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October 24, 2009: a 3-month investigation by CBS News has revealed that the public is being hoodwinked by the federal authorities; the CBS study found out that reported cases of H1N1 (swine flu) in the United States are not as widespread as has been reported.

A CBS article stated the following: "If you've been diagnosed 'probable' or 'presumed' 2009 H1N1 or 'swine flu' in recent months, you may be surprised to know this: odds are you didn't have H1N1 flu. In fact, you probably didn't have flu at all."

The CBS investigative report discovered that the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) advised states to stop testing for H1N1. The states also ceased to count individual cases. Why, you may ask yourself, did the CDC issue that advisory?

The CDC's rationale was that it was a waste of a state's resources to test for H1N1 because it was already confirmed as an epidemic.

CBS News asked the CDC for their state by state H1N1 test results prior to asking the states to stop testing and tracking. When the CDC did not respond in a timely manner, CBS News contacted all fifty states personally.

CBS News found out that: "The results reveal a pattern that surprised a number of health care professionals we consulted. The vast majority of cases were negative for H1N1 as well as seasonal flu, despite the fact that many states were specifically testing patients deemed to be most likely to have H1N1 flu, based on symptoms and risk factors, such as travel to Mexico."

This graphic (above) from CBS News shows startling results from four states-Florida, California, Alaska, and Georgia.

Barbara Loe Fisher, founder of the National Vaccine Information Center, and former consumer representative on the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, asked the head of the influenza branch of the CDC how much of the flu-like illness that happens in the United States is actually caused by the flu. The reply was roughly 20 percent! That number more closely corresponds with the CNS News findings for 2009.

Why is the public being misled by the CDC? Mercola.com reports that conflicts of interest are pervasive in the vaccination infrastructure. The very same people who regulate and promote vaccines are the same ones who evaluate vaccine safety!

Follow the money trail. The pharmaceutical companies have a huge stake in H1N1 vaccinations. Billions of dollars of profits are involved.

October 26, 2009: Dr. Samuel S. Epstein, chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition, has gone on record with the warning that beef grown and processed in the United States is heavily contaminated with natural or synthetic sex hormones. These sex hormones are associated with an increased risk of developing reproductive and childhood cancers.

In a statement, Dr. Epstein says, "...Increased levels of sex hormones are linked to the escalating incidence of reproductive cancers in the United States since 1975 - 60% for prostate, 59% for testis, and 10% for breast..."

The sex hormones currently being used include the natural estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, and the synthetic zeranol, trenbolone, and melengesterol.

Pellets of these hormones are implanted under the cattle's ear skin when they are brought into feedlots. This is a part of the animals' 100 day pre-slaughtering period. These pellets are again inserted halfway through this period. The purpose of these hormones is to increase the animals' weight which adds an extra $80 profit per animal.

Comments Dr. Epstein, "... "Not surprisingly, but contrary to longstanding claims by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), residues of these hormones in meat are up to 20-fold higher than normal."

Since young children have naturally low hormone levels, the amount of estradiol contained in two hamburgers which if consumed in one day could increase a boy's total hormonal levels by 10 percent.

The incidence of childhood cancers has increased by 38 percent since 1975 according to Dr. Epstein.
Read also...

(Source: Organic Consumers Organization)

October 29, 2009: according to Iva Keene, author of the Natural Fertility Prescription, a home study course, infertility is an alarming modern epidemic; she has ten natural methods to address this issue.

Natural fertility treatments zero in on the root causes of infertility by focusing on the entire body rather than just the reproductive system.

Minimize exposure to toxic chemicals. Heavy metals and environmental chemicals interfere with a woman's reproductive system. Lead is one such metal. Other toxins to beware of are:

ovotoxicants which can interfere with or stop ovulation

endocrine disruptors which can interfere with the functioning of your hormones

phthalates found in plastic food containers, cling wraps, medical supplies and vinyl flooring; phthalates at minimal levels disrupt hormonal levels

VCH chemicals which are used in plastics, pesticides, and rubber tires

PAH which is released from cigarettes, car fumes, and road tar

Studies suggest that the sperm of men may be even more sensitive to environmental chemicals than a woman's eggs. To be avoided or severely minimized are pesticides, formaldehyde found in air fresheners, deodorants, floor polish, bisphenols in plastic containers, petroleum-based liquids found in household products, health care, photography, and many more, dry cleaning chemicals, and paint fumes.

Avoid unfiltered tap water. Increasingly our waterways are being polluted with not only industrial waste, but pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides and herbicides, and commercial cleaning products. Invest in a dual filtration system.

Eat an optimal fertility diet. A healthy diet to aid in fertility consists of organic meats and home-cooked organic legumes (not canned.) Also eat whole grain, organic fruits and vegetables. Increase your intake of healthy fats such as extra-virgin olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids.

Use organic extra-virgin coconut oil instead of vegetable oils for cooking. Not only does coconut oil remain stable under high cooking temperatures, but the body doesn't store it as fat. Use extra virgin olive oil for non-heating purposes.

Stay away from dangerous fats. Trans fats cleverly hidden in many food products can increase your risk of infertility by as much as 70 percent! Trans fats can be found in doughnuts, biscuits, lollies, candy, chocolate, chips, pies, fries, take aways, and thousands of other products.

Minimize animal-derived estrogens. On the average, dairy products represent a whopping 60 to 70 percent of the estrogens consumed in your diet. The following hormones have been detected in cow's milk: prolactin, somatostatin, melatonin, oxytocin, growth hormone, lutenizing releasing hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, estrogens, progesterone, insulin, and corticosteroids. This list is by no means exhaustive!

