5/18/2010

Final Roundup

+A HUNDRED HEALTH SAPPING NEUROTOXINS HIDDEN IN PACKAGED AND RESTAURANT FOOD
+ANTIINFLAMMATORY FOODS
+ASTAXANTHIN: THE MIRACLE ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY NUTRIENT
+BOTTLED WATER FOUND CONTAMINATED WITH MEDICATIONS, FERTILIZER, DISINFECTION CHEMICALS
+BUILD NATURAL CO Q-10 IN YOUR BODY
+CANOLA OIL IS ANOTHER VICTORY OF FOOD TECHNOLOGY OVER COMMON SENSE
+CHEMICALS USED TO DISINFECT WATER CREATE DANGEROUS TOXINS
+CINNAMON IS THE WONDER SPICE FOR HEALTH AND WELLBEING
+COMMON SPICES WORK BETTER THAN ASPIRIN TO STOP BLOOD CLOTS
+COURT ORDERS PARENTS TO POISON THEIR 13-YEAR-OLD CHILD WITH CHEMOTHERAPY
+DEMAND FOR PURPLE CORN MAY SOON EXPLODE
+DISCOVER THE BENEFITS AND USES OF GOTU KOLA
+DRINK A HEALTHY CUP OF COFFEE
+EASE EXCRUCIATING EARACHES NATURALLY
+FIND NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS IN TAHINI
+FLUORIDATION IS THE ULTIMATE DECEPTION
+GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS ARE UNFIT FOR CONSUMPTION
+GM-SOY DESTROYS THE EARTH AND HUMANS FOR PROFIT
+GOJI BERRIES ARE A SUPER FOOD FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH
+HEALTH MINDED CONSUMERS ARE TRICKED INTO EATING MORE PROCESSED SUGAR
+HOSPITALS ARE BREEDING GROUNDS FOR SUPERBUGS
+INDIAN CURRY SPICES EXPLAINED
+INEXPENSIVE MAGNESIUM PROVES IMPRESSIVE AT PROTECTING THE BRAIN
+JAPANESE VEGETARIAN CUISINE EXPLAINED
+LEAD IN EVERYDAY PRODUCTS
+MSG IN HEALTH FOOD STORE PRODUCTS
+MSG NOW USED TO SPRAY CROPS
+NATURAL VITAMIN E SLASHES LUNG CANCER RISK BY 55%
+NEW STUDY: PROBIOTIC STRAIN BOOSTS IMMUNE RESPONSE TO FLU VIRUS
+PROTECT YOURSELF FROM MSG AND ASPARTAME EXCITOTOXICITY
+PROTECT YOURSELF FROM POISONS IN THE SKY
+RESEARCH REVEALS WHICH CONVENTIONAL PRODUCE CAN BE SAFELY EATEN
+SHATTERED ILLUSIONS: TEN THINGS ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW
+SILK, SOYDREAM, PACIFIC NATURAL FOODS AND VITASOY ALL REBUKED IN NEW SOY SCORECARD RATINGS
+SOY PROTEIN USED IN "NATURAL" FOODS BATHED IN TOXIC SOLVENT HEXANE
+SPINACH KNOCKS OUT CANCER AND BOOSTS BRAIN POWER
+STOP NEEDLESS AMPUTATIONS WITH CALCIUM BENTONITE CLAY
+SWINE FLU (INFLUENZA): ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW
+SWINE FLU OUTBREAK COULD BE LINKED TO SMITHFIELD FACTORY FARMS

5/07/2010

Hormone D

EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT VITAMIN D
______________________________________________

5/01/2010

Banned in Europe

SEVEN FOOD PRODUCTS BANNED IN EUROPE STILL AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.
______________________________________________

2/25/2010

NO B.O.


+NATURE'S SUNSHINE LIQUID CHLOROPHYLL
______________________________________________

Wild Man

+WHO IS SANDOR KATZ?
+FERMENTING VEGETABLES WITH SANDOR KATZ - VID

+INTENSIVE FERMENTATION WEEKEND WITH SANDOR KATZ

+KIMCHI - RECIPE
Make sure that the sauerkraut and pickles you buy are naturally fermented and unpasteurized to ensure that you are getting your daily dose of active live enzymes.

Sandor Katz__1992
______________________________________________

2/24/2010

Chow Blog

+NOTES FROM THE DIY FOOD REVOLUTION

+THE EVIDENCE AGAINST ALLERGY TESTS PILE UP

+KATIE COURIC LAYS INTO ANTIBIOTIC USE IN LIVESTOCK
_____________________________________________

Cook, Eat, Blog

+food52

+COOK SPOTLIGHT: ADASHOFBITTERS
>A Dash of Bitters - blog
+SLOW COOKER PORK BELLY - RECIPE

Rosemary & Pink Pepper Chevre__$10

+PRODUCTS
______________________________________________

Back to Basics

+NOURISHING TRADITIONS - COOKBOOK

+MY FORAY INTO NOURISHING TRADITIONS - review
+INGREDIENT CHANGES FOR A NUTRIENT DENSE DIET
+THE NOURISHING COOK
>Ketchup With Me
+THE WESTON A. PRICE FOUNDATION
>Soy Alert!

Basic Brown Rice
Brown rice is the highest of all grains in B vitamins, and
it also contains iron, and vitamin E. Nourishing
Traditions
has recipes for many tasty, ethnic brown rice
variations including Indian Rice, Mexican Rice, Greek
Rice, Oriental Rice Salad, Wild Rice Casserole and
many others...

