A KILLER IN YOUR FRIDGE

A KILLER IN YOUR FRIDGE
By:  Jim Klinger
SWEET POISON..A MUST READ !!!

In October of 2001, my sister started getting very sick She had stomach spasms and she was having a hard time getting around. Walking was a major chore. It took everything she had just to get out of bed; she was in so much pain.

By March 2002, she had undergone several tissue and muscle biopsies and was on 24 various prescription medications. The doctors could not determine what was wrong with her. She was in so much pain, and so sick she just knew she was dying.

She put her house, bank accounts, life insurance, etc., in her oldest daughter's name, and made sure that her younger children were to be taken care of.

She also wanted her last hooray, so she planned a trip to Florida (basically in a wheelchair) for March 22nd.

On March 19, I called her to ask how her most recent tests went, and she said they didn't find anything on the test, but they believe she had MS.

I recalled an article a friend of mine e-mailed to me and I asked my sister if she drank diet soda? She told me that she did. As a matter of fact, she was getting ready to crack one open that moment.

I told her not to open it, and to stop drinking the diet soda! I e-mailed her an article my friend, a lawyer, had sent. My sister called me within 32 hours after our phone conversation and told me she had stopped drinking the diet soda AND she could walk! The muscle spasms went away. She said she didn't feel 100% but, she sure felt a lot better.

She told me she was going to her doctor with this article and would call me when she got home.

Well, she called me, and said her doctor was amazed! He is going to call all of his MS patients to find out if they consumed artificial sweeteners of any kind. In a nutshell, she was being poisoned by the Aspartame in the diet soda.. and literally dying a slow and miserable death

When she got to Florida March 22, all she had to take was one pill, and that was a pill for the Aspartame poisoning! She is well on her way to a complete recovery. And she is walking! No wheelchair! This article saved her life.If it says 'SUGAR FREE' on the label; DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!I have spent several days lecturing at the WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE on 'ASPARTAME,' marketed as'Nutra Sweet,' 'Equal,' and 'Spoonful.'In the keynote address by the EPA, it was announced that in the United States in 2001 there is an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. It was difficult to determine exactly what toxin was causing this to be rampant. I stood up and said that I was there to lecture on exactly that subject.

I will explain why Aspartame is so dangerous: When the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in ASPARTAME converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants. The methanol toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus.

Many people were being diagnosed in error. Although multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, Methanol toxicity is!

Systemic lupus has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially with Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers.The victim usually does not know that the Aspartame is the culprit. He or she continues its use; irritating the lupus to such a degree that it may become a life-threatening condition. We have seen patients with systemic lupus become asymptotic, once taken off diet sodas.

In cases of those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, most of the symptoms disappear. We've seen many cases where vision loss returned and hearing loss improved markedly.

This also applies to cases of tinnitus and fibromyalgia. During a lecture, I said, 'If you are using ASPARTAME (Nutra Sweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting, pains, numbness in your legs,
Cramps,
Vertigo,
Dizziness,
Headaches,
Tinnitus,
Joint pain,
Unexplainable depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss you probably have ASPARTAME poisoning!' People were jumping up during the lecture saying,'I have some of these symptoms. Is it reversible?'

Yes!
Yes!
Yes!
STOP drinking diet sodas and be alert for Aspartame on food labels! Many products are fortified with it! This is a serious problem. Dr. Espart (one of my speakers) remarked that so many people seem to be symptomatic for MS and during his recent visit to a hospice; a nurse stated that six of her friends, who were heavy Diet Coke addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS. This is beyond coincidence!

Diet soda is NOT a diet product! It is a chemically altered, multiple SODIUM (salt) and ASPARTAME containing product that actually makes you crave carbohydrates.

It is far more likely to make you GAIN weight!

These products also contain formaldehyde, which stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. Formaldehyde is an absolute toxin and is used primarily to preserve 'tissue specimens.'

Many products we use every day contain this chemical but we SHOULD NOT store it IN our body!

