A Natural Sweetener With Health Benefits

This week as I prepared my coffee I noticed that I was out of the sweetener that I typically use.  I use a sweetener called Stevia, a natural herb with VERY sweet attributes. (Stevia doesn’t raise your glucose levels, so your insulin levels aren’t affected.)  And because I am not a big fan of bitter coffee, I had to resort to finding something else.

Sugar has harmful effects on the body and artificial sweeteners like Splenda, aspartame, and Nutra Sweet are all excitotoxins that destroy brain cells, so I used the next best thing, HONEY.

Local, raw (unprocessed) Honey is one of the great natural sweeteners available to us.  It has a milder affect on your blood glucose and actually contains some health benefits as well.

Local unprocessed honey can be very beneficial for allergy sufferers.

As bees pollinate the flowers they deposit small amounts of pollen in the honey.  When you consume these small particles your body adapts to the pollen and your are less likely to be affected by it when you come into contact with it in nature.

This is why, LOCAL honey is best.  You want to be exposed to the pollen specific to your geographic area.  If you consume honey produced from distant places the pollen exposure will be different than the environmental exposure you will encounter.

Don’t be fooled into buying conventional processed honey.  This type of honey WILL NOT have the same health benefits that the unprocessed honey will have.

Unfortunately, about two thirds of the honey in the United States falls into this category.  For corporate profits, honeybees are being force fed High Fructose Corn Syrup and other sugars to allow production year round. 

In addition, this honey is pasteurized and many of the beneficial enzymes are being removed from the honey.

The best source to find your honey is by a local supplier.  Many farmer markets have bee keepers with honey to sell.  Also, some health food stores offer local raw honey as well. Just make sure to read the label to verify that it is unprocessed and local to your area.

Honey can also be used as a topical ointment to help treat mild burns, sunburn, and small wounds.  You MUST use the RAW honey though.  Processed honey may actually do more harm than good.

Honey topical wound-care benefits:

• It draws fluid away from the wound.
• The high sugar content suppresses microorganism growth.
• Worker bees secrete an enzyme (glucose oxidase) into the nectar, which then releases low levels of hydrogen peroxide when the honey makes contact with the wound.
• A chemical reaction between the honey and tissue also makes healing wounds smell good.

As you can see, Raw unprocessed honey is a great item to have around your house.  I will caution that if you have blood sugar handling problems or obesity issues using honey may not be for you.  Stevia would be a better alternative.  For everyone else, consuming small amounts of honey throughout the year will yield great health benefits.

About the Author: Dr Tunis Hunt Jr is a chiropractor serving the Charlotte area. In addition to administering chiropractic care, Dr. Hunt lectures and educates the public on nutrition and health based information. Dr. Hunt is also is an author of a popular blog: Dr Tunis Jr’s Blog. To reach Dr. Hunt for questions and comments or to schedule him to speak to your group or company please call 704-588-1792 or email him at drtunisjr@HuntChiropractic.com.   www.HuntChiropractic.com

YOUR Symptoms May Be Fungal Related!

Have YOU ever experienced:

• Constant craving for something sweet
• Persistent fatigue or feeling of being bogged down all the time
• Brain “fog” -hard to focus or think clearly, memory loss
• Sinus pressure, pain and/or drainage (rhinitis), which antibiotics don’t relieve
• Joint and musculoskeletal pain (Fibromyalgia)
• Chronic allergies and allergic reactions to various foods, such as wheat (celiac disease)
• Worsening of asthma
• Increased sensitivities to chemicals, molds, and airborne pollutants
• Frequent abdominal pain, bloating, indigestion, or gas
• Anal or vaginal itching, skin rashes, cracked skin, or white coating on tongue.
• Chronic heartburn , constipation diarrhea, gastritis, and/or colitis
• Heartburn and acid reflux (GERD)

If you answered YES to ANY of the these then YOUR problem may be FUNGUS.

Yes, Fungus!

The intestinal tract is inhabited by billions of beneficial or “friendly” bacteria, called probiotics, together with several strains of candida yeast and some parasites in a ratio of approximately 85 to 15.

These bacteria and yeasts work together and aid in digestion.  However, when antibiotics and anti-inflammatories are introduced to the body, they kill off the “friendly” bacteria, but not the yeast.

The yeast begins to multiply as the 85 to 15 ratio, which held them in check becomes unstable.  This causes dysbiosis-an imbalance of the natural flora of the gut.

