The Truth About Easter Bunnies (Video)

The Truth About Easter Bunnies (Video)
Fluffy bunnies are hard to resist, especially at Easter time, but as this video reveals, many are soon left neglected and abandoned by their owners.

Fluffy bunnies are hard to resist, especially at Easter time. The fact is that many people buy baby rabbits, but oftentimes they simply are not ready for the commitment of having this social pet that can live more than 10 years (in some cases we see as high as 16 or so).  Rabbits are the third most popular pet in the United States and, unfortunately, they are also the most dumped pet at animal shelters and in nature at large.  Domestic rabbits are unable to cope outdoors without care as they are subject to the elements, predators and starvation.

Linda Bailey of TooManyBunnies.com is a rabbit rescuer who takes unwanted and abandoned bunnies and has them fixed to avoid reproduction that can occur at an alarmingly rapid rate. She also rehabilitates them if they are sick and trains them to use a litter box before they are adopted out. In the video above, Linda explains how an epidemic of bunny neglect has actually lead to a widespread epidemic of abandoned bunnies who, once they wear out their initial Easter surprise, end up at her shelter.

It is important to note that it is impossible for illnesses that affect rabbits to be passed to humans.

If you’re considering purchasing a bunny this Easter, you may want to consider adopting one from a shelter like this one. As Linda explains, ‘prey’ animals like bunnies can make excellent pets and enjoy being cared for by their human friends.

Linda has rescued, rehabilitated, treated, loved, and re-homed more than a thousand rabbits to date.  Her home is affectionately called the RabbitTrail (the video was filmed at a local horse stable holding a special adoption for the rabbits).  All rescued rabbits are kept at the RabbitTrail or at volunteers’ homes until they find their forever homes.  If you would like to be a volunteer, foster home, or forever home to a bunny, or to donate, please feel free to contact Linda.

Linda’s website, TooManyBunnies.com, is very informative and explains in detail how to care for these friendly animals — from their dietary requirements to understanding bunny language and behavior.

Source: naturalsociety.com

Ways To Get Rid Of A Double Chin

Ways To Get Rid Of A Double Chin
One of the most familiar physical symbols of aging is a double chin. A double chin occurs as the result of loose skin and extra fat deposits. Here are just a handful of strategies that can possibly help you eliminate that double chin in no time.
Source: EzineArticles.com

Turning Back the Age Wall Clock With a Face Lift

Turning Back the Age Wall Clock With a Face Lift
A face lift can turn back time on your face. It can enhance and improve your looks. First though, you have to think about how you are going to afford it and if the time is ripe for you to do it now.
Source: EzineArticles.com

Avoid Causes Of Premature Aging And Eat Plenty Of Foods With Antioxidants

A healthy diet does an amazing job at keeping those wrinkles at bay. This is especially true of avoiding foods that are the source of damaging free radicals. Full article

Life-Saving Information

Fear continues to be used as a motivator. Advertisers know that most people are scared of something-death, taxes, poverty, and so on. The fear-topic of the moment among many advertisers is whether or not people have squirreled-away enough funds to last the distance. If you, too, are tired of the fear-tactics used by advertisers to sell their products, read on... Source

Health Benefits of Beetroot – Boosting Energy, Cancer Protection

Health Benefits of Beetroot – Boosting Energy, Cancer Protection
Dietitians are always arguing over the best foods, the best diets and the best lifestyle decisions a person can make. One year, eggs might be all the rage, while the next they could be the leading cause in X symptom for X disease and should be shunned by the masses. One such fad, if you want to stay as current as possible, revolves around the crimson red beetroot. Only this food truly is amazingly beneficial.

Dietitians are always arguing over the best foods, the best diets and the best lifestyle decisions a person can make. One year, eggs might be all the rage, while the next they could be the leading cause in X symptom for X disease and should be shunned by the masses. One such fad, if you want to stay as current as possible, revolves around the crimson red beetroot. Only the health benefits of beetroot really are incredible.

Health Benefits of Beetroot - Lowering Blood Pressure with Beetroot

Full of nitrates, roughly 20 times more than most other vegetables, the beetroot may just be a wonder for scientists and dietitians combined as its healing and boosting powers are slowly discovered study by study. Due to the influx of nitrates, which, in assisting in the production of nitric oxide can widen and relax blood vessels, the beetroot is thought to lower blood pressure.

One 2010 study out of Queen Mary’s University in London showed a correlation between daily intakes of beetroot juice and near-immediate drops in the drinker’s blood pressure. What’s more, it was also found that with higher blood pressure came a greater dip. Another study published in the Nutrition Journal found that “500 grams” of beetroot juice also resulted in a blood pressure drop within just 6 hours after consumption.

Cancer Protection

But improvements in blood pressure may only be the beginning to the beetroot’s scientific application. Within the beetroot is betacyanin, which has been found to slow the growth of tumors by 12.5 percent in patients with prostate and breast cancer. The importance of slowing cancer growth shouldn’t be underestimated. Many cancer patients are dubbed “cancer free,” but only in light of the fact that the cancer has not returned over a certain period of time. Anything that might slow the growth of cancer within a patient will always allow more time to treat or even discover the disease before it becomes fatal.

Be wary, however, because this study only evaluated betacyanin on its own, and it’s only assumed and not proven at this point that the beetroot’s other properties do not interfere with betacyanin’s affects.

Boosting Digestive Health

A high fiber count makes beetroot and beetroot juice a prime choice for those with digestive issues. Fiber helps to promote digestive and colon health by cleaning out the gastrointestinal system and making for regular, healthy bowel movements.

“Beetroot is high in fibre and a 100g portion – about two or three small beetroot – contains ten per cent of your RDA, which helps regulate bowel movements. It also contains a substance called betaine which normalises stomach acid secretion,” says Nutritional therapist Dr  Elisabeth Philipps.

Beetroot for Boosting Stamina

Further adding to the health benefits of beetroot, the vegetable is also great for providing energy and boosting stamina. In one study, participants consumed a selection of baked beetroot (200 grams) before one run and the same amount of cranberries before a second run. The researchers discovered that beetroot outperformed cranberries in boosting peak performance by a wide margin.

After eating the cranberry dish, the runners averaged a speed of 11.9 kilometers per hour, or 7.3 mph. When eating beetroot, the participants hit 12.3 kilometers, or 7.6 mph. Amazingly, the effects were most observed during the last section of the run — often the most difficult for runners.

