In the US and Canada, about 90% of canola is genetically modified to withstand heavy doses of herbicidal chemicals used to kill weeds. As "superweeds" develop resistance to chemicals, these herbicides are being used in higher quantities. Still sound healthy? Consider using olive oil or coconut oil instead.
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 While soft drink companies continue to promote sugary drinks as a reasonable part of a healthy diet, studies continue to show significant health risks for kids and adults drinking them.
A recent study of children ages 8-15 years old looked at how drinking sugary beverages affected their triglyceride (blood fats) and cholesterol levels over 12 months. Researchers found a significant worsening of triglyceride and cholesterol for those consuming more sugary drinks. Another recent study analyzed over 40,000 men to determine whether sweetened beverages increase the risk of heart failure. Sweetened beverages for this study included soft drinks, sweetened fruit juices, and drinks with artificial no-calorie sweeteners. When researchers ruled out other causes, they found that sweetened beverages significantly increased the risk of heart failure. Don't be fooled by marketing. You can't outrun or out-exercise regular consumption of sweetened beverages. Start reducing your intake today. Alternatives to consider include kombucha, coconut water, soda water with lemon, or good-old-fashioned water. Cut out sugary drinks for a week and feel the difference - then  Eat a healthy homemade meal From its beneficial effect on diabetes to reducing weight gain, a recent study confirmed that eating more homemade meals is good for your health. Researchers "analyzed data from nearly 58,000 women in the Nurses’ Health Study and more than 41,000 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and followed for up to 36 years."
Results showed a significant health benefit from eating homemade meals instead of eating out. "People who ate about two homemade lunches or dinners each day — or about 11-14 meals a week — had a 13 percent lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes compared to people who ate less than six homemade lunches or dinners a week." There was also significantly less weight gain over the years for those eating more homemade meals. With the holidays coming soon, it's time to get cooking. Homemade meals help you take control of what your family is eating, and avoid hidden junk that often sneaks into packaged or processed foods. The more home-cooked meals you eat, the better. Cooking at home can help you maintain healthy weight, avoid diabetes, and help with a variety of other health conditions.  These medications may provide more harm than benefit Here's the latest eye-opening research on diet, low back treatment, bariatric surgery, and cholesterol meds:
Low-carb Diet Better Than Low-fat Diet for Weight Loss and Heart Health Researchers reviewed 17 trials including a total of 1797 patients comparing those on a low fat diet and those on a low carbohydrate diet. The low-carb diet was associated with significantly greater weight loss and significantly lower risk of "atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events." The low-carb group showed more improvement in blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. If you want to lose weight and reduce your risk of heart problems, you are better off cutting carbs (sugars, grains, etc.) and eating good fats. Pain Killers and Muscle Relaxers No More Benefit for Acute Low Back Pain When going to the ER for severe back pain, you're likely to get a variety of medication thrown at you before you're sent back home: anti-inflammatories (naproxen), pain killers (percoset), and muscle relaxers (cyclobenzaprine). Researchers looked at whether taking all of these medications actually provide much benefit in low back pain patients without significant trauma or leg problems. Results showed no improved function or pain reduction from adding pain killers or muscle relaxers. They recommended patients only be given naproxen to reduce inflammation. Every medication carries risks and combinations of medications carry additional risks. Avoid unnecessary ineffective medications whenever possible and start with safe and effective conservative treatment like chiropractic for low back pain. Increased Rates of Suicide After Bariatric Surgery Losing weight can be extremely difficult for the obese, and the promise of a quick fix with bariatric surgery (stomach stapling, stomach banding, stomach/intestine bypass) can be irresistible. Bariatric surgery patients frequently experience side-effects, but now researchers analyzing almost 9000 bariatric surgery patients have confirmed worse news. These patients that are already at increased risk for suicide, are even more likely to commit suicide or "self harm" after having surgery compared to before surgery. Every effort should be made to achieve weight loss without