Can Garcinia Cambogia help you lose weight?

photo courtesy of stockimages via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Garcinia Cambogia has gotten a lot of press recently as a weight loss product, ushered into the limelight by Dr. Oz, among others. It is not a newly discovered supplement though, and has been sold for years.

The pure garcinia cambogia supplement contains HCA (hydroxycitric acid) and is extracted from the rind of the tamarind fruit, which is a member of the mangosteen family. Our readers may be familiar with a variety of benefits associated with mangosteen fruit, including its use as a weight loss supplement.

How does garcinia work? The effect is two-fold.

First, in the normal process of digestion, carbohydrates that are not immediately burned are converted to fat to be stored in the body. This process of making fat requires the action of the enzyme citrate lyase. Garcinia (HCA) directly inhibits the action of citrate lyase, preventing the enzyme from converting the excess carbohydrates into stored fat. (And as an added bonus, cholesterol levels are prevented from rising as they normally would when the process of forming fat would have happened.)

There is a second action associated with garcinia cambogia that is especially helpful for people who may eat for emotional reasons, boredom, stress, depression, and similar tendencies. The HCA from garcinia helps boost levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of happiness and calm. The boost to serotonin levels can help increase positive emotions and lessen feelings of anxiety, sadness, stress, etc. so people who often find themselves eating in reaction to feeling bad will not feel the urge to eat in response to emotion.

There are a few conditions to be aware of when deciding if garcinia cambrogia is right for you. Because it lowers blood sugar and cholesterol, you should speak with a health care professional and may need to be monitored if you have diabetes or take statins for cholesterol management. As with many supplements, you should seek professional advice if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. And if you have Alzheimers or a similar dementia condition, it's best to avoid this supplement.

When taken for weight loss, garcinia should be taken before meals, in the range of 500-1,000 mg before each meal. Don't exceed 3,000 mg per day.

photo by Grant Cochrane via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

And remember, while studies have shown a modest weight loss in those taking garcinia cambrogia without making any lifestyle or dietary changes, you can of course expect more dramatic effects by exercising and eating a sensible diet. Supplements are helpful, but the natural benefits of exercise and eating healthily will multiply the weight loss potential of any supplement.

Until next time, good health to you!

Natural relief for allergy sufferers

Spring is finally, slowly making its way across the country, bringing welcome warmth after a longer than normal winter season. With it comes the beginning of seasons of not-so-welcome pollens and other allergens than can make life miserable for anyone suffering from these kinds of allergies.

There are plenty of natural options for treating allergy symptoms.

Herbs:

Our first choice is Nature's Sunshine ALJ, which is an herbal combination including boneset, fennel, fenugreek, horseradish, and mullein. The regular capsules are the most popular choice among our clients, but if you are a strict vegetarian, there are veggie-tabs available, and a liquid form can also provide quick relief. Dosage instructions give a wide range ... we usually suggest clients try taking two capsules. If that gives relief, you may wish to try taking only one to see if that works equally well. If two is not enough, try three or four capsules. They can be taken several times a day, or if your allergies bother you mostly at a particular time, a single dose can be sufficient. My daughter suffered respiratory allergies that were causing lack of sleep, dark circles under the eyes, congestion, and eczema on her hands, and found that a single capsule upon waking controlled all of her symptoms.

Stinging nettle is another herb helpful for allergy sufferers. It can help prevent a histamine response, taking the place of an anti-histamine.

Butterbur is another herb that has antihistamine properties. The British Journal of Medicine reports a study in which butterbur was as effective as the active ingredient in Zyrtec at preventing allergic responses, at a dose of 8mg 4 times a day. However, some people may experience a worsening of symptoms with butterbur, since it is in the same family as ragweed.

Homeopathics:

Homeopathic remedies have been very successful for many of our clients, and some work to acclimate the body rather than simply suppressing symptoms. Hyland's Seasonal Allergy relief are helpful for many with a variety of allergy triggers. Boiron Sabadil is another very popular choice that is especially helpful for hay fever type allergies. The Outdoor formula from bioAllers is another formula that is especially helpful for pollen allergies.

Diet:

In an effort to prevent allergic reactions in the first place, studies have shown that diets high in omega-3 fatty acids are helpful. Look for cold-water fish, grass-fed meats, walnuts, and flaxseed oil. Quercetin can also be helpful in preventing the histamine response. Foods such as citrus, apples, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, broccoli as well as tea and wine are high in quercetin, but as a preventive for allergy sufferers, supplementation would probably be needed. Ideally, begin taking 1,000 mg daily between meals six weeks before allergy season. (Quercetin should NOT be used by those with liver disease.)

Neti pot:

As a "mechanical" means of treatment, many people like to use a Neti pot to irrigate the sinuses. This can be especially helpful if done before going to bed, and can alleviate allergy snoring and promote more restful sleep. You may remember the fatal illness contracted by one person from using tap water that contained bacteria in their Neti pot, which resulted in a lot of advice to throw them away and avoid using them. We would caution you to use common precautions - keep the neti pot clean, NEVER let liquid set in it, and use safe water for filling it. We commonly boil any water used from the tap anyway - any water system can have a breach or incident that allows unsafe levels of bacteria in the water and often is not immediately reported.

Habits:

A few precautions are in order to minimize your exposure as well, if you are seriously affected by pollen. Try to limit your time outdoors when pollen counts are highest. Use an air conditioner instead of fans for cooling, and keep windows closed. Clean and replace air filters as needed. Vacuum often (preferably just before leaving the house so you don't have to breathe the air afterwards, or better yet, get someone who doesn't suffer from allergies to do it!). Dry your clothing in a dryer instead of on a clothesline when pollen counts are high. Consider making it a rule to change clothing when you come inside for the day, instead of dusting your home with carried-in pollen. This is especially important if you tend to lounge on your bed. You don't want to be breathing pollen all night as you try to sleep!

We hope these suggestions and ideas will help allergy sufferers to experience relief from symptoms and enjoy feeling better during spring (and fall!) pollen seasons.

Important information for expectant parents

If you're expecting a child, along with the swirl of excitement and preparations, you are also no doubt faced with all sorts of decisions. Breastfeeding, birth options, pregnancy diet, and many other questions must be answered. Some of the issues were probably settled in your mind almost before the question was asked, while others will likely have you researching and weighing advantages and risks before you can make the choice that is right for you.

Over the past couple of decades, there have been exciting advances in technology that have opened up a new question for your consideration - one that has the potential to offer your family the wonderful possibility of being able to fight previously incurable diseases. At the same time, it is also one of the choices surrounded with the most misunderstandings. The question is: Should you consider stem cell banking?

The very mention of "stem cells" has many people recoiling at the thought, but we are not speaking of the harvest of embryonic stem cells. Instead, parents are choosing to save the blood remaining in the umbilical cord after the birth of their child - the "cord blood" - and have it stored in case it is ever needed for medical treatments. The placenta, umbilical cord, and blood was previously discarded as medical waste, but the blood contained in the discarded umbilical cord is a natural source of stem cells.

Within the past twenty years, these umbilical cord stem cells have been successfully used to treat a number of cancers, lymphomas, leukemia, and many other life-threatening conditions. Current research indicates the potential of these stem cells to successfully treat diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and an ever-growing list of diseases, injuries, and conditions that have previously been considered incurable.

As well as umbilical cord blood, parents now also have the option of saving cord tissue, which is the actual umbilical cord itself. The cord tissue contains stem cells as well, although they are of a different type. While stem cells from the blood can produce blood tissues in the human body, those from the cord tissue can develop into skeletal cells, connective tissue cells, heart cells, and more. By saving both types of stem cells, the potential for future treatment options is greatly increased.

If you choose to save stem cells from your baby's birth, you should contact the storage bank for enrollment and collection information.  Cost is another factor. Cord blood banking prices usually involve the collection fee and storage for a set amount of time, and an annual fee for maintaining it afterwards (be sure to verify that with the facility). You should also ensure that any facility you are considering is able to quickly and safely process your baby's cord blood as viability decreases over time. Be sure to discuss procedures with a representative and make sure your baby's cord blood will be maintained in the best condition possible, in order to provide your baby and your entire family the greatest chance to benefit from this precious life-giving resource.