Another 2010 study found that adults who drank 500ml of the juice a day could boost stamina prolong exercise for up to 16% longer – and the increased oxygen flow to the brain due to those nutrients may even help slow the progression of dementia.

And don’t worry if your urine turns pink. It happens to about 14 percent of the population when they intake the vegetable – no big deal. Enjoy the health benefits of beetroot!

Additional Sources:

DailyMail

Fox News

Source: naturalsociety.com

Sensitive Skin Products for a Youthful Appearance That Lasts

If you have had trouble finding: lotions, cremes, face washes, face wipes, soaps, shampoos and conditioners because your skin reacts by turning red, getting itchy, burning or drying out, you need to find sensitive skin products that are designed for your skin type. Until recently, dermatologists didn't fully understand the anatomy of skin irritations, but new developments have helped skin care product designers to work alongside of dermatologists to create nutritionally rich and chemically clean skin products. Full article

The Connection Between Chocolate and Cancer

The Connection Between Chocolate and Cancer
Don’t worry, I’m not about to tell you that chocolate causes cancer. From possibly staving off cognitive decline to enhancing visual performance, chocolate (specifically dark chocolate) is actually good for you in many ways. But, can we go so far as to say it has cancer-prevention or even cancer-fighting properties?

Don’t worry, I’m not about to tell you that chocolate causes cancer. From possibly staving off cognitive decline to enhancing visual performance, chocolate (specifically dark chocolate) is actually good for you in many ways. But, can we go so far as to say it has cancer-prevention or even cancer-fighting properties?

All of the proven and suspected benefits of chocolate are attributed to the flavanols it contains. These are antioxidant compounds which fight damage from free-radicals, protecting cells from damage. Free radicals have the potential to damage cells and even cause cancer. Several studies have indicated antioxidants may have the power to reduce cancer risk by protecting cells in this manner.

Chocolate’s Cancer-Fighting Capabilities

We can’t simply draw a line like this, however: “Chocolate contains antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent cancer. Therefore chocolate prevents cancer.” It’s far more complex than that.

Several studies on the effects of cancer and chocolate have been done. But more is needed. Here are a few of note:

• Researchers at Georgetown University found pentameric procyanidin (found in chocolate) was able to deactivate certain proteins in the body, stopping the production of new tumor cells.

• A study published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research detailed how rats fed a diet rich in cocoa had a “significantly” reduced number of markers for colon cancer.

• Similar to the Georgetown study, another at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center found a proanthocyanidin was able to reduce the proteins in breast cancer cells that would promote tumor growth.

It is possible that flavanols in chocolate could have anti-cancer benefits. Those benefits have not been absolutely proven as of yet, but existing data does show that flavonoids could be “considered as a useful cancer preventive approach.”

One must take all chocolate studies with a grain of salt, however, as many are funded by corporations like mega corps Nestle and Mars. Similar results from different studies without industry money are a possibility, but they are few and far between.

If you want to get health benefits from chocolate, our advice is to use high quality dark chocolate, produced organically and to eat it in moderation.

Additional Sources:

LiveStrong

Source: naturalsociety.com

The Benefits of Shea Butter to Repair Visible Signs of Aging

The Benefits of Shea Butter to Repair Visible Signs of Aging
Find out how raw, unrefined Shea Butter can help repair the signs of aging. Shea Butter can reduce wrinkles, stretch marks, fine lines, repair sun damage and promote cell growth.
Source: EzineArticles.com

Anti-Depressants Don’t Work for Mild or Moderate Depression

Anti-Depressants Don’t Work for Mild or Moderate Depression
Professor Kirsh provided a documented conclusion that pharmaceutical anti-depressants don't work for mild to moderately depressed patients. What's more, a placebo is almost always nearly as effective - without the side-effects.

A Harvard Medical School lecturer, psychologist and Associate Director of the Program in Placebo Studies at Harvard, Irving Kirsch, was recently featured in a CBS 60 Minutes new program with a claim that put a chink into the pharmaceutical industry’s armor. Professor Kirsh provided a documented conclusion that pharmaceutical anti-depressants don’t work for mild to moderately depressed patients. What’s more, a placebo is almost always nearly as effective – without the side-effects.

These findings had psychiatrists and the FDA livid. Why? Kirsch’s conclusion was featured in a national CBS 60 Minutes television report.

Now, it is more difficult for Big Pharma to peddle psychiatric drugs on TV and radio, which is allowed only in the USA and New Zealand. Even more importantly, Kirsch’s conclusion was evidence based on documents obtained from using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Those documents were trial results from drug companies that were not published and presented to the FDA.

Drug companies pay the FDA for approving their drugs, but the FDA doesn’t perform it’s own trials, Instead, the organization simply takes the reports from drug companies – reports that came to be by the drug companies’ own trials. Further, the drug companies choose which of these trials to publish and submit.

Kirsch found that the majority of anti-depressant trials showed little to no proof of efficacy. Those results were simply hidden from view. So if 12 tests were done, and only two showed any efficacy at all, those two would be submitted to the FDA, and the FDA would essentially say “pay your fee and go to market.” Other research has found these medications to even worsen depression.

After analyzing the results of all the tests, he was able to procure via FOIA, Kirsch concluded that anti-depressant drugs had only a placebo effect on patients with mild to moderate depression. In other words, a sugar pill would suffice. He went public with this conclusion on a CBS TV 60 Minutes news program.

Irving Kirsh is also the author of  The Emperor’s New Drugs: Exploding the Antidepressant Myth. Here’s a quote from that book: “Depression may not even be an illness at all. Often, it can be a normal reaction to abnormal situations. Poverty, unemployment, and the loss of loved ones can make people depressed, and these social and situational causes of depression cannot be changed by drugs.”

Here’s a reminder: All pharmaceutical drugs have side effects. Sometimes it’s viewed as a tolerable trade-off, sometime it’s not. And whatever relief is offered is not ultimately a cure. It’s illness management only. As just one example, some research has found antidepressants to actually cause your arteries to thicken 400% more than aging – a main factor in the thickening of the arteries. Ultimately, this leads to heart disease and stroke.

60 Minutes Presented a Limited Hangout

A limited hangout indicates only enough information has been released to satisfy most that full disclosure and accountability has occurred when it hasn’t. CBS did not reveal any of horrible side effects from anti-depressants and psychotropic drugs, including many attempts at suicide, some successful, and homicidal thoughts, some executed.

