Did You Know? Important Health Info for the Healthy Lifestyle Conscious

(1) up to 40 percent of bottled water is ordinary tap water?

(2) exercise may help protect you against the flu (seasonal as well as swine [H1N1]? (Studies suggest that regular exercise bolsters the body's immune response to a flu attack. People who exercise suffer fewer and less severe colds and flus. )
Source: Reuters, October 23, 2009

(3) 1 out of every 6 American couples have problems getting pregnant?

(4) a new meta-analysis from Norway and the United States found that a high intake of processed meat may increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 40 percent?

(5) the curry spice turmeric kills cancer cells? (BBC News has reported that a research team has discovered that turmeric destroys esophageal cancer cells in the lab. The spice began its destruction of the cancer cells within 24 hours. Curcumin, the active substance in turmeric, triggered lethal cell death signals causing the cancerous cells to digest themselves.)

(6) of the 36 children who died from H1N1 (the swine flu) from April to August of 2009, only six had no chronic health problems, but all had a co-occurring bacterial infection? (This statistic is from a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC.) The most common co-occurring bacterial infection that results in flu-related deaths is staphylococcus aureus. One-third of the American population carries this infection. Its common location is in the nose or on the skin.)

(7) one of the reasons older people lose muscle size is that their blood flow is lower than that in young people? (A reduced blood flow means a restriction in nutrients and hormones reaching the muscles. Weight training has proven to be able to reverse this trend. Clinical studies has revealed that weight training rejuvenates blood flow, and brings it up to the level experienced by young people.)

(8) by engaging in as little as 80 minutes of aerobic or weight training a week will not only stop weight gain, but prevent you from regaining dangerous visceral fat one year after weight loss?

(9) nicotine is a very powerful immune system suppressant?

(10) we use too much magnesium when under too much stress? (Do you have a craving for chocolate? It may be a sign of magnesium deficiency. Chocolate is high in magnesium.)

(11) Alzheimer's disease jumped from the 7th leading cause of death in the United States to 6th? (This disease affects more women than men; about 17 percent of women 71 years of age and older have Alzheimer's while 12 percent of men 71 and older have it.)

(12) almost all of the popular orange juices that you drink have a chemical named ethyl butyrate added so that it tastes and smells like oranges? (Ethyl butyrate is also found in perfumes. Many commercially available orange juices are contaminated with mold from damaged fruit. Regular orange juice drinkers are ingesting these mold toxins.)

(13) if freshly ground beef is discovered to have been tainted with E.Coli, it is legal for the meat company to cook and package it as pre-cooked hamburger patty that can be sold at your local grocery store? (Even though USDA [United States Department of Agriculture] regulators say that cooking at high temperatures destroys the E.Coli bacteria, many consumers would not feel comfortable eating the meat.

This is just another little tidbit that food manufacturers and processors don't feel the American public has a need to know. This story was posted on the ABC News website and authored by Dan Childs of the ABC News Medical Unit.

This startling revelation comes on the heels of another E.Coli outbreak. According to health officials, an E.Coli outbreak has affected 11 states. The meat in question is fresh ground beef marketed nearly two months ago.

Unless the meat you buy is certified organic and grass-fed/free grazed, it is dangerous factory-farmed meat. Also be aware that consumption of red meat is linked to diabetes and certain cancers such as breast, colon, and pancreatic.)

(14) daily consumption of nuts and nut products during pregnancy increases the odds of your child developing asthma symptoms by almost 50%? (Researchers found that non-daily, occasional consumption of nuts to be okay.)
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(15) approximately 4 percent of American children have food allergies? (About 3 million people in the United States are allergic to peanuts or tree nuts.)

(16) the American health care system is the most expensive in the world, and among the most inefficient? (The United States spends more than twice as much on every American for healthcare as most other industrialized nations. And it is now in last place among these countries in preventing avoidable deaths through the use of timely and effective treatment.)

(17) a Swedish study found that people using cell phones doubled their risk of developing brain cancer and acoustic neuroma, a tumor that damages the hearing nerve? (This same study discovered that people who began using cell phones before 20 years old were over 5 times likely to develop brain cancer!)

(18) people with thyroid disease have an increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease?

(19) pasteurized milk was the very first processed food you were ever exposed to?

(20) natural antibiotics like oil of oregano and garlic perform like broad-spectrum antibiotics against bacteria, viruses, and protozoa? (Unlike pharmaceutical medications, taking these natural substances doesn't seem to lead to resistance.)

