Whole Grains and Heart Disease
It seems that since Ponce de
Leon's days we've been searching for that fountain of youth.
And now, researchers from Harvard have announced that it's been found.
Turns out the "secret" to a longer and healthier life isn't located in a magical land at the end of the world.
Turns out the "secret" to a longer and healthier life isn't located in a magical land at the end of the world.
You can find it in a bowl of oatmeal.
In fact a small bowl of any whole grain cereal eaten every day will reduce your risk of dying prematurely by 5 percent. And the numbers are even better where heart disease is concerned. That same ounce of whole grains will lower your risk of dying from heart disease by 9 percent.
Now, the fact that whole grains are good for us isn't brand new information. But this is the first time it's been shown how little it takes to have a positive effect.
One ounce of oatmeal, brown rice, or quinoa, is certainly easy enough to come by.
But when you're shopping for whole grains, you have to watch out for some cons of the grocery trade. Food companies know that we tend to pick cereals, bread and crackers that are labeled "whole grain" on the front. But unless you also see a whole grain listed as the first ingredient, chances are it's just a trick.
If you see "enriched flour," even "wheat flour," that's not a true whole grain.
Real whole grains come from the whole form of wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, quinoa, sorghum, spelt and rye. And products that are only made with tiny bits of those ingredients will try to make you think you're buying the real deal.
So watch out for buzz words like "contains," or "made with" whole grains.
Or better yet, start your day with a bowl of oatmeal and you'll easily get that protective ounce.
Also, oats contain a unique compound that appears to be able to stop fat from developing in your arteries as well as a fiber that can protect against heart disease.
In fact a small bowl of any whole grain cereal eaten every day will reduce your risk of dying prematurely by 5 percent. And the numbers are even better where heart disease is concerned. That same ounce of whole grains will lower your risk of dying from heart disease by 9 percent.
Now, the fact that whole grains are good for us isn't brand new information. But this is the first time it's been shown how little it takes to have a positive effect.
One ounce of oatmeal, brown rice, or quinoa, is certainly easy enough to come by.
But when you're shopping for whole grains, you have to watch out for some cons of the grocery trade. Food companies know that we tend to pick cereals, bread and crackers that are labeled "whole grain" on the front. But unless you also see a whole grain listed as the first ingredient, chances are it's just a trick.
If you see "enriched flour," even "wheat flour," that's not a true whole grain.
Real whole grains come from the whole form of wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, quinoa, sorghum, spelt and rye. And products that are only made with tiny bits of those ingredients will try to make you think you're buying the real deal.
So watch out for buzz words like "contains," or "made with" whole grains.
Or better yet, start your day with a bowl of oatmeal and you'll easily get that protective ounce.
Also, oats contain a unique compound that appears to be able to stop fat from developing in your arteries as well as a fiber that can protect against heart disease.
Fish Oil Found to Completely Reverse Liver Disease In Children
With Intestinal Failure
(NaturalNews) Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have made a breakthrough discovery that could mean the end of liver disease in children with intestinal failure. Published in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, the findings from their new study reveal that intravenous injections of fish oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, are capable of completely reversing liver disease, thus eliminating the need for liver transplants and other drastic medical interventions.
Entitled "Six Months of Intravenous Fish Oil Reverses Pediatric Intestinal Failure Associated Liver Disease," the study involved testing the effects of intravenous fish oil treatment on a group of 10 children between the ages of two weeks and 18 years old. Each of the children in this group had been diagnosed with advanced intestinal failure-associated liver disease, a high-risk health condition that, for many of the people diagnosed with it, ends in early death.
These children were given the novel treatment for a total of six months, and their outcomes were compared to a group of 20 children who also had the disease but were given conventional treatment rather than the fish oil. Compared to this conventional control group, the fish oil group experienced dramatic recovery -- after just 17 weeks of treatment, 80 percent of the children in the fish oil group experienced a complete recovery from their liver disease.
