Month: April 2011

by: Dave Gabriele

(NaturalNews) Could allowing our lifestyles to disrupt the natural 24 hour rhythm of our bodies affect our behaviour? Researchers from The Rockefeller University and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York have found that disruption of natural circadian rhythms, as seen in shift work or international travel, could be causing significant changes in our brains, bodies and behaviours.

A study published January 25, 2011, in the journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), titled "Disruption of circadian clocks has ramifications for metabolism, brain, and behaviour", examined the effects of making subtle changes to the sleep-wake cycles of mice. The mice were placed in a 20 hour light-dark cycle, rather than the normal 24 hour cycle, for 10 weeks. Significant effects were found in the brains and behaviour of the mice.

The mice exhibited changes in metabolic hormones resulting in accelerated weight gain and obesity, as well as behavioral changes such as increased impulsiveness and decreased mental flexibility. "In the brain, circadian-disrupted mice exhibit a loss of dendritic length and decreased complexity of neurons in the prelimbic prefrontal cortex, a brain region important in executive function and emotional control. Disrupted animals show decreases in cognitive flexibility and changes in emotionality consistent with the changes seen in neural architecture."

The Rockefeller and the Mount Sinai research team, led by neuroendocrinology post-doctorate Ilia Karatsoreos, is attempting to map out how environmental disruptions of natural sleep-wake cycles affect human biochemistry in terms of hormones, metabolism and the genes that drive our circadian rhythm. The work suggests that our modern lifestyle could be significantly affecting us in ways not yet understood.

According to Karatsoreos, "The circadian system is a 'web,' with rhythms at the molecular level driving rhythms at the cellular level, which results in rhythms at the tissue level. This can lead to a cascading set of effects throughout the whole organism, and we want to understand how exactly that happens."

New York's Rockefeller University, established in 1901, is a centre for research and graduate education in the biomedical sciences, chemistry, bioinformatics and physics. PNAS is one of the world's most-cited multidisciplinary scientific serials. Since its establishment in 1914, it publishes leading research reports, commentaries, reviews, perspectives and colloquium papers.

[Editor`s Note: NaturalNews is strongly against the use of all forms of animal testing. We fully support implementation of humane medical experimentation that promotes the health and wellbeing of all living creatures.]

by: Perry Arledge

(NaturalNews) Right now, everyone on earth is bathed in a soup of radioactive energy. Our bodies are radiated daily. It is crucially important to counter this bombardment, to remove this radiation and the resultant damage from our bodies. There is nothing better for this purpose than using a pure, high quality, living clay on a daily basis.

Radioactive material is formed carrying a positive ionic charge. Calcium Bentonite Clay is a negatively charged ion. Simply put, Calcium Bentonite Clay adsorbs and absorbs, capturing positive charged ions. Unlike other clays, only Smectites (Bentonites) can both absorb and adsorb and are characterized by their expandable properties. Radiation is a real health problem. A Living Calcium Bentonite Clay is the real solution.

Steps to Take if You`re in a Fallout Zone

1. If outdoors, come inside immediately.

2. When in your home or apartment, quickly close all windows and doors.

3. Turn off any outside air source. You may leave on air conditioning or heat if it can be set to utilize re-circulated air from inside the home.

Note: The benefit of steps 1-3 is to close your home to possible contamination from the air outside. It could be only seconds before the blast contamination is at your doorstep.

4. Go immediately to an area of your home set aside for such an emergency. Strip off all of your clothing. Secure your clothes and shoes in a plastic bag and put them outside until you can wash them with clay.

5. Using prepared hydrated Calcium Bentonite Clay: Get in the shower and dip your hands into it. Quickly apply the clay over every inch of your body (with the exception of in your eyes). Cover your hair and all nooks and crannies. Scrub your body thoroughly with the clay. Leave it on for 10 minutes. Next, wash off, while continuing to scrub.

6. After drying off, apply another thin film coating of clay and stand with your arms away from your sides and feet slightly apart. In 5-15 minutes the clay will dry on your body.

7. After the clay has dried, put on a disposable pull-on garment, a surgical-type face mask, and disposable shoe covers on your bare feet.

