Sugar/white flour?

kellyh33
kellyh33 Member Posts: 287
I have been told by a few people and read a few articles that sugar/fructose/white flour feeds the cancer. Has anyone else read this or do you know if there is any truth to this?
Thanks,
Kelly
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Comments

  • LaundryQueen
    LaundryQueen Member Posts: 676
    dietary considerations
    Kelly

    To the best of my knowledge, no research has been done on the subject. However, when you understand that a PET scan uses radioactive-tagged sugar to "light up" cancer, then you might think there is some truth to the notion that sugar feeds cancer.
  • kellyh33
    kellyh33 Member Posts: 287

    dietary considerations
    Kelly

    To the best of my knowledge, no research has been done on the subject. However, when you understand that a PET scan uses radioactive-tagged sugar to "light up" cancer, then you might think there is some truth to the notion that sugar feeds cancer.

    Just found this
    Fructose Fuels Cancer Growth
    August 6, 2010

    Pancreatic cancers use the sugar fructose, very common in the Western diet, to activate a key cellular pathway that drives cell division, helping the cancer grow more quickly, a study by researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has found.

    Although it is widely known that cancers use glucose, a simple sugar, to fuel their growth, this is the first time a link has been shown between fructose and cancer proliferation, says the study's senior author, Anthony Heaney, professor of medicine and neurosurgery and a Jonsson Cancer Center researcher.

    "The bottom line is the modern diet contains a lot of refined sugar including fructose, and it's a hidden danger implicated in a lot of modern diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and fatty liver," says Heaney. "In this study, we show that cancers can use fructose just as readily as glucose to fuel their growth."
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    I AGREE
    While there may be no definitive studies, just alone the whole idea behind the PET scan substantiates a lot. And personally I believe your diet/nutrition plays a huge role in your health. I've seen a 20 minute video of a doctor who explains the whole chemical process of what you take into your body, and how it plays a role in disease, not just cancer. The way I see it is, since white flour, sugar, are all nutrient deficient anyway, I rather avoid them. Now, I do enjoy some wonderful sweets now and then, but very rarely and in moderation. Guess that's my take on it, Kelly. Hope this helps!

    (((HUGS)))
    Monika
  • kikz
    kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member
    mopar said:

    I AGREE
    While there may be no definitive studies, just alone the whole idea behind the PET scan substantiates a lot. And personally I believe your diet/nutrition plays a huge role in your health. I've seen a 20 minute video of a doctor who explains the whole chemical process of what you take into your body, and how it plays a role in disease, not just cancer. The way I see it is, since white flour, sugar, are all nutrient deficient anyway, I rather avoid them. Now, I do enjoy some wonderful sweets now and then, but very rarely and in moderation. Guess that's my take on it, Kelly. Hope this helps!

    (((HUGS)))
    Monika

    White foods
    When asked what my diet should be my surgeon said to stay away from white flour, bread and rice; the white foods. I researched this and found it to also include dairy. While I certainly want to avoid food that is not good for me, I'm afraid I prescribe to the old quote,"everything in moderation, including moderation." I want to be healthy and keep the monster out of my body but I know I will never have the resolve to stay on a strict diet. I am trying really hard to eat nutritious foods and in proper quantities but I also want to enjoy the things I like.

    Karen
  • anicca
    anicca Member Posts: 334 Member

    dietary considerations
    Kelly

    To the best of my knowledge, no research has been done on the subject. However, when you understand that a PET scan uses radioactive-tagged sugar to "light up" cancer, then you might think there is some truth to the notion that sugar feeds cancer.

    I could be wrong, but I
    I could be wrong, but I think the reason cancers "light up" with radioactive sugar, is that they they grow faster than normal cells, thus using more sugar. All cells use sugars for fuel. I don't believe causality has been established. Still, it can't hurt to limit the simple sugars (says the woman who has been eating a Hershey's chocolate bar with almonds nightly since the 9th.)
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    kikz said:

    White foods
    When asked what my diet should be my surgeon said to stay away from white flour, bread and rice; the white foods. I researched this and found it to also include dairy. While I certainly want to avoid food that is not good for me, I'm afraid I prescribe to the old quote,"everything in moderation, including moderation." I want to be healthy and keep the monster out of my body but I know I will never have the resolve to stay on a strict diet. I am trying really hard to eat nutritious foods and in proper quantities but I also want to enjoy the things I like.

