1,000 Days Of Beyond The Master Cleanse

Reviewed By Susan Schenck

If you have not heard of the Master Cleanser, it is a very popular way of fasting/cleansing created in 1941 by the author’s mentor, Stanley Burroughs. The author has spent a total of 1,000 days on the cleanse since 1979 and has successfully guided others on it. The healing benefits are remarkable and include better sleep, mental clarity, weight loss, freedom from addictions, hair no longer falling out, more energy, and much more.

The cleanse consists of four items. Lemon juice is used because lemons contain many minerals, as well as acids that help break down calcified substances in the body such as kidney stones and gallstones. Lemons are also alkalizing. Maple syrup is recommended above all other sweeteners because it is rich in minerals and vitamins. (Agave was, if used more than 10 days, found to cause demineralization!) Cayenne pepper is added because it purifies and thins the blood. (The book also states that when cayenne is placed under the tongue in tincture or powder form, it can even stop a heart attack!) Of course, water is also used in the drink, and the author discusses the various forms of water (distilled, reverse osmosis, etc.)

In this complete guide to the Master Cleanse, we are told what to expect during the cleanse and reminded that a healing crisis is good—it means your body is doing its cleansing thing. The author assures women who are pregnant or nursing that it is safe for them to also participate in a 7 to 10 day cleanse. Children and the elderly too! Even people who have had various organs removed.

We are also told how to end the cleanse, and how to eat to maintain the benefits. (Eat raw as much as possible, and alkaline; avoid processed foods, go organic, etc.) There is a list of 21 things to do to enhance your results, as well as 17 common mistakes to avoid (ex: you should drink the juice within 10 minutes to get most of the nutrients). The author also gives health tips for your lifestyle after cleansing, such as starting out every morning with some fresh squeezed lemon juice, and experimenting with mono diets, juice diets, water fasting, parasite cleanses and liver/gallbladder flushes. There is a discussion of the advantages of vegetarianism, the importance of staying alkaline, and more in-depth talk about water.

The last part of the book discusses emotions and emotional eating. “There is not enough food on the planet to make your feelings and emotions go away,” he tells us. “Eventually, the gnawing away of some past experience or pain that just won’t dissipate may suddenly break through into your conscious awareness and motivate you to step up and make a change.” We are also given tips and info on the importance of filtering the bath or shower water, as well as having nontoxic skin care products and even clothing.

Beyond the Master Cleanse (Ulysses Press/ 2009) by Tom Woloshyn is a great, easy-to-read little book, a complete guide for cleansing inside and out, and staying clean. Even though I have read hundreds of books on health and nutrition, I found many new little useful tidbits such as suppressing the appetite with essential oils of lemon, ginger, peppermint and spearmint and how to make a concentrate for when you are traveling.

Book Review: The Daylight Diet By Paul Nison

Susan Schenck is author of The Live Food Factor

Copyright © 2006-2010, Basil & Spice. All rights reserved.

Book Review: Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, A Marine, and a Miracle

A Kids Pick By Loyd Eskildson

The subtitle for this book is "The True Story of a Mutt, A Marine, and a Miracle," (Little Brown Books/ 2009) and it is certainly that. Marine Major Brian Dennis, a fighter pilot by training, was leading leading border patrols in western Iraq when he came upon pack of wild dogs led by a wiry mutt with clipped ears. (Iraqis believe that clipping a dog's ears makes it 'tough' and reduces the area that an opposing dog can grab onto.) The pack was living on desert mice and rats, and scraps from local Iraqi soldiers.
 
It took awhile, but eventually Major Dennis was able to make friends with the dog, whom he named "Nubs." Periodically, Dennis and his men would leave for several days before returning. There Nubs would be waiting. On the unit's last return, however, Nubs hung back - he'd been stabbed by locals using a screwdriver. Major Dennis and his corpsman treated the wound and gave Nubs antibiotics, but the dog was too sore to eat and drink, and had difficulty even lying down.
 
