Category: Comments, Rants, Raves & Musings

Sugar Shocker! What is Dangerous Mercury Doing in High Fructose Corn Syrup?

As if high fructose corn syrup isn’t bad enough, (especially because it’s so ubiquitous in our food supply), now high levels of the toxic metal mercury has been found to lurk in the sweetener — and potentially for many years.
Yikes! That’s scary!
Mind-boggling new research found that nearly one-third of the HFCS-containing grocery products (tested for a study) were contaminated with detectable levels of mercury.
Let me translate this so you just so you don’t miss the significance of this finding.
If you swig a a soda sweetened with HFCS, you’re also tossing down some dangerous mercury.
Whenever you grab candy bars, you’re likely getting high fructose corn syrup and therefore mercury.
Ditto with many breads, crackers, salad dressings, frozen and fast foods, tomato sauces and fruit drinks.

Smoking Neighbor is Making Me Sick Just As Third-Hand Smoke Study Released

Aargh! I’m a victim of an obnoxious, self-destructive, late-night smoker!
Like clockwork, this nasty neighbor of mine lights up between 2 am and 3 am!
His or her awful habit is making me sick!
Lately, every morning, I wake up with a headache, scratchy throat and horribly sleep-deprived. (It’s tough to sleep when you’re having difficulty breathing with smoke filling your place). I’m exhausted! Now my hands are smelling of smoke!
It’s the most awful side effect after my recent move!
Yesterday, workers in my building gave me two electronic odor control/air purifying new aire, but that hasn’t helped much. I’m desperate!
Now, I’m doing research into air purifiers. I’m even considering moving again despite the fact that it would be a huge hassle!
Interesting that just as I’m dealing with the nasty, smoking neighbor, a new study came out that alerts us to the dangers of third-hand smoke! Thanks to Dr. Mercola for his take on this new study.
Hope I can find an air purifier today! This provides pretty interesting background info. In fact, right now I’m looking into the Way Healthier Home Air Purifier.
Wait! My neighbor is smoking right now! I’m so exhausted.
Does anyone have any advice for me?

Sign Up Now for the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge on Jan. 16

Are you like Oprah — tired of lugging around excess weight?
Do you feel that you have no control over your sugar or carb habit?
Are sugary foods your “drug of choice”?
Would you like to get more energy, focus better, rev up your libido, get along better with loved ones and get a hot, trim body?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you’ll want to join the First Annual Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge, which takes place Jan. 16.
Many of us experts are here to help you begin to lick your sugar habit.
We’re here to give you the support, compassion, information and education that you need and deserve.
My co-organizer Dr. Scott Olson and I invite you to take our challenge by submitting your comment here.
Spend time on Jan. 16 to look at your sugar issues, learn about the dangers of sugar overloading (which people around the world are doing) and cut it out totally on that one day.
Wondering what could happen if you kick sugar? Read these amazing success stories now.
So sign up here now.
Make sure to tell us about your sugar history, what a lot of sweets do to you and what you envision for the future if being sugar-free was a reality.
What are you waiting for? Join us now.
And spread the word. We want to get a huge viral campaign going.
After you sign up, mark your calendar.
Our festivities begin Jan. 16 at 12 p.m. Eastern on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show for the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge,.where we’ll be joined by some of the biggest health and sugar experts in the country. (You can listen live or later, at your convenience, to a podcast.)
For instance, we’ll be joined by Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman, author of Get the Sugar Out; Elizabeth Abbott, author of Sugar: A Bittersweet History; Dr. Eric Westman, director of Duke Lifestyle Medicine Clinic; (?), Dr. Hyla Cass, integrative psychiatrist and author of 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health and Natural Highs; MeMe Roth, founder and president of the National Action Against Obesity; Dr. Nancy Appleton, author of Lick the Sugar Habit; Dr. Woody Merrell, author of Unleash Your Natural Energy; Dr. Fred Pescatore, author of The Hamptons Diet; Amy Kalafa, co-founder of “Two Angry Moms,” which is dedicated to cleaning up the school food environment; Susan Linn (?), director of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood; Dr. Yvonne Sanders Butler, principal of Browns Mill Elementary School in Lithonia, Georgia; the first sugar-free school in the country; Roberta Ruggiero, founder of the Hypoglycemia Support Foundation;; Dr. Larry McCleary, author of The Brain Trust Program; Dr. Roberta Lee, vice chair of the Department of Integrative Medicine at Beth Israel’s Center for Health and Healing in New York City; the “Nutrition Twins” Tammy Lakatos Shames and Elysse (“Lyssie”) Lakatos, authors of Fire Up Your Metabolism; and integrative medicine practitioner Steven J. Bock, M.D.
In addition, several happy, successful “Sugar Kickers” will participate, including popular low-carb blogger Jimmy Moore, who lost 180 pounds, mostly by cutting out sugar and refined or starchy carbs, and Amanda Lerner, who shed 25 pounds and got more energy, clearer skin, increased focus, creativity and a profound feeling of freedom. In addition, her cravings, depression, eczema, candida and fainting spells disappeared.
Then from 12 noon Friday to 11:59 Saturday, we’ll conduct a supportfest on Twitter. If you don’t have an account yet, just sign up at Twitter and then start following @TwitAsYouQuit.
Frustrated right now? Want support this minute? Get going now by becoming a member of my free online Kicksugar discussion group.
Remember, if you have sugar issues, this Sugar Shock Blog is your place to get news updates, information about upcoming programs and much more.
Sign up now for the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge.

