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ALL NATURAL... SO WE HOPE

"Natural foods" and "all natural foods" are widely used terms in food labeling and marketing with a variety of definitions, some of which are vague. "Natural foods" are often assumed to be foods that are minimally processed and do not contain any hormones, antibiotics, sweeteners, food colors, or flavorings that were not originally in the food. Well… so we hope. In some places, the term "natural" is defined and enforced (England, Israel, and Canada). In others, such as the United States, it has no meaning. Because there is no legal restrictions, food manufacturers can include ingredients that may not be considered natural by some consumers.

The poultry industry has been criticized by the Center for Science in the Public Interest for labeling chicken meat "all natural" after it has been injected with saline solution up to 25% of its weight; still there is no legal recourse to prevent this labeling.

The point is that a food manufacturer can take anything that occurs somewhere in nature and refine it to increase the potency by a factor of 1000 times or more (like MSG or High Fructose Corn Syrup), and then claim that their product is "all natural." In other words, cocaine is derived from the leaf. If it was legal, they could put crack cocaine in their food and call that all natural too! Of course, it's all quite ridiculous. By that definition, anything derived from plants, animals or elements found on planet Earth could earn the "all natural" label. The key is in understanding that it's the process that's unnatural, not the source. When you chemically or structurally alter food ingredients into a form that no longer appears anywhere in nature, it's no longer natural regardless of what the food manufacturers claim.

However sometimes farmers can not afford “certified organic” labeling that is regulated by FDA for their product. So instead they use the “all natural” label. We can hope that food manufactures do the honest thing and label food correctly. However, many have been challenged to explain their list of ingredients and failed.
READ INGREDIENTS ON THE LABLES! LOOK FOR KEY WORDS YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE EATING!!

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Not all product descriptions have clear explanation of what you are getting. Matter of fact, often companies play with wording to confuse health conscious consumer. I like to at lease narrow it down by the UPS code on fruit and vegetables:

UPS Labeling Standards North America
General designation is as follows:
  - Organic produce has a five-digit number beginning with a 9. Organic bananas, for example, would be given the designation of 94011.
  - Conventional produce has a four-digit number beginning with a 3 or 4. Therefore, the number on conventionally grown bananas would be 4011.
  - Genetically engineered produce also has a five-digit number on the label and begins with an 8. Again, the number on genetically altered bananas would be 84011.

For a little more in-depth info read this short and sweet article:
http://www.innvista.com/health/foods/organics/labeling.htm

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Someone asked me today about the use of oils, and this is the best system for me to follow. Hope it will help more people

COOKING WITH OILS
Always use unrefined organic oils!

No heat (up to 120 F)
Flax Seed oil
Borage oil
Hemp seed oil
Cod liver oil

Low heat (up to 212F) - Baking
Sunflower oil
Safflower oil
Pumpkin oil

Med. Heat (325F) - light sauteing
Sesame oil
Pistachio oil
Hazelnut oil
Olive oil

High Heat (375F and up) frying, browning
Coconut oil
Ghee (clarified butter)
Palm oil
Lard

When baking breads and muffins at temp around 325F, the moisture keeps the inside temp under 212F. When frying, always put oil into a cold pan and turn the heat up gradually.
By Paul Chek - "How to Eat, Move, and be Healthy!"

HOW ABOUT THAT
If your home is anything like mine, there's been an invasion of cell phones, computers, television and other wireless devices. Did you know that these wireless signals can interfere with your ability to experience restorative sleep? How about putting your router on a timer? It can be set to go off at bed time, and turn back on right before you get up in the morning. We can still get our instant media fix in the morning without sacrificing sleep quality.
By Seneca B. Anderson

ABOUT EATING OFTEN
Eating frequently is great for your metabolism. Now, that is NOT eating all the time! However, according to the dentist eating more than three times a day gives you cavities, which leads to imbalance in your health. The problems appear when there is acidic balance in the mouth and constant supply of sugar for the decay. So nothing new…. Stay away from sugar, if you drink coffee, make it warm and gulp it in three sips instead of sipping it for three hours :) brush 15 min after the meal.

WHAT ARE THE PROPORTIONS OF YOUR MEALS?
Lithuanian saying: Eat your breakfast, split dinner with a friend, and give supper to an enemy. There is a lot of truth to it. Breakfast is very important since biological digestion clock starts with the sunrise. You set the tone for the rest of your day depending on the quality of your breakfast. If it was weak, you may be craving carbs around lunch and give-in the weakness for something less than healthy. If breakfast was satisfying, usually you can allow yourself to be choosy and make a better choice. Like in the saying instead of falling for the biggest lunch/dinner, eat in moderation. According to the laws of nature after 7pm fermentation in digestion is reduced to the minimum and anything you eat can be difficult to digest. So instead of moving through the body, it sits and grows Candida in your intestines, which is the cause for many other diseases that are difficult to treat like acne, mood swings, low energy, bad breath, blood issues, infections, joint pain, can even lead to cancer. SO tonight have an early supper, or “give it to an enemy”.

