Pets can bring much joy into our lives, and relationships with animals can also be very therapeutic for people of all ages, both kids and adults. However, in order to prevent potential disease conditions, certain precautions should be taken. This is especially true in the case of young children, whose immune systems are still forming, and others that may have compromised immune systems.
Today's article gives some practical tips for reducing risks from pets, including recommendations that some animals should probably not be brought into the house at least until your children are older. Having pets of any kind in the home is a great opportunity to teach kids responsibility and the proper care of both the animal and their own personal hygiene after handling them. I don't think it is necessary to eliminate pets, at least most varieties, but it behooves us as parents to take the proper steps in order to ensure the health and safety of both our children and the creatures we invite into our world.
Not All Pets and Children Are Compatible
By: Allie Montgomery Published: Tuesday, 7 October 2008
When we were young we enjoyed our furry companions, but in today's society exposing your children to the joys of owning their own pet, in some cases, may also mean exposing them to injuries and infections. Parents need to be very aware of the danger -- which include salmonella infection and even monkey pox -- of owning a nontraditional pet such as rodents, reptiles, monkeys, and more.
The most recent report on this subject was published in October by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in the most recent issue of Pediatrics. The study's co-author Dr. Robert Frenck, a pediatrics professor at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and a member of the AAP committee of infectious diseases, said that this report is the first comprehensive statement on this particular topic. "Nontraditional pets are becoming more traditional, and nontraditional pets can expose kids to disease they otherwise might not be exposed to. If parents are thinking about having these nontraditional pets, they may want to talk to a veterinarian and/or pediatrician first to see if there is any real concern."
The number of exotic animals that are in the United States has nearly doubled since 2002. For example, approximately 40,000 households in America now harbor hedgehogs, while 4.4 million homes have reptiles, according to the new report. A professor of the pediatric infectious diseases at the University Of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Dr. Charles Miller, added that from the standpoint of public education and from the standpoint of both family practitioners and pediatricians, this subject of owning exotic pets is very important.
The risks of having these pets are real. In 2003, there was an outbreak of human monkey pox that was traced back to imported African Gambian rats that had infected many prairie dogs and were sold as pets. Small turtles that were kept as house pets were responsible for approximately 103 cases of salmonella during the second half of last year, mostly in young children. In just last week, an Iraqi dog was shipped to the United States as part of an international rescue effort for animals and was found to have rabies. Twenty-four other animals were in this shipment and had already been distributed to 16 states. According to the October 3rd issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that these other animals were also potentially exposed to the rabies.
The new review by AAP details a number of the diseases that could be potentially transmitted by these more unusual house pets. The reptiles have a very high rate of carrying different strains of salmonella, as do turtles, baby poultry (including chicks), and our friendly hamsters. Plague is a disease which is carried by wild rodents and is transmitted to human that are handling infected animals. This group also includes the common house cat that has been bitten by fleas. The herpes B virus has been said to be carried by the macaque monkey. These animals don't have to be in a household to pose a risk. More than 55 outbreaks of the diseases in humans, including the infection with E. coli bacteria, have involved animals that were in public settings between 1991 and 2005.
The report is recommending that we wash our hand frequently to help minimize these risks. Children that are under the age of 5 are at particular risk, in part because their immune systems are still developing. Adults that have weakened immune systems, including women who are pregnant and the elderly, are also at a greater risk.
Dr. Jonathan Field, emeritus director of the pediatric allergy and asthma clinic at the New York University/Bellvue Medical Center, stated that our normal allergies are typically associated with dogs and cats than with nontraditional pets. The real problem seem to lie with the people who have weakened immune systems and are exposed to a virus form or a bacteria from one of these pets.
http://www.healthnews.com/family-health/child-health/not-all-pets-children-are-compatible-1913.html
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The Many Benefits of Oatmeal
As we turn the seasonal corner and head into Fall and Winter, many people begin to think again of hot cereal as a great breakfast to keep off the chill, and indeed oatmeal is one of the most popular choices. Organic, unprocessed, whole-grain oatmeal (this immediately eliminates the "quick-cooking" varieties) is an excellent addition to your breakfast menu, and can in fact be used in meals and snacks throughout the day. The best sources are probably found at local health food stores and co-ops. Oatmeal is easy to prepare, and many different healthy fruits, nuts, and other ingredients can be added to stave off nutritional boredom.
Oats can be eaten in many different ways, whether cooked as cereal or served raw in yogurt or as a healthy filler in many recipes. Some even like their oats sprinkled on a fresh, raw vegetable salad. Just be careful not to counteract the benefits of oats by overdoing ingredients such as milk or sugar. Raw honey, agave nectar, or stevia for sweeteners are much better choices, as are organic raw milk, organic goat's milk, or hemp seed milk in lieu of grocery store cow's milk. Oats can provide a consistent source of fiber and other useful nutrients. In fact, oatmeal is one of the few nutritional foods that has received the blessing of the FDA in the form of permission for labels lauding oatmeal's benefits. At least they got it right, this time!
