Chia Seeds ... Who knew?

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Power foods that may help keep you energized and focused.

CBS News) 
On "The Early Show on Saturday," Frances Largeman-Roth, senior food and nutrition editor for Health magazine, shared the power foods below that may help keep you energized and focused.

To Boost Energy:
If you feel tired and groggy throughout the day, you may not be getting enough iron. And because women lose the mineral when we menstruate, you could feel this effect even if you don't have a full-blown deficiency.

Eat: Red meats, poultry, fortified cereals

To Feel Calm:
We know caffeine can put us on edge. But another surprising source of jitters is too many refined carbs - foods high in white flour (cookies, white bread) and stripped of nutrients and fiber that normally keep your blood sugar stable. A big dose of these foods could cause your blood sugar to soar, and you may be antsy as a result. Then, the extra insulin will make your blood sugar plummet, leaving you feeling sluggish. To prevent those drastic spikes, stick with unrefined carbohydrates.

Eat: Brown rice, whole-grain bread, whole-grain pasta

To Get Sharp:
Are you constantly misplacing your car keys? You might not be getting enough brain-boosting nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B-12. Omega-3s are loaded with DHA, a type of fatty acid that makes neurons in your brain fire more effectively. And a lack of B-12 has been linked with confusion, numbness, and fatigue. If you up your intake of these suggested foods and still feel disoriented, ask your doctor if you should consider having your B-12 level tested.

Eat: Salmon (omega-3), eggs (B-12)

To Beat Bloating:
Even though veggies and legumes are good for you, certain ones - like beans, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower - can produce lots of gas, leaving you with major bloating. It might have something to do with their complex sugars being hard to digest. Carbonated drinks can also increase bloating, both because they're bubbly and because their artificial sweeteners can be hard for your body to break down. If your belly is feeling swollen, try halving the amount of bloat-boosting veggies you normally eat for a week to see if that helps. Don't cut them out completely, because they still provide crucial nutrients. Ditch soda and seltzer, but keep drinking flat water, which helps relieve constipation - another cause of bloating. Taking probiotic supplements can also help. Talk to your doctor about which one might be right for you.

Eat: Probiotics, plain water

Is our meat supply being compromised by GMO tampering? You decide.

Despite emphatic warnings by well credentialed experts, and overwhelmingly vehement opposition by the majority of the farming community the USDA and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and therefore President Obama’s administration have “fully deregulated genetically engineered alfalfa ” which is our predominant feed crop for livestock. The implications of this decision are huge. It is predicted by Dr. Huber in the above video that within only five years there will no longer exist any alfalfa that is not genetically engineered. This is a decision from which there may be no way to turn back, irreversible.
As described by Dr. Huber in the video, in the livestock herds studied to date, infertility rates of 15% have been observed and combined spontaneous abortion+still birth rates as high as 35% are evident in livestock exposed to and infected by this new virus/fungus by Monsanto’s roundup ready corn and soy crops. If you are a farmer or rancher, and 50% of your herd is unable to reproduce, very shortly you will no longer have a herd.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Study reveals: Eat Broccoli, Live Longer.

Friday, June 10, 2011 8:25 AM
To the likely delight of nagging parents, a new study shows that people who eat more fruit and veggies tend to live longer.

Plants from the mustard family including broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower seem particularly beneficial, although the study can't prove that eating more vegetables automatically increases longevity.

It's possible, for instance, that those who consume lots of produce also have a healthier lifestyle in general.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

You May Want to Consider These Wholesome Hangover Helpers.

Summer cocktails are divine. Summer hangovers…not so much. Take a pass on hair-of-the-dog and ease the pain with these healthy cures. By Reader's Digest Editors.

Make an antioxidant smoothie...

Do as the Japanese do…

Sip some kombucha tea…

Read the whole cure story--

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Massachusetts Authorities Aim to Ban Lazy Cakes.

The phenomenon is spreading. Everyone seems to be searching for the ultimate legal high. Here's the story of one entrepreneur who wants to make dreams come true. - Authorities in the Massachusetts communities of Fall River and New Bedford want to ban Lazy Cakes from stores because they believe the treats may be harmful to children, CBS Boston reported. Lazy Cakes are “tasty chocolate treats that bring on the ultimate state of relaxation,” according to the company’s Facebook page. The brownie is flavored with herbal relaxation blends such as melatonin, valerian root extract, rose hips extracts and passion flower.
Fall River Mayor William Flanagan said brownies should not be laced with melatonin, a sleep aid, and he has asked the city council to pass an ordinance that would keep the brownies off of store shelves. “If someone wants to buy melatonin, that’s fine, but it shouldn’t be in a brownie that’s packaged to attract kids,” he said.
There’s approximately eight milligrams of melatonin in each of the ‘cakes.’ One serving, or half a brownie, is more than the recommended dose.“ In Europe, the common prescription as a sleep aid for adults is .03 milligrams,” Dr. John Benanti, the head of Emergency Services at South Shore Hospital, told CBS Boston. “So this would be a lot, even for adults.”
Terry Harris, the CEO of HBB, LLC, the makers of Lazy Cakes issued this statement: “We have not been contacted by the Mayor’s office in regard to their specific questions about our product, but we welcome a conversation with Mr. Flanagan. We created Lazy Cakes to provide adults with a great-tasting way to combat the stress associated with our fast-paced lives. Ingredients include items that anyone can purchase at any health food or vitamin store, such as melatonin, Valerian Root Extract, Rose Hips Extract, and Passion Flower. Each Brownie is clearly labeled to indicate that we recommend that Lazy Cakes be enjoyed by adults only. We encourage parents to check the label before providing this or any product to their children.”

