Tag Archives: food toxins

Weight Loss through Body Chemical Activation

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Updated 15 November 2018, Marc Woodard

Any type of physical activity will stimulate the body’s natural release of feel good chemicals to help you lose weight and experience daily well-being.

It is the activation of muscle metabolism during low impact aerobics exercise that will activate these feel good chemicals – while simultaneously melting away body fat.

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Any aerobic activity will release addictive body chemicals to burn more body fat, benefit health and fitness levels.

Once you relate and apply the information that follows – it only takes a little will power to begin chipping away at your weight loss goals and experience well-being daily.

The advantage of low intensity aerobics exercise is it stimulates both the fat burning metabolic engine and activates addictive feel good body chemicals. Unlike high intensity strength and muscle bulking development; and high intensity aerobic exercise – these activities more or less suppress the fat burning engine to varying degree.

Walk to a destination place and fish for dinner.  “Thumbs down no fish.”

What many consumers don’t know is during low-intensity aerobic exercise the muscles metabolism prefers to burn fat fuel. That’s right the  metabolic energy needed to walk over a period of time prefers stored body fat to convert to glucose to fuel the large muscles in the legs and buttocks area.

The same muscles during high-intensity aerobics exercise like running and high impact aerobic dance for instance prefer mostly stored liver and muscle glycogen fuel to convert it to blood glucose [sugar].

The harder you train muscles in the body the less body fat you burn. That’s a major reason high intensity exercise makes you crave carbohydrates after you’ve finished the workout. And for that reason – IS the reason those folks have a hard time losing excess body weight.

The point is, you don’t have to train hard to lose body fat and excess body weight.

The second point I want to make, regardless of training intensity the body will produce chemicals to addict you to exercise whether your building muscle, increasing muscular endurance, or toning the body. But if you’re consuming a stimulant, diuretic or anabolic steroid or heavy herb concentrate supplement to “fast pace” any fitness goal, the natural chemicals released by the body will be suppressed and you’ll become addicted to an unnatural chemical supplement that may increase health risk. You may look and feel good [loss weight, or build muscle, etc.] for a while; but then bad at some point in time…

Unnatural fitness results through the use of fads, gimmicks, supplements and herbal diets are often short lived because their not sustainable habits. In the long run when applying these tactics to achieve a fitness goal – “too often,” may eventually break the fat burning (known as yo-yo dieting), or hormonal metabolism and increase health risk; then cause excessive weight gain.

Eat more healthy whole foods. Cut back on processed foods.

Once you connect how exercise and healthy whole foods dieting increases body chemical activation versus an unnatural fad-dietary course, you’ll better understand there is no good reason to “fast pace” a fitness result (e.g., weight loss). Thereafter you can avoid the pit falls of unsustainable lifestyle habits and ill-health consequences.

The 3 major chemicals the brain/body releases naturally during exercise and supports sustainable healthy weight loss…

1) Adrenaline a neurotransmitter and hormone produced by the adrenalin gland just above the kidneys, also known as norepinephrine and epinephrine (provides attention focus in brain). Together these chemicals activate your fight or flight stimulation designed to get the body out of a stressful situation, or survive an injury scenario. It acts as a natural pain killer, boosts oxygen and glucose fuel to brain, muscles and suppresses depression.

Walk your dog to a neat destination place you enjoy. Both receive the natural feel good brain-body benefits.

2) Dopamine is produced and synthesized in the brain which boosts positive behavior, cognition, motor activity, motivation, sleep, mood, learning and attention.

3) Serotonin is synthesized within the CNS (Central Nervous System). This chemical is also found in many mushrooms, plants, fruits and vegetables.

Research shows Serotonin plays an important role in liver regeneration and induces cell division throughout the body (important for repair and healing of the body). Serotonins role as a neurotransmitter of the brain is to modulate anger, mood, aggression, sleep, sexuality, appetite and metabolism.

Walk the beach and discover cool things.

People are motivated to move or walk for different reasons. Once you find something that motivates you to move more… you’ll enjoy the natural brain-body feel good chemicals; and want to repeat the low impact aerobics exercise experience daily.

Continuous low impact aerobic exercise like walking, hiking, dancing or riding a bike will release those feel good chemicals and cause “for most” an addictive habit to form – whereas you’ll want to continue the course.  It will take approximately 1-2 weeks to become addicted to daily low-impact walk habit for example.

A little alcohol is okay. Over indulging is a bad habit.