The Best Breakfast: Eating oatmeal reduces cholesterol, and much more
Eating a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast every morning could be about the healthiest start to the day you can have, a new study has discovered. The whole-grain cereal can reduce cholesterol levels, and lower the risk of raised blood pressure, weight gain and type II diabetes.
The health benefits of oatmeal have been recognised by America's drug regulator, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has allowed manufacturer to put health claims on packaging since 1997.
But in the 10 years since then, every study has confirmed the benefits, and now researchers believe oatmeal's abilities as a cholesterol-lowering agent are even stronger than earlier research suggested.
Leading the latest review is Dr James W Anderson, professor of medicine and clinical nutrition at Kentucky University's College of Medicine. He says: "Whole-grain products like oatmeal are among some of the best foods one can eat to improve cholesterol levels, in addition to other lifestyle choices."
Each study he reviewed concluded that total cholesterol levels are lowered by eating oats, and that LDL (low-density lipoprotein, or 'bad' cholesterol) is reduced without reducing levels of HDL (high-density, lipoprotein, or 'good' cholesterol).
Separate reviews have also discovered that eating oatmeal can reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure, type II diabetes and gaining weight. Oatmeal also contains simple unique compounds that may protect against premature hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis.
Dr Anderson says: "Lifestyle choices such as diet should be the first-line therapy for most patients with moderate cholesterol risk, given the expense, safety concerns and intolerance related to cholesterol-lowering drugs."
(Source: American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 2008; 2: 51-7).
Oats can be eaten in many different ways, whether cooked as cereal or served raw in yogurt or as a healthy filler in many recipes. Some even like their oats sprinkled on a fresh, raw vegetable salad. Just be careful not to counteract the benefits of oats by overdoing ingredients such as milk or sugar. Raw honey, agave nectar, or stevia for sweeteners are much better choices, as are organic raw milk, organic goat's milk, or hemp seed milk in lieu of grocery store cow's milk. Oats can provide a consistent source of fiber and other useful nutrients. In fact, oatmeal is one of the few nutritional foods that has received the blessing of the FDA in the form of permission for labels lauding oatmeal's benefits. At least they got it right, this time!
The Best Breakfast: Eating oatmeal reduces cholesterol, and much more
Eating a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast every morning could be about the healthiest start to the day you can have, a new study has discovered. The whole-grain cereal can reduce cholesterol levels, and lower the risk of raised blood pressure, weight gain and type II diabetes.
The health benefits of oatmeal have been recognised by America's drug regulator, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has allowed manufacturer to put health claims on packaging since 1997.
But in the 10 years since then, every study has confirmed the benefits, and now researchers believe oatmeal's abilities as a cholesterol-lowering agent are even stronger than earlier research suggested.
Leading the latest review is Dr James W Anderson, professor of medicine and clinical nutrition at Kentucky University's College of Medicine. He says: "Whole-grain products like oatmeal are among some of the best foods one can eat to improve cholesterol levels, in addition to other lifestyle choices."
Each study he reviewed concluded that total cholesterol levels are lowered by eating oats, and that LDL (low-density lipoprotein, or 'bad' cholesterol) is reduced without reducing levels of HDL (high-density, lipoprotein, or 'good' cholesterol).
Separate reviews have also discovered that eating oatmeal can reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure, type II diabetes and gaining weight. Oatmeal also contains simple unique compounds that may protect against premature hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis.
Dr Anderson says: "Lifestyle choices such as diet should be the first-line therapy for most patients with moderate cholesterol risk, given the expense, safety concerns and intolerance related to cholesterol-lowering drugs."
(Source: American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 2008; 2: 51-7).
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Big Pharma Criticized Again for Marketing Practices
Normally, if a company was called on the carpet for a questionable way of marketing their products, I would tend to give them the benefit of the doubt and gather all the facts before condemning them. However, because of some of the shaky things the pharmaceutical industry has pulled in the past, the behavior covered in the article below is very suspect.
At best, giving out free samples of medications without complete safety measures and information accompanying them is irresponsible. However, as the article points out, it also prepares both parents and children for other suggestions from doctors and drug companies, that will typically include the use of additional drugs, thus making the consumption of medication seem a casual decision.
What really gets my gall is that this practice is obviously a way to get doctors and their patients to try and buy additional products, but they have the audacity to say that the primary reason is to help poor families who can't afford medication. Why do drugs have to be marketed in such dishonest and manipulative ways in this country? It gives the whole industry a bad name, and is more damning evidence that Big Pharma is a profit-driven industry whose main purpose is to generate vast amounts of income by plying the legal drug trade despite the risks to consumers. Time and time again they have proven that they cannot be trusted to ensure the welfare of any one or anything other than their own bank accounts.
