Is British Candy Healthier?

 

During the Christmas season the local Red Apple Department store starts getting lots of wine gums in stock. And I stock up on these all natural British Wine Gums when they arrive!

 Boxing Day 2019 is  when I began this post. One year later the world is a much different place with the Covid pandemic but quality food is as important as ever. Maybe more so! 

I can tell you I still have a tea spoon of berry powder (at least a teaspoon) and some of the green power blend too. Once you get in the groove it's an automatic part of the day.

One thing about this pandemic is that there is extra time to follow these daily doses of superfoods. During a lockdown I found time  to do things like artwork, making a 1980s themed room complete with VCR and Atari 2600, and yes, work on this blog. 

But  now it's Christmas season in 2020. When you buy candies as Christmas gifts, don't you feel better when you know they are free of anything unhealthy?

This is   a time where many of us are eating the chocolates and other goodies we received. For me,  living in North America, there are TOO many  artificial ingredients in our foods. Europe by comparison usually has all natural ingredients and even non GMO areas. 

 

 These are the ingredients in British Waterbridge Wine Gums. They also make Canada themed wine gums with shapes like hockey skates and beavers. Those Canada themed wine gums are also Vegan, since they do not contain gelatin. Gelatin is usually animal sourced. 

 

 The wine gums that Maynard's  makes in Canada are tasty, but some of the ingredients are really bad and discourage me from buying them more often. When you bite into a Waterbridge Wine gums you can TELL right away that it's real fruit flavouring. 

And even though I'll be right up front that the flavouring from these ingredients probably isn't  in large enough quantities to affect health, these are some of the healthiest superfoods you could  possibly include in your diet. 

So what are they?Extracts from berries, fruits, and veggies.

 No harm in me highlighting the berries anytime they show up!

And later on we'll look at  what's in those other made in North America Wine gums. Wine gums are found more in commonwealth countries than America though. Oftentimes Americans have never heard of Wine Gums.  

So while the colours and flavours in British Wine gums are natural, there is still  syrup and other things  there so remember to brush your teeth. This particular pack did contain gelatine which is not suitable for vegetarians as it is an animal product but the good news is that Waterbridge does make Canada themed vegan wine gums that have the same flavourings as the others!

https://www.waterbridge.net/blog/the-return-of-gelatin-free-wine-gums-and-where-to-find-yours.html

My favourite fruit is raspberries so lets start with them.  First on the list and my favourite fruit. You know it if you have read my other posts about raspberries. I personally eat some freeze dried raspberry powder every day. It's tangy but doesn't contain a lot of sugar, has more antioxidants than most other fruits, and contains a good mixture of vitamins, minerals and fibre. The most amazing thing though is it's cancer fighting properties. In lab studies rats fed a diet of 10% freeze dried raspberries saw their tumors decrease in size by up to 70%!

This article details some of the protective qualities of berries in your diet. Nih is a very reputable source for scientific information. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5187535/

 

Besides the berries you also have delicious flavour from lemon, lime, orange, and blackcurrents. All of these are great sources of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. British Sailors in the 19th century knew that citrus was a source of this essential vitamin and took fruits like these on their  ships to ward off deficiency known as Scurvy. That's why they had the nickname Limeys!

These fruits are also great sources of fibre which is thought to help weight loss by making you feel fuller.

 So those are  the natural flavours but what about the colours? They are also all natural and interesting too. We have anthocyanin which are the antioxidants that give fruits their attractive and vibrant colours, and other things too like Paprika and curcumin.

Antioxidants are thought to improve general health and may even slow down age related diseases. The more colourful the vegetable is when you're out shopping at the supermarket the better. As a general rule of course! So pick red onions over white ones, and red potatoes over the regular white ones.

Paprika  is a spice that's loaded with beneficial antioxidants and has some that help the eyes in particular. Those are things like beta carotene and lutein. These antioxidants clean up free radical debris that can cloud vision. Blueberries are also great for vision by the way. I use Paprika in my cooking often. My favourite is in a simple yogurt drip with paprika, garlic, salt, something green like parsley or chives, and a little lemon juice. One of my go to movie watching snacks for sure. Thanks Chris for introducing that to me!  In the colouring we also have curcumin which is found in the famous curry spice Turmeric. It's thought to be effective at reducing joint pain especially when consumed with black pepper. 

And you know what? Even if it wasn't, the human mind is such a powerful that you just have to THINK that you are doing something positive and you will feel some benefits!

 

Now that we've seen Waterbridge's well thought out ingredients lets look at the Maynard's wine gums. Only quickly because it won't take long to show you what the difference is.

 

I'll be right up front. The Maynards Wine Gums are delicious and addictive. I used to gobble down free ones that were given to me. But all the same the ingredients just aren't as natural as the British wine gums. 

Considering the John Maynard started making wine gums in 1909 they should have figured out how to make them the best by now. But sadly when large companies are allowed to cut corners and use less expensive artificial ingredients they sometimes will. Some bean counter will get a promotion that way as my old employer Bob would explain in his own words. 

Here are the ingredients in Maynard's wine gums sold in Canada

 

In Britain Maynards wine gums contain beneficial natural ingredients like the ones I mentioned earlier. But when you look at the ones sold in Canada it's a little bit of a different story. There are artificial flavours that may include chemicals, and artifical colours too. 

