Now Foods Alcohol based stevia

I asked what source is the alcohol in their stevia?

Their response:

The alcohol is corn derived ethanol.

Thank you.

NOW Health Group

They do have other stevia products I need to research. Will update when I find out. 

Garden of Life 

     I was looking into vitamins for little girl and wanted to get her one that was wheat and corn free. Although she is not allergic to corn and wheat these ingredients do have negative affects on healthy children. Sometimes from the plants themselves, some from the chemicals used on them and sometimes from the way they are stored.

     I posted a question to Garden of Life (this is a company from the author of Makers Diet- who cured his health issues with probiotics and a healthy diet. The response surprised me because it is a known fact in the nutritional community that corn is not healthy.

Their response: Thank you for your email and interest in Garden of Life's products.  Vitamin Code Kids does not contain wheat products, however it is not labeled as wheat free. 

Unless stated on our label, we do not guarantee that our products are corn free.

At Garden of Life we source only premium ingredients and work with manufacturers who have the highest quality standards and follow GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices) set by the FDA.  After more than ten years as a leader in whole food, premium, science based nutritional support products, we understand our customer’s concerns and needs and always seek to inform and empower you on your journey toward extraordinary health.  We provide as much information as possible when labeling, especially with regard to food sources.  With regard specifically to corn, only products labeled as “corn free” may be relied upon by those who are highly concerned with corn in their diets.  We do not make this claim on Garden of Life products and do not test our finished goods for either the intentional or potential accidental presence of corn.  Corn is one of the most common and prevalent sources for many raw materials used in nutritional products and is therefore present in virtually every manufacturing facility and production line used throughout the industry.  As safety is our primary concern, we recommend that you do not use our products if you are allergic to corn.

Higher standard nutritional supplements have dedicated corn and wheat free facilities! In fact those higher standard supplement companies do not use corn.Corn is a cheap filler. There are some good vitamins out there that do not use cheap fillers. 

Stevia: Why I do not not use Nu naturals. 

I am not saying that Nu naturals is a bad product I am just saying I need to know what is in it if I am going put it in me. My allergic reaction to some foods affects my breathing so its important to know what is in what.
Nu Naturals claim is below. They do not disclaim what type of natural flavors they use. They just assume they are non allergenic. No one knows what is food for one person may be toxic to another. Honestly this about our health not some fad. They do disclaim that they use corn in their powdered stevia -their statement about that is below also. 

From nu naturals website:

We are using natural flavors that are plant based extracts. (could be corn)  These extracts help to increase the sense of sweetness and rounds out the flavor of our NuStevia as well as Pure Liquid Clear Stevia, Vanilla Stevia and Alcohol Free products. From endless consumer feedback, we know that people regard our NuStevia products as the best tasting and sweetest products on the market. Even though we are selling Stevia as a dietary supplement, we know taste is very important to people.

The natural flavors used in our Stevia products are natural plant extracts. These natural flavors do not contain any MSG (monosodium glutamate) or any other “natural flavors” that are known to cause allergic reactions in the body. None of the natural flavors we use are man-made chemicals. We do scrutinize the ingredients that we use very carefully and would not use an ingredient known to cause reactions.

We do not wish to disclose the source of the natural flavor because it is a trade secret. We have spent a lot of time researching and developing the best tasting Stevia products on the market and do not wish to share this information with other companies selling Stevia.

We have been adding these natural flavors to our Stevia products for over 6 years and have not received any communication from the people using our Stevia products about negative reactions. There have been over a billion servings sold without one negative reaction reported to NuNaturals. With that track record, we are extremely confident that our Stevia products are very non-allergenic.

Where does Maltodextrin come from? The maltodextrin NuNaturals uses as an ingredient in NuStevia™ White Stevia Powder™ is made from corn.

How is Maltodextrin made?
Corn is made into slurry (corn mush)
It is then liquefied
The liquid undergoes an acid/enzyme conversion
The liquid goes through filtration and a carbon treatment.
The liquid is then evaporated.
The condensed liquid is now spray dried and separated. One of the products separated out is maltodextrin.