(21) the package inserts for the swine flu (H1NH1) vaccine state that safety of the vaccine for pregnant women has not been established? (Still the federal government is making it a priority that pregnant women get this untested vaccine.)

(22) seniors 65 and over are the fastest growing population segment in the United States?

(23) 1 in 5 seniors over 65 years of age is affected by constipation?

(24) breakfast cereal marketed to children contain 85 percent more sugar, 65 percent less fiber, and 60 percent more sodium than breakfast cereal marketed to adults?

(25) over 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed annually worldwide? (Over half of the adult population in the United States drink coffee every day. That totals over 10 pounds per coffee drinker annually.)

(26) people who are overweight or obese cannot process vitamin D efficiently?

(27) the appendix, rather than being just a superfluous piece of flesh, may assist the immune system by maintaining internal flora, known as symbiotic bacteria, located in the gut? (symbiosis is the process of maintaining a close ecological relationship [with each other].)

(28) Splenda, an artificial sweetener,

(29) people who drink a lot of artificially sweetened drinks are more likely to experience a decline in kidney function?

(30) teenage obesity may lead a woman to an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life? (The study which found this association tracked over 238,000 women for 40 years. Women who were obese at 18 years of age had doubled the risk of developing MS.)

(31) the fat dissolving procedure known as mesotherapy can lead to dangerous infections? (Mesotherapy is a cosmetic procedure which doesn't involve surgery, drugs, or exercise. It involves the injection of a 'so-called' fat-dissolving chemical into fat deposits. Over a period of weeks or months the fat is said to dissolve and be absorbed by the body. However, some patients have developed painful, inflamed, oozing skin infections. Doctors say that these infections are particularly hard to treat.)

(32) a new study suggests that carrying a cell phone on the hip may weaken your pelvis? (This study found that the side of the pelvis where the phone was carried had less dense bone matter. One hundred fifty men with an average age of 32 were study participants. They wore the phones for an average of 15 hours per day, and had used them for an average of 6 years. Previous studies found that constant cell phone use affected men's sperm count and the quality of thei sperm.)

(33) manufacturers intentionally mislabel high fructose corn syrup as: chicory, inulin, iso glucose, glucose-fructose syrup, dahlia syrup, tapioca syrup, glucose syrup, corn syrup, crystalline fructose, fruit fructose, and agave?

(34) of all the sugars (frucose fruit sugar, lactose milk sugar, etc.), maltose grain sugar is the slowest to be absorbed by the human body?

(35) sprouted grain is more digestible than non-sprouted grain? (Sprouting is the term use for plants when they begin to grow. The difference between sprouted whole grain and whole grain (non-sprouted) is whole grain is made by grinding the kernels (germ, endosperm, and bran) into whole grain flour while sprouted grain is ground and then baked.

Although studies reveal that the difference between the nutrient content of sprouted and non-sprouted grain is negligible, sprouted grain have other advantages. The sprouting process deactivates the phytic acid in grains. Phytic acid prevents the body from absorbing the minerals magnesium, calcium, zinc, and iron.

Sprouting also slightly increases the protein content of grains. The enzymes which comes about during sprouting breaks down amino acid protein bonds to promote better digestibility.)

(36) oranges are high in potassium?

(37) the three leading risk factors for lung cancer are: smoking, exposure to radon (typically in the home,) and exposure to asbestos?

(38) nicotine speeds up your metabolism, and when you stop, your metabolism slows down which results in weight gain?

(39) the liver and kidneys make about 2 grams of creatine every day from glycine, methionine, and arginine (amino acids)?

(40) after water, protein, and carbohydrates, the body needs EFAs (essential fatty acids) in terms of quantity? (We also need more EFAs than any vitamin or mineral.)

(41) your body makes about 1.5 grams of cholesterol every day?

(42) brains are composed of 50 percent EFAs?

(43) if you are not feeling great one hour after eating, or you yet have cravings for food, you may not be eating right for your metabolic type?

(44) antioxidants may hold the key to preventing the flu, any flu, from harming your lungs?

(45) it is estimated that up to 30 percent of the energy produced by your body is used to digest food?

(46) your liver is your body's primary fat-burning organ?

(47) the majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer have low vitamin D levels?

