This”Natural Flavor” Is Not So Natural

Even if you’ve never had a college course in chemistry, you’re likely familiar with the acronym. MSG stands for monosodium glutamate. In the modern era, this food additive is found in nearly every processed food, and you may not realize it due to its many, many names.

The Origins of MSG

According to the FDA, MSG has been used “throughout history”. If by throughout history they mean in Japan for the last hundred years, then yes, but recorded history goes back 10,000 years, not only one hundred.

Kombu dashi is a traditional Japanese broth that has been made for centuries. In 1908, chemist Ikeda Kikuanae isolated the ingredient in kombu dashi’s sea kelp that gave the dish its flavor- MSG. The product that ultimately originated from Ikeda’s work was patented in the U.S., France, and Japan. In Japan, he dubbed the flavor enhancer umami, which means tasty. When Ikeda partnered up with the Suzuki Chemical Company, umami was marketed under a different name, Ajinomoto, which means the essence of taste.

Initially, the Suzuki chemical company struggled to turn a profit selling MSG. For the first four years, MSG was unprofitable in Japan. Ultimately their marketing strategies shifted from targeting food manufacturers and restaurateurs to housewives. This shift in marketing turned a profit for the company. Over time, MSG became a commonly used household ingredient in Japan. Restaurants and food manufacturers later adopted its use and the flavor enhancer came into widespread use throughout Asia and the Western world.

What is MSG?

Monosodium glutamate escaped extensive testing because it is derived from an amino acid, glutamate, one of the building blocks of protein. There are twenty such amino acids; many of which our bodies can produce on their own, while some of them our bodies cannot.

Our bodies naturally produce glutamate. The body not only uses glutamate as a constituent of protein, it also uses it as a neurotransmitter. Our bodies manufacture just enough of the amino acid at a time to maintain brain function. Too much is toxic to our nerve and brain cells. The excess of free glutamate in MSG causes excitotoxicity, a pathological condition that excites nerve cells and brain cells to the point of death.

How Much Is Too Much?

That is what the debate is all about.

MSG is often found in foods that have been heavily processed. Even if MSG is not listed on the label, it is often a by-product of processing food. Enzymes added to processed foods will break down the proteins until MSG or the free form of glutamate is created in the food. Anything hydrolyzed creates the same cause and effect. Health conscious consumers, who are trying to avoid MSG, must take care to learn the different names of ingredients that are high in MSG if they wish to avoid it. MSG is even found naturally in some foods.

Glutamate/glutamic acid comes in a bound form and a free form. The free form of glutamate or glutamic acid is found naturally in small amounts in foods such as cheese, dairy, tomatoes, fermented soy products and seaweed. The bound form of glutamate has not been known to cause adverse reactions in people, except in rare circumstances.

The majority of MSG in the American diet is not of natural origin. The majority of MSG that Americans consume is added to processed foods or created as a by-product of the processing itself. It is also found in much of the food that is served in restaurants. The amount of MSG is particularly high in low-fat foods, canned goods, soups, and gravies.

Until recently, the easiest way to avoid MSG was to avoid processed foods, but in the late nineties, MSG became even harder to avoid. In 1998 the EPA approved the use of sprays containing free glutamic acid to be used on fruits, vegetables, and other plants. Consumers have no way of knowing how much spray has been used, how much free glutamic acid the plant has absorbed, or how much is left as residue on the plant. The spray most commonly used is AuxiGro. At present, consumers can avoid MSG sprayed produce by buying organic produce, but the industry has been requesting permission to use MSG sprays on organic produce as well. So far, organic produce is not sprayed with MSG.

How much is too much MSG? Our research and experience recommends that all MSG that is not of natural origin be avoided.

How Bad is MSG?

MSG sensitive individuals can experience these symptoms within an hour of consuming only three grams.

MSG Side Effects

• Stomach cramps
• Nausea/vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Migraine headaches
• Heart palpitations
• Rapid heartbeat
• Sharp rise in blood pressure
• Rapid drop in blood pressure
• Blurred vision
• Joint pain
• Stiffness in joints
• Achiness all over body
• Dizziness, & loss of balance
• Light headed
• Depression
• Frequent need to urinate
• A numbing or burning sensation in the mouth
• Swelling of the face
• Pain or tightness in the chest
• Shortness of breath

In studies with lab animals, research has conclusively confirmed that consuming high doses of MSG causes lesions in the hypothalamus. What is the hypothalamus for? The hypothalamus controls vital functions like heart rate, breathing, body temperature, appetite, thirst, and sleep. The hypothalamus also influences emotions and impulses like anger, fear, love, compassion, empathy, depression, and libido.

In studies with lab animals, young animals that were fed diets high in MSG showed numerous health problems. These problems persisted throughout the animals’ life. Problems like obesity, malformed organs, abnormal reproductive systems, infertility, unprovoked rage, overt aggression, antisocial behavior, impaired cardiovascular responsiveness, and high triglycerides, cholesterol, and VLDL. Many of these animals also showed signs of an impaired immune system. These animals showed abnormal hypothalamic function. These results were duplicated in many different animals, not only with lab mice.

MSG also forces the pancreas to release insulin. This causes the blood sugar to drop and typically makes one very hungry. This is why it is commonplace for individuals to become hungry only an hour or so after consuming foods high in MSG.

MSG also wrecks havoc on our hormones and causes sleep disorders and strong PMS symptoms.

What the Food Industry Does Not Want You To Know

Although the FDA requires that the ingredient monosodium glutamate be listed on food labels, it does not require ingredients that contain MSG to be listed as MSG. If we are to avoid MSG, we must avoid the following ingredients as well. The food industry does not want you to know about these ingredients…

Ingredients That Always Contain MSG

• Ajinomoto
• Autolyzed yeast or autolyzed yeast extract
• Calcium caseinate
• Calcium glutamate
• Gelatin
• Glutamate
• Glutamic acid
• Hydrolyzed oat flour
• Hydrolyzed plant protein
• Hydrolyzed protein or
• Hydrolyzed anything else
• Magnesium glutamate
• Monopotassium glutamate
• Plant protein extract
• Sodium caseinate
• Soy sauce extract
• Textured protein
• Torula Yeast
• Umami
• Vetsin
• Yeast extract
• Yeast food
• Yeast nutrient
• Or anything enzyme modified

Ingredients That Usually Contain MSG

(or MSG is created during their processing)

• Artificial flavors and flavorings
• Barley malt
• Bouillon
• Brewer’s yeast
• Broth
• Carageenan
• Citric acid, citrate
• Cornstarch
• Enzymes
• Enzyme modified ingredients
• Malt extract
• Malt flavoring
• Malted barley
• Maltodextrin
• Monoammonium glutamate
• Natrium glutamate
• Natural flavors and flavorings
• Oligodextrin
• Pectin
• Powdered milk
• Protease
• Protein-fortified ingredients
• Seasonings
• Soy protein
• Soy protein concentrate
• Soy protein isolate
• Soy sauce
• Spices
• Stock
• Ultra-pasteurized ingredients
• Whey protein
• Whey protein concentrate
• Whey protein isolate

Unfortunately, this is not an exhaustive list. MSG is truly one of the best-hidden ingredients on the market. As you can see, it has many guises. Consumers are given other information such as cholesterol, calories, and sugars. But the degree of neurotoxicity (the amount of MSG) is mysteriously hidden on the label.

