Being Poisoned?

Are you being poisoned by what you eat?

We live in a dangerous world. When most of us think of danger the mind goes to violent criminals or unsafe situations that can harm us. We don't think about the bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios, the fresh strawberries from the market or the kale you put in your smoothie. Sadly, many commercially processed foods are sprayed with chemicals such as glyphosate. Would you knowingly put a few drops of weed killer in your children's breakfast cereal? A poison that has been proven to cause cancer, messes with hormone function, and is linked to liver disease, birth defects and reproductive problems!

 (https://usrtk.org/pesticides/glyphosate-health-concerns/)

Sadly Monsanto (the producer of RoundUp/Glyphosate) wields great political power and in the United States has been given a free pass on the use of this dangerous product. Many other countries have outlawed, banned or severely restricted the use of Glyphosate because of the unquestioned harm it causes. 

(https://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/toxic-tort-law/monsanto-roundup-lawsuit/where-is-glyphosate-banned/).

 

The sad truth is that the United States of America is in large part governed and controlled by organizations and companies who have created laws and loopholes that allow them to profit financially by selling their products even though they are proven to cause physical harm to the population. Fortunately this is changing as many cities and some communities are taking a stand against this harmful herbicide.

 

The food manufacturing, pharmaceutical, alcohol and tobacco industries are complicit in falsifying information and manipulating public opinion for their financial gains. Research is manipulated or avoided to throw doubt on dubious products and practices. The honest truth is that we are being lied to on so many levels that we doubt and question even proven documented science. The information we have access to (via the internet) is not presented as straight facts that would allow the reasonably minded to formulate their own conclusions. Rather journalism today is so strongly biased that the masses are manipulated into passionately following what a logical mind sees as idiotic.

 

As purchasers and consumers of marketplace goods, we strongly recommend the purchasing of organic and non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) foods. By definition "Organic" means non-GMO and products that are not sprayed with harmful herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers. Is the system perfect? No, but it is the best that we have access to. The public and population votes with the dollars we spend. As demand for clean foods increase, the growers and producers will fall in line. As more of us bring to light and speak out against those things that are clearly proven to cause harm, the tide will begin to shift. Corporate America's foremost concern is financial profit, and rest assured they will follow the dollar. We see this as large corporations eagerly purchase health food and supplement companies and restaurant chains. Our hope (often unsuccessfully) is that they maintain the standards of these companies they purchase, rather than compromise the quality of their products in an effort to increase their profits. Companies such as Garden of Life - nutritional supplements (purchased by Nestle'), Chipotle Restaurant (purchased by McDonalds) and Seeds of Change - organic seeds and foods (purchased by Mars, Inc.) are a few examples.

 

 

The scientific literature clearly shows that Glyphosate is directly related to and causes these health conditions and is a contributing factor in many others.

• Birth defects
• Autism
• Brain, Breast, Prostate and Lung Cancers
• Celiacs Disease and Gluten Intolerance
• Kidney Disease
• Colitis
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Hypothyroidism
• Leaky Gut syndrome
• Liver Disease
• ALS - Lou Gehrig's Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Parkinson's Disease
• Infertility, Miscarriages, and Stillbirths
• Obesity
• Reproductive problems such as decrease sperm count, low testosterone and delayed puberty
• Respiratory illnesses

https://www.ecowatch.com/gmo-impossible-burger-2638941913.html

Choosing Organic Foods

 

Choosing organic is the best way to avoid glyphosate in your food. Glyphosate (the main ingredient in Roundup) is not only used to kill weeds, but can be used directly on crops as a desiccant (to dry them out before harvest).  This makes conventionally grown grains more likely to contain glyphosate than other conventionally grown crops. But, also consider what happens when glyphosate is sprayed on GMO crops that don't die when Roundup is sprayed on them.  This is the case for alfalfa. If it's not organic alfalfa it might be GMO. So, even grass-fed beef can contain glyphosates if the grass was sprayed with Roundup and the cattle was supplemented with GMO-laden and Roundup-ready alfalfa.  Healthy animal products like bone broth, milk, and eggs are only truly healthy if they are not fed GMO or glyphosate-sprayed feeds. Food that is organic has been produced without the use of glyphosate.

