New Pepsi Raw May Be Natural, But It’s Not Healthy
February 14, 2008 | 6 Comments
Photo by Samhar Khuzam
The new Pepsi Raw is not healthy. But then again, Pepsi doesn’t claim it to be.
Pepsi has launched their newest cola product … Pepsi Raw. It is currently only available in the UK and is exclusive to bars and pubs. What do they claim is so great about this product? It is all natural, meaning no artificial colorings, preservatives, flavorings, or sweeteners. It is made with cane sugar instead of fructose corn syrup. It’s ingredients include apple extract, plain caramel coloring, gum arabic from acacia trees, and sparkling water.
But Pepsi is Pepsi. That’s all there is to it. It was never meant to be a healthy drink, and this product is no different. While the word “natural” sounds healthy, that is not what natural means. Yes, it is better, but it is not healthy. Pepsi is not even marketing it as a health drink. A spokeswoman for Pepsi was quoted as saying,
“We’re not saying it’s healthier. It’s a premium drink for people who like natural products.”
But the words “natural” and “raw” are deceiving. Most people read those words and think “healthy” or “organic.” Natural only means it is made without artificial ingredients. It doesn’t mean that healthy ingredients were used or that the ingredients (such as the apples) were grown without pesticides.
So what do I think of the product, you ask.
Well, living in the U.S., I have not tried Pepsi Raw. But I do like the fact that Pepsi has launched this product. I am a firm believer that colas should be drank only on occasion as they lack anything of value and are loaded with calories. The only healthy ingredient in Pepsi Raw is the apples, but the drawbacks from the sugar outweigh the benefits of the apples. The calorie count in 300 ml of Pepsi Raw has only been reduced from 126 calories to 117. Which will hardly assist in solving the obesity problem. It is a safer choice, though, then regular Pepsi or Diet Pepsi and I would like to see it come to the U.S. At least they are headed in the right direction.
Now, if they could only make it with stevia, ….
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Cosmetic Surgery: The Quest For Perfection
February 13, 2008 | 6 Comments
Photo by Jose Miguel Serrano
We want it all!
In the book, Facelift Hotel
How far will we go to achieve perfection?
In 2006 Botox was the number one cosmetic treatment, with more than 3 million procedures being performed, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. And 93% of those patients were women. But just take a look at other types of surgeries we will undergo:
Body lift, brow lift, breast lift, face lift, neck lift, thigh lift, suspension lift, tummy tuck, breast reduction or breast enlargement, liposuction, nose shaping, eyelid surgery, lip augmentation, and even vaginal augmentation.
Before going under the knife, be aware that there could be complications.
While it is true that complications from cosmetic surgery are not as common as they used to be, the fact is that they do occur. Consider the unfortunate recent death (Nov. 2007) of Kanye West’s mother, Donda West, who died following a tummy tuck and breast reduction procedure. If you are determined to follow through with cosmetic surgery, please take these precautions so as to lessen your chances of complications:
- Make sure your surgeon is a board-certified plastic surgeon in good standing with your state’s medical board. (This was not the case with Donda West’s surgeon.)
- Be sure to share your full health history with your surgeon to help avoid potential complications.
- Never go into surgery without your doctor doing a complete health evaluation.
- Prior to treatment, make sure your surgeon gives you pre- and post-procedure instructions.
- Discuss with your surgeon all risks involved.
If your surgeon fails to provide any of the above, then you need to look for a new surgeon or reconsider surgery altogether. There are other signs to watch for as well that indicate you have a bad doctor:
- Doctors who make unrealistic promises or minimize the risks involved.
- Doctors who suggest additional procedures unrelated to what you are seeking.
- Doctors who offer special prices as an incentive to surgery or who do not outline the cost prior to surgery.
In my opinion, a surgeon located in St. Louis, Missouri, said it best with this quote,
“A large part of looking youthful on the outside is dependent upon what you do on the inside.”
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Kidney Stones! Just Saying It Makes Me Cringe
February 13, 2008 | 1 Comment
Photo by *Free-Secret-Life*
Men who have passed kidney stones say it is the male equivalent of giving birth.
