Tarryall.net
. . . a Guide for Living Energetically
NEWSLETTER
December 2007
Blessed are those who can give
without remembering
And take without forgetting.
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What's New

  • Gift Ideas for the Holidays - Aside from gifting family and/or friends
    with my books (only $15 @ with the holiday special!), why not consider
    giving gifts to those who REALLY need them? As a family, forgo
    individual gifts and shop for groceries for an elderly neighbor, a
    struggling single mom, or your local homeless or battered women's
    shelter. In your family's name, or that of a relative or friend, make a
    monetary donation of any size to your favorite charity, or help support
    our wounded vets and their families at http://www.woundedwarriors.org.
    Or to go further afield, check out what you can do for others in need on
    a worldwide basis at http://www.alternativegifts.org. What a way to
    make your generosity truly count!

  • Dynamite OxE-Mega - With winter upon us, this fantastic new
    supplement can really make the difference in the ultimate health of your
    horse/s whether pasture potatoes or show/competition stock. And, since
    all horses that I have heard of love it, there seems to be no difficulty
    feeding this tasty powder. Learn more. And yes, this product, along with
    ANY Dynamite product, also makes great gifting!

  • Yak Meat - For all of you who have realized the fact that only pastured
    meats/animal products (meaning old-fashioned and REAL!) are truly
    edible, some folks say this Tibetan animal is even better than bison!
    Learn about yak meat from a Colorado grower: www.yakmeat.us

  • Kim Klaver "Manifesto" -  For those of you who don't know her work,
    Kim is the "doyenne" of the new-style MLM Marketing. For those of you
    interested in developing any sort of MLM (Dynamite included!) for
    yourself, this statement is vital and it is one I have lived by: Friends,
    Lies & Network Marketing. Click HERE for her free pdf version.

  • The Trouble With Soy - Do you STILL, after all I've said over the years,
    think eating soy is "good" for you"? Especially as a meat substitute for
    vegetarians? If so, or if you know of someone else who thinks soy is
    healthful, please read this new article I have posted on my Articles
    page. The Trouble With Soy is by Jim Rutz. If this is not enough, also
    visit http://www.wholesoystory.com, the website of Dr. Kaayla Daniel
    who wrote the book!

  • The Unwanted Horse Coalition - Some folks find really good homes for
    their no longer wanted or useful horses. However, far too many are
    trailered off to auctions ending up in abuse, torture and death. On this
    website, http://www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org, you can find an online
    directory (by state) which will take unwanted horses.


Did You Know?... Health Briefs from All Over

Antibacterial soaps ineffective - A study published in the August issue of
Clinical Infectious Diseases shows that antibacterial soaps containing the
active ingredient triclosan are no better than regular soap at killing germs
— and in fact, they can do more harm than good. Apparently the
concentrations of triclosan used in commercial hand soaps aren't sufficient
enough to kill bacteria such as E. coli, and they can also reduce the
effectiveness of some common antibiotics. [... we ourselves use only the
Tea Tree Oil infused Dynamite Shampoo for all hand, body, & even wound
washing needs]

D-lete breast and colon cancer - A recent study showed that there was
a link between intake of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the incidence of
breast and colon cancers. Their findings support that we just aren't
getting enough of this critical vitamin: On average, adults are only
getting about 230 IUs per day. Not near enough— that number should be
closer to 2,000 IUs per day for many of us, so it's not too hard to do the
math. Unfortunately, most folks are also taking the wrong kind—vitamin
D2 (ergocalciferol, found in many multivitamins) has been the dominant
form taken, instead of D3 (cholecalciferol). D2 just doesn't hang around
long enough in the body, compared to D3 from sunlight. A 25-hydroxy
vitamin D level test should show you to be in the range of 40 nanomoles
per liter. And then get yourself a good D3 supplement to keep it in a
healthy range. Based on this study (as well as other clear evidence) that
amounts ranging well over 2,000 units per day are safe— some expert
estimates place the safe upper-end at 10,000 units per day—most of us
should be looking at getting 2,000 units per day. Patients with
deficiencies often need up to 5,000 units per day to restore desirable
levels.

Athersclerosis & the Omegas - A UCLA study in which researchers
examined the effect that diet plays on atherosclerosis in subjects who are
genetically inclined to develop the condition, showed that an intake of
omega-6 fatty acids significantly enhanced the formation of arterial
plaque while higher omega-3 intake impeded formation. The ideal diet
supplies a 1:1 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6, but very few of us actually
achieve that ratio because processed foods, loaded with simple
carbohydrates and an overabundance of vegetable oils deliver omega-6 in
abundance. Your best sources of Omega 3 fatty acids such as DHA & EPA  
are strictly grass-fed animals (beef, buffalo, raw milk, eggs, etc.) and fish
oils (mercury-free Carlson's is good) while an excellent supportive
vegetable source, containing only the "precursor" ALA, is chia seed which
still requires a good intake of DHA/EPA in order to fully utilize it.