Free Drug Samples May Not be a Great Deal
By Rita Rubin, USA TODAY
Free samples of prescription drugs may carry hidden costs for children and teens, researchers report today.
In what they say is the first study to examine the use of free drug samples in pediatric patients, the authors analyzed data on 10,295 U.S. residents under age 18 from a 2004 nationally representative survey about medical expenditures.
Among all U.S. residents under 18, one in 20 got at least one free drug sample in 2004, the authors write in Pediatrics. Counting just those who had been prescribed medication, one in 10 got at least one free sample.
In a statement responding to the study, Ken Johnson, senior vice president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, an industry group, says free samples provide doctors with "valuable firsthand experience with new treatment options and can also play a valuable role in fostering the appropriate use of medicines."
But lead author Sarah Cutrona, an internist at Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts, says giving out free samples "encourages a casual attitude toward medications."
Doing so bypasses pharmacists, who perform important safety checks, Cutrona says.
And, she notes, free samples lack childproof caps, instructions on what to do in case of an accidental overdose and information about kids' doses.
Of the 15 most commonly distributed free samples to children, Cutrona's study found, two are attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder medicines -- Strattera and Adderall -- and are controlled drugs because of their abuse potential.
And labels for those two, plus Elidel, for atopic dermatitis, and Advair, for asthma, received "black box" safety warnings -- the strongest possible -- between 2004 and 2007.
Previous research has shown that free samples lead doctors to prescribe drugs that might not be the best choice, says Cutrona, an instructor at Harvard Medical School.
For example, her new study found that some of the most widely distributed free samples were broad-spectrum antibiotics that aren't considered first-line treatments. Overuse of such drugs could contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, she says.
The prescription drug industry says free samples fill an important role for poor or uninsured patients, but Cutrona's study
found few needy kids got them, because they didn't have access to the doctors who gave them out.
"While it is true that poor and uninsured patients are not the only recipients of drug samples," Johnson says, "a patient's financial situation is a factor physicians often consider when distributing such samples."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-05-drug-samples_N.htm
At best, giving out free samples of medications without complete safety measures and information accompanying them is irresponsible. However, as the article points out, it also prepares both parents and children for other suggestions from doctors and drug companies, that will typically include the use of additional drugs, thus making the consumption of medication seem a casual decision.
What really gets my gall is that this practice is obviously a way to get doctors and their patients to try and buy additional products, but they have the audacity to say that the primary reason is to help poor families who can't afford medication. Why do drugs have to be marketed in such dishonest and manipulative ways in this country? It gives the whole industry a bad name, and is more damning evidence that Big Pharma is a profit-driven industry whose main purpose is to generate vast amounts of income by plying the legal drug trade despite the risks to consumers. Time and time again they have proven that they cannot be trusted to ensure the welfare of any one or anything other than their own bank accounts.
Free Drug Samples May Not be a Great Deal
By Rita Rubin, USA TODAY
Free samples of prescription drugs may carry hidden costs for children and teens, researchers report today.
In what they say is the first study to examine the use of free drug samples in pediatric patients, the authors analyzed data on 10,295 U.S. residents under age 18 from a 2004 nationally representative survey about medical expenditures.
Among all U.S. residents under 18, one in 20 got at least one free drug sample in 2004, the authors write in Pediatrics. Counting just those who had been prescribed medication, one in 10 got at least one free sample.
In a statement responding to the study, Ken Johnson, senior vice president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, an industry group, says free samples provide doctors with "valuable firsthand experience with new treatment options and can also play a valuable role in fostering the appropriate use of medicines."
But lead author Sarah Cutrona, an internist at Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts, says giving out free samples "encourages a casual attitude toward medications."
Doing so bypasses pharmacists, who perform important safety checks, Cutrona says.
And, she notes, free samples lack childproof caps, instructions on what to do in case of an accidental overdose and information about kids' doses.
Of the 15 most commonly distributed free samples to children, Cutrona's study found, two are attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder medicines -- Strattera and Adderall -- and are controlled drugs because of their abuse potential.
And labels for those two, plus Elidel, for atopic dermatitis, and Advair, for asthma, received "black box" safety warnings -- the strongest possible -- between 2004 and 2007.
Previous research has shown that free samples lead doctors to prescribe drugs that might not be the best choice, says Cutrona, an instructor at Harvard Medical School.
For example, her new study found that some of the most widely distributed free samples were broad-spectrum antibiotics that aren't considered first-line treatments. Overuse of such drugs could contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, she says.
The prescription drug industry says free samples fill an important role for poor or uninsured patients, but Cutrona's study
found few needy kids got them, because they didn't have access to the doctors who gave them out.
