Soda and Energy Drinks contain BVO : Detox Your Diet

It's not just the sugar that you have to worry about in soda's and energy drinks. 


Did you know that BVO (Brominated Vegetable Oil) is an ingredient in 10% of sodas and energy drinks? BVO has been found to have health effect including skin lesions, memory loss, nerve disorders and thyroid disruption.


Read more from Environmental Health News

Brominated battle: Soda chemical has cloudy health historyPatented as a flame retardant for plastics, and banned in food throughout Europe and Japan, a brominated chemical called BVO has been added to sodas for decades in North America. Now some scientists have a renewed interest in this little-known ingredient, found in 10 percent of sodas in the United States. Research on its toxicity dates back to the 1970s, and some experts now urge a reassessment. After a few extreme soda binges – not too far from what many video gamers regularly consume – a few patients have needed medical attention for skin lesions, memory loss and nerve disorders, all symptoms of overexposure to bromine. Other studies suggest that BVO could be building up in human tissues. In mouse studies, big doses caused reproductive and behavioral problems.

Just as an FYI, if that didn't scare you enough... BVO is banned from the European Union, hasn't been used in India since 1988 and is a chemical that is also used as flame retardant. Yup, a Flame retardant.... so why then is it allowed to be used as an additive to soft drinks, soda, and energy drinks in North America?

 




Related Posts:

• Detox Your Diet: Are you thirsty for some pop?? Regular or Diet you might as well tape it to your tush!

• Detox your Diet: Drinking two soft drinks a week doubles the risk of pancreatic cancer

Would you like some lead and arsenic with your juice? Detox Your Diet

Detox Your Diet: Would you like some lead and arsenic with your juice? Consumer reports lists the amount of lead and arsenic in US apple juices. 

"Five samples of apple juice and four of grape juice had total arsenic levels exceeding the 10 ppb federal limit for bottled and drinking water. Levels in the apple juices ranged from 1.1 to 13.9 ppb, and grape-juice levels were even higher, 5.9 to 24.7 ppb. Most of the total arsenic in our samples was inorganic, our tests showed.
As for lead, about one fourth of all juice samples had levels at or above the 5-ppb limit for bottled water. The top lead level for apple juice was 13.6 ppb; for grape juice, 15.9 ppb."

We just bought 2 gallons of organic apple juice that I'm not feeling too friendly towards! If you read through the article at the end they give some tips. I was hoping that the organic brands would have non-detectable limits, they are low however. 

I think think that by choosing organic, having it as part of what your kids drink, and diluting with water are all good options. I don't know the status of other juices but can tell you that both grapes and apples are among the most sprayed crops. It is the soil contamination that is affecting the organic trees. 

Choosing juices from fruits that are on the "EWG's Clean fifteen" may be a good option. These are the 15 fruits and vegetables with the least amount of pesticide residue: pineapple, kiwi, mango to name a few. The organic varieties of these will even better. 

Buying organic can be more expensive, however joining a Co-op can greatly reduce the prices and sometimes they even deliver to your door! There are also Co-op's that do dry goods & frozen. In Ontario you can contact the Ontario Natural Food Co-op to see if there is one in your area. If there isn't it is easy to start one and you only need one or two other families involved. 

Download a PDF of the complete Consumer Report results: http://tinyurl.com/77ruq87

Eat Local! Eat Canadian!

The Fall is  great time to look locally for farm fresh fruits and vegetables at a road-side stand or Farmer's Market.  My great friend and colleague Dr. Janice Davie ND just brought my attention to a video that highlights just home much fresh produce we import. Check it out!

Detox your Diet: Watch Food Inc

I found out from April at Durham Organics's that the documentary Food, Inc. was shown on CBC's The Passionate Eye and is available to watch for free in full length on their site.

This is a must-watch documentary that will give you (and definitely gave me) insights on where our food comes from, how it is processed and how we can make healthier, more ethical food choices for our families, our communities and the planet. 

Click below to watch the full version of

Food, Inc.

 I found the last few frames of Food, Inc. especially inspiring, I thought I would share them with you...

"You can vote to change (our food system). Three times a day.

Buy from companies that treat workers, animals, and the environment with respect.

When you go to the supermarket,

            Choose foods that are in season.

            Buy foods that are organic.

            Know what's in your fod.

            Read labels.

Know what you Buy.

The average meal travels 1500 miles from the farm to the supermarket.

            Buy foods that are grown locally.

            Shop at farmer's markets.

            Plant a garden. (even a small one)

Cook a meal with your family and eat together.

Everyone has a right to healthy food.