    Karen

    Glucose (sugar) is the
    Glucose (sugar) is the primary fuel for most of the cells in the body, including the brain, muscles, and -- yes -- even cancer cells. It's the preferred fuel because it's easily taken up by most cells throughout the body to use as an energy source.

    But to say that sugar feeds cancer is a misstatement.
  • LaundryQueen
    LaundryQueen Member Posts: 676

    Glucose (sugar) is the
    Glucose (sugar) is the primary fuel for most of the cells in the body, including the brain, muscles, and -- yes -- even cancer cells. It's the preferred fuel because it's easily taken up by most cells throughout the body to use as an energy source.

    But to say that sugar feeds cancer is a misstatement.

    Diet & survivorship
    It would be interesting if research would be done on diet and survivorship to see if there is any connection. I have met many people who made drastic dietary changes (macrobiotic, raw food, vegan, etc.) after they were diagnosed with cancer--some are still here, some are not.

    A "clean, whole-food diet" is probably a good idea; however, there are many unknown factors to consider in survivorship.

    I have heard Depak Chopra say that when a person eats while they are upset, the food becomes toxic to their body. So maybe being happy is the important thing to consider.
  • kikz
    kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member

    Diet & survivorship
    It would be interesting if research would be done on diet and survivorship to see if there is any connection. I have met many people who made drastic dietary changes (macrobiotic, raw food, vegan, etc.) after they were diagnosed with cancer--some are still here, some are not.

    A "clean, whole-food diet" is probably a good idea; however, there are many unknown factors to consider in survivorship.

    I have heard Depak Chopra say that when a person eats while they are upset, the food becomes toxic to their body. So maybe being happy is the important thing to consider.

    I am usually happy when I eat
    because I love to eat. I guess sometimes I'm a little too happy and that is why I am constantly fighting the battle of the bulge. hee hee

    Karen
  • anicca
    anicca Member Posts: 334 Member

    Diet & survivorship
    It would be interesting if research would be done on diet and survivorship to see if there is any connection. I have met many people who made drastic dietary changes (macrobiotic, raw food, vegan, etc.) after they were diagnosed with cancer--some are still here, some are not.

    A "clean, whole-food diet" is probably a good idea; however, there are many unknown factors to consider in survivorship.

    I have heard Depak Chopra say that when a person eats while they are upset, the food becomes toxic to their body. So maybe being happy is the important thing to consider.

    I think Depak Chopra was
    I think Depak Chopra was talking through his hat. I would like him to define "toxic." Does he think that the nutrients in food turn into something else because we are upset? What animal has not eaten in a state of upset? The term "wolf" your food down exists because wolves eat very fast so they can get the most possible, as there is plenty of competition. This is true for all carnivores, and it's also somewhat true for people. Eat while you can, there may not be more for a long time, and someone/some animal may come along and take what you have or try to eat you. It that isn't a state of upset, I don't know what is, and that's how people have had to eat throughout all of pre-history, and much of history.

    I totally endorse eating as healthy a diet as one can (not that anyone knows for certain what that is,) but saying that food becomes toxic when one is upset is new-age mumbo-jumbo. Give me the science!
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980 Member
    anicca said:

    I think Depak Chopra was
    I think Depak Chopra was talking through his hat. I would like him to define "toxic." Does he think that the nutrients in food turn into something else because we are upset? What animal has not eaten in a state of upset? The term "wolf" your food down exists because wolves eat very fast so they can get the most possible, as there is plenty of competition. This is true for all carnivores, and it's also somewhat true for people. Eat while you can, there may not be more for a long time, and someone/some animal may come along and take what you have or try to eat you. It that isn't a state of upset, I don't know what is, and that's how people have had to eat throughout all of pre-history, and much of history.

    I totally endorse eating as healthy a diet as one can (not that anyone knows for certain what that is,) but saying that food becomes toxic when one is upset is new-age mumbo-jumbo. Give me the science!