CANCER DEATH RATE WIDENS BASED ON EDUCATION
For all types of cancer among men, there were about 56 deaths per 100,000 for those with at least 16 years of education compared to 148 deaths per 100,000 for those with no more than 12 years of school.
For women, the rate was 59 per 100,000 for the most educated, and 119 per 100,000 for the least educated.
The gap was most striking when it comes to lung cancer.
Read more

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Nelson Mandela

FREE WEIGHTS VS. WEIGHT MACHINES
Free weights force you to recruit more muscle fibers to help stabilize the muscle, that’s doing the lifting compare to weight machines. In a study exercisers were able to lift about 25% more weight when using machines instead of dumbbells for moves like biceps curls and overhead extensions. SO you always want to go for a chanelge :)

EXACTLY WHAT ARE PROBIOTICS?
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria found naturally in the intestinal track of healthy people. “Pro” means “for” and “biotic” means “life”; so probiotics are basically life-sustaining bacteria. Compare that to “anti-biotics”, which are designed to kill bacteria. Probiotics are essential to life. They make some of our vitamins, help digest our food, balance hormones, detoxify, strengthen our immune system and keep the intestinal tract healthy.

HAPPY EASTER
Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. Probably got relax from daily routine and probably ate more than enough. All that was great! Now the trouble comes when we get stuck eating the leftovers and putting off the gym for “a couple of days” that later turns out to be two months. As soon as Monday hits, stick with your routine: eat 3 healthy meals, a couple of fruit snacks, go have a nice workout, and keep your target goal in front of you so this one cheat day won’t affect your progress.

PREVENTIVE CARE COSTS LESS THAN TREATMENT
Preventive care costs a lot less than any treatment of disease. Always think of what you would loose if you go too far with bad diet, extra stress, or poor choice of clothing for particular weather. It may be “only this once” for the last 4 consecutive days! Can you afford taking off sick days, can you get the work done while dealing with the pain, and whose fault it really is for you snapping at the innocent person. Everyone would simply be happier if you just take care of yourself, even your wallet.

HOW 8 GLASSES A DAY KEEPS THE FAT OFF!
Incredible as it may seem...
Water is the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off!
Although most of us take it for granted...
Pure, clean water may be the only true Magic Potion for permanent weight loss!
Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase!
And an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits!
Here's the reason why... READ

HEALTH STARTS HERE
Overall, the health of our society is deteriorating. The rates of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity continue to rise. Who is responsible for this health crisis? The government? The pharmaceutical industry? Fast food? New viruses? Antibiotic resistant bacteria? The cost-cutting approach of managed health care? No! We are all responsible for our own health. The level of health that we enjoy today is a direct result of the decisions that we made yesterday. And the choices we make today will affect our well-being tomorrow.
The key to good health is Click here to read more
Robert A. Rakowski, D.C., C.C.N., DACBN, DIBAK

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM: OUR BEST PROTECTION AGAINST DISEASE
The human body contains a miraculous healing machine called the immune system, which defends us from parasites, bacteria, toxins, and viruses. It does this work by sending more than 130 types of white blood cells circulating through our bloodstream to identify, lock onto, and destroy invading cells. Our complex immune defense system, which also involves our thymus gland, lymph glands, and bone marrow, can hold off and neutralize infection so that the body can heal itself. It is this quality of being a part of us, yet not under our conscious control, that manifests its greatest power. And sometimes its greatest problem.
First, the system is continually involved in fighting a "rear guard" action against a constant immune-depressing overload of antibiotics, cortisone, and antacids, etc., that destroy vital enzymes.

Second, it is dealing with foods full of pesticides, chemicals, and preservatives. With such a toxic overload, our immune system eventually reaches a point where it can no longer distinguish harmful cells from healthy cells. Then it just attacks everything.

You already know that the immune system is what stops you from catching a cold or the flu, but did you know that almost every disease you develop has something to do with a failure or defect in your immune system? Did you know that your immune system creates your allergy symptoms? That it sends out the signals that cause the pain and swelling associated with arthritis? That when it goes awry, it can attack your body?

To prevent the immune system from misfiring, it is useful to look at the causes of the diseases we develop and support our body's healing by correcting the underlying abnormalities. Cardiologists have learned, for example, that bacteria not destroyed by the immune system are getting into our arteries and causing hardening or narrowing of the arteries, which leads to cardiovascular disease. And neuroscientists have discovered that an over-stimulated immune system can promote inflammation of the brain, which causes irreparable damage in the brain and leads to Alzheimer's disease and other memory problems like senile dementia. Auto-immune diseases are serious defects in the immune system. They attack and destroy the body's tissues, organs, and cells. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Type-1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease are some of the over 80 auto-immune diseases we recognize. We also know that cancer is a failure of the immune system to recognize abnormal or renegade cells.

