Lisa Says:  what else is there to say?

article from www.whfoods.com

While this may sound like a silly, simple question I wanted to know: What are healthy foods and why do people eat them?

To us, healthy foods are those that are nutrient-rich. This means that they contain an abundance of nutrients including vitamins, minerals, fiber, phytonutrients (nutrients only found in plants, many of which are antioxidants). Nutrients are important because your body needs them to grow, create energy, and maintain its physiological functions. Nutrients can also help to reduce inflammation and antioxidant nutrients protect your body from free radical damage, which can cause disease.

Healthy foods include whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fish, beans, and other whole foods. Whole foods are real foods, the form in which the food is grown or raised. Whole foods are not processed with additional chemicals, preservatives, and additives.

People eat healthy foods for many reasons. The main one is because when they eat them they feel better-they have more energy, more vitality, they might catch colds less, their skin may look better, they experience better heart health, etc. and they experience many other benefits to their health.

Many people who eat healthy whole foods do so because they feel that what they are eating is real food and feel that foods that are processed and manufactured are not really food as they envision food to be.

Many people who eat healthy foods do so because it helps them to feel connected with the earth. Plus, they taste great.

When people don’t eat healthy foods, they may not have as much energy. Studies have shown that healthy foods can help improve memory and learning. Research shows that those who eat healthy foods have less disease and therefore those who don’t eat healthy foods run the risk of having diseases such as heart disease and some forms of cancer.

References:

Bellisle F. Effects of diet on behaviour and cognition in children. Br J Nutr 2004 Oct;92 Suppl 2:S227-32.

Lee S, Harnack L, Jacobs DR Jr, et al. Trends in diet quality for coronary heart disease prevention between 1980-1982 and 2000-2002: The Minnesota Heart Survey. J Am Diet Assoc 2007 Feb;107(2):213-22.

Solfrizzi V, D’Introno A, Colacicco AM, et al. Dietary fatty acids intake: possible role in cognitive decline and dementia. Exp Gerontol 2005 Apr;40(4):257-70.

Whaley SE, Sigman M, Neumann C, et al. The impact of dietary intervention on the cognitive development of Kenyan school children. J Nutr 2003 Nov;133(11 Suppl 2):3965S-71S.

Willett WC. Nutritional epidemiology issues in chronic disease at the turn of the century. Epidemiol Rev 2000;22(1):82-6.

Willett WC, Sacks F, Trichopoulou A, et al. Mediterranean diet pyramid: a cultural model for healthy eating. Am J Clin Nutr 1995 Jun;61(6 Suppl):1402S-6S.

Van Dyk K, Sano M. The impact of nutrition on cognition in the elderly. Neurochem Res 2007 Apr-2007 May;32(4-5):893-904.

This easy to prepare recipe offers an exciting twist to kale with the flavor and extra benefits of the hijiki. It is a complement to just about any Asian-flavored meal.

Prep and Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 lb kale
• 1 TBS dried organic hijiki soaked in 1 cup warm water
• 2 TBS soy sauce
• 1 TBS rice vinegar
• 2 medium cloves garlic, pressed
• ½ TBS minced fresh ginger
• 1 TBS extra virgin olive oil
• salt and white pepper to taste
• 2 tsp sesame seeds

Directions:

1. Rinse and soak hijiki while preparing rest of ingredients.
2. Fill bottom of steamer with 2 inches of water.
3. While steam is building up, slice kale leaves into 1/2-inch slices, and cut again crosswise. Cut stems into 1/4-inch slices and let both leaves and stems sit for 5 minutes to bring out their hidden health benefits.
4. Chop or press garlic and let sit for at least 5 minutes to bring out their hidden health benefits.
5. Place chopped kale into steamer and steam for no more than 5 minutes.
6. While kale is steaming whisk together soy sauce, pressed garlic, minced ginger, olive oil, salt and pepper. Squeeze out excess water from hijiki and add.
7. Toss kale with rest of ingredients in a bowl and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
   Serves 4

Lisa Says: XENOESTROGENS, or false estrogens, are produced in the body when chemicals enter, and cause havoc in our health.  They disable the body’s ability to utilize naturally occurring hormones.Getting rid of these chemicals in our shampoos, soap, cleaners, deoderant, etc. has been a BIG priority for us this past year in healing Rex’s Prostate Cancer which (like Breast Cancer) has been linked to XENOESTROGENS.

For Omega 3’s we use flax oil, try to eat at least 3 avocados a week, and if we feel the need, take Nature’s Sunshine’s Omega 3 capsules (ESSENTIAL for BRAIN FUNCTION) http://www.mynsp.com/rex/products/guide.aspx?stockNum=1515

ARTICLE from http://products.mercola.com

Ever wonder why so many skin care products you buy — even at the health food store — have ingredients on their labels that you can’t even read or pronounce?

In my view, if you can’t read or pronounce the ingredient, there is a high likelihood it should not be in your lotion or other skin care product.

Obviously, you really want to avoid using anything potentially toxic on your skin!

Because this is such a common problem, I’ve been searching for a product that you could be confident was made of real, recognizable, natural and organic ingredients. So you could enhance your health from the ‘outside in’, as well as the ‘inside out’.

Quality skin care is not a replacement for good internal health — it is a part of your entire package of wellbeing.

One of the first strategies you can use to improve your skin health is to make sure you are getting enough high quality omega-3 fats. This is such a reliable indicator that I frequently am able to tell someone’s omega-3 needs just by shaking their hand.

If their hand is not smooth as a baby’s behind, it’s usually a strong indication that they need some more high quality animal-based omega-3 fats — like krill oil.

So if you struggle with dry skin, make sure you are taking enough of these omega-3 fats. In the colder dry winter months, you may even need to increase your dose.

Your skin grows from the inside out, so your overall nutritional levels really matter. That said however, caring for your skin is not just an inside job — it’s an outside job too.

The ‘Outside’ Job of Skin Care

Your skin is much more than an outer surface for the world to see — it’s the largest organ of your body!

Do something extraordinary for your youthful looks today.

