Potential Harmful Effects of Splenda According to New Study

New Study of Splenda Reveals Shocking Information About Potential Harmful Effects
Posted By Dr. Mercola February 10 2009 288,319 views

James Turner, the chairman of the national consumer education group Citizens for Health, has expressed shock and outrage after reading a new report from scientists outlining the dangers of the artificial sweetener Splenda (sucralose).

In animals examined for the study, Splenda reduced the amount of good bacteria in the intestines by 50 percent, increased the pH level in the intestines, contributed to increases in body weight and affected P-glycoprotein (P-gp) levels in such a way that crucial health-related drugs could be rejected.

The P-gp effect could result in medications used in chemotherapy, AIDS treatment and treatments for heart conditions being shunted back into the intestines, rather than being absorbed by the body.

According to Turner, "The report makes it clear that the artificial sweetener Splenda and its key component sucralose pose a threat to the people who consume the product. Hundreds of consumers have complained to us about side effects from using Splenda and this study ... confirms that the chemicals in the little yellow package should carry a big red warning label."

Sources:
Globe Newswire September 28, 2008
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A 2008;71(21):1415-29

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

It’s very important to realize that Splenda (sucralose) is actually NOT sugar, despite its marketing slogan “Made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar”. Rather it’s a chlorinated artificial sweetener in line with aspartame and saccharin, and with detrimental health effects to match.

Splenda was approved by the FDA in 1998 as a tabletop sweetener and for use in products such as baked goods, nonalcoholic beverages, chewing gum, frozen dairy desserts, fruit juices, and gelatins. Sucralose is also permitted as a general-purpose sweetener for all processed foods.

The approval was given after the FDA supposedly reviewed more than 110 animal and human safety studies, but as you’ll soon find out, out of these 110 studies, only two were human studies, and the longest one was conducted for four days!

There’s overwhelming evidence that consuming artificial sweeteners will likely wreak havoc on your body. Previous news has centered mainly around artificial sweeteners’ ability to impair your appetite regulation and leading to weight gain.

For example, it’s been discovered that diet soda increases your risk of metabolic syndrome and, ultimately, heart disease. However, the study mentioned above, published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, found even further disturbing news besides weight gain. Splenda:

reduces the amount of good bacteria in your intestines by 50 percent
increases the pH level in your intestines, and
affects a glycoprotein in your body that can have crucial health effects, particularly if you’re on certain medications

They also found unmistakable evidence that Splenda is absorbed by fat, contrary to previous claims.

It’s truly disturbing that Splenda can destroy up to 50 percent of your healthy intestinal bacteria, as these bacteria help maintain your body's overall balance of friendly versus unfriendly micro-organisms, and support your general health. Many people are already deficient in healthy bacteria due to choosing highly processed foods. This is why a high quality probiotic is one of the very few supplements I highly recommend for nearly everyone.

The Diet Fallacy

The belief that consuming artificially sweetened foods and drinks will help you to lose or maintain weight is a carefully orchestrated deception. So if you are still opting for diet choices for this reason, please understand that you have been sorely misled.In reality, these diet foods and drinks can cause serious distortions in your biochemistry and ruin your body's ability to control calories. As a matter of fact, it’s been shown that diet soft drinks can double your risk of obesity!

Nearly a decade ago, studies were already revealing that artificial sweeteners can:

Stimulate your appetite
Increase carbohydrate cravings
Stimulate fat storage and weight gain

Unfortunately, most public health agencies and nutritionists in the United States still recommend these toxic artificial sweeteners as an acceptable alternative to sugar.

Now, I am definitely not a fan of sugar, but if I had to choose between sugar and any artificial sweetener, I would choose sugar, hands down, without question. I strongly believe artificial sweeteners are even more dangerous to your health than an excess of sugar.

The Health Dangers of Splenda

According to James Turner, the chairman of the national consumer education group Citizens for Health:

"This report followed accepted policies and procedures and the results make clear the potential for disturbing side effects from the ingestion of Splenda.

