The doctors in the ER thought she was having a heart attack. They monitored her vital signs closely, while administering electrolytes by IV. Three days later, my grandmother was released and referred to a cardiologist for further treatment.

How an Intelligent and Forward-Thinking Doctor Saved My Grandmother’s Life

Instead of putting her on a heart medication and sending her to the cardiologist – as most doctors would do – my grandmother’s physician did something that I believe saved her life. Dr. Schneider did what is rarely heard of in “mainstream” medicine. She checked my grandmother’s mineral levels.

The result showed that my grandmother was suffering from an acute magnesium deficiency. She left that day with only one prescription – for a daily magnesium supplement.

To think that for less than $0.05 per day, my grandmother could have avoided a near-death experience… and a $20,000 hospital visit.

Thanks to her forward-thinking physician, my grandmother avoided a prescription for dangerous prescription drugs that would have done nothing to solve her underlying condition. And by diagnosing the issue correctly, she probably saved her life.

It is estimated that magnesium deficiency causes 20 million deaths worldwide every year, including nearly 600 per day in the U.S. alone.

In fact, some studies have shown that over 80% of the U.S. population is deficient in magnesium, to one degree or another. That means there is a good chance that YOU are deficient.

This Mineral is Vital to Your Existence…
Do You Have Enough of It?

Magnesium plays hundreds of crucial roles in your body. It helps regulate the rhythm of your heartbeat. It helps to control your blood pressure and maintain insulin sensitivity. It controls the uptake and release of many hormones and neurotransmitters and it is vital for more than 300 enzymes to function properly.

Magnesium deficiency can be associated with a long list of illnesses and symptoms including ADHD, anxiety, asthma, autism, chronic fatigue, constipation, cramps, diabetes, fibromyalgia, heart attack, headaches, high blood pressure, IBS, kidney stones, metabolic syndrome, obesity, PMS, stroke, and acid reflux, just to name a few.

A rich, whole foods diet should provide all the magnesium your body requires. On the other hand, processed foods – which make up about 90% of the money Americans spend on food – contain almost none of this vital mineral.

And we further deplete our body’s magnesium stores with the phosphoric acid in colas and coffee, by consuming sugar and carbohydrates, salt, excess alcohol, diuretics (water pills), antibiotics and other drugs. We also lose more magnesium as we age.

To Keep Your Magnesium Levels in a Healthy Range…

Be sure to enjoy dark leafy greens (like spinach and Swiss chard), nuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, wild salmon and halibut, black beans and navy beans… and don’t forget the most decadent source of magnesium – delicious dark cocoa!

And because magnesium deficiency is such a life-threatening problem, you may want to ensure adequate body levels with a supplement. Magnesium citrate and magnesium chloride are the forms that are best absorbed (as opposed to magnesium oxide). If you have difficulty swallowing, consider a liquid supplement.

The RDA is 420 mg for adult males and 320 mg for adult females, however, there is solid evidence that these numbers are lower than optimal.

Unfortunately, Life-Threatening Deficiencies
Don’t End with Magnesium

There are dozens of vitamin, mineral, enzyme and hormone deficiencies that can put your health and your quality of life at serious risk. Not to mention environmental toxins and malfunctions in your organs and immune system.

The good news is that you can test for all of these things. Most of the tests are quite inexpensive. They are very easy to perform. And in many cases, your insurance will even pay for it.

Unfortunately, most doctors simply don’t test for these critical factors.

That is why I have produced a very special bonus report called 20 Lifesaving Tests Your Doctor Hasn’t Performed (and Should!).

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That is why the information in this report could literally save your life – or that of a loved one.

And it is yours free when you purchase the Your Plate Your Fate health transformation series.

Here is just a sample of what you’ll learn in 20 Lifesaving Tests:

• More than 50% of us are critically deficient in a vitamin that is REQUIRED to prevent breast, colon and prostate cells from turning cancerous. Do you have enough? (page 10)
• Discover which critical mineral can greatly reduce your risk of kidney stones (page 11)
• Why glucose measurements are NOT the best marker for diabetes control… and which test is far superior. This test is also one of the best markers for how well you’re aging! (page 5)
• Discover the protein that is produced when you consume a carb-rich diet that could increase your risk of colon cancer by THREE TIMES… how to test for it… and the best way reduce this cancer-promoting compound (page 7)
• Getting your cholesterol checked? You’re probably checking the wrong thing! Learn why your cholesterol number is not nearly as important as the health of your cholesterol and how to check it (page 6)
• Which substance has been shown to dramatically reduce the risk of 17 different kinds of cancer… and why you shouldn’t rely on the government’s dangerously low recommended daily allowance (page 10)
• The simple three ingredient detoxifying elixir that can help rid your body of toxic mercury, aluminum and lead (page 15)
• A simple mineral (that is depleted in the soil) is required to produce your body’s “Master Antioxidant & Detoxifier”… without it, your risk of cancer goes through the roof and your overall immunity is impaired. Learn the $3 a month solution (page 12)
• Toxic PCBs from conventional meats and farmed fish can stay in your body for 20 years or more, and cause a host of problems. Learn the simple detox that can speed their removal thousands of times faster (page 17)

This is just a sample of what you’ll learn in 20 Lifesaving Tests Your Doctor Hasn’t Performed (And Should!)

And in addition to the simple and inexpensive test that could literally save your life, you also learn how to reduce these markers of disease, optimize your nutrient intake, protect your organs and cleanse your body of toxins.

Your copy of this special report comes free with a purchase of Healing Gourmet’s flagship health transformation program – Your Plate Your Fate.

If you would like to lose weight, protect your health, slow down the aging process, have all-day energy and stay active and youthful well into your later years, there is nothing more important for you to do than follow the simple and delicious plan we have laid out.

Order your copy today!

One of the problems they claimed to have a “solution” for was depression. So I turned the page to find out what it was.

I was hoping to read about the vital links between food and mood. But there wasn’t a single word about the nutrients that influence our brain chemistry.

Nor was there any mention of the miraculous, mood-boosting benefits of sunlight. And not even a passing word about the benefits of vigorous exercise – proven in many studies to alleviate depression completely.

Instead, the article read like a series of ads for psychiatric drugs. “Dozens of medications are available,” said the author, Dr. Ranit Mishori. Worse yet, she didn’t mention a single risk (including suicide) associated with taking anti-depressants.

In fact, the article glorified anti-depressants as and cited counseling as an adjunct therapy, instead of a first course of treatment.

In other words, why go to the trouble of actually talking to someone about your problem… or trying to figure out the underlying cause… when you can just take a pill?

Now, keep in mind, I wasn’t surprised by this at all. Big Pharma spends BILLIONS on advertising in the mainstream media. And they certainly get their money’s worth.

Pushing these (not-so) “happy” pills has become the norm in our society. More than 27 million Americans take some form of antidepressant. And although there’s no long-term clinical evidence backing the efficacy of these medicines, it doesn’t stop Big Pharma from reaping billions every year.

As with so many other areas of “modern medicine”, antidepressants don’t actually address the cause. They may target certain factors, but in the human body – and especially in the brain – no single element works in a vacuum. Everything is connected.

But here’s the good news. Mother Nature’s pantry provides all of the essential ingredients your brain needs to function optimally.

Here are the top mood-boosters in your foods and how they work:

1- Omega-3 Fats: These fatty acids are absolutely essential to your brain, yet up to 80% of us don’t get enough. Omega-3′s help build the neuronal connections in the brain as well as create the receptor sites for neurotransmitters. Also, the more omega-3s in your blood, the more serotonin you make and the more responsive you become to its effects. Serotonin influences a variety of psychological functions, and is vital for helping to relay messages from one part of the brain to another. Optimize your omega-3s by enjoying wild, sustainable seafood (like salmon and sardines) and by taking a high quality fish oil (like Carlson’s).

2-Vitamin D: The sunshine vitamin can help brighten your mood. But up to 90% of us are deficient, at least part of the year. As many as 50% are critically deficient. Optimize your vitamin D levels with 20-30 minutes of sunlight, 3-5 days a week or take 2,000-5,000 IUs of vitamin D daily.

3-B Vitamins: Vitamins B6, B12 and folate also help to produce serotonin – the “feel good neurotransmitter”. But that’s not all. They also lower homocysteine - an amino acid that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease… and depression too. In fact, a 2002 study found that women with high homocysteine levels had double the incidence of depression.

4-Selenium: Low levels of selenium are also associated with an increased risk of depression. Selenium is also vital for a healthy thyroid, which affects mood.

5-Antioxidants: Fighting free radicals means protecting cells – including those in the brain which are most susceptible to oxidative damage. Clinical studies have found that people with depression have low levels of antioxidants in their blood. Power up your diet with the foods highest in antioxidants (learn more in Your Guide to Antioxidant Superfoods – part of the Your Plate, Your Fate series).