Everyone differs slightly in metabolism, exercise and activity interest, intensity, frequency and duration of exercise activity daily. For many daily low impact aerobics exercise will cause an instant craving to continue the course.

To maximize the odds of achieving a fitness, health or wellness goal four behavioral habits must be addressed if applicable. 1) Stop substance abuse. 2) Eat a balanced and nutritious diet. 3) Allow your brain-body the time to become addicted to the body’s natural feel good chemicals released through low-impact aerobics exercise activity. 4) Remove yourself from unhealthy and stressful environments.

Bike, explore and get fit.

The increased exercise activities experienced by former clients did not require a lot of will power to perform low-impact aerobics exercise to achieve significant fitness results.

But it did require some lifestyle changes.

For example, when beginning a daily walk program it doesn’t’ require much will power to get started. But it does require a commitment. In other words, the excuse I often hear people use to avoid any form of exercise, “I don’t have the time.” But if you can make the time you’ll lose weight and feel better almost immediately once you start. Then become addicted to it within 2-5 days.

The best New Year’s fitness resolution advice I could give anyone, as I’ve done with so many past clients… start a daily walk habit. Walking is the best low impact fat burning activity whose large muscles prefer fat stored energy and it’s easy on weight bearing joints.

Walk and capture nature in a picture.

I assure you, if you walk a little each day, you’ll begin to release more of those feel good chemicals. Then body fat will decrease and you’ll have more energy and feel lighter on your feet. You’ll begin to look and feel better in no time.

If you’ve been sedentary for a long time, walking at first may seem uncomfortable and maybe feel unnatural. But if you can work up to 15 or 30 minutes or more each day you’ll have significant fitness results success.

Keep this in mind. Before the automobile how did we survive?

As hunters and gatherers our bodies are designed to get work done by walking. Walking is a very natural and a primal thing we’re designed to do for a lifetime. I guarantee – if you maintain your walking muscle metabolism you’ll become addicted to sustaining it, and in return for your efforts your body will allow you to live life to the fullest.

Walk to the grocery store to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables.

I’ve had plenty of overweight clients walk or ride a stationary bike for a year before they achieved their weight loss fitness goal. Thereafter participated in a competitive long distance walk, hike, jog or ran or biked a marathon event. They never imagined themselves capable of doing anything like it.  They simply believed it possible because they could relate to the muscle metabolism and feel the chemical activation truth working within their brain-body.

Walk a county fair.

Be excited about all the possibilities that lie in front of you and enjoy life to the fullest by maintaining a daily low impact aerobics exercise habit! Now go get addicted to the natural feel good drugs produced by your own body and reap the ideal body weight, longevity, wellness and health benefits!

Author: Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, ARNG, CPT, RET. 2018 Copyright. All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Inc., www.mirrorathlete.org, Get Free Newsletter.

Consumer Plastics and Other Environmental Health Risks

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Wear protective masks and circulate fresh air into construction work space.

Updated: 24 Feb 2016

I know just about everyone has experienced a funky taste when drinking out of a plastic bottle and familiar with odors produced by a new car smell. Not only should consumers be aware of health risk associated with the plastics we store foods in, but also the off-gases polymer plastics emit from home furnishings, remodeled homes and during construction.

If you’re not aware, virtually all plastics and polymer products have an absorption effect on the body when consumed or when concentrated in the air we breathe. The two key chemicals from these plastics that leach into stored food, drink containers, or off-gas into our air environment are Phthalates and bisphenol (BPA).

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Many are unaware new furniture and carpet are made of polymer fibers that off-gas.

Off-gassing of products occur from many types of plastics and rubber compounds and products our comforts have become dependent upon. A study in 2004 by Silent Spring Institute, Newton, Mass., and Harvard University’s School of Public Health found phthalates in the dust and air of every 120 homes they tested. This is not so hard to believe since homes are furnished, remodeled and built using a large variety of polymer plastics, synthetic fabrics and solvent compounds of organic and bonded polymer resin blends. 

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As of 2010 the market was still dominated by high-phthalate materials used in everyday consumer products including but not limited to: medical equipment, pharmaceutical pills, computer technology, food containers, cosmetics, vinyl upholstery, floor tiles and carpet, furniture, drapery, children’s toys, drink bottles, feeding containers, cleaning materials and adhesive compounds etc.

