Toxic BPA levels increase by a shocking 1,200% after eating canned food

Toxic BPA levels increase by a shocking 1,200% after eating canned food
Jan 30, 2012 by: Elizabeth Walling
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/034811_BPA_canned_food_soup.html#ixzz1l2SAD0df

(NaturalNews) A Harvard study suggests that avoiding BPA packaging most of the time isn't enough to avoid its toxic side effects. Even a daily bowl of canned soup is enough to spike your BPA levels by more than 1,200 percent.

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health studied levels of the chemical BPA (bisphenol A) in 75 volunteers who ate 12 ounces of soup each day for five days. One group ate fresh soup, while the other ate canned. When BPA levels were measured, the results were no less than shocking: eating canned soup on a daily basis raised urinary BPA levels by a whopping 1,221%.

"The magnitude of the rise in urinary BPA we observed after just one serving of soup was unexpected and may be of concern among individuals who regularly consume foods from cans or drink several canned beverages daily," said Karin Michels, senior author of the study.

She adds, "It may be advisable for manufacturers to consider eliminating BPA from can linings."

Researchers say more studies need to be done to determine how long these elevated BPA levels can last.
BPA has many dangerous side effects
Why is this so concerning? Study after study has linked high BPA levels to serious health risks. Just glancing through a small portion of BPA studies is like walking through a health house of horrors. Believe it or not, the following are just a few of the problems caused by BPA:

- High urinary BPA levels have been strongly linked with heart disease and diabetes risk. (http://www.naturalnews.com/024207_BPA_health_plastics.html)

- Prenatal BPA exposure is connected with a higher breast cancer risk later in life. (http://www.naturalnews.com/033782_BPA_exposure_breast_cancer.html

- New findings say prenatal BPA exposure can cause aggressiveness in toddlers (http://www.naturalnews.com/034288_BPA_prenatal_exposure.html) and asthma in babies (http://www.naturalnews.com/032304_BPA_asthma.html).

- BPA can also impact fertility by damaging sperm health. (http://www.naturalnews.com/031161_BPA_sperm.html)

While some organic food suppliers have taken the hint and removed BPA from their packaging, most food manufacturers blatantly ignore BPA risks and package their foods in materials that contain BPA. This is one more important reason to choose fresh foods whenever possible.

Sources for this article include:

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/diet-nutrition/story/2011-11-23/BPA-levels-spiked-after-eating-canned-soup/51368968/1

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5id9bkzm72jPr5kksdPsUWj5vSXqA?docId=CNG.79f628c9c1938ad91cee1d0a964c4b1a.a01

http://www.consumersearch.com/blog/canned-food-consumption-may-pose-health-risk

About the author:
Elizabeth Walling is a freelance writer specializing in health and family nutrition. She is a strong believer in natural living as a way to improve health and prevent modern disease. She enjoys thinking outside of the box and challenging common myths about health and wellness. You can visit her blog to learn more:
www.livingthenourishedlife.com/2009/10/welcome.html

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/034811_BPA_canned_food_soup.html#ixzz1l2S07Wr3

Plant Based Diet Organic is Best for Max Health

Health Transformation on a Plant Based Diet Organic is Best

Michele’s doctor said she had never seen anything so dramatic.

January 27, 2012

I am a 40 year old, mother of 2 sweet little girls. I have always been on the healthy side of eating, or so I thought! I watched the Forks Over Knives movie and it changed me in an instant. I have shopped at Whole Foods for several years, so I thought I was eating healthy with chicken, fish and dairy. I then had my check up and routine blood work at my Md’s office. I was shocked when received the results. My triglycerides were off the chart at 427, cholesterol was 175 and my cardiac risk was a 6 (which is knocking at the door for heart disease and hypertension). My bone density was a level 26 (knocking on the door of osteoporosis) and my blood pressure was 130/85. I had been walking 2-3 miles a day, but still kept gaining weight. So, I decided that if I wanted to be around to meet my grandchildren, I had better make some drastic changes.

I jumped in feet first and eliminated ALL dairy, eggs and meat. I spent hours over at Whole Foods talking to the Vegan folks! They were so very helpful by giving me tips and suggestions. They had recommended to start with being vegetarian. I am the type of person that when I do something, I am all in. I decided this was the lifestyle that was right for me.
I had my last bite of meat, dairy and eggs on September 23, 2011. I went back to the MD for a repeat blood panel. My physician, Colleen Walker, said she had never seen anything so dramatic! My triglycerides were 171, cholesterol was 131, blood pressure was 110/76, and my bone density went up to 37!!!!! And my my cardiac risk went down to a 4 (very low risk). Oh, and I lost 18 pounds! I felt like a little child at Christmas when I left her office! This was all in a period of less than 4 months!
I have to say this probably the easiest change that I have ever made. I have people ask me where do I get my protein, what about calcium, etc. I recite my blood results and share with them what I eat. I am not sure that everyone believes me! I am so excited about my future and to hopefully spread the word to whoever will listen! The folks at Engine 2, Whole Foods, The Fat Free Vegan Kitchen, and many others have saved my life!! I am perfectly happy with eating an ALL plant based diet. I do not miss the other choices. My eyes are WIDE OPEN now, and I think I like it!!!