 As you can see Tartrazine is specifically mentioned in that department and is probably legally required to be identified there.

Tartrazine is mentioned in the ingredient list for Canadian Maynards Wine gums for a reason. It's thought to cause health issues like hyperactivity in children and possibly some other conditions like allergies and asthma.  I avoid all foods with tartrazine if I can. Even Kraft Dinner has taken it out of it's Mac and Cheese now. It's what gave it that bright  yellow colour! But Kraft has found alternative natural colourings that give it that same distinctive colour now. I avoid the bright yellow cheeses in grocery stores for the same reason, and you can find these artificial colours in drinks too if you look. Here is a study that hints at the link between Tartrazine and child hyperactivity. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3441937/

 

It's alarming also that Tartrazine could cause liver damage. That alone should be enough to deter consumers from buying ANY products that contain it. Here is a study that provides evidence of this. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5326541/

 

I know for a fact that British wine gums are available in Canadian stores, including stores like Bulk Barn, Red Apple and Shoppers Drug Mart. 

So at the end of the day the Maynard's Wine Gums are tasty, but could easily be made better with the elimination of artificial colouring like Tartrazine. It's just a matter of consumers saying no to artificial ingredients.  Given the choice I think the English Wine Gums are healthier for this simple reason.

The Waterbridge Wine Gums were equally tasty but my all time Wine Gum favourites were the ones sold in the Marks and Spencer shop in Bayshore mall in the 80s. One more reason to add to the list of reasons to time travel back to 1985....

Note : The information contained in this blog is not medical advice. It is composed of personal opinion and is intended to encourage the reader to read more about the subject so they can draw their own opinions. Consult a medical professional with questions about diet.

 

 

This Combo Could Help Beat Cancer

 Today I Saw This Berry Beat Back Cancer Again

We all know someone who had cancer, and many have had pets that died of cancer. It's a troubling time, and I became interested after a family Rottweiler went through great pain battling cancer. We blamed it on artificial ingredients in his food.

But what if the solution to managing this terrible disease  was as simple as a berry? New studies have scientists excited as lab animals showed huge reductions in tumor size when their diet was converted to 10 percent freeze dried raspberries. In combination with a tincture of wormwood I have seen for myself that it can be a big help in managing pet cancers.

Ever since I learned about this I have strived to gain even more knowledge and observe the positive impact this potent duo can make for pets with cancer. Both of these cancer fighting compounds  have scientific evidence documenting how they destroyed cancer cells in animal studies, and this week I got yet more confirmation of it's effectiveness. Several weeks ago a girl I know showed me a tumor almost half the size of a ping pong ball on her small  dog. I suggested she try the raspberry/wormwood tincture combination and I got thrilling news today :  The tumor was already gone! Though I expected a gradual reduction even I didn't think a tumor that size could be beaten back so quickly.
 

Over and over I have seen the cancer beating properties of berries in action. One of the first times was with a very old family  cat diagnosed with a stomach tumor. Every day he was given some berry powder and the tincture with his wet food. He managed to live happily for another year before dying and this is significant because he was well into his twenties. Another small dog had cancerous bumps on his body. After a few weeks of this remedy, the bumps were shrinking away and the light was back in his eyes. Another time someone told me their vet had told them their dog would die in few weeks from his cancer. One year later the dog was still alive after using the tincture. Someone else's small dog had cysts on his body, which an herbalist told me are usually related to an underlying tumor. With the use of berry powder the cysts shrank away. Just a few of the remarkable stories I have heard. And since most things that benefit the health of a dog also translate to human health benefits  it's very exciting!

Scientists think a compound called Ellagic Acid found in largest amounts in Raspberries and Strawberries induces cell death in cancer cells (apoptosis). This is important because normally cancer cells do not die after cell division unlike normal cells.  Ellagic acid should be obtained from whole foods whether they are fresh organic berries or organic freeze dried berry powder. Berries are often sprayed with very large amounts of pesticides so that is why organic is better most times.

 In the case of wormwood it's a free radical reaction with iron within cancer cells that causes them to virtually self destruct. It's an interesting story because scientists stumbled on this after a discovery of an ancient Chinese malaria recipe. They theorized that since the interaction with iron was responsible for its success against malaria, it might also be a powerful cancer killer since cancer cells also use large amounts of iron in their replication processes. And they were right, Artemisinin is like a stealth bomber against cancer cells.  Aren't you glad there are so many scientists out there today?

Cancer is a very serious condition and while I would not refer to the anti cancerous properties of these substances as a cure, I think you can have a reasonable expectation that they are tools that could help you to manage the condition in a life extending and improving way. Much depends on factors like the subject's age and the strength of their immune system. In the case of an owner of a pet with cancer with hard financial conditions, a nutritional approach like this to reducing tumor size may be the most affordable option available. While berry powder is not bargain basement cheap, it should still be in an acceptable price range for most people to purchase. 

Over the years I have held a belief that berries should be an essential component of my diet. Every morning I have a spoonful of organic freeze dried berry powder with some green powder in vegetable juice. Not just for the anti-cancer properties, but because they are chock full of antioxidants, nutrients, and fiber. These nutrients include thing like Vitamin C, and eyesight protecting antioxidants. 

Raspberry powder can be mixed into teas or smoothies easily in the morning, or just washed down with a glass of water. Plus raspberry powder is as delicious as candy!

