Is apple juice safe?

Yesterday, Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Columbia University thoracic surgeon who gained fame and notoriaty first through books and the Oprah Show and even more so with his own show, The Dr. Oz Show, reported on a special investigative study that found unhealthy levels of arsenic in common brands of apple juice.  Anyone in range of any form of media is probably already aware of the huge controversy this has started between him and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In an article released on the FDA's Consumer Update page, Donald Zink, Ph.D, senior science advisor at FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), explains that arsenic occurs naturally in the environment (organic) or as a result of contamination from human activity (inorganic).  He says it is found in water, air, food, and soil in organic and inorganic forms and a small amounts of arsenic can be found in certain food and beverage products—including fruit juices and juice concentrates.  He continues on to say "there is no evidence of any public health risk from drinking these juices. And FDA has been testing them for years."

The point being made by the Dr. Oz segment was that some of the juices tested had higher levels of arsenic than the FDA allowable levels for drinking water and that there are currently no defined "unsafe" levels of arsenic in juices by the FDA.

Neither side disputes that there is aresenic in the apple juice, so how does it get there? Patty Lovera,
Assistant Director of Food & Water Watch, says,  "One way for arsenic to make it into apple juice is through the use of arsenic-based pesticides in orchards, another is if water added to juice concentrate contains the chemical."

How does the consumer know who to trust?  This is a difficult question to answer. The public needs to realize that these issues can get very political and can be used by the media  for sensationalism.  Both sides have invested interests in this debate.  It's best to be aware of the issues and study them independently before jumping on either bandwagon.

What can be done to prevent the consumption of dangerous chemicals in foods?
1. Read Labels - Know what is in the product, know where it came from. Try to purchase foods grown in the United States.
2. Go Organic - Organic foods are required to meet stricter standards relative to how they are grown, handled and processed. Become aware of the marketing and labeling requirements for organic products.

Quetions or comments, please weigh in on the "Who do you trust?" conversation going on on the Renewed You Now Facebook page.

Eat safe...

...buy local

Being credited with one death and 77 people reported ill, the recent salmonella outbreak has led to one of the largest recalls in U.S. history. Food giant Cargill pulled 36 million pounds of ground turkey from the market.

Ground turkey has long been recommended by nutritoinist and diet experts as a lower-fat, heart-healtier protien option for the health consious consumer.  Experts are now concerned that the recent salmonella related recall will cause people to turn back to beef as a convenient and "safe" alternative.

Consumers who are wary of ground turkey because of the Cargill recall should ask a butcher to freshly grind their poultry. This is also an opportunity to try vegetarian substitutes sold in the stores or buy lower fat meat options like bison or buffalo.

For many, the most troubling aspect of the outbreak is that the strain of salmonella that's making people sick is resistant to several antibiotics.  How did this happen?  According to the Food and Drug Administration, farmers who raise food-producing animals use about 29 million pounds of antibiotics each year. That's about four times the amount of antibiotics doctors prescribe to people each year. "Animals are given antibiotics for a number of reasons — including to get them to grow faster," explains Gail Hansen, a veterinarian who works for the Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming. "[Antibiotics] are given to perfectly healthy animals to convert their food more efficiently so they can get to market faster."

To find locally produced meats in the Gainesville area, check out these resources:

• Gainesville Farm Fresh - an online community resource for sustainable local food.
• Haile Village Farmer's Market - great place to shop for locally grown fruits and vegetables, fresh meats and seafood, delicious baked goods, plants, and beautiful handcrafted wares.
• Ward's Supermarket - experienced, friendly butchers on staff.

Please share your local favorites in the comment section below.

Get to the beach...

...for Vitamin D therapy

As summer approaches and many of you are already visiting the many nearby lakes, rivers, creeks and beaches, its time to talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly in sun exposure. There has been concern in recent years that the United States has gone too far in promoting protection from the sun since it is a great natural source of Vitamin D3.

