Natural methods to prevent and treat kidney stones

(NaturalNews) The excruciating pain of passing a kidney stone usually makes sufferers go to the hospital. In most cases, physicians aren’t able to do much except send the patient home with a prescription for painkillers. In instances where a stone is particularly large, doctors use shock waves to break the stone into pieces small enough to pass through the urethra. Either way, the patient incurs the usual outsize bill that goes with any emergency room visit. Rather than experience first-hand why the saying “harder than passing a kidney stone” has become a common way to describe an agonizing experience, you may want to take adjust your diet to avoid the formation of these mineral deposits comprised of calcium, uric acid or the amino acid cysteine. Highly acidic diets tend to create an environment which encourages kidney stones, while more alkaline diets help prevent these kind of deposits. Soft drinks, coffee, alcohol, products containing corn syrup and most forms of animal protein have an acidic effect on the body. Some fruits and vegetables have a more alkaline effect, while others are more acidic. Some otherwise healthful foods such as rhubarb, spinach, beet greens, sorrel, green tea and chocolate can contribute to kidney stone formation because they contain oxalic acid. You can learn more about alkaline/acidic balance on NaturalNews (http://www.naturalnews.com/026971_body_health_alkaline.html). This link (http://www.rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalka.htm) also provides useful information about where specific foods fall on the acidity-alkalinity scale. Drinking plenty of pure water also helps discourage the formation of mineral deposits in the kidneys. Holding the bladder rather than urinating when nature calls can also contribute to stone formation. Unless there is a history of kidney infection, people who maintain diets which emphasize fruits and vegetables over animal protein generally have a lower risk of kidney stones. Symptoms of kidney stones may include nausea and vomiting, as well as pain in the lower back and/or abdomen and blood in the urine. There are natural home remedies which can help dissolve kidney stones, as well as natural aids to help ease stones out of the body more quickly and reduce the pain associated with kidney stones. Western herbal remedies to prevent kidney stones include meadowsweet, sarsaparilla, joe-pye weed and plantain which help cleanse excess uric acid from the kidneys. Goldenrod is so effective in helping dissolve kidney stones that in Germany, where herbal medicine has received more official acceptance than in the U.S., it is part of the recommended course of treatment. Multiple scientific studies have verified the folk medicine wisdom which has long prescribed goldenrod for a variety of kidney, bladder and urinary tract disorders. Herbs such as St. John’s wort, agrimony, horsetail, nettles, yarrow and shepherd’s purse can offer some relief for the kidney stone pain and bleeding. Next time you treat yourself to some fresh corn on the cob, don’t discard the silky part of the cornhusk known as cornsilk. Instead, boil the cornsilk in pure water along with some marshmallow herb to make a potent stone-dissolving tea. Cornsilk is an excellent example of how the move away from fresh, whole foods deprives people of natural healing. If you buy frozen corn, or the pre-husked and cut corn on the cob, you miss out on this substance which also aids against urinary tract stones, urinary tract infections, hypertension and prostate disorders. The name of Amazon herb chanca piedra actually translates as “stone breaker.” Concoctions of this plant have long been used in South America to break down stones of the kidneys and gallbladder. It is also effective against a host of ailments from diabetes to jaundice. Sources http://www.rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalka.htm http://library.mothernature.com/l/herbs-for-health-and-healing/kidney-stones_1072.html http://www.herbreference.com/cornsilk.html http://www.naturalnews.com/021294.html http://www.rain-tree.com/chanca-techreport.pdf

7 surprising things you’re not supposed to know about sunscreen and sunlight exposure

(NaturalNews) Ask somebody about sunscreen and you’re likely to receive an earful of disinformation from a person who has been repeatedly misinformed by health authorities and the mainstream media. Almost nothing you hear about sunscreen from traditional media channels is accurate. So here’s a quick guide to the 7 most important things you need to know about sunscreen, sunlight and vitamin D: #1) The FDA refuses to allow natural sunscreen ingredients to be used in sunblock / sunscreen products It’s true: If you create a truly natural sunscreen product using exotic botanicals with powerful sunscreen properties, you will never be able to market it as a “sunscreen” product. That’s because the FDA decides what can be used as sunscreen and what can’t, regardless of what really works in the real world. And there are really only two natural ingredients the FDA has allowed to be sold as sunscreen: Zinc oxide and titanium oxide. Any other non-chemical sunscreen ingredients, if sold as “sunscreen,” would be considered mislabeled by the FDA and result in your products being confiscated… even if they offer fantastic sunscreen protection! Not surprisingly, this whole monopoly over sunscreen chemicals is designed to protect the profits of the chemical companies while marginalizing the natural product companies which could easily formulate far better solutions. I have personally spoken to the founders of several health product companies who have figured out amazing sunscreen formulations using nothing but natural botanicals, but the FDA won’t let them market their products as sunscreen products! It’s just another example of the FDA standing in the way of health innovation. #2) Nearly all conventional sunscreen products contain cancer-causing chemicals Read the ingredients list of any sunscreen product sold at Wal-Mart, or Walgreens, or any other mainstream store. I dare ya! You will not be able to pronounce most of the chemicals found in the ingredients list. That’s because most sunscreen products are formulated with cancer-causing fragrance chemicals , parabens, harsh alcohols, toxic chemical solvents and petroleum oils. A typical sunscreen product is actually a chemical assault on your body . That’s why research shows that using sunscreen actually causes more cancer than it prevents (http://www.naturalnews.com/023317_skin_chemicals_products.html). #3) In a nation where over 70% of the population is vitamin D deficiency, sunscreen actually blocks vitamin D production Vitamin D deficiency is perhaps the most widespread vitamin deficiency in North America. According to the research, 70 percent of whites are deficient in vitamin D, and up to 97 percent of blacks are deficient (http://www.naturalnews.com/030598_vitamin_D_Institute_of_Medicine.html). Chronic vitamin D deficiency promotes cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/031560_vitamin_D_cancer.html), winter flu and infections, depression, osteoporosis and hormonal imbalances. Depending on whom you believe, vitamin D alone can prevent anywhere from 50% to nearly 80% of all cancers (http://www.naturalnews.com/021892.html). By blocking vitamin D production in the skin, sunscreen products actually contribute to cancer-promoting nutritional deficiencies . This doesn’t mean you should never wear a sunscreen product, of course. If your skin is really pale and you’re planning a day on the beach in Hawaii, you will obviously benefit from some level of sun protection using a truly natural