When We’re All Fat, What Does the Ranking Matter?

By Sean Kelley

Whenever a list comes out that ranks my state close to the bottom for something good (or close to the top for something bad), we Alabamans like to look west and say, “Thank God for Mississippi.” The Magnolia state tends to be one or two slots below us on everything from education rankings to per capita earnings. And last week they surpassed us in obesity.

The Centers for Disease Control reported July 17 that three southern states had rates of obesity greater than 30%. By merely a point or two, Mississippi was chunkier than Alabama and Tennessee. Thank God for Mississippi. It’s held the top spot in the CDC’s ranking (based on telephone surveys of 350,000 Americans) since 2004. Read More

Food-Allergy Challenge: Putting Comfort Food Back on the Menu

By Sean Kelley

There is nothing like sharing comfort food with family, especially children. In our house, the two staples of comfort—peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and mac ‘n’ cheese—have taken a beating since our son Graeme’s food allergies were diagnosed.

PB&J seems completely beyond our reach (since Graeme is violently allergic to peanuts), but we’ve been working on the latter. A reader of this blog suggested we try Amy’s Rice Mac & Cheese (which doesn’t contain any ingredients that Graeme is allergic to), but I was skeptical. First, we had already tried using rice pasta, but it was not popular with Graeme (some is still stuck to the ceiling near his eating area, where he launched it in protest), and it was not popular with me, either (I resisted throwing it, but I thought about it!). Read More

Meltdown on Aisle 6: Finding Processed Food for Our Allergic Son

By Sean Kelley

On my first trip to the grocery store after my son, Graeme, was diagnosed with food allergies, I did something I’ve never done in a food store before: I cried.

I’m usually happiest around food, but it was a moment of rare negative emotion, and my breakdown happened in front of God, my 4-year-old daughter, Elise, and the boy who was stocking aisle six.

I had been reading my way through the store, checking every item before tossing it in the basket for foods that are now verboten in my house: peanuts, corn, wheat, soy, egg whites, and chicken. I knew I had to avoid those, but it was finding the derivatives of them in almost every product that was sending me into a state of panic and sadness. Read More

Constipation and Acne

Constipation and acne are two problems affecting hundreds of thousands of people on a daily basis.

One hits you on the inside and the other on the outside. Could it be that more is going on with this unlikely pairing than you would first imagine?

When most people become constipated, they assume it’s just a momentary thing and they’ll soon become “regular” again. Likewise, when someone discovers a pimple or rash on their body, they usually throw some kind of drugstore cream on it and hope it goes away.

Usually, after a few days, the skin clears up and life turns back to normal. But it could very well be that constipation is leading to your skin blemishes, and that includes acne!

Constipation and Acne May Indicate Trouble
The human body is comprised mainly of water, about 55 to 60% in most adults. We already know it’s best to drink at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water a day.

If your body isn’t getting enough water, one of the first signs is constipation and acne or other skin blemishes.

Waste hardens within your colon and there are no fluids to lubricate its easy passage out of the body. You may also notice your skin begins to feel dry and cracks in certain places.

The lips, elbows and fingers are some of the first locations to notice the change. Spread all the moisturizer you want, but it’s not going to solve the problem because you must first hydrate from within.

Effects of Constipation
Another reason constipation and acne go hand in hand is the toxic effect constipation has on the body. When you’re constipated, your body isn’t getting rid of all the poisonous toxins normally expelled with a bowel movement. The toxins have nowhere to go, and they begin to accumulate before being reabsorbed into the bloodstream.

Then the toxins course through the body it goes into a state of emergency. The body senses these nasty poisons and begins trying to fight them off, trying to discover a way to detoxify itself. As a failsafe option, the toxins are expelled through the skin; but the acidic nature of the toxins causes the skin to become inflamed and thus develop acne.

If these toxins were left in the body indefinitely, they could eventually intensify to detrimental levels. Some signs you may be poisoning your system include bad breath and excess gas, bloating, depression, headaches, and “brain fog” or feeling like you can’t think clearly, and the aforementioned constipation and acne difficulties.