"Raw" = pasteurized + propylene oxide? - YES according to the FDA
concerning almonds! Propylene oxide is a known carcinogen plus being
linked to causing birth defects, of altering the immune system, and of
adversely affecting the central nervous system, reproductive system,
respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, liver, and gallbladder. It is so
dangerous that it's use has been banned in Canada, Mexico, and the
European Union. And yet, almonds treated this way can STILL BE LABELED
RAW! This little piece of legislation, urged by the giant almond growers,
could spell the end of the line for organic and small-time almond
operations because of the extreme expense of the pasteurization process
itself ($500,000) plus the added shipping costs. A better solution is one
that would regulate the man-made carelessness that's the source of
contamination problems to begin with. Be VERY careful that the "raw"
almonds you purchase are really and truly raw, indeed.

An Appendix Tale - Your appendix, long touted by doctors to have no
apparent purpose, turns out to be good for something after all. Surgeons
and immunologists from Duke University Medical School believe your
appendix produces and protects the good bacteria in your gut. There are
more bacteria in your body than cells, and much of it is used to help you
digest food. However, if your good bacteria dies, as the result of cholera
or dysentery for instance, your appendix appears to restore good bacteria
to your gut. Your appendix acts like a “bacteria factory” that “cultivates
good germs,” according to the study’s authors.

Nutritional supplements aid AIDS patients -  A double-blind, randomized
clinical trial has shown that HIV-positive patients given supplemental
nutrients can stop their decline into AIDS. Edith Namulemia, James
Sparling and Harold Foster’s findings were just published in the Journal of
Orthomolecular Medicine. The study, conducted at Mengo Hospital,
Kampala, Uganda, was designed to test the impacts of two nutrient
mixtures on the body’s ability to produce glutathione peroxidase and to
monitor any effects of such changes on levels of CD4 T lymphocytes, body
weight and quality of life. It seems clear that inadequate nutrition plays
an extremely important role in the progression into AIDS of HIV-infected
patients.

Organic really IS better - The biggest study into organic food has found
that it is more nutritious than ordinary produce and may help to lengthen
people's lives. The evidence from the £12m four-year project will end
years of debate and is likely to overturn government advice that eating
organic food is no more than a lifestyle choice. The study found that
organic fruit and vegetables contained as much as 40% more
antioxidants, which scientists believe can cut the risk of cancer and heart
disease, Britain's biggest killers. They also had higher levels of beneficial
minerals such as iron and zinc.

Onions cut heart disease risk - Eating a meal rich in compounds called
flavonoids reduces some early signs of heart disease, research shows. An
Institute of Food Research team focused on one of the compounds,
quercetin, which is found in tea, onions, apples and red wine. The
Atherosclerosis study examined the effect of the compounds produced
after quercetin is broken down by the body. They were shown to help
prevent the chronic inflammation which can lead to thickening of the
arteries.

Study shows vitamin "Pill-Poppers" are healthier - New research
indicates that NOT taking supplements may be harmful to your health,
and that a single daily multi-vitamin is inadequate. A study of hundreds
of persons who take a number of different dietary supplements has found
that the more supplements they take, the better their health is. The
study authors reported that a "greater degree of supplement use was
associated with more favorable concentrations of serum homocysteine, C-
reactive protein, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, as
well as lower risk of prevalent elevated blood pressure and diabetes."

Doctors say, "Raise the RDAs now!" - The US Recommended Daily
Allowance/Daily Reference Intakes are too low and most should be raised
immediately, says an independent panel of physicians, academics and
researchers. In a statement this week, the Independent Vitamin Safety
Review Panel said: "Government-sponsored nutrient recommendations,
such as the US RDA/DRIs, are not keeping pace with recent progress in
nutrition research. While current official recommendations for vitamin A,
iron, calcium, and some other nutrients are generally adequate, the public
has been asked to consume far too little of many other key nutrients.
Inadequate intake, and inadequate standards to judge intake, have
resulted in widespread nutrient inadequacy, chronic disease, and an
undernourished but overweight population." Citing a large number of
physician reports and clinical studies, the IVSRP called for substantial
increases in daily intake of the B-vitamins, vitamins C, D and E, and the
minerals selenium, zinc, magnesium and chromium. "Raising the RDA/DRI
will save lives and improve health," the Panel said. "Clinical and sub-
clinical nutrient deficiencies are among the main causes of our society's
greatest healthcare problems. Cancer, cardiovascular disease, mental
illness, and other diseases are caused or aggravated by poor nutrient
intake. The good news is that scientific evidence shows that adequately
high consumption of nutrients helps prevent these diseases."

