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How To Choose Healthy Food At The Grocery Store.

Shopping for me begins long before I enter the grocery store. It begins with meal planning for the week. First consideration is, what fresh fruits and vegetables are in season. Health experts believe that fruits and vegetables should make up at least 40% of a healthy diet. Remember that colors contain antioxidants and choose a variety. Center your meals on these foods and add a few that you and the family have a taste for. Then you will be assured that all the healthy nutrients you put into those meals will be at the lowest prices possible.

Some people advise staying out of the center of the store but you do have some staples there. This is where the label reading actually comes into play. Reading labels is also important because what is advertised on the package may not always be accurate as far as content. Remember the first ingredient listed here is the major ingredient and the list works backwards from there. Avoid products that contain trans fats, polyunsaturated fats, monounsaturated fats and high saturated fat content.
Choose whole grains and cereals, brown rice rather than white rice. Remember if the color is gone here so is most of the nutrition. So dark bread is better than white bread. Make sure your bread is 100% whole-wheat not just wheat bread.

When choosing fats, pick those, which contain good fats. Fats that come from vegetables like avocadoes, fish, and olive oil should be of high priority. I use these fats mostly, with the exception of butter, which has saturated fat but is a natural food. I use butter, just in lesser amounts. I choose butter over margarine because I read somewhere that margarine is one molecule off from plastic. Even flies don’t like the stuff.
Pick lean meats that are not marbleized with fat. The only time when I allow the fat content to be higher is when grilling. This is when most of the fat is allowed to burn off and fall on the charcoals. You can’t avoid all saturated fats and including some amount is what gives meat flavor. Meat should be used in moderation for meal planning. Instead try to center you meals on poultry and fish. Experiment with meatless sources of protein, like beans, soy and tofu. These are excellent sources of protein that can be easily integrated into meals.

Another tip is go shopping after you eat breakfast, lunch or dinner to avoid impulse buying. When your hungry, you can be tempted to just start throwing things into the cart. So shop when your tummy is full. You also will save money if you stick to your list.
If you can help it, don’t bring the kids shopping. Children are most susceptible to television advertisements. They will nag you to death to buy a certain cereal or treat. I know sometimes this can’t be helped, just be forewarned.


By Renee Rotto

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Christmas 2009: Ways to save money in a harsh economy

Does Christmas 2009 seem like, the best of times and the worst of times? Sure most folks don’t have much money for Christmas this year, but there are still ways to enjoy the holidays and save money.
Christmas only comes around once a year, so make the most of it. Starting with the decorations, you don’t need to spend a lot. Turn decorations into a family affair. Hunting for pinecones and autumn leaves is a fun activity for all. Try making wreaths with by painting them or string them on the Christmas tree. Popcorn strung around the Christmas tree is also inexpensive.
Cut the cost of Christmas gift-wrap and cards by wrapping presents with the Sunday funnies. With a glue gun you can attach leaves, pinecones or small segments of Christmas tree branches. Mail postcards instead of Christmas cards. The postage is less and the postcards can express the same message.
Christmas presents can be inexpensive also. Try joining a book club, where you can purchase many books at a substantially reduced price. Magazines subscriptions are also reduced around this time of year.

Another Christmas giving choice might be giving software. There are an assortment of games, trivia and hobby software available. Or you can make you own CD gifts of articles or pictures and burn them to disk.
Plants are also a great gift. If you have plants that can be cut and rooted the cost is nearly non-existent. Try creating a container garden for family members. You can make it a theme garden as well. Many people would like the idea of having fresh herbs to pick and add to their meals. When the weather turns cold a container garden can easily be brought indoors.
If you enjoy baking, make presents of your special cheesecake or an assortment of cookies. Everyone will enjoy edible treats like homemade fudge or rum balls.
Save money and time by utilizing leftovers. Turkey is such a good bargain for the money. Besides the turkey sandwich, try casseroles, turkey and vegetable soup or turkey and cheese noodles with peas. Get creative with your leftovers. If you get tired of turkey, freeze it in zip lock bags. Instead of sending home leftovers in containers that never make it back home, send leftovers in zip lock bags. That way everyone can freeze them easily or just pour them out onto a plate and warm.
Even we don’t have lots of money for Christmas of 2009, we still have each other and of course that’s what’s important. It’s the together thing that will make the worst of times become the best of times.

By  Renee Rotto

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Nature’s Wonder Medicines: Garlic, Vinegar and Honey

Many are come to realizing that nature’s medicines and remedies are highly beneficial and can be taken without most of the side effects of modern day medicines. Medical science tries to unravel the mystery of why these medical wonders work so well. They tinker and use some of this and a little of that to create new substances. However hard they try, some things just can’t be improved upon.

Garlic

Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of the regular use of garlic in the diet. Besides warding off the occasional vampire, and transforming meals to aromatic culinary experiences, it has several healthful benefits
Regular garlic consumption can benefit blood pressure, platelets, aggregation, serum triglyceride levels, and cholesterol levels. Garlic may even help heart disease, arteriosclerosis, stoke and diabetes. Garlic also reduces inflammation and is useful in protecting attacks of asthma. It has also been found to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
One of the reasons garlic may be so healthful is its ability to lower free radicals in the blood. Antioxidants in garlic have been known for boosting the immune system. In studies, participants consuming the most garlic had reduced risks of several common types of cancer. A daily dose of raw or nearly raw garlic can significantly lower oxidant free radicals.
30% reduced risk of oral cavity and pharynx

57% reduced risk of esophageal cancer

26% reduced risk of colorectal cancer

40% reduced risk of laryngeal cancer

10% reduced risk of breast cancer

22% reduced risk of ovarian cancer

19% reduced risk of prostate cancer

31% reduced risk of renal cell cancer
Garlic is also known for its antibiotic properties. It can heal infections and has been used in the treatment of parasites and fungal infections and even warts. Two studies suggest that garlic is a potent antibiotic, even against resistant strains of bacteria. It was found that garlic was able to inhabit methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSRA).
Native to central Asia, garlic is one of the oldest cultivated plants. Ancient Greeks and Romans used it to strengthen to their athletes in sporting events and soldiers in times of war.