8. Take a prepared liquid Calcium Bentonite Clay and a jar of potassium iodide (KI) into the kitchen and set them on the counter by the sink. Drink 4 ounces of the liquid Calcium Bentonite Clay and take 2 potassium iodide (KI) tablets or as directed on the label. Periodically every 2-3 hours drink another 2 ounces of the liquid clay.

9. If service is available stay tuned to your TV or radio to stay informed.
Note: Get as comfortable as possible because this will be your repetitive treatment and mode of dress for several days to come. You will sleep well knowing you are being protected from radiation.

10. Take a clay bath daily using 1-2 cups of dry clay until danger has passed. You can also give your pets a clay bath.

11. Wash your clothes by adding 1/4 cup liquid clay per load.

12. Rinse fresh vegetables in clay water.

If you are not in a direct fallout area drink 2 ounces of clay twice daily, take 1 Potassium Iodide tablet every morning and take a weekly clay bath. These are precautionary maintenance doses that are healthy for all of us.

References:
Ionizing Radiation Fact Book, 2007 EPA
James Girard, Principles of Environmental Chemistry, (Jones & Bartlett 2010)
Raymond Dextreit, Earth Cures, (Citadel, 2000)

by: Dr. David Jockers

(NaturalNews) Vision is one of the most sophisticated feats of creation. The ability to transmit photo rays and create pictures of reality is such an incredible process that most talented scientists do not completely understand it. Unfortunately, vision problems are one of the fastest growing functional health deficits in the world. Fortunately, natural lifestyle solutions can help prevent and reverse many of today`s vision problems.

The eyes are especially susceptible to lifestyle and environmental stressors that play a very big role in functional eye deficits such as cataracts, glaucoma, and blurry vision. The eyes have a higher level of oxidative stress and free radical activity than any other organ. Certain lifestyle habits such as excessive time in the sun, smoking, heavy toxic exposure, poor diet, & nutritional deficiencies increase oxidative stress and accelerate the degenerative processes of the eye.

One of the most common causes for poor vision in industrialized countries is due to heavy intake of sugar, grains, & processed foods. All of these foods increase our blood sugar and insulin levels. Continually eating these foods depletes the body of critical trace minerals, B vitamins, and anti-oxidants while creating an insulin resistant state on the cell membranes.

When blood sugar stays elevated for too long, it interacts with enzymes and other protein molecules and creates dangerous substances called Advanced Glycolytic End Products (AGE`s). AGE`s are highly inflammatory and destructive as they damage tissue throughout the body including nerve fibers and blood vessels. One of the most sensitive regions for AGE related damage is the optic nerve, macula lutea & retinal regions of the eye.

Prevention and reversal of functional and degenerative vision/eye problems depends on our ability to reduce inflammation and enhance cellular healing processes. This begins with a diet rich in phytonutrient dense vegetables, healthy fat and clean protein sources. Non-starchy vegetables and anti-oxidant rich herbs are the best sources for critical eye enhancing phytonutrients. Healthy fat sources include coconut products, avocados, olive oil, nuts, & seeds. Healthy protein includes wild-caught fish, grass-fed red meat and free range chicken, turkey and eggs.

Carotenoids are special phytonutrients that densely populate the eye tissue and function as anti-oxidants, neutralizing free radical damage created by lifestyle stressors and unavoidable factors such as sunlight. Carotenoids also act as filters to protect the eye from blue light, which is naturally found in sunlight.

Carotenoids are found in leafy greens, kiwi and red, orange, and yellow fruits & vegetables. Beta carotene is one important carotenoid that is found in carrots, apricots, cantaloupe, & sweet potatoes. Other carotenoids such as alpha-carotene, gamma carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin all help produce vitamin A retinal. Retinal is the critical anti-oxidant in the eye tissue.

Lycopene is another carotenoid that is found in red fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, red bell peppers, watermelons, grapefruit, & papayas. Although lycopene does not have vitamin A activity, higher consumption of this great nutrient has been linked with lower risk of macular degeneration.
Lutein and zeaxanthin are very powerful carotenoid antioxidants that act to directly absorb and neutralize near ultra-violet light and protect the macula lutea. The richest source of these two super-nutrients is egg yolk from a free range chicken that had a nutrient dense diet. They are also found in many fresh, raw vegetables.

