Top 11 Food, Beverage and Beauty Products to Avoid

Top 11 common foods and personal care products 

you should avoid at all costs.

By Skip Pulley – Founder, Kahuna Life

Fluoride

Despite the information that your loving, caring government officials tell you, Fluoride is most definitely a Neurotoxin. 59 human studies that have looked at fluoride exposure and effects on brain function. 53 of these show fluoride’s damaging effect: lowered IQ, behavioral deficits, nervous disorders, and memory disruption. There are also hundreds of animal studies showing fluoride’s adverse effects on the brain. Fluoride is a toxic industrial waste product, which may also be contaminated with lead, arsenic, radionucleotides, aluminum and other industrial contaminants. Flouride was originally developed during WWII for prisoners of war and concentration camp inmates in order to make them more docile and less likely to revolt. It has the same effect today, taken voluntarily by millions. The daily dose of fluoride recommended by the American Dental Association results in a level of fluoride in the blood shown to cause an 8-point drop in IQ - and although it's recommended that poison control should be called if you swallow just a quarter milligram of fluoride from toothpaste, just ONE glass of public (city) water can contain at least that same amount.
ALTERNATIVES: Distilled Water, Filtered Water, Well Water, Non-Flouride Toothpaste, Home Made Toothpaste

Aluminum
Studies show that toxic metals such as aluminum contribute to brain diseases by producing oxidative stress. Aluminum is linked to degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Aluminum is widely known as one of several metals known to affect the neurological system. Antiperspirants, which contain aluminum prevent toxins from being expelled from the body via perspiration. These toxins clog pores and lymph nodes. Studies have found that aluminum absorbed by the skin (our largest organ) is potentially carcinogenic. Sweating is a natural human function which helps your body naturally eliminate toxins while supporting proper immune function and preventing disease. Just use regular deodorant. You're an adult, for crying out loud. If you have a serious problem with perspiration, change your diet and get some exercise. Although aluminum cookware “may” be generally non-reactive, (the jury is still out on that) cooking with aluminum foil has been directly linked to bone and kidney disease.
 ALTERNATIVES: regular deodorant, natural deodorant, baking soda, stop eating junk food

Petrolatum

Petrolatum and other petroleum based products (petroleum jelly, mineral oil - which is not mineral-based, but made from petroleum hydrocarbons - lanolin, lidocaine, etc.) are contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs. These compounds are present in crude oil and crude oil byproducts, and are believed to have acute and chronic effects on human health, ranging from skin inflammation and irritation to respiratory illness. If petroleum jelly gets into the lungs, it can cause lipid pneumonia. The benefits of petrolatum sealing moisture inside your skin is far outweighed by the liability of your skin not being able to absorb fresh air, sunlight and moisture from the atmosphere. By using petroleum products you are in fact over-drying your skin by blocking the absorption of natural elements.
 ALTERNATIVES: coconut oil, cocoa butter, aloe, shea butter, Vitamin E Lotion

High Fructose Corn Syrup

Even when used in moderation it is a major cause of heart disease, obesity, cancer, dementia, liver failure and tooth decay. It is extracted from corn stalks through a process so secretive that Archer Daniels Midland and Carghill will not allow most journalists to observe the process.

HFCS also consists of glucose and fructose, not in a 50-50 ratio like cane sugar, but a 55-45 fructose to glucose ratio in an unbound form. Fructose is sweeter than glucose. And HFCS is cheaper than sugar. Since there is there is no chemical bond between them, no digestion is required, so they are more rapidly absorbed into your blood stream. It's the major cause of liver damage in this country (even more so than alcohol) and causes a condition called “fatty liver” which affects 70 million people. Chemically extracted fructose goes right to the liver and triggers lipogenesis. The rapidly absorbed glucose triggers big spikes in insulin–our body’s major fat storage hormone. HFCS lead to increased metabolic disturbances that drive increases in appetite, weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and dementia.
 ALTERNATIVES: Contact Me for alternatives

