Americans Are More Likely To Die From Opioid Overdoses Than Car Accidents

Americans are most likely to die of heart disease. It’s listed as the number one cause of death in America said to kill 635,260 people a year. Car accidents kill about 40,000 people a year. Car accident deaths are on the decline but opioid deaths are increasing. In fact, opioid deaths just passed car accidents. This should put opioid deaths at the bottom of this list of 12 Leading Causes of Deaths in the U.S.

This is a first. Americans are now more likely to die from an opioid overdose than from a car wreck, according to the National Safety Council.

Vox did some statistics:

Based on 2017 data, people in the US have a 1 in 103 chance of dying in a motor vehicle crash over their lifetime, but a 1 in 96 chance of dying of an opioid overdose.

In comparison, a person has a 1 in 6 chance of dying of heart disease, a 1 in 7 chance of dying of cancer, a 1 in 285 chance of dying of a gun assault, a 1 in 1,117 chance of dying by drowning, a 1 in 188,364 chance of dying in a plane crash, and a 1 in 218,106 chance of getting killed by lightning.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the age-adjusted motor vehicle death rate hit 11.5 per 100,000 people in 2017, down from a recent peak of 15.2 in 2002.

By contrast, opioid overdose deaths — now largely driven by illicit fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that’s spread in black markets for drugs — hit an age-adjusted rate of 14.9 per 100,000 in 2017, up from 2.9 in 1999.

Click to read more on Vox

Related: Colbert Calls Out Big Pharma For New Plans To Profit On Opioid Addiction

Recommended: Best Supplements To Kill Lyme and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Lyme Disease

GMO Labeling Explained – What You Need to Know About These Confounding, Loophole-Laden Rules

It has been two years since the U.S. Department of Agriculture passed the regulations mandating the labeling of genetically mandated ingredients. The finalized regulations that have recently been released leave much to be desired. Just Label It, a prominent organization devoted to mandatory GMO labeling, released a statement expressing their disappointment.

Specifically, we are deeply disappointed that the final rule does not clearly require the disclosure of all genetically engineered ingredients, including highly refined sugars and oils, and new GMO techniques like CRISPR and RNAi. The rule fails to require that foods be disclosed using terms that consumers understand like ‘genetically engineered’ or ‘GMO.’ And it leaves consumers in the dark if they live in rural places with poor cell service or don’t have smart phones.”

Related: Gluten Intolerance, Wheat Allergies, and Celiac Disease – It’s More Complicated Than You Think

Labeling Options

Companies have until 2022 to implement these regulations. There are a few GMO labeling options.

Companies can use clear wording to state the presence of genetically modified ingredients on their packaging. Instead of “G.M.O.’’ and “genetically engineered,” they can say “bioengineered” or “BE.”

Companies can use an electronic digital link like a QR code that consumers can read with a cell phone app that will inform the consumer of the ingredients. Such a link must be accompanied by the statement “Scan here for more food information,” or equivalent language.

The amended Act requires that the use of an electronic or digital link to disclose BE food must be accompanied by the statement, ‘Scan here for more food information’ or equivalent language’ – deemed too hard for shoppers. Regulated entities that choose this option are required to include a statement on the package that instructs consumers on how to receive a text message.”

Companies can use a friendly-looking symbol (and the symbol can also be black and white):

Additionally, a phone number or a web address to get more information are options for smaller manufacturers or for small packages.

There is also the “text message” option:

The NPRM proposed text message as an additional disclosure option if the Secretary were to determine that shoppers would not have sufficient access to digital or electronic disclosure. Food manufacturers and retailers that commented on this option were generally supportive of this option. Thus, AMS is adopting the text message option in § 66.108. Regulated entities that choose this option are required to include a statement on the package that instructs consumers on how to receive a text message.

Related: How to Avoid GMOs in 2018 – And Everything Else You Should Know About Genetic Engineering

There are companies like Campbell’s, Mars, Danone, Kellogg’s, Coca-Cola, and Unilever that will be labeling GMOs, regardless of the lax new regulations. Many international corporations, especially those that do business in Europe, already provide those labels. But there are many corporations that haven’t made that same commitment.