surgical intervention. Anti-inflammation eating is the best place to start. No Calcium in Your Arteries = No Need for Statin Cholesterol Meds Medpage Today reported on a recent study that tested patients to determine how much calcium they have in their arteries and looked at their risk of cardiovascular problems. Based on the research, Medpage reports, "People at intermediate risk who would prefer not to take a pill can safely avoid statins if they have a zero calcium score [no calcium in the arteries], the new findings suggest." "The study raises the possibility that about half of people who are eligible to take them might now avoid taking statins. This is particularly important because, under the current guidelines, statins are either recommended or may be considered for almost two-thirds of the U.S. adult population." Recent guidelines had indicated patients with cardiovascular risk factors should be taking cholesterol lowering medications even if they don't have high cholesterol. This study provides further information showing that additional information could help prevent prescribing statins to two-thirds of Americans. Without calcium buildup in the arteries, the risk of a heart problem is low even when some other risk factors are present. It's best for these patients to eat better and be active, avoiding the side-effects of statin use. Here's a question that most diabetics get wrong when we ask, but their health depends on it. Unfortunately, proper nutrition education for diabetics often takes a back seat to medication use. Can you answer this question correctly? Which type of food is the most stabilizing to your blood sugar? A. Carbohydrates B. Protein C. Fat Don't peek below until you've guessed... Think hard... Ready? It's not carbohydrates... It's fat. If you said protein, you've been scared away from fat like most Americans. 
Image source: http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk
Good fats are important for all of us (not just diabetics) to maintain a stable blood sugar, which means sustained energy and less food cravings through the day. Fat provides steady energy for hours and protein does a pretty good job too. Carbohydrates (sugars) give us a quick burst of energy, but leave us wanting more as energy levels slump after only two hours. Start your day right with eggs instead of cereal or toast, and feel the difference.
 Sugar-sweetened beverages kill almost 200,000 per year. Still think your sugar-sweetened beverage won't hurt you? It may kill you based a recent study published in Circulation Journal. Put down the pop and toss the sweet tea.
Researchers looked at studies linking sugar consumption and various chronic diseases to make the best estimate of annual deaths related to sugar-sweetened beverages. Here's what they calculated for those drinking sugar-sweetened beverages:
These conditions cover only a fraction of the health problems linked to sugar consumption, and include only beverages not sugary foods. They also excluded store-bought fruit juice, which has been found to cause harmful effects comparable to soda. These numbers likely underestimate the harm from sugar. While Americans have been told to focus on cutting fat, we've largely overlooked the bigger problem - sugar. Start reducing your sugar intake today and don't think artificially sweetened beverages are any better for you. Don't let sugar-sweetened beverages kill you.  We've all heard about the overuse of antibiotics leading to superbugs, but now there's another reason to limit the use of antibiotics in children - arthritis.
Medpage Today reports on a recent study that looked at children and the development of juvenile arthritis. The study found that "children who had been given at least one course of antibiotics had double the risk of [juvenile arthritis]." The researchers found no link between untreated infections and juvenile arthritis. Increased rates were only seen in children treated with antibiotics. This study confirms prior research showing antibiotics damaging the mix of good microbes in a child's body. Their damaged system is then more likely to develop auto-immune problems where the body's immune system attacks itself. In the case of juvenile arthritis, the body's immune system seems to attack its joints. Antibiotics should only be used when needed or they may lead to serious future harm. It's also a good idea to restore the good microbes with probiotics, prebiotics and fermented food to help build a healthier immune system. If you are not sure when or when not to use antibiotics, click here for more info.  Have a healthy Halloween! The sweetest holiday of the year is almost here and if you don't want to end up dealing with an aftermath of boogery noses and coughing kids, it's time to get planning for Halloween. It's no coincidence that Halloween welcomes in cold & flu season. If you can limit your children's sugar intake this holiday, you'll also limit their risk of illness afterwards.
