Expert links additive to cell damage

By Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondent

Published: 27 May 2007

A new health scare erupted over soft drinks last night amid evidence they may cause serious cell damage. Research from a British university suggests a common preservative found in drinks such as Fanta and Pepsi Max has the ability to switch off vital parts of DNA.

The problem - more usually associated with ageing and alcohol abuse - can eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s.

The findings could have serious consequences for the hundreds of millions of people worldwide who consume fizzy drinks. They will also intensify the controversy about food additives, which have been linked to hyperactivity in children.

Concerns centre on the safety of E211, known as sodium benzoate, a preservative used for decades by the £74bn global carbonated drinks industry. Sodium benzoate derives from benzoic acid. It occurs naturally in berries, but is used in large quantities to prevent mould in soft drinks such as Sprite, Oasis and Dr Pepper. It is also added to pickles and sauces.

Sodium benzoate has already been the subject of concern about cancer because when mixed with the additive vitamin C in soft drinks, it causes benzene, a carcinogenic substance. A Food Standards Agency survey of benzene in drinks last year found high levels in four brands which were removed from sale.

Now, an expert in ageing at Sheffield University, who has been working on sodium benzoate since publishing a research paper in 1999, has decided to speak out about another danger. Professor Peter Piper, a professor of molecular biology and biotechnology, tested the impact of sodium benzoate on living yeast cells in his laboratory. What he found alarmed him: the benzoate was damaging an important area of DNA in the “power station” of cells known as the mitochondria.

He told The Independent on Sunday: “These chemicals have the ability to cause severe damage to DNA in the mitochondria to the point that they totally inactivate it: they knock it out altogether.

“The mitochondria consumes the oxygen to give you energy and if you damage it - as happens in a number if diseased states - then the cell starts to malfunction very seriously. And there is a whole array of diseases that are now being tied to damage to this DNA - Parkinson’s and quite a lot of neuro-degenerative diseases, but above all the whole process of ageing.”

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) backs the use of sodium benzoate in the UK and it has been approved by the European Union but last night, MPs called for it to investigate urgently.

Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrat chair of Parliament’s all-party environment group said: “Many additives are relatively new and their long-term impact cannot be certain. This preservative clearly needs to be investigated further by the FSA.”

A review of sodium benzoate by the World Health Organisation in 2000 concluded that it was safe, but it noted that the available science supporting its safety was “limited”.

Professor Piper, whose work has been funded by a government research council, said tests conducted by the US Food and Drug Administration were out of date.

“The food industry will say these compounds have been tested and they are complete safe,” he said. “By the criteria of modern safety testing, the safety tests were inadequate. Like all things, safety testing moves forward and you can conduct a much more rigorous safety test than you could 50 years ago.”

He advised parents to think carefully about buying drinks with preservatives until the quantities in products were proved safe by new tests. “My concern is for children who are drinking large amounts,” he said.

Coca-Cola and Britvic’s Pepsi Max and Diet Pepsi all contain sodium benzoate. Their makers and the British Soft Drinks Association said they entrusted the safety of additives to the Government.

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Rejuvenate!â„¢ has been designed by a highly acclaimed US Scientist and is intended to give the RNA/Nucleic acids that your body needs to enhance all metabolic functions and begin to turn the body’s clock back.

 

The nucleic acids it contains, including RNA & DNA are involved in many bodily processes including energy production and communication within the cells (they enable cells to use energy effectively for greater health).  When our cells receive proper directions and the energy to carry them out, they keep us youthful.  Nucleic acids are also associated with healing processes within the body.

 

The pioneering work of two former scientists (Dr. Benjamin Frank, Molecular Biologist) & Dr. Bernard Jensen) have provided the scientific & clinical basis for pursuing development of this nutritional formula that leverages the power of dietary nucleic acids for greater health & well-being.

 

A recent book out on Breast Cancer already recommends Rejuvenate!™  among the top 20 preventative measures that can be taken!

 

So what does it contain and how does it work?

 

Rejuvenate!™  contains Chlorella, Chlorella Growth Factor, D-Ribose, Yeast RNA, Spirulina, Kelp, Dulse, Nutritional Yeast, Chia Seeds, Rice Bran Solubles, Vitamin C, Folinic Acid, Vitamin B12 & magnesium.  It is in powder form and contains no other ingredients.

