Amino Acids! Why Take them? Do you need them?

From cardio health to loosing weight, from the lack there of in infant formula to the importance of understanding that these are the building blocks of proteins...you cannot achieve the amount of amino acids you need with basic diet alone, this is one thing you need to supplement.

Essential Free Form Amino Acids To aid Healing of Systemic Diseases
You can heal many discomforts & diseases, eliminate heavy metal toxicity, and repair damaged tissue.
This formula provides free form amino acids to break down your dietary protein from long chain proteins, into individual amino acids.
You may eat large amounts of protein, but this does not ensure its digestion and delivery to your cells. Platinum Plus Amino Acids addresses the primary protein problem that started some of your deficiencies in the first place. It increases the free form amino acids a minimum of 2500% in a diet of only 50 grams of protein.
Your body starts to rebuild and refurbish it's 80,000 enzyme systems. With Platinum Plus it's not necessary to take digestive enzymes, papain, bromelain etc., most of which are inefficient and/or ineffective. Your body makes its own.
This formula provides the perfect balance of free form amino acids, because some other formulas are out of balance, and may not work.

***For more information or to order these amino acids please click the bottle link below.

***"I wanted to let you know that since I have been taking these amino acids that I can now remember things, where I was once so forgetful and it was dreadful since I am only 27. Thank you for helping me regain my memory. As a side note, I feel stronger and have the energy to exercise and I have noticed that I am loosing the baby-weight easier. Thank you!" ---Elana C., Mother of two, Portland, OR.

Where is your farm?

A few years ago, most customers at farmers’ markets would ask how vegetables and herbs were grown. Customers were concerned about organic growing habits and pesticide use on farms, and inquired about the methods used to grow the produce they were purchasing.Today, the question is asked more rarely. Consumer priorities and the main farm-production question that growers hear is related to place: "Where is your farm?"Customers used to worry about how food was produced; now they worry about where it is from. The power of one captivating idea -- local -- has quickly eclipsed the power of another -- organic.But the organic movement confronted industrial agriculture's use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers that devastated local ecosystems. It addressed the health of migrant farm workers and the health of people who ate foods with pesticide residues or milk with growth hormones.The local-oriented movement may be avoiding engagement with many of the problems associated with the industrial food system that organic as a movement specifically sought to address.
Grist August 11, 2008

Buying local is now being called the new organic...sadly it is being misused just as much as the organics and natural, free range labels are. It is intended to stand for and help we the consumers:

Fresher, tastier and healthier food
Supporting small, local farmers from your community
Knowing where your food comes from
Increasing food safety

As this above article segment shows that buying local DOES NOT mean that you are buying organic, the fruits and vegetables that you purchase at your local farmers market can still be covered in pesticides and fertilizers, even if grown but two blocks away from you. You have to still be very aware of what your local farmers are doing with their land.

At the same time, the organic certification process established by the federal government is expensive, and some small farmers cannot afford it. This means that some locally grown foods are grown according to organic standards but are not “certified organic.” The only way to know for sure is to confirm it with the farmer.

I shop locally here in Dallas at a large Asian market and have spoken with the manager and even some of the local growers who market to this retail location. Being small farmers, many of them are backyard farmers, they cannot afford to jump all the hoops and red tap to get the label of organic even though they are. Spending a few hours researching your growers and farm land will help you to gain all you need to know and feel good about where you get your goods. I also recommend that you explore http://www.realmilk.com/ to find local organic farmers who raise healthy cattle for meat and milk/cheese.

The Non-Honesty of the Organics Label

Dishes advertised as local and organic at restaurants are not infrequently frauds. They may not be all-natural, as your menu promised, and may come from a huge national vendor like Sysco rather than a family-owned farm.

As the Slow Food movement gains popularity across America, terms like "sustainable" and "artisan" are showing up on more menus. But there are no actual "truth-in-menu" laws, and even the word organic is used loosely. There's a vast difference between the term "organic," which may mean food raised without pesticides or antibiotics, and the more intensive "certified organic," which is legally regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The phrase "all-natural," only means "minimally processed" with no artificial ingredients or colors.

A restaurant can call its ingredients organic whether they're factory-farmed Chilean products grabbed from the shelves of Wal-Mart or hand delivered by a small farm after being picked that morning.

