3-2-1 CLEANSE OR THE TWO MONTH DIET

This isn’t a diet to loose weight although some weight will be loss, the purpose is to begin a progressive detoxification of the body and begin a lifestyle for eating that will maintain not only a weight “control” program, but a regiment of healthy eating that will show both internally and externally. Understand that all body sicknesses are caused by the following symptoms; Malnutrition, Dehydration and Stress. As long as you understand this as a cause for illness you can then begin to address the root of your bodily problems and not the effect. Disease and Excess are the most common causes of Death for Food in the United States. Concentrating only on Food, the 3,2,1 Diet will address eating on a fundamental level.

The diet will be in three stages (3/1, 2/1, 1/1)

3/1 or three weeks on 1 week off are the detoxification stage. This will require a person to do a colonic as well as limit the amount of preservative in the digestive system. For some, this is the hardest part of the diet for this part challenges the “flavor addiction” of the individuals. Those ultimate red flags for addiction are the additions of “salt and sugars” processed foods.

2/1 or the two weeks on 1 week off is the choice stage. This challenges a person’s ability to monitor and or balance the foods that are good and bad in their eating habits. It is a conscious observation of what you consume or are addicted to. Most diets fail because people try going “cold turkey” or not addressing the real reason for their bad eating habits. Your two weeks on is for self-examination and personal research. This would require you getting a personal physician, learning what your Blood-Type is, family medical history, and learning what the causes are for those family illnesses (hereditary, social, environmental, chemical, physical) and planning a lifestyle change which requires little to no money to address.

1/1 or 1 week on 1 week off is in my opinion the hardest part because it requires you to actually read labels on store bought products. This stage requires you to consume less than 350mg of sodium (salt) per day. Just to let you know, 1 serving of Oatmeal without any extras or 5 oz is equal to 120mg of sodium. Drink 1 glass of apple juice (from concentrate) and you are already 135mg+ into your day. This is the only intense monitoring of the diet because eating 1 turkey sandwich can be 800mg+. So be aware.

This 1-week stage is to develop an understanding as to how much salt and sugar we consume in 1 single day. This will allow for the body to burn off excess water and or fat that often does not get attention without over working out by intense exercise. Although working out will be part of your diet plan, I am not asking you to join a gym or turn your home into a health club. The purpose is to bring a new consciousness to the toxins that we consume on a daily bases. By doing that, you will see where and how the extra weight catches up on you.

Listed below are foods you will choose from to make your diet plan. In this diet, portion sizes are important but not in a limiting way. You will eat 3 meals per day with two snacks in between. What you will be snacking on and the amounts are important. It is also important that you get 6 - 8 hours sleep per day, 1 hour of quiet time (mediation, exercise, sitting in a park, a room reading) and a partner that you will report to in order to outline your day. This last point is necessary because in the initial stages you will need someone to give you the support to get through and over the “flavor addictions”.

You will find that based upon your diet, finding locations in your community that specialize in healthy eating are not always easy. Health food stores are not as plentiful as your average corner store or supermarket. You will also find that in certain areas that the healthy food sections are considerably smaller in size and stock. More so, the prices may be much higher and content/portion sizes are also smaller. Do not let this deter you from your goal. Without getting into politics and or the economics of the marketing of foods, you may have to go that extra mile for your heath and well-being. A friend of mine once said, “Convenience Kills”. The sound of that may have seemed over the top for most to hear but her intentions were honorable since she was referring to the quick fix of buying cheap and easy sources of nutrition. Her view of eating processed foods were liken to purchasing drugs for a quick fix. It is unfortunate that eating healthy means “work”, but when has eating to live hasn’t meant effort when you know you will live longer, look more youthful and have more energy in your day.

Meat/Protein Substitutes
Soy, Tofu, Wheat (Seitan/Gluten), Nuts, Beans, Yogurt, Cheese (Organic Dairy Products)

Sugar Substitutes (Slowly begin to diminish the need for sweeteners)
Honey, Raw Brown Sugar, Molasses

Milk Substitute (Vitamins)
Rice Milk – Rice Dreams (Original/Vanilla)
Soy Milk – Silk (Original/Vanilla)
Almond Milk
Organic Goats Milk

Cooking Oils (Vitamins and Minerals)
*Canola Oil
Sesame Seed Oil
*Virgin Olive Oil (Packaged in Dark bottles)
Sunflower Oil
*Coca Nut Oil

