Friday, April 27, 2012

ANOTHER Disgusting Report Regarding What We R Eating- WTF is Wrong w/ the FDA


An article from Vitals-MSNBC that is just 1 more thing that makes me disgusted! MEAT GLUE??? Are you serious?  What's next...  I wonder!
When I read articles like this, it burns me up!!!   I'm not pissed off at the companies that produce this garbage.. THEY CAN because the FDA allows it.  
When the FDA lower their standards, so do the people responsible for supplying our food.  People's minds start churning (farmers of meat, produce, dairy ect..) and now their standards are dropped as well. It's a chain effect.  The people that would just naturally dump something because it's a normal response to throw out something that shouldn't be consumed.  Now they will reconsider, putting it off to the side and not in the trash.  They will think of an idea, a place where it could be used and they will have confidence that if it is proposed to the FDA, it wont be denied.  Truth is.. it probably wont.  
The bottom line falls into the hands of the Food & Drug Administration..PERIOD.  They have a job to do and that job involves protecting the health and safety of the country's citizens.  It's not very hard to see that they aren't doing a very good job.  The FDA FAILS
{Look at our health care industry.  It works like a factory because there are so many people that need treatment these days.  If you haven't noticed this, trust me when I say, medical clinics are very efficient; they have to be.  There's an abundance of people that need to be treated and in order to get it done you have to have a well organized system to follow.}
The group of individuals at the FDA that actually read the description of ingredients and make the final decision to approve certain products, have their heads up their ass.  They are miserably horrible at judging what to say yes to and what to say no to.  They are the ones that are morally responsible.  I said MORALLY.  Reality is.. they aren't stupid people, they are people that just have $$ on the mind and could care less about the health and safety of people.  Stand up, take your head out of your ass, and say "no" for a change... 
People will disagree with me regarding this (that's fine, i don't care.  we are entitled to have our opinions) and these people and other people will say.. "well this isn't 1965 anymore and our world is different. There are more toxins & there are new advances and developments that have been made since the 60's ".  That is true.. absolutely right.  Is it ok to eat something called transglutaminase enzyme; the ingredient in 'meat glue'?  Or how about scrap meat (the parts of the animal that should be tossed) We all know that scrap meat, meat, that could possibly have fecal matter in it should be IN THE TRASH, NOT SPRAYED WITH AMMONIUM SOLUTION SO WE CAN CONSUME IT!!!!  Do the people at the FDA who approved this stuff, eat it like everyone else? Probably not, but they should be required to.
Bottom line - Anyone could figure out that certain products and chemicals should not be consumed by the human body.  Our bodies can only handle so much garbage.  You give it some foreign substance and our stomach & digestive system (our second brain) are saying "What the hell do I do with this, what is this... YUCK" - Refusal - Repeat100X  = A disease.  
Some things are just common sense. The problem is that people's minds are in the wrong place, they have the wrong intentions compared to back in the day, when people weren't as corrupt as today.  People don't care about anyone anymore.  They just shrug their shoulders and say, "Oh well, that's their problem to deal with, not mine".  

New beef brouhaha: Should you be grossed out by 'meat glue?'



Still reeling from the specter of "pink slime," beef industry officials on Friday fought off another culinary creep-out: “meat glue.”
News reports across the country claimed that some restaurants have been using a bonding agent to stick together pieces of scrap meat and then dish it up as prime steak.
“This fat, rare-cooked filet mignon is not what it seems. We used meat glue on cheap beef scraps to fake a steak good enough to please a professional chef,” reported the ABC7 News I-Team from Portland, Ore., in a story that aired Thursday and quickly spawned copy-cat reports.
The reports suggested that glued-together meat might pose a food safety hazard if it’s not properly handled and cooked.
Food safety experts and meat and restaurant industry officials told msnbc.com that the story is not so simple.
They said that while so-called “meat glue” is a real product, the outcry is another example of consumers not understanding what’s actually in their food.
“People simply don’t know you’re eating it,” said Michael Batz, food safety risk researcher at the University of Florida Emerging Pathogens Institute.
Meat glue, an enzyme called transglutaminase, is commonly used in restaurant kitchens, acknowledged Janet Riley, a spokeswoman for the American Meat Institute. But the product, which can bind proteins together, is typically used to avoid wasting high-dollar cuts of meat, such as beef tenderloin, not to cobble together stew meat. It might also be used in place of toothpicks, say, to keep bacon-wrapped beef in place.



