When a rose fades and the petals drop off, the round seed pod that is left on the stem is called a rose hip. Rose hips are technically fruit. They are considered super-foods because rose hips contain more vitamin C than grapefruit and oranges. They also contain vitamins A, D, and E, iron, and powerful antioxidants. Rose hips have been clinically proven to lower cholesterol, improve diabetic conditions, and alleviate osteoarthritis.

Rose hips have been a well-known source of vitamin C for years

Rose hips have been used as a source of food for centuries, but it was not until World War II that clinical scientists discovered the healing potential for rose hips. Several medical studies were performed in the 1940s which showed the high levels of vitamin C contained in the tiny fruit. When Britain experienced difficulties in getting citrus fruit into the country during WWII, the British government began collecting rose hips to make rose hip syrup as a source of vitamin C.

Rose hips prevent diabetes and help lower cholesterol levels in mice

The American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism published a medical study in January 2011 showing the positive effects that rose hips have on diabetic mice. Rose hip powder was fed to diabetic mice, along with a high fat diet. Lean mice were fed this diet for twenty weeks, while obese mice were fed this diet for ten weeks. Rose hip powder was shown to be able to not only prevent a weight increase in the mice, the obese mice lost weight. Glucose tolerance tests showed the mice on a diet which included rose hip powder tolerated glucose better than the control mice. There was a reduction in fat cells (lipids) in the liver, as well.

In addition to these benefits, the total blood cholesterol in the mice who ate rose hip powder was lowered. The ratio between LDL and HDL cholesterol levels were also improved. The study concluded that rose hips prevented a diabetic state and lowered the lipid profile in mice.

Osteoarthritis relieved with rose hip powder

Clinical research has shown that rose hip powder relieves osteoarthritis in vitro. While the actual means of healing remain elusive, rose hip powder is known to be high in ascorbic acid (vitamin C), polyphenols (a type of antioxidant), and unsaturated fatty acids. Scientists believe that rose hip powder provides “robust” anti-inflammatory responses and reduce the catabolic processes found in osteoarthritis.

“Many Natural News readers know of government requirements for irradiating raw almonds and herbs, destroying their nutritional value, under the guise of food safety. This and pasteurizing milk are but two examples of how federal agencies are destroying our food’s nutrition.

Not so many health conscious consumers know of crops being sprayed with the essence of MSG, glutamic acid or free glutamates. Emerald BioAgriculture got EPA approval to allow use of their growth enhancer AuxiGro on crops in all states. They are trying to get approval for using AuxiGro on organic crops as well.

The USDA’s certified organic seal only qualifies the method of agriculture used. The certification doesn’t cover crops after they are harvested, and USDA certification offers no guarantee of the absence of GMO contamination or MSG.

Other ways they’re messing with our food for our safety

Realityblogger journalist Clint Richardson has come up with an extensively detailed report, “Dude, That Isn’t Wax On Your Apple!” (Source below). It covers the most current hidden methods of preserving fresh fruits and vegetables, which are based on the concept of modified atmospheric packaging or MAP.

Atmospheric air’s normal balance is nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), carbon dioxide (.03-.05%) with the rest being noble gases that include helium, argon, and four other gases. This balance is slightly altered to retard spoilage during travel time and extend the shelf life of fresh produce, especially the cut, cleaned, and packaged variety.

MAP slightly alters this normal balance of the immediate atmosphere with fruits or vegetables prior to or as a part of its packaging. This is not about the bags or baggies, or even shrink wrapping, although most of all cut packaged fruits and vegetables are MAP processed..

The fact that an edible organism is cut and sold as fresh seems to make MAP procedures necessary, at least according to marketing needs.

The myriad methods of MAP

Clint Richardson’s report is detailed to the max with chemical names and FDA quotes (Sources below). This is merely a summary of what he covered. Prior to MAP, controlled atmosphere storage (CAS) was more common. Film coating produce is not done with CAS.

But with MAP, all sorts of ingenious methods have been created. There’s passive MAP, which remains the same at all times, and active MAP, which actually senses temperature changes and adjusts its atmosphere within the invisible, edible coating. Edible does not mean nutritious.

