The Big Fat Lie

Today I realized that being over weight may not be my fault at all!! You see, I found an article claiming that scientists have perhaps found new evidence that links a common type of viral infection to obesity. This is very exciting.

In a surprising discovery, scientists have found that the human adenovirus-36 (Ad-36) -- one of the major causes of respiratory infections and pinkeye -- may also be a contributing factor to obesity, as it’s been found to transform adult stem cells into fat cells, capable of storing additional fat. Just exactly how the virus does that is not quite explained, but let's go on with what else they think they have found.

These findings were reported to the 234th national meeting and exposition of the American Chemical Society in Boston, Massachusetts, held August 19-23, 2007. You can Google this on the web.

In previous studies, it was discovered by epidemiological researchers that about 30 percent of fat people were infected with the AD - 36 virus. This compared with only about 11 percent of lean people being infected.

Precisely how this virus causes people to become obese is not yet known, but the theory is that a specific gene in the virus (called E4Orfl) may be the indirect cause of some people's obesity. There are a team of researchers now attempting to discover exactly what the factors are that predispose some people infected with this virus to put on extra weight, while other people also infected with the same virus remain skinny. Researchers are hoping that their discoveries may in time lead to a special vaccine or some kind of antiviral medication that will fight obesity.

Well, that is certainly good news. I am fat because of a virus. It has nothing to do with what I have over eaten or my intense lack of exercise. No. Now I can blame it on some unseen virus that MAY be the indirect cause.

Come on folks... What ever happened to responsibility. My guess is that the scientists will waste a whole bunch of time and grant money and come up with the amazing discovery that the obese people ate more than the skinny ones. Really now!! And a corollary discovery will undoubtedly be that slender people get more physical exercise. Yes!!!

This sort of reminds me of a study done by a graduate student using up a major grant to determine how to make tricycles safer. Several tens of thousands of dollars later his recommendation was to add a fourth wheel. That's it. Make the tricycle safer by adding a fourth wheel to stabilize it. Yeah. But then of course it isn't really a tricycle any more is it?

So, I can just relax now realizing that the virus is making me fat.

David A. Youngs

Does raw milk kill you?

Thanks Johnny for putting in the wrong background. I wanted something bland, and you put in this one. Oh well. Normally I praise Johnny for really helping me, but this time.... he goofed.

Well, apparently there are a lot of people who believe raw milk is good for you. I know it is good for calves of cows, but how about people?

The Food and Drug Administration banned interstate sales of unpasteurized milk some twenty years ago, but each state of the United States actually determines how raw milk is allowed to be bought and sold within their borders. In fifteen states, the sale of raw milk for human consumption is illegal. But twenty six states allow raw milk to be sold with restrictions. And there are a very few states including my home state of California and also Washington actually allow raw milk to be sold in stores.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture tested raw milk from 861 farms in 21 states in July 2007. Their report came back claiming nearly twenty five of the samples contained illness-causing bacteria, including five percent with listeria, three percent with salmonella, and four percent with less dangerous types of E. coli.

Now some people who drink raw milk are claiming that raw milk has special "life forces" in it that pasteurizing somehow destroys. Yes it does.... and these "life forces" are germs and bacteria!! Personally, I would rather do without THESE life forces. Pasteurization has been proved to be an effective way of killing bacteria and germs that are in cows milk. Unfortunately, not all of them. Just leave an unopened bottle or carton of pasteurized milk out of the refrigerator, and watch what happens to it after several days. It will spoil. Yeah, the germs will start to multiply and the milk will go bad.

This of course begs the question, do people really need cows milk? And the answer is: no, they don't. Cows milk was designed by our Creator God to feed baby cows. It is perfect for them. But it has way to much protein in it for humans.

Some people are under the misconception that if they drink milk, they will have more calcium. It has been shown that although cows milk does indeed have calcium, it is unavailable for humans. In fact, milk drinkers have lower calcium. What to do?

Substitute cashew nuts. They are full of all kinds of good things. And they taste really good. In fact, raw cashews can be put into a blender, a little water added, and blended at very high speed until you get something you can drink. If you add a little vanilla seasoning, and a bit of salt you can even use the resulting white liquid over your cereals and even drink it. Almonds can be blended up the same way, as can soy beans. In fact, you can buy soy milk in most food stores right now, and that way you get the best of everything. You avoid all the possible germs and bacteria, and until it is opened, the soy milk does not have to be stored in a refrigerator because it doesn't spoil. That alone should tell you something. Why drink something that is on the edge of spoiling?

Well, I could milk this article for all it is worth, but... I am too COWardly. Ohhh--another bad pun.

Health depends on the choices we make.

Have a healthy day,

David A. Youngs