If it tastes sweet, spit it out - It might be DEG, a deadly ingredient that
tastes like maple syrup. So deadly, it single-handedly gave rise to the
FDA in 1938.The New York Times recently showed that "Over the years,
the poison has been loaded into all varieties of medicine." In the US, the
FDA "warns" against it. But it is still found on the shelves of our grocery
stores because it is a cheap replacement to glycerin, which is commonly
used in toothpaste, over-the-counter meds, vaccines as well as hair and
skin products. If used, it is listed in the fine print ingredient list as: 3-
Oxa-1,5-pentanediol, Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)ether, 2,2'-Oxydiethanol,
Diglycol, Dihydroxydiethyl ether; 2,2'-Dihydroxyethyl ether, Ethylene
diglycol, 2,2'-Oxybisethanol, 2-(2-Hydroxyethoxy)ethanol.

Topical Vitamin C stops basal cell carcinoma - The most common form of
skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, often responds to a remarkably simple,
safe, at-home treatment: vitamin C. Physicians and patients report that
vitamin C, applied directly to basal cell skin cancers, causes them to scab
over and drop off. Successful use involves a highly-concentrated vitamin C
solution, directly applied to the blemish two or three times a day.

Global view shows link between endometrial cancer and Vitamin D
status - Using newly available data on worldwide cancer incidence,
researchers at the Moores Cancer Center at University of California, San
Diego (UCSD) have shown a clear association between deficiency in
exposure to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B (UVB), and endometrial
cancer. UVB exposure triggers photosynthesis of vitamin D3 in the body.
This form of vitamin D is also available through diet and supplements.
Previous studies from this research team have shown associations
between higher levels of vitamin D3 and lower risk of cancers of the
breast, colon, kidney and ovary.

Acne cure may raise suicide risk - An acne drug prescribed to thousands
of people could cause severe depression and even lead to suicidal
thoughts, according to new research. Roaccutane, used to treat those
suffering from severe acne, appears to interfere with the brain's use of
serotonin - the feel-good hormone - a study published today found. In the
United Kingdom 26 patients taking the drug have committed suicide. The
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency [MHRA] also
recorded 19 attempted suicides, and 31 patients considering suicide,
among those taking Roaccutane.

Exposure to GM foods linked to Morgellons disease - Researchers at the
State University of New York believe exposure to GM foods may be
causing new cases of Morgellons disease, reports Metro. The researchers
say that Agrobacterium, a bacterium that causes tumors in plants, has
been found in Morgellons sufferers. Agrobacterium is well known for its
ability to transfer DNA between itself and plants, and for this reason it
has become an important tool for plant improvement by genetic
engineering. Morgellons disease is a largely unexplained skin condition
(named in 2002) that leads crawling, biting, and stinging sensations.
Sufferers also frequently report finding fibres on or under the skin and
experience persistent skin lesions. In addition to skin manifestations,
some also report fatigue, mental confusion, short-term memory loss, joint
pain, and changes in vision.


Point to Ponder #1 - Puberty at 8? by Dr. Joseph
Mercola
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/10/06/puberty-at-
8-girls-earlier-puberty-puts-them-at-higher-risk-for-cancer.aspx

It is becoming increasingly common for young children, even 5- and 6-year-
olds, to go through precocious puberty (aka early sexual development).
The introduction of this report even states that studies have found girls
as young as 2 years old entering puberty!

This is clearly a multi-faceted problem, but I believe one of its main
causes stems from your environmental exposure to a whole slew of
endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

These man-made chemicals affect your hormones, which control
development and function in your body. There is mounting evidence that
they can cause harm in the development of fetuses and children, who are
particularly sensitive to the chemicals because they have not yet
developed the protective mechanisms present in adult bodies.

If you think you and your children are not exposed to endocrine
disrupters, think again. They’re commonly found in many household
products and cosmetics, including:

  • Bovine growth hormones commonly added to commercial dairy
  • Soy foods, which are loaded with hormone-like substances
  • Bisphenol A, commonly used in many plastics such as baby bottles,
    food-storage containers, and the lining of soda cans
  • Phthalates, also commonly used in plastics
  • Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) -- better known as Teflon

I want to place special emphasis on soy. As many VitalVotes readers have
been pointing out, soy is present in virtually every processed food, and
Americans are eating it in unprecedented quantities in foods like soymilk,
soy burgers, and soy ice cream.

Meanwhile, some misinformed moms are still feeding their vulnerable
babies soy infant formula, which exposes their child to the equivalent of
five birth control pills’ worth of estrogen every day. For this same reason,
it’s also important for pregnant women to avoid eating soy, as a high
estrogenic environment in utero may increase their child’s subsequent
breast cancer risk.  

