Antidepressants risk breast cancer return

These fluoride based antidepressants SUPPRESS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND THE THYROID. Perhaps if people used vitamin E - which is effective in reducing and eliminating hot flashes as well as helping mood and improving immunity - this would not be an issue.

Some antidepressants may risk breast cancer return
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Medical Writer

ORLANDO, Fla. – Breast cancer survivors risk having their disease come back if they use certain antidepressants while also taking the cancer prevention drug tamoxifen, worrisome new research shows.

About 500,000 women in the United States take tamoxifen, which cuts in half the chances of a breast cancer recurrence. Many of them also take antidepressants for hot flashes, because hormone pills aren't considered safe after breast cancer.

Doctors have long known that some antidepressants and other medicines can lower the amount of tamoxifen's active form in the bloodstream. But whether this affects cancer risk is unknown.

The new study, reported Saturday at a cancer conference in Florida, is the largest to look at the issue. It found that using these interfering drugs — including Prozac, Paxil or Zoloft — can virtually wipe out the benefit tamoxifen provides.

Many doctors question the magnitude of harm from combining these medicines, and a second, smaller study suggests it may not be very large.

But the bottom line is the same: Not all antidepressants pose this problem, and women should talk to their doctors about which ones are best.

"There are other alternatives we can consider" that are safer, said Dr. Eric Winer, breast cancer chief at the Dana-Farber Cancer Center in Boston.

He had no role in the study, which was done by Medco Health Solutions Inc., a large insurance benefits manager. Researchers used members' medical records to identify 353 women taking tamoxifen plus other drugs that might interfere with it, and 945 women taking tamoxifen alone. Those taking a drug combo did so for about a year on average.

Next, researchers checked to see how many were treated for second cancers in the following two years. Breast cancer recurred in about 7 percent of women on tamoxifen alone, and in 14 percent of women also taking other drugs that could interfere — mainly the antidepressants Paxil and Prozac, and, to a lesser extent, Zoloft.

If women want to take an antidepressant, "you probably want to stay away from those three," said Medco's chief medical officer, Dr. Robert Epstein.

No greater breast cancer risk was seen in women taking the antidepressants Celexa, Lexapro or Luvox with tamoxifen, and there are reasons to think that other antidepressants may be safe as well, Epstein said.

A second study led by Dr. Vincent Dezentje of Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands found little risk from combining tamoxifen and popular antidepressants. However, only 150 women in the study took such combos for more than two months, and they were compared to women taking combos for a shorter time — not to women using tamoxifen alone.

The Dutch and Medco studies were presented at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

The federal Food and Drug Administration has been considering a change to tamoxifen's label to warn about the antidepressants drugs and a gene variation some women have that can make tamoxifen less effective. An advisory panel unanimously recommended a change in 2006, but the agency is still considering it.

"This is a very controversial area," said Dr. Claudine Isaacs, a breast specialist at Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Until these data are absolutely clear, I would avoid drugs that impact on tamoxifen metabolism."

Breast cancer is the most common major cancer in American women. More than 182,000 new cases were diagnosed last year, and it caused nearly 41,000 deaths.

On the Net:
Cancer meeting: http://www.asco.org
Cancer institute: http://www.cancer.gov

Routine aspirin benefit queried

The use of ASA in this context is a risk that should have been known to doctors who are required to study pharmacology and physiology.

Longterm use of ASA and even other blood thinning drugs like coumadin may cause destruction of the cell wall membrane leading to a type of free-radical destruction originating from the rupture of cellular lysosomal membranes. Lysosomes are digestive substances found in each cell. They are designed to digest and eliminate waste from the cell. When the membranes are ruptured prematurely, cell contents are digested and destroyed. Silent bleeding and death may ensue.

Omega 3, garlic, cayenne, willow bark, natto or other natural supplements may do as well or better, and without such a high risk of harm.

Routine aspirin benefits queried
Low-dose aspirin should not routinely be used to prevent heart attacks and strokes, contrary to official guidance, say UK researchers.

Analysis of data from over 100,000 clinical trial participants found the risk of harm largely cancelled out the benefits of taking the drug.

Only those who have already had a heart attack or stroke should be advised to take a daily aspirin, they found.

The Lancet study should help clarify a "confusing" issue, GPs said.

The NHS drugs watchdog, the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), has not made a ruling in this area.

But experts in the UK, US and Europe recommend aspirin for people who have not already had a heart attack or stroke, but are at high risk of cardiovascular disease because of factors such as age, blood pressure and cholesterol level.

“ We don't have good evidence that, for healthy people, the benefits of long-term aspirin exceed the risks by an appropriate margin ”
Professor Colin Baigent, study leader

This strategy, known as primary prevention, is based on the result of studies looking at predicted risks and benefits in this population.

But the latest research provides clearer evidence because it is based on data from individuals, the researchers said.

They looked at heart attacks and strokes and major bleeds - a potential side effect of aspirin - in six primary prevention trials, involving 95,000 people at low to average risk and 16 trials involving 17,000 people at high risk - because they had already had a heart attack or stroke.

Use of aspirin in the lower-risk group was found to reduce non-fatal heart attacks by around a fifth, with no difference in the risk of stroke or deaths from vascular causes.

But it also increased the risk of internal bleeding by around a third.

Balance

However, in those patients who had already had a heart attack or stroke and were at risk of having another, the benefits clearly outweighed the chance of adverse events, the researchers said.

Study leader Professor Colin Baigent from the Clinical Trial Service Unit at the University of Oxford, UK, said drug safety was vital when making recommendations that affected tens of millions of healthy people.

"We don't have good evidence that, for healthy people, the benefits of long-term aspirin exceed the risks by an appropriate margin."

He added: "I think the guideline groups will find it useful to have the data analysed in that way."

Professor Steve Field, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said the issue had been confusing for GPs and patients.

"There is no definitive guidance and it makes it bewildering when you have a series of papers which then hint it would be beneficial to take aspirin."

He added that many patients would buy aspirin over the counter - either on the advice of their GP or under their own steam - because it was cheap.

"This important study does suggest people shouldn't take aspirin unless indicated by disease."

Ellen Mason, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation said: "It is better for doctors to weigh up the benefit and risk of prescribing aspirin on an individual basis, rather than develop a blanket guideline suggesting everyone at risk of heart disease is routinely given aspirin."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/8072215.stm
Published: 2009/05/28 23:11:43 GMT © BBC MMIX

Irradiated Foods May Cause Serious Brain Damage

A possible contributor to neurodevelopmental problems and neurological disorders has been uncovered in irradiated food.

Findings in a recent scientific study show that irradiated foods may cause severe neurological damage in cats, including paralysis, visual problems, and movement disorders.

Cats fed a diet of irradiated foods suffered from degradation of myelin, a protective insulator of nerve fibers in the central nervous system ane neurons in the brain.

Loss of the myelin sheet leads to diseases such as multiple sclerosis and impairs the central nervous system. This may result in movement disorders, cognitive problems, pain, and loss of feeling.

Some of the damage in the cats was reversible when they were taken off the irradiated food diet, showing promise for people with MS leading a more normal life with dietary intervention. However, the newly developed myelin was not as thick as the original myelin.

Unfortunately, irradiated foods are increasing and are not required by law to be labeled. Many so-called fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats are approved for irradiation with a dose of radiation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the claim of preventing bacteria growth and preserving freshness.