CBS did interview a British medical official who was part of a UK commission that banned anti-depressant use on mild to moderately depressed patients. He reasoned that since most moderately depressed patients can be handled by talk therapy and physical exercise, why expose them to the risk of adverse side effects? Sixty Minutes didn’t follow up on that angle.

Pharmaceuticals are advertised in newspapers and magazines, radio, and TV. Anyone seeing happy people portrayed by actors proclaiming how an anti-depressant changed their lives can almost demand that drug from even a primary care physician, and usually get it prescribed.

Even Medscape lists these side effects from SSRI and SNRI anti-depressants: Abnormal bleeding, hepatitis, headache, hyponatrenia (potentially deadly low sodium), toxic epidermal necrolysis (potentially deadly skin death), impotence, abnormal sensations, mania and suicide.

Of course, the drug peddling MDs, psychiatrists, and Big Pharma unequivocally deny causation. But relatives of the deceased and accused killers know things got intensely worse when the drugs began. Not all of the deceased committed suicide. Some died from those listed physical side effects or others as well.

Additional Sources:

CBS News

GoodReads

NaturalNews.com/028498

Medscape

Quotes from Irving Kirshes’ book  The Emperor’s New Drugs: Exploding the Antidepressant Myth

Source: naturalsociety.com

Breast Cancer Deception: 3 Ways the Pink Ribbon Misleads You

Breast Cancer Deception: 3 Ways the Pink Ribbon Misleads You
Everyone knows that this is a horrible disease - including corporations. These companies have made a pretty penny by playing on people’s passionate feelings about cancer. Here are 3 ways the pink ribbon misleads you.

Breast cancer (and its mainstream treatments) kill thousands of women every year. In 2009 (the last year for which data is available), the CDC says over 40,000 women were killed by this arguably preventable disease. Everyone knows that this is a horrible disease – including corporations. These companies have made a pretty penny by playing on people’s passionate feelings about cancer.

This past year, CoverGirl graciously flew a 13-year old girl and cancer patient to appear on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”. Talia Castellano is a young make-up blogger and admitted to “adoring” makeup. CoverGirl gave her $20,000 and made her an honorary CoverGirl. But there’s one problem; the company manufactures products with toxic ingredients known to increase cancer risk.

Parabens, formaldehyde, and phthalates, to be specific. While Johnson & Johnson reportedly bowed to the Breast Cancer Fund’s requests to remove such ingredients, Procter and Gamble (the parent company behind CoverGirl) has dodged the issue completely. Now, Procter and Gamble is donating $1 for every breast exam pledge on Facebook to go towards early detection campaigns. But even experts admit that breast cancer screens are very often unnecessary and could actually cause harm.

One would think that a company who truly cared about cancer would instead try to prevent it.

Continuing onward, a household name in breast cancer charities, the Susan G. Komen Foundation partners with numerous bottled water companies for their For the Cure races around the country. The problem with this—most of these bottled water companies use bottles that contain BPA, a known hormone disrupter, one that increases the risk of cancer. Interestingly, Athena bottled water is similarly sold in BPA bottles and was founded by a breast cancer survivor.

And if you need another example of misdirected “good will”, the Progresso company, that makes soup, serves up cans on grocery store shelves around the world. These cans are lined with a resin containing BPA. Yes the same hormone-disrupting BPA. And now they are using pink ribbon labels to help sell more. General Mills says a portion of their proceeds will go to breast cancer research, but they won’t spend a dime to reduce breast cancer by changing packaging until a consumer-driven upheaval begins.

So, what is it these companies really care about? Is it the hundreds of thousands of women that will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, or is it cashing in on the disease to boost their bottom line. After all, the bigger the problem (breast cancer) is, the more people will support that pink ribbon!

Additional Sources:

Cancer.gov

BreastCancerFund

Source: naturalsociety.com

Why the U.S. Should Legalize Industrial Hemp

Why the U.S. Should Legalize Industrial Hemp
While Colorado and Washington recently legalized recreational marijuana (including some aspects of industrial hemp) and several states have passed laws to allow the growing of hemp, the federal government has stood firm on the ban for decades, and continues to do so. The time has passed for the feds to come off their high horse and get a dose of reality; it's time to legalize industrial hemp.

The U.S. government, in all its wisdom, treats hemp and marijuana in the same manner. Despite one offering no psychoactive effects (hemp) and the other offering psychoactive effects (marijuana), both are against the law. While Colorado and Washington recently legalized recreational marijuana (including some aspects of industrial hemp) and several states have passed laws to allow the growing of hemp, the federal government has stood firm on the ban for decades, and continues to do so. The time has passed for the feds to come off their high horse and get a dose of reality; it’s time to legalize industrial hemp.

Currently, the United States is the number one importer of hemp products in the world. We have to import it because we can’t grow and produce it here. So, we spend millions, as a whole, bringing it in from other countries who know better than to ban such a valuable crop.

What makes hemp so valuable? Its uses are virtually endless. But, here’s a start:

• Paper
• Plastics
• Clothing
• Jewelry
• Rope
• Building materials
• Cooking (hemp oil)
• Food (it won’t get you high)
• Skin care products
• Animal and bird feed
• Animal bedding
• Water and soil purification
• Weed control
• Clean fuel

We are already using hemp for many of these purposes, but not on the scale we could be if it was domestically produced.

According to Scott Thill writing for AlterNet, we are supporting a hemp industry in countries like Canada, where their cropland for the plant doubled from 2011 to 2012, and our imports of the plant increased 300% in the last decade and 35% since just 2009.

More and more, we depend on hemp. And the laws that prevent us from cultivating it mean that American farmers, already in a world of hurt, are being forced to watch foreign farmers reap the rewards while supplying our demand.

North Dakota, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Oregon, California, Montana, West Virginia, and Vermont  have all passed legislation to make the cultivation of industrial hemp legal. But in an effort to avoid conflict with the feds, they are waiting for the DEA’s permission. They are waiting, and waiting.

Further, there’s not even fear of a pot-head apocalypse, as you can’t get high off of industrial hemp. If the great minds behind the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Justice don’t fear something like that, then their role in sustaining our dependence on oil and hampering freedoms truly runs deep.

