FDA suggests the chemical BPA in our food is OK.

Today in the headlines of CNN, the FDA is trying to calm the nerves of the American public by suggesting that low level exposure to the chemical BPA (Bisphenol A) is OK. In spite of a rather large study, suggesting a link from chemical exposure to cardiovascular disease and diabetes, the FDA still maintains that BPA is safe. As if to support their position, the American Chemistry Council, an industry trade group, said the study is flawed, has substantial limitations and proves nothing. Can you say conflict of interest? Of course they are going to say this. What many people believe is that the exposure to BPA can be limited by eliminating the act of drinking from those lovely Nalgene water bottles. What they might be unaware of is that BPA is one of the world’s highest production–volume chemicals, with more than 2 million metric tons produced worldwide in 2003 and annual increase in demand of 6% to 10% annually. Bisphenol A is used extensively in epoxy resins lining food and beverage containers and as a monomer in polycarbonate plastics in many consumer products. Widespread and continuous exposure to BPA, primarily through food but also through drinking water, dental sealants, dermal exposure, and inhalation of household dusts, is evident from the presence of detectable levels of BPA in more than 90% of the US population. Still not alarmed?

In parts of the world there are large identifiable concentrations of BPA and other chemical compounds being found in tributaries, which is a reason to show some concern. It is possible that exposure to chemical pollutants is far more reaching and more dire in consequences than the news is reporting?

In the Netherlands a study on pregnant women showed an alarming level of these pollutants, from which they suggested more study needed to be done. In the laboratory, BPA has been shown to be cytotoxic. Could it be that this is a bad thing for a developing fetus?

A study at the Yale University School of Medicine was performed on primates which should register some alarm. This study was the first to demonstrate an adverse effect of BPA on the brain in a nonhuman primate model and further amplifies concern about the widespread use of BPA in medical equipment, food preparation, and storage.

The United States is not the only country concerned with this topic. There have been studies from around the world all demonstrating some type of concern with the exposure to this chemical, and yet our own FDA suggests that, again, it’s no big deal. It is a big deal, and we need to be aware of this and do something about it. Through 2004, there have been over 100 articles in scientific literature that have explored the effects of BPA at or below the dose the FDA considers safe. 90% of those reported adverse from their findings.

We, as a community, need to take part in ridding ourselves of these harmful chemicals as best we can. Start with avoiding the use of plastics when at all possible. Eat as little processed or canned foods as you can. Detox your body by eating organic, fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes and beans, nuts and seeds. Start cooking with spices known to have healing properties like turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, and many others. Strength train and recreate responsibly. Avoid stress and take a whole food vitamin supplement instead of a chemical one.

There is much work to be done if we are to reverse 100 years of chemical influence. Start with pointing others to sources of information that may be of some help. Teach our children to avoid the dangers of products that cause health challenges. Change will happen.

Take The Mega Multi 100 Vitamin Challenge

Reprinted with permission from natures-supplements.com

THE BIG VITAMIN SCAM

I believe we each have to do our part and stand up and speak the truth. That’s what I’m trying to do here. I’m telling everyone I meet and everyone I know, “You’ve been conned. You’ve been scammed by the system, by a bunch of manufacturers, a whole lot of big business and a good dose of government corruption thrown in to protect the system and make sure you never find out what is going on. You’ve been scammed.

The only way to beat the scam is to get outside the system – get outside of conventional medicine, give up all these processed foods and move over to a healthy lifestyle where you actually have cognitive function and where you have mental awareness because you’re eating well. You’re eating real food, not that processed, manufactured garbage that passes for food in most peoples’ homes in the United States and everywhere around the world.

So if you have a friend or a family member who doesn’t know about this, and you’d like to either help them or annoy them (your pick), tell them what’s really in their vitamins. Show them: Pick up that vitamin bottle out of their cabinet, refrigerator, purse or wherever they happen to have it and point out that carcinogen, that preservative, that filler, yellow dye or whatever it happens to be in that particular vitamin. Point it out to them; show them the hydrogenated oils in these vitamins. Point out the sucrose, the corn syrup, propylene glycol, Silica, Magnesium Stearate, which will be listed under the “Other Ingredients” section right below the Nutritional Facts panel…..all those disease causing chemicals are right there. Show them what they’re really consuming and then give them a better choice. Introduce them to an online Organic store that can provide him or her with superior cellular nutrition, completely Certified Organic. Encourage them to go here if they really want to take care of their health.