Scientists were quick to dismiss the potential for similar demyelinating in humans. "We think it is extremely unlikely that [irradiated food] could become a human health problem," Ian Duncan., a professor at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, explained.

Others cite the rise in autism, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological disorders along with many studies which show food irradiation produces known toxic and carcinogenic chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects.

Reference

Duncan ID, Brower A, Kondo Y, Curlee JF Jr, Schultz RD. Extensive remyelination of the CNS leads to functional recovery. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Apr 2.

and from our main domain, added in 1998.

Food irradiation exposes food to the equivalent of 30 million chest X-rays.

Irradiation creates new chemicals in foods called radiolytic products. Some of these products are known cancer-causing substances (like benzene in irradiated beef). Others are unique to the irradiation process and no one knows what effects these have on human health.

Irradiation destroys essential vitamins and nutrients that are naturally present in food. No studies have been done to show that a long-term diet of irradiated foods is safe. Safer, well-tested alternatives to irradiation exist.

Irradiation plants pose environmental threats to workers and surrounding communities. The transportation of nuclear materials to irradiation facilities also poses severe public health risks.

For information about Food & Water, or for hard copies of this Action Alert, 1-800-EAT-SAFE.

and food irradiation.

One Of The Best Natural Treatments For Gout

By John Horner

Grapes are incredible natural treatments for gout. They are
very good at helping you reduce or eliminate painful gout
symptoms. While grapes alone will not get rid of this
painful condition, they will greatly benefit you if combined
with other treatment therapies.

Grapes have several ways they contribute in treating gout.
These include quercitin, water, potassium, vitamin C, and
anthocyanins.

Grapes use quercitin to help treat gouty arthritis.
Quercitin is a powerful flavonoid. Flavonoids help address
the symptoms of this painful disease. They are able to do
this because they contain anti-inflammatory properties.
Inflammation is the main reason for gout pain.

This swelling starts when your uric acid levels get out of
balance. The extra crystals enter your joints and cause
damage and pain. Quercitin helps reduce this swelling.

Grapes are great for helping with hydration. They consist
of around 2/3 water. Eating water dense foods help you in
fighting gout pain. When you are properly hydrated your
body is able to help you eliminate extra uric acid crystals
more efficiently.

Potassium is a major factor in treating gout. This is one
reason grapes are good for helping with this painful
disease. Grapes contain only 5% of the daily allowance for
potassium, but when you add it to other potassium filled
foods, you can get the proper amount you need. Potassium is
helpful because it helps your kidneys function more properly
when eliminating excessive uric acid crystals.

Grapes are able to assist in reducing or eliminating gout
pain because they are filled with vitamin C. Grapes consist
of approximately 20% of your daily needs for this potent
vitamin. Vitamin C is very effective at fighting this
arthritic condition.

A study published in Arthritis and Rheumatism
(2005;52:1843-7) found taking Vitamin C during a 2 month
period at 500mg per day reduced uric acid levels by
approximately 10%. They found vitamin C helps prevent
purines from turning into uric acid. Being able to control
uric acid is important because most gout patients are unable
to keep their levels under control.

Anthocyanins are another reason grapes are great treatments
for gout. Anthocyanins are flavonoids and help control
swelling. Does the color of the grape make a difference?
Some would say yes. The higher the anthocyanins found in
the grape, the more beneficial the grapes are in reducing
swelling. Darker grapes would be better as they contain a
greater amount.

Grapes are so important when you are trying to treat gout
naturally. However, they are best used when combined with
other fruits. Many fruits, such as cherries, contain a lot
of these healthy properties that help you get rid of gout
pain.

John Horner can show you more
(http://gouttreatments.blogspot.com/2008/12/natural-gout-treatments-anyone-can-use.html)
natural gout treatments you can use and other
(http://gouttreatments.blogspot.com/) gout treatments so you
can learn how to get rid of gout naturally.

Mobile phones 'more dangerous than smoking'

UPDATE: 29 May
Professor warns of cellphone health hazards

TOP 100 EMF Resources

MOBILE phones DO increase the risk of brain cancer, scientists claimed yesterday.

The chances of developing a malignant tumour are "significantly increased" for people who use a mobile for ten years.
The shock finding is the result of the biggest ever study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organisation.

Scientists found a type of brain tumour called glioma is more likely in long-term mobile users.

French experts analysed data from 13 countries, including Britain.

They cross-referenced various types of tumours with mobile use.

Researchers admit the cause is unknown, but it is thought radiation from handsets could be the trigger.

Study chief Professor Elisabeth Cardis said: "To underestimate the risk would be a complete disaster."

Just a reminder, as more word of hearing loss is coming. The increase is believed to be associated with Blue Tooth ear adapters since states are adding more hands free laws. Cordless phone use at home and increased use of cell phones in place of land lines also are implicated.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1814931.ece

March 30, 2008
Mobile phones 'more dangerous than smoking'
By Geoffrey Lean

Brain expert warns of huge rise in tumours and calls on industry to take immediate steps to reduce radiation

Mobile phones could kill far more people than smoking or asbestos, a study by an award-winning cancer expert has concluded. He says people should avoid using them wherever possible and that governments and the mobile phone industry must take "immediate steps" to reduce exposure to their radiation.

The study, by Dr Vini Khurana, is the most devastating indictment yet published of the health risks.

It draws on growing evidence – exclusively reported in the IoS in October – that using handsets for 10 years or more can double the risk of brain cancer. Cancers take at least a decade to develop, invalidating official safety assurances based on earlier studies which included few, if any, people who had used the phones for that long.

Earlier this year, the French government warned against the use of mobile phones, especially by children. Germany also advises its people to minimise handset use, and the European Environment Agency has called for exposures to be reduced.

Professor Khurana – a top neurosurgeon who has received 14 awards over the past 16 years, has published more than three dozen scientific papers – reviewed more than 100 studies on the effects of mobile phones. He has put the results on a brain surgery website, and a paper based on the research is currently being peer-reviewed for publication in a scientific journal.

He admits that mobiles can save lives in emergencies, but concludes that "there is a significant and increasing body of evidence for a link between mobile phone usage and certain brain tumours". He believes this will be "definitively proven" in the next decade.

Noting that malignant brain tumours represent "a life-ending diagnosis", he adds: "We are currently experiencing a reactively unchecked and dangerous situation." He fears that "unless the industry and governments take immediate and decisive steps", the incidence of malignant brain tumours and associated death rate will be observed to rise globally within a decade from now, by which time it may be far too late to intervene medically.

"It is anticipated that this danger has far broader public health ramifications than asbestos and smoking," says Professor Khurana, who told the IoS his assessment is partly based on the fact that three billion people now use the phones worldwide, three times as many as smoke. Smoking kills some five million worldwide each year, and exposure to asbestos is responsible for as many deaths in Britain as road accidents.

Late last week, the Mobile Operators Association dismissed Khurana's study as "a selective discussion of scientific literature by one individual". It believes he "does not present a balanced analysis" of the published science, and "reaches opposite conclusions to the WHO and more than 30 other independent expert scientific reviews".

Some scientists admit to 'false' results

No need to say more, from UPI

EDINBURGH, Scotland, May 29 (UPI) -- A meta-analysis of surveys by researchers in Scotland, questioning scientists about their misbehaviors, found 2 percent admitted they had "fabricated" results.