It is like putting a pesticide in your body. And this is at levels of intake erroneously approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

A person eating two slices of cake and drinking two cups of coffee containing Splenda would ingest enough sucralose to affect the P-glycoprotein, while consuming just seven little Splenda packages reduces good bacteria."

The web site www.truthaboutsplenda.com lists a variety of consumer complaints from Splenda consumption, such as:

Gastrointestinal problems
Migraines
Seizures
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Allergic reactions
Blood sugar increases
Weight gain

My site also contains a long list of personal testimonials from readers who have suffered side effects from Splenda. In fact, we have more people on our site that have reported adverse reactions to Splenda than were formally studied in the research submitted for FDA approval!

The symptoms are so numerous I can’t include them all here, but the following are common symptoms, usually noticed within a 24-hour period following consumption of
Splenda products:

Skin -- Redness, itching, swelling, blistering, weeping, crusting, rash, eruptions, or hives (itchy bumps or welts). These are the most common allergic symptoms that people have.
Lungs -- Wheezing, tightness, cough, or shortness of breath.
Head -- Swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, or throat; headaches and migraines (severe headaches).
Nose -- Stuffy nose, runny nose (clear, thin discharge), sneezing.
Eyes -- Red (bloodshot), itchy, swollen, or watery.
Stomach -- Bloating, gas, pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody diarrhea.
Heart -- Palpitations or fluttering.
Joints -- Joint pains or aches.
Neurological -- Anxiety, dizziness, spaced-out sensation, depression.

Beware – You Could be Consuming Splenda Without Your Knowledge

You also need to be aware of the fact that although the bulk of Splenda is sold to processed food manufacturers and soft drink bottlers, it could turn up in your medicine as well, as nearly 10 percent of all sucralose is sold to drug companies.

Many times sucralose (Splenda) will not be listed in the drug information, so there simply is no way you would know you are consuming a potentially dangerous artificial sweetener. However, if you experience any of the symptoms above even though you’re avoiding Splenda and other artificial sweeteners, then it may be worth investigating the ingredients of any medications you’re taking as well.

Splenda Has NEVER Been Proven Safe for Human Consumption

As of 2006, only six human trials have been published on Splenda. Of these six trials, only two of the trials were completed and published before the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption, and the two published trials had a grand total of 36 total human subjects.

36 people sure doesn't sound like many, but wait, it gets worse: only 23 total were actually given sucralose for testing, and here is the real kicker -- The longest trial at this time had lasted only four days, and looked at sucralose in relation to tooth decay, not human tolerance.

Even more shocking, the absorption of Splenda into the human body was studied on a grand total of six men! Based on that one human study, the FDA allowed the findings to be generalized as being representative of the entire human population. Including women, children, the elderly, and those with any chronic illness -- none of whom were ever examined.

The FDA claims they reviewed over 100 studies conducted on Splenda. What they don't tell you is that most of the studies were on animals. And, those animal studies reveal plenty of problems, such as:

Decreased red blood cells -- sign of anemia -- at levels above 1,500 mg/kg/day

Increased male infertility by interfering with sperm production and vitality, as well as brain lesions at higher doses

Enlarged and calcified kidneys (McNeil stated this is often seen with poorly absorbed substances and was of no toxicological significance. The FDA Final Rule agreed that these are findings that are common in aged female rats and are not significant.)

Spontaneous abortions in nearly half the rabbit population given sucralose, compared to zero aborted pregnancies in the control group

A 23 percent death rate in rabbits, compared to a 6 percent death rate in the control group

Chemically, Splenda is More Similar to DDT Than Sugar

Yes. Splenda bears more chemical similarity to DDT than it does to sugar.

Sucralose is in fact a synthetic chemical that was originally cooked up in a laboratory. It does start off as a sugar molecule. Then, in a five-step patented process of making sucralose, three chlorine molecules are added to a sucrose (sugar) molecule. The chemical process to make sucralose alters the chemical composition of the sugar so much that it is somehow converted to a fructo-galactose molecule.

