With the Internet inundating with health information, it is very hard to tell which one is correct; which one is not. For incorrect information, we not only wasted our money, we might set ourselves in a dangerous path. The following story may be an exaggeration; however, most of us are eagerly sold by the snake oil salesman. Enjoy the story:
Once upon a time, there lived a poor family, with a peasant, and his wife, and his son, Maki. No matter how hard they worked on the field, they could never get rid of debt they had with their landlord. In fact, their debt grew every year, until when they would pawn everything they owned; and nothing left for themselves. Their landlord was heartless, and non-merciful. The landlord visited them often, and if he found out the peasant cannot pay the rent, the landlord would took away a bag of rice. That night, the whole family would go to sleep, hungry.
Such harsh living conditions killed both the spirit and the body fresh. In fact, within 5 years, Maki's dad and mom died. Maki had finally grew up, he vowed that he would refuse to live under such a miserable condition. "Things have to be changed." he said.
The harvest time finally came. It was corn this year. Maki divided his corn into 2 piles. One pile, he sold for 2 foxes. The other pile, he sold for a dozen of chickens.
Of the 2 foxes, he hid one in the ceiling; the other, he put a leash on the fox's neck. Everyday, he would walk with his fox in the village. Such a strange behavior, of course, attracted attention.
One day, the landlord stopped Maki and asked MaKi why he walked with fox everyday.
"Now, you are asking me to reveal my deepest secret to you. This fox is actually trained to 'steal chickens'. With this fox besides me, I am no longer worry about being hungry. "
Maki strode the fox's head, then released the leash.
"Go to get some chickens for me". Maki commanded to the fox.
Then Maki turned to the landlord.
"Come to my house, and see the chicken yourself."
The landlord visited Maki's hut. Surely, he saw a dozen of chickens in Maki's hut. Maki even invited the landlord for the chicken dinner. Over the dinner table, the landlord offered to buy the fox for 200 silvers.
"Oh, no, no. I won't sell the fox to anyone. However, if you insists, I would sell you for 400 silvers."
" You are such a hard bargainer. All right, I will buy the fox for 400 silvers". The landlord said.
Maki gave the landlord the fox he hid on the ceiling.
When the landlord took the fox home, he strode on the fox's head , released the fox and commanded the fox to steal chickens for the landlord. The landlord's wife sneered at him.
As soon as the fox was released, the fox dashed into the wood and disappeared. Meanwhile, the landlord was waiting for the fox to bring back chickens; the days turned week and weeks turned months. The fox never came back.
"Maki fooled me. He should be punish." The landlord was very, very angry.
The landlord's 'son-in-law' was a sheriff. The sheriff spent no time in arresting Maki, stripping him all clothes except the underwear. He tied him to a 'milestone' which is nothing but like a post secured to a very heavy weight. The sheriff and the landlord wanted Maki frozen to death in the bitterly cold winter night.
While he was tied to the 'milestone', Maki worked out pretty hard trying to lift up the milestone with both leg and back muscles. Instead of being frozen to death, Maki was actually perspiring. So, when the landlord and the sheriff saw that, there were shocked and puzzled.
"Nothing to be shocked, for I have a secret treasure. Look at this undershirt, this is no common shirt. The shirt makes me cool during the hot summer day and makes me warm during the cold winter night such as last night." said, Maki.
" Oh, let me have it. I will set you free plus 400 silvers". said the landlord.
"The shirt is not for sale for less than 600 silvers", said Maki.
"Oh, you are such a hard bargainer". complained the landlord.
The landlord set Maki free, giving Maki 600 silvers for Maki's undershirt. That night, he put on Maki's undershirt walking in the village with bitterly cold wind. Even less than 5 minutes, he was shivering while his wife and the people in the village sneered at him.
"That bastard. This time, I will certainly kill you." the landlord said.