Plus, it has a number of amazing responsibilities that you probably don’t think about on a daily basis:

• Protects your internal organs from injury and infection.
• Helps detoxify wastes through perspiration.
• Provides an important line of immune defense against infections — your healthy skin creates a barrier to viruses and bacteria.
• Protects you against extreme changes in temperature, through its thermoregulatory effect of controlling heat flow between you and your environment.
• Produces and stores vitamin D, which is important to your immune system.
• Rich in receptors, it allows you to sense conditions around you — like hard/soft and hot/cold — and send information to your brain so you can react to it for self-preservation.
• Protects your body from sunburns.
• Protects you from dehydration.

The loss of any of these functions will compromise your best health — and can accelerate signs of normal aging.

Put simply, your skin plays a major role in your health.

It functions as an organ that can absorb and excrete both nutrients and toxins through its pores. The condition of your skin is a powerful reflection of just how healthy you are on the inside.

Because your skin has the ability to absorb whatever you put on it, careful choices are critical. You want to give your skin the same thoughtful care you give your internal organs. In a moment, I’ll tell you about some things that help support the health of your skin.

But first, let’s take a quick look at some of the ingredients in today’s skin care products that can compromise the health of your skin (or even more of your body functions).

What if Looks Really Could Kill?

We believe containers when they show a “danger” warning, or a “skull and crossbones” to warn of toxins in a product. And we respond by not applying them to our skin or eating them!

Potential toxins used in the name of beauty – not a fair trade…

Yet many skin care products use ingredients with unrecognizable and unpronounceable names.

Personally, I rarely put anything consciously on my skin that I wouldn’t be willing to put in my mouth.

It is well-proven that when you apply these chemicals to your skin, they enter your bloodstream and become integrated into your body tissues, In fact, it is probably safer to eat these ingredients than to rub them on your skin (although I strongly recommend you don’t do either!).

However, if you do happen to eat these chemicals, your digestive system can produce specific enzymes  to break down these toxins and excrete them… something that doesn’t  readily occur when you absorb them through the skin.

Potentially harmful ingredients continue to be used. Why? Because they are cheap, readily available, and easily diluted.

Does Your Skin Care Product Contain These Chemicals?

Why don’t you run and get a bottle of any of the skin moisturizers that you are currently using. You might find that your personal care products contain one or probably more of many possibly dangerous ingredients.

Here are a few of the most common suspicious ingredients:

• Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum – Petroleum products that coat the skin like plastic, clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins, which in turn accumulate and can lead to dermatologic issues. Slows cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of aging. Suspected cause of cancer. Disruptive of hormonal activity. By the way, when there’s an oil spill in the ocean, don’t they rush to clean it up – fast? Why put that stuff on your skin?
• Parabens – Widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic industry (including moisturizers). An estimated 13,200 cosmetic and skin care products contain parabens. Studies implicate their connection with cancer. They have hormone-disrupting qualities – mimicking estrogen – and interfere with the body’s endocrine system.
• Phenol carbolic acid– Found in many lotions and skin creams. Can cause circulatory collapse, paralysis, convulsions, coma and even death from respiratory failure.
• Propylene glycol – Used as a moisturizer in cosmetics and as a carrier in fragrance oils. Shown to cause dermatitis, kidney or liver abnormalities, and may inhibit skin cell growth or cause skin irritation.
• Acrylamide– Found in many hand and face creams. Linked to mammary tumors in lab research.
• Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)– Found in car washes, engine degreasers, garage floor cleaners… and in over 90% of personal care products! SLS breaks down the skin’s moisture barrier, easily penetrates the skin, and allows other chemicals to easily penetrate. Combined with other chemicals, SLS becomes a “nitrosamine”, a potent class of carcinogen. It can also cause hair loss. SLES is sometimes disguised with the labeling “comes from coconut” or “coconut-derived”.
• Toluene – Poison! Danger! Harmful or fatal if swallowed! Harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Made from petroleum or coal tar, and found in most synthetic fragrances. Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) contains toluene. Other names may include benzoic and benzyl.
• Dioxane– Found in compounds known as PEG, Polysorbates, Laureth, ethoxylated alcohols. Common in a wide range of personal care products. The compounds are usually contaminated with high concentrations of highly volatile 1,4-dioxane, easily absorbed through the skin.

  Dioxane’s carcinogenicity was first reported in 1965 and later confirmed in studies including one from the National Cancer Institute in 1978. Nasal passages and liver are the most vulnerable. Dioxane is easily removed during the manufacturing process by “vacuum stripping”. Warning: It is a synthetic derivative of coconut. Watch for hidden language on labels, such as “comes from coconut”.

So, do you want to put these chemicals on your skin? Hopefully not…

You’d be better served by switching to skin care products made of plant names you recognize, can pronounce, and could even eat (if you had to).

Lisa Says:  buying locally (or growing it ourselves - it’s NOT rocket science) and eating seasonally is a priority for us this year on our journey to wellness.

ARTICLE from http://articles.mercola.com

Many organic food fans trust stores that sell largely organic produce. However, the merger of Whole Foods and Wild Oats may be a sign that it’s time for the rose-colored glasses to come off.

It is growing harder to make the case that shopping at Whole Foods is socially commendable. Whole Foods has faced well-deserved criticism for its effects on the environment, and its employees.

Whole Foods is an “industrial organic” company that has done away with the local distribution that was the center of the 1960’s back-to-nature movement. There is nothing environmentally friendly about Whole Food’s practice of importing asparagus in from Argentina in January.

Whole Foods is also the second largest union-free food retailer, right behind Wal-Mart. Whole Foods has taken the position that unions are not valid.

Many of Whole Foods’ canned or boxed items contain MSG, even though it is on Whole Foods list of unacceptable food ingredients. Their dairy products may or may not contain rBGH.

Whole Foods is a Fortune 500 Company that owes its allegiance to its shareholders. It is exploiting a niche market, and has now cleared the field of major competitors, leaving it free to raise prices and reduce quality.

