I've discovered a new raw food recipe site that allows you to share your favorite raw food recipes with other people across the globe. The site is called Gone Raw, and describes itself as, "A social recipe sharing website to help people find, compare, and enjoy raw food recipes from around the world."
This is a good idea (yay Raymond) that can help connect the raw vegan community. Check it out.
According to Dr. Vetrano, there is no such thing as a B12 deficiency because the body gets B12 coenzymes from bacteria in the intestinal tract and from natural plant foods. Dr. Vetrano argues that the real problem is one of digestion and absorption. Namely, failure to digest, absorb and utilize the various cobalamins from food and natural sources (i.e. bacteria in intestinal tract).
Dr. Vetrano makes some very surprising points, especially her claim that cyanocobalamin (which is in every Vitamin B12 supplement) is not usable by the body and is toxic. Article is excerpted below. *Note: Capitalization in certain sections of this article is Dr. Vetrano's emphasis, not mine.
Rethinking & Clarifying the B12 Issue
By Dr Vivian V. Vetrano
There is no such thing as a B12 deficiency, even in 100% raw vegan food eaters. They do not have to eat dirt, animal products, or take pills to secure coenzymes of B12. Bacteria in the intestinal tract make it for us, and the metabolically usable and necessary forms of coenzyme B12 are contained in unprocessed, fresh natural plant foods, particularly in nuts and seeds. The real problem in so-called B12 deficiency is a failure of digestion and absorption of foods, rather than a deficiency of the vitamin itself.Vitamin B12 coenzymes are found in nuts and seeds as well as in many common greens, fruits, and many vegetables. If we ate 100 grams of green beans, beets, carrots, and peas we would have half of our so-called daily minimum requirement of Vitamin B12 coenzymes providing our digestion and absorption are normal. From Rodale's The Complete Book of Vitamins, page 236 we find the following clarification: "As you know, the B complex of vitamins is called a 'complex' because, instead of being one vitamin, it has turned out to be a large number of related vitamins, which appear generally in the same foods."
A little publicized source of active Vitamin B12 coenzymes is from bacteria in the mouth, around the teeth, in the nasopharynx, around the tonsils and in the tonsilar crypts, in the folds at the base of the tongue, and in the upper bronchial tree. This source alone will supply sufficient quantities of Vitamin B12 coenzymes for the very small requirement of total vegetarians, especially considering that their needs for this vitamin are not as great as for those on conventional diets.
I have studied the Vitamin B12 issue thoroughly, and have learned that biochemists, neutraceutical scientists, and many writers mistakenly use the term Vitamin B12 for cyanocobalamin, THAT IS NOT USABLE BY THE BODY BUT which is in all vitamin B12 supplements. When speaking of Vitamin B12 they are referring to the semisynthetic Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) that initially was contaminated with poisonous cyanide during its chemical extraction from animal tissues. Carbon columns are used during the extraction process and the carbon combines with nitrogen from the medium forming the poisonous cyanocobalamin, that scientists insist on calling Vitamin B12. The original method used to extract Vitamin B 12 from its sources included heating the medium in a weak acid, the addition of cyanide ion, and exposure to light. In this process the coenzymes were converted to cyanocobalamin, yet this was over looked. (Review of Physiological Chemistry, Harper, Harold A., Lange Medical Publications, New York, 1977, page l81. Also refer to Cobalamin: Biochemistry and Pathophysiology, Wiley. N. and F. Sicuteri, New York, 1972.)
Moreover, in the manufacture of vitamin supplements, cyanide is added to the medium because the carbon and nitrogen are needed to form large molecules as are found in vitamins; and IN ADDITION they need it to extract the B12 from fermentation liquors and liver homogenates. Carbon is needed in great quantities when making vitamins or any other manufactured vitamin or substance that mimics the natural vitamin that normally contains a lot of carbon.
The two vitamin B12 coenzymes known to be metabolically active in mammalian tissues are: 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin (methyl-B12. When extracted in light, these two coenzymes undergo photolysis and are destroyed. Natural B12 is found solely in plants and animals, and that is the only form that can be called "coenzyme B12."
If an animal or individual is given cyanocobalamin the body removes the cyanide because it is not usable as a coenzyme and it is toxic. Then the cobalt of the former cyanocobalamin can combine with other substances that are not toxic and actually form Vitamin B12 coenzymes that are usable by the body. These normally existing Vitamin B12 coenzymes are labile and break down easily unless inside living tissue.
