The Plain Truth's: Your Health Today ONLINE

Get This, US has Lowest Life Span in Western World - And we smoke LESS!

These are the surprising facts. Don't shoot me, I am just reporting what our government (The CIA) and the United Nations (WHO) statistics show! I am sorry that the facts don't support the what the government and leading scientist tell us (you know like Global Warming is REAL when the facts don't support the claim?) about the physical cost of smoking. Heck, I don't even smoke! I could not find a more recent report, but that would be meaningless, in that it is during these years that smoking was blamed for many of the deaths in the USA. Here is the report:

Male
Top 15 (+US) Life Expectancies
compared to smokers prevalence's

		Life Expectancy (years)	Smokers Prevalence (percentages)

1.	Iceland	76.6 (1994)	31.0 (1994)
2.	Japan	76.5 (1994)	59.0 (1994)
3.	Costa Rica	75.9 (1994)	35.0 (1988)
.	Israel	75.9 (1994)	45.0 (1990)
5.	Sweden	75.5 (1994)	22.0 (1994)
6.	Greece	75.2 (1994)	46.0 (1994)
7.	Switzerland	74.8 (1994)	36.0 (1992)
8.	Netherlands	74.7 (1994)	36.0 (1994)
.	Canada	74.7 (1994)	31.0 (1991)
.	Cuba	74.7 (1994)	49.3 (1990)
11.	Australia	74.5 (1994)	29.0 (1993)
.	Spain	74.5 (1994)	48.0 (1993)
.	Malta	74.5 (1994)	40.0 (1992)
14.	Italy	74.4 (1994)	38.0 (1994)
15.	France	74.3 (1994)	40.0 (1993)
...	USA	72.6 (1994)	28.1 (1991)

Female
Top 15 (+US) Life Expectancies
compared to smokers prevalence's

		Life Expectancy (years)	Smokers Prevalence (percentages)

1.	France	82.3 (1994)	27.0 (1993)
.	Japan	82.3 (1994)	14.8 (1994)
3.	Canada	81.7 (1994)	29.0 (1991)
.	Switzerland	81.7 (1994)	26.0 (1992)
5.	Spain	81.2 (1994)	25.0 (1994)
.	Sweden	81.2 (1994)	24.0 (1994)
.	Iceland	81.2 (1994)	28.0 (1994)
8.	Netherlands	81.0 (1994)	29.0 (1994)
.	Italy	81.0 (1994)	26.0 (1994)
10.	Australia	80.8 (1994)	21.0 (1993)
11.	Luxembourg	80.5 (1994)	26.0 (1994)
12.	Belgium	80.4 (1994)	19.0 (1993)
13.	New Zealand	80.2 (1994)	26.0 (1995)
14.	Israel	80.2 (1994)	30.0 (1990)
15.	Austria	80.0 (1994)	27.0 (1992)
...	USA	79.4 (1994)	23.5 (1991)

figures for Japan(!), Israel, Greece, Cuba and Spain very interesting. How could three countries with smoking prevalence's of 45-59% show up in the Top 15 at all?
The percentage of Japanese smokers is 2.7 times higher than that of the Swedes, but an average Japanese still lives one year longer!

source: http://www.kidon.com/smoke/percentages2.htm

HPV Vaccine Blamed for Teen's Paralysis

Gardasil certainly made headlines in 2006 when the Food and Drug Administration approved it as a vaccine against four strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, which can cause cervical cancer. HPV can be transmitted sexually, so many parents decided to give the vaccination to their teenaged daughters.

Now, Gardasil is making headlines again. This time, the drug’s manufacturer is under scrutiny as the vaccine’s recipients are complaining of ill side effects. There have been more than 78,000 complaints about Gardasil,New England Cable News reported Tuesday.

Complaints have included nausea, blood clots, genital warts, paralysis and even death. More .

More sex means less chance of ED for older men

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - There's new advice for older men who want to preserve their sexual function: have sex, and have it often, researchers say.

In a study that followed nearly 1,000 older Finnish men for five years, researchers found that those who were regularly having sex at the start of the study were at lower risk of developing erectile dysfunction (ED) by the study's end.

In fact, the more often the men had sex, the lower their ED risk. MORE

Beware of New Media Brainwashing About High Fructose Corn Syrup

The Corn Refiners Association is launching a major advertising and public relations campaign designed to rehabilitate the reputation of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). HFCS has been linked by many scientists to the nation's obesity epidemic.

Vaccines that can KILL YOU!

LIFE WITH BIG BROTHER
Feds target children with live flu vaccine
Formula planned for possibly millions contains virus that can spread on contact
Posted: July 07, 2008
8:03 pm Eastern

By Bob Unruh
© 2008 WorldNetDaily

The federal government plans to give children – possibly millions of them – a live influenza vaccine they could transmit to anyone with whom they come into contact.The vaccinations could start as early as a few weeks from now, and the infections could be spread for up to three weeks following the vaccinations, officials confirmed.MORE

The 10 Healthiest Beverages

If our article on America's most unhealthy drinks left you confused and thirsty, Health Magazine has assembled a list of the 10 healthiest beverages. The list is primarily based on each beverage's concentration of anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants are thought to neutralize free-radicals which can cause cell damage. One good rule of thumb is that fruit with a vivid color will be high in anti-oxidants. Be careful of over-consumption because many of the juices on the list contain a lot of natural sugar, so at some point you can mitigate a juice's health benefits if you drink excessive amounts. Experts recommend drinking 1 to 2 six-ounce glasses of juice a day in combination with whole fruits for optimal health benefits. The list, inside...