The electronic revolution in healthcare

The electronic revolution is coming to health care. A decade ago, any personal medical records you may have accumulated from your personal physician, emergency room visits, or any other use of the health care system were likely documented on paper and filed away in the back office, perhaps never to be seen again. But all of that is rapidly changing with the embracing of electronic medical records (EMRs) throughout the health care system.

EMRs involve the compilation of ALL of a person's medical history, from a regular medical checkup, to an emergency room visit in another state, to a visit to a specialist to treat a complicated condition, in an electronic file that would be accessible to doctors anywhere who see the person for treatment, and to the patient themselves.

There are advantages to both patients and physicians with an electronic system.  For the patient, this means that if you are traveling on vacation and are admitted for an emergency condition, doctors can quickly access your full medical history and better assess your condition, providing you with the best treatment possible. Using  medical records software, they can immediately see whether there are any drug interactions, how you may have responded in the past to particular treatments, and any conditions that may affect treatment plans. This is an important safeguard for those taking natural supplements, as some of them interact with or mimic the action of prescription drugs. By documenting these in your electronic medical history you can help avoid potentially dangerous combinations, and prevent a doctor who may treat you from missing underlying conditions that may be managed through your use of herbs or supplements.

Other advantages to the patient include convenience, such as helping to avoid the possibility of needing repeated appointments, in case your doctor fails to send some necessary paper file when visiting a referral appointment. Decreased costs to the medical facility may result in cost savings to the patient as well.

EMRs (sometimes known as EHRs - electronic health records) also benefit the the medical community in a number of ways. One of the most important is in protecting the physician from an oversight that could result in prescribing a contra-indicated treatment. Another is the ability for multiple specialists to have access to a patients full treatment history, which can become complicated in some cases. While there is a learning curve to learning any new process, ultimately EMRs should save the facility time and effort in issuing prescriptions and treatment plans and keeping records of them, as well as making such records more accurate.

Natural immunity boosters

Fall is upon us ... and while we love the cooler temperatures, the wonderful golden fall sunshine, outdoor festivals, and fall gardens, fall also means the approach of "cold and flu season". Immunity is compromised by exposure to more extremes of temperature, dry indoor air, and stagnant air in rooms filled with people carrying their own organisms. In short, the perfect environment for spreading sickness.

There is plenty you can do and many products that are helpful in boosting the immune system ... too many to mention, in fact, so we'll just talk about a few of our favorites.

Astragalus is a good tonic herb for boosting immunity. It can be taken over time and will help the body respond better to stress as well as increasing immune response, so it is particularly helpful as a "stay healthy" herb this time of year.

Echinacea is actually very helpful, but only under certain circumstances. It should NOT be taken continuously throughout the season, as it will lose its effectiveness. Also, if you get sick and don't treat it right away, but begin taking herbs several days later, echinacea is not a good choice and you'll likely be throwing away your money at that point. We DO recommend taking echinacea at the VERY FIRST sign of illness - whatever that may be for you. For me, it always starts as a tickle in the throat or nose, or slight soreness in the throat, generally a day before other symptoms. At that point, I like to begin taking Solaray's vitamin C with echinacea capsules, 2 at a time, about 4 times a day. This will usually prevent any increase in infection and will clear it up totally in a few days.

Echinacea can also be taken as a preventive if you know you are going to be around a lot of people in a closed-in space, and so very likely to be exposed to infection. A convention, school play, or airplane ride are perfect opportunities to try to ward off illness.  It's a good idea to limit preventive use to two weeks or less, so the herb will maintain its effectiveness for you.

We also really like Nature's Sunshine Ultimate Echinacea liquid, which is a bit on the pricey side, but a very high quality product. If we use this one, we always take a double dose the first time if we already have symptoms, and the regular amount after that. Mixing it in tea or juice can make it easier to swallow.

If you're looking at another echinacea, read the label carefully. The best products have a variety of echinacea species (such as a combination of E. purpurea and E. angustifolia), as well as a variety of plant parts (roots as well as aerial parts).

Others include grapefruit seed extract, which we have seen knock out a long-term infection when nothing else has worked.

A good garlic supplement can be taken long-term to help boost immunity. Look for a garlic oil liqui-cap, if possible. We really like Kal's Garlic Oil 1500.

We have found oil of oregano to be very effective against a variety of infections as well. Oreganol is a particularly helpful brand. The liquid is very strong-tasting and smelling, and believe it or not, we have found orange juice to be a good liquid to somewhat mask part of the taste. If you can't handle the liquid, the capsules are actually quite effective.

If you do come down with the flu, we really like Oscillococcinum, taken according to directions at the first opportunity. This product is a homepathic preparation rather than a herbal supplement.

Many people turn to goldenseal for infections. While it is actually an EXCELLENT herb and I try to always keep it on hand, I find it useful for bacterial types of infections more so than viral ones, so it would not be my first choice for cold or flu unless a secondary infection has developed.

One supplement you absolutely do not want to miss in fighting colds and flu is good old fashioned vitamin C. We have found it to be a powerful infection fighter and immune booster. The best supplements as far as effectiveness are the ones with so-called "sub-C" vitamins as well, or "complete C". Look for one that includes "bioflavenoids" such as Solaray's Vitamin C with Bioflavenoids, Bluebonnet's Buffered Vitamin C 1000 mg plus Citrus Bioflavenoids, or Bluebonnet's Vitamin C (500 or 1000 mg) Plus Rose Hips with Citrus Bioflavenoids. We always take 1000 mg at a time, at least once a day, but when fighting infections will take several times a day. Some people cannot tolerate higher levels of vitamin C, so if you have any difficulties, you may want to decrease the amount. Also, many people experience stomach upset with some vitamin C supplements, and you may wish to look for Esterified C or a buffered vitamin C in that case. If you have kidney problems, talk to a health care professional before taking extra vitamin C. It does act as a diuretic.

Healthy habits go a long way to preventing illness as well.

Practice good hygiene. When you are out and about, touching doorknobs, counters, money, and more, take care NOT to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth without first washing your hands.

And while you want to stay warm enough, do it by dressing in layers (warm layers if needed) so you can remove clothing and remain comfortable. Don't overheat your home, since the dry over-heated air can actually make you more susceptible to airborne infection.

And it may sound like old advice, but it's sound -- take care of yourself. Get enough rest, exercise, eat well, and have a way of handling the stress that comes your way, and you will go a long way toward preventing colds and flu as well as many other health issues. Naturally.

Can you afford health insurance?

Since the approval of Obamacare, even more Americans are searching for a way to afford health insurance coverage. Many have lost their jobs - along with their health insurance. Others are making less money while health insurance costs have skyrocketed. To make things even more difficult, as time passes it becomes harder to be approved due to developing health conditions or in anticipation of rising health costs. In this atmosphere, many despair of ever being able to afford heath care coverage.

There are a number of strategies that can help. If you are seeking affordable health insurance, consider some of these ideas.

• Look at the coverages provided. Sometimes options such as maternity coverage are not needed, and significant savings can be realized by dropping these unnecessary coverages.
• Consider how often you typically visit a doctor, and calculate whether you might be better off simply paying for office visits out of your own pocket and dropping these from the coverages.
• Many colleges and universities offer low-cost insurance to students -- sometimes even part-time students. You may find it more cost-effective (and enjoyable) to take a class in something you're interested in (poetry or photography, anyone?) and get health coverage through your school.
• Look to jobs that typically offer outstanding health coverage benefits, such as government jobs. Even if the pay is less, you could reap significant rewards through your benefit package instead.
• Check out state and local programs that may be able to help. There may be resources available that you don't yet know about.
• Look into an HSA (Health Savings Account). While the deductibles are high, the costs are low and you can realize tax benefits as well, making this kind of plan a good fit for some families.
• Lower your premiums by being health-conscious. Virtually all insurers charge higher premiums for individuals who smoke, drink, or are overweight. Kick the bad habits and reap the benefits of better health AND lowered premiums.

These are just a few ideas to help you get started in your search for affordable health insurance. We hope they will provide useful in helping you find the coverage that's right for your family and your wallet.

How healthy is the air your children breathe?

We all want the best for our families. Parents are often concerned about making sure their children get a balanced diet, limit sweets, some level of exercise, and enough rest. Precautions are usually taken to make the environment safe as well, such as locking cabinets containing cleaners, covering electrical outlets, and making sure bottles have child-proof caps.

