Sarah Palin Will Be An Advocate For Special Needs Kids and Their Families

Wonderful MSNBC Video On Sarah Palin

This is an amazing woman doing amazing things. It would be grand and just if McCain won this election by the margin of special needs families that Sarah brought to the ticket.

Posted by: Daily Thought Pad

Antioxidants Save Trauma Patients

Antioxidants like vitamin C can make the difference between life and death in critically injured patients, according to a new study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. The study showed that antioxidants can heavily influence whether patients suffer potentially lethal major multiple organ failure after surgery for traumatic injuries.

In spite of modern surgical techniques and the use of the latest antibiotics, many trauma victims who survive their injury frequently die of multiple-organ failure following surgery. According to study leader Bryan Cotton, MD, FACS, such deaths are often the result of “oxidative stress,” which is the result of the release into the body of injured oxygen molecules known as free radicals.

Dr. Cotton said previous research has shown that in critically injured patents the store of antioxidants, which serve to neutralize free radicals, is quickly depleted. While antibiotics are essential following surgery, they are by themselves not enough, according to the study. Antioxidant therapy, in the form of vitamins C and E and the mineral selenium, can quickly replenish the body’s stores and help overcome fatal infections.

“Antioxidant therapy is so simple and that’s what throws people off,” Dr. Cotton said, who became interested in it after seeing results of a trial that showed inflammation in patients who received antioxidants was greatly improved over patients who did not. “When we learned it would cost only $11 a patient for a seven-day course of antioxidants, we decided to give it a try.”

The study tracked over 4,000 patients admitted to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center trauma unit. High-dose antioxidants were administered to all injured patients (about 2,200) between October 1, 2005, and September 30, 2006. Treatment included 1,000 mg. of vitamin C and 1,000 IU of vitamin E every eight hours by mouth, and 200 mcg. of selenium once a day intravenously. Results of the treatment were compared to about 2,000 patients admitted between October 1, 2005 and September 20, 2005, which was in the time period before antioxidant treatment was initiated.

In the patients who received the antioxidant treatment, abdominal compartment syndrome occurrences were reduced from 90 to 31, catheter-related infections were reduced from 75 to 50, surgical site infections from 101 to 44, and pulmonary failure reduced from 721 to 528.

The study team is now trying to determine optimal dosage. Dr. Cotton said, “While we are all looking for that magic bullet to cure some of the horrible things that can happen after someone is injured or has an operation, we have something at our disposal.

It might not be that magic bullet, but it is a very inexpensive and safe way to reduce complications and mortality in the sickest patients.”

Your Thyroid Might Be the Culprit

Katie, age 54, suffered from severe fatigue for six years. "I go to bed tired, and I wake up tired," she lamented. Also Katie complained of other symptoms of hypothyroidism. She said, "I can't believe how I look. I feel like someone took a bicycle pump and blew up my face. Also, my hair is falling out and my skin is extremely dry no matter what I do to it." Katie's blood tests revealed significantly elevated TSH and a very low T3 level, indicating a hypothyroid condition. Within two months of treatment many of Katie's symptoms were markedly better.

Even my friends were commenting how much better I looked. They all noticed that I looked like I had lost weight. I did lose a few pounds, but I think they were noticing the difference in my face. It no longer looks swollen," she reported.

Katie also reported a return of her energy level when the hypothyroidism was appropriately treated. This is an after photo; the picture of  her face 'before and after' thyroid treatment was amazing, no more puffiness of her face. If you are just not getting better, you may be suffering from hypothyroidism.

Trans Fat Could Cause Colon Cancer

When Bad Fats Go Badder

Researchers recently reviewed the health of 622 colonoscopy patients and came up with plenty of fuel for the down-with-trans-fats fire. People who ate the most trans fat -- an average of 6.5 grams per day -- were 86 percent more likely to have potentially precancerous colon polyps compared with those who consumed the least trans fat -- about 3.6 grams or less per day. Seems trans fats can mess with the colon’s normal, healthy balance of bile and fatty acids and damage the mucus that protects this organ. 

