FDA says "No right to eat what you want"

Each Sunday during the summer months, I walk to the Farmers' Market. There, I am faced with a wide variety of choices. I check out the meat and produce, and choose what I think are the healthiest offerings.

Choice. It's something I just expect to have when it comes to feeding myself and my family.

Here's a twist. It's all an illusion. I only get to choose those foods because the FDA is allowing it. We don't actually have any choice at all. There's no right to consume any particular food. We don't have a right to obtain any food we wish, nor do we have a right to... get this... bodily and physical health. And where am I getting all of this? Straight from the FDA itself.

They're getting awfully high-and-mighty, don't you think?

So, what brought on this power trip?

The advocacy group Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) said, "No more." They filed a lawsuit claiming that the federal regulations banning raw milk for human consumption in interstate commerce are unconstitutional and outside of the FDA's authority.

You see, they believe we have a right to make informed decisions about what we put into our bodies. To examine the choices available to you (in this case, processed-within-an-inch-of-its-life milk from the grocery store, and straight-from-the-farm raw milk) and make a decision that's best for your family.

Freedom of choice. Something we all take for granted as Americans. Something the FDA, in their response to the FTCLDF's lawsuit, says we simply don't have when it comes to food.

Here are some highlights from the FDA's blatant attack on choice (You can read the full brief here.):

• "Plaintiffs' assertion of a new 'fundamental right' to produce, obtain, and consume unpasteurized milk lacks any support in law." [p. 4]
• "There is no absolute right to consume or feed children any particular food." [p. 25]
• "There is no 'deeply rooted' historical tradition of unfettered access to foods of all kinds." [p. 26]
• "Plaintiffs' assertion of a 'fundamental right to their own bodily and physical health, which includes what foods they do and do not choose to consume for themselves and their families' is similarly unavailing because plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to obtain any food they wish." [p. 26]
• "There is no fundamental right to freedom of contract." [p. 27]

So, what do we do now? Maybe you're not a believer in milk, raw or otherwise (after all, Dr. Wright will be the first to tell you that humans really don't need to be drinking cows' milk). But that's not the point here. The point is that we, as informed consumers, rely on being allowed to make choices in what we eat and drink. If the FDA succeeds in pushing this anti-choice agenda, which food is next on their list? We must protect our right to feed ourselves and our families with any wholesome, nutritious foods we choose.

You can learn more about the FTCLDF's fight, and what you can do to help, at http://www.ftcldf.org/.

Yours in good health,

Christine O'Brien

P.S. Keep reading to find out what to do about insomnia when melatonin isn't working for you.

Reset your body's sleep clock

Q: No matter what I do, I just can't sleep. I'm sick of the insomnia, but I really don't want to take a prescription sleeping pill. I've tried melatonin, but it doesn't seem to work for me. Should I try taking more?

Dr. Wright: Melatonin doesn't work for everyone. There are a significant number of people whose sleep difficulties are not at all helped by taking melatonin. But don't give up before you try two things. First, try opening the melatonin capsule and placing the contents under your tongue. For some, this works even when swallowing the capsule whole doesn't.

If that doesn't work, you may need to adjust your dose. Determining the best dosage of melatonin is really based on how your body responds to it. If you're having difficulty sleeping, the best dosage for you is the smallest amount needed to provide that improvement in your sleep, which may mean taking more than indicated on the bottle. However, it's always best to consult with a physician skilled and knowledgeable in natural medicine before increasing dosages of any supplement you're taking.

And if it turns out that melatonin doesn't work for you, a naturopathic or holistic physician can help you find a natural alternative that will. To locate such a physician in your area, contact the American College for Advancement in Medicine at (800)532-3688 or www.acamnet.org, or the American Academy of Naturopathic Physicians at 866.538.2267 or www.naturopathic.org.

Bear in mind we are not addressing anyone's personal situation and you should rely on this for informational purposes only. Please consult with your own physician before acting on any recommendations contained herein.