The structural rigidity of trans fats, and why they’re so dangerous on your health

Posted on May 5, 2013 by admin

(NaturalNews) Saturated fats often get erroneously lumped into the same unhealthy category as trans fats because of their similar molecular structure, which is part of the reason why saturated fats are still largely looked down upon in mainstream society as harmful to health. But trans fats are actually in a class of their own when it comes to form, function, and effect on the human body, and this class is definitely not a positive one. Trans fats, it turns out, take the place of healthy saturated fats throughout the body and effectively block things like nutrient absorption, waste elimination, and immune function – this is why they are so uniquely dangerous for your health.

Though chemically identical to saturated fats, according to GreenMedInfo.com, trans fats are inherently malformed and unnatural. They are created by essentially forcing hydrogen molecules through fats at high heat, a process more commonly known as hydrogenation. This process makes fats more stable, which in turn prevents them from going rancid quickly, but it also reshapes fats, altering them from a bended and more loose shape to a straight and more rigid shape. The alteration of fats in this way renders them poisonous to the body and a major cause of chronic illness.

When you ingest trans fats, these mutant substances basically replace the healthy saturated fats naturally found in your cell walls — this, again, is due to the fact that they have a similar molecular structure. But trans fats are far less permeable than saturated fats, and they do not interact with other molecules in the same way that saturated fats do, which can severely alter normal bodily function. In essence, your cells require saturated fats in order to communicate with each other and maintain homeostasis – but when trans fats come into the picture, everything is thrown off kilter.

“Because trans fats are more stable chemically – the direct result of the hydrogen atoms being on opposite side of the molecule – they do not interact properly with other molecules,” explains Heidi Stevenson from GreenMedInfo.com. “The cell wall itself is not as tightly bound as it should be, making it weak and more permeable than normal. Thus, molecules of toxins that would have been too large to enter a cell may now be able to squeeze through the cell wall and wreak havoc inside.”

Cell communication is another major bodily function affected by trans fats. In order for your body to produce hormones like adrenaline, for instance, which regulates your “fight-or-flight” response to stress and emergency situations, your cells need healthy amounts of saturated fats in order to send stress hormone signals. When cells are not able to do this effectively as a result of trans fats, however, the body ends up pushing the adrenal glands to work harder than normal, which can lead to adrenal fatigue and eventually thyroid dysfunction.

“Trans fats are less chemically active, so the proper signal exchanges cannot be made and normal cell communication cannot occur. Trans fats are also shaped differently, so molecules can be stuck either inside or outside the cells. When trans fats replace saturated ones, critical nutrients may not be able to enter cells and toxins may not be able to exit. The result is a deranged metabolism, which affects every aspect of health.”

Be sure to check out Heidi Stevenson’s full report on trans fats, which includes visual images of the molecular structures of various fats:
http://www.greenmedinfo.com

Sources for this article include:

http://www.greenmedinfo.com

http://www.umm.edu/features/transfats.htm

http://www.bantransfats.com/

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Why cooking with a microwave destroys cancer-fighting nutrients in food and promotes nutritional deficiencies

Posted on March 8, 2013 by admin

(NaturalNews) Microwaves absolutely decimate the nutritional value of your food, destroying the very vitamins and phytonutrients that prevent disease and support good health. Previous studies have shown that as much as 98% of the cancer-fighting nutrients in broccoli, for example, are destroyed by microwaving.

To understand why, you have to understand the nature of vitamins and phytonutrients (plant-based nutrients). These are very delicate molecules which are fragile. They are easily destroyed by heat, which is why raw plant foods contain more plant nutrients than cooked foods. Carotenoids, antioxidants and other molecules like DIM (in broccoli) or anthocyanins (in purple corn) are all easily destroyed by microwave energy.

Microwaving is the worst way to cook foods because microwaves excite the water molecules inside whatever you’re cooking, causing heat to be formed from the inside out. This results in a cell-by-cell “nuking” of the food (such as broccoli, carrots, etc.), causing the near-total molecular decomposition of the vitamins and phytonutrients that promote disease.

Microwaved food is not merely “dead” food at every level, it is food that has been molecularly deconstructed, leaving nothing but empty calories, fiber and minerals. Virtually the entire vitamin and phytonutrient content has been destroyed.

