junk food Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Protect Yourself From “Poison Pushers”

The AHA! Team — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 06:12:58 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – Our modern food supply is turning healthy people into diabetics. And people already battling diabetes are now facing cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s. While the connection that links these chronic diseases is often ignored by the media and medical journals, the carefully crafted narrative that tricks the public into eating these poison foods is rooted in junk science. Let me explain… The big, multinational companies that produce the majority of our food are puppet masters. And they’re pulling the strings of the research institutions and their “scientific studies” that frame the medical advice you receive from trusted national organizations. The companies who produce these fake foods have billions of dollars at their disposal. They’re using this money to literally take over our food supply. You’ll find evidence simply by looking for corporate sponsors. The Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics is sponsored by corporations like PepsiCo, Danone, and the Campbell Company.1 And the American Diabetes Association is backed by pharmaceutical behemoths Merck and AstraZeneca.2 Business Insider reported that only 10 companies control almost every large food and beverage brand in the entire world. This includes names you’ll be familiar with — Kellogg’s, Coca-Cola, Nestle, and General Mills.3 Lobbying to influence our food choices is one thing. But actively manipulating scientific studies is even worse. Often, these large corporations will fund nutritional research — leaving us with biased outcomes and cherry-picked results. Kellogg’s Australia funded one such study. They were looking at whether whole grain cereal could help people with type 2 diabetes manage their condition. Of course, they proudly concluded that whole grains were an “important” part of a diabetic’s diet.4 It wasn’t long before this study came under fire by a number of respected health experts. They accused Kellogg’s of practicing “junk science.”5,6 This assertion that “grains are important for diabetics” is one of the most reckless and dangerous claims I see today. Let’s take a closer look at how a high carbohydrate diet affects your type 2 diabetes. In the past 60 years, our modern diet has become more starch-loaded than at any other time in human history.7 Our Standard American Diet (SAD) is filled with processed foods containing an unnaturally high amount of grains. This is made even worse by cheap and unhealthy seed oils. Refined sugars are added at every opportunity. Even the red meat you buy at the grocery store is from animals that have been grain-fed. And milk, cheese, and butter come from grain-fed cows. A nationwide analysis of U.S. grocery stores revealed that more than 60% of the calories we buy come in the form of highly processed foods.8 Our levels of disease have kept pace with this increase in grain and processed food consumption. If you look back to 1957, you’d find that only about 1% of the U.S. population had high blood sugar.9 It was around this time the American Heart Association famously – and falsely – linked dietary fat to heart disease. The result? Millions of Americans began to remove fat from their diet and replace it with low fat/high-carbohydrate items. Fast forward to the decades between 1980 and 2016. The number of people suffering from high blood sugar rocketed from around 6 million to 111 million people. That’s a 1,750% increase in just 35 years! It gets worse. By the year 2030, the World Health Organization estimates that 40% of the U.S. population — 144 million people — will be diabetic or prediabetic.10 The American Diabetes Association still encourage 25% of a diabetic’s food plate to be filled with grains and starches. And they list whole grains as a superfood on their website.11 The result of all this bad messaging is a widespread pandemic that was raging out of control long before our most recent pandemic hit the news cycle. People are dealing with uncontrollable weight gain, fatigue, high blood sugar, and organ malfunction. This has resulted in a constellation of chronic diseases that threaten every man, woman, and child on our planet. It’s insulin resistance on a global scale. At the Sears Institute, I help my patients beat diabetes and insulin resistance using intermittent fasting. It helps improve glucose regulation… increases stress resistance… and suppresses inflammation. It also helps cells to activate an important process called autophagy. This is where the body cleans house and disposes of old or damaged cells. One study of 16 healthy people found “alternate-day fasting” for 22 days helped them lose 2.5% of their initial weight and 4% of their fat mass. This came with a 57% decrease in insulin levels.12 To see the positive effects of this way of eating, we just need to look to the island inhabitants of Okinawa in Japan. This population traditionally eats on an intermittent fasting schedule and has low rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes. They also live extremely long lifespans — many more exceeding 100 years of age. Lower Insulin Resistance with Intermittent Fasting If you’d like to start using intermittent fasting to control your type 2 diabetes, start with a form known as time-restricted eating. It calls for an 8-hour eating window each day, followed by a 16-hour fast. Here’s how it works: Start your day with a 10 a.m. breakfast Lunch at your regular time Finish your dinner by 6 p.m. Your body gets no additional food from 6 p.m. until 10 a.m. the next day When your body gets used to the 16-hour fast, you can move up to the 24-hour mark. You can practice one-day fasts as often as every two weeks. To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, “Meet Our Sponsors,” https://www.eatrightpro.org/about-us/advertising-and-sponsorship/meet-our-sponsors. Accessed on September 30, 2024. American Diabetes Association, “Corporate Support,” https://www.diabetes. org/about-us/corporate-support. Accessed on September 30, 2024. Business Insider, “These 10 companies control everything your buy.” www.businessinsider.com/10 companies-control-food-industry-2017-3. Accessed on September 30, 2024. Deloitte, “Analysis: Healthcare and productivity savings from increased intake of grain fiber.” www2.deloitte.com. Accessed on September 30, 2024. Harcombe, PhD, “Increasing Australia’s grain fiber intake could save the economy $3.3 billion a year.” www.zoeharcombe.com. Accessed on September 30, 2024. Demasi M. “Kellogg’s ‘junk science’ and Australia’s health policy.” www.michaelwest.com.au. Accessed on September 30, 2024. Pew Research Center. “Modern American Diet Has Gotten Bigger, Heavier on Grains and Fat.” Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). “Highly processed foods dominate U. S. grocery purchases.” ScienceDaily. 29 March 2015. https://www.sciencedaily.com. Accessed on September 30, 2024. “Long-term Trends in Diabetes.” April 2017. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Global Report on Diabetes. World Health Organization. Fact sheet. American Diabetes Association, “Nutrition.” www.diabetes.org/ nutrition. Accessed on September 30, 2024. Heilbronn LK, et al. “Alternate day fasting in nonobese subjects: effects on body weight, body composition, and energy metabolism.” Am J Clin Nutr 2005;81:69-73. To read the original article click here.