Next morning, the sheriff arrested Maki. The sheriff tied Maki up, covering Maki with a big gunny sack, then tied the bag to a tree just overhanging a sea. The plan was to cut the tree branch, so that Maki with the sack would drop into the sea; Maki would certainly die of drowning. It was about lunch time. The sheriff told the landlord that he would 'finish' Maki after lunch.
Meanwhile over the lunch break, the landlord's father-in-law came to visit. Inside the gunny sack, Maki could see an old fellow with severe hunchback came, while no one outside could see Maki inside.
" I am just having the cure for my hunchback inside the sack. It does really work.", said Maki.
" Oh, really? I am just searching for a cure for my hunchback. Can I try your cure?" said the old fellow.
" I am not really sure about that. You know, I paid 100 silvers per hour for this cure", said Maki.
"I will pay you 300 silvers for the sack." beg the old fellow.
"All right, but hurry before I change my mind." said Maki.
The old fellow untied Maki, and released Maki from the sack. Maki tied the old fellow up; covering the old fellow with the sack, and tied the sack over to a branch over the sea.
Now, the lunch-break was over; the sheriff and the landlord came back to cut the branch and to send the sack with its victim to the sea. The old fellow cried out, "Don't do it, for I am your father-in-law". But the old fellow was so feeble that his voice was hardly heard.
The sheriff and the landlord cut the branch sending the sack with his father-in-law into the sea.
"That bastard is finally finished", said the landlord in satisfaction.
A month later, when the landlord saw Maki tending a dozen of geese, the landlord was shocked.
"Aren't you dead? Who are you?". asked the landlord
"Hi, Mr. Landlord. I did tumbled into the sea, where I saw the Dragon King. He liked me very much that he gave me many treasure, and married me to a beautiful mermaid. He wanted me to succeed his throne. But I love the Earth and the village very much that I ask for his permission to live on the Earth. The Dragon King reluctantly agreed. Here, I am." answered Maki.
Green with envy, the landlord said,
" Could you bring me to the dragon king? I will give you 1000 silvers."
" 1000 silvers? You must be joking? The dragon king wanted me to succeed his throne; I declined. Why do I need your 1000 silvers?" , said Maki.
"Sorry, I mis-spoke. But, is it possible for you to bring me to see the Dragon King?", asked the landlord.
Maki thought a while then said,
"All right, but you must keep the whole thing secret."
"Absolutely." said the landlord.
" Prepare me a wooden barrel and an iron block; set yourself with an earth-ware vat." said Maki.
By the time when the landlord got all the barrel, earth-ware vat, and iron bar ready, both Maki and the landlord set to the sea. After a while when they both were in the middle of the sea, the landlord grew impatient.
"When shall we knock the door of the sea palace?" asked the landlord.
"Now, we can do it."
" Your majesty, Dragon king. This is Your honest and righteous Maki. Please open the door of the sea palace for us." shouted Maki 3 times.
Then Maki knocked on his barrel 3 times; and used full strength knocked on the earth-ware vat. The vat shattered into pieces, and the landlord sank to the bottom of the sea.
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Friday, June 13, 2014
Dragon Prince--Vietnamese Creation Story
Here is the Vietnamese Creation Story, first told by Thich Nhat Hanh. I made small modification at the end. Enjoy the story.
Long ago, when the earth was dark and cold, a great bird sat on this earth for million of years without stirring. At last she laid two eggs: one red, the other ivory. The great bird flew away and disappeared into the dark space.
The red egg clapped, came with a crow carrying brilliant and dazzling light. The broken shells burst into fiery fire that burnt continuously for 7 months, melting the rocks of mountains into sands and creating patches of deserts on the earth.
The ivory egg began to radiate a soft and gentle light. When it was cracked open, came with graceful swan.
Both the crow and the wild swan flew away into the space on their own courses. Yet, they would fly around the earth periodically. When the crow came to the earth, it is hot, and dazzling bright. When it is swan's turn, it would be gentle and soft. The earth is no longer dark, cold and colorless. The earth has all shades of color. The air is filled with pleasant aroma.
