Matt's MOvember Message: The Cancer Conspiracy

Just 40 years ago, science fiction writers prophesized a world where computers are an integral part of an advanced, intelligent society.  By the 1990's, urban legends filled our AOL in-boxes and the information super highway has since delivered us more nonsense than we could imagine.  Conspiracy theories are now so rampant that “Flat-Earthers” again walk among us.

                I’m quite in the middle of it.  As a career cop (civilian and military), Freemason, amateur astronomer, and pilot, I have quite a view of the conspiracy freak show.  I’m so in-the-know that I’ve even been attacked by Alex Jones.  My role as a cancer survivor has opened channels to another legion of foil-hatted keyboard warriors, but these people can actually be dangerous.

                At best, the pipeline of useless information is disheartening or depressing for patients.  Cancer patients are often the target of sheeple-wakers in their circle of family or friends.  The conspiracy theorist has no empathy for the stress and treatment-ravaged mind and selfishly adds a few more bricks of unnecessary load to an already-full wheelbarrow.  I’ve seen weakened people drained of hope because they were convinced, in their vulnerable state, that they’re victims of an evil underground.  At worst, people have made decisions about their treatment that causes harm or dramatically shortens their life.

                The root of all conspiracy theories is emotion.  A cancer diagnosis brings extreme limits of fear, depression, and anger.  Chemotherapy and other drugs intensify the effects. When we’re in emotional or physical pain, we tend to blame others.  Somehow our problems are made a little easier when we see ourselves as a powerless victim. 

                I’m a tough sell on pseudoscience and conspiracy.  Show me motives, connections, and patterns.  I want to see a story so tight that I will trust the life of a loved one or myself to it.  So far, I remain unsold on departures from conventional cancer treatment.  I personally know several people cured of cancer by accepted treatment, and zero who have survived by other means.  Let’s take a look at some of the more popular internet cancer chatter and put it to test.

                I’m going to generalize several of the reigning champions of cancer conspiracy theories into one statement:  There is a cheap, naturopathic cure for cancer, but THEY are suppressing it because it’s making them rich.

                I’ve never had a conspiracy theorist clearly explain who “they” are.  In this one, they often claim the medical community in general, but the pharmaceutical industry is always on the suspect list.  First, the medical community is simply too large to support a widespread fraud against a large body of people.  Our system is certainly broken in places, but there is no possibility that millions of researchers, physicians and their support system are suppressing a South American fruit that cures cancer.

                We’re famous for expensive drugs in the United States.  We love the stuff, too.  It’s on TV.  One commercial sells it, and the next helps you sue the manufacturer and your doctor for side effects.  Right here in ‘Murica, you can go to a doctor, be cured of cancer, then sue for millions along with other patients because your hair fell out and didn’t grow back.  Combine this with the high cost of producing, mixing and administering chemotherapy to a relatively small body of patients, many of whom are elderly or diagnosed late-stage and won’t survive to pay the bill.  It’s an expensive market. 

How many social media memes have you seen that claim a natural cure for erectile dysfunction that is being suppressed by evil entities?  None.  We see a lot of snake oil in the ED world, but no one rails against Viagra or Cialis. It's the only treatment that works.

                I have many friends in the medical field.  These people are angels who dedicated their professional lives to healing.  They deserve to be paid well because they carry a heavy burden in their hands and hearts.  Cancer patients with financial means choose their treatment based on success.  We will seek the best proven treatment at any cost.

Cannabis.  There is no way to get through this post without talking about weed, so let’s get this over with.  It’s time to shut the **** up about weed.  Cannabis has been a part of medicine for a long time.  It’s been used to treat side effects of conventional cancer therapy, and some recent discoveries in treatment of neurological disorders have turned many heads, including the medical community and lawmakers. It wasn’t a treatment option for me, but I connected with a number of patients who relied on cannabis to curb side effects, including pain, nausea, and loss of appetite.  I resorted to conventional drugs for these symptoms, but eventually discontinued them in favor of the original symptoms.

                While there’s been some promising research at times, there’s no proof that cannabis will cure cancer.  The reality of the issue is that people enjoy using it, while another group of people think it’s heroin.  Somewhere in the battle the green stuff has been raised to medical miracle in order to chastise detractors.  

                Please, before the angry replies come in, read on to see what we’re looking for in terms of proof of a cure. 