The next day the patrol drove off to a location 70 miles away, leaving Nubs and the pack behind. Two days later, despite 18 degree nights and the dangers of a wild desert and war zone, Nubs appeared at Major Dennis's new location, much worse for wear. Despite military prohibition against keeping animals, the group adopted Nubs, and even built him a doghouse. Unfortunately, some of Major Dennis's two-legged 'friends' reported this heinous violation, and he was given four days to get rid of the dog, "or else."
 
Major Dennis acted quickly, creating a web-based appeal for funds to help pay the cost of sending Nubs to his home in San Diego, and arranging for his interpreter's brother to help implement the move. (A little royal assistance also helped - the King of Jordan's veterinarian provided additional treatment and cared for Nubs while awaiting final arrangements.)
 
After about two weeks, Nubs was off to San Diego to stay with a fellow Marine pilot, and one month later, was reunited with Major Dennis. Today they live, exercise and play together - happily ever after.
 
In addition to a great story, the book also has a number of excellent photos documenting Nub's story.

Loyd Eskildson is retired from a life of computer programming, teaching economics and finance, education and health care administration, and cross-country truck driving.  He's now a reviewer for Basil & Spice.

FirstLook Review: Happy Dog By Billy Rafferty and Jill Cahr

 Kids Pick Review: Where The Wild Things Are By Maurice Sendak

Copyright © 2006-2010, Basil & Spice. All rights reserved.

Only Pregnant Animals Tested With Peramivir For H1N1 Virus

Linda Burke-Galloway, M.D.--

The FDA had granted the use of unapproved drugs in the treatment of the 2009 H1N1 Influenza virus.  Through an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), the experimental drug, Peramivir has been allowed to treat hospitalized patients with H1N1 influenza that includes pregnant women, babies and children up to age 17.  Peramivir is not approved by the FDA for use in the U.S. because its patient safety has not been established.

Peramivir is an antiviral medication, similar to Tamiflu® and Relenza® but is given in the veins. It is helpful for patients who are unable to swallow meds, have an allergy to Tamiflu® or Relenza® or are not responding to oral or nasal medication. However, treatment with Peramivir should be considered a “Hail Mary Pass.” It is used when all else has failed. While the FDA believes that known and potential benefits of Peramivir outweigh its known and potential risks, a closer look at the FDA’s statistics is on order.

According to the Emergency Use Authorization of Peramivir IV Fact Sheet for Health Care Providers the following statistics are enlightening:

• Only 1,891 clinical trials patients in the US were given any form of the drug
• Out of 1,891 patients tested, NONE were children, pregnant women or nursing mothers
• Out of the 1,891 clinical trial patients, only 478 received a “single-dose” regimen similar to what might be given in a hospital setting
• Out of 1,891 patients, only 33 patients received a 600 mg dose for five days or greater

Pregnant women were excluded from the study however pregnant rats and rabbits were not. Listed below are their findings:

• There were no birth defects in either pregnant rats or rabbits
• Pregnant rabbits experienced kidney problems at a 200 mg dose and an increased incidence of spontaneous miscarriages
• A 600 mg dose did not affect the kidneys of pregnant rats
• Small amounts of the drug was found in the breast milk of pregnant rats

The FDA reports that 10 percent of all human subjects experienced adverse events including 4 percent who received the 200 mg dose and 17 percent who received the 400 mg dose. The most frequent adverse reaction was pneumonia.  The FDA recommends a 5-to-10 day treatment of Peramivir 600 mg given once per day.

Let’s hope we will remain healthy and never have the need for Peramirvir. However knowledge is power. At least we now have the facts.

Linda Burke-Galloway, MD, MS, FACOG is a board-certified ob-gyn physician who is a champion of patient safety and is on a mission to keep pregnant women from falling through the cracks of our imperfect healthcare system.  For over twenty years she has provided clinical services to high-risk pregnant women in medically underserved communities. She served our country through the National Health Service Corp, is a medical malpractice consultant for the U.S. Human Health Services and the federal government has also sought her expertise in reducing obstetrical malpractice cases in high-risk communities.  Dr. Burke-Galloway has worked for the State of Florida Department of Health for over thirteen years in direct patient care.  She is the author of The Smart Mothers Guide to a Better Pregnancy and is the Pregnancy Expert for LifeScript.com. She is a graduate of City College of the City University of New York, Columbia University School of Social Work and Boston University School of Medicine.  She lives with her husband in Central Florida and is the proud mother of two sons. Dr. Galloway is the author of The Smart Mother's Guide to a Better Pregnancy (Red Flags Pub/ 2008). You'll find Dr. Galloway online at www.smartmothersguide.com

