Drinking Diet Soda Actually Causes Weight Gain, Blood Sugar Spikes

July 25th, 2011

Natural News

By: Ethan A. Huff

Contrary to popular belief, diet soda and other foods and beverages made with artificial sweeteners like aspartame are not healthy, and they do not bring about weight loss.

A landmark new study out of Texas confirms this, having found that not only do diet sodas not help with weight loss, but they actually cause both weight gain and health problems.

Researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC) at San Antonio gathered ten years worth of data on 474 participants from a larger, ongoing study called the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging. Among these participants, those that consumed two or more diet sodas a day experienced waist size increases that were a shocking six times greater than those who did not drink diet soda.

“Data from this and other prospective studies suggest that the promotion of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners as healthy alternatives may be ill-advised,” said Helen P. Hazuda, a study researcher and professor at the UTHSC school of medicine. “They may be free of calories, but not of consequences.”

Presented at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the findings debunk the false notion that drinking diet beverages is beneficial for weight loss. Since consuming them actually leads to a 70 percent increase in waist size compared to those who do not drink them, it is clear that using the name “diet” is, in and of itself, misleading.

In a related study presented at the same time, researchers also found that aspartame, a commonly-used chemical sweetener in diet foods and beverages, is actually responsible for raising blood sugar levels. In tests using mice, those that consumed chow with added aspartame experienced elevated blood sugar levels compared to mice simply eating regular chow.

“These results suggest that heavy aspartame exposure might potentially directly contribute to increased blood glucose levels, and thus contribute to the associations observed between diet soda consumption and the risk of diabetes in humans,” said Gabriel Fernandes, researcher of that study and professor of rheumatology and clinical immunology at UTHSC.

A 2008 study published in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience found similar results when testing the effects of saccharin, another type of artificial sweetener, compared to sugar.

Rats in that study that were fed saccharin gained more weight than rats fed an equivalent amount of plain sugar.

“There’s something about diet foods that changes your metabolic limit, your brain chemistry,” said Dr. Marie Savard, a medical contributor for ABC News, in response to those findings. “The truth is, we’re putting artificial sweetener in so many different things: in water, in yogurt. We have to rethink what this artificial stuff does to us.”

A 2010 study conducted by researchers from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases adds to this, having found that the body’s reaction to the ingestion of artificial sweeteners appears to be brain confusion over how exactly to process it, which in and of itself is implicated in causing various other negative consequences.

US Food and Drug Administration adverse event reports going back several decades indicate that artificial sweeteners like aspartame are also responsible for destroying brain neurons, which in turn leads to a host of chronic illnesses.

These include, but are not limited to, chronic headaches, seizures, strokes, vascular disorders, heart disease, premature birth, dementia and other brain disorders, and cancer.

So rather than consume artificially-sweetened beverages and foods with the hope that they will somehow induce weight gain and promote health — two notions that have proven once again to be false — the best way to begin to lose weight is to consume less processed, refined sugars and simple carbohydrates in the first place.

Instead, develop new eating habits that incorporate clean, whole foods into your diet, and reteach your body how to digest and assimilate nutrients from real food, which is the way it was intended to be.

And remember, not all sugar is necessarily bad for you. The sugar found naturally in fruit, as well as unprocessed sugar from raw sugar cane and coconut sap, for instance, can be beneficial for health.

Coconut sugar, for instance, is very low on the glycemic index, which means that diabetics can safely consume it in moderation, and it is also rich in B vitamins and other nutrients.

Stevia extract, a natural sweetener derived from the leaves of the stevia plant, is another great option. This natural sweetener contains no sugar at all, but is not artificially derived from chemicals as are aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin, so it is a great option for anyone trying to reduce sugar intake, or for diabetics.

Just be sure to buy real stevia extract, not the commercially-sold stevia packets made by Purevia (PepsiCo) and Truvia (Cargill / Coca-Cola), which contain a modified version of their own patented stevia, as well as other additives.