The goddess, specifically the goddess A-Bee (阿美) at the 7th heaven took a note of this pleasant change of the earth. A-Bee told her sisters that the earth has changed to the better that it worth for them to explore the new earth. 4 goddesses including A-Bee transform themselves into 4 white swans and flew from the 7th heaven onto earth.
When the first bird touched the ground, she fold her wings and transformed into goddess. Other birds followed the same. How soft and beautiful the earth was. They laughed, sang, and danced along the purple slopes of a mountain. After a while, A-Bee broke away from other goddesses and knelt down on the ground, scooped up a handful of sand, smelled it. How delightful it was. She then put some of the sands into her mouth. The other goddess saw this; they came quickly and said loudly, "Do not eat them", they helped A-Bee spit out the sand; for if A-Bee swallowed the earthly sand, she would lose all her magic power and became as mortal as a human fresh.
It was almost time for them to fly back to the 7th heaven, because the fiery crow had almost finished his visit to the earth and it is about the time for the gentle and soft wild swan to come to the earth.
As goddesses transformed back to white swan and flew back to the 7th heaven, A-Bee fell behind and finally lost her power to fly because she had swallowed earthly sand. A-Bee was no longer a goddess, she would never be back to the 7th heaven.
A-Bee was so sad that she cried. She continued to cry for 7 years. Her tears came out of her eyes became water flew into rivers, lakes and finally the oceans. Everywhere, the water of her tears went, the meadow, shrub, trees and all animals thrive. Of course, fish in the river, lakes, and ocean were also thrived while they were nourished with her tear water. One of the fish, after swimming far from the other end of the ocean, jumped onto the shore and transformed into a handsome young man with a broad shoulder, bright eyes and strong, straight body. This young man was actually a prince at the 6th heaven, sent by his father, the dragon king to find out what was going on with the earth. This young man (we now called him the dragon prince) followed the river flow upward and finally reached a mountain where the goddess, A-Bee was weeping. The dragon prince spoke:
Sun shinning brightly
Sky and sea both blue
Butterflies flutter
By a river so new
Where have you come from?
Why do you weep alone?
Surprised by the prince's voice, she stopped crying and looked up. She looked straight into his eyes and answered:
Bright golden crow
Fragrant new earth
As white swan birds
We flew below
A taste of new earth
No longer can I fly
My sisters departed
I wait alone and cry.
Lost in a strange land
My tears become a river.
Both the prince and A-Bee began to have hearty conversation. In fact, they have already fell in love of one another. They talked for a long time. Suddenly, the prince noticed that something went wrong. Because A-Bee was no longer crying, the river began to dry up. The meadow turned yellowish, and the animal were dying.
The prince said to A-Bee, "I need to do something to save the plant, the animal, without you continuously crying to nourish the earth. I would fly to the crow and the wild bird to ask for their help to vaporize the water into the sky, and turned the water into cloud and rain. After that, I will be back to see you."
The prince talked to the fiery crom, asking him to stay above the ocean a bit longer. The heat from the crow would then vaporize water in the ocean to the sky. As soon as this happened, the prince asked the crow to leave and the wild swan to come. With the cool air, it condenses the vapor into cloud. On further cooling, the cloud turned to rain. For the first time, the earth had water, replenish itself through vaporization, cloud, and rain.
While the prince was busy working with the crow and the wild swan, the dragon king sent a messenger to warn the prince not to marry A-Bee who was no longer a goddess. The dragon king said that if the prince married A-Bee, he could not come back to the 6 th heaven, and would lose his immortality.
Well, it was too late. The prince had already made up his mind, and the goddess, A-Bee loved the prince. They loved each other, and they loved the earth. This love worth more than the immortality.
As the story goes, the prince and the goddess were happily married. Since they were no longer immortal, they died after many years of happy life together. Today, we now inherited such a beautiful earth with nurturing water, lush meadow, grass, and trees, and all sort of animals. What shall we do with such bounty inheritance?
Long ago, when the earth was dark and cold, a great bird sat on this earth for million of years without stirring. At last she laid two eggs: one red, the other ivory. The great bird flew away and disappeared into the dark space.