Heartweed: This is what bothers me about their reasoning, some people are still having symptoms and do not realize that some products who do not list ALL ingredients may actually be the ones causing their symptoms to flare up. Some see "stevia" and natural flavors then the website says don't worry about what we don't tell you. Then others claim that the stevia itself is making them ill without realizing that companies like this have hidden ingredients. Maltodextrin: ummm corn is problematic and allergenic. The process in which maltodextrin is made sounds as far away from natural as you can get. 

Paleo Diet/ LIFESTYLE  and SCD 

I am not a big fan of diets but Paleo is a lifestyle . It is not just about losing weight but gaining health. Its about food and lifestyle. It focusing on the complete person not just digestion. I am not saying I am 100% paleo but this lifestyle come pretty close to it . Bonus for me is that most recipes that are Paleo fit my dietary needs: grain free, corn free.  I have got to say I do not eat pork (pork is paleo friendly) and I do not eat it for several reasons. It is a choice you have to make for yourself but:
For me and my house we will serve no pork!.

So you will see I long list of recipes under the paleo tab under my heartweedeats.blogspot .com. I use to be just gluten/corn free, but then I have found that just gluten/corn free is not working for me. I also have recipes under a tab called SCD - that is Specific Carbohydrate Diet. (this a HEALTH diet - not necessarily a weight diet). Many disorders of the digestion system and the brain (depression, autism,etc) can be dealt with using SCD diet. I have found that I am carb senstive and I am trying to find more SCD recipes.

The list for legal/illegal foods on the SCD is so long that I will post the link but not the list. Check it out. I have found that many of the illegal foods are foods that I have deleted through the years because they cause me issued and I have learned of new since looking at the list.



Legal foods: carbohydrates that  are monosaccharides and have a single molecule structure that allow them to be easily absorbed by the intestine wall. 
Illegal Foods: Complex carbohydrates which are disaccharides (double molecules) and polysaccharides (chain molecules) are not allowed. Complex carbohydrates that are not easily digested feed harmful bacteria in our intestines causing them to overgrow producing by products and inflaming the intestine wall. The diet works by starving out these bacteria and restoring the balance of bacteria in our gut.

Also from their webpage. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet™ is biologically correct because it is species appropriate. The allowed foods are mainly those that early man ate before agriculture began. The diet we evolved to eat over millions of years was predominantly one of meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, nuts, low-sugar fruits. Our modern diet including starches, grains, pasta, legumes, and breads has only been consumed for a mere 10,000 years. In the last hundred years the increase in complex sugars and chemical additives in the diet has led to a huge increase in health problems ranging from severe bowel disorders to obesity and brain function disorders. We have not adapted to eat this modern diet as there has not been enough time for natural selection to operate. It therefore makes sense to eat the diet we evolved with.

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet™ was clinically tested for over 50 years by Dr Haas and biochemist Elaine Gottschall with convincing results. From feedback from the various lists and other information at least 75% of those who adhere rigidly to the diet gain significant improvement.

BONES: They need more than calcium. 

        America has one the highest rates for osteoporosis ( weak and brittle bones) and the highest rates of dairy consumption. We drink lots and lots of milk but have brittle bones, what? Know we have been told and our grandmother , her mother, that we need milk to build our bones so why is milk not doing the job? Here is what I learned while in school. 

      Our bodies need to balanced. We need to be a certain amount acid and certain amount alkaline and we get balanced from the foods we eat. Too much acidic foods we are to acidic. Too much alkaline foods and we are alkaline. Normally here in America we tip the scales to too much acid. Calcium and potassium are two the biggest alkaline minerals. Are bodies use these to de-acidify itself. Bring itself back into balance. 

        And if your NOT getting calcium and potassium from your foods your body (because it is all about self- keeping you alive) will rob your BONES of calcium to save itself.