Vegetables (Vitamins)
*Broccoli, Green Beans, *Cabbage, Spinach, Egg Plant, Peas/Chickpeas, *Garlic, Green/Red/Yellow Peppers, *Squash (Yellow, Butternut), Sea Weed, Bean Sprouts, Celery, Olives, *Cauliflower, Yams

Fruit (Fiber, Vitamins)
Apples, Bananas, Peaches, Raspberries, Blue Berries, Cherries, Figs, Lemon (Grapes, Oranges, Kiwi, Melon, Strawberries – careful with these fruits because of the sugar content)

Snack (Vitamins, Proteins, Fiber)
Nuts
Dry Fruit (Apples, Mango, Pineapple, Raisins, Dates, Prunes)
*Trail Mix
Ice Cream (Single flavored 1 pint no extras ingredients 1 per week Soy Based or Bryers)
Mixing Syrup (Fruit Based 18mg or less sugar for Water/Ice Frosty)
Vegetable Chips - Salt Free
Peanut Butter (Natural and non-commercial/*Almond Butter (This is better for you than Peanut Butter)
Tuna/Salmon and Egg Salad (Combination for Chips, Dip, Sandwich – Can Tuna Fresh Water)

Starches
Organic Rice (1/2 cut twice per week)
Potatoes (baked 1 per week)
*Pita Bread (if you can, do without bread)
*Black Russian Bread (if you can, do without bread)
Whole Wheat (Avoid Common Commercial Brands)
Rice or Wheat based pasta

Fish (Protein)
Whiting, Salmon, Shark Steak, Tuna, Mackerel, Porgy (Avoid bottom feeding and scavenger fish)

Cereals (Fiber)
Oats (Not to be confused with Oatmeal)
Brand
Rice

NO CORN BASED CEREALS AT ALL

Beans (Protein)
Lintel, Peas, Broad, Navy/White, Red, Black, Kidney

Foods to Avoid
Breads, Corn, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Alcohol, Salad Dressing, White Sugar, White Flour, Juices from Concentrate, Fruit Drinks, White Rice (in large amounts), Eggs (2 per week if you can), Pancakes, Waffles, Muffins, Doughnuts, Cakes, Cookies and Candies, Pastas, Caffeine based Teas and Coffees - if you can’t do without it for 2 days, you have an addiction.

Without question, all foods prepared are to be boiled, broiled, baked, steamed, grilled or eaten raw. Sautéed vegetables in oil are only to be used for light flavoring and not to be soaked. Use oil sparingly and as a substitute for salad dressing. If you can avoid them altogether during the 3,2,1 period, even better.

For Soy, Tofu and Wheat (Seitan or Gluten) meat substitutes, there are many recipes that can be found on the Internet. Many of which suggest that for the meat ingredients you use Soy, Tofu or Seitan/Gluten so there is no special preparation for them. What is interesting is that these meat substitutes take on the flavor of what it is cooked in. So you do not loose flavor or texture based upon which one is used. As a rule I use the following for dishes; Soy for Fish, Tofu for Chicken and Lamb, and Seitan/Gluten for Beef.

When using these meat substitutes, remember to prepare them as if you were cooking the actual dish. What is wonderful about these substitutes is that they all take on the flavor and texture of the dish itself. For example when cooking with Tofu, if the dish calls for chicken and you use the ingredients that would bring out the flavor of chicken, then the Tofu absorbs the seasonings and takes on a poultry taste.

There are many books on preparing Vegetarian dishes as well as websites. On your free time search for a few and amaze yourself on what you have been missing.

The Diet

3/1 – The beginning
This is the beginning of a way of life. Note I stated a way of life. This isn’t one of those TV or Hollywood Diets; this is something that is ongoing as long as you want to stay healthy. Will it prolong your life, I cannot honesty say but one thing is for sure, your doctor visits and health care provider won’t make much money on you pushing pills and additives after you begin a lifestyle of healthy eating. The purpose of the 3/1 is to gradually get your body to recognize that  it is polluted with additives that it doesn’t need. By doing this, your body will then craves only the nutrients that it will need and reject the toxins (in food) that it doesn’t. For example the sodium in Potato Chips, the carbonation and coloring in Soft Drinks, the abundant Oils and Seasoning in Fast Food and the preservatives in Frozen and Can goods.