Click here for the full report from Natural News

Iowa Congressman Fights Off Armed Home Intruder

July 25th, 2011

The Huffington Post

A home invasion at Rep. Leonard Boswell’s Iowa farm ended when his 22-year-old grandson fetched a shotgun and aimed it at the intruder, according to a statement from the congressman’s office. No one was seriously injured.

The incident started about 10:45 p.m. Saturday when an armed man came in through the front door, attacked Boswell’s daughter, Cindy Brown, and demanded money, the statement said. Boswell, 77, heard his daughter’s screams, came into the entryway and attempted to disarm the intruder.

As they struggled, Boswell’s grandson, Mitchell Brown, got a shotgun from another room. When he pointed the shotgun at the intruder, the man fled into the fields around the house outside Lamoni.

Boswell’s wife, Dody Boswell, 75, also was home during the attack. His spokesman Grant Woodard said the whole family is safe and unhurt, aside from some scrapes and bruises.

The family is shaken up, but “they’re dealing with it pretty well,” Woodard said Sunday morning.

He deferred other questions to the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating along with the FBI and other agencies. Sheriff Herbert Muir wasn’t available for comment Sunday morning.

Boswell, a Democrat, has represented Iowa’s 3rd District for eight terms in Congress. He is expected to face a challenge next year from Republican Rep. Tom Latham, who is moving into the district to avoid running against Republican Rep. Steve King after their territories were merged during once-per-decade redistricting that follows each census.

Iowa is going from five to four congressional seats because its population growth hasn’t kept pace with the rest of the nation. The new 3rd District will include Des Moines and 16 counties in southwest Iowa.

Click here for the full report from The Huffington Post

IMF Calls For US to Raise Debt Ceiling and Cut Spending

July 25th, 2011

BBC News

The IMF also called for a “comprehensive solution” to reduce the US deficit over the medium term.

Without this, IMF directors warned, the markets could lose confidence in the US’s ability to pay its debts.

The US risks default on its $14.3tn (£8.7tn) debt without a deal to raise the borrowing limit by 2 August.

“Directors [on the IMF board] highlighted the urgency of raising the federal debt ceiling and agreeing on the specifics of a comprehensive medium-term consolidation programme,” the IMF said as part of its review of the US economy.

It went on to call for specific actions to reduce spending – an area of intense debate between the Republicans and Democrats over how to cut the deficit.

“The strategy should include entitlement reforms, including additional savings in healthcare, as well as revenue increases,” it said.

But warning that US growth was likely to remain subdued over the medium term, the IMF advised against fast cuts which could impact on consumer spending.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said she is “confident” the president and Congress will reach a deal to raise the US debt ceiling.

Mrs Clinton sought to re-assure Hong Kong business leaders on US debt

Global markets were down on Monday amid concerns about a lack of a deal as the 2 August deadline looms.

President Obama dropped two fundraising events in Washington on Monday to focus on the debt issue, US media said.

Debt law

If the ceiling is not raised, the US Treasury could run out of money to pay all of its bills – which could lead to interest rate rises, threaten the US economic recovery and in turn the global recovery.

“Let me assure you we understand the stakes. We know how important this is for us and how important it is for you,” Mrs Clinton told Hong Kong business leaders.

“I’m confident Congress will do the right thing and secure a deal on the debt ceiling,” she said.

With investors becoming increasingly nervous about the political stand-off in Washington, Tokyo’s Nikkei average closed down on Monday by 0.8%, while the STOXX Europe 600 Banks index was down 1.9%.

The US benchmark Dow Jones index fell by 0.68% during the first half-hour of trading on Monday, while the broader S&P 500 fell 0.63%.

The federal government is running a large budget deficit – equal to $1.3tn, or more than $4,000 per person, during the 12 months to June this year.

The borrowing is required to meet the government’s agreed spending plans and because its ability to raise taxes is limited under current laws.

But the government must also comply with a law that limits the total amount of debt it can take on – the debt ceiling.

‘Irresponsible’ proposal
On Sunday, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told ABC News the process to ratify a deal needed to be underway in Congress by Monday night in order to reach a 2 August deadline.

