Introduction, Poopcorn and Other RamblingsDr. David Olarsch
An introduction and forewarning as to what this column will be like!
I am using this forum to tell you the truth as I see it. I hope to have fun, spout off, to keep you informed and thinking. Most of all, I hope to encourage readers to see all sides of an issue, think for yourselves and keep an open mind. It may not always be pleasant or kind—this is not that type of soothing, gentle column! Really, I am a nice person, but time is of essence for many of us and I want to share what I have bottled up inside of me. I often get this stuff out at lectures, but this kind of forum is current and can reach many more people. I also intend to offer a positive solution to each complaint I have!
The goal of this entire website is to inform, inspire and share. In this column, Rants and Raves, I am reporting what I feel, from the front line. This is often called empirical, anecdotal, also pseudo science, terms we will discuss in the future. I try not to come from my belief system. I believe in everything, I believe in nothing. We live in a vacuum, believing our ways are the best and that we have the best of everything in America and everyone should live as we do. It is a shock to many when they find out that 80% of world’s population uses what we call “alternative” therapies. To put it another way, only 20% of the world’s population uses western chemical medicine. How’s that for a wake up call? Puts things in perspective! So don’t tell us, AMA, that this stuff isn’t known, is new, isn’t tested, is quackery! I am writing from the perspective of an experienced practitioner of the healing arts. Many of my thoughts and feelings and experiences are not replicated, validated, proven as a fact by science, yet, unfortunately. I believe that most, if not all of them, will be validated in the (far) future, unfortunately for the mass public. If you are looking for a column chock full of studies, science, facts, tests, there are others that provide that and this column may disappoint you on that score. If you keep that perspective and keep your mind open, you may find the information practical. I just think that you have a right to know the truth and to then make up your own mind.
I offer this information based on my privileged experience with live human beings and real results from the real world. Wisdom is the application of knowledge. I live and walk this lifestyle myself and that is very important to make my recommendations as realistic and practical as possible. I offer this information from the heart, with full intention of helping others, and through the Internet, without charge. I wish the best for everyone, including those who disagree with the information presented here! For those who do disagree, I ask them to look at their belief systems and not come from that belief system, but rather a curiosity about discovering new ways and finding their own truths. I am a seeker of the truth, like all of us, but in the holistic approach, the truth is an individual path. I am interested in helping others find their individual truth, i.e. what works for them. Here’s an example: For a long time I have observed that people who have liver cancer, eat a ton of ice cream. So, I feel there may be something about ice cream or something in ice cream that causes or feeds (exacerbates) liver cancer, what can be called a carcinogenic reaction. And, just recently, a study in France showed that combining dairy with sugar caused unusual problems for the liver. I was thrilled to see that connection made, but was not waiting all these years for my observation to be validated.
Rants & Raves will also have, as a regular feature, comments on good and bad companies, good and bad products. For example: certain Lundberg rice cakes are the best—they don't taste like cardboard and they are much more dense than others (only certain flavors qualify as they have added sugar to some), Rice Dream ice cream has the best ingredients (it needs to be thawed properly—more on this in the future, as well as which flavors are a real standout), Aubrey Organics for the best cosmetics. Evil companies such as Monsanto will be roasted. Greedy, controlling and anti-democratic, this company is after pure profits with blatant disregard for the wishes of the population. Even going as far to try to overturn referendum's voted into law by several counties in California banning their "frankenfoods". I will give you more information on Monsanto, DuPont, and other "evil empires" in future articles.
And, I promise to find good news wherever and whenever I can. At least what I consider to be good news, after all, it is my column and I want to have some fun here! This column will no doubt stimulate those who are brave enough to read it. I expect to receive some interesting responses to my ranting, but keep in mind the big picture, such as the rest of this website, to see a more accurate picture of my perspective on healthcare. This column is just one part of that perspective.
"What They Want You to Think” will be a comment section featuring my take of the news, what politicians are up to, the behind the scenes scoop on something in the news, or a whole different way of looking at something. Example: A recent article on Vitamin E: They want you to think all supplements are dangerous and need to be regulated by the FDA. That single study on Vitamin E didn't even state what type of Vitamin E was used. Or, a 30 second piece on the news about Wal-Mart mislabeling organic foods: They want you to believe that the word organic doesn’t mean anything. I will be elaborating on current news and showing you a different way to read into what the media is putting out.
I will be writing about our government, encourage thinking for ourselves (the way I was raised), not trusting government agencies to watch out for us or to tell the truth. Government often waits until it is too late, until after a disaster or other horrible incident. For example: numerous medications or medical procedures that are injuring or killing folks, oil refinery explosions, nuclear power plant violations, airplane maintenance. The government should take action, enforce existing laws. I agree with those that say in many cases we don't need new laws, just enforce the existing laws. Most government agencies are doing a poor job protecting the American people and putting too much into protecting the industry's they are supposed to regulate. Perhaps these agencies do need more funding, but let's cut out the waste also.