(48) if you use the standard cosmetic products which are abundant in our society, over the course of a year you can absorb almost 5 pounds of chemicals? (Many of these chemicals have been linked to cancer. Toxic chemicals in personal care and cosmetic products are standard in your 'name' product lines.

Thinking that I would do better by purchasing personal care products from a store specializing in natural and organic products, I read the ingredient labels on these products at Whole Foods. I was surprised. Even products labeled 'natural' contained questionable chemicals. I discovered from personal experience that products created by Mercola.com, including skin care products, contain nothing but 100 percent naturally organic ingredients. Discover that for yourself by 'clicking' on Discover 7 Secrets For Ageless Skin.)

(49) low levels of folic acid (found in green, leafy vegetables) have been associated with Alzheimer's disease? (Folic acid, also known as folate, is a B vitamin [B9]. It can be found in vegetables such as kale, spinach, and orange juice and enriched grains.)

(50) phytochemicals (plant nutrients such as lycopene in tomatoes, beta carotene in carrots, anthocyanins in blueberries, etc.) helps prevent disease and keeps you slim?

(51) a recent French study found that a Mediterranean diet (fruits, vegetables, extra-virgin olive oil, fish) reduces the risk of post-menopausal women from developing cancer?

(52) 24 million Americans 20 years of age or older have diabetes? (This figure represents 8 percent of the American population; 57 million other Americans have prediabetes.)

(53) America is the 3rd fattest nation on earth? (This statistic is courtesy of the World Health Organization (WHO.) This translates into well over 198 million overweight Americans--66.7 percent! According to health experts, America's appalling overweight and obesity statistic is caused by an overproduction of oil, fat, and sugar.

The overproduction of oil, fat, and sugar is due to government subsidies to farmers and food producers. Food manufacturers are paid by the government to include these fat-promoting substances in larger quantities in order to support American farmers.)

(54) dinner plates have increased in size 25 percent, to 12 inches or more in diameter since the 1970s?

(55) the systolic reading (top) is the most accurate indicator of high blood pressure if you are 50 or over?

(56) more men are affected by sleep apnea than women? (Sleep apnea is defined as 'a temporary cessation of breathing while asleep.' Five or more periods of sleep apnea during an hours time is considered to be a disease.

A new study associates being overweight or obese with sleep apnea. Losing weight proved to be an effective cure for this disease.)

(57) women who have underlying coronary heart disease are at an increased risk of dying from sudden cardiac arrest from eating too much trans fats?

(58) the risk of 50 year old white women developing breast cancer has increased from 1 percent in 1975 to 12 percent in 2009?

(59) the suppression of arthritis pain can lead to heart disease?

(60) you may be able to reverse or even cure diabetes by what you eat? (Research is showing that the gene PFKFB3 could be manipulated by a combination of nutrients. PFKFB3 plays a part in cancer, and controls the body's metabolism. It is also associated with inflammation that leads to diabetes.

The theory is that diabetes even along with obesity could be avoided or reversed with the right nutritional approach. The new research is focused on metabolic inflammation which is different than other types of inflammation. The control of metabolic inflammation with diet and nutrition may possibly reverse diabetes.)

(61) in 1924 the Arm and Hammer Soda Company had evidence that baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) was used successfully against the flu in 1918-1919? (A well-known physician by the name of Dr. Volney S. Cheney received a report that according to the U.S. Public Health Service, "...rarely any one who had been thoroughly alkalinized with bicarbonate of soda contracted the disease, and those who did contract it, if alkalinized early, would invariably have mild attacks."

The Arm and Hammer Soda Company was created over 150 years ago by Dr. Austin Church.
Source: http://sodiumbicarbonate.imva.info.)

(62) according to an editorial in the medical journal Lancet, you have a 90 percent chance of developing high blood pressure if you live in an industrialized country?

(63) simple lifestyle changes can normalize blood pressure in 85 percent of sufferers?

(64) people with the lowest leptin levels have a 25 percent greater chance of developing Alzheimer's disease? (CNN broadcast the results of a 12 year study which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.)

(65) there has been a 57 percent increase in autism among 8-year olds in a four-year period? (Broadcast by CNN on December 18, 2009.)

(66) most people eat protein-rich meals after 6 p.m. and very little protein at breakfast and lunch? (According to Dr. Don Layman, director of research at Egg Nutrition Center.)

(67) there is a strong link between high sugar consumption and the risk of schizophrenia and depression?