Anybody who says microwaving food is a healthy way to cook is wildly ignorant of nutrition and cooking methods. While steaming vegetables is, indeed, a good method for some veggies to help make certain nutrients more bioavailable, microwaving destroys veggies from the inside out at a cellular level.

What’s really deceptive about microwave cooking is that the food still appears to be basically the same, but at the cellular level, it’s like a nuclear war has taken place. The actual molecular structure has been decimated. If you could see microwaved foods with a powerful microscope, you’d never eat them again because you would recognize just what a nutritional wasteland they really are.

If you want to eat in a healthy way, make sure a significant part of your diet is raw plants. It’s okay to eat some steamed, stir-fried or even grilled veggies, but when grilling foods, avoid burning them because all burned parts contain toxic, cancer-causing chemicals that promote colon cancer.

Personally, I am absolutely astonished that more people don’t already know all this. I’m even having to talk with my own staff about these issues, as they don’t seem to know the full story on microwave cooking. Spread the word: Microwaves promote death because they turn nutritious, healthy food into empty, decimated calories. I gave up using a microwave well over a decade ago, and I don’t even own one.

Remember, a person who cooks a lot of their food with microwaves will inevitably have chronic nutritional deficiencies that promote cancer, diabetes, bone diseases, loss of brain function, heart disease and many other health problems. The least healthy people of any society are typically the ones who frequently use the microwave oven to “nuke” their foods.

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About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher, author and award-winning journalist with a passion for sharing empowering information to help improve personal and planetary health He is a prolific writer and has published thousands of articles, interviews, reports and consumer guides, and he is well known as the creator of popular downloadable preparedness programs on financial collapse, emergency food storage, wilderness survival and home defense skills. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In mid 2010, Adams produced TV.NaturalNews.com, a natural health video sharing website offering user-generated videos on nutrition, green living, fitness and more. He’s also the founder of a well known HTML email software company whose ‘Email Marketing Director’ software currently runs the NaturalNews subscription database. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and enjoys outdoor activities, nature photography, Pilates and martial arts training. He’s also author a large number of health books offered by Truth Publishing and is the creator of numerous reference website including NaturalPedia.com and the free downloadable Honest Food Guide. His websites also include the free reference sites HerbReference.com and HealingFoodReference.com. Adams believes in free speech, free access to nutritional supplements and the innate healing ability of the human body. Known as the ‘Health Ranger,’ Adams’ personal health statistics and mission statements are located at www.HealthRanger.org

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Lawsuits against Kashi and Naked Juice for falsely mislabeling “natural” products continue

Posted on January 10, 2013 by admin

(NaturalNews) In 2011, class action lawsuits were filed against both Naked Juice and Kashi, as well as their parent companies PepsiCo and Kellogg’s, for mislabeling and deliberately lying to the public about what is in their products. The main concerns were GMOs and the label “All Natural.” Both the processes used to create the various ingredients and the substances themselves may create harmful effects in the bodies of unwary consumers.

In September 2011, a class action lawsuit was filed against Naked Juice in the U.S. District Court in California. The crux of the case is that Naked Juice was lying to consumers by deliberately mislabeling its products as “All Natural” and free of GMOs. Naked Juice failed to inform customers that the products sold under these labels are loaded with synthetic chemicals in place of the naturally-occurring vitamins that are found in the fruits and vegetables claimed to be used on the bottle. The suit explicitly shows the differences in molecular structure between the naturally occurring vitamins and the synthesized versions that are included in the beverages. Anyone that has taken a general chemistry course would easily be able to see that these substances are not essentially the same as the American public has been led to believe. These “vitamins” are also handled differently in the body, placing more stress on the body’s elimination system to release any of the toxic substances that are produced within the body from eating the synthesized substances.

After reading through the list of ingredients that Kashi uses in its products and how they are produced in the class action suit that was filed against them in California in August 2011, it is quite clear these are not “natural” in any way. They contain both synthetically produced ingredients as well as ingredients that are bathed in the chemicals used for gasoline refining. The suit alleges that these substances may still remain in trace amounts in the final product.