Ultimately, diners need to be aware, self-educate, and ask questions. Diners also should pay attention to their taste buds. Organic generally tastes better -- produce is more earthy and pungent, and tomatoes have higher sugar and acidity.
AZCentral.com August 13, 2008

Organic means good business. Everyone is buying something organic these days, as consumers we all are facing the realism of the toxic overload on our bodies and our world and many are wanting to do whatever they can to help. However with our expanding knowledge on pesticides and chemicals in general, we are also opening the door to big business and the mis-use of the lable. As is already been seen by large outlets such as Walmart and Costco, Safeway or as it is known here in Texas Tom Thumb. All proudly displaying thier Organic lables. Over recent years the demand for organics has grown by a t least 20%, it is a $18 billion dollar business as of last years numbers. But is all organic, truly organic?

Truth-In-Menu Laws: If You Say It, Serve It

"Although the author of this AZCentral article claims that there are no Truth-In-Menu laws, this is not entirely correct. In fact, there is a so-called “Truth-in-Menu law,” which is meant for, and used by, restaurateurs to ensure that the information provided about menu items is accurate, and conforms to the federal regulations set forth by the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA). However, it seems to do little to ensure compliance when it comes to stating the truth and nothing but the truth about what’s really on your plate.
In an article written by Stephen Bart -- attorney and associate professor of law and leadership at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management at the University of Houston -- hospitality managers have the right to advertise their food and beverage products in a way that casts them in their best light, but may not misrepresent their wares.
These “accuracy in menu” laws are relatively straightforward, and their chief aim is to ensure honesty in menu claims, both in regard to the price charged and the food that is served. Part of this includes being careful when describing food attributes, including the preparation style, ingredients, origin, portion sizes, and health benefits. However, it’s a complex area, and becoming increasingly so due to greater demands from customers to know more about their food, especially as it relates to the origin of the food being served.
The word organic is used as loosely on restaurant menus as it is on other labels. And, the phrase “all-natural” means next to nothing, although the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines the term as “minimally processed with no artificial ingredients or colors.”
As Mr. Bart points out, a good motto to help restaurants stay out of trouble would be: If you say it, serve it!" ---Mercola

Are Drugs the Answer to ADHD Children?

Research has shown that treating children who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with drugs is not effective in the long-term. After three years of treatment, drugs such as Ritalin and Concerta work no better than therapy.
Long-term use of the drugs can also stunt children‘s growth, and the benefits of the drugs have been exaggerated.
An influential 1999 study seemed to find that medication worked better than behavioral therapy for ADHD after one year of use. This finding caused a vast increase in prescriptions.
But now, after longer-term analysis, the report‘s co-author, Professor William Pelham of the University of Buffalo, has stated, "I think that we exaggerated the beneficial impact of medication in the first study. We had thought that children medicated longer would have better outcomes. That didn‘t happen to be the case. There‘s no indication that medication is better than nothing in the long run."
Pelham said that medication had "no beneficial effects" and that in fact, the drugs had a negative impact in terms of growth rate.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence in England is currently revising their treatment guidelines for ADHD to include strategies that will likely involve training for parents as well as "behavioral interventions".
"The important thing is that we have an approach which doesn‘t focus just on one type of treatment," Dr. Tim Kendall, chair for the working group, said.
Sources:
BBC News November 12, 2007 Department of Health Statement
BBC News November 12, 2007

Related blog posts in One Bite at a Time
Foods to Avoid with Your ADHD Child

"The University of Adelaide in Australia confirmed that fish oil improves the symptoms of ADHD without any of the side effects of drugs like Ritalin and Concerta -- and more effectively at that!" --Dr. Mercola

Study facts as follows:
They gave 130 children, between the ages of 7 and 12 with ADHD, daily fish oil capsules. The children’s behavior improved dramatically within three months. They also found that:
After seven months, the children were not as restless and showed improvements at school
Improvements in concentration and attention improved by one-third
After 15 weeks, 30-40 percent of the children taking fish oil had improvements
After 30 weeks, 40-50 percent improved
Children taking placebo capsules were later switched to fish oil and subsequently also experienced improved behavior
Improvements were still being seen after the study ended, which suggests that fish oils may have long-term effects.

Your best source of fish oil comes from krill. Yes krill oil, the same small fish that whales survive on. This is the most potent source of Omegas. Out weighing salmon and flax oil.

My focus throughout The Elephant in the Kitchen and this blog is that the fact that today's children are suffering from beyond a poor diet. Most children live on refined grains, processed foods that are loaded with chemicals, additives such as MSG, Red dye 40 and artificial sweeteners. Our children also live on a diet of sugar, juices, and sodas in place of water. With diets like this how can we expect them to not be hyperactive?

It is estimated that almost ten percent of today's school age children are being diagnosed with ADHD. Schools are getting kick backs from pharmaceutical companies for referring parents of these children to medical 'experts' who prescribe....drugs. These drugs are dangerous!

