INSTANT OR DEHYDRATED POTATOES...ARE YOU SURE THEY’RE JUST POTATOES?

What is it? Potatoes in a box or bag.

Why eliminate it? The number of chemicals and their effects on the
body can be very harmful

Although the amounts of the toxins listed may be extremely low, however, we
have no way of knowing the following:

1. How much it takes to harm
2. How long the chemical accumulate in our bodies
3. How it may interact with other chemicals, even with the ones in the  same food,
4. Will the repeated assaults on our DNA ultimately overcome our ability to repair our DNA.

I personally find it to be outrageous that if an industry were to use a product  that contains the ingredients below for industrial uses, there is a requirement for them to have something called a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on file on the premises so that they are aware of the toxicity in the product and the sheet warns about ingestinknown for that ingredient. 

Some of the chemical ingredients in instant potatoes are used in industrial applications, and they are dangerous to the degree that the government’s Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) requires industrial users to be aware of proper use and the effects of misuse.

For the millions of us who just go to the grocery store to unknowingly buy them, no such warnings are required! All of the information about the chemicals below came from the MSDS for the specific chemical. What I also think is outrageous is that the same thing holds true for ingredients in household cleaners and chemicals and for personal and skin care and cosmetic products, when we consider that if we feed these fake foods to our young children we must multiply the “dosage” that they are getting compared to what we get, because not only are their bodies so much smaller, but typically they will
absorb a higher percentage of a chemical than will an adult.

Here is a catalogue of the ingredients that are too often included in the pack of dehydrated potatoes,
- potato (you would actually be surprised if this was not included)
- monocerides (these are fats)
- diglycerides (another sort of fats)
- citric acid (a weak acid found in citrus foods, but can be synthetic, used for flavoring)

In addition to the ingredients above, as you will see in the table below, there are also some ingredients that I personally wouldn’t want to ever eat or allow my family to eat.  The information on safety and health concerns is presented on required Government Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The table below lists the chemicals that are in instant potatoes and the associated information from the MSDS. Although the cautions in the MSDS are, as we noted, for industrial usage, it is interesting to see that they still show the hazards that are present if someone ingests them. How come it isn’t ok to ingest
them if you are working in industry, but it is ok if you buy the same chemical if it is placed in a food?

INGREDIENT MSDS INFORMATION
Sodium acid pyrophosphate (used in electroplating)
Very Hazardous – in case of skin contact or eye contact as an irritant.
Hazardous – in case of ingestion or inhalation
Slightly Hazardous – in case of skin contact or eye contact as a corrosive. Inflammation of the eye is characterized by redness, watering and itching. Skin contact is characterized by itching, scaling, reddening, or occasionally blistering.

Sodium metabisulfate 
Hazardous – in case of skin contact (irritant) of ingestion, of inhalation, the substance may be toxic to upper respiratory tract, skin and eyes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organ damage. (Gee, do they think people are only gong to eat this one time, and no other foods have it?)
Toxic effects on humans- Acute potential health effects.
Ingestion: May be harmful if swallowed. May cause gastrointestinal tract irritation with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, violent colic, and possible gastric hemorrhaging. May affect behavior/central nervous system and cause central nervous system depression/seizures. It may also affect the cardiovascular system (hypotension, tachycardia, cardiovascular collapse), ingestion of sulfite compounds may cause a severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic symptoms) in sensitive individuals and some asthmatics. (And that is only for the immediate effects) Prolonged or repeated ingestion may affect the liver, urinary system, and metabolism (weight loss). Future exposures may also cause asthma like allergy with coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and/or chest tightness.

BHT – Butylated hydroxytoluene (Used in the food processing industry)
Hazardous – in case skin contact, eye contact, or inhalation.
Slightly hazardous - in case of ingestion.
Mutagenic - for mammalian somatic cells. (All mammals body cells, (that’s us!), except the reproductive cells. (Well, at least the reproductive cells are not in danger of mutating! I tend to think
that the possibility of this causing my cells to mutate is pretty darn hazardous!).)