Multiple allergies and food intolerances. Studies have found that women with multiple allergies and food intolerances were more likely to miscarry. The two most prevalent food intolerances are gluten and dairy.

Check for STDs (sexually transmitted diseases.)

Avoid coffee, smoking, and alcohol.A study reveals that coffee decreases fertility. According to a study, just one cup of coffee a day decreases a woman's risk of conceiving by 55 percent.

Supplement. Even when you eat healthy and organic, chances are that your diet is yet lacking the nutrients needed for optimal fertility. Key nutrients are zinc, selenium, magnesium, calcium, B12, B6, folic acid, vitamin C, and omega-3s.

Source: Keene, Iva. Natural Fertility Prescription

October 30, 2009: the HELP trial (Healthy Exercise for Lymphoma Patients) found that aerobic exercise improved the quality of life and physical condition of patients with lymphoma; HELP found these benefits in a 3 year trial.

The trial researchers recruited and enrolled 122 patients with Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Some of the recruited patients were assigned to the usual care given to lymphoma patients while others were put on an exercise program designed to improve their cardiovascular health.

The patients placed on the exercise program improved on all levels. There was less fatigue and depression and increases in lean body mass and overall quality of life.
Source: Eurekalert, October 27, 2009.

November 2, 2009: A recent study found that four common psychotropic drugs prescribed for children caused rapid weight gain. Up to a third of children and adolescents who took the drugs became overweight in as little as 11 weeks.

The drugs researched were Johnson & Johnson's Risperdal or risperidone, Eli Lilly's Zyprexa or olanzapine, Bristol-Myers Squibb's Abilify or aripiprazole and AstraZeneca's Seroquel or quetiapine.

The breakdown by drug is as follows. Children prescribed Risperdal gained an average of 11.7 pounds; those on Zyprexa gained an average of 18.7 pounds; children on Abilify gained an average of 9.7 pounds while those on Seroquel gained an average of 13.4 pounds.
Source: Reuters October 27, 2009.

November 3, 2009: The online version of the Chicago Tribune published the ten top nutritional foods to fight the flu. Immune system boosting nutrition should be the first line of defense against the flu-including H1N1 (swine flu)-not drugs.

Here are the ten top immune boosting nutrients you should incorporate into your daily diet:

mushrooms mushrooms contain selenium which helps white blood cells make cytokine which clears sickness; beta glucan is another nutrient in mushrooms. It is an antimicrobial type of fiber that assists in activating powerful cells which locate and destroys infections. (An antimicrobial is a substance that kills or stops the groth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses.)

fresh garlic garlic contains a phytochemical called allicin. This is also an antimicrobial compound.

wild caught salmon full of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D; 3.5 ounces of salmon contains about 360 IUs of vitamin D.

tea research has shown that 5 cups per day of regular black tea quadrupled the immune system in as little as four weeks. Teas contains free radical destroying chemicals called ECGC.

yogurt a fermented product which is full of probiotics and prebiotics; make certain the label states live and active cultures.

dark chocolate high intakes of cocoa supports T-cells which increases the immune system's ability to defend against infections.(T cells belong to a group of white cells known as lymphocytes.)

oysters contains zinc; zinc rallies white blood cells to attack bacteria, and viruses like the common cold and the flu. One medium-sized oyster provides almost all the daily recommended amount of zinc.

almonds almonds contains the antioxidant vitamin E which reduces your chance of catching colds and developing respiratory infections.

strawberries contains vitamin C

sweet potatoes sweet potatoes have beta-carotene which is instrumental in the growth and development of immune system cells and helps neutralize harmful toxins.

November 5, 2009: studies have shown that olive oil, unlike Popeye's friend Olive Oyl from the 1930s cartoon, is a powerhouse; one natural compound in olive oil is an antioxidant known as DHPEA-EDA.

When DHPEA-EDA was tested against two other antioxidants, it left them in the dust. Antioxidants are substances which kills health-destroying free radicals.

Olive oil was also found to have a compound in it which has been associated with Alzheimer's disease prevention. This compound is called oleocanthal.

Researchers published an article in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology which describes how oleocanthal fights Alzheimer's. It binds to toxic proteins that clog synapses on the hippocampus (the part of the brain most affected by Alzheimer's disease.) This is the first sign of the deadly disease.

The type of olive oil that you want to purchase is extra-virgin. Extra-virgin olive oil is the least processed of all olive oils. It is recommended that two tablespoons be consumed daily. I like to pour it on my vegetables.

Olive oil should be stored away from light. A study found that extra-virgin olive oil loses up to 30 percent of its antioxidant potency when stored one year in a well lit area.
Combat the cause of stomach ulcers the natural way

November 6, 2009: scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recently tested a number of infant formulas and found that 5 of them contain perchlorate; perchlorate is a component of rocket fuel, and has been found in the drinking waters of 28 states and territories.

The two most contaminated brands of infant formula are manufactured from cow's milk and represented 87 percent of the powered formula market in the year 2000.

The general public is exposed to perchlorate through food and drinking water. But the effect on newborns may be far more detrimental than that on adults.

Perchlorate traces have been discovered in cow's milk, lettuce and other vegetables in addition to water. The fields surrounding the state of Colorado are highly contaminated with perchlorate.

Infant formulas based on cow's milk are by far the most contaminated with perchlorate. Following cow's milk formulas are lactose-free and soy-based formulas.

Perchlorate is known to disrupt thyroid function and hormone production by interfering with the thyroids uptake of iodine. It may also affect fetal development.