Bleached (or enriched/refined) Flour and/or Sugar

There are three basic parts of a whole grain: the bran, germ and endosperm. The bran, or the outer coating, is rich in fiber, antioxidants and B vitamins. The germ, the innermost layer, is high in B vitamins and also contains minerals, protein and fat. The endosperm, found in the middle, is the starchy part of the grain and it is mostly carbohydrates. When refined white flour is made, companies remove the bran and the germ, leaving only that starchy endosperm. This makes it more shelf-stable, but results in nutrient loss and a subsequent ‘food product’ that is harmful to our health. The biggest problem is that the vitamins and minerals that food manufacturers use to enrich the white flour with are not in forms that are bioavailable to us, which means they are not the type of nutrients that our bodies are able to easily recognize, digest and utilize. Most people like to blame gluten, but the real culprit is the poisonous “franken-wheat” it's made from; GMO crops grown on corporate farms with pesticide-resistant seeds. But the worst culprit by far is processed sugar, proven for decades to be extremely harmful to human health. Not only do we not restrict access to it, we actually feed it to children. (I mean, I don't, but I know better) Refined sugar intake has been linked Weight Gain, Obesity, Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease and Inflammation. Excessive refined sugar intake has been linked to Poor or Failed Digestion, bone disease, chronic inflammation and Cancer.
 ALTERNATIVES: bread made from potatoes, corn or oats; raw cane sugar, agave, molasses

skippulley.com

Aspartame

Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of adverse reactions to food additives as reported reported to the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious, including seizures and death. A list of reported effects of aspartame include weight gain, dizziness, rashes, depression, fatigue, insomnia, vision loss, hearing loss, palpitations, anxiety, memory loss, joint pain, vertigo, seizures, nausea, breathing difficulties and several more, some very serious including diabetes, Alzheimer's, epilepsy and fibromyalgia. Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. Too much aspartic acid in the brain kills certain neurons by allowing too much calcium into the cells. This influx triggers excessive amounts of free radicals, which kill the cells. Excessive levels of phenylalanine in the brain can cause levels of serotonin in the brain to decrease, leading to emotional disorders such as depression. Methanol (or wood alcohol) is a basically pure poison. Methanol breaks down into formaldehyde, a deadly neurotoxin, inside the body.
 ALTERNATIVES: instead of drinking diet pop, just stop drinking pop. Drink juice, coffee/tea and water

Sucralose

If you're buying a product labeled “diet”, “low calorie” or “light” and you don’t see the word “sucralose” on the label, it means that food manufacturers have likely hidden it behind one of several brand names such as Splenda, Zerocal, Sukrana, SucraPlus, Candys, Cukren, and Nevella. All Sucralose containing sweeteners such as Splenda consist of three components. Dextrose and maltodextrin comprise approximately 95% by volume. The third element is sucralose. Both dextrose and maltodextrin are highly refined products usually of genetically modified (GMO) origin. Dextrose is pure refined sugar, requires no digestion, and has a glycemic index (GI) of 100. By comparison, the GI of white sugar is only 80. Sucralose is basically denatured sucrose. Its preparation involves chlorinating sucrose, chemically changing the structure of the sugar molecules by substituting three chlorine atoms for three hydroxyl groups. Chlorine is a known carcinogen and Sucralose has been deceptive from the start, marketed as a more natural alternative sweetener derived from sugar itself, but sucralose is actually just chlorinated sugar. When it accumulates in our bodies, chlorine can be very harmful and a major threat to our health.
 ALTERNATIVES: just limit your intake of sugary food and drink instead of trying to substitute another sweetener, because it will most likely be just as unhealthy.

Microwave Popcorn & Artificial Butter Flavor

Artificial butter flavoring is used in microwave popcorn and as a topping for movie popcorn. This chemical is called diacetyl and has caused respiratory and lung problems and may even cause damage to the brain. A chemical coating used in microwave popcorn bags breaks down when heated into a substance called perfluorooctanoic (PFOA), which even the FDA admits “may cause cancer in humans” because it definitely causes cancer in lab animals. PFOA has been used to manufacture such products as Gore-Tex and Teflon. PFOA does not break down in the environment, at all. PFOA is not metabolized in the body; it is not lipophilic. So avoid all products which contain PFOA's and cook with ceramic, stainless steel or cast iron cookware rather than teflon or aluminum.
 ALTERNATIVES: there are affordable, microwave-safe or electric popcorn poppers now available. Just add popcorn kernels and then real butter or coconut oil when popped. Maybe a little season salt.