        Your body can deal with some weak, broken bones but it will not live with to much acid. 
Just so you know it uses these alkaline minerals (calcium and  potassium) to neutralize those acidic foods that your eating or feeding to your child and then that those precious nutrients are excreted out through the urine. And once those nutrients are used up the body goes after secondary nutrients - the body will literally shut down any system within itself that deems unnecessary and you may not agree with its choices. The body needs it heart, brain and some other things to survive, it really doesn't think that walking, running or for you adults losing weight (metabolism) is needed more than it needs to keep your heart beating. 

Bottom line is that it takes more calcium to build bones,  many nutrients are needed, sunlight (vitamin D) and healthy physical activity , bone building activity). 
  

Other Calcium depleting things:

• Caffeine depletes the body of calcium. So take it easy on caffeine.  And really why would you even give a toddler caffeine? 
• Keep sugar levels balanced. Don't eat sugary foods or drinks on empty stomach eat it with other foods. 
• Avoid Stress (haha I know right) remember this : God is in control and you can not do anything about it...stay away from negative people ....sometimes ( no matter who they are) you have to remove people from your life until they deal with their issues and you learn to let God deal with them.  It is affecting your health and your FAMILY'S!!!

There is a whole science to stress: its called cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone produced in the body by the adrenal glands.  You keep getting stressed your body keeps pouring out cortisol until it has no more to give this is called adernal exhaustion and like its name is exactly what you will get : exhausted and physical activity only makes it worse. 

Why are sweet potatoes Paleo YES 
and regular potatoes are a NO. 

from www.paleoplan.com 
Potatoes contain anti-nutrients like saponins that can be harmful, while sweet potatoes don’t contain those substances. 

Doug Kaufman from Know the Cause has been shouting NO AFLATOXINS for years -we love Doug! 

Foods that are not NOT PALEO &WHY - www.paleoplan.com

Legumes /peanuts are are not nuts they are legumes 

Legumes
While legumes, or beans (lentils, black beans, soy, peanuts, etc.), aren’t as bad as grains, which contain gluten and other harmful substances, they should be avoided. They absolutely must be cooked for long periods of time, sprouted, and preferably fermented to remove, at best, most of the harmful lectins and phytic acid contained in them.

Legumes are a mediocre source of protein, a huge source of unnecessary carbohydrates, and therefore produce a big glycemic response. Moreover, legumes give most people gas. I think they’re sort of a waste of calories.

Aflatoxin
In my opinion, peanuts are one of the more alarming legumes. With the number of peanut allergies doubling over the last decade, there’s clearly something going on here. There are hypotheses, but no concrete reason for the increase in allergic response to peanuts. One theory has to do with the aflatoxin present in most of the peanuts (and wheat, rice and other major crops) in the U.S.

Aflatoxin is a toxin that is created by mold that forms when crops like peanuts are stored in large masses. It’s one of the most carcinogenic substances known. Besides the fact that it could cause cancer if enough of it is ingested, there’s also growing suspicion that aflatoxin could be causing an immune system reaction – an allergy.

There’s really not enough evidence to prove this yet, but the fact that there’s a poisonous substance permeating your peanuts should give you pause.

Roasted Peanuts Are Worse
Although the roasting process will rid the peanut of some of its phytic acid, it actually changes the structure of the proteins so as to make them more allergenic. By the way, when you hear the word allergy, you might be thinking to yourself, “Well I don’t have anaphylactic shock when I eat peanuts, so I’m fine.” But allergies can be way less severe than your throat closing up. It could be as subtle as a skin rash or just feeling mentally out of it. Or maybe it makes your digestion wonky.

Anyway, we roast our peanuts in the U.S. while in China, they boil or fry them. According to this study, China wins because the allergenic potential of the boiled and fried peanuts was less than the allergenic potential of the roasted peanuts. That may be one of the reasons so many more people in the U.S., and not China, are allergic to peanuts.

There are about 9-12 peanuts in a tablespoon of peanut butter, so if you’re eating a few tablespoons of the stuff a day, that’s kind of a lot of peanuts…

Overall, I think almond butter or sunflower butter is a better choice if you’re going to insist on having a brown spread on your toast – wait… banana? I just don’t think peanuts are worth it, but as always, it’s your choice.

http://www.healthcentral.com 
Chronic Pain, Depression, Multiple sclerosis, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis, RA, weight loss. 