Fortunately, legislators in Washington, D.C. are taking matters into their own hands. Senate Bill 359 and House Bill 525 (Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013) is making its way through bipartisan halls and seeks to establish that “marijuana” as listed in the Controlled Substances Act, does not include industrial hemp. With the passage of this law, we could once again stand to reap the rewards of this remarkable plant.

Additional Sources:

naihc.org

Alternet

Source: naturalsociety.com

Girl Scout Starts Change.org Petition for GMO-Free Girl Scout Cookies

Girl Scout Starts Change.org Petition for GMO-Free Girl Scout Cookies
Just one signification of your ongoing activism can be seen through an astounding girl scout based in Orange County, California, who has started a Change.org petition to stop girl scout cookies from containing GMO ingredients. And who said that the youngest generations were not aware of the latest issues?

Image from the petition page of Change.org.

Do you have any idea how far your activism is going? You are not only helping to ignite necessary changes in the food supply today, you are paving way for change for generations to come. Just one signification of your ongoing activism can be seen through an astounding girl scout based in Orange County, California, who has started a Change.org petition to stop girl scout cookies from containing GMO ingredients. And who said that the youngest generations were not aware of the latest issues?

The petition, created by Alicia Serratos, is gaining great momentum as the news gets out to thousands of concerned individuals. On March 8th, the petition held about 100 signatures; on March 12, there were about 1,000 signatures; now, the amount of signatures has reached an exciting 4,731. We can help make it even more extensive.

Needless to say, many signers of the petition are concerned about more than just GMOs. One woman stated: “We won’t support the Girl Scouts by buying these cookies unless the hydrogenated oils, hfcs, & GMOs are taken out.” Another, expressing her feelings in a more positive light, said: “As a mother and cookie lover, removing GMOs from girl scout cookies is taking a step toward a healthier generation of kids.”

But this isn’t the only good news you should have heard lately. In the midst of the petition, Whole Foods has announced that, by 2018, all products within its stores will carry a label specifying if it contains GMO ingredients. While California’s GMO labeling bill Prop 37 has failed to go through (for numerous deceptive reasons), this future enactment is a huge step in the right direction for both health-conscious consumers and Whole Foods. After all, Whole Foods will stand out as the largest grocery store to carry GMO labels; who wouldn’t want to shop there?

As stated in their press release:

“We are putting a stake in the ground on GMO labeling to support the consumer’s right to know,” said Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market. “The prevalence of GMOs in the U.S. paired with nonexistent mandatory labeling makes it very difficult to select non-GMO products. We are increasing our support of organic, and we are working with our supplier partners to grow our non-GMO supply chain to ensure we can continue to provide these choices in the future.”

Right now, both the girl scout petition and the news revolving around Whole Foods’ GMO labeling is just what people need to keep the fire going. Although the process could have come sooner to lessen the degree of GMO contamination across organic fields, there is no doubt that public activism is reaching children and younger individuals across the globe. And with the largest natural/organic grocery stores implementing GMO labeling and launching the issue into the spotlight, there is now more hope than ever for real progress.

Source: naturalsociety.com

Busting The Truth About Collagen As a Skin-Care Repair Ingredient

We will take a closer look at collagen as a valid ingredient in skin care or skin repair products. Is it so that collagen is doing any good when it is given to your body through a serum? Full article

Natural Remedies for Anti-Aging: 5 Foods to Consider

Natural Remedies for Anti-Aging: 5 Foods to Consider
Everyone wants to look and stay unaffected from aging and agile always. While it's a very good dream to undertake but the reality is due to our bad lifestyle, an average person starts to feel the problems of aging from a very early age. Find out how we can combat aging with the help of considering these 5 foods.
Source: EzineArticles.com

Age Is No Excuse to Be Out of Shape

Men and women can achieve in their 70s and 80s levels of vigor seen on people 30 years younger. This means that, assuming there are no underlying disorders, exercise can make an 85 year-old as strong as a 55 year-old person. Regular participation in physical activity can raise the fitness level of a 64 year-old to an average, sedentary 30 year-old. Source

New Study: Vaporized Marijuana is a Safe and Effective Pain Treatment

New Study: Vaporized Marijuana is a Safe and Effective Pain Treatment
Cannabis has numerous potential applications in healthcare and pain management in particular. A new study has once again demonstrated that the vilified plant can safely and effectively treat the painful symptoms of neuropathy.

When we talk about the medicinal benefits of marijuana, those who disapprove of its use tend to roll their eyes. But the fact is, this powerful plant has numerous potential applications in healthcare and pain management in particular. A new study has once again demonstrated that the vilified plant can safely and effectively treat general pain along with the painful symptoms of neuropathy.

Neuropathy is damage to the nervous system – particularly the peripheral nervous system (not including the brain and spinal cord). It is characterized by pain and numbness especially in the hands and feet, and is often the result of diabetes. Neuropathy can also be caused by injuries, toxic exposure, infections, and more.

This latest study was conducted by researchers at the University of California Davis Medical Center and was published in The Journal of Pain. It was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study that looked at the effectiveness of using vaporized, inhaled cannabis in 39 participants. These participants were experiencing neuropathic pain despite having tried traditional treatments (like opiate drugs). All participants continued to take their prescribed medications throughout the 4 week study period.

Researchers gave participants doses of cannabis with moderate THC levels (3.53 percent) or low THC levels (1.29 percent). (THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the plant’s primary psychoactive chemical). Some also received a placebo with no THC. They found both doses of cannabis to be effective in reducing pain significantly.

“Both the low and medium doses proved to be salutary analgesics for the heterogeneous collection of neuropathic pain conditions studied. Both active study medications provided statistically significant 30% reductions in pain intensity when compared to placebo,” stated the researchers.

This is far from the first study to illustrate the pain-relieving benefits of cannabis. In fact, cannabis (even in THC-free form, or free of psychoactive effects) has been identified as a powerful pain reliever in more than 80 peer-reviewed studies. Still, the herb is classified as dangerous by the U.S. government.

Why is marijuana still illegal? Opponents of medicinal marijuana (including the federal government) say the research isn’t enough. It isn’t clear what they would like to see in marijuana studies, but it’s beginning to look like they want the impossible. It seems they would rather Americans continue consuming addictive prescription pain medications than use a plant.

According to AlterNet, sales of opiate pain pills have tripled since 1999. Oxycodone (one of the more popular choices on the legal and illegal market) has increased from 8.3 tons in 1997 to a whopping 105 tons in 2011. Overdose deaths are similarly climbing as is the number of people addicted to these substances. To date, no one has died from a marijuana overdose.