Potassium in the body can react with the cyanide found in cyanocobalamin – the "Vitamin B 12" – and form toxic potassium cyanide (KCN). Potassium cyanide is a poisonous compound used as a fumigant. This is one reason why the body jettisons the "Vitamin B 12" (i.e. cyanocobalamin) injections so rapidly. Within 24 hours most (about 90%) of the cyanocobalamin in supplements has been eliminated.
The names of cobalamins formed by the body or in a laboratory are: l. hydroxocobalamin if it combines with a hydroxyl ion (OH), and 2. aquocobalamin, when it combines with water. Cobalamin also combines with anions such as nitrite a form of nitrogen, chloride, and sulfur. These are not usable by the body. The two active coenzymes that can be formed in the body after stripping off the cyanide are 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin, or adenosylcobalamin for short, and methylcobalamin. The problem is that the cyanide is toxic and makes many people sicker than they were before taking the supplement.
Cyanocobalamin is in every vitamin B12 supplement known because it is stable and less costly to manufacture. But it is not usable in the body. If the body has sufficient energy it may be able to offload the cyanide and benefit from the useful component. Mainly, what people experience after taking cyanocobalamin supplements is stimulation. The toxic effect of the cyanide triggers a rush of energy as the body works hard to excrete the poison, and this fools people into believing that the supplement has "worked" to heal them. Meanwhile, if their blood tests show an increase in B12, it mainly reflects the amount of the CYANOCOBALAMIN in the blood stream. The usable forms are carried into the cells and can't be discovered by testing the blood as is the current practice. Blood tests are often inaccurate and, as previously stated, in the case of cyanocobalamin supplementation and B12 injections, about 90 % of it has been eliminated from the body in 24 hours.
Looking at it hygienically, no Vitamin B12 therapy can cause a recovery from any so-called deficiency disease. It may only hide the symptoms and cannot give an individual health. When people report that their apparent B12 deficiency symptoms have been relieved by cyanocobalamin supplementation, they are mistaken. They are not getting usable Vitamin B12 coenzymes, and their bodies are forced to convert the cyanide form into the active forms, methylcobalamin, and adenosylcobalamin. This extra function stimulates but wastes nerve energy, and they are are actually getting worse, not better. They have not addressed the cause of their troubles.
In summary, vegans and raw fooders all have sufficient amounts of coenzyme B12 in their diets, and FROM THAT produced in their bodies. The most common basic cause of a natural cobalamin deficiency is a failure to digest, absorb and utilize the various cobalamins from food and from the intestinal tract as in the case of gastritis or gastroenteritis. The cause of malabsorption is commonly a gastrointestinal disorder and this was known by pathologists way back in the l800s. In this case, one's lifestyle must be assessed and brought into unison with the needs of the living organism.
Furthermore, absorption of the natural B12 coenzymes can take place in the mouth, throat, esophagus, bronchial tubes and even in the upper small intestines, as well as all along the intestinal tract. This does not involve the complex enzyme mechanism for absorption (intrinsic factor) in the small intestine as required by cyanocobalamin. The coenzymes are absorbed by diffusion by mucuous membranes.
I don't know what to make of this article. It's disturbing to think that I'm putting cyanide into my body by taking a B vitamin.
However, Dr. Vetrano is right when she says that cyanocobalamin is used as B12 in most vitamins on the market today. Looking at my "Stress M" vitamin (a B complex with synergistic nutrients to aid in stress management), it lists B12 and then in parentheses it says "as cyanocobalamin." Same thing with my sister's multi-vitamin. Cyanocobalamin is used for B12.
While searching, I came across another interesting article on the B12 Hoax.
I don't remember where I heard this, but someone once told me that "Americans have the most expensive urine in the world" because they take so many vitamins—most of which are not absorbed and utilized by the body. Controversy exists over whether raw vegans should use vitamins and supplements. I know that Paul Nison favors taking supplements while eating raw; meanwhile other raw vegans are opposed to taking supplements.
What do you think? Do you take B-vitamin supplements?
This year, I will be spending Halloween at my sister's house, and since she lives in a subdivision, we will be passing out "tricks and treats" for a couple of hours. I can't—in good conscience—pass out candy that will wreak havoc on little kids' bodies and cause cavities, so I've been thinking of alternative options.