Is it weight gain or inflammation?

Cocoa

Cocoa contains anti-inflammatory compounds called flavanols, substances that reduce both blood clotting and inflammation in the body. Enjoying a cup or two of hot cocoa per week can help reduce inflammation, particularly if it’s made with skim or low-fat milk to keep down the drink’s content of saturated fats. Keep in mind, however, that trying to get your cocoa in the form of candy will load you up on saturated fats.

HW: Cows milk can cause inflammation too- we use coconut milk. Almond milk might be worth a try but it doesn't work for me. 

HW: I have an occasional cup of coffee but really prefer cocoa- I mix it up just like you would instant

 coffee. 1tsp dark 100% cocoa powder, 1 tsp of stevia powder or one packet or a few drops of liquid and a touch of milk.  

Extra-virgin olive oil

Extra-virgin olive oil – an unrefined type of olive oil – contains a substance called oleocanthol that interferes with two enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2) involved with inflammation in the body. In fact, a 2005 study in the journal Nature found that oleocanthol inhibits inflammation in a way that’s identical to the painkiller ibuprofen.

Cranberries

Cranberries are a powerhouse food, with studies linking the red berry to such benefits as inhibiting cancerous tumors and lowering bad (LDL) cholesterol. Scientists say the fact that the berries are rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants contribute to their healthful effects. As a bonus, cranberries also contain tannins, substances that can act as a natural antibacterial agent to fight urinary tract and E. coli infections.

HW: We use a small amount of Knudsens 100% carnberry juice-in a glass of water. This is only brnad we ahve found that is not watered down so it last a really long time. We sweeten with 100% pure stevia. Some stevia contains corn (dextrin) which is a no no that will cause weight issues and blood sugar issues).

Grapes

A 2004 study found that people with stable coronary disease lowered the amount of inflammatory markers in their blood by drinking Concord grape juice. This finding was likely due to the presence of resveratrol in the grapes’ skins, which inhibits inflammation and may even help to fight cancer. Eating grapes – and not drinking them – also adds fiber to the grapes’ benefits and eliminates any added sugar.

HW: we take a good resveratrol supplement daily made from grapes. We purchase grapes 

only grown in the US (really like California) so they are not available year round. 

Tea

Generally, any beverage that is high in water content will have anti-inflammatory qualities, and tea is a great choice. Teas such as white tea, oolong, and green tea are full of catechins, antioxidant compounds that reduce artery plaque and inflammation. Tea also has been linked to reduced risks of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

HW: Make sure your teas are organic! If your drinking them for health :) 

Walnuts

Walnuts contain the “plant version” of omega-3 fatty acids, a substance known as ALA, which reduces inflammation in the body. In a 2004 study published in the Journal of Nutrition, scientists found that people who ate at least 2.3 ounces of walnuts and flaxseed (which also contains ALA) daily had reduced levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), a major indicator of a person’s risk for heart disease.

Broccoli

Broccoli is a virtual disease fighter, rich in such healthy compounds as beta-carotene, vitamin B folate, vitamin C, and the inflammation-fighting flavanoid kaempferol. Broccoli also contains sulforaphane, which experts say helps the body cleanse itself of cancer-causing compounds.

Broccoli contains glucosinolates which may interfere with iodine absorption and be linked to certain types of thyroid dysfunction. It needs to be cooked thoroughly and not eaten raw if you suspect a thyroid issue or sluggish thyroid. 

Grass-fed beef

If you’re eating beef that’s not specifically sold as “grass-fed,” it means the cows were fed a high-calorie diet of corn and grain in an effort to fatten them quickly. Corn and grain are full of omega-6 fatty acids, which have been linked to inflammation. Grass-fed cows are leaner, and their meat is rich in healthy compounds such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E.

