Why Low Fat Diets Can Lead to an Early Death

Hopefully by now, most people are aware that you need to include natural fats in your diet in order to achieve optimum cellular function and organ health.

Unfortunately, there are still lots of people who are duped into thinking that eating fat will make you fat and unhealthy. Supermarkets inundate consumers with non-fat and low-fat fare. Marketers and mass media perpetuate myths about saturated fat, cholesterol and fat in general as unhealthy food choices. 

But here's why you shouldn't be on a low-fat diet.

From a scientific perspective, low-fat diets increase triglycerides, which are fats in the bloodstream. Higher levels of triglycerides in the bloodstream may increase the risk for heart disease. 

We've been told by the media and even leading health organizations and professionals that eating fat will raise triglyceride levels. But now, science is on the side of natural-whole-food-whole-fat diets.

There have been over 10 studies recently that have proved that a low-fat diet causes the level of triglycerides to increase. Studies have yet to find that increased dietary fat increases triglycerides.

These studies will hopefully prove that fat isn't the enemy it was once -- and still largely is.

Chances are high that someone who is on a low-fat diet will be on a high-carbohydrate diet.

This kind of diet can wreak havoc on blood glucose levels. High carbohydrate diets cause wild fluctuations in blood glucose.

High levels of blood glucose causes circulatory problems and damage to the inside wall of blood vessels. A high level of blood glucose triggers the release of the hormone insulin, which is required to lower blood glucose concentrations.

Insulin enables the body’s cells to use some of the glucose, but if there is too much glucose the excess is converted into fat (triglycerides). This explains why low-fat /high-carbohydrate diets increase blood triglyceride levels.

Low-Fat Diets can also lower ‘good’ cholesterol. High Density Lipoproteins (HDLs) are commonly known as ‘good’ cholesterol. In fact, HDLs are not really cholesterol. Yes, they contain some cholesterol, but they are more accurately described as a bundle of proteins, fats, cholesterol and vitamins.

The fact that HDLs carry other molecules and not just cholesterol, brings into question the whole idea of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol. Lipoproteins carry a wide range of substances to and from the cells of the
body; it is far too simplistic to designate HDLs and LDLs (Low Density Lipoproteins) as good or bad respectively, but that's for a whole other topic.

However, assuming that HDLs are ‘good’ cholesterol and a low level of HDLs increases the risk for heart disease, as is purported currently; it is of interest that a low-fat/high carbohydrate diet drastically reduces the level of HDLs.

High carb diets coupled with low-fat diets also reduce the LDL (commonly known as "bad" cholesterol) particle size.

It is now widely recognized that smaller LDL particles are associated with a greater risk for heart disease.

Interestingly, a diet that is higher in saturated fat actually increases the size of LDL particles and, thus, is a lesser risk for heart disease. However, the fact is that there has never been any convincing evidence to show that saturated fat in the diet increases cholesterol levels. There is also a distinct lack of evidence to support the idea that cholesterol itself causes heart disease.

Stay tuned for more articles in the future about saturated fat and cholesterol myths.

For more information on the truth behind cholesterol, check out a great book by Justin Smith called $29 billion reasons to lie about cholesterol. Check out a synopsis here: www.29billion.com.

Until then, please pass this on to friends and family you know who are on an unhealthy low-fat/high carb diet!

Trying to Lose Weight? How Many Pounds per Week is Safe?

Trying to lose weight? If you're not, you probably know somebody who is.


Even if you're not in the wellness and fitness industry, you can help someone who is trying to lose weight. 


Do you know somebody who drinks soda on a regular basis? (I'm talking about non-diet soda; of course diet soda is terrible for health but that's a whole other story).


Explain to someone who drinks soda and is struggling with their weight that a typical can of soda has 150 calories. One soda per day per week equals 1050 calories (150x7). There are 3500 calories in a pound. So if your soda-drinking comrade drinks just one soda every day, that's 4200 calories in a month. 


You can see how easy it is for somebody with poor eating habits to pack on 20, 30, 50+ pounds in just a few years.