Vitamin D3 has benefits for men, women and children:

• Helps strengthen immune system
• Helps prevent osteoporosis
• Helps prevent cancer
• Helps prevent type 1 and type 2 diabetes
• Helps maintain blood levels of calcium and phosphorus
• Helps increase absorption of calcium
• Potent immune system modulator
• Four times as potent as Vitamin D2
• Helps lower inflammation by increasing anti-inflammatory messengers
• Helps prevent risk of coronary artery disease
• Helps control insulin synthesis and secretion

Vitamin D deficiencies were rare when most men worked out in the sunny fields and women hung clothes out on the line. But as work shifted from farms to offices, that changed. Elderly individuals, obese individuals, exclusively breastfed infants, and those who have limited sun exposure are all at higher risk of Vitamin D3 deficiencies. Also, individuals who have fat malabsorption syndromes (e.g., cystic fibrosis) or inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease) are at risk.

There is strong evidence that deficiencies may result in rickets, muscle weakness and pain, osteoporosis, psoriasis, and thyroid issues.

How much sun is safe for your skin?

Considering the fact that sun exposure is both natural and essential for life, avoiding it to the extreme that’s commonly recommended certainly doesn’t seem right. Multiple sources, including the Mayo Clinic, say that 10-20 minutes of sun exposure is safe for healthy skin. Beyond that, apply your sunscreen.

Maintain healthy, resilient skin by drinking plenty of water (at least 64 ounces each day) and eating a healthy diet with a good balance (20%) of fatty acids.

Other sources of Vitamin D:

Vitamin D is found in dietary sources such as fish, eggs, fortified milk, and cod liver oil. Being in the sun also contributes to the daily production of vitamin D3.

The dietary recommendations from the FDA are 400-800 IUs a day dependant on age. But many experts believe that these recommendations are far too low to maintain healthy vitamin D levels. They advocate for supplementation of about 2,000-4,000 IUs per day and a dose of daily sunshine in the summer.

For more information on Vitamin D3 supplementation, or eating for healthy skin, contact me.

Give me a K...

...he's strong to the finich cause he eats his spinach

Last week I told you about Vitamin D, D3 to be specific. Since then I've learned that a Health Claim has been filed with the FDA for Vitamin D. Now that may sound scary, but what it actually means is that since there have been certain scientific evidence that allows producers to make specific claims about the benefit of the product.

This week I want to share with you what I've learned about Vitamin K. This is the 2nd of the 8 ingredients that make up the new, most advanced wellness product available in the United States today, 8Rx. Most people talk about Vitamin K if they have used or know someone who uses Coumadin, an anticoagulant drug that works by inhibiting the body's blood clotting process. But it does more than just help the blood clot. Look here at the benefits:

• Helps prevent osteoporosis
• Helps reduce risk of cardiovascular disease
• Helps fight cancer
• Helps maintain healthy blood clotting
• Helps prevent excessive bleeding and hemorrhaging
• Cofactor in helping to prevent atherosclerosis of arteries
• Cofactor in bone metabolism by acting synergistically with Vitamin A & D

Vitamin K deficiencies are evident if you have symptoms related to problematic blood clotting or bleeding, like heavy menstrual bleeding, gum bleeding, bleeding within the digestive tract, nose bleeding, easy bruising, blood in the urine, prolonged clotting times, hemorrhaging, and anemia. Bone related symptoms can include loss of bone (osteopenia), decrease in bone mineral density (osteoporosis), and fractures-including common age-related fractures like that of the hips. Another set of vitamin K deficiency-related symptoms involves excess calcium in soft tissues like hardening of the arteries or calcium-related problems with heart valve function.

People with digestive issues tend to be prone to a Vitamin K deficiency. Particularly those with inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, short bowel syndrome, and digestive tract surgeries (like intestinal resection), or problems with pancreatic function, liver function, or gallbladder function.

Vitamin K can be obtained naturally from spinach, Brussels sprouts, Swiss chard, green beans, asparagus, broccoli, kale and mustard greens, green peas and carrots.