Other environmental chemicals like PCBs and DDE (a breakdown product
of the pesticide DDT) may also be associated with early sexual
development in girls. Both DDE and PCBs are known to mimic, or interfere
with, sex hormones.

What is even more troubling is that endocrine-disrupting environmental
chemicals can actually increase your child’s risk of obesity, which in turn
may increase their likelihood of early puberty.

Early Puberty is Only the Tip of the Iceberg

Meanwhile, the same chemical exposures that are causing young kids to
enter puberty well before their time can also lead to increased infertility
and breast cancer rates down the road.

So if you have children, or are planning to, avoiding environmental
contaminants and soy foods as much as possible (unless they are in the
traditional, fermented form such as natto, miso, or tempeh), is a wise
choice.

Here are some measures you can take to protect yourself and your
children from common toxic substances that could cause them to go into
puberty years before they were designed to:

  • Store your food in glass containers whenever possible, as it is the
    most inert container you can use.
  • Only use natural cleaning products in your home. Most health food
    stores will have these available or you can search online for them.
  • Buy and eat, as much as possible, locally grown, organic foods that
    do not contain pesticides and added hormones.
  • Avoid processed foods, which are loaded with soy and other unsavory
    ingredients.
  • Switch to natural brands of toiletries, including shampoo, toothpaste,
    antiperspirants, and cosmetics. Use the same sources as above for
    these, either your local health food store or you can search online.

Finally, I encourage everyone with children or grandchildren to review
Theo Colburn’s Our Stolen Future, which is one of the BEST resources on
this topic.

. . . . and also read the article mentioned above: The Trouble With Soy


Point to Ponder #2 - Blood Sugar & Insulin: The
Essentials by Dr. Ben Kim
                http://drbenkin.com/articles-bloodsugar.html
You have approximately 5 litres of blood traveling around in your blood
vessels and heart at any given moment. In these 5 litres of blood, you
need only about one teaspoon of sugar for all of your regular activities. If
you have more than a teaspoon of sugar floating through your blood
vessels on a regular basis, the excess sugar will slow down your
circulation and cause all of the problems you could expect to have if you
had thick maple syrup clogging up your blood vessels. This is essentially
what happens when a person becomes diabetic.

In order to keep the amount of sugar floating through your blood vessels
at around a teaspoon, your body releases insulin whenever you eat foods
that result in sugar entering your blood stream. Most carbohydrates fit
this category. Sugar, most sweeteners, grains, cookies, pastries, cakes,
pasta, and starchy vegetables like potatoes all lead to a release of sugar
into your blood stream. Insulin works by stimulating your cells to sponge
up this excess sugar out of your blood stream. Once inside your cells,
sugar is used for energy, with any excess amount being converted to fat
tissue.

If you eat sugary foods and too many processed carbohydrates for long
enough, your body will have released so much insulin that it will begin to
lose its sensitivity to insulin, which means that your cells won’t receive as
strong a signal to sponge up excess sugar out of your blood. This will lead
to excess sugar floating around your blood vessels and all the health
problems that come with this scenario.

Although many doctors consider 110 - 120 mg/dL (6.1 - 6.7 mmol/L) as
the upper range for a normal fasting blood sugar level, I am convinced
that a healthy fasting blood sugar level should be in the range of 70 - 90
mg/dL (3.9 - 5 mmol/L).

You can get your fasting blood sugar/glucose test done at your doctor’s
office, or with a home monitor, performed after at least six hours of
fasting. The difference is that laboratories measure the sugar in a
component of your blood called plasma, while home monitors measure the
sugar in whole blood. It is believed that home monitors that measure
sugar in whole blood give readings that can be around 15 percent less
than plasma readings from laboratories. Some home monitors are
calibrated to give plasma-equivalent readings. Regardless of what kind of
home monitor you might use, it is handy to have an objective way to
ensure that your food choices are keeping your fasting blood sugar level
close to or in a healthy range.

Insulin
If you have too much sugar floating around in your blood vessels, it is
likely that you also have too much insulin traveling through your system
as well. Even if your fasting blood sugar level is in a healthy range, it is
possible that you have too much insulin floating through your vessels,
particularly if you have high triglycerides and/or are overweight. Normal
blood sugar and high blood insulin can be the result of your cells losing
some sensitivity to insulin, which necessitates that your body releases
extra insulin into your blood circulation in an attempt to stimulate your
desensitized cells into sponging up excess sugar out of your blood
circulation.