Sources:

• Natural News March 25, 2008

• Dr. Mercola’s Comments:

  Whole Foods, the largest premium natural and organic supermarket chain in the United States, first entered into a merger plan with its chief rival Wild Oats in February 2007. Their plans were halted by the Federal Trace Commission (FTC) at the time, who contended that the merger violated federal antitrust laws by eliminating the substantial competition between the two close competitors. They also said it would give Whole Foods unilateral market power resulting in higher prices and reduced quality, service and choice for consumers. Well, money spoke the loudest again, it would seem. Certainly, Whole Foods Market has helped bring organic healthy and unprocessed foods to the mainstream market, but, like most large corporations, it will have to contend with its shareholders, even if that means cutting corners here and there in order to make a profit. Are Large Corporations Friend or Foe in the Organic Market? The creation of the organic market niche is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the involvement of large corporations has turned organic food into a $16-billion business, with sales growing by as much as 20 percent per year. What this means for many Americans is access to more organic foods, likely at lower prices. Large corporations also have big advertising budgets, which means the idea of eating foods free from pesticides, genetically modified ingredients and raised in sustainable, humane ways is getting a lot of publicity, whereas just a couple of decades ago it was next to unheard of. The downside, however, might outweigh the benefits. Because as soon as big corporations dip their hands into a project, it automatically becomes about maximizing profits by churning out the largest amount of product for the least expense. If this means sacrificing some ethics and skimping on some quality, that’s a price they’re willing to pay. As a result of organic going mainstream in national super-chains such as Wal-Mart and Whole Foods, the term “organic” has virtually lost its meaning, and it is no longer a guarantee that the food is any better for either you or the environment. You can now buy organic versions of ice cream, potato chips, crackers, soda and just about anything else, but these foods are STILL not good for you; they’re still junk foods with little or no real nutritional value. And, from an environmental aspect, at least one study has found that the transportation of organic produce causes an environmental impact large enough to cancel out any environmental benefits. So, when you take all these factors into account, buying local is often better than buying organic, because you get fresher foods that didn’t use up excess fuel to be transported long distances. They’re also likely to be somewhat less expensive since the rising fuel costs inevitably get passed down the line to the end consumer. How to Get Your Money’s Worth When Shopping at Whole Foods Market A 2007 Money Magazine article highlighted the problems of Whole Foods Market and gave several pointers to keep in mind, so you don’t end up spending your whole paycheck on not-so-great foods. Among them: Whole Foods offers only a limited supply of local produce, meaning the environmental damage it causes in transportation is just as high as most other supermarkets. Even in summer months, only 30 percent of the produce in your average Whole Foods store is grown locally. On the upside, they’re clearly labeled, which can help you in your purchasing decisions. Although Whole Foods doesn’t carry products with trans fats or artificial coloring, everything else is fair game, including MSG and rBGH, so being a vigilant label reader is still a necessity. For a great resource on how to find hidden MSG, please see the website www.MSGMYTH.com for detailed listings. The in-store prepared foods do list ingredients, but there’s no nutritional information provided. It remains to be seen whether Whole Foods’ CEO John Mackey holds true to his word to develop a new multi-tiered system for rating organic farms and meat producers this year, as he discussed it with Michael Pollan in February 2007. Mackey said he’d like to create more transparency in the food chain, which he believes could become the basis of a new national system. Why and When to Buy Organic Conventionally grown food is often tainted with a multitude of chemical residues, including chemical fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides. These pesticides can cause a wide variety of health problems, including: Neurotoxicity Disruption of your endocrine system Cancer Immune system suppression Male infertility and miscarriages in women However, you can easily overspend on purchasing organic now that everyone is jumping on the organic bandwagon, so let me give you some tips on how to prioritize your spending. Meats and Poultry — Since animal products tend to bioaccumulate toxins, concentrating them to far higher concentrations than are typically present in vegetables, it would make sense to make sure all your meat choices are organic. When choosing organic beef, you should also go the additional step and make certain the cows are grass-fed exclusively, especially the three months before they are slaughtered, as this is when they are typically given grains to fatten them up. For chickens, it would be important to make sure they are cage-free, or free-range, chickens. Fresh produce – When it comes to produce, buying local may be more important than buying organic since freshness is so very important. You’re better off buying fresh, vibrant, conventionally grown produce than wilted organic. As a side note on this issue, I am currently in the process of examining some VERY interesting technology that can destroy all the pesticide residue on produce in less than a second. It is really amazing, relatively inexpensive and may become a virtual necessity for all of us. I hope to report on this by the end of the year. That said, organic produce has been shown to have a much higher nutrient-content than conventional fresh produce, which should be a pretty good motivator to locate organic produce that has also been grown locally. On average, conventional produce has only 83 percent of the nutrients of organic produce. Personal care products –  As reported in the article above, many personal care products contain ingredients listed on Whole Foods’ unacceptable food ingredients’ list. Remember: if it’s not safe to eat, it’s not safe to put on your skin either as it is absorbed directly into your blood stream. An additional concern that was recently raised by the Organic Consumer’s Association is that a whopping 50 percent of “natural” and “organic” products were found to be contaminated with 1,4 Dioxane – a petrochemical carcinogen. The results of their testing of 100 “organic” personal care products are listed on their website and worth checking out to make sure you’re actually getting what you think you’re paying for. The only way to ensure your personal care product is truly organic is to look for the USDA Organic seal, which certifies that it complies with organic standards and is free of petrochemicals. Essentially, although you may spend more money on organic food and personal care products, your payoff of good health should more than make up for it – and reduce your health care costs in the future. It makes sense to me to invest a little bit more now so I can avoid paying LARGE hospital bills later on, but more importantly, I can avoid the disability and dysfunction from not being healthy. (If you don’t believe me on this one you simply must see the video of Michael J. Fox to show you what is possible if you consistently violate this principle.) Where to Buy Organic and Locally-Grown Food To assist you on your way to Taking Control of Your Health, here are some great resources to help you obtain wholesome food that supports not only you, but the environment as well. Combined with the tips on how to prioritize your spending, these resources can help you to put the very best food money can buy on your table. Farmers’ Markets Farmers’ Markets — www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets A national listing of farmers’ markets. Local Harvest — www.localharvest.org Find farmers’ markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area. Eat Well Guide: Wholesome Food from Healthy Animals — www.eatwellguide.org The Eat Well Guide is a free online directory of sustainably raised meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs from farms, stores, restaurants, inns, and hotels, and online outlets in the United States and Canada. Chicago’s Green City Market — Chicago’s only sustainable market with the highest quality locally farmed products. May through October. (Wednesdays and Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) Community Supported Agriculture programs (CSA’s) Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, Community  Supported Agriculture (CSA) — http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/csa/ Weston A. Price Foundation — www.westonaprice.org FoodRoutes — www.foodroutes.org The FoodRoutes “Find Good Food” map can help you connect with local farmers to find the freshest, tastiest food possible. On their interactive map, you can find a listing for local farmers, CSA’s, and markets near you. Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) — www.buylocalfood.com Grass-Fed Beef Ranchers Panorama Meats – Black Angus and Red Angus — www.panoramameats.com Country Natural Beef – Hereford and Angus — www.countrynaturalbeef.com Tallgrass Beef — www.tallgrassbeef.com Niman Ranch – A network of more than 600 independent farmers and ranchers, and probably the easiest to find locally — www.nimanranch.com Pacific Village – Entirely grass-fed cattle since 2002 — www.newseasonsmarket.com

