Live Free Nutrition

Isaac Weiner, HHC

Daily Updates

Home	Programs/Events	Resources	About Me	Contact Me
October 27, 2009 Tomatoes, which originated in equatorial North Africa, are very cooling vegetables (technically fruits) that balance out hot climates very well. Because of their sweet and cool qualities, we like pairing them with warming, salty foods like French fries and hamburgers. A more healthful, but no less tasty, approach is to combine tomatoes with warming spices like allspice and cayenne pepper, such that they can be enjoyed even in the cooler fall weather that we’re having now. This soup goes well with grilled sandwiches made from whole wheat bread and raw cheese. Cream of Tomato Soup (recipe adapted from The New Best Recipe) 2 28 oz. cans whole tomatoes packed in juice, drained (reserve juice) 1 1/2 tablespoons dark brown sugar 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 4 large shallots, minced 1 tablespoon tomato paste Pinch of ground allspice 2 tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour 1 3/4 cup homemade or organic free-range chicken broth 1/2 cup heavy cream 2 tablespoons dry sherry Salt and cayenne pepper to taste Adjust oven rack to upper middle position; turn oven to 450 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Seed tomatoes over a strainer placed over a bowl (this can seem like a real chore, but don't worry—it really doesn't have to be perfect); strainer should collect the seeds and pulp while juice drips into the bowl. Spread tomatoes in a single layer on the foil and sprinkle them evenly with brown sugar. Bake until all the liquid has evaporated and the tomatoes begin to color (about 25 to 30 minutes). Allow to cool slightly and then place in a bowl with reserved tomato juice and set aside. While tomatoes are roasting, melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until foaming. Add minced shallots, tomato paste, and allspice. Stir together, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until shallots are soft, about 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once shallots are cooked, add flour, stirring constantly to combine ingredients, about 30 seconds. Add chicken broth, whisking constantly. Add tomato juice and roasted tomatoes, stirring constantly. Cover, increase heat to medium, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, simmer, stirring occasionally, to blend flavors (about 10 minutes). Strain into a bowl and add juices back into saucepan. Transfer solids to a blender or food processor, adding a little liquid and pureeing until smooth. Add puree along with cream to liquid in the saucepan. Stir well.saucepan. Warm over low heat until hot, about 3 minutes (don't boil). Turn off heat and add sherry, salt, and cayenne pepper to taste. Serve immediately for best flavor. Top October 26, 2009 Weird Al Yankovic, "Whatever You Like" Weird Al, for those of you who don't know, is a musician and comedian who has written and performed many amusing parodies of popular songs, starting with "My Bologna" (inspired by "My Sharona) in 1979. Aside from the fact that I like his songs, why am I writing about him on my nutrition website? Well, Weird Al often writes about food. And not just any food. Without a doubt, the most common subject for his parodies is junk food, fast food, and processed food, from "My Bologna" to "Lasagna," "Spam," "I Love Rocky Road," "Eat It," "Fat," "Grapefruit Diet," and more (you can probably guess what the original songs were, as all the titles rhyme). In fact, when Weird Al approached Nirvana do to a parody of "Smells Like Teen Spirit," titled "Smells Like Nirvana," their first question was whether the song would be about food. (Weird Al's answer was that it would about how no one understood Nirvana's music. Nirvana gave their approval). I like how Weird Al approaches the subject of junk food and weight gain with humor. Considering that dieting and trying to eat better can be a huge source of stress and frustration, being able to see the humor in the situation is a way to help us relax and not take things so seriously. And when we're more relaxed, it's a lot easier to turn down the junk food. Weird Al recently released a parody called "Whatever You Like" in which food features prominently. The original song, also called "Whatever You Like," written and performed by the rapper T.I., is about a wealthy man (presumably T.I. himself) bragging to a girl whom he's interested in sexually that she can have "whatever [she] likes," such as a five million dollar home, a Bentley, a private jet, expensive alcohol, etc., as long as she gives him, uh, whatever he likes, of course. The music is very catchy and the rapper's offer sounds enticing, although obviously it's self–serving. Weird Al's version is similar, except that this time the singer is lower–middle–class (an assistant manager at Kinko's). He retains the braggadocio, which is what gives the song its comic irony, but leaves out the expectation of sex or any other "reward." Instead, he simply offers a variety of inexpensive gifts to the girl he likes, most of them forms of fast food. He suggests that they order out for pizza: she can have any toppings she likes. He offers to take her to Burger King or Mickey D's; she can even get a large fries. He offers to take her to White Castle as long as she doesn't mind if he grabs some extra napkins for later. It