2 Cups long-grain or short grain brown rice
4 Cups pure warm water, plus 4 TB kefir, vinegar, or
lemon juice
1 tsp. Real salt
2-4 TB butter

Combine the rice, water, and yogurt (or kefir OR lemon
juice) in a stock pot with a secure cover. Allow to soak
for 7 or more hours if possible. Bring to a boil, reduce
heat, add salt and butter, cover tightly. DO NOT
REMOVE THE LID. Cook over lowest possible heat, for
about 45 minutes. (I soak my rice in my Duromatic and
pressure cook to save a lot of time.)
Variations: Use 1 cup coconut milk, or homemade
chicken, beef, or fish stock for part of the liquid.
[UrbanHomemaker.com]
____________________________________________

Just Try it

+THE NEW STAPLES

12/23/2009

Pharma Fries

Health Canada Seeks Input on Adding Anti-Cancer Drug to Junk Food
[Yahoo.com - 12/22/09]
OTTAWA wants to know what you think about its unusual proposal to put a cancer-fighting drug into junk food.

Health Canada is inviting public comments until February 21 on its idea to have small amounts of the enzyme asparaginase put into foods like potato chips and french fries. On its website, Health Canada says its scientists have finished a detailed safety assessment on the enzyme and haven't found any health or safety concerns.

At issue is the chemical acrylamide, which is found as a cooking byproduct in the production of foods like french fries and potato chips and has been linked to cancer in animals.

Research suggests asparaginase reduces acrylamide production.

Health Canada notes the enzyme is used in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and Denmark, and has been given a favourable evaluation by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. END

Cancer-Fighting Additive Weighed for Junk Food
"I thought Health Canada was supposed to encourage healthy eating habits," Judith Ryan told CBC News. "If the additive is used, people will think junk food is safe and eat more. The result will be more obesity, more diabetes and more heart disease, and eventually more costs to the health-care system. How smart is this?"

COMMENTS
Since asparaginase is already being used in much of Europe and the USA, I would like to know what products contain it, and what the European/US experience has been with it.

Millions of "test subjects" out there - why not find out how they're doing? Otherwise, we're all just providing knee-jerk reactions to a poorly explained proposal.

Canadians are denied the information concerning whether or not the food they consume is of GM origin and yet we are to trust Health Canada to put some beneficial additive in the food supply?

This is unacceptable! Drug used in chemo therapy for certain cancers, added to food staples: bread, flour and potato products? Seriously? I don't think so!

Big Pharma is going to benefit from it. They will have a huge nation wide trial study on unsuspecting citizens. In couple of years, it will be discovered that it was not such a good idea, and maybe even they will pay some damages. But, make no mistake, big pharma will make enough profit from sales of Asparaginase (and other drugs used to treat complications from Asparaginase consumption), so law suits cost will be peanuts to them.

Who is not going to benefit from it is YOU. Yes, you, the one reading comments now!

Search for "Say No To Asparaginase!" group on the FaceBook, Join and please, DO ACT.
Call your MP, write to Health Canada, call Bureau of Chemical Safety, anything else you can come up with.

Let's stop the madness!

How much more will it take for people to realize that fast food and most snack food is crap. Vitamins are already added back into that stuff just to make it qualify as food.
Now drugs might be added so it won't kill you. This is insane.


Asparaginase (Crisantaspase)
This page tells you about the possible side effects of asparaginase (also called crisantaspase and Erwinase).

ABOUT
Asparaginase is a chemotherapy drug that is used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). One form is made from a type of bacteria called escherichia coli. Another form of asparaginase is made from Erwinia chrysanthemi bacteria and is called crisantaspase. Asparaginase is an enzyme that breaks down another chemical in tumour cells. The tumour cells need this chemical to make protein - they need to make protein to make new cancer cells.

You may have asparaginase as an injection into a vein (IV). But you are more likely to have it as a series of injections into a muscle in your arm or leg (IM). [...]

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
1. Fatigue
2. Feeling or being sick
3. High temperatures (fever) and chills
4. Bruising more easily
5. Increased risk of getting blood clots
6. Loss of appetite
7. This drug may be harmful to a developing baby so it is not advisable to get pregnant or father a child if you are having this drug.
8. Loss of fertility
9. Liver changes
10. Allergic reactions

OCCASIONAL SIDE EFFECTS
1. Rise in blood sugar
2. Change in mood or sleepiness.

RARE SIDE EFFECTS
With this drug, a few people have a temporary drop in the number of blood cells made by the bone marrow, leading to the following side effects:

1. Increased risk of getting an infection
2. Tiredness and breathlessness
3. Bruising more easily due to a drop in platelets

Some of these side effects can be life threatening, particularly infections. You should contact your doctor if you have any of these side effects.

OTHER RARE SIDE EFFECTS
1. Inflammation of the pancreas
2. Asparaginase can very rarely be toxic to your nervous system and cause drowsiness, loss of energy, confusion, agitation or hallucination - tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
[...]

11/12/2009

Absolute Workout

Brett Hoebel is the founder of HoebeL Fitness, a leading-edge lifestyle-fitness company that focuses on physical well-being, mental clarity and self empowerment, and is dedicated to inspiring people with mindful, healthy living. As an international fitness expert, Brett is one of the most sought-after weight-loss, nutrition and lifestyle coaches in New York. He’s trained numerous celebrities, including Victoria’s Secret supermodel Karolina Kurkova. The co-host of Fit Family on Discovery Channel, Brett has also appeared on The View, Good Morning America, and Fox News, and is a recurring fitness expert on The WB Morning Show.

