Pink Slime, Kids & Heart Disease

If you have a child of any age now is the time to start them on the road to good heart health.  It’s pretty simple and there’s probably not a better thing to focus on than this if you’re concerned at all about your children’s health.

A report was just released showing 20% of teenagers between 12 and 19 had abnormal levels of fat in their blood.

High cholesterol and triglycerides topped the list, along with abnormal blood lipid profiles.  In other words, too much bad cholesterol, not enough good.  The percentages go up with obesity and I don’t have to tell you what a problem that is with kids today.

1 in 5 Teens at Risk

I’ve included a link (WashingtonPost Article – 1 of 5 Tees at Risk) so you can get all the facts but the main thing you have to realize is that having abnormal blood profiles at this age is an indicator a huge portion of these kids are headed for the chronic diseases of high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.  Not to mention the type of diet that causes it is a great one for preparing the body for cancer.

Benefits of Vitamin C

This is one of the main reasons I supplement my own kids diet with Vit C and a multi everyday.  Even though they aren’t loading up on the main culprits here—fast food and sugar—it’s just essential to laying the groundwork for healthy arteries.  Healthy arteries start with Vit C. Simple fact, no way around it, you have to take it.

Through all my trials and tribulations in the health field, as a triathlete, health food store manager, nutritionist, herbalist, chronic fatigue survivor etc… one thing has never changed; I’ve always taken Vit C and I’m certain it saved me from a heart attack many a time.  That’s a story for another time but please just take some.

The Vit C I give my kids comes in two different forms.  I keep Alacer–Emergen-C on hand and mix it in juice.  I only serve my kids juice that’s cut in half with clean filtered water.  That way they get some fluids and the sugar has been cut in half.

I start with a quart of organic juice, add two packets of Emergen-C, and add a quart of filtered water.  I leave this out all day since I don’t like serving them cold drinks. (weakening to digestion) In the winter this usually lasts the 3 of them a couple of days and I know their basic needs for Vit C are met without me hounding them to take something.  I actually cheat on the water by buying juice that’s has heavier flavors and add another cup of water.  The kids always drink it and never complain.

My oldest, 13, will take a capsule, so I give her Ester C in a 500 mg cap twice a day. I like this form and I take it.  I also give the little ones a cap of this in their protein shakes because I can hide it in there unnoticed.  They love protein shakes and it allows me to mix antioxidant foods and the C right in there and not fight about it.  I love Ester C because it has a great dose of bioflavonoid in each cap that is powerful ant-inflammatory nutrients.

As I said earlier the Vit C is vital for the health of your arteries and it also helps with elevated blood sugar.

Now, how about that PINK SLIME!

One of the great things about being into healthy food is the fact that you learn so much about what’s in it.  That’s also one of the worst things about.  So much of what you learn is so gross that you can get pretty angry.  Knowledge is wisdom they say so I thought I’d pass this on.   You and your kids have been eating PINK SLIME.

Ok, so what is Pink Slime?  It’s a type of beef bi-product that’s added to hamburger nationwide to make it cheaper and to use up waste products from the meat industry.  Yes, waste products. Seems there’s a company in South Dakota that came up with an idea to take the scraps of fat left over from trimming a cow that normally go to making pet food and turn it into human food.  The process involves grinding it together with ammonia to kill pathogens and spinning it in a centrifuge to separate the proteins and then packaging it into huge blocks for companies to buy and add to hamburger.  The name Pink Slime came from a memo by someone in the FDA who referred to it as such.

Safety of Beef article

If you’re not a vegetarian then you’ve eaten it and so have your kids.  All the major fast food chains use it and almost all the school systems feed it to your kids. I’ve included the link and I ask that you please read it through.  I’m not doing this because I’m taking a vegetarian stand against the meat industry. I’m doing this to raise awareness about health.

This is just another example of the hidden dangers of processed food. I’m sure if you had a choice you would eat beef without Pink Slime. I’m also sure that Pink Slime is not as healthy for you as beef without it.

This is how people get sick.  Every phase of there diet has been compromised by the pursuit of the almighty dollar and turning a blind eye to how it affects people. (Wow! two clichés in one sentence!) Add this to food additives, high fructose corn syrup, pesticides and nutritional deficiencies and you can’t help but develop a chronic disease.

I’m going to give you a BIG tip on buying hamburger and beef in general.  Coming from a vegetarian these tips are hard to come by. (#3 clichés–I’m rolling)

Tips on Buying Beef

1) Buy grass fed beef.  Cows are meant to eat grass not corn.  The reason cows eat so much antibiotics is because of corn allergies.   Grass fed beef has a different fatty acid profile that is actually beneficial to your heart.  It costs more but your probably eating too much beef anyway.   Reduce your quantity and raise the quality.  Your health will reflect it.

2) Hamburger tip–don’t buy pre-ground hamburger unless you know the butcher.  Most nationwide chains use Pink Slime and I dought if they will admit it to you.  If your fortunate to live somewhere with a butcher who raises their own supply that’s great.

3) If you’re not sure of the source ask the butcher to grind a steak into burger for you.  Any cheap cut will do but try skirt steak.   It’s a high quality cut that’s overlook by most people.  Any steak will be lower in fat but there are ways to make up for the moisture.  Watch the cooking time.  I used to mince a sweet onion very fine and mix it into the burger as I formed it and it worked great for moisture and flavor.

That’s more tips on eating meat than any vegetarian has written in history.  I’m not pushing beef here but if you’re going to eat it, I want you to raise quality and reduce quantity.  Savor it and you’ll find you need less.  Your health will love it and so will the planet.

Simple Things You Can Do For Your Kids

Makes sure the kids get 500—1000 mg of buffered C every day.  Lower their sugar intake.  It’s responsible for a majority of cholesterol problems, especially LDL and triglycerides. I know that juice has sugar in it that’s why I cut cut it in half with water.  It’s the over-consumption of sugar that causes problems.  Humans can handle approximately 50 grams of fructose a day before it becomes a problem.  Get them to move their bodies. Pack their lunch for school. It’s cheaper, better for them, and it hopefully won’t contain PINK SLIME.

I have three girls and so I’m very conscious of avoiding pesticides.  Breast tissue tends to collect pesticide residue–approx 600% more–than the rest of the body.  Along with it mimicking estrogen it’s a pretty dangerous mix.  If you use dairy products, only buy organic.  Pesticides collect in fat.  Non organic butter is a waste collector.  It has the highest amounts of pesticides and toxic chemicals of any commonly eaten food.

I supplement all my kids with a multi and Vit D3.  My younger girls get 1000 IU a day in a chew candy. (see link) The older one gets 4000 IU in a gel cap. Since the younger ones won’t swallow a cap I get them an inexpensive liquid and makes sure they get it at least 5 days a week. (I’m allowed to forget–I’m a parent)

Be well.

Roger

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Alacer Vitamin C (powder)

Ester C

Liquid Multivitamin (I give my kids 1/2 dose)

Children’s Gummy Vitamin D – Lemon

Children’s Gummy Vitamin D – Orange