Got Evidence- On hold, A question of thought?

My household has been crazy with Pulmonary embolisms and a blood clot in the heart. So I have not had the time to do the research I have wanted to do. Still planning on doing this research on organic versus regular products. I will be looking into it this weekend and prepare an Got Evidence for next Thursday.

A question of thought for today, Do you think Organic Raw Vegetables are better then Regular grown ones? With all the FDAs regulations the growers need to follow, perhaps there really is no difference. Think about this, we have had more cases of illness and death due to fresh vegetable since the push for organic has increased.

What is your thought on this subject?

Got Evidence- Man Made Chemicles?

In this series of Got Evidence we are going to look into the question "Are Chemicals good for your Body". One thing I have notice is the push for folks to buy Organic. Why is this are the Preservatives/ chemicals used in the others bad for our bodies?

I noticed that a skin problem I had a while back has returned. This got me thinking what is the cause. Thought I new what it was. Then I noticed that a product I had been using for a while had changed their ingredients to a Chemical produced sweetener. The Old one did not have it. If the Companies are changing ingredients from Natural to Man Made Chemicals, we should be looking into the Health of it.

I have stopped using the product and the skin problem is receding. Now in fairness of the companies I will not be mentioning names, only the chemicals themselves. The main question I am going to explore is, Are the Chemicals good for our Bodies. So, for the next few weeks in October I will be doing the research to find that out. Check back on Thursdays to see what I learned.

Now I have a question for you. Do you think the Man made chemicals are healthy for you? If you have a question on a certain chemical please leave it in the comments and I will certainly explore it.

Got Evidence? "MckLinky is turning to a paid service" .

Well, it has come to the end of a Free Link service I used. While visiting another link site I used I saw a message.
"MckLinky is turning to a paid service with rough terms (pay or they delete your links),......".
This surprised me.. where have I been? I didn't know anything about this! So of course I had to find out what the hype was about. Where is the evidence to this statement.

Went to my account at Mcklinky, now known as Linky Tools, to check this out. I found this message

ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGES:

*

VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE:

Linky Tools has grown to over 16,000 users and I can no longer continue to pay all the expenses out of my own pocket to keep it free as I have done for a couple of years. Ads and donations are not working. I have to go to a subscription service.

To keep your account from being DEACTIVATED on February 7th, please go here and read this notice. THIS IS A GENERAL INFORMATION NOTICE... IF YOU HAVE PAID, YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.

Now I get it, Free things Must come to an end. Free is really always limited and mostly timed stamped at that.

Undecided on whether I will pay this service for continuing. Sometime ago I got frustrated with having to redirect folks to another site and then hoping that they will return to my blog to comment. This patterned I just did not like. Most folks, including me, will sometimes just move on to the next name on their list or blog in their Que.
I started looking for a link tool that would not redirect my visitors. I found one that was free to use. However every free service has a paid version that gives more tools to use. At some point one need to make that move. Free services always has Limits.

Inlinkz was one of my choices. Used it for awhile as a free service. Then later paid for the service. I wanted to use more of this service and not be limited on how much I could use. Their price is not bad it was under 20 dollars for one year. Now Mcklinky is charging 24.00 for one year. It is true He has more to offer than Inlinkz. However I had to look at the features I use and I felt that Inlinkz was a better choice for me.

I really did like Mcklinky, now called Linky Tools, Brent, the creator, has a lot of link types and hops going on. I do not think the cost is too bad. I am not a user of all the tools he has available. Therefore I am not eager to pay at this time. And the one thing that really turn me off right now is the Redirect of the Visitor to link up. I know he has some features that automatically puts the visitor back to your page. However even that is not to my liking. It takes too long to return the visitor and some time it can just timeout. There are always bugs to work out on these Link sites. Brent does a good job on staying up on these bugs. Weighting the pros and cons of the two, I still choose Inlinkz at this time.

Now, so I do not loose my links from his service, I have to export them to each of my blog post. This work needs to be done by the 21st of this month. So I will be busy deciding on the ones to export and the one to just let go. To be deleted by Brent as he deletes my account. One will still be able to link on the blogs who use his service.

If you want more information on this Move by Linky Tools here is a link for you....

The Yearly Subscriptions by LinkyTools

( this will explain it further for you)

Now if you are interested in Inlinkz, here is the link to that site.

Got Evidence: Fat, a Virus????

