If there are two things I can get behind: The first I can get behind (or let get behind me) would be a man in uniform and the second would be local bars holding events that give back to the community! EFN Lounge is continuing it’s hugely popular Jello Wrestling Series tonight with “Men in Uniform“. I would imagine there will be men & women who have served our country present to sign up to wrestle for two amazing causes, BHT and DCFUK!T. Hosted by Mr & Ms Capital Pride Leather 2009 Matt Bamford & Jackie Thompson with your co-host Regina Jozet Adams.

$1 Jello Shots, $3 Cover 18+ to party. Sponsored by Gun Oil Lube, The Leather Rack, Flowers on 14th, Titan Men Media, EFN Lounge. Contestants will be wrestling for a $100 CASH Prize, Condoms, Lube, Titan Men DVDs, Gift Certificates to the Leather Rack and Flowers on 14th Street. The fun starts at 9pm tonight!

Hey, all. A friendly commenter to yesterday’s Why I Quit Boar’s Head Tavern said they hoped what has happened between me and BHT wouldn’t affect my relationship with Michael Spencer (a.k.a. iMonk/Internet Monk). By way of addressing that, I thought I might share with you all the email I sent to Michael at 8:39 (PST) this morning. The whole of it was:

Yo, brother. Hey, I can’t imagine it’s anything exactly keeping you awake at nights, but for the record I don’t have a single bad feeling toward you. You’re a good guy doing great work in the world, and I have nothing but affection and respect for you. I always have, and this little kerfuffle (sp?) can’t effect that one iota. I carry with me every day a deep conviction that “evangelicals” (whatever that word means anymore) are seriously missing out when they ignore or dismiss liturgy; when I [co]wrote “Being Christian,” I was as forward about that as I could possibly get away with. If I thought you were a complete asshole, I’d still love you, because I know that on this, our hearts are in the exact same place. And when you’re talking about what amounts to nothing less than the fullest expression and comprehension of God and his relationship to man, everything else is just … nothing.

My heart is with you personally and certainly with your work, every single step of the way. I did not want to let this little static between us pass without making sure you know I feel that way.

I didn’t hear back from him. Two hours later (and following a Tweet I sent out in response to a disparaging comment about me someone made at BHT), I sent him Mike this additional email:

Now, of course, my love for you doesn’t mean I can let your boys just snipe at me unanswered. Cuz, you know … annoying or not, I’m still human. Or a guy human, anyway. And you know how we be. Woof, woof, and all that.

Mike hasn’t responded to either of these emails, but of course he yet may. I notice that he did, however, call a moratorium on any more comments about me made at BHT. So that was nice. Maybe that was his response.

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Email: johnshore@sbcglobal.net
Follow: http://twitter.com/johnshore
Friend: http://www.facebook.com/john.shore1
Fan: http://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Shore/89494795412?ref=s

I’ve gotten quite a few emails asking why I quit Boar’s Head Tavern; this here’s my answer.

A bit of background: Boar’s Head Tavern is a group blog run by Michael Spencer, whose blog, InternetMonk.com, is one of the most popular in the Christian blogosphere. When my book “I’m OK–You’re Not” came out, Michael wrote a long and glowing review of it, which of course I very much appreciated. (“Shore is a humorist whose work is more comedic than Donald Miller, and his appeal to Christians is more direct,” he wrote. “He is preaching and teaching under the comedy, and he’s very effective as a critic and motivator. Shore turns evangelism upside down and engages in just enough hyperbole to effectively make his point.”) That’s how we became acquaintances.

About three weeks ago I asked Michael if I could be a “fellow” on Boar’s Head. He said yes, gave me a password to the site, and I started merrily posting away there.

Two weeks later, I knew it was time for me to find the exit.

What happened between me and the gang at Boar’s Head was my fault. I went in too strong. The truth is Boar’s Head had been pretty dead for at least the three or four months I checked it out before asking to join it. None of the “fellows” there ever seemed to post much, and what they did was random, and seemed mainly to do with sports and/or the relative merits of Microsoft and Apple’s operating platforms. My understanding was that the site has been pretty dormant for a long while.

The place definitely woke up when I started posting there. Within three days so many fellows were engaged in so many different exchange threads on the site you could barely keep track of them. The place just exploded. That happens. People see someone else playing in their sandbox, and suddenly they just naturally become a lot more interested in that sandbox.

On the site I posted that we needed bios for the fellows: I had no idea who was who—or anything about any of them, for that matter—because most all of them post anonymously.

Next thing you know, they’ve decided to revamp the look and function of the whole site; Michael announced that coming our way were bio pages for each fellow, replete with whatever photos or links each fellow cared to include. In the meantime fifteen or so of the guys posted their bios. Turns out they’re regular guys: a high school math teacher, a systems administrator, a chemist, a lawyer, a government intelligence analyst, a Microsoft employee, an astrophysicist (!). Quite a few seminary students. A few pastors.

Sweet!

But it turned out that, regular or not, those guys were also mean. I don’t know how they are in real life, but in that little enclave they inhabit, they’re just … well, mean. They sure were to me, anyway. I ended up feeling like I’d been dropped in the middle of “Lord of the Flies.” It was seriously creepy.

But, as I say, I’m also aware of bringing upon myself the hostility of the BHT snark sharks by going in as large as I did. I was posting all kinds of opinions on all kinds of things. I figured that’d be a fun way to keep things lively, keep people reading, engage in as real a way as possible. I didn’t post anything mean, or snarky, or anything like that: just the same kind of stuff—and sometimes the exact same stuff—that I post here on my blog.

But I was wrong about anyone welcoming that. Turns out I was rocking all the rocking chairs in a room full of cats.