"While it is true that poor and uninsured patients are not the only recipients of drug samples," Johnson says, "a patient's financial situation is a factor physicians often consider when distributing such samples."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-05-drug-samples_N.htm
Monday, October 6, 2008
How Overeating Leads to Disease
We have long known that consuming too many calories, especially of the wrong types of foods, can lead to obesity and trigger numerous disease conditions within the body. However, new research now gives us some very interesting updates as to how this process works. It appears thatindividuals who overeat, even if they have not gotten to the point ofbeing overweight or obese yet, can open the door to disease viapathways in the brain and hypothalamus. This new data also givesstronger evidence supporting the role inflammation and hormonal imbalances also play in illness.
We truly are what we eat, for good or for bad. The doubly hazardous habits of a poor diet and simply eating more food than needed on a consistent basis have wrought disastrous consequences for the health of the average American. Despite the false concerns of today's article that exercise and diet are usually not enough to reverse obesity, Iwould hope that this study will be used to encourage such positive lifestyle changes that lead to long-term wellness, rather than stimulate research into some new drug that will supposedly block the effects of overeating and enable individuals to side-step the issues of necessary changes that must be faced in order to regain health.
Overeating Can Throw Off Metabolism
Researchers find brain pathway that's activated, increasing risk of obesity, diabetes
Posted October 2, 2008
By Amanda GardnerHealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- New research shows that overeating triggers a metabolic response normally dormant in the hypothalamus region of the brain, even when a person hasn't gained weight.
"We discovered a very general disease pathway in the hypothalamus, a structure in the middle part of the brain which functions to regulate appetite, feeding behavior, energy and therefore body-weight balance and metabolic processes," said Dr. Dongsheng Cai, senior author of a paper published in the Oct. 3 issue of Cell that details the findings.
"Persistent stimuli from excessive amount of calories can trigger this response before the overt onset of obesity, and this response when induced can promote overeating, contributing to increased levels of caloric overconsumption," Cai added. "So, this process can be like a vicious cycle."
Although the study was conducted in mice, the authors believe the findings will also apply to humans.
Suppressing the pathway might be a potent weapon in the war to fight the burgeoning epidemic of overweight and obesity and its attendant problems, including heart disease and even cancer.
Two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese; one-third are obese.
Current efforts to combat obesity -- namely dieting and exercise -- are rarely effective and certainly are not long-lasting.
"Exercise and diet may correct abnormal brain regulation [but] long-term food control is very difficult," said Cai, an assistant professor of physiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "We don't understand why. . . The first important thing to understand is how the dysregulation of the brain is processed. The study we just did provides a new pathway. It's the opening of a new direction."
Until recently, researchers didn't know that the hypothalamus was important for how energy processing is conducted in the body.
"The brain is receiving more and more attention from the field . . . but nobody knows whether and how the hypothalamus could be responsible for the increasing occurrence of energy imbalance and obesity under today's environment typical of overnutrition," Cai explained.
Prior research had shown that eating too much triggered inflammatory responses in muscles, liver and other metabolic tissues, changes that underlie the development of type 2 diabetes. So the IKKb/NF-kB pathway had already been identified as a crucial player in these processes.
But it wasn't known if the same pathway was at work in the central nervous system.
In studying the brains of mice, Cai and his colleagues found that a high-fat or high-sugar diet did indeed increase the activity of this pathway in the brain as well. Similarly, the pathway is active in the brains of mice predisposed to obesity.
Once awakened, the pathway induces insulin resistance and dysfunctions of other hormones engaged with weight control and appetite.
While chronic inflammation was once thought to be a result of obesity, it now appears to promote it as well.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/10/02/overeating-can-throw-off-metabolism_print.htm
We truly are what we eat, for good or for bad. The doubly hazardous habits of a poor diet and simply eating more food than needed on a consistent basis have wrought disastrous consequences for the health of the average American. Despite the false concerns of today's article that exercise and diet are usually not enough to reverse obesity, Iwould hope that this study will be used to encourage such positive lifestyle changes that lead to long-term wellness, rather than stimulate research into some new drug that will supposedly block the effects of overeating and enable individuals to side-step the issues of necessary changes that must be faced in order to regain health.
Overeating Can Throw Off Metabolism
Researchers find brain pathway that's activated, increasing risk of obesity, diabetes
Posted October 2, 2008
By Amanda GardnerHealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- New research shows that overeating triggers a metabolic response normally dormant in the hypothalamus region of the brain, even when a person hasn't gained weight.
"We discovered a very general disease pathway in the hypothalamus, a structure in the middle part of the brain which functions to regulate appetite, feeding behavior, energy and therefore body-weight balance and metabolic processes," said Dr. Dongsheng Cai, senior author of a paper published in the Oct. 3 issue of Cell that details the findings.
"Persistent stimuli from excessive amount of calories can trigger this response before the overt onset of obesity, and this response when induced can promote overeating, contributing to increased levels of caloric overconsumption," Cai added. "So, this process can be like a vicious cycle."
Although the study was conducted in mice, the authors believe the findings will also apply to humans.