When you look further into the average diet plan of children and adults today you will see that we don't consume enough vegetables and fruits, we eat far to much Omega-6 and barely any Omega-3....it is the 3 that helps with behavior issues, such as ADHD, autism, and others.

Dr. Lendon Smith shares a simple solution to drugs for a natural cure that REALLY works, not just masks the issue.

Eliminate grains and sugars from your diet
Replace soft drinks, fruit juices and pasteurized milk with clean water
Increase your omega-3 fats by taking an effective form of omega-3 oil like krill oil
It will also be important to minimize the use of nearly all vegetable oils -- they are loaded with omega-6 fats, which distort the powerful omega-6:3 ratio
Eliminate all juices and sodas and replace with pure water

Resources:
mercoal.com

Please post your comments on this topic!

Splenda and Aspartame linked to neurological and immunological disorders. Whats Your Story?

A few blog posts ago I talked about some serious chemical and amino acids that cause damage to the body. I would like to leave with you today that those same chemical compounds lead to not only many neurological and immunological disorders but also cause the reverse effect that they are sold for. They cause weight gain!

What am I talking about?

Artificial sweeteners. Aspartame and sucralose. (Nutra sweet and Splenda)

Do you have any stories about these chemical sweeteners? Please share your thoughts, questions and stories in a comment.

Do you know someone suffering from the toxic effects of aspartame? Learn how to detox from this excitotoxin.

Unsure about the safety of Splenda ?

So many of us out there don't realize the danger of these fake sugars. I have watched parents sit their little ones down with fresh fruit and a small bowl of splenda to dip their berries in. I use to be a big Diet Dr. Pepper drinker and was having blurred vision and migraines, then heard about a study done at the University of Washington that linked aspartame to lesions on the brain. I quite drinking my fav soda! One of my strongest testimony stories comes from a friend that I had helped. She was suffering from severe migraine's and had to go to the doctor at least once a day for shots to help with the pain. What was she to do, being the mother of three active children she needed to survive the day and be present for her kids. Never did she link that the diet Pepsi she was drinking everyday was the cause of these migraines! I knew I had the answer, I knew I had to speak out and share with her the research on these diet drinks. In a few short weeks her migraines subsided. No more migraine shots needed. Today her and her lovely family are aspartame free today and migraine free!

There are so many stories. What's yours.

Read Aspertame's Not So Sweet News

Scaring Your Kids Away From Fast Foods

According to a study by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), roughly a third of children polled didn't know the main ingredient in French fries.
And, about 10 percent of them thought fries were mostly made of oil; others suggested eggs, flour, and even apples. This may be part of the reason that an estimated half-million children in the UK will become obese or overweight over the next two years.

Food4Thought

In hopes of scaring kids away from fast food, the foundation launched Food4Thought yesterday, a national campaign including billboards and posters of hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken nuggets as they would appear before their common ingredients are melded and processed into the food you see at the grocery store -- gristle, bones, and connective tissue.
The campaign is primarily an attempt to engage children on the subject of why certain foods are less healthy than others, and encourage them to become interested in what they are eating.
Targeting Children, Parents, and Society
But the BHF is also targeting the government, food industry, local authorities, schools and parents to get involved. The BHF has identified three critical areas for change:
Stop the marketing of unhealthy food and drink products to children
Ensure that nutritious food is affordable, accessible and appealing for children and parents
Provide children with opportunities to learn practical cooking skills

Sources:
British Heart Foundation November 7, 2005
BBC News November 7, 2005

Everyone knows that our family is very health focused. But I will admit that all of my children do know a fast food location. We do on the rare occasion make use of such a place. My husband and I try and make it on a few date nights each month and on these nights we may ask the children,"what would you like for dinner?, Its treat night!"

It is the everyday use of the fast food industry that becomes a health concern. I was happy to hear when recently reported in a documentary on TV that places such as McDonald's have seen a decrease of almost a quarter in their profits/customers per year. This is good news for the American populations health. It is about time that we start to wake up and realize on a global scale how dangerous these pseudo foods can be. For any of you who watched Super Size Me you have a firm understanding of this epidemic and crisis.

READ ON REAL FOOD

Home Remedy: Nasal Congestion

Home Remedy: Nasal Congestion

With Spring comes pollen. With Pollen comes stuffy noses, here are some safe and effective ways to help with the stuffiness in your home. Irrigate the nose with contact lens saline solution, using a Neti Pot. Or try: putting a few drops of Eucalytus oil on the florr of a hot, running shower and inhaling the steam that accumulates. (Note: watch temperature with young children) The expert: Benjamin Kligler, MD, MPH, research director at the Continuum Center for Health and Healing in New York City