10. Apple juice
Clarified apple juice is thought to have less nutritional benefit than unclarified apple juice.

9. Tea
Tea is said to do everything from inhibiting bad breath to boosting the immune system.

8. Orange juice
Oranges and other citrus fruits are a rich source of Vitamin C and flavanoids.

7. Cranberry juice
Cranberries are also a good source of Vitamin C. There is research to support the myth that cranberry juice can help prevent urinary tract infections. It is thought to help prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall.

6. Açaí juice
Pronounced (ah-sci-ee), it is a rainforest berry that grows on palm trees the Amazon.

5. Black cherry juice
There is evidence that black cherry juice may diminish exercise-induced muscle injuries.

4. Blueberry juice
Blueberries are high in fiber and low in calories. Be the life of the party with funky blue teeth.

3. Concord grape juice
There is some research to support that grape juice is good for the heart and helps reduce blood pressure.

2. Red wine
What's better than healthy booze? Does this mean you should drink a lot of wine? No, experts recommend no more than 2 glasses a day since too much alcohol can create health problems.

1. Pomegranate juice
According to CBS, "Pomegranate is the healthiest of them all because it contains the most of every type of antioxidant. It wins in all categories. And it's thought that it might do some very good things; it may protect against some cancers, such as prostate cancer. It might also modify heart disease risk factors, and it could be healthy for your heart. So pomegranate was the clear winner. "

Pomegranate Ranked Healthiest Fruit Juice [CBS]
Pomegranate Juice is Packed With Antioxidants [Health Magazine]
Fab 4: juices that serve up a bounty of health benefits [BNet]

Wine chemical eases age-related ailments

MICE STUDY YIELDS CLUES ON LONGEVITY
By Sandy Kleffman

It's not exactly a fountain of youth, but a substance found in red wine, grapes and nuts can prevent many age-related problems in mice, an intriguing new study reveals.

The substance, resveratrol, led to healthier hearts, better bone density, fewer cataracts and greater motor coordination in the animals.MORE

ALSO:

Red Wine Increases Health

A compound in red wine may ward off a variety of medical conditions related to aging, providing heart benefits, stronger bones and preventing eye cataracts, researchers said on Thursday.

The study, involving mice fed a diet supplemented with resveratrol starting in their equivalent of middle age, is the latest to raise hope that the compound or drugs based on it may improve the health of people.

Most of mice given resveratrol did not live longer than other mice but were far more healthy in several important measures, according to the study published in the journal Cell Metabolism.MORE

Frequent Sex, Excercise, Dairy,Nuts,Red Wine,Broccoli Prevent Prostate Cancer!

Frequent ejaculations have been associated with a lower risk for prostate cancer. Some experts speculate that certain carcinogens may be concentrated in prostate fluid, so that frequent ejaculation helps eliminate them....A recent study, however, suggested a linear trend between red wine consumption and reduced risk of prostate cancer. In a study of over 1,400 newly diagnosed middle-aged patients with prostate cancer, researchers found that each additional glass of red wine consumed per week reduced the relative risk of prostate cancer by 6%....Research indicates that docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaneoic acid (EPA), the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, may be protective against prostate cancer. Some studies have reported a lower risk for prostate cancer in men who ate fish frequently (two or more times a week). ...

What adds to your risk?

Obesity, Vasectomy, Chemicals, Higher PSA Levels, and being black (genetics)...

Know 5 to Stay Alive

MORE.....

Living Well: Getting on the fasting track promises a bonus for your health

Every spring, Dr. Elson Haas supervises a group of 25 to 100 people who participate in a 10-day fasting program. He does it himself, too, a ritual he has followed since 1975.

"I was two years out of medical school, with chronic allergies and way overweight," recalled Haas by phone the other day after a day of seeing patients at his natural health clinic in Marin County, Calif. "I needed something."

Mini-fasts actually may have health benefits

Occasionally, almost everyone's had to skip a meal due to hectic schedules or certain religious practices. Going without food for a half a day usually results in nothing more than hunger pangs and maybe a little headache, all of which disappear when we chow down at the next meal.

But what happens if a mini-fast or severe calorie-reduced diet is extended for several days?

While just the thought of going without your daily mocha Frappuccino or lunchtime turkey sandwich may make your stomach growl ferociously, some medical research says short-term fasting and calorie restriction may actually be good for us.

Researchers Investigate (Horrors!) Nicotine's Potential Benefits

IN work that sounds a little like scientific blasphemy, medical researchers have begun paying increasing attention to some beneficial effects of nicotine that were first noticed in cigarette smokers.

After years of quiet discussion among scientists, hints that cigarettes can protect against some diseases or improve the outcome of others have led to growing interest in finding out why. This has focused attention on nicotine, tobacco's most active ingredient, as a potential treatment for several major health problems, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. MORE

Omega-3 Fatty Acid May Stop Repeat Stroke

Eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA -- the essential omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid abundant in oily fish -- may help protect stroke patients from suffering a second stroke, a Japanese study shows.

In a study of people with high cholesterol who were taking a low dose of a cholesterol-lowering "statin," researchers found that adding EPA did not reduce the occurrence of a first stroke but did lower recurrence rates in those with a history of stroke. MORE

Plans to ban dozens of pesticides will 'lead to food shortages and send prices rising further'

Plans to ban dozens of pesticides will lead to more food shortages and send prices rising further, it was claimed yesterday.