After some thought, I've come up with 17 healthy treats that…
1.) can be purchased in bulk
2.) come pre-packaged or wrapped.
17 Healthy Halloween Treats To Give To "Trick-or-Treaters"
Any other ideas?
If you're writing a book, or conducting research on the raw food diet, the following website lists raw vegan medical studies (both abstracts and full-text documents)…
Raw Food Vegan Research Studies
It includes studies on B12, fatty acids, body weight, antioxidants, nutrient intake, dental effects, fruitarian diets, microbial flora, raw food and immunity, rheumatic conditions on a vegan diet, and more.
Very good source for scientific data.
In my earlier post, I wrote about the importance of finding a dentist that does not use amalgam fillings. So, what's wrong with amalgam fillings? Well, to begin with, look at the composition of amalgam.
Amalgam is composed of the following metals:
Silver 69.3%
Mercury 50%
Tin 17.9%
Copper 11.8%
Zinc 1%
Amalgam is 50% mercury, and mercury is toxic to the body. The long-term effects of mercury in the mouth have been shown to be extremely dangerous. Even worse, the combination of multiple metals (silver, tin, copper, zinc) interacting with mercury can cause even greater harm. An excellent article on dental fillings: Are Amalgams Safe?
Scientific Facts About the Biological Effects of Mercury Amalgams:
Mercury Penetrates the Blood-Brain Barrier & Weakens Immune System
Mercury penetrates the blood-brain barrier around the brain, and as little as one part per million can impair this barrier, permitting entry of substances in the blood that would otherwise be excluded.
–Chang and Hartman, 1972; Chang and Burkholder, 1974
Mercury Affects Nervous System & Prevents Protein & Amino Acid Absorption
The effect of mercury on the nervous system selectively inhibits protein and amino acid absorption into brain tissue.
–Yoshino et al.,1966; Steinwall, 1969; Steinwall and Snyder, 1969; Cavanagh and Chen, 1971
Mercury Linked to Parkinson's Disease
Mercury inhibits the synaptic uptake of neurotransmitters in the brain and can produce subsequent development of Parkinson's disease.
–Ohlson and Hogstedt, "Parkinsons Disease and Occupational Exposure to Organic Solvents, Agricultural Chemicals and Mercury" Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment Health Vol 7 No.4 : 252-256,1981
Mercury is Toxic to the Kidneys & Causes Pathological Damage
Mercury is nephrotoxic (toxic to the kidneys) and causes pathological damage.
–Nicholson et al, "Cadmium and Mercury Nephrotoxicity" Nature Vol 304:633, 1983
Amalgam is the Largest Source of Mercury Absorption
Based on a number of studies in Sweden, the World Health Organization review of inorganic mercury in 1991 determined that mercury absorption is estimated to be approximately four times higher from amalgam fillings than from fish consumption. Recent studies have confirmed this estimate. The amount absorbed can vary considerably from person to person.
Mercury Affects the Functioning of the Heart
Mercury fillings can contribute to a higher level of mercury in the blood, and can affect the functioning of the heart, change the vascular response to norepinepherine and potassium chloride, and block the entry of calcium ions into the cytoplasm.
–Abraham et al, 1984 "The Effect of Dental Amalgam Restorations on Blood Mercury Levels" Journal of Dental Research Vol 63 No.1:71-73,1984; Kuntz et al, "Maternal and Cord Blood Background Mercury Levels: A Longitudinal Surveillance" American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Vol 143 No. 4: 440-443, 1982; Joselow et al, 1972; Mantyla and Wright, 1976; Trakhtenberg, 1968; Oka et al, 1979
Mercury Affects Endocrine System & Accumulates in Thyroid & Pituitary Glands
Mercury exposure from amalgams leads to interference with brain catecholamine reactivity levels, has a pronounced effect on the human endocrine system, and accumulates in both the thyroid and pituitary glands, reducing production of important hormones.
–Carmignani, Finelli and Boscolo, 1983; Kosta et al, 1975; Trakhtenberg, 1974
Mercury induces the thyroid gland to absorb an increasing amount of nuclear radiation from the environment.