Daniele Fanelli of the University of Edinburgh and colleagues said the meta-analysis focused on behaviors that actually distort scientific knowledge -- excluding data on plagiarism and other kinds of malpractice -- and extracted the frequency of scientists who recalled having committed a particular behavior at least once, or who knew a colleague who did.

The analysis, published in the journal PLoS One, found, on average, across the surveys, around 2 percent of scientists admitted they had fabricated, falsified or altered data to "improve the outcome" at least once, and up to 34 percent admitted other questionable research practices -- including "failing to present data that contradict one's own previous research" and "dropping observations or data points from analyses based on a gut feeling that they were inaccurate."

In surveys that asked about the behavior of colleagues, 14 percent said they knew someone who had fabricated, falsified or altered data, and up to 72 percent said they knew someone who had committed other questionable research practices, Fanelli said.

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/05/29/Some-scientists-admit-to-false-results/UPI-11091243575781/

What's in Your Soy?

For those who believe soy is good and Silk brand products are something other that in it for the $$$ -

Soy Risks

Soy Score Card

Complete report
Excerpt below from page 27 of 54 of Behind the Bean Report

Another brand of soymilk that chose not to participate in our scorecard project was the industry’s largest producer of soymilk, in addition to other soy products, Silk. WhiteWave, which markets Silk soymilk, is a subsidiary of Dean Foods. Dean Foods is the largest processor and distributor of dairy products in the United States, with $11 billion in sales in 2007.57 In his book, Organic Inc., author Sam Fromartz provides an excellent account of WhiteWave’s transformation from a small, values-driven company to a subsidiary of the corporate giant Dean Foods. When Steve Demos, the founder of WhiteWave, started manufacturing soymilk and tofu, he “wanted to prove to the profit-makers that [he] had a better model, based on values.”58 After Dean Foods bought WhiteWave in 2002, the company’s quest to increase profitability for shareholders would soon clash with WhiteWave’s values. Our own research, including conversations with organic farmers, adds to this story.

Oren Holle is an organic farmer in Kansas who is also the president of the Organic Farmers’ Agency for Relationship Marketing (OFARM), an organic farmers’ marketing cooperative. After Dean Foods bought WhiteWave and sought to increase production of its organic soymilk, Holle, along with representatives of the Kansas Organic Producers Association, met with WhiteWave representatives to explore a possible partnership between WhiteWave and organic farmers. He recalls, “We proposed to work diligently within the Kansas Organic Producers cooperative and partner with several other OFARM member cooperatives to supply superior quality beans with guarantees of being U.S. grown through the established organic audit trail process. While they ‘talked the talk’ about purchasing the beans from U.S. producers, when the pricing structure was proposed to make the venture modestly profitable for the U.S. growers, the bottom line answer was that if we weren’t willing to provide the beans at a price equal to or less than the cost of available beans from China our proposal couldn’t be considered further. End of negotiation.”

Merle Kramer, a marketer for the Midwestern Organic Farmers Cooperative, observes, “Companies like White Wave had the opportunity to push organic and sustainable agriculture to incredible heights of production by working with North American farmers and traders to get more land in organic production, but what they did was pit cheap foreign soybeans against the U.S. organic farmer, taking away any attraction for conventional farmers to make the move into sustainable agriculture.”

Today, WhiteWave is moving away from using organic soybeans altogether, claiming that there is an organic soybean shortage in the United States. It is clear, however, that WhiteWave is not an innocent victim of this shortage. Years ago, the company had the opportunity to work with American farmers to convert farm acres to organic soybean production, but they chose instead to source from China.

How To Maximize Your Weight Loss Results

Most of us want to lose weight and get fit. Starting an
exercise program or joining a gym always seems like a great
first step but if you have ever spent any time at a gym you
will notice that not everybody there makes progress on his
or her fitness goals. It is not being at the gym that helps
you to get fit but it is how hard you work at fitness that
makes the difference.

You are going to have to break a sweat in order to see any
real results from an exercise program. You will need to get
your heart rate into the training zone and make sure that it
stays there for a time. There have been some studies in the
past that have shown that exercising for longer periods of
time at a lower intensity will actually burn more fat than
carbohydrates. However good that sounds unfortunately it
does not translate to fat loss.

Burning fat as you exercise is important but not nearly as
important as just burning calories. For example if you are
doing a cardio workout and you keep your heart rate at the
lower ranges for 60 minutes you may burn 350 calories but if
you do that same 60 minute workout and add in some high
intensity interval training or HIIT, you will burn closer to
750 to 1000 calories. So which one will help you lose the
most weight?

High intensity interval training is extremely effective for
fat loss. The idea is to get your heart rate into the target
heart training zone and then for 30 to 60 second intervals
work really hard and raise your heart rate to the higher
ends of the zone and then let it come back down to the lower
ends and repeat a few times. If you do high intensity
interval training you can even cut your workout time by half
or more and still burn more calories and have more success.

In order to determine your target heart rate training zone,
take your age and subtract it from 220, then take that
number and multiply it by 60% and 80%. This gives you a
target heart-training zone. In order to see the best results
you will need to keep your heart rate in that zone while you
are doing your workout.

Another important aspect to losing weight and maximizing
your fat loss at the gym is to lift weights. The fact is
that in order to burn the most calories by just living
everyday you must have more muscle. Muscle is biologically
active and it helps your body to burn more calories just by
being there. Fat is basically an inactive substance and it
does not help your body burn any calories at all.

Exercise is important but you won't see any results from an
exercise program unless you also have a good diet. Abs are
built in the kitchen, not at the gym. Making sure that you
consume a healthy and nutritious diet is undoubtedly the
most important aspect of any fitness program. You will never
see results unless you follow a healthy diet, no matter how
much you exercise.

If you want to maximize your fat loss the most important
fundamentals should be to incorporate some HIIT into your
cardio routine, start a good weight-training program and
improve your diet. If you do all of these basic things you
will see results quite quickly.

The Most Powerful Muscle Building Concept On The Planet

By Josh Owen

If you're looking for an easy way to finally build muscle
mass, you've found the perfect article. I'm not sure why
anyone wouldn't want to build muscle. Muscle makes life so
much easier. You feel better, have higher energy levels,
you're stronger, and you're healthier. You can use this one
simple but powerful technique to build muscle quickly.

Building muscle doesn't 'just' help you look much better.
Muscle improves your appearance, and we all want that, but
do you know the true benefit of greater amounts of muscle
mass? Can you imagine feeling 100 times better? Imagine high
energy levels when you wake up. Imagine not feeling down or
tired any more. Body fat weighs you down while muscle mass
helps your body. You need more muscle and less body fat.
Then you'll feel better!

Okay, it's easy for me say you need more muscle mass and
less body fat, but how do you accomplish this? I'm going to
tell you about the most powerful muscle building concept on
the face of the earth. This is the secret to building
muscle:

Of course, the first thing you must do is start lifting
weights. Weight lifting is required. Once you have
everything you need to start lifting weights, you must start
eating healthier. You need to eat lean protein sources,
natural carbohydrate sources, and essential fats with every
meal. Eat more often. You've got to eat enough food to gain
weight in order to build muscle. But these things are not
the powerful concept I want to tell you about. I want to
discuss a plan for your weight lifting program.