More Americans Obese Than Overweight: Take Action This Month by Trimming the Sugar, Quickie Carbs & Junk Food

Sad news. More Americans are now obese than those who are merely overweight.
So finds the latest statistics from the federal government.
The new numbers from the National Center for Health Statistics show that more than 34 percent of Americans are obese compared to 32.7 percent who are overweight. Just under 6 percent are “extremely” obese.
Wanna lose weight? Just dump the sugar, quickie carbs and junk food. Over and over, I hear from happy, now-healthy sugar addicts, who’ve turned away from sugar only to find that the weight peels right off.

Memory Woes? Sharpen Your Mind, Stop ADD & Defeat Depression… Learn How & Ask Your Questions Tuesday

Are we all destined to lose our minds?
Why does there seem to be an epidemic of people with mood problems such as depression and irritability; attention and behavior problems such as ADD/ADHD and autism; and aging problems such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s?
Are we all going to lose our focus, concentration and memory? And will we all become depressed, anxious and tired much the time?
Of course NOT, according to a fascinating new book, The UltraMind Solution: The Simple Plan to Defeat Depression, Overcome Anxiety and Sharpen Your Mind, from three-time New York Times bestselling author Dr. Mark Hyman, a pioneer in the cutting-edge field of functional medicine.
Dr. Mark Hyman brings you more good news, too.
You can use a simple 7-step solution right now to “unleash your body’s hidden ability to dramatically improve mood, memory and thinking speed,” according to “Oprah” regular Dr. Mehmet Oz, who endorsed this exciting new book.
I was so fascinated by what I read in The UltraMind Solution that I had to drop you a quick note about it.
In addition, I rushed to book Dr. Hyman on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show so you could learn about this amazing solution and even ask him questions.
Catch Dr. Hyman today (Tuesday, Jan. 6 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern).
He’ll even answer your questions about how to get an “UltraMind” for the last third of the show. Just reach him at the show call-in number: (347) 426-3366.
You’ll be really surprised at how simple, yet powerful the solution is to getting an “UltraMind.”

New Year’s Resolutions: 7 Tips to Make Your Goals a Reality, Thanks to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition & “Goals Guy” Gary Ryan Blair

So have you made your list yet of New Year’s resolutions? Are you determined to keep them this year?
If you’re like millions, you’re wondering how to finally accomplish them all make 2009 your best year yet.
Here are 7 tips on how to make your Resolutions a Reality, five of which I got from the inspiring Joshua Rosenthal, founder and director of the Institute for Integrative Nutition (where I went to school). He posted these fabulous tips on the Integrative Nutrition blog. (Please note that in the tips I’m presenting below, I’m either directly quoting Joshua (not as often) or (more often) I’m taking his fabulous ideas and revising them or adding to them — or I’m changing the order in which he presented them. But whether I built on his suggestions or not, they are Joshua’s ideas (even though for several years, I’ve already been urging my coaching clients to follow all of these recommendations)
So here are some tips to stick to your New Year’s resolutions:
1. Write down your New Year’s resolutions and then put them in a place — or even places where you can see them. This is my favorite of Joshua’s suggestions. For instance, after taking pen to paper, you could tape your list to your bathroom mirror or a prominent place in your bedroom. You could even put it on your desk (in a plastic folder) or stick it to your fridge with a magnet. (I recommend posting them on your refrigerator and near mirrors if you want to kick sugar or peel offf pounds.)
2. Imagine (or be clear about) what your life would look like once you achieve your goals. For instance, if you resolve to work out more often at the gym (one of my New Year’s resolutions), how would this benefit you? Would you have more energy, take more pride in your appearance, have a more cheerful demeanor and be more “together” so you can give to others? If your goal is to get out of debt and make more money, exactly how much do you want to earn? Or, if your New Year’s resolution is to find Mr. or Ms. Right in 2009, how would that feel to you and what would the person be like? Would you be more content and feel more fulfilled? Really delve into how your life would change if you stuck to your resolutions. Then take action to make them happen. (You do need to do homework to make these happen. For instance, you need to join or take yourself to a gym, redo your resume or post an ad on an online dating site, etc.)