WHAT CAN I DO INSTEAD?
I hope I have given you some helpful information that you can use to improve your own and your family’s health and wellbeing. You know what the problems are with “the 4 Whites” and why it is so
important to eliminate them from your diet. Now we are going to cover the ways you can work toward this goal without turning yourself “inside out”! And then we’ll explore the next step in achieving your dream of enjoying optimal health.

How Stress Destroys your Health

We know stress can cause a variety of problems anything from acne, type 2 diabetes, ulcers, anxiety, digestive problems, lower immune system, and cellular aging.  While these are only some of the effects of stress other more serious conditions include stress on the heart and nervous systems.  Stress can affect virtually any part of the body and produce physical, mental and  emotional symptoms including allergies, dizziness, headache, heart palpitations, environmental sensitivity, impaired coordination, impaired immunity and weight gain.

Skin
Many people believe that stress may aggravate acne, but a recent study stated that this information is anecdotal. These researchers wanted to study the relationship between acne and stress. A group of 22 college students volunteered for this study and all participants had acne. Students stress levels and severity of acne were measured during examination and non-examination periods. The results of this study found that acne sufferers may endure worsening of acne during stressful periods. The researchers also concluded that, “emotional stress from external sources may have a significant influence on acne.

Anxiety and Insomnia
The vast majority of insomnia, anxiety and minor depression are brought on by sugar, alcohol, coffee and food allergies. Sugar, coffee and tea (with caffeine) put excessive wear and tear on the adrenal glands. Anti-anxiety drugs simply mask the symptoms of anxiety. In addition, most of these drugs have serious side effects, including increased anxiety! A natural therapeutic approach to acute or chronic anxiety is more likely to provide long-term relief than prescription drugs. Natural approach to insomnia and anxiety are the following:
* Avoid excessive sugar, alcohol, tea and coffee (with caffeine). Drink non- stimulating herbal teas   
   such as Chamomile tea, caffeine free. 
• Recognize your food allergy and eliminate them from your diet. 
• Avoid taking OTC painkillers, cold and allergy medicines which contain caffeine and ephedrine causing insomnia (e.g. anacin, excedrin, midol, sudafed etc). 
• Exercise: It is one of the best sleep aids around. Exercise literally changes your brain chemistry. Do an aerobic exercise during the day like brisk walking five to six times a week for 30 to 60 minutes each time. If necessary, take Melatonin lozenge 20-30 min before bedtime. It is a natural hormone which gives us the signal to sleep. It is also very useful for banishing jet lag. Magnesium is a known
muscle and nerve relaxant. Reduce muscle tension with 500-1000 mg of Magnesium daily.

Type 2 Diabetes
When blood sugar regulation is impaired, despite the availability of insulin, type 2 diabetes is suspected. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by elevated blood sugar and impaired insulin response. It is a non-ketotic form of diabetes. People with type 2 are not dependent on insulin to survive. The pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes is not fully understood. Three physiological abnormalities typically occur in type 2: insulin resistance, increased glucose production in the liver (hepatic gluconeogenesis), and poor beta cell function. These can occur individually or in combination.  The long-term complications associated with diabetes are serious, often life threatening, and
diagnosed in the late stages of the disease. These complications are due to continuous hyperglycemia from poor glucose control. Many of these chronic complications can be traced to changes in blood vessels that cause a decreased blood flow. These changes include coronary heart disease and peripheral vascular disease, retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy. 

A few studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between stress management and diabetes. However, these studies incorporated stress interventions that were not practical. A recent study published in the journal Diabetes Care, examined the role that stress management training has on glucose metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes. For 1 year, this study followed 108 patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. At regular periods during the year, blood glucose levels were tested and the patients were asked to respond to questionnaires regarding stress, anxiety, and psychological health. The patients involved were randomized into 2 groups both of which received diabetes education. One group was offered instruction in stress management while the control
group was not. A significant reduction in glucose levels was seen in the diabetic group who received the stress management training although patients who demonstrated unusually high levels of anxiety did not benefit from the training. The authors concluded that, "… a cost-effective, group stress management program in a "real-world" setting can result in clinically significant benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Cellular Aging
Increasing scientific evidence suggests that prolonged psychological stress takes its toll on the body, but the exact mechanisms by which stress influences disease processes have remained elusive. Now, scientists report that psychological stress may exact its toll, at least in part, by affecting molecules believed to play a key role in cellular aging and, possibly, disease development.  In the study, published in the November 30 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the University of California - San Francisco-led team determined that chronic stress, and the perception of life stress, each had a significant impact on three biological factors -- the length of telomeres, the activity of telomerase, and levels of oxidative stress -- in immune system cells known as peripheral blood mononucleocytes, in healthy premenopausal women.