Try some of our tips and tricks to treat your children to healthier Halloween fun. 5 Healthy Treats for Trick-or-Treaters
Click here to check out more healthy and fun ideas for your Halloween party.  Do cholesterol meds make life longer? While most studies on cholesterol meds (statins) have focused on their ability to lower cholesterol or reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems, a recent study took a surprising look at whether cholesterol meds actually lead to a longer life.
The goal of any medication should be to give the user a longer and/or healthier life. But often that research is deemed too expensive and complicated (or impossible), so drug companies don't bother. Instead, researchers test for a change in some other number that they believe is significant. When it comes to cholesterol medications, it's a simple matter of looking for a drop is cholesterol. If cholesterol goes down, the medication is a success! But is it really? Or are we spending billions of dollars on a faulty assumption? Cholesterol meds don't make you feel better, so they better lengthen your life. To find out if cholesterol meds really lengthen life, researchers performed a meta-analysis of available research. The results were surprising. The median postponement of death after taking medication was 3.2 - 4.1 days. Yes, DAYS! Taking cholesterol meds added less than 5 days to the length of life for most patients. Patients were followed between 2 and 6 years so it's possible that another 6 or more years on cholesterol meds could add more time, but we're talking DAYS, not even weeks based on the research. With growing recognition of serious side-effects from cholesterol meds (muscle soreness, loss of memory, increased risk of diabetes), this study should cause doctors to reconsider the high rates of statin prescriptions. The researchers did not go so far as to recommend a change in treatment guidelines but did note: "If the patient has intolerance or unpleasant side effects from statins, for example, muscular problems, physicians should not be too insistent on the patient continuing them. Also, for patients whose life expectancy is short, the benefit of statin therapy in terms of survival gain may be quite limited." If you are noting muscle aches or other symptoms related to your cholesterol meds, consider this study on length of life and have a discussion with your doctor.  MedPage Today reported on two recent studies linking indoor home insecticide use or outdoor herbicide use to a significant increase in risk for childhood cancers like leukemia and lymphomas.
Daniel S. Wechsler, MD, PhD, associate professor, pediatrics and pharmacology & cancer biology at Duke University Medical Center, noted, "The current study adds to the 'smoking gun' raised by other investigators that pesticides could contribute to the development of cancer in children...It certainly seems prudent to limit exposure of children (or anyone) to these agents, especially in indoor locations." Harvard researcher Chesheng Lu, PhD, MS, noted, "Pediatricians should remind parents with young kids to try not to use pesticides in your household and if kids go to a daycare or school that uses lots of pesticides, parents may need to talk to the school or school district to see if there's a better alternative without using chemical-based treatment." Before you start spraying your house for pests or bombarding your dandelions with herbicide, think about your children or your neighbors' children that will be exposed to the poisonous chemicals. Consider creating a healthier chemical-free yard with permaculture gardening to control your pests for you and provide a healthy place for children to play.  Pesticides have been linked to health problems like diabetes Recent studies have confirmed an interesting link between the development of diabetes and pesticide exposure.
Medpage Today reported that a review of 13 studies on type 2 diabetes found that "people exposed to pesticides such as DDT were 61% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes." Another analysis of 22 studies found "the risk of developing type 2 diabetes was still significantly higher by about 58%" in those exposed to pesticides. One of the scientists noted, "How diabetes develops is considered to be an interplay between genetic and environmental factors...Emerging evidence suggests that environmental contaminants -- including pesticides -- may play an important role in the [development] of diabetes." A separate study linked exposure to pesticides during early pregnancy to a 4.4 times increased risk of developing gestational diabetes. It shouldn't be surprising that using chemicals to poison parts of our environment can have significant effects on our health. The similarity of these chemicals to our body's hormones can potentially cause far-ranging negative effects on our health. You can start reducing your family's pesticide exposure by using the dirty dozen chart.
Permaculture is a system of gardening (and living) that tries to mimic nature by learning from it and applying those lessons. It seeks to minimize waste and the use of external resources (water, chemicals, fuel, etc.) in the most efficient way possible to create a natural abundance. What's all that really mean? Check out these tips for a better idea...