            Ask your school board to provide health school lunches.

If you say grace, ask for food that will keep us, and the planet healthy.

You can change the world with every bite."

Detox your Diet: Apple Slices with Cashew Vanilla dip

Detox your Diet: Drinking two soft drinks a week doubles the risk of pancreatic cancer

If you're still a pop drinker and weren't convinced by my earlier post on how both regular and diet pop both contribute to insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes, hopefully this study will sway you to stop this sugary habit that leads no where but ill-health.

Regular consumption of soft drinks may play an independent role in the development of pancreatic cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(2); 447–55

The study goes on to report an almost 2x increased rate of pancreatic cancer for those individuals consuming ≥2 soft drinks/wk experienced a statistically significant increased risk of pancreatic cancer (hazard ratio, 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-3.15) compared with individuals who did not consume soft drinks.

CTV News reported "The high levels of sugar in soft drinks may be increasing the level of insulin in the body, which we think contributes to pancreatic cancer cell growth," lead researcher Mark Pereira of the University of Minnesota said in a statement. Insulin helps the body metabolize sugar, and is produced in the pancreas.

Detox your Diet: 10 Dietary Steps towards Breast Cancer Prevention

From “A Call to Women” The healthy breast program and workbook by Sat Dharam Kaur, ND

1. Eat organic foods whenever possible.
Organic foods have a higher mineral content.
Organic foods have been exposed to significantly less environmental toxins.
Check out the EWG for their list of the dirty dozen and clean fifteen.

2. Eat a primarily vegetarian diet
Research show that a vegetarian diet prevents 20-50% of all cancers.
Eating lower in the food chain also decreases ingestion of environmental chemicals.

3. Eat raw or lightly steamed food.
Enzymes in fruits and vegetables can be destroyed at high temperatures.

4. Indulge in foods from the Brassica family.
Brassica family includes: cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, bok choy, kale, kohlrobi, turnips, rutabagas, radish, garden sorrel, watercress, collards.
These plants contain Indole-3-carbinol, which is a phytochemical that promotes deactivation of the “bad” C-16 estrogen, and production of the “good” C-2 estrogens.

5. Eat garlic, onions and leeks
These foods have been found to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.
They help to prevent the initiation, promotion and recurrence of many forms of cancer.

6. Eat Sea Vegetables
Nori, arame, hijiki, kelp, dulse, and kombu.
These foods are high in calcium, iron and trace minerals.
They also contain iodine, which is essential to thyroid function.
Note: Soak dried vegetables in warm water 10-20 minutes to re-hydrate them.


7. Eat your antioxidants.
Lycopene – a powerful antioxidant is a carotene that has been shown to protect against breast, cervical, mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, colon and rectal cancer.
Lycopene is found in tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit, guava and rose hips.
Flavonoids and limonene - Found to inhibit growth and proliferation of breast cancer cells.
Found in: Tangerines, oranges, lemons and grapefruit.


8. Choose your fats
Avoid saturated fats: found in meat and animal products.
Increase intake of Omega 3 Fatty acids which weaken the effects of estrogen on breast cells.
Omega 3’s are found in highest concentration in: fish oils and flax seed.


9. Aim for 30 grams of fiber a day. A high fiber diet:
Decreases circulating estrogens, decreases incidence of obesity, decreases serum cholesterol.
Helps to stabilize blood sugar and improves insulin sensitivity.
Increases elimination, and decreases toxicity.

10. Eat Phytoestrogens.
Phytoestrogens increase the production of steroid hormone binding globulin (SHBG) the transport system that caries estrogen in the blood before it attaches to an estrogen receptor, the more SHBG, the less available estrogen.
Top Five phytoestrogens: Flaxseeds, Tofu/ soymilk, Raw pumpkinseeds, clover sprouts, and mung bean sprouts.

Detox Your Diet: Are you thirsty for some pop?? Regular or Diet you might as well tape it to your tush!

et: Thirsty for some soda?  If you're wondering where the pounds you've packed on have come from  you may not need to look further than your favourite drink. One can of 12 oz soda has 3 tablespoons of sugar, while a 2 liter bottle has 25 tablespoons! Yikes! Each table spoon of sugar equals 45 calories. This means in that 12 oz can of pop there are 135 calories from sugar, and in the 2 liter bottle there are 1,125 calories from sugar.

Lets put this single tablespoon of sugar and 45 calorie into perspective. It takes 3500 calories to make up a pound of fat. So, what does this mean for you? This means that by consuming one can of pop a day at the end of the month this is an extra 4,050 calories, just over one pound of fat! At the end of one year this is an extra 48,600 calories and a potential weight gain of 13 pounds.