Honey

The keeping of bees for their honey, dates back to 700 BC. Honey was used for a variety of medical and cosmetic purposes. Raw honey has anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. The honey bee makes honey by feasting on the nectar of flowers, collecting it and bringing it back to their hives. The pollen mixes with enzymes in the saliva of the bees. They bring it back to the hive where it becomes “bee glue”. This mixture of resins and other substances that honeybees use to seal their hives actually protects them from bacteria and other microorganisms.
Honey has also been shown to possess cancer preventing and anti-tumor properties. According to research, humans who consume honey receive protection by honeys’ natural antioxidants. Dark honey, specifically honey from buckwheat flowers, sage and tupelo and Spanish honey contain greatest amounts of antioxidants.
In patients with type 2 diabetes, natural honey shows significantly lower raises of blood sugar. In studies with patients with high cholesterol, honey decreased total cholesterol by 8%, LDL cholesterol 11%, and C reactive protein 75%.
Honey is easy to digest because it comes pre-digested by the bees. It contains protein, vitamins and minerals. Honey is also traditionally used for sore throats, but not recommended for children under two years of age due to its risk of C botulinum spores developing in infants.

Also used topically, honey is an antiseptic agent with uses ranging from the treatment of burns, wounds and bacterial infections. Honey fights microorganisms by the withdrawal of water from the sugars in the honey; leaving bacteria dehydrated to death in its wake. This carbohydrate generates heat, creates and replaces energy and even forms certain tissues.

Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar benefits are seen, both internally and externally and have been known for a long time. Babylonians used the dates of palms to make wine and vinegar around 5000 BC. They consumed it as a food and as a pickling agent. Later, vinegar was used to flavor foods, as an energy drink and medicinally. The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, prescribed it for a variety of ills such as colds.
Throughout history, vinegar was used as an antiseptic. Vinegar cleaned and disinfected soldier’s wounds and was know for its antioxidant properties.

Today vinegar is used to improve digestion and bowel function, lower cholesterol and prevent ulcers. The acetic acid in vinegar even eliminates warts. It is used to clear acne, lighten hair, help headaches and aid in weight loss. Vinegar has been used to cure hiccups, reduce infection and inflammation.
Vinegar helps the body absorb calcium. If you’re a vegan who has stopped drinking milk, you’ll get plenty of calcium when you add vinegar to that green salad. Take a spoonful of vinegar before meals and reduce cholesterol. Used externally, it sooths sunburn and insect bites, makes your hair shine and treats dandruff. In China, vinegar is often used against the spread of the infections like SARS
Many natural substances have valuable health benefits. Medical science may try to alter these wonder medicines but they will not replace them. As the saying goes, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.”

Sources:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=60
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=96


By Renee Rotto

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Introduction To Indian Medicine

Ayurveda is the traditional medicine practiced of the Indian sub content. It is also practiced in other parts of the world as well. For some parts of the world it is considered alternative medicine, but many of the practices of Ayurveda have been adapted by holistic and homeopathic medicine within the western world. Several of its methods such as the use of herbs, massage and Yoga are often considered complementary to mainstream medicine of today.


The earliest literature of Ayurveda appearing during the Vedic period in India with the Sushruta Samhita and the Charaka Samhita being influential works during that era. The practice of Ayurveda medicine is known as the ‘science of life’. It focuses on the prevention of disease, and surgical procedures, while restructuring a patient’s lifestyle to align it with the course of nature.


In Ayurveda a balance of three Humors or Energies is seen as the regulating principle or Doshas that are important for health. When one is in a balanced state the body is healthy. The Doshas; vata (wind/air), pita (bile) and kapha (phlegm), hold this balance and all humans possess a unique combination of these Doshas. Depending on body type one may have more of one type and have less of another. Balance may mean eating foods of which the body is lacking. It is believed that by building a healthy metabolic system leads to vitality. Vitality can be attained through good digestion, proper excretion and the elimination of toxic elements within the body.


Balance is emphasized, and suppressing natural urges is seen to be unhealthy, however, moderation is stressed as well. One must moderate their food intake, sleep, sexual intercourse and medicine or it may lead to illness. Instead, one must adopt ‘healthy routines for day and night and should follow rules of ethical conduct. Hygiene is also a main component within Indian medicine. Hygienic living involving regular bathing, cleansing of teeth, skin care and eye washing; all necessary along with the occasional anointing of oils to the head and body.


Some of the traditional Ayurveda treatments also used minerals and metals as part of their remedies. In 2004, a study found that heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic were in products used in Ayurveda treatment. In 2008, a study found that approximately 20% of remedies and 40% of Rasa Shastra medicine being purchased over the Internet from U.S. and Indian suppliers were contaminated with lead, mercury or arsenic. Over 230 products were involved, that could cause serious risk of toxicity. Following up with these concerns, the Government of India ruled that Ayurveda products must specify their metallic content directly on the labels of products.


Although, vigorous testing of these products could have avoided toxicity problem, the western world can ascertain many valuable lessons from the practices from Indian medicine. Ayurveda practices and disciplines should be closely examined by modern medicine. With the use of herbs, vegetable drugs natural practices; Indian medicine has shown much value for western medicine to follow.


By   Renee Rotto

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The Affects Of The Climate Change On Human Health

People who believe in global warming not only are fearful of the planetary effects but also the very existence of mankind. Comedians often start their monologs by asking, “How hot is it?” It may seem like polite conversation, but the state of the weather can have a profound effect on everything human.
It has been noted that weather is associated with changes in birth rates, sperm counts and morbidity. The weather effects outbreaks of pneumonia, influenza and bronchitis and has a direct influence on pollution and pollen counts.