sunscreen product. But an informed health-conscious person would try to allow their skin to achieve a natural, healthy tan (yes, a tan truly is healthy if it’s combined with good nutrition, see below) through sensible exposure levels that activate vitamin D production in the skin. #4) You can boost your internal sun resistance by changing what you eat Here’s the real secret about sun exposure that no one in conventional medicine is talking about (because, as usual, they are woefully ignorant about nutrition): You can boost your internal sunscreen by eating antioxidant-rich foods and superfoods. The supplement astaxanthin , for example, is very well known for boosting your skin’s natural resistance to sunburn. Its fat-soluble carotenoids are actually transported to skin cells where they protect those cells from UV exposure. The more natural antioxidants you have in your diet, the more sunlight your skin will be able to handle without burning. Nearly everyone mistakenly believes that a person’s sunlight burn response is purely a genetic factor. They’re wrong. You can radically improve your resistance to UV exposure through radical dietary changes. I’m a great example of this, actually, as I used to burn in just 20 – 30 minutes of sunlight when I was on a junk food diet years ago. But now, as someone who eats superfoods and high-end nutritional supplements every day, I can spend hours in the sun and will only turn slightly red (which fades a few hours later and does not result in a burn or skin peeling). Except for one time on an all-day visit to a water park, I have not worn sunscreen in over 8 years. I spend a large amount of time in the sun, and I have absolutely no concerns whatsoever about skin cancer. My skin, most people tell me, looks significantly younger than my biological age. That’s not from sunscreen; it’s from nutrition. Sun exposure does not make your skin “age” if you follow a high-nutritional density diet. #5) UV exposure alone does not cause skin cancer It is a complete medical myth that “UV exposure causes skin cancer.” This false idea is a total fabrication by the ignorant medical community (dermatologists) and the profit-driven sunscreen companies. The truth is actually more complicated: Skin cancer can only be caused when UV exposure is combined with chronic nutritional deficiencies that create skin vulnerabilities. To create skin cancer, in other words, you have to eat a junk food diet, avoid protective antioxidants, and then also experience excessive UV exposure. All three of those elements are required. Conventional medicine completely ignores the dietary influences and focuses entirely on just one factor: Sunscreen vs. no sunscreen. This is a one-dimensional approach to the issue that’s grossly oversimplified to the point of being misleading. The medical industry, it seems, does not want people to figure out they can literally eat their way to healthier skin. It’s amazing, actually: Your skin is made entirely out of the food you eat , so how could your diet not affect your skin health? Yet no one in conventional medicine — not the dermatologists, not the doctors and not the health regulators — has the intellectual honesty to admit that what you eat largely determines how your skin reacts to UV exposure . #6) Not all “natural” sunscreen products are really natural Be careful when shopping for so-called “natural” sunscreen products. While there are some good ones out there, many are just examples of greenwashing , where they use terms like “natural” or “organic” but still contain loads of synthetic chemicals anyway. A good guide for checking on sunscreen products is the Environmental Working Group guide (EWG) at: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ Some of the products that are truly natural include Loving Naturals sunscreen and Badger All Natural Sunscreen . Read the ingredients labels to see for yourself. Don’t use any sunscreen product containing ingredients that sound like chemicals: • Methyl… • Propyl… • Butyl… • Ethyl… • Trieth… • Dieth… etc. Always buy unscented sunscreen unless for some reason you just enjoy coating your skin with artificial perfume chemicals. A typical sunscreen product is made with over a dozen cancer-causing fragrance chemicals, and they’re absorbed right through your skin. Most sunscreens, when applied as directed, are really just toxic chemical baths that heavily burden your liver and can give you cancer. #7) Many “chemical free” sunscreens are loaded with chemicals Search Amazon.com for “chemical free natural sunscreen” and you’ll see a listing for: Jason Natural Cosmetics – Earth’s Best Sun Block Chemical Free, 4 oz cream Click on the product and you’ll find a listing of its ingredients which includes: C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Calcium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Stearalkonium Hectorite So how are those not chemicals? Ethylhexyl Palmitate is NOT a chemical? Who are these people kidding? The Amazon.com description (title) of this product is false and misleading. In all fairness, however, this product title looks like it was added into the Amazon.com system by the vendor and not the Jason company itself. But it’s an example of how the information you see from online vendors can often be misleading. Always read the ingredients of any sunscreen product before using it. Don’t poison yourself with sunscreen! Beware the disinfo minefield surrounding sunscreen products Perhaps more with sunscreen than any other personal care product, the “official” information distributed through the mainstream media is hopelessly misleading (if not downright false). Remarkably, no one in the media or the government is even willing to admit that fragrance chemicals are bad for your health. Similarly, no one is willing to admit that the chemicals you put on your skin get ABSORBED by your skin . Without those two truths being acknowledged right up front, the rest of whatever they say about sunscreen is worthless babble. Any honest talk about sunscreen must acknowledge the simple truth that the chemicals you put on your skin get absorbed into your skin, and that most sunscreen products are made out of a chemical cocktail of cancer-causing substances. This is the truth about sunscreen that both the sunscreen industry and the cancer industry doesn’t want you to hear. It’s the dirty little secret of sunscreen: The more you use, the more you CAUSE cancer in your body! (And the more money the cancer centers make “treating” your cancer with yet more deadly chemicals known as chemotherapy .) So buyer beware . Sunscreen products are a minefield of lies, fraud and disinformation designed to keep you ignorant of the importance of sun exposure as well as the health risks associated with using cancer-causing chemicals on your skin. Stick with truly natural sunscreen products (when needed) and try to build up a healthy tan while consuming large quantities of superfoods and antioxidants in your diet. Consider taking astaxanthin or other fat-soluble nutrients on a regular basis. Engage in daily juicing of fresh fruits and vegetables which are loaded with living nutrients. Time your sun exposure to build up a healthy tan so that you don’t need sunscreen at all. Contrary to all the misinformation we’ve all been fed, a healthy tan is actually a good sign that you’re achieving adequate vitamin D synthesis in your own skin. Learn more about sunlight and vitamin D with these two resources: FREE report: The truth about sunlight and vitamin D (http://www.naturalnews.com/rr-sunlight.html). FREE video: The Truth About Sunlight, Cancer and Vitamin D http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=5A62FC73922FD51A88E62E42C5A0AD5E