Less Is More

For heart health, the American Heart Association recommends that no more than 1 percent of your daily calories come from trans fat. That means if you eat 2,000 calories a day, no more than 2 grams should come from trans fat. Since trans fat is found mostly in packaged sweets, frozen dishes, and fried foods, steering clear of them will help. Your other option is to closely read the list of ingredients, keeping in mind that even products labeled trans-fat-free can still have up to 0.5 grams of the stuff per serving. So cut down on anything that lists hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils among the ingredients, too -- "hydrogenated" is a red flag for trans fat. 

Source:  RealAge

Pumkins - One for the Porch, One for Your Plate

When you grab a pumpkin for your fall porch this year, grab one for your plate, too. 

Why? Two really good reasons: Pumpkin makes an incredibly rich and flavorful base for all sorts of soups, stews, and desserts. And it’s absolutely packed with blood-pressure-friendly nutrients. 

Halloween Help for Your Heart
Pumpkin flesh is crammed full of phenols -- a type of health-promoting antioxidant that’s found in many plant-based foods. But pumpkin phenols may have particularly body-kind qualities. In cell studies, phenols from pumpkin flesh put a damper on the same enzyme that some blood pressure drugs target to reduce vascular tension. In other words, the phenols in pumpkin may help keep blood vessels relaxed, which means better blood pressure and better heart health

The Sacred Berry

From "WomanPrayers: Prayers by Women from Throughout History and Around the World," by Mary Ford-Grabowsky:

(Hold a ripe strawberry, green stem intact.) 

Oh, sweet gift to the Seneca, I admire you. You are shaped like the heart to remind us that we are to live by the heart.  Your flesh is red, to tell us our heats should be moist with blood, never dry and brown and crackly.  We study the seedsseeds on the outside. They are many, to teach us that there are many ways in the world to believe, to understand life. All are worthy of respect. 

We finger the leaves, so we keep in mind that we must always stay connected to Mother Earth and appreciate her gifts.  Now, we eat this beautiful strawberry from the bottom up (in silence), relishing the sweet taste. For the last bite we eat berry and leaf together to help us remember life holds bitter tastes with sweet. For all, we keep a thankful heart. - Seneca oral tradition , Native American, recorded by Jose Hobday

Doctors Told To Curb Use of Ritalin In Hyperactive Children

Finally... Doctors Told to Curb Use of Ritalin in Hyperactive Children

According to new British health guidelines, children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should be treated with drugs such as Ritalin only in severe cases and never when they are younger than 5. There is widespread concern that such medication is used too freely to calm hyperactive children. The new policy is that most children with ADHD should instead be offered psychological therapy to improve their behavior, backed up by training to support their parents and teachers. Up to 3 percent of school-age children in Britain may be affected by ADHD, but only about a third to a quarter of these would qualify as severe cases. The symptoms of ADHD include an inability to concentrate for long periods, hyperactive and restless behavior, and impulsive actions. Sources: The Times Online September 24, 2008

Johns Hopkins - The Latest Findings On Cancer

This makes a lot of sense !
JOHNS HOPKINS - The latest findings on Cancer

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY.

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2 Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong, the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells but it also destroys rapidly growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, etc.

7. Radiation, while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation, the immune system is either compromised or destroyed. Then the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult or impossible to destroy. Surgery can cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

 CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

A. Sugar. By cutting off sugar, you cut off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc. are made with Aspartame, and that is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses, but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

B. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastrointestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk, cancer cells are being starved.

C. Acid. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic; it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken, rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones, and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

D. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts, and a little fruit, helps put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells, drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroye at temperatures of 104 degrees F. (40 degrees C.).

E. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Drink purified water or filtered water to avoid known toxins
and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, so avoid it.

 12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remains in the intestines and becomes putrefied, leading to more toxic build-up.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from meat, or eating less meat, more enzymes are available to attack the protein walls of cancer cells, allowing the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, resentment, and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Try to relax and enjoy life, even if you've been victimized by cancer.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercise daily, and do some deep breathing, which helps to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells. CANCER UPDATE FROM JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL, U S A

1. No plastic containers in micro. 

2. No water bottles in freezer.

3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

 4,  No plastic containers at all is even better!!

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters, and this information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, as well.   Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers.

 This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating  food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else.

Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

 Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

 This is an article that should be shared with everyone important in your life!!