The 700 excess calories from the daily soda consumption leads to over a pound of weight gained in one month, assuming that is the actual caloric difference, i.e. calories in versus calories out.


In other words, someone with poor eating habits who doesn't exercise is most likely to gain way more than 700 calories above breaking even for the day. 


You may be surprised to know that even the most sedentary couch potato may burn 1500-2000 calories a day just by being alive. This is called the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and measures how many calories somebody burns to support cell function. That's right: Even if you sit on the couch for literally 24 hours a day you will burn up to 2000 calories. 


People who are lean, athletic and have optimum thyroid levels can burn 2500-3000 calories per day without lifting a finger. 


So even if the most inactive person can burn up to 2000 calories a day, it's surprising that two-thirds of American adults are overweight.


But people are eating way more than they need to and not burning enough calories. It's as simple as that. 


So if you're overweight, don't despair. It's not simple to lose weight. But if you try the following, you may be surprised. But first, let's ask a question.


How much weight is is safe and effective to lose per week?

Actually, before answering that question, it's important to stuff your scale in the closet. Limit yourself to at most weighing yourself once a week. The number on the scale is not telling you how much bodyfat you're losing--it's only telling you the combined weight of your bones, skin, lean muscle mass and adipose tissue (fat).

The most self-defeating thing anybody who's trying to lose weight can do is weigh themselves on a daily basis. Within a week, somebody who is constantly weighing themselves will feel down on themselves if the scale doesn't show a lower number.

If it does show a lower number, perhaps the person is dieting and just losing water weight or worse, muscle mass (true, muscle mass is partially water).

And if the number on the scale is higher because the person is hopefully on a strength-training program, since muscle weighs more than fat, the person might experience some initial weight gain.

In my humble opinion, the best way for someone to lose weight is to eat a minimum of two green salads a day, like a spinach salad. The best thing to do is make it a nutrient-dense salad, placing some nuts (like sunflower seeds; or walnuts for heart-healthy Omega 3 Fatty Acids), a few extra veggies like shredded carrots, celery, tomato and just a pinch of dried fruit or fresh berries. Add a whole egg once a day in one of the salads for extra protein and amino acids.

A medium-size portion of light fish like Mahi-Mahi or chicken breast along with the lunch and dinner salad to feel full is good. It would be no good if you felt hungry an hour or two later and then gorged on some dessert. Speaking of which, dessert is allowed every day only if it's a tiny portion, like one small cube of dark chocolate--no more than that!

For breakfast, a small portion of grains is ok for energy throughout the day, preferably in the form of sprouted breads like Ezekial or Manna bread. Conventional cereal will only bloat your gut and make you feel like you just put on 5 pounds. Instead, opt for brown rice or quinoa cereals, which are available at health food stores.

Breakfast should be the only time of day you have a significant amount of grains. Say goodbye to frequent servings of pasta and rice for lunch and dinner. You can reward yourself every other week with a pasta dinner.

You'll soon start to feel slimmer from all the fiber you're digesting and the lack of bloating from excess grains. Consuming pasteurized milk products, even if it's organic, can cause bloating in some people (look for a future article on that soon). You can eat one link or strip of healthy bacon or sausage (meaning minimally processed with no nitrate/nitrites) even if you're trying to lose weight.

Do not deny yourself your favorite foods. But do limit your intake of grains!

Add some moderate exercise to this healthy way of eating and you'll soon start to lose bodyfat. Notice I didn't just say weight, but specifically bodyfat. You don't want to lose muscle.

Oh, almost forgot to answer the question: so how much weight is safe and effective (meaning, you're likely to keep it off) to lose per week?

I would say one to two pounds per week is safe. That's eight pounds per month and 96 pounds per year.

Some more wellness math you can coach your friends on....

How to Never Get Headaches

Headaches are common -- but they are not normal.

When you are feeling "normal", everything is working as it should be. Your hormone levels are balanced, blood pressure, circadian rhythm, etc...is operating at full function.

Because headaches are so prevalent, some people just pass it off as part of the human experience.

When I was young, I used to snack on doughnuts and grape soda while watching cartoons, as part of my after school ritual. I would frequently get pounding headaches.