Plasticizers are used in addition to gelatins (processed from animals) for dipping or spraying those veggies. Vegans beware! Some procedures coat produce with smart films, which are supposed to warn food handlers in the distribution chain of early spoilage. This may appear benign, but read on.

Richardson cited the FDA’s own commentary on the possibility that MAP coatings could offer breeding environments for pathogens as a downside. Thus the lack of spoilage can mask some nasty pathogenic life growing within. The FDA neither approves nor disapproves of all this, however.

Richardson observed that many past episodes of vegetables causing various food borne diseases were of the packaged cut and MAP coated variety. Despite this, none of the MAP possibilities were mentioned in the mainstream media. Guess that’s Big Ag’s dirty little secret, protected by the FDA.

Better to stick with trusted organic, bulk whole veggies and fruits. Here’s a short video of a woman pealing film off a lettuce leaf purchased from a grocery chain store (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Vv-upmzkiHk).”

• Monsanto, the world leader in genetically modified (GM) crops and seeds, has been named the worst company of 2011 by Natural Society for “threatening both human health and the environment.”
• Monsanto can count among its ranks some of the most dangerous products known to man, including Agent Orange, dioxin, and GM seeds
• Virtually all of the claims made for GM crops – increased yields, more food production, controlled pests and weeds, reductions in chemical use in agriculture, drought-tolerant seeds – have not materialized, while serious risks and consequences, including herbicide-resistant super weeds, super pests, uncontrollable cross-contamination and health problems from GM foods, have emerged
• You can stop supporting Monsanto by boycotting GM foods and supporting California’s 2012 Ballot Initiative to require labels on GMOs

Thanks to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s non-selective, broad-spectrum herbicide Roundup, that is sprayed on massive acreages of GM Roundup Ready soybeans, cotton, and corn grown in the United States each and every year, super weeds are growing at an alarming rate. It’s estimated that more than 130 types of weeds spanning 40 U.S. states are now herbicide-resistant, and the superweeds are showing no signs of stopping. In fact, the situation is getting progressively worse.

Extremely hardy Roundup-resistant weeds are already boosting costs and cutting crop yields for U.S. farmers. And with world food stores already strained, diminished crop production is a serious problem. In addition, the creation of these superweeds is leading farmers to douse their fields with ever increasing amounts of herbicides in a desperate attempt to stop their spread.

Along with the environmental devastation, research published in 2010 showed that glyphosate causes birth defects in frogs and chicken embryos at far lower levels than used in agricultural and garden applications. And numerous animal studies suggest reproductive problems are a common side effect of glyphosate exposure and the consumption of genetically engineered Roundup Ready crops.

Quite shockingly, the amount of glyphosate residue you can be exposed to through food is remarkably high, and is very close to the maximum residue limit (MRL) legally allowed   According to GMO expert Jeffrey Smith, there is so much glyphosate in GM soybeans, when they were introduced, Europe had to increase their allowable residue levels by 200-fold!”

For more information go to the No GMOs Facebook page.

Dr. Mercola

“No one can disagree with the fact that children are the future of the world. Without children, there would be no future. As educators you are responsible for not only teaching young minds, but also for the children’s physical health and well-being for several hours each day.

The SaneVax team knows you take your position seriously. Since the adverse events to be expected after HPV vaccine administration, (GardasilR, CervarixR, or Silgard) are not widely published, we would like to provide you with a list of potential health problems your students may experience after administration of HPV vaccines.

Although the manufacturers say these adverse events are rare, in one clinical trial 73.3% of the trial participants experienced new medical conditions after vaccination. Many of them were quite serious. Any new medical condition experienced after vaccination should be considered a potential adverse effect until proven otherwise.

These conditions are quite frequently attributed to causes other than vaccination; hence delaying necessary medical care. This is particularly true of HPV vaccinations, because the side effects may not show up for months.

