Supermarket shelves are loaded with products and their proclamations of “NO TRANS FAT” – but “no” may be misleading.  Just because a food label says “0 trans fat” doesn’t mean it actually has ZERO trans fat.

The reason is due to the FDA rules. Companies are taking advantage of them – to our disadvantage. 

According to the FDA guidelines, products only need to have less than 0.5g  fat per serving to claim zero grams trans fat.  Consider that the American Heart Association recommends no more than 2g trans fat per day – if you ate one hidden 0.5g per meal (or snack), you’ve almost hit the daily value – and that’s only taking the hidden into consideration.

Consider this fact:

A 2% increase in trans fat consumption has been associated with a 23% increase in incidence of coronary heart disease. For most clients, that’s just 40 extra calories from trans fats—or about 4 extra grams—per day!

In all fairness, it’s true that it’s nearly impossible to eliminate all trans fat from our diets, but with careful label checking, we can safely reduce our consumption considerably.

If you see ingredients referred to as “partially hydrogenated” or “shortening”, you’ve found trans fat – even if the product says “no trans fat”.

For more information, visit http://TheTruthAboutTransFat.com

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Funny, when I was young, hospitals had the appearance and feeling of being the safest, most hygenic place to be – kids weren’t allowed past the entry waiting room and staff was so careful about sterlizations, hand washing, etc.  When did it all change?  No idea, but apparently it did and so much for the worse some are dying because of it.

Why are Hospitals Breeding Grounds for Germs?
Recent studies have shown that hospital-acquired infections are not a normal side-effect of caring for the seriously ill, but are generally caused by poor medical care! This includes not only contaminated medical devices but also spreading germs from patient-to-patient.

Doctors and nurses not washing their hands prior to touching a patient is the most common violation in hospitals. According to findings by The Times, in the worst cases, as few as 40 percent of staff members comply with hand-washing standards, with doctors being the worst offenders.

But even the best hospitals typically boast no better than 90 percent compliance — which means one out of 10 practitioners may have contaminated hands.

Doctors’ ties and even their white coats have also been implicated as potential causes of infection.

At the University of Maryland, the Wall Street Journal reported that 65% of medical workers said they change their lab coats less than once a week — despite acknowledging they were contaminated. Worse still, 15% said they change their coat less than once a month, even though superbugs like staph can survive on them for nearly 60 days!

Read the entire article and learn much more at Mercola.com

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1. Psychiatric drugs kill 42,000 people every year. And the death count continues to rise.
2. The number of Americans taking antidepressants doubled in a decade, from 13.3 million in 1996 to 27 million in 2005.
3. Drug claims refer to serotonin levels… No one can measure your serotonin or your dopamine levels without – literally – cutting open your head.
4. Scientists can’t even decide on what a “normal” serotonin level is, much less an abnormal one.

More and more scientists who study depression and the drugs that treat it are concluding that antidepressants are basically expensive Tic Tacs.

You have heard for years that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance of your neurotransmitters, mainly serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, but there’s a serious lack of research to prove it.

This theory has become so indoctrinated into our culture, medical professionals and the main stream media, most people just accept it as fact.

Regular exercise is one of the “secret weapons” to overcoming depression. It boosts the “feel good” hormones in your brain. And you needn’t run a marathon – just move a little, stretch a little, take a walk – it’s not how hard you pound your body, it’s just moving it, using it, DOING something rather than sitting – sitting leads to brooding.

What it comes down to is the crucial mind-body connection. Those who have hope and belief in the solutions they try will likely find them working. Those who pray or meditate for healing should not be ridiculed either. For them it can be a life-saver.

For more in-depth information, read: Five Ways to Help Beat Depression Without Antidepressants

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1. Omit salt from recipes or automatically reduce sodium by 25 percent by measuring the same amount of kosher or coarse salt instead. The coarse granules don’t pack as tightly into a measuring spoon.
2. When buy low fat cheese, go for a low sodium variety.
3. Try an alternative seasoning. Opt for a squirt of lemon, some crushed garlic (not garlic salt) or thyme.
4. Give unsalted or reduced-sodium pretzels, chips, and condiments a try.
5. Choose canned foods with little or no added sodium.
6. Take the salt shaker off your table or switch to light salt (50 percent less sodium) or a salt substitute, which uses a stand-in like potassium chloride.
7. Read over-the-counter drug labels. Some items, especially antacids, can be high in sodium. Ask the pharmacist about lower-sodium options.

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Compounds called “advanced glycation endproducts” (AGEs) form when foods are exposed to high heat and little water. The higher the temperature and the less water used, the more AGEs in a food. That means that frying, broiling or grilling would greatly increase AGE levels in foods compared to boiling or steaming.

