The E. coli scare, which has prompted a number of consumers and businesses to discard their organic spinach, may cause Congress to reconsider the Safe Food Act of 2005, which will consolidate food safety oversight.

Some well-intentioned but ill-informed congressmen believe a consolidated Food Safety Administration might have caught the problem very early, before panic spread and common sense went out the window.

However, one former FDA official pointed out, rightly, that such consolidation makes absolutely no sense, citing the drastic differences between ranchers raising grass-fed, antibiotic-free animals and those doing it the conventional way.

Besides, do you really believe one more amalgamated federal agency -- tainted by compromises and backdoor deals -- would protect the quality of the food you eat any better than the FDA does in keeping dangerous, toxic drugs off the market?

It is important that you take responsibility for your own health.

The government, agribusiness, food manufacturers, chain restaurants, drug makers, and the health insurance industry do not plan their business around increasing your health, happiness and longevity. They plan their business around making money, and then more money for their bottom line.

Instead of trusting them blindly, do your homework. Others may be responsible for your health in the sense that they contribute to its success or demise, but you are the one human responsible for your health in the sense of personally caring about it and controlling its fate.

If you really want to optimize your weight, fight and prevent disease, have more energy, and live longer, this means far more than getting physician check-ups or reading nutrition labels. It means examining all the habits and perceptions that may be negatively affecting your health but that you take for granted, and then tracing these habits and perceptions back to their sources.

It means delving into the motivations of those sources, and as necessary, abandoning their plan for you in favor of your own.

Reading this newsletter is a good start as it will keep you informed of the latest shenanigans these entities are coming up with to deceive and manipulate your choices.