To begin you will need to purchase SUNDIAL WOODROOT TONIC (32 oz) and SUNDIAL KOROMANTEE (32 oz) from your local Health Food Store. If you cannot find either you can either contact the distributor at (718) 798-3962 or email sundialherbs@aol.com. You can also go to their website at http://www.sundialherbs.com/ . (Please Note* You should see your physician before you begin any dietary regiment in order to know your health status regardless of how safe and simple it may sound or be.)

In using these herbs and bitters, follow the instructions carefully and without deviation. In order for the 3/1 to work, you have to condition your eating habits as well as your daily routine. Both Woodroot and Koromantee must be taken twice daily and together. The actual diet is what you consume between usage. 64 oz of water and avoid fiber/dehydrating based juices and beverages (apple, cranberry, grape, teas, coffees) should be consumed during this period. Avoid dry fruits as well during the 3/1 periods for they tend to have a laxative type properties. No dairy is allowed during the 3/1 periods. Only after the 3rd week can you slowly begin to add small amounts of diary back into your diet or at all.

Since this is 3/1, it will take you two weeks to finish both bottles. The last week of the 3/1 will be only to flush your body out with water.

2/1 – Know You Body

This is your Vegetarian phase. NO MEATS and MEAT PRODUCTS. I have given you a listing of foods you can and cannot eat. The goal is to explore the various foods and food options around you and to cultivate good eating habits. This phase also will teach you that you can eat when you are hungry only and to stop eating when the hunger is gone. NOT UNTIL THE STOMACH IS STRETCHED. Believe it or not, this is how we learned to eat. Full meant that we had to loosen the belt buckle. This is where most diets fail because many programs do not address this issue. Thus the active research on your part to understand why it is that you eat the way you do. You can and will approach it from an economic, cultural, and personal level. How your income effects what you buy? How your family background has influenced how you shop and what you eat? How your mood or environment affects what you eat (i.e. the location of your job, family pressures, relationships etc.). Don’t avoid making a doctor's appointment just to talk. Whatever you do, do not take any outside advice from friends. This is your personal goal for improving your life and only your doctor and support group should be considered if any advice is considered. Own this as you would anything that meaningful to you.

This is a period for gathering information about yourself and not having “someone” guide you through a spiritual journey. Personal Mediation and Prayer is a good way to get in tune with your body. Learn to listen. Sounds deep but when you learn to listen to your body, you will begin to understand how people can go for years and not know they are ill. They have forgotten how to listen to their bodywork and to feel what it needs. A wise man told me once, “God has given you two ears and one mouth so that you can listen twice as much as you speak”. The listening also covers the body as well.

1/1 – Know Your Foods

Now that you have taken a week off, your body should not only see but feel a difference. Although your body isn’t completely cleansed, it will begin to want more as you continue the 3,2,1 regiment. In the 2/1 you will begin to read food labels. Not for calories and fat content but for salt. You see the more sugar that is in a product, the more salt is used to counter-act the ingredient. So we will be killing two birds with one stone. Look for only those foods that will add up to 500mg of sodium (salt) per day. This isn’t as easy as it sounds because the average American consumes more than 4500mg of sodium per day. Some Americans consume as much as 2000mg in one meal. This will be the hardest part of the 3,2,1 regiment. I would suggest that you bag your lunch. Raw and Dry fruits and vegetables, non-salted nuts, cereals are good CRAVING SNACKS. You will do this for two weeks. Why is this important? Salt is a water retainer. You need to drop the excess water weight. Also, with High blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and a multitude of other food related diseases, you need to begin and understand that your body isn’t absorbing everything that you are consuming. Some of it is discarded but most of it is absorbed and stored never to be used (i.e. your body has become an internal dump for garbage and it shows in the skin, hair, teeth, the hips, waist and stomach, your breathing, and coloration of the eyes).

Now that you are done with the 3,2,1 regiment what next?

You can begin again. I find that once a person goes through the 3,2,1 they usually want to go back into a second try. I say go for it but remember, this is a seasonal diet. Once you begin a GRADUAL CHANGE IN YOUR EATING, you will not need to continue on a strict routine. Begin to add exercise to your weekly pattern. Walking is a good way to begin. You do not need to go out and join a gym right away but if your home does not afford the privacy you need, then check out an affordable yet SIMPLE GYM. The less flash the better.