Other dangers are not so obvious though. One of these is parents (or others who are around the children for significant blocks of time) who smoke cigarettes. Not only are children who are exposed to smokers more likely to become smokers themselves someday, but they face risks to their health from second-hand smoke. Rates of respiratory problems ranging from bronchitis to asthma to pneumonia are higher in children of smokers, as well as other ailments such as ear infections. Children who breathe secondhand smoke are exposed to toxins and carcinogens present in tobacco smoke. Quitting smoking is one of the most important steps you can take for the health of your children as well as yourself.

Other airborne toxins can put your children at risk as well. If you live near a major city, be aware of pollution reports and keep children indoors on days where the risk is high. Indoor pollutants are of concern to many parents as well, and may be due to hidden sources such as new carpeting or construction materials. Cleaners and other chemicals used in the home can become concentrated in indoor air and contribute to poor air quality. Keeping your home aired out, using proper filtration methods, reducing the indoor use of pollutants, and even air-cleaning houseplants can all help contribute to better health for the entire family.

Does your child need glasses?

If you have been told by your child's teacher that your child has trouble seeing the blackboard, squints when reading, or displays some other characteristic that points to the possibility that they may need eyeglasses, please consider consulting a pediatric ophthalmologist, rather than making an appointment with a general optometrist.

Studied have shown that there is a great degree of natural variation in the visual acuity of children, depending on the time of day, lighting conditions, and a number of other factors. Your child may have trouble seeing letters of a certain size at a certain distance only at a certain time of day, for example. A specialist who is well versed in the variations of children's vision throughout the day is much less likely to simply prescribe glasses based on a simple static test that may, in the end, actually worsen your child's vision.

According to a study published by the Journal of the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus,

The high cost of addiction

Alcohol or drug addiction can have devastating effects on every area of a person's life. Health, family relationships, finances, future opportunities, and even life itself can be destroyed by addiction. Not only is the person suffering from addiction faced with these difficulties, but the impact reaches their families, friends, work environment, and often even damages the lives of people they never even meet. One Atlanta drug rehab center offers articles detailing a range of these effects relating to particular types of addiction.

The impact on one's health can include the effects of the substance itself - anything from brain damage to induced heart attacks and more. The delivery system of the drug sometimes has health risks as well, such as the risk of contracting AIDS or hepatitis from sharing needles or the risk of being burned with some drugs that are smoked. Even "minor" drug use can have consequences to health because the user may not seek medical attention as readily, or may at times ignore basic hygiene practices.

Family relationships are often strained when other family members are concerned about the abuser's drug habit. If other family members join in the habit, the health, financial, and other problems are magnified, and all of these put stress on relationships. If the substance abuser is a parent, there is the risk of losing custody of their children, and risk of neglect of the children in the meantime. If the abuser steals from family members in order to buy drugs, any remaining trust can be destroyed. 

Finances are another major area usually affected. The drug itself can be an expensive habit, and often an abuser spends much or all of his money and time just in acquiring it. There is usually a loss of regular income as a result, meaning few or no resources are available. When responsibilities are neglected, costs increase so that even a "minor" drug can have spiraling costs when bills are allowed to slide and late fees are added. If legal issues arise, the costs rise further. Other areas of impact, such as health impairment or strained family relationships can add to the cost as well when hospitalization is required or families split up and separate households have to be maintained.

Georgia residents who abuse illegal drugs are seeing an additional impact on their financial security due to a new law that seeks to disqualify unemployment recipients based on their failure to pass a drug test given by a prospective employer. The reasoning is that in order to receive unemployment benefits, the worker must be available and ABLE to work, and since most employers now require drug-free employees, those that are currently using are not able to work.  Atlanta drug abuse rehab centers offer an alternative that can help substance abusers break from their drug habit and fulfill the requirements of job searching, as well as opening the door to financial breakthrough when a job is secured and drugs are no longer draining personal finances.

Future opportunities may be limited by drug abuse if the abuser later wishes to travel to certain countries or train in certain job fields, and finds that he will not be allowed to do so because of his substance abuse history.

And finally, even life itself can be lost as the end result of substance abuse. While some drugs have a reputation of being more "dangerous" and are often cited as the cause of death as in the case of an overdose or severely declining health, again even the "minor" drugs can be the cause of loss of life due to an accident while driving under the influence or being in the wrong place at the wrong time when purchasing illegal drugs.

These devastating effects are bound to cause pain to anyone close to the abuser. Family members and friends often suffer when the abuser suffers. The workplace and everyone there is usually affected as well, with loss of productivity, often needing to hire a replacement, possible loss through theft, and perhaps even accidents caused by the impairment of a substance abuser. Even strangers can be affected if the abuser resorts to stealing in order to support his habit, or worse yet, is involved in an accident that can injure or even kill innocent parties.

Treatment is available and can be effective whether the substance abuser has decided to admit himself or is referred by his family and not of his own free will. When substance abusers become free of the effects of the drug and are able to think more clearly, they often decide they desire to be free from the addictive substance after all.

Healthy Feet = Happy Feet!

Standing in line, walking through the store, standing at the counter washing dishes, running after your kids, stepping from one workstation to the next in the kitchen while preparing dinner, strolling arm in arm with your mate under the stars -- much of our time is spent on our feet. When everything is fine with your feet, you hardly give them a second thought. But when your feet hurt, they remind you all day and can make even simple tasks a trial, and take all the enjoyment out of many of your favorite activities.

This was something I discovered when on vacation with a couple of my friends. We had all driven down to Walt Disney World with our children - 3 moms and 5 kids. Sometimes the bigger kids wanted to go this way and the smaller ones needed tamer rides, so we did a lot of running. By the end of the first day, my feet were so sore I wasn't sure I was going to be able to keep pace for the several days we had planned to stay. My friend Mindy commented on my shoes - I had just bought a new pair of sandals in the style I usually wore, but they were killing my feet. She suggested I try New Balance shoes, which she was wearing.

It was too late for that trip, and I ended up suffering through the next few days, but I was determined to seek out comfortable shoes. I did end up purchasing a pair of womens new balance walking shoes, which I picked up for a great price at an end-of-season clearance sale. Although I've since bought another pair for everyday wear, I still have the first pair I bought over eight years ago. The new puppy left a few teeth marks on them, but they are still just as comfortable as ever, and I use them as my backup pair.

I've since learned that I have several "issues" with my feet, including plantar fascia and mid tarsal bones that are too highly arched, as well as misaligned toes. While most of my foot problems are something that I was born with, I have found that properly fitting and supportive shoes make all the difference in the world in keeping my feet happy, which allows me to remain active and healthy. Healthy, happy feet are the foundation of a happy, active, and healthy life!

HGC Ultra Weightloss - Don't get scammed!

The HCG Ultra weightloss product scam -- don't get caught (or what to do if you already have!)

We're hoping to help spread the word about a scam that has been circulating on Facebook in the form of a virus. It will look like your friends are suggesting you buy the HGC Ultra weightloss product, and will take you to a website where you can order the product.

Unfortunately, there IS no such product as Herbal-Nutrition Com HGC Ultra. The scammers have set up fake websites and are (illegally) using the domain of herbal-nutrition.com in order to steal your money. Herbal-nutrition.com is a legitimate website that functions as a directory of Herbalife distributors. They do not make or sell HGC Ultra.

If you receive anything regarding this on Facebook and it seems to be from one of your friends, you can report it to Facebook. You may want to let the friend it seems to come from know about it, because their account may be compromised as well. You can also share this (or the blog post from Herbal-Nutrition.com) on your Facebook status to help protect your friends.

If you have already ordered the product, don't panic. There are steps you can take with your credit card company to request a chargeback. You should report the activity as fraudulent as soon as possible. To be on the safe side, it is always a good idea in situations like this to have your credit card company issue you a new card, since the scammers may try to use it again to steal more money from you.

As a courtesy to our friends at Herbalife, we would also ask that you understand that they are not involved in this scam, and have been victimized by the scammers just as those who bought the fake product have been.

Thanks for your understanding, and please spread the word to help protect your friends!

Ask Natural Healthy Life - Adult epilepsy?