I also read that Vitamin K may play a role in the prevention and/or treatment of the following health conditions:


* Bone fracture
* Chronic liver disease
* Cystic fibrosis
* Inflammatory bowel disease
* Liver cancer
* Pancreatic cancer
* Kidney stones
* Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy
* Thrombosis

The new 8Rx formula contains a synergistic blend of Vitamin D3, Vitamin K, DHA (Omega 3 - Fish Oil), Olive Leaf Extract/Sesame Lignans, 2-AEP Calcium, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Turmeric Powder/Piperine, and Green Tea that is unavailable in any other single supplement. There are over 1500 clinical studies published proving the health benefits of these ingredients supporting that they may help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Stay tuned for more info on the benefits of these all-natural components!

Click here to hear testimonials from people already finding results using the new 8Rx.

Don't forget about our Season of Love promotion!! All online orders are 10% off until Valentine's Day!

Can't finish your burger?

...try washing your windows with it!

Here's more from the Men's Health article I was telling you about yesterday:

Shocking Food Industry Secrets - Part 2

6. Smaller portions are equally as satisfying as larger portions. Participants in a Penn State study ate macaroni and cheese over four different days, and when presented with bigger portions, they consumed an extra 160 calories. Despite the extra food, they rated their fullness the same.

7. Between 1977 and 1996, the average cheeseburger grew in size by 25 percent. But you don't have to give up the burgers to stay thin Just order smarter. Order the smaller burgers and have what you want on them added. And avoid the 15 Worst Burgers in America.

8. What do hamburgers and fertilizer have in common? Turns out, hamburgers—especially the stuff served at schools and fast food restaurants—are routinely treated with ammonia to kill off E. coli bacteria. That’s the same substance used in fertilizers and household cleaners. I saw this on Food, Inc, too.

9. There's a good chance chicken will make you sick. In a 2006 Consumer Reports review, more than 80 percent of whole broiler chickens bought nationwide contained campylobacter or salmonella—the leading causes of foodborne illness in America.

10. Junk food is like a drug. A study in the journal of Nature Neuroscience found that eating junk food doesn’t just satisfy cravings—it creates them. That’s right; junk food is addictive. That's why manufacturers load their foods with sugar, salt, and artificial flavorings.

Remember this: If your food can go bad, it's good for you. If it can't go bad, it's bad for you.

Have you seen this video about McDonald's fries?

Oh poo....

... in Chocolate?

I'm always reading articles about health and nutrition. It seems there is just always something interesting to learn. Recently, an article from Men's Health came to my attention. It was full of interesting and maybe even scary information that I thought was worth sharing. Here's part of it:

Shocking Food Industry Secrets - Part 1

1. The average American has easy access to 2,700 calories each day, versus just 2,200 in 1970. If 500 calories a day doesn't sound like much, that’s 52 pounds a year.

Tip: Canadian researchers have found that daily e-mails (or tweets) that contain weight-loss advice remind you of your goals and help you drop pounds.

2. Between sodas, energy drinks, lattes, bottled teas, milk shakes, the average American drinks 450 liquid calories a day. (Here are the most sinister culprits—the 20 worst drinks in America.)

3. Fresh fruits and vegetables cost 10 times more than junk food, according to researchers at the University of Washington. A thousand calories of nutritious food cost $18.16, while a thousand calories of junk food cost a mere $1.76. How do they keep junk-food costs so low? Pretty simple, actually: flavor enhancers and other chemical additives. Speaking of . . .

4. There are more than 3,000 items on the FDA’s list of approved food additives—everything from acesulfame potassium (an artificial sweetener that animal studies have linked to breast cancer) to Yellow #5 (a food coloring linked to learning and concentration disorders in children).

Tip: Click here for a list of food additives to avoid.

And the top shocker for today:

5. Your food can legally contain maggots and rat poop. Sure, the FDA limits the amount of such appetite killers in your food, but that limit isn't zero. Trace amounts won’t make you sick, but the thought of them will. For more on this, check the FDA's Food "Defect Levels Handbook".

Come back tomorrow for more shocking secrets!