-Michele

We are so glad your eyes are wide open Michele! Not just for you, but for your beautiful daughters!

6 Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

Six Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

Wina Sturgeon Mclatchy-Tribune News Service.

01-19-12

EAT ORGANIC to Stay Healthy

As we get older, even those of us in the best of health will have various unusual symptoms. Some boomers and seniors ignore these problems or dismiss them as part of aging. But these six symptoms should never be ignored; they should be diagnosed as soon as possible:

- SHARP PAIN IN A JOINT: It could be nothing. Maybe you bumped your elbow or knee without even noticing it. But sudden sharp pain in a joint, especially if it gets worse or does not go away after a day or two, could be something more serious. If the pain occurs more than once, see a doctor. In some cities, there are sports clinics that offer free preliminary examinations that will let you know if you need a more thorough look at the problem.

- SUDDEN HEADACHES: If you suddenly begin experiencing frequent headaches for the first time in your life, see your regular physician first. He or she can help decide whether the symptom is serious enough to see a neurologist. Even if aspirin or ibuprofen relieves the headaches, do not rely solely on such medication. Find out what is causing the pain.

- UNEXPLAINED BLEEDING: If you pass blood from the rectum or genitals on more than one occasion, or if you suddenly begin having nosebleeds or spitting up blood, that symptom needs an immediate examination. If the bleeding comes from a body opening below the waist, you probably will need to see a gastrointestinal specialist.

- EXTREME TENDERNESS IN ANY BODY PART: If you experience a new and somewhat constant pain in a fleshy body part, and it does not stop within a week, have a doctor examine the site. In fact, this can actually be an emergency if the pain is located between the ribs and hips. You may have swallowed a sharp object that is piercing tissues or there may be an intestinal blockage. Never dismiss lingering mid-body pain as "just a stomach ache."

- STRANGE LUMPS UNDER THE SKIN: The appearance of a lump under the skin, no matter where it appears on your body, is suspicious. Do not ever ignore it. It probably is not a malignant lump, but it is always best to make sure with a biopsy.

- STRANGE MARKS ON THE SKIN: Most people know that changes in a mole need to be diagnosed. But moles are not the only thing on skin that could be serious. An annual skin examination of your entire body is a good thing. But if a patch of skin becomes red and flaky, or turns white or darkens, do not wait for that annual exam. Have it looked at right away.
Organic Plant Based Diet will GREATLY help to MinimizE health issues !

Never allow the cost of a dr visit or co-payment stop you from seeing a dr. If you are in a dire financial situation, and do not know of a church or charitable organization that can offer help, make a drs appointment anyway. You can make payment arrangements when the examination is over, and the physicians staff may even know of ways to find financial help.

If the only dr you know is your family practitioner, and you need a specialist, you can ask for a recommendation or use the Internet to search for one locally. If the specialist has a long waiting list, your practitioner may intervene to arrange an appointment sooner. Call your regular doctors office to discuss the issue so that you do not have to pay for an extra office visit.

---

Wina Sturgeon is an active boomer based in Salt Lake City who mountain bikes, skates on both ice blades and wheels, lifts weights and runs to stay in shape. © 2012, Adventure Sports Weekly (adventuresportsweekly.com)

Distributed by MCT Information Services

Where’s the Dog Food? - In Your Hamburger !

Reducing food waste is a critical responsibility not to be dismissed by any individual or industry, but concerns over ammonia-treated low-quality beef otherwise used as dog food and winding up in burger meat is sounding major alarms for food activists and concerned consumers.

Credit Jamie Oliver, the host of “The Food Revolution” for speaking out on the issue of what is commonly referred to in the industry as “pink slime.” It’s a combination of low-fat burger meat and an ammonium hydroxide wash applied because the meat is so loaded with pathogens including E. coli that without the wash, it would otherwise only be suitably used as an ingredient in pet food. The apparently innovative process is capable of removing the smallest scraps of beef still clinging to the carcasses of animals whose meat has already gone to pet food production.

The main provider of the pink slime meat is Beef Products Inc, who once had a 70% market share on hamburgers sold in the U.S.—including to school systems—but has lost a significant percentage of its business since Oliver first brought the situation to light. McDonald’s, Burger King and Taco Bell have all reportedly dropped the beef from their ingredients fearing even more backlash against the already heavily targeted fast-food industry by Oliver and other healthy food advocates.

While BPI claims that they’ve never had a food-related illness traced back to its slimed beef, the company has no plans to end the use of ammonium hydroxide, even despite slipping sales.

