Wednesday, November 23, 2005

How to Stay Out of the Doctor's Office

Edward T. Creagan, MD
Mayo Clinic

reprinted from Bottom Line/Health, April 1, 2004

In my 30-year career as a cancer specialist, I have cared for approximately 55,000 patients. More than half of these people could have avoided a trip to my examining room. That's because their cancers (or, in some cases, heart disease and diabetes) developed as the result of unhealthy lifestyles, rather than a genetic roll of the dice.

Because I see the devastating effects of such lifestyles each day, I have made it a point to develop personal habits that give me the best possible odds for staying healthy. My secrets...

PREVENTION AND EARLY DETECTION

An annual physical is important for everyone over age 50. If you are younger than 50 and are generally healthy, ask your doctor how often you should be examined. I'm 59 and I see my internist every spring for regular screenings. These exams are absolutely essential.

My advice: In addition to annual physicals and any other screening tests your doctor may recommend for you, be sure to schedule colonoscopies (one every five years after age 50). Women should have mammograms (annually after age 40) and Pap tests every one to three years if they're sexually active. Men should have prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests and digital rectal exams annually starting at age 50. If a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) had cancer, begin monitoring with these tests 10 years before the age that family member developed the cancer.
HEALTHFUL EATING
My wife, "

Green Veggies to the Rescue--Info !!






In This Issue...

Green Veggies to the Rescue -- All Greens (Vegetables)
Are Not Created Equal!

Keep Your Heart Healthy, Your Arteries Clear, and Your Blood Pumping Powerfully... With Your Body's Own Chemical

An Ounce of Prevention -- Immune Boosters to Help
Beat the Flu Season

3,379 Very Simple Ways to Make Your Home More Lovable


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Green Veggies to the Rescue

I have a friend who used to call iceberg lettuce a "waste of chewing time" because it provides very little nutritional value. Of course, if there is one single thing that virtually every nutritionist -- from the lowest of the low-carbers to the highest of the high-carbers -- agrees on, it's that we should all be eating more green, leafy vegetables. So, if you're going to eat the lettuce, which ones are worth the effort? And why are they so fantastic for us in the first place?

THE ROOT OF GREENS

To find out, I interviewed Sonja Pettersen, ND, whose use of whole foods and understanding of their healing properties are a big part of her naturopathic medical practice.

"To start with, the compound that makes plants green is chlorophyll," Dr. Pettersen explained. "Chlorophyll is a natural blood purifier. The by-products of bacterial, fungal, yeast or viral infections litter the blood vessels with compounds that shouldn't be there. Our own immune system creates complexes that attack these foreign substances, and chlorophyll goes a long way toward assisting our bodies in cleaning them out."

She went on to explain that since everything travels through the blood, blood is ultimately our way of eliminating "sludge." "Chlorophyll will manage bacterial growth," she told me. "It helps remove unwanted residue and is a natural anti-inflammatory. It's renewing to the tissues. And it helps activate enzymes, so your own body systems and actions will reach their potential." Indeed, super chlorophyll-containing plants -- such as spirulina, chlorella, and wild blue-green algae -- are an essential part of the healing armament in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and other Eastern practices.

Which lettuces are best? Here's a rundown of those that are the most powerful. The numbers are the amounts of the vitamins found in one raw cup...


Vitamin
A (IU)
Vitamin
K (mcg)
Beta carotene (mcg)
Lutein+
Zeaxanthin
(mcg)
Potassium
(mg)
Folate
(mcg)
Vitamin
C (mg)
Calcium
(mg)

Red leaf lettuce
2,098
39
1,258
483
52
10
1
9

Iceberg
361
17
215
199
102
21
2
13

Romaine
2,730
48
1,637
1,087
116
64
11
16

Butterhead
1,822
56
1,093
673
131
40
2
19

Arugula
474
22
284
710
74
19
3
32

Watercress
1,598
85
959
1,961
112
3
15
41

Endive
1,084
115
650
0
157
71
3
26

Mustard greens
5,881
278
3,528
5,543
198
105
39
58

Spinach
2,813
145
1,688
3,659
167
58
8
30

Kohlrabi
49
0.1
30
0
473
22
84
32

Kale
10,300
547
6,182
26,500
299
19
80
91


Source: www.nutritiondata.com

CRUCIFEROUS CANCER FIGHTERS

The Brassica group of vegetables, which includes cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, are packed with compounds called glucosinolates. Glucosinolates are not well absorbed by humans until they come into contact with myrosinase, an enzyme that's produced in the gut. At that point, they turn into truly amazing compounds called isothiocyanates, which are now thought to be the primary agents responsible for the anticancer activity of cruciferous vegetables. Isothiocyanates have been shown to have direct effects on human cancer cells, suppressing tumor growth and inhibiting cellular proliferation. They also help the liver in its job of detoxification.

Note: Proper gut function is necessary to produce the isothiocyanates, so if you are taking antacids, you will be indirectly blocking much of the synthesis of this crucial compound.

Winners in the Brassica group are watercress, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, arugula and kale.

A note about cooking vegetables: Although eating most vegetables raw provides maximum nutrition, sometime we want them cooked. It is far better to steam veggies than to microwave them. Approximately 36% of nutrients are lost through steaming... but as much as 97% can be lost by microwaving.

The beneficial compounds outlined above are actually the same ones that give certain plants their bitter taste, according to Dr. Pettersen. "For example, arugula is much more bitter than iceberg lettuce -- and it also has much more benefit." She said that there is what might be called a "bitter continuum," with greens at the bitter end providing the most nutritional benefits.

ANTIOXIDANTS, OF COURSE

Of course, green vegetables are loaded with antioxidants, which are vitamins and other compounds that help block the free radicals that can cause DNA damage, aging and even cancer. Antioxidants are rated on an oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) scale, which is a rating of the combined antioxidant power of a food -- how much antioxidant punch they (the antioxidants in the food) pack when taken together, working synergistically. The higher the rating, the better.

ORAC ratings of common vegetables

Kale
1,770

Spinach
1,260

Brussels sprouts
980

Alfalfa sprouts
930

Broccoli florets
890

Beets
840

Red bell peppers
710


All in all, most greens are definitely worth the chewing time.


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Keep your heart healthy, your arteries clear, and your blood pumping powerfullY... with your body's own chemical

Sounds simple, yet this discovery is so important and so revolutionary that it won the Nobel Prize in medicine.

Scientists discovered that nitric oxide, a naturally occurring chemical in your body, helps prevent heart attack and stroke in 4 ways...

It lowers cholesterol by 10% to 20%.

It reduces arterial plaque by as much as 50%.

It expands blood vessels, reducing blood pressure and allowing blood to flow more freely.

It controls platelet function, so they don't clump together and cause blood clots.

The secret is knowing how to increase nitric oxide levels in your body. And that's easy, too. Click here to learn more...




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An Ounce of Prevention

A few weeks ago, I wrote about homeopathic treatments to both cure and prevent the flu (Daily Health News, October 18, 2005). Of course, not everyone believes in the effectiveness of homeopathy -- so, for the nonbelievers out there, I spoke with Daily Health News contributing editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, about his favorite naturopathic ways to build up your immune system before flu season starts, so that you can protect yourself from the assault of germs.

PREVENTION BEATS CURES

According to Dr. Rubman, the real issue with regard to the flu is the state of a person's underlying health. Just because you are exposed to the flu doesn't mean that you are going to get it. Organisms are able to cause disease only when they can get past the body's defenses. A strong immune system is your best bet for deterring germs from entering in the first place -- and even if they do find their way in, a strong immune system will help limit the duration and intensity of symptoms.

Dr. Rubman's Favorite Flu Fighters

I've written again and again in these pages about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. The best way to maintain wellness and prevent disease of any kind is to follow a healthful diet, get a good balance of exercise and rest, manage stress in a positive way and steer clear of negative habits such as smoking and overindulgence in alcohol. That said, Dr. Rubman has a few tricks up his sleeve to boost your immune system and ward off colds and flu at this time of year. He recommends...