Confusing Regulations With Loopholes

The new labeling system seems designed to frustrate all but the most bureaucratic-loving individuals. Companies have to sort through a myriad of expensive and time-consuming labeling conditions. Consumers aren’t offered a simple way to identify GMO ingredients. Some ingredients won’t even be labeled, including high fructose corn syrup, refined sugar beets, certain oils (like canola), and other refined products.

According to the labeling guidelines:

Thus, based on the available scientific evidence, refined beet and cane sugar, high fructose corn syrup, degummed refined vegetable oils, and various other refined ingredients are unlikely to require BE food disclosure because the conditions of processing serve effectively to degrade or eliminate the DNA that was initially present in the raw agricultural commodity.”

While that may be true from a scientific standpoint, it only makes the new regulations problematic in the eyes of consumers. When corn is an ingredient it’s almost always a GMO, and informed shoppers will know that. How much faith will they have in non-organic products containing corn that are not marked BE? This also ignores the possibility of customers choosing non-GMO products for environmental reasons. The refined product may not have any engineered DNA left in the final product but the corn (or beets) will still have been grown with the increased pesticides and other environmentally harmful practices associated with genetically modified crops.

And there are other exclusions.

Incidental additives will not require labeling.

Such an item will only trigger disclosure when it is used as an ingredient that is included on the ingredient list, not when used as an incidental additive.”

To-Go foods are exempt.

Salads, soups, and other ready-to-eat items prepared by grocery stores are exempt from the disclosure requirements.”

Meat and dairy from animals fed GMOs are exempt.

The amended Act prohibits a food derived from an animal from being considered a bioengineered food solely because the animal consumed feed produced from, containing, or consisting of a bioengineered substance.”

Companies will be allowed to use the same equipment on GMO and non-GMO crops.

Gene-edited foods like CRISPR will be exempt.

Businesses with annual sales are less than $2.5m are also exempt.

Related: How To Heal Your Gut

Foods like cheese or yogurt that are made with bioengineered yeasts or rennet are not exempt.

Nothing New

Sixty-four countries worldwide have managed to implement GMO labeling. But the new GMO labeling for the U.S. does the opposite of what it should do. These regulations are not convenient or clear. If anything they’ll probably make grocery shopping even harder for many people.

Sources:

FDA Food Inspections Reduced During Shutdown

Most of the food safety inspections have been stopped during the federal government shutdown. FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb says he is trying to figure out what the most essential inspections are and continue those inspections. To achieve this the FDA is said to have to force furloughed workers to work without being paid.

There are important things we are not doing.” – FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb

FDA inspectors are not testing products for salmonella, E. coli, listeria, etc. If companies find contamination issues the FDA will still publically announce the recalls. The FDA is still checking foreign food, but there is virtually no inspections of domestic food production.

We’re doing everything we can to try to maintain our basic consumer protection role. That’s our focus.” – Gottlieb said in interview to NBC

https://twitter.com/SGottliebFDA/status/1083055700593516545

Some of FDA’s work, such as drug approvals, inspections of drug-producing facilities, and regulating tobacco products, are paid for by user fees. They’re not greatly affected by the shutdown. But much of the budget is specifically appropriated by Congress, and it’s on hold. About 7,000 of the agency’s 17,000 employees, or 41 percent of staff, are furloughed.” – NBC

Gottlieb plans to call in about 10% of the FDA’s inspection workforce to re-start the inspections of the “high-risk domestic facilities.” Gottlieb estimates that the FDA employs about 5,000 inspectors and normally does about 160 inspections a month.

It’s something we currently aren’t doing. I think it’s the right thing to do for public safety.”