What's the problem with having too much insulin in your circulation?
Excess insulin is known to cause:

  • Weight gain, since insulin promotes the storage of fat
  • Lower cellular levels of magnesium, a mineral that is essential for
    keeping your blood vessels relaxed and your blood circulation efficient
  • An increase in sodium retention, which leads to holding excess water
    in your system, which causes high blood pressure
  • Increased amounts of inflammatory compounds in your blood, which
    can cause direct physical damage to your blood vessel walls and
    encourage the development of blood clots which can lead to heart
    attacks and respiratory failure
  • A reduction in HDL cholesterol, an increase in undesirable small
    molecules of LDL cholesterol, and an increase in triglycerides, all of
    which increase your risk for heart disease
  • Possibly a higher risk for cancer due to insulin's ability to contribute
    to cell proliferation
You can test your insulin level by asking your doctor or laboratory for a
fasting insulin test. Less than 10 IU/mL is deal. Anything over 10 IU/mL
indicates that you are eating too many foods that are stimulating excess
insulin release from your pancreas, paving the way to all of the negative
health effects listed above.

What can you do with your food and lifestyle choices to support
healthy blood sugar and insulin levels?

  • Make non-starchy vegetables the foundation of your diet. Dark green
    leafy lettuce, tomatoes, celery, cucumber, cabbage, kale, Swiss
    chard, bok choy, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, and all unmentioned
    green vegetables are excellent choices.
  • Reduce or eliminate your intake of sugar and all foods that contain
    sugar. Some of the most concentrated sources of sugar are soda,
    cookies, chocolate bars, donuts, pastries, ice cream, and ketchup.
  • Reduce or eliminate your use of sweeteners like molasses, corn
    syrup, high fructose corn syrup, pasteurized/heated honey, and
    maple syrup.
  • Don't drink fruit juices. Even freshly squeezed fruit juice taken over
    the long term can lead to high blood sugar and insulin levels. If you
    want to taste fruit, eat whole fruit, not the juice. The fibre, vitamins,
    and minerals that come with whole fruit help to slow down the pace
    at which the natural sugars from fruit enter your blood stream.
  • Do activities and exercises that build or maintain your muscles.
    Muscle tissue acts as a storage site for extra sugar. The more muscle
    tissue you have, the better you can regulate your blood sugar and
    insulin levels.


Point to Ponder #3 - CSU researcher says bacteria
keep us healthy by Coloradoan staff www.coloradoan.
com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071106/UPDATES01/71106007/-1/

A Colorado State University researcher is warning that Americans have
become too quick to kill off bacteria around them, despite evidence
showing that bacteria play an important role in keeping us healthy.

Humans have 10 times more bacterial cells in their bodies than human
cells, including the furnaces of cells, mitochondria, which create the
energy we need to live, said CSU immunology expert Gerald Callahan.

"Before we knew the important role that infections play, we knew about
things like rabies and polio and yellow fever," Callahan said in a
statement. "Because of that, when Fleming finally introduced penicillin in
1945, we went crazy with joy and began to slather everything with
antibiotics, especially ourselves. Now we are paying our dues for that
overreaction."

People's love affair with anti-bacterial products is changing - and not
necessarily for the better - how immune systems, gastrointestinal
systems and even nervous systems develop and function, Callahan said.

"Microorganisms shape the lives of all living things and infections steer
the course of the world. Most people understand that infections are at the
root of many terrible diseases like malaria and leprosy.

"But infection may also play a significant role in many chronic aliments,
including some that may surprise you such as schizophrenia, ulcers and
obsessive compulsive disorder," said Callahan, an immunology professor
in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and the
College of Liberal Arts.

The role Toxoplasm gondii, a bacterium, may play in producing
schizophrenia in people isn't clear. But rats infected with T. gondii exhibit
suicidal behaviors. And otherwise normal men and women infected with T.
gondii exhibit alterations in their behaviors: Infected women are likely to
be more warmhearted and outgoing, and infected men often are more
jealous and suspicious.

About 15 percent of all cancers could be prevented if infectious diseases
that play a role in causing these cancers, which include stomach, cervical
and liver cancers, could be controlled, Callahan said.

But what many people may not realize is that most infections ensure our
health instead of compromise it.

Mitochondria are bacteria that take fats and sugars and make adenosine
triphosphate, or ATP. Every action that distinguishes a living human being
from a dead human being is dependent on ATP.

"We need our bacteria," Callahan said.

Other research shows that sheltering a child from bacterial infections
increases his or her chances of developing asthma and allergies. In fact,
recent studies show that the more educated parents are, the more likely
their children are to develop asthma and allergies possibly because these
parents are more likely to worry about bacterial infections.

Of course, parents want to protect children from infectious diseases.
Callahan draws an analogy between how parents teach their children to
recognize unsavory characters and how society must differentiate good
from bad bacteria and infectious microorganisms.

"We understand that part of becoming an adult is learning to interact with
people and recognize both bad and good in those people. The same is
true for bacteria and other infectious microorganisms," he said.

