Resveratrol grape seed has amazing health benefits. If you are drinking wine and trying to see the health benefits, you may want to try a supplement that can boost the potential of resveratrol to the fullest.
What is Resveratrol?
For thousands of years, the Chinese have maintained their own unique insight, and hold a special degree of respect for the body's capability to resist illness, and maintain a normal cycle of balance with the outside world. Above the course of time, a wide array of therapeutic disciplines were developed around the general idea that the body's normal balance of energy is usually corrected in the event that it gets out of sync. This energy flows like water through the body, over approximately one dozen central pathways, known as Meridians. At least, this is how it works according to ancient Chinese lore. There are literally hundreds of necessary pressure points located along these channels, and utilizing acupressure as a healing method is based on treating these focal points on the body's life forces. Read the rest of this entry »
Acid reflux is a relatively minor disease. Acid reflux can usually be controlled by making some lifestyle changes. If you suffer from acid reflux, with proper care you can forget that you have it. Experiencing an attack can be a scary thing, however. If you know what the major causes of acid reflux are it may help lessen that fear. If you know what can cause an attack, you will know how to avoid them. For the most part, this disorder is easy to keep control of but there are some causes that are purely medical and beyond your control. Use the following to identify and control the major causes of acid reflux in your life. Read the rest of this entry »
Kojic Acid is a mild inhibitor of the melanin formation. It is derived from the Japanese common name Koji, a type of fungi in Japan. It is a product of the fermentation of malt rice for sake, the Japanese rice wine. Moreover, it is used to for skin lightening in cosmetics. Read the rest of this entry »
A urinary tract infection, more commonly referred to as a bladder infection or UTI, is a very painful condition in which bacteria enters through the urethra and into the bladder and causes several symptoms including but not limited to frequent urge to urinate, pain during urination, and bloody urine. If left untreated, a bladder infection can turn into a kidney infection, which is a much more serious condition that can result in permanent damage and/or kidney failure and even death. Read the rest of this entry »
Homeopathic medicine was started by a German physician named Samuel Christian Hahnemann in the late 18th century. A type of alternative treatment based on the principle of the Law of Similars or "like cures like," homeopathic medicine is additionally called as homeopathy. Read the rest of this entry »
Kidney stones are solid masses that form anywhere on the urinary tract or kidney. Stones vary in size, from too little to be noticed with the naked eye to an inch or more in diameter. A big so-called stag horn stone can fill nearly the whole renal pelvis and the tubes that drain into it. Read the rest of this entry »
Just by reading the word “osteopathy,” a clever particular person could possibly believe that this is several sort of treatment that involves the direct healing of a person's bones. There is truly much more to it than that. Read the rest of this entry »
Historically, statistics have consistently shown that although the majority of people commit to healthier living for the New Year, surprisingly, only a minimal percentage keep their commitments above and beyond the 6 week mark. What does this tell us? I believe that it shows that we either set goals that are unnaturalistic or that we have yet to master the traits of keeping our word and being disciplined. Read the rest of this entry »
Black seed oil from Egypt has been a go-to health product for centuries in Africa, but is now becoming more talked about in the U.S. It is made by cold-pressing Nigella Sativa (black cumin) seeds; which contain about 28-35% oil. It has many obvious benefits; but it also has some lesser known benefits that are just now being talked about in the medical field.
"You have to know where your food is coming from." These words of warning were spoken by biologist and plant expert, Arpad Puszati at a gathering of concerned citizens in St. Catherine’s, Ontario earlier this year.1
As far back as 1998, Dr. Puszati’s research at the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen, Scotland showed that genetically modified potatoes caused health problems in rats, including a weakened immune system and abnormal growth. For blowing the whistle on Big Agra, he was dismissed from his job. Read the rest of this entry »
Many people see diet soda is an innocuous, harmless beverage that can't possibly cause any harm to their waistline since it doesn't have any calories. Think again.
Research published this summer in the medical journal Circulation shows that people who drink more than one soda a day — whether it's regular or diet — have an almost 50 percent increased risk for metabolic syndrome, which doubles their risk for heart disease and diabetes. Read the rest of this entry »
Imagine being a child with a fast-growing form of leukemia. You have endured chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, IV medications and 23 different pills per day. Due to the side effects of the powerful drug cocktails you take, you have heart problems, a compromised immune system, steroid-induced diabetes, and short-term memory loss. Life hasn’t been easy the past 2 years, but there is cause to be happy because your cancer is finally in remission.
But now, new storm clouds are gathering on the horizon because you have nearly reached the lifetime limit of coverage on your family’s health insurance plan. Doctors have already let your parents know that there is not enough money left to pay for additional surgeries or specialized treatments that will be needed.
Your parents must either find other financial resources to help pay for treatments or you’ll have to do without them.
This is not a fictitious scenario, nor is it an isolated case. It’s the heart-wrenching story of 10-year-old Taylor Wilhite and at least 1 million other cancer patients who have depleted their insurance coverage and now must beg, borrow or go bankrupt to continue life-saving medical treatments.
Taylor’s story is one of many highlighted in a report1 from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the American Cancer Society that describe the stark reality that seriously ill cancer patients face when dealing with the astronomical costs of cancer care versus the lifetime benefits of most health insurance policies.
In Taylor’s case, the original health insurance benefit provided $1 million in coverage. When that was depleted, the insurance company relented and covered Taylor for another $500,000. But now, that is almost gone and Taylor will soon need more treatments.