6-Animal Protein: If you’re a vegetarian, you may be missing out on an important depression-fighting amino acid – tryptophan, an important precursor to serotonin. Protein-rich foods such as beef, poultry, seafood and eggs are typically the best sources of tryptophan. (Note: If you’re “living on the veg” optimize your levels of tryptophan with crimini mushrooms, spinach and other dark leafy greens, beans, nuts and seeds).

7-Probiotics: It may not be all in your head… it could be in your gut too. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) has been found to contribute to depression, by promoting inflammation and oxidative stress as well as hindering the absorption of mood-boosting nutrients. Learn how to get your gut in balance in Your Body’s Ecosystem – - part of the Your Plate, Your Fate series.

8-Low Glycemic Carbs: You probably already know that refined carbs (like white bread, pasta, rice, sugar and processed foods) cause a sugar buzz or “high” and subsequent crash. But there’s more to the story. Sugar also uses up your mood-enhancing B vitamins and diverts the supply of chromium – a mineral that helps keep blood sugar stable and positively affects the release of feel-good norepinephrine and serotonin. Opt for low-glycemic foods you’ll learn about in Your Guide to Living a Low Glycemic Lifestyle -  part of the Your Plate, Your Fate series.

Finally, there are two natural supplements that can boost your mood and help to keep your neurotransmitters in balance. They are called SAM-e and 5-HTP. You can find plenty of excellent research about these supplements on the web.

Anti-depressant medications can cause very serious side-effects – including addiction, aggression, and even worsening depression. What’s more, they do nothing to address the underlying cause of the problem.

If you want to address the underlying causes, start by exercising consistently, enjoying time in the sun frequently and the eight nutritional guidelines listed above.

Here’s to your natural health and happiness!

Order Now

References

1. Khanzode SD, Dakhale GN, Khanzode SS, Saoji A, Palasodkar R. Oxidative damage and major depression: the potential antioxidant action of
selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. Redox Rep. 2003;8(6):365-70.
2. Younga, G; Conquera, J. Omega-3 fatty acids and neuropsychiatric disorders. Reprod. Nutr. Dev. 45 (2005) 1-28
3. AC Logan. Omega-3 fatty acids and major depression: A primer for the mental health professional. Lipids in Health and Disease, 2004.
4. Felicity Nga, Michael Berka, Olivia Deana and Ashley I. Busha. Oxidative stress in psychiatric disorders: evidence base and therapeutic implications. The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology (2008), 11:851-876 Cambridge University Press
5. Hara Estroff Marano. Chromium, an essential mineral found in whole grains, mushrooms, liver and brewer’s yeast, may play an important role in helping to regulate mood. Psychology Today. October 14, 2003 – last reviewed on November 11, 2008
6. D’Anci, K.E., Rosenberg, I.H. 2005. B vitamins and the brain: depression. Nutrition in Clinical Care. 8(4):143-8.
7. M. Peet and R, Stokes, Omega 3 Fatty Acids in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders Drugs, vol 65(8), pp. 1051-9 (2005)
8. S. Frangou et al.  ‘Efficacy of ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid in bipolar depression: randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study’, British Journal of Psychiatry. vol 188: pp. 46-50 (2006)
9. I. Bjelland et al. Folate, Vitamin B12, Homocysteine, and the MTHFR 677CT Polymorphism in Anxiety and Depression: The Hordland Homocysteine Study, Arch Gen Psychiatry, vol 60, pp. 618-26 (2003)
10. E. Turner, Serotoninalacarte: Supplementation with the serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan.’ Pharmacology&Therapeutics (2005)
11. Lifting Depression – The Chromium Connection by Dr Malcolm McLeod (Basic Health Publications)
12. J. R. Davidson et al, Effectiveness of chromium in atypical depression: a placebo-controlled trial, Biol Psychiatry, vol 53(3), pp. 261-4 (2003)
13.  Docherty, J et al, ‘A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Exploratory Trial of Chromium Picolinate in Atypical Depression’ Journal of Psychiatric Practice. Vol 11(5), pp. 302-314, (2005)
14. Vitamin D Council

And that’s really bad news for your health.

BPA is an industrial chemical and potent endocrine disruptor found in plastics, as well as metal can and bag liners.