The red egg clapped, came with a crow carrying brilliant and dazzling light. The broken shells burst into fiery fire that burnt continuously for 7 months, melting the rocks of mountains into sands and creating patches of deserts on the earth.
The ivory egg began to radiate a soft and gentle light. When it was cracked open, came with graceful swan.
Both the crow and the wild swan flew away into the space on their own courses. Yet, they would fly around the earth periodically. When the crow came to the earth, it is hot, and dazzling bright. When it is swan's turn, it would be gentle and soft. The earth is no longer dark, cold and colorless. The earth has all shades of color. The air is filled with pleasant aroma.
The goddess, specifically the goddess A-Bee (阿美) at the 7th heaven took a note of this pleasant change of the earth. A-Bee told her sisters that the earth has changed to the better that it worth for them to explore the new earth. 4 goddesses including A-Bee transform themselves into 4 white swans and flew from the 7th heaven onto earth.
When the first bird touched the ground, she fold her wings and transformed into goddess. Other birds followed the same. How soft and beautiful the earth was. They laughed, sang, and danced along the purple slopes of a mountain. After a while, A-Bee broke away from other goddesses and knelt down on the ground, scooped up a handful of sand, smelled it. How delightful it was. She then put some of the sands into her mouth. The other goddess saw this; they came quickly and said loudly, "Do not eat them", they helped A-Bee spit out the sand; for if A-Bee swallowed the earthly sand, she would lose all her magic power and became as mortal as a human fresh.
It was almost time for them to fly back to the 7th heaven, because the fiery crow had almost finished his visit to the earth and it is about the time for the gentle and soft wild swan to come to the earth.
As goddesses transformed back to white swan and flew back to the 7th heaven, A-Bee fell behind and finally lost her power to fly because she had swallowed earthly sand. A-Bee was no longer a goddess, she would never be back to the 7th heaven.
A-Bee was so sad that she cried. She continued to cry for 7 years. Her tears came out of her eyes became water flew into rivers, lakes and finally the oceans. Everywhere, the water of her tears went, the meadow, shrub, trees and all animals thrive. Of course, fish in the river, lakes, and ocean were also thrived while they were nourished with her tear water. One of the fish, after swimming far from the other end of the ocean, jumped onto the shore and transformed into a handsome young man with a broad shoulder, bright eyes and strong, straight body. This young man was actually a prince at the 6th heaven, sent by his father, the dragon king to find out what was going on with the earth. This young man (we now called him the dragon prince) followed the river flow upward and finally reached a mountain where the goddess, A-Bee was weeping. The dragon prince spoke:
Sun shinning brightly
Sky and sea both blue
Butterflies flutter
By a river so new
Where have you come from?
Why do you weep alone?
Surprised by the prince's voice, she stopped crying and looked up. She looked straight into his eyes and answered:
Bright golden crow
Fragrant new earth
As white swan birds
We flew below
A taste of new earth
No longer can I fly
My sisters departed
I wait alone and cry.
Lost in a strange land
My tears become a river.
Both the prince and A-Bee began to have hearty conversation. In fact, they have already fell in love of one another. They talked for a long time. Suddenly, the prince noticed that something went wrong. Because A-Bee was no longer crying, the river began to dry up. The meadow turned yellowish, and the animal were dying.
The prince said to A-Bee, "I need to do something to save the plant, the animal, without you continuously crying to nourish the earth. I would fly to the crow and the wild bird to ask for their help to vaporize the water into the sky, and turned the water into cloud and rain. After that, I will be back to see you."
The prince talked to the fiery crom, asking him to stay above the ocean a bit longer. The heat from the crow would then vaporize water in the ocean to the sky. As soon as this happened, the prince asked the crow to leave and the wild swan to come. With the cool air, it condenses the vapor into cloud. On further cooling, the cloud turned to rain. For the first time, the earth had water, replenish itself through vaporization, cloud, and rain.