Information from the CDC states the perchlorate affects you the following ways:

prevents your thyroid gland from absorbing iodine (the thyroid needs iodine to produce the thyroid hormones your body needs to regulate how the body uses energy)

Iodine deficiency or conditions that prevent its use in making thyroid hormone lead to decreased amounts of thyroid hormone circulating in your blood, which can manifest as symptoms of hypothyroidism.

The only guaranteed healthy alternative to dangerous manufactured infant formulas is breastfeeding. Dr. Joseph Mercola advises all mothers avoid using soy-based infant formulas at all costs. Infant formulas are very popular in the United States.

"...I strongly advise parents to avoid soy formulas at all costs as it can potentially kill your baby...Let me make it perfectly clear. There is overwhelming evidence that soy formula will seriously harm your baby. I rarely talk about absolutes but this is one where I will say: never give your child soy formula." (Dr. Mercola; www.mercola.com.)

Soybean-based infant formulas have been found to contain high concentrations of manganese. This can lead to brain damage in infants and changed behavior in adolescents. The soybean plant drains manganese from the soil and concentrates it in the plant.

The other health issue with soy-based formulas is its estrogen content. A child fed soy formulas receives the equivalent of five birth control pills' worth of estrogen every day!

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A dietary intervention published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism says that by reducing your intake of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) may reduce inflammation and strengthen your body's defense mechanism.

The Western diet is replete with AGEs. They result from heating, pasteurisation, drying, smoking, frying or grilling foods. AGEs promote oxidation and inflammation and may ultimately increase your risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

Researchers from the US National Institute on Aging and Mount Sinai School of Medicine report that a simple dietary intervention that reduces intakes of AGEs may promote weight loss and improve overall health. According to researchers, health improvements occurred without any caloric or nutrient intake diet change.

Says study author Professor Helen Vlassara from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, "What is noteworthy about our findings is that reduced AGE consumption proved to be effective in all study participants, including healthy persons and persons who have a chronic condition such as kidney disease..."
Source: www.foodnavigator-usa.com.

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A study found that over 100,000 new cases of cancer a year are caused by excess body fat. This comes to us from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR.)

According to AICR, the estimated number of cancers that are linked to excess body fat include:

49% of endometrial cancers1 = 20,700 cases/year2

35% of esophageal cancers = 5,800 cases/year

28% of pancreatic cancers = 11,900 cases/year

24% of kidney cancers = 13, 900 cases/year

21% of gallbladder cancers = 2,000 cases/year

17 % of breast cancers = 33,000 cases/year

9% of colorectal cancers = 13,200 cases/year

Laurence Kolonel, MD, PhD, Deputy Director of the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii and AICR/WCRF expert panel member, says, "We now know that carrying excess body fat plays a central role in many of the most common cancers. And it’s clearer than ever that obesity’s impact is felt before, during and after cancer – it increases risk, makes treatment more difficult and shortens survival."

According to Dr. Kolonel, evidence now seems to point to the fact that excess body fat increases the production of sex steroids and other hormones which are associated with the growth of cancer. He says for instance that estrogen promotes cell replication in breast tumors that contain receptors for the hormone.

Also excess body fat causes DNA damage through an increase in oxidative stress. Excess body fat lowers the immune function too.

Data shows that overweight and obesity decreases survivability among cancer patients. However there is also strong data which points to greater survival rates of cancer patients who exercise.

Dr. Melinda Irwin, Ph.D, MPH, associate professor of Epidemiology at Yale University, says that a regular pattern of exercise regulates hormone levels. Studies have shown that women with high insulin levels have a two to three times increased risk of death than women with low insulin levels. (Read why having low insulin levels is important.)

November 7, 2009: seeds are a great addition to anyone's nutritional plan; Prevention magazine provided three seeds and their health benefits in their December, 2009 issue.

The three seeds discussed are sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and flaxseeds.

sesame seeds these seeds are good for healthy joints; two tablespoons gives you more than 80% of your daily intake of copper. Copper is an anti-inflammatory which may assist in easing arthritis pain.

sunflower seeds two tablespoons of sunflower seeds will supply almost 40% of the RDA (recommended daily allowance) of vitamin E. This vitamin is an antioxidant.

flaxseeds two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed will help to lower your cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure. Flaxseeds are full of heart-healthy alpha-linolenic acid (ALA.)

November 9, 2009: Organic sulfur has a veritable who's who list of health benefits. But what is organic sulfur?

Organic sulfur can be found in all living organisms. Raw plants and animal food have this substance too. However, you will not find organic sulfur in foods which have been stored during shipping, refrigerated, or cooked. Its chemical name is methylsulfonylmethane (MSM.)

One-half of your body's sulfur content is stored in the muscles. The balance can be found in the brain, hair, skin, and bones. Sulfur comprises about 0.25 percent of your body's weight.

Organic sulfur is not in the macronutrients carbohydrates and fat. It is in protein only. The protein amino acids methionine, cystine, and cysteine contain sulfur.

Sulfur is useless if it is powered, non-organic, or not lignan-based.

Here are its many benefits:

it has been proved to reverse Alzheimer's disease

repairs cell walls and promotes the growth of healthy new cells by letting them transport oxygen more efficiently

makes cell walls more permeable thus allowing more nutrients in and waste products out

detoxifier (take 1 teaspoon in the morning and another in the evening)

increases enzyme production within the glands which in turn increases resistance to illnesses

reduces muscle inflammation which reduces recovery time after a hard workout

destroys free radicals

promotes healthy and increased hair and fingernail growth

reverses osteoporosis and Parkinson's disease

promotes healthy skin and reduces wrinkles (one of the main ingredients found in moisturizing creams)

helps regulate insulin production

helps to reduce and eliminate diverticulitis

helps eliminate emphysema

helps to alleviate chronic headaches

reduces hypoglycemia (abnormally low blood sugar)

helps promote healthy kidney function

helps alleviate PMS

November 10, 2009: The web version of ABC News ran an article entitled More Muscle Power Means Lower Alzheimer's Risk. It seems that a new study has determined that seniors with stronger muscles are at a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than seniors with weaker, less developed muscles.

