January - February 2009
General Updates

Printer Friendly Version

General Updates

Dr. Camp is planning her trip to Oklahoma to see patients in March 2009. Dates have not been set yet, but Mercedes will send an email out when it is time to start scheduling for her visit.

Peanut Butter Recall

  • On January 30, 2009, the FDA issued a report regarding Salmonella infected peanut butter and peanut butter paste manufactured by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) at its Blakely, Georgia processing plant.
  • Numerous companies who used these peanut-containing products to manufacture their products have issued voluntary recalls.
  • The peanut butter recall list continues to grow. Below is a searchable web site where you can search using multiple avenues to see if the product you have needs to be tossed out..
  • If you are unsure if your product is contaminated, throw it out.
  • Searchable peanut butter database
  • Full article

[return to top]

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

  • Have you seen those commercials with one friend offering another friend a product known to contain HFCS? In the script of the commercial, the friend on the receiving end says, "No thanks it has HFCS and you know what they say"....The offering friend asks, "NO, what do they say?". The receiving friend is suddenly at a loss for words and cannot say why HFCS is bad for you...So while the makers of the commercial (The Corn Growers of America and the Corn Refiners) do not explicitly state that HFCS is NOT bad for you, they clearly insinuate this.
  • Is this true? Is HFCS okay to include in your diet?
  • One of the problems in answering this question from a research based perspective is that most of the research claiming it is safe is paid for by people who have a vested interest in seeing it proclaimed safe. There are only a few studies out there, from independent sources, and surprisingly, these studies find that it is most likely not safe to consume HFCS in any amount more than trace amounts. I use the term "most likely" because studies are done in a lab, often with lab animals and then the information is applied to humans. The people saying it is safe do the same thing....the difference is, billions of dollars rest on HFCS being not only safe, but as some people claim, healthy for us....I can't quite wrap my head around that....
  • Here are some interesting facts, from independent sources:
    • HFSC and Mercury: Several major sources (Washington Post, USA Today, and others) published an article at the end of January that was based on a study done by Environmental Health. They found Mercury in HFCS. Several sources, including the Corn Refiners Association and Food Product Design, state the article published in Environmental Health was based on outdated evidence. So I read the article myself and while the samples used were gathered a couple of years ago, the science is sound and the conclusions solid. You can read the study yourself: Environmental Health study
    • HFCS and Insulin Response: fructose was found to significantly trigger the insulin response and was related to development of insulin resistance.
    • HFCS and Blood Pressure: study found sharp increases in blood pressure in young healthy participants following consumption of fructose.
    • HFCS and Obesity: study found the satiety response is less in those consuming fructose therefore leading to overeating.
  • Basic sugar facts - regardless of whether it is sucrose, glucose or fructose:
    • lowers immune function
    • sets the stage for type 2 diabetes
    • contributes to arthritis
    • contributes to weight gain

[return to top]

Soup's On - Warming Carrot-Ginger Soup

Carrot-Ginger Soup

4 cups vegetable broth
3 cups carrots, peeled and sliced
1-1/2 cup sweet potato, peeled, 1-inch cubes
1 large onion, small dice
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons fresh gingerroot, peeled and finely grated
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon curry powder
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Chopped cilantro for garnish (optional)

Heat oil over medium heat in a large pot. Add garlic, onions, salt and curry powder. Stir often, until onions are translucent. Add ginger, stir for 2 minutes, until ginger is fragrant. Before the onions brown, add the carrots and sweet potatoes. Stir to mix thoroughly, and add vegetable broth.

Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer. Cook until carrots are tender, stirring frequently. Turn off heat, and let cool for 5 minutes. Puree with an immersion blender (or let cool more thoroughly, and puree in batches in a blender or food processor). Taste and adjust salt, and add fresh ground pepper to taste. Sprinkle with cilantro, if desired.

[return to top]

New Medicinary Access

  • Emerson Ecologics changed their online access for patients to make it much easier for you to order your own supplements and herbs.
  • Simply go the the medicinary page on our web site.
  • Enter the password "health" when prompted.
  • Create your Emerson account unless you already have one.
  • They will send you a confirmation email.
  • Presto, you are ready to go!

[return to top]

Home Page: The Art of Balanced Health