If you have pets mix in the powder as a preventive measure in their wet food, but you should not use the wormwood tincture unless it is known for sure  that your pet has cancer as it is mildly toxic. It is best taken on an empty stomach so that it goes more directly into the bloodstream. I give the family pets a teaspoon of berry powder in their canned food and take a teaspoon for myself at the same time. Mixing in the powder with yogurt is another great way to work it into your diet, or to make an inexpensive treat for your pets.

Eat healthy, exercise, and enjoy your berries !

Here are some links to clinical studies with lab animals and with human cancer cells

Cancer inhibited  with berry powder
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21463623
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15590271
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4069806/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21803307

 Wormwood extract called Arteminin selectively destroys cancer cells 
 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15330172
 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16185154

 Ongoing Human Trial with Lung Cancer Survivors
 https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00681512

For further reading on another site about other benefits of Raspberries
plus complete nutritional content and recipes

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=39

This post is not intended to replace professional medical advice in any way. It is a reflection of my personal experiences and learning with this subject.

Interesting Dental Health Link

Can Teeth be Remineralized Naturally?

Lately I have been particularly interested in dental health and remineralizing teeth. Can it be done? Some bloggers think that you can do it with dietary changes and things like oil pulling. The most common elements are swishing with coconut oil for 20 minutes every day, taking a fermented cod liver oil supplement for the Vitamin D, butter oil, a calcium source like raw dairy or bone broth, and avoiding foods high in phytic acid. The last is very important and turns a lot of what you have learned about nutrition on its head. Beans and grains are high in phytic acid and have to be soaked before consuming if at all. What the diet comes down to is basically the Paleo Diet and this explains in part why cavities seemed unusual for cavemen.

Check out the link below for some more detailed discussion on this fascinating topic

http://rawfoodsos.com/2010/01/24/dental-drama-tooth-problems-on-the-raw-diet-part-1/#comment-144693

Foods That Prevent Prostate and Other Types of Cancers

It's movember, the month many men grow moustaches to show awareness of prostate cancer. Overall people have become more aware of risk factors to cancer, but prostate cancer is still the second most common cancer. This interesting map shows rates of incidence of most different types of cancer

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/world/incidence/#By

The map is interesting because it shows rates that are sometimes significantly different in similarly developed countries in different regions of the world, and because certain ethnic groups have much higher or lower rates of cancers. I was especially struck by the high rates of liver cancer in Mongolia. It has an incidence rate of 78 per 100,000 people compared to just 22 per 100,000 in neighbouring China.
According to this article it is due to high rates of hepatitis infection

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2811%2960448-0/fulltext

 An important thing to remember though is that sometimes lower incidence rates mean lower detection rates or that people are just dying earlier of other causes before the cancer can develop. Increasingly though nutrition is being linked to lower rates of certain types of cancers. The book "The China Study" linked the consumption of animal products in western society to higher rates of cancer. The book's conclusions are controversial but the evidence of higher cancer rates in western influenced Japan compared to China are compelling.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_China_Study#Eight_principles_of_food_and_health

Much research is being done now that is slowly revealing that particular foods will have special effects on particular or many different types of cancers. Foods like berries and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage seem to have tumor shrinking properties in animal studies. Tomato consumption seems to result in lower rates of lung cancer, and habanero peppers caused prostate tumors to self destruct by blocking testosterone from entering them and other factors. And the list goes on. Indeed Mexico with it's high habanero consumption seems to have a very low rate of prostate cancer as the aforementioned map shows.

http://www.watershedsentinel.ca/content/investigating-habanero-peppers-prostate-cancer

But for all this readily available information doesn't seem to be getting publicized a lot even during this month of prostate cancer awareness. There are a few good articles out there to read like the one I link to here.

http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/prostate-cancer-procrastination-6-foods-eat-today#1

As you can see this list included tomatoes and broccoli (cruciferous) as well as Green Tea which some theorized was a factor in China having lower rates of certain types of cancer compared to the west. Antioxidant rich food like pomegranates or berries could also be a factor in the prevention of cancer causing damage to your cells. As for myself  I drink green tea, eat berries, and try to get some organic greens every day. I find broccoli to be a very versatile food and it is known to be rich in a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. It's inexpensive and I always chop up the stems as well to add to stir fries or steam them with garlic and butter which is very tasty too. A good part of getting the proper nutrients is establishing a routine for yourself to get all these important things into you over the course of a day. In my case I start out the day with a spoonful of berry powder, and work in other things in like tomato juice with Omega3s (anti inflammatory) stirred in. Once your own routine is established you should start to see the effects of these antioxidant rich foods on your own outward appearance like better hair and skin quality.