Dr. H. J. Roberts stated in his lectures that once free of the 'diet products' and with no significant increase in exercise; his patients lost an average of 19 pounds over a trial period.Aspartame is especially dangerous for diabetics. We found that some physicians, who believed that they had a patient with retinopathy, in fact, had symptoms caused by Aspartame. The Aspartame drives the blood sugar out of control. Thus diabetics may suffer acute memory loss due to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are NEUROTOXIC when taken without the other amino acids necessary for a good balance.

Treating diabetes is all about BALANCE.. Especially with diabetics, the Aspartame passes the blood/brain barrier and it then deteriorates the neurons of the brain; causing various levels of brain damage, Seizures, Depression, Manic depression, Panic attacks, Uncontrollable anger and rage.Consumption of Aspartame causes these same symptoms in non-diabetics as well. Documentation and observation also reveal that thousands of children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD have had complete turnarounds in their behavior when these chemicals have been removed from their diet.

So called 'behavior modification prescription drugs' (Ritalin and others) are no longer needed.Truth be told, they were never NEEDED in the first place!Most of these children were being 'poisoned' on a daily basis with the very foods that were 'better for them than sugar.'It is also suspected that the Aspartame in thousands of pallets of diet Coke and diet Pepsi consumed by men and women fighting in the Gulf War, may be partially to blame for the well-known Gulf War Syndrome.

Dr. Roberts warns that it can cause birth defects, i.e. mental retardation, if taken at the time of conception and during early pregnancy. Children are especially at risk for neurological disorders and should NEVER be given artificial sweeteners.

There are many different case histories to relate of children suffering grand mal seizures and other neurological disturbances talking about a plague of neurological diseases directly caused by the use of this deadly poison.'

Herein lies the problem: There were Congressional Hearings when Aspartame was included in 100 different products and strong objection was made concerning its use. Since this initial hearing, there have been two subsequent hearings, and still nothing has been done. The drug and chemical lobbies have very deep pockets.

Sadly, MONSANTO'S patent on Aspartame has EXPIRED! There are now over 5,000 products on the market that contain this deadly chemical and there will be thousands more introduced. Everybody wants a 'piece of the Aspartame pie.'I assure you that MONSANTO, the creator of Aspartame, knows how deadly it is.

And isn't it ironic that MONSANTO funds, among others, the American Diabetes Association, the American Dietetic Association and the Conference of the American College of Physicians?

This has been recently exposed in the New York Times. These [organizations] cannot criticize any additives or convey their link to MONSANTO because they take money from the food industry and are required to endorse their products.Senator Howard Metzenbaum wrote and presented a bill that would require label warnings on products containing Aspartame, especially regarding pregnant women, children and infants.

The bill would also institute independent studies on the known dangers and the problems existing in the general population regarding seizures, changes in brain chemistry, neurological changes and behavioural symptoms.

The bill was killed.It is known that the powerful drug and chemical lobbies are responsible for this, letting loose the hounds of disease and death on an unsuspecting and uninformed public. Well, you're informed now!

14 year old schools o'leary on GMO debate

14 year old Rachel Parent debates 0'leary on the topic of GMO foods.  O'leary, an advocate for GMO,  has absolutely no responses, agrees with her they should be labeled, and constantly tries to change the subject.  Rachel holds her ground and doesn't give in to his hypothetically nonsense.  If a professional news anchor can't even win an argument against a 14 year old, how can  big business and our government ignore us anymore!   Stand up for your health, ban, or at least label GMO!  Rachel is doing it for all of us so let's get behind her!  Go Rachel!!

The Unhealthiest of “Health Foods”

If you are stumped about why you aren’t making progress toward your health or fitness goals, you might just be a victim of your “health food.” It would help to take a look at those popular foods, starting with one of the most beloved beverages among children and adults alike: fruit juices.

Fruit Juices

In spite of beliefs to the contrary, there are several problems with fruit juice that make it a FAR cry from “health food.” Consider orange juice, for example—particularly nearly all commercially prepared OJ.

Most all commercially prepared orange juices are actually highly processed into a liquid that bears little nutritional resemblance to fresh orange juice, as Alissa Hamilton, author of the book Squeezed: What You Don’t Know About Orange Juice, explains in the interview below.