The other day, a man was telling my husband about his recent excruciatingly painful experience with kidney stones. Of course, my husband then took an interest in finding out how to keep it from happening to him.
Kidney stones are one of the most common, and most painful, urinary tract disorders. While many people believe they only happen to men, the truth is that women have them too … just less often. And once you have had a stone, you are more likely to develop them again. As I heard one source put it, “Kidney stones are like dandelions. They can be eliminated, but they’ll be back next year.”
So let’s stop them before they start!
And you do that by, what else, watching your diet.
- For starters, drinking lots of water throughout the day is the best way to keep stones from forming. Try for 12 ounces daily.
- Eat less meat. Some researchers believe a diet high in protein can lead to stones. So eat protein rich foods in moderation.
- Eat normal amounts of calcium daily. It was once believed that a low-calcium diet was important to ward off the formation of stones. Doctors believe the opposite today.
What foods should you avoid?
It is not believed that any certain foods cause kidney stones. However, for those who are at higher risk of getting them (i.e., those who have had them before or who have a family history of stones), some foods to avoid include spinach, strawberries, rhubarb, chocolate, wheat bran, nuts, beets, and coffee.
And the best tip I have to offer.
Drink cornsilk tea. Yes, that’s right, I said cornsilk. Take the silk straight from corn on the cob, boil it in water, strain, and drink. Rich in Vitamin K, cornsilk is highly valued as a support to the urinary tract system. It is believed that it can reduce the formation of kidney stones and can possibly even relieve the pain for someone who already has stones formed.
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Why Does The FDA Approve Aspartame, But Not Stevia?
February 12, 2008 | 8 Comments
Photo by MR+G
Japan is using the natural sweetener stevia in food and beverage products, while here in the U.S. it is illegal.
I’ve read that the Coca-Cola company has expressed a strong interest in producing drinks with stevia. But they cannot do so because the FDA refuses to approve stevia as a food and beverage ingredient. The FDA states that current information is not sufficient to prove stevia safe as an ingredient in food products. Yet, they continue to allow aspartame to be added to our foods despite the FDA’s own findings that it is unsafe. Some stevia supporters feel the FDA’s agenda is to protect the profits of aspartame. It is their strong belief that the FDA fears products with stevia will harm the sales of products with aspartame. Could there be some truth to this?
Let’s compare the two sweeteners.
Stevia is an all-natural herbal sweetener with virtually no calories. It is much sweeter than sugar and has none of the unhealthy flaws that sugar has. It is low glycemic and will not raise blood sugar levels. It can be consumed by many diabetics, however, please consult your doctor on this issue. Although it has a slight aftertaste, it is a popular natural sugar alternative. Stevia has been thoroughly tested around the world and found to be non-toxic. It has been safely consumed for the past 25 years in Japan. Early studies from the 1980’s did show there was a possibility that stevia caused cancer and infertility. While anything can cause problems when eaten in large amounts, there is currently no compelling evidence that stevia actually causes cancer or infertility when consumed in reasonable quantities. In fact, incidences of cancer in Japan is very low despite the fact that stevia has been used there for over 25 years. Likewise, as far as I can tell, there is no actual evidence in Japan indicating that stevia causes infertility.
Aspartame (aka NutraSweet) is a low-calorie sweetener used in a variety of foods and drinks. It is a dangerous chemical food additive. While NutraSweet claims that aspartame is completely safe, research tells us that it may trigger weight gain, memory loss, anxiety, migraines, birth defects including mental retardation, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Alzheimer’s, brain damage, depression, suicidal tendencies, and even death … just to name a few. Health problems caused by aspartame are commonly misdiagnosed. If you ever go to the doctor with symptoms for which can’t be found a cause, take a look at your diet. Are you consuming aspartame?
Despite the differences between these two sugar alternatives, the FDA has only approved stevia as an ingredient in dietary supplements while aspartame has been approved to be added to any and all foods and drinks. I have to admit, one has got to wonder about the FDA’s credibility here.
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Eating Disorders: Dying To Be Thin
February 9, 2008 | 2 Comments
Photo by Pluotsyum’s
How thin is too thin?
