The Plain Truth's: Your Health Today ONLINE

Smoking and You

Benefits of Smoking

Facts on Smoking You are Not Told, or Why George Burns Lived to 100!

by Robert R. Barney

We are running a series of articles in our YOUR HEALTH TODAY section which I think will absolutely blow most of our readers today! Over the past 40 years, we have been overwhelmed with the evils of smoking. The message has basically been, SMOKE ONE CIGARETTE and YOU WILL DIE A DAY YOUNGER! Have you ever thought of any benefits of smoking? Honestly, could there be any benefits? Well I did my own investigation and guess what? Smoking in moderation may actually be GOOD for you! I know that smacks in the face of everything science and government has been telling us, but sometimes governments LIE! Here are just a few examples of FACTS I bet you don't know:

-- Q10 is made from Tobacco
-- Smoking Reduces both Parkinson Disease AND Alzheimers!
-- Smoking increases certain hormones and can act similar to Viagra!
-- A Reduced risk in women who smoke to Colon Cancer
-- Moderate Cigar or Non-Filtered Cigarettes may actually help you live Longer

I realize that this sounds like I have gone bonkers, but friends, every statement I have made has proven science behind it and I document it below! Drinking wine can kill you. If you drink two to thee bottles of wine a day, you will probably be at a much greater risk of developing a host of diseases related to alcoholism, yet we know that those who drink a glass a day statistically live longer than tea-tottlers. The same seems to apply to smoking. Very low doses of smoking (a Cigar or two once a week or two or three NON-FILTERED cigarettes a day) actually helps our bodies. It has been documented for years that Japanese men out smoke American men yet have lower incidences of lung cancer! ( http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/10/11/1193 )

One looks at people like George Burns who lived to be 100, smoking a cigar his entire life. Would he have lived to 150 if he didn't smoke? Well, the evidence I am presenting suggests that he lived that long BECAUSE he smoked.

If you notice,whenever I mentioned cigarette smoking, I always wrote of NON-FILTERED cigarettes. Again, big businees like the tobacco companies and our government know that the filters on these cigarettes are much more harmful than the tobacco smoke! More than 90% of the cigarettes sold worldwide have a filter. Nearly all filters consist of a rod of numerous ( > 12 000) plastic-like cellulose acetate fibres. During high speed cigarette manufacturing procedures, fragments of cellulose acetate that form the mouthpiece of a filter rod become separated from the filter at the end face. The cut surface of the filter of nearly all cigarettes has these fragments. In smoking a cigarette in the usual manner, some of these fragments are released during puffing. In addition to the cellulose acetate fragments, carbon particles are released also from some cigarette brands that have a charcoal filter. Cigarettes with filters that release cellulose acetate or carbon particles during normal smoking conditions are defective. Philip Morris, Inc has known of this filter defect for more than 40 years.
results of investigations substantiating defective filters have been concealed from the smoker and the health community. The tobacco industry has been negligent in not performing toxicological examinations and other studies to assess the human health risks associated with regularly ingesting and inhaling non-degradable, toxin coated cellulose acetate fragments and carbon microparticles and possibly other components that are released from conventional cigarette filters during normal smoking. The rationale for harm assessment is supported by the results of consumer surveys that have shown that the ingestion or inhalation of cigarette filter fibres are a health concern to nearly all smokers. (From “Cigarettes with defective filters marketed for 40 years: what Philip Morris never told smokers” (Tobacco Control 2002;11:i51-i61):)

Check out a host of stories we have on this subject on http://journals.aol.com/plaintruthtoday/your-health-today

Notes and References

1) The miracle supplement (for skin, heart, brain rejuvenation) Coenzyme Q10 is extracted from tobacco leaf! http://www.ritecare.com/prodsheets/and-503000.html
Dr. Ricjard A. Kunin extols the benefits of Coenzyme Q10. He also says: The energy of oxidation in cells depends on CoQ in partnership with niacinamide (vitamin B3), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and minerals such as iron and copper to effect the movement of electrons and hydrogen protons in the power plant of cell, the mitochondrion. Incidentally, tobacco leaf is the champion source, containing 184 mg in a quarter pound. Note that the doctor follows with the disclaimer, "In fact, the Japanese companies make their CoQ from tobacco, however it is only released by means of bacterial fermentation not by smoking." The fact remains that CoQ 10 is a natural miracle for the human body and it's chief source is tobacco!

2) Smoking Reduces Parkinson's Disease: Studies world-wide has notice that smokers have a significally lower incidence of getting the disease, yet this is never mentioned in any of the anti-smoking campaigns.

Neurology. 1999 Sep 22;53(5):1158. Smoking and Parkinson's disease: a dose-response relationship Gorell JM, Rybicki BA, Johnson CC, Peterson EL
Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Health System, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Center in Molecular and Cellular Toxicology with Human Applications, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.

Also see Smoking lowers Parkinson's disease risk from Reuters (Mar 20, 2007).

From “Temporal relationship between cigarette smoking and risk of Parkinson disease” (NEUROLOGY 2007;68:764-768):

3) The by-product of smoking (Nitric Oxide) helps in opening our arteries! Nitric oxide stimulates peripheral circulation (this is the mechanism behind Viagra effect).Low concentration carbon monoxide (as found in tobacco smoke) protects cells in harsh conditions, such as low oxygen and general cell death

4) Smoking actually increases GROWTH Hormones! Like testosterone and DHEA.
source: Geriatrics & Gerontology International (Volume 6 Issue 1 Page 49-52, March 2006)Relation of age and smoking to serum levels of total testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in aged men in , which found these results, "Serum T did not decrease with age, and was significantly higher in smokers than for non-smokers. Serum DHEA decreased with age more sharply in non-smokers than for smokers."

5) Smoking reduces IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1)--at least in males for sure. In animal experiments, lowered insuline growth factor IGF-1 change extends lifespan.

6) Reduced Incidence of Colorectal Cancer--especially in women.

Cigarette Smoking and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Women (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 80, No. 16, 1329-1333, October 19, 1988) states, "Colorectal cancer incidence rates for smokers, nonsmokers living with smokers (i.e., passive smokers), and non-smokers in smoke-free households were compared in a 12-year prospective study of 25, 369 women who participated in a private census conducted in Washington County, MD, in 1963. Women who smoked had a decreased relative risk of colorectal cancer compared with the risk for nonsmokers (age-adjusted relative risk, 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.52–1.10). The risk for passive smokers was similar to that for smokers. The relative risks were significantly reduced for older women; relative risks were 0.42 for smokers and 0.66 for passive smokers over age 65. The data suggest that older women who smoke have a lower risk of colorectal cancer than non-smokers. The effect may be mediated by an antiestrogenic effect of smoking."

7) People who smoke fare better than nonsmokers when exposed to occupational hazards.
From Lack of combined effects of exposure and smoking on respiratory health in aluminium potroom workersBritish Medical Journal, Occupational and Environmental Medicine (Vol 56, 468-472, 1999):

8) Cigarette smoking may be an independent protective factor for developing schizophrenia. These results are consistent with animal models showing both neuroprotective effects of nicotine and differential release of prefrontal dopamine in response to nicotine.
From Cancer in schizophrenia: is the risk higher or lower? in Schizophrenia Research (Volume 73, Issue 2, Pages 333-341) at http://www.schres-journal.com/article/PIIS0920996404002130/abstract :
The incidence of cancer in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia was compared with the incidence in the general population. The results showed that the cancer standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for all sites were significantly lower among men and women with schizophrenia, 0.86 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80–0.93] and 0.91 (95% CI 0.85–0.97), respectively. This reduced overall risk was clearest for those born in Europe–America, both men (SIR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74–0.97) and women (SIR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77–0.94).
Appetite Suppressant -- no citations. Common sense. Most stimulants are appetite suppressants, and nicotine does seem to be a stimulant.

9) Tobacco: the definitive link in healthy aging by Daniel John Richard Date.
Reduces incidence of Alzheimer's, among other degenerative diseases.