5 Permaculture Tips For Better Gardening
 Eggs & cholesterol are good again! It's time to update the US Dietary Guidelines (remember the good old food pyramid?) and for the first time in about 40 years, "experts" state it's OK to eat cholesterol again! It's time to celebrate with cheesy eggs cooked in butter and a side of shrimp. Not so fast...dieticians may no longer be afraid of cholesterol, but they still fear saturated fat.
High-cholesterol foods like eggs are healthy Once again, experts eventually have to follow the science, which shows eating cholesterol has little impact on blood cholesterol levels - research names sugar and refined grains as the real culprit. However, experts aren't ready to believe the abundance of scientific evidence that saturated fats have no effect on heart disease or other health issues. Saturated fats are still just too scary after so many years of warnings, so they still recommend limited intake. The most important limit is sugar Another historic change is the first specific limit for sugar. It's not as good as the World Health Organization's recommendation of 6 teaspoons or less each day, but the recommendation of 12 teaspoons of sugar or less each day is a step in the right direction. What does 6-12 teaspoons of sugar equate to? One cup of "fruit" flavored yogurt would take you over the 6 teaspoon limit. One 20oz of Minute Made orange juice would hit the 12 teaspoon limit, and one 20oz coke would take you over it. Prepare for a barrage of artificial sweetener & diet drink ads. While experts are still overly concerned about saturated fats and animal meat, these recommendations are an improvement over decades of bad advice. We can all agree on the importance of eating less processed food and more whole foods - good quality meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts & seeds, good fats, etc. Maybe in another 5 years, US Diet Guidelines will be even better.  cancer drugs are more expensive than ever Doctors from the Mayo Clinic and MD Anderson Cancer Center have taken a close look at why cancer drugs are so expensive for Americans, and it's not because of the reasons drug companies report.
Consider: In the United States, the average price of cancer drugs for about a year of therapy increased from $5000 to $10,000 before 2000 to more than $100,000 by 2012. Americans with cancer pay 50% to 100% more for the same patented drug than patients in other countries. The doctors studied four common reasons given for high cancer drug costs, and found them to be little more than myths that allow drug companies to increase their profits from cancer patients. Myth #1 - High Cost of Research & Drug Development The $1 billion price tag often quoted to research and develop a new drug has been found to be overinflated, with costs actually as low as 10% of that number. In reality, 85% of cancer basic research is funded through taxpayers’ money, not drug company money. Myth #2 - High Cost is Due to Great Benefit "A cost-benefit analysis reveals no correlation between price and benefits when measured by objective criteria such as survival or quality of life. One drug may prolong life by years and another by days, yet both carry similar price tags." Myth #3 - Competition Between Drug Companies Will Lead to Reasonable Prices With so few cancer drugs available from only a handful of companies, drug companies have avoided competing with lower prices. Instead they all keep prices artificially high, so all companies benefit. This creates a virtual monopoly. "Further, in many instances, patients may need to be treated with each of the approved drugs sequentially because many cancers are still incurable and each drug stops working after a period of time." Myth #4 - Controlling Prices Stifles Innovation "High profits are often channeled toward higher salaries and bonuses of drug companies’ CEOs, not invested back into cancer research. In a Forbes editorial, Peter Bach outlined how high drug prices may in fact stifle innovation. Sovaldi, the new hepatitis C drug, was estimated by Pharmasset, Inc, the original company that developed it, to sell at about $34,000 for a course of treatment. This was the price of the innovation. Gilead Sciences, Inc bought Pharmasset at an 89% premium, figuring they could charge any price they wished for Sovaldi, regardless of the consequences to patients. Gilead now charges $80,000 to $160,000 for a 3- to 6-month course of the drug. The added premium price is money diverted from innovation (investing in future research) as a result of distorted market mentality. The cost of drug production for a treatment course is only $138; outside the United States (India, Egypt, Spain), the price of a course of treatment is $900." The doctors gave several recommendations to reduce cancer drug costs, including allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, allowing experts to consider the efficacy of various drugs when determining their value, eliminate drug companies' ability to pay competitors not to produce a similar drug, allow importation of cancer drugs from other countries, and others. They also recommend drug companies be held to a mission of helping patients, not just maximizing profits.  Painkillers during pregnancy risk the health of newborns HealthDay News reports that the number of newborns treated for drug withdrawal in the United States has nearly quadrupled since 2004 - another sad result of the prescription opioid epidemic.