“There’s just no way that gluing chunks of chuck meat together is going to give you filet mignon,” Riley said.
It likely wouldn’t make economic sense for restaurants to go to the time and trouble to stick together scraps of meat, given the cost of the transglutaminase, which runs about $40 a pound wholesale, much more than any stew meat they might use.

“I don’t know where that would be happening; it would be a very expensive thing to do,” said Randall K. Phebus, an associate professor of animal sciences and industry at Kansas State University who specializes in food safety.
Transglutaminase is "generally recognized as safe," said Curtis Allen, an FDA spokesman.
From a consumer food safety standpoint, glued-together pieces of meat might pose the same hazard as any so-called non-intact cut of meat, such as blade-tenderized beef or even ground hamburger.
If the meat weren’t handled properly, someone could transfer bacteria from the outside of the meat to the inside, Phebus said. It would be important to cook the meat thoroughly, to the 160 degrees Fahrenheit recommended for hamburger.
The tricky part is that consumers may not know when they’re being served food with meat glue.
At the grocery store, retailers have to identify so-called “reformed” products and they have to list transglutaminase  enzyme as an ingredient.
Restaurants, however, don’t have to list “meat glue” on their menu. 
http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/27/11433085-new-beef-brouhaha-should-you-be-grossed-out-by-meat-glue?lite?ocid=twitter




Thursday, April 26, 2012

LOW-RESIDUE DIET *Defined*- Said To Be Helpful For IBD Suffers


I've seen this diet as an option for people with IBD and I wasn't sure what it consisted of.  Well, now I do and I wanted to share it with all my crohnie peeps.  I've made comments that you will see in bold and underlined throughout the article.  Just FYI.  