The study's author, Dr. Patricia Boyle of Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center in Chicago found that the greater an older person's strength, the less the likelihood of that person developing Alzheimer's disease over a four year period. The reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's also included the mental decline which precedes the disease.

Previous studies have associated grip strength with Alzheimer's. A person's fitness level and weight were also found to influence the risk factor.

Says Dr. Boyle, "These findings support the link between physical health and cognition in aging and the importance of maintaining good physical function and strength..."

In the muscle strength study, researchers looked at 970 dementia free male and female participants. Their ages ranged from 54 to 100 years old with the average age being 80.

The researchers tested the study participants' breathing muscle strength as well as nine muscle groups in their arms and legs. During the four year follow-up period, 138 participants developed Alzheimer's disease.

The study participants who developed Alzheimer's disease were weaker than the ones who remained Alzheimer's free, and they performed worse mentally too.

The part of the study group who ranked in the top ten percent of the strongest had a 61 percent reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. These people showed a slower decline in mental capacity over time too.

November 11, 2009: A new study has revealed that statin drugs (cholesterol-lowering drugs) may cause muscle damage even after their use has been stopped. This study was conducted by researchers from Tufts Medical Center and the University of Bern, and published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

It is already known that myalgia, minor muscle aches and weakness, occur in between 10 to 15 percent of patients on statins. Myopathy, a more severe and persistent pain, occurs in 2 percent of patients taking statins.

The researchers looked at a total of 83 study participants all of whom had muscle biopsies performed. Twenty-nine patients were currently on statins and suffering from myopathy while another 15 stopped taking statins at least 3 weeks prior to the study. The myopathy experienced by these patients was so severe that it interfered with their normal, every day activities.

Also included in the study were 19 patients currently taking statins but not suffering from myopathy and 20 study participants who didn't have myopathy and had never taken statins.

Muscle damage was discovered in 25 of the patients suffering from myopathy, including most of the ones who had stopped taking statins.

"Although in clinical practice, the majority of patients with muscle symptoms improve rapidly after cessation of therapy, our findings support that a subgroup of patients appears to be more susceptible to statin-associated myotoxicity, suffering persistent structural injury," said senior author Annette Draeger.

Source: NaturalNews.com.

November 12, 2009: When I was growing up in Jersey City, New Jersey, the milkman delivered milk in bottles to the home. Now it is sold even in corner grocery stores. This milk is pasteurized and homogenized.

Louis Pasteur developed the process now known as pasteurization while looking at ways to kill pathogens in wine. Milk was not involved in his experiments.

Pasteurization has been observed to change the physical structure of milk proteins such as casein. It also alters the shape of the amino acid configuration into a foreign protein that your body cannot process.

Friendly bacteria is killed by pasteurization, and it drastically reduces the micronutrient and vitamin content. A portion of vitamin C is destroyed and the growth of harmful bacteria is encouraged.

Pasteurized milk can lead to child problems such as rickets and bad teeth. Approximately 20 percent of the iodine content of milk is destroyed in pasteurization. This can lead to constipation.

The process of homogenization leads to the creation of xanthine oxidase. This substance leads to oxidative stress by acting as a health-destroying free radical.

The Humane Society of the united States went undercover to video the treatment of cows from which processed milk is sourced. They report:

"Factory farmed dairy cows are typically kept in indoor stalls or on drylots. A drylot is an outdoor enclosure devoid of grass. Cows raised on drylots usually have no protection from inclement weather, nor are they provided with any bedding or a clean place to rest.

Drylots can hold thousands of cows at one time. Because these lots are only completely cleaned out once -- or at the most, twice -- a year, the filth just keeps building up. Such conditions are not only extremely stressful for the cows, they also facilitate the spread of disease."

More and more people are turning to drinking healthy raw milk. They are experiencing a disappearance of health problems like allergies, digestive issues, and eczema.
Got milk?

November 13, 2009: The Times Beacon Record reported that the New York State Department of Health is investigating the death of an 8-year old boy on October 11, 2009--a week after getting a flu vaccine. The death occurred in Stony Brook Hospital.

This is not the first or only death that happened after a flu vaccine was given. A 6-year old Colorado girl eventually died after receiving a FluMist vaccine. Five people recently died in Korea after undergoing flu vaccines. A 25-year old woman suffered an irreversible disability after getting a flu shot.

What most people are unaware of is the fact that even if you get a flu shot, you can still get the flu. The reason is that the vaccine only allegedly protects against certain strains of the flu.

American health authorities travel to Asia in January or February every year to find out which flu strains are active. These authorities assume these same strains will migrate to the United States by the Fall.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) admit the following: "In some years when vaccine and circulating strains were not well-matched, no vaccine effectiveness can be demonstrated in some studies even in healthy adults. It is not possible in advance of the influenza season to predict how well the vaccine and circulating strains will be matched, and how that match may affect the degree of vaccine effectiveness."

