Category: Health News & Tidbits

Stevia Approved for Use in Soft Drinks, Etc…. But How Safe & Natural Will It Be?

After years of only allowing it to be sold as an herbal supplement and deeming it unsafe for foods and drinks, the FDA changed its mind and approved the use of the naturally sweet herb Stevia in various beverages from Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, as you can learn from NaturalNewscom, CBS and TreeHugger.
In other words, drinks sweetened from Reb A, derived from the stevia leaf, now have GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status.
This FDA action, according to The New York Times, will allow Cargill to market Truvia from Coca-Cola and PureVia from PepsiCo — both products using rebiana, an extract from the stevia plant.
But the Center for Science in the Public Interest thinks the decision was rushed and does not take into account that it was inadequately tested for cancer and other potential health problems.

Tips to Remain Calm During Stressful Times from the Harvard Medical School

I received this wonderful guide from the Harvard Medical School on how to remain calm during stressful times. Here it is verbatim:
BOSTON–Lately, every day seems to bring a new cause for worry–the mortgage crisis, the struggling economy, rising unemployment. And on top of all that, the holiday season (a recurring source of stress) is about to begin. This constant barrage of disturbing news and emotional hurdles can have a big impact on health.
Although you won’t find the word “stress” anywhere on the list of the 10 leading causes of death in America, many highly-regarded studies link chronic stress to ailments such as heart disease, stroke and a weakened immune system.
“Stress doesn’t just make you feel tense and edgy, it can actually impair your health,” says Dr. Michael Miller, editor in chief of the Harvard Mental Health Letter.
“Thankfully, there’s plenty we can do on our own to reduce stress in our lives.” The Harvard Medical School Portable Guide to Stress Relief, a free guide offered by Harvard Health Publications, provides helpful tips on how to start.
Of course, sometimes just thinking about embarking on such a program can feel overwhelming. Don’t freeze in your tracks. Instead, follow Dr. Miller’s suggestion to start small.

High Fructose Corn Syrup: Dig Deeper Before Believing the New Corn Lobby Ads & Consuming the Stuff

Have you seen any of the TV spots, print and online banner ads that seek to convince us that high fructose corn syrup is fun to consume?
Before you believe the many new ads from the Corn Refiners Association — which is spending a reported $20 million to $30 million to convince us of its safety — I urge you to get facts from my recent Gab With The Gurus Radio Show, where I had the following guests:
Curt Ellis, director and producer for the fascinating documentary “King Corn.”
Cardiologist Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., co-author of my book Sugar Shock!
Nutritionist, author and personal trainer Pedro Bastos, a colleague of Loren Cordain, Ph.D., acclaimed for his Paleo Diet.
Biochemist and food and beverage formulator Russ Bianchi, who is also chief executive officer and managing director of Adept Solutions.
Richard J. Johnson, M.D., author of The Sugar Fix: The High-Fructose Fallout That is Making You Fat and Sick (His interview is coming up.)

Lyme Disease Featured on Dr. Mehmet Oz’s “Oprah & Friends Radio Show”

Hurrah to Dr. Mehmet Oz for discussing Lyme disease on the “Oprah & Friends Radio Show.”
The acclaimed Dr. Oz — who, of course, appears often on “Oprah” — conducted interviews with “Under Our Skin” filmmaker Andy Abrahams Wilson and reporter Kathy Fowler.
Listen now to the fascinating “Oprah & Friends Radio Show.”
I also encourage you to listen to my Gab With The Gurus Radio Show about Lyme disease in August. In the show, I discussed my bout with this menacing disease, and I also interviewed Pamela Weintraub, author of the groundbreaking new book, Cure Unkown; Pat Smith, president of the Lyme Disease Association; Bernard D. Raxlen, M.D.; Steven J. Bock, M.D.; Dr. Qingcai Zhang; author Rebecca Wells (“Ya-Ya” novels) and Kris Newby, senior producer of the new documentary, Under Our Skin: The Untold Story of Lyme Disease.

TV Ads Make Kids Fatter: Ban Those Junk Food Ads Targeted at Children

Well, we already knew this, but it’s interesting to see that a study concluded watching too much TV can make kids fat.
But, specifically, watching those food commercials aimed at them that makes them wider. And if there was a ban on fast food TV advertising, that could help reverse childhood obesity trends, according to a new study from researchers from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).
In fact, just getting rid of thoses enticing TV spots for fast food could reduce the number of overweight children by 18 percent, found the researchers from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).
Now that’s an impressive stat. And it’s a very simple change to make.

F*ree Holiday Program on Monday: Learn to “Beat the Holiday Sugar Pushers”

Isn’t it annoying how at holiday gatherings, people are pushing desserts at you all the time? You know those well-meaning hosts, who think that you just have to try to their cheesecake or green-glitter cookies?
Well, on Monday, Nov. 24 at 8 pm EST, I’m here to give you some help. I’ll tell you How to Beat the Holiday Sugar Pushers.
I’d love for you to join in the fun—yes, we’ll have fun!
The call will be hosted by author, spiritual life coach and speaker Adoley Odunton, whose company, Healthier Living, has helped thousands to lose weight naturally and keep it off for good.
I’ll share with Adoley share some insights about my personal journey toward a healthy lifestyle, but most of all, I’ll give you tips so you can safely, smartly, courteously confront those holiday sugar pushers.
I’m one of a number of speakers featured in this series, which is called, “Hidden in Plain Sight: Secrets to Healthy, Lasting Weight Loss.”

Halloween: Handing Out “Treats” Is “Tricky”—6 Tips To a Healthier Holiday

Halloween is a spooky time and not because of goblins, ghosts or ghouls. Oct. 31 is downright frightening because it is a nationally accepted Sugar Overload Day.
Around Halloween, just about everyone “forgets” the truly scary facts: Kids have been growing more and more obese, even developing type 2 diabetes—conditions that researchers attribute to such unhealthy activities as over-consuming sweets and refined carbs and lack of exercise.
Despite the dangers to our children’s health, every Halloween, it’s accepted—even encouraged—to pass out gobs of sugar-filled candies that could harm the health of our neighbors’ kids.
But every time you give candies to youngsters who come knocking on your door to playfully trick-or-treat, you’re tricking them, not treating them.
Indeed, the average child easily wolfs down about 20 to 40 teaspoons of sugar and more than 500 calories on that one night alone. Then, for days or weeks afterwards, the typical kid is still pigging out on leftover candies.
Research at Harvard, Yale and other institutions have discovered that eating fewer sweets and skipping the soda and other sugary drinks could help children and adults alike lose weight and reduce their risks of getting type 2 diabetes.
This Halloween, I invite you to quit encouraging sugar gorging and instead to begin to take some steps to make Halloween more healthy. Here are 6 tips to create a healthier holiday.