                Have you heard of that one guy in Greece who was curing cancer?  THEY assassinated him for it because the evil medical empire couldn’t be outdone.  I heard this story about six times during my treatment.  About half the time the person says they personally knew the patient, but no specifics about their disease.  The locale varies from Greece to South America and other places.  A bit of Google-Fu will turn up some serious quackery.  Revenge for being defrauded seems more of a likely motive for murder than a government soft-target job.

                The baking soda cure was the most surprising to me.  The gist of this cure is that cancer survives in an acidic environment.  Whatever you’re doing as a sheeple (diet, conventional medicine, etc.) is making your body acidic and cancer is thriving.  By choking down baking soda or some specific diet, you’re creating a pH balance where cancer can’t survive.  This ignores the fact that everything leaves the stomach in an acidic state, and enough pH shift to kill cancer would kill you.  Again, before the nasty reply, please read on.

                Cancer feeds on sugar, so go low-carb and starve it out.  I had my doubts about this one since I was a low-carb guy for a couple of years before diagnosis.  I think the PET-CT test is the origin for this one.  The PET scan involves starving the patient for a bit, then injecting them with a carbohydrate infused contrast.  Cancer does, in fact, primarily uptake carbohydrates.  When this happens, the contrast is retained in the cancer cells and they “light up” on the scan.  The problem is that everything else in your body consumes carbohydrates, and it’s impossible to starve the cancer without starving your body.  Imagine trying to rid your house of mice by not feeding your family.  This thinking does have some truth, however.  Being smart about carbohydrate intake and avoiding sugar and excess white starches will lead to better general health, which reduces the risk of many cancers.  Should you get cancer anyway, you’ll be in better condition to put up a hard fight.

                People love to say, “THEY just cut, poison, or burn it out” as a means of implying there’s never been an attempt to treat any other way.  Next time that argument pops up, drop proton therapy or immunotherapy on them and ask what they know about it.  This is a clear indicator that the speaker doesn't understand the advance of cancer treatment.  A relative had the same cancer as mine over a decade ago, and there was only one treatment option.  Fortunately, it worked and she's still with us.  When I was diagnosed in 2013, there were more options and higher survival rates.  I personally experienced advances made during my treatment.  For all the claims made by the cancer cure counter-culture, they forget a couple of basic facts that render many alternative treatments useless.

                Cancer is not a foreign invader, it is an uncontrolled growth of cells.  While these cells are abnormal in their behavior, they’re not foreign like a virus or bacteria.  Effective treatment usually targets these cells by the mechanism by which these cells reproduce, which is very similar to how other cells in the body reproduce.  Normal cells in the hair follicles, digestive system, and skin reproduce in a similar manner, causing side effects like hair loss and nausea.  If all goes well, the treatment is tougher on the diseased cells than the healthy cells.  Creating a metabolic or chemical condition with alternative method would produce similar side effects if it was actually working.

                There are over 200 forms of cancer.  There is no single treatment effective on all of them.  We should be skeptical of any treatment that claims to cure cancer without specificity.  Some are highly curable, some don’t respond to any treatment. 

                 Demand proof.  I wrote this post because I know someone who chose alternative therapy because they believe what they read on the internet.  A common thread to miraculous alternative is the absence of an accompanying surveillance.  I see blog posts and clickbait articles claiming cures and effective alternative treatment.  In reality, this would be such a breakthrough that someone would be willing to undergo testing and surveillance to share with the rest of the world.  Sadly, there’s nothing like that out there.  In a recent search, the best I could find was a woman holding before-and-after pictures, claiming they’re scans showing how some miracle removed cancer from her body.  Many of the claimed treatments (cannabis, in particular) were evaluated in scholarly medical tests with promising results with some promise, but didn’t make the cut when the efficacy was compared to conventional treatment.  I’m a participant in a medical study, and after dealing with the screening, interviewing, forms, and data involved, I’m certainly more likely to believe a study from M.D. Anderson than a cannabis enthusiast. 

                By no means am I discouraging anyone from using alternative treatment in addition to proven therapies.  Modern medicine readily acknowledges the benefit to many therapies considered to be alternative or holistic, and encourages them to be used along with their accepted, effective treatment.  Some top cancer treatment hospitals have acupuncture clinics and oncological massage.  

                Don’t propagate false information.  If you wouldn’t choose it for yourself or a loved one, don’t broadcast bad data in social media.  If someone is diagnosed with cancer, don’t bombard them with bad information.  They’re not in a state to deal with nonsense.  Support treatment that has been proven effective.