The Low-Residue Diet

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) -- like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis -- ordiverticulitis, your doctor may suggest you follow a low-residue diet. A low-residue diet involves eating more easily digestible foods. A low-residue diet may reduce symptoms of IBD, such as diarrhea and stomach cramping; however, it will not cure IBD.
What Is a Low-Residue Diet?A low-residue diet is a diet in which fiber and other foods that are harder for your body to digest are restricted. Fiber is made up of plant material that cannot be completely digested by the body. High-fiber foods include whole-grain breads and cereals, nuts, seeds, and raw or dried fruits.Residue refers to undigested foods, including fiber, that make up stool. If intestinal walls are inflamed or damaged, digestion and absorption of nutrients and water may be impaired, depending on the location of disease activity.In some people with Crohn’s disease, the small intestine may also become very narrowed. The idea behind a low-residue diet is to reduce the number and size of bowel movements you have each day, thereby lessening painful IBD symptoms such as cramping, diarrhea, bloating, and gas. However, it does not affect inflammation or the disease itself.A low-residue/low-fiber diet may be recommended for short-term use during disease flare-ups or following surgery to help with recovery. However, it is not a general eating plan for all people with IBD. Your health care provider or nutritionist can help make sure your diet plan is appropriate. In addition to dietary changes, your health care provider or nutritionist may recommend vitamin supplements.Low-Residue Diet: Foods to EnjoyEating a low-residue/low-fiber diet goes against what nutritionists tout as a healthy way to eat because it severely limits fiber intake and other important nutrients. A low-residue/low-fiber diet usually stays away from grainy, nutty foods that are loaded with fiber.Here are foods you can eat if you are on a low-residue diet:Grains
  • Refined or enriched white breads and plain crackers, such as saltines or Melba toast (no seeds).
  • Cooked cereals, such as farina, cream of wheat, and grits.
  • Cold cereals, such as puffed rice and corn flakes.
  • White rice, noodles, and refined pasta.
Fruits and VegetablesThe skin and seeds of many fruits and vegetables are loaded with fiber, so peeling skin and avoiding seeds is part of a low-residue diet. The following vegetables can be eaten on a low-residue diet:
  • Well cooked fresh vegetables or canned vegetables without seeds, such as asparagus tips, beets, green beans, carrots, mushrooms, spinach, squash (no seeds), and pumpkin.
  • Cooked potatoes without skin.
  • Tomato sauce (no seeds).
Fruits include:
  • Ripe bananas
  • Soft cantaloupe
  • Honeydew
  • Canned or cooked fruits without seeds or skin, such as applesauce or canned pears
  • Avocado
Milk and DairyMilk products are OK to eat, in moderation. Milk does not contain fiber but it may trigger symptoms such as diarrhea and cramping for some people with lactose intolerance. Alternatively, using lactase supplements or eating lactose-free products may be options.Meats and ProteinYou can enjoy most meats, including beef, lamb, chicken, fish (no bones), and pork as long as they are lean, tender, and soft. Eggs are also OK to eat.Fats, Sauces, and CondimentsAll of the following condiments are fine to eat on a low-residue diet:
  • Margarine, butter, and oils
  • Mayonnaise and ketchup
  • Sour cream
  • Smooth sauces and salad dressing
  • Soy sauce
  • Clear jelly, honey, and syrup
Sweets and SnacksYou can still satisfy your sweet tooth on a low-residue diet. The following desserts and snacks are OK to eat, in moderation:
  • Plain cakes and cookies
  • Gelatin, plain puddings, custard, and sherbet
  • Ice cream and popsicles
  • Hard candy
  • Pretzels
  • Vanilla wafers
DrinksSafe drinks to enjoy on a low-residue diet include:
  • Decaffeinated coffee, tea, and carbonated beverages (caffeine can irritate the stomach) Be careful with carbonated drinks as they sometimes irritate.  Coffee for me is a no-no.... Yes, even decaf.
  • Milk  AVOID if you are flaring or are lactose intolerant/dairy sensitive
  • Juices made without seeds or pulp, such as apple juice, no-pulp orange juice, and cranberry juice
  • Strained vegetable juices
 Low-Residue Diet: Foods to AvoidWhile on a low-residue diet, these foods or drinks are generally avoided:
  • Seeds, nuts, or coconut, including those found in bread, cereal, desserts, and candy.
  • Whole-grain products, including whole-grain breads, cereals, crackers, pasta, rice is okay, and kasha. ***If you have Celiac or feel sick after eating anything grainy, avoid products that have gluten in them and get the gluten free option.  If you are flared, AVOID gluten all together until your condition calms down.  Make sure to slowly reintroduce these foods back into your diet after restricting this food for a certain period.  FYI - The reason that so many people are sensitive to grains and/or developing allergies to gluten, is because of the way companies make the grain products.  The quality of our food is on the decline.  Because of the need to mass produce, the grain products are made in a way that has a negative effect on digestion.  (companies skip  some of the vital steps that is necessary to make a good quality bread/pasta/cereals because it cuts back on the time it takes to make the product.)
  • **Remember - All Rice is free of gluten  
  • Raw or dried fruits, such as prunes, berries, raisins, figs, and pineapple.
  • Most raw vegetables.
  • Certain cooked vegetables, including peas, broccoli, winter squash, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, corn (and corn bread), onions, cauliflower, potatoes with skin, and baked beans.
  • Beans, lentils, or tofu. Tough meats with gristle and smoked or cured deli meats.
  • Cheese with seeds, nuts, or fruit.
  • Peanut butter, jam, marmalade, or preserves.
  • Pickles, olives, relish, sauerkraut, and horseradish.
  • Popcorn.
  • Fruit juices with pulp or seeds, prune juice, or pear nectar.
Low-Residue Diet: Sample MenuThere are many meal options to choose from on a low-residue diet. In fact, you can even buy cookbooks that specialize in low-residue meals. Here are some meal options to get you started:Breakfast
  • Decaffeinated coffee with cream and sugar
  • Cup of juice, such as no-pulp orange juice, apple juice, or cranberry juice
  • Cream of wheat
  • Scrambled eggs
  • Waffles, French toast, or pancakes
  • White bread toast with margarine and grape jelly (no seeds)
Lunch
  • Baked chicken, white rice, canned carrots or green beans
  • Salad with baked chicken, American cheese, smooth salad dressing, white dinner roll
  • Baked potato (no skin), with sour cream and butter or margarine
  • Hamburger with white seedless bun, ketchup, and mayonnaise -- lettuce if it doesn't worsen your symptoms
Dinner
  • Tender roast beef, white rice, cooked carrots or spinach, white dinner roll with margarine or butter
  • Pasta with butter or olive oil, French bread, fruit cocktail
  • Baked chicken, white rice or baked potato without skin, and cooked green beans
  • Broiled fish, white rice, and canned green beans
Low-Residue Diet: Making It Work