"A statistically significant inverse association between smoking and Alzheimer's disease was observed at all levels of analysis, with a trend towards decreasing risk with increasing consumption" (International Journal of Epidemiology, 1991)

"The risk of Alzheimer's disease decreased with increasing daily number of cigarettes smoked before onset of disease. . . . In six families in which the disease was apparently inherited . . . the mean age of onset was 4.17 years later in smoking patients than in non-smoking patients from the same family" (British Medical Journal, June 22, 1991)

"Although more data are needed . . . [an analysis of 19 studies suggests] nicotine protects against AD" (Neuroepidemiology, 1994)

Nicotine injections significantly improved certain types of mental functioning in Alzheimer's patients (Psychopharmacology, 1992).

One theory: nicotine improves the responsiveness of Alzheimer's patients to acetylcholine, an important brain chemical.

“When chronically taken, nicotine may result in: (1) positive reinforcement [it makes you feel good], (2) negative reinforcement [it may keep you from feeling bad], (3) reduction of body weight [by reducing appetite and increasing metabolic rate], (4) enhancement of performance, and protection against: (5) Parkinson's disease, (6) Tourette's disease [tics], (7) Alzheimer's disease, (8) ulcerative colitis and (9) sleep apnea. The reliability of these effects varies greatly but justifies the search for more therapeutic applications for this interesting compound." ("Beneficial Effects of Nicotine," Jarvik, British Journal of Addiction, 1991)

See more on smoking and reduced incidence of Alzheimer's disease. In this compilation of 19 studies, 15 found a reduce risk in smokers, and none found an increased risk. Also noted is the fact that acute administration of nicotine improves attention and information processing in AD patients, which adds further plausibility to the hypothesis.
Smoking is Good for You: Absence, Presence, and the Ecumenical Appeal of Indian Islamic Healing Centers
In Shop owner says smoking 'doesn't cause disease' a shop owner "tells his customers that smoking calms the nerves and soothes the mind." This is in sync with what Albert Einstein stated upon becoming a lifetime member of the Montreal Pipe Smokers Club at the age of 71, "I believe that pipe smoking contributes to a somewhat calm and objective judgment in all human affairs."

Facts on Smoking

Smoking Does Not Cause Lung Cancer! (According to WHO/CDC Data)*

By: James P. Siepmann, MD

Yes, it is true, smoking does not cause lung cancer. It is only one of many risk factors for lung cancer. I initially was going to write an article on how the professional literature and publications misuse the language by saying "smoking causes lung cancer"1,2, but the more that I looked into how biased the literature, professional organizations, and the media are, I modified this article to one on trying to put the relationship between smoking and cancer into perspective. (No, I did not get paid off by the tobacco companies, or anything else like that.)

When the tobacco executives testified to Congress that they did not believe that smoking caused cancer, their answers were probably truthful and I agree with that statement. Now, if they were asked if smoking increases the risk of getting lung cancer, then their answer based upon current evidence should have be "yes." But even so, the risk of a smoker getting lung cancer is much less than anyone would suspect. Based upon what the media and anti-tobacco organizations say, one would think that if you smoke, you get lung cancer (a 100% correlation) or at least expect a 50+% occurrence before someone uses the word "cause."

http://www.journaloftheoretics.com/Editorials/Vol-1/e1-4.htm

Benefits of Smoking???

Nicotine's protective effect against neurodegenerative disorders

While the health risks of tobacco are well known, several studies have shown that people with a history of cigarette smoking have lower rates of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. However, the explanations for nicotine's neuroprotective effects continue to be debated.

Now a team of neuroscientists at the University of South Florida College of Medicine presents new evidence of an anti-inflammatory mechanism in the brain by which nicotine may protect against nerve cell death. Their study was published today in the Journal of Neurochemistry.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/6544.php

Tags: cigars, smokings

Sugar Story

The truth about raw sugar, light, dark brown and Kleenraw sugar. The facts of sugar refining, and what you should know about sugar.

By Fred Rohe
No Organic Merchant sells white sugar or any products containing white sugar because it is a foodless food. It is 99.96% sucrose and when taken into the human body in this form is potentially dangerous. It is touted as an energy food, but such propaganda is misleading for there is ample evidence that white sugar robs the body of B vitamins, disrupts calcium metabolism and has a deleterious effect on the nervous system.

The above material can be concluded by anyone through reading but in addition to the reading, I have taken the trouble to visit sugar refineries in both Hawaii and California. Aside from general curiousity, my reason for these visits was that I had been selling "raw" or brown sugar without understanding what they are. There was no information available which seemed dependable.

Sugar cane is grown with the use of synthetic fertilizers and weed sprays. The fields are burned just previous to harvest. These are destructive agricultural practices; nothing truly good can come from soil so mistreated. I would, therefore, be uninterested in consuming aything derived from commercially grown sugar cane, either brown sugar or molasses.

Sugar refining is largely a mechanical process done in truly huge machines which boil, spin, filter and separate. Aside from water, the materials which enter the processing are lime, phosphoric acid and diatamaceous earth. I don't consider any of these additives significant where white sugar is concerned because one thing is certainly true about white sugar; it is "pure". No chemical residues could possibly remain at the end of the line, so effective is their purification process.

There are three kinds of sugar which are not white: light brown, dark brown and Kleenraw. They are all made the same way—by adding back molasses to refined sugar. For years I have heard several different versions of how these so-called "raw" sugars are made. All of them led me to believe that the so-called "raw" sugar which has traditionally been used in the health food industry is a "partially refined" product removed from the refining process sometimes before the final stage of white sugar. But my investigation have proved this impression erroneous. All forms of non-white sugats are made from a base of white sugar.

The numbers go like this: Partially refined or "raw" sugar is 97% sucrose when it leaves Hawaii and goes through a gigantic California refinery to produce refined sugar, 99.96% sucrose. For Kleenraw they add back 5% molasses, for light brown they add back 12% molasses, for dark brown they add back 13% molasses. A special crystalization process is used for Kleenraw designed especially to create a raw-like illusion.

All sugar companies use similar processes, as it is against the law to sell sugar which has not been refined. Ostensibly, the purpose of this law is to protect us; in reality it means we have no freedom to choose what kind of sugar we would use. Personally, I would like to be able to buy sugar from an organically grown cane in the form of an almost black, syrupy mass of crystals. It is rumored that the law which prevents us from buying such true raw sugar was enacted as a result of powerful lobbying on the behalf of the sugar refining companies.

Organic Merchants do not sell brown or "raw" sugar or any products containing brown sugar either, because the plain fact is that brown sugar is a shuck (for those not familiar with the term, let's call brown sugar phony).

It does not seem to me to be a good judgement to ban white sugar because it is refined to the point of foodlessness containing neither vitamins nor minerals, a definite potential human heath hazard... and then turn around and sell a product which is made from 87% of the very same white sugar. Having done a thorough personal investigation, I can assure you that brown sugar is nothing more than white sugar wearing a mask.

Besides not liking the 87% part of brown sugar—meaning the white sugar—I don't like much the 13% part either—the molasses. For one thing, the ecologially unsound agricultural practices I mentioned previously; for another thing; those mammoth filtration units the molasses comes out of which are filled with charred beef bones. A representative from one of the sugar companies who came to see me to answer some questions from a letter I have written said the burned beef bones were to give the white sugar a more pleasing "aesthetic" effect. He explained that burned beef bones make white sugar whiter. Of course it'spurely personal opinion but I say God save us from such "aesthetics".

I have not seen Turbinado or Demarara sugar produced, but my understanding of sugar procesing enables me to make the following wager with complete confidence: I'll bet Turbinado sugar is at least 95% sucrose. I'm so confident that I would not lose those bets that I won't sell Turbinado or Demarara either. That wager makes no pretense of being founded on "scientific" grounds but on first-hand experience of what sugar looks like during the refining procedure.