Processed Meat

Examples of processed meat include hot dogs (frankfurters), ham, sausages, corned beef, and beef jerky as well as canned meat and meat-based preparations and sauces. Processed meat was classified as Group 1 carcinogenic to humans. This category is used when there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans. In other words, there is convincing evidence that the agent causes cancer, based on epidemiological studies showing the development of cancer in exposed humans. Sufficient evidence from epidemiological studies show that eating processed meat causes colorectal cancer. There is also evidence of links with pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer. New ongoing research shows that there are certain chemicals in red and processed meats, both added and naturally occurring, that cause these foods to be carcinogenic. For example, when a chemical in natural red meat and processed meat called haem is broken down in the gut, N-nitroso chemicals are formed and these have been found to damage the cells that line the bowel, which can lead to bowel cancer. In addition, the nitrite and nitrate preservatives used to preserve processed meat produce these N-nitroso chemicals as well.
 ALTERNATIVES: if you insist on eating meat, eat whole, fresh (or frozen) cuts of meat. 

Shelf-stable Condiments

Everyone is guilty of adding these to food at one point or another. These condiments have been engineered not to deteriorate, which means they contain preservatives and additives such as food coloring, sweeteners, salt, bad fats (such as trans fats, which are linked to premature heart disease) and chemical agents such as dimethylpolysiloxane for texture. (dimethylpolysiloxane, is used as an anti-foaming agent in ketchup and many processed and fast foods. Really? Should ketchup ever foam?) Any fiber, good fats and nutrients are stripped out in the process. The oils used to make these condiments are made from newer soybean varieties modified in such a way as to not require hydrogenation. They are highly processed and cause damage in your body at the cellular level, paving the way for problems ranging from obesity and diabetes to reproductive disorders and heart disease. Shelf stable dairy products often contain high amounts of dangerous genetically engineered bovine growth hormone, or rBGH. All shelf stable foods contain MSG, which is an excitotoxin, which means it overexcites your cells to the point of damage or cell-death, potentially causing brain damage and triggering learning disabilities. Common adverse effects linked to regular MSG consumption include obesity, eye damage, headaches, fatigue, disorientation, depression and rapid heartbeat.
 ALTERNATIVES: refrigerated, perishable condiments. Try not to eat on the run.

Triclosan

Triclosan is a synthetic chemical with antimicrobial properties which destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi. When triclosan was first introduced in the early 70's for use in hospitals, it was crucial for keeping medical instruments sterile. However, over the last decade, with the rapid increase in the use of triclosan products, the chemical is now ubiquitous. In addition, There is absolutely no study that proves it is more effective than regular soap and water. Triclosan is also a powerful pesticide registered with the Environmental Protection Agency It causes changes in the human hormone system, harming reproduction and development. Recent studies also show that higher triclosan levels in people are linked to increased sensitivity to allergens. Triclosan is found in Soaps Shampoos, Conditioners, Lotions, Toothpastes, Deodorants, Shaving products etc. It is also created for use in products as diverse as undergarments and building materials. However, because these items are so prevalent and commonly found, most researchers are pressured by large petrochemical corporations to change their study results and physicians are bullied into un-registering their reported complaints of adverse effects on humans.
 ALTERNATIVES: botanical soap, natural soap, alcohol, natural lotion, witch hazel

Honorable Mention: 

Vegetable Oil

The extraction process causes pollution and wastes natural resources. The finished product - including canola, cottonseed, sunflower, corn, soybean and safflower oils, are potentially toxic inside the human body. Basically, any oil that has to be extracted chemically is not good for the human body. These oils are mostly polyunsaturated fats that oxidize rapidly when heated, as opposed to the alternative fruit based oils such as coconut and olive oil, which contain more monounsaturated fats and oxidize less rapidly. 

Some nut oils are also an acceptable alternative, as long as they're extracted without chemicals.

None of us are always as good with our diet and personal care as we would like to be. But your responsibility, as an adult in society - as well as to your family who loves and depends on you, is to do your best. Be mindful of what you are putting in and on your body. In regards to health and well being, nature has an answer for any question you will ever have. 

For a list of citations and source material, feel free to comment or contact me directly through this website.

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