Anyway, it was a bad fit. If I wanted to really fit in at BHT, I would have laid low, kept my posts and comments neutral, followed instead of led. I would have been a more fallow fellow. That is the right way to behave when you’re new to a group, and I failed to do it. I thought that when/if BHT roused itself back to life, it would be more … well, for one, emotionally robust than it turned out to be. I thought we were there to engage in what amounted to public discourse. But that’s not even close to what BHT is about. BHT is about its members talking to themselves about whatever they want to, whenever they want, however they want. No comments or posts from outsiders are allowed, because that would defeat that purpose. And that’s totally fair, and makes real sense. Except for I believe one or two of them, those guys have no apparent experience writing for public consumption. That’s just not their thing. (They don’t even engage themselves, really. One person will post something random, and it might trigger a few follow-up comments—and then that topic will be ditched as soon as someone posts something else. Good if you’ve got ADHD; less good if you’re interested in any sort of sustained discussion.)

The bottom line is that the guys on BHT want to be left alone. While I was there—despite all the changes to the site about which he declared himself “fired up,” and despite his assertion that he wanted BHT to reclaim its place as one of the best Christian group blogs out there—Michael wrote that “it would be a mistake to think of  BHT as wanting to attract readers.” Again, that’s perfectly reasonable. Just because you run or write for a group blog doesn’t mean you necessarily want people to read that blog. No argument there.

**********************************************************************************************************

Email: johnshore@sbcglobal.net
Follow: http://twitter.com/johnshore
Friend: http://www.facebook.com/john.shore1
Fan: http://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Shore/89494795412?ref=s

This is shocking! While we were in town today, we stopped by the supermarket to get some spices. We were searching for the basics: salt, pepper and garlic powder. We could not find anything that said “sal” so we settled for the closest thing- a bottle of white crystals that looked like salt. Even though Tico is fluent in spanish, he didn’t know what the label said…but what else looks like salt except sugar? And it certainly wasnt “azúcar”. Fast forward a few hours: t. had prepared some meat and popped it in the oven. I snapped some beans and was putting them on to boil. As I went to add a dash of salt to the water I noticed it looked really opalescent, not like salt at all- so I tasted it. It was slightly salty at first, then just tasted like an intense chemical, then my mouth was kind of numb feeling. So I took the canister into the other room and opened the (not always so) trusty google translater. I should’ve gotten it without even having to look it up: “glutamato monosódico”. Monosodium Glutamate. It was an entire shaker of pure M.S.G. We had already put it in everything. It was marketed as “potenciador del sabor” a flavor enhancer. Really intense. Guess it’s not just for chinese food anymore. Besides our raw msg, a bag of potato chips we had contained BHT, which I think is banned in many countries. I try to be as least bit picky as possible, especially while traveling. I’ll try anything and love learning about local cuisine, but its really unfortunate when residents of less wealthy countries are marketed and fed products that are known to be harmful, just because they don’t know any better and there are no regulations in place to protect them. It makes me really nervous about the ingredients in other products, like cleaning solutions and the paint fumes we’ve been living with for the past few days. Hope they got the memo about lead… You can learn more about BHT here & MSG here.

As a recognized expert in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), Dr. Stephen Center of BodyLogicMD of San Diego, CA. was featured as a guest on San Diego Living.  Dr. Center shared his insight on how men and women can relieve their symptoms of hormonal imbalance in order to make “the change” a smoother transition. Using a customized plan that includes bioidentical hormone therapy (when necessary) and a combination of a healthy fitness regimen and balanced nutrition and supplementation, he has helped his patients find relief for their menopause and andropause (the male menopause) symptoms.  Hormonal imbalance can manifest itself through a host of symptoms including, mood swings, weight gain, memory problems, lack of sex drive, loss of muscle mass, etc.  BodyLogicMD is the nation’s largest network of BHRT physicians and as a part of the network, Dr. Center can access the highest quality labs and compounding pharmacies to give his patients the best care possible.  He also went on to discuss the effectiveness of saliva and blood testing to determine a patient’s current hormone levels.  Using the most accurate diagnostic results and conducting a comprehensive interview with the patient about his or her symptoms, Dr. Center provides his patients with a customized treatment plan. 

Click on this link to watch Dr. Center’s video – (Look on the right-hand column, under recent videos, scroll down and click on “Dr. Stephen Center Helps with Hot Flashes”)

About Stephen Center, M.D.

It hasn’t been a long time since I entered the telecom world. 9 months to be exact, which is more like taking your first breadth in this big bad world. But my association with the telecom world isn’t anything new. During my stay at contact plus about 3 years ago I was working behind the scenes on the brand plans for Ufone. Then at RED communications, the pitch to Warid and Afghan wireless gave me an ample insight into the world of telecom branding (or so I thought). But having spent a good part of an year in the industry itself, I have realized that it is not possible to get to grips with how branding actually works in the industry.

Having recently read through the quarterly presentation of the Brand Health Tracking report (and mind you, I’m not giving anything away here, because the whole industry subscribes to the same BHT report and the research is conducted by the same research organization so the insights revealed in the study are not much of a surprise to anyone out there) I have been told that the industry still works on the basis of awareness and consideration. In layman’s terms the emotional angle of the brand accounts for less than 30% of the influence on which the consumer makes his/her purchase decision. No wonder you see the consumer’s world totally flooded with telecom advertising because top of mind is what sells the most. How the advertising builds trust, creates a relationship with the consumer or shows how the brand brings a difference in the consumer’s life, hence, has no place in the discussions of a marketing team.

In most telecom organizations, the direction is set by the product team. In an industry where the product team leads the direction of the brand, can one can see an obvious flaw. No doubt, the industry is moving forward on the basis of technological advancements but in my opinion there is a lot of room for bringing sanity to the product portfolio. A short term dip in sales is most often than not followed up by the introduction of a new package. A certain tactical move by a competitor is followed up again, by the same strategy, maybe a lower priced version of it. It’s a self fulfilling prophecy to keep following what your competitor is doing without giving a great thought to what you can achieve in this world. It seems that even the branding strategy of the leader is made in the quarters of the competitors.