And it’s been linked with breast and prostate cancer, insulin resistance and diabetes, Down’s syndrome and other birth defects, obesity, infertility, and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

But BPA is still legal… and being used in thousands of packaged food products everyday.

A few companies have stepped up to the plate (or in this case, the can) and reached into their own pockets to protect you.

Eden Foods is one of them.

Eden canned products are packed in steel cans coated with a baked on oleoresinous c-enamel lining that doesn’t contain bisphenol-a (BPA). These cans cost Eden 14% more to produce (an additional $300,000 more a year).

This wonderful brand offers a line of products ranging from cannelini beans to soy sauce that you can enjoy -organic and contaminant free – for just a few cents more per serving.

If your answer is yes to any of these questions, the culprit could be your hormones. And even if you are not suffering from noticeable symptoms, there is a very good chance your hormones are out of balance, dramatically increasing your risk of disease.

But how do our hormones get out of balance?

Imagine that you are a detective, given the following clues:

• At the turn of the last century, diabetes affected 0.01% of the U.S. population. Today, one in three Americans has diabetes or a precursor to it.
• In 1900, breast cancer was very rare. By 1960, it affected one in 20 women. Today, one out of three women develops breast cancer.
• Before 1921, a total of 20 cases of endometriosis had been reported worldwide. By 2000, nearly 20% of all U.S. women of childbearing age have endometriosis.
• A 1997 study showed that by the age of eight, one in seven white girls and half of African-American girls have started puberty.
• In the last 60 years, the average male sperm count has fallen by half… while the incidence of testicular cancer has tripled.
• During the year of 2002, the number of clinical cases of gynecomastia (male breast growth) doubled.

Morphing Genes… or Toxic Environment?

Now, keep your detective hat on. Do you think the human race has really changed that much in the last 100 years? Or do you believe that our environment (what we breathe, what we ingest and what we put on our skin) has something to do with it?

The answer, of course, is that the human race has changed very little in the last 100 years (at least in terms of our physiology and biology).

On the other hand, what we eat, drink and rub into our skin has changed completely… in a VERY short period of time. And these changes have profoundly impacted our hormones.

Here’s some more food for thought…

Hormones are biologically active in amounts as tiny as just one-trillionth of a gram and the average American consumes pounds of hormones and chemicals that mimic hormones every year!

While most people are familiar with the hormones produced inside of our bodies (like estrogen and testosterone), we often fail to realize that hormones and hormone-mimics (a.k.a.- endocrine disruptors) are introduced through the foods we eat and the products we use everyday.

And while the ill-effects of endocrine disruptors may not be seen or felt immediately, they set the stage for disease. These chemicals accumulate in fatty tissue and are released slowly into the body, dripping out their “hormonal instructions” over a long period of time.

What’s Hampering Your Hormonal Harmony?

So why is this happening? Let’s take a look at the trends that parallel the endocrine epidemic:

• * From 1920 to 2000, the U.S. production of synthetic chemicals increased from less than a million pounds a year to more than 140 billion pounds a year.
• * In 1977, the FDA finds 38% of all grocery foods sampled contain pesticides. By 1998 that number climbs to 55%.
• * In the 1990′s, the bottled water market heats up. In 2006 31 billion plastic water bottles were produced.
• * In 1992, the FDA announced that 65% of women’s cosmetics sampled contained carcinogenic contaminants.
• * As of 1998, 75,500 synthetic chemicals were registered as appearing in consumer products, agriculture and industry. The FDA oversees 8,000 chemicals used in foods and cosmetics alone.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals are everywhere. And if you think “a little” won’t hurt you, think again. Remember: these nasty compounds can be highly bioactive at just one trillionth of a gram.

But before you throw your hands up and concede to the demise of disruptors, take heart: with a little knowledge and planning, you can greatly reduce your exposure.

In this article, you’ll learn an easy way to avoid one of the nastiest and most prevalent endocrine disruptors – BPA.