For those of you who are heavier pop consumers averaging out to one liter a day, at the end of the month this is a potential weight gain of 4.8 lbs and at the end of the year a whopping 57 lbs! This is definetely a miracle weight gain product. Probably not a key character you're looking for from your beverage of choice!

Eating out at a restaurant and having a 16oz soda (average size of a large glass) with 3 free refills would set you out at a lovely 750 calories. Considering that average person needs to consume about 1600 - 2000 calories a day, you would be drinking almost a third of your total calories on that one drink!

Don't be so quick to think that diet pop is any better! Although it is not contributing to total calories, it is contributing to an increase in liver enzymes (a marker that you liver is working too hard) as well as to contribute towards insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the body becoming less sensitive to the insulin that is being produced by the pancreas, and is one of the first steps towards a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes.

What about fruit drinks or ice tea? A 12 oz Can of Nestea contains 135 calories, 23 calories from sugar, this is about 2 tablespoons, so you're not doing much better than the pop. How about fruit juices or drinks? Again let's look at the total calories per serving, as well as how many of those calories come from sugar... For a Minute Maid 15 oz bottle of pineapple-orange juice there are 120 Calories and 27 grams of sugar, or 3 tablespoons. Although this sugar is from fruit, the body doesn't differentiate the source and recognizes sugar as sugar.

So... What are you thirsty for?
Unless weight gain is your goal... Your best options are water, carbonated water (if you're looking for some fiz), adding a wedge of lemon, lime, or fresh mint, or to the carbonated water a splash of fruit juice (1/4 cup juice to 3/4 cup carbonated water).

Detox Your Diet: Go Green! Steamed kale with lemon

Go Green! Choose green leafy veggies every day for liver health.

Veggies in the brassicaceae family are high in indol-3-carbinol a compound that helps the body clear excess hormones and is extremely protective towards the liver.

My favorite is Steamed kale with fresh lemon, olive oil and sea salt.

• Wash & rinse 2 bunches of kale
• De-stem kale and rip or chop into bite size pieces.
• Steam for 6 minutes, or until bright green and tender.
• whisk together: Juice of 1/2 a lemon (2 tbsp), 1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
• Toss kale with the lemon and olive oil, add fresh cracked pepper and sea salt to taste.
  

Serves 4 large servings.


I've been getting fresh organics delivered biweekly from April at Durham Organics and can't wait to try the black kale that was delivered at my doorstep last Wednesday!

Detox your Diet: Cancer Prevention and Diet Tips

1. Get regular check-ups
• Many cancers can be prevented/discovered in the early stages with screening tests available through your healthcare provider

2. Go Vegetarian
• Eat more vegetables (especially tomatoes and coniferous vegetables); fruits, whole grains, and legumes to help optimize body weight, immune function, hormone regulation, and avoid meat-related carcinogens, all of which may influence cancer risk

3. Focus on Fiber
• Eat foods rich in fiber, especially those made with whole grains, to help reduce the risk of several cancer

4. Find healthy fats
• More meals containing olive oil or fish, help protect against cancer, and avoiding fat from meat, dairy, and processed foods, may decrease cancer risk

5. Avoid alcohol
• Use alcohol beverages in moderation or not at all to reduce the risk of many cancers

Health Benefits of Antioxidant intake:
• Antioxidants help protect against free radical damage and help boost the immune system
• Free radicals are highly reactive compounds that are created in the body during normal metabolic functions or introduced from the environment
• Free radicals interfere with the cells’ ability to function normally and are believed to play a role in more than 60 different health conditions, including heart disease and cancer
• Antioxidants stop free radicals from forming & minimize the damage caused by free radicals
• Thus, increasing the intake of antioxidant nutrients has the potential to reduce the risk of free radical-related health problems
• Antioxidant nutrients include:
- Vitamins: A, C, E, and B-vitamins
- Minerals: Selenium & Zinc

Detox your Diet: Healthy Lifestyles Linked to lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, older adults with healthy lifestyles have a significantly reduced risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

Researchers followed 4900 adults, aged 65 or older and without diabetes at baseline, for 10 years. During that time, they periodically assessed participants' lifestyle habits. Factors associated with low risk for diabetes were:

• physical activity above the median;
• dietary scores in the upper two quintiles;
• no smoking;
• moderate alcohol use;
• not being overweight.

Diabetes developed in 7% of the subjects. In adjusted analyses, each low-risk lifestyle factor was independently associated with reduced diabetes risk. Patients with all five healthy lifestyle factors had an 89% reduction in risk.
The authors say their findings "support the need for emphasizing healthy and achievable physical activity and dietary goals," as well as other healthy habits, among older adults.