H1N1 Influenza And Pregnancy: A Preventable Tragedy

Older Pregnant Women With H1N1 More Susceptible To Pneumonia

Copyright © 2006-2010, Basil & Spice. All rights reserved.

The Biggest Loser's Nutritionist On Its 9th Season, Airing In 90 Countries

Cheryl Forberg R.D.--

I am the RD/ nutritionist for The Biggest Loser and have been since its beginning in 2004.  Currently, we’re filming our 9th season, which will premiere in January. The show is airing in 90 countries and being produced in about 30 countries.

Cheryl Forberg--The Biggest Loser's Nutritionist

Though most of my work for The Biggest Loser is off-camera, I do have a very active role in nutrition education for the contestants/viewers. Gradually, my role has evolved and become broader reaching.

As a member of the show's Medical Expert Team (comprised of physicians, myself, a psychologist, a sports medic and other health professionals), my job has many facets. I first meet with prospective contestants for a comprehensive nutrition consult during their pre-show physicals (which last several days) each season. Once the cast has been selected, I introduce contestants to their respective calorie budgets and to the Biggest Loser eating plan, which I co-wrote with Dr. Dansinger and Dr. Robert Huizenga. The BL eating plan does not include supplements other than a multiple vitamin without iron (unless the MD believes iron is needed).  Some of the  contestants are asked by the Medical Expert Team to supplement calcium and Vitamin D if their calcium/dairy intake is too low.

Every single day, every contestant completes and submits food journals to me. I analyze these and share the results with The Medical Expert Team, the trainers and the producers. I participate in weekly conference calls with contestants to provide nutrition support. They all have my contact information and are able to connect with me as needed throughout the season. I have been spending more time on the Ranch with each season, to provide nutrition lectures, grocery store tours, cooking lessons, etc.

Though the show does not have a dedicated chef, we have had visiting chefs on the show such as Rocco Dispirito and Curtis Stone. Because I am also a professional chef as well as a dietitian, I am able to consult with the guest chefs  to tweak their recipes and provide nutritional analysis for them. I also help create many of the nutrition messages that are delivered on camera by guests chefs and the trainers.

I have received hundreds of letters from dietitians, health professionals and viewers, asking me why my RD role is so low profile and why am I not  on camera? I have conveyed these queries to the show, and over time, nutrition has gained more recognition, even though it’s a bit less and a bit slower than I would like. That is why I am trying to maintain this weekly blog to answer such questions and share information that is not included each week on the show. I am hopeful, to increase my content in the very near future. I will not answer questions regarding exercise physiology or sports nutrition as I do not have that expertise nor the credentials that come with it.

I will try to answer as many cooking and nutrition questions as possible, but I am simply not able to answer all of them.

Thanks so much for your support and your interest.  I promise to blog more frequently in the near future!

And for those of you who may not know, RD stands for Registered Dietitian.  An RD completes a bachelors or masters degree nutrition program followed by an internship in an approved clinical or academic setting.  The internship duration is usually six months to a year.  This course work concludes with a national board exam to receive the RD credential.   An RD takes continuing education courses every year thereafter (as physicians do) to maintain their credentials. Some registered dietitians choose to call themselves "nutritionists" as many more consumers understand what this term means.  In most states, there are no legal standards or qualifications required to use the title "nutritionist."  If you are seeking professional help for weight loss or for a clinical reason, please be sure to inquire about a "nutritionist's" education and credentials.  They may not have an RD. (And, if you are seeking expert nutrition advice from someone in your area, please visit the national website for the American Dietetic Association.  They are the governing body for Registered Dietitians and their website can help you find a qualified nutrition expert in your area)

A registered dietitian and professional chef, Cheryl Forberg is the nutritionist for the NBC reality series The Biggest Loser and an advisor for Prevention magazine. She has written or contributed to several books, including Simple Swaps (Stop the Clock! Cooking, The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook, and The Biggest Loser: The Weight Loss Program, and the recently published Positively Ageless. She is also a recipient of the prestigious James Beard award for healthy recipe development. To learn more about Cheryl and her work, visit her Web site at www.cherylforberg.com.