Unfortunately, the dangers of disruptors don’t end with BPA. In the Your Plate, Your Fate series you’ll learn about the many other hormonal hellions that could be making you sick and fat including:

• The top 14 endocrine disrupting chemicals, where they’re found and the simple ways to avoid them
• The foods that set your future children up for a “thrifty phenotype” – a genetic predisposition to store, store, store calories… leading to a lifelong weight struggle
• The common kitchen tool that leaches estrogen-mimics into your cuisine
• The “fun” food that’s totally safe when properly prepared, but loaded with endocrine disruptors when cooked the way 90% of us usually do
• This powerful endocrine offender is linked to obesity, prostate cancer and breast cancer – and get this – it’s detectable in 95% of Americans! But there are just four simple things you can do to avoid it completely!
• The”clean seafoods” you can enjoy that won’t contaminate your plate with hormone mimics…or heavy metals
• The top 7 foods that expose your little ones to endocrine disruptors that affect the development of their brain and sex organs
• The one serving of baby food that exposes your baby to 100 times the EPA daily limit for a dangerous endocrine disruptor called dioxin
• The two chemicals in everyday foods that reduce your thyroid hormones and can lead to hypothyroidism

In Your Plate, Your Fate you’ll learn how to clear the chemicals from your cuisine and get your hormones back in harmony… one delicious bite at a time!

References

1. Braunrath, R., Podlipna, D., Padlesak, S. and Cichna-Markl, M. Determination of bisphenol A in canned foods by immunoaffinity chromatography, HPLC, and fluorescence detection. J Agric Food Chem 2005; 53: 8911-7.
2. vom Saal FS, Myers JP (2008). Bisphenol A and Risk of Metabolic Disorders. JAMA 300 (300): 1353. doi:10.1001/jama.300.11.1353.
3. O’Connor, Chapin (2003). Critical evaluation of observed adverse effects of endocrine active substances on reproduction and development, the immune system, and the nervous system(Full Article). Pure Appl. Chem 75 (11-12): 2099-2123. doi:10.1351/pac200375112099.
4. vom Saal FS, Hughes C (2005). An extensive new literature concerning low-dose effects of bisphenol A shows the need for a new risk assessment. Environ. Health Perspect. 113 (8): 926-33. PMID 16079060.

Reliance on chemical fertilizers and improper farming practices over the last 50 years have depleted our soil of a vital micronutrient – selenium.

And because crops convert selenium into organic forms that can be absorbed by the human body, less selenium in the soil means less selenium on our plate.

In fact, Dr. Margaret Rayman, a professor of nutritional medicine in the U.K. , has found that the amount of selenium we get in our food has dropped 50% in the past two decades.

And that can be really bad news for your health.

Selenium is an antioxidant micronutrient that is required to carry out a wide range of functions in the body.  It’s needed to produce at least 25 enzymes including glutathione - your body’s “Master Antioxidant and Detoxifier”. It also boosts the activity of vitamin C and E in the body and is essential to the health of your immune system.

Without enough selenium, your body struggles to detoxify and defend itself. The result is cellular damage and inadequate protection against foreign invaders, as well as the mutations that can lead to cancer.

But the selenium story doesn’t end there. Selenium is also vital to the “Master of Your Metabolism” – your thyroid.

It is estimated that more than 20 million people in the U.S. have undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction, much of which may be corrected by adequate selenium.

Selenium is a component of the enzyme that helps convert certain thyroid hormones for use in the body. When there’s not enough selenium, the body produces lower levels of these hormones. This leads to hypothyroidism (and its associated ails – including depression, weight gain, thinning hair and more).

When it comes to selenium, we’ve only scratched the surface of understanding how this vital micronutrient promotes wellness and protects against disease.

Research shows that getting sufficient selenium can help to:

• Enhance detoxification and boost your antioxidant defenses
• Improve thyroid function
• Boost fertility
• Guard against cancer
• Protect the prostate
• Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and arthritis
• Protect against cognitive decline
• Reduce the risk of viral infection

While most of us are low in the selenium department, a word of caution: over-supplementing with selenium can cause some harmful side effects.The best (and safest) way to boost your levels is through a whole-foods diet grown according to Mother Nature’s strict standards.

Here are the ways you can boost your selenium levels naturally:

• Eat Brazil Nuts: Just one Brazil nut per day was found to raise selenium to recommended levels.

• Pick Pasture-Raised: Studies show that grass-fed beef and bison contain up to 400% more selenium than those that are grain-fed. Pastured pork also contains 75% more than conventionally-raised.

• Enjoy Wild, Sustainable Seafood: Treasures from the sea can also be a rich source of selenium. But it’s important you’re not getting uninvited dinner guests (like PCBs and mercury) along for ride. Choose wild seafood, especially wild shrimp, wild salmon, sardines and green-lipped mussels as safe seafood sources of selenium.
• Go Organic: Studies estimate that organic foods contain 2-3 times the selenium as those grown conventionally – one more reason to go organic!