Adverse effects connected with ammonium hydroxide include difficulty breathing, digestive disorders, drop in blood pressure and irritation to the eyes, nose and throat.

Keep in touch with Jill on Twitter @jillettinger
Also see donportercancer He beat Stage IV Metasticised Cancer with NO Chemo or Radiation Just an Organic Plant Based Diet

Tags: ammonium hydroxide, beef, beef products, contaminated beef, dog food hamburger, E. coli, food poisoning, Ground beef, Jamie Oliver, pink slime

BEWARE of MOST Red Meats !!!

1 HR TV on How to BEAT CANCER

HEALING OUTSIDE THE BOX
Viewed in 18 Towns in Southern Connecticut & on ATT Uverse anywhere in the state of CT. NHTV Show #91.
"You Can Beat Cancer, This Man Did"

with Donald J. Porter For addit. Info: Tel: 860-227-1328 Email: kpdwellness@gmail.com - Contact Person: Kimberly Porter Dowie
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEALING OUTSIDE THE BOX Host - Jimmy Driscoll is a Native from Methuen, MA. A graduate from Dean College, he also attended Boston University & The New England School of Broadcasting, majoring in theatre arts & communications. In 1986 he signed with Chrysalis Records as the lead singer in the heavy metal band "Trouble Tribe". From there the band appeared on MTV, & toured the county. As the music changed, Jimmy was asked to become the production coordinator for Peter Gation who owned 4 night clubs in Manhattan, The Palladium, The Limelight, Club USA & The Tunnel. They were, at that time, the New York City "Hot Spots" for night clubs & entertainment. Some of the events were "Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifa, Mary J. Bligh, Prince, Tupac, Dream theatre, LL Cool J, Pearl Jam, Ice Cube, MTV Music awards, Friday night video, "Madonna Exposed", College Music Festival, Bill Clinton Democratic Thank You Party, The Muppets Christmas Carol, Dan Akroyd & Bo Didly.
Movies: Bright Lights, Big City with Michael J. Fox, Stranger Among Us, with Melanie Griffith, Night In The City with Robert Dinero & Carlito's Way with Al Pacino & Sean Penn.
Jimmy moved to New London, CT in 1995, became a union carpenter & got back into regional theatre & independent film work. He continued to work in the city as an actor on episodic TV, major motion pictures & the cable network. For the past 7 years, Jimmy, has produced & co-directed his own independent films & has formed his own film co. "Drefus Films" where he hopes to continue financed productions with global distribution.
Jimmy's latest project, which he produced & stars in is the movie "The Fence". www.ctfilms-thefence.com. Jimmy may be reached at jimmydriscoll@msn.com.
To access our show on ATT Uverse, please go to www.nhtv.com/uverse.html & follow the directions. The show times will be the same as listed under North Haven Public Television - NHTV - Channel 18.
Here's where and when to catch the show in your town....
To access our show on ATT Uverse, please go to www.nhtv.com/uverse.html and follow the directions. The show times will be the same as listed under North Haven Public Television - NHTV - Channel 18.
BRANFORD PUBLIC TELEVISION - (BCTV - Channel 18) Show Schedule
Wednesdays at 7:00 PM
Also, our show will be seen on other days in the week at different times every week. For show schedules, please visit:
www.branfordtv.org/bctvprogramschedules.html
CLINTON COMCAST - CTTV Channel 19 Show Schedule
Every Wednesday at 2 PM & 8 PM - Serving Clinton, Chester, Deep River, Durham, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Old Saybrook & Westbrook.
MADISON PUBLIC TELEVISION - (MCAG - Channel 18) Show Schedule
Please go to their website to see days and times our show will be playing.
http://www.madisontv.org/Programschedule.htm
NEW HAVEN, HAMDEN & WEST HAVEN (CTV - Channel 26) Show Schedule
Every Saturday night at 8:00 PM
NORTH BRANFORD PUBLIC TELEVISION - (Totoket - Channel 18) Show Schedule
Please go to their website to see days and times our show will be playing.
www.totokettv.com/ProgramSchedule18.htm
NORTHFORD PUBLIC TELEVISION - (Totoket - Channel 18) Show Schedule
Please go to their website to see days and times our show will be playing.
www.totokettv.com/Programschedule18.htm
NORTH HAVEN PUBLIC TELEVISION - (NHTV - Channel 18) Show Schedule

Mondays at 9:00 AM Tuesdays at 11:00 PM Wednesdays at 7:00 PM
Thursdays at 7:00 AM Fridays at 7:00 PM Sundays at 9:00 PM

Or because there are always program changes, please visit their website at:
www.nhtv.com/ProgramSchedules.html
http://www.aloeforce.com/home I Heavily researched these products !
• I recommend this Aloe due to the Organic quality & inclusion of: Essiac, Cats Claw, Astralagus, Pau d'Arco, Chamomile, Hawthorne Berry. Name is Herbal Aloe Force.