RevAbs is a cutting-edge, ab-defining and body-toning program created by Brett Hoebel. RevAbs is a high-energy program that combines ab training, interval training and strength training with a spice of Afro-Brazilian capoeira to yield unparalleled results in 90-days.




RevAbs.com Trailer

10/19/2009

Bisphenol A

ECOHOLIC by Adria Vasil
Busting Bisphenol A
[NowToronto.com - Sept.08-15/2009]

Q: Now that it’s been revealed that Sigg bottles leach bisphenol A, should we be worrying about other secret sources?

A: Oh Sigg, why’d you dupe us like that? We swallowed every line you fed us about your canisters being better than bisphenol A-heavy polycarbonate bottles and now you’ve confessed yours were lined with the same stuff all along.

Looking back, we should have spotted the signs. The Swiss company never flat-out told us its lining was free of estrogen-mimicking bisphenol A. No, no, it just said its “proprietary water-based epoxy resin” didn’t leach the hormone disruptor.

So basically, Sigg danced around the topic like a prima ballerina during a performance of Midsummer Night’s Greenwash.

Back in 2007, I blogged about an Environmental Working Group report on tin cans that, as an aside, noted that Sigg bottles contained a BPA-based lining. The company quickly pounced and threatened to sue if EWG didn’t cough up proof. EWG backed down, removing the reference from its report. To outsiders, Sigg was still in the clear.

Sonya Lunder of EWG says, “It was a sign of how aggressively they were misleading customers.”

While Sigg now struggles to convince greenies that – ta-dah! – it’s new and improved liner is totally bisphenol-free, who can blame you for looking over your shoulder wondering who else is hiding toxic contents.

The sad truth is that the sensitive estrogen mimicker is present in all kinds of products, from dental fillings to compact discs. Now, you may have heard that canned foods and drinks come in cans lined with bisphenol A, but holy mother of Gaia, BPA is turning up in food in good old-fashioned glass jars, too.

Why? Don’t blame the glass.

It’s lurking in the tin lids’ liner, that glossy white part under the cap. You can’t win for losing, can you?

You also fondle BPA whenever you get a credit card or store receipt. That waxy, thin thermal paper is coated with the stuff. Turns out all sorts of printing industry inks and varnishes contain BPA epoxy resins.

And wouldn’t you know it, European studies have fingered the recycling of BPA-laced paper as the biggest source of bisphenol A in the environment. Worse still, when PBA-heavy paper is mixed with chlorinated compounds in the recycling process, the breakdown products in waste water are 28 times more estrogenic.

That thermal paper and BPA-heavy inks then get recycled into food boxes and, um, gulp, toilet paper. The latter hasn’t been as heavily researched as BPA bottles, but European scientists point to the flushing of TP made from recycled paper as a serious source of estrogenic emissions to wastewater.

You could boycott toilet paper in protest – but more realistically, we should all demand that our federal reps take all bisphenol A out of all our products. End of story.

BISPHENOL A IN HIDING

• Some microwaveable plastic containers

• Recycled cardboard takeout containers

• PVC products, including cling wrap

• CDs

• Clear, hard plastic glassware END

Take Your SIGG, BPA Infested, Bottles Back to Major Retailers and Likely Get a New 'Clean' One
BPA is everywhere: in plastic bottles, in metal food cans, in food and toys. But where we did not think it existed were in our SIGGs. I have gone on the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Martha Stewart Show, the Ellen DeGeneres Show and told scores of magazines, newspapers, radio programs and lecture audiences to get reusable water bottles. My follow-up line has often been, “I use SIGGs” – accompanied by a gesture towards the bottle that was nearly always on my person, one that I had known and loved for years. [...]
_____________________________________________

What's That Leaching From Your Cans?
Early exposure (like, say, in the womb) has been tied to birth defects, attention disorders, miscarriages, infertility you name it. Most recently, scientists at an American Association for the Advancement of Science meet said that exposure to estrogenic chemicals like BPA in the womb might even lead to obesity later in life. Same goes for breast cancer and prostate cancer. [...]

How to Save Your Cast-off Nalgene Bottle From a Life of Landfill Leaching
Q: What are we supposed to do with our old polycarbonate bottles now that we know they’re dangerous? Won’t they leach in landfill? [...]

9/05/2009

Martin Kemp Beats Cancer

My Terrifying Battle With Brain Tumours
by Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp

Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp today described his 'terrifying' battle with two brain tumours.

The 47-year-old guitarist and former EastEnders actor, who has now been given the all clear, first discovered he had a tumour in 1995.

He starts a world reunion tour with the Eighties pop giants, including brother Gary, next month.

Today, as he opened a cancer unit at the London hospital that saved his life, Kemp said: 'The first tumour was the size of a squashed grapefruit and doctors could cut my skull to get to it.

'What was terrifying was the second tumour - doctors avoided talking about it. I was very worried about the little guy in the middle of my head.

'After two years, doctors said it was growing and wanted to cut it out. But my wife didn’t want me to have the operation because it would leave so much collateral damage.

'She found a doctor who said it could be attacked with radiation, with an early form of Gamma Knife technology.

'Within six months of treatment there were signs it was dying and today there is nothing left of it.'

Barts in Smithfield was one of only two UK hospitals with the 'targeted' radiation technology when the star fell ill 14 years ago.

Today he paid tribute to the trust by opening the £3m London Gamma Knife Centre at Barts, specialising in the radiosurgery.

'It's great that the Gamma Knife surgery is now available and that so many more people will have access to this kind of treatment.

