Curiously Awesome

Here’s some scary news…about 25,000 Americans develop cancer every year thanks to medical radiation exposure. What’s more, more experience DNA damage that could cause the development of cancer and other future health issues.

The health industry has added a variety of different diagnostic tests to health care. Every year, people receive tests such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and X-ray scans. Unfortunately, every time patients receive one of these scans, their bodies receive varying levels of ionizing radiation. The impact from these procedures may take years to manifest…but be sure that they are building up cumulatively over time.

Without understanding the long-term health repercussions of repeated exposure among their patients, doctors order CT scans for patients who don’t really even need them. Sometimes multiple scans are ordered when only one is necessary, too.

Here’s another scenario…CT scans are often pushed on patients by doctors. The docs will refuse to provide care unless patients receive the scans. Many doctors will insist that patients receive multiple imaging scans to confirm a medical condition — presumably for litigation protection– even when the diagnostics risk patient safety.

Coca-Cola was recently able to avoid a federal claim of false advertising, stemming from its labeling on one of its “pomegranate” drinks. Minute Maid — a subsidiary of Coca-Cola — can continue to label a drink as “Pomegranate Blueberry.” Unfortunately, the drink contains almost all apple and grape juices — not pomegranate juice. It has just 0.3 percent pomegranate juice and only 0.2 percent blueberry juice.

A three-judge panel in San Francisco recently dismissed a suit filed by Pom Wonderful. Pom Wonderful makes a variety of pomegranate juice drinks and has accused Coca-Cola of false advertising and labeling.

The suit is barred because the FDA regulations authorize the product name. Apparently, the FDA has decided that a manufacturer can name a product using the names of flavoring juices — not predominant by volume.

Pomegranate has gained favor for its nutritional value as an antioxidant. It has an enjoyable flavor and it can lower LDL cholesterol levels, improve blood flow to the heart, improve thickening of arteries, and even lower blood pressure.

When you have enough understanding to know that you want to avoid consuming GMOs, you might think this is all you need to avoid them. Think again…GMOs are in EVERYthing…and food labels don’t tell us enough.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Oh.) has introduced a bill in the current congressional session — H.R. 3553. There are 21 co-sponsors to date. Your help is needed to get this passed into law.

To date, the federal government is preventing all public and private efforts to implement food transparency. Consumers cannot know the origin of the ingredients in food products. The federal government also continues to ignore independent science on these issues.

Consider this:

The first generation of humans eating predominantly genetically modified foods hasn’t reached reproductive age yet…these are the kids born in the late 1990s. If studies are any indication, this generation should anticipate an epidemic of cancer, food allergies, sterility, learning disabilities and birth defects.

Access this important Action Alert and contact your Congressmen about GMO labeling here:

http://capwiz.com/grassrootsnetroots/issues/alert/?alertid=58123521

Authorities are calling it a “grime wave” but the pun doesn’t explain why theft of the laundry detergent appears to be sweeping the nation.

According to reports, a St. Paul, Minn. man was caught last year after stealing $25,000 worth of the laundry detergent. The thefts have caused retailers to increase security measures to protect inventories. Some municipalities have created special task forces to learn about the situation. A recent sting in Maryland revealed more Tide than cocaine. Police report that it was an organization that would hit four to five stores a day, stealing Tide.

A former FBI special agent offers this explanation.

A drug dealer may be better able to exchange Tide for drugs and then resell the Tide. On the black market, Tide sells for about 50 percent of its average retail price. A spokesman for the Philadelphia-based Checkpoint Systems guesses that Tide has been chosen by criminals because the name brand is recognizable and relatable by consumers. With the bright orange outer packaging and the bright blue lettering, it’s easy to resell on a secondary market.

The chemical in microwave popcorn, called diacetyl, is so poisonous that it often destroys the lungs of workers in microwave popcorn factories. These workers develop an incurable disease known as bronchiolitis obliterans — popcorn lung.

Health professionals have known of this risk for years always assuming that it would only affect people working in the factory and breathing the especially high concentrations there.

In 2007, a man who ate two bags of microwave popcorn daily was diagnosed with popcorn lung. This indicates that diacetyl enters the air and lungs when microwave popcorn is cooking. In response, most microwave popcorn companies removed diacetyl and replaced it with chemicals having the same effects.

Suffering from recurring headaches, migraines, depression, anxiety, arthritis, ringing in the ears, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, or acid reflux is becoming more and more common. The symptoms of Artificial Sweetener Disease can change daily, depending on how much sweeteners you consume.

Ever hear the frequent adage: “there’s not enough artificial sweetener in any specific product to cause health concerns?” Well, as of 2011, there are chemical sweeteners in more than 25 percent of all foods and drinks. The effect of these chemicals is compromised health…thanks to little regulation of chemical agents in food.

Don’t look for a prescription drug to solve the health issues created by artificial sweeteners. Stop consuming them and your health will improve.

Facebook has rolled out a lot of changes lately…not all of them obvious. Facebook is now monitoring your online activity — whether you are logged in or not.

The most recent modifications display your activities to friends and the public as well. Even after logging out of Facebook, there are permanent “cookies” that track all your movements on websites with Facebook widgets.

There is a solution short of dumping your Facebook account, however.

Delete all Facebook cookies in your browser or use a separate browser for your Facebook browsing.