It’s funny that people complain about how much money it costs to buy nutritional supplements. Then, they go out and spend a few dollars on vitamins that will actually make them sick. They think they’re getting a bargain. I say that you might as well spend your money on cigarettes, you know? You might as well eat some fried chicken. If you’re going to spend $6 on a bottle of vitamins that are bad for you, then skip the whole thing and just go eat some hamburgers at the local fast food restaurant or some cookies from the grocery store. Of course, I don’t recommend that anyone do any of that. I recommend you spend your money wisely on nutritional supplements, from a passionate, honest company like Nature’s Supplements, which is the pioneer in Cellular Nutrition utilizing only 100% Certified Organic, Whole Food, Unheated supplements. You’ll end up saving thousands upon thousands of dollars NOT buying cheap, junky vitamins that would not only hurt you, as proven by the Journal of the American Medical Association, but waste your money, too.

Of course, if you’re going through the trouble of taking vitamins, shouldn’t you put the best you can find into your body? Don’t you deserve healthy supplements, that are superior, chemical-free supplements, rather than supplements packaged with hydrogenated oils and other poisons that are legalized by our system of corrupt government and private industry? Shouldn’t you deserve the very best? Don’t you deserve to be healthy? We at Nature’s Supplements think so.

With all of the new information concerning the adverse effects of exposure to chemicals in our food, drinks, supplements, and medicines, Santa Rosa Strength would like to invite all of our community to take our vitamin challenge. Bring in one of your vitamin supplements so we can compare it to Mega Multi 100, and if we discover chemicals in your vitamin, we will give you $5.00 towards the only 100% USDA Certified Organic Whole Food Multivitamin in the country; Mega Multi 100.

Pharmaceutical Drugs In Our Drinking Water.

The headline on CNN is one I have seen before. This time, however, it is worse than before.

46 million affected by trace drugs in drinking water

This is the kind of story that prompted us to contact a major filtration manufacturer and discover that there is no protocol for dealing with this sort of thing. Add to this the fact that cities are reluctant to disclose information related to municipal water supplies, and suddenly I begin to distrust the water supply. This makes the challenge of eliminating chemicals from our diets more difficult than ever. But not only are we drinking this stuff, farmers are irrigating crops with this tainted water. Is it possible that it has an effect?

“We believe that at these levels, based on current science, that the water is completely safe for our customers,” said Colorado Springs spokesman Steve Berry. “We don’t want to create unnecessary alarm, but at the same time we have a responsibility as a municipal utility to communicate with our customers and let them know.”

We don’t want to create unnecessary alarm? This is the kind of media coverage that makes for a complacent public. Read on in the article, however, and you will find this little tidbit.

While the comprehensive risks are still unclear, researchers are finding evidence that even extremely diluted concentrations of pharmaceutical residues harm fish, frogs and other aquatic species in the wild and impair the workings of human cells in the laboratory.

So, if you are eating chemicals in your food and beverages, drinking chemicals in your water, taking a cocktail of drugs that have been recommended by your doctor, breathing chemicals in the air, and being exposed to chemicals in soaps, detergents, and cleaning products etc. , do you suppose that could be a remote chance of some sort of interaction? Is there a link to the tremendous health challenges we are facing and our environment? If ever there was a time to protect ourselves against the harmful effects of these factors, it is now! Stop eating the processed foods put out by those companies whose only goal is to make more money. Start eating the foods produced by people whose goal is to supply healthy food to their community; farmers.

The word locavore is a buzzword that has more meaning than ever before. There are plenty of ways that a person can eat locally and organically, which has many far reaching effects on more than ones health.

• Buy organic vegetables at your local market – Try to eat as much organic produce as you can find or afford. Read labels and avoid organic products shipped from countries whose standards are lax, however.
• Shop at the farmers market- The farmers at the market are friendly, caring, and knowledgeable. We should support them.
• Buy from the source – Buy your fruits and vegetables from the local farms if you can. Many of them are happy to arrange for a tour so you can learn about how your fruits and vegetables are raised.

• Grow vegetables yourself – Learn how to grow and care for a vegetable garden. There are plenty of resources available for instruction, and many people would be surprised at how little space is required to grow enough vegetables to feed a family of four.

With the current growth of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, we should all be concerned with how to stay healthy and avoid these unnecessary chemicals in our diet. remember…

Strength train, practice nutritional excellence, avoid stress in all forms, recreate, get plenty of rest, and drink clean sources of water for a long, healthy life.