I didn't have the knowledge I do now about glycemic index and the dangers of processed foods.

So here are some other tips about preventing headaches I'd like to share:

Nutrition and Hydration 


Speaking of doughnuts and grape soda, eating properly is probably the number one way to avoid getting headaches. This means going no more than 5 hours during the day without eating and no more than 12-13 hours after sleeping.

One of my rules to live by: 10 by 10:  eat 10 grams of high quality protein by 10 a.m. (eggs; organic/all-natural bacon or sausage; whey; hemp or rice protein for vegetarians [no soy!]; unpasteurized dairy, etc...).

Try to eat at similar times of the day if you can and always eat a balanced meal. Every major meal should include veggies (which are carbs), protein and a little natural fat (avocado, olive oil, coconut oil).

I'm not a big fan of fasting, unless it's a once in a blue moon occurrence for religious purposes. Fasting can cause severe headaches. And so can not drinking water. Make sure you start your day right away by re-hydrating yourself with at 2-3 cups of water. Drink steady, small amounts frequently or as needed throughout the day.

Remember: Drink before you feel thirsty and eat before you feel hungry!

Sleep Patterns


Getting too little or too much sleep can potentially cause headaches. Try going to sleep at roughly the same time every night, especially during the week you should really begin winding things down by 10 p.m. and shutting down the laptop and other electronics.

Hormones


Especially for females who are on their cycle, headaches, including migraines, can be closely associated to estrogen levels. Immediately before menstruation estrogen is at the lowest level, thus possibly triggering headaches.


Although there's not much a female can do about ovulation menopause, there are ways to make sure hormone levels are balanced in general. One way to do this is a simple saliva test which measures cortisol (the stress hormone) and sex hormone levels. Contact me at 858.442.6861 for more information on this simple test.

Activity Level


According to Buddhist principles, life is all about taking the middle path. Moderation is key. Exercise should be no different. People engaged in highly strenuous workouts like boot camps and other forms of extreme fitness are at risk for developing headaches.

Blood vessels swell up as a result of the head and neck muscles needing extra blood flow. Too much exertion can cause pounding headaches. Unless you're a pro athlete or training for a competition, do daily moderate intensity exercise. The low end of high-end intensity training should be the limit.

Stress


Unless you're living in a third-world country with no access to clean water and readily-available healthy food sources, you really need to take a breath and learn what's truly important in life. Have an attitude of gratitude every day for the daily abundance you were lucky enough to be born into. Over half the world's population would love to trade places with you.

If you think about your problems that are needlessly plaguing you in this light, and start a daily meditation or yoga practice, your stress levels will go way down and perhaps those pesky headaches will go away.

Remedies


There are too many remedies to name, but for immediate relief of headaches, acupressure might do the trick, especially the Large Intestine 4 pressure point. No, you're not going to rub your large intestines; this meridian point can be found in the fleshy skin between the thumb and pointer finger. Apply pressure with your thumb and pointer finger or middle finger with your other hand.

If that doesn't work, take 2 aspirins and call me in the morning!

Dangers of Practicing Yoga

Yoga and its associated health and spiritual benefits have been around for approximately 5,000 years.

In the U.S., beginning in the 1960s with the New Age and counter-culture movements, yoga has increased dramatically in popularity over the last 50 years.

It's only been in the last two decades that yoga has really gone mainstream. And it seems like it's an exercise fad that's here to stay; that is to say, it's not a fad at all, unlike some fly-by-night exercise routines like Tae-Bo, Richard Simmons videos, Jazzercise, and Jane Fonda aerobics.

As yoga has grown in popularity so too have the number of injuries from yoga.

This is far from a recommendation to avoid yoga, although some people may benefit from other forms of exercise....more on that below.

If you're overweight or new to yoga or it's been a while since you've practiced, it's advisable to exercise caution with certain poses.

Keep in mind that when asanas (postures) were divinely inspired, if you will, (if you won't: created), the population in the ancient subcontinent of India didn't have problems with obesity and sedentary lifestyles.

Certain yoga poses performed by certain segments of the contemporary population can wreak havoc on inflexible joints and ligaments.