The level of differentiation in the industry is at a bare minimum. One can expect just that from an industry where almost everything is sourced out from vendors. From equipment to software, to applications only the marketing strategies of how to combine these products creatively and communicate them creatively is left at the hands of the marketing team. A case in point is the Blackberry. 4 of the 5 players in the industry provide the blackberry service and if one were to compare the product communications for all four of them, it would be difficult to find many differences. The reason being that RIM which provides the blackberry solution to all these telecom players has a stringent set of guidelines in the way blackberry is portrayed in the advertising. This is an extreme case where a vendor provides the same product to all the players and even dictates its terms in the communications as well, leaving little room for any differentiation that a telecom player would like to create.

Looking at the product innovations in the industry, there is not much to choose from. The first mover never has a long time before others jump on to the bandwagon and remove any hopes that the innovator ever had of creating a differentiated image. SMS bundles are a concept which did not take too long to catch on. Within a period of a few months almost all the players had SMS bundles. And now we are all on our way to seeing the same thing happening for Voice Bundles.

I will talk about creating differentiation in telecom world in a later article but before I end of this article, a friend working at an FMCG in Karachi, after hearing the state of branding in the telecom world, once told me that having worked in the Telecom world for an year, I should forget about ever finding my place back in the FMCG marketing world. And I think I agree with him, I have caught on to too many bad habits and started believing in way too many branding myths only seem to work(or do they?) in the telecom world

Note: This article would be part of a series of articles on brand thinking in the telecom world.

Thanks to Jean Wiess, regular contributor to MSN Health & Fitness, for compiling the following list of food additives that should be avoided. Seven of the twelve additives have been linked to an increased risk in cancer.

The best way to avoid these food additives is to avoid packaged foods and make it yourself. Prepared foods provide Questionable Convenience at best. They are more costly and do not provide significant time savings for the money. In addition, you could be exposing yourself and your family to these beauties:

1. Sodium nitrite * – Commonly added to bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, smoked fish, and corned beef to stabilize the red color and add flavor. Sodium nitrite is used primarily in fatty, salty foods. Without nitrite, hot dogs and bacon would look gray. Sounds appetizing, doesn’t it?
2. BHA & BHT * -  Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydrozyttoluene (BHT) are antioxidants used to preserve common household foods by preventing them from oxidizing. Both keep fats and oils from going rancid and are found in cereals, chewing gum, potato chips, and vegetable oils. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services considers BHA to be “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” Nevertheless, the Food and Drug Administration still permits BHA to be used in foods. This synthetic chemical can be replaced by safer chemicals (e.g., vitamin E), safer processes (e.g., packing foods under nitrogen instead of air), or can simply be left out (many brands of oily foods, such as potato chips, don’t use any antioxidant).
3. Propyl gallate * – Prevents fats and oils from spoiling and is often used in conjunction with BHA and BHT. This additive is sometimes found in meat products, chicken soup base, and chewing gum.
4. Monosodium glutamate – An amino acid used as a flavor enhancer in soups, salad dressings, chips, frozen entrees, and restaurant food. It is commonly associated with Asian foods and flavorings. The use of MSG allows companies to reduce the amount of real ingredients in their foods, such as chicken in chicken soup. Ingredients listed as “hydrolyzed soy protein” and “autolyzed yeast” may also contain MSG. Causes headaches and nausea in some people, and animal studies link it to damaging nerve cells in the brains of infant mice.
5. Trans fats – Trans fats are created when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil. These “partially hydrogenated oils” are used most often for deep-frying food, and in baked goods. Margarine and vegetable shortening may also be made with partially hydrogenated oil. Manufacturers have modified processed products to reduce trans fats. Restaurants, particularly fast food chains, still serve foods loaded with trans fats. McDonald’s, Wendy’s, KFC, Taco Bell, Ruby Tuesday, and Red Lobster are some of the large chains that have largely eliminated trans fat or soon will. Trans fats are believed to increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
6. Aspartame * – Additive found in low-calorie desserts, gelatins, drink mixes, and soft drinks. Also known by the brand names Nutrasweet and Equal. Controversial since it was initially approved by the FDA in 1974. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest “lifelong consumption of aspartame probably increases the risk of cancer. People—especially young children—should not consume foods and beverages sweetened with aspartame”.
7. Acesulfame-K * – Artificial sweetener found in soft drinks, baked goods, chewing gum, and gelatin desserts. The Center for Science in the Public Interest recommends that people avoid use of acesulfame-K due to lack of testing concerns.
   
8. Food colorings (Blue, Red, Green, Yellow) * – Blue 1 and 2, found in beverages, candy, baked goods and pet food, are considered low risk but have been linked to cancer in mice. Red 3, used to dye cherries, fruit cocktail, candy, and baked goods, has been shown to cause thyroid tumors in rats. Green 3, added to candy and beverages, though rarely used, has been linked to bladder cancer. Studies have linked the widely used yellow 6—added to beverages, sausage, gelatin, baked goods, and candy—to tumors of the adrenal gland and kidney. Artificial food color is also suspected of causing increased hyperactivity in children.
9. Olestra - A synthetic fat that blocks absorption of fat in your digestive system. It also blocks the absorption of vitamins while in your system. Olestra enables manufacturers to offer greasy-feeling low-fat snacks, but consumers would be better off with baked snacks, which are safe and just as low in calories. Found in some brands of potato chips. Be prepared to wear a diaper if you eat a whole bag.
10. Potassium bromate * – Additive to increase volume in white flour, breads, and rolls. Bromate has been banned virtually worldwide except in Japan and the United States.
11. White sugar – Too much sugar leads to problems with weight control, tooth decay and blood sugar levels in diabetics. It also replaces good nutrition.
12. Sodium chloride (salt) – Excessive amounts of salt can affect cardiovascular function, leading to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.

* Linked to an increased risk of cancer.