Not having known the facts, some Organic Merchants have allowed so-called "raw sugar" to have a home in their stores. Probably some products containing it are popular. Our intention is not take the pleasure out of anyone's life, but to play a part in upgrading the quality of American food. If enought of us stop buying junk—even the better junk—the food manufacturers will listen.

So what are you going to use for a sweetener if you never allow sugar to cross your lips? Half the amount of honey should be used in substituting for sugar in recipes. Beyong that, it's all experimental. Try carob molasses, carb syrup, unrefined sugar cane syrup, date sugar. Best experiment of all is to follow the advice of J.I. Rodale: "We receive so many letter from readers asking what kind of sugar to use. So far as we are concerned, the answer is none... if you would be healthy, omit all sugar and just get accustomed to doing without it."

Reprints available from: Organic Merchants, c/o Erewhon, 8003 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, Ca. 90048, 651-3787.

Myths & Truths About Soy

Myth: Use of soy as a food dates back many thousands of years.

Truth: Soy was first used as a food during the late Chou dynasty (1134-246 BC), only after the Chinese learned to ferment soy beans to make foods like tempeh, natto and tamari.

Myth: Asians consume large amounts of soy foods.

Truth: Average consumption of soy foods in Japan and China is 10 grams (about 2 teaspoons) per day. Asians consume soy foods in small amounts as a condiment, and not as a replacement for animal foods.

Myth: Modern soy foods confer the same health benefits as traditionally fermented soy foods.

Truth: Most modern soy foods are not fermented to neutralize toxins in soybeans, and are processed in a way that denatures proteins and increases levels of carcinogens.

Myth: Soy foods provide complete protein.

Truth: Like all legumes, soy beans are deficient in sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cystine. In addition, modern processing denatures fragile lysine.

Myth: Fermented soy foods can provide vitamin B₁₂ in vegetarian diets.

Truth: The compound that resembles vitamin B₁₂ in soy cannot be used by the human body; in fact, soy foods cause the body to require more B₁₂

Myth: Soy formula is safe for infants.

Truth: Soy foods contain trypsin inhibitors that inhibit protein digestion and affect pancreatic function. In test animals, diets high in trypsin inhibitors led to stunted growth and pancreatic disorders. Soy foods increase the body's requirement for vitamin D, needed for strong bones and normal growth. Phytic acid in soy foods results in reduced bioavailabilty of iron and zinc which are required for the health and development of the brain and nervous system. Soy also lacks cholesterol, likewise essential for the development of the brain and nervous system. Megadoses of phytoestrogens in soy formula have been implicated in the current trend toward increasingly premature sexual development in girls and delayed or retarded sexual development in boys.

Myth: Soy foods can prevent osteoporosis.

Truth: Soy foods can cause deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D, both needed for healthy bones. Calcium from bone broths and vitamin D from seafood, lard and organ meats prevent osteoporosis in Asian countries—not soy foods.

Myth: Modern soy foods protect against many types of cancer.

Truth: A British government report concluded that there is little evidence that soy foods protect against breast cancer or any other forms of cancer. In fact, soy foods may result in an increased risk of cancer.

Myth: Soy foods protect against heart disease.

Truth: In some people, consumption of soy foods will lower cholesterol, but there is no evidence that lowering cholesterol improves one's risk of having heart disease.

Myth: Soy estrogens (isoflavones) are good for you.

Truth: Soy isoflavones are phyto-endocrine disrupters. At dietary levels, they can prevent ovulation and stimulate the growth of cancer cells. Eating as little as 30 grams (about 4 tablespoons) of soy per day can result in hypothyroidism with symptoms of lethargy, constipation, weight gain and fatigue.

Myth: Soy foods are safe and beneficial for women to use in their postmenopausal years.

Truth: Soy foods can stimulate the growth of estrogen-dependent tumors and cause thyroid problems. Low thyroid function is associated with difficulties in menopause.

Myth: Phytoestrogens in soy foods can enhance mental ability.

Truth: A recent study found that women with the highest levels of estrogen in their blood had the lowest levels of cognitive function; In Japanese Americans tofu consumption in mid-life is associated with the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease in later life.

Myth: Soy isoflavones and soy protein isolate have GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status.

Truth: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) recently withdrew its application to the FDA for GRAS status for soy isoflavones following an outpouring of protest from the scientific community. The FDA never approved GRAS status for soy protein isolate because of concern regarding the presence of toxins and carcinogens in processed soy.

Myth: Soy foods are good for your sex life.

Truth: Numerous animal studies show that soy foods cause infertility in animals. Soy consumption enhances hair growth in middle-aged men, indicating lowered testosterone levels. Japanese housewives feed tofu to their husbands frequently when they want to reduce his virility.

Myth: Soy beans are good for the environment.

Truth: Most soy beans grown in the US are genetically engineered to allow farmers to use large amounts of herbicides.

Myth: Soy beans are good for developing nations.

Truth: In third world countries, soybeans replace traditional crops and transfer the value-added of processing from the local population to multinational corporations.

For more Information VISIT:

http://www.westonaprice.org/mythstruths/index.html

Who are they?

The Weston A. Price Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charity founded in 1999 to disseminate the research of nutrition pioneer Dr. Weston Price, whose studies of isolated nonindustrialized peoples established the parameters of human health and determined the optimum characteristics of human diets. Dr. Price's research demonstrated that humans achieve perfect physical form and perfect health generation after generation only when they consume nutrient-dense whole foods and the vital fat-soluble activators found exclusively in animal fats.

The Foundation is dedicated to restoring nutrient-dense foods to the human diet through education, research and activism. It supports a number of movements that contribute to this objective including accurate nutrition instruction, organic and biodynamic farming, pasture-feeding of livestock, community-supported farms, honest and informative labeling, prepared parenting and nurturing therapies. Specific goals include establishment of universal access to clean, certified raw milk and a ban on the use of soy formula for infants.

The Foundation seeks to establish a laboratory to test nutrient content of foods, particularly butter produced under various conditions; to conduct research into the "X Factor," discovered by Dr. Price; and to determine the effects of traditional preparation methods on nutrient content and availability in whole foods.

The board and membership of the Weston A. Price Foundation stand united in the belief that modern technology should be harnessed as a servant to the wise and nurturing traditions of our ancestors rather than used as a force destructive to the environment and human health; and that science and knowledge can validate those traditions.

The Foundation's quarterly journal, Wise Traditions in Food, Farming, and the Healing Arts, is dedicated to exploring the scientific validation of dietary, agricultural and medical traditions throughout the world. It features illuminating and thought-provoking articles on current scientific research; human diets; non-toxic agriculture; and holistic therapies. The journal also serves as a reference for sources of foods that have been conscientiously grown and process

ADA Now Supports Low-Carb Diets

Patrick Totty

The powerful - but cautious - American Diabetes Association has announced that it now supports low-carbohydrate diets for people with diabetes who want to lose weight.

In its 2008 Clinical Practice Recommendations, the ADA acknowledges increasing evidence that low-carb diets are as effective in leading to weight loss as diets that focus on lowering fat intake.

Previously the ADA had been reluctant to support low-carb diets, citing a lack of "sufficient scientific evidence." But now, according to Ann Albright, PhD, RD, president of the ADA's Health Care & Education group, "The evidence is clear that both low-carbohydrate and low-fat calorie restricted diets result in similar weight loss at one year." But she added that the ADA is not endorsing either of these weight-loss plans over any other weight loss method.

The ADA's "Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2008" document states that there is now evidence that the most important determinant of weight loss is not a diet's composition, but whether the person dieting can stick with it. It also notes that some people will find it easier to follow a low-carb diet while others will find a low-fat, restricted-calorie diet easier to follow.

The ADA is recommending that because people who follow low-carb diets are likely to replace calories from carbohydrates with calories from fat and protein, they should monitor their lipid profiles. Also, diabetes patients with kidney disease should be aware that high-protein diets can worsen kidney problems.