This type of sugar molecule does not occur in nature, and therefore your body does not possess the ability to properly metabolize it. As a result of this "unique" biochemical make-up, McNeil Nutritionals makes its claim that Splenda is not digested or metabolized by the body, hence it has zero calories.

But, if you look at the research (which is primarily extrapolated form animal studies) you will see that in fact an average of 15 percent of sucralose IS absorbed into your digestive system, and according to this latest study, it is also absorbed into your fat cells.

Unfortunately, if you are healthy and your digestive system works well, you may be at HIGHER risk for breaking down this product in your stomach and intestines!

Your Healthiest Alternatives

If you have a craving for sweets, rather than trying to find "healthier" ways to continue indulging in them, it is in your best interest to learn ways to relieve your cravings.
The obvious one would be to stop eating any of the products to begin with. But sweets are powerfully addictive – sugar has even been shown to be more addictive than cocaine. Stevia is a preferable natural substitute, which can be used in making most dishes and drinks.

However, complete avoidance of sweets is often necessary to break your addictive cycle, as your hormones insulin and leptin likely play an important role in your cravings.
If you are unable to achieve abstinence from sweets, your emotional connection to cravings might be an important factor for you. One of the most profound methods I know of for diminishing the effects of food cravings is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). EFT is the psychological acupressure technique routinely used in my practice to help people reduce their cravings.There is enough evidence showing the dangers of consuming artificial sweeteners to fill an entire book -- which is exactly why I wrote Sweet Deception. If you or your loved ones drink diet beverages or eat diet foods, this book will explain how you've been deceived about the truth behind artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose -- for greed, for profits ... and at the expense of your own health.

Related Links:

The Potential Dangers of Sucralose (Splenda?)
Artificial Sweeteners Once Again Linked to Weight Gain
More People Wondering About Splenda's 'True' Safety

The Secret Dangers of Splenda, an Artificial Sweetener

Image via WikipediaThe Potential Dangers of Sucralose (Splenda)
Posted By Dr. Mercola December 03 2000 227,342 views

Is Splenda Really As Safe As They Claim It to Be?

As of 2006, only six human trials have been published on Splenda (sucralose). Of these six trials, only two of the trials were completed and published before the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption. The two published trials had a grand total of 36 total human subjects.

36 people sure doesn"t sound like many, but wait, it gets worse, only 23 total were actually given sucralose for testing and here is the real killer:

The longest trial at this time had lasted only four days and looked at sucralose in relation to tooth decay, not human tolerance.

Why Do You Need to Know About Splenda?

Splenda, best known for its marketing logo, "made from sugar so it tastes like sugar," has taken the sweetener industry by storm. Splenda has become the nations number one selling artificial sweetener in a very short period of time.

Between 2000 and 2004, the percentage of US households using Splenda products jumped from 3 to 20 percent. In a one year period, Splenda sales topped $177 million compared with $62 million spent on aspartame-based Equal and $52 million on saccharin-based Sweet "N Low.

McNeil Nutritionals, in their marketing pitch for Splenda emphasizes that Splenda has endured some of the most rigorous testing to date for any food additive. Enough so to convince the average consumer that it is in fact safe. They claim that over 100 studies have been conducted on Splenda. What they don"t tell you is that most of the studies are on animals.

Additional Concerns About Splenda Studies

There have been no long-term human toxicity studies published until after the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption. Following FDA approval a human toxicity trial was conducted, but lasted only three months, hardly the length of time most Splenda users plan to consume sucralose. No studies have ever been done on children or pregnant women.

Much of the controversy surrounding Splenda does not focus just on its safety, but rather on its false advertising claims. The competition among sweeteners is anything but sweet. The sugar industry is currently suing McNeil Nutritionals for implying that Splenda is a natural form of sugar with no calories.

Is It REALLY Sugar?