There may be a Rapture, but it won’t be this Saturday

(NaturalNews) You’ve probably heard the news that the Biblical Rapture is supposed to happen tomorrow (Saturday), May 21, 2011. A minister from the group Family Radio Worldwide has raised a lot of attention lately, campaigning from city to city with the message that the Rapture is coming this Saturday. Those who have accepted Christ will ascend to Heaven, the narrative goes, while those who have not will be “left behind.” It’s all supposed to happen this Saturday. There is truth to Minister Harold Camping’s message, but the date is wrong. The collapse of modern civilization and the spiritual enlightenment of humanity isn’t something that will happen in one day or even one week. Rather, it’s something we are already living through right now . Read my story 14 signs that the collapse of our modern world has already begun at http://www.naturalnews.com/032258_economic_collapse_2012.html Over the weekend, the spiritually-advanced are not vanishing into Heaven. You’ll see all the same people still here on Monday morning (unless they decide to go out in some other way, of course). And the world will still be pretty much all jacked up on Monday morning, too. While it would be nice if the Rapture happened in one instant, the frustrating truth is that we are all witness to the long, drawn-out transition in human history that will see the collapse of evil (corporations, rogue governments, etc.) and a new awakening in the human mind and spirit. The story of Rapture The story of the Rapture is, I believe, a metaphor for the actual events we will witness with our own eyes. Much of the Biblical scripture is, of course, written in the form of a metaphorical lesson. What is meant by accepting Christ is, in a larger sense, the idea of embracing love and compassion in your heart rather than pursuing greed, destruction and selfish desires. Most of the human world today operates on principles of greed and destruction. That’s the pharmaceutical industry, the FDA, the chemical manufacturers and even how most of the top CEOs clawed their way to the top of the corporate ladder. That system of exploitative self interest will not last. It will sooner or later collapse along with much of what we now call “modern human civilization.” The truth is that we are living through the collapse right now . It has already begun, and it will continue for quite a few more years before there is a real awakening. From observing the state of our world today, I have no doubt things are going to get a lot worse before they begin to turn around and get better. Humanity needs to grow up Today, the human race is an infant race with very little wisdom and no maturity. It is a race of arrogant little children who play with nuclear power (and nuclear weapons), who rape the planet of its resources and who endanger all forms of natural life on the planet. These are the traits of an infant race that hasn’t yet learned how to act like adults. The great awakening that is coming will see the human race advance a bit. From catastrophe comes wisdom… if anyone is paying attention, that is. And there is a lot of catastrophe coming our way soon. Much is it is truly Biblical in its scale. We’re already seen the unleashing of floods, earthquakes, tsunamis and tornadoes in just the last few months. Many of those events exceed what would normally be expected to occur over 500 years or so. Perhaps even a thousand years. But that’s only the beginning. Now we have to deal with the genetic contamination of our food crops that has been unleashed through the pursuit of GMOs (http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=29315DF17DC44267949234EA7262ED2F). We also have to deal with the mass chemical contamination of the human race, the oceans, the waterways and virtually all the agricultural land in the world. We have deforested the Amazon, ravaged ocean ecosystems, burned through most of the world’s petroleum supply, and crippled basic human rights through oppressive governments. In the eyes of God, human civilization has so far proved itself to be a wretched bunch of little children with virtually no understanding of the true nature of the universe (and no respect for life). Heck, to this day, most of the conventional scientific community still obscenely denies the existence of the human soul, the mind, free will and even consciousness! (http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=E3B38227225F9FC62BAEA9CC81BE1D12) The Rapture is a time of great transition, not a weekend event A sudden Rapture would sure be convenient if it did take place on Saturday. In one Biblical moment, all the good people ascend to a higher realm of spirituality while all the evil people are left to suffer with each other on the material plane. It has a kind of poetic justice to it. But I’m afraid that very little in our universe is so instantly gratifying. The Rapture is simply not a weekend event. It is a transitional time when human civilization goes from being a moronic infant race of mindless destroyers to a slightly wiser, more adult race that begins to truly embrace the deeper truths about life, spirit and reality. And by the way, just because someone goes to church doesn’t mean they would be automatically included in the spiritual ascension promised by the Rapture. There are more than a few false Christians running around these days — people who go to church on Sunday but betray their fellow man Monday through Saturday. They treat their own bodies like junk food repositories, violating one of the most important tenants of religious instruction, which is to treat your body as a temple, not a chemical playground. If there is a Rapture, it’s going to be based on who you truly are, through your actions and thoughts , not the fakery that far too many people put forward in public. Just clocking in your attendance at church is not a free pass to anything in the spiritual realm. You actually have to live with love and compassion in your heart and act upon that in your daily life. Even if there were a Rapture, I wouldn’t mind sticking around here on planet Earth for a while. I enjoy the berries, for one thing. And I don’t mind spending another few years inhabiting a physical body. It might also be amusing to sit back and watch all the lower morons of humanity try to figure out what to do as a Biblical transition unfolds. Plus, on top of that, I’ve got plenty of zombie ammo (http://www.naturalnews.com/032454_zombie_apocalypse_CDC.html). Shooting zombies does not violate the Ten Commandments, I’ve been told, because they are beings of darkness. I say this in jest, of course. Because there won’t be a Rapture this Saturday anyway. As I’ve already explained, the Rapture is really more of a metaphor for a time of tumultuous transition, and the duration of it is far longer than one day. Metaphor as teacher The Bible has a lot of valuable lessons to teach about morality, ethics and spirituality. But the language of the Bible is sometimes a riddle. It’s not always a literal explanation. Adam didn’t necessarily take a bite out of a physical apple, for example. That Garden of Eden story was allegory for a far deeper overview of good versus evil. The “forbidden fruit” was almost certainly not a piece of fruit. The “Tree of Knowledge” was probably not a physical tree. Although many people can certainly interpret the Bible literally (and some choose to do so), it is readily apparent that its teachings hold far deeper meanings and lessons that are not readily evident if you take every word literally. Even then, there’s nothing in the Bible that literally says the Rapture will happen on May 21, 2011. Even that is a somewhat far-reaching human interpretation of some of the Bibles passages. As you will surely see by Sunday, May 22, that interpretation was a misinterpretation of the scripture, not something plainly written on God’s calendar. We are spiritual beings This sudden publicity of the Rapture, however, is a useful reminder that we are all spiritual beings experiencing a temporary life as a physical human, and that in this lifetime our actions matter . There is a judgment, or a “karma” if you will, that stays with us beyond this earthly lifespan. The decisions we make — to honor life or destroy it; to assist others or betray them; to help others versus only helping ourselves — become part of our “galactic record.” And the impact of those decisions will no doubt come back to us many times over, either positive or negative, depending on what we have chosen to pursue. This is why I have no hesitations serving my role as NaturalNews editor, working hard to teach people about healing, about freedom, and about moving human civilization forward to a brighter future. The protests of the soulless science skeptics, the criticisms of the mainstream journalists and the threats by all the pharma and chemical companies who we have called out as destroyers of life on our planet are but minor distractions in the bigger picture. Those sad souls will have to answer for their own sins against life. And the Hell they are creating for themselves is a Hell I would not wish upon any being. What I know is that I continue to act, each and every day, in the protection of life on our planet — through articles, videos, cartoons and even music. To serve the protection of life and the advancement of meaningful knowledge in our world is, in a very real sense, to serve a higher purpose and a higher power. It is, quite literally, to serve God. That why, Rapture or no Rapture, I’ll be here on Sunday and all next week, continuing my efforts to fight against the diabolical evils of our world while promoting the higher truths of life, consciousness, free will and personal responsibility. And I’m not afraid to call out the mindless, soulless agents of evil in the scientific community, or government, or the corporate world. I’m not afraid to tell the truth because I know that we will all ultimately be judged on the truth, not the fictions some people attempt to weave. For however long I am blessed with life on this planet, I intend to use it wholly in the protection of other life on our planet. I think that’s all we can ever do. If we live a life with purpose that serves a higher good, then it hardly matters whether the end of life as we know it comes today, tomorrow or in fifty years. As far as this weekend’s plan goes, I have some seeds to plant and baby chickens to take care of (which you’ll soon see on video).

Natural News Store acquires new supply of potassium iodide radiation pills, manufactured in USA, shipping out Monday, March 18

(NaturalNews) Even in the midst of global shortages of potassium iodide, the “radiation pills” that protect the thyroid gland from radiation poisoning, we have just managed to acquire a new supply of pharmaceutical-grade potassium iodide supplements. They are manufactured in the USA (in California) in a high-end GMP facility. They are being packaged this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and will be available for shipment Monday, March 18th. Next-day shipping is available so that you can receive the potassium iodide capsules as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on how early you are in the order queue. This new supply will sell out quickly due the extremely high demand. Check our current availability status at: http://store.naturalnews.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=100370 This is a 10-day supply for one person. It is 40 capsules of potassium iodide, containing 30mg each. The ingredients are NOT vegan. They include gelatin capsules. This is emergency medicine for emergency use only — NOT nutritional supplements! (see below) Next-day shipping is available for $14 in the continental United States (up to 3 bottles), and $20 for Alaska and Hawaii (up to 3 bottles). We can ship to Canada, but this is at your own risk of possible seizure by your Canadian customs agents who may confiscate potassium iodide pills (for reasons you can only imagine). NOTE: Potassium Iodide is NOT to be taken like vitamins! This is for emergency use only, preceding an imminent radiation exposure event. Do NOT take this in North America if a meltdown event has not occurred (you’d be wasting it). HOLD ON to these pills for emergencies only. Save ‘em until you need ‘em, folks! Potassium Iodide has possible side effects. If you just start slamming these pills (especially when you don’t need them), that is not a proper use of this emergency medicine. People who are allergic to shellfish should not take these pills. Those on thyroid medications or who suffer from thyroid problems should check with their physicians. Don’t be foolish! Potassium iodide is a concentrated, isolated nutrient combination that should only be used in serious emergencies and never for casual use. Read more about possible side effects at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_iodide#Adverse_reactions I would never take potassium iodide unless radiation exposure were imminent . I own some potassium iodide but have never taken it personally, and I hope I never have to. Potassium iodide is sold out virtually everywhere This potassium iodide is at a good price, but not a great price. It’s a whole lot cheaper over at Life Extension — but they’re sold out until April. It’s the same story everywhere else. What look like good prices are 100% sold out. There are no more discounts to be had anywhere on potassium iodide, so this is probably as good a price as you will find anywhere on potassium iodide that’s actually in stock. Huge price gouging is going on right now (http://www.naturalnews.com/031716_potassium_iodide_price_gouging.html). Beware of eBay and Amazon sellers who are price gouging and trying to sell this stuff for $500 or more per bottle (insane!). The potassium iodide we have available on Monday is made in the USA (California) and is being manufactured with pharmaceutical-grade raw materials sourced from Germany. These are gelatin capsules, not veggie caps. This supply will run out very quickly. Order right now if you really want some. This is very likely the last supply you will see available in North America for quite some time. Here’s the order page: http://store.naturalnews.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=100370 NaturalNews continues to donate a significant portion of our “radiation fallout” sales to rescue efforts in Japan. We just donated $12,000 and announced it today: http://www.naturalnews.com/031744_rescue_efforts_donation.html We are working very hard here to keep covering the honest news on this situation while helping people get squared away with iodine and emergency preparedness. Stay tuned to NaturalNews for more breaking news as this situation unfolds.