The good news is consumer awareness advocates, medical and health groups, including Centers for Disease, Control and Prevention continue to provide multiple epidemiological data points on phthalates absorption including respiratory concerns which has forced many producers to use non-phthalate plasticizers. What is a plasticizer? “Plasticizer is an additive used to make plastic more flexible. Additives are chemical substances which when incorporated into polymer changes physical and bulk properties” (Answers 2016). This is necessary because plastics require softening of the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) molecular chain to apply a desirable structural characteristic for a particular application. This moldable or desired effect is also known as Polymerization of plastic. “This metamorphosis of rubber and plastic is possible by adding identical monomer resins that bond and strengthen a material from its organic petroleum or synthetic materials state” (Plastics 2014). The most widely used polyethylene plastics are within the packaging and plastic bags industries.

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Some plastic containers are high in BPA and Phthalate. See Recommendations at end of article to determine the good from bad.

However the bad news show us how these chemicals can absorb and store themselves within adipose (fat) tissue. And at some point can act as an endocrine disrupter. “Because phthalate plasticizers are not chemically bound to PVC, they can easily leach and evaporate into food or the atmosphere. Stored products within plastic containers high in BPA and Phthalate concentrate are susceptible to this chemical leaching effect. Especially fatty foods such as milk, butter, and meats are a major source” (Wikipedia 2016). Recall these chemicals can have a negative impact on the endocrine (hormone) systems which are critical to (1) Total body metabolism (2) Growth, and (3) Reproduction. These substances also appear to have a connection to obesity and diabetes, including any other number of ill-health effects.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have studied plastics leaching effects on the brains of fetuses, babies and children and determine there is some risk. Whereas the chemical industry claims BPA poses no threat to humans. However keep in mind both groups have their own interests at stake. One way to put these opposing views into perspective, consumers simply need to recall a few consumer safety and commission reports on-topic not so long ago.

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Yes their cute and cuddly but not necessarily safe for infants and toddlers.

For instance, in response to a 1998 Consumer Product Safety Commission request, retailers including Kmart, Sears, Target, Toys R Us, and Wal-Mart stopped selling heavily mouthed baby products with phthalates and 7 manufacturers removed the harmful plastic compounds from production. Recall phthalates found in toys are used as a plastic softener in polyvinyl chloride also known as PVC or vinyl to achieve the desired toy attributes.

Some PVC toys may be labeled with a V or #3 inside the chasing arrows triangle usually located on the bottom of a product. Most won’t be labeled at all. Generally, if a toy is a squishy plastic ”like rubber duckies and baby dolls, or if it has highly flexible plastic as a component like the clear pages in a child photo album, and clear plastic purses that some girl’s toys are sold in… or plastic-like “fabric” used on some dolls” you should avoid the purchase or call the manufacturer to ask if the product is made with PVC or phthalates (PBS 2008).

Also the rate of leaching effect of BPA into infant formulae from plastic baby bottles is of concern after heating it. “We found that drinking cold liquids from polycarbonate bottles for just one week increased urinary BPA levels by more than two-thirds. If you heat those bottles, as is the case with baby bottles, we would expect the levels to be considerably higher. This would be of concern since infants may be particularly susceptible to BPAs endocrine-disrupting potential,” said Karin B. Michels, associate professor of epidemiology at HSPH and Harvard Medical School and senior author of the study (Harvard T.H. Chan 2009).

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “show BPA is present in humans at levels found harmful in laboratory studies!”  Since BPA and Phthalates absorption and respiratory contact appear to be unavoidable in developed countries there are some preventative measures consumers can take to reduce exposure.

To mitigate health risk of plastics, rubber and sealant polymer materials made with Phthalates and bisphenol (BPA) chemicals, the following preventative and proactive measures will help.

Recommendations:

-Baby bottles – Select bottles made from glass or a safe non-polycarbonate plastic.

-Avoid washing plastic dishware with harsh dish soap and hot water.

-Look for PVC-free listings on the labels of soft plastic toys and tethers. Choose wooden toys as another option.

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Almost all plastic drinking containers are marked to show a plastics grade quality.

-Do not purchase plastic containers with PC stamp. Or plastics numbered, #3, #7.

-Choose plastics, #1, 2, or #5 in the recycle triangle. Do not heat beverages in plastic containers.

-BPA can leach from metal cans lined with polymers. Buy all baby food products in glass containers. Use canned and bottled plastics food and drinks well before expiration date.

-Choose metal utensils, enamel, or ceramic plates for feeding that are also microwave safe.