There is no question that sucralose starts off as a sugar molecule, it is what goes on in the factory that is concerning. Sucralose is a synthetic chemical that was originally cooked up in a laboratory. In the five step patented process of making sucralose, three chlorine molecules are added to a sucrose or sugar molecule. A sucrose molecule is a disaccharide that contains two single sugars bound together; glucose and fructose.

The chemical process to make sucralose alters the chemical composition of the sugar so much that it is somehow converted to a fructo-galactose molecule. This type of sugar molecule does not occur in nature and therefore your body does not possess the ability to properly metabolize it. As a result of this "unique" biochemical make-up, McNeil Nutritionals makes it"s claim that Splenda is not digested or metabolized by the body, making it have zero calories.

It is not that Splenda is naturally zero calories. If your body had the capacity to metabolize it then it would no longer has zero calories.

How Much Splenda is Left In Your Body After You Eat It?

If you look at the research (which is primarily extrapolated form animal studies) you will see that in fact 15% of sucralose is absorbed into your digestive system and ultimately is stored in your body. To reach a number such as 15% means some people absorb more and some people absorb less. In one human study, one of the eight participants did not excrete any sucralose even after 3 days. Clearly his body was absorbing and metabolizing this chemical. That is what our bodies are supposed to do.

The bottom line is that we all have our own unique biochemical make-up. Some of you will absorb and metabolize more than others. If you are healthy and your digestive system works well, you may be at higher risk for breaking down this product in your stomach and intestines. Please understand that it is impossible for the manufacturers of Splenda to make any guarantees based on their limited animal data.

If you feel that Splenda affects you adversely, it is valid. Don"t let someone convince you that it is all in your head. You know your body better than anyone else.

How to Determine if Splenda is Harming You

The best way to determine if Splenda or sucralose is affecting you is to perform an elimination/challenge with it. First eliminate it and other artificial sweeteners from your diet completely for a period of one to two weeks. After this period reintroduce it in sufficient quantity.

For example, use it in your beverage in the morning, and eat at least two sucralose containing products the remainder of the day. On this day, avoid other artificial sweeteners so that you are able to differentiate which one may be causing a problem for you. Do this for a period of one to three days. Take notice of how your body is feeling, particularly if it feels different than when you were artificial sweetener free.

Splenda May Still Be Harming You

If you complete the elimination/challenge trial described above and do not notice any changes then it appears you are able to tolerate Splenda acutely. However, please understand that you are not out of the woods yet.

The entire issue of long-term safety has never been established. Let"s look at the facts again:

There have only been six human trials to date

The longest trial lasted three months

At LEAST 15% of Splenda is not excreted from your body in a timely manner

Considering that Splenda bears more chemical similarity to DDT than it does to sugar, are you willing to bet your health on this data? Remember that fat soluble substances, such as DDT, can remain in your fat for decades and devastate your health.

If the above facts don"t concern because you believe the FDA would not ever allow a toxic substance into the market then read on.

Do You Really Believe These People Are Going to Protect You?

Please consider that the only organizations between you and potentially toxic side effects are the FDA and the manufacturers of sucralose (Tate & Lyle) and of Splenda (McNeil Nutritionals).

The FDA has a long standing history of ineffective screening and rampant conflict of interests as demonstrated in their inability to identify Vioxx as too dangerous to be on the market. This mistake costs 55,000 people their lives.

Now the point I want you to understand here, because it is really important, is that Splenda is not a drug and is only a food additive. As such the number of studies required to receive FDA approval is substantially less than drug. Vioxx had an order of magnitude of more comprehensive clinical trials than Splenda ever did, and despite this rigorous approval process it still killed 55,000 people.

So, now you have the primary concerns I have about Splenda and the choices is yours.

Read Splenda Horror Stories


We have more people on our site that have reported adverse reaction to Splenda than were formally studied in the research submitted for FDA approval. It would seem this collection of data is in some ways superior to the data submitted to the FDA for Splenda approval.