HW: Need a good source for grass fed....found one Kionia Farms outside of Americus Ga- Beef plus eggs! I can't believe what a difference in taste between grass fed and grain fed...wow and hardly any fat The egg yolks are bright orange not pale yellow-which is a good sign of healthy happy chickens :) 

So what exactly is xanthan gum?

http://whatallergy.com

It doesn’t take very much research to discover that “It is produced by the fermentation of glucose, sucrose, or lactose. After a fermentation period, the polysaccharide is precipitated from a growth medium with isopropyl alcohol, dried, and ground into a fine powder. Later, it is added to a liquid medium to form the gum.” (source: Wiki)

The word lactose should already be ringing alarm bells.

It appears that xanthan gum can be grown on sugar from dairy, soya, wheat or corn yet it rarely declares which medium was used to grow it.

It is also grown using a bacterian which causes cabbages to rot! Lovely! I hear you cry. Pass me some xanthan gum right now.

It’s used a lot because it’s considered to be relatively safe and is very cheap to produce. It is also very stable and works miracles with gluten free bread.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/20/kastel-organic-foods.aspx

Carragean No Safe - possibly cancer causing http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/20/kastel-organic-foods.aspx

Carragean is also grown on a medium of corn

Corn Allergy :there are an estimated 10 million people in the United States with a corn gluten allergy. That alone isn't very interesting until you realize that 75% of all processed foods have some form of corn in them, and 50% of the sweeteners are made of corn. When you put all of that together, you can see that it is difficult for those 10 million Americans to find food they can eat.
Citric Acid is often derived from corn. Yup. Sounds like citrus but it doesn't mean it is. It's also derived from a mold process in case anyone has mold or possibly mushroom allergies.




If you would like to learn about how to live with a corn allergy in other countries (Canada, France, the UK, Italy, Germany. . .) please see Cornfree.ca ("Avoiding Corn in Canada"). Labelling laws are different in every country. It is important to understand what corn products are called in each country so that you can read ingredient labels and understand which products contain corn and which do not -- it removes the need to carry around a blanket list of foods to avoid.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/blogs/editor/2008/09/corn-allergies.html#ixzz2tDHSyvXF

Traditional and Non-Traditional Corn Allergy Symptoms

Allergists and other medical professionals tend to only recognize the traditional symptoms; the non-traditional symptoms tend to be those family members identify.

Traditional Symptoms

Traditional allergic reactions include:

• Anaphylaxis
• Asthma attacks and/or shortness-of-breath
• Breathing and/or swallowing difficulties
• Drop in blood pressure
• Intestinal issues, such as stomach discomfort/cramps/pain, diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting
• Migraine headaches
• Rashes and/or hives
• Tongue, face and/or throat swelling and/or tingling

Non-Traditional Symptoms

Non-traditional reactions include:

• Depression
• Disturbed sleep
• Eczema
• Fatigue
• *Fuzzy thinking*
• Joint pains
• Hyperactivity (especially in children)
• Inability to concentrate
• Lethargy
• Mood swings and/or behavioral changes (especially in children)
• Night sweats
• *Raccoon* eyes
• Recurring ear infections
• Respiratory conditions
• Sinus conditions
• Urinary tract infections (UTI)

For the most part, everyone's corn allergy symptoms are slightly different, as well as the tolerance (or intolerance) of amounts of corn that can be ingested. Do not assume that your corn allergy symptoms will match someone else's, nor that what is safe for them to eat will be safe for you.

Other names for corn or products that may contain corn or corn derivatives:  No wonder we can't seem to get it under control. 