Resources:

1. Center for Science in the Public Interest: Food Additives
2. Mercola.com: 12 Food Additives to Remove From Your Diet
3. MSN Health & Fitness: 12 Food Additives to Avoid
4. WebMD: The Truth About 7 Common Food Additives

Related Posts:

• Happier Valentine’s Day Without Food Dyes
• Artificial Sweeteners – How Sweet Are They?
• The Dirty Dozen
• Food Additives Cause Hyperactive Behavior

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Robert Capon, quoted by Michael Spencer at the BHT:

I am and I am not a universalist. I am one if you are talking about what God in Christ has done to save the world. The Lamb of God has not taken away the sins of some — of only the good, or the cooperative, or the select few who can manage to get their act together and die as perfect peaches. He has taken away the sins of the world — of every last being in it — and he has dropped them down the black hole of Jesus’ death. On the cross, he has shut up forever on the subject of guilt: “There is therefore now no condemnation. . . .” All human beings, at all times and places, are home free whether they know it or not, feel it or not, believe it or not.

But I am not a universalist if you are talking about what people may do about accepting that happy-go-lucky gift of God’s grace. I take with utter seriousness everything that Jesus had to say about hell, including the eternal torment that such a foolish non-acceptance of his already-given acceptance must entail. All theologians who hold Scripture to be the Word of God must inevitably include in their work a tractate on hell. But I will not — because Jesus did not — locate hell outside the realm of grace. Grace is forever sovereign, even in Jesus’ parables of judgment. No one is ever kicked out at the end of those parables who wasn’t included in at the beginning.

BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are preservatives added to a wide variety of processed foods to keep them from going rancid or changing flavor, odor, and color, especially those foods containing oil or shortening.  Though widely used by food manufacturers, despite the fact that safe alternatives are available, many research studies indicate BHA and BHT are carcinogens. The FDA considers these additives safe, but the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer considers BHA to be a possible carcinogen and it is listed as such by California State.

Studies dating back to 1974 have shown that BHA and BHT increase the risk of cancer, accumulate in body tissue, cause liver enlargement, and can retard the rate of DNA synthesis and cell development. The fact that BHA and BHT accumulate in body tissue is of special significance to the health of our pets since they tend to eat the same diet day after day. Dr. Janet Starr Hull believes that BHA and BHT are unnecessary additives to our food and should be avoided because they may cause cancer. 

In addition to the physical health risks, many animal behaviorists, veterinarians and animal trainers believe there is a direct link between diet and dietary additives and behavioral problems (John Fisher 2003). Though no research studies have been done in this area there is significant anecdotal evidence that this is true in many cases. Writing for MSN Health & Fitness, Jean Weiss includes BHA & BHT as food additives to avoid.

There are several food manufacturers supported by nutritional experts that also believe that pet food should be free of BHA and BHT. As a pet parent it is worth taking a few minutes to educate yourself on what should be in, and what should not be in your pet food.  That way you can purchase the most appropriate pet food for you four legged friend. 

Bibliography

Fischer. J 2003 Think Dog Trafalgar Square Publishing Vermont

Starr Hull, Janet. “CSPI Reports Food Additives to Avoid: BHA & BHT” Sourced  http://www.detoxprogram.net/ June 6^th 2009.

Weiss, Janet, sourced http://health.msn.com/nutrition/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100204508&imageindex=1 June 7^th 2009

Visit http://www.nutritiouspetfood.com and watch the short video “Do you really know what’s in your pet’s food?”  Then compare your current food to an alternative premium holistic pet food for dogs and cats.  Your pets will thank you with a healthier, longer life.

BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are preservatives added to a wide variety of processed foods to keep them from going rancid or changing flavor, odor, and color, especially those foods containing oil or shortening.  Though widely used by food manufacturers, despite the fact that safe alternatives are available, many research studies indicate BHA and BHT are carcinogens. The FDA considers these additives safe, but the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer considers BHA to be a possible carcinogen and it is listed as such by California State.

Studies dating back to 1974 have shown that BHA and BHT increase the risk of cancer, accumulate in body tissue, cause liver enlargement, and can retard the rate of DNA synthesis and cell development. The fact that BHA and BHT accumulate in body tissue is of special significance to the health of our pets since they tend to eat the same diet day after day. Dr. Janet Starr Hull believes that BHA and BHT are unnecessary additives to our food and should be avoided because they may cause cancer. 

In addition to the physical health risks, many animal behaviorists, veterinarians and animal trainers believe there is a direct link between diet and dietary additives and behavioral problems (John Fisher 2003). Though no research studies have been done in this area there is significant anecdotal evidence that this is true in many cases. Writing for MSN Health & Fitness, Jean Weiss includes BHA & BHT as food additives to avoid.

There are several food manufacturers supported by nutritional experts that also believe that pet food should be free of BHA and BHT. As a pet parent it is worth taking a few minutes to educate yourself on what should be in, and what should not be in your pet food.  That way you can purchase the most appropriate pet food for you four legged friend. Visit http://www.DogSmithPetCare.com and watch the short video “Do you really know what’s in your pet’s food?”  Then compare your current food to an alternative premium holistic pet food for dogs and cats.  Your pets will thank you with a healthier, longer life.

Bibliography

Fischer. J 2003 Think Dog Trafalgar Square Publishing Vermont

Starr Hull, Janet. “CSPI Reports Food Additives to Avoid: BHA & BHT” Sourced  http://www.detoxprogram.net/ June 6^th 2009.

Weiss, Janet, sourced http://health.msn.com/nutrition/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100204508&imageindex=1 June 7^th 2009

Good morning friends.  Now a days that the spreading news of swine flu is spreading around some part of the world.  We have to be  aware of that.  But not only to that disease we should be aware of.  We have to take care of ourselves in every way, in every aspect.

There are powerful anticancer properties in foods such as beta-carotene, quercetin, indoles and isothiocyanatos in cruciferous vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids.

