods do provide an assortment of nutrients, some of them may be on the low end. Here’s six supplements you should be considering taking if you’re following the vegan lifestyle:
1. B12
One of the essential B-complex nutrients, B12 maintains brain and nervous system health. But getting enough is crucial, since low levels could also lead to anemia or even pregnancy complications. [1] [2] Unfortunately for vegans, it can be difficult getting enough B12 from plant sources; however, a vegan B12 supplement could be a great option. I highly recommend supplementing with VeganSafe™ B12, a vegan-friendly formula that contains two of the most bioactive forms of the vitamin.
2. Iron
Since your red blood cells use iron to transport oxygen and nutrients, not getting enough could lead to anemia. Of the two types of iron, non-heme, found in plant sources, is harder for the body to absorb. What this means is that vegans and vegetarians can have lower iron stores in the blood. This is why supplementing with iron is so important. Also, keep in mind that eating non-heme iron foods with vitamin C foods can actually increase absorption!
3. Zinc
Found in every cell in the body, zinc helps with everything from maintaining your immune system to aiding reproduction. [3] And, while zinc can be found in vegetable sources, phytates in plants can actually bind to the mineral and weaken absorption. Taking additional zinc is highly recommended for vegetarians and vegans because of this. Since the body lacks any kind of zinc storage system, zinc orotate is one form that passes quickly and easily through cell membranes, allowing the body to get the most of the mineral.
4. Enzymes
No matter what your diet, supplementing with enzymes can provide your body a great deal of help. There are some studies that suggest proteolytic enzymes could reduce irritation in the body, while digestive enzymes help digest food molecules into nutrients. [4] [5] For example, someone who is lactose intolerant could take the enzyme lactase in order to better digest dairy. As a vegan (or vegetarian), it’s especially important to make sure your enzyme supplement isn’t sourced from animal products; a high-quality, full-spectrum supplement like VeganZyme could be just the thing you need. Read more
Study Questions Giving Babies Botanical Supplements, Teas
The use of botanical supplements and teas for infants is a surprisingly common practice, new research finds, but experts warn that such products might not be safe for babies.
The study, conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, found that nearly 10 percent of babies are given botanical supplements or teas during their first year of life. The researchers found that even babies as young as 1 month old were given these products.
"Our study is the first to examine the prevalence of dietary botanical supplement and tea use among a sample of U.S. infants," wrote the study's authors. "The wide variety of dietary botanical supplements and teas given to infants increases the likelihood that some are unsafe."
Results of the study are published online May 2 in Pediatrics. The report is scheduled to appear in the June print version of the journal.
Dietary botanical supplements and herbal teas don't receive the same scrutiny that pharmaceutical products do, according to background information in the study. Use of such products can cause adverse reactions with other medications, and these products may be inherently unsafe themselves.
Some supplements may contain heavy metals or other contaminants, and infants are more susceptible to such toxins, according to the study. In addition, some dietary supplements have caused seizures and even death in previously healthy infants. One dietary supplement was recalled in 2007 because of microbiological contamination.
During the first four to six months of life, child health experts recommend that babies only be fed human breast milk or infant formula, according to the study.
Reviewing information from the Infant Feeding Practices Study that was conducted from 2005 to 2007, the researchers found data from 2,653 mothers.
Almost 6 percent said they had given their infant a botanical supplement or tea once during the first 12 months of the baby's life. Another 3.6 percent said they'd given their infant these products more than once during the baby's first year.
Women were more likely to give their babies these products if they reported using botanical supplements or teas themselves. Women who were older, had more than one child and had a higher education or income were also more likely to give their infants such products. Mothers who breast-fed longer were more apt to try giving a botanical supplement or tea to their baby. Hispanic mothers were more likely than white or black mothers to give their babies dietary botanical supplements or teas. Read more