                This is something I wish I never had to research.  I spent many hours grinding through medical journals, testimonials, web sites, and talking to physicians and other patients.  I found no truth to the hype.  I do hope that "one simple trick" is out there that will rid the world of cancer, but it doesn't exist.  Should cancer hit me again, and a holistic treatment cures me, expect a public release of every piece of my medical record and the accompanying study.  

The Misunderstood MRE

Most conversation about the famous MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) rations leads down a path of nostalgia, recalling one’s favorite meals and what they traded for it.  Some service members were able to enhance the field fare with creativity, bringing us delights like Ranger Pudding.  Many recipes, along with creative uses of MRE packaging, can be found in The Complete Ranger Digest.  At some point, someone usually says that they have a case or two stashed away for emergencies.  There’s some misconception about the MRE and how practical they are for emergencies.

The Famous MRE

                First and foremost, MREs aren’t designed for the long-term storage they’re often subjected to in civilian life.  They do have a long shelf life (up to 8 years or so) with proper storage conditions, but they’re often removed from active stores after 5 years.  Storing them in hot conditions, like an attic or vehicle, can reduce the life to as little as 18 months.  They won’t suddenly spoil or become poisonous, but you won’t be happy about eating it.

                MREs are intended to solve the logistical problem of feeding people in remote areas.  For the military, much of this is related to packaging.  There’s no magic in the food preparation that isn’t used in the civilian market.  An MRE needs to be relatively lightweight, able to survive parachute drops and being crammed into a rucksack.  They produce lighter packaging waste than cans, and a soldier can cram all the empty packaging together and stuff it in his ruck so as not to leave it behind.  

                Government rations aren’t available on the civilian market through any authorized channel.  If you get ahold of them, they’re probably past prime.  It’s likely they’re left over from a disaster relief effort or made it home with a veteran.  There was quite a stir over a flood of Ebay sales of Katrina leftovers.  It’s wise to check the date codes on government rations.  Old pretzels taste like varnish, but 20 year old M&M’s are a delicacy.

                Everyone needs a chow stash at home in the event of emergency.  We’re talking about real emergencies, like weather and power outages, not the varied forms of apocalypse prophesized by the foil-hatters.  It’s wise to be able to feed your household for at least a week or so without utilities, and be able to take your stash should there be an evacuation.  Portable food is handy for road trips, camping, hunting, and other places where we might want for convenience.  You can buy civilian versions of the MRE from government contractors, but beware that sub-standard knock-offs exist.  For the average person, there are more efficient, cheaper, and tastier options at your grocery store.

Chow section of my gear bag.

                Over the last few years of hunting, hiking, and motorcycle trips, I’ve found quite a few alternatives to the MRE rations.  Dinty Moore, Pace, Campbells, and  Prego offer decent choices in lightweight packaging (bowls or bags) that are a packable alternative to cans.  The only downside is that they can’t be heated on an engine like cans or the MRE.  Anything else works, including hot water, microwave, sun, or even an MRE heater.  Don’t microwave an MRE! 

                If you’ve been saving that case of MREs in the attic for zombie apocalypse, you may want to give it a taste.  Whatever your choice, don’t just hoard it.  Rotate your stock.  Take replaced items to work for lunch.  Experiment with heating methods.  Keep your chow stash filled with fresh selections that you will actually eat.  If you're ready to step up to prepper-hoarder behavior and filling a zombie shelter with a 20 year supply of nutrition, you'll need to order specialized dehydrated food.  Try to be with people you like when the aliens invade, because you'll be spending the apocalypse with awful food and a level of flatulence that will bring on a nuclear winter.

              Prepackaged heat-and-eat food from the grocery store doesn't seem as exciting as a case of MREs, but it's the most economical choice for anyone not needing to shove their food out of a C-130.  If you really need your stash because your pipes are frozen, utilities are out and your family is stuck in the same house for a week, the last thing you want is bad food.  

     

An Assault Rifle by Any Other Name

                Once again, social media is abuzz with emotional responses to an active shooter incident with a record breaking body count.  The “assault rifle” controversy is at the top of the list, and I’m seeing some bad arguments on the pro-gun side.  The most notable chatter is questioning the definition, or even existence, of the “assault rifle," an argument that makes me give an eye-roll usually reserved for flat-earthers.