Not long ago, all staph infections responded to methicillin. But within a
few decades of the widespread use of methicillin, many staph infections
are unfazed by this once powerful antibiotic and all of its chemical
relatives.

Callahan said there are more bacteria by far in this world than any other
living thing.

"We are a minority on this planet, and we must learn how to work with
the majority," he said.

Callahan is the author of two books on the topic of infectious disease, the
human immune system and the impact of infection on life and the world:
"Infection: The Uninvited Universe" and "Faith, Madness and Spontaneous
Human Combustion."

...... we have chosen to go what we consider a safe route by giving our
bodies optimal nutrition and using NO anti-biotic products whatsoever
with anti-biotics themselves only in case of dire emergency. In our
experience, simple cleanliness procedures of washing our hands in
Dynamite Shampoo (with Tea Tree Oil) and wiping counters and such
down with Dynamite Super ACV admirably serve the purpose of
prevention. Just in case anything "slips through", we have found that
using either/both Dynamite Solace (a colloidal silver) and Trace Minerals
Concentrate takes care of anything including sinus infections, etc. We
also include judicious use of homeopathics and aromatherapy. Haven't
had to take advantage of "real" antibiotics in literally years.


Point to Ponder #4 - A question for the European
Commission: Are carrots and brazil nuts more
dangerous than vitamin supplements? by Matthias
Rath, M.D.     www4.dr-rath-foundation.org/THE_FOUNDATION/a-
question_for_the_ec.html

The European Commission is currently in the process of finalising methods
for the setting of maximum levels of vitamins and minerals in food
supplements. Although it claims that it will be taking a scientific approach
to this procedure, the reality is that the maximum level for beta-carotene
may be set at a level less than that contained in two carrots, whilst the
maximum level for selenium may be set at a level less than that
contained in a mere two brazil nuts. Pointing out these and other
absurdities, an impressive position paper recently issued by the UK-based
Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) calls for the Commission to review its
methods, and proposes features that would be required for the
development of a new, scientifically valid approach.

But will the Commission listen, or will it now start screaming for warning
labels to be put on bags of carrots and brazil nuts?

The ANH paper is certainly reasonable and well-argued. Recognizing that
the setting of maximum levels will be subject to the pressures of
"industrial stakeholders" (i.e. the multi-trillion dollar pharmaceutical
industry) and "political processes" (i.e. the European Union's long-
standing support for the pharmaceutical "business with disease"), it
concludes that the best way to develop a more appropriate solution would
be to entrust the task to a university, where it could be developed within
an independent, academic setting.

In our opinion, this is an excellent proposal. After all, to any reasonable
observer, watching the European Commission develop its preferred
approach to the regulation of food supplements has, in recent years, felt
like participating in the "theatre of the absurd." Clearly, European citizens
are not dying in the street through overdosing on food supplements and,
in fact, there is good evidence that vitamin and mineral deficiencies are
widespread in the European Union. As such, if the debate over the setting
of maximum levels continues to be governed by the Commission's
extremist and alarmist anti-supplement propaganda, far from protecting
consumers, the resulting maximum levels will doubtless be to the very
detriment of their health.

Whilst the Commission had previously claimed, in 2002, that its aim is
not to ban food supplements, and that the interests of consumers are at
the top of its concerns, its recent Orientation Paper revealed that
decisions on the maximum levels in food supplements "will have to be
based not only on scientific grounds but will have to take into account
also current market practices." Worse still, the paper states that the
identification of these practices apparently requires "discussion with
industrial stakeholders".

In other words, therefore, the Commission's preferred process for setting
the maximum levels will not stand up to scientific scrutiny and the
pharmaceutical industry will almost certainly be involved in the discussion
process.

Hardly surprising then, that the Commission's approach to the regulation
of food supplements is increasingly now coming under attack. Whilst we
accept that there are those, such as the ex-pharmaceutical industry
director Gert Krabichler, who believe that the European Commission has
progressed with great care and transparency in drawing up these
regulations, we strongly suspect that, should extremism prevail, the
maximum levels could ultimately become subject to legal challenge.

And we're not just talking about the levels for beta-carotene and
selenium, either.

To take another example, the Commission's official position is that the
maximum tolerable intake level for nicotinic acid (vitamin B3) is only 10
mg. Given however that even the European Union's meager recommended
daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin B3 is 18 mg, it's not difficult to imagine
that any legal arguments used to defend this absurdity in court would
have to be farcically convoluted.

In short, therefore, we agree completely with ANH that the Commission's
proposed approach to the setting of maximum levels has no adequate
scientific basis and that it needs to be drastically altered.


Point to Ponder #5 - Toxic Tots by Alan Inglis, MD in
House Calls Newsletter  http://www.healthrevelations.com

Are your children or grandchildren getting enough vitamins, minerals and
industrial chemicals on a daily basis?