-Avoid foods wrapped in plastics, such as meats and cheeses. Buy deli products wrapped in paper. Use stainless steel and glass drinking containers.

Plastic food wraps are used extensively to sell all kinds of fresh food products.

-Ensure home ventilation systems are clean and 10% outdoor air intake is circulated into the home or business environment. For example, I have two windows in my house I leave open approximately 1 inch. One window is on the lower and one on the upper floor. This reduces off-gas concentrations of home polymer plastic chemicals off-gassing within home environment.

-Consider buying used as opposed to a new car. Or keep windows down a quarter inch to remove new car smell when parked or driving.

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Solvent and glue petroleum based products are essential to the home remodel and construction industries and off-gas chemicals.

-When using caulk, glues or installing new carpet, floor tile, siding or concrete pad ensure outdoor air circulation is abundant. Then aerate space adequately during cure time. Then get into the practice of the open window concept previously mentioned.

References,

“What Are Polymer Additives?” Answers. Answers Corporation, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.

Harvard T.H. Chan. “BPA, Chemical Used to Make Plastics, Found to Leach from Polycarbonate Drinking Bottles Into Humans.” Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The President and Fellows of Harvard College, 21 May 2009. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.

PBS. “Finding Non-Toxic Toys.” PBS. JumpStart Productions, 21 Mar. 2008. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.

“Plastics” Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2014. Web. 21 Feb 2016.

Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, ARNG, CPT, RET. 2016 Copyright. All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Inc., www.mirrorathlete.org, Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.

Aspartame the Silent Killer

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Last Updated: 26 May 2020, by Marc Woodard

Many years back, I posted Dr. H. J. Roberts, Aspartame and Shocking Health Risks, featured in MirrorAthlete’s March 08 newsletter.

I’ve now updated this important topic to a group of new subscribers and consumers. Which include Victoria Inness-Brown’s famous experiment that exposed the truth about Monsanto the manufacture of Aspartame and its harmful effects on human health. Aspartame a substitute sweetener is alive and well and its addictive qualities are now hidden within approximately another thousand food products then when I first posted this information in 2008.

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While the chemical alone has the potential to make you fall ill with who knows what, I believe as scientific evidence showed us during the seventies, nothing has changed except the number of people who’ve become obese and those who now have diabetes disease. There appears to be a strong correlation between this disease and Aspartames addictive flavor and weight gaining properties. And this chemical sweetener appears to be a major contributor to an increasing childhood obesity epidemic. Other illness and disease may be related to Aspartame, but epidemiological and controlled studies are still controversial and inconclusive for various subjective and objective reasoning as you’ll soon learn.

Ageless MirrorAthlete covers among other things – hard to find fit healthy lifestyle and consumer truths. Learn how to live the lifestyle you need, want and deserve now!

Aspartame History Matters, 

“In 1975 the FDA came to the conclusion that aspartame should not be allowed on the market. They requested that further studies be conducted. The FDA’s next move was to set up a public board of inquiry composed of outside experts to investigate the safety of aspartame, and in 1980 that board unanimously rejected aspartame’s request for approval. Another internal FDA panel convened in 1980 also rejected aspartame for approval. If you count the Bressler Report compiled after 1977, FDA scientist’s uncovered fraud and manipulation so wrought with concerns they forwarded the files to the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s office for prosecution” [Mercola, 2015].

So this was 4 strikes against Monsanto of the times prior to FDA approval. But this didn’t detour Monsanto from getting their product approved to market. Eventually deep pockets prevailed and the FDA approved the chemical sweetener to market. The controversy and untold truths still continue today and the health concerns connected to the Aspartame have only grown. [Refer to www.mercola.com]. Yes the reality is we’re living in a grand social-consumer experiment. Where there is no consequence to its creators and/or trustees who’ve unleased food chemical assault on consumers, whereas global effects on human health continue to be realized.

Early on, within Dr. Roberts talking points back in March 08, I learned his consumer safety talking points back then pertaining to Aspartame should not be taken lightly. Here are the facts.