Suppressing the pathway might be a potent weapon in the war to fight the burgeoning epidemic of overweight and obesity and its attendant problems, including heart disease and even cancer.
Two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese; one-third are obese.
Current efforts to combat obesity -- namely dieting and exercise -- are rarely effective and certainly are not long-lasting.
"Exercise and diet may correct abnormal brain regulation [but] long-term food control is very difficult," said Cai, an assistant professor of physiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "We don't understand why. . . The first important thing to understand is how the dysregulation of the brain is processed. The study we just did provides a new pathway. It's the opening of a new direction."
Until recently, researchers didn't know that the hypothalamus was important for how energy processing is conducted in the body.
"The brain is receiving more and more attention from the field . . . but nobody knows whether and how the hypothalamus could be responsible for the increasing occurrence of energy imbalance and obesity under today's environment typical of overnutrition," Cai explained.
Prior research had shown that eating too much triggered inflammatory responses in muscles, liver and other metabolic tissues, changes that underlie the development of type 2 diabetes. So the IKKb/NF-kB pathway had already been identified as a crucial player in these processes.
But it wasn't known if the same pathway was at work in the central nervous system.
In studying the brains of mice, Cai and his colleagues found that a high-fat or high-sugar diet did indeed increase the activity of this pathway in the brain as well. Similarly, the pathway is active in the brains of mice predisposed to obesity.
Once awakened, the pathway induces insulin resistance and dysfunctions of other hormones engaged with weight control and appetite.
While chronic inflammation was once thought to be a result of obesity, it now appears to promote it as well.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/10/02/overeating-can-throw-off-metabolism_print.htm
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Eat Well and Slow Down the Aging Process
I don't think there's a one of us who wouldn't like to age gracefully, and the article below gives some great tips on dietary choices that can help us age more slowly, especially regarding the condition of our skin. Despite the multi-million dollar market for skin care products and anti-aging remedies, is important to remember that what we put into our bodies, especially if we choose highly nutritional, organic foods, can make a significant difference in the condition of our skin and affect other aging factors in a big way as well.
When growing or purchasing vegetables, fruits, and other foods high in antioxidants, be sure to find a source of organic, freshly grown produce that is free of pesticides, insecticides, and other toxic chemicals. If possible, growing your own is the best way to go. Locally grown items from a farmers market are also a good option, but you are limited by the growing season in most areas. Remember, fresh is always best, but if you can't get fresh, frozen is the next best choice, as freezing does not destroy as many nutrients as canning. It is always best to eat vegetables and fruits raw or minimally steamed if you want them cooked. The more of the natural antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients you can get into your system, the better the results and the younger you will look!
Natural Medicine
Last updated September 21, 2008 10:36 p.m. PT
Age gracefully with good nutrition
Aging is a natural life process. However, research shows that certain foods may slow the process and postpone the inevitable. Specifically, foods containing antioxidants can help you look and feel younger.
Antioxidants protect your cells from damage by free radicals. Scientists believe that free radical damage may be one of the main underlying reasons we age. Free radicals generally come from two places: natural production in the body as it carries out basic functions -- such as digestion and respiration -- and environmental sources such as chemicals, pollution, cigarette smoke, pesticides and UV sunlight.
While the body can make enough antioxidants to take care of the free radicals inside your body, it needs extra dietary (food) antioxidants to keep up with the outside sources. Fortunately, common antioxidants such as beta carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E can easily be found in common plant-based foods.
Beta carotene is important for healthy skin and good vision and is found in orange and red foods, including sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash, cherries, apricots, cantaloupe, watermelon, red bell pepper and tomatoes. It also can be found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and lettuces.
Vitamin C is involved in keeping skin firm and is found in oranges, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, watermelon, peppers, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, okra, snow peas, rutabagas, potatoes (with skin) and summer squash.
Vitamin E boosts the skin-protecting power of vitamin C and also protects the brain. Vitamin E can be found in nuts and seeds like almonds, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, peanut butter and sunflower seeds. It also can be found in flaxseeds, wheat germ, extra virgin olive oil, avocados and whole grain cereals.
By eating colorful, antioxidant-rich foods every day, you protect your brain cells from memory loss, keep eyesight sharp, help fight wrinkles, boost energy levels and help slow the negative effects of aging.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/printer2/index.asp?ploc=t&refer=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/380022_bastyr22.html?source=rss
When growing or purchasing vegetables, fruits, and other foods high in antioxidants, be sure to find a source of organic, freshly grown produce that is free of pesticides, insecticides, and other toxic chemicals. If possible, growing your own is the best way to go. Locally grown items from a farmers market are also a good option, but you are limited by the growing season in most areas. Remember, fresh is always best, but if you can't get fresh, frozen is the next best choice, as freezing does not destroy as many nutrients as canning. It is always best to eat vegetables and fruits raw or minimally steamed if you want them cooked. The more of the natural antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients you can get into your system, the better the results and the younger you will look!