"People have been telling my sister that the 'episodes' she has been having could be epileptic seizures. What exactly is epilepsy - and doesn't it always start in childhood? My sister is in her 30's. Does it run in families?"

Epilepsy is not really a particular illness -- it is more like a symptom. It is often diagnosed in childhood, but adult epilepsy can also appear suddenly, more commonly to older adults.

Epilepsy does sometimes run in families, so some of the factors can be genetic. It can also possibly be related to a head injury. Other illnesses and medical conditions can play a role, such as Alzheimer's disease or stroke. Lifestyle diseases such as alcoholism or drug abuse are sometimes cited as a possible cause. However, most cases of epilepsy cannot be traced to any cause at all.

Your sister will need to see a health professional to determine if what she is experiencing is in fact an epileptic seizure, because there are a number of types.

Epileptic seizures involve abnormal "electrical firing" in the brain. These can affect only a small portion of the brain, a larger area, or the entire brain. Because of this, the effects seen in different types of seizures cover quite a range of experiences for the person having the seizure, and symptoms observed by onlookers can be very different from one kind of seizure to another.

For example, a seizure affecting only a small area in the brain might cause the person to have a momentary sensory experience (taste, sight, smell, etc.), vivid memory, or strong emotion that comes over them suddenly. An onlooker would probably be totally unaware that the person had just had a seizure. Such an experience is NOT proof of epilepsy though by any means.

If a slightly larger area of the brain is involved, the sufferer may become unconscious, or may have no memory of the incident afterward even if they spoke or seemed conscious during the attack. This level of seizure is more likely to involve uncontrolled motions we most often associate with seizures.

Such seizures may progress to involve the entire brain, or the epileptic person could begin experiencing generalized (entire brain) seizures from the outset. These can be as unobtrusive as simply staring into space and not being as aware of what is going on around the person -- something we could just as easily confuse with being deep in thought or daydreaming. (This is another good place to emphasize the need for having the person professionally evaluated, as common experiences can mimic some types of seizures.) Another type of seizure involves suddenly losing strength and dropping an item, or possibly falling. Yet another is a quick jerking of some part of the body (don't many of us often experience this sort of thing as we are falling asleep?). And there is the more dramatic type in which the person usually loses consciousness, falls down, probably convulses, may lose bowel/bladder control, and often remain unconscious for a short time after the convulsions cease.

Because there is such a wide range of possible types of seizures, it is important to identify the source (whether they are in fact epileptic seizures) so an appropriate course of action can be selected.

Choose health - Today!

Many of the diseases plaguing people in the United States today are "lifestyle diseases" or ones are directly caused by the day to day choices we make that affect our bodies and our long-term health. Various forms of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer are all affected by how we live our lives.

Of course, some risk factors, such as the genetic ones, are beyond our control. But diet, exercise, and even environmental factors and our emotional state play a big role in determining our ultimate health, and many of these are within our control.

Some of the most important changes you can make include:

1) Improve your diet. A varied diet including foods as close to their natural state as possible (not processed, packaged foods) provide the best nutrition and help the body build a strong immune system and ward off many, many diet-related diseases. Organic produce, dairy, and meats are even better. Learn about and limit hidden "fake" foods, such as margarine, processed white flours and sugars, and especially "convenience" foods. Eating a sensible balance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and healthy fats will go a long way to building a disease-resistant body.

2) Exercise. Not only does exercise strengthen muscles and reduce fatty tissue, but moving around tells your body that you are still active and useful, and does much to rejuvenate your entire body on a cellular level. Even diseases that don't appear (to our current understanding) to be affected by excess body fat can be less likely in a person who exercises regularly. Strive for a minimum of 3 strenuous workouts a week, and 5-6 days of at least moderate activity. Find things you enjoy doing so that you'll keep it up. And if you need to lose weight, push yourself even when you don't enjoy it, since more intense exercise will burn fat faster, producing its own reward in the mirror and the fit of your clothing.

3) Stop smoking. Like lack of exercise, smoking is related to a wide range of lifestyle diseases, not only those involving the lungs. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your body. You will increase your lung capacity, making your body more able to handle exercise, help your body to oxygenate your cells, and decrease the levels of thousands of toxins introduced with smoking. You'll look younger and be healthier. And if you might possibly become pregnant, quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do for the health of your unborn baby.

There are other things you can do as well that will also help to improve your health.

4) Get enough rest. Lack of sleep can cause your metabolism to decrease, resulting in weight gain. It also causes your blood sugar to regulate less efficiently and can set you up for diabetes. When you get enough sleep, your body feels more energized and is more able to work, both mentally and physically, and you reap more benefits from physical exercise. It is best if your sleep comes in a single long stretch at night. Naps during the day are not bad if they don't interfere with your nighttime sleep, but if you aren't getting an uninterrupted seven hours (at least), you are cheating yourself.

5) Have a positive outlook. Your mental state has more influence on disease processes than you may realize. Find things you enjoy doing. Volunteer if your job doesn't make you feel useful and needed. Make sure to do things that allow you to relax, and laugh. For many people, a pet is a great stress-reducer and provides wonderful companionship. If you are a person of faith, don't neglect it. Spend time with family and/or friends. Consider taking a class in something you've always wanted to learn.

6) Moderate (or eliminate) alcohol intake. While there are some health benefits to be had by drinking small amounts of wine, having too much to drink is a serious detriment to your health. And if you are a woman who might become pregnant, it is wise never to overindulge, since alcohol can cause a number of birth defects in your unborn baby.

7) Clean up your life. Learn about sources of "pollution" and the toxins you expose yourself to. Whether heavy metals included in your personal care products, higher-than-normal levels of air pollution, or chemicals you are exposed to at work, there are often ways of cleansing these from your body and environment. Since the effects of most toxins are cumulative, any changes you can make to live cleaner can reap big benefits over time.

Your health is very much in your own hands. The choices you make today, tomorrow, and every day can add up to give you an increased chance and vibrant health over a longer lifetime, and that's worth more than anything money can buy.

Be healthy!

WHAT DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW

I appreciate the guest post, Ignacio Phillips

I came across a really great website today when I was surfing using my roswell 4g internet. It was a guide to gardening that was area specific. It is that time of year again that you have to get things out in the garden. I have always kind of been a haphazardly gardener, never really knowing what to plant where and when. This website was a great resource. It told me when I need to makes sure that I got the right things planted. It had ideas about ways to rotate things in your garden so that they would grow better than the year before and also told you how much sunlight each plant needed. This year, I think that my garden is going to be better than ever. Hopefully, I will get a good crop of everything that we plant and not just a thousand hot peppers that we are never going to eat! Last year my husband got so sick of eating stuffed peppers and eggplant every single way you could think of it. Those were the only two things that grew in the garden!

How can you prevent your children from abusing drugs?

Often news stories of tragic deaths focus our attention on the need for intervention. The death of Whitney Houston, now ruled to have involved cocaine, is one that underscores the dangers of drug abuse.

Of course drug abuse isn't restricted to Hollywood figures, or even to a certain segment of the population. Unfortunately, according to one Atlanta drug abuse rehab center, abuse rates among middle school aged children are increasing. How can parents help?

Communication - Children naturally want more privacy as they grow up.  Making them feel too restricted or prying can backfire, fueling rebelliousness and closing the door on communication. Instead, be aware of what your child is doing, who his friends are, and what is going on in his life without being overbearing. It's a fine line parents must walk.

Trust is key - Parents want to trust that their children are being honest with them.  Children want to trust that they can talk to their parents without the parent "freaking out" and restricting them. It's a good idea to practice letting your children talk to you about anything without becoming reactionary. Even if you heartily disapprove of what they are saying, don't immediately jump in with a lecture.

Instead, let your children talk, and you just listen. They may only be thinking out loud, rather than having already decided their position. Give it time and meet back with them later. Give yourself a chance to cool down. When you say to your child, "I thought about what you said ... " they will know that you have taken time to think about it, and you will make them feel validated. Then you can ask them what they think will be the result of their action, why they think it's a good idea, or whatever else flows from the topic. This will teach them to consider consequences and learn to make good decisions.

If all else fails, remember that you're their parent, not their buddy. If intervention is needed, don't be afraid to get help. Seek out an Atlanta Drug Rehab program that can help your child, one offering continuing care in order to be most effective.