And to make matters worse, Americans consume more sugar and simple carbohydrates than any nation on earth allowing the candida yeast to thrive on the sugar. 

When the candida gets “fed” on a sugary fast food diet with few “friendly” bacteria to hold it in check, it morphs into pathogenic fungi which produce rhizoids, or tentacles, that bore into the intestinal walls, causing microscopic holes.  These holes compromise the immune system by allowing toxins, undigested food particles and parasitic bacteria to enter the bloodstream- a condition know as Leaky Gut Syndrome.

Unfortunately, many doctors miss diagnosing a fungal infection because the symptoms appear to be totally unrelated to fungal overgrowth and believe that fungal infections are limited to vaginal yeast overgrowth.  But pathogenic fungi have NO sexual preference and have been estimated to affect 40 percent to 60 percent of the population.

So how do you test for fungus?

A simple at home saliva test has been proven quite reliable in the diagnosis of a fungal overgrowth.

• First thing in the morning, get a clear glass and fill it with water.  It is important that nothing enters your mouth or touches your lips before you conduct this test.
• Work up a bit of saliva, then spit it into the glass of water.  Healthy saliva will be clear; it will float on top and then slowly dissolve into the water without any cloudiness and without sinking.  It is normal to have some bubbles or foam present.
• Candida saliva from a fungal infection will have one or more of three characteristics.  There will be strings, like cloudy legs, traveling down to the bottom of the glass, or “cloudy” saliva will sink to the bottom of the glass, or cloudy specks will seem to be suspended in the water.

How do you overcome a fungal infection and restore the body’s natural 85 to 15 ratio of “friendly” bacteria to yeast?

Here are some natural herbs that can help:

• Horopito leaf- a prehistoric plant native to New Zealand.
• Anise seed
• Sage leaf
• Grapefruit seed extract
• Calcium ascorbate
• Others: chamomile, garlic, olive leaf extract, and oil of oregano

One of the best things you can do is ELIMINATE sugar and grains from your diet!

Sugar, as we discussed earlier, feeds the candida and grains CONVERT to sugar within seconds of touching your tongue.

A second thing you must do is provide your body with good bacteria in the form a probiotic supplement. This will help restore the body’s natural flora and help the correct the imbalance present in your digestive tract.

So as you can see, many COMMON symptoms can be attributed to fungal growth and can be eliminated with simple solutions.  I recommend you try the saliva test, restrict your sugar and grain consumption, and begin taking a good probiotic. By implementing this into your lifestyle you will be one step closer to achieving Optimal Health.

About the Author: Dr Tunis Hunt Jr is a chiropractor serving the Charlotte area. In addition to administering chiropractic care, Dr. Hunt lectures and educates the public on nutrition and health based information. Dr. Hunt is also is an author of a popular blog: Dr Tunis Jr’s Blog. To reach Dr. Hunt for questions and comments or to schedule him to speak to your group or company please call 704-588-1792 or email him at drtunisjr@HuntChiropractic.com. www.HuntChiropractic.com

How to Actually Lose Weight During the Holidays

As Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the rest of the holiday season approaches, many of you will be given the opportunity to indulge in some of your favorite treats.

Whether it be a second serving of the Thanksgiving turkey, extra piece of pie, or the Christmas candies, we are all tempted to have that little extra something during this time.

One of the reasons MOST people over indulge during this time of year is due to the subconscious agreement they make with themselves that as soon as January 1, comes they are going to “get serious” about their health.

Unfortunately, this is exactly the type of thinking that is PREVENTING most of you from achieving your health goals!

I propose instead of WAITING for the new year to begin to exercise and eat nutritiously, that you start TODAY.

That’s right. By beginning today with proper food choices and exercise you will save yourself a whole lot of work once January comes.

The old adage “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” applies beautifully to this situation.

Imagine how much easier it will be for you to achieve your health and weight goals if you approach this Holiday season with this in mind.

Many of the objections that I get when I share this is that it is “TOO HARD” to eat right and exercise during this time. While I do agree it is more difficult, it is not impossible to do. In fact, if you can prove to yourself that you can exercise during the holiday season you may be less likely to quit once February roles around like many will.

For those who put off exercising until the New Year will have to work harder to lose the extra weight and will more likely quit as soon as the going gets tough.

Now I am not saying that you can’t enjoy some of your favorite foods during this time, but please enjoy them responsibly.  Beat the new year’s rush of health club enrollment and fad diets by taking control of your health now.  Prove to yourself that you can accomplish the “impossible,” weight loss during the Holiday season.