If your body is functioning properly and you are having regular bowel movements and eating the right foods, there is a very good chance acne can be reduced if not eliminated. Of course, the first step to changing your lifestyle involves becoming better educated. So, what foods, products or advice should one take to begin the transformation to better skin?

Positive Lifestyle Changes
Changing the way you look at food can be difficult, but it can be the most beneficial lifestyle shift you can make. Some foods aid in digestion and some can seize up the process. A high fiber colon healthy diet, with plenty of water consumption for the fiber to absorb in the colon, is one of the keys to controlling constipation and acne.

Foods Good for the Digestive System:
Fiber-rich fruits like apples, prunes, peaches, and raspberries
Fiber-rich vegetables like raw broccoli, cauliflower, kidney and lima beans, carrots, spinach, and Brussels sprouts
Whole grain cereals and breads (not enriched or bleached)
Protein-rich foods like fish, chicken, tofu, nuts, yogurt, and beans
Foods to Avoid:
You can’t have a good list without a bad list, so here are a few things you should avoid:
Caffeinated drinks
Foods with white flour or refined sugar (such as ice cream, cheese, processed foods, pizza, potato chips, etc.)
Heavy meats such as beef or pork
Alcohol
Chocolate

Cleansing the Colon
In order to regain control of your body, you need to clean it out and start fresh. The best way to accomplish this is with a thorough colon cleanse. Cleaning the colon, while it’s not a topic of everyday conversation, is one of the most important things you can do to help maintain your health and allow your body’s immune system to rebuild its strength. With a clean colon, your body can rid itself of the poisonous toxins causing constipation and acne as well as other health problems and skin conditions.

Oxy-Powder® is one of the most widely used colon cleansers; it gently cleans the colon with a unique formula of oxygenated magnesium, citric acid, and germanium-132. It thoroughly cleanses out deep-seated fecal matter, mucous, and sludge, leaving you feeling like a weight has been removed from your body. After removing all the garbage with Oxy-Powder®’s all-natural formula, your body can begin to rebuild a healthy environment within your colon for allowing good bacteria to grow in your digestive system.

As powerful as Oxy-Powder® is, it works gently enough so you don’t have to practically live in the bathroom. Once you finish the initial 7-day cleanse, you can help maintain your colon’s optimal health by following a regular maintenance program.

Helping to keep your body clean from the inside out offers many health benefits—mainly, reducing conditions such as bloating, excess gas, persistent fatigue, blurry vision, feeling heavy or lethargic, being overweight due to the accumulation of waste in the colon, and even chronic constipation.

So follow a healthful diet, stay well hydrated, get plenty of exercise, and be alert for signs such as constipation and acne symptoms as possible indicators something is not right in your normal digestive process.

more info at: http://www.dreddyclinic.com/products/oxypowder.htm

Everyday Tips for Living With Hypertension

10 Delicious Ways to Lower High Blood Pressure

The DASH eating plan (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) has been shown to prevent and reduce high blood pressure. It's rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products; moderate in total fat; and low in saturated fat and cholesterol. It's even more effective if you also reduce your salt and sodium intake. If losing weight is a concern in addition to lowering your blood pressure, you can benefit from DASH — especially if you stick to low-fat foods.

Be spicy instead of salty. In cooking and at the table, flavor foods with herbs, spices, lemon, lime, vinegar, or salt-free seasoning blends.
Use fresh poultry, fish, and lean meat, rather than canned, smoked, or processed types.
Eat moderate portions, and when snacking, eat fruit, vegetable sticks, unbuttered and unsalted popcorn, or bread sticks.