Once insurance benefits are depleted, cancer survivors may discover that it is nearly impossible to find another insurance plan that will cover them. Even high-risk insurance pools don’t take all cancer patients, and the ones that do often have premiums that are so high, they are virtually unaffordable to most people. The New Hampshire high risk insurance pool costs one cancer survivor $13,000 per year in premiums,2 a sum that would be out of reach for most people.
So what can cancer survivors do if they find themselves out of health insurance and in need of medical care?
One option that is becoming increasingly popular is to hire a patient’s advocate. An advocate is typically a healthcare professional who knows how to navigate through the maze of treatment options, insurance documents, and hospital bills. If necessary, they even negotiate fees and services with healthcare providers, insurance companies and Medicare. Their job is to “protect and enhance patients’ rights and become agents of change in the healthcare system.”3
There are two types of advocate services that work solely for the patient: for-profit and non-profit. For-profit advocates are usually self-employed or work for an agency that provides services for a fee. Along with the services mentioned above, they can often advise patients on low cost healthcare services, how to apply for a discount on prescription medications, and financial assistance programs that are available through local charities and government agencies.
Non-profit patient advocate services can also provide a wealth of resources on government-funded experimental treatments, how to appeal if you’ve been denied treatment by your insurer, and how to apply for Medicaid if your insurance has run out.
The non-profit Patient Advocate Foundation (www.patientadvocate.org) will even represent a patient in matters involving job retention, outstanding debts, and insurance problems related to their diagnosis. Along with patient advocates, PAF employs physicians and attorneys that also work to resolve these issues.
As for Taylor Wilhite, she is one of the lucky ones. She will become eligible for HIPAA benefits when her current health care coverage ceases — although the additional financial burden will stretch the family’s budget to the limit.
The challenges of living with a cancer diagnosis are daunting, and when you are at the end of your financial rope, they can be overwhelming.
If you find yourself in this situation, don’t struggle alone. Log on to the PAF website and check out their free services or find a reputable patient advocate in your area. When you’re fighting for your life, the only thing you need to be concerned about is YOU.
References
http://www.kff.org/insurance/7851.cfm.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE51442Y20090205.
http://cancer.about.com/lw/Health-Medicine/Conditions-and-diseases/Cancer-Patient-Advocate-Information.htm.
By Melanie Segala Managing Editor, Total Health Breakthroughs
Copyright © 2009 Fourth Avenue Health Group, LLC, located at 245 NE 4th Avenue, Delray Beach Florida 33483, is a subsidiary of Early to Rise. All rights reserved. Total Health Breakthroughs is published weekly as a free email subscription service by Fourth Avenue Health Group, LLC.
The brilliant sunshine streaming through my window reminds me that we can now spend more time outdoors. Just in time, too. After the gray winter doldrums, especially in northern latitudes, say above the axis between Boston and northern California, there is a silent, invisible epidemic: vitamin D deficiency. This is a major component of widespread osteoporosis and resultant hip and wrist fractures that orthopaedists are called upon to treat.
You see, as important as calcium intake is to your bone health and integrity, it can’t get into your bloodstream and your bones without vitamin D. This essential vitamin is necessary to allow calcium ions in food to cross the intestinal wall.
Vitamin D is really not a vitamin though in the usual sense of the word. In fact, it is a steroid hormone, with an amazing array of bioactive properties.2,4 More recently discovered functions of this exotic vitamin include:
Vitamin D prevents the "soft bone" diseases — rickets (in children) and osteomalacia (in adults). It promotes bone growth and bone remodeling, and along with calcium, it prevents osteoporosis in older adults.1,4
Unfortunately, dietary sources of vitamin D are restricted to comparatively few foods like fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines) or fish livers (i.e., cod liver oil), milk and dairy products, egg yolks, and beef liver. Other dietary sources are from fortified foods, to which vitamin D has been added.
The major source for humans is sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation4 which synthesizes vitamin D in our skin.3,4
Whether you get plenty of sunlight, eat a lot of fish, eat fortified foods, or take dietary supplements, how can you tell if you’re taking the right amount of vitamin D — or even too much?
The answer to that question can vary depending on with whom you consult and your age. Most health care professionals suggest daily intake from dietary or supplement sources at doses of between 200 IU and 1200 IU. And because it’s a fat-soluble substance, you can take too much, but only at very high doses. (Consult with a doctor if you want to supplement with more than 2000 IU per day.) Oddly enough though, excessive sunlight does not cause vitamin D toxicity.
Toxic symptoms include nausea, excessive levels of calcium and phosphate in the blood, and possibly, heart rhythm abnormalities and kidney stones. The key is to take the right amount for you.
So here’s what I recommend. If you live in a year-round warm climate that permits sunbathing, the easiest thing to do is expose your body to the sun daily, for about 20 to 30 minutes on each side, front and back, between 10 AM and 2 PM. You must NOT use a sun block or tanning lotion, which will block the vitamin D generating effects.
It has to be direct sunlight, too — UVB does not penetrate glass walls or windows. And if you have a darker complexion, this method is less effective, as melanocytes (pigment cells) in the skin block much of the necessary UVB radiation.4
An alternative is a tanning parlor for the same daily exposure. Do not exceed these exposures without protection or else you may invite the proven skin cancer-causing effects of solar radiation. Above all, avoid burning. If you prefer to use supplements, try 400-1000 IU vitamin D per day.1-3,/p>
You can also ask your doctor to test your levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25 (OH) D) to ensure you are not deficient.