  Related Articles:

  The Selling of Organic

  Which Giant Corporation Owns Your Favorite Organic Food Brand?

  Cracking Down on Organic Food Fraud

Catching Up With the Hype Over Probiotics

Lisa Says:  Probiotics have made a significant impact on my health and healing.  High Quality is KEY.  We use either PROBIOTIC ELEVEN http://www.mynsp.com/rex/products/guide.aspx?stockNum=1510 or BIFIDOPHILUS FLORA FORCE http://www.mynsp.com/rex/products/guide.aspx?stockNum=4080

ARTICLE from http://www.naturalnews.com/z023049.html

by Mary Sichi (see all articles by this author)

(NaturalNews) This year alone, over 150 new probiotic and prebiotic food products have hit the market, more than three times the number that were introduced just a few years ago in 2005. To help understand this trend, and to make smart choices with your nutrition dollar, it is necessary to understand these substances and the claims being made about them. This article will focus on probiotics (a word so new that my Word 2003 spellchecker does not recognize it).

Probiotics are live microorganisms, usually bacteria, that are similar to the helpful microorganisms naturally occurring in the human gut. (Prebiotics are essentially food for the helpful bacteria.) Probiotics can be found in foods such as yogurt, milk, miso, tempeh, and some juices and soy beverages. They are also available as dietary supplements in the form of capsules, tablets, and powders. They are claimed to promote a healthy immune system, to help to promote regularity, to help maintain healthy colon cells, and to help manufacture vitamins such as B and K, to name a few of the most common marketed health benefits linked to their use.

Recently, these tiny critters have made the leap from health food store to mainstream supermarket shelves. From 1994 to 2003, spending on probiotic supplements in America has tripled. Sales of probiotic foods and supplements are projected to reach $1 billion by 2010.

But what exactly is contained in the products labeled probiotic and do these products live up to the claims being made about them by manufacturers? According to the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization, probiotics are “live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” But how much is an “adequate” amount, and what specific health benefits can they confer? While there is limited evidence from a few studies supporting some uses of probiotics, more research is needed. What has and hasn’t been concluded concerning the health benefits of probiotics?

First of all, what we know:

Millions of helpful bacteria live in the intestinal tract. These “good” bacteria are necessary for the proper development of the immune system (breastfed infants have large amounts of these good bacteria, and consequently, protection against many diseases). They are also necessary for the digestion and absorption of food and nutrients, and to protect against the “bad bugs” that can cause disease.

Disease-causing bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and parasites can upset the healthy balance of microorganisms in the gut, as can antibiotics because they kill good as well as bad bacteria indiscriminately (as the name implies). Problems that may arise from this imbalance include diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, H. pylori infection, tooth decay, vaginal infections, stomach and respiratory infections in children, and skin infections.

Most probiotics come from one of two groups of bacteria: Lactobacillus (found in the small intestine) and Bifidobacterium (found in the large intestine).

Secondly, what does the research say?

Conclusions of various conferences since 2005:

* Specific benefits are linked to certain species and even specific strains of species of probiotics.

* Large quantities of living bacteria are most likely necessary to effect real health benefits.

Encouraging evidence was found for the potential of specific probiotic formulations to treat diarrhea, urinary tract infections, and irritable bowel syndrome, to reduce the recurrence of bladder cancer and to prevent and manage atopic dermatitis in children. (Unfortunately, my source does not list the specific formulations, but the article and its references can be found at the National Institutes of Health site listed below.)

In studies of probiotics as cures, beneficial effects were usually low, and a strong placebo effect was often observed.

Some specific findings:

* Results from a Canadian study suggested that fermented milk containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus caseii may help prevent antibiotic-related diarrhea.

* A study from Finland found that an oat drink containing Bifidobacterium lactis bacteria improved bowel function in nursing home residents.

Most side effects, when observed, were mild and digestive in nature. However, more information is needed on the safety of probiotics for young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.

Studies are currently being conducted to determine:

* whether fermented milk containing lactic acid bacteria might reduce cancer-causing substances in the intestine

* whether probiotic supplements can treat allergy-induced skin rash in babies

* whether probiotics can improve complications of liver disease

Lastly, what does this mean for you the consumer?

Be wary of products that don’t specify how much or what type of bacteria.

Verify that the type of probiotic being purchased has shown evidence of efficacy for the particular symptom or condition being treated.

Always consult your healthcare provider if you are thinking about using probiotics, and be sure to contact your healthcare provider if you experience an effect that concerns you while using probiotics.