First of all, it is pasteurized which decimates its vitality. Then the juice is kept in giant tanks to ensure a year-round supply. In order to preserve it, all of the oxygen is removed, and therefore all of the natural compounds that give oranges their flavor are destroyed.

Some companies add artificial flavor packs, which are essentially chemical perfumes. A common one is ethyl butyrate. If the “Best Before” date is 60 days or more, you know you have a heavily processed juice. Fruit drinks are even worse, consisting mostly of high fructose corn syrup in a mélange of artificial ingredients. Many commercial orange juices are also contaminated with mold from damaged fruit.

Additionally, fruit juice is far worse than the whole fruit, especially if it is not freshly juiced and is stored in containers, as the methanol in the juice will dissociate from the pectin and actually increase your risk of M.S.

But even fresh, pure orange juice—even freshly squeezed—is very high in sugar that is separated from its beneficial fiber and therefore detrimental to your health. One eight-ounce glass contains about 8 teaspoons of sugar, compared to 10 teaspoons in a can of soda.

Habitually downing this much sugar can increase your risk for gout, hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease and a number of other serious health problems. And many commercial juices have been found to contain unacceptably high levels or arsenic.

Consuming the whole fruit causes less of a problem as the sugar is modulated by the fiber and antioxidants in the fruit, so you’re better off eating fruit whole, but in moderation. If you want juice, making your own vegetable juice at home is an excellent option.

Whole Wheat and Other Grains

Contrary to what you’ve been hearing for years about the nutritional value of whole grains, there’s a sizeable body of scientific evidence that they frequently do more harm to your body than good. Grains contain anti-nutrients and lectins that can damage your gut. And it’s the fibrous portion of the grain—the bran—that actually contains most of the anti-nutrients. These components can cause inflammation, intestinal permeability and “leaky gut.”

Wheat and other glutinous grains are the worst of the bunch. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) has been found to be inflammatory, immunotoxic, cardiotoxic, and neurotoxic, and can pass through your blood-brain barrier and interfere with neurotransmitter function.

Gluten intolerance may be at the root of many chronic diseases, including many neurological and psychiatric conditions such as depression, ADD/ADHD, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Many people have gluten intolerance but are unaware of it, which makes it even more insidious. It’s important to realize that ALL types of grain contribute to insulin and leptin resistance, which are the primary underlying causes for most, if not all, chronic diseases—from diabetes to cancer.

Don’t be lured into believing that all products boasting the label “gluten free” or “low-carb” are good for you. Many of these items contain other grains that are highly processed, which make them no more nutritious than the average bag of chips as they will increase your insulin and leptin resistance. And many contain sophisticated combinations of ingredients specifically engineered to induce cravings.

Agave Syrup and Nectar

Agave still lines nutrition store shelves, as if you should be pouring it over everything. Most agave nectar or syrup is nothing more than a laboratory-generated super-condensed fructose syrup, devoid of virtually all nutrient value. Agave syrup is mostly fructose and is so highly processed and refined that it bears NO resemblance to the plant for which it’s named. Depending on how it’s processed, it may contain anywhere from 55 to 90 percent fructose. High fructose corn syrup is also about 55 percent fructose, so even in the best case, agave syrup offers no advantage.

The evidence is overwhelming that, when consumed in large quantities, fructose is the most damaging sugar you can eat. Fructose drives up uric acid, which is a direct pathway toward hypertension, insulin resistance, diabetes, kidney and liver disease. Better sweetener options are stevia (an herb), and raw organic honey, in small amounts. Honey is also a concentrated form of sugar, but at least it can offer some health benefits, provided it’s high quality.

Sports Drinks and Energy Bars

For most average exercisers and athletes, sports drinks are not only a waste of your money but can actually make your health worse. Most sports drinks are loaded with things you DON’T want, like high fructose corn syrup, sodium, and artificial colors and flavors. Less than one percent of those who use sports drinks actually benefit from them.

Sports drinks are up to 30 times more erosive to your teeth than water. And brushing your teeth won’t help because the citric acid in the sports drink will soften your tooth enamel so much it could be damaged simply by brushing. A far better alternative is coconut water, sporting a long list of beneficial nutritional compounds including natural electrolytes, enzymes, trace elements, amino acids, and antioxidants.