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Junk Food in Hospitals

The AHA! Team — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 06:35:18 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – Why is hospital food so unhealthy? “Put in stark terms, CVD [cardiovascular disease] claims 1 American life every 39 seconds and is responsible for more deaths annually than cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, and accidents combined.” For most heart attack deaths, you just keel over. Sudden cardiac death “is the first manifestation of CHD [coronary heart disease] for the majority of individuals, particularly among women.” So, “for many of these sudden death victims, their demise was the ﬁrst indication of the presence of coronary heart disease.” They didn’t even know they had heart disease. That’s why an ounce of prevention is worth way more than a pound of cure—because there is no cure for death. That’s also why the prevention of sudden cardiac death “remains a major public health challenge” because most people don’t even know they’re at risk. However, we’ve known for more than half a century, when we first started autopsying young servicemen who died during the Korean War, that coronary artery disease begins in our youth, even among young children. So, “business as usual…simply is not going to yield the improvements necessary to radically improve the CV [cardiovascular] health of the United States” and around the world. There is good news, though. A “low-risk lifestyle (not smoking, exercising regularly, having a prudent diet, and maintaining a healthy weight)” may be able to eliminate the vast majority of the risk for sudden cardiac death. “The time is now long overdue to start aggressive preventive cardiovascular disease programs in our schools, our homes, and our worksites.” How about starting in our hospitals? As I discuss in my video Hospitals Profit on Junk Food, a significant percentage of hospitals surveyed had fast-food restaurants inside them, with Krispy Kreme topping the list. Brilliant marketing, given that “families surveyed at the hospital with McDonald’s were…twice as likely to think McDonald’s was healthy, as compared to families at the hospitals without McDonald’s.” After all, McDonald’s was in the hospital. What about food served in hospital cafeterias? Any better? Researchers analyzed 384 entrees from 14 children’s hospitals in California, and only 7 percent “were classified as healthy.” And, just in case someone chose the rare healthy option, 81 percent of eating venues in children’s hospitals had junky “high-calorie impulse items, such as ice cream freezers, cookies, and candy, at or near the checkout register” and 38 percent “had signs encouraging unhealthy eating.” Why would they do that? If you ask hospital cafeteria managers, “less than a quarter (4 of 17) of respondents reported that the hospital followed nutrition standards for food offered in the cafeteria.” “Nutrition is not a top priority.” It’s the same reason unhealthy food is sold anywhere else: “pressure on food service departments for cafeterias to generate proﬁt.” “Increased emphasis…[is] placed on running a hospital foodservice department as a profit center”—a bigger and “bigger profit center,” that is. It’s such a metaphor for our sickness-care system in general, where healthy, treat-the-cause approaches are eclipsed by the pills and procedures that bring in the most money. What do you expect from the private sector? Public hospitals don’t seem to be much better. A 2019 analysis of veterans’ hospitals found that “all VA Hospitals contain vending machines providing a majority of soda, candy, and junk foods that directly conﬂict with healthy food choice recommendations from US governing health bodies,” such that, ironically, “hospital visits could theoretically promote worse health….An important question that should be posed is why are any soda or candy machines available at our VA hospitals? Are we trading the health of our veterans for proﬁts?” Maybe it’s time to ban junk food on hospital premises. “On daily rounds, it is appalling to see patients…gorging on crisps [potato chips], confectionery [candy], sports drinks, and cola—the very food items that may have contributed to their admission in the first place…It is obscene that many hospitals continue to have…fast food franchises on site, as well as corridors littered with vending machines selling junk food. Such practice legitimizes the acceptability and consumption of such foods in the daily diet…The obesity epidemic represents a public health crisis, but it is a public health scandal that by legitimizing junk food hospitals have themselves become a risk factor for diet-related disease by perpetuating the revolving door of healthcare…It’s time to stop selling sickness on the hospital grounds.” What message do residents receive when they are fed pizza and soda at grand rounds? We need a healthcare system with “more Hippocrates, less hypocrisy.” For more on how the profit motive is degrading our health, see related posts below. Key Takeaways Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death, surpassing the combined deaths from cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, and accidents. Sudden cardiac death often occurs without prior symptoms, particularly in women. Many victims are unaware they have coronary heart disease until it’s too late, highlighting the importance of prevention. Studies dating back to the Korean War show that coronary artery disease can begin in youth, including among young children, indicating that early prevention is crucial. A low-risk lifestyle, including not smoking, regular exercise, a prudent diet, and maintaining a healthy weight, can significantly reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death. Hospitals often fail to prioritize nutrition, with many offering unhealthy food options, including fast food and junk food, which contradicts health advice and potentially worsens patients’ conditions. There’s a call for hospitals to stop promoting unhealthy foods and focus on better nutritional practices. To read the original article click here.