The most common side effects of HPV vaccines are pain, swelling, itching, bruising and redness at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, vomiting and fainting.
The following side effects are less common, but more dangerous:

*Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or wheezing (bronco spasm)
*Hives and/or rash
*Swollen glands (neck, armpit, or groin)
*Joint, leg, or chest pain
*Unusual tiredness, weakness, lethargy, brain fog, or confusion
*Chills
*Generally feeling unwell
*Aching muscles and/or muscle weakness
*Difficulty keeping food down, vomiting or stomach ache
*Seizures
*Shortness of breath
*Chest pain
*Bad stomach pain
*Skin infection
*Bleeding or bruising more easily than normal

This list is by no means comprehensive; it is taken directly from HPV patient Product Information inserts. Many young girls from around the world have experienced many more severe events after HPV vaccination. For the health and safety of the children in your care, please be alert to any changes in your student’s health and behavior post-vaccination.

Should a student experience any of the less common side effect symptoms even months after vaccination, please alert their parents to the possibility that the student may be exhibiting a vaccine reaction, so they can consult their physician for proper medical care.

The SaneVax team would like to thank you for taking care of and watching out for the health and well-being of the students throughout the world.

Norma Erickson, President of SaneVax Inc.
Rosemary Mathis, Vice President, Victim Support
Freda Birrell, Secretary
Leslie Carol Botha, Vice President of Public Relations
Janny Stokvis, Vice President of Research
Linda Thompson, Treasurer

Please visit our site at http://sanevax.org/

About the author:
THE SANE VAX MISSION is to promote Safe, Affordable, Necessary & Effective vaccines and vaccination practices through education and information. We believe in science-based medicine. Our primary goal is to provide the information necessary for you to make informed decisions regarding your health and well-being. We also provide referrals to helpful resources for those unfortunate enough to have experienced vaccine-related injuries.

Articles on this site are written by Norma Erickson, President and Leslie Carol Botha, women’s health educator, broadcast journalist and Vice-President Public Relations for SANE Vax, Inc. We also allow content from various contributing authors. Other members include Rosemary Mathis, mother of a Gardasil-injured daughter and Vice President Victim Support; Janny Stokvis, Vice-President Research, Freda Birrell, Secretary and HPV vaccine lobbyist United Kingdom /Scotland, and Linda Thompson, Treasurer.

We are demanding the HPV vaccines be taken off the market until an independent study on their safety and efficacy has been conducted. Until then, we are committing our efforts to an educational media campaign to alert the public about the dangers of the HPV vaccines.

SANE Vax, Inc. is involved in the ground-breaking production of the One More Girl Documentary which will premier in 2012. Please join our cause by contributing to this project by contacting Ryan Richardson, Producer at ryan@onemoregirlfilm.com.

For more information, please visit our site at http://sanevax.org/.”

by: Rosemary Mathis, Vice President of Victim Support, SANE VAX, INC., Natural News

“Aluminum Lake food coloring, used to heavily coat liquid medicines for children, contains dangerous amounts of aluminum and harmful synthetic petrochemicals. These “petrochemicals” are carcinogens containing petroleum, antifreeze and ammonia, which cause a long list of adverse reactions. Aluminum poisoning can lead to short and long term central nervous system (CNS) damage, such as memory impairments, autism, epilepsy, mental retardation, and dementia.

Research shows that just 4ppm of aluminum can cause the blood to coagulate. This is what causes Alzheimer’s Disease and has been documented to inhibit learning. Aluminum consumption can also be associated with the development of bone disorders, including stress fractures.

Also known as tartrazine, FD&C Yellow Aluminum Lake is a chemical concoction derived from coal tar. It is known to be a reproductive toxin. All artificial colors contain Aluminum Lake, so when your child gets to pick between red, blue or green medicine, they’re really choosing which poison they get to consume. Several chemically enhanced food colorings contain ammonia and therefore produce compounds proven to cause various cancers in animal studies, according to CSPI, the Center for Science in the Public Interest. (http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm)

Most widely used food colors and their damaging actions:

• Blue #1: Research shows it causes kidney tumors in mice.

• Blue #2: Research shows even higher incidence of tumors, specifically gliomas in male rates (a type of tumor that starts in the brain or spine).