Start your next weight lifting program with very light
weights. I don't care how easy the set may be. Do higher
reps starting out with lighter weights. I then want you to
increase the weight each workout while decreasing the number
of reps. For example, you could start out lifting 95 pounds
for 15 reps and end your program with 305 pounds for 4 reps.
That huge weight increase over the weeks will ensure that
you've built plenty of muscle as long as your body isn't
accustomed to those weight loads.

This allows you to constantly provide your body with a
muscle building stimulus. This means you get quick results
from each and every weightlifting workout when you eat
correctly and optimize your rest from each weight lifting
session. You begin to see results and huge increases in
muscle size.

After you use this method of increasing the weight each
weight training session, you'll soon reach a point in which
it's hard to increase the weight. Fight hard for a few more
weeks only increasing a small amount each workout, and
then take a one week break from weight lifting. Then start
over! It's that simple. That is the quickest way to gain
muscle size.

In order to build muscle with this powerful concept, you
have to focus on gaining weight each week. But you want this
weight to be muscle and not body fat, right? You must focus
on eating the proper foods. Have 6 meals each day, and make
sure you're drinking enough water and eating plenty of
veggies. You should always strive to gain about 1 to 2
pounds of muscle each week. I recommend 1 pound of muscle
per week as any more than that will be body fat, and you
don't want that. Be patient. One pound per week is 52 pounds
each year!

How would you like a
(http://www.weight-lifting-complete.com/wlc-program.html)
weight lifting program intelligently designed around this
powerful muscle building method?
(http://www.weight-lifting-complete.com) Weight Lifting
Complete is the home of the program designed to build muscle
fast.

Super Squats Bodybuilding

Super Squats Bodybuilding

In addition 20 reps squats here's a great video from OldtimeStrongman with some old rare photos of Super Strength athletes using the squat to build muscle and strength in the past.

Exercise - Why You Need a Support System

When it comes to any kind of working out, having a support system is very important. Most people use exercise to stay healthy and lose weight, or to even gain weight. There are a number of people who can be a part of your support system in order for you to be as healthy as possible. These people will help you stay motivated so that you aren’t tempted to skip your workouts and watch television instead!

First, a health care professional should be at the head of your support systems. Doctors will be able to give you suggestions about your exercise routine as well as point out anything you are doing that could be bad for your body. When you have your doctor on your side for your workouts, you know that you are being safe and making good health decisions. Make sure that you visit your doctor regularly to chart your progress and also check with him or her when you drastically change your fitness program.

Also at the top of your list of support group members should be personal trainers. If you can afford it a personal trainer is the best way to meet weight loss or maintenance goals. A personal trainer will also be able to correct your form and give you tips to making your workouts as successful as possible. He or she will be mental support as well, urging you to do better at all times.

Your family can also provide a great support system. Even while you are at home and not doing exercise, you and your family can together work to live a healthier lifestyle by not smoking, eating healthy foods, and getting outside more often instead of sitting on the couch every day. You can take your whole family to the gym or on walks or cycling. This is a great way to bond as well as do something right for your bodies together.

Lastly, look to others who are exercising to round out your support system. You can work out with a partner in order to stay motivated. Find someone who does similar workouts as well and go to the gym, or attends the same classes. This can be great motivation. You can also look to more wider workout partners by joining an aerobics class. After your class and showering, hang out with these new friends and you’ll find that living a healthy life is rewarding and easier to do than you may have first thought. When you are starting a fitness program having a good group of support people can truly make all the difference.

Why You Need A Body Detox

By Isabelle S. Mihajlov

Getting a body detox is gaining popularity in many health
circles. Because of the toxic build up in our bodies,
getting clean on the inside is a must. A typical American
has years of poor eating habits, exposed to poor air
quality, and has low fiber diets. Also, stress can attribute
to the increase of toxins being formed in our bodies. If our
bodies do not properly and regularly eliminate this build up
in our colon or other organs, we are prone to sickness and
disease.

Generally, our body does a good job in trying to eliminate
the toxins we are exposed to daily. But it is a challenge to
handle this onslaught of toxins. The toxins will adversely
affect the functioning of vital organs like the liver, kidneys,
and the colon. Poor health is usually a result of a toxic
colon which leads to a toxic liver, thus polluting the tissues
and the bloodstream. For optimal health, our bodies must be
free of dangerous toxins.

How Do I Know I Need A Body Cleansing?

You need to take action if you have one or more of the
following problems. Diarrhea, impaired digestion,
constipation, fatigue and low energy, gas and bloating,
hemorrhoids, excess weight, food allergies, bad breath, foul
smelling stools. These are only some of the symptoms.

Just like you car needs the oil changed regularly or your
outside of your body regularly needs a washing, so does your
internal body. Waiting too long or till you start
experiencing some symptoms listed above, is not a wise idea.
You will increase your risk of developing much more serious
problems like cancer the longer you procrastinate.

Our bodies today simply cannot keep up with the extreme
exposure of ingested or inhaled toxins. The toxins that are
not eliminated simply accumulate in fat cells, tissues,
blood, organs, and remain stored indefinitely resulting in
all kinds of health issues. You can change to a high fiber
diet and eat less acidic foods, but a simple solution is to
regularly get a body detox or body cleansing.

Isabelle S. Mihajlov is blessed to be a stay at home mom
with five healthy children. She loves sharing "remedies"
with others how to
(http://www.immunesystemremedies.com/strengthen-your-immune-system.html)
strengthen your immune system to prevent getting ill. Get
(http://www.immunesystemremedies.com/) free health advice
online.

H1N1 Fast-track Vaccine to be Tested by Navy

UPDATE:11 June, 09
So Now it's a Pandemic?
------------
Another "lab rats r us" scenario on its way to be tested on perhaps unwilling people as a "direct order" to participate in human trials.

SAN DIEGO, May 21, 2009 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Vical Incorporated /quotes/comstock/15*!vicl/quotes/nls/vicl (VICL 2.13, -0.12, -5.33%) announced today that in the two weeks since launching its program to develop a vaccine against H1N1 influenza (swine flu), the company has completed development of a prototype H1 vaccine, produced an initial supply of research-grade material, and initiated immunogenicity testing in animals. Assuming a successful outcome of this testing and a commitment for program-specific external funding, the company is ready to advance directly to large-scale cGMP manufacturing of vaccine for human clinical trials to be conducted by the U.S. Navy. Read more...

UPDATE on swine flu from Dr. Niman

How To Treat Crohn's Disease

Crohn’s Disease is and IBD—Inflammatory Bowel Disease—that mainly affects the small intestine. It causes both chronic pain and diarrhea and is similar to ulcerative colitis, which causes ulcers in the intestinal lining. Crohn’s Disease affects both men and women and can show up in children or in later adulthood. No one is quite sure what causes Crohn’s Disease, but there are a variety of treatment options.

One of the main symptoms of Crohn’s Disease is vitamin D deficiency, because it is not absorbed regularly into the body due to the active inflammation in the intestines. Vitamin D is necessary to help regulate the amount of calcium in the body. You normally get vitamin D through the foods that you eat and the sun, which causes you to absorb vitamin D through the skin. However, for Crohn’s Disease patients, a vitamin D supplement may need to be taken.

