Soy and Fructose: Spawns of Satan?

Because, in part, of a well-known doctor who makes his living selling products from his internet site, two questions still come up that I find myself addressing from time to time.  In the mind of this well-known internet marketer, Satan has two spawns: soy and fructose.  

The concerns regarding soy and fructose are common because of some of the widespread misunderstanding about these natural compounds.  But let's examine these two compounds from a different perspective.

Spawn #1: Soy

The misunderstanding here stems from compounds in soy known as phytoestrogens, which is an unfortunate name because soy contains no estrogen.  These compounds are estrogen mimics, yes, but unlike xenoestrogens (toxic chemicals that mimic estrogen), phytoestrogens are weak estrogen mimics, whereas xenoestrogens are strong estrogen mimics.  The result is that xenoestrogens increase the estrogen pool, whereas phytoestrogens lower the estrogen pool and have beneficial effects on the endocrine system.  Granted, there are allergies to soy, just like there are allergies to strawberries, eggs, and everything else under the sun, but allergies do not necessarily equate to an unhealthy food.  It is unfortunate that soy has been so misunderstood, and it should interest the reader that some of the "research" pertaining to the "dangers" in soy was funded by…..guess who….the DAIRY industry!  Hmmm.  

Anyway, if the concerns around soy are referring to GMOs, then that's different.  GMOs should be avoided.  

Spawn #2:  Fructose

Regarding fructose, that again is a very misunderstood ingredient.  It is not the same as High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS).  They are not the same at all.  HFCS does indeed lead to metabolic syndrome and many other maladies.  But fructose in its purest form is simply a fruit sugar and the body responds to it completely differently than HFCS.   Fructose is simply a carbohydrate, and a beneficial one at that.   You cannot eat fruit without getting fructose.  

Having said that, anything in excess is not good.  One can die from drinking too much water, as an example.  So fructose in excess added to an already carbohydrate saturated diet can be problematic.  But again, to lump fructose into the category of a man-made sweetener is categorically wrong.  Sucrose (white table sugar) and High Fructose Corn Syrup are both ultra-refined carboydrates that the body reacts to in a strongly negative way.  Fruit sugar (fructose) cannot be categorized like that, because it is not ultra-refined and the body responds to it as an energy source.  Fructose does not spike insulin and effect blood sugar like sucrose and HFCS.  In fact, following is a list of common foods and their glycemic index.  Note where fructose is on the list.

Glucose..............................100 glycemic index score
White bread........................ 100

Baked potatoe.......................95

carrots................................85

sucrose (table sugar)...............75

Beets..................................75

Honey.................................75

Watermelon..........................70

Banana................................60

Baked beans..........................60

Brown rice............................55

Apple .................................40

Ultra Meal medical food..........36

Fructose (from any source).......20

Research Supports the use of Soy and Fructose in Nutriceuticals

Taken together, soy and fructose can provide very beneficial effects on human health when administered in the form of nutriceuticals.  Study after study  on the Metagenics medical food, Ultra Meal, for example, consistently demonstrates profound benefits in metabolic syndrome patients.    Numerous studies also show that soy isoflavones (isolated compounds from soy) improve symptoms related to female hormone balance and cardiovascular disease.

Here are some additional resources to help you better understand the truth about soy and fructose:

1. Link to my blog article highlighting research showing soy improves breast cancer risk: http://www.quantumhealth1.blogspot.com/search/label/Breast%20Cancer%20and%20Soy
2. Dr. David Dahlman's article on soy, perhaps the single best and most definitive article on the subject I have ever seen.  http://www.drdahlman.com/benefits-of-soy.shtml
3. A paper on the benefits of fructose over other sweeteners: http://www.metaproteomicslabs.com/position_papers/MET746_fructose.pdf

The Bottom Line

I hear this phrase a lot among holistic naturalists: "If God made it, it's good.  If man made it, be cautious."  

Generally I agree with this statement.  I believe this is a good rule to live by for the most part.  Of course, I believe this can also be taken to an unreasonable extreme, such as suggesting that you shouldn't take vitamins because they are "man made."  