'When I was first dianosed there was nobody out there I knew who had come through it. It was a terrifying situation, but I want to be an example for patients now.

'At first it is such a massive shock you start to think it is the end of the world.'

[dailymail.co.uk - Sep.09]

8/09/2009

The Yeast Beast


+TAKE THE SURVEY
WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE THE SURVEY:
1. Do You Suspect you have Candida or a Yeast Infection? This survey is one of the BEST ways in determining if a person is suffering from Candida OR a similar condition with the same root problem, which we address!

2. A Candida Overgrowth is present in over 80% of the population, wouldn't you like a better idea if you're one of them? Stop Wondering Why You're Always Sick and KNOW Why!

3. In as little as 2 minutes get a solid understanding of whether Candida or a Yeast Infection is a problem for you. The Answer could surprise you! Then follow our Candida Yeast-Fighting Program and take charge of your health once and for all.

4. We provide you with an E-Course to help you with the severity of your Candida and Yeast Infection once you complete the survey and submit your results.

5. Best of all the Survey is FREE, EASY, QUICK and ACCURATE!

**********************************************
"Candida is always present in the tissues of cancer patients."
Dr. T. Simoncini (oncologist)
**********************************************

HowtoCureCandida.com
HOW TO CURE CANDIDA - Version 2
[Excerpts]

What is Yeast?
Yeast is a type of fungus that derives its nutrients from anything living or that has been alive; these are usually plants or animals. To survive and flourish, yeasts produce enzymes that allow the yeast to absorb nutrient from its “hosts.” Given the right set of circumstances, some yeast can grow at an explosive rate. Every single person is colonized by yeasts, whether these are in the mouth, the intestines, or the vagina. Yeasts also colonize just as frequently in the nose, ears, and skin. [...]

There is always a fine balance with regards to yeast in the human body. Yeasts only cause problems and disease under special circumstances—usually a noticeable increase of fermentation in some parts of the body. As long as the yeasts are confined to specific areas and not allowed to overgrow, they normally do not present problems. [...]

What is Candida?
Candida is actually the name for a whole group of incredibly tiny organisms. They’re measured in units called microns. A human hair is 100 microns in diameter. In comparison, a single yeast cell is just 4 to 6 microns long—a little sphere of fungus. There are actually more than 150 species of Candida yeasts and ten of these cause trouble for humans. Of these ten species that can make humans ill, the strain responsible for a vast majority of problems in people is the Candida Albicans.

The vast majority of the time these microorganisms cause you no trouble at all and you’re not even aware of their existence on and inside of you. Your many microscopic species live in harmony, each population keeping the others in check, regulated by a healthy immune system. However, under certain circumstances, the balance between species of microorganisms is compromised. One species may multiply explosively and cause an infection. This can be a bacterium, a fungus, or a virus.

In the case of Candida Albicans (which we will refer to as Candida from now on), the balance between the yeast cells and the bacteria that kept their numbers in check is upset. The yeast cells multiply quickly and aggressively, especially if the immune system is unable to step in and help.

A Candida infection or Candidiasis can occur in a variety of locations throughout the body. Remembering that Candida already lives on the skin and in the mouth, intestinal tract, and vagina, it will come as no surprise to you that these sites are the most common areas for localized (contained to one part of the body) Candida infections. [...]

There is no known symbiotic relationship between the Human Body and Candida. Candida is in every way a parasite, taking up space and only taking, never giving.

It has been estimated that in the western, industrialized world, approximately one third of illnesses can be linked to Candida. Some doctors resort to labeling potential Candida patients as “psychosomatic” or “neurotic” when there is no other apparent cause to the patients’ symptoms. The truth, in many cases, is that patients are suffering from Candida overgrowth.

A Candida overgrowth or sensitivity will not go away on its own. Proper treatment is required for the body to deal with the yeast in an effective manner. Candida often takes hold of an individual only when one has fallen ill for another reason. Taking antibiotics, which often destroy both malignant and beneficial bacteria, can allow an illness to take hold. There also appears to be a genetic limitation in some individuals’ ability to cope with yeast. [...]

What Are the Common Causes of Candida?
>Medications and Drugs: Antibiotics, Steroids, Prescription drugs, Birth control pills
>Genital Irritation: Douching, Sprays, soaps and other hygiene products (especially the anti-bacterial kind), Direct contact with an infected area (sexual intercourse)
>Immune Dysfunction: A compromised immune system, Allergies, Fatigue (adrenal burnout), Stress, Repeated bacterial infections, Heavy Metal Toxicity
>Internal and External Environment: Environmental toxicities, Constipation and Organ Congestion, Diet, Hormone changes (PMS, menopause, pregnancy), Diabetes, Exposure (nonsexual transmission), Parasites, Low Stomach Acid

What Are the Symptoms of Candida?
1. A Childhood History of
• ADD
• ADHD
• Hyperactivity
• Skin problems
• Respiratory problems
• Intestinal problems

2. Poor Overall Health
• Poor endurance and weakness
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• A habitual cough that doesn’t produce phlegm
• Postnasal drip
• Hay fever
• Headaches, including migraines
• Fatigue to an incapacitating degree (especially after eating)

3. Recurring Infections
• Recurring throat and/or ear infections
• Recurring vaginal, oral, or skin (yeast) infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Athlete’s foot
• Jock itch
• Skin rash
• Dry, brownish patches on the skin
• Ringworm
• Psoriasis
• Low grade fever
• Chronic sinus problems
• Blisters on the tongue, in the mouth, or in the throat