Reactions from CDEs

Diabetes educators have welcomed the news, noting, however, that the ADA was slow in getting there. "I was thrilled to finally see the ADA come around to what many of us have known and seen in our patients for some time," says Diabetes Health's clinical editor Joy Pape (RN, BSN, CDE, WOCN, CFCN). "I understand that they have to wait for the evidence, but it's too bad so many people with diabetes had to wait so long before they could be taught something that can really help them."

Karen LaVine, RN, CDE, who works for a disease management company, LifeMasters Supported SelfCare in Albuquerque, N.M., says, "It's about time. Hopefully this announcement will open the door a little further on low-carb diets. The ADA is acknowledging that if low carb works for somebody, they should go for it. They're taking a good, pragmatic approach."

Pape says that although she has personally been a proponent of lower-carb plans, her experience leads her to agree with the ADA's statement that whether a person can stick with a diet is more important than the diet's theme. "This makes me hopeful that medical nutritional therapy will now truly be based on individualized plans that take the nuances of each person with diabetes into consideration.

"That would be far better than just playing lip service to the idea of individual differences and continually recommending pretty much the same for everyone."

Judi Wilcox, RD, LDN, CDE, a registered dietician at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla., says that in view of the fact that "both low carbohydrate and low fat diets are shown to promote weight loss, now is the time to for practitioners to end the debate and to allow patients to have an active role in choosing a low-carbohydrate diet. The diets do work and should be recommended as a viable option for weight loss." She says low-carbohydrate diets are an effective option for weight loss which has been shown to help improve insulin resistance, delay the onset of diabetes and help prevent complications.

Wilcox adds that the ADA recommends that low-carbohydrate diets should be used for one year and that patients should have their lipid profiles, renal functions, and, in cases of neuropathy, protein intake routinely monitored. "Individualized medical nutrition therapy should be administered by a certified diabetes educator or registered dietitian to teach a low carbohydrate diet that includes foods high in fiber and low glycemic index foods."

A Spoonful of Vinegar Makes the Glucose Go Down

Patrick Totty

Here's a sour little bit of good news for type 2s: taking two tablespoons of vinegar at bedtime can lower fasting glucose levels the next morning by as much as 6 percent.

Researchers at Arizona State University knew that taking vinegar with meals has been shown to lower glucose levels, so they decided to see if it would have any effect during sleep. They studied four men and seven women, ages 40 to 72, who were not taking insulin. The subjects had a fasting glucose of 7.6 mmol/L before the study, compared to 5.5 mmol/L or lower in people without diabetes.

The study called for the participants to measure their fasting glucose levels for three days, then follow a standardized meal plan for two days. At bedtime, one group consumed 1 oz. of cheese with water while the other accompanied the cheese with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. After two days, participants who had drunk vinegar went vinegar-free for three to five days to allow their systems to eliminate all traces of the substance. They then shifted to cheese and water, trading places with the other group.

After the experiment, researchers found that the vinegar treatment had reduced fasting glucose levels by an average 4 percent, compared to 2 percent in subjects who had received a placebo. The best news was that for six of the participants whose normal fasting glucose was greater than 7.2 mmol/L the drop in glucose averaged 6 percent.

Researchers said that more study will be required before they can declare that vinegar is a useful adjunct therapy in the treatment of diabetes.

Source: Diabetes Care, November 2007

Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) The Amazing Secrets

Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) The Amazing Secrets

H2O2 can be used as a marinade or as a vegetable wash or soak to kill bacteria and neutralize chemicals. It can also be used to disinfect your dishwasher or refrigerator. Commercially, it is used in aseptic packaging (the juice boxes you see in the stores) to prevent spoilage and provide shelf life without refrigeration. It is also great to use in the garden. You can use it on trees and plants as a natural fungicide, insecticide (See: Natural Organic Gardening Uses), also as a weed killer, as well as uses for your pets. Your plants and your pets will thank you for using it! H2O2 is also being used as an alternative fuel source!

Mayo Clinic Study Implicates Fungus As Cause Of Chronic Sinusitis --Science Daily
"-Mayo Clinic researchers say they have found the cause of most chronic sinus infections -- an immune system response to fungus. They say this discovery opens the door to the first effective treatment for this problem, the most common chronic disease in the United States.
-An estimated 37 million people in the United States suffer from chronic sinusitis, an inflammation of the membranes of the nose and sinus cavity. Its incidence has been increasing steadily over the last decade. Common symptoms are runny nose, nasal congestion, loss of smell and headaches. Frequently the chronic inflammation leads to polyps, small growths in the nasal passages which hinder breathing.
-"Up to now, the cause of chronic sinusitis has not been known," say the Mayo researchers: Drs. David Sherris, Eugene Kern and Jens Ponikau , Mayo Clinic ear, nose and throat specialists. Their report appears in the September issue of the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
-"Fungus allergy was thought to be involved in less than ten percent of cases," says Dr. Sherris. "Our studies indicate that, in fact, fungus is likely the cause of nearly all of these problems. And it is not an allergic reaction, but an immune reaction.""

Pesticides: Topical & Chemical Fact Sheets; Hydrogen Peroxide and Peroxyacetic Acid --U. S. Environmental Protection Agency "The following fact sheet is part of a series relating to chemicals that may be used in Federal Anthrax decontamination efforts. Both hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid are known as peroxy compounds. Peroxy compounds are microbicides that, when mixed with water, will kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. These compounds are effective on hard surfaces, including equipment, and are applied in various locations, from hospitals and medical institutions to commercial, industrial, and residential locations."

35% Hydrogen Peroxide is used world wide in municipal water supplies instead of chlorine to disinfect and stop the growth of unwanted organisms. Do you have pure water?

Water 'wake-up call' given by UN --BBC News
"Some 4,000 children die daily from illnesses caused by unclean water
The UN says the world faces a silent emergency because of the continued lack of clean water and sanitation."

Drinking-water disinfectant produces toxic compound
"A chlorine alternative used in the U.S. to disinfect some public drinking water can produce a class of byproducts far more toxic than those generated by chlorine, a new study suggests.
The byproducts, a family of chemicals called iodoacids, have been discovered only in chloramine-treated drinking water in Corpus Christi, Texas. Chloramines are a combination of chlorine and ammonia used in some municipal water supplies as an alternative to chlorine.
Research over the past 30 years has shown that when chlorine interacts with natural organic matter in drinking water, the process can generate byproducts that are linked to an increased risk of certain cancers and birth and developmental defects.

Chlorine - A Special Problem for Drinking Water
"There is increased evidence for an association between rectal, colon and bladder cancer and the consumption of chlorinated drinking water", this according to the President's Council on Environmental Quality.
[Health Note: CHLORINE and other disinfectants added to your drinking water is very BAD]

Super Foods! - Nutrition by Natalie

Simple Recipes for Children's Cough, Cold and Flu Syrups

Children's cough syrups are easy to make and much safer and more effective than over-the-counter cough and cold remedies that were just removed from store shelves. Coughs in children are quite common. Sometimes they are caused by colds and flu, other times; allergies and sinus congestion. A cough that lingers for days or weeks, or becomes severe, should be checked by your child's health care provider to rule out other illnesses.

Why use honey in cough syrups?

Honey has been used intuitively for hundreds of years as a wonderful natural antibiotic by many different cultures. Today, research undertaken by Dr. Shona Blair at Sydney University's School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, has now shown the unusual antibacterial activity of honey, leading to a greater understanding of the ability of honey to kill pathogenic bacteria through several different mechanisms. In studies, honey was effective against many different drug resistant bacteria.

In one scientific test, Dr. Shona Blair used honey to treat E. coli. Dr. Shona Blair saw that honey "attacks" bacteria from several different angles; that the bacteria were overwhelmed and unable to develop resistance, and the bacteria died. In today's world where many antibiotics have become ineffective, honey was able to kill not only the E. coli, but many other types of bacteria.

Honey not only possesses significant antibacterial activity, it has also been shown to actively promote healing by directly stimulating human cells that are important in the immune response to help disease and wounds healing.