The attorney who filed both cases, Yvette Golan, confirmed in an interview with blogger, Max Goldberg that, though both companies have hired the “heavy guns,” their motions to dismiss the cases were both denied. This means that both cases will continue to the discovery stage. That’s good news for those who care about their health and take time to read labels. Consumers reasonably expect the labels on products to be an accurate representation of what is inside the package. Golan also plans to file class action suits on the state level in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and Hawaii.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.cornucopia.org
http://livingmaxwell.com/naked-juice-lawsuit
http://livingmaxwell.com/kashi-class-action-lawsuit
http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/09/28/nakedjuice.pdf
http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/08/30/Kashi.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch-feature=player_embedded&v=x65Sc58L6z0

About the author:
Caryn Connolly is currently enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition where she has become passionate about protecting future generations from the ravages of GMOs. Through her new Facebook page GMO Information Clearinghouse (www.facebook.com/GmoInformationClearinghouse), she disseminates information from various sources, including the few major studies done on GMOs. You can also visit Integrated Healing Solutions on Facebook (www.facebook.com/IntegratedHealingSolutions ) to find out more about what services Caryn is currently offering.

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Top 10 Reasons Coconut Oil is a Miracle of Nature!

Posted on October 27, 2011 by admin

Top 10 Reasons Coconut Oil is a Miracle of Nature!
(OrganicJar) Coconut oil has a surprising number of health benefits, from relieving stress to bolstering your immune system. It’s rich in the lauric, capric and caprylic acids. These omega three fatty acids give it its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti fungal properties. It can be used to cook food, moisturize skin, and treat infections. With all of these benefits, it’s hard to imagine why you wouldn’t add coconut oil to your life. Check out the top 10 reasons why coconut oil is a miracle of nature and why YOU should be using it.

Improves Your Skin

Coconut oil acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including dry skin. It can treat psoriasis, eczema, rosacea and even wrinkles and protects the skin from sun exposure, skin cancer, and free radical damage.

Helps You Lose Weight

Unlike many other common oils, like soy (vegetable) and corn that contain LCT (long-chain triglycerides ) that are typically stored as fat. Coconut oil won’t make you fat. Coconut oil contains MCT (medium-chain triglycerides), which are an easy fuel for the body to burn, without turning to fat. When you add coconut oil into your diet, you’ll feel more full and eat fewer calories over all.
Stress Relief

Coconut oil is very soothing so it’s an excellent massage oil for the skin. Applying coconut oil to the head followed with a gentle massage helps in removing mental fatigue. Just the natural aroma of coconuts is extremely soothing thus helping to lower your stress level.
Makes Your Hair Grow and Repairs Damage

Coconut oil is one of the best natural remedies for your hair. It helps in the healthy growth of new hair and provides a shiny complexion. It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged hair. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair.
Anti-Aging Properties

The small molecular structure of MCTs allows for easy absorption into your skin giving it a soft, smooth, and supple texture. Coconut oil strengthens your skin’s underlying connective tissues warding off lines and wrinkles and supplies healing and repairing properties. It prevents destructive free-radical formation and limits the damage excessive sun exposure can cause and helps rejuvenate the skin by removing the outer layer of dead skin cells.
Improves Healing and Fights Infections

Coconut oil is very effective against a variety of infections due to its antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. When applied on scrapes and cuts, coconut oil forms a thin, chemical layer which protects the wound from outside dust, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil speeds up the healing process of bruises by repairing damaged tissues.
Improves Digestion

Internal use of coconut oil occurs primarily as cooking oil. Coconut oil helps in improving the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have anti-microbial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc. Coconut oil also helps in absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
Gives you Energy

Because of the healthy omega 3 fatty acids and the fact that it increases the metabolism, most people that switch to coconut oil feel a burst of added energy in their daily life. This is due to those MCT’s and coconut oil is nature’s richest source of them.
Prevents Disease

Coconut oil has been shown to prevent liver, kidney and gall bladder disease. It improves our ability to absorb important minerals needed by our bones, thus warding off osteoporosis. With its ability to increase insulin production and control blood sugar, coconut oil helps prevent and treat diabetes.
Great for the Heart

Comprised of about 50% lauric acid, coconut oil helps control high cholesterol, high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. The saturated fats in coconut oil do not have harmful properties of those contained in other vegetable oils.

BONUS: May Protect Against STD’s

6-7% of the fatty acids in coconut fat are a MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) called capric acid. Capric acid is formed into monocaprin in the human body which has been shown to have antiviral effects and is being tested for effects against herpes, chlamydia and other sexually transmitted bacteria.