The largest increases of deaths occur during extreme heat and cold waves. Hot weather appears to have a more substantial impact on mortality. Most research indicates that mortality rates vary with age, sex and race. Many factors associated with increased risks are, the use of alcohol, living on the higher floors of a building and use of tranquilizers. Some factors to decrease your risk are, the use of air conditioners, exercise, consumption of fluids and living in a shaded residence.


Another key mortality factor is humidity. Humidity has an effect on how the body cools itself through evaporation of perspiration. Cold air in the winter can lead to excessive dehydration of nasal passages and the upper respiratory tract. This can increase the chances of microbial and viral infection.
Medical disorders such as peptic ulcers, adrenal ulcers glaucoma, goiters, eczema and herpes are related to season variations in temperature. Heart failure (myocardial infarction) and cerebral vascular accidents have also been correlated with ambient monthly temperatures. Complications from these diseases would be probable at higher temperatures since the body responds to thermal stress by forcing blood into peripheral areas. This increases central blood pressure and encourages the constriction of blood vessels.


Extreme temperatures can change the range of infective parasites and impact the incidence of serious infectious diseases. Climate change may mostly affect increase of illness in warm climates. Mosquitoes and other insects spread diseases like malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever and encephalitis. Insect borne diseases will no doubt increase if precipitation levels rise as well as temperatures.


Climate change is also expected to contribute to air quality problems. Increases in smog can cause damage to lung tissue and is especially harmful for people with asthma and chronic lung diseases. Another pollutant of concern is “particle Matter”. Particle matter is a complex mixture of extremely small particles of liquid droplets that can reach the deepest parts of the lungs. Particle pollution is that haze that is visible in cities and national parks. Climate change may indirectly affect the concentration of particle pollution by affecting natural or “biogenic” sources such as wildfires and dust from dry soil


Other indirect effects of climate change would also impact humans. Agricultural yields and production would diminish. Water resources could become scarce. Climate change may also contribute to economic decline and displacement of populations in certain regions.


While the climate has undergone some wild shifts within the earth’s history, it has been relatively stable during the period of modern human society. Climatologists have projected that by 2100; the earth’s surface temperature could increase between 1.0 and 3.5 degrees. That kind of climate change won’t be a laughing matter.


By Renee Rotto


Sources:
http://www.blogger.com/goog_1259055328236


http://www.ciesin.org/docs/001-338/001-338.html


http://www.blogger.com/goog_1259055328229

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How often should you get a mammogram?

The other day, the United States Prevention Service Task Force released new recommendations advising against mammograms for women under the age of 50. They also recommended only bi-annual screening for women over 50. This was very bad news for the cancer industry that relies on its steady stream of customers.


For years the cancer industry has repeated the phrase, “early detection saves lives”, but the very test that is supposed to do the detecting is what will give you cancer. As everyone knows radiation causes cancer. When a woman gets a gets a mammogram of her breast, it is squished and smashed in a machine that produces ionizing radiation to her breast, heart and lungs. Radiating the human body causes the DNA to mutate and cancer is the result. You might not get cancer the very next year but the more radiation you have, the more likely you are of developing cancer.


If a woman starts getting mammograms at the age of 40, by the age of 55 she may provide some good financial returns for some oncologist. The detection technology of mammograms is so advanced that it will detect tiny tumors present in almost everyone. Many of these are not dangerous and are ‘false positives’. Yet, when this happens a fearful patient might have other procedures done when it there was no problem to begin with.  Why would the cancer industry give women radiation when it causes cancer? The answer is simple, they are a business and their bottom line is to make money, not to help people. It’s hard to believe that the cancer industry would not know that repeated doses of radiation cause cancer. Because they are a business, they are only worried about their profits and stockholdeers, not women.


If women need to die in the process, so be it. There will be new patients to take their place.
One thing for sure with a 200 billion dollar business the cancer industry depends on repeat patients. After they give you cancer they can make more money on your chemotherapy, drugs, surgery and more radiation.
Any woman concerned about breast cancer should consider the alternative of thermography. This technology detects tumors by the infrared heat emitted by the tumor’s blood supply. Thermography is non-invasive, safe and affordable. Best of all there is no radiation involved.


If early detection from mammogram saves lives, why is it that more women are dying today from cancer than ever before? Why do family members of oncologists often seek alternatives when they are diagnosed with cancer? If 77% of all cancers can be prevented with vitamin D, why is this not routinely given to patients? As you consider the answers to these questions, you should be able to answer, how often to get a mammogram.


Sources:
http://www.naturalnews.com/027537_mammograms_cancer_industry.html

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How To Keep Yourself Mentally Fit In Old Age

Are you having trouble finding your keys or the television remote? If so, maybe you’ve asked yourself if this could be the beginning of mental decline or even Alzheimer’s. It’s a scary thought. While it is true, that when we age we experience mental fall off, but there is much we can do to improve our brain fitness. Here some tips keep you mentally fit at any age.

Diet
A diet that attends to the specific need of the brain is imperative for mental fitness. The brain is a hungry organ, it depends on our liver and our gastrointestinal system to absorb and deliver the nutrients it needs and remove toxins. Because brain cells are made up of fat, the right types of fats are critical in maintaining brain health. The Omega-3 fatty acids, found in cold-water fish, like salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, and sturgeon, will provide the brain with some of the right foods. It is recommended you eat these fish three times a week, for optimum brain nutrition. Other good fats include, olive oil, canola oil, flax seed oil and foods like avocados. Your brain also requires Vitamin B to make neurotransmitters. Besides meat, good sources of B vitamins can be found in rice, whole grains, and wheat germ. Vitamin E is also important, this vitamin is found in soybeans and seeds and nuts. Also eat foods that contain antioxidants, like those found in vegetable and fruit. Antioxidents are the body’s major defense against diseases.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for peak mental performance. Start your day with a breakfast that is high in protein and low in fat and carbohydrates. Eat the protein first, as it does seem to matter what order you eat these food in.