    A healthy diet and daily exercise didn't PREVENT my cancer.
    I am an organic gardener and was always a gym-rat, working out 6 days a week since I was 14 years old. Even life-long 'health nuts' like me get cancer, sad but true, and often the ER- / PR- aggressive cancers that are hard to kill and unrelated to body weight or hormone production/suppression. I remain on a healthy "anti-cancer" diet because that's the way I've always eaten, and yet my cancer continues to recur. Yes, eating a healthy diet and having no co-morbidities has helped me to remain symptom-free and to endure my endless chemo without any debilitating side affects. I highly recommend a healthy diet and exercise. But can the anti-cancer diet stop cancer?: NO, not in my case anyway. Drink green tea and eat ginger and pile on the tumeric/black pepper/olive oil to your broccoli; it can't hurt and it tastes good and I keep doing it. But don't beat yourself up if you have a Hershey bar! Your body will convert all kinds of things into the sugar your cells need to grow and maintain themselves. To give up the hedonistic pleasures of cheesecake and tiramisu and homemade bread with real butter,....life on this sweet earth is painfully short. Eat healthy, but LIVE LARGE!
  • pattysoo
    pattysoo Member Posts: 170

    A healthy diet and daily exercise didn't PREVENT my cancer.
    I am an organic gardener and was always a gym-rat, working out 6 days a week since I was 14 years old. Even life-long 'health nuts' like me get cancer, sad but true, and often the ER- / PR- aggressive cancers that are hard to kill and unrelated to body weight or hormone production/suppression. I remain on a healthy "anti-cancer" diet because that's the way I've always eaten, and yet my cancer continues to recur. Yes, eating a healthy diet and having no co-morbidities has helped me to remain symptom-free and to endure my endless chemo without any debilitating side affects. I highly recommend a healthy diet and exercise. But can the anti-cancer diet stop cancer?: NO, not in my case anyway. Drink green tea and eat ginger and pile on the tumeric/black pepper/olive oil to your broccoli; it can't hurt and it tastes good and I keep doing it. But don't beat yourself up if you have a Hershey bar! Your body will convert all kinds of things into the sugar your cells need to grow and maintain themselves. To give up the hedonistic pleasures of cheesecake and tiramisu and homemade bread with real butter,....life on this sweet earth is painfully short. Eat healthy, but LIVE LARGE!

    Healthy diet
    I totally agree with lindaprocopio. As she said, there are many reasons to eat well. Coping with the anxiety of cancer can really wear you down. The side effects of treatment are pretty severe too. I think eating carefully, wisely, and exercising regularly helped me cope with these effects. High Fructose Corn Syrup seems a particularly nasty additive to foods. It is probably responsible for numerous health problems in humans. Hence, I avoid it like it's poison. As for dairy, I enjoy it, but try really hard to consume only dairy products from animals that have not been treated with hormones. The same holds true for meat and eggs. This makes sense to me because I'm taking a hormone blocker, so I should avoid any extra artificial hormones.
  • LaundryQueen
    LaundryQueen Member Posts: 676
    pattysoo said:

    Healthy diet
    I totally agree with lindaprocopio. As she said, there are many reasons to eat well. Coping with the anxiety of cancer can really wear you down. The side effects of treatment are pretty severe too. I think eating carefully, wisely, and exercising regularly helped me cope with these effects. High Fructose Corn Syrup seems a particularly nasty additive to foods. It is probably responsible for numerous health problems in humans. Hence, I avoid it like it's poison. As for dairy, I enjoy it, but try really hard to consume only dairy products from animals that have not been treated with hormones. The same holds true for meat and eggs. This makes sense to me because I'm taking a hormone blocker, so I should avoid any extra artificial hormones.

    Sympathetic vs parasympathetic nervous system
    Sorry to upset you, Linda; however, the science is there to support that eating when you are REALLY upset is probably not a good idea.

    There are two parts to the nervous system that controls basic life functions (sympathetic & parasympathetic nervous systems). One function of the parasympathic nervous system is to control digestion and the movement of the gastrointestinal tract. The sympathetic nervous controls the "fight or flight" response. The sympathetic nervous system has the ability to significantly slow down the parasympathetic nervous system--thereby stopping digestion for many hours. This is basic physiology.

    Food is supposed to pass through the stomach in 2-3 hours. Who hasn't vomited something that they ate 8 hours ago that looked completely undigested? Maybe I am the only one.