Selenium: A Powerful Antioxidant

This essential trace mineral is a valuable antioxidant that prevents cell damage from free radicals. Selenium helps the immune system recognize viruses and block them from entering cells, explains Dr. Rubman. With the onset of flu season, he recommends a dose of 400 micrograms (mcg) to 500 mcg a day divided into three parts -- that is about four times the usual. This should be taken only during the six to eight weeks of peak flu season.

Red Hot Chili Peppers: A Spicy, Immune-Boosting Tea

Another of Dr. Rubman's flu-fighting favorites is a spicy tea concocted from echinacea, goldenseal, slippery elm bark and just a touch of the red hot pepper capsicum. Echinacea, goldenseal and capsicum team up to fight off germs, while slippery elm bark allows the tea to coat the back of the throat, where viruses are most likely to take hold.

Here's how to make it:

At your local health-food store, purchase one-half ounce of powdered goldenseal root... one-half ounce of powdered echinacea root (not the whole plant)... two ounces of slippery elm bark powder... and one teaspoon of capsicum.

At home, put ingredients in a brown paper or plastic baggie, close tightly and shake. Transfer the contents to a screw-top jar. (Give this jar a shake each time you use it in order to remix the ingredients.)

To make the tea, pour one cup of very hot water into a mug over one-half teaspoon of the powder.

Cover and steep for five minutes. Sip up to several cups daily throughout flu season.

Use Common Sense

Of course, nothing replaces good old-fashioned common sense during flu season. This means you should avoid exposure to infected people... try not to touch your face (the most common way to transfer germs)... cover your mouth and nose with a tissue (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze... get plenty of fresh air... and wash your hands frequently.

With smart planning and a dose of good luck, you and your family will be able to make it through another flu season without getting sick.

Be well,


Carole Jackson
Bottom Line's Daily Health News


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3,379 Very Simple Ways to Make Your Home More Lovable

Household tricks... garden secrets... indoor and outdoor projects that require little effort or money -- but provide very big reward.

BOTTOM LINE has teamed up with America's legendary home and garden experts, John and Martha Storey -- and their 30 years of wisdom -- to help Americans do "the impossible." Plus, the best from more than 100 of their expert home and garden associates to help make your home "the most admired on the block."

Read on...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sources:

Green Veggies to the Rescue

Sonja Pettersen, ND, is in practice in Scottsdale, Arizona. She received her doctor of naturopathic medicine degree from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon.

An Ounce of Prevention

Andrew L. Rubman, ND, adjunct professor of clinical medicine, I.W. Lane College of Integrated Medicine, Orlando, Florida and medical director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut.


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Saturday, November 05, 2005

Nutritude


Independent AIM Member - Marilyn Wilson Price

Heart Attack Procedures

CALL 911

Everyone should also know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.

Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.

Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.

The pain in the jaw happened to me and woke me from a sound sleep. I was one of the fortunate ones. Trust me when I tell you it's pain unlike anything you've ever experienced before. Given a choice between natural child birth and a heart attack, pain-wise; it's much easier to have a baby.
Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know..........

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this message tells 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this...

It could save your life!

Let's say it's 6.15 pm and you're driving home(alone of course), after an unusually hard day on the job. You're tired, upset and frustrated. Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five miles from the hospital nearest your home.

Unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far. You have been trained in CPR, but the guy that taught the course did not tell you how to perform it on yourself.


HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE

Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness.

However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest.

A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again. Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating.


The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital. Tell as many other people as possible about this.

It could save their lives!

Fitness By Marilyn
Independent AIM Member - Marilyn Wilson Price

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

New Orleans Calendars 2006


Hi to all!
This is from my next door neighbor and her business was almost annihilated by Katrina mainly because her business is closely related to tourism and tourism is almost non existent here in the New Orleans area. Any business that can be thrown her way could very well mean whether or not she can stay in business. The calanders are beautiful and show some stunning photos of New Orleans and mostly the French Quarter. You would be proud to hang one of her calanders in your home. I get one every year. The photos are so beautiful that they are suitable for framing. Boyd

Hi ya'll
Here is the info on our calendars I have promised many of you. I encourage you to add your own note regarding our credibility and relationship, then forward to anyone you choose. I wish they could hang on walls across America reminding people to plan a trip to New Orleans in the not too distant future. Thanks for your good thoughts! Lynne


Many of you enjoy our calendars each year. The photos are taken by our family and show our great city at her loveliest. This year the calendar is especially precious to us, as we have experienced such devastation of Biblical proportion following Hurricane Katrina.

We are happy to show New Orleans the way we were and the way we shall be again. Truly, our historic districts are not badly damaged and will recover more quickly than most residential neighborhoods. The French Quarter looks good...and vacant. St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square are clean and pretty. The buggy rides are waiting for riders. Café du Monde has re-opened for coffee and beignets. A local jazz player rolled into town just last week; his first stop was to grab his horn and offer up a bit of Dixieland on his favorite corner. Aunt Sally's is making pralines again. Hotel rooms are scarce.those that are open are filled to overflowing with FEMA, Red Cross and insurance adjusters. The Mayor and our Governor announced that we will have 10,000 rooms up by January and 20,000 in time for Mardi Gras at the end of February. While many shops are still closed, life is returning to New Orleans.

We hope you will help us spread our calendars around the country. Of course, the sales will help our family business survive. But more importantly, everyone must see us again as the great place we are. I know it is not time to come for a visit just yet. But please hang us where you can think of us every day in the coming year and plan to visit us before too long. You can help us replace those images of horror and destruction that were the last the nation saw with the real pictures of one of America's most interesting city. We love New Orleans.and her heart has been broken. Please pass this along to folks you know who may be interested and looking for a personal way to love New Orleans and help her to heal.

For those of you interested in ordering our New Orleans 2006 calendar:

The cost is $11.95 each
Add $4 for shipping and handling
Add $.50 each for each additional item.
Please mail your check in US dollars to:
Robertson Postcards, 308 N. Causeway Blvd.Metairie, LA 70001

Our NEW web site is PictureThisNOLA.com We are strong and good people. Thank you again for your support during this tough time. Grace and Peace, Lynne

Fitness By Marilyn
P. O. Box 834
Rockport, TX 78381
fitnessbymarilyn@gmail.com
http://www.fitnessbymarilyn.com
Independent AIM Member - Marilyn Wilson Price

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Footprints....A New Version

Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together.

For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the
pace.

But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.

For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line
with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently.

You and Jesus are walking as true friends!

This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens:
Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps.

Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.

This goes on for many miles, but gradually
you notice another change.

The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger. Eventually they disappear altogether.

There is only one set of footprints, they have become one. This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back.

This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints. You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends. Now you pray:

Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You.

"That is correct."

And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely.

"Very good. You have understood everything so far."

When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I supposed that I was becoming like You in every way.

"Precisely."

So, Lord, was there a regression or something?
The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first.

There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice. "You didn't know? It was then that we danced!"


To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to weep, a time to laugh,
A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
Ecclesiastics 3:1,4.


It's not WHAT you have in your life,
but WHOM you have in your life
that counts....
Think about that!

I ASKED GOD

I asked for a flower,
He gave me a garden.
I asked for a tree, He gave me a forest.
I asked for a river, He gave me an ocean.
I asked for a friend, He gave me "YOU."

May God Bless You and Guide Your Footprints!!



Fitness By Marilyn
Independent AIM Member - Marilyn Wilson Price

Saturday, October 22, 2005

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

60 Minutes To A Healthier Heart


Practical Prevention: 60 minutes to a Healthier Heart
by Elizabeth S. Smoots, MD

What would you say to 60 minutes of physical activity a week?


Many studies have revealed the health value of exercise. Now, new research has defined the minimal amount of physical activity it takes to see heart benefits in women—60 minutes per week. Would you be willing to commit to that amount of time? Since this decision is so important to your long-term health, before answering, consider why women even need to worry about their hearts.

Heart Disease is Common in Women

Heart disease is the number one killer of women in our country today. Nearly 400,000 women die from cardiac causes in the U.S. each year—this is ten times the number of women that die from breast cancer. Yet, according to a Gallup poll, four-out-of-five women are not even aware that they are at risk for heart disease.