Note:

*Don't use honey for children under two years of age - there is a microorganism in honey, which is otherwise harmless for children age two and older, that can sometimes make infants ill because of their young digestive system. Alternatives include brown rice syrup, barley, and organic fruit syrups; as substitutions in the recipes use the same amount as honey.

*For longer preservation of cough syrups, you can add 2 tablespoons of vegetable glycerin to each recipe when not already listed as an ingredient in the recipe. Vegetable glycerin is a thick, clear, sweet substance derived from coconut and palm oils and olive oil. It has long been used as a lubricant and preservative. It is sweet tasting but does not affect blood sugar. American herbalist, Edward E. Shook, N.D., preferred vegetable glycerin instead of alcohol for most of his herbal medicinesdue to its natural preservative powers.

Honey Lemon Cough Syrup

Lemon helps promote health by quickly alkalinizing the body and honey will kill any bacteria. This is a perfect choice for a quick cough remedy.

Put a pint of honey in a pan on the stove on low heat (Do not boil honey as this changes its medicinal properties) .

Take a whole lemon and boil in some water in a separate pan for 2-3 minutes to both soften the lemon and kill any bacteria that may be on the lemon skin. Let the lemon cool enough to handle then cut it in slices and add it to the pint of honey on the stove. Let mixture cook on warm heat for about an hour. Then strain the lemon from the honey making sure all lemon seeds are removed. Let cool, then bottle in a jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator. This syrup will keep for 2 months in the refrigerator.

To soothe a cough, take 1Ž2 teaspoon for a 25 lb. child and 1 teaspoon for a 50 lb. child, about 4 times a day or as often as needed. Adults can take 1 tablespoon doses.

Anise Seed Cough Syrup

Anise has been a traditional treatment for coughs, bronchitis and asthma and is now supported by science. The herb contains creosol and alpha-pinene that loosen bronchial secretions and make them easier to cough up. Gently crush 1 tablespoon of anise seed, cover with 1 1Ž2 cups of boiling water. Steep for 30 minutes then strain and simmer remaining liquid down to 1 cup then add 2 cups of honey. Let cool then bottle in a jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator. This syrup will keep for 2 months in the refrigerator.

To soothe a cough, take 1Ž2 teaspoon for a 25 lb. child and 1 teaspoon for a 50 lb. child, about 4 times a day

Horehound Cough Syrup

Horehound has been used for generations as a cure for children's cough, cold and croup. It has expectorant properties that loosen phlegm from the chest. One of horehound's compounds, marrubiin, stimulates bronchial secretions and helps break up congestion

Make an old-time cough remedy by mixing horehound tea with honey. Make a tea by steeping 1 ounce of dried horehound leaves in a pint of boiling water. Allow it to steep only 10 minutes. Strain off the leaves, then measure the quantity of the liquid remaining. Add twice as much honey as liquid, mix well, cool, bottle and refrigerate. This syrup will keep for 2 months in the refrigerator.

To soothe a cough, take 1Ž2 teaspoon for a 25 lb. childand 1 teaspoon for a 50 lb. child, about 4 times a day.

Taken from: Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs

Sinus Congestion and Headache Syrup (Also excellent for fevers and cough)

Steep 1 tablespoon of feverfew, 1Ž2 lemon cut up, 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds, 1 teaspoon of thyme leaves in 1 1Ž2 cups of water for 30 minutes. Strain the herbs from the liquid making sure you remove all lemon seeds. Simmer remaining liquid down to 1 cup of water then add 2 cups of honey plus 2 tablespoons of vegetable glycerin. Let cool then bottle in a jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator. This syrup will keep for 2 months in the refrigerator.

Give 1 teaspoon every 4 hours for a 50 lbs. child, 2 teaspoons for a 75 lb child and 1 tablespoon for a 100 lb. child or adult.

Combination Cough Syrup

Add 1 teaspoon each of licorice root, horehound, mullein leaves, thyme leaves, rose hips, marshmallow root and lemon balm leaves to 1 1Ž2 cups of water. Bring herbs and water to a boil in a saucepan. Remove from heat, cover and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain out herbs. Return liquid to heat and bring to a simmer to reduce liquid to 1 cup. While still warm add 1 cup honey, brown rice syrup or organic fruit syrup and 1Ž4 cup vegetable glycerin. Let cool, then bottle in a jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator. This syrup will keep for 2 months in the refrigerator.

Give 1 teaspoon every 4 hours for a 50 lbs. child, 2 teaspoons for a 75 lb child and 1 tablespoon for a 100 lb. child or adult.

Combination Dry Cough Syrup

When children have dry coughs, they need to be treated with moistening herbs with antiviral/antibacterial protection.

1 tablespoon each of cherry bark, thyme, mullein, pleurisy root and oregon grape root added to 1 quart of water.

Bring herbs and water to a boil in a saucepan. Turn heat down to warm, cover and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain out herbs. Return liquid to heat and bring to a simmer to reduce liquid to 1 pint. While still warm add 2 pints of honey. Once cool - bottle, cap, and refrigerate. This syrup will keep for 2 months in the refrigerator.

Give 1 teaspoon every 4 hours for a 50 lbs. child, 2 teaspoons for a 75 lb child and 1 tablespoon for a 100 lb. child or adult.

Combination Wet Cough Syrup

This cough syrup will gently encouragecoughing to clear the lungs of mucus while providing antiviral/antibacterial properties to fight infection.

1 tablespoon each of astragalus, horehound, mullein, garden sage and oregon grape root added to 1 quart of water.

Bring herbs and water to a boil in a saucepan. Turn heat down to warm, cover, and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain out herbs. Return liquid to heat and bring to a simmer to reduce liquid to 1 pint. While still warm add 2 pints of honey. Once cool - bottle, cap, and refrigerate. This syrup will keep for 2 months in the refrigerator.

Give 1 teaspoon every 4 hours for a 50 lbs. child, 2 teaspoons for a 75 lb child and 1 tablespoon for a 100 lb. child or adult.

Give your child lots of fluids in the form of water or teas to help them expel mucus; also, to prevent dehydration from fever.

Antiviral Syrup

Mild tasting antiviral herbs for children include astragalus, hyssop, lemon balm, lemon thyme, lemongrass and ginger root.

Take 1 tablespoon each of astragalus, hyssop, lemon balm, lemon thyme, lemongrass plus 1 teaspoon of ginger and add to 1 quart of boiling water. Turn down heat to warm and cover with lid. Let steep for 30 minutes then strain herbs from liquid. Simmer remaining liquid down to 1 pint then add 1 pint of honey and 1Ž4 cup of vegetable glycerin. Once cooled - bottle, cap, and refrigerate. This syrup will keep for 2 months in the refrigerator

The whole family can use this formula for the prevention of viruses or when down with colds and the flu.

Give 1 teaspoon every 4 hours for a 50 lbs. child, 2 teaspoons for a 75 lb child and 1 tablespoon for a 100 lb. child or adult.

Hyssop Tea

For cough or flu, steep two teaspoons of dried hyssop in one cup of boiling water, covered for ten minutes; strain and drink cool for an expectorant or hot to relieve congestion. Hyssop contains marrubiin, the same compound that makes horehound an excellent expectorant. Hyssop and horehound tea can usually be found in grocery or health food stores.

Lemon Balm Tea

For cough or flu, add two teaspoons of dried lemon balm leaves to one cup of boiling water, cover, and remove from heat. Steep for ten minutes then strain herb. Lemon Balm tea can be taken as often as needed.

Licorice Root Tea

Make a tea by putting 1Ž2 teaspoon of licorice root tea in a cup of hot water and steep for 10 minutes; strain. Drink three cups daily to relieve cough, congestion and asthma symptoms. Licorice has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, and is an expectorant. Licorice root tea can usually be found in grocery or health food stores.

Whooping Cough Tea

1 tablespoon white horehound, 1 tablespoon mullein, 1 tablespoon thyme leaves. Mix all dried ingredients together and store in a jar with a lid. Put 1-2 teaspoons into 1 cup of boiling water. Remove from burner and steep 10 minutes.