Is your school promoting GMO?

Biotechnology activity booklet for children, from the web at 

http://www.whybiotech.com/resources/Kids-Biotech-Basics-Activity-Book.pdf

If the public sentiment among adults is negative, what's a corporation to do? "Educate" the children, and bring them over to their cause.

Personally, I think the controversy surrounding the topics of GMO's, organic farming, sustainable agriculture, and the like is not really suitable for very young children. Older children who have reached the age of being able to critically examine evidence may enjoy the challenge, but very young children can only accept what they are being told.

That accepting attitude among young children is exactly why it concerns me to learn that the Council for Biotechnology Information has produced an activity booklet aimed at young children, intending to engage them with puzzles and illustrations for the purpose of driving home their message.

And that message? The stated objective is to convince children that "biotechnology enables us to (1) grow more food; (2) help the environment; and (3) grow more nutritious food that improves our health." (Objective may be viewed on page 2 of the booklet.) Our children are expected to learn that biotechnology "improves the health of the earth and its people" despite indications to the contrary.

Look Closer at Biotechnology is available online. Parents can and should view the activity booklet and find out if there are plans to include it in your child's school curriculum.

Personally I find this a distasteful attempt by the industry to indoctrinate the youngest members of society, who are not yet able to critically examine the statements being made or weigh the research on either side of the debate. This is where as parents, you must decide what is best for your family.

New Chapter ... sells out to Proctor & Gamble

While we have never carried New Chapter in our business, as a brand they have been known in the industry for developing supplements using organic and whole food sources. I have never recommended against them in all the times I have been contacted by clients to ask about their products.

However, it was with sadness that we received the news that New Chapter has now been sold to Proctor and Gamble.

While this is a new development, and there are hopeful voices out there suggesting that perhaps the New Chapter line will demonstrate to P&G that pure, healthful supplements are profitable and a desirable line for them to maintain, the fact is that this scenario has been played out before.

Each time a natural company has been taken over by a corporate giant, one of two results have followed. Either the larger corporation has shut down the natural products company in order to make way for their own products, or they have made changes to the product line which resulted in lowered quality and effectiveness.

Even if that were not the case, many of our clients choose not to financially support certain corporations, and the sale of New Chapter to P&G will affect their purchasing decisions for that reason.

We are truly saddened to see the expected loss of yet another natural products company by these means. And we wished to inform our readers who may not have heard yet about the transaction.

Alternative therapies for pain

Many people with serious injuries must deal with long-term pain management during their recovery period. Often the first suggestion of doctors is to write a prescription for pain medication, but I know many of our clients would prefer a drug-free alternative.


TENS Units are getting a lot of attention as a pain management tool. TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. Basically these are programmable units which send electrical impulses to a small electrode - usually encased in a pad which is applied to the skin - which then interact with the nerve impulses. Opinions are divided on why they work, but they do offer significant relief to many chronic pain sufferers. It may be that the electrical impulses from the TENS unit interfere with the electrical impulses which would normally carry pain signals to the brain. Or perhaps the TENS units enhance the production of endorphins, which in turn blocks the pain. Either way, many people report immediate relief from chronic pain that may last for the duration of the treatment, or in some cases persists even when the device is not being used.

For those who use a topical treatment in their pain management regimen, a TENS unit can enhance the effectiveness of the topical ointment. The electrical stimulation of the unit increases blood flow to the area, and so can increase absorption of the topical and increase its availability. 

Another benefit of this electrical therapy is its potential for use as Muscle Stimulators. In the case of injuries which prevent normal exercise, muscles are prone to atrophy. The use of a LG-TEC Dual Combo TENS Unit and Muscle Stimulator can help not only with pain relief but also with exercising muscles that cannot be exercised otherwise, maintaining tone and preventing atrophy from disuse.

To learn more about these increasingly popular alternative treatment options, visit LGMedSupply Online and read further information in their online customer blog.

Warnings: please acquaint yourself with situations n which TENS units are contraindicated. They should not be used in patients with a pacemaker, pregnant women, on certain areas of the body (for example, not on both temples at once), or in those with certain other physical conditions (epileptics). This is NOT a complete list of warnings, please verify if TENS units are safe to use in your particular situation.

Alternatives for prostate cancer

What is HIFU, and why might a prostate cancer patient wish to consider it?

A variety of treatments have commonly been offered to those dealing with prostate cancer, from the minimally invasive to those with potentially more severe side effects.

Of course, at one end of the spectrum, physicians in some cases recommend simply waiting, watching for progression, and in the meantime doing nothing. Alternatively, doctors may choose to be more aggressive in their treatment. Each of these more aggressive treatments has associated risks. They might suggest surgery, which can have side effects ranging from impotence to urinary or fecal incontinence, as well as potentially shortening the penis. Options such as radiation therapy can actually increase the risks of other cancers as well as potentially causing urinary problems or impotence. Chemotherapy is one of the main treatments those interested in natural health wish to avoid, since the damaging effects that are intended to target the cancer cells can have systemic effects. Hormone therapy can seriously interfere with sexual desire and function as well as lead to other unpleasant side effects. And biologics, while more appealing to those wishing to take a natural approach, are generally used only after the cancer has already metastasized (spread), so might not be sufficient for a proactive approach.

Regarding natural treatments, we list a number of herbs that have beneficial effects for the prostate, but many of them are most effective in a preventive role. If cancer is discovered, many clients wish to address it more actively, but are leery of the side effects that often accompany traditional treatment methods.

Fortunately, there are new options. HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound) is a type of therapy that uses high-intensity ultrasound waves to target cancer cells and destroy them within the prostate. It is minimally invasive, requiring only a probe that emits the ultrasound waves. There is a very low risk of the side effects commonly associated with many other methods. Another benefit to this method is that it can be used in cases where the patient has already undergone some treatments but the cancer was not completely removed. This is particularly beneficial since it is possible that any method will achieve only partial results, but it is impossible to repeat many of them.

While potential treatments evolve, giving health consumers more choices of treatment options, the best advice remains to educate yourself. Know the potential risks and benefits of each option, and also of forgoing options. Armed with knowledge, you will be in the best position to make wise choices for your own health.

The power of a positive mental attitude

Whenever you or a loved one are facing hospitalization, long term care, entry into a nursing facility, or other significant interaction with the medical system, several factors are important to the continued well-being of the patient.

Probably uppermost in importance is finding a health care provider that will provide you with the type of care you desire. Some health care professionals are more open to working in conjunction with alternative therapies, for example. We have had clients who visit us seeking to embark on alternative treatment while at the same time seeing a physician who was not supportive of their decision. Often this results in the patient not sharing information with his health care provider in fear of it not being well-received. In truth, this can be very dangerous to the patient, especially if the chosen treatments are incompatible. You need to be comfortable enough with your health care provider to be willing to openly discuss any aspect of your health.

Once you are comfortable with your health care provider and the treatment options, the importance of everyone who may deal with the patient knowing the full history and treatment plan becomes an issue. Electronic health records can provide a clear and concise platform that keeps all of the patient’s information readily accessible to everyone who interacts with the patient.  Many mistakes and oversights can be prevented if the facility has medical records software in place that allows caregivers to accurately report the patient’s condition, health care providers to follow-up on treatments and enter any orders, pharmacy workers to accurately access exactly what is to be filled, and so on.

These factors can help the individual to have a greater degree of trust in his health care provider and enjoy a greater peace of mind regarding the handling of his needs. Having confidence and being comfortable with the process go a long way toward creating the positive mental attitude that can mean the difference between a positive outcome from treatment, and a not-so-favorable one. Clients should always do everything possible to help to ensure a good morale, no matter what health situation they may be facing.

Take charge of your own health - Educate yourself!

I’m sure you’ve seen commercials featuring a mesothelioma law firm giving contact information to speak with a mesothelioma lawyer, and there has been a great deal of public attention on this disease for several years now. Because of that, I was all the more surprised when I learned the husband of one of our employees was given the task of covering areas right after being stripped of  asbestos without the benefit of any protective gear or even a briefing on the dangers involved.