• I recommend this Sun Chlorella, as it is a 40 year old Japanese product, the ONLY one with 95% pulverized chlorella cell wall with no heat or chemicals.

• I also Strongly recommend a very high quality whole food "Backup product" due to the MANY questions that I receive about 'Eating out" for business, relatives, friends, pleasure, travelling, etc. Called Juice Plus+ -----JuicePlus+ Product Facts

• Q: Is Juice Plus+® a vitamin supplement?
• FACT: No. Juice Plus+ is not a vitamin supplement. Juice Plus+ is a whole food based nutritional product containing a wide variety of naturally occurring nutrients – including antioxidants and other phytonutrients – from 17 different fruits, vegetables and grains in powdered concentrate form. Read More
• Q: Does Juice Plus+® replace the need to eat real fruits and vegetables?
• FACT: No. Juice Plus+ should never replace a diet filled with a wide and colorful variety of fruits and vegetables. It is a convenient way for people to get even more of the whole food based nutrition from fruits and vegetables that is so important to a healthy diet – and so lacking in our diets today. Read More
• Q: How is Juice Plus+® made?
• FACT: Juice Plus+ is made from fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables. The fruits and vegetables are juiced, and the juices are then concentrated into powders using a proprietary drying process that carefully maintains temperatures at levels that preserve as much of the original nutrient quality as possible. Read More & Get More Facts on the Product
• Clinical Research Facts
• Q:Has Juice Plus+® been the subject of independent, peer-reviewed clinical research?
• FACT: Yes. To date, Juice Plus+ has been the subject of more than 20 published clinical research studies examining its impact on a variety of measures of good health, from biomarkers of oxidative stress to key indicators of cardiovascular wellness.

• Q: Are the clinical research studies regarding Juice Plus+® truly independent and unbiased?
• FACT: Yes. While Juice Plus+ provides funding to ensure that high-quality independent clinical trials are conducted on Juice Plus+ by leading researchers in their fields, the company carefully follows established protocols within the academic community to ensure that findings are independent and unbiased. Read More
• Q: Has Juice Plus+® been proven to prevent or cure any disease?
• FACT: No. Juice Plus+ is not a medicine, treatment or cure for any disease or condition. It is whole food based nutrition that complements a healthy diet. Read More

Juice Plus+® clinical research has been published in peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals, including:

• Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition
• British Journal of Nutrition
• Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
• Current Therapeutic Research
• Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine (ECAM)
• Integrative Medicine
• International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition
• Journal of American College of Cardiology
• Journal of American College of Nutrition
• Journal of Clinical Periodontology
• Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
• Journal of Nutrition
• Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
• Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
• Nutrition Journal
• Nutrition Research
• Skin Pharmacology and Physiology

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Examples of current & past Juice Plus+ clinical research affiliations:

Brigham Young University
Georgetown University
King's College, London, England
Medical University of Graz, Austria
Medical University of Vienna, Austria
Tokyo Women's Medical University, Japan
University of Arizona
University of Birmingham, England
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Florida
University of Maryland School of Medicine
University of Milan, Italy
University of Mississippi Medical Center
University of North Carolina-Greensboro
University of South Carolina
University of Sydney, Australia
University of Texas Health Science Center
University of Texas/MD Anderson
University of Wurzburg, Germany
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Wake Forest University
(with the NCI-National Institutes of Health)
Yale University-Griffin Hospital
Prevention Research Center

Due to the MANY request for data on my Diet, Protocol (Baking Soda) etc., I have assistance. Please contact the following for follow up data or assistance:

kpdwellness@gmail.com - 860-227-1328 - www.kpdwellness.com

I consider these 3 products as the top 3 "Back up/Support" requirements to an Organic Plant Based Diet, TO ALLOW EATING OUT & Still Maintain QUALITY HEALTH!
Juice Plus+, Herbal Aloe Force, & Sun Chlorella
I have no financial interest in any products
Search Google - donportercancer, for more info

Disclaimer: I am not a Dr. & I have not had any medical training. I am just a person who has corrected my former cancer problem & simply chooses to share what I have learned with others. My hope is that it will give you the incentive to do some research yourself & then educate others about what you have learned. The only way we can truly be free is if we rely on ourselves to find the truth & not rely on others who have vested interests in presenting us with their marketing version of the “truth”. Plant Based Diet is the KEY !

STOP a potential Heart Attack - Dr. Esseslstyn Ted Talk

Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn argues that heart attacks, the leading cause of
death for men and women worldwide, are a "foodborne illness" & explains why
diet is the most powerful medicine see new Ted Video
http://www.youtube.com/​watch?v=EqKNfyUPzoU

Bill Clinton is on Dr. Esselstyn's diet & is now feeling better than he has
in decades, & is @ his high school weight.

