Month: November 2010

In a news conference held today, Rep Boehner said:

"I believe that the healthcare bill that was enacted by the current Congress will kill jobs in America, ruin the best healthcare system in the world, and bankrupt our country. …That means we have to do everything we can to try to repeal this bill and replace it with common sense reforms to bring down the cost of health care."

If only it were that simple…
Before you get too excited about this, just remember that neither the Republicans nor the Democrats actually support disease prevention, health freedom or free speech for natural product manufacturers. They are both heavily vested in pharmaceutical interests, and they both owe big favors to the drug companies that funded their campaigns and put them in power.

Repealing Obama's health care reforms is in no way going to transform America's health care system into one based on nutrition and true disease prevention. The Republican model of health care merely has private insurers dominating the sick-care landscape rather than the federal government running the show.

Democrats deliver government-run sickness and disease, in other words, while Republicans deliver privately-run sickness and disease.

Nothing really changes in all this except where you send your checks to pay for sick-care insurance.

What we truly need in America today, obviously, is a health care revolution based on health freedom, nutrition education, holistic health practitioners and an end to FDA tyranny. I very much doubt Rep John Boehner has any intention of tackling those issues. These are the kind of changes that will require a revamping of the entire system, not just playing shell games with who pays for disease.

by: John Phillip

(NaturalNews) It`s important to understand that many of the top 10 killer diseases have one metabolic factor in common. Heart disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer`s disease and the process of aging are all accelerated by wild blood sugar swings that lead to insulin resistance. Humans have not evolved to consume a diet of unnatural processed chemicals, sugar, salt and hydrogenated fats. Eating foods composed of these artificially manufactured substances affects the biochemical and electrical function of our genes and cells that lead to disease. In addition to following a predominately raw diet, health conscious individuals can complement their healthy lifestyle with natural grape seed extract and resveratrol to reap multi-modal risk reduction.

Grape Seed Extract

Blood Sugar and Insulin Resistance at the Root of the Problem
When we`re young our body has many mechanisms to combat the blood sugar surges caused by a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar. The pancreas pumps out healthy quantities of insulin that effectively mop up excess blood sugar to prevent damage to arteries and vital organs. Since blood sugar doesn`t remain in circulation it isn`t easily converted to triglycerides and stored as body fat.

Eventually around age 35 our pancreatic function begins to decline; either it loses the ability to secrete enough insulin or the insulin becomes ineffective at lowering sugar in the blood. The result is too much sugar and signals the beginning of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, many cancers and obesity.

Resveratrol and Grape Seed Extract Protect the Heart
Nature provides powerful compounds found in the skin of red grapes known as proanthocyanidins that have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and promote heart health. Resveratrol and grape seed extract have been shown to provide critical antioxidant support to the heart muscle.

In a study reported in the journal Nature, researchers demonstrated that grape compounds were able to break down anti-glycation end products that form as a result of high blood sugar levels. AGE`s are known to damage the delicate inner endothelial lining of the coronary arteries setting the stage for heart disease and a heart attack.

Grape Compounds Cross the Blood-Brain Barrier to Improve Brain Health
The underlying cause of dementia and Alzheimer`s disease is rapidly emerging as high blood sugar and insulin resistance in the brain. The results of a study published in the journal Neurology found that the formation of abnormal plaque and tangles in the brain was the result of both elevated blood sugar and insulin levels. Proteins must fold into precise structures to effectively remove plaque buildup and this is inhibited by high glucose and insulin.

Researchers have known that resveratrol and grape seed extract have the unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and provide protection to an aging brain. Studies confirm that grape compounds are able to prevent damaging amyloid proteins from folding into structures that lead to dementia and Alzheimer`s disease.

Resveratrol and grape seed extract are yet another example of how nutrients provided by nature help to prevent disease in man. These compounds take their rightful place next to vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin K and Omega-3 fats as essential components to our health. Health minded people will ensure they consume enough of these powerful nutrients either from diet or supplementation to ensure a long and disease-free life.

Knowing this, people still persist in drinking beverages that don't truly hydrate and cleanse the body. In the modern day, it's so much easier to grab a sugary soda or a grande latte than it is to pour a simple, clean cup of water. But if a person can drink the water instead, she will reap so many benefits! Here are just a few of them:

Detoxification: Randa Khalil says on Disabled World's website that water is "the most ancient and potent natural detox aid ever known to mankind." Unlike other fluids people can put in their bodies, water is clean and pure, and it helps the body remove toxins from their diet. The kidneys have a daunting task, but water can help them.