So what's in it for you? You can add health to your lifestyle at any age!

• If you're sedentary, learn to exercise. This doesn't mean you need a membership to a gym. 20 minutes /day of moving is all it takes to get started. How about starting with a walk on your lunch break?
  
• If you smoke, you must quit. By smoking you are putting yourself at considerable risk of not only developing Type 2 Diabetes, but also many other preventable smoking related diseases. Not to mention it stinks, and you stink! This is a very hard habit to kick, get your support network to see you through, including your health care practitioners.
  
• Consume a heart healthy Mediterranean style diet. In short high fiber, lots of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats (omega3 and omega 9)
• Moderate alcohol use: no more than 1 small glass of red wine per day. Red wine is full of antioxidants.
  

Detox your Diet: Why Should You Drink More Water?

• to improve your energy
• to increase your mental and physical performance
• to remove toxins and waste products from your body
• to keep your skin looking healthy
• to help you loose weight by regulating appetite and increasing metabolism
• to prevent headaches and dizziness due to dehydration
• to allow for proper digestion
• to reduce blood pressure and high cholesterol
• to ease joint pain
• to decrease the risk of some cancers
• to decrease the risk of developing kidney stones

How Much water is enough?

• 1.5 to 2 liters a day or more if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, in a hot climate, or doing heavy exercise.
• Drink throughout the day, drinking large amounts all at once won't be absorberd by the body.
• Breast fed and formula fed infants don't need any extra water they should be getting all the hydration they require from either breast milk (ideal) or if this is not possible from formula.
  

Detox your Diet: Pesticides in Produce (Part 2)

Most contaminated Vegetables:
1. Spinach
2. Bell peppers
3. Celery
4. Potatoes
5. Hot peppers
6. Green beans
7. Lettuce
8. Cucumbers
9. Carrots

Thus, it would be most beneficial to purchase these vegetables organic.

Least contaminated vegetables:
1. Cauliflower
2. Brussels Sprout
3. Asparagus
4. Radishes
5. Broccoli
6. Onions
7. Okra
8. Cabbage
9. Eggplant

If you cannot afford going organic, then use the Fruit & Veggie wash that was posted previously on this blog.

Detox your Diet: Pesticides in Produce (Part 1)

Most Contaminated Fruits:
1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Strawberries
4. Nectarines
5. Pears
6. Cherries
7. Raspberries
8. Grapes
9. Blueberries

Thus, it would be most beneficial to purchase these fruits organic.

Least Contaminated Fruits:
1. Avocado
2. Pineapple
3. Plantains
4. Mangoes
5. Watermelons
6. Plums
7. Kiwi
8. Papaya
9. Grapefruit

If you cannot afford going organic, then use the Fruit & Veggie wash that was posted previously on this blog.

Detox your Diet: A great antioxidant spice

Tumeric or, Curcumin is a commonly used spice in South Asian and Middle Eastern cooking and is one of the key ingredients in curry dishes. Turmeric possesses a number of important medical properties and is now a popular component of many natural health products.

Turmeric is an anti-oxidant, and has been shown to prevent atherosclerosis, liver disease and even cancer. The medicinal benefits of turmeric can be attributed to its anti-inflammatory properties. Natural health products containing turmeric are commonly used for pain and inflammation of the muscles and joints, such as in arthritis, as well as for inflammation of the gastrointestinal system, as in irritable bowel syndrome and other conditions marked by digestive dysfunction.

Turmeric also supports liver detoxification by supporting the Phase 2 liver detoxifications pathways.

To obtain some of the beneficial effects of this herb, start adding turmeric to your everyday diet. Begin with ¼ tsp per day added to foods (such as scrambled eggs, sauces, soups, stir-fries, salad dressings, etc). Gradually increase this amount after about a month to ½ tsp each day and then up to a full tsp after another month or so.

Detox your Diet: Chicken Tikka with Baby Spinach Recipe

This is a very easy recipe for 2, using ginger and turmeric.