The long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA & DHA are very critical for healthy vision and eye function. The best source of EPA & DHA is through purified fish or krill oil. The brand should be molecularly distilled and 3rd party tested for purity. Anyone with vision problems should look to take a minimum of 1.5 g/daily of EPA/DHA.

Iodine is probably one of the most misunderstood nutrients of our time; although as the realization of its importance for whole body health grows, the volume of understanding is becoming much greater. When people think of iodine, they think of the thyroid gland because it accounts for approximately 60% of thyroid hormone production. This has led the CDC to create its daily recommendation of iodine to be just 150 mcg (micrograms) for the average adult for general thyroid health, which does not take into account the need in other areas of the body.

Iodine plays a major role in the health and wellness of the entire body. Aside from preventing thyroid goiters and nodules, iodine has proven to be critical for other iodine dependent tissues such as the breasts, prostate, reproductive organs, digestive tract and essentially all tissues of the body exposed to microbes and pathogens. This is partially due to iodine's antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic and antiviral effects. This has led to practitioners making recommendations of daily iodine considerably higher than the current 150 mcg daily.

Many of the recommendations of how much iodine one should take have been distilled from studying cultures that eat iodine rich foods such as sea vegetables including dulse and kelp. It has been found that cultures such as the Japanese, where these foods are a regular staple to their diet, have lower incidences of breast and prostate cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease.

The Japanese culture consumes at conservative estimates ten times more iodine than the United States averaging in between 1 1/2 mg to 6 mg daily, with some estimates going as high as 13 mg daily. So does this mean that we should be taking daily dosages in these higher amounts?

This recent nuclear scare should serve as a wake-up call. The iodine you consume in foods and supplements gets released from the body in 24 to 48 hours, which means daily consumption or supplementation of iodine is critical for maintaining iodine dependent health.

In recent days we have seen the need for iodine sway from general whole body health to protection from nuclear radiation. In this case iodine is used as a blocker; where from taking a mega dose of potassium iodide, the thyroid gland becomes saturated leaving no room for radioactive iodine to take hold. This is not a dose that someone should randomly consume if there is no real threat of radioactive exposure.

Taking too much iodine can have its consequences and may not be free of side-effects. Too much iodine can send someone in the state of hyperthyroidism or even a thyroid storm leading to headaches, nausea, a racing heart, and a very high fever, so it is important to take such extreme doses only under situations where there is a clear need.

by: Dr. David Jockers

(NaturalNews) People with chronic depression often times have significant biochemical imbalances in their neurological tissue. New research has indicated that this imbalance is not a genetic flaw as was once thought. Instead it is due to a heavy onslaught of toxicity or severe nutritional and lifestyle based deficiencies that cause massive brain inflammation; this in effect disrupts normal neurological processing. Fortunately, when these causative factors are addressed, one can overcome the chemical imbalances and beat depression naturally.

Depression and neuro-emotional diseases such as bipolar, schizophrenia, etc. are at an all-time high. The pharmaceutical industry has brought out dozens of blockbuster drugs to treat all of these conditions with billions of $ of revenue every year. Unfortunately, none of these drugs treat the cause of the chemical imbalance, but they merely treat the symptoms and come with a whole host of frightening side effects. In fact, years back the FDA mandated labeling requiring anti-depressant manufactures to include a warning that these drugs increase suicide risk (which is one of the things they are supposed to prevent).

The true cause of depression from a biochemical and lifestyle perspective is due to toxicity or deficiency at the cellular level. Common toxicity problems associated with depression include heavy metals like mercury, lead, aluminum, etc. that accumulate in the fatty tissue of the brain and create massive free radical damage and inflammation that alters neurological function. Viruses and environmental toxins are common inflammatory agents in the brain as well.