While the prince was busy working with the crow and the wild swan, the dragon king sent a messenger to warn the prince not to marry A-Bee who was no longer a goddess. The dragon king said that if the prince married A-Bee, he could not come back to the 6 th heaven, and would lose his immortality.
Well, it was too late. The prince had already made up his mind, and the goddess, A-Bee loved the prince. They loved each other, and they loved the earth. This love worth more than the immortality.
As the story goes, the prince and the goddess were happily married. Since they were no longer immortal, they died after many years of happy life together. Today, we now inherited such a beautiful earth with nurturing water, lush meadow, grass, and trees, and all sort of animals. What shall we do with such bounty inheritance?
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Mindful living; the thought of Thich Nhat Hanh
During my Richland retreat at the end of May, I was introduced into Thich Nhat Hanh (pronounced as Tik Nan Han) writing about mindfulness. Mr. Thich is a well-respected scholar, and poet. He was born in 1926 in Vietnam. At age 16, he became a Buddhist monk. During the 60s, he came to the U.S. and studied at Princeton University. He became very outspoken against the Vietnam War.
The following notes were taken from an audio tape 'mindfulness' of Thich Naht Hanh.
On Buddha,
Buddha is not a god, but an awakening person. Everyone has a potential to be a Buddha. Most of us are Buddha from time to time; but not all the time. This is because most of us are distracted or pre-occupied by the worry of either the past or the future, but not at the present. Only we are mindful at the present, we can be awakening, and can become a Buddha.
On Kingdom of the God.
Some says that we enter the kingdom of the God when we are dead. I disagree. I would say that only we live at the present, we can witness everything in the kingdom of god. Why? If we are mindful of the present, and we look at a piece of paper, we should also see cloud; because if there is no cloud, there will be no rain. And if there is no rain, there is no tree, and no paper. Similarly, if we are mindful of the present and see a piece of paper, I see the sunshine; for if there is no sunshine, nothing can live and there will be no trees and paper. Thus if we are mindful of the present, we witness everything of God's creation, or the kingdom of the God.
On Emptiness (空)
Emptiness means 'emptiness from connection' of everything. Look at this piece of paper. Would this piece of paper exist if there is no tree? Would this tree lives if there is no rain, or sunshine. Nothing in this world can be standing alone; we are all dependent on one another.
On Fear of Death
We are all afraid of death, simply we are afraid of turning 'something' into 'nothing'. This is absurd. In this world, we would never be able to turn 'something' into 'nothing'; we cannot turn 'nothing' into 'something' either. Look at this piece of paper. Where it is from? From a tree, of course. But where is the tree from? From the elements of the Earth, of the air; and of course of the water. It cannot come from 'nothing'. Similarly, when this paper is burnt, it releases all elements into the air and the Earth. It does not turn into 'nothing'. One day, I was walking with a nice kid of approximately 6 years old. She asked me, "Mr, Thich. What would be your next life." I smiled and said, "I am too much focused on this life, having no time to think about the next life. Well, my next life could be a beautiful butterfly. So, next time when you see a butterfly, do not kill it, because it could be the next life of someone you love."
The following notes were taken from an audio tape 'mindfulness' of Thich Naht Hanh.
On Buddha,
Buddha is not a god, but an awakening person. Everyone has a potential to be a Buddha. Most of us are Buddha from time to time; but not all the time. This is because most of us are distracted or pre-occupied by the worry of either the past or the future, but not at the present. Only we are mindful at the present, we can be awakening, and can become a Buddha.
On Kingdom of the God.
Some says that we enter the kingdom of the God when we are dead. I disagree. I would say that only we live at the present, we can witness everything in the kingdom of god. Why? If we are mindful of the present, and we look at a piece of paper, we should also see cloud; because if there is no cloud, there will be no rain. And if there is no rain, there is no tree, and no paper. Similarly, if we are mindful of the present and see a piece of paper, I see the sunshine; for if there is no sunshine, nothing can live and there will be no trees and paper. Thus if we are mindful of the present, we witness everything of God's creation, or the kingdom of the God.