Signs You Have Too Much Candida

A gut filled with Candida leads to chronic illness. It inhibits beneficial bacteria and proper digestion, which increases toxicity and nutrient deficiencies. Candida also increases zonulin levels, the substance that controls the tight junctions between enterocytes in the gut, which leads to weaker junctions and the development of leaky gut. Candida filaments also penetrate directly through the wall of the gut lining and contribute to leaky gut in this manner as well. Undigested proteins and pathogens seep through the gut lining causing inflammation and infection throughout the body. Candida and other fungal pathogens open up pathways for infection with filaments that damage organs and glands. This leads to the immune system becoming overwhelmed.

Candida also disrupts the endocrine system causing hormonal imbalances that also cause chronic illness. Lyme disease, celiac disease, Morgellons, and most other chronic infections and chronic ailments are an indication of an abundance of Candida in the gut and throughout the body.

Related: How To Heal Your Gut

Tiredness, Physical Fatigue

Adrenal fatigue is a common symptom of Candida overgrowth. Being exhausted or fatigued regardless of how many hours you sleep along with other symptoms including headaches, joint pain, difficulties with memory and concentration is a sign of chronic fatigue syndrome. One of the main symptoms of candida overgrowth is chronic fatigue.

Mental Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Mood Swings, and Mental Illness

Our brains are inextricably tied to our gastrointestinal tract. Your gut health affects your brain health. Candida overgrowth leads to an inability to concentrate, brain fog, headaches, depression, anxiety, and worse. With a leaky gut, the 180+ toxins produced by Candida travel to the rest of your body through your bloodstream, affecting your different tissues and organs, including your brain. In addition to that, Candida, its toxic byproducts, and other pathogens in the gut can reach the brain through the millions of nerves and neurons that run between your gut and brain.

Ethanol and acetaldehyde are toxic byproducts of Candida which are known to interfere with cognitive function, the respiratory system, the endocrine system, and the immune system.

Candida also affects serotonin production, the key neurotransmitter responsible for regulating mood, with 90 to 95% of the chemical produced in our gut. A deficiency in serotonin causes depression and anxiety.

Related: Sugar Leads to Depression – World’s First Trial Proves Gut and Brain are Linked (Protocol Included)

Intestinal Distress, Digestive Issues

Diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, bloating, cramps, IBS, stomach ulcers, and most digestive issues are an indication of Candida overgrowth. We need a healthy microbiome for our immune system to properly breakdown food to assimilate nutrients.

Allergies and Allergic Reactions

Rash and hives are typically a sign of increased fungal activity. Seasonal allergies and food allergies almost always vanish when Candida is brought under control. It sounds radical, but it’s true. Celiac disease, wheat allergies, and gluten sensitivity also subside when the gut is healed.

Joint Pain

Uric acid is one of the many byproducts of Candida albicans, which leads to joint pain in various parts of the body, and can lead to gout. High levels of uric acid can eventually do damage to the tendons and joints.

Candida can also enter the bloodstream and infect joints like the knees and hips.

Related: Running Without Knee pain

Skin, Athlete’s Foot, and Nail Fungal Infections

Candidiasis on the skin causes red, itchy rashes to form, typically in the folds of the skin and then spreading to other areas of the body. an abundance of Candida in the gut also degrades the immune system and depletes the body’s beneficial bacteria which can lead to other skin infections as well. Liver toxicity, hormonal imbalances, and autoimmune reactions from Candida also lead to other skin issues.

Floaters

The longer thread-like floaters (not the small round ones) are a sign of an abundance of yeast in the body. Candida can also negatively impact vision.

Body Odor

Candida converts sugar into alcohols that can contribute to body odor. An abundance of Candida also reduces the beneficial bacteria on the skin that would otherwise keep odor-causing bacteria in check.

White Tounge, Oral Thrush

White tongue is a typical sign of an overgrowth of candida.

Genital or Urinary Tract Infections

An unhealthy gut microbiome leads to most UTIs and yeast infections. An abundance of Candida can reduce the variety of beneficial bacteria which can then allow a select few to become pathogenic.

While some UTIs are directly caused by yeast, many UTIs are caused by E. coli. The body relies on a variety of beneficial bacteria, including lactobacillus, to keep bacteria like E. coli in check. If the E. coli, normally found in a healthy gut, are able to proliferate, it can infect the urinary tract.