Copyright 2003 © by Peace of Mind Publishings and with permission by Shazza Nakim

SPITZER'S SHAME BLAME AND A WOMAN'S FAME

I don’t have a very close relationship with my Mother. I mean I do have a connection with her. We talk and laugh; I am concern for her health and her peace of mind. Did I tell you we laugh? I can make her laugh in a heartbeat. All I need to do is remind her of my childhood escapades and the tears of joy and embarrassment will fall. She loves those moments. My mother loves our conversations about politics. You don’t want to get into a debate on Politics with her. At times I am held at bay and I have made Politics and Community part of my life. My mother’s history and experiences in the 1960’s makes her a wealth of knowledge and I think because of that, we connect on a cerebral level  and yet I feel that my Mother is more of a friend than anything else. If I had to analyze the reasons, it would most likely be due to my independent spirit. Compared to my younger siblings (me being the oldest), I never was a needy person, even for parents. Since 13 years old, I have worked, traveled, explored the World around me and when I would return home, it was understood that I was just being me having my space and privacy. My siblings seemed to need more of my parent’s attention and for me; I never wanted that type of attention.

Recently I spent some quality time with my Mother. I have noticed that there is a significant change in our relationship. It’s more “personal”. From what I am sensing, it’s more of an acceptance of getting old, the journey into the ending of one’s life and making the proper spiritual acknowledgment of it. Then there is me, the oldest, the one child that was there first, born and independent enough to be Son, Friend and Private.

Recently we walked and talked while doing our traditional exchanging of life stories when my Mother decided to tell me something very private. A family secret that she felt I was old enough to handle and accept. The news was unsettling and yet I wished that I was told the story years earlier but in my Mother’s collective wisdom, she may have been correct. Only GOD knows if she was right but in the event of that moment, my Mother asked, “Do you now understand?” I did and I assured her that I did but only on the surface. Deep down I struggled with this newfound information about my family and then I thought about how it wasn’t so much the information but the denial of that information for so long.

Several days later I see New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer standing before the press apologizing for his indiscretions with a prostitute. Now it wasn’t that he was standing before me looking POLITICALLY DUMB nor was it major news since in the past 2 years SEX SCANDALS were common place so one more politician getting his SEX on was old News. Also, when the breaking News prior was how the American Water system is contaminated with pharmaceutical drugs and hours later we are talking about BLOW JOBS, I am initially suspect about the timing, especially since WATER is Humanity's Lifeline. Then I heard asked from a woman Reporter that dreded question, “Why would Eliot Spitzer’s wife stay with him after what he’s done to her?”

I then gave long pause to her question of Mrs. Spitzer’s commitment to her husband and vows. I also recall that very same question asked of NJ’s Gov. McGreevey, NBA Player Kobe Bryant, President Bill Clinton, Comedian and Educator Bill Cosby and Sen. Larry “Wide Stance” Craig wives. I look back at all the comments and conversations surrounding the women of these men and what stood out the most were the comments from other Women. I found that Women are harder on other Women than Men and overall the uber ruthlessness sex of a society to condemn a relationship of sexual impropriety, a force often moved by the Women of society; especial if that relationship is tied to Money, Power and Influence.

As I flip the channel looking for follow up stories on the chemical poisoning of America’s drinking water, I get stories of how sad it is for the wife and children to go through THIS. The “THIS”, meaning a husband that is having SEX outside of the marriage. A common refrain, CHEATING, within relationships, is an act documented around the World and throughout History. The AFFAIR, just in American society alone, is a multi-billion dollar industry for entertainment's movie, television, talk shows, print media and song. It is the type of drama that jump starts our passions and pulsates the blood into overdrive. I am counting the days before I see advertised on a "girlfriend" couch session with Oprah Winfrey or a Barbra Walters special, both women jockeying on who can pull down the most tears for that exclusive with Silder Spitzer as she pushes her book on how her marriage was a LIE (because America really wants to know how another Woman was victimized by a Man of Power).

The media’s push to get an explosive reaction out of WOMEN, the on record voices of "The Sisterhood of Scorned Womens Club" gathering in Space and Cyber-space, the mounting of the Feminist Movement gathering their forces to trumpet their Independence and Free Will from Men and in my Man's Chair (the beat up old reclining chair) and you have me sitting quietly asking one question, “Isn’t this all a private moment between the Spitzer’s?”