25 Amazing and Weird Facts about How Food is Made

NaturalNews) The veil is lifted on the world of food processing and manufacturing in an eye-opening new report published by nutritional advocacy media group NaturalNews.com. They've just released a free, downloadable (PDF) report entitled, "25 Amazing (and Weird) Facts about How Food is Made and Where it Comes From." The report is freely downloadable at:

www.naturalnews.com/RR-25-Amazing-a...

It reveals some very surprising facts about food processing and manufacturing, including:

• The chemical flame retardant chemical you'll find lurking in most citrus-flavored sodas.

• How factory-farmed egg-laying chickens are deliberately fed brightly-colored objects (such as yellow flower petals) to result in a more appealing color of their egg yolks.

• How a high-tech company reverse-engineered the human genome to develop chemically-targeted taste blockers and enhancers that are secretly added to snack foods.

• What hot dog casings are really made out of.

• Why high-fructose corn syrup, in addition to being linked to diabetes and obesity, is almost always extracted from genetically modified corn (GM corn).

• How Textured Vegetable Protein is often processed using a highly explosive chemical solvent.

• Why french fries create an internal cancer-causing chemical when they're fried in hot oil.

All these facts, plus over a dozen more, are documented in the new report: "25 Amazing (and Weird) Facts about How Food is Made and Where it Comes From."

This report is the latest in a series of educational documentaries and downloadable guides created by NaturalNews and Mike Adams, a consumer health advocate and industry whistleblower. His hugely popular "Food Investigations" video documentary on fake blueberries in breakfast cereals has received over two million views: www.FoodInvestigations.com

Adams is the executive director of the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center (www.ConsumerWellness.com) and the editor of NaturalNews.com, one of the top 1,000 highest-trafficked websites in America and now read by nearly four million people each month.

Learn more at:
www.naturalnews.com/RR-25-Amazing-a...

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/034621_amazing_facts_food_special_report.html#ixzz1jFHT4BBy

Fabric softeners contain toxic chemicals

(NaturalNews) Fabric softener ads often portray an image of comfort, freshness and sweetness. Yet most fabric softeners contain a grim list of known toxins which can enter your body through the skin and by inhalation, causing a wide range of health problems, particularly for young children.

Some of the harmful ingredients commonly found in liquid or sheet fabric softeners include:

• Chloroform: This substance was used as an anesthesia in the 1800s up through the early 1900s when its potential for causing fatal cardiac arrhythmia was discovered. A carcinogenic neurotoxin, it is on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list. Inhaling its vapors may cause loss of consciousness, nausea, headache, vomiting, and/or dizziness, drowsiness. It may aggravate disorders of the heart, kidneys or liver. Its effects worsen when subjected to heat.

• A-Terpineol: Causes Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders, meaning problems relating to the brain and spine such as Alzheimer's disease, ADD, dementia, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, seizures, strokes, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Early symptoms of CNS problems include aphasia, blurred vision, disorientation, dizziness, headaches, hunger, memory loss, numbness in face, pain in neck and spine. A-Terpineol also irritates the mucous membranes and, if aspirated into the lungs, can cause respiratory depression, pneumonia or fatal edema.

• Benzyl Alcohol: This upper respiratory tract irritant can cause central nervous system (CNS) disorders, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and dramatic drops in blood pressure.

• Benzyl Acetate: This substances has been linked to pancreatic cancer. Its vapors can be irritating to eyes and respiratory passages and it can also be absorbed through the skin.

• Ethanol: Another fabric softener ingredient which is on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list and linked to CNS disorders.

• Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled.

• Ethyl Acetate: This substance, which is on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list, can be irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. It may also cause severe headaches and loss of consciousness, as well as damage to the liver and kidneys.

• Camphor: Another substance on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list. It is easily absorbed through body tissue, causing irritation of eyes, nose and throat. Camphor can also cause dizziness, confusion, nausea, twitching muscles and convulsions.

• Linalool: A narcotic known to cause respiratory problems and CNS disorders. In animal testing, exposure to linalool has resulted in death.

• Phthalates: Used in scented products to help the scent last longer, phthlates have been linked to breast cancer and reproductive system problems.

• Limonene: This known carcinogen can cause irritation to eyes and skin.

• Also, if you follow a vegan lifestyle, you should be aware that many fabric softener sheets are made using tallow, a form of animal fat.

Manufacturers are aware that the products contain toxic chemicals. The packaging on many brands include a warning that the product should not be used on children's sleepwear. Since some of the same brands also have large images of children and toys, however, consumers may miss the small print message.

Breathing and wearing poison
If you use fabric softener, these toxic chemicals coat your towels, sheets and clothing so that you absorb toxins through your skin, the largest organ of the body. When you wear chemically "softened" clothes, you inhale these chemicals with every breath. Even if you do not use fabric softener, you can ingest these chemicals through dryer exhaust sending them into the air or simply by working with someone whose clothes have been chemically treated in this way. Fabric softeners are designed to remain in fabric for a long period of time, slowly releasing into the air.