Additional Sources:

Norml.org

MedicalNewsToday

Source: naturalsociety.com

Avoid Memory Loss - Don't Wait to Save Your Mind

Avoid Memory Loss - Don't Wait to Save Your Mind
According to the Centers for Disease Control half of all Americans living today will spend their last years in nursing homes, unable to care for themselves. The main cause of this incapacity is brain degeneration, memory loss, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, senile dementia or an overall decline of your mind.
Source: EzineArticles.com

Holy Basil Benefits: Growing Your Own Medicine

Holy Basil Benefits: Growing Your Own Medicine
All herbs have a purpose—whether it’s culinary or medicinal—but, it’s a particularly good sign when an herb is revered as the “queen of herbs” and is held as a holy plant worthy of worship. This plant, holy basil (tulsi), not only has medicinal benefits, but is also said to have spiritual benefits. What's more, holy basil benefits can be experienced in an exciting way, as the herb can be grown at your home.

All herbs have a purpose—whether it’s culinary or medicinal—but, it’s a particularly good sign when an herb is revered as the “queen of herbs” and is held as a holy plant worthy of worship. This plant, holy basil (tulsi), not only has medicinal benefits, but is also said to have spiritual benefits. What’s more, holy basil benefits can be experienced in an exciting way, as the herb can be grown in your home or on your patio – making it a great addition to your healing herb garden.

Holy basil, or tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is a member of the mint family. It’s closely related to the sweet basil you add to Italian dishes and pesto, but the flavors are quite different. This plant is sometimes referred to as pepper basil as it’s clove-flavor is spicier than it’s sweet counterpart.

The shrub can grow to about 30 to 60 cm high, has hairy stems and green (sometimes purple-tinged) small leaves. When allowed to flower, the blossoms are violet. It’s native to Eastern tropical regions and is especially widely known in India and Hindu countries where it is revered as a holy plant.

History and Spiritual Significance

In Hinduism, holy basil is worshiped as the incarnation of Lakshimi, the wife of Vishnu and one of that religion’s most important deities. It is called “The Incomparable One” and “Mother Medicine of Nature” among other things, and can be seen growing outside of Hindu temples.

Not only found in temples, you will see tulsi being cultivated outside of most Indian homes and in courtyards. In worship, it will be placed on an altar and held in reverence during meditation and prayer.

Though the herb has likely been growing in India the longest (an estimated 3,000 years), it was also prized by healers of ancient Greece and Rome and continues to be prized throughout the world as a plant that can heal the body, mind, and spirit. But all potential spiritual benefits aside, the herb undoubtedly brings numerous health benefits to the table.

Some Holy Basil Benefits

In Ayurvedic medicine, holy basil has been used for thousands of years. However, it is just in recent decades (and especially the past few years) begun gaining popularity in the West.

The plant is said to be an adaptogen. Adaptogens essentially adapt to serve the body where it needs them most. Typically, adaptogens are characterized as stress-busters, and this is where we will find the majority of research on tulsi.

While all scientific research on the plant has been done on lab animals and not reproduced in humans, case after case of anecdotal evidence and thousands of years of use can’t be wrong.

Holy basil has numerous beneficial properties including:

• Adaptogenic (anti-stress)
• Antibacterial
• Anti-fungal
• Antioxidant
• Anti-inflammatory

These properties alone can account for many potential benefits including increased sense of well-being, increased immune function, and disease prevention.

Known benefits of holy basil include:

• Memory booster
• Fever reduction
• Cough soothing
• Sore throat relief
• Soothing to bites, cuts, and scrapes
• Headache treatment
• Increased kidney function
• Balanced emotional health
• Clearing acne
• Possible blood sugar regulation

Both as a general health tonic and as a treatment for specific maladies, tulsi has been the go-to herb for millennia. Experience holy basil benefits today – by growing your own!

How to Grow Holy Basil

Tulsi is an excellent addition to any herb garden and can do well in either pots or in the ground. It prefers warm soil, so don’t plant seeds until after the last frost of the season and when the average daily temperature is 65 to 70 Fahrenheit. Alternately, you can start with a small plant and transplant it to the garden or pot to have a head start.

The holy basil plant prefers sunlight, so don’t place it in a shady spot. A little afternoon shade would be okay, but full sun is best. Be cautious that it gets plenty of water, as drying out in the hot summer sun could mean certain death.

As it grows it will develop flowers. To encourage a larger, bushier plant, you can pinch off these blossoms. However, most sources say that letting the plant flower won’t affect its healing potency much.

A note on harvesting: The flowers of your tulsi plant will bring plenty of bees to the garden, so if you want to harvest without risking a sting, head out to your garden first thing in the morning. Clip those parts higher than 5 inches and without flowers for the best leaves. Careful not to harvest more than you need as over-harvesting can harm a not-quite-established plant.

Using Holy Basil

Most practitioners will use holy basil in a tea, and this is the easiest way to reap holy basil benefits. Simply cover 2 teaspoons of fresh tulsi leaves with 8 ounces of boiling water, then cover and let steep for about 5 minutes before straining the leaves off and drinking.

Alternately, there are many commercial holy basil products. While growing your own is the very best (and not that difficult), it’s not for everyone. If you don’t have a green thumb and are tempted to opt for those already-prepared versions, make sure you are looking for high quality and organic products.

Additional Sources:

Webmd

DrWeil

Kew.org

MedicineHunter

Source: naturalsociety.com

Aloe Vera May Prevent, Stop Progression of Skin Cancer

Aloe Vera May Prevent, Stop Progression of Skin Cancer
The benefits of aloe vera for your skin are undeniable. If you’ve ever cut open a leaf for use on a cut, scrape, or sunburn, you’ve experienced it first hand. But aloe vera may possess even greater healing power than many realize, potentially preventing and halting skin cancer in its tracks.

The benefits of aloe vera for your skin are undeniable. If you’ve ever cut open a leaf for use on a cut, scrape, or sunburn, you’ve experienced it first hand. But aloe vera may possess even greater healing power than many realize, potentially preventing and halting skin cancer in its tracks.

In addition to reducing wrinkles, researchers from the University of Belgrade School of Medicine recently confirmed that the constituents in aloe vera stops proliferation of cells that accompanies skin cancer. With skin cancer, cells proliferate (or multiple rapidly) as skin tumors develop. To stop this cell growth, you can stop the tumors from developing.