Acetic acid Alcohol Alpha tocopherol Artificial flavorings Artificial sweeteners Ascorbates Ascorbic acid Aspartame (Artificial sweetener) Astaxanthin Baking powder Barley malt* (generally OK, but can be contaminated) Bleached flour* Blended sugar (sugaridextrose) Brown sugar* (generally OK if no caramel color) Calcium citrate Calcium fumarate Calcium gluconate Calcium lactate Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) Calcium stearate Calcium stearoyl lactylate Caramel and caramel color Carbonmethylcellulose sodium Cellulose microcrystalline Cellulose, methyl Cellulose, powdered Cetearyl glucoside Choline chloride Citric acid* Citrus cloud emulsion (CCS) Coco glycerides (cocoglycerides) Confectioners sugar Corn alcohol, corn gluten Corn extract Corn flour Corn oil, corn oil margarine Corn starch Corn sweetener, corn sugar Corn syrup, corn syrup solids Corn, popcorn, cornmeal Cornstarch, cornflour Crosscarmellose sodium Crystalline dextrose Crystalline fructose Cyclodextrin DATUM (a dough conditioner) Decyl glucoside Decyl polyglucose Dextrin Dextrose (also found in IV solutions) Dextrose anything (such as monohydrate or anhydrous) d-Gluconic acid Distilled white vinegar Drying agent Erythorbic acid Erythritol Ethanol Ethocel 20 Ethylcellulose Ethylene Ethyl acetate Ethyl alcohol Ethyl lactate Ethyl maltol Fibersol-2 Flavorings* Food starch Fructose* Fruit juice concentrate* Fumaric acid Germ/germ meal Gluconate Gluconic acid Glucono delta-lactone Gluconolactone Glucosamine Glucose* Glucose syrup* (also found in IV solutions) Glutamate Gluten Gluten feed/meal Glycerides Glycerin* Glycerol Golden syrup Grits High fructose corn syrup Hominy Honey* Hydrolyzed corn Hydrolyzed corn protein Hydrolyzed vegetable protein Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose pthalate (HPMCP) Inositol Invert syrup or sugar Iodized salt Lactate Lactic acid* Lauryl glucoside Lecithin Linoleic acid Lysine Magnesium citrate Magnesium fumarate Magnesium stearate Maize Malic acid Malonic acid Malt syrup from corn Malt, malt extract Maltitol Maltodextrin Maltol Maltose Mannitol Methyl gluceth Methyl glucose Methyl glucoside Methylcellulose Microcrystaline cellulose Modified cellulose gum Modified corn starch Modified food starch Molasses* (corn syrup may be present; know your product) Mono- and di- glycerides Monosodium glutamate MSG Natural flavorings* Olestra/Olean Polenta Polydextrose Polylactic acid (PLA) Polysorbates* (e.g. Polysorbate 80) Polyvinyl acetate Potassium citrate Potassium fumarate Potassium gluconate Powdered sugar Pregelatinized starch Propionic acid Propylene glycol* Propylene glycol monostearate* Saccharin Salt (iodized salt) Semolina (unless from wheat) Simethicone Sodium carboxymethylcellulose Sodium citrate Sodium erythorbate Sodium fumarate Sodium lactate Sodium starch glycolate Sodium stearoyl fumarate Sorbate Sorbic acid Sorbitan* (anything) Sorbitol Sorghum* (not all is bad; the syrup and/or grain CAN be mixed with corn) Splenda (Artificial sweetener) Starch (any kind that's not specified) Stearic acid Stearoyls Sucralose (Artificial sweetener) Sucrose Sugar* (not identified as cane or beet) Threonine Tocopherol (vitamin E) Treacle (aka golden syrup) Triethyl citrate Unmodified starch Vanilla, natural flavoring Vanilla, pure or extract Vanillin Vegetable anything that's not specific* Vinegar, distilled white Vinyl acetate Vitamin C* and Vitamin E* Vitamins* Xanthan gum Xylitol Yeast* Zea mays Zein

The Truth About Dried Cranberries OUCH!

http://www.snack-girl.com/

This shocking post will reveal a little known fact about dried cranberries. Someone has to reveal the truth!

Cranberries are picked by fairies who live in teeny weeny mobile homes.

:)

Actually, the truth is not as interesting as the above fib. Dried cranberries, also know as “Craisins”, are not the same as raisins. Sure, Ocean Spray would like you to believe that they are the same, but there is one big difference.

Dried cranberries are made with added sugar, while raisins are just dried grapes with no sugar added. Why should this matter to you? I guess I think that most of us put dried cranberries and dried grapes in the same category because they sit next to each other in the store and because of the name “Craisins”.

Side note from heartweed" sugar is a grass..wheat is a grass! 

I learned all about “Craisins” at a California Raisin Advisory board breakfast where they fed me (you guessed it) raisin bread. Yum! At any rate, they are the ones who came up with that cute Marvin Gaye singing raisin.