Can you believe it...... We are already in October. How has your Getting healthy plan worked out so far? I was able to maintain my weight through out the summer. Why is it so hard to lose weight as you get older? Once we pass a certain age we need to get our metabolism going again. Now how can one do that?

I have read various plans from Pills to certain exercise machines. Deciding which one works for you is hard. There was a time when getting old meant sagging parts of the body and weight gain. Remember the old Granny's, Jolly and Plump. Even Santa was Pictured that way. Now in this century Granny's like Mothers and Santa is getting fit. So, the question remains, Now are they doing that?

No I do not have the answer today. I know some tools that can assist us. So for the next couple weeks I will be posting another Got Evidence series. Looking for the ways one stays fit according to today's lifestyle. Can any one achieve this New Granny look or is it just in the Cards dealt one. Is Fat a Virus you catch from others (don't laugh at this one, it was a study done). Does it matter where you live, are there Thin States and Countries. Is your nationality a key factor.

What is your opinion on the subject. Do you think it depends on your genes, or is it just lifestyle? Come on, way in , you might never know how your answer might add to the equation.

Got Evidence-Products used the home

Automatic Dishwasher Detergent is used in most American homes. It has been a hand saving invention since the sixties for us Dishwashers. Is it a good thing? One would think so, huh. Over the years the detergents have gotten better at cleaning without rinsing first. Let's look at some household cleaner ingredients and see how these can effect our home environmental air and health.
When My Mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, we started asking questions. How does one get this? My Mothers always wanted to know the Whys of things. Interesting we found out that the research tended to believe that this Deadliest Cancer to women is caused by the environment. So what in our environment could cause this? The search for answers continued.
I found out that most of the products we use in our household to clean, had Carcinogenics products in them. In the next few weeks we will be looking at a few of them. Got Evidence will look at some product we use and see if they are healthy to our environment. Have the companies changed over the years to the good or are they still using Carcinogenics in their products. So come along with me in the search for those healthier Household cleaners.

Did you know that dishwashers ingredients can emit Cancer Causing Vapors in the drying cycle? I found this out a few years ago. Here is some brief info on one of the brands.

Acute Health Effects:	From MSDS Route(s) of Entry: Ingestion, eye contact, inhalation, skin contact. Health Hazards (Acute and Chronic): Ingestion may cause moderate transient gastrointestinal irritation. Heavy or prolonged exposure to breathing dust may cause transient respiratory tract irritation. Prolonged skin contact with undiluted product may result in irritation. Signs and Symptoms of Exposure: Ingestion may result in nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Eye contact may cause stinging, tearing, itching, swelling and/or redness. Inhalation may cause coughing, sore throat, wheezing or transitory shortness of breath. Prolonged skin contact may result in redness, itching and irritation. Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure: Pre-existing dermatitis conditions may be aggravated by prolonged contact with the product.
Chronic Health Effects:	From MSDS Heavy or prolonged exposure to breathing dust may cause transient respiratory tract irritation. Prolonged skin contact with undiluted product may result in irritation.
Carcinogenicity:	The manufacturer's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) does not state whether the ingredients are considered carcinogens or potential carcinogens.

This is just on one product I used on a regular basis. I considered it the best in dishwasher products. I will speak more about this in the next few days. so off for more research to share with you. Working toward a Healthier home environment for all.

Got Evidence- Part 3- Making a Healthy Decision.

In Part 1 we looked at the Sweeteners used in our markets. There were several different types. Most of them found or created in a lab by Accident. Stevia was the only Herb Plant used for centuries to sweeten the taste. It is fairly new to our Western Market. However to take it in pure form is not recommended for some people taking Blood Pressure or Heart Medication. It can as well cause problems for these folks in small amounts over a steady time. Since Herbs do have Medical properties, it is wise to talk to a Herbalist if you are taking Chemical Medications. Mixing of Herbs and Medicine can be dangerous to your health.
Learning about the FDA role in Part 2 gave us an idea of how the amounts are decided. The manufacturers stay within the regulated amounts that's for sure. The downside is that we, the consumer, do not know what amounts are used. For example if one drink has the regulated amount and we drink more than you should, you could be exceeding the safe ADI amount. Now with more Manufacturers using these sweeteners in other products, one can exceeded the ADI amount quickly. This can put our health in jeopardy.

Today we will look at some Research on our Bodies. All these studies are done looking at the effect of drinking diet drinks. How is at relevant to our health, can it contribute to our Diabetes risk? and what about Weight loss does it really help and keep our bodies healthy at the same time?