I can speak personally on the subject of a family scorned. I am a survivor of divorce. As much as I hate saying that, it’s the best and only way to state that as a child, my parents separated and went their separate ways, me going with my Mother. Why I dislike saying that I am a survivor is that I never saw myself as a VICTIM.  To say that would mean I was in a state of mind of being helpless; which I wasn’t. I knew then as I know now, I had nothing to do with my parents separation. Sometimes a split can be a good thing, based upon circumstances and yet the seed left in my mind to contemplate is WHAT IF? What if things were different and my parents had stayed together? Would I have been the same person or different? Would my current relations or past relations had been different? As personalities are defined, we are a totality of our past experiences and physical makeup. We can never say we have no Past Experiences; it’s the unhealthy tweaking of those experiences that soft minds, not mature enough to handle those real events of their past, that can play havoc on people unless there is a structured lifestyle to balance it out. Since I had balance, I never felt held back from becoming a "normal", sane and productive individual.

I look at Silder Spitzer and I don’t even care how the media portrayed her as the wounded victim, how “drained” of life and how she looked (which I think is a shallow and weak politically correct way of stating that she is old and beat down looking), shocked and weak or how mentally she has live an illusion of self-determination, how fate has put her in this position, the sadness of being part of the Political Cheaters Club. No, I look at her and say to myself, "How do you address the breakdown in your family?"

It's obvious that the real PROBLEM in Silder Spitzer’s family isn’t the cheating or the prostitutes, but the nature of the MAN, her husband, Eliot Spitzer. It is apparent that his come uppings in Political Power is a HIGH for him, which required a prize for Conquest. The conquest or the quenching of that subjugation of his Power High which for Men is  SEX. Call it an "addiction", call it a "warrior's" ideology, call it just being a MAN, society has shown throughout history, religion, psychology, a ring full of gladiators or the innate nature of mankind, that this is how FIGHTERS are hardwired. Anyone knowing Eliot Spitzer, his background, his many conquests and accomplishments, a man who was on a FAST TRACK to the United States Presidency (with credentials far better than both Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama) is/was a Man of Power. Being the wife of a Man of Power, any woman should know that with Great Power, come Great Ambition and Great Ambition comes Greater Conquests … this including Women (or Boys for those that swing that way). It is no strange term to hear that someone was "Drunk with Power", will rise up too quickly, stubble and fall to soon have their significant other come with aid as the designated drive to bring them home. As the wife, it is her duty to be an enabler of that intoxicated behavior or risk loosing the benefits that come with Power. This is what the average Woman fail to understand and also is equally as hard for them to understand WHY THEY STAY.

My conversation with my Mother that day of sharing family secrets made this point REAL for me. Some people cannot sell their Soul for that type of POWER, to excuse Personal Responsibility and looking forward to teaching lessons of Accountability to her children. Some women can. Silder Spitzer in hindsight knew this although she was always uncomfortable with it. SHE KNEW this could happen. The question is what did she do to PREPARE and what will they do NOW?

It is often known that in matters of infidelity; Women are more forgiving than Men. This is due to how each view SEX in relation to the infidelity and the historical role of the woman in society. Women attach more ownership to emotion and Sex than Men so when an issue of cheating occurs, the most frequent question asked from a woman is, “Did you love her?” It is within the answer that a Women will build the determining “IF” the relationship can be salvaged. This is the real News and the area where most Women are interested in. Those MILIONS of women whom have been scorned by CHEATING Men have their scorecards ready. Some are hoping Silder can get through this affair for the family; others want her to get half. No matter how the Spitzer family resolves this highly publicized issue, the person who will get the most criticism will be the WIFE. Society will split their viewpoint of her being straight down the middle. She will forever be a DUMB VICTIM for staying and honoring her marriage vows by doing the following:

1. Accessing the Damage
2. Communicate (deviling deeper into what was said and not said)
3. Determine what’s missing in the Marriage and making changes (therapy)
4. The Children and what is best for them using the first three steps
4. Forgiveness (in order to move forward)
5. Trust

If Silder decides to Leave then she will be CHAMPIONED into the SHE WOMAN’S HATE MENS CLUB and go on to sell books, do lectures, talk shows, commentary for the next Politician’s Wife who is cheated on, a Victims Tour and just maybe she will RE-INVENT herself and become an individual separate from the embarrassment of Politics and yet she will still maintain the stigmata of a Woman who married for Power and lost it. Damned if you do Damned if you don’t. And to think that this is all about SEX. I know others will argue it’s about integrity, political harmony, the IRS, hypocrisy or maybe a little revenge but take away all the frosting on the issue and it is still about SEX. Politicians aren’t supposed to have SEX … not even with their WIVES. If this is the case Silder Spitzer’s reputation was doomed from the moment she married. Some families can handle this in private, as part of a family secret, some are cursed to live it in the public eye, I can honestly say for me, some family secrets, in a perfect World, can wait until you are ready.