About the Author: Dr Tunis Hunt Jr is a chiropractor serving the Charlotte area. In addition to administering chiropractic care, Dr. Hunt lectures and educates the public on nutrition and health based information. To reach Dr. Hunt for questions and comments or to schedule him to speak to your group or company please call 704-588-1792 or email him at drtunisjr@HuntChiropractic.com.   www.HuntChiropractic.com

The “Dirty” Secret About Orange Juice!

We’ve all seen the ads. The big juicy looking orange with a straw in it and the promise of “All Natural” orange juice loaded with tons of vitamins and nutrients. It looks delicious and nutritious and we are stimulated to go out and buy this amazingly healthy product.

But what if it was all a lie? What if orange juice didn’t actually contain all the nutritious benefits it claims, but instead was HARMFUL to your health?

Shocking isn’t it?

Well that is exactly what a new book, “Squeezed, what you don’t know about orange juice”, by Allissa Hamilton states about orange juice!

Click Here for her short video.

And YES, I am talking about the NOT FROM CONCENTRATE kind!

The Not From Concentrate brand of orange juice is one of the biggest health scams on the market today.

The truth is that many popular orange juice brands have to be chemically altered using ethyl butyrate – a compound that ’s added to perfume as well as orange juice- in order to make it taste and smell like oranges!

In addition, many commercial orange juices are contaminated with mold from damaged fruit that is processed, exposing you and your family to these mold toxins. In fact, REAL fresh-squeezed orange juice will only last for a few days! So ANY product with a “Best Before” date of more than 60 days in the future is heavily PROCESSED.

Unfortunately, fresh squeezed juice isn’t much better.

An eight ounce glass of orange juice has about eight full teaspoons of sugar! This is nearly as much sugar as is in a can of soda (which typically has 10 teaspoons of sugar).

Now, I will admit that the type of sugar found in orange juice is a fruit sugar called fructose. Having said that, fructose is NOT necessarily a “healthy” form of sugar and will also cause a major increase in your insulin levels.

In fact, simple fruit sugar extracted from fruit has virtually identical side effects and negative effects on your biochemistry as heavily used high fructose corn syrup.

Fruit fructose, along with all the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, water, other mono-, di- and olgio-saccharides and fiber found in fruit, are converted to blood glucose.

This is important because elevated insulin levels are one of the primary drivers for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and weight gain.

In fact, drinking fruit juice has been linked to an increased risk of diabetes, while fructose itself has been shown to increase your triglyceride levels. One study showed eating fructose raised triglyceride levels by 32 percent in men!

Obtaining fruits and vegetables is very important and certainly eating a fresh orange is a much better alternative than buying orange juice.

If you are one of those people though, who are hooked on orange juice I suggest that you begin to ween yourself off of it as soon as possible.

Begin by diluting your juice with water and eventually consume just water. By doing this you will eliminate the excess sugar in your diet and begin to experience the health benefits of consuming more water. This is just one more easy step to help you and your family achieve Optimal Health.

About the Author: Dr Tunis Hunt Jr is a chiropractor serving the Charlotte area. In addition to administering chiropractic care, Dr. Hunt lectures and educates the public on nutrition and health based information. Dr. Hunt is also is an author of a popular blog: Dr Tunis Jr’s Blog. To reach Dr. Hunt for questions and comments or to schedule him to speak to your group or company please call 704-588-1792 or email him at drtunisjr@HuntChiropractic.com.   www.HuntChiropractic.com

Could Your Halloween Candy Actually Be Good For You?

This past Saturday most of America participated in the tradition of Halloween.  Children and “Big kids” alike put on costumes and enjoyed parties, festivals, and the search for CANDY!  If your success was anything like my kids “Tinkerbell” and “Peter Pan,” you ended your night with a large quantity of chocolate treats, candies, and all other things made of sugar.

What you do with the large quantity of treats you’ve acquired will have a direct impact on your health.  Sugar is one of the leading causes of inflammation in our bodies and too much of it can lead to tons of health problems including diabetes. 

America is currently experiencing an obesity epidemic and children who acquire Type II diabetes is at a all time high.  In fact, Type II diabetes used to be called “Adult Onset Diabetes” but is unable to be called that anymore due to the alarming rates of children acquiring it.