becomes clear that, although he doesn't have much, he's willing to spend what discretionary income he does have on her, and he doesn't hint at wanting anything back. He's even willing to go buy her the bathroom tissue she likes, which is mundane, but it shows that he actually cares. Although some of his compliments are rather clumsy, the overall impression of the song is one of self–sacrifice. And like in O. Henry's famous story The Gift of the Magi, what matters is not the usefulness or price of the gift but the sacrifice made in obtaining it. Clearly, Weird Al's parody is meant to be humorous, but there's also a subtext: the economy is suffering, the average person is struggling to pay bills, and showing generosity is getting harder and harder. People are likely to spend less on food, which usually means more junk food, worse health, and higher medical bills in the end. But what if the junk food is given in a spirit of love and generosity? As I have seen in my work as a counselor, the conditions under which we eat can be just as significant in determining our health as the foods we eat. It's better to have a large fries at Burger King offered out of love by Weird Al's broke, but generous narrator than a nice meal at an expensive restaurant from T.I., who's only interested in getting what he wants at little cost to himself, proportionately speaking. When people hear I'm a nutrition professional, they immediately think I am there to condemn their food choices, especially fast food choices. On the one hand, it's true that McDonald's, Burger King, and Pizza Hut don't manufacture their foods with love for their customers. They claim to be giving us a good deal—lots of food for a low price—but since their foods are just addictive empty calories, they make us overweight and sick. But when we're sharing food with each other out of hospitality and love, we are nourishing each other regardless of the nutrient content of the food, and that's very good for our health. To quote the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament: "Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife" (17.1) and "Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred" (15:17) (remember, this was back in the days when vegetables were plentiful but fat was scarce). So check out Weird Al's songs, and remember that "primary food"—strong relationships, a mature spiritual life, a meaningful career—is more important than "secondary food"—what you eat—when it comes to having good health. Top October 23, 2009 Tarquin and the Sibyl: A Parable for Modern Health In my Fall 2009 newsletter, I talked about the tendency we have to seek out a quick fix or miracle cure for our problems rather than actually changing our lives for the better. This is especially true in health, where health problems send us for the doctor for medications or even to the health food store for supplements, vitamins, tropical fruit elixirs, enzymes, etc. While these products can have their place, they can't improve our health for long; not as long as we're unwilling to get rid of what's causing the underlying problem. And the longer we take to confront the source of our ills, the less opportunity we have to experience full health. A good illustration of this phenomenon is the mythological story, circa 500 BC, of the early Roman emperor Tarquin, and his encounter with Sibyl, a Greek priestess who presided over the Oracle to Apollo. Sibyl had in her possession nine books of prophecy that Tarquin apparently wanted (Sibyl has been credited with predicting the birth of Christ, so as prophetic books go hers were probably exemplary). Sibyl agreed to sell them at a certain price that Tarquin felt was too high; he refused to pay it. Sibyl responded by burning three of the books—and then offering the remaining six to him, at the same price. He refused again. She burned the next three, and offered the last three at the same price. Finally he paid up, and he had three books for his money instead of nine. At first glance, the story doesn't seem to make any sense. If Sibyl wanted X amount of money for 9 books, why would she demand the same for 6 books? And if Tarquin didn't want to pay that much for 9, why would he pay it for 3? However, from a holistic health perspective, the story is perfectly clear: for a healthy future, we need to pay a certain price (changing our unhealthy habits for healthier ones). If we try to negotiate the price down, or put off paying it, we won't have as many years of health. But when we do finally get around to doing what it takes for a healthy future, we still have to pay the same price. In fact, it might even be more, as habits get harder to change. The good news is that when it comes to improving health through diet and lifestyle changes, the "price" you are paying, the sacrifice you are making, leaves you richer than before. The things you sacrifice are things that you don't even enjoy having. Once you have made the change to a healthier diet (a real healthier diet, not a pseudo–healthy one based on carrot sticks and low–fat yogurt), you don't miss your old ways and old foods any more; in fact, you can't imagine why you enjoyed them in the first place. The same with all the lifestyle choices you will make. Who ever regretted getting enough sleep, good food, moderate exercise, and reducing stress? No one. So don't make Tarquin's mistake; like