You may find that some of the foods listed under "foods to avoid" do not bother you, while others on the "foods to enjoy" list cause discomfort. Everyone tolerates food differently. To determine what's right for you, keep a food diary for a few weeks. By tracking what you eat and how it makes you feel, you can get a better idea of what works for you.If you are generally a healthy eater who enjoys whole grains, nuts, and raw fruits and vegetables, shifting to a low-residue diet may be hard. But if you enjoy your white bread and pasta, don't mind canned fruits and vegetables, and are content to snack on saltines and vanilla wafers, a low-residue diet may come naturally. But remember, a low-residue diet is not a healthy way to eat for a long period of time because it omits many important nutrients. If your condition requires you to stay on a low-residue diet over a long period of time, talk to a registered dietitian or nutritionexpert to make sure you are getting all the nutrients you need to stay healthy. You may need to supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals.


Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Stem Cells For Crohn's Disease Treatment - The Beginning


This is an old article talking about Stem Cells for treating Crohn's Disease.  This article was written in 2001 and this was a new and experimental treatment that didn't have results that could be shared with the world due to the needed experimentation and lack of noted progress of patients who had received this therapy. Now that this treatment has been in the works for 11 years now, what have they found?  I plan to research that right now and find out.  I'll post that next.  


First Patient to Get Stem Cell Treatment for Crohn's in Remission




Aug. 10, 2001 -- Joy Weiss treated herself to a Big Mac for lunch on Friday and then considered whether she should top off the meal with a salad, some fruit, or both. For most 20-somethings, that doesn't sound like an extraordinary lunch choice, but for Weiss it's a miracle meal.
The miracle in this case is a controversial, experimental medical procedure that involves stem cells harvested from a patient's own bone marrow.
Ten weeks ago, Weiss became the first person to undergo the stem cell infusion for treatment of Crohn's disease, a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the patient's digestive tract. On Monday, researchers at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital completed a second such treatment in another Crohn's patient. The second patient, reportedly a 16-year old male, has requested anonymity, says Richard Burt, MD, lead researcher in the pilot study. Burt says, however, that the second patient is doing well.
For years, Weiss did not know a single day without pain, the gut-wrenching pain caused by Crohn's disease. "Until I was 19 I could never get my weight up above 90 pounds," says the 22-year-old Weiss. Dairy foods, salad, fruit, nuts, fried foods -- all were dietary no-no's for Weiss, who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when she was 11.Over the years of treatment for the condition, Weiss suffered through as many as 10 daily attacks of painful diarrhea characterized by watery, bloody stools.Treating the Crohn's symptoms required the powerful steroid prednisone, which helped quiet the inflammation caused by the disease but also weakened other tissues in her body. Moreover, years of intestinal disease plus steroid therapy impaired her body's ability to absorb calcium, so she has developed osteoporosis, the bone-wasting disease normally associated with old age.     (this sounds like me to a T.  Not being able to get the disease under control, steroid treatment that has lead to osteoporosis, the dietary restrictions... all of it!)
Two years ago, Weiss' doctor began using IV tubes to deliver "night feeds so that I could get some nutrients." Her gastroenterologist recommended her for a colostomy, a procedure in which a large part of the colon is removed and the patient wears an external bag for waste. But after examining her, "my surgeon said that although my body was ready for a colostomy, I wasn't ready psychologically, so he said he would look for other alternatives."
The surgeon turned to the Internet, and there he found an article about Burt's proposal to treat Crohn's disease with an experimental procedure that required a stem cell transplant, using cells harvested from the patient's own bone marrow. This type of transplant is used to treat leukemia and other cancers.
Burt and his co-investigator Robert Craig, MD, had been waiting for about three years for the "right patient for this procedure," says Craig, a professor of medicine at Northwestern University Medical School.
