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The Shocking Truth About Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
Posted By Dr. Mercola | August 16 2011
If you buy orange juice at the store, you may lean towards the kind that advertises itself as “100 percent juice” and “not made from concentrate”. But have you ever wondered why every glass of it tastes exactly the same? That’s because the flavor of store-bought orange juice has more to do with chemistry than nature.
For industrially-produced orange juice, after the oranges are squeezed, the juice is stored in giant holding tanks and the oxygen is removed from them, which allows the liquid to keep for up to a year without spoiling. It also makes the juice completely flavorless. So the industry uses “flavor packs” to re-flavor the juice.
According to Food Renegade:
“Juice companies therefore hire flavor and fragrance companies ... to engineer flavor packs to add back to the juice to make it taste fresh. Flavor packs aren’t listed as an ingredient on the label because technically they are derived from orange essence and oil. Yet those in the industry will tell you that the flavor packs, whether made for reconstituted or pasteurized orange juice, resemble nothing found in nature.”
Sources:
Food Renegade July 28, 2011
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
It may come as a surprise to learn that what you find in a carton of 100% pure, not from concentrate orange juice is nothing like what you'd get if you squeezed an orange into a glass in your own kitchen. Instead, many popular orange juice brands use a chemical process to create juice that tastes and smells like oranges!
Alissa Hamilton J.D, PhD, a Food and Society Policy Fellow with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), explains the ins and outs of mass-produced juice in her book, Squeezed: What You Don't Know About Orange Juice. It's a potent reminder of just how important it is to really understand how your food is manufactured and processed because the label tells neither the whole story nor the whole truth...
If you think about it, if the orange juice was really freshly squeezed and packaged as is, the flavor would vary from batch to batch, because not every orange tastes exactly the same. Some are sweeter; others more sour. Also, each juice brand has a particular flavor that is uniquely 'theirs,' and the reason for this may throw you for a loop.
'Not from Concentrate' Doesn't Mean Less Processed
Generally speaking, whenever you buy a beverage that consistently tastes the same, you can be sure it's made using a patented recipe. And that recipe includes added flavors that may or may not fit the definition of natural.
In a previous article, Alissa Hamilton explains how your orange juice is really made:
"The technology of choice at the moment is aseptic storage, which involves stripping the juice of oxygen, a process known as "deaeration," so it doesn't oxidize in the million gallon tanks in which it can be kept for upwards of a year.
When the juice is stripped of oxygen it is also stripped of flavor-providing chemicals. Juice companies therefore hire flavor and fragrance companies, the same ones that formulate perfumes for Dior and Calvin Klein, to engineer flavor packs to add back to the juice to make it taste fresh."
The reason you don't see any mention on the label about added flavors is because these flavors are derived from orange essences and oils. However, the appearance of being natural doesn't necessarily mean it is. As Hamilton states:
"[T]hose in the industry will tell you that the flavor packs, whether made for reconstituted or pasteurized orange juice, resemble nothing found in nature."
The juice is also typically designed to appeal to the taste preferences of the market, and will therefore contain different flavor packs or chemicals depending on where it will eventually end up. According to Hamilton, the juice created for the North American market tends to contain high amounts of ethyl butyrate, which is one of the most commonly used chemicals in both flavors and fragrances. Aside from being versatile in creating a number of different flavors, including orange, cherry, pineapple, mango, guava, and bubblegum, just to name a few, it's also one of the least expensive.
Other markets, such as the Mexican and Brazilian, tends to contain different chemicals, such as various decanals or terpene compounds.
What's the Answer to Non-Transparency in Food Production?
If this makes you feel a bit dejected, you're probably not alone. However, I hope it will also make you think more about how your food is created, and perhaps nudge you into using a bit more discretion and critical thinking before you fall for the next glossy advertisement.
As Hamilton said in an interview last year:
"My intent was not to get people to stop drinking orange juice but [for them] to realize what it is they're drinking. People have a right to know how industrialized the process has become, so they can make decisions that are consistent with their values. Many who drink orange juice also have concerns about the environment and agriculture, but don't draw a connection. They might envision oranges growing in a Garden-of-Eden-like orchard in Florida, but I think if people took a trip to Bradenton, [the home of Tropicana, a product of PepsiCo] and went to the processing plants, then yeah, they might make different choices."
While it's certainly worth fighting for more transparency in the food industry and more truthful labeling, don't hold your breath. However, there is an obvious alternative by which you can circumvent many of these hidden issues, and that is to return to fresh whole organic foods.
When it comes to orange juice, squeezing your own at home would be about the only way to get the real thing. (You know you are buying a heavily processed juice if the "Best Before" date is 60 or more days in the future, because real fresh-squeezed orange juice will only last for a few days.)