Based on this information, researchers from the Mount Sinai School of Medinine in NY City and the National Institutes of Health, found that among both older (over 60) and younger (under 45) people, indicators of inflammation followed the same pattern as AGEs in the blood. Both are direct reflections of AGEs in the diet.

In young, healthy people, AGEs are not a problem because the kidneys excrete them efficiently. However, researchers speculate that when dietary levels of AGEs are high or the normal ability of the kidneys to filter blood is impaired by kidney disease, diabetes or advancing age, blood levels of AGEs could increase, leading to chronic inflammation and disease. In fact, in the study, blood levels of AGEs were indeed significantly higher in older participants, even though their intakes of dietary AGEs were lower than younger participants.

The findings of this study suggest that how you prepare you food may have a direct effect on disease-causing inflammation. Fried foods are a major offender; the high heat and absence of water create “the perfect storm” for the formation of AGEs. It helps to avoid fried foods and maybe limit how often you broil or grill. Using lower temperatures (think slow cooker) to prepare meals can significantly reduce AGEs and possibly reduce the risk of inflammation related diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

See also: Remove Carcinogens When Grilling Meat

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Natural sugar alternatives provide great benefits over table sugar – like delivering extra nutrients, saving calories (from granular sugar’s 45 calories per tablespoon), and keeping blood sugar even. Here’s how the top 4 stack up:

Stevia
Stevia has zero calories per tablespoon and is 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar.  The stevia plant is a naturally sweet herb.  Stevia-based sweeteners are sold in granular or liquid form.

This zero-calorie natural sweetener ranks zero on the glycemic index, so it won’t cause your blood sugar to spike.  Because it’s so sweet, you don’t need much for flavor.

In 2008, the FDA allowed stevia to be used as a sweetener.  While some concerns exist over studies that show high doses may cause mutations that could lead to cancer, stevia has been used safely in other countries for the past few decades.

Stevia is best in coffee. Most people won’t pick up an after-taste from Stevia.

Honey
Honey contains 64 calories per tablespoons and is 1-1/2 times sweeter than sugar.

Most honey is made by bees from the nectar and pollen of a variety of flowers; it comes in a range of colors and flavors.

Though a little higher in calories than sugar, it’s sweeter so you use less. Plus, it delivers antioxidants and isn’t as likely to cause a spike in blood sugar.

Honey is best in hot tea. Honey is smooth and won’t over-power mild teas.

Agave
Agave contains 60 calories per tablespoon and is 1-1/4 times sweeter than sugar.

This golden nectar is made from the heated sap of the agave plant (the same plant used to make tequila).

Not only is agave sweeter than granulated sugar, its’ better for your blood sugar, too.  (And since it’s sweeter, you use less, too.)  It tastes similar to honey but is easier to mix into cold drinks.

Agave is best in Mojitos.  The sweetness of agave pairs perfectly with fresh mint and rum.

Sucanat
Sucanat contains 45 calories per tablespoon and has the same sweetness as sugar.

Sucanat’s dark brown granules are actually the dried juices of freshly cut sugarcane.

Sucanat is unrefined, so it has more nutrients  than white sugar.  It’s natural molasses gives drinks a slight molasses flavor and brown tine, and it can replace sugar one-for-one.

Sucanat is best in smoothies. It’s mild flavor is great with naturally sweet fruits, plus it mixes well in cold drinks.

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Hara Hachi Bu is a cultural concept of eating only until you’re 80 percent full in Japan. Of course, you can’t really know when you’ve reached the 80-percent full mark, but the message is simple: Don’t stuff yourself.  Further evidence is a 2006 National Institute on Aging study, which showed that a low-calorie diet decreased DNA damage – thought to be a result of increased sirtuin (a protein produced in cells) activity.

How to put this in practice? First, we’ll phrase it calorie-reduction; next here are a few suggestions:

• Eat more slowly. It takes around 15 minutes for your stomach (it’s true!) to signal your brain that you’re full. Always make sure to take a sip of whatever beverage you’re drinking in between each bite to help slow you down.
• Never feel you have to finish every morsel on your plate.
• Look at your portions and cut off anything beyond the size of your palm and save it for another meal.
• Use smaller plates.
• Hydrate well – thirst is often misinterpreted as hunger.
• Refuse 2nd helpings.
• Snack. Healthfully, that is. Nuts, fruit, etc.