The winning foods are carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, cantaloupe, squash, papaya, sweet potatoes, kale, green leafy vegetables, bok choy, radish, celery, spinach, sprouts of all kinds, bean sprouts, alfalfa, radish, wheatgrass, oat bran, wheat bran, rice bran, ginger, horseradish, curcumin from turmeric, capsaicin from red hot chili, powerful mushrooms like reishi, ganoderma, shitake, tuna, mackerel, salmon and sardines.

Stay away from high-risk cancer substances found in alcohol, tobacco, trans fats, processed meats, preservatives, BHA, BHT, food dyes red #3, blue #2, green #3, citrus red #2, sodium nitrite, propyl gallate, coloring and artificial seasoning.

Cleanse vegetables well before eating to flush out all the pesticides. Go organic if you must.

Booster tea

Make it a habit to have a cup of freshly grated ginger in a cup of hot water. Allow to steep for five minutes, strain and sip slowly. Ginger fights stomach acidity and indigestion, speeds up metabolism/fat burning, and has antiviral properties.

Years ago, in most of our grandparents’ days, pets such as cats and dogs were fed table scraps. Table scraps as defined then did NOT include bones, lard, or anything else humans would not eat. Table scraps was a healthy way of getting rid of excess food that would otherwise go to waste. Pets ate this way for many years without incidence. But then someone started to brainstorm…

Today you can walk into any store (specialty pet stores, chain stores) or veterinary clinic and see wall to wall displays of different types of cat and dog foods. They all promise to keep your pet healthy, help them live longer, keep them active, provide nutrition, and appeal to their taste buds at the same time. We are pushed by veterinarians to buy expensive foods full of promise and nutrition for our pets. We very rarely look at the labels and even more rarely know just what we are feeding our pets. So what are we really feeding our beloved pets?

There is only one way to find out and that is by reading the labels and knowing what the ingredients truly mean. Is premium food better than generic named foods? Absolutely not! Unless you want to spend more money for the same product you can throw that idea out the door. Most off-brands are made from the same companies that manufacture premium foods. Generally the only differences are the pricing and packaging. So what do we feed our pets? Are table scraps better? Should we ditch pet foods in lue of that? If so, how do we know our pets are getting all the nutrition they need? What is all this holistic food we’ve been hearing about?…I just about makes your head spin and as a proud ‘owner’ of two cats, I am still just as confused as you.

So I offer you a challenge to come on a journey with me to discover just what is in our pets food, how it got there, and what it does. The answers will shock you.

Before we delve into different pet food brands, individual ingredients, premium vs. generic vs. holistic, and soft foods and treats, lets look at some of the ingredients you will want to avoid and why.

* BHT, BHA, and ethoxyquin, propyl gallate, propylene glycol (also a less toxic form of automotive antifreeze):These are all chemical preservatives used in dry cat foods. They are also suspected to cause cancer. Many pet food manufacturers have decided that the con outweighs the pro and have begun using natural preservatives like Vitamin C and Vitamin E instead.

* Meat By-products: The American Association of Feed Control Officers (AAFCO) defines meat by-products as  ”The non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low-temperature fatty tissue and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. It does not include hair, horns, teeth and hooves.” Aside from the pure disgust factor this has please keep in mind that the consumer is not aware of what species of animal these meat by-products come from. Meat by-products are an inferior form of protein which cats need.

*Meat Meal, Meat By-Product Meal: Meal is produced by rendering which should raise a red flag for pet owners.Rendering is the process of using extremely high temperatures to ‘render’ the leftovers and waste from the meat industry. It is used as a source of protein in both pet foods and animal feed. So what is in these products? They may contain animal carcasses after meat removal for humans, internal organs like spleens, lungs, and the paunch from slaughter plants. The paunch is the undigested contents of the stomach. Some rendered products also contain 4D meat.

*4D meats: These meats are derived from animals that were dead before they were slaughtered. This meats cannot be used for human consumption.

*Corn, wheat, and soy: Animal food products containing these ingredients can cause skin irritation, hair loss, ear infection, liver and/or kidney failure, fever, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, dental disease, and obesity.

*Meat: Be cautious of this as a listed ingredient because meat can refer to rendered dogs and cats, other animals, and even road kill. Known meat sources are listed as beef, chicken, turkey, etc. If the label only says ‘meat’ then the source is unknown.

MORE TO COME VERY SOON!!!

Os principais antioxidantes sintéticos utilizados habitualmente nos alimentos são os fenóis com várias substituições no anel (GÓMEZ, 2003). Estudos revelam que os antioxidantes BHA e BHT poderiam apresentar certa toxicidade e eficiência mais baixa que alguns antioxidantes naturais. Junto a uma maior consciência dos consumidores frente a segurança dos aditivos nos alimentos, cria-se a necessidade de identificar fontes naturais alternativas de antioxidantes para alimentos (WANASUNDARA & SHAHIDI, 1998). As propriedades antioxidantes de ervas e especiarias da família Labiatae, já estudadas no alecrim (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), são indicadas como efetivas para retardar o processo de peroxidação lipídica em óleos e alimentos gordurosos. O objetivo deste estudo foi adicionar o óleo essencial de sálvia, e avaliar sua atividade antioxidante isolado e combinado com o BHT, a fim de preservar produtos cárneos do tipo salame Italiano.

Confira o artigo completo em PDF.

I really like fashion magazines.  There is a kind of art appreciation that happens while grazing through the seasonal spreads.  There’s often a story being told: Young, lithe girl finds herself in a dark forest in the middle of summer, wearing a bizarre conglomeration of haute couture and accessories au naturelle.  In this context, her bird’s nest bra looks….not out of place.

Fashion magazines are one part fantasy, one part delicacy, and ninety eight parts currency. They are not here for our aesthetic edification.  They exist soley to make consumers out of us, which is why I think it’s nice to view them exclusively in artistic terms, to appreciate the inspiration and vision that goes into the few extravagent vignettes tucked between the copious and predictably pandering advertisements.