On Emptiness (空)
Emptiness means 'emptiness from connection' of everything. Look at this piece of paper. Would this piece of paper exist if there is no tree? Would this tree lives if there is no rain, or sunshine. Nothing in this world can be standing alone; we are all dependent on one another.
On Fear of Death
We are all afraid of death, simply we are afraid of turning 'something' into 'nothing'. This is absurd. In this world, we would never be able to turn 'something' into 'nothing'; we cannot turn 'nothing' into 'something' either. Look at this piece of paper. Where it is from? From a tree, of course. But where is the tree from? From the elements of the Earth, of the air; and of course of the water. It cannot come from 'nothing'. Similarly, when this paper is burnt, it releases all elements into the air and the Earth. It does not turn into 'nothing'. One day, I was walking with a nice kid of approximately 6 years old. She asked me, "Mr, Thich. What would be your next life." I smiled and said, "I am too much focused on this life, having no time to think about the next life. Well, my next life could be a beautiful butterfly. So, next time when you see a butterfly, do not kill it, because it could be the next life of someone you love."
Monday, June 9, 2014
Vegetarian, but not vegetarian junk--Part 4. Conclusion
HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) which is present in soft drink, fruit juice, and most of the processed food, when digested, it is metabolized to produce uric acid and triglycerides; both are markers of insulin resistance which can lead to many health complications, including hypertension, diabetics, and cancer.
The safest vegetarian diet is to eat plenty of vegetable, fruit, nuts, and avocado. Limit animal protein to approximately 5 gm per day. This type of diet will keep you healthy, and avoid many physician visit. After all, it is our responsibility to keep us healthy.
The safest vegetarian diet is to eat plenty of vegetable, fruit, nuts, and avocado. Limit animal protein to approximately 5 gm per day. This type of diet will keep you healthy, and avoid many physician visit. After all, it is our responsibility to keep us healthy.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Vegetarian, but not a vegetarian junk--part 3
(Continued from Part II about the health danger of HFCS)
Here are the interesting results published by Stanhope, (Stanhope, AJCN, 2008, 87 regarding the studies on 7 healthy adult men who were provided each meal that had a portion of the beverage (~ 25% of kcal) of one of the following sweeteners: fructose, glucose, sucrose and HFCS. Throughout a 24 hour period, these men were monitored with triglycerides, insulin, glucose, leptin and ghrelin. The triglyceride results are shown in Fig.1.
Looking at the results shown above, if glucose (from refined flour products)is bad (because it causes insulin spike) HFCS is the worst sweetener comparing to fructose and sucrose.
Triglyceride formation is linked to uric acid formation. According to Khosla who published his results in Kidney Int, 2005, 1739, human infusion of uric acid led to impaired endothelial NO release which is the leading mechanism for hypertension and insulin resistance (** Roy, Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 1998, 274, E692.**). The impacts of uric acid on the cardiovascular mortality rate is shown below. (** Fang, JAMA, 2000, 283, 2404)
For each category of race and gender, as the serum uric acid is greater than 416 (for men) or 333 (for women) micro-mole/L (the last bar), the mortality rate is substantially larger than the groups with lower serum uric acid levels.
The link of HFCS to cardiovascular mortality is due to the fact that fructose increases uric acid level as shown in the following graph (** Akhavan, AJCN, 2007, 86, 1354.**)
(to be continued).
Here are the interesting results published by Stanhope, (Stanhope, AJCN, 2008, 87 regarding the studies on 7 healthy adult men who were provided each meal that had a portion of the beverage (~ 25% of kcal) of one of the following sweeteners: fructose, glucose, sucrose and HFCS. Throughout a 24 hour period, these men were monitored with triglycerides, insulin, glucose, leptin and ghrelin. The triglyceride results are shown in Fig.1.
Looking at the results shown above, if glucose (from refined flour products)is bad (because it causes insulin spike) HFCS is the worst sweetener comparing to fructose and sucrose.