MSG does not change the actual taste of foods the way substances that are sweet, salty, bitter, or sour do. Instead it alters the taste of food by stimulating the sensation of taste. It is added to foods in the hope that consumers will become addicted. It is added to foods in many different ways, listed as many different ingredients, in the hope that we will not take the effort to learn its many names.

Neuroscientists overwhelmingly agree that MSG is toxic. It kills neurons by exciting them until the neurons die. MSG is an excitotoxin, so it is toxic for everyone, some more than others. Newborns are four times more sensitive to MSG than adults, and individuals with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, or multiple sclerosis are more sensitive than people without neurodegenerative diseases.

Anyone who is sick and trying to heal naturopathically (which, incidentally, is the only way to actually heal), will have to stop eating MSG. Any parent with a child who exhibits behavior problems needs to find those hidden sources of MSG in their child’s diet and get their kid off of MSG (and every other additive). You’ll see a difference in two weeks or less. The bottom line is this: do you want to eat a food additive that kills your brain cells in addition to doing other damage throughout your body? Do you want to feed it to your child, ever? For any reason?

The FDA assures us that MSG is safe, but a neurotoxin, in any amount, is never fit for human consumption.

Sources:

• Names of ingredients that contain processed free glutamic acid (MSG) – Truth in Labeling
• Colbert MD, Don. The Seven Pillars of Health. Lake Mary, Fla.: Siloam, 2007.
• Dr. Russell Blaylock: Excitotoxins, The Taste That Kills – lecture – YouTube 
• Blaylock MD, Russell. Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills. Santa Fe: Health Press, 1997.

As society moves towards healthier food options, there is one group of people getting left in the dust: the companies who aren’t supplying foods based on natural ingredients.

As a result, many companies are looking for creative ways to make their products seem healthier than they are. This inventive—yet misleading—marketing effort has led to a lot of food label confusion.

Let’s take a look at some of the basic terms surrounding organic purchases. To avoid food label scams, know what is involved in the production process. Organic foods tend to be more expensive, so you want to make sure you are getting exactly what you bargained for.

A General Explanation of Organic

Any food that is labeled organic was raised or grown in accordance with government regulations. Both the facility and practices are monitored.

No pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or sewage are used to grow organic produce. The animals that are used for organic foods (like beef, poultry, pork, etc.) do not receive antibiotics or growth hormones.

Only foods that are labeled organic adhere to these government standards. Other popular terms—like all natural—aren’t regulated.

Within the classification of organic, there are three different levels.

• Made with Organic Ingredients – These foods are composed of 70% organic ingredients. The remaining, non-organic ingredients are still closely monitor (for example, GMOs aren’t allowed).
• Organic – This classification allows organic producers a little leeway. For example, a non-organic casing might be used for an organic sausage. This means non-traditional products can still be used if there isn’t a natural alternative. Only 95% of the ingredients must be organic.
• 100% Organic – This is technically the only food label option that ensures a totally organic experience.

Understanding Organic Milk

The organic labeling requirements for milk mostly pertain to the cows that produce it.

• At least 30% of the cow’s diet must be grass (free-range grazing).
• The cows must be allowed to graze for at least 120 days.
• Any feed the cows eat must be vegetarian, meaning there can’t be any animal byproducts.
• The cows must not receive antibiotics or growth hormones.

Very few cows are given hormones. But there are milks that are especially marked hormone-free. If you are looking for a cost-effective organic alternative, hormone-free might be your best bet.

Understanding Organic Poultry

There are a ton of terms that apply to organic and natural poultry. To avoid a scam, know your ultimate goal. Are you worried about animal rights? Is buying the healthiest food your main objective?

We’ll start with the biggest scam-worthy labels and work towards the most honest, healthy, and animal friendly products.

• Free Range – Any poultry product that is labeled free range might sound like an animal-friendly, healthy option; however, it is pretty misleading. Free range animals are still kept inside—sometimes in cages. They just have access to the outdoors.
• All Natural – Again, this is another easy scam people fall for. Almost all poultry products are natural. US poultry producers are not allowed to give hormones or steroids to the birds. Therefore, paying extra for “all natural” is totally unnecessary.
• Organic – Birds are still raised in a factory farm situation, but the density is far less than traditional poultry farms. Birds only dine on organic (vegetarian) feed—no animal byproducts are allowed.
• Pasture Raised – These animals are raised outside, away from the large-scale production barns. They eat whatever they can find—bugs, grass, etc.

Understanding Organic Eggs

While we are on the subject of poultry, let’s move right along to eggs. If you aren’t careful, you can easily fall for a labeling scam here. The biggest issue to consider is your stance on animal cruelty.

• Organic – The birds that produce these eggs are not caged, but they are kept in a large barn. They have access to the outdoors, but there aren’t regulations that dictate the duration of their fresh air. Lastly, these birds are subjected to beak cutting and forced molting (through starvation).
• Free Range – Like organic egg-laying birds, free range animals simply need access to the outdoors. Again, there isn’t a rule about how much time.
• Cage Free – This sounds like a pretty sweet deal for a bird, but it isn’t as great as you’d like it to be. Animals aren’t in cages, but they are inside without outdoor access.
• Certified Humane – These animals aren’t caged, but they do spend their lives inside. While there are rules regarding the number of birds in a barn and the availability of perches or nesting boxes, forced molting is allowed.
  
• Animal Welfare Approved – This buying option is the best all-around solution—it’s healthy and animal friendly. Animals aren’t kept in cages and always have access to the outdoors. Animals are allowed to engage in normal bird behaviors (beak cutting and forced molting doesn’t happen).

Understanding Organic Meat

When it comes to purchasing organic meat, there are really only three labels you should even consider buying.

• Organic – All organic meat comes from animals that were allowed to graze for at least 120 days. Also, the animals do not receive antibiotics.
• Grass Fed – The stomachs of most livestock were designed to digest grass. Other feeding options are more difficult for the animal’s body to process. That means a meat product made from grass fed animals is healthier and more natural.
• 100% Grass Fed – Look for labels that specify the animal had unlimited access to pasture and abstained from consuming other feed options.

Don’t Get Scammed!

You owe it to your health, the animal’s health, and your wallet to make sure the foods you buy are exactly what you expect.