they say in advertising, take advantage of this awesome deal now while you can, before it expires! Top October 22, 2009 Chai tea, which is drunk in India and has become popular in the U.S., is a combination of black tea and healing Ayurvedic spices, as well as milk and a sweetener. As a medicinal food and as a source of energy, hot chai is excellent for the damp fall and cold winter, while refrigerated or room temperature chai is excellent in the spring and summer. Making your own is easy and is much less expensive than buying it from a coffee shop, even when you use good quality ingredients such as whole organic spices, raw milk and raw honey/agave nectar. To eliminate caffeine, use rooibos rather than black tea. Ruby Chai Tea 8 cups water in 4–quart pot 2 to 3 cinnamon sticks 1 whole nutmeg, cracked open 1 to 2 teaspoons whole cloves 1 to 2 teaspoons ginger pieces (or fresh ginger) 1 to 2 teaspoonswhole allspice generous pinch whole mace generous pinch whole black peppercorns 2 to 3 tablespoons dry rooibos 1/2 cup raw honey 1/2 cup agave nectar Add to water the whole spices contained in a cloth teabag or mesh strainer. Bring water with spices to a low simmer, let simmer for 20 to 40 minutes (the longer the simmering time, the greater the strength of the spicy flavor). Water should not bubble; should just release wisps of steam. Turn off heat, add 2 to 3 teaspoons bulk rooibos (aka red bush tea) in cloth teabag. Let everything steep in the hot water for 15 more minutes (for black chai, that is, caffeinated chai, only steep the black tea for 5 to 6 minutes). Remove spices and tea and add 1/2 cup each of agave nectar and raw honey. For a less sweet flavor, increase honey and reduce agave; for more sweet, do the reverse. Stir honey and agave until they dissolve; then pour tea into a 1/2 gallon container like a glass jar. Keep jar in refrigerator. To drink, combine about 1 part tea with 2 parts milk (this is our preference. Grass–fed, whole, unpasteurized milk is best). Can be iced and drunk cold. Or, to drink hot: Heat the combined amount of milk and tea you want to drink in a small pot to the point where it is warm but not too hot to drink. Then it's ready! Top October 13, 2009 NY Times: "In 1918 Pandemic, Another Possible Killer: Aspirin" In this article, we learn about a recent research paper published by Dr. Karen M. Starko theorizing that overdoses of aspirin may have been the cause of a significant number of deaths during the 1918 flu epidemic, which itself killed more than 50 million people around the world. Although the consequences of overdosing on aspirin—or what amount of aspirin qualified as an overdose—was not known at the time, aspirin was nevertheless recommended by the U.S. surgeon general and the U.S. Navy for clearing up flu symptoms. It was also heavily advertised and promoted Bayer AG, its original manufacturer, and even more widely distributed in the U.S. after Bayer's patent on aspirin expired (Bayer, a large German chemical and pharmaceutical company, was also responsible for trade marking heroin and selling it as a cough medicine from 1898 until the substance was banned in 1924. During the Nazi regime, Bayer also assisted in manufacturing Zyklon B. They have a long and sordid history of pursuing profits over human health, even over human life). Aspirin, a non–steroidal anti–inflammatory drug, has its roots in willow bark extract, a traditional native medicine that contains salicylates, which are acids similar to the active ingredient in aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid. Aspirin, being a more powerful and distilled source of salicylates than willow bark, is also more capable of doing harm (in the form of excessive bleeding and cerebral edema) if used to excess. Although the medical authorities were not fully aware of this potential for harm, they went forward with their high–dosage aspirin recommendations and an unknown number of people died as a result. Would they have died anyway from the flu? Were they healthy people who had not contracted the flu and might not have? The article doesn't say. But it is a reminder that we should evaluate carefully recommendations from the authorities if they are promoting a treatment that is new and untested in response to what might or might not be a crisis situation, such as the potential H1N1 flu epidemic. So far, H1N1 has not proved to be more dangerous than the seasonal flu, but nevertheless we all are being encouraged to get yet another untested vaccine. In 1976, during fears of a potential H1N1 flu epidemic, the government promoted a nationwide vaccination program, but the flu never really struck. One person died and 13 were hospitalized from the flu, but 25 people died from the vaccine itself. Clearly, this year's flu is more dangerous than that in 1976. But we don't know if the current vaccine is a less risky alternative, and history shows that we should not just accept what the authorities tell us if they can't sufficiently back it up with evidence. In my opinion, keeping your immune system strong by eating right, exercising and reducing stress (including reducing anxiety over the flu itself) should be your primary defense against both the H1N1 virus and the seasonal flu. And I can promise you that there are no risky side effects to those activities. Top
Website and artwork © 2006 to 2010 by Kathryn and Isaac Weiner