• Red #2: Toxic to rodents, even at modest levels, and causes tumors of the bladder.

• Red #3: FDA recognized it in 1990 as a cause of thyroid cancer in animals. It was banned in cosmetics, but still allowed in food and medicine.

• Red #40: Most popular dye of all. Debilitates the immune-system in mice. Allergic reactions common.

• Green #3: Causes bladder and testes tumors.

• Yellow #5: Affects behavior and induces severe hypersensitivity reactions.

• Yellow #6: Causes adrenal tumors in animals.

The following is taken directly from FDA’s Regulatory Process and Historical Perspectives: “Color additives are important components of many products, making them attractive, appealing, appetizing, and informative. Added color serves as a kind of code that allows us to identify products on sight, like candy flavors and medicine dosages.” Really?! Decoding medicine dosages on sight?

There has been a 55% increase in U.S. toxic food dyes just since the year 2000. There are over 15 million pounds of dyes put in foods, drinks, candy and medicine every year, and the FDA does nothing to protect consumers from the colorful barrage of poison. (http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/food/artificial-food-colors.htm)

Studies reveal that children have consumed as much as three pounds of dye by the age of twelve

Here are some popular product and “brand” names you may mistake as exempt products: RD&C dyes and colors in baked goods, beverages, candy, cereal, drugs, pet food, personal care products, cosmetics, cough syrups, NyQuil,Tylenol, Robitussin,Jello, gelatins, Cheetos, Skittles, Fruity Pebbles, Marachino cherries, sausage, Mountain Dew, Doritos, chewing gum, and powdered drink mixes.

American companies doing business in Europe currently have to change their products to natural colorings to meet European Union strict regulations. The FDA’s rationale is that because artificial food colorings are used mainly in foods and medicines of low or no nutritional value, that the American public should “already be aware” of health implications, so it doesn’t matter if other toxins are added.

What are your options as opposed to poisonous medicines? Consult a naturopath (ND) for advice on ingredients in food and medicine.”

by: S. D. Wells, Natural news

“More than 90 percent of all soybeans grown in the United States are genetically modified (GM) for herbicide resistance and are consequently sprayed with massive quantities of those toxic chemicals. Fully 85 percent of all corn grown in the country is also genetically engineered, either for herbicide resistance or to produce pesticides within its tissues. Since farmers sell their corn and soy to large distributors who mix the product together for processing, this essentially means that 100 percent of non-organic corn and soy products on the US market are GM.

And since soy and corn derivatives are so ubiquitous in packaged food, the Grocery Manufacturers of America has estimated that as much as 80 percent of processed food on US shelves contains GM ingredients. This includes breakfast cereals and other products labeled “natural” or “all natural.”

GM crops are simply unsafe. They expose people to novel and potentially dangerous allergens and to higher levels of pesticides. Animals grazing on GM crops have died from ruptured internal organs. Yet this is the type of food making up 80 percent of packaged food today, and the only way to avoid it is to buy organic food or grow your own.

Tip: Foods labeled USDA Organic do not contain any substantial level of genetically engineered ingredients, but due to cross-contamination of crops, even organic products almost always contain trace levels of GMOs.

Source: 25 Amazing Facts About Food, authored by Mike Adams and David Guiterrez. This report reveals surprising things about where your food comes from and what’s really in it! Download the full report (FREE) by clicking here. Inside, you’ll learn 24 more amazing but true facts about foods, beverages and food ingredients. Instant download of the complete PDF. All 25 facts are documented and true.”

by: David Gutierrez, Natural news

“The “Just Label It” Campaign was initiated by Organic Voices, a group which originated in the spring of 2011 when a group of organic stakeholders met in Washington, DC to discuss the contamination threat posed by genetically engineered crops to organic farming. The campaign represents the largest national effort to make citizen support of GMO labeling apparent to the FDA and urge them take action.