The Best Foods For Dental Health

So I noticed the other day that my molar was wearing down and it got me thinking about what I could do naturally to reverse this condition. An ugly cavity I missed at the back of my mouth. I was already aware that our teeth can re-mineralize on their own because typically when I feel something is coming on, I increase my consumption of calcium with milk and other supplements. I am surprised about this particular tooth though because I have largely eliminated refined sugar from my diet. What I didn't know though was that the best re-mineralization results were achieved when grains, nuts, and beans were also eliminated or largely reduced. This is because these foods will result in high amounts of Phytic Acid in the body, which in turns binds with calcium that would otherwise be used to maintain the teeth. Interesting isn't it. Other minerals in turn are less readily absorbed as well, and this has the greatest effects on children's health. Sadly for vegans the ideal diet for dental health is more difficult to achieve as the foods with the lowest amounts of phytic acid are things like meat, fish, and raw dairy. As some commenters say this is very close to the paleo diet. Vegans often consume large amounts of tofu (bean curd) and grains which could result in high amounts of Phytic Acid. There are however calcium supplements on the market which could help. My largest problem has been finding one that is unflavoured in stores where I live though. So far they all seem to be flavoured with Stevia or Citric Acid (even when that package said unflavoured!). Very annoying. I am taking some of that though, along with extra milk, using a Sensodyne toothpaste labelled repair and protect (it contains calcium as well), and using a natural dental gel  that kills cavity forming bacteria with essential plant oils. For me it would take too long to wait and see if this tooth repairs itself though so I will need to get a filling from the dentist. All the same though my diet is changing as much as possible.

Check out the graph showing the cavity/remineralization rates with various diets in this article about reversing tooth decay.

http://wellnessmama.com/1756/reverse-tooth-decay/

Just for fun I also looked up whether people could make their own fillings. Turns out that they can! And very simple as well too!

For people who do not have coverage for dental operations, maybe this temporary filling could help. It only involves zinc powder and clove oil so it is not expensive and such information could save some teeth !

 http://www.toothacheselfhelp.com/fill-your-own-teeth/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GC8RxLnbio

Another important issue for dental health is the use and consumption of sweeteners. Lately I have been using a calcium supplement sweetened with stevia. I had been searching for a totally unsweetened calcium powder but I had to settle for the Natural Balance SeaCal. It seemed to be the closest thing but after doing some reading online about stevia I won't be buying this product again. It appears that Stevia may have all sorts of negative effects for overall health! Even for diabetics because there is evidence that sweeteners other than refined sugar can still cause an insulin response. And according to this blog below liquid stevias may contain glycerine that may interfere with the remineralization of teeth. Not a concern in the case of the Natural Balance powder, but still something to be aware of.

http://empoweredsustenance.com/is-stevia-bad-for-you/

And although Stevia does not provide nutrition for bacteria that help create cavities, some dentists have warned that their has not been sufficient studies to guarantee that stevia does not harm teeth in other ways.

 http://www.dental-tribune.com/articles/news/europe/7965_stevia_might_harm_oral_health_dentists_suggest_.html

There is xylitol also but that is an artificial ingredient so that does not really attract me much to it.

 http://cyberdentist.blogspot.ca/2011/02/sugar-substitutes-better-for-your-teeth.html

We do still need glucose for proper body function though so things like fruit in moderation and raw honey may be the best option. Milk surprisingly will feed the bacteria causing cavities so you have to be careful to brush after drinking it. The calcium is important though for building strong bones and teeth.

I have also bought coconut oil to swish and Cod liver oil for Vitamin D. Apparently the Coconut Oil swishing removes a lot of toxins and acts against bacteria. Great article about it here.

http://wellnessmama.com/7866/oil-pulling-for-oral-health/


For further reading this site also has a lot of general information about the way bacteria harm your teeth.


http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/plaque-on-teeth

Does farming crops kill more animals than raising livestock animals?

When it comes to vegetarianism vs meat eating the costs to animals is not always very clear cut. While vegans can often be quite sure of themselves when eating a bowl of oatmeal there are other consequences that they may not have considered. Growing crops may kill more animals and living creatures than pasturing cows in a field. Here is why. Large scale farming involves the use of heavy machinery and vehicles that will run over many small animals in the fields. Groundhogs, mice, voles, snakes just to name a few. Grain farmers will also poison millions of mice periodically, which will also result in their offspring perishing. Pesticides used on non organic farms will also kill billions of insects. Using a field to grow crops will also drastically alter the ecosystem and natural plant life while using the same field for pasture will largely preserve those things.

Not so black and white is it ?

Consider that this situation only involves grass fed cattle though. It's easy to see that factory farms for chickens are far more harmful than that cattle pasture. And some farms do not use machinery and instead just have people harvesting by hand. My personal philosophy is about minimizing the damage to other living creatures. Vegetarians would be well advised to think more closely about how the food on their plate came to be there and make their food choices accordingly. I got some great stats on the question of whether crops or raising livestock is responsible for more harm to animals here. Sometimes you have to pick the lesser of two evils.

 http://www.quora.com/How-many-years-do-you-think-it-will-be-before-people-stop-eating-meat-What-do-you-think-the-biggest-obstacles-will-be-to-achieving-this/answer/Colin-Wright-9/comment/5726874?__snids__=586356254&__nsrc__=1&__filter__=all&share=1#comment5729255

Gorillas: The Muscular Vegans. How do they do it?

How can gorillas and chimpanzees  be so closely related to humans but are so strong and muscular on a vegan diet?

