Science Daily 23 April 2010 reports that fructose is not only strongly linked to obesity – but now to severe liver damage as well. Manal Abdelmalek, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology at Duke University Medical Center found that increased consumption of fructose was associated with scarring in the liver, or fibrosis, among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Her team of researchers at Duke, one of eight clinical centres in the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network, looked at 427 adults enrolled in the network.

Researchers analyzed dietary questionnaires collected within 3 months of the adults' liver biopsies to determine their fructose intake and its association with liver scarring, and found 52% consumed from1-6 servings a week of fructose, and 29% consumed it on a daily basis.  Conclusion: “An increase in consumption of fructose appeared to be correlated to increased liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.”  She went on to say regarding those with liver disease "Although only a minority of patients progress to cirrhosis, such patients are at increased risk for liver failure, liver cancer, and the need for liver transplant," she explained.  For a really interesting talk on this from an expert, watch Dr Lustig's now-famous presentation on the dangers of Fructose.  It’s over an hour, but worth it.

In January 2010, a disturbing study published in Environmental Health revealed that nine out of twenty samples of commercial fructose produced contained detectable levels of the heavy metal mercury - presumably, the result of contamination with “mercury-grade” caustic soda during the manufacturing process. [Ugh!] The other samples did have mercury, but in smaller amounts (how much mercury is too little to worry about?).  Heavy metal toxicity is a major health problem with frightening consequences for both children and adults. It’s a modern crisis that cannot be ignored. If nothing else, this study sheds light on just one more potential (and very prevalent) source of exposure to toxins.  Whatever you do, it’s time to ensure that you don’t touch fructose again in any shape or form.

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free – John 8:32, Holy Bible

A couple of years ago I published the following article which was initially much longer, but people have been writing in asking me about washing powders lately, and in particular two substances which occur in some ‘natural’ ones.  See the link at the end for the entire article – I’m only going to highlight from my original article the two substances in question. Please read your labels very carefully (especially in the so-called ‘natural’ products) for evidence of these extremely toxic substances.  Exposure, even though indirect in this way, can have absolutely devastating effects. DON’T poison yourself and your family – be informed.

Pulling the Wool over Our Eyes

Are you quite sure? Read your labels and avoid products with these ingredients:
Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLS or SLES)
This inexpensive detergent is probably the most dangerous ingredient - in the cleaning industry SLS is used in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers, car-wash soaps, etc. It is very corrosive and readily attacks greasy surfaces. What is it doing to our bodies, children and our environment?

Used throughout the world for clinical testing as a primary skin irritant, laboratories use it to irritate skin on test animals and humans so that they may then test healing agents to see how effective they are on the irritated skin.  A study at the University of Georgia Medical College, indicated that SLS penetrated into the eyes as well as brain, heart, liver, etc, and showed long-term retention in the tissues. The study also indicated that SLS penetrated young children's eyes and prevented them from developing properly and caused cataracts to develop in adults. It cleans by corrosion.

Because of the alarming penetrating power of SLS, large amounts of these known carcinogens are absorbed through the skin into the body. A variation of SLS is SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate- SLES). It exhibits many of the same characteristics and is a higher-foaming variation of SLS. Do we ever NOT want this in our cleaning products! Avoid it like the plague - there ARE products out there without these dangerous chemicals masquerading as "natural".  Be informed, and be safe – READ YOUR LABELS.

Q & A: Why is Fructose Bad for Us?

sugar. It arrives intact in the liver where it causes a variety of abnormal reactions, including the disruption of mechanisms that instruct the body whether to burn or store fat.  Scientists have proved now that this cheap form of sugar used in thousands of food products and soft drinks can damage human metabolism and is