If you don’t get enough vitamin D in your system, osteomalacia is the result. Osteomalacia is a condition in which your bones are weaker than they should be. In children, this can cause rickets and in all age groups, osteomalacia means that you can very easily fracture your bones. If you add vitamin D supplements to your diet and spend more time in the sun, you should be able to get the levels of vitamin D your body needs to prevent this from happening.

Vitamin D supplements are usually not classified as drugs and can therefore be purchased over the counter at a pharmacy or health food supply store. However, just because they are not technically drugs doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use precautions when taking these supplements. First, ask a doctor if it is safe for you to take. Because of your Crohn’s Disease, you are probably taking other daily medications. Sometimes, a supplement can interact to cause side effects or decrease the potency. You should also ask your doctor how much you should be taking every day. Too much vitamin D leads to overdose or vitamin poisoning, which can lead to problems with your kidneys and liver. It is best to only take the recommended amount.

Crohn’s Disease may be a difficult medical condition with which to live, but little things like vitamin D supplements can make life easier. Talk to your doctor today to learn how to make vitamin D supplements a part of your daily life routine to help battle Crohn’s Disease.

Another Health Insurance Scam Coming from Congress?

UPDATE: 3 June
More to appease the insurance industry, and is he taxing the fancy perk enjoyed by your member of Congress?
Obama Said to Be Open to Taxing Health-Care Benefits

Please recall that the US is the only place where health benefits are tied to employment and ditated by Big Insurance. Let Max Baucus know just what you think, Teddy Kennedy too!
----------------------------------------------------
If you have CON-cerns about health insurance make sure you take the time to listen to this discussion from Bill Moyers Journal.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05222009/watch2.html

Both Dr. Wolfe and Dr. Himmelstein tell it like it is. To top it off you'll hear from other just what Senator Max Baucus is up to in the way of protecting his Big Insurance buddies at the expense of the uninsured and under-insured, as well as state and federal government.

Change isn't growing in DC and around the Beltway in case you have missed this.

Just another good reason why you need to become your own best health advocate. And one reason Natural Health News and our associated sites are here to help.

AND

If you think Big Insurance isn't going to block this on every point they can, read this article:THE INFLUENCE GAME.

Fix is hard for Medicare, Social Security

If you ask me, just MOS.

Another perspective

and read more here too...

Mini Meals Can Help You Obtain Perfectly Flat, Ripped Abs

Without a doubt the most glossed over step towards building flat, ripped abs is a proper meal plan and eating schedule. People are usually so concerned with what they eat and how frequently they chose to exercise that they simply overlook the importance of when it is they are eating. Creating and sticking to a proper diet plan is critical to developing ripped abdominal muscles.

Skipping meals does not help you burn body fat and build your abs. When meals are skipped the idea is to simply reduce your calorie intake but what actually ends up happening for the rest of the day is increased snacking. People who miss out on meals to burn calories many times end up taking in more calories than if they had actually eaten all of their meals. The second step towards a healthy meal plan is consuming small or mini meals as opposed to the normal 3 meals a day.

Rather than eating every 5 or 6 hours, with mini meals you eat a small meal every 3 to 4 hours.
Eating small portions like mini meals allows your metabolism to work its magic at a faster and more efficient pace than normal, which is the main benefit to eating mini meals as opposed to 3 meals a day. You can further maximize the benefits of mini meals by including a little extra protein and fiber with each and every meal. Protein not only helps build muscle but also improves your metabolic activity and makes you feel full for hours longer than normal.

New Cell Phone Health Update

Updated today from simply4health

13 August, 2008

There is great controversy surrounding EMF and the use of related devices.

Please consider this new article and this special report.

Purchase items for your cell and cordless phones.

Diabetes Featured

In my newsletter, herbalYODA Says!, the featured topic in the forthcoming issue is Diabetes.

Publishing tomorrow morning at 9 AM, you'll find 10 information packed pages with a great amount of nutritional information about how to improve and prevent diabetes, as well as develop a plan to recover.

To receive this issue of herbalYODA Says! you'll need to subscribe today. Sign up at the bottom of the page, here.

And our next segment on BlogTalkRadio focuses on Food Allergy. Listen Live tomorrow morning at 9 AM.

You can listen LIVE or visit the program archives anytime.

Is a Vitamin Supplement Necessary For your Kids?

When it comes to your kids and vitamin supplements, you should know that most children do not need extra or supplemental vitamins or minerals. If you base your children’s diet on the food guide pyramid, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you shouldn’t need to give your child vitamin supplements. However, it is important to know that of all the age groups, children can be the one that is the hardest to control when it comes to diet. Children don’t understand what it means when something is essential for their bodies, and they are much more prone to being picky eaters or having poor diets. If you child is eating a special diet, they might need more vitamins or minerals. These can include vegetarians, children with allergies, or children that have religions which state certain foods shouldn’t be eaten.

The most important thing for you to keep in mind when it comes to making sure that your child has a healthy diet is to ensure that they are getting the proper amounts of the right kinds of vitamins and minerals. If this isn’t happening because of what they are eating, you either need to change what they are eating, or make sure that they are getting the vitamins in another way. Vitamin supplements can be purchased in kid-friendly shapes and flavors, so it shouldn’t be a problem to have your child take them.

There are several vitamins and minerals that are going to be important for your child to have enough of. These include, especially, iron, which is needed in children to prevent anemia. This usually happens if children aren’t given enough extra iron after they are six months old, which happens often if a baby drinks cow or goat milk instead of formula. Young and adolescent girls are also at a risk of having an iron deficiency.

Another important thing that children need is calcium. This is something that is completely necessary for healthy bones and teeth. If children are drinking milk and eating dairy products, they are probably getting enough calcium, but if they aren’t, you might need to supplement this in their diets.

It is also important that children are getting fluoride. This helps to build healthy teeth. However, it is important that they only get enough fluoride, and not too much, so don’t add to their intake unless your dentist or doctor thinks that you should.

If you don’t think that your child is getting enough vitamins or minerals, you should consult with your doctor to make sure that you can find a good balance and a good children’s multivitamin for them to be taking. However, it is crucial that you realize that a vitamin is not a replacement for food and is not a substitute for a varied diet.

Today's Drug Promoting Insanity

As I've been saying lately, what we have in the US is medical care, not health care. And the medical care we have ranks very low in comparison to many other countries.

There are many reasons for this poor state of affairs, and here are a few reasons why things are as they are -

1. Older people should take anti hypertensive drugs even if they do not have hypertension.

This idea seems to be the brainchild of some medical researchers in the UK. They believe a "polypill" made up of the standard drugs used currently as the cookie cutter treatment for blood pressure will prevent heart disease and stroke.

My choice would be vitamin E and magnesium, plus a more customized individual plan for anyone concerned about these issues.

2. The anti-cholesterol drug fenofibrate (Tricor or Triglide)appears to reduce risks of amputation for diabetics by as much as 36 percent, a study has found. This drug runs about $75 for 90 pills. And it has some great side effects I know everyone wants to experience, especially when hit with their impact by surprise because the prescriber overlooked explaining them, as required by law.

The study was published in a special edition on diabetes by The Lancet, which included another study on how rigorous monitoring and control of blood sugar reduces heart attacks.

Well, just for starters, how is amputation directly related to controlling blood sugar and reducing heart attacks?