When people try to survive on the same diet as their close genetic relatives the gorilla they tend to wind up weak and scrawny. The diet these people consume is called the fruititarian diet. Even vegetarians and vegans must use a carefully planned mix of food and often must also add supplements to their food to avoid becoming deficient in certain vitamins and minerals. Gorillas eat a diet primarily consisting of leaves and fruit and yet a gorilla is stronger than practically any human. Where did our diets diverge and why? I asked this question on a great site called Quora and got a very well written explanation. Link to it here

http://www.quora.com/Questions-That-Contain-Assumptions/What-evolutionary-factors-resulted-in-gorillas-having-the-ability-to-process-protein-from-vegetation-when-humans-do-not/answer/Trevor-Best-2?share=1

Picking the Right Pet Food

My Opinion on a Biased Article About By Products in Pet Foods 

Just read this article and found it very frustrating that this information is being spread on the internet when so much has been done in the past decade to improve the quality of pet foods that are available.

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/dog-food-label-ingredients/#comment-205592

 As a person with many past and present beloved family pets I do quite a bit of reading on pet foods and want the best for them. One of our family pets did die a painful death from cancer before I started learning about pet foods, and I think it is possible that cheap pet food was a factor in the development of that cancer. Pets live short lives but we all want them to be healthy and spend as much time as possible with us. Playing the odds and giving them the best diet possible is a step in the right direction. I want to share what I have learned in the hopes your pet can live a healthier life.

The important thing to remember is that the main source of material for this opinionated article is Pedigree dog foods. This company manufactures a food with  By-Products in the ingredient list. Hardly unbiased.


Now lets take a closer look at Pedigree Dog Food. They do a lot of advertising {unlike the really good super premium brands interestingly) and their commercials show leaping happy dogs. But how good are their ingredients?

Here are the ingredients for their original formula food.

 http://www.mypedigree.ca/en/our-food/foodproductlist/dryvitalityib/

There are a number of things wrong with this food. First of all the first ingredient which is the largest by weight is corn. Think about it. We make syrup out of corn so that's not going to be good for their blood sugar, and probably bad for their teeth as well. It's a simple carb with little nutritional value. The next ingredients are meat and bone meal, and animal fat. Meat and animal fat? From what animal? I don't know where this company gets their meat meal. When you buy a food with meat and animal ingredients what  assurances in general are there  there that it isn't from a very bad source. Are those sources  euthanized or diseased  animals, expired grocery store meat,  road kill, or even restaurant grease? These questions need to be more clearly answered by the government and pet food makers. http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-industry-exposed/dogs-meat-meal/

Try finding a pet food containing By Products with OVERALL ingredients as good as a food with HUMAN GRADE chicken. You will have a hard time doing that. Really good quality brands that I would feed to family pets like Orijen, Fromm, and Go Natural have meat that is specially inspected to be fit for human consumption. That of course means that the ingredients are not from euthanized animals etc. Secondly the really good quality foods do not have filler like simple carb wheat and corn. Instead they contain antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables that support the overall health with natural sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. These fruits and vegetables may also have valuable cancer and disease preventing properties for your pet just as they will for you. In the long run spending money on better pet food may save you money on vet bills. Any trip to the vet will likely cost you enough money to  buy  a lot of dog food. At an average cost of about $70/bag good quality dog food winds up costing you about $2.50 a day. Not so bad when you look at it that way right?

They also will not have any artificial colors or preservatives like many cheaper byproduct pet foods. Those chemicals will build up in your pet and be a risk factor for cancers. On top of all this really good quality foods contain probiotics that can help with digestion. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria in your pet's stomach that can help break down food and promote good health.

These days people consider their pet a member of the family and want them to eat as good quality food as the humans. Would you eat a diet of byproducts, corn/wheat, and synthetic vitamins? How healthy do you think you would be? Still think a food with byproducts is better? Look up that brand on dogfoodavisor.com and see what they say….

This pup is going to eat the best food possible.

Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses For Your Hair and Skin

 The Many Beneficial Compounds in Molasses

I find hair an interesting subject. How much can it be protected by nutrients in food? Sometimes I see someone in the grocery store and wonder if they had picked different foods or a more organic shampoo their hair quality might be improved. What if they gave up smoking or had less stress? Does it make a difference? There are quite a few things that seem to be beneficial including zinc, copper, vitamin B12, Omega 3s, antioxidant Superoxide Dimutase and Catalase. Pretty hard to fit so many supplements in your diet. I have tried a few things like the Chinese Herb He Shou Wu (The Man With Black Hair), and copper tablets. Certain things do contain a combination of these substances and one such is Blackstrap Molasses. Blackstrap molasses is what is left over when sugar is refined from sugar cane. While it may be the leftover, in this case the leftover contains most of the nutrients including zinc and copper. The little paint factories that make the colours in your hair need many nutrients to function effectively. One theory about damage to hair as you age is that mounting levels of free radical hydrogen peroxide eventually bleaches your hair and damages the follicles, while you produce declining amounts of antioxidants. Pretty interesting stuff. I buy my molasses in bulk containers at a local supermarket. I tried it out for a while and while it does not seem to sweeten tea much, the main problem is that it's so messy! Check this link for more detailed information.

 http://www.naturalnews.com/046100_blackstrap_molasses_hair_growth_nutrition.html

10,000 Dogs Tortured as Part of Annual Yulin Dog-Eating Festival | The Dogington Post

10,000 Dogs Tortured as Part of Annual Yulin Dog-Eating Festival | The Dogington Post



I think this is just awful. How can these people not see how intelligent dogs are and that they are our natural friends? One thing that makes dogs different from many other animals is that they have actually evolved and been bred to be our friends. Not our meals. But it's good to see that there actually is an outcry in China over this now.