Exercise
Walking is one of the best physical exercises you can do for your brain. Since the brain used 20% of the body’s energy, it requires constant oxygen from the blood stream. The brain uses approximately 25% of all the oxygen we inhale. There is a body, mind connection, and physical exercise does stimulate brain cells to grow and connect with each other in a complex way. They do this by extending branches of intricate nerves called dendrites and these branches can even circumvent damaged or blocked off areas of the brain and find new pathways. It has been realized that physical activity of exercise stimulates the growth of these branches as they seek pathways to connect to each other.


Learn new things
Throughout one’s lifetime your neural network reorganizes to respond to new stimuli and learning experiences. Changing your daily routine can help stimulate grow of neurotransmitters in the brain. Try driving a different way to work or eat with you opposite hand. Studies have shown that even playing bingo can help minimize brain loss. Reading, playing Scrabble, molding clay, doing puzzles, crosswords, or learning a new language will help boost brainpower. It also seems to help if you do activities that combine two senses. Try listening to music while smelling flowers or washing your hair with your eyes closed. Challenging your brain to learn new tasks develops agility and hand to brain coordination. Try using your other hand for things like, using the mouse, brushing your teeth, operating the television remote or dialing the phone.


Travel
Yes, travel can stimulate your brain. After all it worked for our ancestors. Their nomadic lifestyle provided a tremendous amount of stimulation for their brains that led to the development of their survival skills. Early humans gained their evolutionary edge from their flexibility and innovative lifestyle. Traveling also allowed them to find diversity in their diet, which allowed their brains to quickly evolve.

Lifestyle changes
Smoking and alcohol are not only harmful for the lungs and the liver but also for the brain. Even subtle changes in lifestyle can make a lot of difference. Besides proper diet, exercise, relaxation time, meditation and plenty of sleep, all help to regenerate and invigorate our mental state. Remember, the human brain is able to continually adapt and rewire itself. Even in old age it can grow new neurons, find new pathways, and build a better brain.



By  Renee Rotto

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The Best Reasons To Grow Food Crops Organically

Have you ever gone grocery shopping and found a warning nestled in your produce? A warning found in broccoli said, wash for three minutes and rinse well before eating. What the warning was referring to was washing away the pesticides on our food. While washing our food is a good idea, you cannot simply wash all the poisons away. Pesticides soak down under some thin skinned fruits and vegetables we eat. These pesticides have been linked with cancer and many other diseases.


Organic farming is a form of agriculture that excludes or strictly limits the use of synthetic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides. Instead of using pesticides, they rely on natural methods of maintaining productivity and controlling pests.
With such practices as crop rotation, green manure, composting and biological pest control, organic farmers maintain soil quality and prevent soil erosion. Over 30 Billion tons of topsoil is eroded each across the United States and Europe because of non-organic farming methods.


Modern farming techniques strip the soil of nutrients and minerals because of mono cropping. Single crops are much more susceptible to pests. Despite a tenfold increase in the use of pesticides, some insects have become genetically resistant to certain types of pesticides. Non-organic farmers must use larger amounts of pesticides and continually seek evermore-potent ones.


Another best reason to grow crops organically is to insure the foods antioxidants. Organically grown fruits and vegetables have higher antioxidant levels than their non-organic counterparts.
The reasoning is within the plant itself. A plant will produce Flavonoids in response to plant stressors. Plants produce bitter or harsh substances as protection from predators. If a plant is not stressed because a pesticide is protecting it from bugs, the need for production of Flavonoids is reduced. The plant that is organically grown will produce more Flavonoids because it has to protect itself from predators. Humans reap the rewards of organic farming with better tasting, and healthier foods.


Modern farming use more petroleum than any other single industry with all their equipment. Since organic farms are smaller and usually family operations, they depend on human energy and conserve fossil fuel. For small farmers who find competing with large commercial farms difficult, organic farming may be one of the few survival tactics left.
With the monster equipment of modern farms, you might think non-organic farming would be much more productive. With the arsenal or pesticides, fertilizers, and fungicides which non-organic farming has at its disposal, you might think this method would produce much more food. Studies have shown that organic farming is just as productive, if not more so. A study in the 2008 issue of Agronomy Journal showed that organic methods could yield crops equivalent to those of non organic without depleting the soil.


There are many reasons to grow our food crops organically, but the best reason is to save the planet. All the other reasons, are just parts of this one big reason. As Aristotle once realized, “The whole is more than the sum of its parts”.


Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

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The Effects Of Sunshine On Health

Are you afraid of the sun? Sunbathing used to be very fashionable years ago. Everyone wanted to have a nice dark tan. Teens used to spend hours on the beach or in the pool, building that perfect tan. In those days sunscreen was not known as a necessity. In fact, sun worshipers even used oil or whatever else they could find, that would promote the maximum UVB ray exposure to their skin.

Then things changed. Doctors suddenly were warning of the dangers of Melanoma, (skin cancer) for unprotected skin. Wrinkles and age spots were linked to sun exposure. Mothers began rubbing sunscreen on their children before they went outside to play.
Today the fear of the sun has almost become a phobia. But today there is evidence that moderate exposure is actually healthful to the human body.
The body makes vitamin D, when the skin is exposed to sunlight. This is why vitamin D is called the ‘sunshine vitamin’. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and is considered important for bone health. Deficiencies of vitamin D can lead to osteoporosis and rickets in children.
People who have deficiencies of vitamin D are likely to die sooner, said Austrian researcher, Harold Dobnig, an internist at the University of Graz in Austria.
Other studies have indicated, vitamin D may protect against cancer, peripheral artery disease and tuberculosis. U.S. researchers have said vitamin D may also extend the lives of patients with colon or rectal cancer.