The researchers found that Aloe-emodin stopped cell proliferation. In conjunction with this finding, the researchers discovered that although the isolated aloe compounds were protective, the whole herb extracts were even better.

What this means is that identifying the beneficial compound in the plant is great, but when you remove it from the plant to isolate it and use the isolated compound in a treatment, it is far less effective than when used as part of the plant.

Additionally, aloe vera contains many other compounds adding to it’s antioxidant properties and healing abilities. Case Adams, Naturopath from GreenMedInfo reports:

The gel of the Aloe leaf and its other plant parts contain many constituents outside of those tested in these studies, including quercetin, luteolin, apigenin, kaempferol, isoorientin, isovitexin, saponarin, lutonarin, chlorogenic acid, pectic acid, caffeic acid, 5-P-coumaroylquinic acid, caffeoylshikimic acid, feruloylquinic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid, as well as glycosylchromone aloeresin B, and aloin, which is a precursor to Aloe-emodin.

Other studies have also demonstrated aloe’s ability to stop the progression of skin cancer when applied directly to the skin. It is suspected that aloe very stimulates the production of melanin and other protective substances. So, using fresh aloe vera gel for sunburn relief may pull double-duty, soothing the burn and protecting the skin from cancer. And of course everyone knows that burn relief is among many other health benefits of aloe vera.

One of the best things about aloe vera is you can grow it yourself in your home or your yard (if you are in a warmer climate). It’s a great first aid treatment and is excellent for a variety of skin conditions.

Additional Sources:

Webmd

Source: naturalsociety.com

Natural Ways To Firm Skin

The second you notice your first fine lines or saggy places in your complexion, all of a sudden there's a barrage of thoughts: I look old, how do I keep my face looking youthful, am I too young to consider botox injections? Before you high-tail it to the doctor's office for fillers, check out these younger looking skin tips that are completely natural, and good for you too! Read here

Warning: Major Supplements Openly Contain GMO Vitamin Sources

Warning: Major Supplements Openly Contain GMO Vitamin Sources
As it turns out, major supplement producers actually will openly admit that they derive many of their formulas from GMO crops -- consumers just aren't really paying attention!

Genetically modified organisms have permeated much of the crop industry, absolutely infesting the processed food market, but are many ‘health’ supplements free from the presence of GMOs? As it turns out, major supplement producers actually will openly admit that they derive many of their formulas from GMO crops — consumers just aren’t really paying attention!

If you know much about Monsanto or the prevalence of GMOs, you are likely aware that a large majority of corn (about 80-95% of the entire crop in the US, if not more, depending on what research you follow) is genetically modified. Being responsible for 90% of the US GM seed market, Monsanto has done its very best to create a genetically altered monopoly on the food supply. This is where the supplement factor comes in.

As you may or may not be aware, wildly popular substances like vitamin C are usually extracted from corn — one of the leading GMO crops in the US. It is from this that the question immediately comes into focus: could supplement makers be using GMO corn to create vitamin C supplements? What about the countless other formulas that can extract from GM foods as a source. And when you consider GMO-containing ‘food’ can legally be labeled as ‘natural’ under current regulations, what ‘natural’ supplements could be based on Monsanto’s GMO crops?

As it turns out, this is indeed the case. While it is impossible to compile a full list without a large amount of financial investment for testing every brand, what we do know is that major producers have explained how they usually will list ‘Non-GMO’ on their GMO-free options. In other words, chances are vitamin C may be extracted from GMO corn unless it is stated to be organic, non-GMO, or specifically not extracted from a non-GMO source. In reality, many reputable supplement companies have already begun listing their high quality products with the ‘GMO-free’ label and other quality re-assurances.

Some, however, continue to source GMO or ‘potentially GMO’ corn. If you’re like me, this is a gamble that you are not willing to take.

NOW Company: ‘Our Vitamin C Derived From Standard Corn, Many Products Contain GMO Derivatives’ 

An investigator researching for this piece actually got in contact with NOW, a leading supplement producer. They asked about how they extract their vitamin C products when considering the high percentage of GM corn that currently supplies the industry. Concerned for their health and the health of consumers, worldwide, they wanted to know if they were swallowing GMOs — or at least vitamins derived from GMOs. In response to their inquiry, a NOW team member replied:

“All of our C is derived from standard corn not certified to be non-GMO… Many products [in the industry at large] contain soy or corn derivatives which are generally GMO’d. We are motivated towards non-GMO-sourced products.”

The NOW Science & Nutrition Group rep then included some information from their Technical Director Michael Lelah, which talks about how NOW is generally opposed to genetic manipulation of the food supply but does not specifically use non-GMO sources for all of their products. The excerpt from Lelah which the rep said was copied from a blog ‘Natural Is Better’, reads:

“Genetic Modification: NOW is opposed to genetic modification, because there are real and unknown harmful effects. Unfortunately, much of the world’s supply of corn and soybeans is genetically modified which is why we continue to offer more products that are certified GMO-free.”

An interesting statement when also considering that NOW sites on the council for the Non-GMO Project. But what does this mean for the industry? NOW products are taken by thousands (or more likely millions) of health conscious individuals worldwide, and are considered to be of higher quality than many other brands. Now, to be clear, I am not bashing NOW and ignoring other brands. I really have nothing against NOW in particular, but their openness to GMOs within their products is truly problematic. Just imagine the quality of sourcing for pharmacy vitamin C brands that contain more fillers and additives than imaginable.

But what do we do with this information? What do we do about it? Quite simply, it’s time to raise the standard. It’s time to let people know that their supplements are being sourced from GMOs, and it’s time to change that. This article is going to make a lot of manufacturers mad, possibly to the point of threats and exile, but this issue is more important than hurt feelings. We can’t sit idle while Monsanto creeps its way into the supplement industry, relishing as many health conscious consumers think they are aiding their bodies.

Raising the Standard | GMO-Free Supplements A Necessity

The answer to the GMO sourcing within the supplement industry is a consumer-mandated shift towards non-GMO alternatives. Not ‘natural’ or ‘potentially GMO-free’ alternatives, but certified non-GMO, preferably organic-containing, health products. Sure, non-GMO certifications have room for error. It’s possible that some sketchy businesses can even slip past the regulations (particularly when considering cheap Chinese certifications), but it’s a start to progress the process forward as well. We are not even at the point where we can further accelerate the validity of GMO-free certifications when people aren’t even aware that they are consuming them in the first place.