Why, then, is fructose -- one of God's ingenious creations added to foods from the vine -- so vilified among some of the same people who say that if God made something it is good?  Why then is soy -- a staple in societies all over the world for centuries and one that has been scientifically validated as having many health promoting properties -- gotten a bad rap?  

The negativity surrounding fructose and soy is not in keeping with the if-God-made-it-it's-good philosophy.  

"New" Class of Omega Fatty Acids Shows Promise in Cardiovascular Health

A class of fatty acids known as omegas have been studied since the 1970s.  In particular, the omega-3 fatty acids have become famous for their various health benefits.  

Recently a "new" class of omega fatty acids has emerged in the research as showing promise for cardiovascular health and potentially other health benefits.  A class of omegas known as omega-7s may be as good, and perhaps even better, than omega-3 fatty acids for certain aspects of health.  

It must be first be understood that omega-7 fatty acids have always been part of fish oil, just like omega-3s.  However, they have not been the focus of research until now, and, therefore, no one has bothered to concentrate them and provide them in supplement form until now.  It should also be understood that the research on omega-7 fatty acids is still preliminary.  Compared to the massive amount of data available on omega-3s, the research on omega-7s is still quite small.  Having said that, the research on omega-3s was once small as well.  So far, the available data on omega-7s is quite impressive.

An overview of the data on omega-7 fatty acids shows dramatic improvement on C-Reactive Proteins (CRP), a marker for inflammation.  One study showed a 50% drop in CRPs in 30 days among patients who observed no dietary changes.1  Another similar study showed a drop in CRPs by nearly 64% among patients who did undergo some lifestyle changes.2  Triglycerides, a fat in the bloodstream that is responsible for making the blood sludgy leading to clogging in the arteries, also shows impressive improvement with the addition of omega-7 fatty acids; up to 36% drop in triglycerides in 30 days.  All cholesterol numbers also improve with the administration of omega-7s.  

As data is mounting implicating inflammation as the biggest culprit in heart disease, the early research on omega-7 fatty acids is promising in preventing and perhaps treating certain aspects of cardiovascular disease.  

1. MartinezL.Purifiedomega-7inthereductionofhs-CRP:adouble-blinded,randomized, placebo-controlled study. Proprietary research report, 2013.

2. MartinezL.Lipidandhs-CRPreductionsobservedwiththeadministrationofpurified palmitoleic acid: an open label trial. Proprietary research report, 2013.

Vitamin D: A Deficiency Pandemic

Dr. Michael Holick, MD, of Boston University and author of The Vitamin D Solution, says that vitamin D deficiency is epidemic throughout the USA through all age groups. In fact, 75% of US teens and adults are deficient. Unless you live south of the 30th parallel, which runs along the panhandles of Florida and Texas, it is very difficult to get enough vitamin D from the sun, especially in the winter months, because the sun never gets high enough in the sky for the ultraviolet rays to penetrate the atmosphere. 

Furthermore, less and less people get out in the sun because of inside activities and entertainment. Kids and teenagers, for example, once active outdoors, find more reasons to stay indoors than to go outside because of digital entertainment. Similarly, the elderly rarely get enough sun exposure because of inactivity. Thus, it has become important to supplement this important nutrient even during summer months, since serum levels of most patients tested will be woefully inadequate all throughout the year, and because nearly every disease has a vitamin D deficiency connection.


While supplementation seems to be the answer, a Boston study found the 36% of young adults 18-29 years old had vitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL at the end of winter in spite of consuming fortified milk or a multivitamin daily. Furthermore, an article appearing in JAMA (Feb. 11, 2013) indicated that researchers found that OTC vitamin D supplements from a dozen manufacturers tested at a range that was as low as 52% of their advertised vitamin D content. Duffy MacKay, vice president of the scientific and regulatory affairs at the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) in Washington, DC - a trade group representing supplement manufacturers and ingredient suppliers, said that "there is no excuse for supplements to deviate from their labels." Yet, this goes on in the industry routinely because there are no FDA regulatory standards on supplement label claims. That is where GMP certified products that are tested both internally and externally ensures products that do not deviate from label claim.