Tariq Hossenbux Opinion on Bill Gates Researching Meat Replacements

Bill Gates is Funding Research on Meat Replacements

Great article here about how Bill Gates  is funding meat and egg replacements. Things are moving fast so this could become mainstream in our lifetimes.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/bill-gates/10792629/Bill-Gates-turns-attention-to-latest-project-fake-chicken.html

The poultry industry is a huge one to challenge. Only someone with Bill Gates type of money could stand a chance. The way I see it if we as the human race can survive and enjoy life without the need to kill other animals it must be a good thing. Already it is no longer scientifically necessary for us to kill other animals because supplements have advanced to the point where we can easily balance our diets with the addition of inexpensive products. It's just a matter of convincing those who will not give up their meat or admit that they are part of an industry to can be very cruel and destructive. The factory farming industry has a great interest in preserving people's notions of eggs coming from traditional looking farms, but the modern factory farm is a monster far removed from that now. Most consumers would not know that millions upon millions of baby male chicks are killed as soon as they born because they are not useful as egg layers. The egg layers do not live much longer either and some will never see the light of day. Truly it would be an advancement for human civilization to no longer have to treat other sentient beings this way.

Meat replacements have really come a long way lately. Years ago I would not have been able to stomach vegan burgers and hot dogs but I think I am ready to try things again. I have bought Earth Island vegan mayo and buttery spread that might even be superior to the real thing. And just the other day I bought these vegan chicken nuggets that were just as good as real meat.Wherever possible I try to reduce consumption of animal products. So far the hardest one to replace has been cheese but surely a good replacement is around the corner.

I am not a vegetarian but I do look forward to the day when animals are no longer slaughtered for our needs.

Sunset near Highway 17 Sault St. Marie

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Long distance driving I got a reward at the end of the 14 hour driving day  day when I saw this beautiful sunset off Highway 17 near Sault St. Marie Ontario. My little GoPro camera has been really handy. I don't have a larger expensive camera with zoom but this one happens to catch things with a little bit of an interesting perspective. I always wanted one , and when I was at the Oshkosh Air Show last year with money in my pocket I had to cash in on the $400 show special with accessories like an LCD backpack. 

Can Enough B12 be Found in a Natural Vegan Diet?

Can Enough B12 be Found in a Vegan Diet ?

http://www.veganhealth.org/b12/plant

Vegetarianism is a big topic these days. People are more concerned about animal rights and the environment than ever before. The factory farming industry has become a monster that resembles little of the traditional farms many people still imagine their eggs come from. Recently I posted on a Google+ board in a discussion about whether milk and eggs were necessary. It's my opinion that,while I am not a complete vegetarian, people have access to the supplements and nutrition that eliminate the requirement for animals to be killed or used otherwise for our diet. Some people do not want to change and have a typical repertoire of knee jerk responses like "I'm the top of the food chain so it's natural", "Why would I have pointy canine teeth", or "we have to eat animals to get Vitamin B12."  This last one is an  interesting issue  and will be the primary focus of this post.

So lets start with the basics. Vitamin B12 is essential for healthy human life and is produced by neither plant nor animal. It is produced by bacteria that live in all animals including humans. For us however the bacteria reside a little further down in the colon than the vitamin can be absorbed in large amounts. Vitamin B12 is only required by humans in very small amounts, and is stored by the body for long periods of time. Thus it takes quite a while for the symptoms of B12 deficiency to show.

B12 is required for a multitude of roles in the body. These include converting carbohydrates into energy, maintaining a healthy nervous system including regulation of mood, good energy levels, cardiac health, protection against some types of cancers, digestion, and is essential for healthy hair, skin and nails. People who have vitamin B12 deficiency may develop anemia.

It is possible that some humans have been able to survive on a true vegan diet without the addition of B12 supplements. Many animal herbivores consume their own feces which is a source of B12 and it was found that extracting B12 from human feces and giving it to humans with B12 deficiency could ward off the symptoms of the condition. In India many vegetarians consume amounts of dairy sources of B12. Some Indian Vegans (who do not consume dairy or eggs of course) also do not have B12 deficiency. Scientists have theorized that insect larva and residues of insect fecal matter and dirt may contain enough B12. Not much is required as the Liver stores somewhere in the vicinity of a 2 year supply of B12.  In another case Iranian villagers who ate very how amounts of animal products were found to have normal levels of B12. It was theorized that it was due to the fact they were using human fecal matter as fertilizer and possibly because low protein levels allowed their own B12 producing bacteria to ascend high enough in the digestive tract for the vitamin to be absorbed.  It is interesting when some Indians mentioned here moved to the West they were found to be afflicted by B12 deficiency when eating the western diet of food that is cleaned of impurities like dirt and insect residues.  One last possibility in these cases is that the water supply in that part of India contained B12 producing bacteria.