It is true that estrogen produced by a woman's body helps prevent heart disease while we're young, but this advantage is lost after we pass through menopause. By age 65, one in four women—the same proportion as in men—ends up with coronary heart disease. So we need something more to keep our hearts healthy.

Studying Physical Activity in Women

Encouraging news from a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) indicates that even light exercise is associated with a lower rate of coronary heart disease in women. The study followed 39,000 healthy women aged 45 and older for an average of five years. At the end of the study, researchers found that women who walked at least one hour a week, regardless of pace, had half the rate of heart disease as women who did not walk regularly.

Vigorous activities also reduced heart disease risk. But the results suggest that time spent exercising and calories burned were more important than intensity for the women enrolled in this study.

Researchers noted exercise's beneficial effects extended to women at high-risk for heart disease. Those who smoked, were overweight, or had elevated cholesterol levels had similar improvements in their heart disease rate when they exercised as did low-risk women. For women with high blood pressure, however, the scientists said their findings indicate that more than mild exercise may be harmful.

Adding More Exercise To Your Life

How can you get the heart-benefits of exercise—including better cardiovascular function, lower blood sugar and cholesterol, and reduced weight and stress—even if you have cardiac risk factors or are not accustomed to exercising? Heed this heart-healthy advice:

Get your health care provider's okay before starting physical activities. This is especially critical for women with chronic illness or risk factors for heart disease.

Choose several activities you think you would enjoy. For most women a blend of exercise types is usually best.

These may include:

Aerobic activities like walking—the most popular leisure activity among women—and dancing, aerobics classes, swimming, or biking

Stretching exercises

Strengthening exercises such as using weights or body bands

For each activity, gradually increase your pace and time. Learn to listen to your body. If you don't feel right, stop and make adjustments, or see your doctor.

Building Protection For Your Heart

Over the years numerous studies have concluded that physically active people have a lower rate of heart disease than those who are inactive. For heart health, most experts recommend that women aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week. This equates to expending about 1,000 calories a week through exercise.

I encourage women who are physically fit to continue vigorous activities for the added health value. Even if you're sedentary, though, the latest findings suggest that light exercise for as little as 60 minutes a week can dramatically benefit your heart.

Now I ask you, do you think you can commit to giving your heart that much time?

Resources

American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org/

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/

American Academy of Family Physicians
http://familydoctor.org

"Physical activity and coronary heart disease in women: is ‘no pain, no gain' passĂ©?" by I-Min Lee, MBBS, ScD, et al. Journal of the American Medical Association, March 21, 2001, Volume 285, pp. 1447-54.

"Coronary artery disease prevention: what's different for women?" by Joan Bedinghaus, MD. American Family Physician, April 1, 2001, Volume 63, pp. 1393-1406.

"One for 2001: take lifestyle to heart," Women's Health Watch, Harvard Medical School, January 2001, p.1.

"Benefits of physical activity for the heart." Journal of the American Medical Association, March 21, 2001, Volume 285, p.1536.



Fitness By Marilyn
Independent AIM Member - Marilyn Wilson Price

Monday, October 17, 2005

Health And Fitness Resources

All-Directory and this site is listed under Services

All-List Directory and this site is listed under Services

Company-List Business Directory and this site is listed under Fitness

Dating Directory and this site is listed under Singles

Web Directory by EZList and this site is listed under Services

Online Directory by Guide-Pro and this site is listed under Services

Health & Rx Directory and this site is listed under Resources

List-Direct.Com Directory and this site is listed under Services

Yellow Pages by List-Nation and this site is listed under Health, Fitness & Exercise Services

ListNation Web Directory and this site is listed under Nutrition & Wellness

ListSite.Net Directory and this site is listed under Nutrition & Wellness

Web Directory by MegaCatalog and this site is listed under Health, Fitness & Exercise Services

Shopping Directory and this site is listed under Wellness

Premium Online Directory and this site is listed under Health, Fitness & Exercise Services

Travel Catalog & Directory and this site is listed under Americas

Web Search and this site is listed under Services


Independent AIM Member - Marilyn Wilson Price

Sunday, October 16, 2005

Dr. Michael Greger Newsletter Fall 2005

*******************************************************

Fall 2005 issue of Dr. Michael Greger's quarterly newsletter

*******************************************************

CONTENTS (online at http://www.DrGreger.org/newsletters.html )

I. Latest Updates in Human Nutrition

A. Ornish Takes on Cancer
B. Peppermint Oil for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
C. Atkins Diet: Dead Meat
D. Arteries--Open Sesame!
E. Childhood Brain Tumors and Maternal Diet


II. Personal Update

III. Mad Cow Update: FDA gutless, brainless;
Our food and cosmetic supply should be so lucky

IV. Bird Flu Update:
On a Wing and a Prayer

V. Mailbag: ""What sources do you use to write the newsletter?"


*******************************************************

I. LATEST UPDATES IN HUMAN NUTRITION

*******************************************************

A. Ornish Takes on Cancer

Until Dean Ornish published his landmark study in 1990, most
cardiologists saw heart disease as an inexorable part of old age and
treated it largely palliatively, going to great lengths--even open
heart surgery--to alleviate the pain and disability. What Dr. Ornish
showed was that heart disease could be not only slowed down, but
actually reversed with a plant-based diet and other lifestyle
changes.[1] People learned they could quite literally take their life
in their own hands and cure themselves of a debilitating
life-threatening disease once thought incurable. The broader
implication, of course, was that a plant-based diet could potentially
prevent heart disease in the first place.

Largely ignoring the evidence Ornish presented, physicians of today,
however, continue to talk of merely decreasing the risk of heart
disease. As Dr. William Roberts, editor of the American Journal of
Cardiology, points out "Pediatricians do not focus on decreasing the
risk of mumps, measles, pertussis, or rheumatic fever. They focus on
preventing these illnesses entirely. The same concept needs to be
applied to atherosclerotic events."[2] Having demonstrated we could
prevent and cure our number one killer without drugs and surgery,
Ornish has now decided to take on killer number two, cancer.

[To
continue reading please go to
http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html]

******************************************************

B. Peppermint Oil for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects millions of Americans with
painful abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, and bouts of diarrhea and
constipation. Eliminating dairy and caffeine often takes care of the
problem, but if not I often put patients on peppermint oil--and there
is finally now solid evidence to support this centuries-old
practice.[9]

[To continue reading please go to
http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html]

******************************************************

C. The Atkins Diet: Dead Meat

My latest book, "Carbophobia: The Scary Truth Behind America's Low
Carb Craze": published February 1st, 2005. The multibillion dollar
Atkins corporation: files for bankruptcy August 1st.[10] Six months.
Not bad (though I was hoping to topple them in four :). Seriously,
though, all the I-told-them-so satisfaction is lost upon reflection
of the thousands of families shattered by pork-rind and egg-yolk
fueled heart attacks spawned by these high-fat frauds. Americans are
now fattening at a rate never before seen, with a recent report
showing rising obesity rates across 48 states. Right now two thirds
of Americans are overweight. By 2008 the number is predicted to
approach 75%.[11] And just when we thought we couldn't get any fatter
comes the follow-up to the Framingham Heart Study published last week
in the Annals of Internal Medicine, suggesting that over the long
haul as many as 9 out of 10 men are likely to become overweight.[12]
The answer, according to two new studies piling onto the mountain of
evidence, is a plant-based diet.