Coconut water also has anti-inflammatory and blood pressure-lowering properties, making it the perfect “sports drink.” But even coconut water is loaded with sugar and ideally should be limited to when you need to replace minerals and fluid, like after a sauna or long duration cardio. Energy bars are no better than sports drinks—essentially just overpriced junk food. Most commercial energy bars are comprised of cheap soy protein, high fructose corn syrup, synthetic vitamins, and waste products from industrial food production.

Vegetable Oils and Fake Butter

Americans’ massive over consumption of vegetable oils is largely due to the demonization of saturated fats that’s been going on for decades. As the push to avoid animal fats rages on, people are consuming unhealthy quantities of highly refined vegetable oils—corn, soy, canola, and safflower oil. Unfortunately, all of these are highly processed and have virtually no nutritional value. And they have turned the average American’s omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratios upside down, which is a major driver of chronic inflammation.

Soybean oil is one of the worst vegetable oils, and processed foods are positively loaded with it. Whether partially hydrogenated, organic, or made from newer soybean varieties modified in such a way as to not require hydrogenation, soybean oil can cause dysfunction and chaos in your body at a cellular level. More than 90 percent of the soybeans grown in the US are genetically engineered, and as a result contaminated with dangerous levels of the herbicide glyphosate, which compounds their toxicity.

Margarine is basically a heart attack in a tub, loaded with trans fats (from hydrogenation, the process of turning liquid vegetable oils into a solid). Trans fats contribute to heart disease, cancer, bone problems, hormone imbalance and infertility, as well as low birth weight, growth problems and learning disabilities in children. Butter, on the other hand, is the real health food—it’s loaded with vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, CLA (if the cows are limited to eating grass and not grains), and many other nutrients your body needs.

Low-Fat and Fat-Free Foods

The low-fat craze has been one of the most damaging dietary fads in history, leaving many tens of millions with chronic illness in its wake. The idea that all fat (especially animal-derived fat) is bad for you is nothing more than a mistaken interpretation of science—one that has become “stuck” in Western culture. Of course, you want to avoid the previously touted “healthy” vegetable oils as not only are they highly processed but they have far too much omega-6 fats.

A healthier fat alternative that is not promoted by the media or most nutritionists, are saturated fats from animals and vegetables. They provide a source of a number of important health benefits. In fact, your body cannot function without saturated fats! They are needed for the proper function of your cell membranes, immune system, heart, brain and other organs. In fact, a recent “landmark” study provides compelling evidence that the type of fat you consume, not the amount, is what imparts the cardiovascular benefits of the Mediterranean diet.

When fats are removed from foods, it leaves them tasteless and unappealing. So manufacturers load them up with sugar and sodium and chemicals, in massive quantities. So stick with unaltered whole foods, including full-fat unpasteurized dairy. They’re much better for you—and they taste much better too!

Breakfast Cereals

Breakfast cereals are a favorite way to start the day for many, but they are rife with toxic ingredients and misleading advertising. Of course, the first problem is that they are grain-based, which I’ve already covered. But even many of the so-called “natural” varieties are contaminated with toxic pesticides, carcinogenic fumigants and solvents, and genetically modified ingredients. The only label that can give you any peace of mind is the “USDA Certified 100% Organic” label.

Independent testing by the Cornucopia Institute has shown that several breakfast cereals marketed as “natural”—even some that claim to avoid genetically engineered ingredients and are enrolled in the Non-GMO Project—contain high levels of genetically engineered ingredients. Typical American breakfast staples, such as cereal, muffins, and the like, are popular because of wildly successful corporate PR. You might even consider skipping breakfast altogether.

But wait—isn’t that the most important meal of your day? Compelling new research indicates differently. Skipping breakfast may reduce your hunger, stimulate your metabolism, level out your blood sugar, and stabilize your insulin levels throughout the day. Properly done intermittent fasting will actually help eliminate most food cravings and help you achieve your ideal body weight.

Choose Real Food Instead!