Natural Medicine
Last updated September 21, 2008 10:36 p.m. PT
Age gracefully with good nutrition
Aging is a natural life process. However, research shows that certain foods may slow the process and postpone the inevitable. Specifically, foods containing antioxidants can help you look and feel younger.
Antioxidants protect your cells from damage by free radicals. Scientists believe that free radical damage may be one of the main underlying reasons we age. Free radicals generally come from two places: natural production in the body as it carries out basic functions -- such as digestion and respiration -- and environmental sources such as chemicals, pollution, cigarette smoke, pesticides and UV sunlight.
While the body can make enough antioxidants to take care of the free radicals inside your body, it needs extra dietary (food) antioxidants to keep up with the outside sources. Fortunately, common antioxidants such as beta carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E can easily be found in common plant-based foods.
Beta carotene is important for healthy skin and good vision and is found in orange and red foods, including sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash, cherries, apricots, cantaloupe, watermelon, red bell pepper and tomatoes. It also can be found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and lettuces.
Vitamin C is involved in keeping skin firm and is found in oranges, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, watermelon, peppers, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, okra, snow peas, rutabagas, potatoes (with skin) and summer squash.
Vitamin E boosts the skin-protecting power of vitamin C and also protects the brain. Vitamin E can be found in nuts and seeds like almonds, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, peanut butter and sunflower seeds. It also can be found in flaxseeds, wheat germ, extra virgin olive oil, avocados and whole grain cereals.
By eating colorful, antioxidant-rich foods every day, you protect your brain cells from memory loss, keep eyesight sharp, help fight wrinkles, boost energy levels and help slow the negative effects of aging.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/printer2/index.asp?ploc=t&refer=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/380022_bastyr22.html?source=rss
Treating Causes -- Not Symptoms -- of Acne
It is sad but true that many conventional acne treatments deliver toxic substances to your skin, and often make acne worse instead of improving it. The article below discusses some much better options for dealing with acne and other skin conditions -- options that get to the root cause, not just cover up the symptoms.
If you struggle with acne, take a look at your diet (what you put in your body) and chemicals that may be adversely affecting your skin (what you put on your body). The suggestions for using zinc, essential fatty acids, and Vitamin A are excellent. Also, performing periodic liver/gallbladder cleansing is essential since your liver is the main filter of the body and is involved in hormone regulation as well. Acne is a holistic concern. The condition of your skin is an excellent indicator of the health of your entire body. Choose your skin care and personal care products very carefully, purchasing only those that are organic, natural, and free from potentially harmful chemicals that are unfortunately present in many conventional formulas, both prescription and over-the-counter. I highly recommend a natural skincare regimen using Hydra-Tone, Oxy-Balm, E3 Light Skin Polish and Purely Ageless.
The True Causes of Acne
by Sheryl Walter
(NaturalNews) You finally meet someone that you can really see yourself being with. You are having visions of the future already. Yet on the day of your big date, you wake up to find a large red bump on your face with a massive white lump in the middle.
Sorry to paint this disturbing picture and to sound a bit cliche, but if you have ever suffered from acne, you certainly know this feeling.
Unfortunately, as with most skin complaints including eczema and psoriasis, treating the root cause of acne can be quite a labyrinth because the skin is the largest organ of the body, and is affected by almost everything that we do.
Dermatologists rarely get to the root of the problem. Unless they are really innovative, they generally recommend retinol, antibiotics, the birth control pill, or a range of creams. While some of these may help people with acne in the short term, in the long term, they all potentially cause acne.
Many people go to the dermatologists and never get to the bottom of their skin problems. There is one drug called accutain, which does clear the skin quite quickly. However, it is highly toxic, and even doctors are slow to give it out because of the many risks involved.
Natural Alternatives?
The absolute first thing that anyone who is prone to spots needs is zinc. Zinc deficiency is the number one cause of spots and a good quality supplement must be taken, as this mineral can be difficult to get in food.
If acne is in your genes, then eating something that doesn't suit you can create a disaster. Sometimes just one morsel of food can cause a breakout. A food intolerance test is a necessity for anyone who desires smooth skin.
Chemicals, Chemicals, Chemicals. They are everywhere. Just because you don't rub something on your face, doesn't mean it won't affect it. Because the skin is one large organ, what the foot touches could cause a spot on the back.
Shampoo, hair gel, toothpaste, foot balm, body lotion, cleaning products, laundry detergent, washing up liquid; every chemical is a suspect. And even if you think you are using a natural organic product that is great for someone else, it doesn't mean it suits you. Some people (myself included) are so sensitive that they need to vary the skin products they use from week to week so they don't become intolerant.
Candida overgrowth is another big factor in acne and other skin complaints. If it is growing on the inside, herbs are generally the best way to sort it. If it is simply Candida on the skin, then tea tree oil or the Australian Bush remedy Green essence among others may clear it. Seeing a practitioner who specialises in Candida can be incredibly useful.