  1. Aspartame is profitable. For example Maryland-based biotech company Genex Corp., went from reporting $14.3m in 1985 revenues to $2.8m in 1986 after they lost their aspartame business.
  2. Aspartame was initially listed by the Pentagon as a biochemical warfare agent. How does a consumer make sense out of this?
  3. Chemical changes occur within Aspartame sodas when stored in warm temperatures. Thereafter chemical properties are transformed into a chemical poison and toxins and bad for our health.
  4. Aspartame is a common sugar substitute in our food chain keeping us overweight and known cause of diabetes. Aspartame is extremely bad for those now diagnosed with diabetes.
  5. There is a direct correlation between children with ADD and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and childhood obesity.
  6. Monsanto’s patent on Aspartame has expired, now there are over 6,000 products on the shelves [~5000 known in 2008] containing aspartame. It is also marketed as NutraSweet, Equal and Spoonful. And who knows exactly how many other brands contain this chemical.
  7. Uninformed parents are unknowingly poisoning their children and themselves through easy bake, baked snacks or prepared or processed deserts, soda, ice cream, candy treats, weight loss and dietary foods, etc.
  8. The American Diabetes and Dietetic Association and the Conference of the American College of Physicians know about the Aspartame and health risk connections and acknowledge it. While the U.S. FDA and many medical doctors endorse Aspartame as completely safe for human consumption!
  9. Children are specifically at risk and susceptible to Aspartame poisoning because of their thin undeveloped blood brain barrier. This chemical effect on this barrier lowers its resistance to toxins absorbed by the body and increases the potential of neural cell death. …

… Aspartames chemical breakdown of this brain barrier could leave one susceptible to many types of disease. For example, Multiple Sclerosis, hormonal problems, Alzheimer’s and dementia, ALS [also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease], hearing loss, Parkinson’s disease, brain lesions, memory loss, epilepsy, neuroendocrine disorders, etc. The list of potential disease and ill-health problems are too numerous to list. However, it should be noted if you have symptoms of any of the aforementioned disease, in some cases once consumption of Aspartame products is stopped the symptoms clear up. [Refer to: www.mercola.com, Aspartame: Is This FDA-Approved Sweetener Causing Brain Damage?].

Victoria Inness-Brown’s experiment proved on April 2011 that Aspartame is something all consumers should be educated on. This experiment truly challenged Monsanto and FDA to defend its position that Aspartame is a safe food chemical sweetener.

Summarizing Victoria Inness-Brown’s experiment: Her family was addicted to diet soda’s. “Concerned aspartame would one day lead to illness or disease, she performed an aspartame experiment. Starting with 108 rats for 2 years and 8 months. The dose – She gave the rats a daily dose of NutraSweet comparable to 14 cans of diet soda per day for the females, and 13 cans for the males.” [http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/09/victoria-innessbrowns-aspartame-experiment.aspx#!]

Victoria ensured the doses per rat weight was adjusted, using under Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), set by the FDA and considered safe for human consumption. However, even after safe adjusted dosage distribution fed daily, thirty seven percent of the female rats developed tumors, some of massive size.

“One 12 oz. diet soda contains about 180mg of aspartame/15mg per oz, which equals approximately 4.5 packets of NutraSweet. The propaganda industry-machine tells consumers the ADI, set by the FDA equates to about 20, 12oz-diet soda for adults, or 6 for children is safe and acceptable. If the rats get sick consuming far under ADI, why wouldn’t we?”

The insanity of it all, aspartame was once undeniably opposed by the FDA for approval to marketplace. Presently its chemical composition has not changed since the 80’s and continues to be claimed a safe food additive and recommended by many doctors as a safe sweetener substitute.

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Consumer Safety Recommendation:  Do not consume aspartame, or products marketed under the following brands: NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, Equal-Measure and Canderel. Aspartame can be found in more than 6,000 products. Including, but not limited to: Diet sodas, juice drinks, flavored waters, chewing gum, table-top sweeteners, diet and diabetic foods, breakfast cereals, such as Fiber One, fiber supplements, such as orange flavored Metamucil, jams, and other sweets.

Be sure to read your food labels to ensure you’re not consuming this dangerous chemical. Only purchase foods sweetened with natural sugars. If the label does not mention Aspartame, just keep this in mind: If it says artificial, substitute or other sweeteners, chances are its Aspartame or some other generic or similar manmade chemical sweetener.

I try to only consume products with sugar cane, or natural fruits, or one of the 3 major and naturally occurring sugars: lactose, fructose or maltose. If you’re diabetic or allergic to any foods, or currently have disease, there may be health implications of consuming too many natural sugars as well. Always seek dietary and medical advice from your doctor when any ill-health symptoms occur.

Author: Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, ARNG, CPT, RET. 2015 Copyright. All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Inc., www.mirrorathlete.org, Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.