4. Digestive System Problems
• Poor digestion
• Loose or constipated stools
• Irritable bowel
• Painful gas
• Bloating
• Nausea and vomiting

5. Sexual / Genital Problems
• Menstrual difficulties
• Male impotence
• Male and female infertility

6. Mental & Emotional Problems
• Anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Depression
• Irritability
• Paranoia
• Poor concentration, or feeling in a persistent mental ‘fog’
• Unexplained feelings of being ‘hung over,’ as if after an alcoholic binge

7. Other
• Arthritis-like symptoms
• Joint pain, similar to that of having the flu
• Cravings for carbohydrates
• Chronic dental problems
• White coating on the tongue

With such a wide variety of signs and symptoms it is common to misdiagnose a chronic
Candida infection. In many cases, a chronic Candida sufferer tries to treat a symptom to no avail only to have it reoccur later on. Treating a symptom of Candida without addressing the deeper rooted problem will not work.

At times a patient may hesitate to tell their physician that they are still not feeling better with the fear of uprising costs or being mislabeled as a hypochondriac. Many traditional medical practitioners, frustrated by continuing complaints, may suggest antidepressant medications, ultimately mistreating this infectious disease as a psychological disorder. [...]

IMPORTANT: Not all individuals presenting some combination of the above symptoms will have a Candida or Candida-related problem, but the likelihood is much higher for individuals who do present some of the symptoms above.

Who is Vulnerable to Candida?
Anyone can be infected with Candida!

Women can be infected because of antibiotic use, steroids, pain medications, anti-inflammatory medications, hormone pills, birth control pills, sexual relationships with an infected partner, and many other factors.

Men can also be infected with Candida from antibiotic use, steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, pain medications, sexual relations with an infected partner, and many other factors.

Teenagers may develop Candida from routine treatment with tetracycline or antibiotics for acne. As a result, they may have many symptoms (especially depression, because of toxins from Candida that may affect the brain).

Children can easily get Candida from being treated with ear infection antibiotics. The antibiotics not only kill the bad bacteria, but also the good bacteria. Thus, a child may become predisposed to getting recurring ear infections (a vicious cycle: ear infection – antibiotics – ear infection – antibiotics).

Babies can get Candida from the birth canal or the breast milk of the infected mother. This explains why some babies often have thrush (a white coated tongue), which is a yeast infection.

Nursing Mothers and Babies:
As mentioned above, a nursing mother who has Candida can pass the condition onto her baby through her breast milk. To prevent this, the doctor may prescribe Diflucan or Nystatin for the mother, and liquid Nystatin for the baby. Both prevent infection and re-infection of the mother.

Sexual Relations:
When a woman gets repeated vaginal yeast infections, it is often because her partner is repeatedly re-infecting her. Candida may easily be obtained from an infected partner through sexual intercourse, especially if the immune system is weak. It is advised that during the time of the infection, a condom be used. Kissing on the mouth and oral sex should be completely avoided as well.

However, most Candida sufferers are women under the age of 50. This is often due to the initial use of a contraceptive pill for preventing pregnancy, then becoming pregnant (and the side-effect of completely throwing off the woman’s hormonal balance in both cases). This is in addition to all the other causes of Candida such as long-term exposure to drugs (even prescribed drugs), a toxic environment, and a poor diet.

Up to 35% of all women on the pill suffer from vaginal yeast infections. Chronic yeast infections are the worst for women when progesterone levels are highest, found during pregnancy and the luteal (latter) phase of the menstrual cycle. This is thought by most to be a genetic inborn weakness (which explains why the other 65% of women taking the pill were able to properly deal with the yeast in their bodies and avoid infection). Unless a full treatment of intestinal Candida overgrowth is performed, vaginal yeast infections cannot be expected to go away.

In addition, there is abundant proof that women who have sexual relations with a large number of men are at a much higher risk of cancer of the womb. Frequent changes in sexual partners is best avoided (i.e. less exposure to various diseases) to maintain a strong immune system. [...]

FYI
>Women experience Candida infection symptoms such
as:
• vaginal burning, irritation, itching
• burning or pain when urinating
• discomfort during or after sexual intercourse
• odor (not unpleasant)
• genital itching, burning, redness, and/or swelling

In addition to this women are also prone to the hormone imbalances that Candida creates in terms of increasing estrogen levels. This can lead to various health issues such as severe PMS or infertility.

>Yeast promotes the process of fermentation... The purpose of yeast is to break down sugar into water, alcohol, carbon dioxide gas, and acid.

>You probably won’t notice the water produced but the carbon dioxide released by the fermentation process causes discomfort in the form of painful bloating, flatulence, belching, and an upset stomach.

The real problem with yeast however, is when the sugar is broken down into alcohol. Alcohol in the human body metabolizes into a chemical byproduct of fermentation called acetaldehyde. It is what’s responsible for the unpleasant feelings that accompany a hangover. Acetaldehyde is about 30 times as toxic as alcohol, and if you suffer from Candida your body is producing this everyday!

[...]

+WHAT CAUSES A YEAST INFECTION? (vid)

7/27/2009

Views on Tattoos








Smart About Body Art
[NOW Magazine - Jul.09-09]

Tatts are a blast, but watch out who's needling your butt

There's been some scary stuff in the news lately about tattoo parlours getting pinged for health and safety violations. Most of it's about problems maintaining sterilization equipment, which might get you checking out who's going to inscribe that butterfly on your butt.

But disease and infection aren't the only tattoo concerns. You can have an allergic reaction, or your body can reject the ink. That happened once to a friend of mine with tats he'd had for years with no problems.