Perhaps these medical whiz kids need to go back to the drawing board to read the research that says anti-cholesterol drugs do not reduce risk of heart attack, and they don't really do much for LDL or blood sugar lowering either.

However, if a person with diabetes takes adequate amounts of vitamin E daily, they will find that they can prevent neuropathy and the reduce the risk of losing toes, feet, or limbs.

And because vitamin E is an oxygenator it can act to lower blood pressure as doing is increased over time.

A little Alli-C thrown in the mix easily increases the benefits, and garlic has some blood sugar lowering effect as well.

Then there is Kufner's Powder, heavily laden with B vitamins and trace minerals, shown in the very first hospital based study to reverse gangrene in a limb of an older man with diabetes. And consider enzymes, especially lipase, it might be beneficial.

Seems to be another indication we need more open minds and more creative thinking in medicine now days...

3. "A study by Cancer Research UK found that pancreatic cancer can spread quickly to a tumor, despite a healthy blood supply, and gave evidence why conventional cancer treatments such as Eli Lilly and Co's Gemzar were often ineffective.

The study found that combining cancer treatment Gemzar with Infinity Pharmaceutical's experimental drug IPI-926 made the treatment work better in mice with pancreatic cancer."

Yes, the treatment works better in mice!

And the statistics are not good: "Pancreatic cancer is diagnosed in 230,000 people across the world each year, with 7,600 new cases in Britain and 37,000 new cases in the United States, according to Cancer Research UK."

So what might you do?

Well, there is a natural treatment that has been proven in an FDA funded study that seems to get up to an 83% cure rate.

It has lots of vitamins and enzymes, plus a different nutritional approach.

And after you've looked over just these three items consider that in 1999, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued an alarming report titled "To Err is Human," detailing the toll of preventable medical errors in the U.S; it estimated that up to 98,000 Americans die annually from them.

Comments on this study show that now a decade later as more than 100,000 people are dying from the same cause, as the CDC reports, why aren't the "right" questions being asked.

Are we really hoping for reform in medical care?

Stress On The Job - How To Cope

Face it. Even if you are stressed beyond your limits in the
office, you can't do anything about it. After all, what job
does not involve any stress? The secret is to make sure that
you can manage on the side the job of managing your stress!

Managing your stress however can be really tricky if you are
inside the office. The work environment limits the ways that
you can manage your stress. For instance, if watching TV or
movies relieves your stress, you cannot very well do that
inside the office. Neither can you play badminton or sing
with a karaoke. The most that you can do is to play some
quick computer game, hoping that somehow it can relax you.
For some people, this is enough; but for others, it is not.

But there are ways to relieve the stress while sitting on
your office chair. Often, the trick is to not wait for the
stress levels to go up. As they say in medicine, an ounce of
prevention is more than a pound of cure. Don't wait to get
stressed, avoid it like the plague! Here's how.

1. Eat healthy. People who are basically healthy will have
more energy levels on which to work on. They are more able
to withstand late nights and are more able to keep up with
long brain activities as compared to people who are not. To
do this, you've got to eat healthy foods especially those
that are rich in vitamins, minerals and proteins. Besides,
having all the energy that you need will help you cope
better with stress when it happens.

2. Sleep. Sleeping provides the body the rest that it needs.
Brain activity and bodily functions slow down when people
are sleeping. Muscles also relax. When the body lacks sleep,
energy levels go down and the brain becomes disoriented.
This results in poorer concentration, which in the long run
can become detrimental to your job functions. Thus, one way
to avoid stress altogether is get the requisite 8 hours or
more sleep. It will do you good.

3. Exercise. Another way to combat stress and to prevent it
from happening altogether is to have a daily run or an
exercise routine. Experts say that a person must work out 30
minutes each day to successfully keep the body in shape and
healthy. Exercise strengthens our resistance and
surprisingly increases the energy levels. It helps keep the
stressors at bay as it relaxes the muscles and keeps the air
flowing freely through breathing techniques.

4. Manage time. Nothing can make you more stressful than not
managing your time well. Just ask people who are used to
cramming for exams or for work assignments. Planning your
time right and doing what you are supposed to do on time
will help keep the stressors away. Besides, by doing your
assignments and work load piece by piece allows you to relax
while doing it and gives you enough time to really work on
it should the boss decides to have it real early.

5. Smile. Being happy and optimistic is the number one stress
buster there is. Do you know that smiling can help keep the
muscles in the face relaxed? It actually uses less muscles
than when you are frowning. So laugh on the job and keep it
cool.

Something Exciting This Way Comes

Over the past few years I've developed a great relationship with TerraCycle. The Garbage Moguls were so kind to donate some of their worm poop fertilizer for one of the prizes at my non-toxic home and garden talk at last Friday at GreenFair.

Now they've got something new going on and it's going to be big.

My friends at TerraCycle will be meeting with Pepsi next week about this exciting new project. This collaboration means a great expansion for their projects, room for more people to recycle the bags and earn some money for their favorite organization. (We'd be happy to receive donations for CHI.)

IT’S IN THE BAG: PACKAGING FROM MAJOR SNACK BRANDS GETS A NEW PURPOSE


PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay and TerraCycle Partner to Start Chip Bag Brigades to Upcycle Used Packaging

Plano, TX, April 29, 2009 – Frito-Lay North America, a division of PepsiCo, today announced a new partnership with TerraCycle, an upcycling company that will take used packaging from Frito-Lay snack products and turn them into affordable, quality goods. Through this joint program, consumers and local community groups can earn money by collecting the used packaging, and at the same time redirect packaging from landfills.

Over the past few years, the company’s packaging initiatives have made some significant strides. This includes reducing the amount of plastic in packaging by 10% and over the last five years eliminating 12 million pounds of materials used to make the snack bags. This month, the company announced that in 2010 its SunChips brand will be introducing a fully compostable bag made from plant-based renewable material. Marking the company’s latest effort, Frito-Lay will be the first snack food company to fund the collection and upcycling of its used packaging.

“Consumers interact everyday with our company and our brands through packaging,” said Gannon Jones, vice president, portfolio marketing, Frito-Lay North America. “The TerraCycle program builds on our existing efforts to minimize the impact of packaging, while also engaging and rewarding our consumers for being part of the solution.”

The company is asking consumers to form Chip Bag Brigades; for every bag a brigade collects and sends to TerraCycle, Frito-Lay will donate two cents to their charity of choice. Initially, there will be 1,000 collection sites and more are expected to be added during the year. The goal of the program is to engage at least 150,000 people and divert more than 5 million bags from landfills. Consumers can learn more about forming Chip Bag Brigades at www.fritolay.com/terracycle .

The packaging from all the company’s popular brands, such as Lay’s potato chips, Doritos and Tostitos tortilla chips and Cheetos cheese flavored snacks, will be used to make quality, affordable products such as purses, pencil cases and tote bags, which will be available at major retailers like Wal-Mart by late 2009.

This packaging innovation is in line with the commitment by PepsiCo, Frito-Lay’s parent, to reduce the company's impact on the environment through water, energy and packaging initiatives.