[To continue reading please go to
http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html]

******************************************************

D. Arteries--Open Sesame!

People who have lived with me know about my "magic powder." I
sprinkle it on almost everything. It's a combination of ground flax
seed, dulse flakes, vitamin B12-fortified nutritional yeast and
toasted and ground sesame seeds. The flax is for my Omega 3 fatty
acids (although as little nutritional powerhouses they are much much
more); the dulse is for iodine since I don't use salt (I've always
wanted to include sea vegetables in my diet, because I knew they were
so amazing trace mineral-wise, but I never liked the taste. Dulse is
a gorgeous purple seaweed with but a mild flavor); and the
nutritional yeast is for my B12 (although again there's so much other
nutrition in this stuff it turns your pee yellow :). But the toasted
sesame seeds (just spread a layer of raw sesame seeds in a toaster
oven tray and toast until golden brown) are just to make the whole
thing edible. Sesame seeds are the first recorded seasoning ever,
dating back over 5000 years and no wonder--the rich sweet nutty
flavor and fragrance of freshly toasted sesame seeds is out of this
world. Little did I know that all this time they were helping to keep
my arteries clean. And I love hearing good news about my good habits.
[To continue reading please go to

http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html]


******************************************************

E. Childhood Brain Tumors and Maternal Diet

Cancer is second only to accidents as a leading cause of death for
our children these days. Brain tumors are the most common solid form
of pediatric cancer. The development of childhood brain tumors is a
chief reason why pregnant women no longer get X-rayed. Evidence has
been building, though, that the mother's diet during pregnancy also
plays a significant role.

[To continue reading please go to
http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html]


*******************************************************

II. PERSONAL UPDATE

Alas, what was once monthly is now sadly only quarterly. As much as I
really enjoy working on this newsletter it takes me at least a week
to research and write, and now with a more than full time job, on top
of the writing, and traveling, and speaking I just can no longer
afford to spend a quarter of my month on it. So, I'm now sadly down
to the seasons. You can expect the Winter issue this January
(hopefully with tellings of the hatching of my new bird flu book!).
I'll put a Spring issue out every April, a Summer issue out in July
and a Fall every October. It kills me to have to pass over so many
important juicy articles I see every month, and I miss the feeling of
more frequently reaching out to everyone that has reached out to me
over the years, entrusting me with a piece of their family's health.
I hope you can understand. [To continue reading please go to

http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html]


*******************************************************

III. MAD COW UPDATE:

FDA gutless and brainless; our food and cosmetic supply should be so lucky

Early last month, while all eyes were on Katrina, the FDA quietly
announced that it was even backtracking on the few rules it had
already put in place. You may remember my April 2004 mad cow update (
http://www.drgreger.org/april2004.html ) in which I encouraged
everyone to put pressure on the FDA to follow the European example
and exclude not only small intestine from the human food and
cosmetics supply, but all cow/calf colons and rectums as well. Not
only did they refuse to ban these potentially risky tissues, but the
exclusion of all smaller intestines was evidently so costly to the
sausage industry that they've decided to allow them back in, forcing
producers just to cut off the last few feet.[21] As one public health
commentator commentated: "So while the FDA may be gutless, your food
and cosmetics won't be."[22]

[To continue reading please go to
http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html]

*******************************************************

IV. BIRD FLU UPDATE:

On a Wing and a Prayer

Two weeks ago a Dr. "Frist" wrote an op-ed in the Washington Times
warning that the bird flu virus "poses an immense potential threat to
American civilization."[33] A threat to civilization? Who is this
guy? This "guy" is Bill Frist, M.D., Majority Leader of the United
States Senate. [To continue reading please go to

http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html]

*******************************************************

V. MAILBAG: "What sources do you use to write the newsletter?"

I love libraries. I grew up in libraries. I would actually skip class
in high school so I could spend more time in a basement--the science
library at the local state university. Let's just say I was an
uber-nerd.

[To continue reading please go to
http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html]

*******************************************************

REFERENCES at http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html

If anyone missed previous months, check out my newsletter archive at
http://www.DrGreger.org/newsletters.html

Until (hopefully) next month,
-Michael

(206) 312-8640
425 North Frederick Ave. #4A
Gaithersburg, MD 20877-2431

http://www.DrGreger.org
http://www.AtkinsExposed.org
http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow.htm

HEART FAILURE: Diary of a Third Year Medical Student
(full text now available free):
http://www.upalumni.org/medschool

My latest book:
CARBOPHOBIA: The Scary Truth Behind America's Low Carb Craze

http://www.lanternbooks.com/detail.html?session=a2bc38f2856ef73e88f55552a47cc4f8&id=1590560868

To subscribe to my free quarterly nutrition newsletter
send a blank email to:
drgregersnewsletter-subscribe@lists.riseup.netg

Fitness By Marilyn
Independent AIM Member - Marilyn Wilson Price

Monday, October 03, 2005

Award Winner




A TOUGH OLD COWBOY ONCE COUNSELED HIS GRANDSON THAT IF HE WANTED TO LIVE A LONG LIFE, THE SECRET WAS TO SPRINKLE A PINCH OF GUNPOWDER ON HIS OATMEAL EVERY MORNING. THE GRANDSON DID THIS RELIGIOUSLY AND LIVED TO THE AGE OF 110. HE LEFT 4 CHILDREN, 20 GRANDCHILDREN, 30 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, 10 GREAT-GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AND A FIFTY FOOT HOLE WHERE THE CREMATORIUM USED TO BE.

Independent AIM Member - Marilyn Wilson Price

Sunday, October 02, 2005

Texans FOR Marriage NOV 8

We NEED your help. Vote Nov 8 FOR the Marriage Amendment to the Texas Constitution
- Please help get the word out!
(There are a total of 9 proposed amendments - see sample ballot.)

Sample Ballot - http:////:www.texansformarriage.org/SampleBallot.pdf

Analyses of the 9 Constitutional Amendments http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/pubsconamend/pubsconamend.html

Best Website - http://www.texansformarriage.org

Register to Vote - http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqvr.shtml

Free Voters' Guides - http://www.freemarket.org/portal/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=165&op=page&SubMenu=
To reserve your copy of the Voters' Guides for the 2005 Constitutional Amendments or request a bulk shipment for your church, please call 972-423-8889 x104 or e-mail: programs@freemarket.org

Justice at the Gate

Building strategic partnerships to mobilize Christians
to pray effectively and to vote righteously
PO Box 681148
San Antonio, Texas 78268
Alice Patterson, President
(210) 677-8214

http://www.justiceathegate.org
JusticeAtTheGate@aol.com


September 27, 2005


SPECIAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 8, 2005


In May both houses of the Texas Legislature passed HJR6 stating that "that marriage in this state consists only of the union of one man and one woman and prohibiting this state or a political subdivision of this state from creating or recognizing any legal status identical or similar to marriage." Although our state had passed a "Defense of Marriage Act" a couple of years ago, our legislators understood that it was necessary to make marriage between one man and one woman a part of our state constitution so that it would be beyond the reach of activist judges who have struck down similar statutes in different states across the nation. The next step is for registered voters in Texas to approve the amendment, now known as PROPOSITION 2, in the Special Election on November 8, so that it can become a part of our constitution.


HOW DOES A HOMOSEXUAL COUPLE GETTING MARRIED AFFECT ME?


That's a question many pastors are asking. Intercessors Network of Sweden (Intercessors.Network@Comhem.se) reports the following:


"CANADIANS OPPOSED TO HOMOSEXUALITY FACE HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNALS


With the passage of legislation legalizing same-sex marriage in Canada and the inclusion of sexual orientation in the â€Ĺ“hate propaganda” sections of the Criminal Code of Canada, assurances were made by the federal government that those opposed to the legislation on religious grounds would not face recrimination. This assurance was questioned by many and this questioning appears to be justified with recent human rights complaints.


When same-sex marriage was legalized, marriage commissioners across the country raised questions about their obligations under the new legislation. The province of Saskatchewan has taken a particularly harsh stance, stating that all commissioners must either be willing to perform same-sex marriages or resign. Instead, Orville Nichols and two other commissioners filed a human rights complaint against the province. Nichols likewise faces a human rights complaint after he refused to marry a same-sex couple in May.


An Alberta pastor, Stephen Boissoin, also faces a complaint filed by an assistant professor of the University of Calgary and gay-rights advocate, Darren Lund. The complaint centers on Boissoin’s letter to the editor published in the Red Deer Advocate in June 2002. The initial complaint was dismissed by the Alberta Human Rights Commission, but it has been appealed. The date of the hearing has not been set but is expected shortly.