There have been many documented studies which show that the flu vaccine does not work:

a study published in the October, 2008 issue of Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine concluded that flu vaccines given to young children seemed to have no impact on flu-related doctor visits or hospitalizations during two recent flu seasons

The Cochran Database of Systematic Reviews reports that according to two large-scale, systematic reviews of 51 studies, the flu vaccine is no more effective than a placebo

A Lancet study found that flu vaccinations were not associated with a reduced risk of pneumonia in older people. (The 35,000 of the reported 36,000 annual "flu" deaths reported by the government are the result of diseases like pneumonia, not the flu

The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine reports that there has been no decrease in deaths from the flu and pneumonia despite the fact that vaccination coverage among the elderly has increased from 15 percent in 1980 to 65 percent currently

November 14, 2009: The Los Angeles Times website (www.latimes.com) reported on a mouse study which found that a high-fat and high-sugar diet changes the makeup of bacteria in the gut making it easier to gain weight and more difficult to lose it.

An accumulating body of evidence, most of it gathered by Dr. Jeffrey I. Gordon of Washington University in Saint Louis, shows that in addition to genetics, physical activity, and the environment, gut bacteria plays an important role in weight gain. We need this gut bacteria to convert otherwise indigestible food into a form in which it can be absorbed by the body.

Ninety percent of gut bacteria fall into one of two classes: firmicutes and bacteroidets. Prior studies discovered that obese mice carried more firmicutes while lean mice carried more bacteroidetes.

Dr. Gordon and his assistant found out through the analyses of bacteria genomes that firmicutes are more efficient at digesting food that the body cannot. Animals that have a greater proportion of firmicutes convert more food into calories which is then absorbed by the body creating more weight.

November 15, 2009: Cup of Coffee and coffee beans.

Many studies point to the health benefits of coffee. While some of these study results may be valid, coffee has many well documented negative health effects. The serious coffee drinker must weigh the possible benefits against the well-researched detrimental health effects.

Coffee raises your risk for contracting stomach cancer and leukemia. It can also interfere with your body's ability to utilize water, and promote fluid loss. Note these other effects:

coffee elevates cholesterol

sends insulin levels out of control

contributes to rheumatoid arthritis and stroke

damages blood vessels

interferes with your body's ability to use folate and vitamins B6 and B12

Adrenals are hormones that stimulate your fight or flight response. If the adrenal glands are stimulated excessively, they will burn out. When this happens, your body wil seek a replacement.

The hormone the body chooses to replace adrenal is progesterone. Part of progesterone's job is to keep your estrogen balanced. As progesterone is used to compensate for exhausted adrenal glands, your body may become estrogen dominant. Being estrogen dominant can lead to osteoporosis.

Coffee promotes acidity in the body. This acidity extracts calcium from your bones and teeth to be used as a buffering agent. The combination of acidity and estrogen dominance further promotes osteoporosis. Scientific research has established an association between coffee and hip fractures.

The caffeine in coffee is a stimulant. The stimulation may be interpreted as an energy boost. But in reality, this jolt is temporary at best. Long term coffee drinking depletes your body's reserve of B vitamins, and this in turn saps your energy reserves.

Coffee is potentially dangerous for pregnant women. Studies show that consuming over 300 mg of caffeine, which is contained in 2 to 3 eight ounce cups of coffee, may increase your risk of:

miscarriage / spontaneous abortion

delivering a low birth weight baby

having a child with certain birth defects like cleft palate

Four or more cups of coffee per day may increase your child's risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome.)

With this clear-cut scientific evidence before us, the negative health effects of coffee far outweighs any possible benefit.
Source: Mercola.com Is Drinking Tea or Coffee the Smarter Choice?

November 18, 2009" In an article entitled Concern Over Canned Foods, Consumer Reports' online version, Health.org revealed the results of BPA (Bisphenol A) testing in canned food products. The results were astounding to say the least.

Bisphenol A has been in use for years in clear plastic bottles and as part of food can liners. Canada and some American states has restricted its use due to serious health concerns.

Animal studies have linked Bishphenol A to reproductive abnormalities and a heightened risk of developing breast and prostate cancers, heart disease, and diabetes.

In Japan, almost all manufacturers have voluntarily changed food linings back in 1997. A Japanese study conducted in 2003 found that consumers' urine samples had 50 percent lower Bisphenol A levels after that change was made.

Consumer Reports tested canned soups, juices, tuna fish, and green beans. In all, some 19 name brand foods underwent laboratory testing.

Almost all of the tested food products had some levels of BPA. Even some canned organically-labeled food products did not have lower BPA levels than similar non-organic brands. BPA was also discovered in food products labeled "BPA-free!"

Federal guidelines as to the safe upper level of BPA exposure are based on studies from the 1980s. There have been more recent animal testing concerning BPA levels.

These recent tests indicate that harm could come from much lower levels of BPA than currently stated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration.) This agency is deciding on stricter regulations based on current laboratory findings.

Naturally the chemical industry is fighting any new restrictive legislation. The American Chemistry Council states on its website: "The weight of scientific evidence clearly supports the safety of BPA and provides strong reassurance that there is no basis for human health concerns from exposure to BPA."

BPA is used by food manufacturers to extend shelf life. It was first marketed in the 1940s as a plastic component, and by the 1960s was used almost exclusively as canned food linings. Almost 7 billion pounds of BPA are produced worldwide for use in dental sealants, PVC water pipes, medical equipment, consumer electronics, and even cash-register receipts among other things.

Frederick vom Saal, a professor of developmental biology at the University of Missouri at Columbia and a leading researcher on BPA says: "Our regulatory standards now are based on the outdated assumption that when you test a chemical's safety at high doses, the results also will reveal any risks occurring at low doses, but as hundreds of studies have now demonstrated, it doesn't work that way with estrogen-mimicking chemicals like BPA, which can have completely different and potentially more harmful effects at low doses..."