A nationwide study finished in 2007 concluded that drinking just one 8oz serving can raise your chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes by 67%. This percent is referring to those who contract diabetes to those would do not drink diet drinks. The Researchers do not say that drinking Diet drinks causes the diabetes. Rather it is suggested that the drinking of them Might have an indirect effect. Perhaps causing weight gain and Insulin problems.
Weight gain you say, how can that be? The word Diet is taken as Being healthy, however it is not necessarily so. Many of the Chemicals in the sweeteners cause an Insulin reaction, which in turn causes the body to crave more sugar or food. This can lead to gaining weight. Our Obesity is the number one cause for Type 2 Diabetes. Another factor is many folks believe that the Zero Calorie drink are a free food. So they tend to eat more Food. Whether it is a mindset or a chemical reaction, Our obsession with the diet drinks are great. It is making our risk greater for an unhealthy life style.

In 2009 there was a study done on Kidney disease. Kidney Disease is on the rise also. In this study 3,000 women(730 of them with Diabetes) where used. It showed drinking 2 or more 8oz servings a day effected the kidney functions. The decline in function was twice the rate of those who did not drink Diet drinks. All the other controlling factors were included, Age, Caloric intake and diabetes status as well as weight. Our Kidneys are a organ vital to our living. Their function is very important, if the function is impaired we are at greater risk of Health problems. Maybe even Kidney Failure at some point!

In conclusion of this 3 part Got Evidence post,I will pose a question to you. With all the research out there and many years of use, Do you still feel Diet drinks are a healthy choice?

Got Evidence- Part 2- FDA's Role

So now what is the FDA's (Food Drug and Alcohol) role in deciding if and how much is safe?
Their role is to make sure there are enough rigorous testing on the product. Then they will list the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). This number is derived from the testing, if it's animal testing the number is set at 100 times lower than found safe for the animal.
Now I bet you what to know what the ADI for Diet Drinks are.

For a 12 oz drink of Diet soda ;

• containing Aspartame=18-19 cans
• containing Acesulfame K=30-32 can
• containing Sucralose= 6 cans
• for Saccharin it is 9-12 packets
• Stevia has not be determined yet, they have not set a ADI for it.

Even though these Number have been set, the manufacturers vary on the amounts used. therefore it is hard to determine the safe amount to consume in a day. Take for example the amounts in a 8 oz serving size of the following canned sodas;

Just containing Aspartame

• Diet coke has 125 milligrams of Aspartame,
• Diet Pepsi has 118 mg
  
• Diet Dr Pepper numbers are 123 mg.

If we look at the brands that mix the sweeteners,the Numbers are closer;

• Coke Zero has 58 mg Aspartame, and 31 mg of AcesulfameK
• Sprite Zero and Fresca has 50 mg Aspartame and 34 mg of AcesulfameK
• Barq's Diet Root Beer has 66mg of Aspartame and 41 mg of AcesulfameK

Diet Mountain Dew has 57mg Aspartame and 18 mg AcesulfameK as well as 18 mg Sucralose .
Tab is one with Saccharin and Aspartame, it contain 64mg of saccharin and 19mg aspartame.

Fountain drinks can have different amounts, for lables are not shown and they work on a more concentrated syrup, using a soda water to mix with the drink. That makes it hard to know due to the difference in restaurants equipment.

However you look at it the FDA's role is only to apply the facts for our safety of consumption. Some times the research is limited and the fact are not truly revealed until years later. Case in Point, Saccharine. A known carcinogenic today but in its' earlier time considered a healthy choice.
Today the consumer will have a hard time determining the amounts they consume. Making it difficult to stay within the ADI recommendation of the FDA. With all the sweeteners found in Baked goods, Snack, cereals and other Low calorie food we consume... one will not be able to discern the amounts. Our packaging does not (to date) have all the Milligrams used in the product. The Names are only listed in the ingredients.

So the question remains, do we drink the diet drink ? Or are we risking our health if we do? Research has shown that the consumption of these diet drink can actually contribute to Diabetes Type 2. One will have a 67% greater chance of developing it.
Monday we will look at some of the other studies and how they can effect our health. We all need to stay informed to live healthier lives.

Got Evidence- Diet Drinks-Part1

Got Evidence will be a new series on the evidence of Living healthy. It will appear when I get evidence on something that I feel is important to know for Living Healthy. Only the Facts will tell us and the research will tell all. So join me in this one on Our Diet Drinks. You decide your healthy direction in the life.