A legal petition (Docket # FDA-2011-P-0723-0001/CP), was written by attorneys at the Center for Food Safety and submitted in September 2011 to the FDA. (Text available here: http://justlabelit.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/gelabelingpetition.pdf))

The Petition

The FDA is taking public comments on the legal petition. Your signature to the grassroots petition will help demonstrate to the agency how urgently the public wants them to act to protect consumers’ right to know what is in their food. The petition reads:

“Dear Commissioner Hamburg,

I am writing to urge the FDA to require the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. I have a right to know about the food I eat and what I feed my family.

In America, we pride ourselves on having choices and making informed decisions. Under current FDA regulations, we don’t have that choice when it comes to GE ingredients in the foods we purchase and feed our families. Labeling is essential for me to choose whether or not I want to consume or feed my family genetically engineered foods.

Genetically engineered foods are required to be labeled in 15 European Union nations, Russia, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, and many other countries around the world. As an American, I firmly believe I should also have the right to know if my foods have been genetically engineered.

A recent poll released by ABC News found that 93 percent of the American public wants the federal government to require mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. As ABC News stated, ‘Such near-unanimity in public opinion is rare.’

I hope you will listen to me and the other 93 percent of the American public who want mandatory labeling. Please show your support for the interests of the American people by labeling genetically engineered foods.”

Mike Adams stated his unequivocal support for the petition, “This is a powerful campaign for mandatory GMO labeling, and it moves us all closer to achieving the victory that consumers deserve – full disclosure on food labels.” The Health Ranger urges all NaturalNews readers to visit the Just Label It website to electronically sign the petition (http://justlabelit.org/takeaction).

By signing the petition, you will be joining with the Health Ranger, as well with over half a million (and counting) citizens, and with the more than 450 partners sponsoring the petition including the American Academy of Environmental Medicine; Physicians for Social Responsibility; the Pesticide Action Network; the Union of Concerned Scientists; the Organic Consumers Association; Citizens for Health and natural food producers, organic food co-ops and health groups from across the US. You can also add your own comments to the petition, expressing your beliefs about the importance of labeling genetically modified foods.”

“McDonald’s clientele finally can rest easy. “Dog food” is coming off the menu at the Golden Arches.

In the wake of outcry by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, McDonald’s said on Thursday said it would stop using ammonium hydroxide — a common ingredient in cleaning solutions that’s dubiously dubbed “pink slime” — in its beef patties.

McDonald’s beef producer, Beef Products Inc., says ammonium hydroxide occurs naturally in most foods and helps reduce bacteria. However, Oliver launched a personal campaign against its use in beef throughout the U.S. through his show, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution.

According to the Daily Mail, Oliver said beef producers take “trimmings” that would normally go to dog food and wash it with the compound until it is fit for human consumption.

“Imagine how happy an accountant is, you just turned dog food into what can potentially be your kids’ food,” he said to Food Revolution viewers.

A McDonald’s USA senior director credited the change to the restaurant’s priorities on food safety, not Oliver. But whatever the reasons, the move has been made.”

By Kyle Woodley, InvestorPlace Assistant Editor

“The well-known author and supporter of the raw-vegan lifestyle, David Wolfe (www.davidwolfe.com) states that, “Calcium does not build bones. This is one of the biggest misconceptions ever.” He states that silicon and magnesium are the keys to increasing bone density. So, stop taking calcium and start taking silicon and magnesium to increase your bone density.

Foods that contain silicon include bell peppers, soybeans, leafy green vegetables, whole grains, alfalfa, beets, brown rice, rice bran, rice hulls, rolled oats, nettles, hemp leaf and horsetail.

Magnesium is found in nuts such as cashews, almonds, macadamia and cacao. Foods like halibut, avocados, oatmeal, baked potatoes and spinach also contain magnesium. Make sure you are adding plenty of green leafy vegetables to your diet, as they are foods rich in magnesium. They are also a good source for calcium and silicon.

Raw chocolate and cacao are not only a great source of magnesium; they are also beneficial for the teeth, as chocolate destroys Streptococcus, the organism that causes cavities. According to David, the tooth’s worst enemy is sugar; chocolate is beneficial.