That said, drinking orange juice, whether fresh-squeezed or not, is actually NOT as healthy as it sounds. In fact, orange juice is one of the top five "health" foods I recommend avoiding, especially if you're overweight, or have:
Insulin resistance or diabetes High blood pressure (hypertension) High cholesterol
Gout Heart disease Cancer
Ezine Article by Jane Thompson
Five Relaxation Techniques For Fibromyalgia
By Jane Thompson
One of the biggest problems fibromyalgia sufferers face is the escalation of their fatigue and painful symptoms, which is caused by the emotional and physical stress of their condition. Thus, since stress can worsen symptoms, to help control the way you feel, try engaging in relaxation therapy techniques.
Relaxation therapy helps a person achieve emotional, spiritual and physical relaxation. Most of the techniques for this therapy involve the simultaneous use of the mind and body. The goal is to attain deep relaxation by combining concentration with breathing exercises or specific body movements.
Relaxation helps reduce the affects of stress which can cause a rise in blood pressure and heart rate. Relaxation also helps encourage oxygen flow through the entire body, which heals damaged muscles.
Relaxation therapy can be extremely effective when it comes to reducing fibromyalgia symptoms. In fact, it has been proven that relaxation can reduce depression and anxiety, as well as the duration and intensity of migraines.
The following are 5 relaxation techniques you can try to help alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia:
1. Deep Breathing - This is an exercise that helps eliminate stress by providing your body with more oxygen. Without sufficient oxygen, your body cannot function with efficiency and will increase pain. Deep breathing relaxation techniques are about focusing on inhaling and exhaling.
You can do these exercises on your own either sitting or standing. Begin by slowly inhaling through your nose and continue until your stomach expands. Hold your breath for 3 seconds and then slowly exhale through your mouth. It's best to repeat this exercise three times per day for ten minute sessions.
2. Meditation - Meditation allows the body and mind to achieve relaxation simultaneously. There are different types of meditation, but one of the more popular types is focused concentration. This meditation involves the repetition of a sound or word, or focusing on breathing to clear the mind.
To begin, sit on the floor or chair and close your eyes. Focus on repeating a positive word you like, or breathing (inhaling/exhaling). Do your best to remain as still as possible as you concentrate, and remain in the meditative state for 20 minutes.
3. Progressive Muscle Relaxation - Progressive muscle relaxation is an easy technique that works on every major muscle group in the body. It aids in decreasing tension in your muscles while it strengthens them. It can be done while sitting down or lying in bed.
Begin by tensing the muscles in your feet and hold it for a count of 8. Release the contraction and relax your muscles. Continue this same contraction method for all your major muscle groups in your body all the way to your head. When you have finished, your entire body with be totally relaxed.
4. Yoga - Yoga is a popular exercise that involves a combination of physical and mental practices to help attain total relaxation. Yoga teaches you to control your breathing while you focus on stretching and relaxing your body's major muscle groups.
As far as fibromyalgia is concerned, the best form of Yoga is Hatha yoga. This is a form of Yoga that concentrates on particular movements and poses to center the body and mind. You can choose to do Yoga on your own with the aid of video or books, or you can attend a local class.
5. Personal Sanctuary - Escaping to a positive stress-free environment when you are tense is a great way to induce relaxation. You can create your own "personal sanctuary" in your home. This may mean going to your garden, or creating a special corner in your bedroom that is filled with all of the colors and happy items you like and enjoy.
By simply spending a few moments in your special space, you'll be amazed at how rejuvenated you will feel.
Next just head on over to Eliminating Fibromyalgia to sign up for a FREE newsletter and to discover 6 additional ways to manage and relieve fibromyalgia symptoms naturally.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_Thompson
By Jane Thompson
One of the biggest problems fibromyalgia sufferers face is the escalation of their fatigue and painful symptoms, which is caused by the emotional and physical stress of their condition. Thus, since stress can worsen symptoms, to help control the way you feel, try engaging in relaxation therapy techniques.
Relaxation therapy helps a person achieve emotional, spiritual and physical relaxation. Most of the techniques for this therapy involve the simultaneous use of the mind and body. The goal is to attain deep relaxation by combining concentration with breathing exercises or specific body movements.
Relaxation helps reduce the affects of stress which can cause a rise in blood pressure and heart rate. Relaxation also helps encourage oxygen flow through the entire body, which heals damaged muscles.
Relaxation therapy can be extremely effective when it comes to reducing fibromyalgia symptoms. In fact, it has been proven that relaxation can reduce depression and anxiety, as well as the duration and intensity of migraines.