Hormonal imbalances may be at the root of your skin woes. If so, most certainly Candida plays a role as it disturbs hormonal balance, and you may need to take other herbs to get the hormones back on track.
Essential fatty acids may also be the root of acne and other skin complaints. Omega-3 is found in fish oil and flaxseed oil. Omega-6 may be found in evening primrose oil and starflower oil, and may be beneficial to take by mouth, or even to rub on the skin.
Vitamin A is another good remedy for acne and is also great for blackheads.
I would like to say that these are the only reasons that one could have acne, but unfortunately the causes can be infinite. Try some of these options since they are the most common, and if you get frustrated, see someone who can test your individual needs.
http://www.naturalnews.com/z024279.html
If you struggle with acne, take a look at your diet (what you put in your body) and chemicals that may be adversely affecting your skin (what you put on your body). The suggestions for using zinc, essential fatty acids, and Vitamin A are excellent. Also, performing periodic liver/gallbladder cleansing is essential since your liver is the main filter of the body and is involved in hormone regulation as well. Acne is a holistic concern. The condition of your skin is an excellent indicator of the health of your entire body. Choose your skin care and personal care products very carefully, purchasing only those that are organic, natural, and free from potentially harmful chemicals that are unfortunately present in many conventional formulas, both prescription and over-the-counter. I highly recommend a natural skincare regimen using Hydra-Tone, Oxy-Balm, E3 Light Skin Polish and Purely Ageless.
The True Causes of Acne
by Sheryl Walter
(NaturalNews) You finally meet someone that you can really see yourself being with. You are having visions of the future already. Yet on the day of your big date, you wake up to find a large red bump on your face with a massive white lump in the middle.
Sorry to paint this disturbing picture and to sound a bit cliche, but if you have ever suffered from acne, you certainly know this feeling.
Unfortunately, as with most skin complaints including eczema and psoriasis, treating the root cause of acne can be quite a labyrinth because the skin is the largest organ of the body, and is affected by almost everything that we do.
Dermatologists rarely get to the root of the problem. Unless they are really innovative, they generally recommend retinol, antibiotics, the birth control pill, or a range of creams. While some of these may help people with acne in the short term, in the long term, they all potentially cause acne.
Many people go to the dermatologists and never get to the bottom of their skin problems. There is one drug called accutain, which does clear the skin quite quickly. However, it is highly toxic, and even doctors are slow to give it out because of the many risks involved.
Natural Alternatives?
The absolute first thing that anyone who is prone to spots needs is zinc. Zinc deficiency is the number one cause of spots and a good quality supplement must be taken, as this mineral can be difficult to get in food.
If acne is in your genes, then eating something that doesn't suit you can create a disaster. Sometimes just one morsel of food can cause a breakout. A food intolerance test is a necessity for anyone who desires smooth skin.
Chemicals, Chemicals, Chemicals. They are everywhere. Just because you don't rub something on your face, doesn't mean it won't affect it. Because the skin is one large organ, what the foot touches could cause a spot on the back.
Shampoo, hair gel, toothpaste, foot balm, body lotion, cleaning products, laundry detergent, washing up liquid; every chemical is a suspect. And even if you think you are using a natural organic product that is great for someone else, it doesn't mean it suits you. Some people (myself included) are so sensitive that they need to vary the skin products they use from week to week so they don't become intolerant.
Candida overgrowth is another big factor in acne and other skin complaints. If it is growing on the inside, herbs are generally the best way to sort it. If it is simply Candida on the skin, then tea tree oil or the Australian Bush remedy Green essence among others may clear it. Seeing a practitioner who specialises in Candida can be incredibly useful.
Hormonal imbalances may be at the root of your skin woes. If so, most certainly Candida plays a role as it disturbs hormonal balance, and you may need to take other herbs to get the hormones back on track.
Essential fatty acids may also be the root of acne and other skin complaints. Omega-3 is found in fish oil and flaxseed oil. Omega-6 may be found in evening primrose oil and starflower oil, and may be beneficial to take by mouth, or even to rub on the skin.
Vitamin A is another good remedy for acne and is also great for blackheads.
I would like to say that these are the only reasons that one could have acne, but unfortunately the causes can be infinite. Try some of these options since they are the most common, and if you get frustrated, see someone who can test your individual needs.
http://www.naturalnews.com/z024279.html
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Chlorinated Swimming Pools Increase Asthma Risk
Be careful about letting your children swim in chlorinated pools. Previous studies have found that exposure to chlorine in indoor pools increases risk for asthma and other respiratory problems, but the study highlighted in today's article indicates that outdoor pools may pose an even greater risk. The theory was that the concentration of fumes indoors was worse than outdoors, but new information now nullifies that assumption. The research shows that for several reasons, including kids staying in the water longer in outdoor pools and the tendency for more chlorine to be used outdoors, that the health risk is increased.