By the way, I am still looking for the NEWS on the contamination of AMERICA’S DRINKING WATER. I haven’t forgotten.

DRINKING SECOND HAND DRUGS

Two weeks ago I was talking about Honey Bees. A week before that I was avoiding getting into yet ANOTHER Beef Recall debate in the United States. Last year I asked people in my community where the CHICKEN from KFC, Church’s Chicken, Wendy’s, McDonalds and Popeye’s came from and if it was part of the poultry that missed the chicken viral check that affected millions of Americans? As my part of informing people that you are what you eat, I stressed the importance of drinking water to flush our bodies daily. Knowing that tap water was suspect and bottle water that much more, I am not too surprised that AMERICAN’S WATER is polluted. What I wasn’t ready for is the over polluting of bio-chemical and pharmaceuticals and how no one was pro-active enough or even cared to TEST for it.

Knowing that when we pass on, our bodies go back to the EARTH, as it should, I know that recently reported in National Geographic, our bodies hold hundreds of toxins collected in our everyday lives. From the dozens of chemicals in body soap, the chemicals in our clothing, the cooking pans that we use, the plastics and coloring holding our food fresh, the artificial and bio-generated ingredients within our food, the exhausts from cars, buses, planes, and the list can go on. With the announcement of pharmaceuticals in our drinking water; tap and bottled, the theme, “THE POISONING AMERICA” even more real.

Just in April of 2006 we had a public report of Benzene in Soft Drinks and how the EPA’s response was simply that the amounts within were acceptable. According to the properties of Benzene and its long-term affects, we find that this chemical in soft drinks is “an organic chemical compound that is a colorless and flammable liquid. The US Department of Health and Human Services classifies benzene as a human carcinogen. Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia. It can also damage the bone marrow and can cause a decrease in red blood cells, leading to anemia. It can also cause excessive bleeding and depress the immune system.”

Also, the EPA’s public response was the following:

Benzene in our drinking water should not exceed 5 parts per billion.

If the levels of benzene exceed 5 ppb, the applicable water company has to notify the public via newspapers, radio, TV and other means. Additional actions, such as providing alternative drinking water supplies, may be required to prevent serious risks to public health.

To Add:

In 1990, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) learned that certain soft drinks marketed to children contain two ingredients that can mix in the soda to form the toxic carcinogen benzene. The Agency didn't tell the public, but instead merely asked companies to voluntarily change their formulas to eliminate the problem.

So this much we know so far. Fast-forward to today and the Breaking News, more chemicals in the water system to add with the Benzene we just got kicked in the head with. These new additives in our tap water are pharmaceutical residue from medicines and medicine cabinets with body aches, infections, anti-biotics, mood stabilizers, seizures, high blood pressure; hormones for menopause; the active ingredient in a popular sedative, depression and caffeine flowing freely. The problem is, it isn’t medical facilities and chemical processing plants doing the dumping, it would seem we are dropping the muck into the sewage systems that we purge from our systems. The most common drugs we are excreting are:

1. Caffeine - considered the most commonly used psychoactive drug in the world
2. Carbamazepine - used to treat seizures and nerve pain such as trigeminal neuralgia
3. Codeine - relief of moderate pain, cough suppression, sedation, respiratory depression
4. Cotinine - metabolite (byproduct) of nicotine
5. Dehydronifedipine – residual byproducts and their metabolites in the body found in (such as plasma, serum or urine)
6. Diphenhydramine - an antihistamine, relieves red, irritated, itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; and runny nose caused by hay fever, allergies, and the common cold
7. Sulfathiazole - used to be a common oral and topical antimicrobial also as an effective and safe treatment for many bacterial, fungal and protozoan infestations in the aquarium
8. Amoxicilin - used to treat infections caused by bacteria, ear infections, bladder infections
9. Azithromycin - used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria, such as bronchitis; pneumonia; sexually transmitted diseases (STD)
10. Diclofenac - used for the treatment of inflammation and pain caused by arthritis
11. Prednisone - used to treat allergic disorders, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis and arthritis
12. Tetracycline - used for infections including respiratory tract infections due to Hemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
13. Acetaminophen – Tylenol; a drug used to relieve pain and reduce fever.
14. Meprobamate - used in the treatment of anxiety
15. Sulfamethoxazole - used for the treatment of malaria, conjunctivitis, toxoplasmosis and urinary tract infections
16. Phenytoin - an anticonvulsant drug which can be useful in the treatment of epilepsy
17. Ibuprofen - (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, Medipren) a drug used for the management of mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammation
18. Estradiol - a drug prescribed for the treatment of symptoms associated with menopause
19. Monensin - The Food and Drug Administration approved drug for increased milk production in dairy cows
20. Naproxen - (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox, Naprelan) a drug used for the management of mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammation

People, these are the most common of the drugs found across America. In the State of Pennsylvania, the total count, SO FAR, is 56 different drugs within drinking water and household taps. To build upon this reality, the same water that we think we avoid because of this, is found in our store bought BOTTLED WATER. Yes Ladies and Gentlemen, you can’t avoid drinking SECOND HAND DRUGS even if you purchase it at the local supermarket. So what do you do?

This is the SPIN:

“As in other cities, human health risks from trace pharmaceuticals are uncertain, since concentrations in New York source waters are way below medical doses and undergo dilution as they mix with fresh water en route to the city”

Now that might sound like the politically correct thing to say BUT didn’t Heath Ledger just die from a combination of drug? I mean the interaction of drugs in his system did contribute to his Overdose/Death. So what would a long drown out, low-level build of these drugs do to our body functions in combination? Low levels of cyanide or lead will still kill just as a full does would; its all a principle of time.

There are too many questions to ask and far too many people to point to for answers and blame. This goes far beyond the actions of demanding CLEANER WATER STANDARD. It goes beyond politics and accountability. This goes beyond becoming more knowledgeable and conscious of what we put in out bodies. Although you can put a spiritual SPIN on this by infusing it into a Newer, more modern 10 Commandments for a People, the truth and causality still isn't clear as to where the problem of over-abundance of medical toxins lies. The truth is, these contaminates are the residuals of a Drug Addicted Nation, a sickly nation tied to those medicines manufactured in labs, the FDA and the lack of SERIOUS oversight from the EPA. We can also blame out perpetual ignorance to exercise our Common Sense on things that matter about our health and environment.

Our dependency on the Government (ERA and FDA) dictating to a sleeping country what is the “required minimum” of requirements and what is safe thus quelling our nervousness about that we put into our bodies or should know. How can people who work out, eat right, get plenty of sleep and declare they are healthy when daily he or she is consuming 56 or more residual drugs over the years? Add that to whatever toxins already within the air and the skin’s contact with the physical world and you still wonder why or how a person can get cancers or unique ailments that would normally be reserved for an elderly person or someone living in a Third World Country?

So let me leave you with this bit of information, since we know that America’s Tap Water is tainted as much as our Bottled Water that comes from many of our Tap Water Sources, there are other water sources that can be looked upon as alternatives. Just to also drop KNOWLEDGE, some of these sources can be just as tainted, if they are close areas near civilization, dumping, high altitude pollutions, and under group seepage. So before you decide to jump ship and swear off water for LIFE, you need to know what other water sources are out there for an informed decision and better health.

Types of waters

Bottled water is regulated as a food product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Bottled water companies must adhere to the FDA's Quality Standards, Standards of Identity (Labeling Regulations) and Good Manufacturing Practices and requires beverage companies to label their waters to define where the water came from and if it's been purified or carbonated. Bottled water can be classified with terms such as “purified,” “spring,” “sterile” and “artesian” (or “artesian well” water). All bottled water sold in the United States (whether imported or domestic) must meet all of the same regulations. Here are the classifications:

Artesian water

Artesian well, Bottled water from a well that taps a confined aquifer (a water-bearing underground layer of rock or sand) in which the water level stands at some height above the top of the aquifer.

Drinking water

Drinking water is another name for bottled water. Accordingly, drinking water is water that is sold for human consumption in sanitary containers and contains no added sweeteners or chemical additives (other than flavors, extracts or essences). It must be calorie-free and sugar-free. Flavors, extracts or essences (such as lemon-lime) may be added to drinking water, but they must comprise less than one-percent-by-weight of the final product or the product will be considered a soft drink. Drinking water may be sodium-free or contain very low amounts of sodium.