As a diet aid: It might sound funny, but lots of people on the Standard American Diet confuse thirst for hunger, so instead of drinking a glass of water, they eat! While many foods have water in them, there might not be enough to satisfy a person's thirst. If a person is trying to watch his weight, he might try drinking a glass of water first. His body will thank him.

Rehydration: People need to rehydrate during the day. As people lose water simply by living – through urination and breathing, people lose water every day, so it's important to fill back up. People also need to rehydrate when they have been exercising or if they are ill; in fact, water is even more important during these times.

Water is important in so many ways, but people today are worried about their water sources. Fortunately, there are good filtration systems to cleanse water before a person drinks it. People on a budget can purchase water pitchers with replaceable carbon filters. These filters can remove many impurities in water, toxins like lead, mercury, copper, and cadmium. Some filters can even remove a majority of chlorine and fluoride.

There's no excuse not to drink plenty of water. After all, doesn't it make sense to replenish the body's most important element?

by Mike Adams

(NaturalNews) In what appears to be a broad backlash against Obama-era policies, U.S. voters swept Republicans into office in record numbers in last night's election. As of this writing, Republicans had clearly taken the House but failed to win a majority in the Senate. This effectively ends the Democratic super-majority alignment among the House, Senate and White House.

So what will this mean for health-conscious consumers and medical patients? Will this result in any improvements on the health freedom front?

A clue is found in the behavior of Big Pharma and health insurance companies. Even before the election was over, they were already focusing new efforts on lobbying Republicans, according to the Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100…).

The medical industry, you seem doesn't care whether Democrats or Republicans are in office. It can buy influence with either party. Remember, it was the Bush Administration that handed Big Pharma a Medicare drug monopoly. Obama merely expanded and extended that monopoly with Obamacare health reform.

Ballot measures challenge federal health insurance mandates
In two states — Colorado and Arizona — voters weighed in on ballot measures designed to effectively block federal mandates that will force citizens to buy health insurance (or be penalized by the IRS). Arizona's Proposition 106 appears to have passed, meaning that Arizona will soon find itself in a Tenth Amendment showdown with the federal government over whether the feds can force Arizona citizens to buy federally-mandated health insurance. (Gee, the fact that we're even talking about this show you just how overreaching the federal government has become the days, doesn't it?)

In Colorado, Amendment 63 appears to have been defeated. Sadly, this means the state is surrendering its citizens over to the interventions of federally-run Obamacare regulations. Colorado has apparently forgotten that all-important part of the Bill of Rights which says, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

That's the Tenth Amendment, of course. But even this amendment seems increasingly irrelevant to a federal government that chooses to ignore all the amendments in the Bill of Rights.

Emergence of the Tea Party?
One notable new element in play in this year's elections was the Tea Party, which has emerged as a force to be reckoned with. The Tea Party believes in lower taxes, smaller government, stronger border protections, halting debt spending and the elimination of special interest groups (among other things). The Tea Party does not maintain a strong direct position on health freedom or the censorship of nutritional science by the FDA, but it can be reasonably inferred that the Tea Party's opposition to "intrusive government" likely overlaps many of key issues on the health freedom front.

Make no mistake, however: The Tea Party is not synonymous with health freedom. In fact, some of the strongest supporters of health freedom are from the far left. The issues of health freedom, banning GMOs, and ending seed monopolies seem to cross all the traditional party boundaries. Supporters of such fundamental freedoms range from tie-dyed hippies to ultra-conservative church-goers. What all these people have in common is a desire for freedom in the realms of seeds, food and medicine.

Interestingly, the political party that most closely aligns itself with principles of health freedom and food freedom is the Libertarian party. Congressman Ron Paul is, of course, a libertarian at heart, and he is the sponsor of the Health Freedom Protection Act (which Democrats and Republicans refuse to bring to a vote).

Libertarians have a longstanding fundamental belief in individual sovereignty and true freedom combined with drastically reduced government spending (and a much smaller government altogether).

Interestingly, Rand Paul has apparently succeeded in his bid to become a U.S. Senator. He bridges the gap between Republicans and Libertarians by claiming to be "not quite" a Libertarian. It's not yet clear what his final position is on health freedom, but he's clearly in favor of drastically cutting government spending and reducing the size of government. He is also strongly opposed to Obamacare mandates.

Conventional medicine depends on Big Government
Make no mistake about all this, though: The survival of the cancer industry, Big Pharma and the entire conventional medical complex depends almost entirely on Big Government dishing out the cash via Medicare, Medicaid and vaccine purchases. Big Government is also the enforcer of conventional medicine through the FDA and FTC, both of which seek to criminalize any systems of healing or natural medicine that compete with the pharmaceutical industry.