                First, it’s important to understand that there are many definitions of an “assault rifle,” and the term has been around for decades.  Wikipedia is a good place to start on this one, as it links to the array of meanings.  There’s a popular argument that assault rifles must be capable of full-automatic fire rather than semi-automatic only, but it’s not present in some instances.  Semantics aside, we’re talking about the same thing:  Light, short, high-capacity, mid-powered, semi-automatic rifles available for civilian purchase.  If you’re not sure what to call them, here are the current trendy names.  Pick your favorite adjective and noun:

Assault/combat/defensive/tactical/patrol/black – Carbine/rifle/gun/weapon/platform

Author with his Colt AR15A3
 Tactical Black Combat Assault
Defensive Patrol Carbine Rifle
 Platform Weapon Gun

                Next, let’s not nitpick over the purpose of the black guns. Manufacturers have called them "sporters" as far back as the 1960's when the AR-15 first hit the gun shop shelves.  The vast majority of these firearms are used for lawful sporting purposes without incident, but they are ideal pieces for winning an armed encounter.  Unfortunately, this makes it the best choice for mass murderers in schools, theaters, and night clubs. 

                Imposing a ban on these weapons failed in the 1990’s, and would be a larger failure now.  Mexican drug cartels are currently producing AR-15 lower receivers (the central and federally regulated part of the firearm) for their own use.  I have no doubt that they’d be happy to ship them to the US if another ban was introduced.  They're probably looking for a commodity to replace losses caused by legal marijuana in the US.

                Rifles along the lines of the AR-15 are in police use because changes in criminal tactics required capabilities beyond shotguns and pistols.  When I hear the statement, "No civilian needs an assault rifle," I question why anyone thinks a civilian shouldn't be afforded the same protection as their police.  These rifles are at the top of the food chain of available force, therefore every citizen has a right to defend with and against them.  Despite claims to the contrary, they are ideal for home defense when correctly deployed.  They're a better option than Joe Biden's shotgun.
                            

                Gersh Kuntsman’s article detailing his experience with the AR-15 is a common example of the emotional opposition to firearms ownership.  I’ve spoken to people who claim to experience physical anxiety at the mere sight of a firearm.  Although accepting unfamiliar cultures is all the rage in the United States, it does not apply to cultures in our nation where firearm ownership is commonplace.  Don't give them more fuel.  Own up to the reality of the controversy because the math is on the side of armed citizens.  All that's left is emotion, as illustrated by Kuntsman's masterpiece of un-manliness.  

                I’m often asked what the solution is to preventing mass shootings in the US.  I believe that an armed civilian populace is the only reason the United States isn't in the same condition as Mexico.  In my experience, our civilians are better armed than our criminals.  I have yet to have anyone explain how confiscation, bans, or new laws will help.  Individual choices on safety and defense are the most effective measure of protecting oneself and family from murderers.  Since the black guns have been on gun store shelves since the 1960's, perhaps we should be asking different questions about our active shooter problem.

                Looking at the math and other facts of shooters in the US, we come to realize that there are far greater threats to life in our country.  Criminals with rifles are a very microscopic speck on the chart.  However, murder is always emotional, and firearm issues are extremely polarizing and controversial, and everyone retreats to their political/social happy place.

                Stand strong against the flow of social inertia.  Avoid the pitfalls of political correctness standards of either side of the issue, and realize that government can't solve this one.  Stand fast to your rights and don’t waste time arguing a title.  Develop the courage to act on logic and pragmatism and don’t surrender to emotion.

The YouTube Era

               There’s not much on TV worth watching.  Reality shows aren’t for everyone.  The documentary channels are all gone.  Guys like me aren’t in the target audience for TV anymore, so there’s less on the dial that catches my interest.  I no longer watch the news.  There are still gems out there, and they’re available through “on-demand” sources that can be worked into any schedule.   Still, it’s enough to make us watch too much TV.

                I’m a collector of hobbies, meaning that I prefer doing things with my spare time other than staring at a TV.  That doesn’t mean I don’t watch the tube, but I have a rule.  I do my best to watch only when I’m doing something else.  I can cook, clean, work in the shop, drive, and handle similar mundane tasks with something on in the background, even if it's just listening to XM or a podcast.  This doesn’t apply to movie night with the bride or a solid first-run show, but it helps make the medicine go down.  With other options like audio books, there’s plenty of background chatter to keep awake on the interstate.

                YouTube has become it’s very own media platform.  Users establish their own channels, and viewers can subscribe and stay updated with episodes.  As soon as I dipped a toe into this world, I was hooked.  It has, without exaggeration, something for everyone, and a little time invested in learning the system will open the door to a valuable experience. I'm fortunate to have a couple of prolific YouTubers within my inner sanctum.