In addition to chronic health problems, sugar is also a MAJOR immune suppressor and can INCREASE you and your child’s likelihood of contracting illnesses including the “dreaded” Swine flu.  In fact, limiting your sugar intake will give your body a better chance of fighting off the swine flu than receiving the swine flu vaccine!

So what are you supposed to do with all that candy?  I suggest you give it to someone you do not like or who you wish will get ill this winter. 

Just kidding! 

Throw it AWAY instead. You nor ANYONE else will benefit from consuming ANY of it.  Do yourself and YOUR children a favor and just get rid of it.

Does that mean that all candy is bad?

NO.  In fact, there is some candy that is actually GOOD for you and SHOULD be consumed on a somewhat regular basis.

Research has indicated that Dark Organic Chocolate is ACTUALLY good for you!

Chocolate has a health benefit, resveratrol.

Emerging evidence during the past decade supports the health benefits of resveratrol… to the point of becoming one of my favorite antioxidants.

Resveratrol is a very potent antioxidant compound produced by certain fruits and vegetables including grapes, raspberries, mulberries, and peanuts.

Realizing that chocolate also comes from a plant (theobroma cacao tree) whose fruit produces cocoa beans, you may not be surprised at the scientific findings about it.

In fact, scientists report dark chocolate, baking chocolate, and cocoa powder all contain significant levels of resveratrol.

This potent antioxidant is somewhat different from the rest.  It not only helps you neutralize free radicals, but can also cross your blood-brain barrier to help protect your brain and nervous system.

Studies show that resveratrol may increase the lifespan in human cells.  So, it could be a determining factor in extending your longevity.

Plus, resveratrol benefits you by how it…

• Protects your cells from free radical damage
• Helps you keep your blood pressure within the normal range
• Promotes your healthy heart and cardiovascular system
• Helps improve your blood vessel elasticity
• Boosts your protection against the spread of abnormal cell activity
• Helps you better control the aging process
• Supports your body’s natural defense system

In addition, it’s important for you to understand there are 2 different forms of resveratrol — “cis” and “trans.”  Both may be blended together in certain foods.

The difference between the two forms is the result of their molecular structure, and involves organic chemistry nomenclature.

However, the most researched form of resveratrol that provides you enhanced health benefits is trans-resveratrol.  This is the form of resveratrol found in dark chocolate.

So, now you see why I strongly recommend dark, unprocessed chocolate as part of your selection criteria.

Other types of chocolate, including milk chocolate, potentially process out most or all of your antioxidant benefits.

The process used to produce dark chocolate should be a key element in your selection criteria.

Why is that so important?

First of all, to maximize your health advantages from dark chocolate, it’s crucial you find organically certified chocolate… USDA certified.

It’s not enough for the manufacturer to claim organic ingredients.  The entire process used to produce the chocolate and the ingredients must be certified organic.

It’s as simple as that… yet isn’t all that easy to find.

In addition to organic certification, I strongly recommend a chocolate producer to be what’s called Fair Trade Certified™.

Fair Trade is a system of exchange that honors the chocolate producers, communities, consumers, and the environment… a manufacturer’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility and sustainability.

Why does this matter?

Well, Fair Trade certification helps ensure that the manufacturer…

• Uses only pure ingredients in the chocolate
• Partners closely with cacao farmers and growers
• Respects employees and suppliers
• Uses green energy sources to power chocolate production
• Employs sustainable packaging and printing methods

The bottom line for you?  A chocolate manufacturer who is Fair Trade Certified delivers a more consistent product at a fair price with a commitment to social responsibility.

So, as you can see, you CAN enjoy chocolate and experience health benefits at the same time.  I have been consuming a small amount of Dark Organic Chocolate on most evenings for some time now.  It quenches my sweet tooth and I am healthier for it.

I encourage you to get rid of all the harmful candy that was acquired on Halloween and locate some Dark Chocolate today.

About the Author: Dr Tunis Hunt Jr is a chiropractor serving the Charlotte area.  In addition to administering chiropractic care, Dr. Hunt lectures and educates the public on nutrition and health based information.  Dr. Hunt is also is an author of a popular blog: Dr Tunis Jr’s Blog. To reach Dr. Hunt for questions and comments or to schedule him to speak to your group or company please call 704-588-1792 or email him at drtunisjr@HuntChiropractic.com.   www.HuntChiro.com

Iodine: Could it be the answer to YOUR symptoms?

20 million Americans suffer from hypothyroidism and chances are either you or someone you care about is one of them. In fact, some experts claim that 10 to 40 percent of Americans have suboptimal thyroid function. 