"With this particular study, we set out to determine if a finite period of six months of intravenous fish oil could safely reverse liver damage in these children, and we have had some promising results," says Dr. Kara Calkins, a physician and assistant professor at UCLA's Mattel Children's Hospital Department of Neonatology and Developmental Biology, about the findings.
(NaturalNews) Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have made a breakthrough discovery that could mean the end of liver disease in children with intestinal failure. Published in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, the findings from their new study reveal that intravenous injections of fish oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, are capable of completely reversing liver disease, thus eliminating the need for liver transplants and other drastic medical interventions.
Entitled "Six Months of Intravenous Fish Oil Reverses Pediatric Intestinal Failure Associated Liver Disease," the study involved testing the effects of intravenous fish oil treatment on a group of 10 children between the ages of two weeks and 18 years old. Each of the children in this group had been diagnosed with advanced intestinal failure-associated liver disease, a high-risk health condition that, for many of the people diagnosed with it, ends in early death.
These children were given the novel treatment for a total of six months, and their outcomes were compared to a group of 20 children who also had the disease but were given conventional treatment rather than the fish oil. Compared to this conventional control group, the fish oil group experienced dramatic recovery -- after just 17 weeks of treatment, 80 percent of the children in the fish oil group experienced a complete recovery from their liver disease.
"With this particular study, we set out to determine if a finite period of six months of intravenous fish oil could safely reverse liver damage in these children, and we have had some promising results," says Dr. Kara Calkins, a physician and assistant professor at UCLA's Mattel Children's Hospital Department of Neonatology and Developmental Biology, about the findings.
Can We Eliminate 90% of Allergies With Milk?
A new study out of Sweden could be the latest proof that our government's war on raw milk isn't just outdated; it's a public health TRAGEDY that could be sentencing a kid you love to a lifetime of misery.
Researchers from Sweden's University of Gothenburg just spent years researching Swedish kids with the good fortune to grow up on dairy farms.
It turns out these kids wouldn't know what to do with an inhaler if they saw one. In fact, they practically developed immune system super powers.
These farm kids had only ONE-TENTH the risk of developing serious childhood allergies as tots growing up in cities, and their immune systems were stronger.
Swedish farm kids... and lots of American farm kids, too... grow up drinking milk the only way you should -- fresh, and right from the cow's udder. Lots of Swedes even drink traditional products made from raw milk, like filbunke (I'm guessing that tastes better than it sounds).
And the allergy-fighting benefits of raw milk have been proven time and again. A study of American Amish farm kids -- who are practically nursed on raw milk -- found they were 84% less likely to suffer from allergies.
It's all because raw milk is loaded with healthy bacteria and enzymes proven to wipe away allergies and even CURE digestive disorders.
Europe is getting the message. Countries across the continent are installing raw milk vending machines so kids -- and adults -- can get their hands on the stuff without trucking to their nearest farm.
And Uncle Sam could do the same thing. Our government may be able to slash America's allergy rate and get MILLIONS of wheezing, coughing kids off the sidelines... starting tomorrow. All he needs to do is get out of Big Dairy's pocket and stop the senseless war on raw milk.
Because we're learning yet again that by denying your right to raw milk, our feds aren't protecting your health.
They're giving you a raw deal.
A new study out of Sweden could be the latest proof that our government's war on raw milk isn't just outdated; it's a public health TRAGEDY that could be sentencing a kid you love to a lifetime of misery.
Researchers from Sweden's University of Gothenburg just spent years researching Swedish kids with the good fortune to grow up on dairy farms.
It turns out these kids wouldn't know what to do with an inhaler if they saw one. In fact, they practically developed immune system super powers.
These farm kids had only ONE-TENTH the risk of developing serious childhood allergies as tots growing up in cities, and their immune systems were stronger.
Swedish farm kids... and lots of American farm kids, too... grow up drinking milk the only way you should -- fresh, and right from the cow's udder. Lots of Swedes even drink traditional products made from raw milk, like filbunke (I'm guessing that tastes better than it sounds).