The studies mentioned in the seems to have found that by and large the foods that were tested did not have enough B12 to counteract deficiencies. However they did find some interesting evidence that certain types of food may provide the required B12. A good example of this would be the Korean Centenarians who consumed little animal product but did eat Kimchi at every meal and had the proper B12 levels. Certain types of algae like Coccolithophorid algae did seem to produce results of higher B12 level in those who consumed them. In other cases Japanese vegan school children who consumed Seaweed in large amounts seem to have normal B12 levels. In addition some vegans who ate produce which may have had contamination from soil and manure were able to maintain normal B12 levels. These examples warrant further study. For the most part though it has been found that vegans who do not consume B12 fortified foods or supplements are at a much higher risk of B12 deficiency.  With all the inexpensive supplements, and B12 fortified products out there it is one of the easiest health problems to avoid though.  In fact research has shown that raw  fortified foods may be a better source than animal products as cooking may damage the vitamin levels.  Finally in the future studies have shown that plants injected with B12 retained the vitamin in significant amounts so this will be an option as well. There is no reason for anyone to be afflicted by B12 deficiencies but the end  results of these studies will still be interesting to see in the future. 

True Canadian Dog Encounters

An Encounter With True Canadian Dogs

Sometimes the most interesting experiences happen with animals when you least expect it. If you go out in the forest and be still for a while you will notice the things happening around you. Animals are amazingly sensitive to which humans are their friends. 

Here is a true Canadian Dog I met in a remote area outside of town  the other day. I was walking in the forest and I saw two dogs run by me. They ran by but didn't look directly at me. I didn't think they were going to meet but later on they came to find  me again and we made friends. I gave this one an organic apple and a banana. She ate the whole thing including the skin! After that we were all friends and the dogs had a nap under my vehicle.

Vegetarian Sweet and Spicy Curry Recipe

Sweet and Spicy Vegetarian Curry

Recently I made some comments on a Google+ post regarding whether it was necessary to eat eggs or milk. I personally feel that it is no longer necessary to consume those things considering  all the great and inexpensive  Vitamin B12 supplements out there. There is just too much cruelty in the factory farming industry so I try to reduce my association with it as much as possible. Here is site that details some of the benefits of lentils http://ic.steadyhealth.com/what_are_the_benefits_of_lentils.html. This spicy curry combines potatoes and lentils with some antioxidant rich vegetables. It also has potatoes and fibre from cabbage in it so it should be satisfying without being very high in calories. You can store the leftovers for nutritious and warming lunches throughout the week. It has minimal preparation involved so all there is to do after your curry starts to cook is to wait for your desired thickness in it. If you like, you can increase the amount of cayenne to a full tablespoon to make it really hot. The meal should be ready in an hour.

Ingredients

2 potatoes chopped in 1 inch cubes ,1 onion choppe,d 1 carrot sliced, 1/2 cup of red lentils, 1 cup shredded cabbage, 4 tablespoons of honey, 1 can of sweet green peas. Vegetable oil to fry onions.
You will also need a variety of spices including 1 tablespoon each of cumin, turmeric, mustard powder, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, celery seed, coriander, paprika, and parsley  (You can use a ready made curry powder too if you are short on time but I like to make it from scratch!) 1/2 tablespoon each of fenugreek, caraway, clove, cinnamon, cayenne. 1 teaspoon of rosemary, 2 curry leaves and a Bay leaf, Plain Yogurt

Preparation

Begin by boiling 6 cups of salted water. Chop the potatoes into 1 inch cubes and put them in the boiling water. The skins have a lot nutrition in them. If possible use organic potatoes. After the potatoes have begun to soften up a little bit add the sliced carrots and lentils. Wait another 10 minutes and then fry 1 chopped  onion lightly in a frying pan. Add the onions into your pot along with the cabbage. Lower the heat to medium low. Prepare a curry paste by putting all the spices in a smaller bowl, mixing them up, then adding water gradually and stirring to make a paste. Put the paste in your pot and stir in along with the curry and bay leaves. Add in the four tablespoons of honey at this time also. Let the curry simmer for about 40 minutes reducing and thickening. Stir occasionally and add salt and pepper or additional honey to taste.  Add in the peas and some shredded greens of any time for the last 5 minutes of cooking time. Serve in a bowl with a dollop of yogurt to temper the spicy heat and garnish with some artful greens on top. A side of salad and some Naan bread will also accompany this very well. I hope you enjoy it. Many other vegetables can be added if desired later such as broccoli, green pepper, or chilies

Tariq Hossenbux opinion on NYC animal abuser registry

Important New Law Advances NYC Animal Rights

http://www.dogheirs.com/dogheirs/posts/5095-new-york-city-creates-city-wide-animal-abuser-registry

Excellent news here on this progressive law. Creating a registry to list offenders does a lot of good. While on the surface it doesn't increase fines or punishment in reality it does because it threatens the offenders with public shaming. Even sick minded ones  like people who abuse animals don't want to be shamed in front of everyone else. And it does treat them for what they are. The equivalent of perverts and psychopaths. This article is right in saying that how people treat animals will be an effective predictor of how they treat other people. If they do this to animals I would be asking how long it will be before they move on vulnerable people. I am of the thinking though that as disgusting as the pain the perpetrators inflict on animals is, this mentality must be the product of their upbringing. I am not a psychologist but I like to believe that such people could be rehabilitated. If that is true, NYC must also have a system to help those who are having urges to inflict pain on animals. Let them come in anonymously before they do harm and speak with a mental health practitioner in the employ of the city. And publicize it so that everyone in the city knows that there is some help available to them. Surely the people who abuse animals are acting out rage and frustration at what has happened to them in the past.The law makes it more difficult for such people to continue those violent hurtful actions by preventing them from buying animals from pet dealers. This will save some pets who otherwise may fall into the possesion of those who would harm them. These pets will have the opportunity to contribute to society.
Many animals are doing valuable work as virtual citizens and are totally lacking in protection from crimes. Dogs work with police, the military, customs, as therapy dogs, and many other roles. They do work for humans but at the end of the day only ask for our companionship in return for their loyalty. Even dogs that do not work provide their owners with priceless companionship. Shouldn't the punishment for harming such loyal companions reflect what they add to society?  While it dosn't increase fines/punishment for abusing animals, the New York Registry is the first step in recognizing them  as thinking beings who are virtual citizens. As such it is a giant step, and a statement of the civilization of New York City.

