The new Maha documentary says these 4 things make us sick. What is the research talking about
Super popular foods, seed oils, herbicides and pesticides, and fluorides: They are all targets of the “Make America Health Again” campaign, with its main supporter being Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services
Now, Maha Films, a production company dedicated to promoting the values of the movement, has released its first documentary.
“Toxic Country: From Fluoride to Seed Oils – How We Get Here, Who Makes Profits and What You Can Do”, these four questions related to the film's advocacy partner, Kennedy's nonprofit, are silently endangering millions of Americans every day. ”This movie is the first of the planned four-part series.
“If we can love our children more than each other's hatred, we can resolve the chronic disease epidemic that affects them,” producer and director Jeff Hays said in a press release. “The 'Toxic Nation' is our love letter to that vision, a call for the creation of an America where families can eventually thrive in true health.”
“Toxic Country” has made several voices in health and wellness spaces – Maha Movie
The documentary’s release follows the release of the first Maha Commission report released on May 22, which laid the foundation for an overhaul of federal policy to reduce the burden of chronic illness in American children. Still, Kennedy’s agenda for overhauling food systems, pharmaceuticals and environmental toxins could be stuck due to massive budget and staff cuts from HHS and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“The Trump administration cannot both ways,” wrote Scott Faber, senior vice president of the Environmental Working Group of the nonprofit Environmental Health Organization, in an email. (Although there is a great overlap with some of the issues Kennedy is concerned about at HHS, the documentary has not been released by the federal government.)
“On the one hand, they alerted amid diseases caused by diet-related diseases and dangerous chemicals,” Faber added. “On the other hand, they make it harder for people to establish a healthy diet and eliminate protections that protect us from toxins such as PFA and pathogens.”
While some experts have long talked about the effects of factors we consume on disease risk, there is some controversy regarding potential hazards, benefits, or neutrality (if any).
Here are what recent research says about the four goals of the “toxic country”.
Health risks of super popular foods
Claim: The documentary calls super popular foods as one of the root causes of chronic diseases.
background: Depending on industrial technology and ingredients, up to 70% of the U.S. food supply can be made, “the type of additives that never or rarely use in the kitchen or use its function, which are products that make the final product delicious or more attractive.”
Ultra-treated foods are usually low in fiber; high in calories, added sugar, refined cereals and fats, and sodium; and include additives such as preservatives, flavor enhancers or dyes.
Research: Many studies over the decades have linked the consumption of ultra-popular foods to disease or health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, premature death, cancer, depression, cognitive decline, stroke and sleep disorders.
Experts say the harm may be partly due to the effects of food on metabolism, as there is no fiber, for example, refined carbohydrates can increase triglycerides and spike blood sugar levels.
test: How many super popular foods are you eating?
What can you do: Limit your intake of super popular foods by increasing consumption of whole fruits, vegetables, cereals, nuts and seeds, and beans. Read the ingredient labels and realize how much sodium you eat and what it feels like for certain foods; super popular foods can make you want more and whole foods more satisfying.
Read more about super popular foods: Eating more super popular foods can pose a risk of premature death, the study found.
Worries about seed oil
Claim: The documentary challenges long-standing guidance that for heart health, Cook should replace saturated fat with animal products from beef, lard and butter and seed oil. (JFK applauds steak'nhake from seed oil to tallow fried beef, with fries, calling it a healthier option.)
background: Vegetable and seed oils become popular in the mid-20sTh In the century, when scientists began to use animal fat as the culprit for rising cardiovascular problems and promote oil as a replacement for heart health.
Some experts’ concerns about seed oil are based on its chemical reactions, involving the industrial production of various chemicals and the behavior of seed oil when exposed to heat, air and light. These oils are extracted from seeds of plants, such as from plant seeds of canola oil (or canola). Other seed oils of interest are corn, cottonseed, grape seeds, sunflower, safflower and rice bran.
Seed oil is mainly polyunsaturated fat, which is not as chemically stable as saturated fat, which is the main lipid in animal fat. Dr. Daisy Zamora, an associate professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, told CNN that polyunsaturated fats tend to peroxidize faster when exposed to oxygen or cooked, which may produce molecules associated with cell damage and oxidative stress.
Research: Over the past few decades, scientists have published a large number of data showing that the diet of plant fat is higher than that of animal fat.