If you want help finding healthy products, check the database of organic suppliers available at Eat Wild.

If you do come across an intentionally misleading or dishonest label, consider taking action.

• eConsumerServices might be able to help get your money back if you were a victim of a food labeling scam.
• You can also file a claim with the USDA if you find a compliance or enforcement issue.

Have you ever been scammed by a misleading organic food label? Were you irritated by the health violation or the animal cruelty posing as humane?

 

Sources:

• How to Read Egg Carton Labels by The Humane Society of The United States
• How do I know if something is organic? by Organic.org
• National Organic Program by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service

(DrFrankLipman.com – Robyn O’Brien) A report released by the National Cancer Institute showed a 9.4% increase in childhood cancer between 1992 and 2007. And today, cancer is now the leading cause of death by disease in kids under the age of fifteen.

Correlation is not causation, but the escalating rates of conditions like cancer, diabetes and food allergies have a lot of parents paying attention to what is in their food.  Some cancer doctors even call it the “doorknob syndrome.”  A patient is diagnosed with cancer, spends hours in the office being walked through procedure options, then as they turn to go, with a hand on the doorknob, turn back into the office and ask, “Is there anything I could be doing differently with my diet?”

We are quickly learning that our food is full of a lot of non-food ingredients.

About 15 million pounds of petroleum-based dyes are used in food each year.  And a certain kind of red food coloring, known as “Red 3,” is a known carcinogen that the FDA banned from our medicines and makeup in 1990, but it’s still used in our foods.

But instead of making the long overdue move to do something serious about getting rid of toxic food dyes so ubiquitous in our food supply, dyes derived from synthetic chemicals that studies have linked to cancer, the FDA, upon learning this, fell back on two simple words: “more research.”

In kitchens across this country, eight dyes, currently being used by manufacturers, can be found in everything from packaged macaroni and cheese to breakfast cereal to practically every piece of candy your child has ever put in his or her mouth. Links are being found to hyperactivity in kids (ADHD), cancer and serious food allergies.

But here is the truly amazing thing, and for those of us who have fed our kids these color-laden foods, perhaps the toughest thing to stomach: Kraft, Coca Cola and Wal-Mart have already removed these artificial food colors and dyes from the same products that they distribute in other countries. Skittles?  Don’t have them.  M&Ms?  Don’t have them either.  Neither do cereals, fruit snacks and just about any food you’d think to put in a kids mouth. They did it in response to consumer demand and an extraordinary study called the Southampton Study.

The Southampton Study was unusual in that it tested children on a combination of two ingredients: tartrazine (yellow #5) and sodium benzoate. The study’s designers knew that a child very rarely has occasion to ingest just a synthetic color or just a preservative; rather, a child who is gobbling up multicolored candies is probably taking in several colors and at least one preservative.

What’s amazing is that in the U.K., the federal food safety agency actually funded the Southampton Study that led to even U.S. corporations eliminating synthetic colors and sodium benzoate from their U.K. products.

And in response, a whole host of companies, including the U.K. branches of Wal-Mart, Kraft, Coca Cola and the Mars candy company (who make M&Ms), have voluntarily removed artificial colors, the preservative sodium benzoate, and even aspartame from their products. Particularly those marketed to kids. Take a close look at the ingredient list for the product below.

Our American companies had removed these harmful ingredients from their products overseas — but not here.

Kraft, Coca Cola and Wal-Mart are living proof that it is possible for giant corporations to make and sell kid-friendly, family-friendly, and healthy processed food without necessarily exposing them to a chemical cocktail that might also give them allergic reactions, brain tumors, or leukemia, or the symptoms of ADHD, as the Center for Science in the Public Interest recently highlighted in their report Rainbow of Risks.

Is it too much to ask the FDA and the processed food companies for the same value to be placed on the lives of the American kids in their cost-benefit analyses that has been placed on the lives of kids in the UK?

We can create that same change here. There are apparently 51 million moms waking up to the dangers that toxins present to the health of our kids, that number is the equivalent to the entire population of Spain. And if what is happening in this food movement or the changing landscape of childhood health is any indication, it is time to get down to business, level the playing field for our kids, and send a message to these companies. We can navigate the grocery store a little bit differently, share information with friends and family or even reach out online to our favorite food companies asking them to support this change.  Because while the American children only represent 30% of our population, they are 100% of our future. So while the FDA may not value their lives accordingly, we can.

Superfoods are foods and herbs that have a unique concentration of nutrients that synergize together to boost potential. These foods are typically loaded with a combination of critical fatty acids, anti-oxidant phytonutrients, and essential amino acids. Ginger is a superfood herb.

Ginger is used throughout the world in countries such as China, Japan, India, Greece, Caribbean countries, England, and the USA. It is made into ginger teas, ginger-ale, ginger beers, ginger bread, gingersnap cookies and ginger biscuits. Almost every culture has historically used it for its powerful ability to enhance immunity, improve digestion, and reduce inflammation.

Loaded with Anti-Oxidants

This incredible superfood herb is 13th on the anti-oxidant list, boasting an impressive ORAC score of 28,811. Ginger is composed of several volatile oils that give it its characteristic flavor and odor: zingerone, shogaols, and gingerols. These oils are powerful anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and antiparasitic agents. In addition, ginger inhibits cancer cell formation while firing up our body’s own inborn ability to destroy cancer cells.

Ginger Improves Digestive Function

Ginger has classically been used to improve the digestion process. Nine different substances have been found that stimulate serotonin receptors in the gut, which provides benefits to the gastrointestinal system. This reduces gut related inflammation and enhances nutrient absorption.

Ginger is classified as a carminative (reducing intestinal gas) and an intestinal spasmolytic (soothes intestinal tract) while inducing gut motility. Ginger is known to reduce fever related nausea, motion sickness, and feelings of “morning sickness.” Additionally, it helps aid in the production of bile, making it particularly helpful in digesting fats.

Ginger is a Powerful Anti-Inflammatory

Ginger is also an important part of am anti-inflammation, natural pain-relief program. One compound called 6-gingerol has been shown to significantly inhibit the production of a highly reactive nitrogen molecule, nitric oxide, that quickly forms a dangerous free radical peroxynitrite. Additionally, ginger helps to protect the body’s stores of glutathione (the super anti-oxidant and free radical destroyer).

Ginger is also very high in potassium, which aids in electrical energy production and detoxification. It is a great source of manganese, which protects the lining of the heart blood vessels and urinary tract. Ginger contains silicon, which enhances skin, hair, teeth, and nails. It helps assimilate calcium and reduces inflammation in the bone tissue, aiding the development of strong bones and teeth.