A directive being proposed by the European Commission is designed to reduce the level of toxic chemicals in food.

It would lead to a ban on 15 per cent of pesticides, it has been estimated.

pesticide

European plans to ban potentially dangerous pesticides will lead to more food shortages and send prices soaring even further, scientists have warned

Dr Ian Denholm, of Rothamsted Research Institute in Hertfordshire, said the ban was politically motivated and would have ' genuinely alarming' consequences, including pushing up food prices.

But anti-pesticide campaigners accused the scientists of scare mongering, and said the new rules were a sensible "precautionary move" that would protect people's health. More

Drinking coffee after a workout helps muscles refuel

WASHINGTON: Glycogen, the muscle's primary fuel source during exercise, is replenished more rapidly when athletes ingest both carbohydrate and caffeine after rigorous exercise, thus improving their performance. More

Call Her The Modern Sarah!

Gran, 70, gives birth to twins

Gran ... gives birth to twins

Barcroft India / Barcroft Media

A 70-YEAR-OLD Indian woman has become the world’s oldest mum after giving birth to twins.

Omkari Panwar, the wife of a retired farmer, delivered a boy and girl by caesarean section on Friday.

The frail pensioner, who has two adult daughters and five grandchildren, underwent IVF treatment to produce a male heir to the family’s smallholdings.

Mum ... Omkari Panwar, 70

Her husband, Charan Singh Panwar, 77, mortgaged his land, sold his buffalos, spent his life savings and took out a credit card loan to finance the treatment.

“At last we have a son and heir,” he said. “We prayed to God, went to saints and visited religious places to pray for an heir.

“We kept no stone unturned and God has rewarded us. The treatment cost me a fortune but the birth of a son makes it all worthwhile. I can die a happy man and a proud father.” More....

Understanding Sleep Sex Disorders

Imagine falling asleep, having sex, and not remembering a thing. You have no clue that you have sexually expressed yourself. You can’t recall any pleasurable effects. You don’t know that you suffer from this sleep oddity until a partner says something — until you’re awakened with a good slap. Or, in the worst-case scenario, somebody presses charges against you. More

Watermelon, the New Oyster? Fruit Said to Have 'Viagra-Like' Effects on Blood Vessels

Watermelon may offer Viagra-like effects

LUBBOCK, Texas - A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth of July cookout and one that researchers say has effects similar to Viagra — but don't necessarily expect it to keep the fireworks all night long.

Watermelons contain an ingredient called citrulline that can trigger production of a compound that helps relax the body's blood vessels, similar to what happens when a man takes Viagra, said scientists in Texas, one of the nation's top producers of the seedless variety.

Broccoli nudges genes to fight prostate cancer

LONDON - Just a few more portions of broccoli each week may protect men from prostate cancer, British researchers reported on Wednesday.

The researchers believe a chemical in the food sparks hundreds of genetic changes, activating some genes that fight cancer and switching off others that fuel tumors, said Richard Mithen, a biologist at Britain's Institute of Food Research.More

Tiny thyroid can be big problem when it's off kilter

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Growing up, my Sherman tank-like aunt constantly blamed her thyroid for inability to lose weight. The thyroid is a smalll, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck. It controls a number body systems.

According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, as many as 27 million Americans suffer from some type of thyroid disorders. And half of these folks don't even know what they are missing. But their bodies do. For while this little, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of our neck, weighing in at barely an ounce, seems both delicate and innocuous, when not in hormonally balanced harmony, it packs a wallop. More

July is Deadliest Month for Hospitals...

Getty Images

MEDICINE

New Docs on the Block

According to medical lore, July is the worst time to be hospitalized because that's when inexperienced med students start clinical training. But is summer really riskier for patients?More

Mom's Unhealthy Diet May Have Long-Term Impact on Baby

Rats fed junk food had higher cholesterol, blood fats into adulthood, British study finds.

MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- Eating an unhealthy diet during pregnancy may raise your child's lifetime risk of obesity and elevated cholesterol and blood sugar levels, British researchers report.

In tests on rats, a Royal Veterinary College team fed one group of females a diet of processed junk food such as donuts, muffins, cookies, chips and sweets during pregnancy and breast-feeding, while another group of females received a healthy diet of regular feed.

The researchers compared the offspring of the two groups of female rats and found those born to mothers fed a junk food diet had higher levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, a type of fat found in the bloodstream. Both increase the risk of heart disease.

What can LEGALLY be in your Pet's Dog Food?

Because of the nondescript nature of the mush and nuggets in cans and bags, pet owners must extend a lot of trust to manufacturers. But the balm of blind trust and faith never turns out to be a solution for anything. For example, consider the following approved ingredients from the official AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) regulatory publications:

dehydrated garbage (you read that right)
polyethylene roughage (plastic)
hydrolyzed poultry feathers
hydrolyzed hair
hydrolyzed leather meal
some 36 chemical preservatives
peanut skins and hulls
corn cob fractions
ground corn cob
ground clam shells
poultry, cow and pig feces and litter
hundreds of chemicals
a host of antibiotic and chemotherapeutic pharmaceuticals
a variety of synthetic flavorings
adjuvants
sequestrates
stabilizers
anticaking agents MORE

Is organic food really worth the extra cost?

Courtesy of the USDA

Only growers that have been certified by an independent certifying body may carry the USDA organic seal, shown here. Growers must refrain from using chemicals for at least three years and supply thorough documentation of their organic practices.