So what?  Thyroid hormones are used by EVERY cell of your body to regulate metabolism and body weight by controlling the burning of fat for energy and heat.  Thyroid hormones are also required for growth and development in children. 

You could have hypothyroidism if you:

1. feel sluggish and tired
2. have difficulty losing weight
3. have dry skin
4. hair loss
5. constipation
6. cold sensitivity

With the thyroid playing such an important role in your body it is essential that you supply it with the proper nutrients to work effectively.  A key nutrient, and one that many are deficient in is, Iodine. 

Yes Iodine. 

Iodine has four important functions in your body:

1. Stabilization of metabolism and body weight
2. Brain development in children
3. Fertility
4. Optimization of your immune system (iodine is a potent anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-viral and anti-cancer agent)

As increases in thyroid disease, breast cancer, fibrocystic breast disease, prostate cancer, and obesity in American adults, and an increase in mental retardation and developmental delays in American children, there has been SIMULTANEOUS decreases in iodine levels.

 Factors contributing to falling iodine levels are:

1. Diets low in fish, shellfish and seaweed
2. Vegan and vegetarian diets
3. Decreased use of iodized salt
4. Less use of iodide in the food and agricultural industry
5. Use of radioactive iodine in many medical procedures, which competes with natural iodine
6. Fluoridation of water supply

One major reason that Iodine deficiency is occurring is because iodine MUST compete with toxic halides. 

Iodine is a member of a class of related elements called “halogens” that includes bromine, fluorine, and chlorine. When they are chemically reduced, the become “halides”: iodide, bromide, fluoride and chloride. These are the forms you usually encounter in your foods, medications and environment.

Iodide and chloride are beneficial in small amounts, but bromide and fluoride are toxic. They grab onto your iodine receptors, blocking the action of iodide and thyroid hormones, resulting in, or at least contributing to many serious diseases.

One of the main problems is that the toxic halides become stuck in your body.

There is no known detoxification pathway for bromine and fluorine so they build up in your tissues and wreak havoc on your health.

How do test your iodine levels?

One of the easiest things you can do is simply use the Iodine Patch Test.

Another test is the urine iodine challenge test.

So how do you increase your Iodine levels?

The best natural source is sea vegetables.

The best source of organically bound iodine is non-commercially harvested seaweeds. The dose is about 5 grams a day or about one ounce per week, so a pound would last about two months.

Supplements can also be used but getting it from a natural source is always best.

I have seen great results with patients who choose to supplement with iodine.

Unfortunately, many women (and men) are being put on Synthroid to combat there under producing thyroid.  In many instances this is ABSOLUTELY unnecessary.  Simple dietary changes or supplementation could be all that is required.

Again, Iodine deficiency is a major cause and should be tested prior to going on ANY drug or supplement.

In instances were some support is needed or if you have been on a thyroid medication for some time, there are great bio-identical hormone products such as Armour, Nature-Throid, and Westroid.

The bottom line is there is a major iodine deficiency in Americans.  This deficiency is one of the major contributors to hypothyroidism and should be checked prior to ANY supplementation or drugs.

I encourage you to check your iodine level today and start experiencing better health.

About the Author: Dr Tunis Hunt Jr is a chiropractor serving the Charlotte area. In addition to administering chiropractic care, Dr. Hunt lectures and educates the public on nutrition and health based information. To reach Dr. Hunt for questions and comments or to schedule him to speak to your group or company please call 704-588-1792 or email him at drtunisjr@HuntChiropractic.com.   www.HuntChiropractic.com

Soy: Is it really America’s Health Food?

Today I want to talk about something that unfortunately may be hard to swallow for many of my vegetarian friends.   I want to address soy and the fact that it is….

NOT a Health Food! 

Unfortunately, many of you, including myself, have been misinformed by the soy industry that soy is a health food.   This is simply NOT true. 

But before I tell you why it is not a health food you must understand some history about soy. 

Soy was first used during the Chou dynasty in (1134-246 BC).   It was primarily used during crop rotation to help fix nitrogen in the soil. 

It wasn’t until later, during 2^nd century BC, that it was first used as food.   It was during this time that Chinese Scientist first learned a process to FERMENT soy.   Such products that were produced were Miso, Natto, and Tempeh. 

Since this time, Asian societies have incorporated soy into their culture and foods.   It is this implementation and the fact that many Eastern societies do not have the chronic diseases that plague the West, that many began to believe soy was providing healthy benefits. 