If you do decide to have your vitamin D level checked, be advised that no one knows exactly what the "correct" level of this indicator is.2 Results of less than 20 ng/mL indicate significant deficiency and must be treated. The range of 20-30 ng/mL reflects inadequate levels and should be treated. Over 30, and up to the 60 ng/mL range is optimal (and in sun worshipers, even 100 is considered normal by Quest Diagnostics and Lab-Corp laboratories).2 Levels consistently above 150-200 ng/mL are considered toxic.2
Remember to take sufficient calcium with your vitamin D. These two nutrients work together to strengthen your bones. For middle-aged and older folks, a minimum intake of about 1200 mg/day of calcium is recommended.
I’d recommend testing your vitamin D levels every few months, especially during the winter if you live in a colder northern climate. I’d also recommend a calcium test every few months. By following your serum 25 (OH) D levels and knowing what you’re ingesting, you and your doctor can determine what the "correct" dosage is for you.
By Dr. Bill Stillwell
References
Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet — Vitamin D: National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, last updated 12/11/2008.
Does Vitamin D Treat Cancer? in The Vitamin D Newsletter. Jan. 2008.
Can Vitamin D Prevent Cancer? American Cancer Society News Center. 12/29/2005.
Kochupillai, N. Indian J. Med Res. 127, March 2008, pp 256-262.
[Ed. Note: Dr. Bill is the online handle for William T. Stillwell, MD, FACS, FICS, FAAOS, FAANAOS, FAAPGS, a highly credentialed, board-certified orthopaedic surgical specialist, now President & CEO of Dr. Bill's Clinic, Inc. and author of How to Avoid Knee Surgery. To learn more, click here.]
By Joseph McCaffrey, MD, FAC
It seemed like it happened every time, and for the longest while I didn’t think I could do anything about it. I’d be going along feeling fine and healthy. Then I’d have a critically ill patient under my care. After a few days of stress and interrupted night’s sleep, WHAM — I’d come down with a heck of a cold.
At first, I didn’t know what specific steps anyone could take to keep their immune function at an optimal level.
As a physician, I was of course aware of the components of the immune system and their functions. However, like many aspects of wellness, traditional medical training doesn’t emphasize how we can support immune function in normal day-to-day life.
When I starting exploring complementary medical treatments, I was surprised at how much research had been done in this area. Once I started applying what I learned, those stress-related colds became a thing of the past. I’d like to share some of what I learned about building up a healthy immune system and fighting off those nasty bugs with you now.
Our immune system is a complex, interacting web of chemical and cellular components that serves to protect us against potential invaders such as bacteria, viruses and cancer cells. Although we often talk about immune "boosting," what we really want is a perfectly balanced immune system (an overly active immune system can damage the body, but that’s another story).
A healthy lifestyle supports vitality, including immune health. It’s the foundation of any wellness program.
But before we look at how we can strengthen immunity, it’s important to understand the specific factors that affect the immune system. These include nutritional deficiencies, infections, trauma, toxins (all too common in today’s world), radiation exposure, emotional state and, very importantly, stress.
Stress causes an increase in the hormone cortisol. Short term, this can be beneficial, but long term, an elevation of cortisol is a powerful suppressor of immune function. Stress was one factor that weakened my immune system when I was taking care of those critically ill people.
Fortunately, several behavioral interventions counteract the effects of stress on the immune system. You are probably aware of meditation as a stress management tool. Other proven interventions include clinical biofeedback, relaxation techniques, hypnosis, behavior modification, and visualization and imagery techniques. The techniques that I’ve personally found most useful are taught by the Institute of HeartMath.
The main thing is to learn a technique that appeals to you and then use it. Increasing stress is part of today’s world, and if we don’t take steps to counteract it, we’ll pay the price with illnesses.
Another factor that affects immunity is sleep, or rather, the lack of it. Even modest sleep deprivation has a profound effect. For example, a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine reported that people who had less than 7 hours sleep a night were more than three times as likely to come down with a cold during the course of the study, than those who had 8 or more hours of sleep. Not only that, difficulty falling asleep and interruptions in sleep during the night greatly increased the risk of developing a cold.
It’s easy to see why I got sick so easily when I was worrying about a patient and not getting enough sleep. Managing stress and getting enough sleep is a solid start. Here are some other things you can do to keep your immune system functioning at its best.
Get more exercise. Exercise not only strengthens your muscles, it strengthens your immune system. I won’t belabor the point here, but a strengthened immune system is yet another reason to make exercise a regular part of your life.
One point of caution is to keep in mind that exercising steadily for over 90 minutes is counter-productive. At that level of intensity, the exercise itself becomes a type of chronic stress. For most of us this is not an issue, but it certainly is for endurance athletes.
Eat a healthy diet. A healthy diet should be part of any wellness program. Any nutrient deficiency suppresses immune function, as does an excess consumption of sugar and refined foods. Emphasize a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and include healthy fats from adequate amounts of lean protein.
Add immune enhancing supplements. Although a healthy diet is the foundation, supplements can be of benefit as well. Taking a high potency multivitamin and mineral supplement is a reasonable first step. Zinc and selenium are two minerals that are particularly important for immune system support. Be sure your supplement includes them.
Perhaps the most important vitamin to be aware of regarding your immune system is vitamin D — it affects the immune system at multiple points and is also deficient in many people.
We need exposure to sunlight to generate our own vitamin D. Most people, especially those in the northern states, don’t get nearly enough exposure.
Fifteen to 20 minutes of exposure to bright sunlight daily is enough to maintain adequate vitamin D levels. Barring that, you should consider taking a supplement. The amount in a typical multivitamin won’t be nearly enough to correct a deficiency. You can have your blood level of vitamin D checked, but it is generally safe to take 1000 to 2000 units a day. Some people require even more.