Bishop Fred Henry from Calgary also faced similar action for a pastoral letter sent to his Catholic constituency, protesting the same-sex marriage legislation. This complaint was dropped in late August when the complainant, Norm Greenfield, admitted that his complaints were intended primarily to attract media attention.


Pray that Christians in Canada will be free to voice their position on ethical issues without the threat of legal action.
Pray that the federal and provincial governments will pass and enforce legislation protecting religious rights.
Pray for these and others facing complaints for raising their voice on ethical issues."

If same-sex marriage is legalized in Texas it would remove the "teeth" from the battle that many pro-family leaders and parents are engaged in concerning public schools teaching that "alternate lifestyles" are acceptable.

Supporting Proposition 2 and agreeing with God's righteous standard as the law of the land doesn't mean that our churches and our hearts are closed to homosexuals who need God's grace and ministry. We can stand for righteous laws and have a heart of compassion and open doors to any person trapped in sin in our congregations.

What does God say about it?

After the Lord commends the Church at Thyatira for her works, charity, service, faith and patience, He says this in Revelation 2:20, "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow (tolerate, permit) that woman Jezebel…to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality…" We are not only judged for our compassion but for what we tolerate.

The church must weigh in on this election to insure that God's standard for marriage is the law of the land.


Will you do three things over the next five weeks?


1. Register Voters in your church through October 9?


Some tips about Voter Registration.

You must be a citizen, not just a legal resident to register to vote.


Individuals who will be 18 by November 8 can register to vote now.

Anyone who has moved, even in the same precinct must register to vote again.

In Texas a member of the immediate family can register members of their immediate households. So you can register your wife, husband and children.

It's not necessary to be deputized to register voters in your church. Just have your folks fill out the Voter Registration Cards, collect them in a box marked MAIL and DROP THEM IN THE MAILBOX. DO NOT DELIVER them to the Elections Office.

Don't be confused by the pocket on the new cards. It's not necessary to include a copy of your identification to register. You'll be asked to show ID the first time you vote in a federal election.

For your voter registration to be valid for the November 8 election, the Voter Registration Cards must be postmarked by October 11.


You may pick up Voter Registration Cards at your county elections office or call the Secretary of State's office at 1-800-252-8683 and they will mail them to you.

Visit http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqvr.shtml to print a Voter Registration Card that requires postage to mail or to request a postage-free card be sent to you personally. You must call for bulk mailings.


Early Voting is October 24 – November 4.

2. Deliver Voter Guides for Distribution in Churches October 23-November 6


One of the most important things you can do for the election is to distribute Voter Guides. Although Proposition 2 is the only moral issue on the ballot, there are 9 Constitutional Amendments on the ballot.


Free Market Foundation will print and distribute 3 million voter guides before the election. The Voter Guides give the PROS and CONS of Proposition 2 as well as the other 8 constitutional amendments that will be on the ballot.


Estimate one voter guide per household for those who attend on Sunday morning and order the number of VOTER GUIDES you need at the bottom of the attached form. Let us know the number you need in ENGLISH and the number of Spanish voter guides you need. The Voter Guides will be mailed by the beginning of Early Voting October 24.


Consider being a distribution point for churches in your city or county. Order enough voter guides for your area and send teenagers to deliver them to the churches right up until Election Day.


3. Get the word out to other pastors in your denomination, city and county


Most Texas pastors support marriage between one man and one woman. They just don't know there's an election in November.



Please get the word out to other pastors to:

Register voters

Distribute VOTER GUIDES


VOTE



YOU ARE FREE SO SPEAK ABOUT THIS FROM THE PULPIT, RADIO AND TV

Preach about it from your pulpit.
Announce it on your radio and TV program.
Write about it in your bulletin and church newsletter.
Unlike elections where candidates and political parties are involved, this election is legal for pastors and churches to ENDORSE Proposition 2 and GET OUT THE VOTE for marriage.
The restrictions that apply to elections where candidates and political parties are involved DO NOT APPLY to this election. Speak out about it.

A vote FOR Proposition 2 is a vote for God's righteous standard of marriage between one man and one woman.


Will you commit NOW to do MORE than just educate your own congregation? Get the word out to your sphere of influence, your denominational leader and other pastors in your city and county.

Passion is on the side of the opposition. We must overcome passivity to see a God's righteous standard as the law in Texas.

The outcome of this election may very well depend on YOU!


WEBSITE WITH EXCELLENT INFORMATION ABOUT THE NOVEMBER 8 ELECTION


Several pro-family leaders and groups, including Kelly Shackelford of Free Market Foundation, have collaborated together to give you accurate information and resources relating to the November 8 Special Election. It is http://www.texansformarriage.org. Several things of interest are:

Pastor Freedoms
Pastor Helps
Recent Studies
Scripture References
Sample Ballot


Fitness By Marilyn
Independent AIM Member - Marilyn Wilson Price

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Toxic Chemicals

When the front page of the Wall Street Journal covers it, you know it's time to take it seriously. Many chemicals that are ubiquitous and previously assumed to be safe are now being shown to have insidious health effects. More reasons to detoxify and alkalize your body every day!

Neil Carman, Ph.D.


Levels of Risk

Common Industrial Chemicals


In Tiny Doses Raise Health Issue

Advanced Tests Often Detect

Subtle Biological Effects;
Are Standards Too Lax?

Getting in Way of Hormones


By PETER WALDMAN
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
July 25, 2005; Page A1

First in a Series: TOXIC TRACES, New Questions about Old Chemicals

For years, scientists have struggled to explain rising rates of some cancers and childhood brain disorders. Something about modern living has driven a steady rise of certain maladies, from breast and prostate cancer to autism and learning disabilities.

One suspect now is drawing intense scrutiny: the prevalence in the environment of certain industrial chemicals at extremely low levels. A growing body of animal research suggests to some scientists that even minute traces of some chemicals, always assumed to be biologically insignificant, can affect such processes as gene activation and the brain development of newborns.

An especially striking finding: It appears that some substances may have effects at the very lowest exposures that are absent at higher levels.

Some scientists, many of them in industry, dismiss such concerns. But the new science of low-dose exposure is challenging centuries of accepted wisdom about toxic substances and rattling the foundation of environmental law.

Modern pollution restrictions aim to limit exposures to levels past studies have found safe. For example, it's known mercury can cause learning problems in children if it's above 58 parts per billion in the bloodstream. Dividing 58 by 10 to provide a margin of safety, U.S. regulators advise that children and young women not accumulate more than 5.8 parts per billion of mercury, by limiting consumption of certain fish such as tuna.

But what if it turned out some common substances have essentially no safe exposure levels at all? That was ultimately what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concluded about lead after studying its effects on children for decades. Indications some other chemicals may have no safe limits have led regulators in Europe and Japan to bar the use of certain compounds in toys and in objects used to serve food. In the U.S., federal scientists are devising new tests that could be used to screen thousands of common chemicals to make sure they're safe at extremely low exposures.

Using advanced lab techniques, scientists have found that with some chemicals, traces as minute as mere parts per trillion have biological effects. That's one-millionth of the smallest traces even measurable three decades ago, when many of today's environmental laws were written. With some of these chemicals, such trace levels exist in the blood and urine of the general population.

Some chemical traces appear to have greater effects in combination than singly, another challenge to traditional toxicology, which tests things individually.

The human body is complex, and effects seen in tests on small laboratory animals and in human cells don't necessarily mean health risks to people. "The question is what do we do about these low levels once we know they're there," says Steve Hentges of the American Plastics Council, a trade association.

For their part, companies and industry groups have attacked low-dose research as alarmist and are challenging the findings with scientific studies of their own. Some industry studies have contradicted the low-dose findings of university and government labs. One reason, says Rochelle Tyl, a toxicologist who does rodent studies on contract for industry groups, is that academics seek "to find out if a chemical has an intrinsic capacity to do harm," while industry scientists try to measure actual dangers to people.