The Vitamin D Council has recently raised their supplement recommendations from a minimum of 4,000 IUs per day to 5,000. Hence, active people might consider supplementing at least 1,000 IUs per day during the summer months if they get outside regularly, and more if they are less active. During the winter months, it is not unreasonable to supplement as much as 10,000 IUs per day, and more if serum levels are extremely low.

5 Super-Foods that are Probably Already in Your Cupboard

When considering the typical American diet full of fried foods, nutritionally-flawed fast food, and the ever-increasing amount of sugar and chemical additives, it leaves one wondering how in the world anyone lives to a ripe old age!

It turns out that hidden in the typical western diet of highly-toxic processed foods are wonders of nature that you'd never suspect are really health foods.
Here, then, is a short list of the five most powerful health-enhancing foods that don't seem like health foods but which are quite possibly already in your cupboard – foods that help to ward off disease even when the rest of the diet is not so healthy.

#1 - Mustard
Mustard, believe it or not, is a medicinal paste made from the seed of the mustard plant. It's a superfood that's been around for at least 5,000 years, and it's one of the few common sources of the anti-carcinogen, selenium, a trace mineral often absent from our produce because of over-farmed soil.
Mustard is known to help in reducing migraines, and it's a natural anti-fungal and antiseptic. Another benefit of mustard is that it's never made with MSG or yeast extract. Mustard products -- even conventional products from non-health-food companies -- are still very healthful to consume.

#2 - Cole Slaw
Cole slaw is made out of one of the most powerful natural medicines in the food kingdom: raw cabbage.

Raw cabbage is a proven cure for stomach ulcers. It's also an amazing anti-cancer food that can help prevent (or even reverse) many types of cancer. Cabbage has been one of the most medicinal foods ever consumed in the history of mankind. It's also good for you even when cooked, such as in the case of cabbage soup, or fermented, such as in sauerkraut.

Cabbage is rich in indole-3-carbinol (I3C), one of its many anti-cancer nutrients.
It's best to make your own cole slaw at home, but if you purchase store-bought cole slaw, be sure to avoid processed ingredients often used in cheaper cole slaw recipes, such as high-fructose corn syrup and canola oil (which is often GMO).

#3 - Cinnamon, cloves, rosemary, paprika and other spices
Nearly all the pungent cooking spices are actually powerful medicines.

Cinnamon, for example, helps regulate blood sugar in diabetics. Cinnamon is also a powerful anti-microbial agent (i.e. it kills bad bacteria).
Cloves are the No. 1 source for the highest density of antioxidants found in the entire food supply. Yes, cloves have a higher ORAC value (an antioxidant score) than any other food or spice.

Rosemary is a great source of antioxidants as well, and is also a powerful digestive tonic, anti-inflammatory, and internal detoxification herb.
Ginger is legendary as an immune-boosting, circulation-enhancing tonic herb that's also fantastic for beating winter colds and flu. Ginger even works to relieve muscle pain!

If you like curry, then you'll be glad to know that turmeric, the main ingredient in curry, is also an amazing source of natural medicines. It's a powerful anti-cancer as well as an anti-inflammatory medicine.
In Southern and Midwestern cuisine, barbeque sauce is a surprisingly good source of bitter alkaloids and health-enhancing spices (often including mustard and paprika), but this is only true with the rich, homemade sauces, not the highly-processed super-market sauces, which are usually loaded with sweeteners.

Nearly all the common spices you find in grocery stores are medicinal foods.

#4 - Raisins
Raisins may not sound unusually healthy, but if you think about what they really are, it becomes obvious how powerful they can be as a health food. Raisins are dried grapes, of course, meaning they contain all the natural phytonutrients of grape skins.

Remember: Most of the phytonutrients in grapes is found in the skin. This is why it's so important to buy only organic raisins, because grapes sprayed with fungicides have low levels of resveratrol – one of the most powerful of all the nutrients found in grapes. Organic grapes have the highest levels of resveratrol.

Raisins are also very high in naturally-occurring antioxidants, making them a fantastic overall source of nutrition.