                I’m specifically pimping two channels because the owners of these channels send me into the video vortex.  Tim Kreitz of Tim Kreitz Adventures and Scott Green of Bonehead Guitars are both friends who share their interests in video for the world to see.  Tim is a motovlogger (MOTOrcycle Video bLOGGER) and Scott is a luthier, both of whom create episodes of their experiences and share in video.

                Motovlogging is popular now, and it’s nothing more than people taking video of themselves riding motorcycles.  It seems simple enough, but the themes vary. Tim combines a bit of everything and has drawn a crowd by visiting interesting sites around his west Texas home.  He's a professional musician, graphic artist and videographer, which is apparent in the production level of his motovlogs.  I’ve had the pleasure of appearing in a few of his episodes, which is always an honor.

                Scott Green started building guitars a few years ago, and is designs are being snatched up by local musicians.  I have the honor of owning the first solid-body electric design from his shop, which is a compact bass guitar.  He’s since produced guitars for other musicians, including Tim Kreitz.  Scott’s channel exemplifies what I love most about the YouTube world.  It’s honest, candid, and extremely real.  He doesn’t edit mistakes, bad ideas, shop disasters or failures.  You can watch as he finds solutions to problems, or tosses three digits worth of wood into a trash can.  After an episode or two on Bonehead Guitars, you’ll fast understand that Scott isn’t superhuman, he’s just dedicated.  His channel will inspire you to get off the sofa and create something.

                Both of these guys were fortunate enough to discover and use their own talents, and it’s very encouraging to watch them put their ability to sea.  Their channels are about accomplishing things that most only talk about.  Anyone can become a Tim or a Scott, all you have to do is watch and learn.  What they’re doing is attainable by anyone with an idea and the willingness to devote some time to it.  It’s inspired me to chop out a video or two, but I’m not willing to put in the time to match these guys in production level.  It’s been said that I should put some of my experiences on camera, and I’m willing to tinker with it.  I’ve landed a few views and it’s been fun.  The lower visual production value of channels like mine is a bonus because they’re easy to listen to while doing other things.  If you miss something, it’s only a click away from repeating.

                I’m footing this post with the latest editions of my two favorite YouTubers.  I’m also pimping my own channel, also named Matt’s World o’ Wonders, in the hopes that you’ll have a look at my subscriptions and get a feel for what’s out there.  

                As always, give a tip of the hat to your favorite YouTube vids by clicking "like" and subscribing.  You'll need an account, and that's quick and easy.  Having large numbers of subscribers opens doors for serious YouTubers, so please give them a little treat for their many hours of work.

Moosefest!

A familiar look down Pennsylvania Ave.

     Sometime in the late 1980’s the executive producers  of  the TV show “Northern Exposure” scouted small towns around Seattle for a place to film what was slated as a summer replacement series.  The story was set in fictitious Cicely, Alaska.  Logistics prevented filming in Alaska, so they scouted the Seattle area for a suitable site.  After visiting a few other prospects, they got out of the car on Pennsylvania Avenue in Roslyn, Washington and declared their search over.  The replacement spot turned into six seasons of an unforgettable, timeless story.

The KBHR console.

     Around 1997, a few die-hard fans formed Moosefest, an occasional gathering of fans in Roslyn.  Sometimes the gatherings are formal, with visiting cast and production personnel, but other times it’s an informal gathering in Roslyn that meets up to visit film sites, restaurants, homes and watering holes in between.  My wife and I have wanted to attend for around a decade, but inevitable summer travel barriers and the sporadic frequency of the gatherings always stepped in.  Fortunately, the 2015 Moosefest was the 25^th anniversary of the show and we were clear to attend.  We were off to Cicely for our first fan-fest of any kind.

     Roslyn seems larger than her on-screen character.  I’m always impressed with the artistry of cinema photography and the way it adjusts the illusion of size.  Maurice’s giant cabin really isn’t that large at all, and the most-used church building is only the size of a small house.  The childhood home that Maurice had shipped from Oklahoma is now a chicken coop, and the set-built church has been relocated to a residential block.  The Brick is a real bar, but is quite different on the inside.  The interior shots were all done on a sound stage.  The real Brick has a glass door, where the on-screen variant had two sets of solid doors to help with the transition between interior and exterior shots.  All of the main sets including Dr. Fleischman’s office, The Brick, Ruth-Anne’s store, and KBHR are located on the same street, just as in the story.

A relic outside the theater.