 

Foods exceedingly high in Glyphosate (RoundUp) and determined to cause serious health problems.

Stop using these foods!

1. Cheerios
2. Quaker Oats products
3. Nature's Valley products
4. Back to Nature Classic Granola
5. Quaker Simply Granola Oats, Honey, Raisins & Almonds
6. Back to Nature Banana Walnut Granola Clusters
7. Nature Valley Granola Protein Oats 'n Honey
8. KIND Vanilla, Blueberry Clusters with Flax Seeds
9. Cheerios Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal
10. Lucky Charms
11. Barbara's Multigrain Spoonfuls, Original, Cereal
12. Kellogg's Cracklin' Oat Bran oat cereal
13. Cascadian Farm Organic Harvest Berry, granola bar
14. Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars, Oats 'n Honey
15. Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip granola bar
16. Kellogg's Nutrigrain Soft Baked Breakfast Bars, Strawberry
17. Tropicana Orange Juice
18. Minute Maid Orange Juice
19. Stater Bros Orange Juice
20. Signature Farms Orange Juice
21. Kirkland Orange Juice
22. Cheez-It Original
23. Cheez-It Whole Grain
24. Kashi Soft Bake Cookies, Oatmeal, Dark Chocolate
25. Ritz Crackers
26. Triscuit Crackers
27. Oreo Original
28. Oreo Double Stuff Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
29. Oreo Double Stuff Golden Sandwich Cookies
30. Stacy's Simply Naked Pita Chips (Frito-Lay)
31. Lay's: Kettle Cooked Original
32. Doritos: Cool Ranch
33. Fritos (Original) (100% Whole Grain)
34. Goldfish crackers original (Pepperidge Farm)
35. Goldfish crackers colors
36. Goldfish crackers Whole Grain
37. Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies
38. Oatmeal Cookies Gluten Free
39. 365 Organic Golden Round Crackers
40. Back to Nature Crispy Cheddar Crackers
41. Ben & Jerry's Ice Creams

https://www.ewg.org/childrenshealth/glyphosateincereal/

 

In response to reports of RoundUp contamination in their products, Quaker Oats responded:

"Our company stands by the quality of its products, and it does not add glyphosate in any part of its milling process. The chemical is used by farmers across the country who apply it before the harvest."

In other words, it's not our fault, it's the farmers who are responsible for our products being contaminated with weed killers. Of course, it is the fault of Quaker Oats! If they demanded clean grains from the farmers, they would get it. If we demand clean foods, they will become more available.

We urge each of us to make the switch to Organic and non-GMO

Blessings,

Dr Kyle Christensen 2019

The Importance of Friends

Friendship

Probably the most important and most overlooked law of health

It seems that people will do all kinds of crazy things to improve their health. Some may have positive value, while others leave us shaking our heads in disbelief. The gamut ranges from jumping in icy cold lakes to drinking their own urine (yuck!). Then of course there are the diets. The cabbage soup diet (my mom used to drag me and my siblings through this one - not popular with athletic boys craving calories - "just have another bowl" was not met with enthusiasm), the clip-your-nose-while-you-eat diet (deadens the smells/taste of food so you don't eat as much), the ice cream cleanse (I don't think I'd lose any weight but it sounds tasty) and the baby food diet (eat only those little jars of baby food - I think I would also call this the eat yucky slimy food diet - if it tastes unpleasant enough you won't over eat).

 

Honestly, if we could choose one aspect or health practice that may hold more weight than the others as far as health and longevity it would definitely be enjoying happy relationships. In probably the longest ongoing medical study, Harvard University has examined the lives of men and their wives since 1938. Evaluating nearly every aspect of their lives and observing what brings and diminishes health and longevity.