There appears to be great potential for probiotics as a natural form of prevention and possibly treatment of a wide variety of symptoms and disorders. But as the science catches up with the marketing hype, consumers should arm themselves with reliable knowledge as they walk the aisles of health food stores or the local supermarket and peruse the labels of the increasing number of products labeled probiotic.

More information and the sources used for this article are available through the following links:

National Institutes of Health: (nccam.nih.gov/health/probiotics/)

PubMed: (nccam.nih.gov/camonpubmed)

International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements (IBIDS): ((www.ods.od.nih.gov/Health_Information/I…)

(http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/health/2007…)

from www.whfoods.com

We would suggest that the best way to eat healthy at work is to prepare meals in your home to take to the workplace. Healthy options to take to work include:

Salads are a great way to enjoy a wide variety of vegetables, bean, nuts, seeds, fruits and meats for lunch. The combinations that can be created are limited only by your imagination, personal tastes and dietary needs. As with all food, it is preferable to select organically-grown varieties whenever possible. A lunch of precut crudités from the market (carrots, peppers, celery, etc.), a can of salmon, sardines or tuna, a single serving packet of dressing, and some whole wheat crackers is another option.

Chicken or turkey breast and other types of fish and shellfish are good options to provide the protein you need for a healthy lunch. Canned tuna, salmon and sardines is also a popular source of protein. These can be easily added to a sandwich or salad.

Sandwiches can be a healthy luncheon choice if you make it with a nutrient-rich, 100% whole grain bread and include fresh vegetables and a healthy protein source such as chicken or turkey breast, baked tofu or hummus. And hold the mayo (avocadoes can be a great substitute for mayonnaise)! 100% whole wheat and multi-grain breads are good choices for bread, and they combine well with tuna salad or peanut butter or cashew butter. Pocket sandwiches made with organic whole-wheat pita bread and your favorite filling are also very enjoyable.

Most varieties of fresh fruit, which are easy to transport and are concentrated sources of many vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients can be a great portable snack. If you have concerns about fruit negatively affecting your blood sugar level, select those with a low glycemic index such as apples and pears, oranges, berries, or plums. (See the for more information about fruits with low GI.)

Nuts make great snacks and are also a convenient way to include some extra protein in your diet while you are at work. Almonds and walnuts also provide rich sources of vitamin E and those hard to find omega-3 fatty acids, respectively. Yogurt can also serve as a snack and source of protein if you can tolerate dairy products. If you like yogurt mixed with fruit, it is best to add your own fresh fruit to plain yogurt rather than purchase already prepared yogurt mixed with fruit as they can be high in added sugars. Other dairy products such as milk and cheese are also good sources of protein but may not be for everyone, as many people have a sensitivity to milk and milk products.

While taking food to work from home may be the optimal way to eat healthy at work, many of us are eating out or purchase take-out more than ever before. While you may not have as much control over the quality of the food you purchase for lunch, the type of food you select is up to you.

Getting a salad at a salad bar is also a good idea for a convenient lunch. Not only will you get a cornucopia of nutrients from the many vegetables that are featured, but salad bars also have ingredients that can add great protein to your meal. For example, many salad bars have garbanzo beans (chickpeas), kidney beans, or mixed beans, and these foods can also help you meet your protein needs. There are sometimes hard-boiled egg whites as well, and each bite-sized chunk of an egg white contains about a gram of protein. The sunflower seeds at salad bars also provide some protein - about 3 grams per tablespoon.

If you are eating at a chain or fast food restaurant that has pamphlets containing nutrition information, a great short-cut step is to look over the information to find protein and fiber amounts. If either of these nutrients has a value of one gram or less, keep looking! Meals with at least 5-10 grams of fiber and 10-15 grams of protein are the ones you’ll want to select in terms of nutrition. When meals contain healthy protein and fiber content, they often contain healthy levels of many vitamins and minerals as well. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for meals prepared the way you want - many restaurants are happy to do so in return for your business. So if you do not have time to prepare your lunch at home, select the same type of foods as suggested above and you will be on your way to eating healthy at work.

For more information on this topic, see:

• The articles about each of these foods, links to which can be found at http://whfoods.com/foodstoc.php.

from www.whfoods.com

Don’t reserve this smoothie for breakfast as it is a delicious way to combine fruit with protein to energize you any time of day.

Prep and Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 TBS tahini
• 1 medium size ripe banana
• 1 cup low fat plain yogurt
• 1 - 1 1/2 cups pineapple juice
• 1 medium papaya

Directions:
Scoop out meat from papaya with spoon blend with the rest of ingredients. Blend until smooth.
Yields 2 - 8 oz glasses

Why Merck wants to keep the truth hidden from the public

http://www.naturalnews.com/z023052.html

by Mike Adams

(NaturalNews) Drug giant Merck has been caught red-handed in a scheme to deceive the FDA and the public over the integrity of its scientific studies, say top medical authorities. According to reports that were (amazingly!) published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and detailed in the Washington Post, Merck waged a “campaign of deception” to disguise its in-house study authors as independent scientists working for universities. This scheme made the studies appear independent and unbiased, allowing them to carry more apparent credibility to FDA officials, doctors and other scientists.

This fraud was conducted to boost the apparent scientific credibility of the studies backing Vioxx, a drug that has caused well over 100,000 heart attacks and likely killed well over 50,000 Americans, according to Senate testimony by the FDA’s own senior drug safety researcher Dr. David Graham. Vioxx earned Merck $2.3 billion in 2003 alone, and was one of the most lucrative drugs ever sold by any company. But since 2004, when some of the real dangers of the drug became known, a tremendous amount of evidence leading to fraud has surfaced.

It now appears quite clear that Merck deliberately lied about the dangers of the drug, misrepresented the results of scientific studies, deceived the FDA to win drug approval, knowingly covered up evidence of the drug’s dangers, and now it seems Merck even conducted a deliberate campaign of deceptive ghostwriting designed to attach independent-sounding names to in-house studies that were essentially pro-Vioxx promotional pieces disguised as scientific reports.

