July 2, 2015 general

This holiday weekend perhaps you will indulge in a popular summer treat, strawberry shortcake. Actual strawberries supply fiber and a great many vitamins, minerals and plant anti-oxidants. These nutrients feed not only our own cells, but also our important gut microorganisms (probiotics). On the other hand, synthetic strawberry flavor, which is composed of 50+ chemicals* does not. I also have to wonder if anyone bothered to check whether or not isobutyl anthranilate, methyl naphthyl ketone and all the others individually or in this chemical soup actually damage our friendly microorganisms. So, no chemical shortcake please.

(By the way, if you can, buy organic strawberries because that is a food on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list of produce with the most pesticide residues.)

We won’t be putting our berries on Blue Bell ice cream this year because it has been recalled due to contamination with the bacteria, Listeria. The best protection against the effects of whatever contaminated food will be in the next news alert (or against Aunt Jane’s potato salad that sat out too long) is to have good internal defenses. That means:

1. Good strong stomach acid which is a first line defense against pathogens. (If you are taking acid-suppressing medications because of heartburn or acid reflux, please read this article.)
2. Strong and diverse colonies of friendly bacteria to run interference at the next stage. That means supporting them with good food and probiotics. (I believe in Dr. Ohhira’s…in advance or even at the time a meal doesn’t feel right.)
3. A healthy immune system. Since most of our immune system is in the gut, see #2 above. Vitamin D is also crucial for good immune function. You’ll likely acquire 10,000 IU naturally each day of the holiday weekend when you are out in the sun  (at least with sufficient exposed skin that isn’t slathered with sunscreen), but don’t forget to supplement the rest of the time.

Happy 4th of July.  Obviously, we will fly flags and pray for the troops around the world that keep us safe. But, I think we also should remember that our freedoms are not really free. We have to keep working to protect them by speaking up.

*Amyl acetate, amyl butyrate, amyl valerate, anethol, anisyl formate, benzyl acetate, benzyl isobutyrate, butyric acid, cinnamyl isobutyrate, cinnamyl valerate, cognace essential oil, diacetyl, dipropyl ketone, ethyl acetate, ethyl amylketone, ethyl butyrate, ethyl cinnamate, ethyl heptanoate, ethyl heptylate, ethyl lactate, ethyl methylphenylglycidate, ethyl nitrate,  ethyl propionate, ethyl propionate, ethyl valerate, heliotroppin, hydroxyphrenyl, hydroxphreny-2-butanone (10 percent solution in alcohol), ionone, isobutyl anthranilate, isobutyl butyrate, lemon essential oil, maltol, 4-methylacetophenone, methyl anthranilate, methyl benzoate, methyl cinnamate, methl heptine carbonate, methyl naphthyl ketone, methyl salicylate, mint essential oil, neroli essential oil, nerolin, neryl isobutyrate, orris butter, phenethyl alcohol, rose, rum either, y-undecalactone, vanillin, and solvent.