Choose "convenience" foods that are lower in sodium. Cut back on frozen dinners, pizza, packaged mixes, canned soups or broths, and salad dressings that are high in sodium.
Start your day with breakfast cereals that are lower in salt and sodium.
Cook rice, pasta, and hot cereals without salt; cut back on instant or flavored rice, pasta, and cereal mixes, which usually have added salt.
Buy fresh, plain frozen, or canned with "no-salt-added" vegetables.
Drink water or club soda instead of soft drinks high in sugar.
When eating out, move the saltshaker away — limit condiments, such as catsup, pickles, and sauces with high salt-containing ingredients.
Cut back on processed and fast foods that are high in salt and sodium.

Source: The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The NHLBI does not recommend or endorse any company advertised on this site.

Conquering Heart Disease Using Natural Methods $19.95 [ learn more ] Poor health and degenerative disease are caused by poor choices and the environment you expose yourself to. Good health is attainable, disease is curable and preventable, when we empower ourselves with the correct information and proper knowledge. We then begin making the choices that support our health. You must educate yourself first before starting any health program. This builds self-confidence and belief in what you are doing. This is your body we are talking about. Most people spend hundreds of dollars every month on new shoes, clothes, food, etc. How much do you spend on keeping yourself healthy? Without health, your body will start to deteriorate and age. Look and feel better than ever, just take the time to learn about yourself and read the information below. - E-Book Version.(HD)

Puzzled by Prostate Test Scores?

Puzzled by Prostate Test Scores?
Provided by: DrWeil.com

Q: What do you make of the new study showing that the test for prostate cancer may miss some disease? How can men best protect themselves? -- Robert P.

A: Results of a study published in the May 27, 2004, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine showed that the blood test for prostate cancer misses about 15 percent of all cases, some of which are aggressive enough to be life-threatening. The test looks for a protein (prostate specific antigen, known as PSA) released by prostate cells when cancer is present and as the prostate enlarges, which it does as men age. Until results of the study were published, a PSA count under four meant that a man was disease-free; the higher the PSA count, the more likely the presence of cancer. The only reliable way to currently confirm or rule out cancer is with a biopsy.

Now that the study has found that some men with a PSA of "four" or lower may still have cancer, doctors don't know what to recommend. To be safe, some specialists say they'll suggest biopsies to all men with a PSA above 2.5; others think there already are too many biopsies, too much testing and needless treatment of prostate cancers that might never become life-threatening. While prostate cancer can be very aggressive, most tumors grow slowly and the risk of death is low -- only three percent. What we need is a better test to distinguish between slow growing tumors that may not require treatment and fast-growing cancer that demands an aggressive approach.

Several methods have been suggested to improve the testing methods for prostate cancer and thus reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies. Adjusting the expected results for the age of the patient and size of the prostate as well as measuring PSA changes over time are some possibilities.

Still, decisions on how to best handle early prostate cancer will remain clouded until better tests are developed and perfected.

In the meantime, make sure that you and your doctor are aware of your personal risks. The incidence of prostate cancer increases with age; the disease occurs most frequently among African-American men, those with a family history of the disease, and those whose diets are high in animal fat.

To reduce your risk, include more watermelon, pink grapefruit, and cooked tomatoes in your diet. All contain the prostate protective antioxidant lycopene. I also recommend drinking lots of water (dehydration stresses the prostate), adding soy foods to your diet and eating less fat, particularly saturated fats found in red meat as well as hydrogenated oils, processed foods and other sources of trans fats. (Be sure to eat the right kinds of fat such as olive oil, avocados and nuts.)
Andrew Weil, MD

Nutrition for Kids with Allergies or Asthma?

Nutrition for Kids with Allergies or Asthma?
Provided by: DrWeil.com

Q: I recently learned about a nutritional supplement called OPC-3 which is supposed to have benefits for people with allergies and asthma. What are your thoughts about adding this to my two-year old child's diet? -- Raye

A: OPC stands for oligomeric proanthocyanidins, a group of powerful antioxidant compounds. They are commonly found in grape seed extract, which in lab and animal studies has been shown to make blood vessels more elastic and less likely to leak fluids, thus decreasing the leg swelling often associated with varicose veins. OPC-3, a product containing these compounds, is being widely promoted on the Internet as a treatment for diseases associated with free radical damage. However, I have seen no studies suggesting that OPC is an effective treatment for allergies or asthma.