(68) autism has exploded by 57 percent in just 4 years? (By the end of 2006, 1 in 70 boys and 1 in 315 girls have been diagnosed with an autism disorder by the age of 8. Experts say that this number can't be explained by doctors and parents better reconizing this disorder.)

(69) unresolved emotional stress can be a contributing factor in heart disease and cancer? (Emotional stress includes such negative stresses as anger, guilt, sadness--any bottled emotion which doesn't make you feel good.)

(70) strength training can keep you out of nursing homes and able to live independently? (While listening to a Christian radio station this Christmas morning, I heard a regular feature which surprised me. The station has a medical doctor who gives daily advice and talks about various health issues. Today he mentioned the importance of strength training. Naturally I couldn't agree more. It is even more important as one grows older. Maintaining your strength means maintaining your muscle mass. Having sufficient muscle and strength is necessary for maintaining your balance, climbing stairs, and being able to carry on your daily living. I encourage you to, if you are not doing so already, incorporate a weight training program into your schedule. I can guarantee that you won't regret it.)

(71) milk and other foods that are fortified with vitamin D have the synthetic form known as ergocalciferol or vitamin D2? (Vitamin D2 isn't as potent as natural vitamin D and it doesn't last as long in the body. Studies have linked synthetic vitamin D2 to irritation of blood vessel linings.)

(72) people who get too little sleep (less than 7 hours):

(73) people who have high vitamin D levels at the beginning of a weight loss diet lose more weight? (Up to 85 percent of Americans are not getting enought vitamin D. Don't buy just any brand on the market, purchase all-natural Sunshine Mist Vitamin D Spray.)

(74) lutein in egg yolks is absorbed better than that from spinach? (Lutein is an antioxidant which protects your eyes from macular degeneration and cataracts.)

(75) nonorganic meats have up to 5 times higher levels of pesticides than nonorganic veggies?

(76) according to a Harvard University study which was published in the April, 2009 issue of Public Library of Science Medicine Journal, 96,000 deaths worldwide due to omega-3 deficiency are preventable?

(77) Americans weigh on average 25 pounds more than they did 25 years ago?

(78) there is an epidemic of obesity among 6-month olds globally?

(79) children who eat bananas on a daily basis have a 34 percent less chance of developing asthma symptoms?

(80) spinach may help to keep mental sharpness, and reduce the risk of developing cancers of the ovaries, liver, colon, and prostate?

(81) a high consumption of tap water can increase your risk of developing bladder cancer? (According to a combined total of six studies with almost 8,000 subjects, men who drank more than 2 liters (67.2 ounces) of tap water daily ran a 50 percent increased risk of bladder cancer. Approximately 13 million Americans are at risk for bladder and lung cancer because of high levels of arsenic (a heavy metal) in the water supply.)

(82) that hamburger you bought at McDonald's, Burger King, or another fast food restaurant may have been injected with ammonia? (According to a New York Times report, the extra cow parts and trimmings which have traditionally been used in pet food and cooking oil is used in hamburger meat. The leftovers are particularly susceptible to contamination by e.coli and salmonella.

It was discovered that treating the meat with ammonia would kill the bacteria. This is the same ammonia used in window cleaning products. This process has the approval of the United States Department of Agriculture.)

Source: New York Times

(83) approximately 1,400 calories of food per person in the U.S. is wasted every day? (Through spoilage, oversized portions, etc.)

(84) obesity-related diseases costs $147 billion every year?

(85) 1 in 3 of the world's adults is overweight and 1 in 10 is obese?

(86) fructose is the number 1 source of calories in the United States?

(87) a study undertaken by the AHA (American Heart Association) found that baked or boiled fish is healthier than fried fish?

(88) many reduced-calorie restaurant and packaged foods in the United States contain more calories than what is printed on their nutrition labels?

(89) 46 years ago today, January 11, 1964, warnings were placed on cigarette packages concerning the danger of smoking?

(90) every year in the United States, 25 percent of the population gets sick from food? (In Canada, the figure is 33 percent; in England, only 2 percent gets sick while in France, it's 1 percent.)

(91) the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is responsible for 80 percent of America's food supply (with the exception of meat and poultry)?

(92) according to a study conducted by Researchers from Ohio State University's James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, the cancer rate among the Amish is only 60 percent of the Ohio population at large?

(93) resistance training (weight) stimulates the release of fat-burning hormones?