Vendors caught price gouging for potassium iodide pills as citizens panic over nuclear fallout fear

(NaturalNews) Those looking for potassium iodide to help offset the health-devastating effects of a potentially widespread nuclear fallout may be shocked to discover that many vendors of the product have significantly raised their prices since March 11, the day of the massive 9.0+ Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Many distributors who still happen to have stocks of potassium iodide supplements have literally gouged their prices by 500 percent or more, taking financial advantage of those looking to simply protect themselves and their families from potential radiation poisoning. Recent reports indicate that people across the world, and especially in the Western US, are quickly buying out stocks of potassium iodide and other iodine supplements over fears of an impending nuclear fallout that may soon reach North American shores (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703363904576201013720213564.html#articleTabs%3Darticle). And officials are sending mixed signals about whether or not to buy iodine as a precautionary measure, while noting that thousands of people have already flooded pharmacists with requests for the pills (http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Surgeon-General-Buying-Iodine-Appropriate-118031559.html). Based on the very serious nature of the situation, though, preparedness is the best route to take. But this preparedness has caused a massive increase in demand for iodine supplements, which has left most manufacturers and vendors completely out of stock. And many of those that still have stocks have jacked up their prices by massive amounts. Some vendors, for instance, are now selling what would otherwise be a $5-10 box of potassium iodide tablets for over $400 (http://www.amazon.com/iOSAT-Potassium-Iodide-Tablets-130/dp/B00006NT3A/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top). Between March 11 and March 15, the price of iodine supplements has literally skyrocketed all across the ‘net. Just yesterday, many venders were selling the otherwise $10-or-so potassium iodide packs from ANBEX INC. for an outrageous $99. But in a matter of 24 hours or less, this same product is now approaching $500 from the same vendors. You can see for yourself that this 14-pack of potassium iodide supplements that costs $10 from the manufacturer (http://www.mcssl.com/SecureCart/ViewCart.aspx?mid=EDBC3F7A-C1EA-4E60-B473-1D67AA08C00C&sctoken=bf0d439a55f54e968dd4542463026d4e&bhcp=1) currently costs $439.99 at Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/iOSAT-Potassium-Iodide-Tablets-130/dp/B00006NT3A/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top). A quick visit to Vitacost.com offers even more insight into the actual costs of iodine supplements before the Japan quake (http://www.vitacost.com/productResults.aspx?x=0&y=0&ntk=products&ss=1&Ntt=potassium%20iodide), versus what they are now, if available. A 14-pack of 130 mg potassium iodide supplements from Life Extension normally costs a mere $5.21 from Vitacost (http://www.vitacost.com/Life-Extension-Potassium-Iodide-Tablets). And at Google Shopping, you will see a similar array of products all for under $20, and most for under $10 (http://www.google.com/search?q=potassium+iodide&hl=en&tbs=shop%3A1&aq=f#sclient=psy&hl=en&tbs=shop:1&source=hp&q=potassium+iodide+130+mg&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=d57722a22572de1d). But back to Amazon, one seller is peddling 90 50 mg tabs of potassium iodide from Iodoral for $79.99 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002D9PCKY/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000ORSGK0&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0Z2PF9HBG9YZPC5YDR75). Not only is this Iodoral product normally priced less than $20, but the Amazon page deceitfully makes it look like the “list price” of this item is $99.99, and that $79.99 is a special sale price. This is despite the fact that just days ago, the Iodoral product had a list price that was just a fraction of this “special price.” And if that isn’t enough, check out the hordes of eBay sellers trying to make a quick buck — or a few hundred, for that matter — on an unwitting, desperate public. Some eBay sellers are trying to peddle the same $10 14-packs of potassium iodide previously mentioned, which are the exactly the same as the $5.21 Life Extension packs from Vitacost, for up to $600, and maybe even more (http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=iosat&_sacat=0&_odkw=potassium+iodide&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313). Potassium iodide has literally become the new gold. There are, however, many honest vendors out there that did not spike their iodine prices to take advantage of the Japan disaster for their own gross financial gain. This includes the NaturalNews.com Store which up until this afternoon was still selling iodine products for the same low prices they have always been (http://store.naturalnews.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=100370). Unfortunately, these products are currently sold out with new stocks expected early next week. What many people don’t realize, however, is that the iodine found in these expensive, and now out-of-stock, iodine supplements is the same iodine that you can naturally find in many foods. Iodine-rich sea vegetables like kombu and kelp that cost just a few dollars contain very high levels of natural iodine. According to a 2006 review in the Vegetarian Journal , a single 1/10-inch sheet of kombu seaweed contains 150 mg of iodine. And less than a 1/4 teaspoon of kelp contains 150 mg of iodine (http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2006issue2/vj2006issue2iodine.htm). Pectin-rich foods like apples are also beneficial for cleansing the body of radioactive materials. According to the book Fighting Radiation and Chemical Pollutants with Foods, Herbs and Vitamins , pectin binds to radioactive compounds and chelates them from bodily tissues and the bloodstream. It then flushes them out of the body (http://www.livestrong.com/article/334359-foods-that-cleanse-radiation-from-body/). And pectin supplements can also be purchased very inexpensively. Both chlorella and spirulina, two deep-sea algaes known for their incredible cleansing and healing powers, are also excellent at protecting against radiation toxicity. Chlorella neutralizes radiation and effectively removes it from the body, along with various other heavy metals and toxins like mercury (http://www.naturalnews.com/031708_iodine_radiation.html). And spirulina is a highly effective “medical food” that was used during the Chernobyl crisis to treat children suffering from radiation poisoning. So before you get caught up in the mad rush to buy potassium iodide and other supplements that have been greatly marked up in price, and which are now mostly unavailable, check out the many natural sources of iodine and other radiation-mitigating foods and supplements that are available right now at a relatively low cost. And watch NaturalNews.com for more announcements about trusted sources for obtaining preparedness nutritional supplements and emergency medicine products.

GMO soy bringing poverty, poor health to South America

(NaturalNews) Multinational biotechnology giants like Monsanto continue to spread their genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) around the world in the name of ending world hunger and reducing poverty, but a new report out of Sweden has found the exact opposite to be true. According to a recent piece in SvD, a Swedish newspaper, the transition of South American agriculture from small-scale, localized, diversified farming to primarily large-scale, industrialized, GMO soy farming is destroying the environment, increasing poverty, and harming human health. GMO soy is destroying local food “The multinationals are talking about solving climate problems and food supply through GMO, but they are really only interested in making money,” explained Jorge Geleano, an advocate for small farmers’ rights in South America, to SvD. “Their methods destroy traditional farming that provides food for our population and replaces it with soy, which goes into animal feed to provide meat for the West.” According to Galeano, thousands of family farms in his native homeland of Paraguay have been forced off their land in order to make room for large GMO soy plantations. A nation that was once highly self-sufficient and that grew a lot of its own native foods like potatoes, sweet potatoes, legumes, and lentils, Paraguay has literally been transformed into a corporate-dominated, industrial soy-producing machine. And other South American countries are facing the same peril. GMO soy is destroying people’s lives Galeano explained to SvD that he helped try to lead a resistance back in 2005 along with about 40 other families that refused to give up their land to the GMO-giants. But these families were ultimately forced off the land anyway, their houses burned down, and even some of their friends and family members gunned down by armed paramilitary forces for not complying with orders. So the only place left for these displaced farmers and their families to go is into the urban slums, because they no longer have their land or crops, and have ultimately lost their livelihood and sustenance. According to statistics, roughly 27 percent of Paraguayans now live below the poverty line as a result of the invasion of GMO soy, and that number continues to increase. GMO soy is destroying land and the environment It is not only people that are bearing the brunt of biotech greed, though; the environment in South America is suffering tremendously as well. Sensitive ecosystems like the Amazon Rainforest and the Cerrado, a large and very fragile savannah, have been bulldozed in many areas to make room for more GMO soy. And there is no end in sight to this practice. In Brazil, 1.2 million hectares of rainforest have already been leveled to cultivate GMO soy. And in Argentina, about 18 million hectares of land are now growing the crop, which represents more than half of the nation’s entire growing areas. And all of the GMO crops, as well as many non-GMO crops, are regularly doused in highly dangerous chemical pesticides, which ruin both the environment and human health. “In Brazil, the toxic and hazardous pesticides paraquat and endosulfan are still used,” explained Jaime Weber, a friend of Geleano that works to promote sustainable and non-toxic organic agriculture in Brazil. “It is a myth that these are not used on GM crops. GM soybeans are sprayed just as much with paraquat [as non-GM].” Paraquat is linked to Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders (http://www.naturalnews.com/026177_Parkinsons_disease_pesticides.html) while endosulfan is known to disrupt the endocrine system. “Both the spraying of conventional farming and GMO cultivation [pose] severe health risks to farm workers and those living around the fields,” added Weber, noting that the large, industrial farms routinely violate safety standards and spray in irresponsible and dangerous ways because they know they can get away with it without penalty. Unsustainable growing methods are causing desertification throughout South America as well. The land used to grow GMO soy is heavily burdened with rigorous chemical applications and is also overused. So much of it becomes infertile after just a few years, which leads growers to continually seek out new land while abandoning the old land. Eventually, there will be no more fertile land available. Stop supporting GMO soy You can do your part to stop the GMO soy takeover by no longer purchasing products with non-organic soy ingredients. Avoid products that contain any sort of soy derivative — this includes ingredients like soybean oil, soy lecithin, and soy protein. If it is not organic soy, it is most likely GMO soy. And contacting manufacturers to demand that they remove GMO soy from their products will also help. You can also support candidates like Francis Thicke (http://www.naturalnews.com/030206_Francis_Thicke_Iowa.html) that are dedicated to ending the reign of GMO terror over humanity, as well as the destructive corporate farming practices that are destroying small-scale farms. (If you are unfamiliar with Thicke, it is worth taking some time to check out his run for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture). Ultimately, it is up to the People to stand up and speak out against the worldwide hostile takeover of food. It is a tough battle, but getting the word out, organizing food protests, and working hard to get the right people into key positions of power can have a significant impact. Sources for this story include: http://www.gmwatch.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12598:gm-soy-increases-poverty-threatens-health-in-south-america-farmer-advocates