When considering food—regardless of whether it’s organic, local, from a supermarket or from a farmer’s market, make sure you keep the following criteria in mind. Most often, the best place to find high-quality foods is from a sustainable agricultural group in your area. If you’re unsure of what foods you should be eating and in what proportions, or you just need some help getting started, please refer to my free nutrition plan. Make sure that your food is:

by:  Joseph Mercola

Roasted Honey Cinnamon Chickpeas

Satisfy your sweet tooth with this highly nutritional snack.

INGREDIENTS

15-ounce can organic garbanzo beans
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1. 1. Preheat oven to 375 °F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat silicone mat.
2. 2. Drain and rinse the chickpeas in a colander. Place them on a towel to dry off.
3. 3. Spread chickpeas on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until crispy. Test one, and if it's still soft, bake for longer.

4. 4. While the chickpeas are still hot, toss them in a bowl with the oil, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.  Enjoy as is or for a caramelized effect, place them back in the oven for another 10 minutes or so.
5. Store leftover chickpeas in an airtight container.

Roasted Red Pepper Pita Pizzas

Serves 4

30 minutes or fewer

Jarred roasted red peppers create a speedy homemade sauce for these mini pizzas, but you can also roast your own red peppers to cut down on sodium. 
The mozzarella topping puts a deposit in your tryptophan account.

• 1 cup jarred roasted red peppers, rinsed and drained (2 large peppers), plus more for garnishing pizzas, if desired
• 6 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained, plus 1 Tbs. oil
• 2 6 ½-inch whole-wheat pita rounds, split apart to make 4 thin rounds
• Dried oregano, for sprinkling
• ¼ lb. (1 ball) fresh mozzarella cheese, drained and thinly sliced
• 16 small fresh basil leaves

1. Preheat oven to broil. Purée red peppers and sun-dried tomatoes and their oil in food processor 1 to 2 minutes, or until smooth.

2. Place pita rounds on baking sheet. Spread 1/4 cup red pepper sauce on cut side of each pita. Sprinkle with oregano, then top with mozzarella and garnish with sliced red peppers, if desired. Broil 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Scatter basil leaves over pizzas, and serve immediately.

The High Price of Conventional Excuses

The High Price of Conventional Excuses.

"We're all going to die anyway, I'm just going to enjoy it until then!"

"I don't have enough time to work out!"

"I cant afford to buy organic food!"

"I work hard, I deserve another slice of pizza!"

"I know someone who smokes and drinks everyday and they're 100 years old!"

I don't believe a single one of these excuses.  I believe everyone wants to be healthy, we want to be in shape, look good, and feel good.  Sometimes though, we make excuses because we are intimidated, scared of change, or just simply don't know how to do it!  That's OK!!!!  There's nothing wrong with that, you just simply have to realize an unhealthy lifestyle will catch up to you one day, and you have the power to change that!

True, we will all die one day.

You cannot avoid the grave, after all, for the wages of sin is death.  But that doesn't change the fact that you have an entire life before that.  How you want to live that life is entirely up to you.  I see so many people who's retirements, careers, social lives, and relationships have been completely destroyed due to chronic illness. Their list of medications is longer then most novels.  They take medicines to stop the side effects of other medicines.  What kind of life is that?  It is no secret that a diet high in meat and dairy causes high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and stroke.  Diets high in sugars and processed white flour causes diabetes.  Diets high in processed meats (hot dogs, deli meats...) and packaged foods contribute to autoimmune diseases, cancers, neurological diseases, migraines, and so many others. The chemicals, preservatives, artificial coloring agents, stabilizers, and whatever else they can come up with have been linked to A.D.D, A.D.H.D, and more cancers.  I could go on, but you get the point.  Its not the destination I'm worried about, its the journey.

You don't have time to exercise?

I think there is a misconception about exercise.  People think you have to go to the gym and stay for 4 hours.  All you need is a minimum of 30 minutes a day. If you cannot find that, your time management skills need to be reevaluated.  Do it at home, on your lunch hour, take the stairs, park at the back of the lot.  Cross-fit is high intensity training that usually takes only a few minutes, but you get results similar to hours in the gym. Walk the dog for a few miles.  The fact is, if you find yourself parked in front of the TV, you have the time.  The biggest obstacle is realizing you're only making excuses for yourself, and you're only hurting yourself.  A quote I like is, "6 months from now, You'll wish you started today."