Chart by Lisa Watson. Data from “New evidence confirms the nutritional superiority of plant-based organic foods,” by Charles Benbrook, et. al. The Organic Center, March 2008. CLICK ON CHART TO ENLARGE!

Studies show that organic fruits and vegetables are more likely to have higher levels of nutrients than their conventionally grown counterparts.

Sales of organic products have skyrocketed in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. People associate organic food with better health, local growers, lower pesticide levels, humane treatment of animals and sounder environmental practices.

But the National Organic Program, which regulates the process of growing organic food, is actually a marketing program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The government stops short of making any scientific claims that organic food is safer or more nutritious than conventional foods. So with the price of food continuing to increase in recent months, shoppers are wondering if organics are really worth the extra cost.

Experts confirm that organic fruits and vegetables probably are better for the environment, and they’re often a good way of ensuring you get fresh fruit. But although a recent meta-study on organic nutrition levels showed a higher level of some vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, experts are divided on whether that translates to better health.

What makes it organic? MORE

Nitrites and cancer

How to protect yourself from drug errors

Asking questions, playing advocate can help reduce risks

MSNBC

More than 1.5 million Americans are injured every year by mistakes involving their medications. Patients can help protect themselves and their loved ones by following these steps:

Make sure that all of your doctors know about everything you are taking. More

Closing arguments to begin in Ala. drug price suit

MONTGOMERY, Ala. Lawyers will begin closing arguments in the trial of the state of Alabama's lawsuit against two prescription drug companies, Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline.

The lawyers for Alabama are seeking $400 million from the drug companies. The state's attorneys argued the companies committed fraud by causing the state's Medicaid program to pay too much for prescription drugs from 1991 to 2005.

Attorneys for the drug companies say that they did not commit fraud.

The trial is the second on more than 70 lawsuits filed by the state against pharmaceutical companies.

Obesity surgery requires no knife - UPDATED

Brigham and Women's Hospital, in a first-of-its kind medical trial, has performed a weight-loss procedure that does not require any cutting, offering the possibility of a safer, less traumatic operation to help address the nation's obesity epidemic.More..

ENDO: Bariatric Surgery May Help Prevent Infections

Weight Loss After Gastric Bypass Surgery May Protect Against Infection And Cancer

ScienceDaily (June 17, 2008) — Another health benefit of bariatric weight-loss surgery may be a heightened immune defense against cancer and infections, a new study suggests.

"Obesity is related to a higher rate of infections and some types of cancer," said a study coauthor, Alfredo Halpern, PhD, of the University of São Paulo, Brazil. "Nevertheless, there are only a few published studies evaluating the immune function in severely obese patients and the effect of surgery-induced weight loss on these parameters."

Halpern and his co-workers therefore studied the effect of weight loss on immune function in 28 morbidly obese patients who had traditional "stomach-stapling" (Roux-en-Y) gastric bypass surgery. The 20 women and eight men lost an average of 78.5 pounds 6 months after gastric bypass. This operation permanently reduces the size of the stomach and bypasses part of the intestines, thus restricting food intake and food absorption.

Before and 6 months after the surgery, the researchers evaluated patients' blood samples for natural killer (NK) cells, which play a critical role in controlling infections and cancer. Specifically, they measured the number of NK cells and the cells' capacity to kill infected cells or tumor cells. They also looked at the production of certain cytokines, proteins that are essential to the immune response.

Although the number of NK cells did not increase with surgically induced weight loss, their activity changed, Halpern said. Before surgery, NK cells mounted a weak immune defense, but after surgery their activity increased by nearly 79 percent, representing an improvement in the effective immune response and, possibly, in the ability to fight cancer and infections.

The response of cytokines involved in NK cell activity also changed after weight loss, possibly affording higher protection against infection and cancer, the researchers found. Cytokines analyzed were interferon-gamma and interleukins 2, 12 and 18.

Prior studies have shown that bariatric surgery has many health benefits, including resolution of type 2 diabetes, improved blood pressure and lower risk of premature death. This study shows another possible benefit of the weight loss stemming from bariatric surgery.

"It may help protectagainst infections and cancer by improving the activity of certain immune cells," Halpern said.

He said the impaired NK cell function evident in extremely obese people may even explain their propensity to develop infections and cancer.

Cancers that research has linked to obesity include colon, breast, endometrial, kidney and esophageal cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute.

The results will be presented at The Endocrine Society's 90th Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The Foundation for Research Support of the State of São Paulo (FAPESP) funded this study.

Adapted from materials provided by The Endocrine Society, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Implanted Device Offers Option To Gastric Surgery

Rochester, MN (AHN) - A new implantable medical device called VBLOCTM vagal blocking therapy is the latest answer to gastric bypass surgery and other weight loss measures.

Developed in collaboration with Mayo Clinic researchers, the device helped patients lose an average of nearly 15 percent of their excess weight.

The device was put on in a six-month, open-label trial involving three medical centers in Australia, Mexico, and Norway. It was tested on 31 obese participants who were not put on any restricted diets or given counselling that typically accompanies gastric banding or bypass.

According to findings published in the current issue of the journal Surgery, a quarter of the participants lost more than 25 percent of their excess weight, and three patients lost more than 30 percent.

The plus point of the therapy is that it is reversible and a less extreme alternative to existing bariatric surgeries, a press release said.

VBLOC therapy uses high-frequency electricity to block the nerve impulses between the brain and the stomach and pancreas. Lead wires are implanted in the abdomen with electrodes attached to the vagal nerves and the neuroregulator, a pacemaker-sized device, is implanted just under the skin.