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that forms in the lining of the chest (pleura), abdomen, or in rare cases, around the heart.   The main risk factor is exposure to asbestos. While most of the people diagnosed with mesothelioma are people who are exposed to asbestos as part of their work over a period of time, it is possible for a much lesser exposure to cause cancer as well (such as family members who are exposed to particles that may be carried home from the job on a worker’s clothing). What we typically find in almost all cancers are that while high levels trigger the disease in many people, there are some who are apparently sensitive enough to develop cancer from much lower concentrations of the substance in question, which usually means that there is no real safe level of exposure to any known carcinogenic material.

The crew stripping the material was from a special hazard team, and worked in full body protection suits removing the material from the building. However, as soon as their team moved into the next room and before the cleanup, our employee’s husband was sent into the room to apply material over the stripped area and seal it up. I’m glad he came to me and described the situation, because asbestos fibers are particularly dangerous when they have been disturbed and are airborne.  Frankly I was shocked that his employer did not value the safety of his employees more highly, and it would seem that mesothelioma lawyers are going to be busy for decades to come.

The take-away lesson is – never let anyone else make health decisions for you. Don’t assume that your employer or anyone else won’t take risks with your health. Educate yourself about the dangers of any situation, and take appropriate measures to safeguard your well-being.

Organic make-up

While we often hear about the importance of eating fresh organic produce, it is important to remember that chemicals enter the body in ways other than through what we eat. The skin is the largest organ of the body, and can also absorb whatever is placed in contact with it. Because of this, we caution all of our clients to be aware of the ingredients included in their personal grooming and beauty products. One way to treat your body kindly is by using organic makeup.

Some of the chemical ingredients that go into making mainstream make-up, including foundation, eye shadow, and especially nail polish can be potential toxins. Instead, opt for  organic makeup and protect your health.

Chocolate good for you?

photo credit: Dreamstime

Chocolate. The stuff of many Valentine's gifts, and a favorite indulgence this time of year. But surely something that tastes so good MUST be bad for you, right? Of course you've heard by now that some chocolates can be good for you. But do you know what kinds, and why?

Chocolate (most of it at least) is made from cocoa, derived from cocoa beans. Cocoa beans are some of the richest sources of several classes of plant-produced protective substances called polyphenols. These are the same protective substances that have made red wine and green tea so famous in health news, and are found in comparable quantities in cocoa.

Polyphenols can help prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. When cholesterol oxidizes, it sticks to artery walls and builds up plaques, narrowing the arteries and increasing blood pressure. Chocolate helps prevent this process from happening. Not only that, but the polyphenols in chocolate cause the platelets in blood to be less sticky, so they are less likely to form clots. Blood flow is enhanced to the brain and heart, and the risk of atherosclerosis is decreased. Chocolate has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol by as much as 10 percent, further reducing your risks for various heart-related conditions.

The antioxidant action of chocolate may also provide some anti-cancer benefits. Antioxidants help protect cells against damage that happens naturally through oxidation. Tumors sometimes grow in response to the cellular damage, so to the degree that the antioxidant effects reduce cellular damage, they may be helping to prevent growth of tumors, which could otherwise lead to cancer. Antioxidants are some of our most powerful agents against all sort of disease processes, and chocolate can contain as much as eight times the level of antioxidants found in strawberries (berries are natural antioxidant powerhouses, so that's saying something!).

Chocolate can also help you feel better. Not only because it tastes good (although that certainly doesn't hurt!), but it contains other substances that help boost mood.  Among these are serotonin, which helps combat depression, and theobromine. The brain produces endorphins in response to eating chocolate, which further enhances pleasure and can help block pain receptors. The flavenoids in chocolate can also help balance out some hormones within the body.

But even with all of that going for it, chocolate does contain fat. So ... do the risks of consuming fat in chocolate cancel out the benefits?

Not at all. The fat in cocoa beans is made up of three types of fat. One of these is oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fat also found in the heart-healthy olive oil. Stearic acid is another type of fat present in chocolate, and while it is a saturated fat, studies show that it does not affect cholesterol one way or another, but is considered a neutral fat. Only one of the fats in chocolate - palmitic acid - has been associated with an increase in cholesterol. However, it balances with the others, and the overall effect in the diet has been found to be a lowering of cholesterol in those who consume a small amount of dark chocolate daily.

So, are you ready to run right out and grab a bunch of candy bars? Not so fast ... not all chocolate is created equal, and there are a few things you should keep in mind.

All of the benefits mentioned are found in DARK chocolate, which is chocolate containing 65% or more cocoa. Milk chocolate has few, if any of these benefits, and most white chocolate does not contain any cocoa at all.

Choose either plain dark chocolate, or that with added ingredients that have their own health benefits. Nuts, cherries, cocoa nibs, orange peel, dried berries, and similar ingredients are all good. Steer clear of chocolate with added caramel, nougat, buttercreams, or other empty calories.

Also, don't drink milk along with your chocolate. Some research has found that milk may coat your digestive tract and prevent you from being able to absorb the antioxidants.

If you want the absolute highest level of benefits possible from your chocolate, look for that which is minimally processed, since some processing methods can decrease the level of flavenols. Your best bet is chocolate made from high concentrations of cocoa powder that is NOT Dutch processed. Dutch cocoa has been processed with alkaline substances to decrease the level of acidity, but the same process also destroys natural flavenols.

So this Valentine's Day, don't feel guilty about chocolate indulgences, just make sure it's the right kind of chocolate. Eaten in moderation (maybe an ounce per day), you will reap health benefits in the end.

VISITING MY SISTER

Guest post from: Kent Lara

Last weekend, when I was visiting my sister, the weather ended up being terrible. We were planning on getting outside and working in her garden. It is that time that we are getting everything ready for veggies that we will get in the summer. My sister lives four hours away from me, but I love to visit her and help her with her house. She recently bought her first house and lives alone. It is the cutest little place and she has it decorated really nicely. When we were confined to the house all weekend with nothing to do outside, I thought that we would just be able to hang out on her plush sofas and watch television. Boy was I wrong! She had basic cable and NO movie channels. Before I left, I made her log onto www.CannonSatellite.com and schedule an appointment to get a satellite dish. I told her that I would not be coming back until she upgraded her television package. I mean that was ridiculous! She had all these other cool things around the house, but terrible TV!

Fat contributes to weight loss?

A friend of mine just passed along an article that was posted this week about new discoveries in human fat cells. The article cites several studies that looked at the presence of brown fat in human adults. We knew brown fat was present in babies and animals, but it was once thought that this type of fat cell was phased out of the human body during childhood.

What's really interesting about brown fat is that its job is to keep us warm, and the way it does that is to burn normal fat once its own scant resources are used. In one study, a group of men burned 80% more calories while at rest just by slightly chilling the room. According to the article, on average the subjects burned an extra 250 calories over the course of 3 hours.

Another type of brown fat is found dispersed throughout the body's normal white fat. It is believed that this brown fat is created FROM the body's white fat through exercise, and then proceeds to burn the surrounding white fat as its source of fuel.

The information is in early stages, and there is a lot of speculation about the possible benefits, and how to best achieve results with the information. Since weight loss and decreasing body fat are of such keen interest to many people (and potentially very lucrative) I have no doubt that there will be follow up studies, and some will seek to harness this information in the diet industry.

It does remind me of a very simple truth I always swore by and that is that exercising in cold weather provides extra benefit, because the body must burn calories in order to warm itself as well as to carry out the work. Exercising in warmer weather does allow more sweating but in the long run, burning fat is more beneficial than dropping a little extra water.

Plant onions, reap good health!

Grow your own onions for great health benefits!

One of the best ways to improve your health is through nutrition, and food is never more nutritious than when we grow it ourselves, and can eat it fresh from the garden. (Not to mention all the exercise you get while working in the garden!) It’s time to plant onions here, so we want to share some of the unique health benefits of this little bulb. Not only does it smell heavenly when sautéed, it’s also good for you.

Heart  

• help to prevent atherosclerosis

• May lower cholesterol

• Can help lower blood pressure

• Strengthen blood vessels

Lungs

• help prevent bronchitis

• alleviates bronchial constriction caused by allergies in asthmatic people

Digestive

• helps support growth of healthy bacteria

• Can reduce risk of colon tumors

• May lower risk of stomach cancer and esophageal cancer

Immunity

• help to prevent coughs and colds

• Appears to function in both antibacterial and antiviral ways

Other

• may be very effective to decrease bone loss common in menopausal women

• helps to decrease inflammation

• shown to decrease risk for many other types of cancer as well

Onions provide fiber, vitamin C, and chromium. Green onions are a good source of vitamin A. Onions also offer various antioxidants, including Quercitin (Quercitin is the most credited for cancer-prevention qualities and is more concentrated in outer layers of red and yellow onions than in any other food source).