The lotus pose, which is commonly the beginning meditative position in a yoga class, can put extreme stress on the knee, ankle and hip joints. Women are more susceptible than men are to injuries of the ACL joint in the knee and lotus may perhaps increase that risk.

A spinal twist called Marichyasana III can place heavy stress on the lower back ligaments and tendons, which can lead to back pain and spinal instability.

There are other examples of yoga poses that place excessive stress on the joints.

It's important if you fit into the category of being overweight or being a yoga neophyte to find a good teacher who knows how to make sure you stay in your safe zone. Yoga props such as blocks and straps will also help you stay safe.

It's common in yoga class to see some women with very low body fat that are hyper flexible, easily capable of twisting themselves into pretzels. Perhaps they have reached their peak in yoga and are actually too flexible and a better exercise protocol would be weight lifting.

Proper muscle tension is essential for any activity. Think of your muscle fibers as guitar strings. If a guitar string is too loose or too tight, it'll snap and won't create a properly resonant sound. Muscle fibers are no different--they should have a good tension balance.

Conversely, muscle heads who can't straighten their arms overhead definitely should put the weights down for a while and get their butts into the yoga studio.

It all comes down to balance in more ways than one in yoga. Listen to your body and don't force any postures in yoga.

Despite the words of caution, if you're reading this article and haven't been exercising lately, yoga is perhaps the best form of exercise to get back into shape and de-stress from the modern world.

Eating Organic --- Is it Really Healthier for You?

Don't Panic -- It's Organic!

Is this really a mantra to live by? Are we really any healthier if we eat organic foods rather than those conventionally grown? Is anything truly organic anymore, meaning, if a crop is grown without pesticides, does that necessarily mean that toxic or slightly polluted runoff doesn't seep into the soil of "organic" pastures?

The truth is, I really don't know, nor does science have a definitive answer.

But there are some rules of thumb I follow. Perhaps the following will be news to you. If you already know this, then this will be good review.

A non-profit called the Environmental Working Group released results of a 2003 study of pesticide levels in many American produce items.

Although it's not definitive if eating organic will add years to your life or prevent illness, the study by the EWG showed that Americans can reduce their exposure of pesticides by 90 percent by avoiding a dozen of the most contaminated and conventionally grown fruits and veggies.

The dirty dozen are (in order from most to least contaminated:

1. Peaches
2. Strawberries
3. Apples
4. Spinach
5. Nectarines
6. Celery
7. Pears
8. Cherries
9. Potatoes
10. Sweet bell peppers
11. Raspberries
12. Grapes

The study also listed a dozen of the cleanest conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. They are, from least to most contaminated:

1. Sweet Corn
2. Avocados
3. Pineapples
4. Cauliflower
5. Mangoes
6. Sweet Peas
7. Asparagus
8. Onions
9. Broccoli
10. Bananas
11. Kiwis
12. Papayas

In general, it is thought that fruits with hard shells can be eaten conventionally with minimal concern for contamination.

The bottom line for most people is budget. Sometimes organic produce can cost several dollars more than conventionally grown produce. And until there is definitive proof that organic makes a profound difference in my health, I don't plan on buying organic 100% of the time. I will, however, keep this "dirty dozen" list handy when I go to the market and try to buy organic.

It's also important to include what "Certified Organic" really means, as some may not really be able to define this term. It means that produce was grown on land free of chemicals for at least three years and on land with no sewage, irradiation, fake fertilizers or genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). Look for a USDA Organic label to know you're getting the real deal.

But if you have the money, buying organic probably is better for the environment, after all, herbicides used in conventional produce seep into our groundwater. 

Considering that organic farming was used for millenia before Frankenscience became the norm, it would be logical to conclude that eating organic is the way to go. Too bad we can't prove just yet how much so.....

A Wellness Coach’s Confession to Falling off the Wagon

Margaritas, tequila, beer, cookies, cakes, more cookies…for the last couple months, I was not practicing what I preached. I admit it. I indulged and it felt great. "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we all die" was my motto.