Keep your digestive system healthy. Many people don’t realize that the gastrointestinal tract plays a very important role in overall immune function. Although research into this area is only just beginning, it is clear already that the type of bacteria residing in our GI tract makes a difference.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to periodically take a course of probiotic (beneficial bacteria) supplements to help maintain a healthy GI floor. This is especially important if you need to take antibiotics for any reason.
You don’t have to be a victim of the latest cold or flu outbreak. If you heed the advice I’ve just given you, you can count on your immune system to keep you healthy and well.
[Ed. Note: Joseph F. McCaffrey, MD, FACS is a board-certified surgeon with extensive experience in alternative medicine, including certification as a HeartMath Trainer. His areas of expertise include mind-body interaction and cognitive restructuring. Dr. McCaffrey strives to help people attain their optimum level of vitality through attention to all aspects of wellness. For more information, click here.]
Lenette: I have a question about coffee. Coffee is so popular and so important for so many people to keep them on and alert. What superfoods, and I know cacao is always an option, but what other superfoods can give people the same effect or same reward as coffee?
David: Marine phytoplankton is very interesting in that regard because it provides energy without stimulation. It’s not a stimulant. The actual methodology or mechanism of how that works I learned from a very interesting scientist by the name of Dr. George Merkle who I had the pleasure of meeting about eight or nine years ago. He actually invited me over to his house and I sat with him for a number of hours one day and described to me what his scientific discoveries were. His scientific discoveries were so massive that he was basically targeted by the ‘World Medical Mafia’ or whatever you want to call it. They had to get rid of him because what he was bringing to the table was so powerful that it kind of deletes the whole idea of pharmaceuticals. In fact, in a lot of ways, it deletes the whole idea of food. Here’s what he discovered: he discovered that the ancient organisms of the planet, plankton, those organisms produce ATP, or nucleotides. ATP, ADP, all these different types of nucleotides. Now this is actually the energy currency of our cell. Our cell doesn’t run on protein, carbohydrates and fat or burn forms of those things. It actually runs on ATP. So all the food we eat is in the wrong currency. It has to be converted over to ATP, ADP, GTP, GDP, all the nucleotides. Then the nucleotides are packets of energy that our body can use. If we had a food that we could go to that would just be a concentrate of nucleotides, then it would actually completely nourish us, totally energize us, make us alert with a high level of concentration with no stimulation. And that’s exactly what marine phytoplankton is and that’s exactly where Dr. Merkle found that all of those nucleotides could more naturally be concentrated in the environment and could be concentrated even more. You get that, because if you do a dropperful or two droppers full of marine phytoplankton, there’s a tremendous stimulation that’s there, but there’s no crash afterwards because it’s not a stimulant. It’s actually just pure nucleotides.
Lenette: What superfoods can enhance our brain functioning in this book?
David: Goji berries enhance our brain functioning. Cacao, in the right people. Maca. Maca is a very powerful brain food also. It’s actually quite oily. It’s an oily vegetable, a very interesting vegetable in its ability to interface with our neurological functioning. It just goes right into the brain and right into our nervous system. Another one that is right in there is blue-green algae because of the Omega-3, and it has long-chain Omega-3. One of the things about blue-green algae and marine phytoplankton is that they actually contain the same oil, namely DHA, that’s in fish oil. That’s an Omega-3 fatty acid that’s different from what’s in hemp seed or flax seed or chia seed. That’s more of what we need actually. We kind of call them ‘hyperoils’. They’re Omega-3 fatty acids, but they’re longer chain than what’s found in hemp seed, flax seed and chia seed. And that’s appropriate for our brain and eyes.
Lenette: I just feel like, me personally, I’m always looking for more memory, quicker brain functioning, clearer focus and I would assume that a lot of people are looking for that too, if they’re already pretty healthy and energetic.
David: I think you’re right. The number one complaint out there, like in America, is low energy. The number two complaint is actually foggy thinking. Foggy brain, lack of memory. We know that all that is related to the holistic picture of what we’re about. For example there’s a diet and nutrition and detoxification relationship that the more toxic we are, the more cloudy our thinking, the more that we have Candida and critters growing inside of us, foggier thinking. As we clean that stuff out and as we step out of that, then we can kind of dial it in a little bit tighter with superfoods, things like Camu Camu berry, Reishi mushroom, blue-green algae, marine phytoplankton, Maca, Goji berry. If we just are on that high-end fuel and have gotten all the excess out of our body, we’ve detoxified, we’ve gotten the critters out of our body, etc. then we can start to tweak and perturb our brain and memory capacity in a way that…I think we haven’t been there yet. As a population we don’t understand how incredible our brains really are when they’re functioning properly and they’re cleaned out.
Lenette: I have a question about gold to ask you. Gold has been widely used and has been highly valued by civilizations for thousands of years. Even today as the economy struggles, the value of gold steadily rises. What makes gold so unique and special and what do you see in the future for gold?