Onions vary in their levels of protective substances. Stronger-tasting onions, such as New York Bold, Northern Red, and Western Yellow have higher levels of phenolics and flavenoids, making them much more active in promoting health. However, even Vidalia onions (my personal favorites, and ranking much lower in protective substances) can boast local stomach cancer death rates half of the national average.

You should remember that many of these beneficial flavenoids are concentrated in the outer layers, so don’t overpeel your onions. Another good tip: Quercitin is not "cooked out" when onions are slowly simmered in soup, but rather it is transferred into the liquid of the soup, so adding onions to any soup-type dish you prepare will help you to offer healthful benefits in every spoonful.

The only known medical issue is that because onions have some blood-thinning properties, they can increase the effect of anti-coagulants. And of course, eating very large quantities can lead to stomach upset. Most of the studies considered people who ate about ½ an onion per day and found they enjoyed full health benefits, while a few of these benefits are achieved by as little as 1-3 servings per week. As much as one onion per day was consumed to arrive at the benefits in a couple of the studies.

Book Review - Prescription for Nutritional Healing

This is one of our favorite reference books and we can highly recommend it to either professionals or the general public. It is a near-exhaustive volume covering diseases and conditions both common and rare, and discusses in depth the effect that various aspects of nutrition have, both good and bad.

While the book focuses on nutrition, there is enough additional information on herbal supplements as well to be a wonderful resource from that perspective. (For greater detail, see Prescription for Herbal Healing, but if you can only have one, we recommend this one.)

A definite must-have for the bookshelf of anyone interested in a naturally healthy lifestyle. You won't be disappointed.

Fresh vs. Frozen?

We’ve heard a few clients mention that “Fresh is always better than frozen” when it comes to fruits and vegetables. In it’s purest form, that statement is true. However, it can lead to some misconceptions when you apply it to today’s marketplace.

It really all depends where your fresh food comes from. If you are fortunate enough to have a nearby farm (or grow your own!) and can be assured that the food you are selecting is at the peak of ripeness and freshness, then all the better. There is no better source of food. But depending on where you live, the season, and the food you want, that is not always possible (in fact, it usually isn’t!).

What if you want strawberries in January in New England? Chances are, you won’t be finding any that were locally grown. The strawberries available to you will have been picked far away from you, and then stored in a warehouse. From there, they have been trucked or flown in from a great distance, taking more time. Possibly they have spent a day or two sitting at a distribution center in the process of changing hands one or more times. And … strawberries just don’t keep that long, so they will have been picked before they were ripe, or had other methods applied to keep them from spoiling. The “fresh” strawberries you buy at the supermarket … well, just aren’t fresh anymore.

If frozen strawberries were handled properly, they could have been picked at that peak of ripeness, frozen immediately, retaining most of their original flavor and nutrients. They would still be inferior to strawberries that were growing in sunny fields that morning, but on the other hand, they are far better than strawberries that were picked under less ideal conditions over a week ago.

I wish we all had access to organic, locally-grown produce year-round at the peak of freshness, but that just isn’t going to be possible for most people. Of course, you could always move to the tropics! *wink* But short of that, we should be aware of what our food choices are, and make the best decisions we can from the available choices.

Be healthy!

Making my healthy lifestyle before I break it

Guest post written by Ken Foyster

One thing that I try to do when I'm making a New Year's resolution is actually come up with a way to meet that goal. This year I'm making a goal of not just weight loss, but to maintain a healthier lifestyle than the one that I've had lately. It's just been kind of tough to try to eat healthy lately because work has been so stressful. I can't even think of how many times I've had Chinese takeout lately. But it's still too many. So I'm going to try and make small adjustments so that it won't be too crazy.

While I was online looking for some ideas about how to get myself into some healthy habits, I ran across some info on miracle ear aquavi and decided to go in and get tested to see if I need hearing aids. I've suspected as much for a while anyway.

The first step in my healthy lifestyle, I think, is learning how to prepare some healthy meals. I can barely boil water and it seems like most fast food and takeout is unhealthy, so that's probably a big part of my problem.

5 easy ways to make exercise a habit ... for life!

It is now one week into the New Year, and it seems most everyone is sticking to their New Year’s Resolutions. Great job, everyone! We’re here to help you in any way we can.

Fitness is a goal almost everyone has mentioned to us. While eating right, getting enough rest, and other factors are important, the main element of becoming more fit is exercise. Instead of considering exercise a chore to be checked off your list, try these tips for making it an ongoing habit that fits into your healthy lifestyle.

image courtesy of Body Glove wetsuits

1. Make exercise enjoyable – Do you hate jogging? That’s ok. Find something you DO enjoy. One of the benefits of living near the relatively warm waters of the Gulf is that you can easily enjoy your favorite watersports all year round by wearing a wetsuit. Or maybe you love dancing? You might like to try a slide aerobics class? Instead of thinking of exercise as a chore, look for opportunities to have fun being active!

2. Vary your routine – Some people can get into an exercise routine and love it, but most of us tend to get bored or burned out after days or weeks of doing the same-old same old. Try varying your activities week to week, or even within the same week, whatever suits your interest level. Even something as simple as adding music, or a change of scenery can be beneficial. I stepped up my jogging by running on the beach, just below the tideline, or in knee-deep water for great resistance and it really renewed my interest as well.

3. Exercise with a friend – Having a friend along can be the best motivator for many of us, and often a competitive spirit emerges that helps boost your effort as well as your motivation. Remember that even man’s best friend makes a good exercise companion; I used to love to go hiking with my dog, and your pet will benefit from the extra activity as well.

4. Make time in your schedule – Make exercise a priority, enough so that you schedule it on a regular basis. Maybe first thing in the morning to get you going, or perhaps the gym or your favorite park is on your way home from work. Don’t just say “I’m going to exercise 30 minutes a day” but decide WHEN you are going to do it, and commit to your plan. Then when the inevitable happens and “things come up” they won’t sidetrack you. And on those days when you are “too tired” … well, unless it is illness making you not want to exercise, JUST DO IT anyway!

5. Reward yourself – There are lots of ways to do this. Keep a log of your exercise, and leave space at the bottom to jot down benefits that you notice. Most likely you will be finding that you sleep better at night, you feel more refreshed in the morning, you find it easier to stick to your diet, your mind is clearer, your clothes are getting looser. Take time to read over those tidbits in order to fuel your motivation. Also plan to reward yourself for goal milestones as well. Promise to reward yourself for exercising 5 days a week for two weeks by purchasing an item of clothing, or maybe at the end of a month's faithful exercising you will enjoy a bit of pampering at a day spa!

The key to fitness is making exercise a regular habit. If you can stick with it until it becomes a way of life, you will achieve your goal of improved fitness. More than that, you will be well on your way to enjoying better health for the rest of your life.

7 ways to NOT to fail at your healthy resolutions

Many New Year’s Resolutions center around becoming more healthy, proving that we all see that as a worthy goal. But statistically as few as 2% of people report that they achieve or even keep working toward their goals by the time the year ends. Why such dismal failure? And what can you do in order to better assure success with the most common health-related resolutions, such as a desire to lose weight, quit smoking, eat healthier food, become more fit, or manage stress better?

• Be reasonable. One of the first reasons why New Year's resolutions fail is that goals may be unreasonable. Instead of saying "I'm going to lose 100 pounds," tell yourself that you are going to lose 15 pounds. Plan to reward yourself (perhaps by buying $30 in new clothes) and set your next goal on the day you accomplish the first. Which brings us to the next strategy ...

• Be specific in your goals, your rewards, timetables, and anything else related to your plan. Write down all of these details in a notebook, keep them handy and refer to them once a week or so. Don't be afraid to update or adjust them as needed.

• Have a plan. A map is always the best way to reach a destination. HOW do you plan to eat healthier? Finding out which foods are the most important to switch to organic is a good step. Cutting out processed foods and finding alternatives you can make instead is also important. Do your homework, and decide what steps you should take, which are most important, and break them into manageable pieces (such as changing only ONE food to organic per week, and changing ONE day per week to homemade lunches). 