Pictured: Rufus is an example of a dog rescued from abusive conditions.

Infants Addicted to Their IPADS

 Telegraph Article On Infant IPAD Addiction

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10767878/Infants-unable-to-use-toy-building-blocks-due-to-iPad-addiction.html#comment-1346049922

I sometimes mention the radiation concerns with cellphones to a doctor I know  in Ottawa and he is very dismissive. Doctors tend to like to stick to whatever the conventional thinking is at the time. But as far as the addiction to electronic devices in the general population goes it's very scary. People get on the bus and feel the need to plug themselves in to a device and isolate themselves that way. What if something dangerous or maybe just interesting is happening around them? They might just not even know ! Are people missing out on their life when they plug in too much? Are some important social skills already being lost because people are communicating more with text messages and less with speech? Sometimes people complain that they don't even get service when they walk into a store. Is it because people treat real life the same way as they treat an internet chat or forum?  I think so.....

Tariq Hossenbux

Tariq Hossenbux on Brandeis University Cancelling Islam Critic's Honorary Degree

Tariq Hossenbux's Opinion on Brandeis University cancelling Ali's Honorary Degree

CNN Article on Brandeis University cancelling Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Honorary Degree

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/11/opinion/stanley-brandeis-invite-islam/index.html?iid=article_sidebar

Self Hater probably describes Ali pretty well. She has obviously has some psychological problems related to her barbaric mutilation but who can blame her for that? Some of the tribes in her ancestral country have some pretty primitive practices but that doesn’t have much basis in religion. Maybe the university has some counselors on hand that could give her some free therapy as a consolation prize instead of that honorary degree. Regarding the people with bigoted attitudes towards ANY group of people: You should leave the insular world  and go and meet some people from other cultures. Even if they are Muslim or gay or whatever group you think are demonic barbarians who discuss their future evil plans over dinner. You would probably find that all human beings with the same basic human desires, reasons to be happy or sad, and aspirations.  And yes some other countries have backwards policies and medieval cultures that they have brainwashed their populations with. And they still have a long way to go before they achieve modern free societies. And guess what? Things are not cartoon black and white issues. Brainwashing people with doctrines that encourage hate has historically helped dictators to oppress their own people. I don’t even need to name one particularly strong example of a hypocritical state. But if you travel to Monaco you will see their princes gambling and drinking while at home they preach radical puritanical religion to their people. Such brainwashing has even backfired on the dictators. Despotism pushes people underground where radical terrorism grows. Neither one of these things are good. There are many evil people and they find outlets for their violent interests. In one place one may become a terrorist and in others they go and shoot people at schools. Confrontational states encourage weapons sales as well! I like to think that Bush’s idea that establishing a democratic state in Iraq will eventually lead to more freedom in the middle east but with dictators gaining power all around them I am afraid that they may bring down that nascent democracy.

Tariq Hossenbux on the Benefits of Oil of Jojoba

 From what I have read certain types of nutrients will benefit your hair's overall health. These include Omega3s found in fish oil or kelp/spirulina, B vitamins, Copper, and Zinc. The minerals will help to support your hair follicles production of pigments that also moisturize your hair. Get a good natural shampoo with a complete profile of nutrients that your hair needs. Avoid chemical dyes and heat treatments on your hair that will dry them out. Oil of Jojoba is a great conditioner that protects your hair with a natural sunscreen, moisturizes, and contains some  of these important nutrients for your hair.

I have several products that I keep as essentials in my daily regimen of supplementation and general diet. Today I want to let you know about a wonderful natural product that can replace many of the chemical containing liquids and gels you may have in your household. It's oil of jojoba.

You have probably heard of it but are not aware of the many great aspects of it. This golden liquid is not actually an oil but a wax. It is absorbed through all seven layers of your skin as its structure closely approximates that of human skin oil. This gives it great advantages in moisturizes skin and it fills intra cellular spaces. As such it can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and be used as a general moisturizer.

I used to buy the small 16oz bottles but now I special order a bottle that is about 4 times the size. Since you only use a few drops at a time this can last for months even if you use it every day. You can even add it to your shampoo to get an extra conditioning effect. The big bottle costs me about 50$ but i'm sure you could get it for less by ordering online.

Here is the Desert Essence brand I used to get in the smaller size  https://www.desertessence.com/store/organic-jojoba-oil

It's an excellent way to replace the chemical laden products that are all too common in our lives.

Me and Bobby McGee - Some local music from here in Ottawa

 Just stumbled across this on YouTube... She does a great job with one of her first videos here I think....



A good tune can make your day I think!