–Trakhtenberg, 1974
Mercury Reduces Function of Adrenal Glands and Contributes to Infertility
Mercury can impair the adrenal and testicular steroid hormone secretions, cause intolerance for stress and decreased sexual ability. In rats, it causes subnormal fertility and sperm production.
–Burton and Meikle, 1980; Khera, 1973; Stoewsand et al, 1971; Lee and Dixon, 1975; Thaxton and Parkhurst, 1973
Mercury in the body can produce contact dermititis and reduced function of the adrenal glands (Addison's disease), producing progressive anemia, low blood pressure, diarrhea and digestive disturbances.
–Alomar et al, 1983
Mercury Kills White Blood Cells, Causes Chromosomal Abnormalities & Alters Cells
Mercury has a distinct effect on the human immune system, especially the white blood cells. Mercury ions have been observed to cause chromosomal aberrations and alters the cellular genetic code. Mercury has the ability to induce chromosomal breakage, alter cellular mitosis, cause a drop in T-cell production and kill white blood cells.
–Vershaeve et al, 1976; Popescu et al, 1979; Skerfving et al, 1970,1974; Fiskesjo, 1970
High Mercury Levels in Pregant Women Linked to Fetal Birth Defects & Still Births
Mercury has an effect on the fetal nervous system, even at levels far below that considered to be toxic in adults. Background levels of mercury in mothers correlate with incidence of fetal birth defects and still births.
–Reuhl and Chang, 1979;Clarkson et al, 1981; Marsh et al, 1980; Tejning, 1968; Kuntz, W.D., Pitkin, R.M., Bostrum, A.W., and Hughes M.S., The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Vol 143 No.4:440-443,1982
Mercury is Linked to Alzheimer's Disease
A study related to mercury and Alzheimer's Disease was recently completed by a team of scientists led by well-respected researcher Dr. Boyd Haley. They exposed rats to levels of mercury vapor diluted to account for size differences between humans and rats. The rats developed tissue damage "indistinguishable" from that of Alzheimer's Disease. Repeating the experiment showed the same results. Dr. Haley is quoted as saying "I'm getting the rest of my fillings taken out right now, and I've asked my wife to have hers replaced too."
Patients with Amalgam Fillings Breathe Mercury Vapors
Studies show there is a continuous release of elemental mercury vapor from amalgam fillings–especially when chewing food or brushing amalgam-filled teeth. Further, the polishing of amalgams (by dental hygenists) and bruxism (grinding of teeth) may cause the release of high levels of mercury vapor and mercury ions.
I find it very disturbing that it is standard practice to fill cavities with amalgams. Most patients are unaware, uninformed and totally ignorant about the consequences. Essentially, dentists are slowly poisoning their patients, without telling them.
Don't go to a regular dentist. If possible, find a holistic, mercury-free dentist. You can find a mercury-free dentist here. One final note: Try to find a dentist that uses digital X-rays, since digital X-rays reduce radiation by up to 80% (when compared to traditional X-rays).
More information about amalgam fillings, toxicity of amalgam, and frequently asked questions about amalgam.
I went to the dentist last week for a regular cleaning, and received some bad news. I was told that I have 3 cavities—small cavities, but nevertheless, they are cavities. This is rather upsetting to me, since I've only had 2 cavities in my entire life, before beginning a raw food diet. Three cavities in less than one year is not good.
I remember Frederic Patenaude writing about how raw foodists often have dental problems, and his own personal struggles with cavities. Apparently, the acid in fruit can cause erosion of tooth enamel and contribute to faster rates of decay. Frederic Patenaude has suggested rinsing your mouth with water after eating any fruit. Unfortunately, I have not been very diligent with this practice (and now I am paying for it).
According to a study conducted by the Department of Operative and Preventive Dentistry at Justus Liebig University, raw food vegans have an increased risk of dental erosions…
Compared to the control group, subjects living on a raw food diet had significantly more dental erosions. Only 2.3% of the raw food group (13.2% of the controls) had no erosive defects, whereas 37.2% had at least one tooth with a moderate erosion (55.2% of the controls) and 60.5% had at least one tooth with a severe erosion (31.6% of the controls). Within the raw food group no significant correlation was found between nutrition or oral health data and the prevalence of erosions. Nevertheless, the results showed that a raw food diet bears an increased risk of dental erosion compared to conventional nutrition."