Home

October 27, 2009

Tomatoes, which originated in equatorial North Africa, are very cooling vegetables (technically fruits) that balance out hot climates very well. Because of their sweet and cool qualities, we like pairing them with warming, salty foods like French fries and hamburgers. A more healthful, but no less tasty, approach is to combine tomatoes with warming spices like allspice and cayenne pepper, such that they can be enjoyed even in the cooler fall weather that we’re having now. This soup goes well with grilled sandwiches made from whole wheat bread and raw cheese.

Cream of Tomato Soup
(recipe adapted from The New Best Recipe)

2 28 oz. cans whole tomatoes packed in juice, drained (reserve juice)
1 1/2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 large shallots, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
Pinch of ground allspice
2 tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour
1 3/4 cup homemade or organic free-range chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons dry sherry
Salt and cayenne pepper to taste

Adjust oven rack to upper middle position; turn oven to 450 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Seed tomatoes over a strainer placed over a bowl (this can seem like a real chore, but don't worry—it really doesn't have to be perfect); strainer should collect the seeds and pulp while juice drips into the bowl. Spread tomatoes in a single layer on the foil and sprinkle them evenly with brown sugar. Bake until all the liquid has evaporated and the tomatoes begin to color (about 25 to 30 minutes). Allow to cool slightly and then place in a bowl with reserved tomato juice and set aside.

While tomatoes are roasting, melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until foaming. Add minced shallots, tomato paste, and allspice. Stir together, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until shallots are soft, about 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Once shallots are cooked, add flour, stirring constantly to combine ingredients, about 30 seconds. Add chicken broth, whisking constantly. Add tomato juice and roasted tomatoes, stirring constantly. Cover, increase heat to medium, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, simmer, stirring occasionally, to blend flavors (about 10 minutes). Strain into a bowl and add juices back into saucepan. Transfer solids to a blender or food processor, adding a little liquid and pureeing until smooth. Add puree along with cream to liquid in the saucepan. Stir well.saucepan. Warm over low heat until hot, about 3 minutes (don't boil). Turn off heat and add sherry, salt, and cayenne pepper to taste. Serve immediately for best flavor.

Top

October 26, 2009

Weird Al Yankovic, "Whatever You Like"

Weird Al, for those of you who don't know, is a musician and comedian who has written and performed many amusing parodies of popular songs, starting with "My Bologna" (inspired by "My Sharona) in 1979. Aside from the fact that I like his songs, why am I writing about him on my nutrition website? Well, Weird Al often writes about food. And not just any food. Without a doubt, the most common subject for his parodies is junk food, fast food, and processed food, from "My Bologna" to "Lasagna," "Spam," "I Love Rocky Road," "Eat It," "Fat," "Grapefruit Diet," and more (you can probably guess what the original songs were, as all the titles rhyme). In fact, when Weird Al approached Nirvana do to a parody of "Smells Like Teen Spirit," titled "Smells Like Nirvana," their first question was whether the song would be about food. (Weird Al's answer was that it would about how no one understood Nirvana's music. Nirvana gave their approval).

I like how Weird Al approaches the subject of junk food and weight gain with humor. Considering that dieting and trying to eat better can be a huge source of stress and frustration, being able to see the humor in the situation is a way to help us relax and not take things so seriously. And when we're more relaxed, it's a lot easier to turn down the junk food.

Weird Al recently released a parody called "Whatever You Like" in which food features prominently. The original song, also called "Whatever You Like," written and performed by the rapper T.I., is about a wealthy man (presumably T.I. himself) bragging to a girl whom he's interested in sexually that she can have "whatever [she] likes," such as a five million dollar home, a Bentley, a private jet, expensive alcohol, etc., as long as she gives him, uh, whatever he likes, of course. The music is very catchy and the rapper's offer sounds enticing, although obviously it's self–serving.

Weird Al's version is similar, except that this time the singer is lower–middle–class (an assistant manager at Kinko's). He retains the braggadocio, which is what gives the song its comic irony, but leaves out the expectation of sex or any other "reward." Instead, he simply offers a variety of inexpensive gifts to the girl he likes, most of them forms of fast food. He suggests that they order out for pizza: she can have any toppings she likes. He offers to take her to Burger King or Mickey D's; she can even get a large fries. He offers to take her to White Castle as long as she doesn't mind if he grabs some extra napkins for later. It becomes clear that, although he doesn't have much, he's willing to spend what discretionary income he does have on her, and he doesn't hint at wanting anything back. He's even willing to go buy her the bathroom tissue she likes, which is mundane, but it shows that he actually cares. Although some of his compliments are rather clumsy, the overall impression of the song is one of self–sacrifice. And like in O. Henry's famous story The Gift of the Magi, what matters is not the usefulness or price of the gift but the sacrifice made in obtaining it.