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Break Free from Addictive Junk Food

The AHA! Team — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 06:28:21 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – In a breakthrough study, researchers at Yale and the University of Cologne reveal that your brain has been trained to crave and consume processed foods. I’m sure you know how hard it can be to resist certain insulin-spiking foods that score high on the glycemic index – like French fries, potato chips, pasta, and bagels. But why? The answer has nothing to do with weak willpower and it certainly has nothing to do with the latest nonsense from mainstream medicine about having a genetic mutation that makes you crave sweet foods. The real reason your brain craves junk food is far more disturbing… In a breakthrough study, researchers at Yale and the University of Cologne reveal that your brain has been trained to crave and consume processed foods. If you don’t do something about it, you won’t just gain weight; you’ll leave yourself vulnerable to all kinds of chronic conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and cancer. The researchers found that eating these modern carb-loaded concoctions physically rewires your brain, so you subconsciously prefer them over natural, healthy foods.1 The study found that super-processed snacks and desserts activate the parts of your brain responsible for pleasure and reward and also release the feel-good hormone dopamine. Like it or not, you’ve been turned into an addict by America’s food companies. The researchers found that the more carb-heavy and processed-sugary products you eat, the more your brain craves them – and the effect lasts for months after you’ve stopped eating them. You see, the brain’s heightened response to these foods among study participants was even greater after eight weeks, the full length of the study – but the researchers added that their addictive effects were likely to keep increasing long into the future. That’s bad news because the typical American diet is loaded with carb-heavy, processed foods containing unnaturally high amounts of grains, cheap and unhealthy vegetable oils, dangerous preservatives, and refined sugar. But the problem is not just the harm these foods cause. They also leave your body starving for the vitamins, minerals, live enzymes, and micronutrients you need to ward off disease. And now we know why it’s so hard to quit eating them – because they’re also addictive. The good news is you can retrain your brain by switching to the right foods and the right kind of exercise – just as your primal ancestors did. You see, your body didn’t evolve to eat fake food. Your primal ancestors evolved to survive and thrive on protein, healthy fats, wild fruits, and vegetables. Today, Big Agra and greedy corporations have turned everything on its head – and they’ve made us addicts in the process. 6 Simple Steps That Will Help You Break Free From Big Food’s Addictive Junk So here are a few easy tips I give to my patients to help them break the habits that are lining the pockets of Big Food and destroying your health. Severely restrict ultra-processed foods. You can start by reducing processed carbohydrates. That means avoiding products that contain refined sugars and processed grains. Keep grains like wheat, rice, and corn, as well as breakfast cereals, cereal bars, and low-fiber or sweetened foods to a minimum. Instead, eat plenty of above-ground and green, leafy vegetables, onions and garlic, berries, and other fresh fruits, nuts, and seeds. Carbs should never make up any more than 5% or 10% of your total calorie intake. Avoid high-fructose corn syrup. This is one of the most processed and concentrated forms of sugar on the planet. One more reason to stay away from processed foods or anything packed in a box, can, or plastic container (even if it’s labeled organic). Once you cut this out, your brain’s sugar and carb addiction will be easier to break. Eat quality calories. Conventional doctors will tell you the key to fat loss is cutting back on calories. But it’s not about the quantity of calories. It’s all about the quality of calories. Eat meals based on protein…as many different kinds of protein as you can get. Protein signals your body to stop eating. Getting enough protein retrains your brain from “store fat” to “burn fat” and rids your brain of its refined sugar addiction Eat the right fats. Don’t cut back on fat. Instead, eat the right fats like omega-3s. Your body needs them to absorb vitamins and nutrients, and they are non-addictive. Practice short-duration, high-intensity, progressively challenging workouts. Exercise is one of the best ways to retrain your body and brain to eat the right foods. It also helps your body shed fat and resets your insulin response which goes haywire with an excess of carbs and refined sugar.2 Eat low glycemic index foods. High glycemic index foods, which are usually processed ones, are loaded with sugars, starches, and grains that cause hormonal hunger and trigger addictive brain patterns. But low glycemic index foods – those that don’t raise your blood sugar and are also the most nutrient-dense – curb your appetite. These include seeds, nuts, wild-caught salmon, grass-fed beef, free-range poultry, eggs, berries and fruits, and vegetables. To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: 1. E Sharmili, et al. “Habitual daily intake of a sweet and fatty snack modulates reward processing in Humans.” Cell Metabolism. 22. March 2023 2. Reseland, Janne E. “Effect of long-term changes in diet and exercise on plasma leptin concentrations,” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2001;73(2): 240-245 To read the original article click here.

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Junk Food Warning: Eating Processed Food Does ‘Crazy’ Things to Your Cancer Risk

The AHA! Team — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 06:08:06 +0000

