A Surprising Cause of Weight Gain

If Calorie deficit were all there were to weight loss, it would be simple - just eat a little less, exercise a little more.   As many dieters find out the hard way, simply counting Calories does not lead to lasting weight loss.  One often overlooked reason is that, more than ever, chemicals in your food can influence how your body uses that food.

Obesogens are chemicals in food, drugs and/or the environment that affect the way your body metabolizes fat and glucose. Some examples of the many type of obesogens are pesticides, non-stick pans, antibiotics, antidepressants, diabetes medications, artificial sweeteners, MSG, GMO's, BPA in canned food, plastics, the lining of microwavable popcorn bags, and soy protein.

The mechanisms by which they make you fat are many - they can:

Increase appetite/cravings
Increase insulin secretion and fat storage
Cause your fat cells to multiply or store more fat
Inhibit muscle protein synthesis
Decrease thyroid function
And more

Think about this:  Factory farmed animals are given hormones and antibiotics to fatten them up quickly.  Those same hormones and antibiotics end up in you if you eat conventionally produced meat.

GMO crops are cultivated to withstand heavy pesticide spraying.  Many pesticides are estrogen mimics that cause hormone disruption.  They are also fat soluble and hide out in your adipose tissue.

Pay attention to what you eat, not how how much, in order to avoid weight gain.

You Are What You Eat, and What You Put On Your Skin

We know we need to eat organic whenever possible to be sure we are not ingesting GMO, and even if food is not GMO, toxic pesticides and other chemicals.  Most of these chemicals are fat soluble, so they linger in our body fat for a long time.

But did you know that our skin is a virtual sponge for anything lipid soluble?  The naturally produced oils and sebum form a protective barrier on our outer skin layer (epidermis) that protect us against pathogens and other inorganic toxins we normally come into contact with.  Inorganic toxins**, (that is, they are not hydrocarbons, which all lipids are), therefore, do not readily penetrate the protective lipid barrier of our skin (epidermis), so our intact skin is our first line of defense against environmental bacteria, viruses, etc.

Most conventional cosmetics contain organic substances that can, however, penetrate our protective lipid barrier, and become systemic.  One notable example are parabens, used as a preservative, which are estrogen mimics and can disrupt our hormonal function and possibly contribute to cancer promotion.  Many "natural" products contain herbs and other plant essences, which, if not organic**, likely have been sprayed with pesticide.  Many commercial pesticides belong to the category of organophosphates, which are lipid soluble, can be absorbed by the skin, and are neurotoxins.  (And, are found in conventional produce!).

It so happens that there are more and more non-toxic and/or less toxic alternatives these days!



** fyi, a little chemistry review:  - Organic refers to either: Plants grown without pesticides and other toxic chemicals, OR, chemicals that are hydrocarbons, such as fatty acids.  Inorganic refers to chemicals, such as minerals, which are not hydrocarbons; as opposed on NON-organic, which refers to conventionally grown produce..

Aspartame is Poison

Too much sugar is bad for you, but just a little aspartame is poison.

Big Corporate wants you to buy aspartame, and wants you to believe the flawed studies, most of which are funded by the industry, that conclude that its perfectly safe. It is not!

Aspartame is composed of two amino acids, phenylalanine and aspartate, joined together by a methanol molecule. Phenylalanine and aspartate are obtained naturally from healthful sources of protein and are perfectly good for you when ingested this way. But in isolated form - they act as neurotoxins. They upset your brain chemistry.

Methanol is oxidized to formaldehyde in our bodies and is toxic to the eyes and nervous system. We safely ingest tiny amounts of methanol as a component of natural foods, which is completely different than obtaining it in isolated form.

Phenylalanine is also dangerous for a small minority of people born with the genetic error of metabolism called phenylketonuria.

Aspartame readily breaks down into its component amino acids and methanol in the gastrointestinal tract, when stored at 85 degrees farenheit or above, and when used in heated or cooked foods.

The manufacturers of aspartame want you to buy their little yellow and blue packets and the processed food industry wants you to buy their artificially sweetened fake foods to keep you hooked on the sweet taste of addictive junk food.

Aspartame is hidden in many foods, protein drinks, gum, medications, and supplements - check your labels!

Artificial sweeteners in general are also associated with weight gain! If you want a little sweetener in your tea, coffee, or oatmeal - a tiny bit of natural sweetener is much better for you.