My own flying fish gets raised and itchy from time to time. Is it changes in weather? And weirdest of all, hair dye now comes with the warning that people with tattoos are more likely to suffer allergic reactions to the product.

But we get etched anyway - because we love it. And so do many cultures who believe drawings on their bods have magical and curative powers.

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY
"Before a Thai Buddhist tattoo master, or arjan, gives a tattoo, he reads your aura to determine your design. Magical tattoos not only draw on the power of the tattooist, who is a monk, but also his mentors and the Buddha. The inks are personal recipes, and some are thought to have protective qualities. Some arjans use sandalwood steeped in herbs or white sesame oil, others the exfoliated skin of a revered arjan added to Chinese ink mixed with holy water.
The Ainu of Japan practised medicinal tattooing to relieve rheumatism, as did Arctic peoples like the St. Lawrence Island Yupiget of Alaska. Dot-like tattoos were placed on joints and correspond to acupuncture points."
--Lars Krutak
(tattoo anthropologist, Washington, DC)

"Look at the general appearance of the artists, their cleanliness, the way you're received. Any good shop will show you the spore test results. There is a new type of bandage that helps your tattoo heal in days instead of weeks. It's expensive. Keep the tattoo clean and moist. Barri-Care acts as a barrier between the wound and the outside environment. Emu oil has phenomenal healing properties. It's a little expensive. While healing, wash the tattoo once a day and apply the ointment provided three times a day. No direct sun or water exposure for two weeks. When it starts to flake, use an unscented body lotion."
--Joey Nixon
(co-owner, Adrenaline, Toronto)

"We worry most about allergic reactions to the ink that require us to laser the tattoo out and get rid of the ink completely. The ink is a foreign body, and there can be an immune response to it. That's why tattoos get raised and itchy. People react most commonly to red. Weather can also somtimes trigger a release of histamine, which causes puffiness and dilation of the blood vessels. If you're already allergic to something in tattoos, you could react to hair dye. Every time you're exposed to something you're allergic to, your reaction to it will be stronger."
--Lisa Kellett
(dermatologist, Toronto)

"Education requirements for tattooists are very minimal in North America. Clients should ask to see spore test records. These guarantee that the autoclave sterilizer that cleans piercing needles is working. Pigments are in the process of being regulated, and soon ingredients will have to be listed in Canada. Going to somebody's home is the worst thing to do. The greatest risk is community-acquired MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). We've seen more and more outbreaks in the tattoo community."
--David Vidra
(Health Educators, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio)

"Public health units are supposed to inspect personal services settings such as tattoo parlours at least once a year. The frequency of inspection may be higher in response to complaints or if the parlour is non-compliant with infection prevention and control practices. The Ministry of Health expects public health units to ensure that these settings are safe and provide quality services to their patrons."
--David Jensen
(media relations coordinator, Ontario ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Toronto)

BEFORE YOU TATTOO: Tattoo Types, Safety & Removal (slideshow)


PLAYLIST
1. LA Ink - Jesse Metcalf
2. LA Ink - Eric Balfour
3. Miami Ink - Anthony Bourdain
As we move through life we leave marks on it, and I'm aware of this trail I've left behind me of both good things and bad things. It just feels somehow right that if you're leaving marks on the world, that the world should leave marks on you.

4/30/2009

Roundup


Be Aware of the Unhealthy Side of Soy
Soy is often touted as a cancer-fighting food, but there is a dangerous flip-side to this coin. The isoflavones in soy undergo a biological change when soy is processed. Studies have shown these altered isoflavones can actually cause increased tumor growth, namely in the case of breast cancer.

COMMENTS [naturalnews.com]: Yes, Yes, Yes! I am glad someone finally wrote about this. Soy is in so many products as oils and fillers. Tofu for instance is not fermented - It should be avoided. The chemical makeup in soy mimics estrogen and can cause hormone imbalances. Guys should stay away from it to protect from high estrogen levels. Women with breast cancer in their genetics should fervently avoid it. I could go on and on but I won't...do the research!

Soy is absolutely NOT a health food! Vitamin B12 analogs in soy are not absorbed and actually increase the body's requirement for B12, which is a nutrient already missing in the vegan diet. The processing of soy protein results in the formation of toxic lysinoalanine and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines.

CDC Laboratories Revealed as Incapable of Accurate Count of H1N1 Influenza, Deaths
Much to the annoyance of some critics, NaturalNews has been publicly questioning the "official" statistics reporting infections and deaths from H1N1 influenza. In stories published this week, we noted that the CDC's official numbers are suspiciously low -- the agency claimed only 7 deaths from H1N1 even while Mexico had officially announced 161 deaths.

Today, NaturalNews has learned why the CDC numbers are so low. It turns out that CDC labs are inadequate testing facilities that are utterly overwhelmed with too many influenza samples to test. Thus, the reason why official CDC "confirmed" H1N1 death numbers are so low is simply because the CDC laboratories can't test very many flu samples in the first place.

And remember this: The CDC doesn't count any death unless its own lab confirms the infection. But its own lab can only test 100 flu samples a day, we've learned!

CDC labs are "swamped," reports the Associated Press. "The specimens are coming in faster than they can possibly be tested," reports epidemiologist Dr. Jeffrey P. Davis, according to AP.

Chlorella Can Replace a Closet Full of Expensive Supplements
If you could only have one supplement, which one would you choose? For its high nutrient content and potent defense against disease and the ravages of aging, many people have put chlorella at the top of their list. Now there are even more reasons to cheer for chlorella. Scientists are documenting its potent cancer fighting abilities including its ability to repair damage to DNA and influence gene expression.