The result is that low-dose research has sparked a number of heated scientific and regulatory controversies:

* Tiny doses of bisphenol A, which is used in polycarbonate plastic baby bottles and in resins that line food cans, have been found to alter brain structure, neurochemistry, behavior, reproduction and immune response in animals. Makers and users of the chemical maintain, citing a Harvard review of 19 studies, that the chemical is harmless to humans at such levels. (See illustration)

* Minute levels of phthalates, which are used in toys, building materials, drug capsules, cosmetics and perfumes, have been statistically linked to sperm damage in men and genital changes, asthma and allergies in children. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detected comparable levels in Americans' urine. Manufacturers say there is no reliable evidence that phthalates cause any health problems.

* A chemical used in munitions, called perchlorate, is known to inhibit production of thyroid hormone, which children need for brain development. The chemical has been detected in drinking-water supplies in 35 states, as well as in fruits, vegetables and breast milk. The EPA has spent years mulling what is a safe level in drinking water. The Defense Department and weapons makers maintain it is harmless at much higher doses than those that Americans ingest.

* The weed killer atrazine has been linked to sexual malformations in frogs that were exposed to water containing just 1/30th as much atrazine as the EPA regards as safe in human drinking water. The herbicide's main manufacturer, Syngenta AG, says other studies prove atrazine is safe. The EPA favors more study.


With so much still unknown, regulators are proceeding on different tracks in different countries. Japan's government designates about 70 chemicals as potential "endocrine disruptors" -- substances that may, at tiny doses, interfere with hormonal signals that regulate human organ development, metabolism and other functions. Japan has just completed a $135 million research push on endocrine disruptors, including setting up a national research center. The Japanese government also has banned certain phthalates in food handlers' gloves and containers, after detecting them in food. One manufacturer, Fujitsu Ltd., has pledged to phase out its use of most suspected endocrine disruptors over coming years.

The European Union has banned some kinds of phthalates in cosmetics and toys, and it is considering a ban on nearly all phthalates in household goods and medical devices. The EU also is planning to require new safety tests for thousands of industrial chemicals, many of which already exist in people's bodies at trace levels. Industry, which would have to bear the cost of proving countless current products safe, is fighting the measures, calling them a massive unnecessary burden.

In the U.S., there are divisions within the government. The White House plays down the issue, saying the low-dose hypothesis is unproved. But many federal scientists and regulators at the EPA and Health and Human Services Department are forging ahead with new methods for assessing possible low-dose dangers. Legislatures in two states, California and New York, are considering bills that would ban use of certain phthalates in toys, child-care products and cosmetics, while a California bill would restrict bisphenol A.

Earliest Concerns

One of the early scientists to focus on possible low-dose risks was biologist Theo Colborn of the World Wildlife Fund. Studying the decline of certain birds, mammals and fish in the upper Midwest, Dr. Colborn spotted some patterns: Species that struggled to survive in the industrialized Great Lakes thrived in inland areas that were less polluted. And some offspring in more-polluted regions had gender abnormalities, such as feminized sex organs in males. She theorized that trace amounts of chemicals in the environment were disrupting hormones.

Dr. Colborn and colleagues popularized low-dose concerns in a series of conferences, articles and a best-selling 1996 book called "Our Stolen Future." That year the EPA asked an outside advisory panel to consider ways of screening industrial chemicals for hormonal effects, a process still incomplete.

In 2000, a separate EPA-organized panel, after reviewing 49 studies, said some hormonally active chemicals affect animals at doses as low as the "background levels" to which the general human population is subject. The panel said the health implications weren't clear but urged the EPA to revisit its regulatory procedures to make sure such chemicals are tested in animals at appropriately small doses.

The EPA hesitated. It responded in 2002 that "until there is an improved scientific understanding of the low-dose hypothesis, EPA believes that it would be premature to require routine testing of substances for low-dose effects."

The Bush administration's regulatory czar, John Graham -- administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the White House Office of Management and Budget -- later publicly dismissed as unproven the idea that the hormonal system could be disrupted by multiple low-dose exposures to industrial chemicals. For the past two years, the administration has proposed funding cuts for EPA research on suspected endocrine disrupters, but Congress has kept the funding roughly level at about $10 million a year.

Since the review panel met in 2000, scientists have published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles reporting further low-dose effects in living animals and in human cells. These findings are generating some early insights in the thorny process of translating laboratory data into conclusions about human health.

Less Is More

One of the most provocative is that some hormonally active chemicals seem to have more effects at extremely low exposures than at higher ones. This challenges an axiom of toxicology stated by the Swiss chemist Paracelsus nearly 500 years ago: The dose makes the poison.

Toxicologists traditionally derive risk by exposing rodents to chemicals to find the lowest dose that leads to tumors, birth defects or other readily observable effects. Regulators then divide the highest "no-observable-effect" dose by an "uncertainty factor" -- anywhere from 10 to 1,000 -- to set a maximum human exposure they can be confident is safe.

But now researchers have found chemicals that have hormonal effects on lab animals and on human cells in much tinier amounts than their standard no-observable-effect levels. And with some of these chemicals, as the tiny doses given to animals are increased, the effects recede. Then, at much higher levels, broad systemic impacts appear, such as reduced body weight.

An example is bisphenol A, or BPA, the ingredient in polycarbonate baby bottles and food-can linings. It evidently is widespread in the environment. In the U.S., the CDC has found traces of it in 95% of urine samples tested. In Japan, researchers have detected BPA in fetal amniotic fluid and the umbilical cords of newborns.

Studying BPA in rats in 1988, the EPA concluded the lowest exposure with an "observed adverse effect" was 50 milligrams a day per kilogram of body weight (one kilogram = 2.2 pounds). Dividing 50 by an uncertainty factor of 1,000, the agency set a daily safe limit for humans of 0.05 milligrams of BPA per kilogram of body weight. Since then, however, academic scientists in several countries have done more than 90 studies that have found BPA effects on animals and human cell cultures from exposures well below this level.

The EPA used a relatively crude measure of the chemical's effects: changes in rodents' body weights. The new studies looked at subtler, hormone-related effects. Some studies found changes in rodents' reproductive organs and brains at doses as low as 0.002 milligram per kilogram of body weight per day. That is just one-25,000th the dose that the EPA said was the lowest exposure having an observable adverse effect.

Disrupting Hormones

Seeking to explain this pattern, scientists cite the endocrine system's exquisite sensitivity. Animals and humans secrete infinitesimal amounts of various hormones, such as estrogen, that trigger responses when they occupy special receptors on the cells of various organs. BPA is among numerous chemicals that can mimic estrogen by occupying cells' estrogen receptors. When they do this at critical phases of development, the chemicals can trigger unnatural biological responses, such as brain and reproductive abnormalities.


At higher doses, however, BPA and other endocrine disruptors -- instead of triggering the unnatural responses -- appear to overwhelm the receptors. That explains, scientists say, why some chemicals seem to have more potent hormonal effects at very low doses than at higher ones.

Mr. Hentges of the American Plastics Council says studies show BPA is harmless at the tiny levels to which humans are exposed. In 2001 the plastics council agreed to pay Harvard's Center for Risk Analysis, part of the Harvard School of Public Health, $600,000 to review BPA studies. The 10 panelists found "no consistent affirmative evidence of low-dose BPA effects" on the basis of 19 studies that were selected by April 2002 for review.

However, many more BPA studies kept coming out, and when the center published its report last fall, three of the 10 panelists declined to be listed as authors. "There are other papers published after the 'cut-off' date that the panel did not review that may have altered their conclusions," says one of the three, Paul Foster of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. A fourth, Claude Hughes of Quintiles Transnational Corp., a pharmaceutical consulting firm, signed but made the same point in a journal commentary criticizing the report and calling for a new EPA risk assessment. The Harvard risk center's executive director, George Gray, acknowledges that a "torrent of new papers on BPA" may have made it impossible for the panel to review everything by its deadline.

The plastics council's Mr. Hentges says his group reviews all studies on BPA and believes none have changed the basic conclusion of the Harvard report. "We continue to believe that the weight of evidence indicates BPA poses no risk to human health," he says.

Chemicals in Combination

Environmental chemicals don't exist in isolation. People are exposed to many different ones in trace amounts. So scientists at the University of London checked a mixture. They tested the hormonal strength of a blend of 11 common chemicals that can mimic estrogen.