NaturalNews has reported on many of the fraudulent actions conducted by Merck over the years. See our reporting on Merck here: www.NaturalNews.com/Merck.html

… and read our stories about Vioxx here: www.NaturalNews.com/Vioxx.html

What’s interesting about this latest revelation of Merck fraud is that the documents revealing the depth of this fraud were only made public due to lawsuits filed by citizens who claim they were harmed by Merck’s drugs. And yet at the same time, Merck and the FDA are arguing that such lawsuits should not be allowed at all — that they should be “preempted” by FDA approval for drugs, thereby keeping Merck’s dirty secrets buried forever, even as consumers harmed by Merck’s drugs are denied any right to sue for damages caused by such drugs!

It is now rather obvious why drug companies like Merck so desperately want immunity from lawsuits — because the “discovery” phase of these lawsuits is causing Merck’s dirty science to be publicly aired! It’s allowing the public to have a peek at the skeletons in Merck’s closet. Merck no doubt wants its secrets to remain secret so that nobody is really aware of the scientific fraud we’re now learning so much about. I often wonder: What else is Merck hiding that it doesn’t want to become public knowledge?

Shouldn’t Merck be brought to justice?

Now, I have an important question to ask you. Given the magnitude of the scientific fraud being discovered about Merck, and the number of people who have reportedly been killed by Merck’s products, why does Merck still manage to escape any real scrutiny from the Dept. of Justice and the FDA? Why does Merck seem to have an unlimited “get out of jail free” pass from the U.S. government? Even while it’s arguing for immunity from public lawsuits, it seems Merck has already achieved a silent, practical immunity from U.S. government regulators and law enforcers.

Can you think of any other corporation that, if caught engaging in widespread fraud that resulted in the death of over 50,000 Americans, wouldn’t be hung out to dry by Congressional investigations and Justice Dept. arrests? It is flatly unbelievable to me that a corporation engaged in such massive campaigns of deception and death could be allowed to continue conducting business as usual in the United States. It’s far worse than what Enron engaged in. We’re not talking about simple white-collar crimes here; we’re talking about an ever-expanding collection of body bags, corruption, bribery, secret payoffs, science fraud and, in my opinion, crimes against humanity. And yet the mainstream media keeps on running Merck’s deceptive ads, holding their noses while they pocket Merck’s illegitimately-earned cash.

When individuals commit fraud and engage in deceptive practices that result in the deaths of other people, we charge them with crimes: Involuntary manslaughter, negligent homicide or even murder. So why, then, does a powerful corporation get to go free for committing essentially the same crimes?

In other words, shouldn’t corporations be held to the same laws as the People? Why, in our nation, are individuals charged with murder or manslaughter when they kill people, but corporations are allowed to kill any number of people with absolutely no consequence? They are not arrested, not charged with crimes and not prosecuted. And on top of that, they have the audacity to argue that they should be granted legal immunity from ALL lawsuits that might be filed by the people their products harm or kill! It’s truly astounding…

Do not allow Merck to conduct further business in this country

I believe that law enforcement authorities in America have both the right and the responsibility to arrest top Merck executives, seize Merck’s inventory, and deny Merck the right to conduct any further business in this nation by cancelling its corporate charter. I believe Merck is engaged in serious crimes against the People and that its business practices are clearly being conducted in violation of federal law (not to mention in violation of basic business ethics and human compassion). If this was any other corporation we were talking about here — and not Merck — this company would be subjected to a massive campaign of media scrutiny and Congressional scrutiny. But not Merck. It’s too powerful, too influential.

Merck should be renamed “The Teflon Company” because even though it’s pushing dangerous chemicals, nothing seems to stick.

Let me break it down for you and tell you what’s really happening here. It’s the same old story, after all: Rich, powerful white-collar criminals get away with murder, while the poor, the disadvantaged and the sick get shafted.

I pray for the day that Merck is put out of business, shut down by law enforcement authorities who finally decide to apply existing federal law and prosecute this dangerous, destructive corporation for its organized-crime-like operations. Americans would be far safer if Merck were shut down. In fact, the threat to Americans’ health from Merck far outweighs any threat to national security by terrorists. Think about it: The current war in Iraq has killed 4,000 Americans. Just one drug from Merck has killed over 50,000 (and that’s a conservative estimate). That’s more than ten times the number of Americans killed in our current war!

Is Merck a terrorist organization? No, it’s a dishonest, corrupt corporation that pretends to be engaged in good deeds and genuine science. But if you peek behind the curtain, you find nothing but fraud, deception, and the complete disregard for human life. Merck isn’t a terrorist organization, but it’s killed far more Americans than any terrorist organization could. Even a dirty bomb set off at the Superbowl (which was one of the FBI’s recent terrorist concerns) wouldn’t kill as many Americans as Merck’s drugs have in the last five years. That’s no exaggeration.

In my opinion, Merck is an evil, out-of-control corporation that’s destroying lives and obliterating any remaining credibility of the pharmaceutical industry. One day, when the truth finally emerges about the totality of Merck’s crimes against the People and the depth of its willful deception, the public will be stunned, frozen in a state of disbelief that they could have tolerated such heinous crimes right under their noses. They will think the same thoughts of Nazi supporters seeing Hitler’s concentration camps for the first time… How could we have allowed this to happen right here, on our own soil? To our own children? To our own families?

It’s time to apply federal laws to Merck and start making arrests. Too many lives have been lost already, and the extreme fraud being routinely exhibited by Merck should not go unpunished. It’s time to finally protect Americans from Big Pharma.

Also worth reading: Merck Engaged in Blatant Scientific Fraud with Vytorin Cholesterol Study? http://www.naturalnews.com/022485.html

Merck denied blood pressure screening services to doctors that did not prescribe its brand-name drugs http://www.naturalnews.com/020604.html

FDA, Merck may have conspired to discredit whistleblower, says U.S. Senator http://www.naturalnews.com/019728.html

Rex Says: I personally just think we need to take responsibility for our OWN health and make more informed decisions.  All prescriptions medications are not “evil” obviously.  I will say our focus has changed to address the CAUSE and get balanced, not just treat the symptom.  Symptoms are your body’s way of telling you you’re out of balance and it’s getting worn down trying to compensate.  WORK WITH IT not against it.

