“Killing Us Sweetly: How to Take Industry out of the FDA”
“For more than a century, the Food and Drug Administration has claimed to protect the public health. During that time, it has actually been placing corporate profits above consumer safety. Nowhere is this corruption more evident than in the approval of artificial sweeteners. FDA leaders’ close ties to the very industry they were supposed to be regulating present a startling picture. Ignoring warnings from both independent scientists and their own review panels, FDA decision makers let greed guide their actions. They approved carcinogenic sweeteners such as saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose while simultaneously banning the natural herb stevia because it would cut into industry profits. This Article proposes two reforms that can end these corrupt practices and take industry out of the FDA. By strengthening conflict of interest regulations and preventing companies from participating in safety trials, the FDA will be able to gain the independence it needs in order to regulate the food and drug industries.”
Good essay to read if your are concerned about what you put into your body.Iuliano, J. (2021). Killing Us Sweetly: How to Take Industry out of the FDA. Journal of Food Law & Policy, 6(1). Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jflp/vol6/iss1/4
Good information regarding the FDA, drug and food companies who are all contributing to chemicals allowed into the American diet, in spite of the health risks. Remember when we were taught that “you are what you eat” and thought it was ridiculous? Regardless, most people continue to trust those that willfully make us sick.
“In the 1990s, the FDA approved two drugs, Baytril and SaraFlox, that could be added routinely to poultry feed. These two drugs belong to a class of extremely effective antibiotics called fluoroquinolones; members of this family of drugs are used to treat the bacteria that cause anthrax and food borne infections. Scientists and the American Medical Association warned that such use in animal feed would lead to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. After several years of use, this is exactly what happened, and the FDA tried to ban the use of the drugs in livestock. Drug companies fought the FDA, and it was years before the drugs were finally withdrawn from the market. But it was to late; resistance had already occurred. Fluoroquinolone drugs are now much less effective in treating staph infections.”
“In 2007, the FDA again succumbed to drug company pressures and approved the use of a powerful antibiotic, cefquinome, for use in animal feed. Again the American Medical Association and many other health organizations warned that adding this drug to animal feed would, within a few years, lead to antibiotic-resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria and render this powerful class of drugs much less effective. Despite the overwhelming evidence of the health peril from overuse of antibiotics in animals and people, the US. government still has not restricted the unnecessary use of antibiotics as most other countries have done (Woolhouse & Ward, 2013). Every year in the United States, drug companies sell thousands of tons of antibiotics for use in livestock and people. Time after time over the last several decades, the FDA has bowed to industry pressures and has failed to perform its primary mission to protect the health of Americans.”
References:
Edlin, G., & Golanty, E. (2019). Health & Wellness (13th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning, pg. 273
I thought I’d share my perspective on this subject of state of American health. Mostly just my opinion from my experiences as a father of 2 young adults and teacher (martial arts, wellness, qigong, Taoist yoga etc.) for almost 40 years. Yes, I am showing my age. When I was in elementary school in the 70’s, we had a 1/2-hour recess and 1-hour of physical education (PE) every school day. Middle & high school was PE everyday regardless of weather. I cannot remember more than 1-2 kids during that time as being labeled “hyperactive” however a lot more kids had trouble focusing and getting good grades in particular subjects; so focus had always been an issue on some level. Ritalin was the only medicine that I had even known to exist for a few young people, that had what was to in later decades diagnosed as ADHD.
Fast forward to the last 20 years of my life. My kids while in elementary school had recess for about 15-20 minutes a few days a week alternating with PE for two days a week. High school required 1 credit of PE over the 4 years of attendance; online or in person were the options. Talking with other parents and teachers over this time led me to understand that a large portion of kids were having ADHD, depression, anxiety, obesity and many other health issues that were dealt with through pharmaceuticals on a daily basis. Sports and PE were often not even considered as methods to manage these ailments. Getting good grades and into a good college are the main focus in high school, leaving little time for such non-academic pursuits of physical activities that actually make the mind work better.
Having discussed this issue with many school teachers that I knew as friends, most felt that less recess and PE was a major step backwards in child development. Additionally, these teachers felt that it was much more difficult for them to teach while attempting to harness the pent-up energy and emotions of kids sitting for hours on end throughout the school day. Most wished that recess and PE were brought back as a standard daily requirement.
So while I strongly believe that yoga and other mindful methods would be great (this is what I teach!) I would be very happy just to see regular exercise of running, swimming, calisthenics, and game play come back to all levels of school. So many benefits for the mind and body that are associated with whatever level of physical as well as mental and social engagement that are being left out of schools in lieu of more time spent on academics. If we are to have a strong and healthy population, we really need to be planting seeds of good health education and self-responsibility with our youth, in order to make it grow into the adult years.
I offer instruction in qigong, Taoist yoga, tai chi, martial arts, ship pal gye, hapkido, fitness, wellness and many other avenues to improve health and well-being.
I am currently accepting new clients for group, small group & private instruction.
Many of the chronic diseases in the US are somewhat preventable from lifestyle changes. Most ailments do not manifest overnight but rather over years of personal neglect.
Having multiple chronic conditions (comorbidities) opens the door to acquiring other illnesses.
Eat more fruits & veggies; less sugar, salt and junk food
Be physically active daily
Be socially engaged
Get outdoors for fresh air and sunlight daily
Reduce news & social media
Control your life, thoughts & emotions
Research natural remedies in addition to time-proven options
New tai chi/qigong class at:
The University Club of Winter Park
841 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
Thursdays, 11:30am-12:30pm
$10 for drop-in class or quantity discounts
Contact to confirm attendance at 407-234-0119 or inquire about other learning options.
I also offer instruction in qigong, Taoist yoga, tai chi, martial arts, ship pal gye, hapkido, fitness, wellness and many other avenues to improve health and well-being.I am currently accepting new clients for group, small group & private instruction.
Every thought, has an emotional attachment on some level. Positive emotions keep organs in balance for optimal performance. Negative emotions disrupt this balance leading to other symptoms and ailments.
What You Think Affects Your Outlook
If your thoughts have a mostly positive emotional attachment on some level, you may have more of an optimistic outlook in your life. Conversely, mostly negative emotions tend to make people have a somewhat pessimistic outlook in their life.
Managing our thoughts and consequently, our blood chemistry can be accomplished through mindful practices.
I offer instruction in qigong, Taoist yoga, tai chi, martial arts, ship pal gye, hapkido, fitness, wellness and many other avenues to improve health and well-being.
I am currently accepting new clients for group, small group & private instruction.
United Martial Arts Association 