Fabric softeners were invented to hide the unpleasant smells of synthetic fabrics, whose odors tend to become stronger when heated, whether on a sweating, active body or in the dryer. The chemicals in fabric softeners include those meant to eliminate static cling, as well as perfumes to disguise both the other chemicals and the odor of synthetic fabrics.

Alternatives
Fabrics air dried outside on a line do not develop static cling and are more likely to have a natural pleasant smell. If weather or other factors make natural line drying of your clothes an impractical choice, try using more other natural means to eliminate static cling and impart a fresh smell to your laundry.

If possible, install a water softener. You can also eliminate many clothing odors by thoroughly dissolving a cup of baking soda in the water before putting your clothes in the washing machine.

There are several types of dryer ball products on the market. The ones made of rubber may not be the most eco-conscious means of reducing static as these may off-gas. Instead, try the variety made of felted wool. Some natural retailers offer dryer bags, like large tea bags, containing dried lavender. You can also make your own version of these bags by sewing laundry sachets using cotton muslin and filling them with your favorite dried herbs.

In part two of this series, we will look at the listed ingredients and warnings for mainstream fabric softeners, as well as some product lines which are both vegan and environmentally friendly.

Sources:

http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/laundry/consider/
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/fashion-beauty/replace-fabric-softener-vinegar.html
http://www.naturallifemagazine.com/0608/softener.htm
http://shop.sixwise.com/thetoxicdangeroffabricsofteneranddryersheets2805.aspx
http://users.lmi.net/wilworks/ehnfs.htm
http://www.environmentalhealth.ca/special/fall07FabricSofteners.html
http://www.norwexgreenclean.net/page/page/5367159.htm
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/6-natural-alternatives-to-toxic-fabric-softeners.html
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/034617_fabric_softeners_toxic_chemicals_laundry.html#ixzz1jFFjaGCL

Q&A Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., MD Creator of Bill Clinton's Diet

Q&A Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., MD

Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., MD, F.A.C.S.

1. How is your approach to treating heart disease unique?

My program is a nutrition-based therapy that has been scientifically-proven to reverse heart disease. There is no other treatment plan backed by a study as long as the one I conducted, or a study that has produced such dramatic, visible results. Coronary angiograms (X-Rays) of the patients in my study show an actual reversal of the disease. To experience these benefits, my patients must stick to my plant-based diet program strictly, but the effects are more than worth the effort. For those that are very sick, it is the most effective treatment option--far less dangerous and more effective than invasive surgical procedures such as stents and bypass (except in acute emergencies), and much more effective than drugs alone. Traditional cardiology has relied on technology to ease the symptoms of heart disease, but has not addressed its causes. My approach is not another stop-gap solution, it prevents heart disease from occurring in those who don't yet have the disease, and it heals the body and reverses the disease when symptoms are present.

Best of all, over time the benefits endure and continue to improve. I am always excited when I see arrest and reversal in patient after patient and their joy and relief when they are free of the disease that was destroying them.

2. What would you say to someone considering a stent or other surgical procedure or drug therapy, to treat their heart disease?

All heart patients who are not absolute emergencies should first have an aggressive opportunity at non surgical medical therapy. This is not just my opinion but that of expert cardiolgists from Boston, Hartford, Houston, Stanford, San Diego, Seattle and Cleveland. The difference in my case is that I advocate an aggressive plant based nutrition program to arrest and reverse the disease and to avoid all surgery. Drugs alone do not prevent heart attacks and stop symptoms of heart disease.

3. How do you encourage your patients to stay on the diet?

There is no question it is hard at first. And it is hardest eating out at friends' houses. However, I am always impressed how well my patients do once they experience the relief of chest pain, weight loss, and the improved feeling of well being they have eating a plant-based diet. Then the motivation comes from within. It also helps that within 8-12 weeks of starting the program the fat receptor in the brain down regulates and they lose the craving for fat. And as they start feeling better and better, they know that they are the ones-- not their physician or their surgeon--that have control over the disease. It is a powerful feeling!

4. Why does the diet eliminate oil entirely?
NO OIL! Not even olive oil, which goes against a lot of other advice out there about so-called good fats. The reality is that oils are extremely low in terms of nutritive value. They contain no fiber, no minerals and are 100% fat calories. And above all they contain saturated fat which immediately injures the endothelial lining of the arteries when eaten. It doesn't matter whether it's olive oil, corn oil, or any other kind of oil. You should not consume any oil if you have heart disease. This is so important I have detailed oil in Chapter 10.

5. Can you actually enjoy food on the program?

We LOVE our food. Our children and grandchildren love our food and the patients love the food. Everyone loves the food once they give it a try. It is all a matter of attitude--and you do need a positive attitude to get started and to understand that this new way of eating is the best thing you can do for your body. Then, the body will help you adjust. You actually begin to lose your physiologically-based craving for fat. Once that occurs, you can fully appreciate the natural taste of plant foods--the colorful tastes and textures are difficult to surpass.