This line of thought seemed logical enough, but unfortunately is not accurate. 

Soy is actually used very SPARINGLY in these cultures.   In fact, no more than 2-4 Tbs. are ever used during a singe day.  

Soy is essentially a condiment.   It would be like we declaring Ketcup as a health food and use it as a staple of our diet. 

The soy that is used is also FERMENTED. 

Fermentation is ESSENTIAL in order for soy to deemed healthy and beneficial to your body.   Soybeans contain large quantities of natural toxins or “antinutrients,” and fermentation process takes many of these toxins out. 

Fermented soy includeds miso, tempeh, and natto, NOT tofu. 

That’s right, Tofu is NOT healthy for you and can actually be doing your body harm. 

Because Tofu is not fermented it contains all of the natural toxins and “antinutrients.” 

The natural toxins include: 

Potent Enzyme Inhibitors- block the action of Trypsin and other digestive enzymes that are necessary for protein digestion.

These inhibitors are large, tightly folded proteins that are not completely deactivated during ordinary cooking.   They can produce serious gastric distress, reduced protein digestion and chronic deficiencies in amino acid uptake.   In test animals, diets high in trypsin inhibitors cause enlargement and pathological conditions of the pancreas, including cancer. 

Trypsin inhibitors and haemagglutinin are growth inhibitors.   Weanling rats fed soy containing these antinutrients fail to grow normally.   Growth-depressant compounds are deactivated during the process of fermentation, so once the Chinese discovered how to ferment the soybean, they began to incorporate soy foods into their diets. 

Goitrogens: Substances that suppress thyroid function. 

Phytic Acid: It’s a substance that can block the uptake of essential minerals – calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and especially zinc – in the intestinal tract. 

Phytoestrogens: substances that mimic estrogen. 

Another MAJOR reason to stay away from soy is that MOST of it is Genetically Modified (GMO).   GMO food has been altered and the health implications have been less than favorable. 

Because unfermented soy is not a health food and actually harmful to your health you should avoid soy products at all cost. 

One the products that should definitely be avoided is Soy Infant Formula. 

This product should ABSOLUTELY be taken off the market. 

Research has shown that children who have consumed soy infant formula have 20,000 X’s the level of estrogen in their blood than those who haven’t consumed it! 

In fact, it is the equivalent of giving YOUR baby 5 birth control pills EVERY day!

 Many believe that this is one of the leading contributors to early puberty and “adult onset” chronic diseases in children. 

In addition to the estrogen, soy infant formulas contain other toxic ingredients such as Manganese and Aluminum. 

I understand that many parents put their child on soy infant formula because their child cannot digest the milk based products. 

Obviously, breast milk is the best thing to give your child.  For those cases in which this is not possible, commercial infant formula is not your best alternative. 

For some alternatives to commercial infant formulas Click Here. 

Soy milk is another product that you should avoid for all the same reasons I mentioned about soy infant formula. 

Soy Protein Isolate is also a NON-healthy form of soy.  This is a process done in large facilities that ACID wash the soybeans and then soak them in Aluminum containers.   As you can imagine much of the aluminum leeches to the soy and is passed onto the consumer. 

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is also added to most soy protein isolate as a taste enhancer.  MSG is a excitotoxin (neurotoxin) that actually stimulates your brain cells to death.

And if these facts alone didn’t make you question soy’s healthy claims….

Soy was actually DENIED GRAS status by the FDA because of all the reports and studies associated with it.  GRAS stands for Generally Recognized As Safe.   Still want to consume it? 

Again, ALL soy is not bad.  You must use “organic” fermented soy such as miso, natto, and tempeh and stay away from NON-fermented soy such as Tofu. 

The soy industry has done a fabulous job of convincing us that soy is a healthy food and a good alternative to meat.  They have spent millions in creating this facade and probably not going to be volunteering this information anytime soon. 

I encourage you to look into this matter yourself and I have even provided some links that may shed some more light on this subject. 

Newest Research on Why You Should Avoid Soy

Soy May Cause Cancer and Brain Damage

Soy: To Good to Be True

Soy and Brain Damage

Yours in Health, 

Dr. Tunis Jr

About the Author: Dr Tunis Hunt Jr is a chiropractor serving the Charlotte area. In addition to administering chiropractic care, Dr. Hunt lectures and educates the public on nutrition and health based information. He is also the creator of the highly successful detoxification and weight loss program 21 days 2 purification.  www.21days2purification.com  To reach Dr. Hunt for questions and comments or to schedule him to speak to your group or company please call 704-588-1792 or email him.   www.HuntChiropractic.com

Thank You for Reading!