All artificial sweeteners, including sucralose (Splenda), acesulfame-K, and the old standby, saccharin, are toxic. But aspartame is by far the worst.

What is Worse Than Osteoporosis?

Fosamax, Boniva and other drugs in the same class (bisphosphonates) are promoted in the media as a way to reverse osteoporosis but are yet another pharmaceutical nightmare, despite what the celebrity promoters on TV say.*

Adverse effects include: ulcerations of the mucus membranes, esophageal cancer, osteonecrosis (bone death) of the jaw, bone pain, atypical fractures,  flu-like reactions, and permanently brittle bones.

Bone tissue undergoes constant turnover, continually maintaining a balance of breaking down and rebuilding, in order to keep the bone tissue new and healthy. As hormone levels decrease, particularly in women, the balance shifts to favor breakdown and the net effect is a decline in bone mineral density.

Big pharma puts a clever spin on their marketing of bisphosphonates by claiming that they slow bone breakdown, alluding to an effect of preservation of bone mass and resultant reduction in fractures. That is indeed the mechanism of action, but unfortunately it is not a good one. Old bone is supposed to break down to make room for new bone.

So it is easy to deduce that interfering with normal bone remodeling will lead to trouble. The treatment is an example of transiently manipulating lab values, in this case, a higher measurable bone mineral density. The problem is that these values indicate a higher density of old bone, which is unhealthy, weak, brittle bone. And the mutations can be permanent. To make matters worse - the bisphosphonates are now available in once yearly injections - so that they cannot be cleared from the body if/when severe side effects occur, so they proceed unchecked.

Osteoporosis is a serious, painful, and potentially life threatening condition, especially in genetically susceptible women, that needs to be addressed - but bisphosphonates are not the solution. (1,2) The only effective ways to address this condition are via a balanced intake of nutrients, exercise, and, in some women, "bioidentical" hormone therapy (NOT Premarin).  Calcium on its own is not effective, and can result in calcification of the arteries.



(1) Otto S et al. Osteoporosis and bisphosphates-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: Not just a sporadic coincidence - a multi-centre study. Journal of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery. 2010.

(2) Isaacs JD et al. Femoral insufficiency fractures associated with prolonged bisphosphanate therapy. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2010.

*This post is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your personal physician if you are concerned about your condition.  This information is also not intended for those taking Zometa or similar drugs for the treatment of bone cancers.

Death By Corporate

If you have a sedentary job you need to read this.

Sitting for several consecutive hours puts the body in fat storing mode, increases stress hormone synthesis, encourages insulin resistance and diabetes, and induces blood pooling in the extremities which increases the risk of blood clots and impedes cognitive functions. Even if you have a gym membership and go there faithfully three times a week, you will not undo the damage that sitting all day can cause. This damage has even been given a name. Its called “Sedentary Death Syndrome”. (1)

If you are an employee and happen to work for a progressive company that recognizes the dangers of being unfit and overweight, then lucky you! If not, then perhaps you could show this article to your employer. If you are the employer then please seriously consider how you can learn to help yourself as well as your staff live healthy lives despite the pressures of the new economy!

There are ways to reverse and prevent this very real danger with properly executed exercise techniques, nutrition and a few changes in mindset.



Booth FW. Sedentary Death Syndrome. Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology. 2004. 29(4) 444-446 (review)

Statin Drugs Do Harm, Not Cholesterol

Statin drugs (Crestor, Lipitor, etc.) are widely promoted, not for the benefit of patients, but to support the financial interests of the pharmaceutical industry. They are even being prescribed for children. These drugs can be dangerous. And newer studies indicate that, with regard to preventing cardiovascular disease, they don't work!*


The goal in medical settings these days is to get so called "bad cholesterol" (in LDL) as low as possible. Standards for normal levels have been artificially lowered by the drug companies who dictate to doctors.

There is no such thing as bad cholesterol, except when it's oxidized. Cholesterol is cholesterol whether it is carried in the LDL's or HDL's. ( The findings of low HDL's and high levels of small particle LDL's may have significance with regard to heart disease, but is a separate topic and not treatable by statins.).  Cholesterol is necessary for health. It is a component of cell membranes, steroid hormones, bile acids, vitamin D and myelin. It participates in the immune system.  It is normal and desirable for levels to moderately increase as we age.