(94) research by a leading cancer treatment center reveals that the quantity of beta-carotene in a large slice of pumpkin pie eaten daily may cut a man's risk of prostate cancer in half? (Whipped cream boosts the body's absorption of beta-carotene. A healthier alternative though is to eat about 13 baby carrots.)

(95) if GMOs (genetically modified organisms) were labeled, 53 percent of Americans would not buy it?

(96) New York City is preparing to sponsor a health initiative to convince food manufacturers and resturants to reduce the amount of salt in their products? (This health initiative is not just limited to New York City. The city has obtained support from other cities and states across the country. The plan's goal is to reduce salt in food products by 25 percent over the next five years. Health officials want to decrease high blood pressure rates which in turn would reduce heart attacks and strokes which can result. The program is completely voluntary.)

(97) vitamin C helps your body absorb iron while caffeine can interfere with iron absorption?

(98) breastfeeding can burn an extra 500 calories a day?

(99) aspartame was once listed by the Pentagon as a biological warfare agent?

(100) hemorrhoids will afflict 40 percent or more of the adult population at some point in their lives? (Hemorrhoids is any form of inflammation of the veins located in the lower area of the rectum. A few signs of this condition are blood on toilet paper, itching in the anus area, and pain during constipation. )

(101) Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is found mainly in red meat--quantities are highest in the liver and heart? (CoQ10 is heat sensitive. Cooking red meat much beyond 'rare' will destroy this valuable nutrient. CoQ10 is necessary for a healthy heart. People who go to Dr. Al Sears' clinic with heart disease risk factors frequently have very low levels of CoQ10.)

(102) according to Dr. Robert O. Young, health and weight problems may be due to an acidic body? (Dr. Young is a proponent of New Biology which says that all disease, including excess bodyfat, is caused by an acidic body. If you alkalize your body through proper nutrition you will attain your ideal weight and become well.)

(103) you can lower your triglyceride levels with white bean extract? (White bean extract stops sugars from being absorbed by the body. One study showed that people who took this supplement lost an average of four pounds of bodyfat. Take 1,500 mg of white bean extract twice a day.)

(104) grain diets create a much higher level of acidity in animals' stomachs which E.coli bacteria need to survive?

(105) the five most horrendous substances in America's food supply are antibiotics, hormones, GMOs, pesticides, and slaughterhouse waste? (What is slaughterhouse waste? It is waste from other animals--including road kill--which is ground up and fed to animals which are destined to end up on our dinner plates. This insane practice began in Germany then spread to the UK (United Kingdom) and the United States.)

(106) the percentage of Americans eating three or more snack foods a day grew from 11% to 42% between the years 1977 and 2002? (These snacks were primarily junk foods. The United States spent $68.1 billion on packaged snack foods in 2008 which is up from $60 billion in 2004. Among the newest and best-selling concepts are small packs of cookies and other junk foods. Contributing factors for the increased eating of snack foods are the death of family dinners and childen who are severely over-scheduled. This story was reported in the January 19, 2010 issue of the New York Times.)

(107) inactivity poses as great a threat to health as smoking--contributing to heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, depression, arthritis and osteoporosis?

(108) loss of muscle causes bones to weaken leading to osteoporosis? (Muscle places stress and pull on your bones which helps them to stay dense and strong; however, when that muscle atrophies, your bones become light and brittle.)

(109) according to the British Medical Journal, the greatest single factor for fractures is losing your balance and falling, and not

(110) low levels of vitamin B12 can reduce brain size? (In a study published in the journal Neurology, researchers used MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans to measure brain volume and took blood tests to record B12 levels in subjects. Divided into three groups depending on vitamin B12 levels, study participants were followed for 5 years. They received annual scans and were given physical and mental examinations.

The group which had the lowest levels of vitamin B12 lost twice as much brain volume as those with the highest amounts. Even after making allowances for initial brain size, age, sex, education, cognitive test scores, and various measures of blood chemistry, the difference was significant.)

(111) you can reduce your risk of stroke by 80 percent by following 5 simpe rules? (A large study which looked at men and women in their 50s showed that by adhering to 5 simple lifestyle steps, stroke risk can be reduced by 80 percent. These steps are: (1) walk every day (2) maintain a healthy weight (3) stay away from cigarette smoke (4) drink alcohol in moderation, or avoid it altogether and (5) eat nutritiously as much as you can. The men and women in the study who applied these steps were 80 percent less likely to have an ischemic stroke (most common experienced.)