A few of the leading food brands test were Campbell's, Chef Boyardee, Del Monte, Nestlé, and Progresso. Highest BPA levels tested were found in canned green beans and soup.

What can you, the average citizen, do to minimize your exposure to dangerous BPA?

eat fresh foods as much as possible

stay away from canned juices, fruits, vegetables, fish, etc.

replace plastic containers with glass

November 18,2009: Upon turning on CNN yesterday, I was greeted with a firestorm of controversy concerning mammograms. It seems that the ACS (American Cancer Society) is reversing its path on the necessity of women getting mammograms in order to detect cancer in an early stage.

More specifically, Dr. Otis Brawley is reversing his stand on the importance of mammography. Dr. Brawley is chief medical officer of the ACS.

The New York Times interviewed medical doctors concerning the Journal of the American Medical Association analysis of breast and prostate cancer screenings. This study called into question the legitimacy of such screenings in saving lives. Dr. Brawley participated in the New York Times interview.

Mammography makes use of x-ray imaging to create detailed images of the breast. Approximately 48 million mammograms are performed annually in the United States.

Like prostate cancer PSA screenings which are ineffective in saving lives, mammography screening is similarly ineffective. Dr. Eric Larson, executive director of the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle, Washington refuses to get annual PSA examinations until alleged benefits can be found.

According to the Journal of the American Medial Association study, there has been a 40 percent increase in diagnoses and a near doubling of early-stage cancers with only a 10 percent decrease in late-stage cancers that spread throughout the body. This statistic was tracked from the very beginning of mammograms.

Breast screenings, like prostate screenings, are revealing more and more incidences of cancer. But discovering these cancers doesn't curb their spread, nor the person's outcome.

The stated purpose of these screenings is to detect cancer in its early stage so that steps can be taken to prevent it from progressing into a late stage. The objective is cure. This, however, is not happening.

Medical doctors say that some cancers should not be of concern because they are dormant. But mammograms and PSA exams finds them, and treatment is offered. Dormant cancers will never spread or otherwise cause any harm. They are better left alone.

Screenings, whether breast or prostate, are completely unable to distinguish between a harmful cancer and a benign cancer. A cancer is a cancer according to these conventional methods. When cancer is found, aggressive treatment is often initiated.

Mammography can cause cancer. When undergoing this screening, women are exposed to high levels of ionizing radiation. The dangers of mammography are brought to the surface in Knockout, Interviews with Doctors Who Are Curing Cancer--And How to Prevent Getting It In the First Place, Suzanne Somer's new Book.

If you are interested in breast screenings, thermography is a much better, and a lot safer, option. It uses digital infrared imaging. Thermography analyses body heat levels around the breasts.
Warning--the real dangers of mammograms!

November 19, 2009: The consumer nutritional watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) released a report on movie popcorn. The report found that little had changed since their last report 15 years ago. The nutritional value had not improved much.

CSPI did credit one movie chain for switching to canola oil however.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest reviewed the popular concession stand snack for three of the nation's largest movie chains--Regal Entertainment Group, AMC and Cinemark. CSPI purchased several servings of popcorn from these chains and had them analyzed in an independent laboratory.

A Regal medium-sized popcorn which is 20 cups contained a whopping 1,200 calories, 60 grams (g) of saturated fat, and 980 milligrams (mg) of sodium. And this is without the butter!

A medium-sized popcorn from Cinemark (14 cups) had 760 calories and 3g of saturated fat. Cinemark switched to popping their corn in canola oil. AMC's medium-sized popcorn (9 cups) had 590 calories and 33g of saturated fat.

Both Regal and AMC pop their popcorn in coconut oil. CSPI points out that coconut oil is 90 percent saturated fat. However, coconut oil has medium-chain triglycerides which makes it a very special type of saturated fat.

Laboratory analyses found no traces of trans fats in any of the movie chains' popcorn. And their butter-flavored toppings contained no hydrogenated oils.

Popcorn's preparation determines how healthy it is. Microwave popcorn can be problematic due to its packaging. The Teflon-like coating of some bags will decompose under a microwave and release toxic chemicals such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA.) PFOA is potentially carcinogenic in laboratory animals.

Any popcorn heated with vegetable oil, even olive oil, will destroy its structure. All vegetable oil, with the exception of extra-virgin olive oil should be avoided due to the excessive amount of omega-6 fatty acids in the standard American diet.

Popcorn should be organic. This will ensure that no pesticides were used on the corn and it is free of genetically-modified ingredients. As far as popping is concerned, air-popped is best.
Source:LATIMES.com (Los Angeles Times website)

November 21, 2009: "One of the most consistent effects of both aerobic and strength training is that they improve insulin sensitivity." This is a quote by Ben Hurley, professor and exercise physiologist in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Maryland in College Park (Nutrition Action. December, 2009)

Professor Hurley, along with others, say that strength training is able to improve insulin sensitivity by 20 percent in as little time as a few months.

In a study conducted at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, researchers put nine overweight or obese men in their 60s on a program of either treadmill walking or jogging. Similarly they put thirteen men in their 60s on a strength training program.

The aerobic group increased their cardiorespiratory fitness by 16 percent. They worked out three times a week for six months. The weight training group increased their arm and leg strength by 45 percent.

The insulin sensitivity of both groups was increased by 20 to 25 percent.