You can't afford organic food?

I've heard this excuse from people who go out to dinner almost every night, drive nice cars and live in beautiful houses.  Organic food is more expensive, but is your health not worth the investment?  Conventional food is bathed in fertilizers, fungicides, pesticides, and weed killers. These chemicals have been PROVEN to cause;

Parkinson's Disease- $10.8 billion/year in the U.S

Alzheimer's-  $208 Billion/year in the U.S

Asthma- $10.7 Billion/year in the U.S

Cancer- $201.5 Billion/year in the U.S

Diabetes- $174 Billion/year in the U.S

They have also been proven to cause infertility, birth defects, learning disabilities and more.  So in the long run, maybe spending a few extra dollars at a grocery store is a pretty good investment.

You do work hard, but do you deserve another slice of pizza?

Obesity in America is becoming an epidemic.  In 1962, the obesity rate was 13%,   in 2010, we reached nearly 36% in adults and 17% in children.  Something is not right!  How have we so quickly become the second most obese country in the world.  Our diets and lack of any movement at all will, in my opinion, ultimately be the downfall for our country. These numbers are almost all projected to double by 2030.  If we, as a country cannot afford it now, how will we when the bill has doubled.  We have to act now!  it is our personal responsibility to care for our own health, and that begins with that extra helping of grease. 

You heard a story of someone who smoked and lived to be 100?

We have all heard of people who lived terrible unhealthy lifestyles and lived long lives with no health problems.  To say that is not true would be a lie.  On occasion it does happen, but its not the norm.   We are the sickest nation in the world, and its only getting worse.  Maybe you can eat fast food everyday and never have a health problem, but realistically, you will.  Do you really want to make that gamble when you're gambling with your life.  Its much easier to live healthy then reap the benefits while walking with your grand children through the woods, or pushing them on a swing. Your finally retired and you can travel the world. 

We all have excuses, and sometimes its hard to look in the mirror and admit they're just that, excuses.  There's a whole world out there to experience, don't be left behind in a hospital bed.  I urge everyone to make the commitment to healthier living today.  There is never a better time then now.  Never forget, you can do anything you put your mind to!

10 Things the Processed Food Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know

Processed foods seem like the answer to today’s busy lives. New fads and fancy advertisements make promises that keep us coming back for more. 

But before you hit the vending machine or the fast food window, find out what the processed food industry doesn’t want you to know: 

1. Processed foods are addictive and can cause you to overeat. 

Whole foods are made up of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber and water. When foods are processed the components of these foods are modified (for example, fiber, water and nutrients are removed) and in other cases, components are concentrated. In each case, processing changes the way they are digested and assimilated in your body. 

Eating highly processed or highly concentrated foods can artificially stimulate dopamine (the pleasure neurotransmitter), which plays a role in addiction. In this way, you are eating foods that lack nutrients and fiber, but create a pleasurable feeling. A food addiction starts because you feel good when you are eating these foods and they make you think they taste better. You crave that pleasurable feeling again and again and viola…this is what starts a food addiction.1 

2. Processed foods are linked to obesity. 

Additives in processed foods, like high fructose corn syrup, sugar and MSG have been linked to weight gain and obesity.2 Dr. Mercola recently reported about a new study that showed childhood obesity could be reduced by 18 percent, simply by cutting out fast food advertisements during children’s programming.3 The Australian government is clearly more concerned about their children’s health as television advertisements to children were banned several years ago. 

3. Processed foods often contain ingredients that do not follow the principle of food combining, which can lead to low energy, poor digestion, illness, acidic blood and weight gain. 

An example would be a frozen meat and cheese pizza. Cheese (a dairy product), meat (an animal protein) and pizza crust (a grain product) make a terrible food combination that can wreak havoc on your digestive health. 

4. Processed foods contribute to an imbalanced inner ecosystem, which can lead to digestive problems, cravings, illness and disease. 