While the adequate intake of vitamins and minerals may be questionable,
the ingestion of industrial chemicals is not. Children being born into the
world today are faced with more chemicals than we ever were as children.
It's what I've been saying for years: We're all party to a lifelong chemical
experiment, and most folks are oblivious to the fact that they're
unwittingly taking part.

Especially the youngest members of our society. Tiny bodies contain
alarming levels of unnatural chemicals, such as phthalates, PBDE's and
bisphenol A.

A recent news story highlighted the grim reality that we're stewing in—
especially children. One family participated in a study to measure the
level of industrial chemicals in their bodies. One of the children, who was
under the age of two, was found to have levels of the flame retardant
PBDE that were almost seven times that of the child's parents. (PBDE's
are considered a neurological toxin in lab rats.)

That's downright scary. If in less than twenty-four months, a child
manages to rack up more chemicals in his body than his parents have had
a couple of decades to do, we need to sit up and pay attention.

Children have entered a world of untested chemicals that we're only
beginning to see the effects from—making them lab rats, in a sense. I
believe we're only seeing the tip of the iceberg in terms of the titanic-
proportioned mass poisoning that is going on all around us. It's insidious
because it's mostly invisible, coming from goods and products that we
take for granted and use every single day.

Consider the number of plastics that we use, many of them containing
phthalates and bisphenol A. These chemicals are coming under scrutiny
for their infliction of system damage they've been linked to.

The phthalates, which are used in all sorts of products you can find
around your home, from water bottles to toiletries, have been shown to
cause reproductive problems. Earlier this year, phthalates were linked to
increased abdominal obesity and insulin resistance for adult males. The
higher their levels of phthalates, the greater their prevalence of belly fat
and insulin resistance.

According to this same study, it's estimated that over 75 percent of us in
the U.S. have a measurable level of several phthalates in our urine.

This class of chemicals has been out for half a century—and we're only
now starting to link some of its after-effects. To add insult to injury—
they're still in use. At least, the European Union and California are on the
vanguard of banning this chemical from use in toys.

As for bisphenol A, another widely used chemical, it has been shown to be
present in the bodies of 95 percent of the U.S. population. It's also linked
to causing problems in the reproductive systems of fetuses and infants.

The ongoing issue has been the ability to actually test for chemical levels
in the body. The capacity to test individuals for their level of toxicity, or
"body burden" as it's known has only been available for the past decade.
And, it's a process still being honed for accuracy. Also, these tests are
just not fine-tuned enough to see tell tale signs of the beginnings of
disease processes.

Some doctors are suggesting that the rising prevalence of childhood
diseases are the result of those very after-effects that no one
anticipated. The chemical industry unleashes their products and goes on
its merry way, and we-the- consumers are left dealing with the aftermath.
Our children, grandchildren and ourselves are plagued with illnesses and
allergies that perplex the medical profession.

It's challenging to pinpoint the genesis of our ever-increasing health
woes, fertility issues, and the number of younger and younger folks being
seen with diseases. There are many industries that can share the blame,
but I'd say that all of this unnatural tinkering we constantly do has long-
lasting repercussions—and the proof is in the pudding. Unfortunately, that
pudding is being fed to the most defenseless people of all.

I don't know about you, but I don't want to play host to some unnatural
chemical in my body that Nature never intended. Nor do I want to play
"wait and see" with chemicals that haven't been tested for their capability
of damaging my system. And I think as a society, we all agree that we
don't want this for our children.

So, as we often have to do to get any attention from Big Business, we
need to vote with our feet. That means avoiding the purchase of any
clothing for your kids or grandkids that is flame retardant—since there's a
much greater chance they'll fall victims to the chemicals than to a fire.

Also, get back to glass. Stainless steel works, too. You probably used a
glass baby bottle as a child, as did your parents before you. Pick some
up—they're still available. Skip plastic cups and the like. This includes the
higher-quality polycarbonate bottles that until recently were thought to be
safe and are still promoted to be so by some. Your great-grandmother
didn't use plastics and she did just fine serving lemonade—minus the
unwelcome industrial chemicals.

. . . . . . and DO review my Toxins page which includes ways to release
stored toxins


Menu of the Month - Midwinter Feast
The darkest time of the year is traditionally the time for the brightest of
feasts whether Christmas, Hanukkah, Solstice or whatever. Here's a
wonderfully rich yet wonderfully simple feast meal for you and your loved
ones to enjoy seated in front of a crackling fire.

Spinach Salad with Hot Mushroom Dressing
Heat 3 T macadamia nut oil in skillet and saute 1/2# chopped mushrooms
of choice and 2T minced onion until vegetables are tender and very lightly
browned. Carefully add 1/4 cup wine vinegar (watch that it does not
spatter) and bring to boil. Immediately pour over 3/4# washed/dried baby
spinach and toss well with 3T more oil. Serve immediately.  