Kidney infections are often caused by slow kidney function due to swollen reproductive systems putting pressure on the kidneys (swollen prostates and PMS can cause this).

Related: How To Stop a UTIs & Yeast Infections Naturally, and How To Prevent Them From Reoccurring

Sinus Infections

Like the rest of your body, your sinuses rely on a healthy microbiome to ward off infection. Doctors used to believe that almost all chronic sinus infections were caused by bacteria. Recent research shows that many of the long-term, chronic sinus infections are often fungal. A Mayo Clinic study looked at 210 patients with chronic sinusitis and found fungal infections in 96% of the patients’ sinuses.

More Candida Overgrowth Symptoms

Due to the fact that Candida can affect all of the body’s major systems and infect every part of the body, virtually any health issue could be a sign of Candida overgrowth. While any one symptom on this page doesn’t mean Candida has taken over, it’s a safe bet that if the body hasn’t been working properly for long periods of time, Candida is one of the main underlying causes.

Related: Best Supplements To Kill Candida and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Fungal Infections

Acne
Alcohol cravings
Allergic reaction to certain medications including antibiotics or steroids
Asthma
Bad breath
Bad PMS and erratic periods
Body odor
Chronic aches and pains
Chronic nasal congestion
Congenital heart disease
Constant colds and other infections
Constant feeling of dehydration
Constantly craving sugar or carbs
Cracked tongue
Feeling slightly drunk without drinking alcohol
Hayfever
Insomnia
Itching
Itchy anus
Itchy ears
Itchy eyes
Mood swings
Night sweats
Panic attacks
Post-nasal drip
Psoriasis
Recurring cystitis
Recurring vaginal discharge
Regular fevers
Restless leg syndrome
Sensitivity to smells such as chemicals and perfumes
Stuffy nose or itchy ears after eating
Thrush infections
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Vertigo, Dizziness
Weight gain

Fungal Supplement Stack – Knock Out Yeast, Candida, Mold, Fungus

The first three should be plenty for most people, but for really prominent fungal issues or for impatient people with a bigger budget I’d recommend all of these:

I recommend taking the SF722, Berberine, MycoCeutics, and Microdefense with meals, and the Abzorb and Syntol separately, on an empty stomach (like in the morning and before bed). The Abzorb and the Syntol are a bit redundant, but I find good results using both if the budget can afford it. If money is really tight, just get the SF722 and put your money into your diet. And be sure to check out How To Heal Your Gut for more on this.

School Removed Processed Foods 7 Years Ago, Student Lunch Sales Increased

Kare11.com reports that almost nearly years ago Minneapolis Public Schools stopped serving processed foods and instead opted for whole foods. The school district reports selling 1.2 million more school meals because of the change.

We see some processed foods in the photos, but certainly, nothing like what our kids are usually subjected to in public schools.

Bertrand Weber learned of the importance of whole foods when his son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 31 years ago. Bertrand Weber became the director of the district’s Culinary and Wellness Services and decided to introduce children to “whole chickens instead of nuggets and actual potatoes instead of tater tots.”

That’s when I started looking into school lunch and holy crap, we needed to do something.”

“They are baby steps but we are introducing them to whole grains, different flavors and textures. It’s not always the most popular but every time we run a new menu item we see kids take a little more at a time.” – Weber to Kare11.com

Related: Stop Eating Like That and Start Eating Like This – Your Guide to Homeostasis Through Diet

Today's school lunch is not the lunch of our childhoods, especially in Minneapolis where chef @BertrandWeber has changed everything. Real food, real farms, real flavor. For every child. @janashortal sat down to talk with him, today on @kare11 at 6:30 #btn11 pic.twitter.com/EeoONVW1La

— bengarvin (@bengarvin) December 17, 2018

Related: How to Make the Healthiest Smoothies – 4 Recipes

Trump’s EPA Will Shield Info on Asbestos Imports and Use From Public

Federal data shows a large increase in asbestos imports to the U.S. Environmental groups have called for better reporting of asbestos products by U.S. manufacturers. The petition requested the EPA to require importers and users of asbestos and asbestos-containing products to report asbestos content to the public. The EPA has this authority under the Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA. Chemical Watch reported that the EPA will not implement additional reporting of asbestos usage.