You can help us continue our Splenda research by supplying us with your own experience. If you or anyone you know have had an adverse reaction to Splenda or sucralose containing products please tell us your story.



Dr. Mercola's Comments:


Don't let these large companies fool you. There is no magic alternative to sugar when it comes to sweeteners. You simply can not have your cake and eat it too when it comes to this area. It is far too early to tell, as not enough people have consumed this product to observe large numbers of adverse effects.

However, I have had a number of patients in our Wellness Center who have had some severe migraines and even seizures possibly from consuming this product.

My advice?

AVOID Sucralose.

I am fond of telling people that if something tastes sweet you probably should spit it out as it is not likely to be to good for you. This of course, is a humorous exaggeration, but for most people who struggle with chronic illness, it is likely to be a helpful guide.

PLEASE note this article is being written in 2000. This is one of the first comprehensive clear investigative reports and warnings on sucralose on the Internet.

Related Articles:

Sucralose (Splenda®) U.S. Product List
The Potential Dangers of Sucralose: Reader Testimonials
The Dangers of Chlorine and Issues With Sucralose
12 Questions You Need to Have Answered Before You Eat Splenda

Sources:
Food and Drug Administration "Final Rule " for Sucralose, 21 CFR Part 172, Docket No. 87F-0086.
Lord GH, Newberne PM. Renal mineralization -- a ubiquitous lesion in chronic rat studies. Food Chem Toxicol 1990 Jun;28:449-55.
Labare MP, Alexander M. Microbial cometabolism of sucralose, a chlorinated disaccharide, in environmental samples. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 1994 Oct;42:173-8.
Hunter BT. Sucralose. Consumers' Research Magazine, Oct90, Vol. 73 Issue 10, p8, 2p.
Maudlin RK. FDA approves sucralose for expanded use. Modern Medicine, Oct99, Vol. 67 Issue 10, p57, 1/9p
Sucralose -- a new artificial sweetener. Medical Letter on Drugs & Therapeutics, 07/03/98, Vol. 40, Issue 1030, p67, 2p.
Q&A: Is newly FDA approved sweetener sucralose good for you? Executive Health's Good Health Report, Nov98, Vol. 35 Issue 2, p6, 1p, 1c.
Gain B. FDA approves J&J Sweetener. Chemical Week, 04/15/98, Vol. 160 Issue 14, p27, 1/4p.
Sucralose Toxicity Information Center
Splenda Product Web Site
Official Tate & Lyle Sucralose Web Site
Endurance News, Issue 26.


* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.
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ON FASTING...

Cover of The Illuminated RumiThere's hidden sweetness in the stomach's emptiness.

We are lutes, no more, no less. If the soundbox


is stuffed full of anything, no music.


If the brain and belly are burning clean


with fasting, every moment a new song comes out of the fire.


The fog clears, and new energy makes you


run up the steps in front of you.


Be emptier and cry like reed instruments cry.


Emptier, write secrets with the reed pen.


When you're full of food and drink, Satan sits


where your spirit should, an ugly metal statue


in place of the Kaaba. When you fast,


good habits gather like friends who want to help.


Fasting is Solomon's ring. Don't give it


to some illusion and lose your power,


but even if you have, if you've lost all will and control,


they come back when you fast, like soldiers appearing


out of the ground, pennants flying above them.






A table descends to your tents,


Jesus' table.


Expect to see it, when you fast, this table


spread with other food, better than the broth of cabbages.




~from The Illuminated Rumi, Translated by Coleman Barks

Learn How To Use Color For Healing, Emotional Release, Pain Relief, General Wellness and More!

Frequently, a client confesses to me that they have a chronic pain in their body or a chronic pain-in-their-proverbial-behind that just doesn't ever fully go away.  Mysterious low back pain that seems like it has been going on for years is one example.  Another might be noticing a strange pattern of falling down when angry with their spouse.  Sometimes, the client doesn't "confess" the pain to me but I notice it as a pattern in their soft tissue as I massage them.  Occasionally I notice it in the fabric of their life story as they share their history and outlook with me.  Either way, it is like a pucker in middle of the blankets on an otherwise well-made bed. You just HAVE to smooth it out or as we used to say back home “That ain’t right!”