Recently, reports have come out regarding the danger's of microwaved popcorn. The vapors from a chemical it contains is deadly. Details can be found on the Internet, but I want to comment on it here. My patients don't have to worry about this, as popcorn has been on the "no" list I give them for over two decades. Popcorn is constipating, causes more dental injuries than any other food, and if that isn't bad enough, the little hulls get caught in the intestinal and appendix linings, irritating your body, causing infections and appendicitis. Ever notice how bloated you feel from popcorn? That's why I call it "poopcorn." Sorry about that!
Anyway, back to my main point—you read that report and may think "how wonderful, our government caught this one and is protecting us." Baloney. They are "studying" the problem, giving industry time to "fix" the problem. "Fix," as in replace the now acknowledged toxic chemical with another unknown toxic chemical, then proclaim it as "safe." If this was a nutritional supplement, they would have banned it and paraded it across every headline the next morning, not "studied it." Why are there funds and time to study the safety of microwaved popcorn but not nutritional supplements? Now, don't be fooled into believing that this problem was just discovered. There are lawsuits from the microwave popcorn factory workers who are dying of a rare lung disease (a type of cancer?), and these take years to come to trial. This has been known about for a while. Where was the government then? I wonder how many more things are going on that we may never know. I suspect the answer is mind boggling. Stay tuned to this column as we expose them as they are discovered.
One fine evening, a friend commented to me that he eats a balanced diet, and that includes, in his opinion, junk food. He went on to state that he feels his (and everyone else's he supposes) body needs some junk food and some "healthy" food (whatever that means!). Now, before you think what an idiot Dr. David's friend is, I will tell you that this chap is quite intelligent and capable. Of course, we are all ignorant about many things. I was appalled, but let him continue, reminding (or thinking to) myself of the "Teach Tolerance" movement and some words of wisdom from the book "The Four Agreements." Then, when he ceased his diatribe, I asked him if our automobiles need some bad gasoline occasionally for "balance." He did not enjoy the comparison.
Now, given the luxury of time and contemplation after this skirmish, I could have asked if he thinks the body was meant to run on heated, toxic, hydrogenated trans fatty acids such as contained in fried foods, if he thinks the body can thrive and build up health on poisonous sprays (such as the insecticides he uses), or if he believes that what we eat affects our health at all. Obviously he is rationalizing his own naughty habits. He admits he is "20 pounds" overweight and needs more exercise. But he is convinced that he feels best with a balance of healthy and junky foods. You would think that being around me would set an example of how eating well and making adult decisions pays off.
Haven't we heard this argument before as in "a little bit won't hurt you," or "just get over it"? Well folks, a little bit can hurt you. Just ask a recovering alcoholic, a diabetic, an overeater, etc. The "just get over it" line was recently thrown at me by a Girl Scouts of America executive after I lambasted her as a "cookie pusher" that was poisoning little girls and teaching them to raise their self-esteem by pushing cookies on others. The Girl Scouts organization even goes so far as to issue pamphlets teaching young girls how to sell more cookies. My favorite tip: "Befriend adults who have a van." Now, besides the obvious safety issues, they are teaching these girls to make friends with someone just to use their van. That's bad morals in my book. Pushing white flour, white sugar, bad fat (hydrogenated trans fats) laden cookies on everyone they can, under the guise of a good cause, is even a greater atrocity to the human race. Aren't they concerned about childhood obesity, diabetes, ADD, ADHD, violence and other children health issues? Why not promote exercise, healthy eating and good sleep? Oh, there is no money in that, silly! I don't mean to harp only on this organization and if you know me at all, you know I pick on everyone!
Now, back to the subject—balanced eating. My Dad was fond of the saying "If it's not in the house you can't eat it." So, my sweet cravings are satisfied with a few fresh medjool dates, frozen cherries or some other fruit. When I go out to eat, I ask that they don't bring any bread to my table. I usually tell the host on the way to the table. No temptation that way. I'm human :-).
Yes, we have cravings. Yes, we have emotional and mental events that can trigger certain food desires. And yes, we get tempted by television and print advertisements for junk food. How often do you see advertisements for healthy food? How we answer these calls from our body is our choice. Is it our ego desiring that piece of chocolate, that glass of alcohol, which the latest study says is "good for you"? Is it our pre-diabetic pancreas that is really screaming out for some protein?
My friend will realize the mistakes of his thinking, but by then it will be too late. His heart will be weak, his arteries clogged, his organs weak, his systems (colon, lymph, etc.) will be clogged and his vision failing. He will then write it all off to "aging." And that, folks, is exactly what the system wants you to think. To paraphrase an old Volvo slogan, "Beat the System, use Naturopathic Medicine."Dr. David Olarsch
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