Cutting the size of government — regardless of which party takes credit for it — is probably the most effective way to end Big Pharma's dangerous monopoly over the medical system and restore health freedom to the American people.

It has become painfully clear over the last two decades that neither Republican nor Democratic legislators will bite the Big Pharma hand that feeds them. To really sock it to Big Pharma and unleash health freedom in America, it's going to take a drastic cut in the size of government. That cut will almost certainly never be delivered by legislators or the voters… government will only shrink through catastrophe — a sudden collapse of funding due to a rapid devaluation of the dollar and the inability to sell off new government debt to international investors.

That day is no doubt coming, and I pity the fool who happens to occupy the White House when that day of reckoning arrives. (It may yet be Obama if things happen quickly.)

In the mean time, don't expect any health freedom miracles from the new wave of Republicans in the House of Representatives. From the point of view of Big Pharma, the only thing that has really changed is the names of the corrupt politicians being bribed with campaign contributions.

The voters, in other words, can keep sending new people to Washington all they want — Big Pharma will keep corrupting them and making sure they suppress health freedom and keep conventional medicine's deadly monopoly locked in place for years to come. Remember this: The real battle is not between Democrats and Republicans; it's between corporations versus the People!

And no matter who sits in Washington right now, the corporations can always buy the influence they need to keep destroying our collective futures in order to accumulate more money for themselves.

Now comes word from Italian scientists that they've discovered a mix of amino acids is a life extender in animals — and may well be a longevity aid for humans, too. But perhaps the most interesting aspect of this study, which was just published in the October issue of the journal Cell Metabolism, is a statement made by lead researcher Enzo Nisoli of Milan University in Italy which suggests nutritional therapies are being taken very seriously in the world of scientific research. The new study showing the life extending power of amino acids, Nisoli stated, supports a "general philosophy of a nutritional approach to disease, aging, and problems of energy status."

The Italian research team gave middle-aged, male mice drinking water laced with an extra mix of amino acids — leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), found in protein, are considered essential amino acids because human beings cannot survive unless these amino acids are present in the diet. Animals that were given the extra amino acids over a period of months had their normal life span increased by 12 percent — from about 774 to 869 days.

What's more, the mice who received the extra amino acids were found to have an increase in mitochondria (cellular components known as the "power factories" inside cells) in cardiac and skeletal muscles. There was also increased activity of SIRT1, a well-known longevity gene, in the rodents who drank the leucine, isoleucine, and valine-laced water. The animals were better able to fend off free radicals, too, and so showed fewer signs of oxidative damage.

And the benefits didn't stop there. The amino acid supplemented mice also had better motor coordination and exercise endurance. Overall, the benefits of the amino acids were similar to those found in previous experiments using calorie restriction.

In a statement to the media, Nisoli pointed out that consuming amino acid supplements is different from consuming proteins containing those amino acids because the amino acids don't have to be digested; they enter the bloodstream immediately. So, he added, BCAA nutritional supplements may turn out to be especially helpful for people with heart failure, the muscle-wasting condition known as sarcopenia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or other conditions marked by energy defects.

Although there are already a few small studies in human that support that idea that BCAA supplements could help people with various chronic health problems, Nisoli stated that convincing doctors that amino acid supplements might benefit patients is a challenge. The reason? A large clinical trial involving humans is needed to provide more hard data — but there's little incentive for companies to spend money on research for inexpensive dietary supplements as opposed to drugs, Nisoli said.

BPA is known to mimic estrogen and otherwise interfere with the hormonal system, and studies have linked it to elevated risks of cancer, diabetes and heart disease.  According to Yale University researcher Hugh Taylor, BPA can increase the impact of naturally occurring estrogens like those found in soy, increasing a person's risk of breast cancer and other conditions.  Taylor also said that BPA can effect  “epigenetic changes," modifying the way that the body's genes are expressed in a way that can be passed on to an exposed person's children and grandchildren.

Studies have shown that prenatal exposure to BPA in plastics makes young girls aggressive.  Other studies have shown that it also affects the baby ratio and results in fewer male babies due to the estrogen mimic qualities of BPA.

In addition, BPA has been linked to a number of other problems, including: brain cell connection interference, increased risks of reproductive and immune system diseases and disorders, problems with liver function testing, interruptions in chemotherapy treatment, premature puberty, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and Erectile Dysfunction and male sexual problems.

Canada’ s announcement is the culmination of two year’s deliberations and comes in spite of fierce opposition from plastic makers and the food industry, who have repeatedly given false assurances of BPA’s safety.