Medical Marketing

Recently I have been reading “Overdosed America” by John Abramson, which is a very detailed account of the egregious conflict of interest that has infected our health care system. Todays CNN headline, “Don’t Become a Victim to Medical Marketing” is a great example of this, and again illustrates not only a need for change in our health care system, but also a need for a more hands on approach to our own health.

Americans spend more money on health care than any other country in the world, yet rank at the bottom of industrialized nations in total health. What gives? We must begin to take a more proactive approach to our health if we are to free ourselves from the shackles of the current system. Here are 5 things one could start doing immediately to gain more control over their overall health and maybe save some of those health care dollars for something a bit more enjoyable.

1. Switch to a plant based diet – There is an overwhelming amount of evidence to suggest that health is enhanced when eating foods that our bodies are designed for (plants), instead of eating foods designed for easier production, transportation, and storage, which are filled with chemicals. Processed foods cause heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Plants reverse heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
2. Strength Train to Reverse Muscle Loss – Sarcopenia (the gradual loss of muscle due to aging) has now been linked to most of the age related diseases and loss of physical abilities. One can do as little as 1 strength training session per week and still attain excellent results.
3. Recreate – Spend some time doing the things that you love to do (hiking, biking, walking, sports, etc.) a few days per week, for the entirety of your life.
4. Avoid Stress – One should learn how to avoid or reduce stress, in all forms, in order to attain maximum health benefits.
5. Take it Easy – Don’t overdo it. Take the time to recover and attend to the more mental aspects of your health. Take a nap, read a book, talk to your friends and children, and develop a healthy, positive view of the aging process.

Organic vs. Conventional Produce

In bold print in the headlines of CNN.com today is the perfect example of spin doctors at work trying to confuse important issues. The headline reads, “Study: Organic Food Not More Nutritional”. It appears that the five foods that were studied, kale, carrots, mature peas, apples and potatoes, showed no significant differences in the trace minerals. The study, which was published in the latest edition of the Society of Chemical Industry’s “Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture” makes no comparisons as to the comparative levels of pesticides and chemicals found. (Who sponsored this study anyway?) The study claims to be the first to make these comparisons, and yet there have more than 40 published studies on this topic since 2001. How did that manage to get by the authors of the article? In these studies, 236 scientifically valid head to head match ups have been identified between organic and conventional produce, with organic produce coming out on top 145 times. Curious.

I think the point of the article is clear, however, in that one should not omit vegetables from their plate if it is due to a choice between conventional and organic. If one wishes to avoid heart disease, Type II diabetes, and cancer, one should eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes and beans, nuts and seeds, as possible within their caloric needs. I do believe that the consumption of pesticides and chemicals in our food leads to ill health and the science is there to support that. As Michael Pollen said, “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”

Dr. Peterson, Ph.D., HMD coming to Santa Rosa Strength

“Never Take Another Drug Again”

Sept 6th at Santa Rosa Strength – 1pm to 3pm

Space is Limited – Advanced reservations required

$30 – single $40 – couple

Daryn Peterson, Ph.D., HMD.

Ph.D. in Bio-Science, 2004 from Canterbury University (London) Board Certified by the AAMA (American Alternative Medical Association) 2004. Board of Directors on AHHA (American Holistic Health Association), 2007.

Opened out-patient clinic in Orange County, 2000. Opened Clinic in Tokyo, 2004. Started Nature’s Supplements™, developing the first, full line of Certified Organic, Whole Food, Never-Heated, Supplements. Appeared on CNN, ESPN, TNT, LIFETIME, FOOD and many others. Lecturer, Author of “Your Survival Manual For Living Without Disease” and Radio/TV personality. His practice incorporates every aspect of cellular nutrition, which treats every disease, at the cause. Each supplement is formulated to prevent and even reverse many serious diseases. Also, Founder of NaturalHealthCoverage.com the nation’s first and only Natural Health Insurance system.

Dr Peterson is a true pioneer in the promotion of cellular nutrition and lives by these words, “No illness is incurable!”

Why we base our exercise protocol on SuperSlow. Growth and Recovery

PRE methods are founded on the principle of progressive overload. This principle, which is fundamental for success in strength training, is the gradual increase of stress placed on the body during each exercise session. Since a common goal of any strength training program is to increase or maintain muscular strength, to achieve this, the muscles need to be overloaded to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes, which in turn cause them to be bigger, stronger, and faster than before. This adaptive process of the body will only respond if continually exposed to greater physiological demands.