    Stress/worry/anxiety (call it what you will) all kick in the sympathetic nervous system which in turn stops the movement of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach, small intestines & colon) and digestion in general. When food just sits around not digesting, what happens to the food? Proteins putrefy, carbohydrates ferment and fats go rancid. Chopra is a medical doctor and was oversimplifying the concept for the lay person but the concept is sound.

    The response that I got from Linda lets me know that I am not appropriate for this discussion board. I think about things that other people would rather not think about. I already know this about myself...sigh.

    It upsets me to think that I am offending someone else to the point that I feel compelled to defend my comments. My apologies to all for upsetting anyone.

    In the future, I will keep my opinions to myself and I wish everyone the best.
  • anicca
    anicca Member Posts: 334 Member

    Sympathetic vs parasympathetic nervous system
    Sorry to upset you, Linda; however, the science is there to support that eating when you are REALLY upset is probably not a good idea.

    There are two parts to the nervous system that controls basic life functions (sympathetic & parasympathetic nervous systems). One function of the parasympathic nervous system is to control digestion and the movement of the gastrointestinal tract. The sympathetic nervous controls the "fight or flight" response. The sympathetic nervous system has the ability to significantly slow down the parasympathetic nervous system--thereby stopping digestion for many hours. This is basic physiology.

    Food is supposed to pass through the stomach in 2-3 hours. Who hasn't vomited something that they ate 8 hours ago that looked completely undigested? Maybe I am the only one.

    Stress/worry/anxiety (call it what you will) all kick in the sympathetic nervous system which in turn stops the movement of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach, small intestines & colon) and digestion in general. When food just sits around not digesting, what happens to the food? Proteins putrefy, carbohydrates ferment and fats go rancid. Chopra is a medical doctor and was oversimplifying the concept for the lay person but the concept is sound.

    The response that I got from Linda lets me know that I am not appropriate for this discussion board. I think about things that other people would rather not think about. I already know this about myself...sigh.

    It upsets me to think that I am offending someone else to the point that I feel compelled to defend my comments. My apologies to all for upsetting anyone.

    In the future, I will keep my opinions to myself and I wish everyone the best.

    We Want To Hear You!
    LaundryQueen said: "The response that I got from Linda lets me know that I am not appropriate for this discussion board. I think about things that other people would rather not think about. I already know this about myself...sigh.

    It upsets me to think that I am offending someone else to the point that I feel compelled to defend my comments. My apologies to all for upsetting anyone.

    In the future, I will keep my opinions to myself and I wish everyone the best."

    You got a negative response from me too (maybe you meant me, not Linda?) but that does not mean that there is anything inappropriate about your post or that we do not want to hear what you have to say. There are certainly some here who agree with you, but I think their incentive to post is less than that of those who disagree. You have certainly not upset or offended me. Disagreement is essential to progress. If we all thought and felt the same about everything, nothing would ever change.

    Please keep posting your ideas and views, and sharing the information that you think is helpful.
  • sofarstillhere
    sofarstillhere Member Posts: 19

    Sympathetic vs parasympathetic nervous system
    Sorry to upset you, Linda; however, the science is there to support that eating when you are REALLY upset is probably not a good idea.

    There are two parts to the nervous system that controls basic life functions (sympathetic & parasympathetic nervous systems). One function of the parasympathic nervous system is to control digestion and the movement of the gastrointestinal tract. The sympathetic nervous controls the "fight or flight" response. The sympathetic nervous system has the ability to significantly slow down the parasympathetic nervous system--thereby stopping digestion for many hours. This is basic physiology.

    Food is supposed to pass through the stomach in 2-3 hours. Who hasn't vomited something that they ate 8 hours ago that looked completely undigested? Maybe I am the only one.

    Stress/worry/anxiety (call it what you will) all kick in the sympathetic nervous system which in turn stops the movement of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach, small intestines & colon) and digestion in general. When food just sits around not digesting, what happens to the food? Proteins putrefy, carbohydrates ferment and fats go rancid. Chopra is a medical doctor and was oversimplifying the concept for the lay person but the concept is sound.

    The response that I got from Linda lets me know that I am not appropriate for this discussion board. I think about things that other people would rather not think about. I already know this about myself...sigh.

    It upsets me to think that I am offending someone else to the point that I feel compelled to defend my comments. My apologies to all for upsetting anyone.