Purified water

Water that has been produced by distillation, de-ionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable processes and that meets the definition of purified water in the United States Pharmacopoeia (pharmacological code) may be labeled as purified bottled water. Other suitable product names for bottled water treated by one of the above processes may include "distilled water" if it is produced by distillation, "de-ionized water" if the water is produced by de-ionization, or "reverse osmosis water" if the process used is reverse osmosis. Alternatively "_____________ drinking water" can be used with the blank being filled in with one of the terms defined in this paragraph (e.g. "purified drinking water" or "distilled drinking water"). These waters are taken primarily from metropolitan water sources, run through mammoth commercial filters, and purified with chlorine, detritus, and other items inappropriate for drinking water. You may have seen vending machines outside of your supermarket that allows you to fill your own bottle for 25 or 50 cents; this is the water and process that is used and is from metropolitan sources or even the tap adjacent to the machine’s location. They are excellent to cook with when tap water quality is an issue.

Mineral water

Waters containing not less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids may be labeled as mineral water. Mineral water is distinguished from other types of bottled water by its constant level and relative proportions of mineral and trace elements at the point of emergence from the source. No minerals can be added.

The naturally occurring minerals and trace elements in mineral waters are considered by many to be excellent for health and digestion. Typically, these include iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, silica, chromium, lithium, and copper. While these are healthful, the value of mineral waters versus spring waters is still debated. Available from both domestic and international sources, the prices vary tremendously based on packaging and location.

Spring water

These are waters derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth. Spring water must be collected only at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground formation finding the spring. Spring water collected with the use of an external force (in other words, a pump) must be from the same underground stratum as the spring and must have all the physical properties, before treatment, and be of the same composition and quality as the water that flows naturally to the surface of the earth. Available from both domestic and international sources, spring waters are ideal for everyday drinking as well as to make coffee, tea, or foods in which the quality of the water is a critical ingredient. Prices vary considerably based both on geographic location and packaging.

Sparkling water

Water, which after treatment and possible replacement with carbon dioxide, contains the same amount of carbon dioxide that it had at emergence from the source. (An important note: soda water, seltzer water and tonic water are not considered bottled waters. They are regulated separately, may contain sugar and calories, and by law, are considered soft drinks.)

Carbonated water

The bubbles in these waters can help ease digestion, and are available from both domestic and international sources. Some have slight flavorings added such as citrus, but taste even better plain or with a slice of fresh lime or lemon. If burping is an issue, avoid them, but otherwise, they are excellent to drink after meals as a digestive. Some are heavy in sodium, so those with hypertension or sodium restrictions should drink them only occasionally.

Flavored waters

These may be compared to soda pop, but infinitely lighter in flavor and absolutely lighter in sugars and sweeteners. They give just a hint of flavors like citrus or berries, have either no or modest amounts of sweeteners from high fructose corn syrup to sugars or honey. They are likely not to be completely calorie-free, but are modest in carbohydrates and calories when consumed sparingly.

Waters with healthful additives These waters contain everything from additional minerals, vitamins, and other ingredients that make these more a health drink than “just water.” If this is the only way to get your spouse to drink water, great; otherwise, it’s a very expensive way to get your H2O; and in some cases the packaging and the labeling can be misleading. Remember that most Americans do not have vitamin deficiencies and buying waters to add vitamins to your diet might be little more than a waste of money.

Distilled water

These waters are mineral-free, so they’ re perfect for curling irons, clothes irons and steamers, humidifiers, and any appliance that requires water. By using distilled waters, you can avoid the mineral muck that often clogs up appliances. Some people view distilled waters as good to drink because it is so pure, but naturally occurring minerals in waters are actually good for you.

Tap water

Many municipal water supplies, such as New York City, boast water that is as tasty and pure as the most expensive bottled varieties. By law, municipal water supplies must supply its customers a chemical analysis of their water composition. If you haven’t received yours, contact your local water supply. (Many now post their analysis on their Web sites.)

Water filters

Consumers can filter their municipal water by attaching a commercial filter to the tap, using a pitcher with a carbon filter in it, or buying refrigerators with built-in filters that make both filtered ice and filtered water. These are very good, but be sure to change the filters as recommended.