GMO ban in South Africa

The Inkatha Freedom Party has recently called for Genetically Modified Crops to be banned in South Africa, due to concerns they may be toxic to humans. This comes after tests requested by the African Centre for Biosafety which showed some maize meal products consisted almost solely of genetically modified ingredients (97% of total contents). The party’s member of parliament, Mkhuleko Hlengwa said, “This is totally unacceptable and we therefore call for an immediate ban on all GMO foods in South Africa, pending the outcome of full research and investigation into their alleged toxicity to humans, our livestock and plant-based crops.” And then there’s the additional issue of glyphosate contamination that is so intimately linked with the use of the most common GM crops, those imparted with the glyphosate-tolerant trait.

A new direction for Alzheimer’s treatment?

A new study has been published, suggesting (surprise, surprise?) that pharmaceutical companies have been heading down the wrong path when it comes to Alzheimer’s meds. Most new drugs dealing with the effects of the disease aim to eliminate β-amyloid, a protein that forms a plague around neurons in the brain. But, new research is showing the immune system may actually be responsible in its effort to heal. It has been described as, “a developmental process gone awry, which causes some immune cells to feast on the connections between neurons”. Read more about it here.

Taiwan recalls Oatmeal following FDA tests

Following on from the recent Quaker Oats scandal in the U.S, the Taiwan Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) made the decision to randomly test a number of big branded oat products in Taiwan, including Quaker Oats, McANN’s and Coach’s Oats. Results showed traces of the “probably carcinogenic” herbicide glyphosate in a number of the products, promoting a recall of nearly 62,000 kilograms of oatmeal. The country does not permit residues levels of glyphosate in excess of 0.1 ppm, unlike the EU which allows levels up to 20 ppm, and the US, up to 30 ppm. Which foods are most likely to contain glyphosate? Find out here. A vote for the renewal of glyphosates license in the EU is to take place on June 6th, sign the petition now to help keep this hazardous chemical out of our food chain!

Mobile phones cause cancer

Recent studies carried out by the US National Toxicology Program have found a link between mobile phone radiation and cancer in rats. The studies, which have been underway for over a decade and cost the program $25 million are said to “have the potential to move a debate that has been locked in stalemate for almost as long as cell phones have been around.” Cancer isn’t the only risk associated with electro-magnetic radiation; electrohypersensitivity also causes major health issues for those affected, greatly impacting quality of life. Learn more here.

UK National Obesity Forum in pieces

The National Obesity Forum (NFO) has been hitting the headlines recently over its controversial advice that people should, “eat more fat, reduce carbohydrates and stop counting calories”. The NFO’s advice challenged established thinking. While ANH-Intl agrees with many of the sentiments expressed, we believe they were presented in an over-simplistic format. We're also aware that consensus wasn't obtained before last Monday's release. In suggesting that people should eat lots more fat and cut down their carbs, there's always going to be detractors, and it's critical that consensus at least among the many clinicians, scientists and other health experts, is obtained before public statements are made. Our Food4Health campaign aims to educate on general approaches to food combining that take people more gently away from typical perceptions of healthy eating as declared by governments, approaches we believe to not be based on good science. The right, science-based information and education is vital when it comes down to individual empowerment and making healthy dietary decisions. Simply telling people to eat more fat could have disastrous consequences if the individual is not aware this refers only to ‘healthy fat’ foods. Learn more here.

Can a low carb diet help manage diabetes?

Preliminary research suggests that low-carbohydrate diets could successfully help control type 2 diabetes. The study reviewed more than 80,000 people who switched from their usual low-fat, high carbohydrate diets to one lower in carbs and found that after just ten weeks their blood-glucose levels dropped. This adds to the growing evidence that a diet higher in healthy fats and lower in carbohydrates can be beneficial to health.

B12 deficiency conference

This years conference on B12 Deficiency, Methylation & Thyroid Disease will be taking place on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th June at Loughborough University, UK. Last year, an ANH-Intl representative attended US expert Sally Patcholok’s talk on rampant B12 deficiency and misdiagnosis in mainstream healthcare at the event. Sally will again be one of the key speakers at this year’s event, presenting a talk on the effect of B12 deficiency on all body systems, as well as symptoms, causes, those at risk and common misdiagnoses. The BBC will be covering the event following a huge public interest in midwife Samantha Nash’s story, who will also be speaking. “B12 deficiency is the most misunderstood, ignored and costly epidemic costing billions of healthcare dollars. It causes debilitating health, anaemia, intellectual disabilities in children, mental illness, cognitive decline, fall-related trauma, and it can cause premature death”.