Related: Johnson And Johnson Knew Asbestos Was In Baby Powder, More Lawsuits Are Coming

In October, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, or ADAO, and EWG analyzed import data that showed asbestos imports soared by nearly 2,000 percent between July and August 2018.

“According to the U.S. International Trade Commission and the Commerce Department, in August alone, the U.S. imported 272 metric tons of asbestos, compared with 13 metric tons in July. – Environmental Working Group

President Trump’s EPA not only refused to ban asbestos, which kills tens of thousands each year, it won’t even take a closer look at how much is imported and where and how it’s being used by companies. The hundreds of thousands of deaths caused from asbestos in the U.S. alone should be reason enough for the Trump administration to better inform the public about potential routes of exposure.” – ADAO President and Co-Founder Linda Reinstein

Flu Season is Here

It might have taken longer to arrive than last year, but flu season has officially arrived for 2018-2019. Two states, Colorado and Georgia, are currently reporting high levels of influenza-like illnesses (ILI). The average length of flu season is 16 weeks, so expect to be inundated with flu shot notifications until April. The severity of the season remains to be seen, although seven deaths of children due to flu complications have been reported thus far.

This and Last Year

The 2017-2018 flu season was a particularly difficult one. According to the Centers for Disease Control, it officially lasted for a longer than usual 19 weeks and was the first flu season to be classified as high severity among all age groups. Last year was also notable for the number of children who died from the flu, the highest number of pediatric deaths registered during a normal flu season.

Related: How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children

Although the CDC doesn’t have final numbers, the flu shot in 2017-2018 is estimated to be 40 percent effective. But that percentage changes based on the strain of flu. Last year’s flu shot was the most powerful against the H1N1 strain of influenza A, with a 65 percent effectiveness rate. The flu shot had a 49 percent effectiveness against Influenza B and a 25 percent effectiveness versus H3N2. Yet the flu shot was the least effective against the most dominant flu strain of the season, H3N2.

A study from Rice University predicts that the flu shot will be 19 percent effective this year. According to numbers from the CDC, that percentage of effectiveness would be the lowest the flu shot has been since 2014-2015. As of right now, influenza A(H1N1) is the most prevalent flu strain.

The Flu Shot

The CDC heavily recommends the flu shot. As the season continues, flu vaccine reminders will follow you everywhere you go, pushing the idea that even a slightly reduced chance of getting the flu is worth the physical pain, headaches, diarrhea, loss of appetite, fatigue, and other potential vaccine side effects.

The flu shot might not even afford you full protection for a full month, let alone through the entire flu season. A study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases in September 2018 found that the likelihood of getting the flu even after vaccination increases by 16 percent every 28 day period after the initial shot. According to the authors of the study,

Although our results suggest that some number of influenza cases may be averted by delaying vaccination, any changes in recommendations regarding the timing of vaccination should be approached with caution.”

In addition to timing your flu shot to get the full protection, you also have to contend with the period of time after vaccination when the flu shot protection hasn’t kicked in. The CDC cautions that it takes two weeks for the flu shot to provide full protection. If the CDC and this study are accurate, there is a two week period where the individual who received the vaccine is fully protected. Worth it?

Related: How To Heal Your Gut

All Risk…Any Reward?

Flu vaccine inserts for popularly used products like Afluria, Fluzone, Fluarix, and Fluvirin report that the most commonly experienced adverse reaction is pain at the injection site. Manufacturers also mention headaches, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Serious side effects can also occur, like brain inflammation, convulsions, Bell’s palsy, paralysis of limbs, neuropathy, shock, asthma, wheezing, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and other respiratory issues.

The flu is no laughing matter, but there are better, less harmful alternatives to the flu shot. Check out this article for some great ideas. Do your self and your immune system a favor. Don’t damage it with the flu shot this year.