#5 - Common nuts: Walnuts, pecans, peanuts, etc.
Once again, nuts may not be on your list of the healthiest foods, but they probably should be. Walnuts are an amazing natural medicine that helps reduce the risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular disease. They're very high in natural antioxidants and also help reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Pecans boost brain protection and also help lower cholesterol levels. Almonds are now being widely used to make almond milk (a natural anti-cancer milk beverage) and almond butter, and even the common peanut is now making a comeback as a health food.

Just remember: When you buy nuts, raw is best because heat processing destroys the phytonutrients found in foods. Avoid "salted" nuts because they're almost always salted with toxic sodium chloride (simple table salt). Avoid "flavored" nuts because they almost always are made with MSG flavor enhancers such as yeast extract or autolyzed proteins. Just look for plain, simple, unsalted nuts.

So there you have it: Five simple and common foods that you probably didn’t know were healthy super foods.

The Top Ten Most Evil Additives Hiding in Your Food

Have you ever stopped to ponder what's really in the food sold at your local grocery stores?

This post will be focused on helping you to identify them so that you can avoid these disease-causing chemical additives. If you want to stay healthy and out of the doctor’s office, read ingredients labels and make sure you avoid the following ingredients:

Acrylamides – These are toxic, cancer-causing chemicals formed in foods when carbohydrates are exposed to high heat from baking, frying, and grilling. They're present in everything from bread crusts to snack chips, and because they aren't intentional ingredients, acrylamides do NOT have to be listed on labels. But you can avoid them simply by eating fresh whole foods and avoiding packaged foods.

Aspartame – This is a very evil chemical sweetener that causes neurological disorders, seizures, blurred vision and migraine headaches. (http://www.naturalnews.com/030918_a...)

Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein – This is a highly processed form of protein that's processed to bring out the free glutamate (MSG). MSG is now being used less because of the bad press it began getting, but these taste-enhancing alternatives have the same health risks, namely the health risks associated with the brain.

BPA (Bisphenol-A - BPA is a hormone mimicking chemical found in nearly all food packaging plastics. Active in even very tiny amounts, BPA promotes cancer, infertility and hormone disorders. It also "feminizes" males, promoting male breast growth and hormone disruption.

High Fructose Corn Syrup - A highly processed liquid sugar extracted with the chemical solvent, glutaraldehyde, and frequently contaminated with mercury. It's also linked to diabetes, obesity and mood disorders. Used in thousands of grocery items, including things you wouldn't suspect like pizza sauce and salad dressings. Sometimes it appears on labels as simply, “corn syrup,” but it’s the same thing. These ingredients are used as friendlier-sounding forms of the evil white sugar.

Food Colorings – There are food coloring in nearly everything. FD&C Red #40, for example, is linked to behavioral disorders in children. Nearly all artificial food colors are derived from petroleum, and many are contaminated with aluminum. Yellow #5, or tartrazine, is also used to keep the eyes on potatoes from sprouting, but it is a neurotoxin.


Phosphoric Acid - This acid is used in sodas to dilute the carbon dioxide and add to the overall fizzy-ness of the drink. Phosphoric acid will dissolve nails! It's also used by stone masons to etch rocks. The military uses it to clean the rust off battleships. It absolutely destroys tooth enamel and contributes to bone loss. Search Google Images for "Mountain Dew Mouth" to see photos of teeth rotted out by phosphoric acid: http://www.google.com/search?q=moun...

Sodium Nitrite - A cancer-causing red coloring chemical added to bacon, hot dogs, sausage, beef jerky, ham, lunch meats, pepperoni and nearly all processed meats. It is strongly linked to brain tumors, pancreatic cancers, and colon cancers. The USDA once tried to ban it from the food supply but was out-maneuvered by the meat industry, which now dominates USDA regulations. Sodium nitrite is a complete poison used to make meats look fresh. Countless children die of cancer each year from sodium nitrite-induced cancers.

Sucralose – This is an artificial chemical sweetener sold under the name, Splenda. The sucralose molecule contains a chlorine atom. Researchers have repeatedly found that artificial sweeteners contribute to weight gain and neurological problems such as seizures, blindness, and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's-like symptoms.