The following are 5 relaxation techniques you can try to help alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia:
1. Deep Breathing - This is an exercise that helps eliminate stress by providing your body with more oxygen. Without sufficient oxygen, your body cannot function with efficiency and will increase pain. Deep breathing relaxation techniques are about focusing on inhaling and exhaling.
You can do these exercises on your own either sitting or standing. Begin by slowly inhaling through your nose and continue until your stomach expands. Hold your breath for 3 seconds and then slowly exhale through your mouth. It's best to repeat this exercise three times per day for ten minute sessions.
2. Meditation - Meditation allows the body and mind to achieve relaxation simultaneously. There are different types of meditation, but one of the more popular types is focused concentration. This meditation involves the repetition of a sound or word, or focusing on breathing to clear the mind.
To begin, sit on the floor or chair and close your eyes. Focus on repeating a positive word you like, or breathing (inhaling/exhaling). Do your best to remain as still as possible as you concentrate, and remain in the meditative state for 20 minutes.
3. Progressive Muscle Relaxation - Progressive muscle relaxation is an easy technique that works on every major muscle group in the body. It aids in decreasing tension in your muscles while it strengthens them. It can be done while sitting down or lying in bed.
Begin by tensing the muscles in your feet and hold it for a count of 8. Release the contraction and relax your muscles. Continue this same contraction method for all your major muscle groups in your body all the way to your head. When you have finished, your entire body with be totally relaxed.
4. Yoga - Yoga is a popular exercise that involves a combination of physical and mental practices to help attain total relaxation. Yoga teaches you to control your breathing while you focus on stretching and relaxing your body's major muscle groups.
As far as fibromyalgia is concerned, the best form of Yoga is Hatha yoga. This is a form of Yoga that concentrates on particular movements and poses to center the body and mind. You can choose to do Yoga on your own with the aid of video or books, or you can attend a local class.
5. Personal Sanctuary - Escaping to a positive stress-free environment when you are tense is a great way to induce relaxation. You can create your own "personal sanctuary" in your home. This may mean going to your garden, or creating a special corner in your bedroom that is filled with all of the colors and happy items you like and enjoy.
By simply spending a few moments in your special space, you'll be amazed at how rejuvenated you will feel.
Next just head on over to Eliminating Fibromyalgia to sign up for a FREE newsletter and to discover 6 additional ways to manage and relieve fibromyalgia symptoms naturally.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_Thompson
My Back Hurts!
My back is hurting this morning and I have to go to work. I currently am not taking any strong pain medications for my fibromyalgia so I have taken 2 Alieve and have done some stretching. I hope this will help me get through my day at my job.
Here are a few exercises that may help you or someone you know with back pain:
Back Pain Exercises
Exercises that specifically target your back can help to alleviate pain. This is because exercises help to strengthen your back muscles, pulling your spine back into alignment. Be careful not to overdo it with these exercises, however. Stick to five repetitions of each:
* Curl Up: This exercise strengthens the abdominals and lower back. Lie flat on the floor with your legs bent at a 45° angle. Slowly curl your chest and shoulders towards your knees, keeping your arms outstretched. Stop when your hands can touch you knees.
* Upper Body Extension: This exercise strengthens the muscles in your upper back. Lie on your stomach with a pillow placed under your hips. Clasp your hands behind your lower back and slowly lift your upper chest off the ground.
* Arm-Leg Extension: This exercise helps to realign your spine, relieving pressure on your lower back. Get on all fours. Raise one arm in front of you and raise the opposite leg behind you. Repeat with the other arm and leg.
Read more at this site:
http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_back_treatment.html
Have a Great day!
Here are a few exercises that may help you or someone you know with back pain:
Back Pain Exercises
Exercises that specifically target your back can help to alleviate pain. This is because exercises help to strengthen your back muscles, pulling your spine back into alignment. Be careful not to overdo it with these exercises, however. Stick to five repetitions of each:
* Curl Up: This exercise strengthens the abdominals and lower back. Lie flat on the floor with your legs bent at a 45° angle. Slowly curl your chest and shoulders towards your knees, keeping your arms outstretched. Stop when your hands can touch you knees.
* Upper Body Extension: This exercise strengthens the muscles in your upper back. Lie on your stomach with a pillow placed under your hips. Clasp your hands behind your lower back and slowly lift your upper chest off the ground.
* Arm-Leg Extension: This exercise helps to realign your spine, relieving pressure on your lower back. Get on all fours. Raise one arm in front of you and raise the opposite leg behind you. Repeat with the other arm and leg.
Read more at this site:
http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_back_treatment.html
Have a Great day!
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