Alone, each was very weak. But when scientists mixed low doses of all 11 in a solution with natural estrogen -- thus simulating the chemical cocktail that's inside the human body today -- they found the hormonal strength of natural estrogen was doubled. Such an effect inside the body could disrupt hormonal action.

"In isolation, the contribution of individual [estrogen-like chemicals] at the concentrations found in wildlife and human tissues will always be small," wrote the scientists, led by Andreas Kortenkamp, who directs research on endocrine disruptors for the EU. But because such compounds are so widespread in the environment, the researchers concluded, the cumulative effect on the human endocrine system is "likely to be very large."

To test chemicals, toxicologists traditionally dose animals with a single substance and then dissect them. But this method can't spot the subtle effects associated with today's multiple exposures to low-dose chemicals, says John Bucher, of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Now he and his boss, Christopher Portier, are revamping the federal government's National Toxicology Program, which sets standards for how chemicals are tested. Over about seven years, they hope to develop a series of lab tests that will ultimately screen some 100,000 industrial compounds, individually and in mixtures, for biochemical "markers" such as effects on specific genes.

The chemicals then will be ranked by mechanism of action and suspected toxicity, and assigned priorities for further study. "It's taken us 25 years and $2 billion to study 900 chemicals," Dr. Portier says. "If this works, we can study 15,000 in a year."

Write to Peter Waldman at peter.waldman@wsj.com




Fitness By Marilyn
Independent AIM Member - Marilyn Wilson Price

Thursday, July 28, 2005

Dust Off!

First IM going to tell you a little about me and my family. My name is Jeff. I am a Police Officer for a city which is known nationwide for its crime rate. We have a lot of gangs and drugs. At one point we were # 2 in the nation in homicides per capita. I also have a police K-9 named Thor. He was certified in drugs and general duty. He retired at 3 years old because he was shot in the line of duty. He lives with us now and I still train with him because he likes it. I always liked the fact that there was no way to bring drugs into my house. Thor wouldn't allow it. He would tell on you. The reason I say this is so you understand that I know about drugs. I have taught in schools about drugs. My wife asks all our kids at least once a week if they used any drugs. Makes them promise they wont.

I like building computers occasionally and started building a new one in February 2005. I also was working on some of my older computers. They were full of dust so on one of my trips to the computer store I bought a 3 pack of DUST OFF. Dust Off is a can of compressed air to blow dust off a computer. A few weeks later when I went to use them they were all used. I talked to my kids and my 2 sons both said they had used them on their computer and messing around with them. I yelled at them for wasting the 10 dollars I paid for them. On February 28 I went back to the computer store. They didn't have the 3 pack which I had bought on sale so I bought a single jumbo can of Dust Off. I went home and set it down beside my computer.

On March 1st I left for work at 10 PM. At 11 PM my wife went down and kissed Kyle goodnight. At 530 am the next morning Kathy went downstairs to wake Kyle up for school, before she left for work. He was sitting up in bed with his legs crossed and his head leaning over. She called to him a few times to get up. He didn't move. He would sometimes tease her like this and pretend he fell back asleep. He was never easy to get up. She went in and shook his arm. He fell over. He was pale white and had the straw from the Dust Off can coming out of his mouth. He had the new can of Dust Off in his hands. Kyle was dead.

I am a police officer and I had never heard of this. My wife is a nurse and she had never heard of this. We later found out from the coroner, after the autopsy, that only the propellant from the can of Dust off was in his system. No other drugs. Kyle had died between midnight and 1 Am.

I found out that using Dust Off is being done mostly by kids ages 9 through 15. They even have a name for it. It's called dusting. A take off from the Dust Off name. It gives them a slight high for about 10 seconds. It makes them dizzy. A boy who lives down the street from us showed Kyle how to do this about a month before. Kyle showed his best friend. Told him it was cool and it couldn't hurt you. Its just compressed air. It cant hurt you. His best friend said no.

Kyle's death

Kyle was wrong. It's not just compressed air. It also contains a propellant. I think its R2. Its a refrigerant like what is used in your refrigerator. It is a heavy gas. Heavier than air. When you inhale it, it fills your lungs and keeps the good air, with oxygen, out. That's why you feel dizzy, buzzed. It decreases the oxygen to your brain, to your heart. Kyle was right. It cant hurt you. IT KILLS YOU. The horrible part about this is there is no warning. There is no level that kills you. It's not cumulative or an overdose; it can just go randomly, terribly wrong. Roll the dice and if your number comes up you die. ITS NOT AN OVERDOSE. Its Russian roulette. You don't die later. Or not feel good and say I've had too much. You usually die as your breathing it in. If not you die within 2 seconds of finishing "the hit." That's why the straw was still in Kyle's mouth when he died. Why his eye's were still open.

The experts want to call this huffing. The kids don't believe its huffing. As adults we tend to lump many things together. But it doesn't fit here. And that's why its more accepted. There is no chemical reaction. no strong odor. It doesn't follow the huffing signals. Kyle complained a few days before he died of his tongue hurting. It probably did. The propellant causes frostbite. If I had only known.

Its easy to say hay, its my life and I'll do what I want. But it isn't. Others are always effected. This has forever changed our family's life. I have a hole in my heart and soul that can never be fixed. The pain is so immense I cant describe it. There's nowhere to run from it. I cry all the time and I don't ever cry. I do what I'm supposed to do but I don't really care. My kids are messed up. One wont talk about it. The other will only sleep in our room at night. And my wife, I cant even describe how bad she is taking this. I thought we were safe because of Thor. I thought we were safe because we knew about drugs and talked to our kids about them.

After Kyle died another story came out. A Probation Officer went to the school system next to ours to speak with a student. While there he found a student using Dust Off in the bathroom. This student told him about another student who also had some in his locker. This is a rather affluent school system. They will tell you they don't have a drug problem there. They don't even have a dare or plus program there. So rather than tell everyone about this "new" way of getting high they found, they hid it. The probation officer told the media after Kyle's death and they, the school, then admitted to it. I know that if they would have told the media and I had heard, it wouldn't have been in my house.

We need to get this out of our homes and school computer labs.

Using Dust Off isn't new and some "professionals" do know about. It just isn't talked about much, except by the kids. They know about it.

April 2nd was 1 month since Kyle died. April 5th would have been his 15th birthday. And every weekday I catch myself sitting on the living room couch at 2:30 in the afternoon and waiting to see him get off the bus. I know Kyle is in heaven but I cant help but wonder If I died and went to Hell.

Jeff



Fitness By Marilyn
Independent AIM Member - Marilyn Wilson Price

Saturday, July 23, 2005

I. C. E.



Not a bad idea!!
ICE -- In Case Of Emergency

A campaign encouraging people to enter an emergency contact number in their mobile phone's memory under the heading ICE (In Case of Emergency), has rapidly spread throughout the world as a particular consequence of last week's terrorist attacks in London.

Originally established as a nation-wide campaign in the UK, ICE allows paramedics or police to be able to contact a designated relative / next-of-kin in an emergency situation.

The idea is the brainchild of a paramedic for 13 years, said: "I was reflecting on some of the calls I've attended at the roadside where I had to look through the mobile phone contacts struggling for information on a shocked or injured person. Almost everyone carries a mobile phone now, and with ICE we'd know immediately who to contact and what number to ring. The person may even know of their medical history."

By adopting the ICE advice, your mobile will help the rescue services quickly contact a friend or relative - which could be vital in a life or death situation. It only takes a few seconds to do, and it could easily help save your life. Why not put ICE in your phone now? Simply select a new contact in your phone book, enter the word 'ICE' and the number of the person you wish to be contacted.

For more than one contact name ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc.

Fitness By Marilyn
Independent AIM Member - Marilyn Wilson Price

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Why Bother With Exercise?


"When we exercise routinely, our bodies work more efficiently and we use less energy to get better results. When we are in shape, we better use our energy when fighting disease or stress, or in the healing process. This can result in faster recovery, less stress, and a more powerful immune system.*"

Additionally, regular exercise':

1. Reduces the risk of dying prematurely and from heart disease, and of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, and colon cancer.