While selenium is a vital nutrient in your age-defying, disease-fighting arsenal, it’s not the only one that is often dangerously low. In the Your Plate, Your Fate series, you’ll learn:

• If you drink bottled water, you may be deficient in this vital mineral that plays hundreds of crucial roles in the body – from boosting insulin sensitivity to alleviating anxiety and PMS.

• If you have “restless leg syndrome”, you may be surprised to find getting enough of this mineral can ease your spasms and help you get restful sleep. No prescription required!

• Suffer from fatigue? Low levels of this mineral can leave you feeling tired, achy and just plain tired. Get powered up by enjoying these three foods.

Order Now

References

1. McKenzie RC, Beckett GJ, Arthur JR. Effects of selenium on immunity and aging. In: Hatfield DL, Berry MJ, Gladyshev VN, eds. Selenium: Its Molecular Biology and Role in Human Health. 2nd ed. New York: Springer; 2006:311-323.
2. Beck MA. Selenium and viral infections. In: Hatfield DL, Berry MJ, Gladyshev VN, eds. Selenium: Its Molecular Biology and Role in Human Health. 2nd ed. New York: Springer; 2006:287-298.
3. Combs GF, Jr., Gray WP. Chemopreventive agents: selenium. Pharmacol Ther. 1998;79(3):179-192.
4. Ip C. Lessons from basic research in selenium and cancer prevention. J Nutr. 1998;128(11):1845-1854.
5. Whanger PD. Selenium and its relationship to cancer: an update. Br J Nutr. 2004;91(1):11-28.
6. Garland M, Morris JS, Stampfer MJ, et al. Prospective study of toenail selenium levels and cancer among women. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1995;87(7):497-505.
7. Peters U, Foster CB, Chatterjee N, et al. Serum selenium and risk of prostate cancer-a nested case-control study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;85(1):209-217
8. Rayman MP. The importance of selenium to human health. Lancet. 2000;356(9225):233-24
9. Sher, L. Role of thyroid hormones in the effects of selenium on mood, behavior, and cognitive function. Med Hypotheses. 2001 Oct;57(4):480-3
10. Beckett GJ, Arthur JR.Selenium and endocrine systems. J Endocrinol. 2005 Mar;184(3):455-65.
11. Mutetikka, D.B., and D.C. Mahan, 1993. Effect of pasture, confinement, and diet fortification with vitamin E and selenium on reproducing gilts and their progeny. J. Anim. Sci. 71:3211.
12. Selenium and Aflatoxin Levels in Raw Brazil Nuts from the Amazon Basin. J. Agric. Food Chem., 2007, 55 (26), pp 11087-11092

Soy protein concentrate. Soy protein isolate. Soy flour. Soy lecithin. Autolyzed yeast extract. Tortola yeast extract.

These ingredients may sound healthy, but the truth is, they are manmade culinary criminals masquerading as “good-for-you” meals.

But a company called Sunshine Burgers has shed new light on the veggie burger dilemma.

Made with spouted seeds, brown rice and legumes (no soy!), these tasty patties are perfect piled on a spouted grain bun with all the traditional fixins’… crumbled over a salad… or folded into a pocket with fresh organic mixed greens.

Sunshine Burgers aren’t your typical “mock-meat”. You can actually taste the whole foods and nuances of aromatic spices in their six sumptuous varieties.

At just $3.99 for a 3-pack, you can enjoy truly healthy food in a hurry, for around a buck a burger. Gotta love that!

And with good reason. Convenience foods are packed with dietary pitfalls that can sabotage your waistline and harm your health.

Even “natural” and organic convenience foods that have shorter ingredient lists and contain no additives or preservatives can pose dietary dilemmas.

And one reason is soy.

This so-called “healthy” ingredient is packed into everything from pizza and pastas… to burritos and bran cereals… to protein bars and baby foods. Why? Because it is inexpensive and versatile, taking on any shape or flavor the manufacturer chooses.

And since we’ve been led to believe that soy is a healthy alternative to animal protein, food companies are happy to keep using this inexpensive protein source. But the real cost could be your health.

Now, I’m not talking about traditional fermented soy foods – like tempeh, tamari and miso. I’m talking about “rendered” soy including soy protein isolate, textured vegetable protein and hydrolyzed plant protein to name a few. Here’s why…

Soybeans & Gasoline

It takes a lot of processing to transform a fresh green soybean into mock-meat “vegetable protein”. And the process relies on a “secret ingredient”.