Beneficial microflora cannot survive in your digestive tract when you are poisoning them. Like us they thrive on foods that are made by nature not by man. 

5. A diet high in processed foods can lead to depression, memory issues and mood swings. 

Ingredients in processed foods are often the lowest cost and sub-par, nutritionally. For example, the fats and oils used in processed foods are refined, which means they are stripped of the essential fatty acids necessary for healthy blood sugar levels, moods and memory. Your heart, hormones and brain suffer when you choose to eat these fats and oils. Instead choose the organic, unrefined or “virgin” fats and oils that are recommended on The Body Ecology Diet. 

6. Processed foods often go hand in hand with “eating on the run” or multitasking. 

Most people will choose convenience if they are on the run and in today’s busy lives, who of us isn’t? Unfortunately, multitasking while eating causes people to lose touch with their natural appetite, often leading to weight gain. Additionally, multitasking sends the wrong signals to your digestive system, which needs to be in a restful mode to digest properly. 

7. Nutrition labels on processed foods are often misleading and have harmful health effects. 

Many labels say “sugar free,” but contain other sweeteners like agave, which is like high fructose corn syrup. Additionally, product labeling may hide ingredients like GM (genetically modified) foods and harmful additives like MSG. (These are hidden behind words on the label like “natural flavorings” or “approved spices”). 

8. Diets high in processed meats (like hot dogs and deli meats) have been linked to various forms of cancer, such as pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer and stomach cancer. 

One of the reasons for this link to cancer is thought to be because of the preservatives used in processed meats. Clare Hughes, Australian Cancer Council nutrition program manager, says a number of studies have linked processed meat to cancer and the problem is multi-fold. “Processed meats are high in salt and fat. In addition, chemicals such as nitrites are added to many processed meats to maintain their colour and to prevent contamination. Nitrites can be converted in the stomach to carcinogenic nitrosamines.” 

9. Eating too many processed foods can lead to infertility and malnutrition. 

Processed foods, like cereal, are stripped of important vitamins and nutrients that your body truly needs. You could be eating a large amount of calories and still be malnourished if your diet is high in processed foods. 

Animal studies have shown that over three generations, a deficient diet causes reproduction to cease. Today, infertility is on the rise, affecting 7.3 million people in America. 

10. Processed foods are made for long shelf-life, not long human life! 

Chemicals, additives and preservatives are added to processed foods so that they will last for a long time without going rancid or affecting the taste of the food. Food manufacturers spend time, money and research on beautiful packaging and strategies to lengthen shelf-life, with little attention on how the foods will lengthen your life or create lasting health.

Food Inc.

Food Inc.

If you haven't seen this absolutely engaging documentary, you are really missing out.  This documentary exposes the truth behind factory farming and its affect on our earth.  This is truly one of the most emotional videos ever created, and every person on our planet owes it to themselves to become aware of the consequences of our lifestyle.

Quinoa-Avocado Verrines

30 minutes or fewer

These light, chilled verrines are a great appetizer to serve before a hearty meal because they won't fill you up. Red quinoa makes the presentation extra eye-catching, but you can also use regular quinoa or steamed couscous or bulgur.

⅓ cup red quinoa
½ tsp. chili powder, divided
3 tsp. lime juice, divided
2 tsp. olive oil
1 ripe avocado (6.5 oz.)
2–3 drops Tabasco sauce
⅓ cup alfalfa, broccoli, or leek sprouts

1. Bring quinoa, 1/4 tsp. chili powder, and 1 cup water to a boil in small saucepan. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 12 to 15 minutes, or until most liquid is absorbed.

2. Whisk together 2 tsp. lime juice, oil, and remaining 1/4 tsp. chili powder in bowl. Add quinoa, and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

3. Divide quinoa among glasses. (Recipe can be prepared ahead up to this point; cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours.)

4. Dice avocado, season with salt and pepper (if desired), and toss with Tabasco sauce and remaining 1 tsp. lime juice.

5. Divide avocado among glasses, and top each with pinch of sprouts. Serve immediately, with small forks or spoons.