I just wanted to send a heart felt thanks to all who read my blogs.  I have really appreciated the feedback and support from everyone. 

As you can see we are implementing Video in the blog and hope that this will add a new dimension to it.

As I mentioned, most of my blog posts are answers to questions that I receive from emails or patients.  I would love an opportunity to talk “blog” about something that interests YOU.

Just email me at DrTunisJr@HuntChiropractic.com and I will attempt to cover your question with an upcoming blog.

Thanks again for your support!

Sincerely,

Dr. Tunis Jr

My Swine Flu letter

With the anticipation of the H1N1 vaccine (swine flu) becoming available to the general public in the next coming weeks, my local paper, The Charlotte Observer, asked readers to submit comments on whether or not they were going to have their children vaccinated with the H1N1 vaccine.

Previously, I have written on this subject and my stance may be obvious to many of you, but I wanted to share with you what I wrote to them. 

Please feel free to use any or all of the information to create your own letters or talking points with those who would benefit from the information.  (For the purpose of clarity I have bold and underlined key points in the blog.)

Dear Charlotte Observer,

I will ABSOLUTELY NOT vaccinate my healthy children with the H1N1 vaccine, VOLUNTARILY.

The H1N1 virus is NO more dangerous than the current common flu. What IS dangerous, is the H1N1 vaccine that is currently in production.

The H1N1 vaccine is being manufactured at lightening speeds with little or no testing.  True responses and effects of this toxic concoction will not be fully understood until maybe millions have ALREADY been injected.

Harmful ingredients including squalene, a dangerous additive, which has been linked to Multiple Sclerosis-like symptoms, paralysis, and even death, is planned to be included in the H1N1 vaccine.  This particular squalene is created using synthetic polymers refined from raw crude petroleum. In the case of the flu vaccine, the squalene product is named MF-59.

MF-59 is called an “oil-in-water” adjuvant.  An adjuvant is a foreign substance designed to provoke a major immune response in the human body. It is added to a vaccine for this purpose, allowing much less of the specific virus “seed stock” to be needed in the vaccine to similarly create an immune system response.

Squalene, as well as all other “oil-in-water” adjuvants create something called “anti-polymer” antibodies to form in the human body.  In turn, dozens of Independent studies have shown that anti-polymer antibodies cause lesions and abnormal tissue and organ malfunctions.

Anti-polymer antibodies have been conclusively linked to lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, skin rashes, memory loss, chronic fatigue, headaches, body aches, and hair loss.  Remember the huge class-action lawsuits filed over silicon breast implants in the 1990’s? 

The lawsuits proved that the silicon (an oil-based foreign substance) caused the body to produce massive “anti-polymer antibodies” and in turn, chronic illnesses.  As a result, DOW CORNING – the silicon manufacturer and a Fortune 500 company, was forced into Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Besides the harmful ingredients, the fact that pharmaceutical companies have ALREADY received immunity for any lawsuits arising from deaths or side effects from the vaccines should make every citizen weary about injecting it into their children.

And finally, flu vaccines do not work!

Not in healthy babies:  A review of 51 studies involving more than 294,000 children it was found there was “no evidence that injecting children 6-24 months of age with a flu shot was any more effective than placebo.  In children over 2 yrs, it was only effective 33% of the time in preventing the flu. Reference:  “Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy children.” The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. (2008).

Not in children with asthma: A study of 800 children with asthma, half were vaccinated and the other half did not receive the influenza vaccine.  The two groups were compared with respect to clinic visits, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations for asthma. CONCLUSION:  This study failed to provide evidence that the influenza vaccine prevents pediatric asthma exacerbations. Reference: “Effectiveness of influenza vaccine for the prevention of asthma exacerbations.” Christly, C. et al. Arch Dis Child. 2004 Aug;89(8):734-5.

Not in children with asthma (2):“The inactivated flu vaccine does not prevent influenza-related hospitalizations in children, especially the ones with asthma…In fact, children who get the flu vaccine are three times more at risk for hospitalization than children who do not get the vaccine.” Reference: The American Thoracic Society’s 105th International Conference, May 15-20, 2009, San Diego.