• Keep yourself motivated. There are many ways to do this. Post a note where you will see it every day (maybe on the fridge to read before you grab a snack, or on the mirror to re-read while you brush your teeth). Are you losing weight? Take a pic of yourself (in your new "reward outfit") and post it with your fridge-note. Are you quitting smoking? Put the money you would be spending on cigarettes in a separate account and use it to do something you've really looked forward to (and post a pic of your fun). Tell other people what you want to achieve -- it's harder to go back on your word if other people know about it.

• Enlist support. Maybe there is a local group you can join related to your goal? Or find a friendly online forum to cheer you on. If you are already part of an in-person or online community, ask if others have similar goals and form a sub-group from friends you already know.   

• Anticipate setbacks. Not trying to be negative here, but difficulties will arise. Maybe you will be invited to a party but there will be lots of rich food. Tell yourself in advance, "I will eat from the veggie tray and drink sparkling water." Repeat it out loud. Chances are very great that the suggestion will pull you through, and you'll do exactly that! But if you don't, or in any other case that you don't stick to your plan, don't think you've failed and give up. It's like falling off a horse, get back up, dust yourself off, tell yourself you'll do better next time and get right back on. It doesn't hurt to remind yourself of how far you've come in spite of any setbacks. 

•  Replace the bad with good. Chances are, it was a bad habit of some sort that inspired your desire to change. And there is a competing good habit that will help you reach your goal. If it was poor food choices that led to your problem, find a healthy food item you love to replace it. Smoking robbing your health? Many ex-smokers take up jogging to increase lung capacity and provide extra motivation to quit. 

Use these strategies to help you successfully achieve your goals. You may even find that once your confidence is raised by your achievements, you look forward to tackling even more goals. The end result can be a changed life.

Electronic cigarettes?

With New Year's Day right around the corner, a lot of our clients are talking about losing weight, reducing stress, and addressing other health concerns as part of their New Year's Resolutions. We have a few clients who smoke, and we've been asked about using electronic cigarettes in order to quit smoking.

I will first admit that it wasn't a topic I was very familiar with, so I decided to do some research before I answered.  And I was really surprised at what I found.

There ARE testimonials of people who have quit smoking, or greatly reduced their smoking habit, and who credit this to their use of electronic cigarettes. However, it seems that the idea has many opponents as well, and their voices are surprisingly strident. But rather than get into a long philosophical discussion about the FDA's standpoint, or that of various health and anti-cancer organizations, I'll just get to the essence of what I learned.

I've been curious about the devices since I first saw them advertised, and wondered about their implications for health. Most electronic cigarettes use heat to vaporize a solution of nicotine, flavorings, and propylene glycol or glycerine into a water vapor which is then inhaled. The vapor delivers the nicotine to the user, along with the flavor.

Almost all of the substances believed to cause cancer from burning traditional tobacco cigarettes are not present, and the others are present in comparatively minute amounts. For the smoker's gratification, nicotine is still delivered, and the action of smoking (involving the hands, mouth) is still satisfied. For these reasons, many argue that electronic cigarettes are a safer alternative.

However, the substances that are inhaled have not been extensively tested, and vary from brand to brand. Most of our clients will recognize propylene glycol to be of special concern. We try to offer products free of propylene glycol even for topical use. The vapor from electronic cigarettes is meant to be taken into the body via the lungs, making it that much more dangerous than shampoo, for example. 

I would also add the subject of exposure to second-hand smoke as a factor to consider. Most non-smokers would prefer not to be exposed to second-hand smoke on principle, and there are many of us who are concerned about the health risks associated with exposure. 

Whether or not the devices are actually helpful in stopping smoking is not something I can comment on. Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest they may be helpful. Legally they cannot be sold or promoted for this purpose in the US, since they have not been tested as such.

Even so, if a client comes to me and has tried other methods and yet failed, and asks me if they should try electronic cigarettes, what would I tell them? In conscience, I could not tell them NOT to try it, since it might indeed help. If the client can successfully quit smoking, their health would benefit so much that it would be unethical for me to advise them against trying it at all.

One of the major issues I see with these products that does concern me is the potential to entice non-smokers to try it, if they get the idea that it is relatively safe. Nicotine is still a drug, and a very addictive one. Also the flavors available might be something that make it more appealing to younger people, which pretty much takes us back to the now-banned commercials of rugged cowboys and sensual models designed to romanticize smoking in the first place.

For now I am holding a neutral position on the devices. There may be situations where they may be helpful, and there may be other situations where they may be harmful. I think it is important to weigh potential risks and benefits, and make decisions on a case by case basis.

Incidentally, our preferred method of quitting smoking is to take a high-strength liquid lobelia extract, which tends to make smoking unappealing and benefits the lungs, and marshmallow herb capsules which also help to expel build-up from smoking from the lungs. These must be paired with a desire to quit smoking. For motivated clients, this combination has been proven very effective.

Written by Trish A. 

Interesting Ways To Take Care Of Your Teeth

If you're tired of the same-old same-old when it comes to taking care of your teeth, try spicing up your dental routine a little bit. Here are some weird, wonderful and downright wacky dental products that can put a little extra fun in your oral hygiene routine.

Flavored dental floss: Tired of mint and cinnamon? Then how about putting some new flavors on the floss menu? Try pickle, ranch, bacon, or cupcake frosting flavored floss instead! Tired of having salad stuck in your teeth? Use salad-flavored floss instead! Maybe you don't have time for breakfast in the morning, or perhaps you're just watching your weight? If so, try the breakfast flavored floss combo. It includes coffee, waffles and bacon to start your morning out right. If you want to take a walk on the wild side, then you won't want to pass up the absinthe floss. Check out the whole flavored floss collection at Archie McPhee (http://www.mcphee.com) and perk up your routine.


Flavored toothpaste: Toothpaste doesn't have to come in boring flavors either. You'll find some excellent alternative toothpaste flavors at Archie McPhee. Bacon flavored toothpaste could await you every morning. (Who doesn't like bacon?) Don't forget to check out the pickle and cupcake flavored toothpastes, too. They make great gifts, or keep them for yourself and enjoy the ride! Having trouble getting someone in your house interested in the dental hygienist program? Try ice cream flavored toothpaste. For the truly adventurous: pine flavored toothpaste. Yup.

Tooth Tunes: This one may not appeal to everyone, but for kids and pre-teens, Tooth Tunes is where it's at. This toothbrush plays music for two minutes – the recommended time for brushing. As long as the music is playing, the brusher should be brushing. Tooth Tunes toothbrushes come loaded with clips from more than two dozen pop music artists. The music isn't readily audible by anyone other than the brusher, and is triggered by pressure on the brush head. Tooth Tunes are distributed by Hasbro/Tiger Electronics and are available at most general merchandise stores. A single toothbrush – batteries included - will set you back about $10.

Brushing Timers: Not interested in listening to the music in your head while you brush? Then try a toothbrush timer. Whether it's a mechanical timer or a simple sand timer, these devices can help ensure that you're spending enough quality time with your toothbrush. You can find toothbrush timers online and in stores. They're great tools for teaching kids to brush, but they only measure time spent, not good brushing techniques.

Electric and Ultrasonic Toothbrushes: They've been around forever but there are a whole new line of electric toothbrushes that can help you keep your teeth clean. Spinning brush heads promise to clean up your teeth better and faster than manual toothbrushes do. If you want to get really tooth-techy, take your brushing to a whole new level and try an ultrasonic toothbrush. These gadgets will set you back seriously but promise to deliver a better time at the dentist than a manual toothbrush does. You can get a sonic setup for the whole family, too.

Flavored mouthwashes: With all this fun you're having brushing and flossing, you need a fun mouthwash to complete the picture, right? Well, you're not in nearly as much luck as you are with brushing and flossing. Aside from the standard vanilla mint, regular mint, spearmint, ultra mint, peppermint, orange, and grape flavored mouthwashes (and don't forget regular Listerine), you're not going to have much luck here. Why? To be truly effective, mouthwashes need to be tough enough to stand up to heavy hitters like garlic. One of the best (and only) contenders in this category? You guessed it: mint!