Harvard Longevity Study

 

 Robert Waldinger, director of the study, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School states:

• "The surprising finding is that our relationships and how happy we are in our relationships has a powerful influence on our health,"
• "Taking care of your body is important, but tending to your relationships is a form of self-care too. That, I think, is the revelation."
• "Good Relationships keep us happier and healthier."
• "The biggest predictor of your happiness and fulfillment overall in life is, basically, love."
• "It's not just the number of friends you have, and it's not whether or not you're in a committed relationship," says Waldinger. "It's the quality of your close relationships that matters."
• "One is love. The other is finding a way of coping with life that does not push love away."
• "The good life is built with good relationships."
• Close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives, the study revealed. Those ties protect people from life's discontents, help to delay mental and physical decline, and are better predictors of long and happy lives than social class, IQ, or even genes. That finding proved true across the board among both the Harvard men and the inner-city participants.
• The key to healthy aging is relationships.

Lessons learned regarding relationships and health

1. Social Relations are really good for us. All of us.
2. Loneliness kills. Loneliness and social isolation (even if only perceived) is a greater health risk than obesity or even smoking 15 cigarettes per day.
3. People who are socially connected to family, friends and community are physically healthier, happier and live longer.
4. It's the quality of the close relationships that matter. Good warm relationships are protective to our health and longevity.
5. The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at 50 were also the healthiest at 80.
6. Good relationships, don't just protect our bodies, but also protect the brain. Memories stay sharp longer.
7. Good relationships don't have to be smooth, but just such that these people (and those in marriages) felt that they could count on each other when things got tough.
8. The happiest retirees replace workmates with playmates.
9. Replace screen time with people time - a BYU-Idaho study in 2017 reveals that "as daily social media time increased, so did "perceived loneliness and depressive symptoms," including feeling alone, blue, lacking motivation, or having a hard time sleeping.  
10. The good life is built with good relationships 

Some Strategies for meaningful relationships

1. Find People with similar interests and get involved or start something - sports, movie night, share a book, join a club or a study group
2. Learn to navigate negative relationships - express your desire for a better relationship - communicate your feelings. If necessary limit your exposure to unhealthy relationships.
3. Create a social bucket list that involves connecting with people - going places and doing things.
4. Be mindful - set your mind to connecting with others
5. Step up - others are looking for connection as well as you. Make the first move.
6. Be neighborly - find or create ways to connect. Invite people over.
7. Turn over a new leaf - repent (change your heart) & forgive (let go of the past negatives)

 

What others are doing: 

• Gospel Study group and dinner each week (mostly)
• Lunch together each month with people I'd like to know better from church
• Volunteer - there are many opportunities that will connect you with others
• Make a list of people to call, just to check up on them and chat for a few minutes. Many will appreciate the call. Those that don't seem to can be scratched from your list.

 

Strive toward at least three positive social connections (people time) each week

 

Life really is all about those we love. In our world and culture today, it is so easy to get distracted away from what matters most. The truth is, far too many are lonely and hurting - "living lives of quiet desperation." I urge each of us to reach out to those who need a friend. A phone call, a text can make someone's day. Invite a neighbor or a few friends to watch a movie or go for a walk. Our relationships and interactions need to become more spontaneous and casual. That can only happen through repeated interaction. When going to the market, offer to pick something up at the store for a neighbor. Or when you find a great deal (like a case of strawberries) drop a basket by to a neighbor or friend. Don't expect reciprocation. Just do something nice and make contact. By the third or fourth time, it will feel more casual.

  

As you begin to spread goodwill and love, relationships will develop. You may be surprised who it is that becomes your better friend. Listen to and follow intuitive prompting. Respond to thoughts and impressions. Begin with the desire to improve relationships and develop friendships, then respond to the opportunities and impressions that will present themselves to you.

 

Blessings,

 

Dr Kyle Christensen