And the allergy-fighting benefits of raw milk have been proven time and again. A study of American Amish farm kids -- who are practically nursed on raw milk -- found they were 84% less likely to suffer from allergies.
It's all because raw milk is loaded with healthy bacteria and enzymes proven to wipe away allergies and even CURE digestive disorders.
Europe is getting the message. Countries across the continent are installing raw milk vending machines so kids -- and adults -- can get their hands on the stuff without trucking to their nearest farm.
And Uncle Sam could do the same thing. Our government may be able to slash America's allergy rate and get MILLIONS of wheezing, coughing kids off the sidelines... starting tomorrow. All he needs to do is get out of Big Dairy's pocket and stop the senseless war on raw milk.
Because we're learning yet again that by denying your right to raw milk, our feds aren't protecting your health.
They're giving you a raw deal.
Low Sodium Diet
The low sodium diet is one dangerous dietary myth that refuses to go away.
And the group that's leading the charge is the American Heart Association.
It claims that all Americans should cut salt to 1,500 mg a day. And what exactly that advice is based on seems to be a mystery only known to the AHA.
"There is not a single study, not one, showing (a) benefit for having a sodium intake of less than 2,300 milligrams."
And that comes from Brian Strom, chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences who chaired the big Institute of Medicine panel review on sodium last year.
But what you will find are studies that show what can happen when salt intake goes into the AHA twilight zone.
The most recent one found it can up your risk of heart disease by 27 percent.
The just-out New England Journal of Medicine study tracked over 100,000 people from around the world for more than 3 years. Researchers found that those who ate less than 3,000 mg of sodium a day were putting themselves at big risk.
Big risk of heart attack and stroke -- just what the AHA claims to be trying to help prevent.
Now if this was a surprising new look at what can happen when you consume too little salt, maybe we could say the AHA is a little behind the curve in its reading.
But this isn't exactly brand new information. Earlier this year, several other studies said pretty much the same thing.
One out of Canada put an optimal sodium intake between 3,000 and 6,000 mg a day. That, the researchers said, makes sense since "sodium is an essential nutrient required by the body."
Those who consumed salt in that range had "the lowest risk of death" and deadly heart problems.
Another thing all these studies seem to agree on is that exceeding a certain amount wasn't good either. Some researchers say you should stop at just short of 5,000 mg a day, and others give 6,000 as the upper limit.
And the group that's leading the charge is the American Heart Association.
It claims that all Americans should cut salt to 1,500 mg a day. And what exactly that advice is based on seems to be a mystery only known to the AHA.
"There is not a single study, not one, showing (a) benefit for having a sodium intake of less than 2,300 milligrams."
And that comes from Brian Strom, chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences who chaired the big Institute of Medicine panel review on sodium last year.
But what you will find are studies that show what can happen when salt intake goes into the AHA twilight zone.
The most recent one found it can up your risk of heart disease by 27 percent.
The just-out New England Journal of Medicine study tracked over 100,000 people from around the world for more than 3 years. Researchers found that those who ate less than 3,000 mg of sodium a day were putting themselves at big risk.
Big risk of heart attack and stroke -- just what the AHA claims to be trying to help prevent.
Now if this was a surprising new look at what can happen when you consume too little salt, maybe we could say the AHA is a little behind the curve in its reading.
But this isn't exactly brand new information. Earlier this year, several other studies said pretty much the same thing.
One out of Canada put an optimal sodium intake between 3,000 and 6,000 mg a day. That, the researchers said, makes sense since "sodium is an essential nutrient required by the body."
Those who consumed salt in that range had "the lowest risk of death" and deadly heart problems.
Another thing all these studies seem to agree on is that exceeding a certain amount wasn't good either. Some researchers say you should stop at just short of 5,000 mg a day, and others give 6,000 as the upper limit.
Medical Errors Are Now 3rd
Leading Cause of Death
Heart disease and cancer are the first and second leading causes of death in
the United States, according to the latest statistics.
Care to guess what comes in a close third?