The American Chemistry Council executive director Steven Hentges yesterday said the move was “contrary to the weight of worldwide scientific evidence, unwarranted and will unnecessarily confuse and alarm the public”.   Recently the European Food Safety Authority dismissed scientific concerns raised recently in scores of studies, and said that it had found no scientific evidence that would lead it to recommend altering the tolerable daily intake of the chemical.

However, the Canadian Government disagreed and said that its actions had been based on “robust and relevant scientific evidence”.  Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health stated that “Our science indicated that Bisphenol A may be harmful to both human health and the environment and we were the first country to take bold action in the interest of Canadians”.
In the order adding BPA to the toxic register, Health Canada identified dietary intake as the primary source of human exposure and underlined concerns regarding the link between the chemical and neurodevelopmental and behavioral effects

Rick Smith, executive director of the Toronto advocacy group Environmental Defence, applauded Wednesday's announcement.

"It's a great victory for every mom and dad who sent a letter to their MP demanding that the federal government do a better job protecting the health of Canadians," said Smith who noted that the toxic listing is the foundation for developing regulations to manage the risks posed by the chemical.  Smith predicted that BPA will be removed from food and beverage containers in a few years.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., where only two canned goods makers do not use BPA and BPA is so ubiquitous that it is found on cash register receipts in food stores, the FDA has dragged their feet for years.  The FDA did finally admit for the first time this past January that  "some concern" exists over the chemical's effects.
BPA shows up in the urine of 93 percent of Americans, and in 90 percent of all newborns.

Sources included:
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/10/13/bpa-toxic.html?ref=rss
http://www.foodqualitynews.com/Legislation/Bisphenol-A-officially-declared-toxic-by-Canada?utm_source=RSS_text_news
http://www.naturalnews.com/030031_BPA_canned_foods.html
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/617971/dismay_over_eu_decision_not_to_ban_baby_bottle_chemical_bisphenola.html
http://www.curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1706552#i

"This study is one of the largest studies that have come out showing that there may be a role for fish oil in the prevention of cancer, specifically breast cancer," said Lorenzo Cohen, of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas-Houston.

The researchers followed 35,016 post-menopausal women between the ages of 50 and 76 who were taking part in the 10-year Vitamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) study, an investigation into the effects of non-vitamin supplements on male and female cancer risk. All participants were residents of Washington state and had no history of breast cancer.

After an average of six years, the researchers found that women who regularly took a fish oil supplement were 32 percent less likely to develop invasive ductal breast cancer than women who did not take the supplements. No information was available on what doses of fish oil the study participants were taking.

Invasive ductal breast cancer, in which tumors form in the breast's milk ducts, is the most common form of the disease. In contrast, lobular breast tumors form in the organ's milk glands.

The researchers also looked for a breast cancer-preventive effect of the menopause-relieving supplements black cohosh, dong quai, soy, and St. John's wort, but found none.

Scientists remain unsure what role fish oil might play in reducing cancer risk. Since some research has implicated inflammation in cancer risk, the anti-inflammatory properties of fish oil may explain part of the effect.

"Fish oil, in general, is a very good anti-inflammatory agent, and inflammation plays a role in cancer development," fish oil researcher Peiying Yang of M.D. Anderson said.

Fish oil's high content of omega-3 fatty acids may also play a role. Although previous studies have found no connection between consumption of fatty fish and lowered cancer risk, fish oil supplements typically contain a higher omega-3 concentration than fish itself.

Omega-3s are known to play an essential role in inter-cell communication, inflammation control, and the formation of cell membranes. They have also been linked to lower trigylceride levels, higher HDL ("good") cholesterol levels, and a lower risk of heart attack and death in people who suffer from heart disease. They may also decrease the risk of dangerously abnormal heartbeat.

Additional research is underway to determine whether omega-3s and fish oil can help prevent or treat cancer, dementia, and other mental health conditions.

A growing body of research suggests that the typical Western diet is far too low in these essential oils, which can be found in fatty fish (such as salmon and sardines), canola oil, soybeans and flaxseeds. However, because the oils may cause an increased risk of bleeding if combined with certain medications including over-the-counter NSAIDs, they should be used only in consultation with a health professional.

For those wishing to take fish oil supplements, the wide variety of options can be overwhelming. In addition, these products are not regulated by the FDA.

"Some products may be contaminated with heavy metals," Cohen said. "If you are not going to get fish oil from the fish itself, do appropriate homework to make sure you choose a reputable product."

Good Morning America recommends that consumers look for oils that are of high purity and are certified by U.S. Pharmacopeia, the official NGO that sets standards for healthcare products sold in the United States. Many over-the-counter brands meet these standards just as well as name brands, at a significantly lower price.