There are many methods of applying progressive overload, and they all work to one degree or another. There has been much discussion and debate as to the most effective one, and while everyone involved can point to one study or another to prove their point, there has never been a large scale study that has definitively established superiority. So how does one choose which method to use?

There are many factors which would establish an excellent PRE program, and progressive overload is only one of these. It is however, one of the most important, and needs to be applied correctly for long term adherence. Incorrect application of this principle will open one up to overtraining and injury. To avoid this, we use a standardized method of record keeping which allows us to accurately track progression, and maintain balance between growth stimulus and recovery. The records we keep are:

1. Resistance – We use selectorized machines, with small additional weights, to gradually increase resistance over time, once a minimum of 60% of 1RM ( what a person could lift in one all out effort) has been safely established. We keep the resistance between 60% to 80% for optimum results. By using this method of progressive resistance we are able to increase the weights consistently over time.
2. Time Under Load (TUL) – We time each set to failure, which allows us to determine several factors. First, we determine the appropriate resistance increase, relative to the level of intensity reached during the set. Since, over time, TUL becomes predictable, we are able to accurately measure workload which enables us to observe recovery and make appropriate changes to the routine. We are able to discover an individual’s threshold for discomfort, and effectively coach them, which adds to the long term compliance of the program. We also use TUL to moderate the intensity reached during each session, for the purposes of rehabilitation, managing clinical conditions, and exercise induced headaches. TUL is also a profound motivational tool, as it encourages each individual to focus on proper form while reaching relative levels of fatigue.
3. Intensity – We use an intensity marker to determine how hard someone is working relative to their TUL. This enables us to accurately determine resistance increases during each session, and if proper form is being used.

Once appropriate progression has been established, we can moderate the program in terms of duration and frequency. We are able to deliver a full body workout in about twenty minutes or less, and we quickly move individuals to one strength training session per week. This is one of the most intriguing (albeit hotly debated) aspects of our program. The reasons for reducing both duration and frequency, which go back to the early work done by Arthur Jones, and although there is still much investigation to be done, are borne out by recent science. In the past, much of the work done by strength trainers has followed a “as much as the body can take” philosophy. Recently however, a “how much does the body need” approach has been taken, to reflect the needs of a growing population more concerned with long term health than athletic pursuit.

The Baby Boomer population has caused medical science to take a closer look into the aging process than ever before. As powerful new technologies allow scientists to look deeper into the human body, the effects of chronic stress have been observed and linked to many of the age related maladies plaguing our lives. Diseases that used to be seemingly unrelated, are now being linked to common mechanisms, such as degradation of mitochondrial DNA, brought on by the production of free radicals or reactive oxygen species in the body. Since this is a growing science, it gives us an insight to the possibilities that we should be looking at our exercise prescriptions differently than before.

Strength training science has always been concerned with the most effective method. This has been defined as the method that will produce the greatest gains, within the shortest amount of time, with no regard to the long term effects on the body. Anectdotal evidence has always suggested shorter recovery periods, but further investigation has been demonstrating longer periods of rest in between sessions will produce similar results. This, in regards to recovery, brings us to the question, “How much does the body need?” This becomes a very important question to ask when one becomes concerned with their long term health as opposed to their short term results. More important still, when one realizes that medical science is beginning to point out some potential negative effects, from long term recreation and exercise, that science was unaware of when the current recommendations for exercise were being formulated.

Perhaps there will never be a definitive answer for the question, “Which is the best method to use?” There are however some things that are certain. Growing muscle is a metabolic function that requires a great deal of intensity, and has an effect on the bodies recovery mechanisms, which requires rest. The process is an ongoing one; stimulate, recover, stimulate, recover, etc.

At Santa Rosa Strength, we get fantastic results for our clients with just one, 20 minute, strength training session per week. We combine this with proper nutrition, supplementation, recreational activity, and stress reduction, and the foundations for transformation and long term health success are attained.

Jim Fallon

This month we said goodbye to one of our members, Jim Fallon, who died on August 6th. While Jim worked with us, he was constantly experiencing health challenges. When he would miss an appointment, Steve and I would often stand at the window of our facility (Jimmy lived across the street) and send good humor and energy his way. This was often followed up with a phone call, and soon we would see Jim walking across the street for his exercise session. Jim epitomized the attitude that we believe in, with regards to strength training. As long as one is able, one should attend to their strength exercise. Without your muscles, you cannot function. As long as you wish to get out of bed, move around, take all that life has to offer, and dream of doing it again the next day, you should attend to your strength training.