Hexane.

Hexane is a byproduct of gasoline. It is used as an industrial solvent and degreaser. And it’s also used to extract edible oils from seed and vegetable crops – primarily soybeans.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), short-term exposure to hexane at high doses can affect the central nervous system. But even small exposures can be harmful.

So how much is too much?

Recent studies conducted by The Cornucopia Institute found hexane residues in common soy food products ten times higher than what is considered “normal” by the FDA.

While the use of hexane is strictly forbidden in organic products, “natural” products containing soy proteins are almost always extracted with this dangerous solvent.

But beaner beware!

Industry insiders estimate that as much as 50% of the “organic” soybeans consumed in the United States are imported from China – where such lax standards allowed pet food and even baby food to be tainted with melamine – a chemical that can cause kidney failure and death.

In fact, in November 2008, a farm cooperative found melamine levels up to 30 times the maximum level allowed by authorities in 300 tons of organic soy meal imported from China.

As part of our Dirty Little Secrets of Soy series, you’ll learn more about the hazards of eating soy including: how genetically modified soy (80% of all soy produced!) could be affecting your health… the strong hormonal activity of soy which can contribute to weight gain, “man boobs”, and certain cancers… eight good reasons to never let soy formula pass your baby’s lips… and the ways you could be introducing contaminated soy into your body without even knowing it.

But unfortunately, soy isn’t our only culinary concern. In the Your Plate, Your Fate health transformation series, you’ll learn hundreds of ways to protect yourself and separate health fact from health fiction including:

• The common additive that hides in thousands of packaged foods and was found to TRIPLE the amount of insulin secreted by the pancreas in animal studies (In fact, this additive is such an effective “fat fertilizer” that it has been used to fatten animals for study purposes)

• The “healthy” oils that may be increasing your risk for every chronic disease

• The “toxic twelve” chemical contaminants found in everyday foods that you need to toss – NOW!

• The additive that literally “zaps” your energy by damaging your mitochondria – the powerhouse of your cells (It’s even found in many “antioxidant” drinks)

• The sweet-tasting ingredient that stifles the activity of your white blood cells… suppressing your immune defense against colds and cancer!

The ten-part Your Plate, Your Fate series covers everything you need to know to protect your health and optimize your weight.

And it comes with a 60-day, unconditional, “improve your health and lose the weight or pay nothing” guarantee!

Order Now

References

1. Behind the Bean: The Heroes and Charlatans of the Natural and Organic Soy Foods Industry. The Cornucopia Institute, 2009

And if you think you’re not eating soy, you might be surprised. This cheap protein is packed into everything from “health food” bars, burritos and smoothies, to sauces, pizzas and other packaged foods.

And while these foods may send us to an early grave, where we really should be looking is the cradle.

In fact, baby food formulas made from soy (and most of them are) may be one of the worst things we can do for the long-term health of our babies and children.

And even if you do not have a baby, surely you have grandchildren, nieces, nephews or friends who need the information in this letter. We hope you’ll pass this along to those you care about.

Here are eight reasons why you should NEVER put a baby on soy infant formula:

1. Caustic Chemicals: Soy protein isolate is the primary ingredient in soy formulas. Unless it is listed as organic, this ingredient is treated with caustic hexane.

2. Exposure to GMOs: Almost all soy is genetically modified. But even if you choose organic soy formula (like Earth’s Best), the issues below still remain as health concerns.

3. Estrogen Exposure: It is estimated that infants fed exclusively soy-based formula receive an estrogen dose equivalent to five birth control pills, daily.

4. Proper Growth & Development: Soy is high anti-nutrients, known as phytates. These molecules actually block the uptake of essential minerals. For this reason, soy formulas have been known to cause a zinc deficiency in infants. Zinc is essential for normal growth and development.

5. Lower IQ: Soy formulas do not have lactose, which is broken down into glucose and galactose. Galactose is valuable for brain development. Anthropologists have demonstrated that the more intelligent species of mammals have greater amounts of lactose in their milk, and human milk contains one of the highest concentrations of lactose. Soy-based formulas contain table sugar and corn syrup instead.

6. Brain Function: Soy formulas lack cholesterol. This is a required ingredient for making myelin – the fatty sheath surrounding nerve fibers. Myelin makes it possible for nerves to carry information from one part of the brain or body to another.