One of my favorite ways to get Ginger into my system is with the Beyond Organic Ginger Terrain.  Organic ginger is taken through an advanced three-month fermentation cycle that unlocks the full nutritional potential within the ginger.  This means more anti-oxidant potential and beneficial gingerols in a medium that allows it to stabilize the gut flora and optimize overall health.

Here is a tasty and very healthy recipe for an American Favorite – Ginger Ale.

De-Inflaming Ginger Ale

2 Tbsp of Coconut Water Kefir
1-2 cups of coconut water
2-4 oz of fresh ginger grated

2 tbsp of ginger terrain (optional)
Combine all ingredients and let sit and ferment for 24 hours to provide an amazing, probiotic enriched soda alternative.

Related Reading:

• Cinnamon – Ceylon Vs Cassia, Health Benefits, and Other Interesting Facts
• How To Use Turmeric To Kill Cancer
  
• Cayenne and Capsaicin, Natures Miracle Medicine
• Garlic – The Most Amazing Herb On The Planet

Sources:

• http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=72
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger
• http://www.boost-immune-system-naturally.com
• http://www.naturalnews.com/028540_inflammation_superfoods.html

 

In other parts of the world, and increasingly in the states, the medicinal benefits of cayenne are well known. In fact, there are over three thousand studies on the health benefits of capsaicin (cayenne’s active ingredient) and cayenne pepper, according to Dr. Patrick Quillin.

It regulates blood pressure, strengthens the pulse, feeds the heart, lowers cholesterol, thins the blood, cleans the circulatory system, heals ulcers, slows hemorrhaging, speeds healing of wounds, rebuilds damaged tissue, eases congestion, aids digestion, regulates elimination, relieves arthritis and rheumatism, prevents the spread of infection, numbs pain, and more.

Contents:

• Recipes for Cayenne Use
• Scoville Heat Units
• Natural Remedies with Cayenne
• Recommended Supplements

If I were allowed only one emergency herbal medicine, it would be cayenne tincture because it stimulates circulation throughout the entire body. Cayenne helps the capillaries, veins, and arteries regain their elasticity of youth. Moreover, when the venous structure becomes filled with mucus, the blood “thickens” and has a harder time circulating. Cayenne moves blood like no other herb. Cayenne tincture should be in everyone’s medicine cabinet. In fact, any holistic health advisor or practicing naturopath should have cayenne as a major component in many of their healing protocols.

Recommended: How To Heal Your Gut

While cayenne is amazing by itself, when it is combined with another herb, the results are worth more than the sum of its parts. Capsaicin helps every other herb function better because it stimulates the circulation of blood, which helps get the beneficial bio-chemicals and nutrition to the cells.

Cayenne is an extremely effective treatment for heart and blood circulation problems, palpitations, and cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heart beat). It’s a miracle for congestive heart failure and is beneficial for someone who has any type of circulatory problems, such as high or low blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, high triglycerides, and even varicose veins.

Two teaspoons of cayenne pepper, ground or dried, has 11 calories, an almost none-existent glycemic index, 8.3% of your USRDA of highly bio-available vitamin A. You also get 7.1% of the USRDA of vitamin E, 5.2% of Vitamin B-6, 3.9% of fiber, 3.6% of vitamin C, 3.5% of manganese, and 3.2% of vitamin K.

Daily Cayenne for Prevention and Maintenance

A daily maintenance dosage is 3 teaspoons of cayenne tincture (one teaspoon three times a day). The best benefits of cayenne are realized when taken straight in a liquid form or eating a whole pepper, but for obvious reasons, most people will need to build up to this over time. Other alternatives include mixing the powder into food as a seasoning and drinking cayenne teas. You can also take cayenne capsules.

Recommended: Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included

Recipes for Cayenne Use

Obviously you can put cayenne into any food that calls for hot spice, but there are many other ways to realize the health benefits of cayenne.

Super Vitality Morning Juice Drink

Juice ¼ a cup of ginger, and ¼ a cup of lemon.  Add ¼ a cup of pure cranberry and ¾ a cup of spring water or distilled water. Add cayenne to taste. Drink up!

You can also sweeten it up with stevia.

Lemon, Ginger, Cayenne Tea

Bring 1 cup of water to a boil and add 3 tablespoons of ginger (grated, or  finely chopped, and you can also use a garlic press) and ¼ a cup of lemon juice and boil for 30 seconds. Then add the cayenne. Let it steep for five to ten minutes until the ginger is strong and aromatic.

Recommended: Best Supplements To Kill Candida and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Fungal Infections

Topical Cayenne Cream

This is amazing for pain relief such as sprains, arthritis, tendonitis, etc. It is also a very effective hair regrowth balm.

In 3 cups of olive oil, mix together 4 tablespoons of ground cayenne, 4 tablespoons of turmeric, and 4 tablespoons of ground ginger.  Stir until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed and then cook over low heat (or use a double broiler with medium heat) for approximately 10 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of beeswax and stir until the beeswax has melted. Remove from heat as soon as the ingredients are blended well (Optional, but highly recommended: add 4 ounces of DMSO). You may also use coconut oil instead of beeswax.  Chill in the refrigerator for 10 minutes and then whisk the concoction thoroughly, Finally, refrigerate for another 20 minutes. If not already in glass, transfer cream to a glass jar with a sealed lid and store in the refrigerator. The cream stays potent for about 3 weeks. Apply as needed for pain, but with this cream, rub in as much as you can and then let it dry before rinsing off. Warning: The turmeric stains badly! You can make this recipe without the turmeric and it still works very well (it’s just more powerful with turmeric).

Tincture

This recipe is one part cayenne to two parts alcohol. The stronger the alcohol is the better it is for the tincture. Vodka works, but Everclear is better. Add ingredients to a jar with a lid and place in a dark place. Shake or stir every other day. The tincture will be ready in four weeks. Once your tincture is ready, strain through cheesecloth (a coffee filter works, too) into a dark colored jar. If you do not have a dark jar, store in a dark place.

Deep Tissue Repair Oil

This formula offers pain relief and speeds up the healing process for muscles, ligaments, and tendons. It is very beneficial, too, for arthritis patients, torn ligaments, pulled muscles, headaches, sore muscles, and maladjusted vertebrae. It works better than anything I’ve ever used as a massage oil; it completely relaxes the body and has a wonderful compounding effect with a good massage. It will often get rid of, or at least reduce, a headache almost instantly if you put a drop on both of your temples and rub it in (or if the headache is near the back, rub into the upper trapezoid close to the base of your skull). Used in conjunction with the Bone, Flesh, and Cartilage Formula for serious injuries and the healing benefits are remarkable. Mix ingredients together in dark colored glass jar:

• 8 oz. Wintergreen Oil
• 4 oz. Cold Pressed Organic Virgin Olive Oil
• 3 oz. Menthol Crystals
• 2 oz. DMSO
• 1/2 cup Arnica Flowers (Dry)
• 1/2 cup Calendula (Marigold Flowers)
• 1/4 cup Ginger Root
• 4 tablespoons of Cayenne (or even better, the hottest you can find)

Leave for three weeks and then strain with a cheesecloth and store in a dark colored bottle. To use, apply directly to skin. It doesn’t typically take much; this recipe is potent.