Dr. Michael F Holick, a professor of medicine, dermatology and biophysics at the Boston University School of Medicine, has found evidence that vitamin D can ward off a host of debilitating diseases. Dr. Holick, who discovered the active form of vitamin D, says it helps hyperextension, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and depression.

For vitamin D to perform its biochemical role in body cells, it must first be converted into an activated form: vitamin D hormone. According to Dr. Holick, immune cells in the skin, called dendrite cells, convert vitamin D3 (produced in exposed skin in response to sunlight) into its active form. This “active” vitamin D3 then causes T cells to make surface changes that allow them to migrate to the uppermost layer of the skin.
These new studies indicate that some sun exposure helps fight off skin cancers. A blast of sunshine could fight skin diseases and cancer by attracting immune cells to the surface of the skin. Even the skin disorder psoriasis, is sometimes treated with vitamin D3 creams.

During the long winter months of the North, the seasonal affective disorder can affects one’s memory and cognitive behavior. This disorder is commonly known as SAD. Sunshine is a great mood buster because it increases the brains serotonin levels. Sunshine is also all you need to avoid the loss of cartilage of the knees, making joints healthy as well.

Many doctors agree, that people with low levels of vitamin D cannot make up for it safely, by sitting in the sun, but should take supplements. Researchers have found that people living just below the equator in Australia produce 3.4 times more vitamin D than people in Britain and 4.8 times more than Scandinavians
The proximity to the equator, affect the long Ultraviolet wavelengths as well as the short Ultraviolet wavelengths. The darker a person’s skin, the longer he or she has to be in the sun to form a significant amount of vitamin D. Sunscreen should be worn to block the long Ultraviolet wavelengths that trigger the deadliest forms of skin cancer.

Conclusion:
Don’t be a ‘sunphobe’ or a ‘sun worshiper’ instead, try for relatively brief but unfettered exposures to sunshine several times a week. Don’t fear the sun or worship it, just respect it.


By  Renee Rotto

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We Store The Seeds Of Life

With all the varieties of seeds that available for gardeners you might wonder why would anyone want to save seeds. Actually, there are many reasons to save seeds. You many have noticed a beautiful wild flower that you would love to plant. Maybe you want to start an organic garden. Or maybe you just want to save money on seed next year and for years to come. Although seed saving has become somewhat of lost skill lately, it isn’t that hard to do.


Seed collection should be done at midday or in the afternoon. The best day would be a nice sunny, dry, day. With seed collection, moisture is the enemy.


Annual plants are the easiest to gather seeds. The annual plant flowers and goes to seed the same year. Not all plants produce their seeds at the end of the growing season.


Biennials on the other hand, flower and go to seed the second year after you plant them. With biennials, which include most of the root group, the vegetables come the first year and the seeds the next. You need to dig up the roots at the end of the season and store at 32 – 45 degrees. Then you can replant the root and collect seeds that second season.



Choosing seeds is important. Pick the seeds of the very best plants. When saving seeds from leafy plants like lettuce, you should collect seeds from plants that take the longest to seed. With root plants, choose seeds from the earliest flowering plants. Plants that have seed stalks should be left to form their stalks then cut off at the stalk.



Whether you are collecting seeds from flowers or vegetables all seeds must dry completely before being saved. Seedpods get left on the plant until they start turning brown. Cut off seed heads and place in a small paper bag. Collecting flower seeds from seed heads are similar in that the flower must start wilting and fading in color before collection time. That’s when you know it’s time to collect the seeds. Most seed should be mature so they are viable and able to germinate when planted.


Seeds that have pulp or other material on them should be washed, and then dry them completely. For drying, use newspaper or paper towels. Store in small envelopes, placed inside of baby food jars, film containers or spice jars. Be sure to label each seed container with type of seed and date you collected it. Most seed last two or three years so keeping a record of when you collected the seeds is important. Store seeds in a cool, dry place, like the refrigerator.


If you’re planning to save seeds, it’s best to save heritage seeds not hybrid seeds. That way you will always be assured that your plants will be that of the parent seed. If you plant and save heritage seeds, you can truly experience gardening the way your ancestors did.



By   Renee Rotto

Foods that are good for your liver

Do you have excess fat in you abdominal area and have trouble loosing weight? If so you may have a ‘fatty liver’ or (FLD).
In the U. S. about 15% to 20% of the general population has a fatty liver. The incident of this is much higher in obese people. What is a fatty liver? Quite simply put, it’s when the liver stops burning fat and turns it into a fat storing organ. Those who have a fatty liver will not be able to lose weight until they first improve their liver function. The good news is there is foods that can help heal your liver.

According to Dr. Sandra Cabot, author of the book, “The liver Cleansing Diet”, you need to be patient. It can take between 3 to 12 months to remove the excess fat from the liver, depending on the amount of fat that has accumulated. Then weight lose will occur easily.

Fatty liver can lead to scarring of the liver tissues (cirrhosis) but the good news is, the liver is one of the most resilient organs in the human body. It is capable of much self-healing when given a chance.

Many doctors still do not make the connection between the American diet and the fatty liver. They may tell their patients that nothing can be done and the condition simply should be ‘monitored’.

You can reverse a fatty liver.

Conventional medicine has no specific therapy or drug treatment to reverse a fatty liver; in fact, many drugs such as cholesterol lowering drugs can exert toxic effects on liver cells. Dr. Nimer Assy, Director of the liver unit at Ziv Medical Center in Halva, Israel, reported that people who drank more than a quart of sweetened beverages daily were five times more likely to have fatty liver disease than those who drank much less. These are drinks sweetened with corn syrup, high fructose, aspartame, and natural occurring fructose. Dr. Assy suggests patients limit soft drinks and juices to one glass a day. He recommends eating the whole fruit or juices that contain the pulp. The fiber in the pulp prevents the fructose from being absorbed in the liver.