Our immune system is the body system most sensitive to nutritional deficiencies. Lack of sufficient minerals and oxygen in vital fluids allows an unhealthy environment to build up. Providing optimum nutrition at the first sign of infection or loss of health, therefore, vastly improves our body's defense shield.

We can further strengthen our immune system by
(1) finding healthy ways to deal with stressful events,
(2) improving our nutrition by eating more fresh organic foods and less processed food,
(3) reducing our exposure to environmental pollution,
(4) making other wellness-enhancing lifestyle changes, and
(5) most important, adding more laughter to our life. Laughter not only boosts our immune system, but it also lifts our spirits and generally makes us feel better.
by Ray Fisch, C.H.

YOUR GENES DON'T HAVE THE FINAL SAY
Virtually all the diseases and malfunctions in the body have direct causes. It is a fact that genetics play a major role in the cause of disease. In that sense, all diseases are "genetic" and merely represent the interaction of that person's genetic tendency coming in contact with specific behavior patterns that determine if the disease will be triggered.
Each person is especially susceptible to certain diseases when compared to other people, but each person is also more resistant to certain diseases when compared to others. In this sense, each person has particular genetic weaknesses and strengths.

It is a person's behavior or lifestyle plus one's genetic weaknesses that often result in abnormalities or diseases. Most common among these diseases are high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, gallstones, and cancers of the colon-prostate-breast.

In order to proactively avoid the conditions that encourage disease, in a person who has the propensity, the following items should be considered essentials for prevention:

BREATHING - Our air should be clean. Avoid being in smoke, dust or fumes, e.g., smoking more than two cigarettes every other day, being around fireplaces and diesel engines.
DRINKING - Drink clean water and weak herbal teas, the body is 75% water.
EATING - Eat properly. Dietary goals should be to consume VERY HIGH FIBER and LOW FAT foods (e.g., cooked, unprocessed whole grains, fresh vegetables, beans, fruit and optionally some fish) with minimal refined or processed foods.
EXERCISING - Walk at least three miles a day, 5 days per week, 50 weeks a year. With this as a goal, put a plan in place to work up to this. There are many options to accomplish optimum fitness, e.g., running, weight training, biking, etc.
STRESS MANAGEMENT - Acknowledge and accept the difficulties of reality. We must deal with problems as best possible, accepting failure, but remaining determined and optimistic.
Most diseases occur IF, and only IF, susceptible people make lifestyle choices that trigger the expression of that genetic tendency. Everyone should feel empowered to change the course of their medical history which otherwise may seem inevitable.
H. Robert Silverstein, M.D., F.A.C.C.

10/2/2010
ALKALINE and ACIDIC WATER
I should have a lil video ready about it for Monday. Thank you for asking about it as it is one of the most fascinating and best kept secrets.

9/30/2010
Dale Carnegie - "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living"
Somtimes you can not change the situation, but you can control how you react to it. If stress and worry is your best friend, you need a change of heart :) I'd recoment this book. Puts your mind at easy, and gives great tips to better overcome daily hurdles. Nothing you don't already know, but woderfull to hear again!!

9/13/2010
NUTRITION for ADHD
Do you ever question cause of a disease that wasn’t preset in your grandparents’ and sometimes even parents’ lives? ADD and ADHD are only couple of many. What has changed in our daily lives, habits, and routines that could have caused for these disorders to emerge? I’m not the person with the answer, but I believe nutrition and change in environment play a major roll of our health. I really dislike a though of the kids being medicated. However ADD and ADHD are on the rise and they need to be addressed. Still I believe we should try controlling the disorders in all possible natural ways before medicating kids. They are already in disadvantage in this world where hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis are anticipated in most adults and all are usually treated with medications.
Anyway, this video is a little long, but when you find the answer to your concerns time becomes priceless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2utqmVGPCt0&feature=related

9/7/2010
FIT CAMP!!!
Joey is having a fitness camp for adults :) at Shorty Howell Park in Duluth, GA on Saturday, September 18th 7:30am-10:30am. It will be intence, fun, and efficient for those that want results. For any questions you are welcome to call at 404-513-8949 or shoot a quick e-mail for joey@dotsonfitness.com  

9/1/2010 Tuesday

  When you look at living a healthier life, there seem to be certain factors that have emerged from the last twenty years or so that the wellness field has identified. Can there be a concrete wellness formula? Read the article to find out about
The Ten Tenets of Wellness by Michael Arloski
Read Article