To facilitate a change around this problem, I often guide the client through a visualization process as I am massaging them.  What we want is a (r)evolutionary experience that lifts the pain (physical or not) out of the body; out of the "programming" that is sometimes confused with our consciousness; out of the old script (or "tapes") we so often fall back on when in trouble or when not fully present in the moment.  The visualization process almost always include objects and themes that engage as many senses (through imaginary interaction) as possible to create a total body-mind experience.

What can a client expect during this type of guided exercise?  The process takes place while you have your eyes closed and are being gently and therapeutically massaged (e.g., imagine having your shoulders rubbed while your eyes are closed while something relaxing is playing in the background).  You are verbally instructed to envision certain colors, food options (you can pick things YOU like to eat in your visualization), guided imaginary actions including walking, using your imaginary hands and eyes to perform focused sorting, arranging and interaction with symbolic objects.  At the end, you gain closure by completing an imaginary process with a certain food or object. 

An example of this closure might sound like the paragraph below.  Remember you are entering the visualization process at the end, so things might seem strange at first, but try to put yourself in the picture so you can get an idea of what to expect. This particular example has been used for people needing to let go of something that’s been weighing on their heart for too long, causing stagnation of energy resulting in physical pain, and emotional avoidance and deep unexpressed grief resulting in some thinly veiled anger and resentment issues.  The green apple represents what needs letting go.  We don’t exchange dialogue about your “story” as you might in a psychologist’s office.  I listen as I do my massage work then if appropriate, I transform the story you share into symbolism and color and walk you through a guided meditation designed to facilitate an internal (r)evolution that can free your body (releasing cellular memory of the trauma) so your heart can sing and your mind can dance (emotional clarity and mental acuity hopefully restored).

"Now, pick up the juicy, tart, green apple that you tasted earlier and hold it firmly in your dominant hand.  Do an about-face, walking confidently away from your gorgeous, luscious, delicious arrangement and see yourself standing outside in a very large field with unobstructed views all around you.  Golden, yellow and brown grasses blend with a multitude of greens blanketing the earth in a warm, glowing embrace.  Various colors of wildflowers dot the ground in purple, red, indigo, and orange.  Standing still in this beautiful scene, take another very small bite of the apple, feeling it between your teeth and on your tongue.  Take in the smell of it and remember how cool it feels in your hand.  Appreciate the shade of green nature has given it, turning it over in your hand to look at it more closely. Taste the sweetness and the tartness as you chew and chew.  Now.  Swallow the bite of apple and stand very still, knowing full well--in gratitude and clarity--that you have taken in what the apple came to give you.  Crouch slightly in readiness and when you are ready--listen before acting in your mind--throw the apple straight into the air (straight up into the bright blue sky) as hard and high as you can and then WALK AWAY.  Don't look up once the apple leaves your hand.  Don't look back and don't break your stride.  Keep walking, not evening listening for the apple to fall.  Walk briskly and with a lightness that reflects the unburdening you have just experienced.  As your steps carry you forward in your vision, begin to breathe deeply and slowly here on the table, relaxing your hands, knees, shoulders and neck.  Slowly and gently, come back into this room in your mind and start to notice your sensations and feelings here on the table.  Keep breathing deeply and slowly, with rhythm and clarity.  Wiggle your fingers and toes and then relax a little deeper.  Keep your eyes closed.”

The massage continues from there in silence for a while to allow for internal reflection and contemplation before moving on to whatever is called for next in the treatment process.

Again, the above example is of a guided visualization **closure** and is just a snippet presented here for you to get an idea about how I can teach you to use color and visualization in your life to bring about good things for YOU!  You may come in feeling fragmented and needing a massage for your body but you can leave with the massage AND a feeling of greater wholeness and maybe even a little bit more of your Self!