    In the future, I will keep my opinions to myself and I wish everyone the best.

    options
    Hi Laundry Queen, I hope you will keep posting. We all don't agree on everything, but it makes it interesting, just like life. It's always good to hear diverse thoughts and be able to mull it over, check it out and see if you might want to try it, or not. We can ask any questions and we may not try every piece of advice, but it's good to hear there are different kinds of choices for us all. I like reading about all the options out there. Have a great day. Patty
  • kikz
    kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member

    options
    Hi Laundry Queen, I hope you will keep posting. We all don't agree on everything, but it makes it interesting, just like life. It's always good to hear diverse thoughts and be able to mull it over, check it out and see if you might want to try it, or not. We can ask any questions and we may not try every piece of advice, but it's good to hear there are different kinds of choices for us all. I like reading about all the options out there. Have a great day. Patty

    LaundryQueen
    don't quit posting. I have no problem with anything you said. I don't know what Chopra meant by toxic but I think most people would agree that eating when you are upset is not the best idea. It will either make you feel sick or you may eat the wrong things. Let's face it, we are all grasping at straws here. As I posted before, if chewing rocks would help me beat the monster I would do it. But there are no definitive answers to what is the best diet to prevent cancer. Each of our doctors may give us suggestions but cannot promise good long-term results. Let's keep throwing ideas out there; who knows one of us may come up with "the answer."

    Karen
  • Cafewoman53
    Cafewoman53 Member Posts: 735 Member
    kikz said:

    LaundryQueen
    don't quit posting. I have no problem with anything you said. I don't know what Chopra meant by toxic but I think most people would agree that eating when you are upset is not the best idea. It will either make you feel sick or you may eat the wrong things. Let's face it, we are all grasping at straws here. As I posted before, if chewing rocks would help me beat the monster I would do it. But there are no definitive answers to what is the best diet to prevent cancer. Each of our doctors may give us suggestions but cannot promise good long-term results. Let's keep throwing ideas out there; who knows one of us may come up with "the answer."

    Karen

    Why is everyone so sensitive
    Why do people get so sensitive if someone disagrees with what they think ? When I read about someone who ate a healthy diet and exercised daily and still ended up with my lousy diagnosis it makes me think that no matter how we ate or exercised we couldn't prevent it. I do not eat the best way that I should and I have a disability that prevents me from being able to exersise but I do not feel like I caused my cancer. Someday they may find a way to prevent cancer but for now they are pretty much cluless.
    Good habits are probably a part of the puzzle but not as important as we wish they were.
    Lets hope they find an answer soon
    Colleen
  • sofarstillhere
    sofarstillhere Member Posts: 19

    Why is everyone so sensitive
    Why do people get so sensitive if someone disagrees with what they think ? When I read about someone who ate a healthy diet and exercised daily and still ended up with my lousy diagnosis it makes me think that no matter how we ate or exercised we couldn't prevent it. I do not eat the best way that I should and I have a disability that prevents me from being able to exersise but I do not feel like I caused my cancer. Someday they may find a way to prevent cancer but for now they are pretty much cluless.
    Good habits are probably a part of the puzzle but not as important as we wish they were.
    Lets hope they find an answer soon
    Colleen

    not eating right
    cafewoman, I know how you feel as I have a terrible diet. I don't care for many vegetables, will eat some fruit, absolutely love everything that is probably bad for me, like cake, candy bars, cookies, pasta, etc. but I was diagnosed on 2002 and so far I'm still here and I've received a lot of comfort from my "comfort food". I probably should be doing better and I do take a vitamin and I truly am going to try to eat a little better because my 21 year old granddaughter is now vegan and she talks to me about what I should be eating. You can bet I"m still going to be eating my sweets. I'm glad sweets aren't illegal or I might be in trouble. thanks. Patty
  • anicca
    anicca Member Posts: 334 Member

    Why is everyone so sensitive
    Why do people get so sensitive if someone disagrees with what they think ? When I read about someone who ate a healthy diet and exercised daily and still ended up with my lousy diagnosis it makes me think that no matter how we ate or exercised we couldn't prevent it. I do not eat the best way that I should and I have a disability that prevents me from being able to exersise but I do not feel like I caused my cancer. Someday they may find a way to prevent cancer but for now they are pretty much cluless.
    Good habits are probably a part of the puzzle but not as important as we wish they were.
    Lets hope they find an answer soon
    Colleen

    So Sensitive
    I think it comes with the territory. I am pretty new here, and when I posted for help with questions for my doctor and no one responded for several days, I felt really bad and decided that I would delete the post and not post again. Then there was a reply, and I felt a bit foolish and realized I had been over sensitive.