David: I approach gold from a more alchemical perspective. I grew up mostly with a scientific background with the periodic table of elements and learning that gold is one of many metals on the Earth, I think a little bit devaluing what gold really is. The reason that gold is so interesting, and has been since the beginning of time is because it doesn’t oxidize. When you have gold in a river or sitting on the side of a creek or in your house, it doesn’t oxidize. It never changes color. It’s always pure. It has been understood by the alchemists as being the most pure download of sun or solar energy of any substance that exists in our biosphere. The sun and gold are related to each other. For example, let’s say you’re trying to melt gold and then form it into a tooth, but on that day there’s a solar eclipse. If there’s anything weird going on with the sun, then gold is affected by it. This understanding, more the alchemical understanding of what gold is, is what I got into later, because I realized that the conventional understanding of what gold is doesn’t really add up. It doesn’t explain why there is a problem with crystallizing gold when there is a solar event going on. How could they be related? But they are. And here’s where we’ve come to our understanding of what gold is. Gold is on the same octave, it’s like middle ‘C’ on a keyboard of a piano, and if you go to the next ‘C’ on the right, there you have the sun. If you go to the next ‘C’ on the right, you have the heart. If you go to the next ‘C’ on the right, then you have serotonin. You go to the next ‘C’ on the right and there you have the king on the chessboard. These are all octaves of each other. They’re like metaphors of each other, but they are all related. For example, if there are sunspots going on on the sun, the amount of heart attacks that occur can double on that given day or week. Sunspots on the sun affect deeply what’s going on inside our hearts. So our heart and the sun are connected. Serotonin and the sun and gold are all connected to each other. They’re all in that same octave. Does that make sense?
Lenette: Yes. It’s fascinating.
David: When you take gold, like colloidal gold, you are allowing your body to have access to a frequency that helps you replicate serotonin and what that actually does…like colloidal silver, for example, kills all "parasites"; fungus, yeast, mold, viruses, Candida. Colloidal silver kills all of that. But colloidal gold kind of kills all metaphysical parasites. Another way of saying that is, it increases your stress defense shield.
Lenette: Yeah, I’ve really found that. I’ve been taking that for the past 6 months or so. I feel much happier.
David: Do you find that you’re happier really? Has that been an effect that you’ve noticed? Because that should be an effect.
Lenette: I definitely do. I love my life. I try to do other things, too, to improve my mood; the way I talk or doing a little 10-minute visualization or meditation. There are a lot of other things that I also incorporate. I’m never really sure if it’s the colloidal gold or the combination of everything together. It’s probably that.
David: I’m sure it is. When you get to the point of being into superfoods at the level you’re in, raw foods, and just kind of on the high end, if you take it realistically, you’re in a completely different reality from where everybody else is at. Realistically.
Lenette: It’s just nice to know that I’m doing everything possible. I’m treating myself like a queen drinking gold in the morning.
David Isn’t that great? Ultimately I believe that people who are attracted to these things, to superfoods, to raw foods, to colloidal gold and things of that nature are people who have a high self-esteem about themselves, because they come to a place where they realize, "I’m worth it and I’m now going to give my body the best. I’ve done the other thing and it doesn’t work. Now I’m gonna do it this way." People are motivated; they’re psyched about it. It’s amazing.
Lenette: I love the affirmation, "I eat the best foods on the planet." I think I heard that from you. "I eat the best food ever. I drink the best drinks ever," and I think that’s kind of the culture of the Elements for Life crowd, at least, and a lot of people out there that eat raw foods and superfoods, it’s a great attitude they have.
David: Totally. Thomas Jefferson said this: "One who has a bad attitude cannot be helped no matter what and the brakes will always go against them. And one who has a positive attitude will be carried by the wind." And it’s like "Whoa, okay." Just attitude. It all really comes down to attitude, because attitude is the eternal spring from which all abundance arises. So if somebody has a poor attitude, there is no way they can create abundance [robed elements] into their life, because it’s like they’re constantly pouring sewage water into their reality. If somebody has a positive mental attitude and is actually in a state of abundance and is taking on their life’s challenges with a positive attitude, then they are constantly pouring spring water onto their life’s reality. It is really a radical difference. It eventually is what I believe the future of humanity is going to come down to. What is our attitude about this, that and the other thing? It’s really all about that.
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Lenette Nakauchi is a raw foodist living in Chicago who loves teaching, coaching and demonstrating to others how to go and stay raw a fun, healthy, sustainable way. Listen to the entire audio interview and learn more about the superfoods by visiting Go Raw, Have Fun! and www.eatsuperfoods.com.
In the ocean surrounding the continent of Antarctica there are millions of tons of a natural resource known for healing a host of ailments and serious health conditions. It’s called krill oil, and it’s derived from a tiny shrimp-like crustacean species called krill.
After years of research and clinical studies, there is now scientific proof to support the evidence of this amazing nutrient’s effectiveness in treating high cholesterol… blood pressure problems… aching joints… PMS symptoms… and more.
Not only is krill oil safe and natural, but it’s also renewable, since, at best count, up to 600 million tons can be found in the chilly waters off Antarctica.
Why Krill Oil?
The reason krill oil is more effective than other marine oils is because it’s full of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, phospholipids and extremely potent antioxidants.1 It’s the unique combination of these essential ingredients that provides the greatest health benefits.
Harvested only two months out of the year under responsible fishing regulations, the krill are flash-frozen to maintain the potency of their therapeutic oil.
Benefits of Omega Fatty Acids
Both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential for your diet since your body doesn’t produce them on its own.
Krill oil contains a healthy balance of omega-3 fatty acid and omega-6 fatty acid — which helps fight infection. These two fatty acids need each other and work together to prevent other inflammation-related ailments like heart disease, arthritis and diabetes. A healthy balance of these fatty acids helps to prevent blood clotting, lower blood pressure and relieve inflammation.
The Power of Phospholipids
Phospholipids are fats that help keep your cells functioning by providing a protective membrane around each cell to block out toxins and disease-forming free radicals.
The fats found in krill oil most closely resemble the phospholipids found in your brain that are responsible for maintaining the brain chemical that controls your memory, muscle function, mood, sleep patterns and organs like your heart.
The Protection of Antioxidants
Results from laboratory tests show that krill oil contains a powerful cocktail of antioxidants, which are not only beneficial for your continued health, but also sustain the shelf life of the oil.