ARTICLE from http://articles.mercola.com

The side effects of prescription medication can be horrific. Is it really worth taking medication if the cure is worse than the disease?

Here 26 side effects that come with many prescription drugs currently on the market.

1. Drainage, crusting, or oozing of your eyes or eyelids
2. Swollen, black, or “hairy” tongue
3. Changes in the shape or location of body fat
4. Decrease in testicle size
5. Sores or swelling in your rectal or genital area
6. Blue lips or fingernails
7. Purple spots on your skin
8. White patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips
9. Irregular back-and- forth movements of your eyes
10. Enlarged breasts in males.
11. Unusual risk-taking behavior, no fear of danger
12. Extreme fear
13. Hallucinations, fainting, coma
14. Fussiness, irritability, crying for an hour or longer
15. Paralysis
16. Thoracic Hematoma (bleeding into your chest)
17. A blood clot in your lung
18. Liver damage
19. Kidney damage
20. A lump in your breast
21. Decreased bone marrow function
22. Congestive heart failure
23. Shingles
24. Nerve pain lasting for several weeks or months
25. Bleeding that will not stop
26. Coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds

One drug on the market, EvaMist — a treatment for menopause symptoms such as hot flashes — has possible side effects that include cancer, stroke, heart attack, blood clots, and dementia!

But this is only a partial list of the potential side effects of prescription drugs. There are, unfortunately, many more out there.

Sources:

• HealthMad March 20, 2008

• Dr. Mercola’s Comments:

  Every year, more than 2 million Americans suffer from serious adverse drug reactions. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these reactions cause about 100,000 deaths per year, making prescription drugs the fourth-leading cause of death in the country. Compare this to the death toll from illegal drugs — which is about 10,000 per year — and you begin to see the magnitude of the problem. However, if you dig a little deeper you find that these reported reactions only skim the surface of what’s really going on. You see, drug side effects are not always recognized as such. Doctors often attribute them to other causes, people downplay them or do not report them altogether. And when you add in other medical errors, unnecessary procedures, and surgery-related mishaps, well the modern health care system actually becomes the LEADING cause of death in the United States. Consider, for instance, that: The recorded error rate of ICU’s is like the post office losing more than 16,000 pieces of mail every hour of every day, or banks deducting 32,000 checks from the wrong bank account every hour, 24/7. The recorded medical errors and deaths equate to six jumbo jets falling out of the sky each day, 365 days a year. Since 2001, a recorded 490,000 people have died from properly prescribed drugs in the United States, while 2,996 people died on U.S. soil from terrorism, all in the 9/11 attacks; prescription drugs are therefore 16,400 percent more dangerous than terrorism. If deaths from over-the-counter drugs are also included, then drug consumption leaps to being 32,000 percent more dangerous than terrorism. And conventional medicine viewed as a whole is 104,700 percent deadlier than terrorism Your Body is Not a Petri Dish How can it be that clinically tested, FDA-approved drugs that are supposed to “cure” diseases are ending up hurting, and in some cases killing, so many people? Because even under the BEST circumstances, such as a drug going through unbiased, stringent, long-term testing, when it is released into an uncontrolled environment (your body), anything can happen. You may be taking another drug that interacts badly with it. Or perhaps a food you eat causes an unforeseen reaction. There are countless possibilities, and only a tiny fraction has been “tested for” in a lab. And that is under the best circumstances. Often, studies are biased, results are skewed, and drugs are put on a fast-track to be approved before anyone really knows whether they’re safe. In a sense, it is all a gamble, and there are no 100-percent safe drugs. This is why just about every time you open a newspaper or skim the news online, there is a new headline about another drug disaster: an unforeseen side effect that has harmed innocent people. It’s YOUR Body The take-home message from all of this is to remember that, ultimately, it’s your body, and your decision what to put in it. If your doctor suggests you take a drug, do some research before you take it, because once you do, it could be too late. Make sure you are aware of the potential side effects of the drug, read the package insert, and remember that even if it lists a side effect as rare, it can still happen to you. Many, many drugs are vastly over-prescribed and unnecessary. So make sure that you make drugs a last option, not a first choice. For example, all of the following conditions can be treated or prevented with LIFESTYLE CHANGES, yet if you go to a typical doctor, you will likely be prescribed a potentially dangerous drug instead: Diabetes Heart disease High blood pressure High cholesterol Insomnia I realize that it takes a massive shift in thinking to realize that your body can heal itself, and that often drugs only hinder the process. But I believe that you, and society as a whole, are ready for it. But here’s the thing: don’t wait until you’re sick or slowing down to make healthy changes. Do them NOW. Become an active participant in your health, and leave the horrific drug side effects behind for good.

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Lisa Says: this is why we’ve taken RESPONSIBILITY for our own health.  We still see mainstream doctors when we feel it’s appropriate, get their opinion, and then make our own decisions after additional research.  Prevention is the key by getting your body back in balance and then maintaining that balance it was DESIGNED for.  We do also use supplementation and have had amazing results over this past year incorporating our change to fresh and whole foods to balance our pH (for one), focus on hydration, yoga for exercise and spiritual growth thru meditation (ADDRESS THOSE NEGATIVE EMOTIONS), and appropriate supplementation with high quality products at www.mynsp.com/rex

from http://articles.mercola.com

Big drug companies have been accused of putting profits above patients, spinning false PR campaigns and more. Here are some of the most shocking facts about the pharmaceutical industry.

The price of drugs is increasing faster than anything else a patient pays for: The prices of the most heavily prescribed drugs are routinely jacked up, sometimes several times a year. Some medications have a mark-up of 1,000 percent over the cost of their ingredients.

Your doctor may have an ulterior motive behind your prescription: Drug reps often give gifts to convince doctors to prescribe the medications that they represent. These drug reps usually have no medical or science education.

Pharmaceutical companies spend more on marketing than research: Almost twice as much!