Over the past decade, studies on seed oil have been picked up, including a clinical trial in Zamora that found that restricting seed oil improved chronic pain in participants. Other studies have linked seed oil intake to biomarkers of atherosclerosis or arterial fat accumulation.
The risks of harmful degradation products may not work unless the oil is cooked too hot, reused or lasts too long, and some food companies, restaurants and individuals may do these things, Dr. Eric Decker, a professor of food science at Amster University in Massachusetts, told CNN in a previous story.
What can you do: If you are worried about seed oil, you can try a replacement for extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. Experts also recommend that any fat you consume should be moderate.
Read more about seed oil: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said tallow is healthier than seed oil. Is he?
A common herbicide
Claim: The film caught the attention of glyphosate and cited previously documented links to cancer. Sources also said glyphosate could cause endocrine disruption and damage to gut microorganisms, which could increase the risk of irritable bowel disease and celiac disease.
background: Glyphosate is commonly used to kill weeds in human and animal food, forestry and gardens.
Research: Research on the effects of glyphosate on the human gut microbiome is in an early stage, although harm in rats has been found. An analysis of 2019 studies of thousands of people and animals found that exposure to glyphosate was 41% higher than the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system.
According to the FDA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s role is to ensure that pesticide or herbicide residues in domestic or imported foods do not exceed the limit set by the EPA, which determines “provides reasonable certainty without damage.”
The EPA says glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer in humans, and it continues to find that “when glyphosate is used according to current labels, there is no public health risk.”
The EPA's conclusions contradict the WHO's position, although the latter is controversial between the industry and some health experts. The decision was followed by thousands of lawsuits – targeting the main producer of glyphosate-based weed killers – claiming that glyphosate exposure caused the plaintiff's cancer. Some have succeeded to varying degrees, including a high-profile case when Kennedy was an environmental lawyer.
What you can do: You can limit the consumption of herbicides (and pesticides) by eating mostly or just organic foods. Since this is not feasible for many, you can still make an impact by reducing your intake of food on the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Twelve” list and increase their “Clean 15” food intake. These lists refer to traditionally grown fruits and vegetables with the most or least pesticide residues, respectively.
EWG still says that the health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure, so don't let perfection become the enemy of goodness.
Read more about pesticides: Many breakfast cereals that are still contaminated by herbicides, the Environment Group says
Knowledge about fluoride
Claim: Sources of the documentary claim that the type of fluoride used primarily in drinking water in most people in the United States is different from sodium fluoride. They say this is a problem because it is hydrofluoroformic acid, a chemical by-product of the phosphate fertilizer industry and contains heavy metals such as arsenic.
Indeed, hydrofluorosiliic acid is the preferred fluorinating agent in many cities. According to the EPA, hydrofluoroformic acid also contains more arsenic than sodium fluoride, which also limits the allowable arsenic content in water.
Sources from the “toxic country” add that fluoride can prevent thyroid receptors and cause fluorosis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this is a cosmetic surgery change in the enamel of children's teeth due to excessive fluoride intake.
background: Medical institutions or institutions such as the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to support the water of fluorinated toothpaste. Most documentary sources acknowledge that sodium fluoride can enhance enamel.
Research: Research has shown that “water fluorination continues to be effective in attenuation of at least 25% of teeth in children and adults, and even in the era, fluorination can be widely used from other sources such as fluoride toothpaste,” the American Dental Association.
This is confirmed by a new study published in the journal JAMA. It is estimated that the tooth attenuation of fluoride elimination in public water supply systems increased by 7.5% based on 8,484 children with an average age of 9 years.
But some studies, including a federal review published in August, have supported concerns about higher levels of fluoride in the water that affects children's intellectual development. Some people also find that the teeth benefit of fluorinated water is small. But federal review pointed out that the association between normal fluoride and children's IQ levels is inconsistent. There is little research on adults.
What can you do: If you want to avoid fluoride intake, you can buy a water filter that filters fluoride. They should be independently certified, such as the National Health Foundation or other official labs. Also, make sure your child does not swallow toothpaste containing fluoride.
The American Dental Association recommends that to prevent cavity, brush your teeth daily and nightly, and limit your intake of sugary foods and beverages. If you do eat them, do it at mealtime. You should also see a dentist regularly.
Learn more about fluoride: Knowledge about fluoride in drinking water
CNN's Andrea Kane, Sandee Lamotte, Nadia Kounang, Carma Hassan and Deidre McPhillips contributed to the report.
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