So how is this done?

First, we need to blast this information out and E-mail every major supplement brand and ask if they ever source from GMO crops. Ask them point blank, and post the result in the comments, your blog, Facebook, Twitter, everywhere. Blast it out, get it out there. Force them to change or lose sales. Force them to begin sourcing 100% non-GMO or face massive customer loyalty changes. We’ve seen this work time and time again, which companies removing everything from BPA to high-fructose corn syrup in a bid to retain customers. We’ve even seen this with civil liberties issues going public and turning into a demand for answers from government officials.

It’s an aggressive way of raising the bar, but it’s also essential to eliminating GMOs from this fairly new arena that virtually no one is talking about. It’s possible to cut this issue at the root as long as we make it a big deal. Monsanto’s GMO contamination has no place in our supplements, food, or really anything else.

Source: naturalsociety.com

4 Immune-Boosters to Supercharge Immunity Year Round

4 Immune-Boosters to Supercharge Immunity Year Round
Though winter is almost behind us, germs are spreading year-round. Even if you spend your days locked in a school with children, you can avoid a springtime cold or a resurgence of the flu by preparing in advance. Shoring up your immune system is something you can do daily, through proper diet, plenty of sunshine, and a few valuable herbs and vitamins. Here are 4 immune boosters.

Though winter is almost behind us, germs are spreading year-round. Even if you spend your days locked in a school with children, you can avoid a springtime cold or a resurgence of the flu by preparing in advance. Shoring up your immune system is something you can do daily, through proper diet, plenty of sunshine, and a few valuable herbs and vitamins. I will provide 4 immune boosters below.

There is no doubt that when your body is healthy, it can fight off illness and infection. This is why people who take care of themselves are rarely out with the common cold. If symptoms do start to show, the issue can be handled quickly with natural remedies. For the most part, however, a healthy lifestyle will make for an automatic win against viruses and bacteria.

From regularly exercise, to eating organic food, there are many methods on how to strengthen your immune system. Here are 4 ways to supercharge immunity you can add to the list.

1. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a known immune-booster, but people frequently head straight for the supplements rather than heading to the source: fruits and vegetables. Citrus fruits are an obvious choice for vitamin C. But dark leafy greens and berries are also rich in this crucial vitamin. Kiwi is another excellent choice. Load up with a spinach salad topped with orange slices and dried cranberries. If you do feel a cold or sickness coming on, this is where the higher doses (1,000 mg twice daily, for example) will be highly beneficial.

2. Echinacea

This herb is a go-to for many herbalists as it has numerous health benefits. It’s easy to grow, but you can also find it in teas and supplements in health food stores. Taking Echinacea at the first sign of illness can shorten the duration and lessen the symptoms of the common cold. Some research found it to lessen the duration of colds by 26%.

3. Vitamin D

While getting enough sunshine is the best way to get attain vitamin D, that isn’t always easy in  the colder winter months. Supplementing with D3 can help fill in the gaps. This vitamin plays an important role in immune health. Shown to slash flu risk by nearly half even at low doses, vitamin D is currently one of the most recommended supplements for boosting overall wellness.

4. Astragalus

Preliminary research on Astragalus membranaceus, a flowering plant and one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, demonstrates that the root may improve immune system function and boost the effect of conventional immune therapy for some cancers. Astragalus root has long been used by Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners as a general tonic, to strengthen and energize the body, to help resolve colds and upper respiratory infections and to strengthen and regulate the immune system. The herb has just recently garnered the interest of western science for its potential to boost immunity and lessen side effects of chemotherapy

Finally, ditch the antibacterial gels and wipes that you may have grown to depend on. These products have actually been shown to reduce your immune function. Without being exposed to some germs, your body doesn’t have a clue what to do when they are hit with a real illness. Soap and water is plenty to keep your hands clean and the “bugs” at bay.

Additional Sources:

US National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health

NaturalNews.com/037779

AlterNet

Source: naturalsociety.com

Exercise Shown to Protect the Body Against Future Cancer

Exercise Shown to Protect the Body Against Future Cancer
There are many ways to prevent cancer, with one small study presented at the Integrative Biology of Exercise VI meeting indicating that exercising regularly could help reduce cancer risk by boosting immune function.

Even after someone has successfully battled cancer, they are often scared of the possibility that it will return. However they chose to conquer it—using questionable chemotherapy or alternative treatments—keeping the cancer at bay is a primary concern while recovering. There are many ways to prevent cancer, with one small study presented at the Integrative Biology of Exercise VI meeting indicating that exercising regularly could help reduce cancer risk by boosting immune function.

Sixteen people participated in the study, with all but one having just finished chemo. Blood samples were taken at the beginning and end of the 12-weeks. Researchers were looking specifically at the number of senescent and naïve T-cells. Senescent T cells weak at fighting disease while naïve T cells are stronger.

Following the 12-week period, in which participants did cardio, strength training, and flexibility work, an interesting observation was made. At the beginning, there were more senescent and less naïve T cells. After the exercise period, the counts flip-flopped, with more naïve (disease-fighting) T cells and less senescent cells.

“If exercise indeed strengthens the immune system and potentially improves cancer surveillance, it’s one more thing we should educate patients about as a reason they should schedule regular activity throughout their day and make it a priority in their lives,” said researcher Laura Bilek of the study. “What we’re suggesting is that with exercise, you might be getting rid of T cells that aren’t helpful and making room for T cells that might be helpful.”

While cancer can wreak havoc, chemotherapy can too. So even though exercise as an immune booster is important for all people recovering from cancer, it is especially important for people who essentially have to rebuild their immune systems after having been subjected to chemotherapy.

And this isn’t the only research linking exercise with reduced caner risk. Medical researchers from Harvard found that only 3.5 hours a week can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer by nearly half when compared to inactive women.

Another paper stated:

“The data are clear in showing that physically active men and women have about a 30-40% reduction in the risk of developing colon cancer, compared with inactive persons … With regard to breast cancer, there is reasonably clear evidence that physically active women have about a 20-30% reduction in risk, compared with inactive women.

Seeing as exercise is a total health booster, it isn’t surprising to see that it can also reduce cancer risk. Start exercising now to boost health, prevent cancer, and even add years to your life.