Review of Annmarie Gianni organic skin care product line

(NaturalNews) The world of conventional body care products is filled with gimmickry. Products that claim to be “natural” or even “organic” on the front label are often not. And some of the chemical toxins that go into conventional body care products would make your head spin if you really knew what they were. (Yes, even on “baby” products…) Thank goodness for natural body care products . There are lots of really good natural brands to choose from: Dr Bronner’s soaps, Lluvia skin care from the Amazon Herb Company, and even some of the MSM lotions we’ve offered through our own store in the past. There are many more, too, that you can find in Whole Foods and other natural product retailers. The Organic Consumers Association sponsor page is a pretty good collection of honest companies: http://www.organicconsumers.org/sponsors/index.cfm Today, however, I’m going to introduce you to a new line of skin care products that I think will challenge the very best the industry has to offer: Annmarie Gianni’s skin care line created by Annmarie Gianni — yes, the super fit and super healthy partner of Kevin Gianni, one of the top educators in the natural health world and the creator of The Renegade Health Show (www.RenegadeHealth.com). Annmarie’s skin care line is truly one of the most impressively formulated natural product lines I’ve ever had the joy to discover. Her skin care product line includes: • Aloe-Herb Cleanser • Ayurvedic Facial Scrub • Neroli Toning Mist • Coconut Honey Mask • Coconut Body and Face Oil • Anti-Aging Serum • Anti-Aging Facial Oil • Herbal Facial Oil for Normal and Combination Skin Learn more about these products right here: http://www.annmariegianni.com/natural-skin-care-products. Below, I list the full ingredients of what’s in these products, and I can state with confidence that you are unlikely to ever find a more thoughtful and expertly-blended collection of skin-enhancing ingredients in ANY product line offered by ANY company, anywhere in the world. Or to state it another way (in my opinion), those high-priced “brand name” skin care products sold at department stores are nothing but junk compared to Annmarie Gianni’s line. There’s literally no comparison once you look at the ingredients (see below) and what you get for your dollar. Watch my video interview with Annmarie to hear her explain the thinking behind these skin care product formulations (the audio isn’t great, but you still get the idea): http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=46A9526735A8F8BD5A809F4477D3B727 Most of the Annmarie Gianni products are available now through the NaturalNews Store: Click here to see what’s available now . (Full disclosure: I have no financial ties whatsoever to this product line and receive no compensation for product sales.) What’s in it? Here are the ingredients (note the complete lack of toxic synthetic chemicals that you’d normally find in other skin care products): • Aloe-Herb Cleanser Organic aloe vera juice infused with organic herbs (lavender flowers, calendula flowers, life everlasting flowers, hyssop, lemon balm, neem leaf, olive leaf, plantago leaf ); organic coconut oil; cocoglucoside (coconut oil and glycerine); organic vegetable glycerine; aspen bark extract; organic ruby grapefruit oil; organic lemon oil; organic green mandarin oil; xanthan gum; organic rosemary oleoresin • Ayurvedic Facial Scrub Organic lavender flowers; organic fenugreek seed; rhassoul clay; organic rosemary leaves; organic lemon balm leaves; organic shavegrass (horsetail herb); organic neem leaves; organic comfrey root; organic lemon peel; honey powder • Neroli Toning Mist Pure organic neroli distillate • Coconut Honey Mask Raw mountain wildflower honey, organic extra virgin coconut oil, beeswax, organic vanilla powder • Coconut Body and Face Oil Organic extra virgin coconut oil; organic sunflower and grapeseed oils infused with wild-crafted and organic herbs: milk thistle seed, rosemary leaves, green tea leaves, roobibos, life everlasting flowers, licorice root, gingko leaves, ginseng leaves; gotu kola leaves, calendula flowers, lavender flowers, hibiscus flowers, echinacea purpurea, plantain leaves, shavegrass, chamomile flowers, malva flowers; organic aloe vera oil; organic olive oil; organic Rice Bran Oil; vitamin E tocoperols (non-GMO); essential oils of lavender, elemi, peru balsam, frankincense • Anti-Aging Serum Organic rose distillate; organic aloe vera gel; organic rose distillate and vegetable glycerin herb extract of gotu kola leaves, gingko leaves, rosemary leaves, calendula flowers, comfrey root, fennel seed; rhodiola root; life everlasting flowers, milk thistle seed; plantain leaves; roobibos, shavegrass, nettle leaves, amla berries, seabuckthorn berries; olive-derived sodium hyaluronate; organic edelweiss extract; organic buddleja davidii extract; organic flax seed extract; organic sunflower seed extract; organic red raspberry seed extract; organic chia seed oil; organic carrot seed oil; organic tamanu oil; organic rose hip seed oil extract; vitamin E tocopherols (non- GMO); aspen bark extract; essential oils of rose absolute, frankincense, sweet myrrh, vetiver, jasmine sambac; organic rosemary leaf extract; xanthan gum • Anti-Aging Facial Oil Organic jojoba oil infused with wild-crafted and organic herbs: milk thistle seed, rosemary leaves, green tea leaves, roobibos, life everlasting flowers, licorice root, gingko leaves, ginseng leaves, gotu kola leaves, calendula flowers, lavender flowers, hibiscus flowers, echinacea purpurea, plantain leaves, shavegrass, chamomile flowers, malva flowers; organic oleic sunflower oil; hempseed oil; organic rosehip seed oil; organic red raspberry seed oil; organic cranberry seed oil; organic blueberry seed oil; chia seed oil; organic carrot seed oil; organic broccoli seed oil; organic pumpkin seed oil; organic pomegranate seed oil; organic black cumin seed oil; organic acai berry oil; wild-crafted buriti fruit oil; organic seabuckthornberry oil, vitamin E tocopherols (non-GMO) essential oils of sandalwood, jasmine sambac, vetiver, rose absolute, sweet fennel, frankincense • Herbal Facial Oil for Normal and Combination Skin Herb oil (grapeseed oil, life everlasting, green tea, gotu kola, rosemary, calendula, lavender, milk thistle, lemon balm, licorice root, roobibos, hibiscus, rhodiola, gingko, plantain, amla, ashwaghanda, acai, goji berry, horsetail, comfrey leaves, comfrey root, rose petal, echinacea, ginseng, lotus, boswellia, blue violet), fractionated coconut oil, oleic sunflower oil, olive oil, aloe vera oil, passion fruit oil, tamanu oil, carrot seed oil, vitamin E tocopherols, evening primrose extract, seabuckthorn berry extract, red raspberry seed oil, cranberry seed oil, rosehip extract, calendula extract, buriti fruit oil, sandalwood oil, jasmine sambac oil, bergamot oil, blue chamomile oil, rosemary oleoresin Why try it? Since learning about Annmarie’s skin care product line, I’ve been asking women about their skin care products, and I was shocked to learn that most women are quite dissatisfied with their skin care products . They often end up “chasing symptoms” from one product to another. They might, for example, use one product to eliminate acne, but they find it dries their skin too much so they need a moisturizer, but the moisturizer causes some other effect requiring a third product to nourish the skin in the hope of some healing effect. I personally don’t use any skin care products on my skin (other than Dr Bronner’s soap) and rely solely on inner nutrition to handle my skin health, so I wasn’t aware of all these frustrations with skin care products. Of course, the real problem most women are experiencing with their skin care products is that they’re putting toxic chemicals on their skin because they’re buying conventional products. Such products are just loaded with nasty fragrance chemicals and sometimes even heavy metals like lead and mercury. We just posted a story recently about the alarming mercury levels discovered in skin whitening creams , to name one example. (http://www.naturalnews.com/029765_skin_whitening_cream_mercury.html) Most skin care and body care products sold in the world today are truly toxic. And because of that, they actually harm your skin and lead to symptoms requiring more “treatment.” In this way, the cosmetic and personal care industry works much like Big Pharma, using its products to generate repeat business by keeping people trapped in a cycle of symptoms requiring yet another product to treat. Truly nourishing skin care products, on the other hand, encourage your skin to heal . They provide nutrients, not synthetic chemicals, and they actually bathe your skin in health-supporting ingredients that result in visibly healthier looking skin. It’s no secret that nutrition works for skin health just as it does for total body health. That’s why I have really come to appreciate the care and wisdom that Annmarie and Kevin Gianni put into this truly impressive line of skin care products. It’s rare in this industry to find anyone so dedicated to high-integrity product formulations. It’s even rarer to find a small company like this led by two people who are, themselves, consistently maintaining their own vibrant health by practicing what they preach. Yep, Kevin and Annmarie Gianni are among the healthiest people you’ll ever meet. They juice, they take superfood supplements and they use their own products. No wonder they look so great! Click here to pick up some Annmarie Gianni Skin Care products at the NaturalNews Store , where you can also enjoy our amazing specials on products like raw cacao, MSM lotions and delicious Living Nutz treats. Here’s the link to our specials page: http://store.naturalnews.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=100370&zenid=089evt6moagr8rcp0j72mujqp4 If you appreciate the value of quality products — and you respect your own skin — I think you’ll really enjoy Annmarie’s skin care product line. It’s among the very best made anywhere in the world… by anyone! I give it a five-star rating and would openly recommend it to family and friends. It’s one of those rare skin care product lines that’s definitely “Health Ranger approved.” And you won’t find many of those.