To make sure I don't develop any more cavities…
I encourage anyone who eats a high percentage of raw food to keep a close watch on your teeth, schedule regular dental cleanings, and brush after every meal. I would also suggest eating more whole foods, instead of juicing. Blending is better (in my opinion) than juicing because it retains the pulp, skin and fiber of the fruit.
Also, find a dentist who does not use amalgam fillings. See my next post on the dangers of amalgam fillings.
Omar's Living Cuisine was recently featured in The Salt Lake Tribune. This organic, raw food restaurant is located in Salt Lake City, Utah (30 minutes from the ski slopes). Article is excerpted below…
If slogans such as "going raw" and "It's not about the food, it's about the love" are unfamiliar to readers, they probably have yet to visit Omar's Living Cuisine.
This raw food bar at 2144 S. Highland Drive has transported Salt Lake Valley diners to healthier heights since its opening in July 2005. Omar's Living Cuisine serves seeds, nuts, fruits and vegetables, prepared in a mixed-and-matched, tossed-and-turned way to keep the variety as fresh as the food. The menu includes drinks, salads, entrées and desserts—all made organically.
The restaurant began after Omar "PureHeart" Abou-Ismail realized in 2004 that a change needed to take place in his life. He had recently graduated in geophysics from the University of Utah and was working in Hawaii when he felt the need for something more. He found it in his eating habits. After thorough research and experimentation, Abou-Ismail began his lifestyle. "I committed," he recalled. "I said, 'I'm never going to eat anything that is not natural. I'm going to eat everything that comes from the earth to me.' "
Shortly after this transition, Abou-Ismail's father died from cancer. This affected Abou-Ismail in such a way that he wanted to give something to humanity, something he wished he could have given to his father: health. Soon thereafter, he began teaching nutrition classes at Wild Oats and followed that by creating his restaurant.
"It's not about food, it's about love," Abou-Ismail said. "I love so much the earth we live on, I love so much humanity, and I feel like I can make a difference here." What began as a simple bar with homegrown vegetables has mushroomed into an ornately decorated corner café with soothing music, soft lighting and wall hangings to match the message. The location is shared with Devin Anderson, who manages Herbs for Health, a shop in the front of the building that specializes in herbs and water.
Abou-Ismail's way of eating is contagious, and the scattering of thank-you cards on a table in the restaurant show that many are grateful for his approach. "Since [meeting Abou-Ismail] I've gone completely raw," said customer Samuel Stinson. "I've lost weight . . . I exercise. Now I'm looking at buying an organic farm." Abou-Ismail fashions all his recipes thoughtfully - and prayerfully.
He does not agree with mass production of food. Nor does he agree that all parts of the famous food pyramid are necessary. "When was this food pyramid made?" Abou-Ismail asks. "The new food pyramid consists of . . . fats, proteins and sweets." He added that these essentials are all found in nuts, seeds and fruits. "I do this because I really love to do this," Abou-Ismail said. "It resonates with my being. It's not about the food, it's about the love."
If you visit Salt Lake City this winter, be sure to stop by.
About the Durian
How to Select, Eat & Store Durians
Durian Cultivation, Qualities & Uses
Watch Out for the Smell
Unusual Facts about the Durian
Source: Unless otherwise noted, all trivia was compiled from Wikipedia & The Star Online, a Malaysian newspaper.
The DailyBulletin, a newspaper out of Ontario, Canada, recently spotlighted The Blossoming Lotus, a vegan and raw food restaurant located on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Excerpt below…
KAPAA, Hawaii - If you stay in Kauai long enough, you'll hear locals talk about the power of Hawaii's oldest island. There's a sense of wisdom and spirituality in the soil, and it makes its way into the lush, abundant produce grown here.
The best place to experience the bounty of Kauai's harvests this fall is the Blossoming Lotus. The vegan and raw food restaurant is a mainstay in Kapaa, a coastal town on the east side of the island. It offers gourmet world-fusion cuisine made without meat, eggs or dairy products. In the restaurant's raw or "live food" dishes, nothing is heated above 116 degrees, which preserves key enzymes.
The Blossoming Lotus is the first green-certified restaurant in all of Hawaii. There are no Styrofoam products, and the proprietors use nontoxic cleansers and recyclable goods. At one point, they had biodegradable cutlery made from corn and wheat. Their recipes have won awards from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Gourmand Magazine and VegNews, and their vegan chefs are considered among the best in the world. High society and Birkenstock-wearing folk alike flock here for the food.