Despite its use in many public drinking water systems, chlorine is a very toxic chemical. It can be absorbed into the body through the skin, and many swimmers swallow enough water to cause problems as well. Beyond issues such as asthma, chlorine can also cause other health problems including an increased risk for cardiac disease. As the article points out, the risk for young children is even greater due to their still developing lungs.
Keep in mind that if you have your own pool, there are several alternative ways to disinfect the water without resorting to the use of chlorine or other dangerous chemicals.
Outdoor pools boost child's asthma risk: study
By Michael Kahn
Wed Sep 24, 7:07 PM ET
Swimming in outdoor chlorinated pools appears to increase the odds a child will develop asthma, Belgian researchers said on Thursday.
Other studies have linked chlorine and asthma but the new findings published in the European Respiratory Journal cast doubt on the idea outdoor pools are safer than indoor ones where chlorine vapors remains trapped inside an enclosed space.
"The more you swim, the higher the risk," said Alfred Bernard, a toxicologist at Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels, who led the study. "What is new in this study is that we looked at outdoor pools for the first time."
Asthma, which affects more than 300 million people worldwide, is the most common pediatric chronic illness. Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness.
Bernard and colleagues showed that outdoor pools are just as or more risky than indoor ones because harmful vapors remain at the pool surface and do not drift away.
And because children tend to spend more time in pools they are more likely to swallow chlorinated water or ingest vapors containing chemicals that attack the cellular barriers protecting the lung from allergens, Bernard said.
"We see that the risk of the outdoor pool is equal and even higher than indoor pools because children tend to spend longer in outdoor pools and they are more chlorinated," he said.
The Belgian team tested 847 students around the age of 15 for allergies and asthma and asked their parents about exposure to asthma risks such as tobacco smoke, pets and pollution, and how much time the children had spent in chlorinated pools.
The researchers determined that the risk for the 50 percent of children predisposed to allergies and asthma was directly related to the amount of time spent in a pool.
Children with the highest pool attendance -- one hour per week for 10 years -- were five times more likely to be asthmatic than young people who had never swum in a pool, the study found.
"Young children are more exposed because they take more water into their airways and their lungs are still developing," Bernard said in a telephone interview.
(Reporting by Michael Kahn; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080924/hl_nm/us_asthma_swimminghealth_1&printer=1;_ylt=ApqKhhAWdC.yp3bFCbQtVh8R.3QA
Despite its use in many public drinking water systems, chlorine is a very toxic chemical. It can be absorbed into the body through the skin, and many swimmers swallow enough water to cause problems as well. Beyond issues such as asthma, chlorine can also cause other health problems including an increased risk for cardiac disease. As the article points out, the risk for young children is even greater due to their still developing lungs.
Keep in mind that if you have your own pool, there are several alternative ways to disinfect the water without resorting to the use of chlorine or other dangerous chemicals.
Outdoor pools boost child's asthma risk: study
By Michael Kahn
Wed Sep 24, 7:07 PM ET
Swimming in outdoor chlorinated pools appears to increase the odds a child will develop asthma, Belgian researchers said on Thursday.
Other studies have linked chlorine and asthma but the new findings published in the European Respiratory Journal cast doubt on the idea outdoor pools are safer than indoor ones where chlorine vapors remains trapped inside an enclosed space.
"The more you swim, the higher the risk," said Alfred Bernard, a toxicologist at Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels, who led the study. "What is new in this study is that we looked at outdoor pools for the first time."
Asthma, which affects more than 300 million people worldwide, is the most common pediatric chronic illness. Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness.
Bernard and colleagues showed that outdoor pools are just as or more risky than indoor ones because harmful vapors remain at the pool surface and do not drift away.
And because children tend to spend more time in pools they are more likely to swallow chlorinated water or ingest vapors containing chemicals that attack the cellular barriers protecting the lung from allergens, Bernard said.
"We see that the risk of the outdoor pool is equal and even higher than indoor pools because children tend to spend longer in outdoor pools and they are more chlorinated," he said.
The Belgian team tested 847 students around the age of 15 for allergies and asthma and asked their parents about exposure to asthma risks such as tobacco smoke, pets and pollution, and how much time the children had spent in chlorinated pools.
The researchers determined that the risk for the 50 percent of children predisposed to allergies and asthma was directly related to the amount of time spent in a pool.
Children with the highest pool attendance -- one hour per week for 10 years -- were five times more likely to be asthmatic than young people who had never swum in a pool, the study found.
"Young children are more exposed because they take more water into their airways and their lungs are still developing," Bernard said in a telephone interview.
(Reporting by Michael Kahn; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080924/hl_nm/us_asthma_swimminghealth_1&printer=1;_ylt=ApqKhhAWdC.yp3bFCbQtVh8R.3QA
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