He said that a Republican proposal to first raise the debt limit, and then negotiate spending cuts, was “irresponsible” and would not be agreed by Democrats.

President Barack Obama and fellow Democrats have been seeking to hammer out a deal with Republicans who control the House of Representatives to cut the annual budget deficit in return for a rise in the total debt ceiling.

The sticking point is the issue of taxation.

President Obama wants the debt reduction deal to include a combination of spending cuts and tax rises, but Republicans in both houses of Congress are strongly opposed to the latter.

Mr Obama was joined at the negotiating table on Saturday by Vice-President Joe Biden, Republican House Speaker John Boehner, Democratic House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Senate Majority leader Harry Reid and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell.

Following the meeting, the White House urged Congress to “refrain from playing reckless political games with our economy… and do its job, avoiding default and cutting the deficit”.

Both Mr McConnell and Mr Boehner issued statements saying they intended “to find a bipartisan solution to significantly reduce Washington spending and preserve the full faith and credit of the United States”.

Aides said they expected to work through the weekend to come up with a bill that would be acceptable to both sides for Monday.

On Friday, Mr Boehner accused the president of moving “the goal posts”, saying they had been close to a deal until Mr Obama demanded $400bn in tax increases on top of about $800bn in revenues that would have been reaped through a comprehensive rewrite of the tax code.

Mr Obama had declared his deal “extraordinarily fair”, offering to cut $650bn from Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlements, as well as slashing $1tn in discretionary spending.

While Republicans in Congress are unwilling to consider raising new taxes, their Democrat counterparts are opposed to cutting popular healthcare and welfare programmes for pensioners and the poor.

Click here for the full report from BBC News

Studies Confirm Link Between Cholesterol Drugs and Higher Rates of Diabetes

July 25th, 2011

Natural News

By: Ethan A. Huff

Seven years after the American Diabetes Association urged all diabetics, regardless of whether or not they had high cholesterol, to take statin drugs because they “may have some other qualities that have not been tested,”, a new analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that statin drugs actually cause diabetes.

The findings also confirm the general ineptitude of American disease and medical groups that continually push dangerous drugs on the public that have never been adequately verified for safety or effectiveness.

The study, which includes data from five randomized clinical trials, appears poised to highlight the alleged benefits of statins to lower cholesterol levels, rather than focus on their link to causing diabetes.

But what the study actually proves is that taking statins leads to more disease, especially in light of various recent studies that show statins do not even work effectively to lower cholesterol, let alone treat anything else.

Despite an slight decrease in cardiovascular events among patients taking statins like Lipitor, Pravachol, and Crestor, the data does not indicate whether other factors like dietary and lifestyle changes may have played a role in this outcome. And yet at the same time, the data shows an 8.4 percent rise in diabetes among the statin groups.

Aside from their many serious side effects, which include loss of muscle mass, liver disease, kidney failure, depleted Coenzyme Q10 levels, and heart attacks, statins have never been proven safe or effective for their stated purpose.

Numerous studies, including one published last year in the British Medical Journal, show that statins harm more people than they actually help — and in truth, there is scant evidence that statins do anything beneficial at all for patients.

In other words, patients with high cholesterol levels do not need to take statin drugs for the rest of their lives to manage their “condition” — this is not the only option.

Eliminating processed, chemical-laden foods from your diet, consuming more superfoods like spirulina and chlorella, and getting plenty of daily exercise is a great place to start when trying to lower cholesterol naturally.

Click here for the full report from Natural News

Massage Outperforms Meds For Low Back Pain

July 25th, 2011

Natural News

By: Mary West

Is it conceivable that massage can provide more effective relief from low back pain than medication? A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests this therapy might indeed alleviate back pain better in the short term than traditional interventions of medicine, bed rest or exercise: Healthday reports.

The investigation conducted by the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle involved 400 patients who had low back pain, the majority of which were middle aged, Caucasian and female. Researchers found those who were given a series of relaxation massage or structural massage were better able to work and be active than those who were given traditional medical care, such as pain pills, muscle relaxants or physical therapy.