(Grape seed extract is commonly prescribed in France for varicose veins and other vascular problems. I generally recommend it along with horse-chestnut seed extract [HCSE], a more extensively studied treatment for these conditions.)

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by repeated episodes of airway obstruction and associated with an exaggerated airway response to a variety of inhaled stimuli. Although the cause is unknown, such factors as allergies, increased stress, respiratory infections, and exercise can worsen asthma. It can also occur without any obvious triggers.

Allergies are due to "misplaced immunity" against something that really is not a threat to health. Allergic responses are also learned responses that can be unlearned. The goal of treatment should be to convince the immune system that it can coexist peacefully with the substances it is reacting to. In young children, it is important to try to limit exposure to potential irritants of the immune system.

Instead of trying products like OPC-3, my principal recommendation for patients with asthma and allergies (or both) would be to follow an anti-inflammatory diet. Increase organic fruits and vegetables, and stay hydrated with lots of water. Avoid processed foods, partially hydrogenated oils, white sugar, and flour. I also recommend using standard medical treatment selectively and trying to avoid suppressive medications (such as oral steroids) as much as possible. Use mind-body medicine such as guided imagery or clinical hypnosis and experiment with homeopathy as well since children respond favorably to this form of treatment.

Andrew Weil, MD
Last Reviewed: May 2005

More Evidence Soy Causes Fertility Problems

Many of you already know soy -- the processed kind used in countless products sold in your grocery store -- isn't a "safe" health product, despite all the rhetoric from health "experts" and food manufacturers. In fact, genistein, a major soy component, impairs the travel of sperm to an egg. A new study has found genistein to be much more harmful far earlier in the lives of mice, as it can disrupt the development of ovaries in newborn females.

Scientists injected newborn mice with three different amounts of genistein, comparable to what human babies may receive in a soy-based formula, during the first five days of life, then observed the damage.

Mice given the highest dose of genistein were infertile (the highest number of egg cells that remained in clusters and unable to separate), while those treated with lower doses had fewer pregnancies and fewer pups per litter. Because the presence of genistein prevents egg cells from separating, they are less likely to become fertilized, researchers said.

The damage genistein can do isn't confined to mothers either. Your baby may suffer from inhibited intestinal growth if you feed him or her a soy-based formula too. Just more reasons to breastfeed your baby whenever possible, or use healthier alternatives instead.

Biology of Reproduction, Vol. 174, No. 1, January 2006: 161-168

EurekAlert January 10, 2006

more info at:
http://www.dreddyclinic.com/integrated_med/integrated_med.htm

Deadly Mold Poisons Pet Foods

I've warned you a number of times about aflatoxin, a carcinogenic mold that grows on crops like peanuts and corn when they're stressed from drought. It's also responsible for the deaths of some 75 dogs whose livers failed after eating processed cat and dog pet foods made by Diamond Pet Foods.

The company has narrowed the problem to foods produced at its Gaston, S.C., manufacturing facility on Oct. 11. The dates on the poisoned food bags range from March 1, 2007 to June 11, 2007. Unfortunately, according to the FDA, this problem isn't confined to America: Some of this tainted food was shipped to at least 29 additional countries!

According to one expert veterinarian, it only takes a small amount of aflatoxin to ruin food and pretty much nothing can be done to deactivate it once it gets there. If you're concerned about your pet's health as a result of this product recall, please check out this link that will provide details on which foods have been contaminated.

I hope this tragedy will encourage you to reconsider modifying your pet's diet from processed grains to fresh meat and vegetables.

MSNBC January 9, 2006

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http://www.dreddyclinic.com/integrated_med/integrated_med.htm

Fructose: The Stealth Sugar

I've warned you about curbing your consumption of sugary fruit drinks, sports drinks and carbonated soft drinks for good reason: Sweet drinks represent the leading source of calories in America, and the engine that fuels the obesity epidemic.