A New Life Every Minute

“Love is the face and body of the Universe.  It is the connective tissue of the universe, the stuff of which we are made.  Love is the experience of being whole and connected to Universal Divinity.

All suffering is caused by the illusion of separateness, which generates fear and self-hatred, which eventually causes illness.

You are the master of your life.  You can do much more than you thought you could, including cure yourself of a “terminal illness.”

The only real “terminal illness” is simply being human.  And being human is not “terminal” at all, because death is simply transition to another level of being.

I want to encourage you to step out of the normal “bounds” of your life and to begin seeing yourself differently.  I want to encourage you to live your life at the cutting edge of time, allowing yourself to be born into a new life every minute.

I want to encourage you to allow your life experience to be lightly dusted with form.”  ~ Barbara Brennan

Dr. Seuss knew a thing or two…

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.

You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.

I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!

A person's a person, no matter how small.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go.

Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way.

Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them.

If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good.

You are you. Now, isn't that pleasant?

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.

I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.

You're in pretty good shape for the shape you are in.

From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.

I'm sorry to say so but, sadly it's true that bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you.

You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room.

All alone! Whether you like it or not, alone is something you'll be quite a lot.

I'm afraid sometimes you'll play lonely games too, games you can't win because you'll play against you.

[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare,that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.

I know up on the top you are seeing great sights, but down at the bottom we, too, should have rights.

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities.

I meant what I said and I said what I meant.

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite. Or waiting around for Friday night or waiting perhaps for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil or a better break or a string of pearls or a pair of pants or a wig with curls or another chance. Everyone is just waiting.

When at last we are sure, You've been properly pilled, Then a few paper forms, Must be properly filled. So that you and your heirs, May be properly billed.

And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed!

Wake Up, America: Forced vaccinations, quarantine camps, health care interrogations and mandatory

Wake Up, America: Forced vaccinations, quarantine camps, health care interrogations and mandatory

Image via Wikipedia

Watch the video, please.  It is worth the time. 

This guy is painting a pretty strong picture of the lack of value dairy products have in our daily diet.  It is pretty shocking the amount of funding that goes into promoting the opposite idea in mainstream media.

Dairy is just NOT a good idea on a regular basis.  Yes, I love cheese, too!  All cheeses.  I am a cheese freak.  BUT, I eat/drink maybe 1/10th the dairy I consumed 10 years ago.  Thank goodness!  It just makes the cheese taste better when I DO eat it.  And, the sinus "migraines" that lasted for days no longer happen.  The runny nose and wet cough that I used to be susceptible to rarely happen now. My 5 year old's unexplained chest pain, constant runny nose and "gross burps" stopped as did her frequent diarrhea.  She rarely gets colds now despite having spent plenty of time in preschool year round.   So, I'm just sayin' people:  think about giving the cow the kick. 

(R)evolution At The Speed of Thought - Exploring Tithing

Image via Wikipedia

The idea of tithing is a very touchy and even confusing subject for many people, religious or not. This first post simply outlines some common ideas and attitudes about tithing. Stay tuned for more discussion.


Tithing is a thing I do only in a church service. So, if I don't go to church, I don't tithe.

Tithing is a thing I do instead of showing up in church. So if I don't go to church, I send money so at least I am contributing to the church I believe in.

Tithing is a rewarding and gratifying act I perform while holding membership in a sacred fellowship in service or worship to (my) God. So if I am a member of a fellowship of people who follow (my) God, I tithe to that fellowship knowing my investment benefits my fellows and myself as we meet in service or worship to (my) God.

I tithe knowing the money I tithe will go directly to paying the expenses involved in running and growing the church or fellowship I give to and it might possibly extend to charitable outreach through these organizations I am supporting.

I tithe what I can when I can to the person, place or cause I find most needing it when I have it to give.

I tithe as I am called to do so. When someone is in need or a cause catches my interest, I give what I can in the moment.