Clearly, Weird Al's parody is meant to be humorous, but there's also a subtext: the economy is suffering, the average person is struggling to pay bills, and showing generosity is getting harder and harder. People are likely to spend less on food, which usually means more junk food, worse health, and higher medical bills in the end. But what if the junk food is given in a spirit of love and generosity? As I have seen in my work as a counselor, the conditions under which we eat can be just as significant in determining our health as the foods we eat. It's better to have a large fries at Burger King offered out of love by Weird Al's broke, but generous narrator than a nice meal at an expensive restaurant from T.I., who's only interested in getting what he wants at little cost to himself, proportionately speaking.

When people hear I'm a nutrition professional, they immediately think I am there to condemn their food choices, especially fast food choices. On the one hand, it's true that McDonald's, Burger King, and Pizza Hut don't manufacture their foods with love for their customers. They claim to be giving us a good deal—lots of food for a low price—but since their foods are just addictive empty calories, they make us overweight and sick. But when we're sharing food with each other out of hospitality and love, we are nourishing each other regardless of the nutrient content of the food, and that's very good for our health. To quote the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament: "Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife" (17.1) and "Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred" (15:17) (remember, this was back in the days when vegetables were plentiful but fat was scarce). So check out Weird Al's songs, and remember that "primary food"—strong relationships, a mature spiritual life, a meaningful career—is more important than "secondary food"—what you eat—when it comes to having good health.

Top

October 23, 2009

Tarquin and the Sibyl: A Parable for Modern Health

In my Fall 2009 newsletter, I talked about the tendency we have to seek out a quick fix or miracle cure for our problems rather than actually changing our lives for the better. This is especially true in health, where health problems send us for the doctor for medications or even to the health food store for supplements, vitamins, tropical fruit elixirs, enzymes, etc. While these products can have their place, they can't improve our health for long; not as long as we're unwilling to get rid of what's causing the underlying problem. And the longer we take to confront the source of our ills, the less opportunity we have to experience full health.

A good illustration of this phenomenon is the mythological story, circa 500 BC, of the early Roman emperor Tarquin, and his encounter with Sibyl, a Greek priestess who presided over the Oracle to Apollo. Sibyl had in her possession nine books of prophecy that Tarquin apparently wanted (Sibyl has been credited with predicting the birth of Christ, so as prophetic books go hers were probably exemplary). Sibyl agreed to sell them at a certain price that Tarquin felt was too high; he refused to pay it. Sibyl responded by burning three of the books—and then offering the remaining six to him, at the same price. He refused again. She burned the next three, and offered the last three at the same price. Finally he paid up, and he had three books for his money instead of nine.

At first glance, the story doesn't seem to make any sense. If Sibyl wanted X amount of money for 9 books, why would she demand the same for 6 books? And if Tarquin didn't want to pay that much for 9, why would he pay it for 3?

However, from a holistic health perspective, the story is perfectly clear: for a healthy future, we need to pay a certain price (changing our unhealthy habits for healthier ones). If we try to negotiate the price down, or put off paying it, we won't have as many years of health. But when we do finally get around to doing what it takes for a healthy future, we still have to pay the same price. In fact, it might even be more, as habits get harder to change.

The good news is that when it comes to improving health through diet and lifestyle changes, the "price" you are paying, the sacrifice you are making, leaves you richer than before. The things you sacrifice are things that you don't even enjoy having. Once you have made the change to a healthier diet (a real healthier diet, not a pseudo–healthy one based on carrot sticks and low–fat yogurt), you don't miss your old ways and old foods any more; in fact, you can't imagine why you enjoyed them in the first place. The same with all the lifestyle choices you will make. Who ever regretted getting enough sleep, good food, moderate exercise, and reducing stress? No one. So don't make Tarquin's mistake; like they say in advertising, take advantage of this awesome deal now while you can, before it expires!