Sharon Thomas via NaturalHealth365 – NEW research: Every 10% increase in calories from junk food triggers a ‘CRAZY’ effect on cancer risk Most people “get it” that eating candy and highly processed food is bad for us. But while most people try to avoid junk food because it will make them fat, many still fail to realize the most serious problem with eating these “treats.” In a nutshell (no pun intended), the alarming results of a recent study clearly link junk food eating habits with a substantial increase in cancer risk. NEW research: Every 10% increase in calories from junk food triggers a ‘CRAZY’ effect on cancer risk And, just to be clear, it’s ‘crazy’ because once you realize that a bad habit (substantially) increases the risk of cancer and you continue to do it … that’s crazy. According to most holistic physicians, 95% of all cancer diagnoses are related to environment and lifestyle. Even the American Institute for Cancer Research’s more conservative estimate of one-third is still startling. What’s the major takeaway from this statement? A cancer diagnosis is avoidable with proper lifestyle changes. And of all the lifestyle changes you could make, avoiding processed food is one of the most important. Consider data from a French prospective cohort study called NutriNet-Santé, which spanned eight years and involved 104,980 subjects. By analyzing daily meal logs, researchers were able to determine an important correlation: If just 10% of a person’s total daily calories came from “ultra-processed” foods, then they had a 12% INCREASED risk for overall cancer. Subsequent 10% increments in junk food calories increased their cancer risk by the same degree! The researchers suggest several possible reasons why. First, junk food has more refined sugar, less fiber, and fewer vitamins and minerals than whole and minimally processed foods, which can disrupt the healthy gut microbiota and promote inflammation. Second, chemicals, preservatives, fillers, and other ingredients (as well as their processing, e.g., the application of pesticides) are carcinogenic in their own right. The research is clear: repeatedly eating these foods can lead to serious health complications over time – not the least of which is packing on the pounds. Best junk food advice: Avoid the heavily processed foods that can make you sick It’s not just candy and cakes which increase your cancer risk. Here’s an extensive list of the foods which the researchers considered “ultra-processed:” “[M]ass produced packaged breads and buns; sweet or savory packaged snacks; industrialized confectionery and desserts; sodas and sweetened drinks; meat balls, poultry and fish nuggets, and other reconstituted meat products transformed with addition of preservatives other than salt (for example, nitrites); instant noodles and soups; frozen or shelf stable ready meals; and other food products made mostly or entirely from sugar, oils and fats, and other substances not commonly used in culinary preparations such as hydrogenated oils, modified starches, and protein isolates. Industrial processes notably include hydrogenation, hydrolysis, extruding, moulding, reshaping, and pre-processing by frying. Flavoring agents, colors, emulsifiers, humectants, non-sugar sweeteners, and other cosmetic additives are often added to these products to imitate sensorial properties of unprocessed or minimally processed foods and their culinary preparations or to disguise undesirable qualities of the final product.” Want a few simple hacks to help you make smarter choices at the grocery store? Keep these tips in mind: Opt for organic, whole, real food in its natural state whenever possible. These are usually found along the perimeters of the grocery store. If it has a super long shelf life and/or is found in the middle aisles of the grocery store, be suspicious. If it contains ingredients you can’t read, be suspicious. As the journalist Michael Pollan suggests, avoid “food-like substances.” Lastly, realize that food that has been heavily manufactured, tinkered with, and ultra-processed is virtually addictive by design. Keep this in mind: the largest food producers in the world want you to crave sugary foods because they’re cheap, accessible, and something you’ll want to buy again and again! Fortunately, you and your family can train yourself to break the cycle: skip the processed garbage, learn how to cook simple (healthy) meals, and eat as close to nature (organic) as possible. Even if you change just one meal at a time, start somewhere. Editor’s note: I know most of our NaturalHealth365 readers already appreciate much of what this article says. Yet, the main point is to provide a ‘tool’ for you to share with someone else who needs to read this message. Keep in mind: it’s NOT about ‘convincing’ anyone to do anything. But, I do believe it’s our responsibility to share valuable information with others and let them decide. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov NaturalMedicineJournal.com NIH.gov To read the original article click here.

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The Wrong Kind of Food Linked to Increased Depression Risk