Common Sense Recommendations for Avoiding and Treating the Swine Flu
The recent news about the Swine Flu has created a media panic. While this strand of the flu has not been seen in a generation, there is no cause for alarm. All viruses behave in the same way, and most mutate during each flu season as well. The lack of immunity is not a cause for alarm. It IS a call for better diet and lifestyle. There are common sense health attitudes that will prevent the flu and help to heal the flu quickly. If symptoms persist or if a high fever develops, it is best to seek immediate medical attention. If normal flu and malaise symptoms are present, follow these common sense guidelines and let the body heal itself.

Confront Salt Confusion
Part of the process for refined salt, or commercial table salt, involves the use of aluminum, ferro cyanide and bleach. These are all toxic materials that your body takes in with refined, commercial salt.

Doctors Try to Gag Patients to Prevent Posting of Online Comments
The web site Angie's List, which also reviews contractors, caterers and other service providers, requires users to supply their personal information and will pass that on to doctors if asked. In a recent survey, however, the majority of site users said they had never been presented with a waiver form, and only 3 percent said they would sign one.

The web site RateMD, in contrast, features anonymous postings and has repeatedly refused to turn over personal information to doctors or remove negative reviews.

"They're basically forcing the patients to choose between health care and their First Amendment rights, and I really find that repulsive," said site co-founder John Swapceinski.

Eating Walnuts May Prevent Breast Cancer
Molecular analysis determined omega-3 fatty acids found in walnuts contributed to the decrease in tumor incidence and size. But the researchers also found other parts of the walnut apparently had tumor-fighting abilities. Dr. Hardman pointed out that eating walnuts may provide the body with not only essential omega-3 fatty acids, but also antioxidants and phytosterols that reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Educator Lori Steiner Talks About Aging and Bioidentical Hormones
Just as I was finding it difficult to counter the wisdom of traditional medicine, I had the opportunity to hear the wife of television celebrity Judge Wopner speak. She had suffered a coronary while on synthetic hormones, and attributed this near-death experience to the very hormones her doctor had told her would protect her heart. She warned the audience, over a decade ago, not to take synthetic hormones. This was the impetus I needed to stand my ground. I felt empowered once again and certain I had made the correct decision despite the opposition of many medical professionals. This was three years before the 2002 Women's Health Initiative that rocked traditional wisdom with evidence supporting the possibility that synthetic hormones increased the risk of breast cancer, heart disease, blood clots, and stroke in menopausal women.

Honeybee Collapse Strikes Japan, Up to Fifty Percent of Honeybees Gone...
Although most honey in Japan is imported, honeybees play a critical role in the pollination of a wide variety of fruit and vegetable crops in the country. According to Osamu Mamuro, owner of a company that supplies beehives to farmers for pollination purposes, populations of the insects have dropped so drastically that he expects to have to cut his deliveries by more than 50 percent this year.

"If this keeps up," he said, "it'll be the end of my business."

A wide scale collapse of bee populations might also mean local food shortages. At the very least, it would probably mean rising prices as farmers turn to hand pollination and retailers turn to importation to make up for lessened domestic production.

How to Build Natural Immunity Against the Swine Flu
Viruses will not multiply in a healthy body. We constantly have Streptococcus in our throats, yet we rarely experience Strep Throat. The same is true of this Swine Flu and other viral strains. Exposure will lead to disease only if the immune system is suppressed and if the vitality of the person is weakened.

Important for Swine Flu Epidemic: Homeopathy Successfully Treated Flu Epidemic of 1918
Did the flu strain that caused the 1918 flu ever return?
Yes.
The 1918 `Spanish Flu` was first reported in an American military, Camp Funston, Fort Riley, in troops preparing for WW1 and receiving 25 vaccinations. According to the CDC, the same flu strain appeared only one other time: in 1976. This was again at a US army base, Fort Dix, and again, was seen in recently vaccinated troops, and only in them. The virus has not appeared anywhere else.

MSG Now Used to Spray Crops
And now it is beginning to get even worse. Emerald BioAgriculture is requesting permission to use AuxiGro on organic crops in all states! The fact that the USDA has lowered its standards for organic certification in the past few years gives Emerald BioAgriculture an opening to begin using AuxiGro on organic crops. USDA organic certification is already suspect. It may get worse. So trusting USDA certification as the sole criteria for organic foods may not be so wise.

There are other organic certifications to look for that have more integrity. Local farmers who are organic but not certified are worthy of health conscious consumer business. The Organic Consumers Association website has more information on true organic sources. Truth In Labeling has challenged the EPA on several valid issues. But the EPA has been deceptive while avoiding the queries directly from Truth In Labeling .

COMMENT [naturalnews.com]: The basic idea of doing this is to keep their products "MSG free".
Now soups companies that use MSG will stop adding it to their soups, Instead they will tell the farmer who supplies them the tomatoes, sweet corn and every other ingredient used in the soup to spray this MSG spray in huge quantities.
They will then not wash these vegetables and directly use them.
So then they can add No MSG used label to their products.
The fact that they are doing all this kind of nonsense to keep MSG in the food chain secretly should be reason enough for ppl to believe that MSG is dangerous and the Companies do not want you to know.