Aerobic and weight training increase the number of glucose transporters. GLUT4 is especially affected. This protein shuttles glucose from the blood to your muscle and fat cells. The greater the number of GLUT4, the more efficiently your cells respond to insulin--in other words, the more sensitive they are.

November 22, 2009: Few people are aware of the fact that the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can mimic those of Alzheimer's disease. Vitamin B12 deficiency is also known as cobalamin deficiency.

"Alzheimer`s associated dementia and patients with cobalamin deficiency have identical neuropsychiatric symptoms" (Dementia Associated With Vitamin B12 Deficiency.

As people age, vitamin B12 deficiency becomes more common. Thirty to forty percent of adults over 50 years old suffer from atrophic gastritis which injures the stomach lining. The damage makes it very difficult for the stomach to produce the acid required to absorb B-12.

Some researchers have estimated that approximately 800,000 U.S. citizens have an undiagnosed vitamin B12 deficiency. And unfortunately, very few clinicians are trained to look for it.

It has been demonstrated that the neurological damage due to vitamin B12 deficiency is not irreversible. If a proper diagnosis were made, and treatment begun immediately, the damage is reversible.

The treatment consists of high dosages of vitamin B12. However, medical imaging and blood testing is useless in determining which cases would benefit from B12 therapy. Several tests made since the 1950s show that cases of dementia that respond positively to B12 therapy will often have totally normal blood tests.

Studies warrant the treatment of newly diagnosed cases of dementia with therapeutic dosages of B12. This is regardless of the outcomes of standard medical tests. Patients newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease are on the losing end because of standard medical practices.

November 23, 2009: According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, a woman's hormonal problems stem most often from a combination of lifestyle issues.

"People tend to think of women's "hormone problems" as starting in midlife with the onset of menopause. In fact, a dysfunctional pattern can begin during adolescent years or even before birth. The severity of hormonal problems may increase with age, but it is not aging per se that is the root of declining health.

It is most often the cumulative physiological effects of stress that cause disruption of the natural rhythms and balancing mechanisms of women's hormones, thereby eventually compromising overall health as well as sexual and reproductive health" (Dr. Micheal Borkin, N.M.D.; www.mercola.com.)

The imbalances in a woman's hormonal system are frequently related to stress. The greater the stress, the more unbalanced your cortisol levels become. The hormone cortisol is your fundamental stress hormone. It also aids in helping your body convert food into energy, normalize blood sugar, and maintain your immune system’s inflammatory response.

Taking control of runaway hormonal problems requires a holistic approach. The underlying stress--whether it be emotional, physical, job or financial worries--must be addressed. Next, any lifestyle issues should be corrected.

Exercise and healthy eating are necessary to help manage lifestyle issues. One problem many people are experiencing is inadequate sleep. Our fast-paced, run here and run there society leaves little time to rest our bodies.

Take a power nap mid-morning if you can; or take one in the afternoon. Your body will let you know when it is fatigued if you would only listen.

Exercise defuses stress. It strengthens your body so that it is better equipped to tolerate stress without it totally breaking down leading to an impaired immune system.

And your body requires high quality nutrients to grow and repair itself. Eat for your metabolic or nutritional type. Eliminate as much as possible all processed foods, and eat organic.

November 26, 2009: Many studies have shown that an aspirin a day mantra publicized by the American Heart Association to prevent heart attacks is useless. Not only does aspirin not prevent heart attacks, it poses a heart threat too.

A second study this year alone found that taking an aspirin a day has no benefit whatsoever. A meta-analysis of diabetic patients showed that there was no statistical diminished risk of major cardiovascular events or mortality between patients who were on an aspirin a day therapy versus those who weren't.

The publication Lancet released a similar analysis questioning the perceived benefits of an aspirin a day therapy. The global news network CNN posted an article saying that the risks of taking an aspirin a day may outweigh any benefits.

Medical researchers have found that aspirin can cause gastrointestinal bleeding. And now research is pointing to aspirin therapy as being behind some cases of micro bleeding in the brain. Brain micro bleeds are associated with decreased brain functioning, hemorrhage, and diseases like Alzheimer's. Read also...

November 26, 2009: What if there was a way to reduce inflammation in your body, live longer, lose weight, improve or prevent diabetes, cardiovascular and kidney disease, and enhance your natural defense system? Further, what if this procedure didn't cost you a penny, and is guaranteed to work no matter what the state of your current health?

Well, there is a way. The Mount Sinai School of Medicine concluded from their study that you could reap all of the aforementioned health benefits if you would stop eating processed and fried foods.

The findings of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine was published in the October/November issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. Processed and fried food are standard in the typical Western diet designated by the acronym SAD (standard American diet.)

Western food is literally saturated with toxic substances known as AGEs (advanced glycation end-products.) AGEs are created when foods are heated, pasteurized, dried, smoked, fried or grilled.

Once consumed, AGEs stick to your tissues and oxidize them. This oxidation leads to inflammation which is the basis of many chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

The new study by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine was done is collaboration with the National Institutes On Aging (NIA.) The study consisted of 325 healthy adults and 66 with chronic kidney disease. A subset of 40 healthy adults and another 9 with kidney disease were randomly assigned to follow a typical Western diet full of AGEs, or a diet with one-half the typical AGE Western diet.

The study participants who didn't eat a AGE saturated diet were advised to avoid fired, grilled, or baked food. They were told instead to stew, poach, or steam their food. Caloric and nutrient intake remained constant throughout the study.

After four months on the low-AGEs eating plan, the scientists checked the blood of the healthy research subjects. They found that AGE levels, lipid peroxides, inflammatory markers, and biomarkers of vascular function declined by as much as 60 percent. What's more, a similar reduction was found in the kidney patients after only one month on the AGE-less diet.