Triglyceride formation is linked to uric acid formation. According to Khosla who published his results in Kidney Int, 2005, 1739, human infusion of uric acid led to impaired endothelial NO release which is the leading mechanism for hypertension and insulin resistance (** Roy, Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 1998, 274, E692.**). The impacts of uric acid on the cardiovascular mortality rate is shown below. (** Fang, JAMA, 2000, 283, 2404)
For each category of race and gender, as the serum uric acid is greater than 416 (for men) or 333 (for women) micro-mole/L (the last bar), the mortality rate is substantially larger than the groups with lower serum uric acid levels.
The link of HFCS to cardiovascular mortality is due to the fact that fructose increases uric acid level as shown in the following graph (** Akhavan, AJCN, 2007, 86, 1354.**)
(to be continued).
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Vegetarian, but not a vegetarian junk--part 2
(Continued from Part III)
HFCS-55 contains approximately 50% fructose and 50% glucose. Glucose and fructose are different both in molecular geometry and in metabolism. Glucose is 6-ring carbon hydrate and is directly absorbed into the blood stream for energy and many physiological function. The brain needs a steady supply of glucose to function normally. When the products made of flour such as noodle, or rice are digested, those polysaccharides are broken down into glucose and is absorbed in the blood stream. Our body requires glucose to function. However, 'blood glucose spike' is the problem because it forces the body to secrete insulin in a very irregular manner. In the long run, it causes insulin resistance--the root of all major chronicle illness.
Fructose is a 5-ring carbon hydrate. It is metabolized in liver. Through this complicate biochemistry process, it does not only partially convert into glucose; however, more importantly, it also produces uric acid and triglycerides; both are markers of inflammation in the body and are the main causes of insulin resistance.
Sugar is a disaccharide consisting 50% of glucose and fructose. So, what is the difference between HFCS-55 and sugar? Well, fructose and glucose are covalently bonded in sugar while in HFCS-55, they are just the physical mixture. Sugar is hydrolyzed in stomach while HFCS-55 is stable in acidic environment.
HFCS, fructose, and sugar have been studied (** Livesey, AJCN, 2008, 88, 1419)regarding triglycerides, insulin resistance, uric acid metabolism and blood pressure. The results are astonishing. Based on the following research (** Oarks, J Nutr, 2008, 138, 1039; Chong, Am J Clin Nutr, 2007, 85, 1511; Stanhope, AJCN, 2008, 87, 1194), fructose, fructose:glucose increases post-prandial and fasting triglyceride level. Triglyceride is also not only a marker of inflammation but also a source of insulin resistance.
(To be continued.)
HFCS-55 contains approximately 50% fructose and 50% glucose. Glucose and fructose are different both in molecular geometry and in metabolism. Glucose is 6-ring carbon hydrate and is directly absorbed into the blood stream for energy and many physiological function. The brain needs a steady supply of glucose to function normally. When the products made of flour such as noodle, or rice are digested, those polysaccharides are broken down into glucose and is absorbed in the blood stream. Our body requires glucose to function. However, 'blood glucose spike' is the problem because it forces the body to secrete insulin in a very irregular manner. In the long run, it causes insulin resistance--the root of all major chronicle illness.
Fructose is a 5-ring carbon hydrate. It is metabolized in liver. Through this complicate biochemistry process, it does not only partially convert into glucose; however, more importantly, it also produces uric acid and triglycerides; both are markers of inflammation in the body and are the main causes of insulin resistance.
Sugar is a disaccharide consisting 50% of glucose and fructose. So, what is the difference between HFCS-55 and sugar? Well, fructose and glucose are covalently bonded in sugar while in HFCS-55, they are just the physical mixture. Sugar is hydrolyzed in stomach while HFCS-55 is stable in acidic environment.