No longer was I so vigilant about eating so healthy. Eating for my blood type, eating for metabolic type…I just had to let go temporarily and enjoy life more, guilt-free like the Europeans do.

And now my health has suffered for it.

I have just picked up a nasty sinus infection, my fourth or fifth in the last few years. Surfing cold water with elevated bacterial levels from heavy storm-drain runoff is probably the catalyst that crashed my immune system.

Surfing cold, dirty water normally wouldn’t get me sick.

Combining poor eating with surfing crashed my immune system.

After trying Ayurvedic remedies and homeopathy and over the counters to no avail, I resorted to antibiotic usage.

No natural wellness coach in their right mind would tell one of their clients to take antibiotics, but after getting no relief for several days, I decided to go the allopathic route.

Most people know by now that antibiotics override your immune system and kills not only harmful bacteria and causes of infection, but also beneficial gut flora that’s necessary for a healthy immune system.

I learned that when going to a regular physician or doctor, it’s best to write down a list of questions. I asked my doctor if I could take probiotics in conjunction with antibiotics. I was told I could in fact do that, but it was recommended to take them a few hours apart.

I could just blame this latest sinus infection on the downside of being a surfer. I probably wouldn’t ever get significantly sick if I didn’t surf.

But holistic health tries to find root causes and not just treat symptoms. That’s why I became certified in Functional Diagnostics, which has also taught me that my adrenals probably will be stressed from this sinus infection, hence, taking bio-identical hormone drops of DHEA can help me rebalance my hormone levels.

I’m outright jealous of my surfing friends who not only don’t catch sinus infections, but also have a less-then-optimal healthy lifestyle, smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol on a daily basis.

So why then was I overindulging? I just felt like it. Holidays, vacations, birthday parties …. Sometimes it’s hard, even for me, somebody who usually just says “no”, to not be tempted by the devil.

The devil, for me, is sugar and yeast.

I don’t know why but in the run-up leading to my infection, I had frequent cravings for beer. I was having fun drinking socially and felt great, so why not let the good times continue to roll?

But I’ve learned that my system is very susceptible to crashing if exposed to higher than normal amounts of processed sugar and yeast.

If you need to drink alcohol and want to keep the love handles off, it’s probably better to drink one stiff drink with vodka or tequila than having beer or even wine.

Too often, yoga teachers and other health professionals are placed on a pedestal and expected to be perfect pillars of health.

For once, I have been knocked off, but I’ll climb back on, eating at least two healthy salads a day, taking probiotics, exercising with moderate intensity, ensuring that I don’t stress my system even more and of course, avoiding sugars.

It’s a hard pill to swallow knowing that I can’t eat whatever I want, like I thought I could.

The lesson, of course, is moderation. But when you’re trying to purge and rehabilitate from an infection, the best course of action is to be super strict and avoid any antigen responses from bad food choices until you're completely recovered.

I look forward to living the 85-15 rule again: Eat right for your type 85% of the time, eat whatever you want the other 15 percent.

Off to make a salad I go….

John's Hopkins Newsletter on Cancer

Judd's note: I usually don't post long articles, especially if I haven't written it myself. But I came across this article on the Metabolic Typing forum, of which I'm a member, and I think it's an important one to recirculate. 

The following cancer update from Johns Hopkins actually admits that chemotherapy and radiation aren't the only way to kill cancer cells. I wanted to include this on my wellness blog because I think it's monumental that Johns Hopkins would admit that there are perhaps safer and more natural ways of attempting to control and reverse the effects of cancer....

Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins (summarized, not necessarily verbatim) :

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, but also to environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet to eat more adequately and healthy, 4-5 times/day and by including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

*CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses, but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. A better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

B. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little other meat, like chicken. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine; green tea is a better alternative and has cancer fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomes putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup. [Judd's note: If you are a protein-dominant person, don't shy away from meat. If you have trouble with elimination, then eating a lot of meat may block the system even more. Consider colon hydrotherapy and supplementing with iodine.]

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the bodies own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or
unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, un-forgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

1. No plastic containers in micro.

2. No water bottles in freezer.

3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.

Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us.

He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

Please share this with your whole email list....[end]