The AHA! Team — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 08:06:35 +0000

Patrick Tims via NaturalHealth365 – Technology and social isolation are frequently cited as major factors in the rising depression epidemic both in the United States and around the world. While many people do feel increasingly disconnected from their communities, the surge in depression cannot be solely attributed to these tech-driven issues. Recent research published in Clinical Nutrition points to another significant factor: the consumption of ultra-processed foods. With an estimated 280 million people globally experiencing depression, it’s clear that multiple factors contribute to this widespread issue. Research reveals link between ultra-processed foods and depression Recent research highlights a significant connection between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and an increased risk of depression. While this study focused on Brazilian residents, it’s worth noting that Brazilians actually consume fewer ultra-processed foods on average than people in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other developed nations. The study, part of the “NutriNet Brasil” initiative, aimed to investigate chronic diseases and dietary patterns among Brazilians aged 18 and older. Participants completed online questionnaires on their health and dietary habits, initially enrolling in the winter of 2020. The researchers used Nova24h, an innovative online dietary recall tool to assess dietary intake. This technology categorizes foods based on their level of processing and monitors consumption patterns at six and twelve-month intervals. How processed foods might be affecting your mood A Patient Health Questionnaire was employed at the 14-month mark to evaluate symptoms of depression. Participants without a previous depression diagnosis who scored in the depressive range were assessed further with additional questionnaires every six months. This ongoing analysis aimed to track changes in depression symptoms over time. The data analysis uncovered a strong link between the consumption of highly processed foods and the onset of depression. Even after adjusting for factors like diet quality, lifestyle, and demographics, the study found that increased consumption of highly processed foods was associated with a higher risk of developing depression. Specifically, the risk increased by 42% for those consuming higher levels of processed foods compared to those with the lowest intake. Additionally, for every 10% increase in highly processed food consumption, there was a corresponding 10% rise in depression risk. Simple tips to cut down on processed foods and boost your well-being Transitioning to a healthier diet begins with mindful grocery shopping. Here are some practical tips to help you reduce your intake of processed foods and enhance your well-being: Plan your meals: Create a weekly meal plan that includes a variety of whole foods such as organic fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. This helps ensure you’re not relying on processed foods for convenience. Make a shopping list: Before heading to the store, prepare a list of nutritious groceries based on your meal plan. Stick to this list to avoid the temptation of picking up processed snacks or convenience foods. Read labels carefully: When buying packaged foods, check the ingredient list for artificial additives, preservatives, and high levels of sugar or sodium. Opt for products with fewer ingredients and recognizable names. Cook at home: Prepare meals from scratch as much as possible. Home-cooked meals allow you to control the ingredients and avoid hidden additives found in processed foods. Incorporate fresh produce: Focus on buying fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. Choose a variety of colors and types to ensure you’re getting a wide range of nutrients. Opt for lean proteins: Choose lean protein sources such as pasture raised (organic) chicken, wild-caught fish, and organic beans. These options are less processed and provide essential nutrients without added fats or preservatives. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of clean (filtered) water throughout the day. Sometimes, cravings for processed foods can be mistaken for thirst. Find healthy substitutes: Replace processed snacks with healthier alternatives like fresh fruit, nuts, or homemade popcorn. Experiment with recipes to find satisfying, nutritious options. Grow your own produce: If possible, start a small organic garden at home. Growing your own vegetables and herbs can be a rewarding way to ensure you have access to fresh, unprocessed ingredients. Explore local markets: Shop at local farmers’ markets or organic stores. These venues often offer fresh, seasonal produce and can be a great way to support local agriculture. By following these tips, you’ll reduce your intake of processed foods and boost your mental and physical health, leading to a happier and healthier you. Sources for this article include: Clinicalnutritionjournal.com Psypost.org WHO.int To read the original article click here.