Garden thyme has long been considered an effective treatment for whooping cough.

For a 25 lb. child 1Ž2 cup and a 50 lb. child 1 cup, 3 to 4 times a day.

Disclaimer - The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your health- care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem, suffer from allergies, are pregnant or nursing.

Honey resource: Dr. Shona Blair, at Sydney University's School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences

About the author
Leslee Dru Browning is a 6th generation Medical Herbalist & Nutritionist from the ancestral line of Patty Bartlett Sessions; Pioneer Mid-Wife & Herbalist. Leslee practiced Medical Herbalism and Nutritional Healing for over 25 years and specialized in Cancer Wellness along with Chronic Illness. She now devotes her career to teaching people, through her writing, about Natural Healing from An Herbal Perspective.

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The Truth About Vaccines By World Renowned Scientist! SHOCKING VIDEO!! Merck Confesses

"Health Food" vs. Healthy Food -- How to read labels

Beware! This is an advertisement to sell his video, BUT THE INFO IS PRICELESS!

ENZYMES and YOUR HEALTH TODAY

University to Begin Testing Viagra-Like Drug on Women

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va — A drug that could do for women what Viagra has done for men is being tested at the University of Virginia. The drug is a testosterone-laden ointment called LibiGel and it's intended to boost the libido of women who have lost interest in sex. It will be prescribed at UVa in coming months to women who are suffering from hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

Anxious Depression Predicts Poorer Treatment Results

A new study examining the results of the STAR*D data has found that people who have “anxious depression” have a more difficult time in treatment than those without. A person with anxious depression experiences a major depressive episode and clinically meaningful levels of anxiety as well. The research examined 2,876 adults who were in treatment for depression in 41 different treatment centers across the U.S. In the first phase of treatment, patients received the antidepressant Celexa (citalopram) to treat their depression.

Five Facts About Prostate Cancer Every Man Should Know

Last month, singer and songwriter Dan Fogelberg died at the age of 56 after fighting prostate cancer since 2004. His doctors said if he had been diagnosed earlier, he could have survived.

HOW MUCH PROTEIN???? CALCULATOR

CLICK Here for Protein Calculator to figure out just how much protein one should consume each day. Most Americans eat far more protein than our European counterparts.

i-Snake 'will transform surgery'

Experts are developing a flexible surgical robot, known as the i-Snake, which they say could revolutionise keyhole surgery.

Disturbed sleep link to diabetes

A disturbed night's sleep may increase the risk of developing diabetes, US research has suggested.

Bad foods that are actually great for your waist

If you've been avoiding burgers, ice cream, and pizza thinking you're doing your waistline a favor, don't. They can actually help you lose weight -- and keep it off, too. Here are the hidden slim-down perks of five foods that get a bad rap and the best way to add each one back into your diet.

Can Alcohol Really Help You Beat a Cold?

Brandy, whiskey and other alcoholic beverages have long been recommended as “just the thing” to treat a cold. But do they really work?

It turns out that alcohol may help to temporarily relieve cold and flu symptoms, but it will not “cure” the cold or kill any germs in your bloodstream. A cocktail may also be counterproductive because the alcohol may dehydrate you and ultimately lengthen your symptoms.

However, while alcohol will not heal a cold, it may make you less likely to get one.

A 1993 study by Carnegie Mellon researchers found that moderate drinkers had increased resistance to colds. A second study conducted in 2002 and published in the American Journal of Epidemiology also found protective effects of alcohol.

In the study of 4,300 adults, those who drank eight to 14 glasses of wine per week (and red wine in particular) had up to a 60 percent reduced risk of developing a cold. The researchers suggested that the wine’s antioxidant content may have been responsible for the beneficial effect.

Sources:

New York Times December 18, 2007

American Journal of Epidemiology 2002 Vol. 155, No. 9 : 853-858

Experts Starting to Agree -- More Vitamin D is Better

A new study indicates that at least 2,000 International Units (IU) of vitamin D3 -- which is currently considered the upper limit of intake -- are needed to ensure adequate blood levels of the vitamin for post-menopausal African-American women.

Over 200 women took part in this three-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, which adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that there is an urgent need to review current recommended daily intake levels of the vitamin.

Vitamin D3 is produced in the skin during exposure to sunlight. However, increased skin pigmentation reduces the effect of UVB radiation, meaning darker-skinned people are more at risk of vitamin D deficiency.

As much as 4000 IU per day may be required for individuals who are already deficient in the vitamin.

Vitamin D, often referred to as “the sunshine vitamin,” is different from other vitamins in that it influences your entire body. Receptors that respond to vitamin D have been found in almost every type of human cell, from your brain to your bones.

Optimizing your vitamin D levels could help you to prevent as many as 16 different types of cancer including pancreatic, lung, breast, ovarian, prostate, and colon cancers.

In fact, a previous landmark study from the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), found that some 600,000 cases of breast and colorectal cancers could be prevented each year, if only vitamin D3 levels among populations worldwide were increased.

Beyond cancer, the researchers pointed out that increasing levels of vitamin D3 could prevent diseases that claim nearly 1 million lives throughout the world each year! And other studies showed that you can decrease your risk of cancer by MORE THAN HALF simply by optimizing your vitamin D levels with sun exposure.

Further, optimal vitamin D levels are also known to positively influence the following conditions:

Heart disease
Diabetes
Inflammatory bowel disease
Rheumatoid arthritis
Multiple sclerosis and osteoporosis
How Much Vitamin D do You Need?

Your doctor can measure your serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) to determine your vitamin D status. Your vitamin D level should NEVER be below 32 ng/ml, and anything below 20 ng/ml is considered a serious deficiency state, which will increase your risk of breast and prostate cancers and autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

In the United States, late winter 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels generally range from 15 to 18 ng/ml, so this vitamin deficiency affects a very large portion of the U.S. population.

The OPTIMAL value that you’re looking for is 45-52 ng/ml (115-128 nmol/l), but previous research has suggested that maintaining a slightly higher level of 55 ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter) is optimal for cancer prevention.

African Americans are even more prone to vitamin D deficiencies, as they produce less vitamin D3 than do whites in response to usual levels of sun exposure, and therefore have lower vitamin D serum concentrations year-round. In fact, as many as 42 percent of African American women, compared to just over 4 percent of white women of childbearing age have serum 25 (OH)D concentrations that are less than 62.5 nmol/L during the summer months.

RDA Too Low for Achieving Optimal Vitamin D Levels

This latest study, published in the December issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition points out that many African Americans simply cannot reach optimal vitamin D levels under the current recommended daily allowance (RDA) guidelines.

The 1997 Panel on Calcium and Related Nutrients considers 2,000 IU’s as the upper limit of intake, with a recommended daily allowance of just 400 to 600 IU’s per day.

In fact, the new dosing algorithm that this study proposes calls for a daily dose of 2,800 IU’s for African Americans with a serum level of at least 45 nmol/L, and 4,000 IU’s per day if your serum level is below 45 nmol/L.

In addition to this one-measurement, one-dose adjustment algorithm, they point out that given the individual variability in your response to vitamin D, the best result would be expected if your 25 (OH)D was measured and your dose of vitamin D is adjusted a second time.

I also recommend you check your vitamin D levels regularly as overdosing on oral vitamin D supplements IS possible. (There’s very little risk of overdosing on vitamin D from the sun, however.)

What is Your Best Source of Vitamin D?

Sun exposure (without sunscreen) of about 10 to 15 minutes a day, with at least 40 percent of your skin exposed is your best source of vitamin D. Sometimes, however (such as if you happen to live in the Chicago area like I do), you may not be able to get enough sun exposure during certain parts of the year. In that case supplementation is an option.

Obviously, it will be very difficult for many to get adequate sun exposure in the winter, which is why I also advise using a safe tanning bed to have your own body produce vitamin D naturally.