According to The New York Times, the study’s participants were randomly divided into three groups: structural massage, relaxation massage and traditional care. Patients in the massage groups received one hour of therapy weekly for 10 weeks.

At the conclusion of the 10 week period, over one-third of the patients who were given massage therapy reported their pain was much improved or eliminated completely, as opposed to only one in 25 patients who were given traditional care. Furthermore, patients in the massage groups were twice as likely to have spent fewer days in bed rest, used less pain pills and participated in more activity than the traditional care group.

Lead author Daniel Cherkin was surprised by the fact that structural massage did not prove superior to relaxation massage in relieving pain. Structural massage involves manipulating specific back pain related muscles and ligaments, while relaxation massage, otherwise known as Swedish massage, involves inducing body-wide relaxation.

The beneficial effects of the massage seemed not only to be experienced during the 10-week therapy period, but also to linger for a time following the cessation of therapy. Evidence of this lingering effect was manifested by the fact that the massage groups continued to display improved function six months after the study’s onset. At the one year mark, however, no significant differences were found in the three groups.

Although the researchers were uncertain of massage therapy’s exact mechanism of action for easing back pain, they voiced several theories. One suggestion was that it either stimulated tissue locally or produced a general central nervous system response. Another speculation was that merely spending time in a relaxing environment and feeling cared for might have been responsible for the improvement. An additional factor to consider is the subjectivity that is impossible to eliminate in such studies. Patients in the control group were aware that the other groups were receiving massage and this knowledge may have caused them to discount their own progress.

It should be reiterated that the study suggests rather than proves the benefit of massage for back pain. Also, some members of the American medical community not associated with the research have expressed reluctance to accept the suggested benefits as being valid.

Conversely, the study’s authors offered their assessments of its import. Cherkin characterizes the results as being “pretty strong.” He states the massage was tested on patients who did not improve using the standard medical approach to back pain treatment. He feels that massage therapy is a reasonable thing to try for anyone getting insufficient relief from this malady. The coauthor, Dr. Richard Deyo, feels that massage appears to provide clinicians with another choice for managing the challenging medical problem of chronic low back pain.

Click here for the full report from Natural News

Norwegian Gunman Claims Two More Terror Cells Remain At Large

July 25th, 2011

The Guardian

By: Mark Townsend

The man who confessed to killing more than 70 people in a bomb and gun massacre on Friday has claimed he belonged to an organisation with two more cells who remain at large.

At a closed hearing in Oslo, Anders Behring Breivik admitted carrying out the attacks but pleaded not guilty to one of the worst mass killings in peacetime Europe, and told the court he had acted to “save Europe” from Islam.

Breivik, 32, will be detained in complete isolation for four weeks, with no incoming letters or visitors except for his lawyer, while police investigate his claims to have accomplices. Breivik has previously said he acted alone in the attacks.

“The accused has made statements today that require further investigation, including that ‘there are two more cells in our organisation’,” said the judge, Kim Heger, who warned that Breivik could tamper with vital evidence if released. He will be held for at least another month after the court-ordered solitary confinement.

Breivik arrived at court on Monday morning to jeering from a crowd of around 400 people. As a police convoy approached the rear of Oslo’s central court, someone shouted then the crowd surged forward. Bystanders screamed “traitor” and banged on the windows of a police car after one man said he’d spotted Breivik in the back seat.

A local book editor, Marius Wulfsberg, 54, described one bystander pointing at a man in the crowd as Breivik’s vehicle passed. “That man lost three friends on Nyota Island, what do you have to say now? But the man he was pointing at was just standing there, impassive.

“People were angry, shouting, some were hitting the door of the car.”

Just after 1.40pm local time, Breivik was hustled into an underground tunnel that led into the basement and then taken up to courtroom 828, on the 8th floor.

The hearing was ordered to be held behind closed doors after the judge was informed of last-minute police concerns.

Outside the sealed courtroom, reporters waited in vain for a glimpse of Breivik, who had initially requested to appear in court in uniform, and asked for time to explain his actions.