I tithe joyfully and frequently to my spiritual community, to my local community and to my world community. It is about the flow. As I contribute to the flow through giving, the Universal flow of abundance becomes greater, larger, deeper-like a river gathering more water as a new stream merges with it! The increased wealth of givingness flows back to me, through me, and then from me again in an ever-growing cycle of prosperity in all things and experiences.

I tithe only through volunteerism in my community. People need to focus on action, not dollars. As citizens and human beings, we must help each other create the world in which we want to live. That means cleaning the sidewalks, fixing the elderly neighbor's fence, babysitting for the single mom upstairs, giving a blanket to the homeless guy who sleeps behind my grocery store.

I tithe a set amount of my income on a regular basis to a specific charity or cause. While not religious, I believe in the value of tithing to support that which serves our needs, spiritual or otherwise.

I tithe a set amount of my income and it varies where I give it. While I make sure that I tithe regularly, I evaluate each time who needs it most and then I give to that cause or charity. I go to church but I believe my money is better spent helping my community at large. My church is wealthy enough with contributions and endowments. I live in a poor area that I feel needs the money more.

I tithe all the time by what I do, how I do it and where I do it. My life's work, my passion (and my actual job) is to help the poor, house the homeless, care for the sick and lift up our youth. While I don't preach a certain gospel or rhetoric of religious ideas, I encourage the people I help to explore spiritual practices and ideas as they work to better their circumstances. This, I believe, is a service to mankind, to (my) God and to myself. We all need to work together to build a better world.

I tithe in my own way by giving help to friends, family and strangers as I am able. Sometimes I can give money. Sometimes I cook or clean or help out in some other way with my time. Sometimes I listen and try to give advice and help people find resources to fix their problem. Sometimes I volunteer at the homeless shelter up the street. Sometimes I volunteer to teach Sunday school. Sometimes I invite the family across the street to dinner when I kno

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w money is tight for them. I have limited funds, limited time and limited energy. But, I do what I can when I can and it makes me feel good. I consider it tithing because I consider it spiritually rewarding and important.

I don't tithe. I feel that we each have the duty to work to support ourselves and our families, so charitable giving is not something I am comfortable with. Too often people ask for handouts instead of a job. As for church, I don't go and if I did I don't feel I would need to be in a church that cost so much that they had to ask me for money to support it. A tree on the mountain would work as a church for me. Churches so often seem opulant and wasteful. If all those people would use that churhc money on their own families, then maybe people would stop asking me to donate every dime I have. Money and (my) God don't mix.


I don't tithe. I cannot afford to buy my food, much less give someone else some of the money I don't really have to begin with. The commitment to tithe regularly would be impossible. The commitment to tithe when I can would mean never. I would like to help others, but I just can't. I barely scrape by myself. This makes me sad and even sometimes I feel guilty--especially when I am forced to accept charitable help from others who DO tithe. But I am grateful for the little I have and know it could be worse.

Any thoughts or other ideas left out? Comment away! And, for now, start thinking: which idea(s) best describe me? Do I know my own personal "tithing policy"? Is it necessary to have a "tithing policy" as I move through my daily life? Does tithing or not tithing meaningfully impact my quality of life?

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Ankles: A Balancing Act
Clare Major
Published: 2009
Ankles sprains are the most common injury for physically active people. Professor Jay Hertel of the University of Virginia demonstrates four balancing exercises to strengthen ankles.

This New York Times.com video provides 4 important exercises to strengthen your ankles and improve your balance. Professor Hertel tells us that many believe if they have recovered from an ankle injury to the point of no pain while running or otherwise using the ankle, they aren't going to have a long-standing problem. In fact, he says, your likelihood of another ankle injury is very high. Check out this video to improve the odds with these balance training exercises. Get a pen so you can take notes!

Do you have a history of ankle injuries? Do you have special circumstances that limit what exercises are safe for you to use for strength and balance training? Comment below and tell me how these exercises worked for you, or what works better.