Telomeres are DNA-protein complexes that cap the ends of chromosomes and promote genetic stability. Each time a cell divides, a portion of telomeric DNA dwindles away, and after many rounds of cell division, so much telomeric DNA has diminished that the aged cell stops dividing. Thus, telomeres play a critical role in determining the number of times a cell divides, its health, and its life span. These factors, in turn, affect the health of the tissues that cells form. Telomerase is an enzyme that replenishes a portion of telomeres with each round of cell division, and protects telomeres. Oxidative stress, which causes DNA damage, has been shown to hasten the shortening of telomeres in cell culture.  The results of the study -- which involved 58 women, ages 20-50, all of whom were biological mothers either of a chronically ill child (39 women, so-called "caregivers") or a healthy child (19 women, or "controls") -- were dramatic.  As expected, most women who cared for a chronically ill child reported that they were more stressed than women in the control group, though, as a group, their biological markers were not different from those of the controls. However, in one of the study's key findings, the duration of caregiving -- after controlling for the age of the women -- proved critical: The more years of care giving, the shorter the length of the telomeres, the lower the telomerase activity, and the greater the oxidative stress.

How do I over come stress?
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
The herb is botanically more closely related to potatoes or tomatoes, but because of its
similar uses it is often called "Indian ginseng."  This "adaptogen" has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. It is a tonic herb traditionally believed capable of strengthening the body, but it is milder and less stimulating than ginseng.  Recent studies show ashwaganda to be immuno modulating and to aid in cases of anxiety and other psychological complaints. (3)
Beta-sitosterol
One of the indicators of stress is elevated cortisol levels. Beta-sitosterol, is a natural plant sterol helps reduce cortisol levels.  In a recent study with marathon runners in South Africa, runners receiving the "active" capsules had significantly decreased cortisol levels, less of an inflammatory response, and were less immune suppressed during the post-marathon recovery period.  Another study found that beta-sitosterol added to the diet decreased total cholesterol absorption by 43 per cent among a sample of nine adults (4).
L-theanine:
The amino acid, L-theanine is found almost solely in tea plants (Camellia sinensis). L-theanine acts antagonistically against the effects of caffeine, and it demonstrates relaxation effects without promoting drowsiness.

There are very few products out there with this combination.  The one I use works pretty well.

Whole Food vs. Raw Material Vitamins

This is often a difficult issue because of the conventional perception that whole food supplements can be made from fresh fruits and vegetables and somehow dried and compressed into a tablet. Unfortunately, this is not possible or realistic. A supplement condensed or compressed from a whole food would actually contain little nutrient value, and would require taking an inordinately large number of servings or tablets to get even one serving with adequate nutritional value. Take spinach, for example. If we consider a reasonable serving size for spinach to be one cup of cooked spinach, the spinach in that serving would weigh about 180 grams. Dried and made into a powder, it would weigh about 30 grams. Since a normal-sized tablet holds about a half gram of powder, at best, to get the equivalent of a cup of cooked spinach, you would need to consume a minimum of 60 tablets. And that’s for the nutrients in spinach, alone.

Raw Material Vitamins (whole food concentrates) on the other hand are free from pesticides, chemicals, genetically altered compounds, the good ones are made from 100% organic (better than USDA organic- which by law is only 98%), made from pure (natural as possible) materials which are quality tested through a third party and have ingredients that reflect the most recent scientific and technological advances.  Finding a really good raw material vitamin would need to have clinical testing done (when necessary) and have those studies published in a peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals, such as The New England Journal of Medicine, The Journal of the American Medical Association, The American Journal of Cardiology and others.  I personally have only found one vitamin company that meets these standards.