The most important thing to keep in mind if you opt for oral supplementation is that you only want to supplement with natural vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), which is the type of vitamin D found in foods like eggs, organ meats, animal fat, cod liver oil, and fish. Do NOT use the synthetic and highly inferior vitamin D2.

The Whole Truth About Milk: Raw vs. Pasteurized

Here is the Whole Truth about Dairy. Raw Milk is the way God intended us to drink Milk, when you Cook Milk (pasteurized) all good enzymes and bacteria are destroyed turning the milk into a POISON

The WHOLE TRUTH about MILK

The video above is an excerpt from the outstanding DVD The Whole Truth About Milk, which was created by by David Getoff, CTN, CCN, FAAIM, and features Organic Pastures Dairy owner Mark McAfee, where he explains the vital differences between pasteurized and raw milk.A bacterium known to cause illness in cattle may also cause Crohn's disease in humans. Crohn's disease causes chronic intestinal inflammation, leading to pain, bleeding and diarrhea.A bacterium called Mycobacterium paratuberculosis prevents white blood cells from killing E. coli bacteria. E. coli is known to be present in increased numbers within Crohn’s disease infected tissue.

Kosher Label Beats 'All Natural' on New Food Products

American consumers, it seems, who made the "Kosher" label the most popular claim found on product labels in 2007, beating out "All Natural" and "No Additives or Preservatives," according to figures from Mintel's Global New Products Database, which monitors worldwide product innovation in consumer packaged goods markets

Viagra Ingredient in Chinese Supplements

Dietary supplements marketed to provide male sexual enhancement contain undeclared erectile dysfunction drugs putting users at risk, the Food and Drug Administration warned Friday.

The agency advised consumers to stay away from Shangai Chaojimengnan supplements sold under the names Super Shangai, Strong Testis, Shangai Ultra, Shangai Ultra X, Lady Shangai and Shangai Regular. The Chinese-made supplements are packaged and distributed by Shangai Distributor Inc. of Puerto Rico.

Product testing indicates that some of these so-called supplements contain Viagra's active ingredient, sildenafil, or a compound with a chemical structure that mimics sildenafil.

These chemicals could interact with nitrates in drugs taken for disorders commonly associated with erectile dysfunction, including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease. The result could dangerously lower a user's blood pressure, according to the FDA.

The agency also warned that the safety and purity of these illegal ingredients is unknown.

The Debate Goes On: Carbs In or Carbs Out?

Riva Greenberg

Recently on "Good Morning America," a friend of mine (and fellow A1c champion) watched author Gary Taubes talk about his new book, Good Calories, Bad Calories. My friend sent this email around: "Taubes says that exercise makes us hungry for carbohydrates and that carbohydrates cause insulin secretion, which creates fat."

One of her email recipients, a PhD medical specialist, wrote back: "There is still a lot that we don't know, but for me, eating less and moving more has led to my weight reduction. I could have dieted on birthday cake as long as I did not eat more cake calories than I spent."

It's a constant debate in this country: What's the magic formula for fast and easy weight loss? The second question, especially for us d-people, is whether carbs are good or bad. To me, the answer to both is simple: eat less and move more. And, since carbs raise blood glucose, eat fewer carbs if you want to lower your blood sugar. Why is that such a difficult notion? Seems crystal clear to me and, trust me, I'm no rocket scientist.

Carbs Arouse Fierce Debate

Around the same time that my friend's email went around, a wicked debate was playing out on the Diabetes Health website. Diabetes educator Hope Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE, BC-ADM, wrote a piece called "Why You Don't Want to Go Low Carb or Vegan" that garnered more comments than I've ever seen in response to an article, as well as a rebuttal article by Richard D. Feinman, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry and Director of the Nutrition and Metabolism at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center ("Low Carbohydrate Diets: Why You Don't Want the "Experts" to Tell You What to Eat").

In a big nutshell, Feinman said, "I'm astonished that experts encourage people with diabetes to eat carbohydrates and then 'cover' them with insulin. Why would anyone (let alone doctors, who advocate it every day) recommend a diet that requires more medication?" Are they all in bed with pharma companies? (Sorry, that last question is my own.)

"It strikes me as odd," said Feinman, "that what most experts know about metabolism - diabetes is, after all, a metabolic disease - they learned in medical school from somebody like me. The first thing we teach medical students is that there is no biological requirement for carbohydrate. It is truethat your brain needs glucose, but glucose can be supplied by the process of gluconeogenesis; that is, glucose can be made from other things, notably protein. This is a normal process: when you wake up in the morning, between 30 and 70 percent of your blood glucose comes from gluconeogenesis. There is no requirement for dietary glucose. And all of the metabolic syndrome ills - high triglycerides, low HDL, hypertension and obesity - are improved by low carbohydrate diets. If we had been describing a drug," Feinman went on to say, "everybody would have rushed out to buy stock in our pharmaceutical company."

My Low-Carb Experiences

I can't comment on such metabolic complexities, but I can share with you what I experienced when I changed my diet to low carb. It was five years ago, after I read Dr. Richard Bernstein's book, Diabetes Solution. For the first time, I encountered someone advocating getting rid of carbs to control blood sugar.

Dr. Bernstein advises next to no carbs in a diabetic diet. Himself a diabetic for more than 50 years, Bernstein claims he has reversed many of his early complications and gotten his blood sugar under tight control by virtually eliminating carbs. Fewer carbs means you'll be taking less insulin. By taking less insulin, Bernstein claims, there'll be less variability in its absorption time and efficacy, as well as greater predictability with your blood sugars.

After I read his book, I was so encouraged and inspired that I pretty much vacuumed the carbs out of my diet. I essentially eliminated refined carbs, such as white bread, white potatoes, rice, pasta, sweets, muffins, and starchy veggies. The result? My sugars indeed dropped. They were consistently lower, and my insulin doses dropped. Maybe best of all, I was no longer chasing high blood sugars - you know, the ones that come from refined carbs, where you just can't seem to knock them down all day. My Lantus dose went from 20 to 12.5 units, and my pre-meal Humalog was all but cut in half. The results were so dramatic and made my life so much easier that I never went back to my old ways. (I do have to add the caveat that we're all different, and your body may not respond like mine.)

It's common sense, though, that the fewer carbs you eat, the less your blood sugar will rise and the less medication you'll need. I don't understand how anyone can argue the logic of that. If we're still being given diets with substantial carbs in them, it's probably because the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and other authorities believe that the average diabetic would never stand for cutting carbs so drastically. Along the same lines, the ADA's A1c recommendation is as high as 7%. That correlates with 170 on your meter, even though we're advised to stay in a target blood sugar range of 80 to 120 mg/dl. Does something sound fishy?

A Typical Low-Carb Day

For those interested, here's the routine that keeps my sugars low. My one carb meal is breakfast. I figure it's healthy, high fiber, and satisfying, and since I walk in the morning, the blood sugar rise gets leveled out. Every morning I make a bowl of slow-cooked steelcut oatmeal. I know many people who make a batch every week and freeze daily portions, but I like the morning ritual. I actually eat less than a whole serving, making up the difference with a dollop of low fat plain yogurt or cottage cheese and a tablespoon of peanut or almond butter. I also add flax seed and cinnamon. For this treat (like Jerry on Seinfeld, I could eat breakfast for any meal), I need 3.5 units of Humalog, or only 3 units if I'm taking my usual hour-long walk around my local park.

Lunch is generally a spinach salad with feta cheese, tomatoes, beans and leftover veggies, or a spinach/feta omelet. For that, I need 0.5 to 1 unit. Dinner is typically fish or chicken, vegetables, and beans. If I'm having a glass or two of wine with dinner, I don't need any insulin (Alcohol lowers blood sugar for most people, unless they're drinking strawberry margaritas or Singapore slings.)