Healing herbs revealed on NaturalNews Talk Hour

(NaturalNews) This week’s NaturalNews Talk Hour presents “Rainforest Herbs – How to Heal Naturally”. The Amazon Rainforest is one of the richest places on earth. We’ll reveal the most powerful nutritional treasures in the world. Clear your mind, increase your energy and improve your health with a deeper understanding about healing herbs. Click Here to discover 3 powerful healing herbs. (must see video) Our show begins this Thursday evening at 6pm Pacific / 9pm Eastern, and registration is FREE. Simply enter your email address in the registration form on the right column of this page and you’ll receive call-in details for the show. Thank you Jonathan and Mike for the constant feed of life changing and empowering information… All you both do is so greatly appreciated…thank you! – Regina Discover the Amazon Rainforest The Amazon rainforest, also called the “Lungs of Our Planet” is one of the world’s greatest natural resources. Its rich vegetation continuously turns carbon dioxide into oxygen. About 30% of the earth’s oxygen is produced by the Amazon rainforest. The Amazon rainforest gets its name from the Amazon River, the life force of the rainforest. It starts in the Peruvian Andes, and travels east over the northern part of South America. It connects with the Atlantic Ocean in Belem, Brazil. Over 4,000 miles long, the river basin covers nearly 3 million square miles, and goes through Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, and the three Guyanas. Click Here to discover 3 powerful healing herbs. (must see video) Jonathan Landsman, Host of the Talk Hour says, “Get ready to experience greater clarity of mind, sustainable energy and a stronger immune system. Our next guest, Richard Cicchetti represents a unique blend of experience, wisdom and compassion. We’ll talk about healing, herbs and how to support an eco-friendly lifestyle.” Stop the Insanity Today, over 20% of the Amazon rainforest has been destroyed and is gone forever. Trees are being killed for raising cattle, mining and logging. In the last 50 years, over half of the world’s rainforests have been destroyed by fire and logging. Experts estimate that 130 species of plants, animals, and insects are lost every day. In other words, the rainforest could be completely destroyed in less than 40 years – we must educate ourselves, share this information and prevent its destruction! This week’s guest: Richard Cicchetti, Rainforest Herb Expert Richard Cicchetti – “Rainforest Herbs – How to Heal Naturally” Thu. July 15th Richard Cicchetti, Founder of NATURALUTIONS is dedicated to supporting people in their desire to improve their health and lifestyle. For over 50 years, he has been passionate about nutrition and living green. His ability to teach and support others how to maintain a high level of health and well being will be inspiring for everyone. Get Your FREE Report. LIVE audience members will be offered a FREE gift. Connect with other NaturalNews readers, listen to great health content and have fun with us. Space is limited. Be sure to call a few minutes early to reserve your spot on the show. Register now using the email form in the right column, and you will be emailed show details. Register Now!

Diet soda now promoted as medicine to stop kidney stones (opinion)

(NaturalNews) The “most retarded science journal of the year” award goes to the Journal of Urology which has published an article suggesting that diet soda is actually an effective type of medicine for preventing kidney stones (April 19, 2010 issue). The research was led by Dr Brian H. Eisner, a urologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, who is apparently completely clueless about human nutrition and the toxicity of aspartame. According to Dr Eisner, diet sodas are not only good medicine for preventing kidney stones; they’re also a good source of water hydration. Noting that patients need to consume 2-3 liters of water each day, Dr Eisner said in a Reuters article, “If drinking these sodas helps people reach that goal, then that may be a good thing.” (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64D4HO20100514) If you’re thinking this is some sort of April Fools joke, it isn’t. Dr Eisner and the Journal of Urology are somehow convinced this is good research and that diet sodas may actually have a positive medicinal effect on the human body. Instances of such “scientific” stupidity appear to be increasing in western medicine where doctors remain wildly ignorant of the effects on the human body caused by processed ingredients or toxic chemical additives. Aspartame , used as the primary sweetener in diet sodas, is a potent neurotoxin according to experts like Dr Russell Blaylock. Many believe it promotes headaches, vision problems, endocrine system problems and nervous system disorders. It has never been proven safe for human consumption by any honest testing. Most diet sodas also contain alarmingly high levels of phosphoric acid , a substance that causes a huge increase in acidity throughout the body, suppressing immune function, weakening bones and contributing to kidney stones (not preventing them). The truth about diet soda There is absolutely no question that drinking diet soda is atrocious for your health . That a mainstream western doctor would somehow conclude diet soda to be a medicine for preventing kidney stones is equivalent to declaring “pizza prevents heart disease” or that smoking cigarettes prevents cancer. It shows not merely the shocking nutritional ignorance of Dr Eisner himself, but the utter lack of nutritional knowledge among his peers at the Journal of Urology who somehow saw fit to publish his study. This is called science? Keep in mind that the entire claim is based on the idea that certain diet sodas contain citrate and that frequent consumption of citrate from natural sources (lemonade, lime juice, etc.) is well known to prevent kidney stones. Consuming natural lemonade actually does prevent kidney stones, but you can’t extrapolate from that and claim a lemon-flavored diet soda will accomplish the same thing. That’s like saying that since fruit helps prevent cancer, then drinking fruit punch must prevent cancer, too. This research, by the way, never even tested diet sodas on human subjects. It’s really just a “thought experiment” from someone who isn’t even very good at thinking. The entire paper is the scientific equivalent of saying, “Hey, I betcha that thar diet soda might prevent them kidney stones ‘cuz there’s citrate in it!” And the Journal of Urology was just silly enough to actually publish it as science. It makes you wonder: What are the requirements for having a scientific paper rejected by the Journal of Urology? No coverage of medicinal herbs I bet a paper touting the very real benefits of the Amazon rainforest herb Chanca Piedra would be rejected by the journal. Chanca Piedra is known as the “stonebreaker” herb throughout South America. It really works to dissolve and eliminate kidney stones, but you’d never see that in a science journal in North America. No, they’re too busy touting the “medicinal benefits” of diet soda, if you can believe that. At this point in the article, I would normally point out how little credibility remains in the world of western medicine and its loony research conclusions. This is an industry that calls homeopathy “witchcraft”, that thinks medicinal herbs are dangerous, and that now apparently believes diet sodas are a form of medicine. Any discussion of “credibility” about such an industry is frankly just pointless. If aspartame and phosphoric acid was somehow good for you, America would be the healthiest nation in the world! And if diet sodas actually worked, then all the people drinking them wouldn’t be so obese, would they? And if diet soda prevents kidney stones, they why are most of the people suffering from kidney stones the very same people who drink a lot of soda? If anything, diet soda causes kidney stones . But I suppose the Journal of Urology can print exactly the opposite and call it “science” if they want, right? That’s exactly why modern “science” has lost so much credibility these days. Because practically any corporate-sponsored idea, no matter how ridiculous, can end up being printed in a “scientific journal” even if its conclusions violate the laws of the known biological universe. If diet soda prevents kidney stones, then mammogram radiation prevents cancer, too. Sources for this story include: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64D4HO20100514