David Wolfe’s Super Foods:

David recommends including super foods and herbs in your diet by adding them (in powder form) to meals or by brewing teas with these beneficial herbs and foods. He recommends 1-3 capsules of silica from horsetail extract daily. The herbs and super foods contain all the vitamin, mineral and protein requirements, glyconutrient requirements, essential fatty acid requirements, immune system requirements and more.

David’s top super herbs include: vanilla bean, pau d’arco, cat’s claw, chanca piedra, camu camu berry and horsetail.

The top super foods include: goji berries, cacao beans (cacao nibs, cacao powder, cacao butter), maca (regular maca, red maca), acai, bee pollen, honey, blue-green algae, aloe vera, noni, yacon root (powder and syrup), hemp seed, Incan berries and kelp.

David Wolfe’s Favorite Teas:

1. Horsetail, alfalfa, nettles and cat’s claw.

2. Gogi berry, vanilla, pau d’arco, cat’s claw, nettles and horsetail. According to Wolfe, “They are amazing.”

3. Goji berry, vanilla bean and pau d’arco.

4. Mushroom tea consisting of reishi and maitaki. Mushroom tea is made using the same method as is used for herbal teas; the herbs or the mushrooms are not boiled.

How David Wolfe Makes His Teas:

David slowly heats high-quality water (preferably spring water) to no more than 170 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water cools, he adds the herbs. He suggests using a stainless steel pot.

David added, “Every herbalist that I knew when I was a kid – Chinese medical doctors said you have to boil it, you have to boil it. I never boil it and it’s perfectly fine. In fact, it’s the best ever.”

In addition, David takes horsetail tinctures daily. MariaTrebens, (www.mariatrebens.com) offers the following recipes for teas and tinctures:

Tincture – Place 10gm of fresh horsetail in 50gm of vodka or whiskey. Place the mixture in the sun for 14 days. Shake the bottle daily.

Infusion or tea – Pour 1/2 liter of boiling water over 2 heaping teaspoons of dried horsetail.

The Swiss herbalist, Abbe Kuenzle says, “All people from a certain age on should drink a cup of Horsetail tea every day all year round and all pain caused by rheumatism, gout and nerves would disappear and every person would have a healthy old age.”

Horsetail should be stored in a well-sealed container in a cabinet, away from the light.”

Oklahoma lawmaker wants to stop Pepsi from using aborted fetus cells in soda flavoring research

“In order to simulate various flavors in processed foods, some food manufacturers are actually using aborted fetal cells to test and produce these artificial chemical enhancers that millions of Americans consume every single day. Concerned about the ethical and moral implications of such a process, Oklahoma Senator Ralph Shortey has introduced new legislation to prohibit this practice from occurring in his home state.

Senomyx, a California-based biotechnology company that specializes in developing food flavorings, is one such company that uses aborted embryonic cells to create “isolated human taste receptors,” which are used in the production of food chemicals. And this company has partnered with several major food manufacturers, including Kraft, PepsiCo, and Nestle.

“There is a potential that there are companies that are using aborted human babies in their research and development of basically enhancing flavor for artificial flavors,” Sen. Shortey is quoted as saying by KRMG News Talk Radio. “What I am saying is that if it does happen then we are not going to allow it to manufacture here.”

According to Children of God for Life (CGL), a pro-life watchdog group, Senomyx uses HEK 293 to produce its artificial flavor enhancing chemicals. HEK 293 is code for human embryonic kidney cells that are manipulated to produce taste receptors that express a specific protein known as the G protein. But CGL says the company could also use animal, insect, or other more acceptably-derived cells instead, and still procure the same results.

While aborted fetal cells are not necessarily in the final products made by PepsiCo, Kraft, or Nestle, such cells appear to needlessly play a part in the production of artificial flavor chemicals used by these companies. And since there are viable alternatives to this questionable practice, Sen. Shortey, CGL, and many others are calling for its end.

As we reported previously, the Campbell Soup company used to be a Senomyx partner until CGL contacted them about the fetal cell issue. Shortly thereafter, reports indicate that Campbell’s officially cut ties with Senomyx, which in 2003 filed a patent for “recombinant (genetically modified) methods for expressing a functional sweet taste receptor.”"