You can also purchase our Deep Tissue Repair Oil here.

Shillington’s Herbal Snuff

For sinus infections, toothaches, gum disease, and migraines, this recipe works wonders. All ingredients should be ground and dried. Mix seven parts goldenseal root powder with seven parts bayberry bark powder, one part cayenne pepper powder, and one part garlic powder. Apply directly to infected tooth, gum infection, or sniff hard for sinus infections, deep infections within the jaw, or migraines. Now hold on for dear life.

You can also purchase Shillington’s Herbal Snuff here.

Poultice

Mix equal parts cayenne pepper (powder), mullein leaves, and slippery elm powder. Add apple cider vinegar to dampen the mixture.

Capsules, Liquid, or Powder

It depends on the application. Powdered cayenne pepper is simple to use and has a great amount of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Liquid cayenne can have increased potency due to the nature of tinctures, and in emergency situations liquid cayenne can be much easier to administer. Capsules are great for getting many of the benefits of cayenne without the taste, but do be careful. Too many capsules of cayenne on an empty stomach can cause nausea just like taking it in another form. The only difference is a ten minute delay.

What Type of Cayenne To Use

The spiciness of peppers is measured in Scoville Heat Units (S.H.U). While this article mentions cayenne almost every time it refers to the spicy peppers, any hot pepper with a high Scoville heat unit has the awesome health benefits we’re discussing within the article.

Most cayenne sold in stores is about 35,000 S.H.U. This is not strong enough to get the best results for injury applications, pain relief, or heart and stroke conditions. But it’s fine for daily use to help prevent health issues and promote vitality.

For amazing results using cayenne, or for emergency treatments, or injury pain relief and healing, go with 100,000 S.H.U. or more. Habanero peppers that you can find in most grocery stores are about 350,000 S.H.U. And tinctures sold on Green Lifestyle Market are over 100,000 SHU.

The more potent your cayenne tincture, the less you will need to use. This is important because it may not be possible to get a person in the middle of a stroke or a heart attack to drink a full cup of cayenne tea.

For cayenne capsules check out:

Cayenne Pepper • (500mg) 100c – Now Foods

Cayenne Extra Hot 100,000 HU • 100c – Nature’s Way

And for liquid cayenne check out:

Capsicum annuum (cayenne extract) – Wise Woman Herbals (8 & 16 ounces)

Shillington’s Cayenne Tincture (1 ounce)

Natural Remedies with Cayenne

The list of ailments cayenne can help with are staggering, but there are caveats to be aware of, aside from the burn. Be sure to check out the warnings at the end of the article.

Shingles

For relief from shingles, cayenne may be ingested and applied as a cream. Capsaicin compounds block pain signals from nerves just under the skin. Apply to blisters several times a day. We advise you first test the cream on a small area of skin to insure there is no adverse reaction.

Diabetes

Diabetes wreaks havoc on the circulatory system. Neuropathy and tissue death of the extremities may result. Current research suggests capsaicin encourages regeneration of damaged nerves and improves circulation, which helps prevent infections such as foot ulcers that may lead to complications and subsequent amputations.

Animal trials of capsaicin injections (for animals with Type 1 diabetes) show decreases in blood sugar levels, restoration of normal insulin, and when neuropeptides are added, an elimination of symptoms for several months.

Metabolism/ Weight Loss/Fat Oxidation

Cayenne pepper is an appetite suppressant that also boosts metabolism.

In a 3-month study published in the British Journal of Nutrition in 2003, participants who were given 135 grams of capsaicin a day burned more body fat than those participants who were given a placebo.

While it can be taken in capsule form, other research has shown that eating it with food–actually tasting it, is most beneficial for weight loss.  Tasting it also resulted in fewer food cravings.

It is important to note that long term use may decrease cayenne’s effectiveness in weight loss, as the study conducted showed that the greatest benefit was seen in those who did not regularly eat spicy foods.

Psoriasis

Capsaicin helps relieve the pain and itching of psoriasis by blocking the communication system of sensory nerves. Studies have also shown that capsaicin cream, used for a week or more, can result in healing the skin–no more psoriasis plaques. Be sure to avoid mucous membranes and the eyes.

Colds and Allergies

Cayenne pepper has anti-inflammatory properties and is rich in quercetin, a bioflavonoid that prevents the release of histamines and other inflammatory chemicals that cause allergy symptoms. It also helps break up and loosen mucous, eases the pain of a sore throat, clears sinuses, and helps kill infection including viruses.

High Cholesterol

According to an Australian research team published in the British Journal of Nutrition, cayenne pepper dilates blood vessels and can lower cholesterol. Capsaicin causes LDL to resist oxidation for a longer period, which reduces the risks of heart attacks, high blood pressure, and stroke. Capsaicin also cleans the arteries, helping to flush excess LDL cholesterol and fatty triglycerides.

Blood Pressure

Cayenne is a popular home treatment for mild high blood pressure. Due to its ability to improve circulation and dilate blood vessels, cayenne works very quickly to bring down blood pressure in people who are not using drugs (like smoking tobacco) that raise the blood pressure. For the same reason, ingesting cayenne can help those who suffer from cold hands and feet.

Arthritis

Ointments applied topically offer temporary relief and some long-term benefits for those suffering from the pain of arthritis. Taking it internally offers benefits as well and is better for long-term results, but the effects are not as noticeable or as fast.  Capsaicin triggers the release of endorphins in the brain, which has a pain relieving effect similar to that of morphine. Check out the cayenne cream recipe above for immediate arthritis relief or try the Deep Tissue Repair Oil.

Cancer

Multiple clinical studies in conducted in Japan, England, and the United States has shown capsaicin forces cancer cells to self-terminate. Ingest regularly and also, for skin cancer, apply topically. Along with a detox, a healthy diet full of fresh organic raw produce and a few other natural cancer cures, cancer is rarely something that anyone need fear. Check out our issue that we dedicated to natural cancer remedies for more information.

Ulcers and Digestive Issues

Due to the fact that cayenne pepper is spicy, many people were under the impression that it causes ulcers. This was due to the fact that most people who eat conventionally get their spicy food in the form of junk food that causes ulcerities. Avoiding junk food is imperative to anyone who wants to heal their digestive system, and capsaicin actually heals stomach and intestinal ulcers. Capsaicin improves digestion by stimulating the peristaltic movement of the intestines, helps to regulate stomach secretions, works as a pain reliever to relieve ulcer caused pains, and can reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces. Capsaicin also kills the bacteria that cause ulcers including H. pylori.  More than just a treatment for ulcers, it treats health issues such as abdominal cramps, acidity, gas and bloating. It also helps with urine elimination and bowel evacuation.