    I think it's also hard to not blame ourselves in one way or another. Like I said in the post about CT scans, I can't shake the feeling that the abdominal CT I had 2.5 years ago, when I had a fever and GI problems, caused my cancer. I can just picture the radiation striking those sensitive cells and 2 years later, I have a tumor. The CT showed absolutely no pelvic masses. (It turned out I had pneumonia, which the CT did catch, because it was in the lower part of a lung.) I know there is no way to ever know if it had anything to do with my diagnosis, but it's an idea that just won't go away. I also know that it's not my fault anyway, but can't help playing the "what if" or "if only" game sometimes, and it centers around that scan.
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980 Member

    not eating right
    cafewoman, I know how you feel as I have a terrible diet. I don't care for many vegetables, will eat some fruit, absolutely love everything that is probably bad for me, like cake, candy bars, cookies, pasta, etc. but I was diagnosed on 2002 and so far I'm still here and I've received a lot of comfort from my "comfort food". I probably should be doing better and I do take a vitamin and I truly am going to try to eat a little better because my 21 year old granddaughter is now vegan and she talks to me about what I should be eating. You can bet I"m still going to be eating my sweets. I'm glad sweets aren't illegal or I might be in trouble. thanks. Patty

    I re-read my post and I just don't see what I said that offended
    I certainly apologize, but I can't figure out what I said in my post that could have offended anyone. And yet I've been named in this thread as the offender, and so I apologize for any unintended offense. All I said was that life-long I've been a exercise/watch-what-you-eat kind of person. (I even worked in a health club teaching yoga, aerobics, and weight lifting.) Never smoked, never overweight, no surgeries, worst illness before cancer was a bad case of poison ivy. And I still got cancer. That's simply a fact.

    And that I remain on a healthy diet and even do the 'Anti-Cancer Diet' recommended gallons of daily green tea and ginger and and tumeric, etc. And yet I continue to have recurrences. That's a fact, too; wish it wasn't.

    But I do credit my healthy diet with enabling myself to endure the endless chemo with a good quality of life and no symptoms even with 35% of my liver involved with mets.

    Was it the tiramiso/cheesecake/Hershey bar comment? Anyhoooo, I'm sorry. :(
  • srwruns
    srwruns Member Posts: 343

    Sympathetic vs parasympathetic nervous system
    Sorry to upset you, Linda; however, the science is there to support that eating when you are REALLY upset is probably not a good idea.

    There are two parts to the nervous system that controls basic life functions (sympathetic & parasympathetic nervous systems). One function of the parasympathic nervous system is to control digestion and the movement of the gastrointestinal tract. The sympathetic nervous controls the "fight or flight" response. The sympathetic nervous system has the ability to significantly slow down the parasympathetic nervous system--thereby stopping digestion for many hours. This is basic physiology.

    Food is supposed to pass through the stomach in 2-3 hours. Who hasn't vomited something that they ate 8 hours ago that looked completely undigested? Maybe I am the only one.

    Stress/worry/anxiety (call it what you will) all kick in the sympathetic nervous system which in turn stops the movement of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach, small intestines & colon) and digestion in general. When food just sits around not digesting, what happens to the food? Proteins putrefy, carbohydrates ferment and fats go rancid. Chopra is a medical doctor and was oversimplifying the concept for the lay person but the concept is sound.

    The response that I got from Linda lets me know that I am not appropriate for this discussion board. I think about things that other people would rather not think about. I already know this about myself...sigh.

    It upsets me to think that I am offending someone else to the point that I feel compelled to defend my comments. My apologies to all for upsetting anyone.

    In the future, I will keep my opinions to myself and I wish everyone the best.

    I really enjoy robust debate
    I really enjoy robust debate and discussion. I sure didn't feel anyone was personally "attacking" someone else's opinions or ideas. We all have differing perspectives, thoughts and ideas. I like when they are put out there in a non preachy way. The engagement of ideas and robust discussion is something that keeps a discussion board vibrant!