About TerraCycle
In 2001, Tom Szaky, a Princeton University Freshman, founded TerraCycle in hopes of building an eco-capitalist company built on waste. After winning countless business plan contests, Tom dropped out of Princeton to pursue his dream of founding the world’s most environmentally friendly company. Seven years later, TerraCycle’s eco-friendly products have received a myriad of social and environmental accolades and are sold at major retailers like The Home Depot, Target, Wal-Mart and Whole Foods Markets. TerraCycle’s business plan and products made from waste received a Zerofootprint Seal of Approval, won The Home Depot’s Environmental Stewardship Award twice and recently won the 2007 Social Venture Network Innovation Award. Please visit www.terracycle.net to learn more.

Buy TerraCycle products online!

6 Simple But Highly Effective Tricep Workout Tips

Despite what you may have heard, the tricep muscles are actually the largest muscle group in the human body. The triceps generally take up nearly double the space that the bicep muscles occupy. This means that in order for you to develop massive, ripped arms you absolutely need to focus on building and strengthening your triceps. If building massive arms is something you are interested in, then I strongly suggest implementing the following tips:

Don’t Mix Your Chest & Triceps Workouts – When performing chest workouts, a substantial proportion of the weight is placed upon your tricep muscles. If you start your tricep workout immediately after your chest workout you simply will not be able to train with the same intensity you normally would. Whenever possible, try to leave a solid 48 hours between your tricep workout and your chest workout.

Avoid Overtraining – Undoubtedly, the largest single problem causing a lack of muscle growth in men is training to hard. Bear in mind that your triceps tend to be hit very hard when performing both chest and shoulder exercises. Try to make sure that you do no more than 18 individual sets of direct and indirect tricep exercises each and every week.

Lower Your Reps & Increase Your Weight – Your triceps do not need to be trained in a very high rep range. Your muscle tissue responds much better to heavy weight and reps between 6 to 10 reps which is also true of the tricep muscles.

Do More Squats – Believe it or not, doing more squats doesn’t just produce better looking thighs and buttock muscles but also causes muscle gains through out your entire body due to the fact that squats are such a demanding and intense exercise. To better strengthen your triceps you should try doing squats at least once a week.

Weighted Dips – Compound exercises happen to be very effective at forcing your muscles to grow and develop. A very good but often overlooked compound exercise is something called weighted dips. Weighted dips are of course just like regular dips except that you are using weight while performing the dips. While performing weighted dips always make sure to keep your body vertical at a 90 degree angle to the floor in order to maximize your muscle gains from the dips.

Can't Stick To Your Weight Loss Program? Here's Why

By Erin Upshaw

Many people are very similar to you. They are tired of
constantly trying new exercises and diets that just will
never work. You're motivated at first, but as time progresses
you become tired of it, and you feel as if you have failed
again.

Does this sound like you? Are you wondering why you cannot
stick to your weight loss program? Well, so are many others.
There are many factors that could explain why you cannot
stick to your weight loss program, and this article will
examine a few of them in depth.

Your program may have been a bad program that resulted in
failure. Maintaining an extreme diet will fail on you
because it is too difficult to maintain. Eating specific
fruits or performing weird exercises or workouts for long
periods of time is eventually not sustainable. If you're
looking to stay slim, you've got to pick a routine that you
can maintain consistently for the long-term.

A lack of support from family and friends causes many to
quit their diets. Maybe your family and friends didn't
provide the support you needed in order to say no to that
bite of rich dessert. It could be possible that your
friends had no faith in you or your diet. A fact of life is
the fact that support is critical when focusing on weight
loss. Try joining a weight loss group with others that are
in the same situation, or consider hiring a personal trainer
that will keep you motivated towards your goals.

You could have been dieting incorrectly while exercising too
much, or even dieting without doing a single exercise
routine. The results you expected didn't happen and led you
to quit what you were doing and loose focus. Both diet and
exercise are a necessary combination when doing a workout
program in order to lose weight. No matter what plan,
program, or diet you choose, you must combine a balance of
diet and exercise.

Another reason was that you expected results far too
quickly. Diets take time to work, and your body may take
even more time to adjust to your new diet before weight loss
is noticed. Your body is resistant and will require you to
use diet and exercise to steer it to shed pounds. Stick to
a well designed program, and the results you want will be
achieved.

A final reason for you to quit your weight loss program
could be that you lacked a bona fide commitment. It is
impossible to begin a new lifestyle with only half the
motivation. Diet and exercise plans require full mental
commitment. You will find yourself taking shortcuts around
your diet and become frustrated when the scale goes up not
down. Personally commit to this workout plan from day 1 and
don't look back. Remember that if you continue to do what
you always did then you will get what you always got.

Most people advertise all kinds of secrets to weight loss,
but the secret never really was a secret. It's the one
truth that we all know: a lifestyle with a healthy diet and
exercise are what will help us all lose weight and stay in
shape. There are no secret tricks or shortcuts to becoming
healthy. You've just read the trick for yourself. You will
not find a "fat buster" cure besides a healthy diet and
exercise. Do your research, pick a workout plan that you
will enjoy, and stay with it. Remember to aim for realistic
and achievable goals and you will be sure to shed those
unwanted pounds.

When you need to study more on
(http://Better-Weight-Loss.com) lose weight exercises check
for more at (http://Better-Weight-Loss.com) body fat lose.

Peer Pressure And Healthy Eating - How To Say No

If you are on a diet or simply enjoying a healthy lifestyle, then you probably know that peer pressure to eat foods that are not good for you is a major part of your life. If you are worried about the food that goes into your mouth, don’t worry—there are ways to overcome peer pressure. It simply takes a little know-how to get people off your back!

Parties are a major source of peer pressure, especially with alcohol. However, remember that alcohol contains hundreds of empty calories in just one drink. When you go to a party, people might be pressuring you to have a drink and relax, and it can be difficult to say no when they are constantly trying to convince you. Instead, offer to be the designated driver. This way, people won’t want you to drink and, in fact, they will probably be purchasing you waters and maybe even helping to pay for your gas. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

Another time when you may feel pressured to eat is at work when the boss orders lunch for everyone at a meeting or when you have to visit a client. Instead of giving in to temptation, simply politely decline the food by letting your boss know in advance or order a meal that is healthy and split the portion in half so you have a meal for tomorrow’s lunch as well.

Baby showers, weddings, birthday parties, and other special events can also wreak havoc on your diet, even if you are good at resisting temptation on your own. When someone hands you a piece of cake and won’t take no for an answer, it can be difficult to know what to say! Here, little white lies might be appropriate. For instance, saying that your stomach was upset earlier in the day will convince a person that you don’t want to eat at the moment or pretending to have a chocolate allergy will get people to allow you to enjoy the party without a hassle surrounding food.

Remember, however, that while refusing bad foods is fine, you should be eating good foods. If you do not, dangerous eating habits and disorders can develop, which will give you, your friends, and your doctor a real reason to worry. It’s ok to say no to peer pressure, but don’t say no to food in general!

Why it pays to rely on nutritional supplementation

UPDATE: 11 June: BOO to BELO. BELO Broadcasting reports tonight on its KREM TV news outlet about Reglan yet makes no reference to safe B complex.
------------------------------------------------------------------
One of the medical newsletters I receive arrived today with an article focused on the care of women who are pregnant.

The topic of the article was on treating a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) or severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

The medical model of today is to offer drugs. The drugs offered in this report were metoclopramide (Reglan) plus diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Reglan has a caution for use during pregnancy. Benadryl contains aspartame which is not recommended for use in pregnancy.