Krill oil provides you with an ample supply of vitamins A, E and D, plus minerals such as potassium, sodium and zinc. And it also contains large amounts of the B-complex nutrient, choline.
However, the most powerful antioxidant in krill oil is astaxanthin. This nutrient is responsible for fighting free radicals within the body and protecting the blood-brain barrier — which means it protects the eye, brain and central nervous system from free radical damage.
Krill Oil for Your Aching Joints
If you suffer from creaking, cracking joints… stiff hands and fingers… lingering back pain… or sore swollen legs due to recurrent inflammation, then krill oil may be the miracle you have been searching for!
In a double-blind study,1 45 patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis were administered 300 mg of krill oil. After only seven days, inflammation was reduced by 19 percent, pain was reduced 24 percent, stiffness was reduced by 21 percent and immobility was reduced by 16 percent!
How does this all-natural pain reliever work so well? It’s the combination of the trio of anti-inflammatory ingredients — omega fatty acids, phospholipids and numerous powerful antioxidants.
Ease Your Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
As many as 97 percent of women of reproductive age experience the recurring symptoms of PMS including cramps, water retention, bloating, weight gain and emotional mood swings.1 But krill oil has been proven to relieve your worst symptoms!
In a randomized, double-blind study, researchers in Montreal studied the effects of krill oil on PMS, and patients reported a significant improvement in all 10 physical and mental symptoms examined and measured. The findings show that krill oil can:1
Ease abdominal pain and uterine cramps.
Relive nausea, bloating and fatigue.
Alleviate headaches as well as joint and body aches.
Lessen PMS-related breast tenderness.
Improve erratic mood swings and food cravings.
Help prevent menstrual-related feelings of anxiety, depression and stress.
In fact, the women who consumed krill oil during the study period reported that they took fewer dangerous over-the-counter pain relievers to help with their PMS symptoms.
Reduce Your Chances of Heart Disease
High total cholesterol and high "bad" LDL cholesterol can be major risk factors for heart disease or a fatal heart disaster.
In a clinical study conducted by Canadian researchers from the University of Montreal,1 the findings show that krill oil significantly reduced several risk factors for high cholesterol.
In fact, the results showed a:
Reduction in total cholesterol by 13 percent.
Decrease in "bad" LDL cholesterol by 32 percent.
Reduction in triglycerides by 11 percent.
Increase in "good" HDL cholesterol by 44 percent.
More Effective Than Standard Fish Oil Supplements
Krill oil has been shown to outperform fish oil supplements when it comes to lowering your bad LDL cholesterol levels. Patients who took 1 to 1.5 grams of krill oil a day — compared to three times the dose of standard fish oil — showed a significantly greater decrease in bad cholesterol than the fish oil patients.
In an Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) test,1 krill oil was shown to contain 300 times the amount of vitamin A and E, plus 48 times the antioxidant power of standard omega-3 fish oils.
It’s no wonder that the manufacturers of fish oil don’t want you to hear about this magnificent natural resource — they would be out of business with results like these!
For much-needed relief from joint pain and PMS symptoms, plus reduced LDL cholesterol levels, I recommend nature’s amazing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant remedy — krill oil. Once you see and feel the results you may never want to take standard fish oil supplements again!
Reference
The Healing Power of Neptune Krill Oil. Tina Sampalis, M.D., Ph.D., 2005.
By Michael Cutler, MD
[Ed. Note: Michael Cutler, M.D. is a board-certified family physician with more than 17 years of clinical experience. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Tulane Medical School. Dr. Cutler's practice focuses on integrative solutions to health problems, and behavioral and nutritional medicine. For more information, visit www.truehealth.com.]
Benefit from a chronic fatigue treatment using diet
Generally, it is believed that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is not absolutely curable; however, it can be managed. Several treatments have been suggested and one must choose the one that suits their lifestyle, their pocket, is the most effective, and have no side effects to help suffers of chronic fatigue syndrome coping better. Please note that the more natural and herbal the chronic fatigue treatment is, the more effective it is, as the body readily responds to such a treatment.
Here is a list of all the “self-care” and “natural” treatments for how to overcome chronic fatigue. Some of these are home-remedies and are 100% natural:
· Changing one’s lifestyle
· Drug therapy
· Chronic fatigue detox
· Physical Therapy
· Activity management
· Reducing stress
· Chronic fatigue syndrome diet Restrictions
· Herbal Nutrition Supplement: Make sure that the supplements are 100% herbal and have been purchased from a renowned manufacturer and supplier.
· Cold Water Baths
· Taking adequate rest
How do nutritional supplements help your cause?
Now, we will consider the case of taking a herbal nutrition supplement, as to how exactly do they function, and hence rid you from the vulnerability to CFS.
Essentially, these supplements perform the function of detoxifying your body from all the detrimental chemical toxins present. These herbal supplements tend to add more nutrients to your diet and hence make it “friendly” towards your body. The body, upon the intake of herbal nutritional supplements, responds by strengthening the immune system. The immune system is responsible for enabling your body for performing the “self-repair” functions. These nutrients work at the cellular level in the body. The body’s tendency to absorb nutrients from the diet also tends to increase as a result of these supplements. This is how to overcome chronic fatigue by adding a herbal nutrition supplement program to your daily chronic fatigue syndrome diet.
Completing a full chronic fatigue detox of your body is a vital function as chemical toxins tend to exacerbate the condition of CFS. These supplements help the body to rid these toxins from the blood stream.