Another common toxin that causes massive inflammatory conditions in the brain is certain food intolerances. The most common food allergens to avoid include gluten containing grains such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, kamut, & spelt. Soy products, different nuts, eggs, and heavy proteins are often not tolerated well. Obviously all processed and man-made foods need to be avoided at all costs. Other common allergens include those of the nightshade family such as eggplant, tomatoes, & onions.

An anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle are critical for full recovery from these conditions. Anti-inflammatory foods help to modulate the immune system and give it a more accurate pair of eyes so as to not over-inflame when stimulated. To effectively de-inflame it is key to completely avoid man-made foods, sugars, and food allergens as listed above. The long chain omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA not only are critical for healthy brain function, but also powerfully de-inflame the body by restoring natural balance to the lipid wall of the cell membrane.

Healthy movement patterns produce proprioception (movement information) which is a critical essential for healthy brain enhancing and mood regulating patterns. Boosting proprioceptive input through maintaining healthy spinal function and exercise training has been shown to prevent and reverse depression. Regular chiropractic care and customized physical therapy exercises are critical lifestyle factors for maintaining healthy spinal function. A daily exercise regimen of a high-intensity burst and resistance training program that incorporates core stability and functional balance training enhances proprioceptive input into the brain and balances key hormones that play a role in weight regulation and muscle tone which are factors involved in mental health as well.

Other critical nutrients that are key for mood stabilization include Vitamin D, Folic acid, Pyridoxine (B6), Vitamin B12, Zinc, CoQ10, and trace minerals. Vitamin D levels should be between 60-100 ng/ml. Boost Vitamin D naturally with 20-60 minutes of healthy sunlight every day or 10,000-50,000 IU of emulsified vitamin D3 daily to get the levels where they should be. A raw, whole-food multi-vitamin that supplies ample amounts of folic acid (400 mcg), B6 (4mg), B12(100 mcg), Zinc (15 mg), trace minerals, & CoQ10 (500 mcg) should be consumed daily.

Vitamin D3

For twenty years, dermatologists have demonized sun exposure and told us it is bad for our health and causes cancer. As a result, the world is now facing a major vitamin D deficiency epidemic with symptoms such as fatigue, restless sleep, weight gain, chronic pain, muscle cramps, poor concentration and headaches. In fact, more than half of all adults living in the United States and Europe don't get enough vitamin D.

To make matters worse, a 2009 study published in the journal Pediatrics concluded that six million American kids are deficient, too. It's a shame, partly because one recent study discovered a link between low vitamin D levels and allergies in children. Researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University compared blood samples of more than 3,000 kids, and what they found was alarming: Low vitamin D levels correlated with sensitivity to 11 environmental (cockroach, ragweed, dog, oak) and food allergens (peanuts).

It turned out that children with less than 15 ng of vitamin D per milliliter of blood were more than twice as likely to suffer from a peanut allergy than those who had enough of the sunshine vitamin. However, young kids are not the only ones who could benefit from more sunlight. An astonishing 59 percent of otherwise healthy women, who participated in a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, had too little vitamin D in their blood, which resulted into increased body fat and decreased strength.

"High levels of vitamin D could help reduce body fat. Or, fat tissues might absorb or retain vitamin D, so that people with more fat are likely to also be vitamin D deficient," explains Dr. Richard Kremer, a Professor of Medicine at McGill University.

If that wasn't enough, David J. Llewellyn and his colleagues of University of Exeter found yet another reason why we shouldn't be scared to get some sun, stating that low vitamin D levels are associated with cognitive decline. The results of their work presented in Archives of Internal Medicine suggest that older adults, who are deficient in vitamin D, have a 60 percent higher risk of experiencing major declines in thinking, memory and learning. The participants of the research were age 65 or older and went through three tests assessing their overall cognition, attention and executive function.

Given recent research hinting at the therapeutic value of vitamin D for the diabetic population (http://www.naturalnews.com/028659_v…), it shouldn't come as a surprise that heart disease patients may experience significant improvements in their quality of life, too. As presented at the European Society of Cardiology's Congress 2010 in Stockholm, it seems that low levels of vitamin D may activate the Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) and alter cytokine profile, which in turn may contribute to the progression and/or development of heart failure. Meanwhile, patients with enough vitamin D seem to have lower risk of death or required re-hospitalisation.