Top

October 22, 2009

Chai tea, which is drunk in India and has become popular in the U.S., is a combination of black tea and healing Ayurvedic spices, as well as milk and a sweetener. As a medicinal food and as a source of energy, hot chai is excellent for the damp fall and cold winter, while refrigerated or room temperature chai is excellent in the spring and summer. Making your own is easy and is much less expensive than buying it from a coffee shop, even when you use good quality ingredients such as whole organic spices, raw milk and raw honey/agave nectar. To eliminate caffeine, use rooibos rather than black tea.

Ruby Chai Tea

8 cups water in 4–quart pot
2 to 3 cinnamon sticks
1 whole nutmeg, cracked open
1 to 2 teaspoons whole cloves
1 to 2 teaspoons ginger pieces (or fresh ginger)
1 to 2 teaspoonswhole allspice
generous pinch whole mace
generous pinch whole black peppercorns
2 to 3 tablespoons dry rooibos
1/2 cup raw honey
1/2 cup agave nectar

Add to water the whole spices contained in a cloth teabag or mesh strainer. Bring water with spices to a low simmer, let simmer for 20 to 40 minutes (the longer the simmering time, the greater the strength of the spicy flavor). Water should not bubble; should just release wisps of steam.

Turn off heat, add 2 to 3 teaspoons bulk rooibos (aka red bush tea) in cloth teabag. Let everything steep in the hot water for 15 more minutes (for black chai, that is, caffeinated chai, only steep the black tea for 5 to 6 minutes). Remove spices and tea and add 1/2 cup each of agave nectar and raw honey. For a less sweet flavor, increase honey and reduce agave; for more sweet, do the reverse. Stir honey and agave until they dissolve; then pour tea into a 1/2 gallon container like a glass jar. Keep jar in refrigerator. To drink, combine about 1 part tea with 2 parts milk (this is our preference. Grass–fed, whole, unpasteurized milk is best). Can be iced and drunk cold. Or, to drink hot: Heat the combined amount of milk and tea you want to drink in a small pot to the point where it is warm but not too hot to drink. Then it's ready!

Top

October 13, 2009

NY Times: "In 1918 Pandemic, Another Possible Killer: Aspirin"

In this article, we learn about a recent research paper published by Dr. Karen M. Starko theorizing that overdoses of aspirin may have been the cause of a significant number of deaths during the 1918 flu epidemic, which itself killed more than 50 million people around the world. Although the consequences of overdosing on aspirin—or what amount of aspirin qualified as an overdose—was not known at the time, aspirin was nevertheless recommended by the U.S. surgeon general and the U.S. Navy for clearing up flu symptoms. It was also heavily advertised and promoted Bayer AG, its original manufacturer, and even more widely distributed in the U.S. after Bayer's patent on aspirin expired (Bayer, a large German chemical and pharmaceutical company, was also responsible for trade marking heroin and selling it as a cough medicine from 1898 until the substance was banned in 1924. During the Nazi regime, Bayer also assisted in manufacturing Zyklon B. They have a long and sordid history of pursuing profits over human health, even over human life).

Aspirin, a non–steroidal anti–inflammatory drug, has its roots in willow bark extract, a traditional native medicine that contains salicylates, which are acids similar to the active ingredient in aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid. Aspirin, being a more powerful and distilled source of salicylates than willow bark, is also more capable of doing harm (in the form of excessive bleeding and cerebral edema) if used to excess. Although the medical authorities were not fully aware of this potential for harm, they went forward with their high–dosage aspirin recommendations and an unknown number of people died as a result.

Would they have died anyway from the flu? Were they healthy people who had not contracted the flu and might not have? The article doesn't say. But it is a reminder that we should evaluate carefully recommendations from the authorities if they are promoting a treatment that is new and untested in response to what might or might not be a crisis situation, such as the potential H1N1 flu epidemic. So far, H1N1 has not proved to be more dangerous than the seasonal flu, but nevertheless we all are being encouraged to get yet another untested vaccine. In 1976, during fears of a potential H1N1 flu epidemic, the government promoted a nationwide vaccination program, but the flu never really struck. One person died and 13 were hospitalized from the flu, but 25 people died from the vaccine itself.

Clearly, this year's flu is more dangerous than that in 1976. But we don't know if the current vaccine is a less risky alternative, and history shows that we should not just accept what the authorities tell us if they can't sufficiently back it up with evidence. In my opinion, keeping your immune system strong by eating right, exercising and reducing stress (including reducing anxiety over the flu itself) should be your primary defense against both the H1N1 virus and the seasonal flu. And I can promise you that there are no risky side effects to those activities.

Top

One conversation could change the course of your life to a healthier, happier you!