Once in a while, I’ll read the copy, too, just for kicks.

The May 2009 issue of Elle magazine features “Face of Cover Girl” Drew Barrymore, and is calling itself the “Blue Issue” with a focus on designer eco-chic.   Intrigued, I dove in and was shocked to find a several page spread on green cosmetics!  Apparently, a large panel of makeup artists was chosen to vote on green picks, and the spread features the winners.

I had a mixed reaction: I was unsurprised by some of the winners (Physcian’s Formula Organic Wear for mascara and bronzer–two of their products which I’ve blogged about myself), and surprised to NOT see some of the greatest green lines on the market.  Dr. Hauschka, for example, was represented only by their clay mask, and 100% Pure (the cleanest line ever invented) was missing? Instead, there were several “winners” that I thought were “losers”.  I was glad to see the magazine devote pages of precious ad space to the concept of clean makeup, but that’s all it was: AD SPACE.

I thought about the magazine on and off all day.  I realize that a magazine’s first obligation is to advertising, not content.  (A number of “winners” had coincidentally rolled out large ad campaigns in recent months, including Physician’s Formula) While a concerted effort went into featuring lines which are branded as green, I doubt anyone went a step beyond–and say, looked at ingredients. (The green pick for tinted moisturizer was Josie Maran’s, which features a slew of questionable ingredients, including BHT, which pulls off a whopping 7 out of 9 offense on the Cosmetic Safety Database.  BHT is just another nasty substitute for toulene…ewww.)

That said, I noticed a few new “green” products which bear investigation.  The moral?  You have to find your OWN winners.  Never trust glossy pages with your health.  It’s not what they’re there for, and it’s certainly not what they’re good at.  They’re good at making you look, and making you buy.  If you don’t believe me, I’ve got a bird’s nest bra I’d be happy to sell you.

Check out Elle’s Blue Issue, and make up your own mind.  The underwater images are gorgeous, even if the Cover Girl isn’t green.

Images courtesy of Flickr’s Vichysoisse of Verbiage and Elle Magazine

Red Clover: From flickr member freebird4

As a follow-up to a previous post on bioidentical hormone replacement, I thought it would be helpful to quickly review the major herbal and alternative medicine products available to treat menopausal symptoms. The market is large, and the treatments are ubiquitous in pharmacies, so they’re worth of some science-based scrutiny.

What is menopause?

Menopause is formally defined as a full year without menstruation. Typically, this occurs around age 50, although the onset can vary between ages 40 and 58. [1] A few generations ago, when life expectancy was about 50 years, menopause wasn’t a big concern. Now that women are living into their eighties and beyond, they may experience up to thirty or more menopausal years.

The transition to menopause, called perimenopause, can last up to 6 years. [2] For some women, this can be a smooth process, with erratic periods as the noticeable signal. However, many women report vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats), and non-vasomotor symptoms (e.g., insomnia, headache, irritability, vaginal dryness, mood swings) during this time. These symptoms are typically more common, and severe, in women with early or induced (e.g., hysterectomy) menopause. [2] Perimenopause is a normal process, but the transition can be debilitating.

Once menopause is established, hot flashes generally end within a few years. For some women, however, they can continue for 15 years or more. [2] As each hot flash can be accompanied by sweating, palpitations and other unpleasant effects, many women seek medical advice and treatment.

What evidence-based recommendations exist for the treatment of hot flashes and night sweats?

Menopause is not a disease, and requires no specific treatment, unless symptoms interfere with day-to-day life. For years, hormone replacement (estrogen and progestins) were the standard treatment used for menopausal symptoms, but data now shows that there are risks that accompany the benefits of this therapy. (For more information on hormone replacement, see my previous post on bioidentical hormones.) Hormone replacement is now used less frequently, and for shorter periods.

The Society of Obstericians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC), in their 2009 guidelines [PDF], offer the following treatment advice for symptoms like hot flashes: [2]

• Lifestyle modifications, including reducing core body temperature, regular exercise, weight management, smoking cessation, and avoidance of triggers (e.g., hot drinks, alcohol) may be recommended.
• Hormone replacement is the most effective therapy for the medical management of menopausal symptoms.
• Non-hormonal prescription therapies can be considered when hormone therapy is not appropriate or desired.

The SOGC then points out that:

“There is limited evidence of benefit for most complementary and alternative approaches to the management of hot flashes. Without good evidence for effectiveness, and in the face of minimal data on safety, these approaches should be advised with caution. Women should be advised that, until January 2004, most natural health products were introduced into Canada as “food products” and did not fall under the regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical products. As such, most have not been rigorously tested for the treatment of moderate to severe hot flashes, and many lack evidence of efficacy and safety.”

The remainder of this review will elaborate on this final point, and examine the efficacy and safety of herbal and alternative treatments for hot flashes.

Lower Standards for Herbal and Alternative Products

Previous Science-Based Pharmacy articles have illustrated that in Canada, the USA, and around the world, regulated pharmaceutical products are held to much higher effectiveness standards than supplements and alternative medicines. This is also the case with the treatment of hot flashes. The standard for prescription products is that they must be effective in women experiencing approximately 7 hot flashes per day (50 per week). Most studies of alternative products have been tested in women with as few as 1 or 2 hot flashes per day. [2]

Better quality research studies compare a treatment to a placebo, and “blind” both the patient and the researcher to the actual treatment. Remarkably, trials involving alternative treatments for hot flashes have documented that up to 50% of women may report that the placebo treatment is effective. [3] This suggests that for every 100 women that take any form of supplement for their hot flashes, 50 of them could be expected to report that it’s effective – even if the therapy has no medicinal effect. This placebo response may help explain why women report that alternative products are effective, when clinical trials cannot demonstrate that they have any effect. In light of this placebo effect, our focus will be on whether any product is more effective than a placebo treatment.

Phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogen is a term used to describe a plant-based product which has estrogen-like activity. This effect was first observed back in the 1940’s, when Australian farmers noticed that sheep grazing on clover were becoming infertile. [4] While phytoestrogens do not chemically resemble estrogen, they’re believed to bind with estrogen receptors. Depending on the natural estrogen levels in the body, they may have an anti-estrogen effect, by blocking the action of the more-potent estrogen molecule.  There are three major types of phytoestrogens: isoflavones (e.g., soy and other beans, red clover) lignans (e.g., flaxseed) and coumestans (also in red clover). [1]

Soy is among the best-studied products for menopausal symptoms, and there are many soy-based products on the market. Diets with high amounts of soy appear to have very modest effects on hot flashes. [1] However, this effect has not been shown in all studies.

One study compared black cohosh, a mixed cocktail of botanicals, botanicals plus dietary soy, regular hormone therapy, and a placebo, in a well designed, well-conducted clinical trial. Participants in the soy group were encouraged to consume 12 to 20 grams of dietary soy per day, and on average, women increased their consumption by 1.1 servings per day. Over twelve months, botanicals with or without soy, had no impact on hot flashes. [5]

A well-done systematic review examined nine trials that studied soy extracts, and concluded that soy foods, beverages, powders, and extracts have no impact on menopausal symptoms.[6]

Nutrafem is a popular product in Canada and other countries and worthy of a bit more scrutiny, as the website is loaded with sciencey-looking graphs and charts, with claims that it’s “clinically proven” and “safe-no side effects, no effects on the endometrium, and no liver toxicity”. A combination of Vigna radiata (mung beans) and an extract from the bark of the tree Eucommia ulmoide, the distributors tout that the product offer a 90% reduction in hot flashes, a 77% reduction in menopause symptoms, and an 79% reduction in “psychological symptoms”, while promising that it is free of cancer risk and side effects. It sounds too good to be true. Unfortunately there is no published evidence to substantiate these claims. While a double-blind, randomized controlled trial is referred to, it has not been published. In fact, there are zero published studies with this product, so there is no way to verify any of these claims. No data exists to support or refute the safety claims with this product. Nutrafem has no science to substantiate it, and until it does, it is not recommended.

Red clover is widely available and in a number of pharmacy products (e.g., Promensil). It’s a source of four different isoflavones. It has a number of traditional uses and has been studied for its ability to reduce hot flashes. Studies have been small and the results are not impressive: The better quality studies suggest it is as effective as a placebo. [1] [3] A Cochrane review, the gold standard of studies, also concluded that there is no evidence that phytoestrogens like Promensil are effective. [7] There is also a lack of long-term safety data. [1]

The Center for Science in the Public Interest has singled out Promensil as being deceptively marketed. Consequently the manufacturer agreed to remove claims that Promensil is “clinically proven.” Without scientific evidence to support claims of efficacy, red clover-containing products are not recommended.

Flax is a source of lignan phytoestrogens, and also provides omega-3 fatty acids, alfa-linolenic acid, and fibre. It’s available in the pharmacy as the oil, and also as capsules. Occasionally the whole seeds are sold as well.

With respect to menopausal symptoms, data is conflicting and there is not enough persuasive evidence to demonstrate that flax is effective. [1] Flax’s other potential benefits are outside the scope of this review, but in general it’s considered to be a healthy alternative to other fats. It’s important to note that lignans are only released when the seeds are ground or milled before being consumed  – whole seeds pass through the body intact. Flax oil contains few lignans unless noted on the bottle. Flax may interact with warfarin (Coumadin) – consult a pharmacist or physician for more information. [1]

Black cohosh appears in a wide variety of products (e.g., Remifemin, Nufem, and many “menopause kits”).  While black cohosh does appear to demonstrate estrogen-like effect [1] its efficacy has not been demonstrated clearly.[8] Studies that have been done are of general poor quality [3] and the more well-done trials more consistently and persuasively show that it is no better than a placebo therapy, and significantly less effective than hormone replacement for treating hot flashes and night sweats. [1] [5]

The safety data on black cohosh is concerning. While studies of up to six months show that it is well tolerated, with few side effects, concerns have been raised about its long-term safety. [1] There have been cases of severe liver damage, some leading to liver transplantation, associated with black cohosh. [1] A warning about this risk was issued by Health Canada in 2006. While we cannot conclude that black cohosh caused this damage, a cautious approach suggests liver function tests are important if taken for more than six months. (The Terra Sigillata blog has more discussion on the liver toxicity issue). Overall, there is little evidence to suggest that black cohosh will offer any benefit to women or that the questionable benefit is worth the possible risk.

Dong quai is a traditional Chinese medicine, used as a treatment mainly for hot flashes.  It is an ingredient in hundreds of supplements, alone or in “menopause relief” combination products. Dong quai may have estrogen-like effects and may stimulate breast cancer cells, similar to estrogen. [1] Dong quai has not been demonstrated to be effective and may contain chemicals that are carcinogens. [1] [9] It also interacts with several prescription drugs. Dong quai, alone or in any menopause treatment, should be avoided.

Evening primrose oil is an established pharmacy product purported to help with hot flashes. There is no data to demonstrate it is more effective than a placebo. Its use is not recommended. [1] [8]

Wild yams are the precursors to some bioidentical hormones. The key ingredient, diosgenin, must be converted in a laboratory to something the body recognizes as a hormone. The body cannot do this. Consequently, any products containing wild yams will be completely ineffective for the treatment of hot flashes and night sweats. [1]They should be avoided.

So what’s the bottom line for women?

Until evidence appears to demonstrate otherwise, the science currently shows that no alternative or complementary treatment for hot flashes or night sweats is any better than a placebo treatment. These products are significantly less effective than prescription drugs for the treatment of these menopausal symptoms. And the risks of some treatments are far from clear.