"It's not one of those dirty hippie places," said Lanaly Cabalo, food writer for Kauai's hometown paper, the Garden Island. In fact, it's a favorite celebrity hangout. Pierce Brosnan, Leonardo di Caprio, Mike D. from the Beastie Boys and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have trekked down from the exclusive Princeville resort in the north to feast on healthy food into which you can sink your teeth.
Head chef Mark Reinfeld grew up eating beef and poultry and has reinvented comfort foods like enchilada casserole that appeal to a heavier palate. He uses familiar textures and flavors like barbecue and peanut sauce to win over customers. One of Reinfeld's favorite dishes is spanakopita. The savory Greek pie is made with marinated tofu and organic island greens layered between flaky phyllo and drizzled with a sun-dried tomato and sage sauce.
"Foodies can appreciate it just as cuisine," Reinfeld said. "And the fact that it's food for your soul and you feel great afterward is just an added bonus." Other ingenious creations include an all-vegetable lasagna and pad Thai noodles made with julienned young coconut flesh.
For lunch, nothing beats the tempeh Reuben and meatless BLT sandwich. The hearty, thick-sliced bread is made with spelt flour, a wheat-free alternative, and dotted with fresh rosemary and parsley. The Russian dressing is cloying yet doesn't weigh you down, and has a full, fresh flavor. Plus it's dairy-free, so lactose-intolerant customers can enjoy the rich, creamy sauce without suffering indigestion.
Another must-try is the dense, nutty cornbread. It's spiked with cilantro and chili, and served with homemade apple butter. "It's foreign to some people until they actually taste the food," Reinfeld said. "I think we demystify the whole idea of what can be done with vegan and vegetarian food."
The restaurant incorporates a lot of local produce into its cuisine. Kauai is home to the wettest place on Earth - about 486 inches of rain fall each year on Mount Waialeale. Mountains and fields dotted with green pastures stretch for miles, and native farmers deliver the best of their crops to the Lotus each morning.
"People say our food has a lot of mana, or energy from the land," Reinfeld said. "It's very rejuvenating, and revitalizing." The restaurant is experimenting with autumn vegetables this month, so expect to find a variety of tender squashes and sweet potatoes on the menu. There's something for every palate here, from soups and salads to curry and tacos. It's a great gourmet alternative to the traditional Hawaiian fare of fried chicken cutlets, white rice and macaroni salad.
For an extra-healthy pick-me-up, try the 31-herb Lotus Roots Tonic, with dandelion root, ginseng, cinnamon and ginger. Another refreshing option is the passion fruit lemonade or Tahitian limeade. If you're in a lazy mood on Sunday morning, visit the Lotus for brunch -and such treats as almond orange spice french toast made with spelt cinnamon raisin bread, crepes, pecan sticky buns and scalloped sweet potatoes.
And make sure you end any meal with something sweet. Even if you're not a fan of sweets, the Lotus' desserts will knock you out. Try the vegan cheesecake, live fudge or live fruit pie. Lotus chefs make "fudge" by blending raw cacao bean with coconut oil and agave nectar. Served with a swirl of raspberry sauce, the opulent, silky-smooth concoction melts in your mouth as an explosion of cocoa and natural sugar rushes to your head. In the fruit pie, a moist, chewy crust of nuts and grains is filled with a lush puree of euphoric blueberry and papaya. And for chocolate freaks, the Lotus' dense German chocolate cake really hits the spot.
"I challenge people to tell the difference," Reinfeld said. "People really bliss out on that cake. It's so rich and delicious you would never know it's healthy until afterward, when it doesn't weigh you down the same way."
Milk Contains Toxic Levels of Dioxins
"The level of dioxin in a single serving of the Ben & Jerry's World's Best Vanilla Ice Cream tested was almost 200 times greater than the 'virtually safe [daily] dose' determined by the Environmental Protection Agency."
-Steve Milloy, author of junkscience.com (Milloy tested samples of ice cream for dioxins. The only major newspaper to report the story was the Detroit Free Press). 11/8/99
IGF's in Milk Linked to Cancer
The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system is widely involved in human carcinogenesis. A significant association between high circulating IGF-I concentrations and an increased risk of lung, colon, prostate and pre-menopausal breast cancer has recently been reported."