Heartburn

The spice can relieve heartburn and indigestion, but apple cider vinegar works faster and is much easier to take. For a serious case of indigestion, try 4 ounces of apple cider vinegar with a pinch of cayenne.

Headaches & Migraines

Cayenne tea in the morning (or cayenne in any food) can prevent headaches, including migraines. But if you need to get rid of an existing migraine, or you need to stop one that is just getting started, snorting cayenne, while “hardcore” and not for the faint of heart, is one of the few migraines remedies that has been shown to provide immediate relief for most people.

Hemorrhaging, and Open Wounds, Cuts

During the civil war, where shrapnel injuries were common, amputations were performed regularly. Some of the doctors would apply ground cayenne to the open wounds gushing with blood. But do not ingest cayenne when bleeding badly, as this is not the best time to utilize its blood thinning properties. But when used externally on a wound, cayenne pepper is a vasoconstrictor, which means it tightens the blood vessels.

On an open wound, slap copious amounts of cayenne pepper and hold it down with pressure for one minute. Within the first 10 seconds, the smaller veins and arteries will stop bleeding, and in about 60 seconds, larger arteries will slow or stop bleeding as well.

With cases of severe menstrual issues or post childbirth, women can develop uncontrolled bleeding. An old remedy was to mix one cup of warm water with 6 tablespoons of cayenne pepper. Use a turkey baster to inject the cayenne mixture into the vagina hold it in for as long as the person can stand it.

Capsaicin has other healing properties as well,and should be used to speed the healing. It reduces the likelihood of infection in small cuts. Again, it’s a great topical pain reliever.

Fainting

When a person is feeling faint, light headed, and about to pass out, or just need a wake-me-up, taking cayenne orally in liquid or powdered form will snap the person to attention, and can even revive one who has completely fainted and is unconscious.

Circulation – Cardiovascular

Cayenne helps arteries, veins, and capillaries regain elasticity. It also helps regulate the flow of blood in the whole body from head to feet. Cayenne strengthens the pulse and boosts the overall health of the entire cardiovascular system. For increased energy, better detoxification, reduction of cold hands and feet, and to promote overall healing, better blood circulation is a requirement.

Heart Attack & Stroke

A heaping tablespoon of cayenne tincture (or extract) in a glass of warm water, or 10 dropperfuls (half oz.)is the treatment/dosage needed for someone having a heart attack or a stroke. If drinking a glass of fluid is not possible, apply cayenne drops directly into the mouth. This is where a more powerful extract like habanero could come in handy. The higher Scoville units of around 100,000 to 400,000 are ideal.

It’s best to know if the person suffering is on blood thinning medications before using cayenne, but with a very serious stroke or a heart attack, it really is worth the risk. See below for precautions to be aware of.

For anyone with heart conditions or at risk for a stroke, we recommend you always have Shillington’s Heart Formula. Keep it with you at all times in case of an emergency, and take two dropperfuls three times a day

Hair Regrowth

The most common cause of alopecia is poor blood circulation. Cayenne pepper, when applied topically, increases blood circulation. Start with ¼ a cup of fresh onion juice, ¼ a cup of fresh ginger juice, and 1/4 a cup of olive oil or coconut oil (may need to melt at a low heat in order to mix). Add two tablespoons of cayenne powder or a liquid cayenne. Mix well, and apply directly to scalp. If hair is long, take the time to message into scalp. This remedy works amazingly well, but it takes a few months to see the results. It’s also really good for your hair! Refrigerate when not in use, but try to use it all up within a day, as the fresher the juice, the more potent the formula.

Skin Conditions

Cayenne prevents and treats acne by increasing blood flow to the skin and by killing pimple causing fungi and bacteria. Cayenne pepper is rich in vitamin C, vitamin Em and several anti-oxidants that help to heal the epidermis. Apply topically, and ingest as well, because ingesting cayenne pepper has shown to result in a considerable decrease in acne on the skin.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are inflammation of the veins in the anus and rectum. Cayenne pepper is a powerful anti-inflammatory. You can apply directly to the affected area for best results. This will burn. It will itch. It is not pleasant. But it works faster than ingesting cayenne. We recommend doing both if you can handle it (and if possible).

Sinus Infection

Cayenne pepper is an excellent home remedy for a sinus infection. It helps to break and flush out mucus. Take a few pinches of cayenne pepper powder and dab inside your infected nostril. It’s better if you apply this remedy at night just before going to the bed.

For a serious and/or chronic sinus infection, try Shillington’s Herbal Snuff. With goldenseal root powder, bayberry bark powder, cayenne pepper powder, and garlic powder, it’s going to burn like holy hell, but it clears the sinuses and kills the infection. You can make your own (see recipe above) or purchase Shillington’s Herbal Snuff here.

Sore Throat

A very effective remedy for sore throats is to gargle with apple cider vinegar, a pinch of unrefined sea salt, and cayenne. This will not only help kill the bacteria, fungi, or virus causing the sore throat, but it will also attract blood to the tonsils to help healing.

Toothaches

Toothaches are caused by an infection. Kill the infection and attract blood flow to the area with a remedy that is pretty tough to take, but it works amazingly well! Take a pinch of cayenne, a few drops of clove oil, a crushed clove of garlic, and some oil of oregano, and mush and mix it all together. Apply directly to the pain, and smear around it as well. Breathe through your mouth and hold it as long as you can, but no more than 5 minutes. It’s painful, but not nearly as painful as a bad toothache, and it will provide immediate relief. Do this three times a day and your toothache will be a thing of the past.

Side Effects and Warnings

You need to stop taking cayenne (and garlic, and any other foods that thin the blood) 7 days before surgery due to the blood thinning properties.

If you are allergic to latex, bananas, kiwi, chestnuts, or avocados, you may also be allergic to cayenne.

Anyone taking blood thinner medications should avoid cayenne and other peppers with high levels of capsicum due to increased the risk of blood vessels rupturing, which may lead to uncontrolled hemorrhaging.

If large amounts of cayenne are ingested after a heart attack or stroke, there is the possibility of an increased risk of an injury known as reperfusion. When blood supply is cut off from tissues long enough, tissue death can occur due to lack of oxygen. When the blood supply is then restored, this leads to inflammation and tissue destruction in part from oxidative damage from the increase of blood and oxygen back to the tissues. It has not been proven, but in theory one could increase the damage from reperfusion injuries by increasing blood flow to the dead tissues. In our opinion the risks are worth the benefits, but the theory is sound and we would be remiss if we didn’t mention it.