Curried Butternut Soup
Heat 1T butter in a soup pot over medium high. Add 1-2 tsp curry powder
and 1 large chopped onion; saute stirring occasionally, 3-4 minutes, until
onion begins to soften. Add 1 cored/peeled/chopped Granny Smith apple,
1 peeled/seeded/chunked Butternut squash and 6 cups broth; bring to  
boil, reduce to simmer and cook 25 minutes, or until squash is very soft.
Using an immersion blender, puree soup. Stir in 1/2 cup half-and-half or
coconut milk and season to taste with NTM salt/freshly ground pepper.
Pour into a slow cooker to keep hot. NOTE: To save time, make it the day
before, cover and refrigerate and put into your slow cooker to warm it up
and keep it warm for the meal.

Roast Beef with Roast Roots
DAYS BEFORE: Unwrap your roast (we use Slanker's grass-fed premium
sirloin roasts which are about 5# or so), place in a glass baking dish and
put it into your refrigerator, uncovered, to dry-age for 3-5 days. The day
of cooking, remove from the frig in the morning so it comes up to room
temperature; we cover with a clean kitchen towel and place it on top of
the refrigerator so no dogs or cats can get to it.
BEEF: chop an onion very coarsely and place in the center of a roasting
pan to hold the roast up off the bottom (no rack for us - just more to
clean!). Place the aged/room temperature roast on the onions, insert
remote probe thermometer (we use a Poldar) set for medium rare into
thickest part of roast and place into pre-heated hot oven (450) for 10 min
to sear then lower temperature to 200; of course the remote read-out
gets set onto the top of the stove or countertop! Yes, you read that
correctly: 200 degrees Farenheit. We cook the roast for about 3-3.5 hrs or
until the remote probe thermometer registers the internal temperature we
want: 130°F for a medium-rare roast; 125°F for rare; 145°F for medium.
You can generally figure on approximately 40 minutes per pound but
essentially the roast is done when it is done, so plan accordingly. Remove
from the oven (turn oven up to 400) and let sit for 20-30 min. while roots
are roasting.
ROOTS: coarsely cube (about 1") 2# of mixed roots such as carrots,
beets, potatoes, turnips & onions; toss in a bit of macadamia nut oil,
place in a single layer onto a rimmed baking sheet and roast at 400 oven
for 15-20 minutes or until nice and browned. Remove and set around
plattered roast.
NOTE: The root roasting time is a good time to prepare your spinach
salad; the soup should be hot in the slow cooker.

Flourless Banana Date Cake topped with Goji Pear Sauce & Vanilla
Whipped Cream
Make this in the morning (or, if you have 2 ovens, make while roasting the
beef), except for the vanilla whipped cream, so there's no rush later.
Cake: stir together 1 c. mashed ripe banana (2 medium), 1/2 c. shredded
coconut, 3-4 minced dates, 1 T chia seed, 2 tsp. vanilla, 1 tsp. allspice or
nutmeg, 1/2 cup chopped nuts of choice. Fold into 3 whipped egg whites
and allow to stand for 5 minutes until oven preheats to 350º F. Spoon
into a greased spring-form cake pan and bake for 30 minutes or until a
toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Turn off oven and let
stand 5 more minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on a rack for 10
minutes. Release form cake pan to finish cooling.
Top with Goji Pear Sauce: blend/pulse together 3 ripe Bartlett pears, 1 c.
soaked/plumped goji berries, 1/2  cup walnuts or pecans, 1/4 tsp lemon
zest, 1 tsp allspice or nutmeg.
Vanilla whipped cream


Words of Wisdom .... The 10 Steps to Happiness  BBC
Documentary series "Making Slough Happy", Nov 2005 .... Being happy
yourself is the best gift you can share with and teach to others!

  1. Plant something and nurture it
  2. Count your blessings - at least five - at the end of each day
  3. Take time to talk - have an hour-long conversation with a loved one
    each week
  4. Phone a friend whom you have not spoken to for a while and arrange
    to meet up
  5. Give yourself a treat every day and take the time to really enjoy it
  6. Have a good laugh at least once a day
  7. Get physical - exercise for half an hour three times a week
  8. Smile at and/or say hello to a stranger at least once each day
  9. Cut your TV viewing by half
  10. Spread some kindness - do a good turn for someone every day



    Until next year! . . .
    Rowan & John    
The information contained in this newsletter has not been evaluated by
the FDA. This information in not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or
prevent any disease. All material provided is for educational purposes
only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health
care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical
condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise
or other health program.
Happy Holidays!
   Hanukkah 12/05 - Winter Solstice 12/21 - Christmas 12/25