6. Why should I change? My health is excellent.

No one escapes in the end--eventually the traditional western diet guarantees some form of disease in all of us. While it may not be heart disease at the moment, eventually it will be or hypertension, diabetes, stroke,obesity, gall stones, diverticulitis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, or a greater likelihood of breast, prostate, colon, ovarian and uterine cancers. Even erectile dysfunction and dementia. The world famous Framingham Heart Study now approaching its 60th year looked at 1,000 people at age 50 who had normal blood pressure. They looked at the same group at age 70, and 90% now had high blood pressure. But there is something that you can do now to stop the cascading events that occur in the body and lead to disease. You can change your diet and begin safeguarding your health for the future.

More Commonly Asked Questions

Protein - Where do I get my protein / What protein drink is best?
Extra protein powder and shakes are truly unnecessary and have the potential for harm if they contain animal protein. The protein available through plant-based nutrition is adequate to nourish professional champion athletes such as the iron man, professional football, mixed marshal arts, track and field, etc.

Calcium – Where do I get calcium?
Calcium supplementation is unnecessary. There is more than adequate calcium in a plant- based diet of whole grains, legumes and grains and especially the green leafy vegetables.

Vitamins – What Vitamins should I take?
A multivitamin is a reasonable way to be sure of obtaining the full spectrum of vitamins, but my preference, especially if one is eating copious amounts of green leafy vegetables, is to limit supplements to Vit D as necessary to maintain blood level in the normal range and B -12.

Fish Oil - Should I take fish oil?
Fish oil is not essential. Fish get their omega 3 from plants. It is difficult to be deficient in Omega 3 if eating 1-2 tablespoons of flax seed meal and green leafy vegetables at several meals. There is also research that suggests that those on plant based nutrition become highly efficient in their own manufacture of omega 3. Patients on fish oil are also at increased risk for bleeding.

Flax Seed Oil/ Flax Seed Meal – What about flax seed oil?
Flax seed meal is well tolerated and supplies a bonus of omega 3 using 1 or 2 tablespoons on cereal daily. Avoid flax seed oil.

Olive oil, canola oil, coconut oil, Sunflower oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, any oil –
Which oil is best?
Avoid oils. They injure the endothelium, the innermost lining of the artery, and that injury is the gateway to vascular disease.

Lotions with oil – Is it all right to use lotions with oil on my skin?
It is fine to use lotions with oil on your skin.

Omega 3 – How do I get my Omega 3’s?
Omega 3 ‘s are essential fatty acids supplied in adequate amounts in people consuming plant based nutrition with plenty of green leafy vegetables.

Family history –I have a bad family history? Does it matter?
Family history can shed light on whether one has an increased risk, but multiple autopsy studies of the young confirm that all who are consuming the standard western diet have established, albeit early, vascular disease. Family history loads the gun but lifestyle pulls the trigger.

Nuts – What about nuts? I hear so many different opinions.
For those with established heart disease to add more saturated fat is inappropriate.
For people with no heart disease who want to eat nuts and avocado and are able to achieve a cholesterol of 150 and LDL of 80 or under without cholesterol lowering drugs, some nuts and avocado are acceptable. No nuts for heart disease patients, includes peanuts and peanut butter, even though peanuts are officially a legume. Chestnuts are the one nut, very low in fat, it is ok to eat.

Seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, sesame) Are seeds ok to eat?
Some seeds sprinkled on bread or crackers, etc., are acceptable. Just don’t eat handfuls.

Coconut water – Is it all right to drink coconut water?
Coconut water is 8% saturated fat (If the fat is less than .5 per serving it does not have to be listed on the label) and about 50% sugar. So save your money and don't use it.

Prostate cancer- Does plant based eating help prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is greatly lessoned by plant- based nutrition as best exemplified by the 1958 report confirming by autopsy 18 deaths in the entire nation of Japan.

Egg whites, fat free milk, yogurt – So What is wrong with egg whites, fat free yogurt, skim milk?
Egg whites, fat free milk and yogurt are ALL animal protein, and animal protein injures the lining of the arteries. Do not eat.

Cholesterol Number fluctuation – Why do my cholesterol numbers fluctuate?
Fluctuation of cholesterol is normal. It is nice to have it fluctuating in a range that would indicate you are unlikely to have cardio vascular problems.

Losing weight –What can I do to stop losing too much weight?
If you are losing too much weight, EAT MORE calories. Increase portion size. Eat snacks. Eat more whole grains and beans.

Tired, no energy - Why am I tired and have no energy since eating plant-based?
If you feel tired and lacking in energy, be sure you are eating enough calories. Also exercise because you need to use energy to make energy. Depression also contributes to lack of energy. But first of all eat more.

Not losing weight – Why haven’t I lost weight/ Why have I stopped losing weight?
If not losing enough weight, eliminate flour products like bread, pasta and bagels. Instead, eat whole grains like rice, quinoa, barley and farro, etc. Reduce portion size. Increase leafy green vegetables and exercise.