They are a bit miffed at the cranberry people because of the insinuation that dried cranberries are like raisins and I think they have a point. Here are a two big differences between the two:

• Raisins have 6% of your daily value of iron per serving
• Raisins have 310 mg of potassium (9% of your daily value) per serving
• Raisins have 1 gram of protein and 2% of your daily value of calcium per serving

How much iron, potassium, protein, and calcium do dried cranberries have? Ahem, ZERO.

Here are the nutrition facts for one serving of dried cranberries:

130 calories, 0 g fat, 33 g carbohydrates, 26 g sugar, 0 g protein, 3 g fiber, 0 mg sodium

There are no other significant sources of macronutrients on the package. You may be getting some micronutrients, if they survived the dehydrating process. The rest is just fiber and sugar (which they added).

Raisins are more nutritious and fundamentally a different product (nothing added!) than dried cranberries.

I'm not saying you should stop eating dried cranberries. I love to use them as a flavoring agent for salads or cookies, but be aware that raisins are better for you.

Skin cancer:


There are 2 types of UV rays from the sun UVA and UVB. 

• UVA are damaging to the skin, causing cancer, wrinkles, premature aging. 
• UVB are good rays. They are the ones responsible for producing vitamin D which has been discovered to reduce skin cancers.

A study has concluded that indoor workers have an increased rise in skin cancer because they do not get the helpful outdoor sun but rather  sun rays that penetrate through glass windows. UVA pentrates through the windows while UVB does not. The rates have been increasing in indoor workers who get very little to no outdoor sun since before 1940.

• Vitamin D is a steroid hormone produces that influences every cell in your body.
• Vitamin D repairs cell damage in your body. 
• Reduces the spread and reproduction of cancer cells. 

How to get vitamin D form the sun.

• No sunscreen -it blocks vitamin d absorption (plus most sunscreens have damaging chemicals in them )
• UVB rays are highest at noon to 1 pm. Lowest in the morning and late afternoon. so get out there around noon-ish. (10-1:00)
• DO NOT get burned! A light pink is okay but burned skin is not the goal here.

Prevention is the key but if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with skin cancer then there are two products recommended by Doctor Mercola. 

1. a cream containing eggplant extract, known as BEC and BEC5, appears to cure and eliminate most non-melanoma skin cancers in several weeks time. Unlike conventional skin-cancer treatment, which is often surgery, the eggplant-extract cream leaves no scarring and no visible sign a tumor or lesion was ever present. The eggplant extract appears to be exceptionally safe and only kills cancerous cells, leaving healthy cells untouched, and causes only minor side effects, such as itching and burning. The leading researcher in this area today is Dr. Bill E. Cham, who reported as early as 1991 in Cancer Letters that:"A cream formulation containing high concentrations (10%) of a standard mixture of solasodine glycosides (BEC) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of malignant and benign human skin tumors.

 2. Astaxanthin -is a naturally occurring carotenoid. Carotenoids are what give fruit and vegetables their vibrant colors. They protect us from damaging light and oxygen (oxidation- like rust on a bike) .

• Astaxanthin also has been used for  improving cardiovascular health, stabilizing blood sugar, boosting your immune system, fighting cancer, reducing inflammation, improving eye health—and even improving your athletic abilities.

• Astaxanthin crosses the blood-brain barrier ( the blood brain barrier protects the brain form harmful substances- the guardian of the brain) and  the blood-retinal barrier(beta carotene and lycopene do not), which brings antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection to your eyes, brain and central nervous system and reduces your risk for cataracts, macular degeneration, blindness, dementia and Alzheimer's disease. 

• It has been called an internal sunscreen protecting against those harmful UVA rays.
• It has also been found to reduce wrinkles, and age spots. 
• It gives you a healthier looking tan.

Make Sure Your Astaxanthin is the Natural Variety from Marine Algae—NOT Synthetic. Natural is 20 times more effective than synthetic. 

Dosage 2mg to 8mg daily. I would start with 2mg.