30% of mothers used prescription narcotic painkillers while pregnant Recent studies have found the use of prescription narcotic (opioid) painkillers during pregnancy to be surprisingly common, noting "Nearly 30 percent of the Tennessee mothers-to-be in the Pediatrics study used at least one of these drugs while pregnant, and the associated risks [of newborn drug withdrawal] went up if they also smoked or took antidepressants." Opioid painkillers include the drugs hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (Oxycontin), codeine and morphine. They were often used in women who had reported headaches, migraines or other musculoskeletal problems, as well as depression or anxiety. Along with drug withdrawal, the researchers noted that infants of mothers on prescription painkillers were "twice as likely as other newborns to be born at a low birth weight. They were also far more likely to have respiratory conditions, feeding difficulties and seizures." First an adult opioid epidemic, now drug withdrawal in newborns The opioid drug epidemic started a few years ago when experts recommended doctors treat their patients' pains more seriously. However, instead of encouraging patients to try effective conservative treatment like chiropractic or physical therapy, doctors dramatically increased their prescriptions of addictive opioid drugs. States including Ohio are now fighting to fix this drug epidemic; and now we know it's causing harm to more than just those taking the drugs. Pregnant mothers should minimize the medications they take to reduce the risk of health problems in their infants. Chiropractic treatment is proven to be an effective treatment for pregnant mothers with musculoskeletal pains and is a great way to avoid medications. Chiropractic care not only reduces the risk of injury to infants by avoiding medications, it can also provide further benefits by making labor and delivery easier.  milk increases risk of fractures and mortality We've all heard milk "does a body good" because milk "builds strong bones." But that has never been tested...until now. Milk was assumed to be good for bone health because it provides a source of calcium, a key component of bone.
However, a recent study of over 100,000 people showed a link between high milk consumption and INCREASED risk of bone fractures, mortality, and inflammation. The authors of the study noted milk "might possibly be harmful to skeletal and general health." It is possible that milk didn't create more health problems; instead those with more health problems chose to drink more milk. But this explanation is less likely when considering what else the researchers discovered: fermented dairy reduced risks of fracture or other health problems. While drinking milk increased the risk of fractures and mortality, consuming fermented dairy reduced the risk of fractures and other health problems. Healthier fermented forms of dairy include yogurt, cheeses, kefir, cultured buttermilk, sour cream, and others. The natural fermentation process is thought to make milk healthier by improving digestibility, reducing milk sugars, and providing beneficial bacteria (probiotics). Fermentation has also been found to generate vitamin K2 (a beneficial nutrient not found in milk). It's also important to recognize the current over-processing of milk with high heat pasteurization, homogenization, fat extraction, and other techniques that reduce milk's nutrient content or nutrient availability. For those who still want to sport a milk mustache, try choosing the least processed, preferably organic, form of fermented dairy you can find. If you're looking for a source of calcium, try dark leafy greens and don't worry about trying to drink more milk. 3/30/2015 Optum Insurance Company Data Shows Over $1 Billion Potential Savings with Chiropractic Treatment FirstRead Now Chiropractic treatment could save $ billions A recent analysis of Optum insurance data concluded, "spinal manipulation is the single service that -- if not included during management of a non-surgical spinal episode -- will lead to higher total episode costs. Optum data, which covered a two-year span, projected a total savings of $1.3 billion had its reported 14.7 million non-surgical spinal episodes begun with chiropractic care."