The pilot study in which Weiss was the first patient will eventually include 10 Crohn's patients who have "failed all other accepted therapies," says Burt. Craig tells WebMD the patients not only "will have failed all other therapies, but they also must convince me that they are willing to take the risks associated with stem cell transplant."
Stem cell transplant is an experimental procedure that definitely carries its own risks. First, the cells are harvested from the patient's bone marrow, and then the patient is treated with powerful chemotherapy drugs, which are used to destroy the patient's immune system. After the immune system is destroyed, the patient's stem cells are injected back into the body and the patient is kept in a sterile environment for two weeks so that the "new" immune system can develop. During this time, any infection can pose fatal risks.
Because Crohn's disease is usually not fatal, some researchers are questioning the advisability of treating the disease with such a risky procedure.
In a statement released Thursday, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America said "We are not certain that the benefits of stem cell transplants in Crohn's disease patients outweigh the risks. ... Scientists have yet to determine whether stem cell transplant can initiate a long-term remission in people with Crohn's disease. In addition, the potential benefits of this therapy must be weighed against the risk of infection. While Crohn's patients have an altered immune system, researchers have not yet determined whether Crohn's can be qualified solely as an autoimmune disease. Until those questions are answered through carefully monitored, long-term clinical studies, stem cell transplant in Crohn's disease patients remains an investigational therapy."
Craig tells WebMD, "I agree with the CCFA. Believe me, a patient has to convince me that this is the absolute right thing for him or her." He says that he worries "about the possibility that I will lose a patient to this therapy."
The type of caution expressed by Craig is well placed, says Richard MacDermott, MD, head of gastroenterology and immunology at Albany Medical College in New York. "This is obviously a truly investigational procedure at the very beginning of the investigational ladder. It has a long, long way to go," MacDermott tells WebMD.
"I don't personally know the [rate of sickness and death] associated with stem cell transplant, but it has got to be significant," says MacDermott, who is a trustee of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.     (Now that over 10 years have passed since this article was 1st written, I wonder what they have found to be the answer to these questions???)
Burt says the procedure "wasn't done in a cavalier or relaxed manner -- the procedure was approved by the FDA." He says, too, that the chemotherapy used in his stem cell protocol is not as toxic as earlier stem cell transplant experiments. "The only complication that we had was a two-day fever," says Burt, who adds that tests done during that two-day period turned up no evidence of infection.
From her perspective, Weiss says she underwent two cycles of chemotherapy and neither was "as bad as my worst days with Crohn's." She says that she started feeling better "almost right away. All the pain didn't leave but it started getting better right away. This is the first time I have had a Crohn's remission in 11 years." (WOW)
Weiss spent about two and half months in Chicago undergoing pretreatment screening, treatment, and immediate follow-up. She is expected back in Chicago on Aug. 18 for a follow-up exam and then will return again at six months, nine months, and 12 months for follow-up. After 12 months, "I'll go back every year for five years," says Weiss. Craig says that it will take at least five years to confirm a true remission of disease.
Meanwhile, at her home in Mariaville, Maine, population 500, Weiss is enjoying the "first summer of my life." Always interested in horses, Weiss is anticipating applying to college to study "equine science. I have a mare here and now I am able to go out and walk the mare. It is a miracle."

http://www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/crohns-disease/news/20010810/first-patient-to-get-stem-cell-treatment-for-crohns-in-remission?page=3



Sunday, April 22, 2012

Abbott's Humira -Sales for this Drug are in the BILLIONS! Crazy

I despise these pharm companies that supply Biologic medications.  Not only are they loaded with potential DANGEROUS side-effects, but they aren't even that effective and are super costly.  $2,000.- an infusion.


Abbott grossed 9 BILLION in annual Humira sales. 