Types of Herbal Nutritional Supplements
There are many types, and each functions in its unique way. Changing your nutritional diet intake will help improve your immunity levels to better fight off the predatory diseases that attack when your system has been weakened from chemical or viral attack resulting in CFS symptoms. There are many good natural alternative remedy tips to get from Helene Malmsio, who has been a Nutritional Consultant for over a decade and has created a site that is devoted to helping you help yourself with using nutritional supplements and chronic fatigue herbs to better cope with chronic fatigue.
All of these incorporate natural herbal based ingredients and are a part of the chronic fatigue syndrome diet plan that helps you to fight the condition of CFS:
· Protein Powder Smoothie Drink
· Vitamins & Minerals in a Herbal Base
· Florafibre with acidophilus
· Herbal Aloe Juice Drink
To help improve your health and join the people who have recovered from CFS, or at the least are able to cope better with their symptoms, you need to explore fully all the alternative health options available to you, including your nutrition. Find the products that have testimonials from people who have had positive health improvements. Talk to the nutritionists and wellness consultants who specialize in helping people deal with CFS on a daily basis, and have a good track record of helping their clients to recover. Don’t settle for anything less, you deserve the best!
By: Jamie Hanson
Article Source: http://www.articleinfo.org
As a result of an increased awareness of the damaging effects of free radicals, everywhere you turn someone has a high antioxidant supplement they want you to buy. They range from supplements containing vitamins C and E and the trace mineral selenium (give or take a few nutrients) to supercharged juices made from exotic berries, like acai berries. The prices are anywhere from about $10.00 all the way up to $70.00 for a bottle of juice; or $2.00 for one small square of acai-added chocolate.
One of the features used to market these products is their high ORAC value, and the manufacturers are now trying to outdo one another by getting higher and higher on their ORAC values. So what is ORAC and are these products really worth the high prices?
ORAC stands for oxygen radical absorbance capacity.1 Researchers at the National Institute of Aging developed ORAC testing as a way to measure the level of antioxidant protection capacity of a product or food. If a product has a high ORAC value, it has the ability to neutralize many free radicals.
Diets that are plentiful in high ORAC foods are associated with decreased disease risks,2 and more recent studies are trying to clarify which compounds are responsible for those benefits. For example a study of several high antioxidant legumes (black bean, kidney beans, lentils and more) found that these foods have the potential for preventing the development of atherosclerosis (plaque formation) by inhibiting LDL cholesterol oxidation. The study found that the foods’ phenolic compounds seemed to be most responsible for that effect, and that the foods’ ORAC values correlated well with those effects.3
When most people think about antioxidant protection they tend to think about the well-marketed super fruits such as gogi berries (from China) and acai berries (from Brazil). Freeze-dried acai berry is indeed very high in antioxidants with an ORAC value of 161,400 units. Gogi berries have an ORAC score of 25,300, but there are many common foods that also have high ORAC scores that can be found at your supermarket right now.
Spices, for example. The ORAC value of ground cloves is very impressive at 314,416 units. Cinnamon and oregano are also right up there on the list of high ORAC foods. Unsweetened dry cocoa powder weighs in at 80,933 units. Pecans have a score of 17,940, and English walnuts which are known for their healthy omega-3 fats, have an ORAC value of 13,541. Kidney and black beans both have ORAC scores greater than 8,000.
A good website to visit for easy ORAC searches is http://oracvalues.com/sort/orac-value/. The values reported are for 100 grams of the food.
As Jim described, we find that the best way to lower oxidative stress is to address all the factors causing the increased oxidative stress to begin with, but for the dietary component we follow at LMI, we don’t send patients out with acai drinks or pills. These products can be quite expensive and they only address one thing — ORAC value. And believe it or not, we are still learning about all the effects of an excessively high intake of antioxidants, even those from substances like plant flavonoids. Some studies are showing they may have negative effects, like inhibiting key enzymes in the body.4
Researchers will continue to try to identify if there is a level of antioxidant intake that is too high. In the meantime, many people eat diets that are almost devoid of antioxidants, and in this polluted world, that is not good. So, I want to emphasize that the preponderance of the evidence does show dietary antioxidants are beneficial to our health, and even the researchers who are concerned, say that antioxidants are safe and beneficial even at amounts that would be consumed from a typical vegetarian diet, which is much higher than a typical low fruit and vegetable intake diet.
We try to put our patients’ dollars to better use by choosing supplements for them that address their specific health needs. We find that a low carbohydrate, organic foods diet that includes plenty of high antioxidant foods like spices, beans, nuts, plentiful vegetables and 1-2 servings of fruit or berries each day can go a long way to reducing oxidative stress — without the expensive super-high ORAC supplements that still need more research.
References
What Is ORAC? Found online at: http://www.oracwatch.org/what_orac.php.
Leighton F, et al. Drugs Exp Clin Res. 25:133-141
Xu BJ, et al. Journal of Food Science. Found online at:
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118510071/abstract.
Skibola CF, et al. Free Radic Biol Med. 200 Aug; 29(3-4):375-83.
[Ed. Note: Laura B. LaValle, RD, LD is presently the director of dietetics nutrition at LaValle Metabolic Institute. Laura and her husband, Jim LaValle, R.Ph, CCN, ND have developed the powerful and life-changing Metabolic Code Diet - containing step-by-step, easy to follow recommendations for harnessing optimal metabolic energy and turning your body's chemical make up into a fat-burning furnace. To learn more click here now.]
"This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise’s Total Health Breakthroughs, offering alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription,
visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com"
from Johns-Hopkins
On the Ellen show, Sheryl Crow said this is what caused her breast cancer. It has been identified as the most common cause of the high levels of dioxin in breast cancer tissue.
Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), or simply dioxins, are a group of polyhalogenated compounds which are significant because they act as environmental pollutants. They are commonly referred to as dioxins for simplicity in scientific publications because every PCDD molecule contains a dioxin skeletal structure. Typically, the p-dioxin skeleton is at the core of a PCDD molecule, giving the molecule a dibenzo-p-dioxin ring system. Members of the PCDD family have been shown to bioaccumulate in humans and wildlife due to their lipophilic properties, and are known teratogens, mutagens, and suspected human carcinogens. They are organic compounds.
Dioxins occur as by-products in the manufacture of organochlorides, in the incineration of chlorine-containing substances such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride), in the bleaching of paper, and from natural sources such as volcanoes and forest fires. There have been many incidents of dioxin pollution resulting from industrial emissions and accidents; the earliest such incidents were in the mid 18th century during the Industrial Revolution.
The word "dioxins" may also refer to a similar but unrelated compound, the polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) of like environmental importance.
Sheryl Crow’s oncologist told her: women should not drink bottled water that has been left in a car. The heat reacts with the chemicals in the plastic of the bottle which releases dioxin into the water. Dioxin is
a toxin increasingly found in breast cancer tissue. So please be careful and do not drink bottled water that has been left in a car. Pass this on to all the women in your life.
Health effects in humans
Dioxins build up primarily in fatty tissues over time (bioaccumulate), so even small exposures may eventually reach dangerous levels. In 1994, the US EPA reported that dioxins are a probable carcinogen, but noted that non-cancer effects (reproduction and sexual development, immune system) may pose an even greater threat to human health. TCDD, the most toxic of the dibenzodioxins, is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). TCDD has a half-life of approximately 8 years in humans, although at high concentrations, the elimination rate is enhanced by metabolism.[18] The health effects of dioxins are mediated by their action on a cellular receptor, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR).[19]
Exposure to high levels of dioxins in humans causes a severe form of persistent acne, known as chloracne.[20] A case-control study has shown an elevated risk of sarcoma (a type of cancer) associated with low-level exposure (4.2 fg/m3) to dioxins from incineration plants.[21] High levels of exposures to dioxins have been shown by epidemiological studies to lead to an increased risk of tumours at all sites.[21]
Other effects in humans may include:
Developmental abnormalities in the enamel of children’s teeth.[22][23]
Central and peripheral nervous system pathology[24]
Thyroid disorders[25]
Damage to the immune systems.[26]
Endometriosis[27]
Diabetes[28]
Recent studies have shown that exposure to dioxins changes the ratio of male to female births among a population such that more females are born than males.[29] Dioxins accumulate in food chains in a fashion similar to other chlorinated compounds (bioaccumulation). This means that even small concentrations in contaminated water can be concentrated up a food chain to dangerous levels due to the long biological half life and low water solubility of dioxins.
Studies of dioxins’ effects in Vietnam
US veterans’ groups and Vietnamese groups, including the Vietnamese government, have convened scientific studies to explore their belief that dioxins were responsible for a host of disorders, including tens of thousands of birth defects in children, that have affected Vietnam veterans as well as an estimated one million Vietnamese, due to their exposure during the Vietnam War to Agent Orange, a defoliant chemical which was widely sprayed over Vietnamese land and which was found to be highly contaminated with TCDD. Several exposure studies showed that some US Vietnam Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange had serum TCDD levels up to 600 ppt (parts per trillion) many years after they left Vietnam, compared to general population levels of approximately 1 to 2 ppt of TCDD. In Vietnam, TCDD levels up to 1,000,000 ppt have been found in soil and sediments from Agent Orange contaminated areas, three to four decades after spraying. In addition, elevated levels have been measured in food and wildlife in Vietnam.[43]
The most recent study, paid for by the National Academy of Sciences, was released in an April 2003 report. This report is currently (March 2007) being revised for release again later in 2007.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that dioxin levels in Vietnam veterans[44] were in no way atypical when compared against the rest of the population. The only exception existed for those who directly handled Agent Orange. These were members of Operation Ranch Hand. Long-term studies of the members of Ranch Hand have thus far uncovered a possibility of elevated risks of diabetes.
Toxicity
Dioxins are absorbed primarily through dietary intake of fat, as this is where they accumulate in animals and humans. As this accumulation increases the pH of the tissue elevates in acid leaving the cells in an oxidized state. Here is the key to Pathogenic Fungus. In humans, the highly chlorinated dioxins are stored in fatty tissues and are neither readily metabolized nor excreted. The estimated elimination half-life for highly chlorinated dioxins (4-8 chlorine atoms) in humans ranges from 7.8 to 132 years.[16] The use of Essential Oils will assessed the body in the quick removal of these and other toxin.
The persistence of a particular dioxin congener in an animal is thought to be a consequence of its structure. It is believed that dioxins with few chlorines, which thus contain hydrogen atoms on adjacent pairs of carbons, can more readily be oxidized by cytochromes P450.[citation needed] The oxidized dioxins can then be more readily excreted rather than stored for long time.[citation needed]
This information is the kind we need to know that just might save us! Use a stainless steel canteen or a glass bottle instead of plastic!
This information is also being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
A dioxin chemical causes cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don’t freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard.
Sheryl Crow’s oncologist talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us.
He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers…This especially applies to foods that contain fat.
He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastic releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body… Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food.. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. Things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn’t bad but you don’t know what is in the paper. It’s just safer to use 20 tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc.
He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons…
Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran wrap, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food.
Cover food with a paper towel instead.
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