Extremely high cholesterol levels can be indicative of a rare genetic variant called familial hypercholesterolemia, which is found in about 1 out of 500 people, and is not the focus of this post. Very high serum cholesterol is most commonly a sign of inflammation somewhere in the cardiovascular system. When there is inflammation in the cardiovascular system, cholesterol is one of several components sent by the body to help repair the damage. This can be life-saving in the short term, but unfortunately, when the calcified, cholesterol-containing "plaque patch" sticks around a while it can oxidize, igniting a free radical chain reaction.  An old, calcified plaque patch can eventually break off, leading to a stroke or a heart attack.


The way to prevent a stroke or heart attack is not to reduce cholesterol but to address the cause of very high levels. Otherwise, damage in the arteries proceeds unchecked. Plaque formation may be reduced but the blood vessel continues to deteriorate.  To make matters worse - statins have recently been shown to increase calcification within the blood vessels.


Statin drugs not only don't solve the cause of cardiovascular damage, but the drugs directly damage the muscles, kidneys, liver, heart, lens of the eye, nervous system (including the brain) and endocrine systems. The association with increased calcification of the arteries may be involved with  the dementia often seen as a side effect..  They obliterate the body's synthesis of a very important vitamin-like chemical called Coenzyme Q-10. This is detrimental, especially for the heart, even with supplementation.  Supplements cannot really compensate for wiping out the body's own supply.


In addition to the damage that statins can cause directly, reducing cholesterol levels too much throughout the body is unhealthy, and associated with reduced immunity, cancer, hormonal issues, neuropathies, dementia, and more. The standards of "normal" have been manipulated by the pharmaceutical industry so that they can get everyone on statins.


Extremely high LDL-C levels, especially when concurrent with low HDL's, are a symptom, not a direct cause, of a situation in the body that needs to be addressed by lifestyle, food intake and exercise. Getting the "numbers" down may seem like a victory as far as the doctor is concerned, but addressing a symptom only masks a bigger problem and is not the same as eliminating a disease process.


That is why statin drugs have not been shown, by any well designed and properly analyzed study, to improve cardiovascular health in the long term, nor reduce the rate of death from cardiovascular disease.


*This post is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your personal physician if you are concerned about your condition.

Golumb BA,Evans MA.  Statin adverse effects : a review of the literature and evidence for a mitochondrial mechanism.American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs.2008

Our Animal Friends Deserve the Best!

If a food is not pure enough for you to eat, then it is not good enough for your pets either!  So, should you cook for your dog or cat?

Many well-meaning people who love their companion animals have been seriously misled by the pet-food industry.

Commercial dog and cat food is classified as "unfit for human consumption" for a reason. The appetizing savory beef, lamb, or chicken shown on the labels of familiar brands of canned and dried dog food is really nowhere to be found in the product. Most pet food is made from meat by-products which consist of discarded, and often decaying, body parts (like ears, cartilage, hoofs, intestines, etc.) from slaughterhouses, rancid fats, meat from diseased animals (often from sources that you would probably rather not know about), toxic preservatives and other chemicals, synthetic vitamins, inorganic minerals, (plus taurine for cats), and artifical thickeners in place of natural nutrients. In other words, nothing is wasted by the pet food industry if it can make a profit.

This garbage (which this stuff literally is) is then mixed with cheap fillers - GMO soy, and dirty, moldy grains such as corn and wheat - ingredients that are not at all healthful for dogs and cats to begin with, and are, in addition, loaded with pesticides and fungicides.

There are cleaner, organic and more healthful alternatives available that are better than  supermarket brands; but even these foods, especially dry foods, can contain ingredients that are not natural components of a dog or cat's diet.

If you have a parrot, there are a few halfway decent bird seed brands if you know what to look for.  Avoid pellets/extruded grain and soy products, and supermarket brand seeds tainted with mold and pesticides..  However, birds need other foods to supplement their seed intake.

So, yes, you can cook for your pets, and they would be better off for it. But be aware that there are certain foods that, although healthful for humans, can be toxic to your furry/feathered friends.

For example, don't feed your dog or cat grapes, raisins, chocolate, onions. They do usually enjoy, and benefit from, supplementing their meat with greens and carrots.

There are many so-called human foods that are beneficial for birds such as clean organic carrots, lettuce and peppers, but don't feed your parrot/budgie avocado, or vegetables from the cabbage family, including broccoli.