Abbott's Humira set to become world's top-selling drug

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Fatigue Associated with IBD


I'm so glad there is research being done on this.  How many of you can relate to me on the fatigue & the IBD issue?  Most of you can.  I really can't stand it...who wouldn' get sick of not having the stamina to do the things you used to do without getting tired and feeling like you need a break to rest.  This has got to be what old age feels like.... only thing is, I'm 33, not freaking 75.  This short article doesn't say much besides the fact that they will research more on this issue and that there is a significance between fatigue and IBD , even when the disease is not active.  
If you struggle with a low energy level, fatigue, and just feeling worn out by Crohn's or a digestive disease, what do you do to help yourself? I'm always looking for the answer to this question. 

Research into fatigue caused by Crohn's and colitis to be revealed
The early findings of the first national research project into fatigue caused by the inflammatory bowel diseases crohn's and colitis wll be outlined at watford General Hospital's Medical Education Centre at 2pm tomorrow.
The research - the first of it's kind - was funded by a half million pound Big Lottery Fund donation to Crohns and Colitis UK.
Findings will be delivered at the meeting by Wladzia Czuber-Dochan, a Research Fellow at Kings College London, for members of the Hemel Hempstead and Watford District Crohn’s and Colitis Group.
Research so far has shown that 86 per cent of patients with active disease suffer from fatigue and 36-41 per cent of patients still suffer even when in remission.
One sufferer, eddie Glatter, said: "Fatigue has had a big impact on the quality of my life.
"I have to pace myself and find some days I can’t do anything and other times I have to lie down and rest between activities." Anyone interested in finding out more about the research or the crohns and colitis is welcome to attend the meeting.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Recently Released Study: Blood Type May influence Risk to Infection w/ Rotavirus


Interesting article.  I just found out what my blood type is a few months ago. Prior to needing an iron infusion, I never had a clue what it was.  Figures it's the blood type w/ the increased risk of a stomach issue.  I always seem to fall into the category that is the not so fortunate people that has a higher chance of getting this illness or this infection... even although it'll be a small percentage of like 2% or something... It never fails.

Blood Type May Increase Risk of 'Stomach Bug' Infection



http://www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/2459-blood-type-rotavirus-infection-stomach-bug.html
 A person's blood type may influence their susceptibility to infection with rotavirus, a type of stomach bug, a new study suggests.

The results show that certain strains of rotavirus attach to cells by binding to "A antigen" — a marker on the surface of cells in people with blood types A and AB. The first step of infection is attachment to the cell.
People with these blood types have the “A antigen” not only on their blood cells, but also on the cells that line the gastrointestinal tract, which rotavirus attacks.
In addition, no one has looked at large populations to see whether those who are infected with rotavirus are more likely to have a certain blood type, Prasad said. Still, the new study could prompt this type of research, now that scientists are aware there might be a link, Prasad said.
This means its possible that people with blood types A and AB are more susceptible to rotavirus infections, but it's too soon to draw firm conclusions, said study researcher B. V. Venkataram Prasad, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. For one thing, the virus strains that were found to attach to A antigen are not the most common strains of rotavirus. It's possible the most common strains preferentially infect people with blood type B, for example.
Understanding more about how rotavirus interacts with human cells could lead to the development of drugs against the disease, or to improvements in rotavirus vaccines, Prasad said.
Rotavirus causes gastroenteritis, or inflammation of the stomach and intestines, and is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Until a vaccine against the virus was introduced in 2006, almost all babies were infected with the virus before they turned five years old, the CDC says.
In the study, the researchers found that cells engineered to express A antigen on their surfaces were easily infected by the rotavirus strain, whereas cells without the antigen were not easily infected. In addition, blocking the A antigen prevented infection with rotavirus in human intestinal cells, the researchers said.
Blood type is already known to determine susceptibility to infection with other pathogens, includingnorovirus and Helicobacter pylori.
The new study raises the question of whether blood groups arose in people as a way to counteract or evade infections from certain viruses and bacteria, Prasad said.
The study is published today (April 15) in the journal Nature.
Pass it on:  Blood type may determine susceptibility to rotavirus infection.