Unlike gastric bypass, the VBLOC delivery system can be removed and it also does not damage or permanently affect the vagal nerves or digestive system.

Amazing New Procedure For Weight Loss!

NO CUT BYPASS!!!!! New technology is allowing doctors to perform gastric bypass surgery without even using a scalpel

http://www.endogastricsolutions.com/index.php?src=

Athletes use Viagra for a competitive edge, experts say

LONDON — Athletes looking for a performance boost are increasingly turning to a little blue pill more usually taken for its off-the-field benefits: Viagra.

Some sports authorities say the drug is now finding a following among athletes. It isn't clear how many might be taking it in hopes of improving athletic performance, but stashes of the drug have reportedly been found among some professional athletes.

The World Anti-Doping Agency is currently studying Viagra's effects in athletes, but hasn't yet banned it. Experts are divided over whether it actually offers athletes an edge.

"It's possible," said Anthony Butch, director of the Olympic Analytical laboratory at the University of California Los Angeles, a WADA-accredited facility. More

Viagra's other benefits

A new study points to the possibility that erectile dysfunction drugs could help improve cognition in Alzheimer's patients. As Helen Palmer reports, the application could help revive flagging sales of ED drugs.source: http://marketplace.publicradio.org

Viagra Yields Benefits To Mother And Fetus In Hypertensive Pregnancy

Prayer as healing source

Dr. Sanjay Gupta looks at the effects of faith and prayer on our health. WATCH VIDEO NOW.. Click Here

Five tips for finding the best cardiologist for you

Story Highlights

Most hospitals have online staff directories that list credentials and specialties

A cardiologist's past experience is critical in relation to a specific procedure

Small or large, find a hospital you feel is the best fit, experts say

Cardiologists who specialize in women's health are more common than ever .....MORE

Urinary Tract Infections

Topic Overview

Illustration of the urinary system

This topic is about urinary tract infections in teens and adults. For information about infections in babies and young children, see the topic Urinary Tract Infections in Children.

What is a urinary tract infection?

Your urinary tract is the system that makes urine and carries it out of your body. It includes your bladder and kidneys and the tubes that connect them. When germs get into this system, they can cause an infection.

Most urinary tract infections are bladder infections. A bladder infection usually is not serious if it is treated right away. If you do not take care of a bladder infection, it can spread to your kidneys. A kidney infection is serious and can cause permanent damage.

What causes urinary tract infections? More

Purslane, the weed you should eat!

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
Purslane is also known as Little Hogweed which is the official vernacular name and Pusley..

Plant Type: This is a non-native succulent, it is a annual which can reach 40cm in height (16inches). It has smooth, reddish, mostly prostrate stems.
Leaves: The leaves are alternate. Each succulent leaf is entire and the leaves are clustered at stem joints and ends.
Flowers: The flowers have 5 Regular Parts and are up to 0.6cm wide (0.25 inches). They are yellow. Blooms first appear in late spring and continue into mid fall. The flowers open singly at the center of the leaf cluster for only a few hours on sunny mornings.
Fruit: Seeds are formed in a tiny pod the lid of which opens when the seeds are ready.
Habitat: Gardens and disturbed areas.
Range: Almost all of North America.

This common, introduced, 'weed' comes to us from India or the Middle East but is a close relative of several less common native plants. Rooting easily from cut stems and with the ability to mature the seeds even after the plant has been pulled it is a difficult plant to remove from gardens.

Lore: Purslane is a good edible and is eaten throughout much of Europe and Asia. It can be eaten fresh or cooked and has no bitter taste at all. Since it has a mucilaginous quality it is great for soups and stews.

Medical Uses: Purslane contains more Omega-3 fatty acids than any other leafy vegetable plant we know of. The most common dietary source of Omega-3s are cold water fish like Salmon. Omega-3s aid the body in the production of compounds that effect blood pressure, clotting, the immune system, prevent inflammation, lower cholesterol (LDL), prevent certain cancers and control coronary spasms. In addition recent studies suggest that Omega- 3s may have positive effects on the brain and may aid in such conditions as depression, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease, autism, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity and migraines. Though very beneficial, there are few good dietary sources other than seafood for Omaga-3s. (Some oils, nuts, grains and other leafy vegetables do contain Omega-3s)


© Daniel Reed E-mail	Image use policy

Drugs Doctors Won’t Take – And Neither Should You

Although the Physician’s Desk Reference sits on the desk of almost every doctor, it may be dusty from neglect. And if your doctor continues to prescribe the same drugs year after year without checking out his PDR or keeping up with breaking research on newly discovered dangers for commonly-prescribed drugs, your doctor could accidentally send you home with a prescription that could be deadly. Some old, formerly trusted drugs are so dangerous doctors say they wouldn’t take them. Are the deadly drugs in your medicine cabinet? Here’s a list of drugs docs say they wouldn’t take:MORE

Those with low vitamin D twice as likely to die

CHICAGO - New research linking low vitamin D levels with deaths from heart disease and other causes bolsters mounting evidence about the "sunshine" vitamin's role in good health.