Wishing You a Sweet & Happy New Year. Take the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge

To all of you wonderful readers,
I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish you a very sweet, happy new year.
Please listen to my new year’s greetings.
Also listen to this brief announcement to get your invite to take the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge along with thousands of people around the globe.
By this, I mean that you’re encouraged to either kick sugar and other sweets entirely or at least cut back on your consumption of the stuff for the month of January. (And I’m also including refined carbs.)
You can learn more about the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge on Friday, Jan. 16 at 12 noon Eastern on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show, when I’m joined by several other sugar opponents and authors, including Dr. Nancy Appleton, author of Lick the Sugar Habit, and Dr. Scott Olson, author of the new book, Sugarettes.
FYI, although I issue a 21-day challenge to readers of my book SUGAR SHOCK! and have heard from thousands of happy readers who took me up on it, I’ve never officially announced such an event.
Because I always believe in giving people credit when it’s due, I need to give thanks to Dr. Olson, a Colorado-based naturopath, whose challenge I chanced upon last week, thanks to Google alerts.
I was so impressed by Scott’s passion and commitment to giving up sugar that I decided to join him and also present a radio show with several of us sugar experts.
So join us! By the way, you don’t even have to turn your back on sugar yet. Just join us Friday, Jan. 16 at noon Eastern (or later, at your convenience) to learn why your life will be much better and healthier without sweets and refined carbs.
Also stay tuned for other exciting programs and radio shows. Hope you can join us for the first two radio shows of 2009:
Join us for the first Gab With the Gurus Radio Show of the new year on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 3 p.m. Eastern when my guest is the acclaimed Dr. Mark Hyman, bestselling author, lecturer, practicing physician, leader in the emerging field of functional medicine and author of the fascinating new book, The UltraMind Solution: Fix Your Broken Brain by Healing Your Body First. You’re in for a real treat, because Dr. Hyman will spend one full hour with you on the Gab With the Gurus Radio Show to give you valuable information so that 2009 can be your best year yet. Not only that, but for the last third of the Gab With the Gurus Radio Show, Dr. Hyman will answer your questions. Just use the Call-In Number: (347) 426-3366
And listen to another inspiring radio show the following day to help you turn your Resolutions into Reality. My guest, the famous “Goals Guy” Gary Ryan Blair on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show on Wed., Jan. 7 at 3 p.m. Eastern, will give you valuable information so you don’t fail at meeting your resolutions again. In the meantime, check out this exciting resolutions website, which is designed to help you make your dreams come true.
In addition, I’d like to invite you to join me at the 11-part Thrive (Don’t Just Survive) in 2009 program, which will begin Wed., Jan. 7 at 5:30 p.m. Eastern. You’ll get a chance to be inspired, educated and encouraged by a Who’s Who of health, wellness and empowerment experts.

Want to Shine in 2009? Take a Fun Exercise to Fulfill Your New Year’s Resolution

New Year’s is a unique holiday. It’s the only holiday that celebrates the passage of time.
Perhaps that’s why, as the final seconds of the year tick away, we tend to become introspective.
Then, we wonder: How did time slip away from us?
And why did all our hopes and dreams never materialize?
Inevitably, that introspection turns to thoughts of self-improvement and the annual ritual of making
New Year’s Resolutions.
We all do it.
We swear to ourselves, “This is THE year that I’ll transform my life and fulfill my goals.”
We are determined to keep all our promises to lose weight, kick sugar, stop smoking, make more mon*ey, take more time for ourselves, find the person of our dreams or get along better with our significant other, be more patient…just fill in the blanks.
Right now, millions of people from around the world are asking themselves questions as they figure out how to make 2009 the best year of their lives.
Here’s a fun, creative exercise for you to do.
First off, think about how to surpass your potential in the New Year.
Take a minute or two noow. I’ll wait right here.
Think about your fondest wishes. What are you dying to do at long last?
Now, fill in the blanks. (You don’t even have to tell anyone what they are, unless you want to.)
In 2009, I’m finally going to _________________________!