That would be errors made by healthcare providers, which account for about a half million deaths a year, says a top expert.
I want to make sure you hear that again. Over 500,000 people a year die from medical mistakes.
Medical author Joe Graedon, who's also a pharmacy professor, calls such errors "the equivalent of three jumbo jets crashing every day of the year and killing everyone aboard."
In fact, Graedon and his wife Terry, who co-host a public radio program called The People's Pharmacy, have just come out with a new book on the subject. It's called Top Screwups Doctors Make—and How to Avoid Them.
But with Graedon, it's personal. His own mother died as the result of such an error, committed by a nurse.
As he points out, "No one is counting the bodies. There is no outrage, no plan to change a system that allows too many to die unnecessarily. The medical profession seems largely immune to the consequences of its errors."
And the most common one, he says, is a wrong diagnosis.
It's most often the result of doctors not wanting to take time to consider alternative explanations for symptoms. Patient overload and an unwillingness to seek help from other doctors are also contributing factors.
All of which is why it's so important for you to "take charge" if you or a loved one is ill.
Because asking the right question could be the only thing that can save your life -- or theirs.
Care to guess what comes in a close third?
That would be errors made by healthcare providers, which account for about a half million deaths a year, says a top expert.
I want to make sure you hear that again. Over 500,000 people a year die from medical mistakes.
Medical author Joe Graedon, who's also a pharmacy professor, calls such errors "the equivalent of three jumbo jets crashing every day of the year and killing everyone aboard."
In fact, Graedon and his wife Terry, who co-host a public radio program called The People's Pharmacy, have just come out with a new book on the subject. It's called Top Screwups Doctors Make—and How to Avoid Them.
But with Graedon, it's personal. His own mother died as the result of such an error, committed by a nurse.
As he points out, "No one is counting the bodies. There is no outrage, no plan to change a system that allows too many to die unnecessarily. The medical profession seems largely immune to the consequences of its errors."
And the most common one, he says, is a wrong diagnosis.
It's most often the result of doctors not wanting to take time to consider alternative explanations for symptoms. Patient overload and an unwillingness to seek help from other doctors are also contributing factors.
All of which is why it's so important for you to "take charge" if you or a loved one is ill.
Because asking the right question could be the only thing that can save your life -- or theirs.
Studies Find Drugs Cause Cognitive Impairment
What researchers have just revealed about some very popular OTC drugs could
mean the difference between developing Alzheimer's or not. And if you're like
most people, you probably have one or more of these drugs in your medicine
cabinet right now.
They're used for allergies, pain, overactive bladder, and even to help you get to sleep at night.
And they're over-the-counter, so you can grab them off any shelf at the Walgreens, 7-11, or even the Hudson News running through the airport.
But they all share a common -- and dangerous -- link. And it's one that might help explain why cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer's are becoming a full-blown epidemic in this country.
The brain-destroying ingredient in these meds is called an "anticholinergic" agent. It works by blocking an important chemical messenger in your brain
And it can affect your mind in ways that even your doctor may not be aware of.
Researchers at the Group Health Research Institute at the University of Washington tracked over 3,500 seniors for seven years. And they found that taking drugs like Benadryl, even at the "minimum effective dose," for prolonged periods is enough to put you at high risk for dementia.
But it might be even worse...
Another study from the Indiana University Center for Aging Research found that taking these same meds for as little as two months can cause "cognitive impairment."
So obviously we've got a crisis of unknown proportions unfolding here. It doesn't matter what name it's given -- the bottom line is taking these drugs may cause a loss in your ability to understand and think clearly. And can eventually lead to Alzheimer's.
The lead researcher for the Washington study said that while her research focused on older people, she plans to "personally avoid taking" any of these drugs.
And that might just be the most telling part of the whole study.
Aside from Benadryl, other common drugs that contain anticholinergics include:
They're used for allergies, pain, overactive bladder, and even to help you get to sleep at night.
And they're over-the-counter, so you can grab them off any shelf at the Walgreens, 7-11, or even the Hudson News running through the airport.
