Archive for October, 2009

The 21^st century goal of sustainability is the focus of today’s world. With the overwhelming statistics, and the global warming proponents, the world now has to deal with all the ramifications of our planets resources. The marketplace is going to be made aware of our carbon footprint, and the materials used for all sorts of building, manufacturing, and durable goods.  Depending on the part of the world you live in, the investment and standards will be reflective of the economy and range of resources.

Daily life is certain to incorporate the next big thing, which is documented to address the carbon footprint that we leave. Retailers are looking to the market, through the eyes of the consumer, before they stock their shelves. Today’s environment is eco-friendly and in tune with nature. Lifestyle choices reflect the close look consumers are taking, when purchasing products from the practical to the luxurious. Consumers are more sophisticated, and in touch with the needs of the planet.

The understanding of the role that sustainability plays in the 21^stcentury is crucial to manufacturers, retailers, architects, home builders, and corporations. Collaborated efforts and the sharing of research will be the major focus of developing opportunities to reverse the trend which has depleted much of the earth’s resources. The challenges will continue to fuel the growth of eco-friendly businesses; the future of this segment will grow and dominate the world market.

Waste management, supply chain materials, recycled products, and renewable energy, are becoming increasingly important to the consumer. Reusable or disposable are examples of words that are increasingly important in the marketplace. At one time environmentally friendly was sort of a touchy-feely kind of experience. Now, it is survival 101, and is taking center stage in the world market. The ultimate story may well be played out in how we save the environment, and resources. Assessing the scene is really our scorecard to survival on this planet. We are now in a very challenging time, with the clock ticking away, and the path to the future being paved with our wastefulness, while our resources are being depleted.

Terms like water, carbon dioxide, organic matter, disposal, composting, biodegradable, and landfills are the terminology of this century. Pesticides, genetically modified, pasteurized, irradiated, and antimicrobial products make up the new vocabulary. From food products, to household cleaners it has become a world with scary and threatening imagery. Things like MSRA, and other infections that plague the hospitals, and other settings, means rethinking non-toxic solutions. Immunity is really the job of a powerful natural defense system that is intact in a healthy individual. A healthy planet would produce a healthy environment.

The claims that the function of science is to improve on nature are looking downright misleading, in the wake of all the problems caused by the misuse of the environment. The assessment demonstrated the lack of understanding of the role of the eco-system in place. The 21^st century goal of sustainability is now an ongoing commitment, as we transition to a more natural way of living.

Is it glucose or is it fructose that can derail your health.  Can one be worst than the other?  Well according to University of California researchers designed a study to find out. They took 23 overweight or obsessed individuals ranging in age from 43 to 70 and controlled what they ate. For two weeks they got a high-carb (55%) moderate- fat (30%) diet that was balanced and the diet gave them no more energy than they would spend exercising.

After they had everything measured such as their heart disease risk factors, blood fats, cholesterol, and weight they were allowed to eat whatever they wanted. The one thing that each person had to include was three sweetened drinks every day. This drink gave the volunteers 25% of their recommended daily energy intake.

Half the subjects drank drinks that were sweetened with pure glucose. The rest of the volunteers had drinks sweetened with pure fructose. At the same time the volunteers were tested for heart risk factors. After eight weeks the volunteers continued to drink the same beverages that they had been, but they were returned to an energy-balanced diet.

It took only two weeks after they started their drinks that the difference became apparent. The volunteers that drank the fructose sweetened beverages showed signs of increased risk of hear disease. The rest who drank glucose sweetened drinks did not. The fructose drinkers LDL “bad” cholesterol blood fats increased. Their insulin sensitivity decreased which meant their diabetes risk was increasing.

The fructose drinkers gained about 3 pounds while the glucose group had not gained any weight. The study says basically high-fructose syrup posses a threat to your health. Of course everyone in the beverage and medical community said it is too early to draw any conclusions. So everyone has the green light to continue consuming these drinks. High-fructose syrup is bitter sweet, because it consists of a sweet taste with a bitter aftertaste. The bitter after taste lingers for years as you encounter weight and health problem.

They said they do not yet know the safe level of consumption of these substances. How about there is no safe level. The only thing is some people will poison themselves faster with a higher dose. It does not even pay to test these substances, the evidence is already available. The country consumes lots of high-fructose corn syrup in drinks, cereals, frozen food, baked goods, and ketchup. This is an inexpensive sweetener, so what do you think will be in the processed food that you purchase from the store?

Remember table sugar is similar to a 50-50 combination of fructose and glucose. It really is simple, refined sugar and high- fructose corn syrup are processed sources of sweeteners with nothing whole or natural about them. It is bitter sweet fact that these ingredients are a danger to your health. No amount of studies will vindicate high-fructose syrup and make it a safe product for consumption. High-fructose syrup is a bitter sweet for all that consume it.

ZERO CALORIE

The Institute of Food Technologists is again looking out for you. What a relief someone who cares about your heath above the profit of the industries. Now you can go back to sleep without a care knowing all the diet soft drinks you been drinking may not harm you. Remember Roger Clemens, a spokesperson for the Institute of Food Technologist states “diet sodas, in moderation, can be part of a healthy lifestyle.” The zero calorie myth is propagated by the diet soft drink industry.

RESEARCH STUDIES

A new research study says drinking just one soft drink a day regular or diet many boost your risk of heart disease. The reason is because soda increases your risk of developing metabolic syndrome and that ups your chance of getting both heart disease and diabetes. Even one soda per day increased a person’s chance of developing metabolic syndrome by nearly 50%. To qualify for metabolic syndrome you have to have three of these five conditions: a large waistline, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting blood sugar, elevated fasting triglycerides, or reduced HDL or “good” cholesterol.

There are scientific studies to show that sugar-sweetened drinks increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. Now the “surprise” to the researchers who expected a different outcome to the study was that diet sodas somehow were linked to metabolic syndrome. They came up will all kinds of theories which can prove it just increases the craving for more sweets, or people that drink diet sodas eat other junk foods.

Whoever, is spending on these junk studies would be wise to spend the funds on educating the public on what is healthy. There is talk that we need more studies to understand this study better. Susan Neely, president of the American Beverage Association feels that the idea that diet soft drinks cause bulging waistlines defies common sense.  Can you image something with chemicals for sweetener, color and flavor does a body any good?  That defies any logic.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

In an official statement, the brilliant people at the American Heart Association said it supports dietary habits that include low-calorie beverages. I do not think water was what they meant. Well there are more brilliant theories why diet sodas may be causing this metabolic syndrome. The explanations are as follows: the caramel color promotes resistance to insulin, which is needed to process calories, or you compensate at the next meal because you drank a large amount of liquids at the previous meals.

Without a more definite explanation, the advice is to consume sodas in moderation and wait for further research. This is a twist on the advice so often given by the medical profession, FDA, or some other responsible entity; do not stop taking what ever your are taking even if the studies point to very real dangers. This means as long as you are still breathing than it must be safe.

FAT FUTURE

With every government agency and food manufacturer looking out for you, by conducting all kinds of research and well funded studies. why bother to think for yourself. The public recommendations are usually coming from various groups that profit from the research and its outcome. Common sense tells you those national studies to prove diet soft drinks with zero calories are good for you is a waste of money. That you can loss weight, stay healthy by consuming non-nutrient sweeteners in your beverages is just a myth. The zero calorie myth is just that a myth. If a zero calorie beverage increases your appetite, I see a fat future for the nation.