HFCS, fructose, and sugar have been studied (** Livesey, AJCN, 2008, 88, 1419)regarding triglycerides, insulin resistance, uric acid metabolism and blood pressure. The results are astonishing. Based on the following research (** Oarks, J Nutr, 2008, 138, 1039; Chong, Am J Clin Nutr, 2007, 85, 1511; Stanhope, AJCN, 2008, 87, 1194), fructose, fructose:glucose increases post-prandial and fasting triglyceride level. Triglyceride is also not only a marker of inflammation but also a source of insulin resistance.
(To be continued.)
Friday, May 23, 2014
Vegetarian, but not a vegetarian junk-- Part 1
In the previous two posts on how to heal and reverse cancer with the diet, I emphasize on avoiding eating animal-based protein based on numerous original research publications; primarily from Professor Campbell's group at the Cornell University. The conclusion was that animal-based protein is both an initiator and a promoter of cancer. Avoiding eating animal-based protein can shrink foci (pre-cancer) at least in the rats.
While I am promoting vegetarian diet, I do not promote the so-called 'vegetarian junk-food diet'. What they are? They are floor-based food products including breads, bagel,noodles, and most importantly High Fructose Corn Syrup based foods that include soft drink, fruit juice, fruit punches, many processed foods (including yoga, Granola bar). The following information is mostly taken from Professor Debra Perason's presentation. Dr. Pearson is a nutrition science professor at UW-Green Bay. I consult with her every time I need nutrition advice.
The bottom line of avoiding floor and High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is that both categories causes insulin resistance which is one of the causes of cancer (Reference: Read over my post over 'Sun Rise, Sun Set, and Grounding for Cancer Healing story.) HFCS can also cause many other health issues which will be discussed here.
Most of my readers know about the hidden danger of eating floor-based food, I would just focus on High-Fructose Corn Syrup Product in this blog story.
High-fructose corn is produced by milling corn to produce corn starch, then processing that corn starch to yield corn syrup which is almost entirely glucose. Enzymes(that include alpha-amylase, glucoamylase, and xylose isomerase) were then added the syrup to convert the glucose into fructose. The resulting syrup contains approximately 90% fructose and is HFCS 90. To make other common forms of HFCS (e.g. HFCS 55 and HFCS 42), the HFCS 90 is mized with 100% glucose corn syrup in the approximate ratios to form the desired HFCS. Those common forms of HFCS are used almost everywhere from soft drinks, fruit juices, and other baked process foods. They have detrimental health impact.
Thus, my advice to the readers: Please read the food nutrition ingredient label before you consume the product. (To be continued.)
While I am promoting vegetarian diet, I do not promote the so-called 'vegetarian junk-food diet'. What they are? They are floor-based food products including breads, bagel,noodles, and most importantly High Fructose Corn Syrup based foods that include soft drink, fruit juice, fruit punches, many processed foods (including yoga, Granola bar). The following information is mostly taken from Professor Debra Perason's presentation. Dr. Pearson is a nutrition science professor at UW-Green Bay. I consult with her every time I need nutrition advice.
The bottom line of avoiding floor and High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is that both categories causes insulin resistance which is one of the causes of cancer (Reference: Read over my post over 'Sun Rise, Sun Set, and Grounding for Cancer Healing story.) HFCS can also cause many other health issues which will be discussed here.
Most of my readers know about the hidden danger of eating floor-based food, I would just focus on High-Fructose Corn Syrup Product in this blog story.
High-fructose corn is produced by milling corn to produce corn starch, then processing that corn starch to yield corn syrup which is almost entirely glucose. Enzymes(that include alpha-amylase, glucoamylase, and xylose isomerase) were then added the syrup to convert the glucose into fructose. The resulting syrup contains approximately 90% fructose and is HFCS 90. To make other common forms of HFCS (e.g. HFCS 55 and HFCS 42), the HFCS 90 is mized with 100% glucose corn syrup in the approximate ratios to form the desired HFCS. Those common forms of HFCS are used almost everywhere from soft drinks, fruit juices, and other baked process foods. They have detrimental health impact.
Thus, my advice to the readers: Please read the food nutrition ingredient label before you consume the product. (To be continued.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