New research from the University of Florida has determined why fructose -- the key sweetener contained in sugary drinks and other processed foods that comes from corn syrup, honey and fruit -- can be so health-harming. Fructose fools your body by making you perceive you're hungrier than you really are...

In studies on rats, scientists found fructose contributed to a rise in uric acid levels in the blood which blocks how insulin works in your body to regulate sugar. After 10 weeks on a high-fructose diet, every rat in the study had increased levels of uric acid and eventually developed a resistance to insulin. Lowering uric acid levels, however, reversed that damage.

One of the best and easiest way to turn your health around is to stop drinking liquid candy in all forms and switch to pure water.

One thing to keep in mind: The starch-derived (corn) fructose used to sweeten soft drinks and all kinds of processed foods is refined, man-made and metabolically different than the natural kind already in fruit. That's why your body converts the starch-derived fructose in processed foods to brown adipose tissue and trigylcerides that contribute to diabetes, hypoglycemia, obesity and cardiovascular disease.

On the other hand, fruit fructose, along with all the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, water, other mono-, di- and olgio-saccharides and fiber found in fruit, are converted to blood glucose.
Yahoo News December 15, 2005
American Journal of Physiology: Renal Physiology October 18, 2005

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Organic, Anyone?

HealthScout Dec 11 2005 9:26PM GMT

By Kathleen DohenyHealthDay Reporter
SUNDAY, Dec. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Chances are you're seeing more and more produce and meats marked "organic." No longer just staples in health-food stores or at farmers' markets, organic products are increasingly found in traditional supermarkets.
The U.S. organic food industry surpassed $10 billion in consumer sales in 2003, according to the Organic Trade Association, which estimates the market has grown 17 percent to 21 percent each year since 1997.

Exactly what can you be assured of getting if a product is marked organic -- and what are the pros and cons?

"Organic means the agricultural product from livestock or crop has met certain standards," said Joan Shaffer, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which regulates organic standards.

If meat, poultry, eggs or dairy products are labeled organic, they must come from animals given no antibiotics or growth hormones, according to the USDA. Organic produce is made without using "most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation," the USDA says.

If a label says "certified organic," it means the agricultural products have been grown and processed according to USDA's national organic standards and then certified by one of the USDA-accredited certification organizations.

The certifying agent reviews applications from farmers and processors for certification eligibility, explains the USDA. Then, qualified inspectors perform annual onsite inspections to be sure the growers comply with standards. The standards spring from the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, passed by Congress to establish national standards.

The USDA does not make any claims that organically produced food is safer or more nutritious.
Ryan Zinn, a spokesman for the Minnesota-based Organic Consumers Association, said organic foods are safer and healthier.

"We can't say organic foods are totally free of pesticides, because there is some pesticide [residue] in the ground water," he said. "But there's really a lot of emerging evidence to suggest that organic foods are higher in nutrients."

A study published in 2004 in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry compared organically and conventionally grown yellow plums, finding that ascorbic acid (vitamin C), vitamin E and beta-carotene levels were higher in organic plums. But some other nutrients, including quercetin, a bioflavonoid, were higher in conventional plums, the researchers found.

Some pesticides, Zinn said, have been tied to health problems. For instance, methyl bromide has been linked with cancer, he said. "All these pesticides that have been used aren't going to kill you outright," he added, "but the cumulative effect is not good."
But not everyone is convinced that organic automatically means healthier or pesticide-free foods.

"Organic farmers use pesticides, too; they have to," said Alex Avery, director of research for the Hudson Institute's Center for Global Food Issues, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.
"They call them botanical products" instead of pesticides, Avery added. For instance, he said, some organic farmers use pyrethrum, a derivative of the chrysanthemum plant.

Avery also claims there may be an increased risk of food-borne illness from organic food, due to the use of manure or compost. He cited a study, published in 2004 in the Journal of Food Protection, that found that organic samples from farms that used manure or compost aged less than 12 months had high rates of E. coli bacteria.