Aspartame and caramel colorants can lead to the same fatty condition because it increases insulin resistance. Studies have found that the methanol in aspartame converts to formaldehyde. The human body cannot eliminate formaldehyde. Because aspartame metabolizes into formaldehyde and formic acid takes place in the mitochondria, it is the mitochondria tissues, which are attacked. These two toxic substances cause fats to be unprocessed into energy. This may explain why many people cannot lose weight.

What foods are good for your liver?

Dr. Max Gerson, author of the “Gerson Theory”, believed that cancer in general was a disease of the liver. He believed this was true even if the cancer occurred elsewhere in the body and was often due to environmental toxins. He theorized, that many modern diseases could be eliminated by a raw organic diet, and that liver health was paramount.

· Think raw: Eat plenty or raw fruit and vegetables, especially dark green, leafy vegetables. The chlorophyll in the green leafy vegetables aids in liver repair.

· Eat a wide variety of foods: Choose many colors or fruits and vegetables. Pick orange, yellow, purple and red colored fruits and vegetables. Try to eat some raw fruits or vegetables at each meal. They contain living enzymes, vitamin C, natural antibiotic substances and anti-cancer antioxidants.

· Replace meat and meat products with fish or free-range chicken.

· Instead of animal milk use almond milk, rice milk or soymilk.

· Drink distilled water.

· Reduce saturated fats: Replace with unsaturated fats such as those found in fish, avocados, olive oil, and nuts.

· Eliminate white and all processed foods: Include whole grain breads, and brown rice.

· Consider the healing properties of dandelions and Milk Thistle.

· Protect you liver from stress: Avoid alcohol and follow instructions on all medications and over the counter drugs.


If you focus on providing healthy foods for your liver, your liver will start to respond by rebuilding and repairing itself. It will take a bit of time but the liver has miraculous powers of repair if you begin to treat it right.



by Renee Rotto

Prescription Drug Advertisments, I'm Not Amused

Prescription drug advertisements may be the reason I throw out my television. If you’re like me, you think prescription drugs advertisements range from laughable to a pathetic assault on our intelligence. But what’s not laughable is the fact that these ads may be detrimentally influencing the health of many people.

Patients watch these drug advertisements day after day and become familiar with the brand name drugs that can cost up to ten times as much than the cheaper “generic brands.” While the imagery of these ads may be appealing, the numerous side effects are rattled of at the end, or buried in the fine print.

In a recent Huffington Post article, Dr. Andrew Weil questions if we should be getting our drug information from actors. Weil says, “Sally Field is a talented actor. But what qualifies her to promote Bonivia, an osteoporosis drug that is of limited benefit, has worrisome side effects, and for which there are natural alternatives that merit careful consideration?”

Direct-to-consumer advertising, (DTCA) is not restricted to only television. These ads also saturate radio, the Internet and print, as well. Besides testimonials from celebrities another dangerous advertising tactic is that of the Video news release or (VNRs), also referred to as fake TV news. These advertisements appear to unsuspecting viewers as breaking new bulletins, and are designed to be indistinguishable from the regular news, and are frequently incorporated directly into newscasts.

Consumer surveys suggest that direct-to-consumer advertising increases the utilization of drugs. Patients who have confidence in celebrities are prompted to “ask their doctor”.
Many of these doctors may have encountered their own version of these name brand drug advertisements. The objective advertising aim is to have doctors “pre-primed with a parallel promotional campaign. Marketing aimed at doctors include advertisements and promotions, of favorable studies in medical journals. Doctors are visited by sales representatives and receive gifts such as free samples for patients, pens and note pads and are subsidized for “educational” events and conferences.

A November 2006 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office noted, “Studies we reviewed found that increases in DTC advertising have contributed to overall increases in spending on both the advertised drug itself and other drugs that treat the same condition.” Dr. Andrew Weil says, “An estimated 50% of Americans take at least one prescribed medication every day; in 2007 drug sales accounted for an astonishing $315 billion in revenue.”

“In 2000 for every dollar spent on direct-to-consumer advertisements yielded $4.20 in sales revenue. “The drug industry doesn’t spend $20 or $30 billion a year on advertising prescription drugs unless they believe it has an impact on doctors prescribing,” said Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group. “You would probably like to know if your doctor is getting no money, some money, a lot of money or a huge amount of money, because it’s going to influence what that doctor decides for you.”


Currently the United States and New Zealand are the only two countries that allow direct-to-consumer advertising. The drug industry is mounting major lobbying campaigns to allow this type of advertising in Europe and Canada. The key argument that pharmaceutical companies use to defend their ads is that they lead more people to seek medical attention for treatable conditions and for regular checkups. I have a news flash for them; I’m not buying it.




By Renee Rotto

Camping Tips: Quick And Easy Meals For The Camp Stove

There is nothing like a camping adventure to rewind our clocks. Getting away for some rest and relaxation in the great outdoors can be so rejuvenating for the spirit. Throw in a little fishing and hiking and the world makes sense again. But with all that, we still need to eat.

Some people like to buy all kinds of elaborate cooking equipment, to make meals easy as cooking at home, but that’s not really camping. Sure, you can buy a propane grill and lots of fancy kitchenware, but you will miss some of the ambiance that is camping. Give me some cast iron cookware, an open fire, and some charcoal briquettes and away we go.