A physician or other health practitioner may also be able to help consumers select a reputable product.

by: Ethan A. Huff

(NaturalNews) Numerous studies have linked vitamin D deficiency to practically every known malady in the world today — heart disease, chronic inflammation, arthritis, psoriasis, depression, influenza, asthma, allergies, autoimmune disorders, diabetes, autism, and even cancer. And even though many doctors still do not test vitamin D levels or prescribe vitamin D supplements to their patients, sales of the vitamin continue to skyrocket.

According to data published in the Nutrition Business Journal, overall sales of vitamin D in 2009 totaled roughly $425 million, which is ten times the amount spent on it in 2001. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin D has not been revised to reflect the plethora of new research on vitamin D, but that has not stopped millions of informed individuals from taking daily dosages far higher than these levels right now — and improving their health in the process.

NaturalNews has a wealth of information and news about vitamin D that you can read about here:
http://www.naturalnews.com/Vitamin_…

According to reports, around 90 percent of Americans are vitamin D-deficient. The vitamin, which is actually a hormone, is produced in the skin naturally when it is exposed to natural sunlight. But many Americans hardly get any natural sunlight exposure, and when they do, they typically lather up in sunscreens that block the ultraviolet (UV) rays responsible for vitamin D production.

"We have this vast experiment going on," explained Carol L. Wagner, a neonatologist at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, in reference to widespread vitamin D deficiency. "We are looking at the rampant vitamin D deficiency throughout the country."

Wagner disagrees with the false notion propagated by some scientists who insist that people avoid supplementing with vitamin D until a supposed safe dosage amount is determined. In reality, vitamin D is extremely difficult to "overdose" on, and the damage caused by not supplementing with it is far worse than any supposed damage from taking too much.

by: Jonathan Benson

(NaturalNews) A powerful compound in curry known as curcumin may play an important role in liver health, according to a new study out of Saint Louis University (SLU). Researchers observed that curcumin seems to help fight and prevent damage caused by liver fibrosis, a chronic liver disease that typically leads to cirrhosis, liver failure, and portal hypertension, as well as the eventual need for a liver transplant.

"My laboratory studies the molecular mechanism of liver fibrosis and is searching for natural ways to prevent and treat this liver damage," explained Anping Chen, Ph.D., author of the study and director of research in the pathology department of SLU. "[O]ur study suggests that curcumin may be an effective therapy to treat and prevent liver fibrosis, which is associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)."

Curcumin plays many important roles in health. Besides recent research published in the journal Gut that found similar benefits for curcumin in liver health  studies have shown that curcumin prevents and fights cancer, prevents and treats Alzheimer's disease and other mental conditions and even reverses the aging process.

High levels of leptin, a key protein hormone that helps regulate energy intake and use, is linked to causing liver fibrosis. Leptin activates hepatic stellate cells which can cause the overproduction of collagen protein responsible for liver damage. But Chen and his team learned that curcumin helps to stop leptin from activating these cells, effectively halting the liver damage process.

Other key factors associated with liver disease include high glucose and insulin levels, both of which are common among obese and type-2 diabetic individuals. These conditions make people more prone to developing liver disease, but in the presence of curcumin, the likelihood of their onset is significantly reduced.

Researchers interviewed almost 60,000 pregnant Danish women about their soft-drink consumption, then compared these data with the results of the women's births. They found that drinking one can of diet soda per day increased her risk of giving birth prematurely by 38 percent compared with women who never drank diet soda. Drinking four or more of the beverages per day increased the risk of preterm birth by 78 percent.

A preterm birth is defined as taking place before the 38th week of pregnancy.

No connection was found between sugared soda consumption and premature birth, suggesting that artificial sweeteners may be playing a role in the effect. The researchers suggested that premature births may be triggered in part by the neurotoxin methanol, which is generated by some artificial sweeteners. Sweeteners may also generate formaldehyde, another known toxin.

Prior studies have also shown that the artificial sweetener saccharin builds up in the placenta.

"I would think it is prudent for pregnant women to diminish consumption of these drinks and possibly those foods containing artificial sweeteners," said Erik Millstone of the University of Sussex.

Mary Ellen Sherry of the University of Tennessee Medical Center was cautious about the results, noting, "There are a lot of risk factors for prematurity. Poor nutritional health is one. Underweight is one."

She urged women to start taking care of their bodies and eating a balanced diet even before becoming pregnant, if possible, making sure to get plenty of protein, calcium and folic acid.

As for diet soft drinks, she pointed out that they provide no nutritional benefit to your diet, so you lose nothing by giving them up.

"If you are afraid of it, don't do it," she said. "That's one thing that's easy to give up, diet drinks."