I agree with these findings 100%.  I saw firsthand what chemo did and didn’t do for my dad.  He died of Colon Cancer after a long regiment of torturous and dehumanizing treatments, including chemo-therapy, so when I received this article from my cousin, I just had to cheer and share.  It was horrible how sick the chemo made my dad, and how much worse it made him feel during his last months and weeks.  He got really bad at the end and came down with hiccups that wouldn’t stop, so we found an acupuncturist to help him with the hiccups… something that was very unusual to do in 1977.  I wish we would have taken him to him sooner.  I think he might even have been able to help him with the Cancer, and I know her could have eased his suffering.  At the time, the accuncturinst told us that Americans could cut the occurrences of Cancer in half if we stopped eating red meat and white sugar.  You’d think I’d be better at staying away from both, but my family and I do follow many of the findings listen in the Johns Hopkins study!  My dad being so sick is probably what got me so interested in alternative healthcare and natural products and cures! 

From personal experience and from the experiences friends and family, if I, my husband or the kids (or anyone I know) were diagnosed with Cancer, I’d immediately get them to (get on) or in our case double up on their USANA Nutritionals and Go-Chi and then do whatever I could to get the to Sanoviv .  We are finding out more and more, that there are alertinative and natural   

I’ve included some of the links to the alternative health products and sources that we use, support and believe in.

By Ask Marion~

Depression

Depression is often not simply an “emotional problem” that people can overcome on their own. Rather, depression is a real medical illness – one that needs to be diagnosed and properly treated. It is not a sign of weakness, nor is it something to be ashamed of, and it is not something to be ignored. The good news is that with proper diagnosis, often with natural remedies or medical attention, depression can be treated effectively.

Depression can be diveded into two categories, chronic and temporary caused by a crisis or temperary situation.  It is important to differentiate.

Although in some cases prescription meds may be necessary, they may only be necessary for a short time, or the strength of the prescription can often be reduced, but often isn't without the patient asking or taking the initiative or doing the research.

One great natural remedy to look at is FreeLife's Himalayan Goji Juice and Freelife's Go-Chi, whose only 'side affect' is that it makes people happy, and additional studies verifying the positives of Himalayan Goji Juice, under its scientific name, Lycieum Barbarum, increase constantly on Pub Med.

Top 10 Human Medications That Poison Our Pets

Did you know that ingestion of human medications is the most common cause of household poisonings in small animals?

Although pet parents are well aware of poisons lurking around their home, many don’t realize that some of the biggest culprits are sitting right on their own nightstands. In 2007, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center received 89,000 calls related to pets ingesting over-the-counter and prescription medications. To help you prevent an accident from happening, our experts have created a list of the top 10 human medications that most often poison our furry friends.

If you suspect your pet has ingested any of the following items, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435. And remember to keep all medications tucked away in bathroom cabinets—and far from curious cats and dogs.

NSAIDs 
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen or naproxen are the most common cause of pet poisoning in small animals, and can cause serious problems even in minimal doses. Pets are extremely sensitive to their effects, and may experience stomach and intestinal ulcers and—in the case of cats—kidney damage.

Antidepressants 
Antidepressants can cause vomiting and lethargy and certain types can lead to serotonin syndrome—a condition marked by agitation, elevated body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, disorientation, vocalization, tremors and seizures.

Acetaminophen 
Cats are especially sensitive to acetaminophen, which can damage red blood cells and interfere with their ability to transport oxygen. In dogs, it can cause liver damage and, at higher doses, red blood cell damage.

Methylphenidate (for ADHD) 
Medications used to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in people act as stimulants in pets and can dangerously elevate heart rates, blood pressure and body temperature, as well as cause seizures.

Fluorouracil 
Fluorouracil—an anti-cancer drug—is used topically to treat minor skin cancers and solar keratitis in humans. It has proven to be rapidly fatal to dogs, causing severe vomiting, seizures and cardiac arrest even in those who’ve chewed on discarded cotton swabs used to apply the medication.

Isoniazid 
Often the first line of defense against tuberculosis, isoniazid is particularly toxic for dogs because they don’t metabolize it as well as other species. It can cause a rapid onset of severe seizures that may ultimately result in death.