Not in adults: In a review of 48 reports (more than 66,000 adults), “Vaccination of healthy adults only reduced risk of influenza by 6% and reduced the number of missed work days by less than one day (0.16) days.  It did not change the number of people needing to go to the hospital or take time off work.” Reference: “Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults.” The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 1 (2006).

Not in the Elderly: In a review of 64 studies over 98 flu seasons of elderly living in nursing homes, flu shots were non-significant for preventing the flu.  For elderly living in the community, vaccines were not (significantly) effective against influenza, ILI or pneumonia. Reference: “Vaccines for preventing influenza in the elderly.” The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 3(2006).

The overwhelming evidence that flu vaccines are ineffective and the potential harm of the H1N1 vaccine, has convinced me that the SAFER alternative is not vaccinating my children with the H1N1 vaccine.  Instead I will boost their immune systems with chiropractic adjustments, nutritious eating, vitamins C and D, as well as encourage them to practice healthy hygiene.

Sincerely,

 

Tunis C. Hunt Jr, D.C.

 

 

Is That “Diet” Drink Actually Causing Weight Gain?

One of the best sale’s ploys on the market today is the Diet drinks. The manufacturers have cleverly conned millions of people to think that drinking their diet alternative is a healthy choice.

We all know those people, and maybe you are one of them, that justify soda drinking because they choose the “Diet” brand. Even worse are those who mix cocktails with a diet drink in order to have an healthy alternative. Really? You are consuming alcohol, mixing it with a diet soda will not make your drink any healthier.

I would find this absolutely hilarious except for the severity of the situation.

The truth is Diet drinks will ACTUALLY cause weight gain and a myriad of other health issues!

I know this is shocking to some of you, but most ADVERTISING is a LIE.

Their job is to convince you to buy their product and will even twist the truth to accomplish this.

Here are the facts about diet drinks.

Diet drinks are labeled “diet” because they replace sugar and high fructose corn syrup with an artificial sweetener. And as I do agree that sugar and high fructose corn syrup are not healthy for you, artificial sweeteners are even WORSE!

Scientific research shows that artificial sweeteners actually cause a paradoxical effect and cause you to gain weight.

In fact, nearly a decade ago, studies were already revealing that artificial sweeteners can:

• Stimulate your appetite.
• Increase carbohydrate cravings.
• Stimulate fat storage and weight gain.

I read a study where participants switched from drinking diet sodas to “regular” sodas and actually LOST weight.

These facts alone should influence you not to use artificial sweeteners, but the true damaging effects are far more severe.

In fact, I prefer you to use sugar than artificial sweeteners. Sugar is a natural substance and your body only has to deal with leptin and insulin regulation.

Artificial sweeteners, on the other hand, are not natural. So, in addition to the same leptin and insulin regulation requirements, your body must also deal with the toxic effects of these chemicals.

The truth is that artificial sweeteners like aspartame (NutraSweet) and sucralose (Splenda) can contribute to additional side effects.

Aspartame (NutraSweet)

Results of multiple studies, complaints, and testimonies have revealed that aspartame can trigger or worsen the following diseases:

Brain tumors                              Mental retardation

Multiple sclerosis                        Lymphoma

Epilepsy                                     Birth defects

Chronic fatigue syndrome          Fibromyalgia

Parkinson’s disease                   Diabetes

Alzheimer’s disease

And Splenda is NO better!

Sucralose, the sweetening agent is Splenda, is in fact made from sugar (sucrose). However, what the ads don’t go on to say is that chemists then add three chlorine molecules to these sugar molecules to create the final product a chlorocarbon.

That’s right, you are consuming chlorine when you use Splenda!

As you can imagine there are numerous toxic reactions to chlorine.

Animal studies have revealed that sucralose can cause:

• Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40% shrinkage)
• Enlarge liver and kidneys
• Atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus
• Reduce growth rate
• Decreased red blood cell count
• Diarrhea

Still think “diet” is better?

The truth is that the use of the word “diet” is a marketing coy with no real health implications. Our country is currently in a obesity epidemic and soft drink consumption is a leading cause of this.

You should be drinking purified water on a daily basis. Water is essential for your body and it’s systems to operate correctly. I have written about all it’s positive benefits in some of my previous blogs.

So if you currently drink diet sodas (or regular), I encourage you to consider making a change. Sodas have ZERO nutritional value and will only lead to chronic problems down the road.

Begin today by substituting at least one soda with a glass of water. After you master that I encourage you to substitute another soda with a glass of water. Continue this until you completely eliminate these additional and harmful calories from your life.

 

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