I love cooking with cast iron. Not only is it virtually indestructible and great for camping, but also it is known for its health benefits. Do you know that every time you cook with cast iron you add iron to you meal? More iron is released into the food when cooking foods high in acid. The tomato sauce you use in your chuck wagon chili will be even healthier. One of the best inventions is the Dutch oven. The lid is flat to place briquettes on top for even cooking and baking. So you basically only need a Dutch oven and cast iron fry pan and you’re good to go.

Seasoning your new cast iron cookware is easy. Just coat lightly with vegetable oil and place in 350-degree oven for 1 hour. Wipe dry when cooled with a paper towel and store in a dry place. Do not use abrasives, or soap when cleaning. And never put them in the dishwasher. Make sure you dry the cookware completely before storing. For the first few uses, use a little oil and preheat pan before cooking.


Cooking over an open flame is not difficult or stressful if you do a little preparation before hand.

· Roughing it dose not mean you can’t bring supplies from home. Take along some food like canned chili beans, marshmallows, hot dogs, ground beef, canned vegetables, Bisquick mix, or Hungry Jack dinner rolls. You can also bring some fresh vegetables and fruit. Freeze you meat and bacon in Zip Lock Freezer bags. Water, tea or Koolaid can also be frozen in gallon water jugs.

· Plan your meals ahead of time and bring what you need. If you’re planning to fish and eat the fish you catch, you might want a lemon and some butter. You can also bring along some packages of condiments leftover from take out.


Other types of campfire cooking are foil cooking, stick cooking and can cooking.


Foil cooking is simple. Wrap fish, meat or chicken pieces with vegetables and seasonings in foil and place on hot charcoals. Remember fish cooks fast and may become dry so add butter and maybe lemon.

Bake potatoes in foil and insert into charcoals.

Try cooking a whole beef briquette with garlic and seasonings. Double wrap briquette with heavy-duty foil and cook most of the day on a medium heat. The meat comes out so tender, it falls apart.

Make grilled ham and cheese sandwiches wrapped in foil. Just prepare sandwich and wrap in foil and place at the end of the coals. Sandwiches don’t take long to cooks so turn it over in about 5 minutes.

Try a sliced banana, mini marshmallows and chocolate wrapped in foil for a quick dessert. Have fun experimenting with foil cooking; it’s quick and easy.

Stick cooking is also easy. You can make kabobs with this method. Just find two larger double-pronged sticks and push them into the ground. Build your fire in between sticks and hang your kabob stick on top of the two sticks within the groove. Place meat and vegetables on the kabob stick and turn stick in half turns for even cooking.

Can cooking is great for desserts. I like peach cobbler. Just get a can of sliced peaches in heavy syrup draining off about half of the syrup. Be careful to leave the top of the can still intact. Mix up about a handful of Bisquick mix to a pancake consistency and spoon over the peaches in the can. Press lid down to keep out any ashes and place in charcoals at the end of the campfire. Cook until Bisquick forms a hard dumpling and carefully remove from fire. Try cooking beef stew and dumplings, chili with cheese, or soups in a can too.

Another fun cooking tip is to cook using oranges. Cut an orange in half, remove the fruit and save for breakfast. Place inside one cinnamon roll (refrigerator type) in each half. Wrap in foil and place on charcoals. This makes a great breakfast alongside some bacon and eggs. You can also cook an egg inside of an orange half wrapped in foil. Or even a Jiffy cake mix inside half of an orange with this method.

Cooking at the campsite is very easy and with a little imagination you can make almost anything. The best part is cleanup is a breeze.



By   Renee Rotto

The Rising Cost Of Medicine: Is Your Doctor On Your Side?

With the rising cost of health care, many people cannot afford the medicines they need. Many people are even being forced to choose between their medications and food. Whether you have insurance or not, it may all come down to, whether your doctor is truly on your side.

Anyone who has to choose between their medication and food would really be happy if their doctor gave them some free samples, right? If you’re on Medicare or have an HMO, you might think free samples are a wonderful savings to you. But these samples aren’t ‘free’, in the long run.
Drug representatives leave samples of the latest and most expensive drugs with doctors as part of promotional campaigns. They know that when the sample runs out, the doctor, almost never switches you to a less expensive drug. Then you end up spending a lot more than you need to. If you were offered a ‘generic’ instead, you might even sidestep potential side effects from that newer drug. But most people are overjoyed to receive these samples and happily thank their doctors.
Some people have caught on to a potential savings on medications, by asking their doctors to prescribe a double dose instead. This can be done with some medications. Then the pill can be cut in half, usually at a lower cost than the half strength. Of course, that might mean you would only need to see you doctor half as much. So your doctor will need to decide, if this action is appropriate.


Have you ever gone to the doctor and wondered, why you have to come back two or three times to complete your check up? It’s because, insurance companies won’t reimburse doctors for multiple treatments within one separate visit. If your doctor were examining your broken leg, you would need to come back another day, to have your blood pressure checked.


Some doctors do ‘eat’ the cost of additional services. Others refuse and are resentful of the increasing influence; insurance companies have on how they practice medicine. President Obama’s former personal physician, Dr David Scheiner, has said that private insurers continue to “Interfere” with his medical decisions.
“Doctors are fed up with the administrative hassles and other obstacles to get reimbursed”, said Dr. Ted Epperly, a family physician in Boise, Idaho. While doctors may be fed up, insurance companies are under new pressures to cut their costs. And it seems it’s the patients, who are in the middle. There are however, some things you can do to lower your medical costs.


Debra Snell, who has Crohn’s disease, was unable to purchase insurance. She has learned how to negotiate and shop around for the care she needs. She pays her gastroenterologist, Dr. Narayanachar Murall, $35 for an office visit compared with $150 for a typical patient. It costs Debra only $400 to have a colonoscopy of her lower intestines, compared to $750 or $1500 at the hospital. Why is her doctor doing it? Debra pays promptly, and fills out all her paperwork in advance.
This may not work with all doctors, but shop around, especially if you’re planning an elective health procedure. Here are some tips to help you negotiate your costs.
*Once you’ve gotten medical services, ask for a complete, itemized bill and check for mistakes.