On one point all sides agree: Be prepared to pay more for most organic foods. "Expect to pay 15 to 20 percent more for organic dairy," Zinn said, and two to three times more for meat.

More information
To learn more about organic foods, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture (www.ers.usda.gov ).

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Ask the Experts:How Can I Stop That Ringing In My Ears?

Naturopath Tinnitus is often caused by inflammation of the inner ear, the center for hearing and balance. The primary symptom is ringing in the ear--the same kind of high-pitched hum or tone you'd hear after standing near a speaker at a concert.

Inflammation increases lymphatic fluid in the inner ear, raising the inner-ear pressure and causing stimulation to the auditory nerve, which the brain interprets as sound. To reduce inflammation, try herbal anti-inflammatories like curcumin, devil's claw, or bromelain in tea, tincture, or capsule form.

Decreasing the fluid level with diuretics can also help ease tinnitus symptoms. One of my favorite diuretics is corn silk: Husk an ear of organic corn, roll the silk into a golf ball-sized wad and place it in 2 cups of water, then let it steep for about 10 minutes; mix the water with an equal portion of your favorite herbal tea, and drink. --Evan Fleischmann, N.D., West Milford, N.J.-based spokesman for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians Otolaryngologist A variety of treatments can be used for tinnitus, but no single approach works for everyone.

One of the most common is counseling--not to get rid of the sound, but to understand and cope with the tinnitus. This usually involves behavior modification therapy, which teaches relaxation techniques to help eliminate the anxiety that many people experience as a result of the condition. It's best to consult a psychologist specifically trained in tinnitus. There are machines that can replicate the sound you're hearing to distract you from the noise in your head.

These include hearing aid-like apparatuses and tabletop white-noise devices. To prevent tinnitus, avoid exposure to loud noises. Also limit the amount of products you take containing aspirin, since aspirin may worsen symptoms. Caffeine is a stimulant and irritant to hearing cells, so you should avoid it as well. --Cindy Go, M.D., Ph.D., spokeswoman for the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery Dietitian Multiple studies have linked tinnitus to high levels of insulin in the blood, so try following a diabetic diet: Cut calories to maintain your ideal body weight, and get 50 percent of your calories from carbohydrates, 30 percent from fat, and 20 percent from protein at every meal.

Tinnitus is a component of Meniere's disease, a condition that includes vertigo and fluctuating hearing loss. In one study, long-term management of Meniere's included a diet avoiding all processed foods and limiting daily salt intake to about 1 gram. Enhance food flavors with lemon juice, herbs, and spices instead. Research shows that elevated blood fats may cause inner-ear malfunction. Follow a low-fat diet by avoiding fatty meats, high-fat cheeses, fried foods, and commercially baked foods. And remember: Just because a product has no trans fat doesn't mean it's low in fat. --
Christine Gerbstadt, M.D., R.D., spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association

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Kids Giving Up Cigarettes For Cigars

Perhaps, an unintended consequence of the huge emphasis our society places on the hazards of smoking cigarettes: More people, particularly teenagers wanting to be "cool," are lighting up cigars, according to a new report.

Case in point: Although a New Jersey report found cigarette smoking among teens had dropped by some 30 percent, smoking cigars had increased among boys (17 percent) and girls (10 percent). Also, a 2004 survey of Cleveland teens found cigars consumption had exceeded cigarette use.

As if anticipating many teens may not like the typical taste of cigars, tobacco manufacturers have taken advantage of all the junk food marketing kids have been exposed to over the years by offering cigars in various flavors (apple, cinnamon and grape).

And, due to escalating taxes on cigarettes imposed throughout the country, it may be cheaper in some areas for teens to smoke cigars...

However, most experts, including me, believe it isn't much safer, if at all, for teens or adults to choose cigars over cigarettes. The true cost of smoking processed tobacco products can lead to a ton of health-harming problems, not to mention what effect second-hand smoke may have on their friends and family.