Patients with the lowest blood levels of vitamin D were about two times more likely to die from any cause during the next eight years than those with the highest levels, the study found. The link with heart-related deaths was particularly strong in those with low vitamin D levels.MORE

Turmeric May Combat Obesity and Diabetes

Turmeric, an Asian spice found in many curries, has a long history of use in reducing inflammation, healing wounds and relieving pain, but can it prevent diabetes? Since inflammation plays a big role in many diseases and is believed to be involved in onset of both obesity and Type 2 diabetes, Drew Tortoriello, M.D., an endocrinologist and research scientist at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center, and his colleagues were curious what effect the herb might have on diabetic mice. MORE

6 Great Foods for Men

Listen up, guys. If you’d like to improve your mood, memory, muscles, and more, forget expensive and potentially risky supplements. Just head to your local supermarket. You’ll find foods that help prevent age-related health conditions. As an added bonus, they all taste great and are easy to incorporate into your diet.

Sardines For Heart Health

Ounce for ounce, sardines are one of the best sources for heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and are extremely low in contaminants such as mercury and PCBs. They’re also eco-friendly, packed with protein, and low in saturated fat. Canned versions are inexpensive, portable, and don’t require refrigeration. Choose no-salt-added brands, and keep the bones in for a third of your recommended daily calcium. Sardines are great on salads or layered on top of whole-grain crackers.

Colors of Health

Eat these 5 hues every day to get all the age-fighting antioxidants you need. Our recipes make it easy

The secret to youthful skin, healthy bones, sharp memory, and disease prevention can be found in your fridge. The more colorful your diet, the more antioxidants you get. These compounds reduce overall cellular damage and prevent the hardening of the arteries that can lead to heart disease, stroke, even memory loss. "Every hue--green, yellow, orange, red, purple, and even white--signifies a different class of nutrients, each of which offers a unique benefit," explains USDA research chemist Ronald Prior, PhD, who was among the first researchers to measure the antioxidants in food that protect us as we age. For instance:

Cook Like Your Life Depends On it!

Piling your shopping cart high with healthful staples like veggies, fish, and lean meat? Great! Now, take it to the next level. It's what you do with those fantastic foods once you bring them home that transforms them into real nutritional superstars. Take the tomato: Eat it cooked instead of raw and you'll get as much as 171% more of the cancer-fighting compound lycopene. "Even one little change in the kitchen can result in a huge health payoff," says Robin Plotkin, RD, a Dallas-based nutritionist. Follow our simple rules for cooking smarter and amp up the disease-fighting power of every meal.

Bye Bye Banana - Are they going away?

Bananas Represent Everything That Is Wrong With Our Food System

Ever wonder why bananas are the cheapest fruit in the supermarket? It makes no sense. They're grown thousands of miles away by steely imperialist multinational corporations, and spoil within two weeks. A Times Op-Ed argues that bananas are on their way out, and may disappear entirely from store shelves in the next twenty years. More »

Watch out for Scams! Kinoki foot pads: Sucking away toxins or just your money?

Posted: Thursday, June 19, 2008 8:56 PM
By Paige West, director of interactive projects

What it is: Kinoki Detox Foot Pads; $19.99; www.buykinoki.com

What it claims to do: The foot pads collect “harmful toxins” from your body while you sleep, says the manufacturer, by “cleansing and detoxifying your skin’s outer layers,” boosting your energy level and improving your health and wellness.

My experience: I was surfing the Web on a rainy Seattle night with the TV on in the background when whatever late-night show I’d been watching ended and suddenly, images of a woman in a kimono filled the screen as a voice-over told me about an ancient Japanese secret that would give me better health and well-being. The claims were so fantastic that it took me a while to decide whether I was watching a satirical sketch or an ad for a real product.

The item in question? The Kinoki Detox Foot Pad – and it’s real, all right. CONTINUED >>

Study backs carb-packed ‘big breakfast’ diet

Plan wards off cravings, results in long-term weight loss, small study finds

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Women who ate a big breakfast reported feeling less hungry, especially before lunch, and having fewer cravings for carbs than women on the low-carb diet.

To lose weight and keep it off, eat a big breakfast packed with carbohydrates and protein, then follow a low-carb, low-calorie diet the rest of the day, a small study suggests.

The "big breakfast" diet works, researchers say, because it controls appetite and satisfies cravings for sweets and starches. It's also healthier than popular low-carb diets because it allows people to eat more fiber- and vitamin-rich fruit, according to Dr. Daniela Jakubowicz, of the Hospital de Clinicas in Caracas, Venezuela.

She told the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco that she's successfully used this diet in her patients for more than 15 years.More

Protect your fertility

Not ready for a baby? Protect your fertility Watch your diet, avoid smoking and consider freezing your eggs

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Not quite ready to be a mom? There's plenty you can do to help keep your body in peak baby-making form until the time is right.

By Denise Schipani

updated 7:49 a.m. ET, Fri., June. 20, 2008

You've yet to hear a single tick-tock, but lurking beneath your killer abs is a biological clock that will start buzzing eventually — and you can only hit the snooze button so many times.

So whatdo you do if you're not ready to push out a baby right this second but think you'll want to become a mom someday?

Luckily, fertility isn't a total crapshoot. And though you can't put off pregnancy indefinitely (despite exceptions like Marcia Cross, your odds of conceiving drop substantially after age 35), there's plenty you can do to help keep your body in peak baby-making form.More

Why Brain Surgeons Are Avoiding Cell Phones

cell phone dangers, emf, cell phone radiation, electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic fields, radio waves, corruption, wireless, industry, FDA, EPA, FCC Last week, three prominent neurosurgeons told CNN interviewer Larry King that they did not hold cell phones next to their ears. Dr. Keith Black, Dr. Vini Khurana, and CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta all maintained that the practice could be unsafe.