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Worse Than Junk Food? Studies Show Farmed Salmon Among Most Toxic Foods on Planet

AHA Publisher — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 08:00:30 +0000

Karen Sanders via NaturalHealth365 – When you think of clean eating, chances are salmon immediately springs to mind. It is the poster child of brain-friendly, heart-healthy fare, advertised on cooking shows and in medical journals as a panacea for the ills of the modern age. And yet, not all salmon are created equal. Farmed salmon has gained an unfair advantage when it comes to its reputation, simply by dint of being related to its wild ancestor. New studies show, however, that not only is that advantage unearned, but it may also actually be prompting us to make terrible health choices. Because it turns out, farmed salmon is worse than junk food. Salmon Farms: Rife With Health Concerns for Humans and Fish As nicely summarized by The Defender, linked above, aggregated studies have some pretty terrible news to share about farmed salmon. These include the facts that: Fish farms pollute the ocean with toxic chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), which is linked to higher incidences of cancer, immunosuppression, neurotoxicity, and reproductive issues Farmed salmon contained toxin levels at as much as five times the rate of wild fish Farmed fish spread disease to wild fish populations, threatening ecosystems and our future food stock Toxins in fish food and local environmental pollutants on fish farms concentrate in the salmon and are passed on to people Here Is Why Farmed Salmon Is NOT a Health Food The above study found that farmed salmon is among the most toxic foods on the planet. So rather than the health food it is proposed to be, it has more in common with junk food. Why? Because fish are fed pellets that have more in common with low-grade pet kibble than with their natural food source. Close proximity to one another also means fish get diseases and attract parasites at higher rates, so they must be “protected” with antibiotics and pesticides. Many farms are located in naturally polluted waters, such as the mouths of dirty rivers. Where these empty out, the oceans receive massive loads of garbage, human waste, and algae blooms. Moreover, farmed salmon is often passed off as its superior cousin, wild salmon. This happens in restaurants, cheating the consumer and depriving career fishermen of valuable income. So if you wouldn’t feed your family McDonald’s, saying no to farmed salmon should be a no-brainer. It is not how we should spend our money as conscientious consumers. Wild Salmon Offers Plenty of Health Benefits Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater, though. While the farmed variety should immediately go on your blacklist, wild salmon is still excellent for your health. It contains large amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for the brain and help keep your body in balance with the less-great Omega-6 variety. It is also a good source of protein, B vitamins, and important micronutrients such as potassium, selenium, and astaxanthin. The only thing you need to do? It’s actually pretty simple: buy the wild variety. It’s better for your body, for our food systems, for fishermen, and for the world, so make the switch today. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org Gatewaytosouthamerica-newsblog.com Healthline.com To read the original article click here.