The Sweeteners Used.

This is a three part series on the Safety of the Diet Drinks we consume. We will be looking at the types of Sweeteners used in them, the FDA role in safety standard and finally our healthier choice.
With the rise in obesity, diabetes type 2 and cancer, can the diet drinks be a factor? Looking at the ingredients used to make them less in calories, mainly the Sweeteners, can give us a better mind to make the right choice. Today we will look at the types of sweeteners used by manufacturers.

Most diet drinks are sweetener with artificial sweetener. Diabetics often think of Diet drink as a health choice, Is it? People on diets often think of diet sodas like zero calories, are they in the long run? Let's take a look at the sweeteners used in the drinks.

The first one to come on board was Saccharin. Even though it was developed in the 1800, it did not become widely use until the 60's and 70's. Now saccharin is a chemical that was widely used in soft drinks. Introduced by the names Sweet 10, Sugar Twin, and Sweet-N-Low. It first came out in a little pill form, you just dropped 2 or3 in your drink. Then in Liquid form, one to two squirts should do it. Now sold in the granular form in little pink packages. It is 300 times sweeter than sugar. Because the body does not process saccharin, it runs through the digestive system and out. Noted as a free calorie food. The down side is it has been known to trigger insulin release.

Then in the 80's came Aspartame. used in Equal and Nutrasweet. These are about 200 times sweeter than sugar. They break down in the body into two chemicals properties. Phenylalanine and Aspartic acid. Phenylalanine is an amino acid found in the breast milk of mammals and is a known to have antidepressant and analgesic effects. Aspartic acid is also an amino acid found in wildlife meat and some vegetables such as avocados, oat flakes and spouting seeds. It can also be found in young sugarcane , molasses as well as sugar beets.
Both chemicals can be processed in the body easily.
Saccharine and Aspartame are widely used together as a sweetener. Mostly due to the way they work together. Saccharine does not break down, therefore it remains sweet. Aspartame has a shorter shelf life, therefore when it breaks down and saccharine holds the sweetest. Ever wonder why older sodas taste different, or that open bottle changes it taste after a day? This is why.

Now Sweet one and Sunett are sweetener products containing Acesulfame potassium(k). approved by USFDA in the 80's it is about 180 time sweeter than sugar. Although it does have an bitter aftertaste so it is usually mixed with other sweeteners. You will see it on the label as Acesufame K or Ace K. Discover in a German laboratory in the 60's be accident, it has become one of the safest sweetener being used. Ascesulfame is use in over 6,000 food products, ranging from cereal to drinks. It is also used in Pharmaceutical products. Produce from a potassium salt derivative. the chemical itself tends to be mixed with other sweeteners. Due to its ability to be heated and not break down, it has a longer shelf life.

Sucralose came out in the late 90's under the name Splenda. About 600 times sweeter than sugar and having a more stable life, as far as breakdown at high heat. This product has been a newer choice in diet drink makers. Still process be using chemicals, it has been noted that it is derived from sugar.There has not been enough studies on this product yet. Some studies link it to a potential causing more Migraines and some increase in blood sugar for Diabetics. One thing to remember, this is a chemically manufactured substance. In the Laboratories they do change the molecular structure of the sugar compound to achieved a lower sugar calorie product. Therefore there will be some side effects in certain people.

FDA has approved Stevia is a sweeter to be use safely in late 2008. Stevia is a plant that has been used for centuries in other countries as a natural sweetener and medicine. Being 300 times sweeter than sugar it is a good natural choice. it seem to be able to stabilize the blood sugar, curve ones sweet tooth and help lower blood pressure. there are some side effects but nothing that has been noted as life threatening at the present time. I have read some info on Cancer probabilities and problem with Male reproductive organs. However of all the info out there, there is nothing on this claims. A few things to keep in mind are; if you are on meds for blood pressure or a heart condition, it would probably not be a good idea to use Stevia. Due to the side effects known and stated above.

The newest one is Neotame. It is 6,000 to 13,000 sweeter than sugar, that's right in the thousands. This is is on the rise here in the USA. the USFDA has approved it as safe. Nutrasweet company is the maker. It is similar to aspartame, containing the same products used in it. Processed to be more stable in heating , it can be mix with other sweeteners and will have a longer self life. You will start to see it list more and more in products.


some information resources: Elmhurst college, Neotame.com , Wekipedia,Herbs Love to know