Pseudoephedrine 
Pseudoephedrine is a popular decongestant in many cold and sinus products, and acts like a stimulant if accidentally ingested by pets. In cats and dogs, it causes elevated heart rates, blood pressure and body temperature as well as seizures.

Anti-diabetics 
Many oral diabetes treatments—including glipizide and glyburide—can cause a major drop in blood sugar levels of affected pets. Clinical signs of ingestion include disorientation, lack of coordination and seizures.

Vitamin D derivatives 
Even small exposures to Vitamin D analogues like calcipotriene and calcitriol can cause life-threatening spikes in blood calcium levels in pets. Clinical signs of exposure—including vomiting, loss of appetite, increased urination and thirst due to kidney failure—often don't occur for more than 24 hours after ingestion.

Baclofen 
Baclofen is a muscle relaxant that can impair the central nervous systems of cats and dogs. Some symptoms of ingestion include significant depression, disorientation, vocalization, seizures and coma, which can lead to death.

• Pets are ultra-sensitive to anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen and naproxen, which can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers and kidney damage in cats.
• Nothing like antidepressants to bring a pet down—they can trigger vomiting, lethargy and a frightening condition called serotonin syndrome.
• The popular pain remedy acetaminophen is especially toxic to cats, and can damage red blood cells and interfere with oxygen flow.
• Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant found in many cold remedies, but acts like a stimulant in cats and dogs, who can experience elevated heart rates and seizures.

Pets often snatch pill vials from counters and nightstands or gobble up meds accidentally dropped on the floor. The solution? “Keep all medications in a cabinet,” advises Dr. Helen Myers, veterinary toxicologist at the ASPCA. “And consider taking your pills in a bathroom, so if you drop one, you can shut the door and prevent your pet from accessing the room until the medication is found.”

Source:  ASPCA

Posted:  Just One More Pet

Chocolate - Dark Is The Key!

Think chocolate is one of the worst things for your skin? Think again. 

Skin expert, Dr. Amy Wechsler, has a recipe for hot chocolate that can make your skinglow. 

Dark Is Key
In one study, just 6 weeks of a daily dose of cocoa made skin smoother, better hydrated, and less sun sensitive. And 12 weeks did even more. All thanks to the skin-boosting antioxidants in cocoa, called flavonols. But it’s got to be dark chocolate, according to Wechsler. "Skip cocoa mixes, which don't have the same flavonol levels, and go for the real thing: dark, unadulterated cacao powder that contains 70 percent or more cacao," she writes in her new book,

Super Simple, Healthy Hot Cocoa
The secret to this easy recipe? Heat it slowly. Slow heat helps release the antioxidants. 

Ingredients
1 1/2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder with 70% or more cacao (such as Scharffen Berger natural cocoa powder or Ghirardelli unsweetened cocoa)
2 teaspoons sugar
Pinch of salt
1 cup skim or low-fat milk

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and heat gently (do not let it boil), stirring frequently, until cocoa is just beginning to steam. Pour into a mug and enjoy. 

Getting the right amount of antioxidants through diet or supplements can make your RealAge 6 years younger. 

Some Healthy Food Choices for Your Skin and Body Choose Nutrients Supplied Vegetables  Spinach, leaf lettuce, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes Vitamin A (carotenoids) Tomatoes, bell peppers Vitamin C Fruits  Papayas, mangoes, cantaloupe Vitamin A (carotenoids) Oranges, grapefruits Vitamin C Other Foods  Fortified whole-grain cereals (check label) Vitamins B, D, zinc, selenium Nuts, sunflower seeds Vitamin E, zinc Salmon, tuna Vitamins D, E, calcium, omega-3 oils, selenium, protein Vegetable oil Vitamins D, E Low-fat milk Vitamin A (retinol), calcium, zinc, selenium Eggs Vitamins A (retinol), E, B, zinc Legumes, dried beans Vitamins B, zinc

Also:  FreeLife's Himalayan Goji Juice or Go-Chi

Source:  RealAge

Stroke Heroes and Their Pets

I have two cats. Buddy is a large tabby tom cat that I found in a snow bank when he was a kitten. He was very young, weak, thin, and had frostbite on the tip of his ear and part of a paw. I can only guess that a thoughtless owner of a litter of kittens tried to get rid of them. I only found one.  Lucy is a smaller tabby queen that I inherited when she was a kitten. She is my granddaughter's cat.  I am the permanent foster mom since my granddaughter is not allowed to have another cat in her apartment building. Buddy and Lucy are best of friends. One entertains the other and they are usually found rolled up in a big ball of fur on the couch. They are strictly indoor cats.