Forbes.com November 28, 2005

How Food Containers Can Harm Your Baby's Brain

I've warned you before about the dangers of bisphenol A (BPA), a harmful chemical used in making food containers that mirrors the effects of the sex hormone estradiol. Based on a pair of new studies, scientists believe BPA disrupts the effect of estrogen in the developing brain at surprisingly low doses.

Researchers exposed rats to BPA and monitored their development from the human equivalent of the third trimester of fetal development through the first years of childhood. Minus the presence of estrogen, scientists said, BPA mimicked how estrogen works with developing neurons. Even worse, the near-maximum harm of BPA occurred at the tiny dose of 0.23 parts per trillion.

And that effect happened within minutes, scientists said.

Although researchers were unsure how BPA could affect human health later on, one recent study suggests such exposure could make people more susceptible to breast cancer.

Some excellent tips for avoiding BPA and other hidden toxins in food containers:

Avoid processed foods that often contain toxic chemicals too.
Store your food in glass containers whenever possible.
Eat as many organic foods as you can.

Endocrinology, Vol. 146, No. 12, December 2005: 5388-5396
Endocrinology, Vol. 146, No. 12, December 2005: 5397-5406
EurekAlert December 2, 2005

Balancing Your Hormones Without Drugs... You Can Feel Good Again $19.95 [ learn more ] Hormone imbalance can be reversed! Look and feel better than ever, just take the time to learn about yourself and read the information contained in this just released e-book about reversing hormone imbalance. Are you ready to finally look and feel great? If so... read on... - E-Book Version.(BH)

Dangerous Solution For Relieving Stress: Consuming Sweets

You may be hearing on the news about recent findings that consuming sweets may be good for you in terms of dampening the production of the stress-producing hormone glucocorticoid. Like many unnecessary drugs and processed foods you may or may not be taking, however, consuming the "cure" may be far more dangerous to your overall health.

Researchers tested their theory on adult male rats given free access to food and water, then being offered either more water or a sweet drink twice a day. After two weeks and a series of stress tests, rats that consumed the sugar drink had lower glucocorticoid levels than those that drank water.

Interestingly, foods prepared specifically with real sugar lowered hormone levels versus sweets made with artificial, health-harming products like sucralose.

Fortunately, you have many natural and healthy weapons at your disposal to treat the damage stress can have on your body, without consuming sweets and sugary drinks.

Learning a non-invasive, non-drug energy psychology tool like the Emotional Freedom Technique.
Getting the right amount of sleep.
Eating the proper foods for your body's unique metabolic type, while reducing, with the plan of eliminating, grains and sugars from your daily diet.

Science Daily November 28, 2005

University of Cincinnati Medical Center November 15, 2005

Balancing Your Hormones Without Drugs... You Can Feel Good Again $19.95 [ learn more ] Hormone imbalance can be reversed! Look and feel better than ever, just take the time to learn about yourself and read the information contained in this just released e-book about reversing hormone imbalance. Are you ready to finally look and feel great? If so... read on... - E-Book Version.(BH)

Get Your Calcium From Natural Sources

A new study on healthy pre-teen girls demonstrates just how important getting the right amount of calcium -- and where you get it -- can be.
Researchers measured the calcium's effects on some 200 Finnish girls (ages 10-12), either by taking various supplements or a placebo or eating low-fat cheese.
Although the low-fat cheese group enjoyed more health benefits than those taking supplements, these results are a mixed blessing, because processed dairy foods are some of the worst things you can eat. Your best natural sources for calcium:
Finding an authentic raw milk source. (Visit the Real Milk Web site to find one near you.)
Increasing your intake of vegetables, ideally through juicing. Vegetable juice is also rich in vitamin K, which serves as the biological glue that plugs calcium into your bone matrix.
Getting the right amount of sunshine, your best source for vitamin D, every day.
Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 82, No. 5, November 2005: 1115-1126
Yahoo News November 22, 2005