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When health foods go bad
25th November 2005
I've had an idea for a trashy cable television programme...
It's called, 'When health foods go BAD.'
It could be presented by one of those disgraced exchildren's TV presenters who get caught taking drugs.
Each week they'd show dramatic clips of people being ill from food the government and advertisers claimed was good for them.
The presenter could end each programme saying, 'Is YOUR favourite health food next?'
Okay, okay, it's a bad idea...
But there'd be plenty of material for a series.
Every year there seems to be yet another shock revelation about how lowfat, low sugar, lowcaffeine foods are bad for you.
We've just had another one recently...
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Bad news about 'healthy' coffee
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A few weeks ago I told you why I thought that much of the negative press about caffeine was just hype and hysteria.
Well, it looks like the mainstream media has finally caught up.
A week after my email, on the 18th November, a story broke in the newspapers about a health study on coffee.
The US National Institute of Health has found that drinking decaffeinated coffee could increase the risk of heart disease.
Those in the survey who drank decaffeinated coffee experienced an 18% rise in the fatty acids, which encourages the production of bad 'LDL' cholesterol.
They also discovered that their levels of apolipoprotein B (a bad cholesterol) shot up by 8%.
The group drinking regular coffee was not affected.
The survey was led by Dr Robert Superko of the 'Fuqua Heart Centre' in Georgia. He said:
'Contrary to what people have thought for many years, I believe it's not caffeinated but decaffeinated coffee that might promote heart disease risk factors.'
So there you go... another 'healthy' alternative, like margarine and artificial sweeteners, has turned out to be the devil in disguise.
Haven't we learned any lessons, yet?
When will scientists realise that making chemically altered versions of perfectly decent foodstuffs only INCREASES the risk of a health disaster?
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Why decaf is unhealthier
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One reason for the results of the survey on coffee appears to be that caffeinated and decaffeinated coffees are made from different species of beans.
Most caffeinated coffee comes from a bean species called 'Arabica'... while many decaffeinated coffees are made from 'Robusta', which is much, much stronger.
This is because decaffeination takes out those flavonoids that give coffee its flavour.
As I mentioned in my letter a few weeks ago, these flavanoids act like powerful antioxidants, which can help protect the heart and fight cancer.
So decaffeinated brands are not only lower in flavanoids, but use a much stronger bean to match the flavour of the regular stuff.
The result is that decaf gives your bad cholesterol a most unwelcome boost.
Most experts believe that you shouldn't worry if you're one of those who enjoy only one or two cups of coffee a day... but I think you should be aware of this study.
And although I was joking about my cable television series, 'When good foods go BAD', I wouldn't be surprised if a Sky One executive picks up the idea.
As my mother says, 'TV is rubbish these days.'
Now, on a completely different subject...
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Irritable bowel? Have a 'Sitz Bath'
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Here's a wonderful way to treat irritable bowel syndrome, courtesy of Ron Gellately, N.D.
He recommends something called a 'Sitz Bath'...
'You sit in a bath of warm water filled to below your belly button, then jazz the water up with apple cider vinegar, Epsom salts, baking soda or salt.
'You may rather add delightful herbs: chamomile, Comfrey or Lavender to the water.
'Here comes the clowning around bit. Stick your legs up on the sides of the bath. Do this without falling backwards, of course. If they are long enough, let them hang over the sides.
'Have a good soak, enjoy yourself.
'If the Sitz bath routine is all too much for you, try soaking a warm towel with hot water containing Epsom salts.
'Hold this on the painful area for as long as it takes to ease things for you.'
This tip is from one of my favourite health books, called 'Internal Health: The Key to Eternal Youth and Vitality'.
Ron Gellatley writes very well about alternative treatments for constipation... indigestion... irritable bowel syndrome... weight gain... high cholesterol and low energy levels.
If you'd like a copy of his ground-breaking book, <Internal Health
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A magnetic treatment for muscle spasms
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Good Life reader, C.H, recently emailed me with another remarkable use for magnetic therapy...
'There has been quite a bit of research at the National Hospital (for Nervous Diseases) as to their suitability for the treatment of various forms of dystonia, and some patients have experienced some relief.
'Dystonia is involuntary muscle contractions/spasms of various parts of the body.
'There are varieties which can affect the neck - torticollis, which is twisted to one side, or backwards (retrocollis).
'Also writer's cramp, affecting the hands and arms... and blepharospasm, which affects the eyelids and makes the person functionally blind if they can't control them.'
'When someone has a very strained voice this can be caused by dysphonia, or laryngeal dystonia.
'Botox injections are the most common form of treatment, but it is vital that the doctor puts the injection in the right place, and sometimes this is not possible.
'The good effect though generally only lasts for a few weeks as the nerves re-grow and the problem returns.'
Thanks for that, C.H...
There are an estimated 38,000 people in the UK with dystonia. But it's difficult to diagnose, and many doctors will never have seen someone with it before, so that number is probably much higher.
So if you're one of the few suffering from this ailment, then magnets could be an interesting alternative therapy to explore.
By the way, I've been bowled over by the number of emails about magnets and their therapeutic uses...
Thanks for all your messages, and keep any interesting new ideas coming.
I'll endeavour to get as many of your tips and requests into my letters as I can.
Yours As Ever
Ray Collins
The Good Life Letter
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