The Best Herbs and Spices

I have four herbs and spices I consume regularly: Garlic, turmeric, cayenne, and ground papaya seed. Cloves and cinnamon are two more spices that I plan to do a better job of incorporating. I eat papaya seeds raw, never cooked, as the benefit is the enzymes which are killed by heat. I eat many of the other seasonings raw, too. For instance, I cook rice and beans with many seasonings and then add more after the beans are done cooking and have cooled off so I can get the raw-food health benefits. Find a good, high quality source for these herbs and spices and get them into your diet as much and as often as you can, and your health will improve dramatically.

Recommended Products:

• Mother Earth Organic Root Cider – Barrier Island Organics
• Shillington’s Cayenne Tincture
• Capsicum annuu\m (cayenne extract) – Wise Woman Herbals
• Shillington’s Heart Formula
• Shillington’s Blood Detox Formula
• Shillington’s Tooth and Gum Formula
• Cayenne Pepper • (500mg) 100c – Now Foods
• Cayenne Extra Hot 100,000 HU • 100c – Nature’s Way
• Shillington’s Herbal Snuff here

Further Reading:

• Cinnamon – Ceylon Vs Cassia, Health Benefits, and Other Interesting Facts
• How To Use Turmeric To Kill Cancer
• Garlic – The Most Amazing Herb On the Planet

Sources:

• How Effective Is Capsaicin for Diabetes?
• The Dangers of Cayenne for Heart Attacks and Strokes
• Cayenne Pepper Heat Units
• Cayenne Pepper Cures ~ The Fire Of Life! Ancient Remedies, Healing Treatments &…
• PatrickQuillin.com

When someone shows interest in natural health, the first question is often, “Where do I start?” Organic food is often prohibitively expensive or hard to find, and there are thousands of supplements pushed, each marketed with its one promise to magically cure what ails us. It can be overwhelming, and getting started is, for many people, the toughest part.

I have some good news and some bad news.

The good news is that there are some very easy, relatively inexpensive steps almost anyone can take to holistically improve their health.

The bad news is that health and vitality is not to be found in a bottle or some other form of packaging.

I, the owner of Green Lifestyle Market, a company that sells supplements, am here to tell you that if you’re looking for a quick fix, an item you can purchase and consume to allow you to continue living a toxic lifestyle, this is the wrong article. And anyone who tells you that you can get all of your daily nutrition in one shake, smoothie, pill, or powder is only trying to sell you something.

Drink Lots of Good Water

I weigh 210 pounds and I try to drink a gallon of water a day. I need less water when I eat more raw produce, but I still shoot for a gallon of water a day. I get spring water when I can, fresh from a spring that I trust. But if you don’t have access to a spring, or if you have a seriously compromised immune system, distilled water could be a better choice, initially. Just make sure you’re not drinking a gallon of tap water a day. Tap water is toxic, and fluoridated water is a crime against humanity.

Sometimes just plain water is boring. I usually make cranberry stevia lemonade. I take fresh lemons and pure bottled cranberry juice and sweeten it with stevia. For more, check out our Stevia Lemonade with Cayenne within our Cheap and Easy Detox Diet Plan article.

I find that this lemonade is easier to drink when I am not feeling particularly thirsty, and there are tons of health benefits! The lemon and the cranberry help flush out toxins and balance the body’s pH while providing you with electrolytes and other nutrients.

Eat More Raw Fresh Produce

I eat a huge salad almost every day. If I make rice and beans, I add avocados, tomatoes, cilantro, onions, and shredded carrots right on top. If I eat soup I add shredded and diced vegetables right before eating. When I snack, I choose fruit and vegetables. I eat red bell peppers like other people eat apples. Approximately 80% of my diet (by bulk) is raw fresh produce. Check out my salad recipe in that article, too.

As the editor and chief of Organic Lifestyle Magazine, I am telling you that “organic” is not the most important thing.

When you’re shopping for produce, if you can afford it, and if it is available, buy organic. By all means, this is very important and you will feel the difference. But when choosing between organic frozen carrots and fresh conventional carrots, I’m picking fresh almost every time. I draw the line at genetically modified foods. To understand what foods to be aware of in order to avoid GMOs, read our Foods that are GMO article.

Cut Out These Foods

GMOs

Soy should not be consumed unless first fermented and not genetically modified. Over 99% of the soy we consume is terrible for our health. Soy naturally has enzyme inhibitors that wreck havoc on our hormones. The way Asians were eating it for thousands of years included fermentation, which nullifies the enzyme inhibitors. This is why health nuts soak and sprout their nuts, seeds, and legumes.

Like soy, conventional corn and potatoes that you find in your grocery store are almost always GMO and should be avoided.

Gluten

There are two problems with wheat. The first problem is that through our farming practices we have genetically modified the gluten protein. This is not to be confused with what we call GMOs. Hybridization is the practice of cross-pollinating plants. For instance, the bananas we eat today are hybrids. They are nothing like the bananas of our ancestors. So, at a genetic level the bananas and every other food we eat today are actually genetically modified, but this is not the same thing as what we refer to as GMOs.

So while our hybrid practices has made much of our food more palatable and more nutritious, it has changed the gluten protein in wheat into something we cannot properly digest.

In addition to the modified gluten, we also do not make bread the way we used to. Our technique for making bread included a fermentation process using lactobacillus bacteria that broke down the gluten proteins and rendered the wheat digestible, or we would soak and sprout the wheat before making the bread.

For most people, cutting out wheat in their diet yields amazing vitality. Try it for a week and you’re bound to notice a difference.

Refined Foods

Your food should give you nutrition. But refined foods rob your body of nutrition. Consuming white rice, for instance, is acidic. Your body uses minerals to balance out the acidity in order to keep your body’s blood at a slightly alkaline pH. If not, you’re dead. So every time you eat white rice, you’re robbing your body of alkalinizing minerals to maintain this balance. Brown rice has these alkaline minerals. This is true for white flour, white sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and almost any other refined food. Eat whole foods that have all of their nutrition. Once your taste buds adjust, you won’t even be able to stand the refined crap everyone else ingests. It’s very much like quitting smoking. You wonder how you ever put up with the smell, because now it makes you sick!

Dairy

Some people tolerate raw (unpasteurized, un-homogenized) cow’s milk from grassfed healthy cows very well. Others don’t.  But nobody does well on conventional dairy products. It’s not natural. And milk is a very poor, toxic source of calcium. If you’re looking for calcium, eat green vegetables.

Squat

We are meant to squat. We squatted to go to the bathroom, we squatted to hide from prey, we squatted to hide from predators, we squatted to keep our asses off the ground while relaxing, we squatted many, many times day. In the wild, if we couldn’t squat, we didn’t have much more time to live. Squatting is the most important exercise you can do. It even helps detoxify the body. It puts gentle pressure on your organs while aligning them properly to help eliminate waste. Squatting can even help with several ailments including constipation, kidney infections, back pain, and even baby malposition during labor.