-International Journal of Cancer, 2000 Aug, 87:4
"Levels of IGF increase in milk after cows are treated with rbGH." [rbGH stands for "recombinant bovine growth hormone," a hormone fed to cows to make them grow unnaturally large in a shorter period of time to maximize the dairy industry's profits.]
-National Institutes of Health Assessment of Bovine Somatotropin, December, 1990
Milk Causes Allergies—Especially in Young Children
"Most formula fed infants developed symptoms of allergic rejection to cow milk proteins before one month of age. About 50-70% experienced rashes or other skin symptoms, 50-60 percent gastrointestinal symptoms, and 20-30 percent respiratory symptoms. The recommended therapy is to avoid cow's milk."
-Pediatric-Allergy-Immunology, August, 1994, 5(5 Suppl.)
"Most formula fed infants developed symptoms of allergic rejection to cow milk proteins before one month of age. About 50-70% experienced rashes or other skin symptoms, 50-60 percent gastrointestinal symptoms, and 20-30 percent respiratory symptoms. The recommended therapy is to avoid cow's milk."
-Pediatric-Allergy-Immunology, August, 1994, 5(5 Suppl.)
Milk Causes Mucus, Sinus Infections, Congestion & Ear Infections
"At least 50% of all children in the United States are allergic to milk, many undiagnosed. Dairy products are the leading cause of food allergy, often revealed by constipation, diarrhea, and fatigue. Many cases of asthma and sinus infections are reported to be relieved and even eliminated by cutting out dairy."
-Natural Health, July, 1994, Frank Oski, M.D., Chief of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Medical School
"Milk allergies are very common in children… They are the leading cause of the chronic ear infections that plague up to 40% of all children under the age of six."
-Julian Whitaker, M.D., "Health & Healing," October, 1998, Volume 8, No. 10
Milk is Linked to Juvenile Diabetes
"These new studies, and more than 20 well-documented previous ones, have prompted one researcher to say the link between milk and juvenile diabetes is 'very solid'."
-Diabetes Care 1994;17 (12)
Milk Is Implicated in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
"Those who consumed cows milk were fourteen times more likely to die from diarrhea-related complications and four times more likely to die of pneumonia than were breast-fed babies. Intolerance and allergy to cow's milk products is a factor in sudden infant death syndrome."
-The Lancet, vol. 344, November 5, 1994
Milk & Heart Disease Highly Correlated
"Milk and milk products gave the highest correlation coefficient to heart disease. Sugar, animal proteins and animal fats came in second, third, and fourth, respectively."
-A Survey of Mortality Rates and Food Consumption Statistics of 24 Countries, Medical Hypothesis 7:907-918, 1981
"Bovine milk is presently under investigation by this laboratory since it has been shown that milk antibodies are significantly elevated in the blood of male patients with heart disease."
-Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 163:1981
Milk Contains Pesticides, Antibiotics & Killer Bacteria
"A 1988 FDA survey of milk samples from grocery stores in 10 cities found that 73% of the samples contained pesticide residues."
-Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 1991; 47
"Milk from cows inoculated with listeria was pooled for 2 to 4 days and then heated at 162 degrees Fahrenheit for 16 seconds in a high-temperature, short-time pasteurization unit. Live listeria bacteria was then successfully isolated from the milk after heat treatment in 11 of 12 pasteurization trials."
-Journal of Environmental Microbiology. July 1987, (53)
"… curing alone may not be a sufficient pathogen control step to eliminate Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli O157:H7 from cheese."
-J Food Prot, 1998 Oct, 61:10
Dairy Products Linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis
"Rheumatoid arthritis is more severe than osteoarthritis, is most common in the hands and feet, and is characterized by swelling of joints. Since this type of joint pain can be a symptom of a food allergy, dietary change sometimes has a profound effect. Dairy products, the most common food allergen, are one likely candidate as a contributing causative factor."
-Vegetarian and Vegan Nutrition by George Eisman, M.A., M.Sc., R.D.
"In the case of the eight year old female subject, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis was a milk allergy. After avoiding dairy products, all pain was gone in three weeks."
-Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 1985, 78
Want more reasons? Read 52 Reasons to Abandon Milk & Dairy.