Over 16 years after having two strokes, I've had a dog, bird, and now the cats. The bird was a cockatiel named Kato that I taught to talk, or perhaps the bird taught me to talk too as I was aphasic (a language problem caused by stroke or damage to the brain which leads to trouble speaking, understanding, writing, or reading) post-stroke. Eventually, the bird talked so much that I couldn't keep him quiet! When I was on the phone he must have thought I was talking to him and would go on and on about how pretty he was and screeched out to "Be quiet! I'm studying!" It wasn't difficult to figure out that the old bird had picked that quip up from my years at the university.

The dog was a miniature schnauzer named Cindy. She was our family pet when the kids were young. Cindy used to dance on her hind legs when we played the piano. I'm not sure if it was because she wanted to do a jig or because she wanted us to stop playing. Either way, she added great joy to our family.

Now, the children have grown and I live alone. But I am never lonely with Buddy and Lucy around. As a pet owner I have the responsibility of making sure they are fed each day and are provided fresh water. I make sure they are current with their immunizations and vet checks. I brush them at least once a week. And I talk to them too. Not that they understand me but they do react to the intonation of my voice. Believe it or not, they sleep with me too. No matter how many times I've sent them from my room they always come back to cuddle. Buddy curls up by my abdomen and Lucy wraps around my lower legs. Everyone is comfortable, except when I move they seem disturbed and meow their discontent.

Pets are important to all of us. After a stroke, pets can be wonderful housemates as well as giving us an opportunity to care for something else other than ourselves. Pets can heal our souls too. Cindy made me laugh when she danced to music. The cockatiels comb was always messy and he'd cock his head and look at you just to make you smile. The cats play with my knitting yarn then run and hide as if to say, "I didn't do it!" All of these little creatures have added enjoyment to my life. They have helped me to keep depression, a side effect of stroke, at bay. They have helped me realize that I am an important individual in their lives as well as my own. 

by  Cleo Hutton @ MyHeartCentral

Source:  Just One More Pet

Sambucol - Elderberry Extract For Flu

Elderberry extract (Sambucol) 
for flu and other viruses

In August, 1995, Dr. Williams, one of America’s leading natural health advocates, wrote about the anti-viral properties of the black elderberry, and about an Israeli researcher who’d developed a syrup supplement of it called Sambucol. Sambucol is now widely known in alternative health circles for helping fight the flu.

Detoxifying Foot Pads are a Scam

An NPR experiment on Kinoki foot pads tested to see if they'd drawn anything out of a reporter's body. Reporter Sarah Varney and her husband bought some “detoxifying” Kinoki foot pads and wore them to bed. In the morning, they both awoke find the pads covered in the brown mess that the advertisement had promised. But when they took the foot pads to a lab and had them analyzed and compared with unused pads, the used pads were almost identical to the blank. Further experimentation showed that the “gunk” in the pads shows up if you hold the pad over a pot of boiling water. Who knew steam had "metabolic waste"? Sources: The Consumerist August 19, 2008 ABC News April 11, 2008 MSNBC June 19, 2008

Olive Oil for a Flat Belly

That bagel? It could go right to your gut. Literally. But a bit of olive oil each day may help keep your middle little. 

That's what researchers are saying after testing two diets -- one high in carbs and the other based on healthy fats from olive oil. The "fat" diet kept bellies flatter. 

Why Belly Fat Is So Bad
Besides making you sad when you zip up your pants, excessive abdominal fat increases your risk for high blood sugar and many other health problems. But in a recent study of overweight people, a Mediterranean-style diet -- where approximately 30 percent to 40 percent of the calories came from unsaturated fats, like those in olive oil -- seemed to help prevent tummy-expanding over time. Another bonus: The fat-focused diet helped people maintain better insulin sensitivity, too. Not so with the high-carb diet, which seemed to encourage body fat to relocate to people’s bellies.