We should all be able to do 100 squats in a row, going all the way down. Most people can’t do 10.

If you cannot squat, try get-ups. Lay down on the floor. Get up. Lay back down on the floor.  Alternate the leg you use to get up.

If you can’t do get-ups, sit in a chair, and stand, and sit, and stand some more. Try to use your legs as much as possible while using your arms and momentum as little as possible.

Conclusion

Many people read an article like this and ask with disdain, “So what can I eat?” There are so many choices out there. But the problem is not so much a lack of choice as it is a lack of convenience. You’re not going to get healthy nutrition from packaged, processed, easy foods. If you want fast food, that’s what fruit is for. But if you’re making dinner and you want to prepare a healthy meal, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and make a meal from scratch using whole, unadulterated foods.

There are so many other things you can do for your health. For instance, a huge step you can take is growing your own food. If you can do this, the return on your investment will be a bit slow, but hugely rewarding once realized. But for most people, nothing else need be done until these steps are first realized. If you suffer from serious health issues, you may want to see Gluten, Candida, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Autoimmune Diseases, and checkout and bookmark this list of “Foundational Articles.”

Recommended Supplements:

• Total Nutrition Formula

Further Reading:

• Heal Cavities, Gum Disease, Naturally with Organic Oral Care – Toothpaste recipes included
• Total Nutrition – Make Your Own Homemade Nutrition Formula
• Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included

It should come as no surprise that the cheapest and most widely available pet foods are just as unhealthy as cheap, widely available human foods.  Unfortunately, most mainstream foods for cats and dogs are overly processed and don’t even meet animals’ basic nutritional needs.

When we assess pet food, we look for products that most closely mimic what the animal’s diet would be like in the wild.  Cats and dogs are both carnivores – in nature their daily diet is high on protein and low on carbohydrates.

Despite the fact that this is widely known, many of the most common pet foods feature recipes that are exactly the opposite – low in protein and high in carbs, chemicals, and preservatives, which are just as bad for your pets as they are for you.

No pet owners intentionally feed their pets unhealthy food; if a dog or cat’s diet is lacking in nutrition, it’s almost always because their owner is either uninformed or cannot afford to regularly buy healthier options.  Whichever the case, you should at least avoid buying foods with these 5 harmful ingredients.

Meat “Products”

 In a natural setting, your dogs and cats would be eating fresh prey, like rabbits and mice, which are unadulterated, high quality protein.  That’s why it’s such a shame that so many brands stuff their foods with extremely low quality meat “products.”  Meat by-product and meat and bone meal consist of ingredients that not legally allowed to be put into human food.  However, like most harmful ingredients, these products are much cheaper than the real thing.

Both meat by-product and meat/bone meal are made up of all animal parts, such as bones, lungs, feet, heads, intestines and blood.  The worst part is that these parts can be taken from any and all animals, including the 4 D’s:  dead, dying, diseased, or disabled at the time of slaughter.  This meat is almost entirely unregulated and can be contaminated or diseased.  No pet owner wants to be feeding their beloved pet such polluted food.

Animal Fat 

Animal fat is sometimes known as “tallow” and is derived in a pretty nasty process.  When an ingredient is just listed as “animal fat,” and not as a specific type of animal, it is often a generic mix of animal parts, grease from restaurants, or other oils that wouldn’t be allowed to be used in products for humans. The rendering process that results in this fat involves boiling any and all animal parts available along with used restaurant grease.  The top layer of fat is skimmed off and used in many pet foods.

Beef tallow is also a common ingredient – it’s used to make low-quality pet foods taste better, but offers no nutritional value.   You want to look for pet foods that include specific types of animal fats, such as chicken or poultry fat, which is derived and preserved in a healthy manner.

 Corn

 Corn and grains constitute large amounts of low-quality pet foods, despite the fact that dogs and cats would not be ingesting corn or grains in the wild.  These inexpensive ingredients are used as a cheap filler that helps add substance to the paltry amount of actual protein in the recipe.  The corn or grain products are high in calories, so they make dogs and cats feel full, but don’t give them what they need to stay healthy.  Given too many carbohydrates, dogs and cats can develop obesity and diabetes

There are many excellent brands on the market that don’t contain any corn or grain fillers.  Granted, they are a bit pricier, but that’s because they actually contain high-quality ingredients, which cost more.  These options are much easier on animals’ digestive systems and will not cause allergic reactions the way foods with fillers will.  Though it may be hard to find these at your standard grocery or convenient store, they’re readily available online or in specialty pet stores.

Sugar

 There is absolutely no reason for any type of sweetening agent to be included in your pet’s food.  The only reason it’s used at all is to mask the unpalatable quality of the other ingredients and provide empty, cheap calories.  Keep an eye out for any version of sugar:  cane molasses, corn syrup, sorbitol, fructose, glucose, or propylene glycol.  Be sure to avoid any product that lists sugar in the first several ingredients.

If the food has to include sweeteners, you should ask yourself why the food isn’t appetizing enough as is.  If it contains high-quality proteins, you won’t be able to keep your furry friends away from it.  Also, if pets are regularly fed high-sugar recipes, they can become dependent on sweet foods, making it difficult to transition them to healthier options.  Not to mention that excessive sweeteners can eventually cause serious medical problems such as obesity, hypoglycemia, arthritis, tooth decay, and allergic reactions.

Preservatives

Are you starting to see a pattern here?  Many of the qualities that make pet food unhealthy are the very same ones that make processed human food unhealthy.  Methods of producing food cheaply are very similar across the board, except pets have it even worse.  Most common, inexpensive pet foods on your grocery’s shelves feature chemical preservatives like propyl gallate, ethoxyquin, BHT, and BHA.  The last two, in fact, cannot legally be used in human products in many countries, but are still legal in the U.S.

All of these chemicals have been associated with dangerous illnesses such as cancer and liver disease.  Fortunately, there are some effective preservatives that don’t cause health problems.  Look for foods that include natural preservatives: rosemary oil, vitamin E (tocopherols) and vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

Navigating the pet food aisle can be just as challenging as making sense of the rest of the grocery store.  Organic?  All natural?  Low fat?  Fat free?  Translating food labels is not for the faint of heart.  But, you should invest a bit of time finding a high quality pet food that’s convenient and affordable for you to buy on a regular basis.

The best possible option is a BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet, which consists of raw meats, organs, bones and even raw eggs.  Following this diet takes some commitment but has a huge payoff:  your pets will have far fewer health problems and enjoy their food much more.  You can always start the transition by incorporating some raw foods into what you’re already feeding your pets.  Check out BARF World to learn more about getting started.

Given that your bet is a beloved member of your family, it only makes sense to take special care in deciding what goes in his little body so that he can stay healthy and happy for many years to come