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New Brain-Training App Helps People to Change Eating Habits and Lose Weight

AHA Publisher — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 07:00:54 +0000

University of Exeter via News-Medical – Using a brain-training app helps people eat less junk food and lose weight, new research suggests. The Food Trainer (FoodT app) trains people to tap on images of healthy foods – but to stop when they see unhealthy snacks, creating an association between these foods and stopping. The new study, by the universities of Exeter and Helsinki, found that playing the game about once a day for a month led to an average one-point reduction of junk food consumption on an eight-point scale (the scale ranges from four or more items per day, to one or zero items per month). Overall, people who used the app more also reported larger changes in their food intake. About half of the study’s 1,234 participants followed the recommendation and played the game at least 10 times. Across all participants, an average weight loss of half a kilogram (just over a pound) and a small increase in healthy food eaten was seen. “As an example, someone who ate each junk food two to four times a week reduced this to once a week after using the app regularly for a month,” said Professor Natalia Lawrence, of the University of Exeter. “Overall, the findings are really encouraging. The app is free and it only takes about four minutes per day – so it’s something people realistically can do – and our results suggest it is effective. “There’s some evidence that the benefits were stronger for people who were more overweight. “We would expect to see this, because the app targets mechanisms that lead people to become overweight, such as the strong urges to approach and consume tempting junk foods.” “For anyone with unhealthy eating habits – perhaps developed during lockdown – FoodT might be helpful.” Dr Matthias Aulbach, University of Helsinki The study used FoodT usage data, and the app also periodically asks questions about how often users eat certain foods, along with other information such as their age and weight. The findings suggest that using the app regularly was linked with bigger changes in eating habits. “If you’re trying to teach the brain something new, it’s a good idea to space out the learning over multiple sessions,” said Dr Aulbach. “It may be helpful to do the training in different contexts – not just at home but at work and elsewhere, so the associations you learn don’t just relate to one location. “From our results it seems important that you do the training regularly and don’t just stop. So keep it interesting and relevant for yourself so you won’t get bored with it: personalize the app as far as possible and pick the foods that you find really hard to resist.” The researchers stress that their findings should be interpreted cautiously, because there was no control (comparison) group and other factors (such as the possibility that people who did more training were also separately more motivated to lose weight) could play a part in the results. Leaving a review on Google Play, one app user wrote: “Really useful. Seems to work on different levels whether it’s the green/red circle association of stop/go which psychologically makes you more aware, I’m not sure – but my cravings have reduced dramatically and I no longer eat in the evening mindlessly.” Development of the app was made possible by donations to a crowdfunding campaign, and app users who consent for their data to be used – anonymously – have enabled this research and app improvements to be made. To read the original article click here.

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Chemicals Found in 1,000 Processed Foods May Harm Immune System, According to New Study