Weight Loss Arithmetic
Keep in mind that extra olive oil isn't going to help you trim your middle. It could just help keep your pants from getting tighter. For serious waist whittling, you'll need two must-do's: a healthy diet and extra exercise.

FAST Test for Stroke Symtoms

Did you know strokes are the third-leading cause of death in Americans, and leave hundreds of thousands more disabled?

Almost five million Americans have had a stroke at some point in their lives, and an additional quarter of a million Americans will suffer strokes this year alone.

In many cases, a stroke occurs without warning. Yet, for a number of people there will be signs. Unfortunately, many people, especially women, ignore them. Before the big one hits, there are usually several episodes of mild neurological symptoms, such as sudden numbness of one side of the face or an arm. This may last only seconds and then pass.

Other people often spot the problem first. They may notice that one side of the person’s face seems to sag, or that they make little sense when speaking. Sometimes the person isn’t walking right. Ignoring these symptoms can lead to disaster.

Be aware of common thoughts some stroke victims have had prior to a stroke:

• “I must have been leaning on my arm.”
• “I must be hungry.”
• “I can’t think of the words I want.”

And get to know the symptoms I describe so you can take advantage of the window of opportunity to treat a stroke. To help people recognize the symptoms of stroke quickly, The Stroke Association has come up with the FAST (face, arms, speech, timing) test:

Face: Ask the person to smile. If the upper or lower face on one side is weak or does not move, it may indicate a stroke.

Arms: Ask your loved one to raise their arms out straight. Weakness in one arm is a sign of a stroke.

Speech: Have them say a simple sentence. Garbled speech, word searching or nonsense speech can indicate a stroke.

Timing: Call 911 if any one of these is present. While they do not always indicate a stroke, time is of the essence.

Taking an aspirin when symptoms first occur, for instance, can prevent most strokes, but it is important to use this time to get to your doctor for a proper workup. For more, please read my report 

You can also cut your risk of a deadly stroke if you make sure your blood pressure is under control. ditions that can lead to stroke.

Source:  Dr. Blaylock

Vitamin C Helps Fight Breast Cancer and Lowers Blood Pressure

I need to correct something I said early about the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month or the pink month.   I said the organizer is not forthcoming and does not tell readers who sponsor the campaign. I was wrong! The organizer actually discloses a list of the sponsors in detail.   But I was still right in that the campaign does not mean to encourage women to prevent breast cancer.   Rather it means to have women to receive screening and early detection, which are good, but not the women's best interest.

 

The first on the list of sponsors is American cancer Society or ACS, the richest not-for-profit organization in the world as some critics call.   Sponsors also include American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists representing 51,000 physicians, American College of Radiology representing 32,000 radiologists, American Society of Clinical Oncology, representing 25,000 cancer physicians, and AstraZeneca Healthcare Foundation organized by the drug maker of Arimidex and Tamoxifen.   Some other major medical associations and government agencies are also listed as sponsors for the national Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

 

The campaign organizer seems to act as a service provider to help patients with information on breast cancer, its diagnosis and treatment including early detection and mammograms/screening. There is lots of information on its website for that effort.   But there is nothing about prevention meant to stop the malignancy from developing in the first place, which is understandable. If there is no breast cancer or the incidence is significantly reduced by some effective prevention measures, the cancer business would see a huge dip in revenue.

 

I agree that this campaign gives breast cancer survivors some comfortable. They feel that many people and organizations stand behind them and help them fight the disease that could take their life at any minute.   In a sense, many patients benefit from this breast cancer awareness campaign.

 

But it seems to me that the industry and the government do not seem interested much in research to find out how to prevent the disease in the first place, which unfortunately could disservice the industry.   The best interest for the industry could be to find some treatment that can sustain the patients’ lives, but not cure the disease.

 

Breast cancer is expected to be diagnosed in one in every 8 women in their lifetime in the United States. It is up to women how to act to deal with the risk.   They can wait to get the disease and then resort to doctors and hospitals for treatments that are no cure for the disease or they can be proactive and do something to prevent the disease from developing in the first place.

 

There are many things women can do reduce the risk of breast cancer that vitamizes 182,000 women and kill 40,000 each year in the U.S.   But the most important thing to remember is that no one should wait for her doctors or the government to give her the answers regarding the prevention of breast cancer.