    The week of our visit was the last days for KBHR, the town’s radio station, to remain in her original location.  The building was purchased and is being developed, so the station is being preserved and moved next door.  The artistry of KBHR was where the details hit me.  The worn, tattered and dulled acoustic wall tile wasn’t worn, tattered and dulled, but carefully painted to appear so.  The microphone and boom weren’t scratched and worn from years of daily use, but it was carefully detailed by an artist to look as if it was.  Every detail was deliberate, even including cubby-holes to allow for various photography angles.  To spin the head further, there were duplicates of the KBHR and other elaborate sets in the sound stage in Redmond, WA.

     The event was a reunion for the cast and crew, and we ran into a gaggle of them at The Brick.  As a fan, it was a surreal moment to be bellied up to the bar at The Brick with Ed Chigliak and Maurice Minifield.  My bride and I both had some apprehension about visiting for fear that some of the mystique of the story would fade for us, but it was the opposite.  We put on DVD’s of the show while we unpacked at home and recalled all the spots we’d visited.

This is where Chris' bike took flight!

     We heard plenty of behind-the-scenes stories, like how a streaking incident resulted in the purchase of a new fire truck for Roslyn, an obstinate citizen who ran his chain saw in protest during filming, and all the challenges of shooting in Washington winters.  I’m more impressed with the show now that I understand all of the work that went into it.  It was certainly an unbelievable amount of work for everyone involved.

     We enjoyed four days of hanging with fans, cast, crew and locals and we made it home with some of the best photos we’ve ever taken, along with a couple of signed original scripts.  Had I paid more attention to the auction, I might have made it back with some original wardrobe.  It’s safe to say we enjoy the show now more than ever, and we look forward to a return trip to check out the many local hiking trails we discovered. 

     It wasn’t until Breaking Bad came along that I enjoyed a TV series as much as NYPD Blue or Northern Exposure.  My wife explains the appeal best; the combination of writing, acting and production actually take you to a place you want to be.  It’s an escape, and a little time among interesting friends.  We will continue to visit both Cicely and Roslyn.

The Bliss Point Conspiracy

After years of torching conspiracy theories wherever they’re found, I hereby announce that I’ve found one.  It’s the real thing; it’s global, complete with government participation and a money trail.  It’s leaving a trail of dead bodies and the brainwashed masses are being herded to the slaughter.  It even has a symbol in the shape of a pyramid.

It’s our wheat and sugar based diet.

Look at the recommended intake for sugar on the nutrition information label on the first thing you can grab.  You’ll not find a percentage for sugar, because the government hasn’t made an official statement on how much sugar we need per day, which is 0.0. 

Here’s the thumbnail.  In an effort to curb heart disease, government health organizations decided that a low-fat diet was the best antidote.  Removing fats and/or their carriers removes flavor, so sugar was added.  Adding to this was the USDA’s “food pyramid” which directs us to consume up to a dozen servings of grains in the form of processed flour (bread, cereal, pasta, etc.)  Wheat, as we consume it today, not only metabolizes like sugar, but can stimulate opiate receptors and cause you to keep eating when you’re not hungry.  Anyone who's binged on a bag of Doritos understands this.

 

Food science has perfected the “bliss point,” or the point where effect of sweetness is maximized to boost flavor in processed foods.  I’ve never put sugar in my homemade salsa, but commercial variants contain a significant amount.  It’s everywhere, because if a maker doesn’t use it, their product won’t taste better than the competition and it will stay on the shelf.

Metabolic disease, diabetes, and obesity are higher than ever as we choke down the wheat and sugar.  We’ve created related scary stuff along the way, like gluten sensitivity and GMO terror, both of which are behind the science curve.  We’re giving our kids fruit juice and grain products, ensuring insulin issues from an early age.

The government won’t save us, because it’s a consumer-driven market and regulations are driven by lobbying.  We’re also a nation where people are free to eat whatever we want while our kids are given cheap, sugary, wheat-based food at government schools.

Drastically reducing wheat and sugar in my diet made a huge difference in my health.  After years of fighting weight, I finally reached my target numbers.  At 40 I was under my high school weight.  My hypoglycemia was instantly cured.  My strong physical condition helped me beat cancer, which was most likely developed before I made the change.  There’s no proof that a wheat/sugar diet caused my disease, but I’ll always be suspicious.

Correcting the problem isn’t about dieting to lose weight, it’s about changing everything you ever believed about nutrition.  Once you’ve crawled in this conspiracy basement, you’ll turn your suspicions on diet supplements, vitamins and “detox” products.  Welcome to the revolution.  Here’s your starter kit of reading material and documentaries:

The Wheat Belly

Fed Up*

That Sugar Film*

Secrets of Sugar

*may be available on Netflix or Amazon Prime.