AHA Publisher — Mon, 10 May 2021 07:00:16 +0000

Damon Hines via NaturalHealth365 – You know the symptoms; we all do. Bloating, fatigue, stomach upset, and a general feeling of blah thrown in for good measure. It’s the after-effects of gorging on Doritos or indulging in a pint of ice cream. Too much fat, sugar, and salt, too much high fructose corn syrup, and we’re left with a food hangover, our bodies laden with additives and preservatives and depleted of the water and enzymes needed to process them. But the health problems associated with processed foods are far worse than bloat and a mean case of the blahs. Processed foods account for a shocking 58% of calories in a U.S. diet. According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, ultra-processed food consumption is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. But that’s only the beginning. New research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health suggests that chemicals found in over 1,000 processed foods may also harm the immune system. TBHQ: Used by Manufacturers to Prolong a Product’s Shelf Life and SHORTEN Your Life Ultra-processed foods are defined as “industrial formulations made with no or minimal whole foods and produced with additives such as flavorings or preservatives.” According to the study, the chemical preservative tert-butylhydroquinone, or (TBHQ), which is found in Pop-Tarts, Cheez-It crackers, Little Debbie Swiss Rolls, and more than 1,000 other processed foods, can negatively affect the immune system, as well as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of chemicals that can leach into food from packaging. In addition, a 2017 Trusted Source study concluded that eating foods containing additives – including processed meats– may lead to an increase in the risk of several immune conditions. The study looked at additives such as sucralose, aspartame, carboxymethylcellulose, polysorbate-80, sodium, and carrageenan. Big Food Manufacturers Have No Incentive to Change Their Formulas Additives like TBHQ were approved by the FDA decades ago. The FDA allows the food and chemical industry to determine which ingredients are safe for consumption, like asking a drug cartel to regulate its product. Sodium Nitrate. Yellow #5. Brominated vegetable oil. TBQH. Sadly, our kitchens have become as chemically-filled as a science lab. Potentially dangerous additives need to be reviewed by the FDA, and regulatory loopholes need to be closed. Guarding Your Immune System Starts With Choosing a Carrot Over a Bag of Industrially Produced, Carrot-Flavored Veggie Puffs Processed food makes us ill, increases the risk of heart disease, weakens the immune system, and drives the global obesity epidemic. But if you want to improve your health and maintain a well-functioning immune system, it’s going to take more than avoiding what food journalist Michal Pollan calls “the edible food-like substances.” You’re going to have to eat right, too. Foods that are known to provide immune-boosting benefits include citrus fruits, foods that contain zinc – such as peas, raw cheese, organically-raised chicken breast, cruciferous vegetables, garlic, and ginger. Finally, as a consumer, be sure to read all packaging and labels carefully. Don’t let processed food take over your shopping cart. Bottom line, if you’re having a hard time reading (and understanding) a food label – don’t buy it! Sources for this article include: Livescience.com Medicalnewstoday.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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NEW Study Reveals Shocking Connection Between Fast Food and Mental Distress

AHA Publisher — Wed, 05 May 2021 07:00:56 +0000

Damon Hines via NaturalHealth365 – Today’s food contains non-food ingredients that your grandmother and great-grandmother wouldn’t have recognized as food. In fact, according to journalist and food writer Mark Bittman in his new book Animal, Vegetable, Junk, close to 50% of the food that’s available today is in the form of ultra-processed junk food. While there’s a well-established relationship between diet and physical health, the associations between diet and mental health remain largely a gray area – within the “conventional” world, and it’s one that’s being increasingly looked at by scientists and researchers. Cheap food has a terrible impact on public health. According to Bittman, as more countries switch from a traditional diet to a more American diet, rates of chronic disease go up. In a new study published in the journal Nutrients, researchers at Binghamton and Stony Brook University insist there is also growing evidence that dietary factors affect mental health. Key findings of the study include the associations that mental distress has with caffeine and fast food consumption. Obesity and Chronic Diseases Are Only the Tip of the Iceberg: Research Shows Fast Foods Cause Even MORE Harm The more fast food is consumed, the greater the risk of anxiety and depression. It’s a dietary thesis that’s backed up by numerous observational studies. For example, a 2019 study looking at adults over the age of 50 found a link between higher levels of anxiety and diets high in (toxic) saturated fat and added sugars. A separate study in 2019 found that fast food was a factor in rising teen depression. “The consumption of foods high in sodium and low in potassium may contribute to depression through multiple mechanisms, including direct effects on neurotransmitters and neural function,” the researchers concluded in the study published in Physiological Reports. Meanwhile, according to research published in Public Health Nutrition and prepared by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the University of Navarra, in Spain, fast food can increase the risk of falling into depression by up to 51%. Finally, a multi-country analysis of 41 studies found that foods containing a lot of contaminated fat or sugar, or were processed, lead to “systemic inflammation,” which can lead directly to depression. The bottom line: there’s nothing happy about those “Happy Meals.” Processed Foods Are a Trap. Here Is Why Creating Healthy Eating Habits Pays Dividends In the emerging field of Nutritional Psychiatry, researchers are asking one question: Does diet help prevent mental health conditions? Yes, it does. But part of the problem is that ultra-processed foods are cheap, fast, and widely available. Therefore it’s easy for consumers to fall into a poor dietary pattern, one that may not only lead to chronic disease and obesity but increased anxiety and depression. What can you do? Eat a healthy diet characterized by high intakes of organic fruit, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, fish, low-fat dairy, and antioxidants. Don’t just steer clear of fast food but also avoid “fast groceries” – that 90% of the middle part of the supermarket where processed, high-calorie junk food thrives, conveniently packaged and engineered to be craveable, even though your grandmother and great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize those non-food products as food. Sources for this article include: Medicalnewstoday.com Medicalnewstoday.com Theguardian.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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