My teenage daughter wears a size 0. She doesn’t have an eating disorder. She’s always been skinny, yet she satisfies a big appetite. I recall her as a toddler and doctors wanting to run tests because she was below the average. The test results always showed her to be a healthy girl. My daughter is just small for her age. Yes, I know. That’s a common excuse among the anorexic. But as long as she is healthy and happy, the doctors told me, I shouldn’t worry about her. And I don’t.
But the last time I went clothes shopping with her, I was blown away by the new sizes they now have for young girls. While size 0 used to be the smallest size in young women’s clothing, they now carry -0, -1, and -2. Who could possibly wear these, I thought. I believe these negative sizes are giving girls negative thoughts. With so many wafer-thin supermodels already impressing upon young girls that it is important to look like them, our stores are now in a sense confirming that fact by providing the negative sized clothing. Keep on reading.
The new holocaust eating disorder.
We’ve all heard of anorexia and bulimia. But the popular eating disorder now is called “pro ana” and “thinspo” (short for thin inspiration). I say popular because it is in fact just that. “Pro ana” stands for pro anorexia. It is a movement consisting of mostly young women who starve themselves to the point that one can see the definition of their ribs. They flaunt their disorder by sharing pictures of themselves on the Internet. And they strongly encourage others to do the same. They make comments such as, “I’d rather die than be fat,” and, “Size zero equals perfection.” They completely disregard the risks they are facing.
But severe weight loss results in severe health problems.
For anyone reading this whose goal is to achieve extreme weight loss, imagine living with:
- brain and nerve damage
- seizures and loss of feeling
- heart disease (a common cause of death among anorexics)
- constipation and bloating
- type 2 diabetes
- gallbladder disease
- teeth and gum problems
So much for the “perfection” status.
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Four Enemies That Destroy Our Skin
February 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Photo by Kamila Piech
Premature aging of the skin. Can it be stopped?
While the visible signs of aging cannot be stopped, they can be diminished. Here are four aging enemies you can combat by making certain lifestyle changes.
Enemy No. 1: The Environment
As we age, our skin’s antioxidant defense system weakens and loses its capacity to fight off oxidative stress caused by free radical damage. This leads to deterioration of the skin cells resulting in dull, lifeless skin. We cannot prevent free-radical damage, but we can reduce it by eating an anti-oxidant rich diet. The affect oxidation has on our skin is similar to an apple cut in half. Exposed to the air, the apple turns brown. But if you put lemon juice on it before it turns brown, the apple is preserved. In the same manner, antioxidants, such as Vitamin C, help preserve our skin from the inside out and minimize the damage. High antioxidant-rich foods include: acai berries, pomegranates, blueberries, tomatoes, and spinach. The darker the fruit or vegetable, the more likely it is to have a high amount of antioxidants.
Enemy No. 2: The Sun
UV exposure is a main contributor to premature aging. It destroys the skin’s support structure and leads to sagging skin as well as lines and wrinkles. A small amount of sun exposure is necessary for your skin to produce Vitamin D. But 10 or 15 minutes will do just fine. Beyond that, there is no health-related reason whatsoever to be in the sun. In fact, the longer your exposure to the sun, the more serious the UV damage will be and the more premature aging you will encounter. When in the sun for long amounts of time, be sure to use a sunscreen that includes broad-spectrum protection which blocks both UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays. (Speaking of free-radical damage in No. 1 above, one of the major contributors of free radical damage is UV radiation.)
Enemy No. 3: Eating Too Much Sugar
Having too much sugar in our diet breaks down the support structure and leads to loss of firmness and elasticity of the skin. Our body metabolizes the sugars we eat for energy. The excess that isn’t burned as fuel can play a role in the deterioration of the skin. According to Dr. Perricone, sugar “causes inflammation that destroys our bodies and attaches to collagen, which results in stiff, inflexible, sagging skin.” Cutting back on refined sugars is an important lifestyle change in order to maintain youthfulness.
Enemy No. 4: Smoking
We all know that smoking isn’t good for you. Both firsthand and secondhand smoke leads to damage to our health. Besides being a major risk for lung cancer, strokes, and heart disease, smoking accelerates aging both inside and out. It increases facial lines and wrinkles and it delays skin healing. If you want to live long and healthy, you should avoid smoking at all costs.
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