In Canada, despite the appearance of Natural Health Product regulations in 2004, there is little evidence that any substantive enhancements have been made to the dismal safety and efficacy standards of complementary and alternative products.  In what appears to remain a largely unregulated market, there exists an entire industry intent on taking advantage of women who seek non-prescription treatments for their symptoms. It is truly a buyer beware market.

Overall, for the treatment of hot flashes and night sweats, the products with the most promising risk/benefit ratio seem to be soy products and flax products, which if not helpful, at least do not appear to be harmful. Both products may have other health benefits, as well. As more than 50% of women may experience relief from hot flashes simply due to a placebo effect, many may find these therapies provide relief.

Claims about non-prescription menopause relief products should be viewed sceptically. Promoters, including non-science-based pharmacists, may tout these products as safe, “clinically proven” and effective alternatives to prescription hormones. The science just doesn’t back up these claims.

For More Information

Informed Health Online, from the German-based Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care, has a nice overview of menopause and management strategies, and discusses hormones and non-prescription alternatives.

References:

[1] Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database [database on the Internet]. Stockton (CA): Therapeutic Research Faculty; 1995-2009 [cited 23 April 2009] Available from: http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Subscription required to view.

[2] Vasomotor Symptoms. In: Menopause and osteoporosis update 2009. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada 2009. 31 (1). Supplement 1.

[3] Nedrow, A., Miller J., Walker M., Nygren P., Hoyt Huffman L., & Nelson H.D. (2006). Complementary and Alternative Therapies for the Management of Menopause-Related Symptoms: A Systematic Evidence Review Archives of Internal Medicine, 166 (14), 1453-1465 DOI: 10.1001/archinte.166.14.1453

[4] de Lemos, ML. Phytoestrogens: A natural alternative? Pharmacy Practice 2007: 35-38.

[5] Newton KM, Reed SD, LaCroix AZ, et al. Treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause with black cohosh, multibotanicals, soy, hormone therapy, or placebo. Ann Intern Med 2006; 145(12): 869-79.

[6] Krebs EE, Ensrud KE, MacDonald R, Wilt TJ. Phytoestrogens for treatment of menopausal symptoms: a systematic review. Obstetrics and Gynecology 2004; 104(4): 824-836

[7]Lethaby AE, Brown J, Marjoribanks J, Kronenberg F, Roberts H, Eden J. Phytoestrogens for vasomotor menopausal symptoms. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD001395. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001395.pub3.

[8]Author not specified (2009). Herbal medicines for menopausal symptoms Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, 47 (1), 2-6 DOI: 10.1136/dtb.2008.12.0031

[9] Dong Quai. In CAMline [database on the Internet]. Toronto, ON [cited 25 April 2009] Available from: http://www.camline.ca

I was shocked to find out the poisons that are put in some dog foods. I had heard that there were crappy things put in some canine grub, but I was not aware of how harmful some of the ingredients were. Read the labels before you buy your pup that food. One of the bad things you want to be on the look out for is BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole), which is a cancer causing agent, especially, stomach cancer. They don’t allow BHA in children’s food, but I guess no one cares about canines being harmed.

BHT is Butylated Hydroxytolune and used in cosmetics, rubber, jet fuels, etc. I can’t believe this preservative is put in dog food. It can cause liver damage, metabolic stress, and increase cholesterol. Ethoxyquin is a pesticide. It has been known to cause liver/kidney damage, cancerous skin lesions, blindness, leukemia, liver cancer and so many other ailments.

The last preservative to avoid in dog foods is propylene glycol, which is another carcinogen. It is known to destroy red blood cells. This poison is found in wet dog foods so make sure to read the labels and if any of these preservatives are listed put them back on the shelf. I have to wonder who is putting this poison in canine food and whether or not they even care about dogs.

Plus, you don’t want to by dog food that has meat by products in it. Dog foods that have by-products have manure, hair, hide trimmings, bone, hoof, horn, and other bad additives. This does not sound tasty and I’m sure our dogs would like a more delectable dinner.

There should be at least 24% protein in the dog food. A dog’s diet must contain an adequate amount of protein to build a strong immune system, give them a shiny coat, and maintain proper weight. The proteins must be digestible to rebuild cells in tissues, organs, antibodies, etc. Plus, the more digestible the food is, the less the dog’s body has to work to utilize it.

Just like in human food this rule applies to dog food, the ingredients listed first are what the food contains the most of. If by-products are listed first, your dog will be eating junk rather than nutritious ingredients. You want to avoid foods that have animal fat in it. Unless, it specifies the animal fat, such as chicken, the fat in the dog food could come from anywhere. We wouldn’t want to eat mystery fat, so why make our dogs dine on it.

I feed my dogs Science Diet. It’s very good food and I don’t mind that it cost a lot more than the cheaper dog food. Adding more years to my dogs’ life, this gives me comfort and I want to have them around as long as possible.

Imagine inside of your sacred body fires, floods, earthquakes and terror. That doesn’t feel good, right? These things are disguised as headaches, diarrhea, heart attachs and cancer. Picture this: high energy, peace, health, joy and power.

There are 15 ingredients that you should leave on the shelf, throw away and abstain from. They include:
Artificial colorings
Artificial flavorings
Artificial preservatives
Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose and saccharin
BHA or BHT
Crystalline Fructose
Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils
High-fructose corn syrup
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein or autolyzed yeast extract
Monosodium glutamate
Potassium bromate
Propyl gallate
Sulfites
Sodium nitrate
Sodium benzoate or benzoic acid

If you can stay away from these bad boys, you can increase your chances for beautiful health. Of course, there are more steps to the process. However, this is a great, easy and fast way to begin the process. Now, take action and take control of your health destiny!
Resources:
Drugs Masquerading as Foods: Deliciously Killing American-Afrikans and All Peoples

Fast Food Nation

Get Healthy Now! with Gary Null: A Complete Guide to Prevention, Treatment, and Healthy Living (Second Edition)