 

The high levels of Chlorella (a freshwater green microalga – a superfood in itself which has existed for billions of years) has been shown to be a useful adjunct in protocols for a wide variety of health conditions including cardiovascular ailments, lowering cholesterol, cancer, liver conditions, diabetes, kidney conditions, skin problems, and strengthening of the immune system. It is also a natural detoxifier.

 

Chlorella has demonstrated its capacity to stimulate healing within the body.  It promotes growth in young individuals and allows repair to damaged tissues in mature individuals.  It also has an extremely high Chlorophyll content which is an internal cleanser and deodoriser and has proven to be a useful adjunct in protocols for wound healing, cardiovascular health, combating anaemia (stimulates formation of red blood cells) and improving cellular oxygenation.

 

Supplemental Ribose increases the rate at which ATP is generated within the body thereby improving exercise performance and enabling faster muscle growth.

 

Rice Bran Solubles offer at least 29 vitamins and minerals and more than 90 antioxidants.  Among these are lipoic acid (useful in blood glucose control), tocopherols & tocotrienols (which may have a positive effect on cholesterol levels)

Tocotrienols have been shown to provide up to 50 times more antioxidant power than Vitamin E.  Rice Bran Solubles also contain essential fatty acids.  Certain antioxidants in rice bran solubles are documented as supportive in retarding the aging process and combating free radicals, they also strengthen the body’s ability to regenerate and increase energy & stamina.

 

Chia seeds also contain high levels of essential fatty acids and have demonstrated high antioxidant activity.  Once eaten they can absorb up to 7 times their weight in water which helps to maintain body hydration which is especially important during exercise.

 

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FACT: Heart disease is the world’s biggest killer. And heart disease is often a silent killer. The first sign of cardiovascular disease is commonly a heart attack, and sadly, over one third of heart attacks are fatal.

And despite the propaganda, the truth is this: it is unsaturated fats that are primarily involved in heart disease, not the saturated fats, as you have been led to believe

The U.S. Department of Health and the FDA estimate that artificially hydrogenated trans-fats — the type found in fast food, processed foods and your favorite pastries — are ultimately responsible for a huge number of fatal heart attacks every year. These dangerous unsaturated fats are the ones you should ban from your diet, not naturally pure coconut oil, which is a better alternative because it contains very few fats with highly perishable double bonds and also has NO TRANS-FATS.

Countries that subsist on a coconut-based diet appear to enjoy good heart health.

Although polyunsaturated fats encourage the formation of blood clots by increasing platelet stickiness, coconut oil helps to promote normal platelet function.

 

A Fat Is A Fat … Or Is It?

All fats are not equal.

And just so we’re clear, the terms “fats” and “oils” are often used interchangeably, but fat is more correctly considered solid at room temperature, while oils are liquid … but what’s most important is the structure.

The unique health benefits of coconut oil are directly related to its chemical structure, or more precisely, the length of its fatty acid chains.

Coconut oil is comprised of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), also called medium-chain triglycerides or MCTs.

Coconut oil is nature’s richest source of these healthy MCFAs.

By contrast, most common vegetable or seed oils are comprised of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs), also known as long-chain triglycerides or LCTs.

There are several reasons to explain why long-chain fatty acids are not as healthy for you as the MCFAs in coconut oil:

	v LCFAs are difficult for the body to break down — they must be packaged with lipoproteins or carrier proteins and require special enzymes for digestion.
	v LCFAs put more strain on the pancreas, the liver and the entire digestive system.
	v LCFAs are predominantly stored in the body as fat. (That’s why most people buy into the myth that fats are automatically “fattening”.)
v	v LCFAs can be deposited within arteries in lipid forms such as cholesterol.

On the other hand, however, the MCFAs in coconut oil are healthier, because:

v	v MCFAs are smaller. They permeate cell membranes easily, and do not require lipoproteins or special enzymes to be utilized effectively by your body.
v	v MCFAs are easily digested, thus putting less strain on your digestive system. This is especially important for those of you with digestive or metabolic concerns.
	v MCFAs are sent directly to your liver, where they are immediately converted into energy rather than being stored as fat.
	v MCFAs in coconut oil can actually help stimulate your body’s metabolism, leading to weight loss.