Jim always had something humorous and positive to say, even when he was in obvious discomfort. He always laughed at Steve’s and my jokes, even when they were directed at him. He inspired us, and those who watched him come and go from our facility. Thank you Jim Fallon….

Another Marathon Runner Suffers Heart Attack

The great Alberto Salazar, former champion marathon runner suffered a heart attack while coaching his distance runners at the University of Oregon. After having a stent inserted to open an artery, his condition was upgraded from serious to fair condition this morning. He informed his doctors that he had a family history of heart problems. As a 49 year old athlete, one would think he would be in great cardiovascular condition. Yet lifestyle choices catch up with everyone eventually. If you are eating the way the rest of America eats, you will experience the same results. As reported by all of the major publications in recent history, the most likely cause of death, for any American, is heart disease. No amount of aerobic exercise will protect you from a poor diet. Alberto Salazar’s experience helps illustrate the myth that fitness = health. Being fit is fun….being healthy is essential.

What is Strength Training?

Recently we were asked, “What is strength training?” by an individual who never had done this form of exercise before. The short answer is simple. The dictionary defines strength training as : resistance training usually involving weights or some other form of resistance designed toward improving an individuals strength. There is more to this answer than a simple definition however. Strength training is a form of exercise that has many positive effects that many people are unaware of. It does far more than improve an individual’s strength. To fully understand how and why strength training provides so many benefits, we must examine the process at greater depth.

Resistance exercise is a method where the body is mechanically loaded(weights), and fatigued within a short period of time. The amount of resistance and depth of fatigue is directly proportional to the resulting growth stimulus. Light weights lifted a few times will produce little to no muscular gain. Heavy weights, lifted to great fatigue, produces the most amount of muscular gain. The growth stimulus is a natural response to stress, produced by the weights, at the cellular level. The body does not grow during the exercise period, however, but during the recovery period which follows. There is much debate as to how much rest is adequate, but muscular growth has been observed under laboratory conditions for as much six weeks post exercise.

Located within the cells of your body are tiny organelle’s called mitochondria, which are sometimes described as “cellular power plants”, because they generate most of the cell’s supply of ATP, used as a source of chemical energy. Some of the most dense concentrations of mitochondria found in the body are located within the skeletal muscle. What scientists have discovered is strength training causes your body to increase the number of mitochondria located in your cells. And this is where the profound benefits of strength training begin to take place.

Right now you might be thinking, “I get it. But I am already strong and fit, so why would I need to strength train?” There are many reasons why someone would want to experience the benefits of strength training. Let’s start with avoiding muscle loss.

It is estimated that adults lose 5 to 7 pounds of muscle, every decade, as they age. Although endurance exercise improves our fitness, it does nothing to improve our strength, and might actually cause muscle loss. Only strength training maintains muscle mass and strength throughout the aging process. When you lose muscle, you lose mitochondria. Since your body uses these mitochondria to supply energy for your body’s metabolism, this loss means your body has less energy for its needs, and therefore a natural reduction in your metabolic rate occurs. This reduction can cause problems with obesity, circulation, blood glucose tolerance, and cardiovascular health. When individuals strength train, they naturally gain muscle and increase their metabolic rate. They actually cause their cells to look and act…younger!

Another benefit of strength training is the increase of bone mineral density that occurs. Osteoporosis is a condition that many individuals are concerned with as they age. To this end, millions of dollars are spent every year on drug therapies and supplements that have little to no effect. Some of the drug therapies will actually worsen the condition! What has been proven, but is still widely unknown, is that resistance exercise causes an increase in bone mineral density. As some doctors who are aware of the benefits of strength training say, “Strong muscles = Strong bones.”

So, what is strength training? Resistance training involving weights or some other form of resistance, designed to improve an individuals strength, muscular endurance, energy, balance, cardiovascular health, bone mineral density, blood lipids, blood sugar tolerance, and resting metabolic rate, while simultaneously reducing body fat, resting blood pressure, arthritic pain, chronic low back pain, and conditions caused by stroke, heart disease, and long term overuse injuries.

In short, strength training is a form of exercise which will help you look better, feel better, and function better.