Along with Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s recent diagnosis of a glioma, a type of tumor that critics have long associated with cell phone use, the doctors’ remarks have helped reignite the debate about cell phones and cancer.

Cancer patient recovers after injection of immune cells

A cancer patient has made a full recovery after being injected with billions of his own immune cells in the first case of its kind, doctors have disclosed.

The 52-year-old, who was suffering from advanced skin cancer, was free from tumours within eight weeks of undergoing the procedure.


	Telegraph view: Cancer breakthrough

After two years he is still free from the disease which had spread to his lymph nodes and one of his lungs.

Doctors took cells from the man's own defence system that were found to attack the cancer cells best, cloned them and injected back into his body, in a process known as "immunotherapy".

Experts said that the case could mark a landmark in the treatment of cancer.

Human ovulation captured on film for the First Time!

No Higher Death Risk Tied to Coffee

WASHINGTON (June 16) - Long-term coffee drinking does not appear to increase a person's risk of early death and may cut a person's chances of dying from heart disease, according to a study published on Monday.

Previous studies have given a mixed picture of health effects from coffee, finding a variety of benefits and some drawbacks from the popular drink. The new study looked at people who drank caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee.

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Coffee's Impact
On Health

1 of 4

Drinking up to six cups off coffee a day does not appear to raise a person's risk of dying prematurely, according to a new study of more than 125,000 coffee drinkers in Spain and the United States.

Researchers led by Esther Lopez-Garcia of Universidad Autonoma de Madrid in Spain followed 84,214 U.S. women from 1980 to 2004 and 41,736 U.S. men from 1986 to 2004. MORE

Treating An Enlarged Prostate

Christine Webb, Your Health And Fitness

Millions of men suffer from a prostate condition that is easily treated.

Wayne Saker is a busy financial investor, so getting a good night's sleep is important.

But his routine was disrupted when he experienced symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

“Once you experience it, it's a very serious condition because if you get up four to six times a night, it definitely effects your next day you're tired, you're drawn out,” said Saker.

Wayne's problems cleared up in a couple of days after he took a prescription medication.

He also learned this is something millions of men suffer from.

“It's fairly common for most men over 50. In fact we even see some cases of men in their 30s and 40s have some degree of what we call BPH or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia,” said Dr. Jacques Carter, from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Aging and hormonal stimulation cause the prostate gland to swell, which in turn squeezes the bladder and urethra.

“On occasion the symptoms are bad enough that you have significant obstruction. You have people who can't void at all,” said Carter.

But Carter said medication helps most patients, as does watching your weight, eating a healthy diet and limiting fluid intake at bed time.

By age 50, about half of all men have some form of enlarged prostate.

The Most Essential Nutrients for a Strong Sex Drive

Some of the most essential libido vitamins, minerals and nutrients include:

* Vitamin A helps regulate the synthesis of the sex hormone progesterone, which is important for that loving feeling.

* B-Vitamins are crucial for reacting and responding to our lovers, and for flow of blood to the sex organs.

* Vitamin B1 is essential for optimal nerve transmission and energy production throughout the body, which is vital to increase libido.

* Vitamin B-3 can enhance the sexual flush, increase blood flow to the skin and mucous membranes, and intensify the orgasm!

* Vitamin B-6 is integral because it controls elevated prolactin, a libido enhancer.

* Vitamin E is known as the king (or queen) of sex vitamins, and is sure to spice up your sex life.

* Vitamin C is important for the synthesis of hormones that are involved in sexuality and getting turned on.

* Magnesium is important for the production of sex hormones and neurotransmitters that modulate the urge down there.

* Selenium is imperative for sperm production and mobility. Nearly half of the selenium in a man's body is in the testes and seminal ducts. Men lose selenium in their semen.

* Zinc is required for the production of testosterone and other sexual hormones. The zinc content of the prostate gland and sperm is higher than in any other body tissues. It is equally vital for the women.

* Essential Fatty Acids are the building blocks for the production of sex hormones. They also help the body store the vitamins that keep us sexually active and full of desire.

* Vitamin D deficiency may leave your sex life cold and grey, while plenty of this most amazing vitamin will bring out the hots. Make sure you get plenty of sunlight whenever possible, as this is one of the best sources.

About the authorSheryl is a kinesiologist, nutritionist and holistic practitioner.
Her website www.younglivingguide.com provides the latest research on preventing disease, looking naturally gorgeous, and feeling emotionally and physically fabulous.

7 Reasons Men Die First

Popular culture may paint men as the stronger sex, but from the moment a boy is born, his life is more likely than his sister's to be cut short. Across national and cultural boundaries, men die an average of seven years earlier than women; the disparity in the United States is approximately five years. In a new book, Why Men Die First, Marianne Legato, a specialist in gender-specific medicine at Columbia University, explains: They're genetically and biologically fragile to start with, she says, and societal norms that encourage and even demand risky behavior by men put them at risk. Still, Legato told U.S. News, men and their families can push back. She highlighted seven reasons why males die prematurely—and seven actions they can take to prolong their time.

1. Males are burdened with natural genetic deficits.

2. The womb is more treacherous for boys.

3. Males are more likely to have developmental disorders.

4. They're biologically more prone to risky behavior.

5. A "suck-it-up" culture means men often languish with depression.

6. Men choose more dangerous occupations.

7. Coronary artery disease strikes men early.

What Happened to Russert

The science of sudden cardiac arrest.