FirstLook Review: The Biggest Loser Simple Swaps

Biggest Loser Helen Phillips: Before and AFTER

Copyright © 2006-2010, Basil & Spice. All rights reserved.

2008: 57% Corn Planted In U.S. Spliced With Bt, 1 Of 4 Farmers Not Compliant

Too Many Farmers Growing Genetically Engineered Corn Not Complying with Key Environmental Requirements

CSPI Urges EPA Not to Re-Register Products Unless Compliance Improves

WASHINGTON—One out of every four farmers who plants genetically engineered (GE) corn is failing to comply with at least one important insect-resistance management requirement.  That increases the likelihood that pesticide-resistant bugs will threaten the future of biotech crops and some of their non-biotech neighbors.  That finding comes in a report released today by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to not renew registrations of the GE corn varieties unless compliance rates improve.

In 2008, 57 percent of the corn acreage in the United States was planted with corn spliced with genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacterium, or Bt.  Those crops produce natural toxins that are harmless to humans but will kill corn rootworms and corn borers, which otherwise reduce crop yields.  Farmers who plant such crops are supposed to plant a refuge of conventional corn in, adjacent to, or near the GE crop.  That refuge is designed to reduce the risk that pests that survive the toxin will breed with each other and produce resistant offspring.  Resistant offspring would not only reduce yields of the Bt crops, but could also threaten organic or conventional farmers who use natural Bt-based pesticides on non-GE crops.

Depending on the location of the crop and the pests targeted by the strain of corn, farmers have varying requirements specifying the size of the refuge and its distance from the GE crop.  According to industry surveys submitted to EPA in 2008:

• Only 78 percent of growers planting corn-borer-protected crops met the size requirement, and only 88 percent met the distance requirement.  
• Only 74 percent of growers planting rootworm-protected crops met the size requirement, and 63 percent met the distance requirement.
• Only 72 percent of farmers growing stacked varieties of GE corn—corn protected against both corn borer and rootworm—met the size requirement and 66 percent met the distance requirement.

Those compliance rates are down, in some cases sharply, from 2003 to 2005, when compliance rates were often above 90 percent.  Though compliance assessments made on the farm tend to show higher compliance rates than the surveys, those rates also decreased in the last three years, according to CSPI.

“Given the tremendous growth in the acreage given over to genetically engineered corn since its introduction, it is intolerable for farmers not to be meeting their refuge requirements,” said CSPI biotechnology director Greg Jaffe.  “Given the stakes, regulators should insist on compliance rates much closer to 100 percent to prevent insect problems that threaten all farmers, not just those planting biotech crops.”

In a letter sent today to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, CSPI said that the agency should not re-register the existing varieties of Bt corn until the companies demonstrate higher levels of compliance. But, if the EPA does re-register the products, registrants such as Monsanto, Pioneer Hi-Bred, Syngenta, and Dow AgroSciences should be subject to severe fines or seed sales restrictions if noncompliance rates remain high, according to the letter.  Those biotech companies should also provide farmers with incentives to meet their obligations.  CSPI also wants the EPA to obtain more reliable data by requiring biotech companies to pay for independent, third-party assessments of farmer compliance with refuge requirements, and to require labeling on bags of biotech seed corn to specify refuge requirements.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest is a nonprofit health advocacy group based in Washington, DC, that focuses on nutrition, food safety, and pro-health alcohol policies.  CSPI is supported by the 900,000 U.S. and Canadian subscribers to its Nutrition Action Healthletter and by foundation grants. 

CSPI: Food Safety Fix Would Save 325,000 Unnecessary Hospitalizations Yearly