But they all share a common -- and dangerous -- link. And it's one that might help explain why cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer's are becoming a full-blown epidemic in this country.
The brain-destroying ingredient in these meds is called an "anticholinergic" agent. It works by blocking an important chemical messenger in your brain
And it can affect your mind in ways that even your doctor may not be aware of.
Researchers at the Group Health Research Institute at the University of Washington tracked over 3,500 seniors for seven years. And they found that taking drugs like Benadryl, even at the "minimum effective dose," for prolonged periods is enough to put you at high risk for dementia.
But it might be even worse...
Another study from the Indiana University Center for Aging Research found that taking these same meds for as little as two months can cause "cognitive impairment."
So obviously we've got a crisis of unknown proportions unfolding here. It doesn't matter what name it's given -- the bottom line is taking these drugs may cause a loss in your ability to understand and think clearly. And can eventually lead to Alzheimer's.
The lead researcher for the Washington study said that while her research focused on older people, she plans to "personally avoid taking" any of these drugs.
And that might just be the most telling part of the whole study.
Aside from Benadryl, other common drugs that contain anticholinergics include:
- Chlor-Trimeton, taken for allergies
- Sominex, an OTC sleep aid
- Oxytrol, an OTC drug for overactive
bladder
- Tylenol PM, which also contains a
whopping dose of the liver-destroying drug acetaminophen
- Advil PM, and
- Dramamine, for nausea and motion
sickness
With this
brain-damaging agent being in so many different drugs, it easy for those doses
to add up. For example, you could take Benadryl for your allergies, a Dramamine
for queasiness, and then pop a Sominex to get to sleep.
The researchers found that those who took bigger doses of anticholinergics (either from one drug or a combination of them) for seven years had a 54 percent higher rate of dementia and a 63 percent higher risk of Alzheimer's.
Yes...you read that right: Taking these meds for prolonged periods (something that a lot of people do) can increase your Alzheimer's risk by a full 63 percent!
This research tells us one thing that's certain. There is no need to wait for further studies to be done or the FDA to issue some weak-kneed comment 10 years from now.
Study Shows Statins Can Cause Parkinson'sThe researchers found that those who took bigger doses of anticholinergics (either from one drug or a combination of them) for seven years had a 54 percent higher rate of dementia and a 63 percent higher risk of Alzheimer's.
Yes...you read that right: Taking these meds for prolonged periods (something that a lot of people do) can increase your Alzheimer's risk by a full 63 percent!
This research tells us one thing that's certain. There is no need to wait for further studies to be done or the FDA to issue some weak-kneed comment 10 years from now.
The latest research shows how Statin
drugs could actually CAUSE Parkinson's disease.
Your doc will claim there's a study or two out there that shows how patients on the drug have a lower risk of the condition, but the new study shows how those researchers got it exactly backward.
Once on statins, their LDL levels plunged along with their levels of coenzyme Q10, which is essential to nerve cells. And that, in turn, will ultimately increase your risk of Parkinson's, according to the new study.
This makes perfect sense to me; Parkinson's disease has been on the rise around the world, with the number of cases expected to jump from 4.1 million in 2005 to 8.7 million by 2030.
The more we cut cholesterol, the more Parkinson's cases we have.
Your doc will claim there's a study or two out there that shows how patients on the drug have a lower risk of the condition, but the new study shows how those researchers got it exactly backward.
Once on statins, their LDL levels plunged along with their levels of coenzyme Q10, which is essential to nerve cells. And that, in turn, will ultimately increase your risk of Parkinson's, according to the new study.
This makes perfect sense to me; Parkinson's disease has been on the rise around the world, with the number of cases expected to jump from 4.1 million in 2005 to 8.7 million by 2030.
The more we cut cholesterol, the more Parkinson's cases we have.
JD Roma
The information on
this blog is provided for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for
professional medical care, and medical advice and services are not being
offered. If you have, or suspect you have, a health problem you should consult
your physician (preferably a Naturopath).
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