“Chiropractic care advances the opportunity for optimal outcomes across care delivery, quality and cost” The data from patients covered under Optum insurance plans showed that when spinal manipulation is performed "within the first 10 days of a spinal episode, results include:
“Musculoskeletal conditions rank amongst the costliest in health care and are a top concern for all stakeholders – patients and payers, alike,” states Gerard Clum, DC, spokesperson, F4CP. “Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) provide evidence-based, cost-effective care, which includes spinal manual care appropriate for the management of these conditions and other health concerns.” Imagine the billions saved if all insurers, Medicare, Medicaid, Military, Veterans Administration and other health care systems recommended trying chiropractic treatment first for spinal problems (not to mention extremity problems); and more importantly the reduced suffering.  The medical community has not always acknowledged the benefits of chiropractic treatment, but that is gradually improving. Medical institutions and organizations are increasingly recognizing the value of chiropractic. Some medical treatment guidelines even recommend trying conservative chiropractic treatment before trying more invasive medical treatments.
An online article published by Harvard's Medical School describes chiropractic treatment and its benefits: "Most research on chiropractic has focused on spinal manipulation for back pain. Chiropractic treatment for many other problems—including other musculoskeletal pain, headaches, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, and fibromyalgia—has also been studied. A recent review concluded that chiropractic spinal manipulation may be helpful for back pain, migraine, neck pain, and whiplash." It's good to see more positive information about conservative treatment like chiropractic that has been shown to be safe, effective, and low cost. More patients should experience the benefits of chiropractic treatment first, before trying more invasive medical care.  When sales are slipping because overweight Americans realize they shouldn't be chugging a can of high fructose corn syrup each day, it's time for plan B: covertly pay nutritionists to recommend mini coke as a "healthy snack."
There's no limit to what junkfood companies will do to entice customers to consume their product. A reporter from the Associated Press recently revealed Coca-Cola's tactics to lure customers into drinking coke. Coke has been paying nutritionists and dieticians to write articles during Heart Health Month in which they recommend drinking coke. A Coca-Cola spokesman even referred to the nutritionists as "paid talent." While they should be free to share their uneducated/paid opinion with the public, the articles don't make it clear that the nutritionists were paid by Coke. Someone thinking they have found independent dietary advice is actually just reading an ad that Coke paid for without knowing it. A mini Coke is not healthy, just as a mini cigarette is not healthy. Beware what you read and try to choose reliable sources for your information. Your health depends on it.  Eating fish is healthy for mom and baby. Experts have warned mothers about eating fish during pregnancy due to mercury exposure, but a recent study indicated greater harm associated with eating grains and their oils due to high omega-6 content.
Researchers studied the babies of women frequently eating fish during pregnancy and looked at infant development scores to determine the health of the children. The babies of women consuming fish regularly had healthy developmental scores and seemed to experience a protective affect from the good omega-3 fish fats that outweighed any harm from mercury exposure. Mercury levels only showed a negative effect on health for the children of mothers who had higher levels of omega-6 fats in their blood. Common sources of inflammatory omega-6 fats include grains, beans, and their oils (canola, soybean, sunflower, "vegetable", cottonseed, margarine, shortening, etc.). Grain-fed animals like conventionally raised beef, chicken, and pork also provide more omega-6 fats. This study confirms that pregnant mothers should not be afraid to include fish in the diet, but avoid common sources of omega-6 fats. Eat vegetables, fruits, nuts, good fats (olive oil, coconut oil, butter), and grass-fed or pasture-raised meats for a healthy diet. Click here are the best and worst fish to eat. Read more about the research on pregnancy and eating fish at Medpage. |
THE NATURALS
AuthorsDr Aaron McMichael + Dr Ryan McMichael Categories
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June 2025
Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your treating doctor. This blog is not a doctor and will not diagnose or treat your problems.
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