 

Coconut Oil Is The Dieter’s Best Friend

Over half of the UK population is either overweight or obese, say medical experts.

One-third of adults will be obese by the year 2020 unless the government takes immediate action, according to medical experts.

The weighty facts:

• Over half the UK population is either overweight or obese, in 2002 70% of men, and 63% of women
• One in five adults are obese
• Obesity in 2-4 year old children almost doubled from 5%-9% from 1989-1998, and in 6-15-year-olds trebled from 5%-16% between 1990-2001

I’m sure you’re aware that obesity affects your quality of life and is linked to many health concerns.

One of the best benefits of coconut oil lies in its ability to help stimulate your metabolism.

Back in the 1940s, farmers in the USA found out about this effect by accident when they tried using inexpensive coconut oil to fatten their livestock.

It didn’t work!

Instead, coconut oil made the animals lean, active and hungry.

Now, I’m certainly not comparing you to a farm animal …

However, many animal and human research studies have demonstrated that replacing LCFAs with MCFAs results in both decreased body weight and reduced fat deposition.

So, by changing the fats in your diet from the unsaturated long-chain fatty acids found in vegetable or seed oils to the MCFAs in coconut oil, along with following an exercise plan, you may find yourself gradually losing those unnecessary pounds.

The reasons are simple:

1. The long-chain fats nearly always go to fat storage, while the MCFAs are burned for energy

2. Since coconut oil helps to stimulate your metabolism, you may burn more calories each day, helping to accelerate weight loss (and probably your activity & energy level)

Coconut oil has often been compared to carbohydrates in its ability to be “burned” for energy. However, since insulin is not involved in the process of digesting the MCFAs in coconut oil, you won’t get those carb-related spikes in your blood sugar level. This is especially good news for those of you concerned about maintaining normal blood sugar levels.

In fact, the ability of MCFAs to be easily digested, to help stimulate the metabolism and be turned into energy has entered the sports arena. Several studies have now shown that MCFAs enhance physical or athletic performance.

Additionally, research has demonstrated that, due to its metabolic effect, coconut oil increases the activity of the thyroid. And you’ve probably heard that a sluggish thyroid is one reason why some people are unable to lose weight, no matter what they do.

Besides weight loss, there are other advantages to boosting your metabolic rate. The healing process accelerates. Cell regeneration increases to replace old cells, and your immune system functions better overall.

 

Coconut Oil’s Natural “Miracle” Ingredient: Lauric Acid

Yes, it’s true.

Nature still has a few miracles up her sleeve.

You’ve probably heard that breast milk is jam-packed with nutrients and disease-fighting ingredients that help keep babies healthy.

Well, incredibly, coconut oil contains one of the same compounds — lauric acid — found in mother’s milk! And lauric acid is the predominant type of MCFA found in coconut oil.

Fortunately for our health, lauric acid in both breast milk and coconut oil transforms when consumed into a substance called monolaurin, the actual compound responsible for helping to strengthen the immune system.

Skeptical? So were a lot of scientists, who’ve proceeded to test the heck out of this substance.

In fact, a great volume of research has been done establishing the ability of lauric acid to enhance immunity.

What researchers found was that this medium-chain fatty acid derivative actually disrupts the lipid (or fatty) membranes of the offending organisms.

The lauric acid in coconut oil is one effortless way to help strengthen your immune system.

And, unlike the usual lauric acid content of 42-49% in many coconut oil brands, our Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil contains a whopping 57% of lauric acid.

If all this wasn’t enough, coconut oil has even more tricks up its sleeve.

 

Did You Know It Is Excellent For The Skin

You can put it on your skin too. It is excellent for the skin; if you want to become a believer in the health benefits of Coconut Oil, just start using it on your skin. Dry, hard, discoloured, and flaky skin will transform into soft, smooth healthy looking Skin within weeks.

 

Why You Must Be Choosy About Your Brand of Coconut Oil

As you may know, there is a very wide variety in coconut oil due to factors such as the manufacturing process used to make the oil, the age and type of coconuts, and other issues that impact the quality, effectiveness and healthiness of your coconut oil.

Meeting such high standards is no small feat, but you should not settle for anything less if you want to experience all the health benefits of coconut oil

To purchase or for more information please visit

www.healthyfuel.co.uk