*Beware of double billing. Many times hospitals bill for the room and then bill for things like sheets or toothbrushes that you were already charged for.

*If you have had surgery, check charges for kits or trays. Be sure you were not charged again for the same instruments. You can usually get a 35% discount from inflated price lists by challenging individual items.

*Negotiate with the proper person.
There are also companies that will handle negotiations for you, for a percentage of your savings. These companies don’t require a retainer and you may be able to negotiate their fee as well.

*Myinsnet.com
*Billadvocates.com
*Medical Cost Advocate/Wyckoff, NJ


Usually doctors don’t like you to negotiate their fees. But if you find a doctor who is concerned with you as a patient, he or she will be considerate of your costs as well as your care.


Sources:

http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/21/health-medical-bills-lifestyle-health-doctor-bills-debt.html

http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/24/news/economy/healthcare_insurer_doctor/index.htm?postversion=2009092508insurers
http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/submitted/morreim/prescribing.html



by Renee Rotto

Did the FDA Turn A Blind Eye To BPA?

If you eat canned foods or drink bottled water, be afraid, be very afraid. Bisphenol A or (BPA) is a plastic and resin ingredient used in the lining on metal cans and a main building block for polycarbonate (PC) in plastic bottles. Although even low doses of BPA have been linked to cancer, birth defects, diabetes, obesity, and miscarriages, no food safety authority in the U.S. has banned it.

David Schardt, a nutritionist for the Center for Science for the Public Interest (CSPI) says, "We don''t want to tell people not to eat canned beans or tomatoes, but at the same time it makes sense for all parents and especially pregnant and nursing women, to minimize the exposure of their kids' developing bodies and brains to BPA."

Scientists have tested canned food bought all across America and have found BPA, in more than half of them. These levels were found to be some 200 times the government's safe level of exposure for industrial chemicals. The EPA is responsible for the safeguarding of the public food supply but instead, seems more interested in protection the financial interests of big business. In 2007 the EPA based its approval of BPA on a small number of studies sponsored by the chemical industry. Recently, the new EPA chief Margret Hamburg, announced that they would conduct a review of their opinion of BPA. Many see this turnaround as a de facto admission.

At this time there are no standards for the use of BPA. Billions of pounds of BPA are used each year without restriction. Chicken soup, ravioli and infant formula are among the foods with the highest levels of BPA. Plastic bottles with the type # 7 should also be avoided. Some companies do not use BPA but most do. For a list of companies responses to BPA check Organic Grace.

If the EPA is unwilling or unable to protect us, the public, must be responsible for our own health. How can we protect ourselves from dangers like BPA? Start cooking your food from scratch and avoid canned baby formula. Don't be gullible enough to believe that the EPA or the Government is looking out for your health and well-being.


by Renee Rotto

Marijuana And Medicine

Have you heard the one where marijuana is said to be a Schedule 1 substance? According to the U.S. Government, that little, somewhat innocuous plant, is a very dangerous substance. Regardless of the fact that it has been shown to help many conditions and diseases, marijuana seemingly is as dangerous as heroin and LSD.

Some in Congress and the drug industry respectfully, consider that the subject deserves 'further study', but like many things in Congress, this all takes time. Meanwhile, nothing much is being done about marijuana's misnomer status. Patients who need this medication are somewhat left alone, to face whatever consequences they must face, to feel better.

It's funny to hear, that we should do 'further studies' on marijuana because it's been around since 2737 BC, and has been used medically until present day. It has been proven to help diseases and conditions like glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, cancer and AIDS. Marijuana could help thousands with various medical conditions, without all the risks that alternative pharmaceuticals provide. Maybe that's the problem.

What is this great danger, that makes marijuana rank in the same category with heroin, you might ask? The answer appears to be 'smoke'. Yes, it's smoke. That smoke will go in your lungs and could cause quite a bit of problems there. Why if patients didn't already have cancer or AIDS they might worry, about someday developing breathing problems.

Speaking of 'smoke', I presume cigarette smoke must be quite different. This is because cigarettes are not illegal, and they are being sold at the corner store. With all the millions of dollars spent for patient treatment from the effects of cigarette smoking marijuana is the bad guy. Come on now, whom do they think their fooling.

Smoking is the primary choice of the drug, mainly because of it's rapid-onset of relief. Strangely enough, this little plant doesn't even have to be smoked, to utilize its effects. In fact, there are so many other options that it's almost mind-boggling. A patient could instead lotions, tinctures or balms. They could consume it in fruit drinks, baked goods, caramels, chewing gum, cough drops or bubble bath. The 'Marinol' pill is also available. This pill contains synthetic THC and has been approved by the FDA.

Why is it then that marijuana is still on the Schedule 1 substance list? Could it be that maybe marijuana it too effective? There are other drugs out here that patients could take instead. These pharmaceutical cocktails may have serious side effects, but at least you won't go to jail.

Presently, there are thirteen states that allow medical marijuana prescriptions. Some states that have dispensaries have been raided because of disputes of the law, between states and the Federal Government. These states are:

*Alaska
*California
*Colorado
*Hawaii
*Maine
*Michigan
*Montana
*Nevada
*New Mexico
*Oregon
*Rhode Island
*Vermont
*Washington

Other states are considering the legalization of medical marijuana but remain in various stages of legislation. Perhaps marijuana is too dangerous for some. But for anyone who is paying attention, instead, it's a dangerous drug for financial reasons. Probably the only way medical marijuana will finally be recognized for it's healing properties is if it's taxed to death. If the taxes on marijuana can bail out the states that are in trouble, then maybe it will become less harmful.
With that logic, you will see why there is always, somebody, trying to blow smoke up your business.


by Renee Rotto