Normally such a hearing would be held in open court, but many in Norway had argued that Breivik should not be given a platform to justify the killings.

Breivik’s lawyer, Geir Lippestad, said his client had admitted to the attacks but denied any criminal guilt.

The court acknowledged the need for transparency in the case, but after a 35-minute hearing, Judge Heger said an open hearing would not be possible “for practical reasons.”

“It is clear that there is concrete information that a public hearing with the suspect present could quickly lead to an extraordinary and very difficult situation in terms of the investigation and security,” he said.

Police had earlier put the death toll at more than 90 but on Monday they revised the figure for the youth camp massacre down to 68, with at least seven killed in the bombing.

Earlier, a minute’s silence brought Oslo to a standstill as thousands flocked to pay tribute outside the cathedral. More than 10 minutes later, thousands were still standing while others converged upon the vast field of flowers that has steadily grown in the heart of Oslo since Breivik struck.

The flag on the courthouse remained at half mast.

Meanwhile, the search for victims continued. Police have not released the names of the dead, but Norway’s royal court said on Monday that those killed at the island retreat included Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s stepbrother, an off-duty police officer, who was working there as a security guard.

In an interview with the Swedish tabloid Expressen, Breivik’s father said he was disgusted by his son’s acts and wished he had committed suicide.

“I don’t feel like his father,” said the former diplomat Jens David Breivik. “How could he just stand there and kill so many innocent people and just seem to think that what he did was OK? He should have taken his own life too. That’s what he should have done.”

Click here for the full report from The Guardian

Pictures From My Recent Fishing Trip In Canada!

The Kevin Trudeau Show: 7-23-11

Today, Kevin explains how the media is only there to distract you from the real issues. Plus, friend of the show, Fred Van Liew, stops by to give you the facts behind electromagnetic chaos and how it is virtually killing you and your children.

Self Help:
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Why Big Pharma Hates Me…

Martin Kuehne, a chemist at the University of Vermont, was recently quoted as saying, “Pharmaceutical companies don’t like cures. Really, they don’t — that’s the sad thing. They like treatment. Something for cholesterol or high blood pressure that you take for years and years, every day. That’s where the profit is.”

You see?! Are you waking up now?  Nexium is the next biggest medical scam of all time.  This is the acid reflux medication; the purple pill.  First of all, acid reflux didn’t even exist 35 years ago.  Once in a blue moon somebody had a little heartburn, or a little acid indigestion, but no big deal.  Now it is a disease in which we need to take a pill everyday for the rest of your life.  It is the second biggest grossing drug and it is a scam!  If any of you are taking any antacids for heartburn or acid reflux, you are being ripped off and you are destroying your health.  These drugs ruin your health.  If you take any medical drug everyday, you are destroying your health. All drugs destroy your health.  They don’t make you healthier.  They don’t make you better.  They destroy your health.  They should never be taken under any circumstances with the exception of a crisis.

Drugs and surgery will save your life in a crisis.  If you have hours to live, drugs and surgery will save your life and keep you alive.  No question about it. Thank god we have doctors. Thank god we have surgeons. Thank god we have medical science.  If I’m in a car crash, rush me to the closest emergency room and I want a trained doctor to use whatever medical science he has to keep me alive and save my life in those hours that are critical.

Click here to continue reading and to get the SOLUTION: http://bit.ly/n1BH2M

Yours in health…
KT

 

The Kevin Trudeau Show: 7-22-11

Today, Blake Sawyer of Royal Velvet stops by the show to explain exactly how deer antler velvet can act as the fountain of youth and turn back the hands of time! Click here to find out why professional athletes buy this product in bulk!

Self Help:
Gluten Allergy Cure
Protect Your Body
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Lose Weight Fast & Safely

Health:
Aspirin Increases Risk Of Crohn’s Disease
What IS Shift Work Disorder?!
The Fight Against Big Pharma
Frito-Lay Drives The Obesity Epidemic

Everything Kevin:
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