Susan G. Komen for the Cure makes mockery of self with KFC pinkwashing campaign (opinion)

(NaturalNews) Susan G. Komen for the Cure has now crossed the line into asinine idiocy thanks to its new alliance with Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), where pink buckets of fried chicken are sold under the slogan, “Buckets for the Cure.” I’m not making this up. See the ad image yourself at: http://www.naturalnews.com/images/KFC-PinkChickenBuckets.jpg This idea that buying fried chicken is actually going to cure cancer is one of the most utterly idiotic health ideas yet witnessed in American pop culture. Komen for the Cure is so far gone from reality that the organization apparently doesn’t even think twice about suggesting such an absurd idea. Eat more fried chicken, folks, and then what? Loading up on that kind of a diet is more likely to cause you to kick the bucket than to find a cure for cancer. Does fried chicken actually promote cancer? Fried chicken, you see, is coated in starches. The recipe for the KFC chicken batter is basically flour, sugar, salt, black pepper and monosodium glutamate (MSG). All by itself, this is a recipe for chronic degenerative disease because the flour and sugar are highly processed, and the MSG is an excitotoxin that Dr. Russell Blaylock links to obesity, cancer and neurological disorders. And the chicken meat itself? That’s another cruel story on top of that (read more below). When you fry starches at high temperatures, you also create acrylamides , toxic chemical by-products of cooking that are believed by many health experts to promote cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/acrylamides.html). One scientific study, for example, demonstrated that eating acrylamides boosts kidney cancer rates by 59 percent . Acrylamides are also linked to ovarian cancer. The Komen pinkwashing fraud So now we’ve got Susan G. Komen for the Cure actually promoting foods that promote cancer . It just boggles the mind, but it’s entirely consistent with what I’ve said about Komen for the Cure in the past: The organization is a drug-company-funded front group that actually promotes cancer in my opinion. I see it as engaged in outright fraud by scamming consumers out of their money while claiming to be “searching for a cure” when, in reality, most of the money raised by the group actually goes to pay for more mammograms that cause cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/027742_mammography_radiation.html). If Susan G. Komen for the Cure were using such tactics to promote herbal remedies, it would have been shut down and its executives arrested long ago as fraudulent quacks. But because the group is so strongly aligned with the profiteering, powerful drug companies, it continues to get away with these utterly fraudulent marketing gimmicks without suffering a single investigation from the FTC, Dept. of Justice or even any mainstream newspaper. Why is it that Komen for the Cure can actually promote products that cause cancer and no one seems to notice the outright hypocrisy? Why aren’t the quack-watching websites screaming about the quackery of selling cancer-causing foods to raise money to fight cancer? Why isn’t 20/20 or 60 Minutes or some other television investigative show taking a look at the outright fraud being perpetrated against consumers? Where are the comedian hosts of the show “B.S.” when it comes to exposing the fraud and quackery of the cancer industry? The silence tells you everything: The cancer industry gets a free pass. As long as these organizations run around toting pink ribbons, they can get away with anything… including fraud. The cruelty of Susan G. Komen for the Cure It’s not just about fried chicken promoting cancer, by the way. By linking up with KFC, Susan G. Komen is also promoting extreme animal cruelty . Undercover investigations of KFC chicken suppliers, conducted by PETA (www.PETA.org), have shown chickens being beaten, thrown against walls, abused and even spray-painted by malicious workers. The website www.KentuckyFriedCruelty.com reveals the horrifying details of how KFC suppliers treat chickens before they are served up to consumers in pink “Komen for the Cure” buckets: “KFC suppliers cram birds into huge waste-filled factories, breed and drug them to grow so large that they can’t even walk, and often break their wings and legs. At slaughter, the birds’ throats are slit and they are dropped into tanks of scalding-hot water — often while they are still conscious. It would be illegal for KFC to abuse dogs, cats, pigs, or cows in these ways. KFC’s own animal welfare advisors have asked the company to take steps to eliminate these abuses, but KFC refuses to do so. Many advisors have now resigned in frustration.” The actions of KFC suppliers against chicken are so unbelievably cruel and inhumane that even the Dalai Lama has spoken out against it. Celebrities like Pamela Anderson have boycotted KFC, saying: “Cruelty is cruelty, and KFC is being cruel in the extreme. I am calling for a boycott of all KFC restaurants until my friends at PETA tell me that you have agreed to be kinder in your practices.” Her friends include His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Phil Collins, Fall Out Boy, Pink, Paul McCartney, The Black Eyed Peas, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) President and CEO Kweisi Mfume, among others. (http://edition.cnn.com/2003/BUSINESS/10/17/anderson.kfc/index.html) Here’s a more complete list of those speaking out against KFC’s cruelty: http://www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com/c-celebs.asp Undercover investigations of KFC have also exposed some extremely disturbing cases of bizarre cruelty. As explained at http://www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com/u-undercover.asp “Every time undercover investigators enter the facilities of KFC’s suppliers, they find hideous abuse and suffering. At one KFC ‘Supplier of the Year’ slaughterhouse in West Virginia, workers were caught tearing birds’ heads off, ripping them apart, spitting tobacco into their eyes, spray-painting their faces, and throwing them against walls — all while the birds were still conscious and able to feel pain.” By allying itself with KFC, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is endorsing animal cruelty. It is promoting an extremely unhealthy product line containing chemicals linked to cancer, and it’s doing all this under the fraudulent marketing claim of “raising money to cure cancer.” But the story gets even more disturbing when you look at the ingredients in KFC foods… The toxic ingredients in KFC foods Kentucky Fried Chicken is one of the fast food industry’s largest users of MSG. This taste-exciting chemical (excitotoxin) is found in so many of KFCs products that it’s nearly impossible to eat a typical meal at KFC without ingesting it. KFC has also traditionally used oils containing trans fats, thereby exposing its customers to ingredients that promote heart disease. A few years ago, the CSPI filed a lawsuit against KFC to try to force it to switch to trans-fat-free oils. The result? “In October 2006, KFC announced that it would begin frying its chicken in trans fat-free oil. This would also apply to their potato wedges and other fried foods, however, the biscuits, macaroni and cheese, and mashed potatoes would still contain trans fat. Trans fat-free soybean oil was introduced in all KFC restaurants in the U.S. by April 30, 2007.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC) What’s interesting about all this is that even the founder of KFC, Colonel Sanders , was strongly critical of the way the corporate profiteers altered his original recipe after buying the company. KFC was bought out in 1964, and Colonel Sanders soon said this: “They prostituted every goddamn thing I had. I had the greatest gravy in the world and those sons of bitches — they dragged it out and extended it and watered it down that I’m so goddamn mad.” (Ritzer, George, 2004. The McDondaldization of Society. New York: Pine Forge Press. p. 64.) KFC’s ingredients are toxic to human health? What other chemical ingredients might you find in KFC foods? The company actually publishes a list of ingredients for its menu items. I went through that list and found all the following ingredients on the KFC menu: • Partially hydrogenated soybean oil (contains trans fats) • High-Fructose Corn Syrup (linked to diabetes) • Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) (linked to cancer) • Titanium Dioxide (used in sunscreen) • Yellow #5 (chemical coloring) • Propylene Glycol (used as antifreeze in RVs) • Rendered Beef Fat (gross) • Red #40 (another chemical coloring) • Sodium nitrite (linked to pancreatic cancer) • Soy Protein Concentrate (may be processed with hexane) • Sugar (refined) • Sodium Benzoate (chemical preservative) • Hydrolyzed Corn, Soy and Wheat Protein (may contain hidden MSG) • Beef Extract (eww) • Corn Syrup Solids (more processed sugars) • Liquid Margarine • Sodium Caseinate • Autolyzed Yeast Extract (another hidden source of MSG) … and lots more. Read the ingredients yourself at: http://www.kfc.com/nutrition/pdf/kfc_ingredients_apr10.pdf Just so you know how all these chemicals come together, here’s an ingredients list from just ONE product on the KFC menu: Boneless Wings. See if you can count how many times MSG appears in this recipe : (emphasis added) Boneless Wings Ingredients: Wing Shaped White Chicken Fritter Pieces, Seasoning (Salt, Monosodium Glutamate , Garlic Powder, Spice Extractives, and Onion Powder), Soy Protein Concentrate, Rice Starch, Sodium Phosphates. Battered With: Water, Wheat Flour, Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Salt, Dextrose, and Monosodium Glutamate . Breaded With: Wheat Flour, Salt, Soy Flour, Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate and Sodium Bicarbonate), Monosodium Glutamate , Nonfat Dry Milk, Dextrose, Extractives of Tumeric and Extractives of Annatto. Predusted With: Wheat Flour, Wheat Gluten, Salt, Dried Egg Whites, Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, and Sodium Bicarbonate), Monosodium Glutamate and Spice, Breading set in Vegetable Oil. Gee, just what America needs to be healthy, huh? Fried MSG. Destruction of the rainforest As reported about KFC on Wikipedia: • KFC has been accused by Greenpeace of a large destruction of the Amazon Rainforest because the supply of soy used for chicken food that KFC receives from Cargill has been traced back to the European KFC. Cargill has reportedly been exporting soy illegally for several years. …Greenpeace has called on KFC to stop purchasing soy from Cargill, to avoid contributing to the destruction of the Amazon. According to a press release issued by Greenpeace, KFC was exposed for trashing the Amazon rainforest for buckets of chicken (http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/releases/kfc-exposed-for-trashing-the-a) • Recent Greenpeace investigations have traced the chain of rainforest destruction directly from the heart of the Amazon, via Cargill’s facility, to KFC’s European restaurants, which sell bucket-loads of cheap soya-fed chicken to millions of people every day. “Deforestation, slavery, use of toxic chemicals, land theft, illegal farming and the extinction of rare species are a recipe for disaster in the Amazon rainforest, but they are ingredients in KFC’s quest for cheap animal feed,” said Greenpeace International Forest Campaign Coordinator Gavin Edwards. “Fast food companies like KFC must take Amazon deforestation off their menu before it is too late for the world’s greatest rainforest.” Susan G. Komen, cancer industry front group Add all this up, and you get a frightening picture of what Susan G. Komen for the Cure actually stands for. By aligning itself with KFC: • Komen for the Cure endorses cancer-causing foods. • Komen for the Cure supports extreme animal cruelty. • Komen for the Cure is contributing to the destruction of the rainforest. • Komen for the Cure is destroying health while claiming to protect it. I believe that Susan G. Komen for the Cure is a cancer industry front group that actually promotes cancer, disease and destruction . It seems to me that the group has no intention of ever curing anything. The word “cure” is just a marketing gimmick used to extract money from gullible consumers. Conventional medicine doesn’t even believe in a cure for cancer! Notice, too, how Komen for the Cure absolutely refuses to teach women about vitamin D? Where is the anti-cancer nutrition message that could help women prevent breast cancer? It’s nowhere to be found. Instead of teaching women how to be healthy, Komen for the Cure is out there promoting buckets of fried chicken laced with MSG . Of course, it’s all good business for the drug companies and medical imaging companies that give money to Komen for the Cure. The organization’s biggest sponsors are — surprise! — the corporations that profit from cancer through chemotherapy and radiation. To them, Komen for the Cure isn’t really about finding a cure for cancer; it’s about promoting cancer so that they can sell more drugs and radiotherapy that keeps more patients locked into a cycle of dependence on toxic cancer treatments. See, if you want to cause cancer, one way to do it is to irradiate women’s breasts with mammogram machines. Another way is to promote foods laced with chemicals that cause cancer. Susan G. Komen for the Cure does both . Think Products? Think again… You know who else partners with Susan G. Komen for the Cure from the natural products industry? Think Bars . ThinkProducts actually held a Susan G. Komen “fashion show” at Expo West a couple of years ago. Here’s the language that was used to describe this: “Created in partnership with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure , the event was both a fundraiser, an opportunity to promote awareness of how healthy choices can help prevent disease, as well as aid those currently dealing with cancer or other illnesses. Designed to create awareness of women’s cancers and the impact of toxic exposure in everything from clothing, cosmetics and cleaning supplies, the event was a terrific moment…” (http://www.naturalbusinessnews.com/levine_report.php5?id=259) Gee, were they serving greasy buckets of fried chicken there, too? So I wonder if ThinkProducts CEO Lizanne Falsetto still endorses Komen for the Cure now that they’re pushing buckets of fried chicken made with MSG? Maybe they’ll come out with a “No-Think Bar” laced with MSG and Sodium Nitrite, just like you find in KFC menu items. Stop thinking and just buy stuff, you fools! That’s really the whole theme of the pink ribbon cancer industry fraud anyway, isn’t it? Stop thinking. Just buy crap. If it’s pink, just buy it. Don’t even think about it. Don’t ask questions like “Where is this money going” or “How does this money actually help cure cancer?” Or, relevant to this article, “How does eating fried chicken cure breast cancer?” Because if you ask those question, you’ll get some surprising answers: The cancer industry isn’t even looking for cures for cancer, folks. The cancer scam is just too profitable. It’s a sweet gig and they’re raking in billions of dollars from gullible consumers who continue to be victimized by this fraudulent cancer industry and its dishonest non-profit front groups. This whole idea that you can cure cancer by ordering junk at fast food restaurants is so ludicrous and retarded that when I first saw this, I thought for sure it was a late April Fool’s joke. But no, this is no joke. The reputation of Komen for the Cure may be a joke now, but the “Buckets for the Cure” campaign is quite real. These silly people are seriously fronting buckets of fried chicken and claiming that if you keep eating more fried chicken, they will find the cure for cancer. What a con. Just an outright fraud. These people should frankly just be arrested and prosecuted for fraud. This is mass-marketing fraud at its worst. Pinkwashing has a new champion: Buckets for the Cure! Here are some comments on this story from PRWatch.org: Can Eating Junk Food Cure Breast Cancer? From the Center for Media and Democracy (http://www.prwatch.org/node/9017) Submitted by Anne Landman on April 21, 2010 When a company promotes pink-ribboned products and claims to care about breast cancer and while also selling products linked to disease or injury, it’s called pinkwashing, and pinkwashing has taken some pretty outrageous forms in the last few years. Ford, Mercedes and BMW have all urged people to buy and drive cars in the name of breast cancer, but exhaust from internal combustion engines contains toxic chemicals that are linked to disease. The Yoplait yogurt company sold pink-lidded yogurt to raise money for breast cancer, while manufacturing products with milk from cows stimulated by the artificial hormone RBGH, which studies show increase the risk of breast cancer. (Some yogurt companies, including Yoplait, have stopped using RGBH.) There’s even a breast cancer awareness gun, and we thought that took the cake. “Buckets for the Cure” Now KFC is offering yet another new example of pinkwashing: selling pink buckets of fried chicken to “end breast cancer forever.” In an ironic twist, KFC’s “Buckets for the Cure” campaign urges people to buy buckets of unhealthy food to help cure a disease that kills women. The American Institute for Cancer Research says there is “convincing evidence” that excess body fat increases the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. Obesity is also tied to shorter survival rates for women who develop breast cancer. Like most fast food chains, KFC has an overwhelming presence in communities known to have poor health outcomes, and the Susan G. Komen Foundation certainly must know that such social inequities effect breast cancer mortality rates. Given all this, “Buckets for the Cure” is a particularly disturbing pinkwashing partnership.

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