Myth Busted: N95 Masks Are Useless at Protecting Wearers from Swine Flu
N95 masks, you see, have but one purpose: To prevent the wearer from infecting others. To use blunt medical terminology, they work by preventing snot, spit or other virus-carrying particles from becoming airborne. Thus, if the wearer sneezes, coughs, drools, spits or talks excitedly, his or her infected fluids will be trapped in the mask and will not infect others.

N95 masks have virtually no ability to protect the wearer from other people's airborne germs.

Prevent Cancer with a Good Night Rest
If you've been exercising to lower your risk of cancer, you should know that logging those extra hours on the treadmill may not do as much good if you aren't logging in enough hours of sleep, too. A recent study shows that getting at least seven hours of sleep nightly can maximize the cancer prevention benefits in physically active women.

Quinoa Affords Many Benefits
Quinoa ("keen-wa") is actually the seed from a plant that is closely related to leafy green vegetables such as spinach and beets. It has recently become very popular because of its distinctive nutty taste, amazing versatility and incredibly high mineral content

Seaweed Farms Could Grow Biofuels Without Using Land or Water
Prior research has suggested that chopped or ground seaweed is a more effective source of methane than land plants, because it contains very little cellulose and no lignin.

Taiwan Surpasses U.S. on Key Achievements: Health Care, High Speed Rail and Fiscal Responsibility
Speaking of health-related issues, Taiwan also has an extremely efficient, affordable health care system that covers everyone for just a few dollars a month. Using high-tech hospital equipment and U.S.-trained doctors, the Taiwan health care system still manages to cover virtually all medical needs (pregnancy, dental and vision included) for about $30 / month through your employer -- which includes coverage of your entire family, including children. Your employer pays about $25 / month in addition to what you pay, so it's roughly $50 / month for full coverage of you and your entire family. Not bad, huh? Why can't America do this?

For those citizens who don't have employment, they can purchase full coverage for about $20 / month. Yep, that's twenty bucks a month for full health care, even if you don't have a job.

This isn't for shoddy, low-tech health services, by the way. This is for state-of-the-art specialist coverage, including cardiology, reproductive health, internal medicine, urgent care, pediatrics, cancer treatments, surgery and just about every area of medicine you can think of. That an Asian nation can provide these high-tech services at such an affordable cost is astonishing to most Americans who are used to paying the highest prices in the world for not-so-great health care services.

The Benefits of Using Real, Natural Soap
The next time you walk down the soap aisle at your favorite store enjoying the fresh, clean scents and the bright colorful packaging, pay attention. Look at the labels. The vast majority of the products on the shelf don't say 'soap' on their labels. They might be called beauty bars, moisturizing bars, or body bars, but not soap. That's because these bars aren't actually soap and can't legally claim to be; they're detergents. The manufacturers have removed most of the 'good' stuff that occurs in the soap making process, and replaced it with synthetic lathering agents and harsh chemicals. These cheap, plentiful detergent bars are not only bad for your skin, but they're also bad for the planet, too.

Thirty-Six Thousand People Do Not Die Each Year From "Regular Flu" (Confirmed)
Read just about any news report on swine flu deaths, and you'll come across a line that claims "36,000 people die each year from flu-related causes." It sounds authoritative. It's even a nice, round number. But where is this number coming from? And is it based on any actual science?

This statistic is being paraded around by almost everybody, as if to say that swine flu isn't so bad because regular flu kills so many people each year anyway. The truth is that the only standard by which the CDC and WHO are quoting deaths from swine flu is if they are confirmed deaths from a particular viral strain. To them, if a death has not been confirmed in their labs, it does not count as a death from that flu.

Got that? Only "confirmed" deaths count. And they must be confirmed in a laboratory using a rigorous method of comparing samples taken from the deceased with a known database of viral patterns.

As it turns out, virtually none of the 36,000 people said to die from regular flu each year have been confirmed in any lab whatsoever.

Thus, according to the guidelines of the CDC and WHO, they don't count. Based on their own rules, it is technically accurate to say that regular flu kills virtually no one. It's not true, of course, because people do die from the "regular flu" each year, but it is technically accurate according to the CDC and WHO rules for scientific evidence.

Top Eight Vegetable Seeds Having the Longest Shelf Life
The pesticide industry has been buying up the seed industry at an aggressive pace over the past two decades. Consumers and corporations have different interests regarding seeds and vegetables. Given a choice, consumers prefer more tender vegetables that are vine-ripened since they normally have more flavor (and nutrition). Big Agribusiness however opts for items that can better survive freight, often at the expense of all else. While consumers want diversity, corporations want uniformity. For example, out of 10,000 edible plants, only 120 (or about 1%) provide 90% of the food worldwide!

3/25/2009

Small Bites

with Andy Bellatti

Q: Is it true that coffee causes osteoporosis?

A: Before I answer, allow me to get something off my chest.
Statements like "[insert name of food here] causes [insert disease/condition here]" are tremendously inaccurate.
If someone ever tells you that a food causes a particular disease, promise me your "BS" alarms will go off.
Unless you are talking about contamination issues, food as a whole does not cause disease.
Rather, it is particular components in certain foods that, when consumed often over long periods of time, can elevate one's risk of developing a certain condition.
More at: Small Bites and Small Bites (2.0)

Health Store Hazards
There's no requirement for knowing anything about nutrition for working at GNC.

Five Must-Have Foods
No cutting, no chopping, no dicing - they're ready to go.

Healthy Eating Outside Your Home
The closer something is to nature, the more fibre it has, the more nutrients it has, the healthier it is.

Show Me the Calories!
Each slice has 548 calories.

Med School Dilemma
Only 40% of medical schools in the U.S. offer nutrition education to students.