Guilty of Medicare fraud: Pharmaceutical companies are being tried in federal courts as a result of their exploitation of Medicare. AstraZeneca had to pay more than $340 million in penalties for coaching doctors to cheat Medicare.

The combined wealth of the top 5 pharmaceutical companies outweigh GNP of sub-Saharan Africa: In fact, the combined worth of the world’s top five drug companies is twice the combined GNP of that entire region.

Americans pay more for prescription meds than anyone else in the world: $200 billion in 2002 alone.

“New” Drugs aren’t really new: Two-thirds of “new” prescription drugs are identical to existing drugs or modified versions of them.

Drug companies are taking advantage of underdeveloped countries to perform clinical trials: In developing countries, government oversight is more lax.

For more shocking facts, click the link below.

Sources:

• Nursing Online Education Database March 27, 2008

• Dr. Mercola’s Comments:

  According to Corporate Watch, Fortune magazine has declared the world’s biggest drug company, Pfizer the “fifth-best wealth-creator” in America. The question is: who benefits from this “creation of wealth”? It’s certainly not the Americans who pay a thousand percent markup for the drugs Pfizer pumps out. Americans pay far more for their drugs than any other nation. Take this, for example: according to PricewaterhouseCoopers fascinating report, Pharma 2020: The Vision, India spends $420 per diabetic patient per year. The U.S., in comparison, spends an average of $10,844 per year per patient.Their report also states: “The current pharmaceutical industry business model is both economically unsustainable and operationally incapable of acting quickly enough to produce the types of innovative treatments demanded by global markets. In order to make the most of these future growth opportunities, the industry must fundamentally change the way it operates. Some of the major changes PwC anticipates for the industry are: Health care will shift in focus from treatment to prevention. Pharmaceutical companies will provide total health care packages. The current linear phase research & development process will give way to in-life testing and live licensing, in collaboration with regulators and health care providers. The traditional blockbuster sales model will disappear. The supply chain function will become revenue generating as it becomes integral to the health care package and enables access to new channels. More sophisticated direct-to-consumer distribution channels will diminish the role of wholesalers. Now, some of this has an encouraging ring to it, such as shifting the focus from treatment to prevention. Other “predictions” are far more menacing, including the development of more sophisticated direct-to-consumer distribution channels for drugs. People are Waking Up to the Truth About Health Fortunately, more people are waking up to the illusion and deception of the drug industry as a whole, and starting to clearly see the truth. Last year’s PricewaterhouseCoopers’ report cited a declining trust in the reputation of the mega-pharmaceuticals. The main reason is because the public is absolutely right in their estimation that drug companies manipulate or suppress negative clinical trials, promote their toxic products for unapproved uses, and focus on developing drugs that are no better than older ones. This is yet another indication that my vision to reconfigure and reform the deadly state of conventional health care in America is getting closer to becoming a reality. So keep up the good work folks. But please be aware, the battle has merely begun… Each of the 25 facts listed in the article above constitutes a problem within the system that needs to be changed or abolished. Physicians must also, en masse, come to the realization that what they are doing is going nowhere. This may be one of the most difficult areas to change, as the pharmaceutical industry has devised a highly effective system of indoctrination and very specific psychological techniques to bamboozle physicians. Doctors usually believe they are immune to persuasion tactics, and drug reps know just how important it is to maintain that illusion – which is why it works so well. Consider for a moment the in-depth report published in both The New England Journal of Medicine and PLoS Medicine, which admitted that pharmaceutical sales reps are trained in tactics that are on par with some of the most potent brainwashing techniques used throughout the world! The idea that reps provide some kind of valuable, informative service to physicians is total fiction, created and perpetuated by the drug industry, to keep this deadly, but profitable, scheme going. Poison For Profit Another shocking fact that few consider is that virtually every major pharmaceutical company has a corresponding branch that creates the toxins and poisons that contribute to the chronic diseases their drugs and medical devices treat. So these huge transnational companies profit not only from the sale of products such as pesticides, herbicides and GM crops, but also from the symptoms and chronic illnesses that they can trigger. The vast majority of chemicals found in pesticides and other products undergo little or no testing for chronic, low level exposures and for chronic health effects, effectively creating a circle of destruction and double profits. Below is a list of such chem/pharm companies: Chemical Division Pharmaceutical Division Aventis (herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, GM food) Aventis Pharma Monsanto (herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, GM food) Pharmacia BASF (herbicides, fungicides, pesticides) BASF Pharmaceuticals Merck Research Company (precursors for pesticides and neurotoxins) Merck Dow Chemical (industrial chemicals and pharmaceuticals) Dow Pharmaceuticals Make no mistake about it. The drug companies are incredibly powerful, and overcoming their influence over your life will take a mammoth effort. But there are concrete steps you can take to combat the drug companies’ self-interest, save yourself loads of money, and improve your health so you can avoid unnecessary drugs in the first place. Ten Steps to Reduce Your Pharmaceutical Expenses Now Take charge of your own health now instead of handing it over to the drug companies. How do you do that? You can start by using the Internet to locate non-drug alternatives to your health challenges. Many start with my site as it has more than 150,000 pages to help you understand more about how you can improve your health without drugs or surgery, through simple lifestyle modifications. These are the basic tenets of optimal health that have always remained permanent truths, regardless of what marvels modern science comes up with next: Eat a healthy diet that’s right for your nutritional type (paying very careful attention to keeping your insulin levels down) Drink plenty of clean water Manage your stress Exercise Get plenty of appropriate sun exposure Limit toxin exposure Consume healthy fat Eat plenty of raw food Optimize insulin and leptin levels Get plenty of sleep If you want to further understand how corporations and government manipulate science and the media by preying upon the public trust — and how to protect yourself — I highly recommend the book “Trust Us, We’re Experts.” One of the primary purposes of Mercola.com is to provide you with the insight to protect and defend yourself from these major corporate interests (as well as the government they’ve purchased). I’ve committed myself to providing you with practical and straightforward advice and suggestions on how to optimize your body to prevent disease, reach your optimal weight, and live longer.

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