Ingredients:
- 8 ounces chicken breast: boneless and skinless
- 1/2 cup plain, low-fat yogurt
- 2 tsp chopped garlic
- 2 tsp ginger root, chopped
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp fresh mint or coriander, chopped (optional)
- 2 cups chunk pineapple or mardarin orange slices (if canned in juice, then drain)
- 2 cups organic baby spinach leaves

Instructions:
1. Marinade:
- Mix yogurt well with garlic, ginger, spices and fresh mint
- Cut chicken into fairly large chunks, about 5-6 pieces for each chicken breast
- Soak the chicken pieces in yogurt mixture, turning over to make sure all parts are coated
- Marinade, and let chicken sit in the marinade in the fridge for 1-2 hours

2. Preheat the broiler
- Meanwhile, place the chicken pieces in a lightly-oiled, shallow baking pain
- Best if pan is at least 10 inches from the broiler and broil for 5 minutes
- Turn chicken pieces over, add the pineapple or mandarin orange slices and broil for another 5 minutes

3. Wilt the spinach: Put spinach leaves in a saucepan with 1/4 cup of boiling water. Cover tightly and steam for 3 minutes. Drain. Serve this colorful chicken and fruit on a bed of spinach.

Nutritional Information: (per serving)
364 calories
4 g total fat (1 g sat)
54 mg cholesterol
54 g carbohydrate
30 g protein
3 g fiber
128 mg sodium

Dairy free Me: Creamy Romaine Salad Recipe

Prep and Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 medium heads romaine lettuce, outer leaves discarded
• 1 bunch young dandelion greens, if available
• 1 medium tomato cut into eighths
• 
  
• Dressing:
• 3 TBS chopped fresh basil
• 3 medium cloves garlic, pressed
• 1 TBS prepared Dijon mustard
• 1 TBS honey
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp cracked black pepper
• 4 TBS fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 4 oz silken tofu
• 2 TBS extra virgin olive oil
• *a little water to thin if needed

The silken tofu makes it creamy without dairy giving your salad a rich taste without a lot of fat.
Directions:

1. Blend all dressing ingredients in blender adding oil a little at a time at end.
2. Chop, rinse, and dry romaine and dandelion greens. If you have a salad spinner it is best. If not, pat rinsed greens with paper towels so dressing doesn't get diluted.
3. Toss greens with tomato and desired amount of dressing.
   Serves 4
   

Healthy Cooking Tips:
Make sure you blend this dressing well so the sunflower seeds are ground. Stop your blender and test for smoothness. When the seeds are ground well they will make your dressing nice and creamy.

Detox your Diet: Easy spinach recipe

For perfect spinach place in boiling water for just 1 minute. This is not only quick, but it helps to preserve the maximum number of nutrients in the spinach. Enjoy!

Prep and Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 pound fresh spinach
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 medium fresh garlic, pressed
• 1 TBS extra virgin olive oil
• salt & cracked black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Bring lightly salted water to a rapid boil in a large pot. Cut stems off spinach leaves and clean well. This can be done easily by leaving spinach bundled and cutting off stems all at once. Rinse spinach leaves very well as they often contain a lot of soil. Cook spinach in boiling water for 1 minute.
2. Drain and press out excess water. Toss in rest of ingredients while still hot.
   Serves 2
   

Detox your Diet: Healthy Hummus

This Middle Eastern dish makes a great spread or dip and adds extra protein and fiber to your menu. Enjoy!

Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes Ingredients: 1 15-oz can of garbanzo beans, preferably organic 2 + 3 TBS extra virgin olive oil 2 cloves garlic 1 TBS sesame tahini 1 TBS fresh lemon juice sea salt and pepper to taste Serves 6

Directions:

1. Blend garbanzo beans, 2 TBS extra virgin olive oil, garlic, tahini, and lemon juice in blender. Add the 3 TBS olive oil a little at a time through the feed hole as the mixture is blending.
2. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Detox your Diet: What do you do when you can't buy organic?

What should you do when it's not possible to buy organic? Here are some recommendations when you can't buy organic:

1. Locally-grown foods may or may not be lower in pesticides and other contaminants, but it's easy enough to ask and you may be surprised how many local growers you'll find within driving distance and how close to organic some of their foods may turn out to be.
   
2. Read the ingredient lists on all non-organic food packaging. Although you cannot trust the terms "natural" or "all natural" on the front of the package, you can trust the ingredient lists to include most of the substances added to the food. Look for the terms "artificial flavor" and "artificial color." Also look for the FD&C colorings (for example, Yellow 5). Of course, you won't find pesticides, heavy metals, or other potentially toxic residues listed on ingredient lists. But watching out for other potential toxins is still very worthwhile.
3. Wash your produce thoroughly and use a vegetable brush to help remove potential toxins found on the surface of the food.
   
4. Peel all waxed fruits. Also peel any fruits you know or suspect to be heavily sprayed.
5. Enjoy the delicious flavors and textures of your food. Even when you haven't been able to buy organic, take satisfaction in the selections you've made and recognize the benefits of nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods, one-of-a-kind foods!