"This study provides compelling evidence that a high vitamin D status is associated with improved survival in heart failure patients," explains Ms. Licette Liu from the University Medical Center, Groningen. "Until an intervention study has been designed and completed, it seems that we should advise patients with heart failure to maintain appropriate vitamin D levels by taking supplements, by eating oily fish or eggs, or simply by exposure to sunlight"

In the west, dandelions are known to detoxify the liver. The tincture of the roots and leaves can help clear up jaundice and other disorders due to liver and gall bladder congestion. Dandelion leaves can be eaten daily in spring and are considered a spring tonic. As one of the earliest spring greens, dandelion historically saved people from malnutrition after long hard winters(1).

Dandelion leaves are 15% protein and high in vitamins and minerals. One cup of dandelion greens contains 112% daily recommendation of vitamin A, 32% of vitamin C, and 535% of vitamin K. They also contain 218 mg potassium, 103 mg calcium, and 1.7 mg of iron(2).

In Eastern Medicine dandelion roots (known as Pu Gong Ying) are dried and used in strong teas called decoctions which "clear heat and fire toxicity, especially Liver heat with red, swollen and painful eyes."(3) In Chinese Medicine, the Liver energy pathway opens on the eyes, and congestion of the Liver can show up as hot red eyes. Herbalists both east and west use dandelion root to promote lactation. (4)

The best time to harvest dandelion leaves and roots is early spring before the flower blooms and late fall once the flower has gone by. Dandelion taproots are deep and are best harvested with a shovel or trowel. Leaves can be added raw to salads, or steamed or sauteed with garlic like other dark leafy greens.

To make dandelion tincture, harvest the root and leaves when flowers are not present. Both leaves and roots can be washed, chopped, put into a glass jar, and covered with alcohol such as 100 proof vodka. Steep in dark cupboard for 6 weeks. Strain and save liquid. A dose is 10 – 30 drops of tincture per day to cleanse liver.

by: T.M. Hartle

(NaturalNews) A new study from Princeton University found that significant weight gain occurred by merely adding high fructose corn syrup to the diet. Subjects in the test group gained 48% more weight than those who were not given any high fructose corn syrup. Companies with financial ties to the industry have fought back against current scientific research with a very effective, yet deceptive, advertising campaign. Despite industry ad campaigns, research continues to show high fructose corn syrup to be a health damaging substance.

The latest ad campaigns have tried to paint a picture that high fructose corn syrup is no different than white sugar. It is interesting that the industry is trying to make their product look harmless by comparing it to another unhealthy substance. Regardless of the lunacy of the comparison, the claim is false. During the study conducted at Princeton, subjects consuming foods laced with high fructose corn syrup experienced weight gain, high increases in triglyceride levels, and fat deposits in the abdominal area. This study, however, does not stand alone in its implication of high fructose corn syrup and its health damaging effects.

An earlier study looked at the direct differences between white sugar and high fructose corn syrup. This study separated two groups: one was given white sugar, the other high fructose corn syrup. The group receiving white sugar received a similar amount to what would be found in a regular can of soda. The other group received high fructose corn syrup in half the volume in comparison to the amount of white sugar given to the first group. Researchers found that high fructose corn syrup consumption led to increased triglycerides, abdominal fat, and weight gain. The group on white sugar did not experience any of these effects. Researchers also hypothesized that this could lead to leptin and insulin resistance leading to a predisposition toward obesity. Leptin is a hormone that signals to the brain that you are full. Research has shown that high fructose corn syrup does inhibit this hormone leading to excess calorie intake.

The claim that high fructose corn syrup is the same as white sugar simply does not pan out according to many scientific studies. Americans have heard that high fructose corn syrup isn't healthy but many cannot articulate why. The reality is fructose is processed entirely differently in the body than sucrose and other sugars. This leads to fatty liver, increased abdominal fat, leptin resistance, increased triglycerides, and other negative health effects not seen with other types of sugar. High fructose corn syrup is not a benign ingredient in foods and consumers should consciously evaluate ingredients labels on food and avoid it entirely.