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Spring allergies: Seven natural remedies…...

M.D. spotlights alternative treatments for itchy eyes, clogged noses, sneezing and other symptoms sufferers experience

(CBS News)  This is turning out to be one of the worst springs ever for Americans who suffer from allergies.

But for those who'd prefer to avoid drugs in seeking relief from their sniffles, itchy eyes and other symptoms, Dr. Vincent Pedre had some suggestions on "The Early Show" Friday.

Pedre, founder of Pedre Integrative Health, pointed to seven drug-free alternative treatments:

The theory behind honey is that if you eat local honey from bees that live in your area, the nectar created by the flowers that they draw from has pollen grains in it that are local to your area. Taking a spoonful of this about one month before spring starts is almost like a natural form of homeopathy, in which you're being exposed to tiny amounts of the allergen, which helps you become resistant to it. New York City recently approved beekeeping, and one brand, called Hi-Rise Hive, is sold at local health food stores. The theory hasn't been proven by a double blind study yet, but as long as you don't give honey to a child under a year old, it's a safe remedy and it won't do any harm to try it.
Vitamin C taken with Quercetin works in unison to stabilize mast cells. Mast cells are tiny cells that line your nasal passages and go down into your lungs. Basically, when a mast cell is exposed to a pollen grain that you're sensitive to, it releases histamine and causes the symptoms typical to allergies. By stabilizing the mast cell, you reduce its activity so it doesn't release histamine as easily as it would have. You can take Vitamin C and Quercetin several times a day when you find you're having symptoms, since you can't overdose on either, because they're water soluble, and any amount that you don't digest will be released in your urine. Vitamin C and Quercetin are sold as a combo at health food stores.
If you've ever come in contact with this perennial, you probably remember the sting. It has an acid at the edge of pointy leaves, and the acid stays on your skin. But, it's safe and healthy in drink form. Steep the tea for 10 to 15 minutes to obtain the full benefits of the medicinal oils. The oil from the leaves has an antihistamine effect and tends to dry up the mucous membranes.
If you inhale steam with certain essential oils, you can breathe easily -- quickly. Bring water to a boil in a saucepan, turn off the heat and add 4 drops of eucalyptus oil, 1 to 2 drops of tea tree oil and three drops of rosemary essential oil. The eucalyptus oil opens up your airway. The tee tree oil has antimicrobial properties that align with the rosemary. The effect won't last for several hours, but it can provide immediate relief.
It can be effective for this purpose. Acupuncture works by putting a needle into what is called an acupuncture point, a pressure point. By pointing the needle there, it creates signaling to your nervous system to alter what's happening in your body at the moment. Endorphins are released, local anti-inflammatories are released, and it can reduce inflammation.
The type of medicine I practice realizes that, while your body reacts to external allergens, the underlying cause may be certain foods that can increase your level of reaction. So, my first piece of advice is to begin with a non-allergenic diet. For example, for a lot of people, dairy causes them to create more mucous. If you're having dairy on a regular basis, and it's spring and you're a person who's already sensitized to pollen, you're more likely to develop mucous buildup and congestion in your sinuses that can lead to a sinus infection. The same thing goes for sugar. It can increase mucous production and inhibits white cell activity. Wheat is another thing to which 10 percent of Americans are sensitive and don't even know it because it doesn't have a sudden onset. Rather, it's a gradual reaction. The only way to know if you're allergic is to take wheat out of your diet and see how you feel in two or three weeks. Some of my patients report a general sense of well-being and more energy. A lot of women report constipation goes away after they remove wheat from the diet. This treatment is the most powerful one on the list, because it's for treating the underlying cause of allergies. The remaining remedies are for treating symptoms. The thing to bear in mind is that there's no instant gratification with this, since it can take several weeks before you see results.
Neti pots have been used since ancient times in India to clear nasal passages. Using one, or a saline nasal rinse such as Sinucleanse, is a great way to help reduce allergy symptoms. You use a salt solution that, at room temperature, is bactiostatic (antibacterial). When you're leaning forward and putting the neti pot in one nostril and tipping over, it runs through your nasal passage and out the other nostril, washing out any pollen grains that are stuck to your mucous membranes. You're reducing your exposure and reducing the activity of your mast cells and your immune system. It also helps with congestion and with mucous buildup.