May 18, 2009 — A protocol including metoclopramide plus diphenhydramine may be helpful for hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), the most severe form of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, according to the results of a retrospective cohort study reported in the May issue of the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology.HG, the most severe form of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, is intractable vomiting associated with weight loss of at least 5% of prepregnancy weight, dehydration, ketonuria, and hypokalemia. Second only to preterm labor, HG is a leading cause of hospitalization during pregnancy.

There is no gold standard for HG treatment, but droperidol (Inapsine Pregnancy: Category C: INAPSINE administered intravenously has been shown to cause a slight increase in mortality of the newborn rat at 4.4 times the upper human dose. At 44 times the upper human dose, mortality rate was comparable to that for control animals. Following intramuscular administration, increased mortality of the offspring at 1.8 times the upper human dose is attributed to CNS depression in the dams who neglected to remove placentae from their offspring. INAPSINE has not been shown to be teratogenic in animals. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. INAPSINE should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.) and diphenhydramine have been used since 1998. Warnings about the cardiovascular toxicity of injectable droperidol, including QT prolongations, serious arrhythmia, and sudden death, were issued by the US Food and Drug Administration in December 2001 and subsequently by Health Canada. A new HG protocol replacing droperidol with metoclopramide has been used since June 2002 but has not previously been evaluated.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2009:143:43-49.

Depletion of B complex vitamins in pregnancy is related to nausea and vomiting as well as HG based on nutritional research.

The use of B vitamins will resolve this issue and they do not cause risk to the fetus or the mother's health.

Our nutritional powder, RK BioBlend, has helped many people over the years with this health concern in a safe and effective manner. The B vitamins also help prevent birth defects related to many issues especially neural tube defects (Spina Bifida).

Perhaps you'd like your toast and butter spread with nutritional yeast?

How To Rapidly Build Muscle Mass The Natural Way

Many weight lifters have a difficult time gaining muscle weight and, more often than not, these same people end up gaining more body fat in the process of trying to gain muscle. Discovering the correct diet and weight lifting plan to gain lean muscle mass tends to be a difficult process for many people. Fortunately, the solution is actually much more simple than most people imagine.

Because illegal drugs like steroids tend to be readily available, many people will go after this "easy fix" forgetting the dangerous side effects that steroids often inflict upon users. Steroids are simply not the answer to gaining muscle weight fast, assuming of course that your overall health and well being is of some importance to you.

So what exactly can you do?

The answer is your workout and diet plan. Gaining lean muscle mass while minimizing body fat necessarily requires the right diet as well as the proper mix of cardio exercises and weight lifting. Most fitness enthusiasts believe that loading up on quality protein is the best solution. While protein certainly is very important, you should not fall into the trap of ignoring other vital nutrients.

Your body needs a good amount of carbohydrates in addition to vitamins A,B, and D in order to stimulate and sustain muscle growth. This being said, always make sure your carbohydrate intake does not mainly come from refined flour foods as these kinds of foods are very high in bad carbs and sugars. As an alternative, try eating whole grain past instead or even broccoli and potatoes.

While engaged in your workout routines, try using intervals to trick your body to allow more muscle development. Performing the same "5 sets of 6" will teach your body to simply cut off growth because your body will adapt to repetitive motion. As an alternative, mix up your routine by doing 2 sets of 10 one day and 4 sets of 6 the next. So long as you keep your body guessing as to what is coming next you will see much better and faster muscle gains.

How Crucial is Healthy Eating?

Have you ever heard the saying you are what you eat? In some sense, this is true, because if you eat unhealthy foods you are prone to be an unhealthy person. The foods we ingest are extremely important to our ability to grow, maintain function, and prevent illness. Therefore, if you value your health, you should learn as much about healthy eating as possible.

Healthy eating is important from the day we are born. As a child, we grow quite rapidly and this is due in part to the foods we eat. Foods all contain nutrients that provide us not only with fuel to live our daily lives, but also with the very substances that build our bones, muscles, and organ tissues. Not getting enough of one nutrient or another can cause a variety of problems, including stunting our growth. For mothers who are nursing, nutrition is important because breast milk contains the nutrients a child needs to grow and develop properly. Upon growing older, these nutrients are then found in food, but don’t think that healthy eating isn’t important for growth after you’ve gone through puberty. Cells continuously break down and rebuild, so healthy eating for growth continues to be important until the day we die.

Healthy eating is also important for maintaining body function. In out daily lives, we use energy to think, walk, talk, breathe, and perform any other action. The energy it takes our body to do these things comes from two places: fat reserves in the body or our daily food intake. If you don’t eat healthy foods, you will find that you are storing more fat than necessary or that you aren’t getting enough and you feel sluggish or weak. Along with energy-providing nutrients, like fats and carbohydrates, we also need the right nutrients to allow our organs to do their jobs. Hormones and other substances in the body make sure that everything is working properly. If you don’t eat the right nutrients, your body cannot produce these hormones and, as a result, cannot function properly.

Lastly, healthy eating is important in order to prevent illness. When we do not get the right nutrients, our body’s natural defense system against diseases weakens, allowing viruses and bacteria to attack the body. It’s like a well-trained army—if the army doesn’t have enough to eat, it will not do well in battle. Without healthy foods and plenty of water, our bodies simply could not operate on a day-to-day basis. Learning how to eat healthy foods is therefore and important lesson, and one which we should begin learning as children.

Organic, Natural etc - Understanding Food Labels

When you head to the grocery store, shopping for products like eggs, meat, fish, milk, and produce can be very tricky. Signs are posted everywhere labeling food as natural, organic, and a number of other things—but what’s the difference, really? Learning what specific names mean can help you decide if you should shell out extra money on a product or if its simply a marketing ploy.

Natural is a term associated with a number of fruit and vegetable products. Typically, this is simply a marketing ploy to convince you to buy the product. After all, all fruits and vegetables are natural, right? Unless it’s a new kind of food that has been developed and processed, the product is natural. What you really probably want is organic. Organic foods are grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

There are two main benefits to organic foods. First, you are helping the environment because those chemicals are not being introduced into nature. Secondly, you are avoiding ingesting chemicals and are therefore eating more healthy foods. However, organic products are usually more expensive. If you’re on a budget, skip over organic fruits and vegetables that you can peel, like oranges and bananas. After all, once you’ve discarded the peel, you’ve also discarded the chemicals. Instead, opt for organic items like apples, where you eat the peel. No matter what you buy, however, make sure that you rinse off the food when you get home.

Another tricky label you will see is “no hormones.” This is usually in regards to milk or meat products and is false, since all animals naturally produce hormones. Hormones are what helps an animal (even a human) regulate body organs, have young, and otherwise function. All meat products have hormones. What the labels really mean is that no hormones were unnaturally given to the animal, which is sometimes done to increase milk production. Regardless of hormones, however, the milk and meat is safe for a person and not a violation of an animal’s rights.

Lastly, a label on eggs and meat can indicate if the animal was caged or penned. This does not make a difference in the quality or nutritional value of the meat, but is simply a matter of animal rights. These products may be a bit more expensive, but if you want to make human decisions, that is the way to go. Reading the label and making healthy choices can sometimes be difficult, but learning how to do so can help you make the best choices for you diet.