Journalists and politicians across the country were in shock Friday afternoon at news that Tim Russert, the prominent and beloved NBC correspondent, had collapsed and died suddenly of a heart attack in the network's Washington office. Russert had previously been been diagnosed with several risk factors for a sudden heart attack, including coronary artery disease and diabetes. But his death is still a sad reminder that cardiac arrest can strike anyone without warning—and that when it does, it is often fatal. More

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Date palm from ancient Israel springs to life

A Judean date palm, long extinct, has been "brought back to life" by scientists who unearthed a 2,000 year-old seed of the plant and germinated it. A healthy 4-foot-tall seedling, named Methuselah after the oldest living man in the Bible, now holds the record for the oldest germinated seed.

The seed itself, perhaps the last link to the vast date palm forests that once grew in the Jordan River valley, was first discovered in 1965, as archaeologists excavated the ancient Israel site of Masada. Seeds discovered at the site were put into storage for 40 years.

Sarah Sallon, director of the Louis L. Brock Natural Medicine Research Center in Jerusalem, then recruited Dr. Elaine Solowey of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies to help revive the dormant seeds, in hopes of discovering some of the plant's medicinal properties mentioned in historical writings.

In 2005, the date palm now known as Methuselah was planted and sprouted. After it germinated, fragments of the seed shell clinging to the roots were carbon dated, placing the age of the date seeds sometime between 60 B.C. and A.D. 95, about the age expected for a seed that could have survived the famed attack on the Masada fortress described by the ancient historian Josephus. More

Life Expectancy Hits Record High in United States

Chart shows the U.S. life expectancy at birth since 1929;; 2c x 2 inches; 96.3 mm x 50.8 mm (Jake O'connell - AP)

By David Brown

Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 12, 2008; Page A04

Americans' life expectancy reached a record high of 78.1 years in 2006, with disparities among ethnic groups and between the sexes generally narrowing, according to government data released yesterday.

The death rates from most diseases went down, with influenza mortality falling steeply and AIDS mortality marking its 10th straight year of decline. Infant mortality in 2006 also fell from the previous year, continuing a trend stretching back nearly 50 years. More

The Right Diet to Lose Weight

Home>Basics>Modern Diseases>Obesity

Obesity

The obesity epidemic of the past century has mirrored the rise in consumption of processed, devitalized foods. Dr. Weston A. Price's nonindustrialized people, however, did not have weight problems on their traditional diets.

The place to start for losing weight is in switching to a nourishing traditional diet such as those of the populations Price studied. See our Characteristics of Traditional Diets, Dietary Guidelines, Dietary Dangers for a basic starting point. Nourishing Traditions provides a comprehensive nutrition guide and basic cookbook for traditional foods. Lori Lipinski's series on "Making the Transition" also has excellent step-by-step tips for ridding your pantry of processed food and using healthy alternatives.

We do not recommend lowfat diets, high protein diets that restrict fat, vegetarian diets,* or vegan diets. The body needs an abundant supply of the fat-soluble vitamins and fat-soluble activators found only in animal fats. Many of the vitamins and minerals found in vegetables cannot be absorbed without fat, and protein cannot be assimilated without fat. In fact, the body will rob its own precious stores of fat-soluble vitamins in order to digest protein if adequate fat is not eaten with it, which can lead to rapid depletion of these nutrients so necessary for so many biological functions. Price's natives never ate lean meat without the fat.

*Vegetarian diets that include liberal use of eggs and raw dairy products can be healthy for some people. However, childen, people who want to conceive or are pregnant or lactating, and others with compromised health or digestive systems may do poorly on a vegetarian diet.

Reducing simple carbohydrates and increasing saturated fats is the basis for many of the recommendations in the books below. The fatty acids in coconut oil and butter in particular are helpful for weight loss.

For an inspiring account of a formerly obese man who shed his excess weight and returned to radiant health, read A Life Unburdened: Getting Over Weight and Getting On With My Life by Richard Morris.

Some people who switch to a nourishing traditional diet still have difficulty losing weight. This could be do to any number of underlying health issues such as toxic overload from poisons like amalgam (mercury) dental fillings, insulin resistance, and other issues. See our Ask the Doctor About Difficulty Losing Weight column for a perspective on this from Dr. Thomas Cowan. His website The Fourfold Path to Healing (along with his book of the same name) offers help for weight loss. See in particular his Sample Menus for Weight Loss.

Books

These books may also offer advice that will help with your particular needs.

The Diet Cure by Julia Ross
Eat Fat, Lose Fat by Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig, PhD
The Fourfold Path to Healing by Thomas Cowan, MD
A Life Unburdened by Richard Morris
Life Without Bread by Wolfgang Lutz and Christian Allan
The Maker's Diet by Jordan Rubin
The No-Grain Diet by Joseph Mercola
The Schwarzbein Principle by Diana Schwarzbein

Cod Liver Oil: The Number One Superfood

By Krispin Sullivan, CN

Several visitors to our website have noted inconsistencies in various statements about vitamin A, vitamin D and cod liver oil. These issues revolve around questions of dosage and safety. Please see Vitamin A, Vitamin D and Cod Liver Oil: Some Clarifications.

Doctor Price was right, as usual. Cod liver oil is very good for you, more than you ever knew. Research studies ranging from 1918-2001 give cod liver oil an A+ rating. This marvelous golden oil contains large amounts of elongated omega-3 fatty acids, preformed vitamin A and the sunlight vitamin D, essential nutrients that are hard to obtain in sufficient amounts in the modern diet. Samples may also naturally contain small amounts of the important bone- and blood-maintainer vitamin K. More