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Tips for Healthy Eating

• Choose lean meats and poultry. Bake it, broil it, or grill it.
• In a restaurant, opt for steamed, grilled, or broiled dishes instead of those that are fried or sautéed.
• Look for foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol. Most of the fats you eat should come from polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, such as those found in fish, nuts, and vegetable oils.
• Look for foods high in potassium (unless your health care professional has told you to restrict the amount of potassium you eat). Potassium counteracts some of the effects of salt on blood pressure.
• Choose foods and beverages low in added sugars. Read the ingredient list to make sure that added sugars are not one of the first few ingredients. (Ingredients are listed in descending order of weight. Those in the largest amounts are listed first.) Some names for added sugars include sucrose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, maple syrup, and fructose.
• Pick foods that provide dietary fiber, like fruits, beans, vegetables, and whole grains.

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At the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Patrick Ryan has found that exposure to dog dander sets off immune reactions that cause wheezing and asthma.

The study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), the total pet population is more than 100 million, or about four pets for every 10 people.

Dogs and cats secrete fluids and shed dander that contain the allergens. They collect on fur and other surfaces. The allergens will not lose their strength for a long time, sometimes for several months. They appear to be sticky and adhere to walls, clothing and other surfaces.

Cat and dog allergens are everywhere. Pet dander is even in homes never occupied by these animals because it is carried on people’s clothing.

Many airborne particles are small enough to get into the lungs. When inhaled, the allergens combine with antibodies. This can cause severe breathing problems – coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath – within 15 to 30 minutes. Cat allergies also can lead to chronic asthma.

The best treatment is to avoid contact with cats or dogs or their dander. Keep the pets out of the house, and avoid visiting people with pets. Once a pet has been removed from a home, it may take up to eight months to have the pet allergen out of the home.

If you decide to keep a pet, bar it from the bedroom. You spend from one-third to one-half of your time there. Keep the bedroom door closed and clean the bedroom aggressively.

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public about a counterfeit version of the weight-loss drug Alli 60 mg capsules (120 count refill pack) being sold over the Internet, particularly at online auction sites.

The counterfeit product is illegal and unsafe. FDA advises people who believe that they have a counterfeit product not to use the drug and to dispose of it immediately. There is no evidence at this time that the counterfeit Alli product has been sold in retail stores.

How to Recognize the Counterfeit Alli

The counterfeit Alli looks similar to the authentic product, with a few notable differences (see photos). The counterfeit Alli has

• a missing LOT code on the outer cardboard packaging
• an expiration date that includes a MONTH, DAY, and YEAR—the expiration date of the real Alli only contains a MONTH and a YEAR
• a plain foil for the inner safety seal without any words on it—the safety seal of the real Alli has the words “SEALED FOR YOUR PROTECTION” prominently printed on it.
• large capsules with white powder, as opposed to small white pellets found in the real Alli
• a slightly taller plastic bottle with a wider cap and coarser ribbing on the cap than what is seen with the real Alli

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Dangers of Counterfeit Alli

Alli is an FDA-approved, over-the-counter weight-loss drug that contains orlistat as its active ingredient. The counterfeit version of Alli does not contain orlistat; instead it is made with varying amounts of sibutramine, a stimulant drug.

Although sibutramine is the active ingredient in another FDA-approved prescription weight-loss drug, it is only to be used in specific doses and under the supervision of a physician.

FDA first warned consumers about the counterfeit product on Jan. 18, 2010, based on preliminary laboratory tests that revealed the counterfeit version contained sibutramine and not orlistat. Since that time, FDA lab tests on the counterfeit product show that people may be taking three times the usual daily dose (and twice the recommended maximum dose) of sibutramine if they are following the dosing directions for Alli.

This excessive amount of sibutramine is dangerous to people who have a history of cardiovascular disease and can lead to

• elevated blood pressure
• stroke
• heart attack

Even healthy people who take this much sibutramine can experience

• anxiety
• nausea
• heart palpitations
• a racing heart
• insomnia
• small increases in blood pressure

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FDA Recommendations

Check to make sure you are not taking counterfeit Alli. If you think you might have the counterfeit product:

• stop taking the drug and throw it away
• contact your health care professional if you are experiencing more than mild side effects, especially if you have a history of cardiovascular disease
• call FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) at 800-551-3989 or by visiting the OCI Web site; you may also contact Alli’s maker, GlaxoSmithKline at 800-671-2554

FDA encourages people to report any unexpected side effects that may be related to the use of the counterfeit product to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail, by fax, or by phone.

• Online
• Regular Mail: Use postage-paid, pre-addressed FDA form 3500
• Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178
• Phone: 1-800-332-1088

Counterfeit Alli Sample

Source: FDA

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