7. Thyroid Function: Soy contains goitrogens. These are chemicals that can impair thyroid function. The thyroid affects weight, metabolism, mood and the functioning of other endocrine organs.

8. Exposure to Heavy Metals: The aluminum content of soy formula is 10 times greater than milk-based formula and 100 times greater than unprocessed milk. The toxic effects of aluminum range from kidney failure in infants to Alzheimer’s in adults.

When it comes to baby food, the breast is always the best (so long as mom is consuming a healthy diet).

If someone you love is feeding their baby soy formula, please pass this important information on. You just might save a life.

And speaking of the health of our little ones, in the Your Plate, Your Fate health transformation series you’ll learn:

• Which toxic chemical increases a girl’s risk of developing breast cancer later in life by five times compared to girls with lower exposure

• The common food preservative, when consumed during pregnancy can increase a child’s risk of brain tumor by two to three times, compared to children whose mothers ate none.

• Why women getting just three grams of this fat each day reduced the risk of premature delivery by 33%

• How children born to mothers who ate two grams of this fat every day during pregnancy and lactation, scored higher on IQ tests at age four than children whose mother’s ate none.

• The type of baby food in which just one jar can expose a child to 100 times the EPA’s daily limit of dioxins – dangerous endocrine disrupting chemicals.

We hope you’ll pick up your copy of Your Plate, Your Fate today. This one-of-a-kind health transformation system will show you how to optimize your nutrient levels using the right cooking techniques… protect your DNA from the damage that speeds aging and encourages cancer… balance your blood sugar, while still enjoying decadent desserts… and even release fat stores and renew your vitality with the most powerful (and delicious!) detoxifying foods on the planet.

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References

1. Behind the Bean: The Heroes and Charlatans of the Natural and Organic Soy Foods Industry. The Cornucopia Institute, 2009
2. Rackis, Joseph J. et al., “The USDA trypsin inhibitor study. I. Background, objectives and procedural details”, Qualification of Plant Foods in Human Nutrition, vol. 35, 1985.
3. Van Rensburg et al., “Nutritional status of African populations predisposed to esophageal cancer”, Nutrition and Cancer, vol. 4, 1983, pp. 206-216
4. Moser, P.B. et al., “Copper, iron, zinc and selenium dietary intake and status of Nepalese lactating women and their breastfed infants”, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 47:729-734, April 1988
5. Harland, B.F. et al., “Nutritional status and phytate: zinc and phytate X calcium: zinc dietary molar ratios of lacto-ovovegetarian Trappist monks: 10 years later”, Journal of the American Dietetic Association 88:1562-1566, December 1988.
6. “Vegetarian diet in pregnancy linked to birth defect”, BJU International 85:107-113, January 2000.

In the Your Plate, Your Fate series, you’ll learn about the dozens of chemicals found in our foods that mimic the hormone estrogen. These gender benders cause early sexual development in children, reproductive difficulties for adults, and they promote the growth and spread of cancer. And they’re quite common in plastic.

Researchers at Tufts Medical School were using plastic test tubes to store a line of estrogen sensitive breast cancer cells. That is, until they noticed the cells were multiplying wildly. Turns out the supposedly “inert” plastic test tubes were leaching a chemical that behaves just like estrogen.

When researchers at Dartmouth heated plastic wrap and vegetable oil in a microwave, they found the oil had “500,000 times the minimum amount of xenoestrogens needed to stimulate breast cancer cells…” Read that again if it didn’t sink in the first time.

The solution is simple. Use glass or ceramic to store your food. Never eat or drink anything that came into contact with hot plastic. Stay away from plastic water bottles (remember – they could have been heated in transit!). And avoid canned food, if possible. The inside of the cans are coated with plastic and the acid in the food breaks it down.

In the Your Plate, Your Fate series you’ll learn about the many other uninvited dinner guests that could be making you sick including:

• The cookware that leaches known cancer-causers into your meals – and it’s found in more than 80% of all cookware sold!
• The household staple that sucks up to 97% of the nutrients out of your food and a safe, time-saving alternative to choose
• The only two brands of canned foods that don’t contain BPA – a powerful xenoestrogen associated with prostate cancer, breast cancer and even fertility problems
• The family heirlooms that could be exposing you to dangerous levels of lead – a deadly metal that is high enough in 40% of Americans to significantly increase stroke and heart attack risk.

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References

1. How to Avoid Xenoestrogens by Elizabeth Smith, M.D.