Yeast Extract – Yeast extract is a hidden form of MSG that contains free glutamate and is used in many "natural" food products so that they can claim "No MSG!" Yeast extract contains up to 14% free glutamate! You'll find it in thousands of grocery store products, from soups to snack chips, and even fresh meat on occasion.

How to buy Truly Healthy and Honest Food
• Shop at your local farmer's market, food co-op, or CSA.

• In the USA, look for the USDA Organic label on foods. This is a legitimate claim to being certified organic. It's one of the few programs run by the USDA that actually has integrity.

• Read the ingredients labels! If you see names of chemicals you can't pronounce, don't buy it.

• Buy more unprocessed food ingredients and make your own meals rather than buying ready-to-eat, processed foods, which are almost universally formulated with disease-promoting ingredients.

• GROW some of your own food! The best food you can ever eat is food from your own garden.

Even when a person attempts to buy truly healthy food, however, it's nearly impossible to avoid food additives completely. If you eat out in restaurants at all, even in upscale dining establishments, you are eating food additives. If you eat ANYTHING out of a box or package, you are eating food additives.

The way to combat the deadly food additives lurking in our foods is to 1) supplement with powerful antioxidants and other nutrients to render the chemicals and oxidative stress that the chemicals cause ineffective, and 2) undergo a periodic detoxification program to help the body cleanse itself of potentially-deadly toxins.

Learn more about detoxification by accessing my posts on that subject in the sidebar. There is also a post on antioxidants that you can find in the sidebar as well that should shed some additional light on that subject.

Formaldehyde Now Officially Listed as Cancer-Causing Agent

Formaldehyde is present in relatively benign quantities in nature. However, its presence in manufactured goods is a major health concern, because according to a significant body of research, it is a known carcinogenic chemical.

Recently the U.S Department of Health and Human Services released a report on newly designated carcinogens that included formaldehyde. The report went on to suggest that people in certain industries were especially vulnerable to the effects of exposure, such as those workers who worked in nail salons, in the funeral industry, and in industries which use formaldehyde to produce common household items including home furnishings, cleansers, and personal care products. People who are exposed to concentrated levels of formaldehyde are more likely to develop certain cancers such as nasopharyngeal cancer and myeloid leukemia.

While some efforts have been made to limit the quantities of formaldehyde used in manufacturing, such as restrictions recently placed by the US in The Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act, this toxic substance remains a significant health concern, especially in confined spaces for prolonged periods of time.

Formaldehyde is classified as a volatile organic compound, or VOA.

Products which may contain formaldehyde include:

* Wood composite furniture including; resins used for office furniture, couches, baby furniture, particle board, pressed board, plywood, and softwood.

* Building materials such as acoustical ceilings, mineral wool, decking, composite core doors, industrial glues, foam insulation, paints and paint thinners.

* Household cleansers such as floor polishes, scouring cleansers, disinfectants, liquid cleansers, laundry aids, air fresheners, carpet cleaners.

* Household items such as wall hangings, carpets or throw rugs, coating on paper products, textiles, plastics, and upholstery.

* Personal care products such as hair straightening products, hair rinses, and cosmetics such as nail polish and hair gel often contain formaldehyde. Baby products including shampoos, creams and bubble bath are frequently laced with formaldehyde. Toothpaste and body washes are also potential sources of this potentially carcinogenic ingredient.

* Clothing that is designated wrinkle free or preshrunk frequently contains formaldehyde. It has also been found in baby clothes and bedding.

* Formaldehyde is also a key component in the familiar new car smell of recently purchased vehicles.

* Car exhaust and cigarette smoke also contain formaldehyde.

* Formaldehyde is used as a disinfectant in laboratory settings, and is also used in the embalming process.

There are ways to reduce exposure to formaldehyde including buying products that are formaldehyde free. Another important way to reduce exposure is to be certain to properly ventilate the house. But it's clear that you can run by you can't hide. Even careful buyers are hard-pressed to avoid formaldehyde altogether.

Thus, here is yet another reason why everyone who wishes to not take any chances with their health will take measures to reduce other toxic exposures as well, including those in the diet, add therapeutic amounts of antioxidants, and consider undergoing a periodic detoxification program.

Massive Radiation Levels a Threat to the U.S.