A few months ago I interviewed a fellow type 1 who had received an islet cell transplant (two, actually). For 18 months afterward, she was insulin-free. Unfortunately, as is the case for most, if not all, islet cell transplant recipients, her new cells began to fail and she had to add some insulin back to keep her blood sugars in range. She told me, though, that she's still on a very small dose - 14 units total daily. My daily dose is only about 18 units, and none of my beta cells work. Seems enough evidence for me that you can keep your insulin, or meds, to a minimum by sweeping most of the carbs out of your diet.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you in that my diet is not puritanically carb-free. Alas, I am not perfect. When out to dinner, I often nibble on the bread, and I love it dripping with olive oil. (Thank God, someone decided that olive oil ishealthy.) I indulge in an order of fried calamari or crab cakes from time to time, and if dessert comes to the table, I'll stick my fork in like everyone else for a taste. But without question, the fewer carbs I eat, the less insulin I need. For me, the control I get and the way I feel are worth it.

If you're curious about a lower carb diet, give it a try. First, hook up a Hoover to your pantry and suck out all the chips, pretzels, rice, and muffin mixes. Second, while experimenting, test, test and test. Third, see if your blood sugars and meds drop. Fourth, reward yourself with some high cocoa dark chocolate. (Lindt's 85 percent Excellence chocolate bar has only eight carbs per serving!) Good luck.

Dark Chocolate Makes Your Heart's Blood Flow

It's really true: dark chocolate makes your coronary arteries open up and increases heart blood flow. In a two-week trial, 39 adults ate either 550 milligrams per day of dark chocolate (with a cocoa content of 70 percent or greater), which is full of flavonoids, or the same amount of white chocolate, which has no flavonoids.

By the end of the study, the coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) of the dark chocolate eaters had significantly improved. If you want the same health effect, remember to go easy on the chocolate: 550 milligrams is only about 0.0194 of an ounce.

Source: MedlinePlus, November 2007

Not All the Grains of Salt You Take Things With Are the Same

Not too long ago most of us figured that salt was the white stuff you poured out of the box that had the cute little girl with the umbrella on it. Occasionally we might have heard somebody mutter something about "sea salt" or "kosher salt," but for most of us it was all the same thing.

We know now that there's more than one kind of salt, especially as the sea and kosher varieties have made their way onto millions of spice racks. That makes it easier to prepare ourselves for the next salt that people will soon be talking about: Himalayan Pink.

The pinkish product is mined from marine salts that fossilized more than 200 million years ago as the Himalayas began rising from now long gone seabeds. People who love the mountain salt cite its rich mineral content, which includes iron, copper, calcium, magnesium and potassium, as one of its great assets.

Another benefit, proponents say, is that while much sea salt now comes from polluted waters, the Himalayan deposits are pristine and unpolluted.

Is Honey More Effective Than Cough Medicine?

cough, cold, cough medicine, cough suppressants, sick child, honey, honey as medicine, all natural, cough syrup, homemade remedies A research study has determined that children who get a dose of honey cough less and sleep better than those who get cough medicine with dextromethorphan (DM), the ingredient in most over-the-counter products for coughs.

DM cough medicines, which earn about $50 million in sales each year, have previously been shown to be of little benefit to children.

Honey has long been used as a natural remedy for sore throats and coughs. A common natural cure is tea with honey and lemon.

Parents are advised not to give honey to any child under the age of 1 year; infants younger than that are at risk for botulism from honey.

Sources:

Star Tribune December 3, 2007

Wired December 4, 2007

Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine December 2007; 161(12): 1140-1146

Organic Consumers Association December 12, 2007

Seven Medical Myths Even Doctors Believe

Reading in dim light won't damage your eyes, you don't need eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy and shaving your legs won't make the hair grow back faster.Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death

Cut Corn in Your Diet

Cut corn in your diet and stay healthy as the cereal grain is rich in sugars and calories, suggest the US health experts.

Habit of having corn flakes in the morning, burger in afternoon, corn soup at night and processed foods and beverages anytime, anywhere, can aggravate the obseity problem.

High-fructose corn syrup, an economical sweetener which is replacing the old plain table sugar, is equally harmful and being used in soda, energy and juice drinks.

According to a report from the Food Trust, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organisation, from soft drinks alone teens get 15 to 20 teaspoons per day of added sugars, which is some 11 per cent of their daily total caloric intake.

Moreover, soft drinks have become the third most common breakfast, replacing milk.

Expressing concern over this increasing consumption of corn, an agricultural economist and professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina, Barry Popkin said, ”If the average American could cut just one soft drink or sugared water drink a day, they would immediately cut out 10 pounds a year.” Corn is not only affecting people’s health but also the health of livestock, which is being fed on this cereal grain, the US News and World Report said.

”Corn-fed beef tends to have more artery-clogging saturated fats than grass-fed beef,” Popkin said. Also, corn feed is lower in healthful substances like Omega-3 fatty acids.

The researchers also found that cattle, which are fed mainly on corn, suffer from high stomach acidity and develop problematic E coli 0157:H7 bacteria.

Though corn is not inherently unhealthy, however, its large scale production and lower prices are leading to rise in its demand. And, ultimately its over consumption is harming the health of all.

Why You Should Avoid Taking Vaccines

Dr. James Howenstine, MD.
An article in the Washington Post on Jan. 26, 1988 mentioned that all cases of polio since 1979 had been caused by the polio vaccine with no known cases of polio from a wild strain since 1979. This might have created a perfect situation to discontinue the vaccine, but the vaccine is still given. Vaccines are a wonderful source of profits with no risks to the drug companies since vaccine injuries are now recompensed by the government [income tax payers]. The steady escalation in the number of vaccines administered has been followed by an identical rise in the incidence of auto-immune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, subacute lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, asthma) seen in children. While there is a genetic transmission of some of these diseases many are probably due to the injury from foreign protein particles, mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde and other toxic agents injected in vaccines.

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Very obese wait longer for transplant

BALTIMORE - Very obese people who need a kidney transplant are far less likely to get one than normal weight people, and when they do, their wait is an average of a year to 18 months longer, a new study found.CLICK HERE FOR MORE!

Study: Insured cancer patients do better

ATLANTA - Uninsured cancer patients are nearly twice as likely to die within five years as those with private coverage, according to the first national study of its kind and one that sheds light on troubling health care obstacles CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.

Sexual Health

Sex Your Way to Better Health: A Dozen Reasons Why You Should Have Sex Tonight

Sex – it does the body good.

Yet most of us are quicker to hit the gym before hitting the sheets when it comes to taking care of ourselves. Believe it or not, huffing and puffing your way through a hot, sweat-inducing sex session may be far more beneficial to your overall health than the time you spend on the treadmill.
As research confirms time and time again, good sex in a healthy, stable, monogamous relationship can only better our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being. Sex, in this context, offers us tons of benefits, most of which aren’t touted nearly enough.
Here are just a few benefits:
Weight loss and weight control, Pain Management, Stress relief, Longer Life, Decreased risk of breast cancer and much more
A MUST READ!!! http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317189,00.html

Genetics News

Mutant Gene Identified As Villain In Hardening Of The Arteries

A genetic mutation expands lesions in the aorta and promotes coronary atherosclerosis, more commonly known as hardening of the arteries, according to a study by Yale School of Medicine in Cell Metabolism.

The researchers found that mice engineered without the Akt1 gene and fed a high cholesterol diet had many more signs of aortic atherosclerosis compared to their littermates. And, surprisingly, their coronary lesions were similar to humans, say the scientists.

"About 20 percent of the mice died spontaneously, perhaps due to an acute heart attack," said William Sessa, senior author of the study, professor of pharmacology, and director of Yale's vascular biology and therapeutics program.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/92160.php

Severe Psoriasis Linked To Increased Risk Of Death

Researchers in the US working on UK data found that severe psoriasis increased a person's risk of death by 50 per cent, whereas milder psoriasis posed no increased risk of death. The researchers suggested people with severe psoriasis die about 4 years earlier than people who do not have the inflammatory skin disease...
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/92055.php

Vaccines

Who Should Get a Flu Shot?

The flu season is from November to April, with most cases occurring between late December and early March, but the vaccine is usually offered between September and mid-November (and may be given at other times of the year).

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/flu_vaccine.html