Triglycerides– Why did my triglycerides go up?
If your triglycerides are high, cut back on simple carbohydrates which would include alcohol, wine, beer, white flour products, sugars including dried fruit, honey maple syrup, molasses, rich desserts, fruit juice or an excess of fruit,

HDL- My doctor is so concerned because my HDL has gone down
It is not uncommon for HDL to fall when cholesterol falls. Do not be alarmed. The capacity of HDL to do its job has been shown recently by scientific research that there is no relationship between the capacity of the HDL molecule to function optimally and its blood level. Recent research has confirmed that the HDL molecule can be injured and weakened when one is ingesting a pro inflammatory western diet and conversely it appears despite a lower than normal level to be optimized by anti inflammatory plant based-nutrition.

LDL - Where should my LDL be?
LDL is the bad cholesterol. The closer it can be to 80-85, the better. However, if one is unable to take statin drugs and eating plant-based nutrition, and the LDL won’t go lower than 95-105, it would appear that they will still be fine. The lesson we learned from the Tarahumara Indians, who never have cardiovascular disease, is that the most key protective element is not so much the pure LDL number as is knowing that nothing ever is eaten which is a building block of vascular disease or can injure endothelium.

Statins - Should I take statins or not?
Statins are not the reason that cultures such as the Tarhumara and the Papua Highlanders do not have cardiovascular disease. Statins appear to have no benefit in primary prevention but are of some help in slowing disease progression for those who already have an established diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Clearly some of our most profound successes in arresting and reversing disease were with patients who either refused or were incapable of taking statins. Nothing is as powerful for the prevention of cardiovascular disease as plant based nutrition.

Coumadin – Can I eat leafy greens when I am on Coumadin?
Coumadin (Warfarin) is an anti clotting drug shown to have significant benefit in protecting people with atrial fibrillation from having a stroke. Can patients on Coumadin eat all the green leafy vegetables with vitamin k, which may shorten their clotting time? The answer most emphatically is YES! Merely inform the physician who is monitoring the Coumadin and clotting time that you are regularly going to be eating copious amounts of healthy green leafy vegetables. He/she will appropriately adjust the Coumadin dose.

Juicing- Is it all right to juice?
Do not juice. You lose all the fiber and its benefits.

Fruit juice – What about fruit juice?
Drinking fruit juice is like pouring the sugar bowl down your throat. It is fine to eat the whole fruit. Do not drink the juice.

Smoothies – How about smoothies? I love them!
Avoid smoothies. The fiber is so finely pureed that its helpful properties are destroyed. The sugar is stripped from the fruit, bypasses salivary digestion and results in a surge of glucose and the accompanying fructose contributes to inflammation and hypertension.

A Fib- Will plant nutrition work for A Fib?
While A Fib is largely independent of nutrition, and is a heart rhythm abnormality, there are some subset of cases which are presumably related to less than optimal heart circulation. While it would be totally inappropriate for me to suggest plant - based nutrition would cure atrial fibrillation, the many ancillary benefits would indicate plant based nutrition would be of value.

Calcium score- Is a calcium score helpful?
With cardiac CT you get a big hit of radiation. If you have been eating the typical American diet, you have heart disease as autopsy studies have shown.

Erectile dysfunction- Will erectile dysfunction reverse with plant based nutrition?
We have seen erectile dysfunction reverse on multiple occasions. Those who follow the program most closely have the best results. How long it takes varies.

Do Cholesterol Numbers Matter?
What you eat matters most. LDL 85 or under is the ideal but it can vary if you eat plant based.

Sugar- How much sugar is safe?
Newer information suggests that excess sugar is harmful, especially fructose, one of the most commonly ingested sugars, which can contribute to inflammation and hyper tension as well as weight gain and exacerbating diabetes

Coffee – Can I drink coffee?
Avoid coffee with caffeine. Several studies indicate it may contribute injury to the lining of the artery.

Soy products – What about soy products?
Soy products are 40% fat and most of them are highly processed. An excess of soy protein may stimulate insulin growth factor, which is a tumor promoter. Eat soy products cautiously.

I am looking for a cardiologist or someone who practices life style like you in my area.
This is the most common question I get. There are a few doctors who practice lifestyle change, and hopefully there will be more. For those wanting to come for guidance, we have developed once to twice month a single day intensive seminar at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute.

There are so many different diets out there…Paleo, blood type, how do I know which one to choose?
That is not as challenging as it may appear. You can separate hype from scientific reality by seeing if the author has done peer reviewed scientific research prior to bringing the ideas to the public.

What is the difference between plant protein and animal protein?
While the precise mechanisms need to be elucidated, animal and epidemiological studies as well as the brachial artery tourniquet test, confirm that animal protein accelerates both atherosclerosis and cancer, whereas plant protein does not.