The researchers found that the AGE-less diet had a positive effect on the cellular receptor AGER1. AGER1 is needed to remove inflammation promoting AGEs from the body. Study participants with kidney disease had large levels of AGEs. Unfortunately, their AGER1 receptors were ineffective. The researchers speculate the reason for this is constantly elevated AGEs.

What amazed the researchers was the after only a short period of time on the AGEless diet, AGER1 receptor cells were restored to normal in the participants with kidney disease.

"What is noteworthy about our findings is that reduced AGE consumption proved to be effective in all study participants, including healthy persons and persons who have a chronic condition such as kidney disease...This suggests that oxidants may play a more active role than genetics in overwhelming our body's defenses, which we need to fight off disease. It has been said that nature holds the power, but the environment pulls the trigger. The good news is that unlike genetics, we can control oxidant levels, which may not be an accompaniment to disease and aging, but instead due to the cumulative toxic influence of AGEs," said study lead researcher, Dr. Vlassara.

November 28, 2009: Researchers from the University of California at San Diego have discovered in the laboratory that bacteria found abundantly in common ordinary dirt is central in combating inflammation in children when they get hurt. The bacteria work by lessening the overactive immune response which can lead to rashes, or cause cuts and bruises to become swollen and painful.

This new finding supports previous research which suggests that early exposure to germs (bacteria) can prepare the child's immune system to prevent allergies.

The so-called “hygiene hypothesis” has previously been used to explain why increasing numbers of children suffer allergies such as eczema and hay fever in more developed countries.

The research team made this discovery while studying mice and human cells that were cultured in the laboratory. The results of this study vindicates the so-called hygiene hypothesis which had been used to explain why more and more children suffer allergies such as eczema and hay fever in the developed nations.

The team, led by dermatologist Professor Richard Gallo, found that common bacteria called staphylococci, can reduce inflammation after injury, when they are present on the skin's surface. “These germs are actually good for us,” states Prof. Gallo.

Many parent groups are excited about this finding. Conventional medicine has tended to place children in a bacteria-free bubble. The body, specifically the immune system, doesn't have a chance to build up an immunity to allergens.

November 30, 2009: Contrary to common practice, topical ointments and doctor-prescribed tablets aggravate yeast infections. Proper hygiene and avoiding chemicals which trigger yeast infections are two of the best means of avoiding this common problem.

One of the steps to be taken in preventing yeast infection from occurring is to avoid taking drugs of any kind. Antibiotics that monitor the growth of Candida albicans. Other drugs to stay away from are birth control medication, immuno-suppressants, and steroids.

But if you have a yeast infection, there is a standard diet you should adhere to. All sugar should be avoided (sometimes even including the fruit.) Foods containing high yeast and mold content should be avoided too. These foods include cheeses, dried fruit, melons, and peanuts. Also avoid high lactose dairy products such as milk and ice cream.

Foods allowed on a standard yeast infection diet include filtered water, herbal teas, vegetables, meat and legumes, and whole grains like millet, brown rice, and oatmeal (of course without the sugar.)

There are home remedies you can use to relieve the symptoms of yeast infections. You can apply natural anti-fungal agents like garlic paste, extra virgin coconut oil, and diluted tea tree oil. Grapeseed extract and the tannins from tea and condiments fight chronic yeast infections very well.

You can also drink electrolyte-heavy drinks. To prepare one such drink squeeze one-half a lemon in a glass of filtered water. Add one-quarter teaspoon of Celtic sea salt. Drink this mixture 6 times a day--three with meals.

Performing a colon cleanse is also advisable. A colon cleanse washes away toxins made by Candida albicans. Recipes usually contain a mixture of garlic or garlic extract, cayenne pepper, apple cider or apple cider vinegar, and oregano oil.

If you have vaginal yeast infection, you may find relief in applying a few drops of diluted tea tree oil or a dollop of yogurt. Apply 2 times a day by inserting a tampon with either oil or yogurt on it into the vaginal. Continue to apply one day after symptoms subsides.

Women with endocrine yeast infections should consume licorice. Licorice can counteract estrogen loss by releasing estrogen-like friendly steroids.

December 2, 2009: The Dole Diet Center reported on a German study which looked at the results of taking antioxidant supplements on high intensity training athletes. The study looked at 40 men who exercised intensely for 1-1/2 hours, 5 days a week. These study participants ran, cycled, and lifted weights.

The athletes were then given 400 IUs (international units) of vitamin E and 1,000 mg (milligrams) of vitamin C. Vitamins E and C are natural antioxidants.

Laboratory tests showed no improvement in insulin sensitivity. Researchers think that the supplements displaced the body's own natural antioxidant systems. These systems neutralize oxidative damage caused by greater oxygen intake during intense exercise.

Another study found that a high intake of multivitamins in general and zinc in particular caused an increased risk of men developing prostate cancer. In women, a high consumption of multivitamins caused breast density to increase. This led to a 6 times greater risk of women developing breast cancer.

The Dole article concluded by saying that the take home message is that we should all get as much of our nutrients from whole food as possible. Antioxidants can be found in such 'superfoods' as apples, berries, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage.

I wholeheartedly agree with Dole's take home message. The human body understands that which it was designed to assimilate-- food. But sometimes due to food quality and potency, supplements are necessary. When this is the case, vitamins made from natural and organic whole foods are the next best thing.

Your health is important and I recommend whole food multivitamins from Mercola.com. They are free of artificial preservatives, flavors and colors, insecticides, herbicides, and all other chemicals linked to non-organic processing.

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