Additional Sources:

EurekAlert

MedLinePlus

Source: naturalsociety.com

8 Ways Corporations are Poisoning Our Food, Water, the Earth

8 Ways Corporations are Poisoning Our Food, Water, the Earth
While we may be under the impression that our system of government is here to protect us, corporations—and the politicians getting paychecks from them—do a fair job of making that difficult. This manner of “legislative capture” is manifesting itself in a host of appalling ways far beyond those listed here. Here are 8 ways corporations are poisoning our food supply, humans, and/or mother earth.

While we may be under the impression that our system of government is here to protect us, corporations—and the politicians getting paychecks from them—do a fair job of making that difficult. This manner of “legislative capture” is manifesting itself in a host of appalling ways far beyond those listed here. Here are 8 ways corporations are poisoning our food supply, humans, and mother earth.

1. Sugary Drinks, Diet Drinks are Addictive and Fattening

Sugary drinks, especially soda, run rampant in the U.S., with corporations shelling out millions to advertise to both children and adults. Kids are taking in 7 trillion calories of sugar each year from soda alone, with sodas making up 15-25% of the daily recommended caloric intake for kids aged 2 to 19. Sugar-sweetened sodas can contain upwards of 200 calories per can, but even artificially sweetened drinks should not be considered safe. Several studies show that artificial sweeteners—like cancer-linked aspartame—can contribute to tooth decay, obesity, kidney damage, and depression.

2. Bisphenol A and Other Chemicals in Canned Goods

BPA is a hormone disrupting chemical used in canned goods and plastic bottles. The chemical, which is labeled as “toxic” in other nations, had a chance to be banned of March 2012. In a move that angered activists within the US and even internationally, the FDA ruled against the ban. This ubiquitous chemical has been linked to:

• Obesity
• Hyperactivity in girls
• Infertility
• Sterility
• Breast cancer
• Reproductive issues
• Hastened puberty
• Feminization in boys
• Damaged arteries

3. Buying Out and Creating Organic Companies

You may not know this, but many organic companies are actually owned and operated by major corporations like Coca-Cola or Kellogg. Companies like Honest Tea and Odwalla may appeal to health conscious shoppers, but they are actually owned by Coca-Cola. Another popular ‘health’ brand is Kashi, owned by the Kellogg corporation. Some products from these companies may be ’100% organic’, but do you really trust their labeling practices? Or perhaps more important, do you really want to give support to the corporate producer?

Further, these large corporations are buying out some of the companies many natural-health advocates have grown to love. One example is when New Chapter, a vitamin and supplement company offering worthy products since 1892, was bought out by mega-corporation Proctor & Gamble.

4. Antibiotics are Making People Fat

These days, physicians are a little stab-happy with their antibiotics, often to just please the patient with a medical solution (a placebo effect, if you will). But it could be setting us up for lifelong obesity – at least that’s what some research has to say. In addition to killing “bad” bacteria, antibiotics kill “good” bacteria in the gut, thereby disrupting digestion even in the long run. There’s also mounting evidence that antibiotics may be promoting diabetes and metabolic syndrome—but not killing the cold and flu viruses that parents think they are (antibiotics cannot kill viruses, only bacteria).

5. Antibiotics in Livestock are Promoting Bacterial Resistance

Last year, The Guardian wrote about 150 scientists and 50 farmers—including a former FDA commissioner—demanding that Congress regulate antibiotic use in livestock. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has even blamed overuse of antibiotics for the global resistance to antibiotics, which could make antibiotics futile against disease-causing bacteria. And this is not even considering the other ill effects antibiotics have on the animals we eat.

6. Supporting Genetically Modified Foods and Herbicides

If you are into organic foods and have been following GM news, you know that the latest and greatest chance for GM labeling was with California’s proposition 37. Needless to say, the bill was not passed, but Prop 37 did teach us a lot about the interest of various companies and mega corporations. It was no surprise to see biotech giant Monsanto dish out over $4 million to fight the bill, but some people were surprised to see Naked Juice, Kashi, Cascadian Farm Organic, Honest Tea, and some others on the side of anti-GM labeling. As mentioned above, many of these companies are owned by corporations like Coca-Cola or General Mills.

They all support GM food, are anti-GM labeling, and subsequently support the use of herbicides and pesticides. Pesticides that are being used in greater amounts each day thanks to mutated insects that become resistant to Monsanto’s Roundup-ready GM crops.

According to numerous pieces of research, GM foods like Monsanto’s corn have been implicated of contributing to weight gain, organ disruption, tumor development and infertility in rats. Roundup—a glyphosate-based herbicide— is to thank for contributing to water pollution, resistant rootworms and superweeds, and environmental devastation.

7. Herbicides and Insecticides Contributing to Bee Colony Collapse

Although technological products like cell phone towers and cell phones are hurting the bee population, herbicides, insecticides and pesticides brought to us by Bayer, Monsanto, and Dow AgroSciences appear to be the main culprits. It has been shown time and time again that these chemicals are ravaging these tiny insects that are essential for agriculture purposes and pollinating food crops.

“…a document was leaked revealing that a bee-killing pesticide put in use by the EPA may be to blame [for the bee decline]. Adding to the controversy, more records have emerged showing that the USDA was fully aware of the pesticide’s threat to not only bees, but humans…Neonicotinoids, the particular type of pesticides used, are absorbed systemically into plants, including the pollen and nectar. Once the bees begin to pollinate, they also absorb the insecticide, and die.”

Neonicotinoids have been banned in France and Germany, but not the United States.

8. Factory Farms Devastate Land and Sea

If you purchase your meat from a grocery store instead of a farmer’s market or co-op, it was probably raised in a factory farm. Not only are these farms known for extreme animal cruelty (which many undercover videos have gruesomely pointed out), but they are also responsible for polluting groundwater, drinking water, and contributing to massive deforestation. Actually, they produce 100 times more waste than the entire U.S. population.

Run-off from these establishments as well as non-organic crops are contributing to blooms and dead zones in coastal waters. Earlier this year, a scientific paper argued against the case of factory farms feeding the world, but with the USDA and FDA deep in industrial farming’s pockets, it will take considerable time and effort before we see any changes.

Additional Sources:

UT Health Science Center

MedLinePlus

Rawstory

Pediatrics

Greenmedinfo

Alternet

Source: naturalsociety.com