I try very hard not to be a sensationalist, but the new concerns being raised about radioactive contamination of much of our planet thanks to the astonishing actions taking place at the Fukushima nuclear facility in Japan are too important to gloss over.


TEPCO announced that it is releasing 10,000 tons of radioactive water directly into the Pacific Ocean. That’s 2.4 million gallons of planetary poison being dumped directly into the ocean.


This water is being released because they have run out of places to keep it on land. It's too deadly to transport anywhere else, and all the storage pools around Fukushima are already overflowing. So they're dumping it into the ocean, then calling it "safe" because they claim the ocean will "disperse" all the radiation, rendering it harmless.


But because there's more radioactive water being produced every day at Fukushima, this process of releasing radioactive water into the ocean could theoretically continue for years, easily making Fukushima the worst nuclear disaster in the history of our world.


A Mammoth Cover-Up

Fukushima is currently doing to the Pacific Ocean what BP and the Deepwater Horizon did to the Gulf of Mexico last summer -- except that in the case of Fukushima, that radiation doesn't just disappear with the help of millions of gallons of toxic chemicals. That radiation is likely to be around for decades.


In order to prevent a nationwide panic, apparently, the United States Environment Protection Agency has declared these huge radiation levels to be safe!


We have now reached a point of comedic insanity at the EPA, where those in charge of protecting the environment are hastily rewriting the definition of "radioactive contamination" in order to ensure that whatever radioactive fallout reaches the United States falls under the new limits of "safe".


The EPA maintains a set of so-called "Protective Action Guides" (PAGs). These PAGs are being quickly revised to radically increase the allowable levels of iodine-131 (a radioactive isotope) to anywhere from 3,000 to 100,000 times the currently allowable levels.


The group, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), has obtained internal emails from FOIA requests that reveal some truly jaw-dropping revelations of the level of betrayal happening inside the EPA. For example, under the newly-revised PAGs, drinking just one glass of water considered "safe" by the EPA could subject you to the lifetime limit of radiation. (http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.ph...)


"In addition," PEER goes on to say, "it would allow long-term cleanup limits thousands of times more lax than anything EPA has ever before accepted. These new limits would cause a cancer in as much as every fourth person exposed."


These new PAGs would also vastly increase the allowable levels of radiation in soil and food, too. That way, when the radioactive fallout from Fukushima's massive release of raw radioactive water begins to rain down upon the West Coast, the EPA can officially announce that all the radiation is "below accepted limits." They can’t do anything to stop the radiation, so they lie about the safe limits in order to comfort people.


And so the EPA just raised the limits by as much as 100,000 times!


Your Hope of Protection
If there was ever a time to boost your use of supplements and promote them to your friends, family, and patients, it’s now. New research is showing that antioxidants are protective against radiation.


One of the most recent antioxidant studies was published in the April 2008 edition of Radiation Research.


The purpose of this study was to determine whether a supplemental antioxidant blend of vitamin C, vitamin E succinate, alpha-lipoic acid, L-selenomethionine, and N-acetyl cysteine could improve the survival of mice after total body irradiation.
Results of the study indicate that the antioxidants significantly increased the 30-day survival rate of the mice after their exposure to a potentially lethal dose of X rays when given prior to or after the irradiation. Pre-treatment of animals with antioxidants resulted in significantly higher total white blood cell and neutrophil counts in peripheral blood. Antioxidants were also effective in preventing peripheral lymphopenia (reduction in the number of lymphocytes circulating in the blood) after low-dose radiation.


The antioxidant supplementation was also associated with increased bone marrow cell counts after irradiation, and with increased Bcl2 and decreased Bax, caspase9 and TGF-beta1 mRNA expression in the bone marrow after irradiation. Maintenance of the antioxidant diet was associated with improved recovery of the bone marrow after sub-lethal or potentially lethal irradiation. The researchers concluded that when taken together, oral supplementation with antioxidants appears to be an effective approach for radioprotection of hematopoietic (blood forming) cells and improvement of animal survival. Modulation of apoptosis is implicated as a mechanism for the radioprotection of the hematopoietic system by antioxidants.


To read more about the benefit of antioxidants, click here to read a previous post on the subject.