2. Helps reduce blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure.

3. Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety; promotes psychological well-being.

4. Helps control weight.

5. Helps build and maintain healthy muscles, bones, and joints.

6. Helps older adults become stronger and better able to move without falling.


"People who are usually inactive can improve their health and well-being by becoming even moderately active on a regular basis, and physical activity need not be strenuous to achieve health benefits. For those interested in preventing bone loss and osteoporosis, experts recommend exercising at least three times per week.*" "Muscle strengthening and walking improve support and stability to reduce falls and fractures. For individuals of all ages, exercise should be the keystone of osteoporosis prevention and treatment.^"

"Exercising releases hormones, neurotransmitters (which help the brain communicate within itself), and other substances that help the body relax. It appears that exercise increases the levels of neurotrophins, proteins that stimulate the growth of new nerve cells in the part of the brain that deals with learning and memory.*" "There is growing evidence that regular physical activity helps to ward off mental declines as people age. A five-year Canadian study suggested that exercise may cut the risk of Alzheimer's disease and less devastating mental losses by as much as 40 per cent, particularly in women. Further, the report stated that those who exercised vigorously at least three times per week and were considered highly active, had the lowest risk of Alzheimer's, but even those receiving light or moderate exercise significantly cut their risks for Alzheimer's and mental decline.~"


Start Or Expand An Exercise Program Tips*:

1. Find activities that you enjoy!

2. Make the exercise convenient!

3. Vary your activities and how you do them!

4. Keep track of your progress!

5. Lighten Up!

6. Don't Give Up!

7. Make exercise a part of your day!


Other things which help are group sports, exercise classes, workouts at a health club, or exercising on equipment and using videos at home. Many people benefit from having a partner to exercise with. It is very encouraging to me that the medical profession is getting more knowledgeable about preventative medicine which is sometimes called integrated medicine. This has been so long in coming about. Also our insurance companies are covering preventative medicine and sponsoring exercise programs in our communities.



* AIM Partners, July-August, The AIM Companies
' Office Of The Surgeon General: "Physical Activity And Health Report"
^ The Physician And Sportsmedicine (vol. 26, 1998)
~ Archives Of Neurology (vol. 53, 2001)


Fitness By Marilyn
P. O. Box 834
Rockport, TX 78381
fitnessbymarilyn@gmail.com
http://www.fitnessbymarilyn.com
Independent AIM Member - Marilyn Wilson Price

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Independent AIM Member - Marilyn Wilson Price

Sunday, May 15, 2005

Plain Talk About pH

What is pH?

pH, an acronym for “potential of hydrogen,” is a value that indicates the acidity or alkalinity of a liquid. The measurement of the hydrogen ion concentration in a liquid determines the pH value. Every liquid has a pH value, which falls on a scale between 0 and 14, with 7 being neutral. A pH value less than 7 is acidic; values greater than 7 indicate alkalinity.

Examples: Battery acid and vinegar – two very acidic liquids – have pH values on the lower end of the scale, while baking soda and ammonia, both of which are very alkaline, are on the higher end of the pH scale. Pure water, meanwhile, has a pH value of 7 – it’s neither acidic nor alkaline.

The Optimum Body pH:

The body has a pH value. In fact, each of the body’s fluids has a specific pH value, but the blood most accurately reflects the body’s overall acidic or alkaline level. To maintain a balanced pH, the body uses certain minerals, such as potassium, calcium and magnesium to neutralize acids in the blood. If it can’t do that successfully, the body will restore its optimal pH by depleting certain minerals, such as potassium, calcium and magnesium from organs and bones.

The body needs to maintain a balanced pH, so it is very important to avoid being too acidic or too alkaline. The optimum pH value for urine and saliva should be between 6.3–6.7.

FindingThe Body’s pH:

There are a variety of ways to determine the body’s pH, and the most accurate way to find the pH value of the blood is using a pH meter. However, that can be impractical since it would require drawing blood and purchasing a special meter. A more practical and inexpensive method is to find the approximate pH level of the urine using litmus paper. Since the urine pH varies with what you eat, measure the pH when you get up in the morning before you exercise,
eat or drink anything. Keep in mind that when it comes to determining the body’s pH, look at averages and trends over a period of time.

For urine, the optimum pH value should be between 6.3–6.7, which is in the medium green area of the litmus paper.


How to use litmus paper to test urine:

1. Use 2–4 inches of litmus paper and avoid touching the end being used for testing
2. Quickly dip one end of the litmus paper into the urine sample*
3. Immediately shake off any excess
4. Immediately compare the color of the paper to the chart that comes with the litmus paper

*Note: Holding the litmus paper in a liquid, even for a few seconds, can wash the indicator off the paper and give an inaccurate reading pH.

Plain Talk About pH:
An easy guide to understanding pH and what it means to your health

Saturday, May 14, 2005

From One Of The Pioneers Of The Green Drink


Still True Today.......


Acid: The Trojan Horse

Excerpts from a speech given by Dr. Mary Ruth Swope at the AIM 2003 convention in Vancouver, BC:

Acid is the Trojan horse of health in this day and age. My dictionary states a secondary meaning of Trojan horse to be "a person or thing that is designed to undermine from within." Excess acid is truly a "thing from within" that undermines or destroys the body.

Most Americans are too acidic for whole body health. Even AIM family members that I have tested are still too acidic much of the time. Let's define the meaning of acid/alkaline. The acid or alkaline measurement of your body is classified in what is called pH factors. pH simply means potential of hydrogen. The pH scale ranges from 0-14 with 0 being most acidic, 7 being neutral and 14 being most alkaline.

Ideal pH of body fluids:
Saliva 6.5 to 7.0
HCL 1.0
Gastric juice 1.4
Urine 7.0
Water 7.0

The Problem:

One doctor has stated that he believes there are three root causes to 99% of disease symptoms-genetic weaknesses, toxicity, and overacidity. Overacidity is simply too much acid in our blood, saliva, urine and tissues.

The work of Dr. William Lee Cowden, board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and clinical nutrition, explored the effect of pH on all of the body's systems. Here are just a few examples of his findings.

Circulatory system: In excessive acid conditions, bacteria, fungi or viruses can attach themselves to the inner wall of the arteries. This can cause plaque to form, narrowing the artery and restricting blood flow which in turn restricts the flow of oxygen and nutrients to tissues. Heart attack and even cancer can result.

Nervous system: When brain cells are too acidic they dysfunction and communication between brain cells and throughout the spinal cord is cut off, which can result in dysfunction in other body systems. In the nervous system insomnia, anxiety, depression, neurosis, psychosis and impaired memory can result from overacidity.

Every body system is affected deeply by overacidity.


The Cause:

Many foods in our diet are too acidic-too numerous to mention here. Here are some of our greatest enemies:


Foods made from white flour (white bread, macaroni, noodles, pizza dough, etc.) act like glue in the tissues of our body. This causes an acid plaque to build up leading to inflammation and congestion of tissue and can lead to tissue death.

Cola drinks are one of the greatest offenders in our American diet. Most soft drinks are in the range of 2.3-4.0 on the pH scale. One biochemist discovered that it takes 32 glasses of alkaline water to neutralize the acidity of one Coca Cola.


A third food that needs special recognition as a Trojan horse is sugar. It fills our tissues with toxins that inflame, infect, imbalance and create dreadful havoc in our cells, tissues, and organs.



The Solution :

In order to maintain health and vitality, all of our body fluids should be alkaline except the stomach gastric juices, which are acid. How do we maintain an alkaline system? Here is the plan I suggest.

1. Take plenty of AIM BarleyLife® every day. This is number 1! AIM BarleyLife® is the perfect food to cause a quick and total answer to many of the symptoms we suffer from today. It is the ideal, whole, instant, high octane, highly alkaline food that causes sick cells to change to healthy cells. It also restores the minerals that are leached from our body through an overly acidic condition.


2. Use up to 6 tablespoons a day of freshly squeezed lemon in your drinking water. We are talking about 6-8 glasses minimum per day. Fresh lemon works quickly to alkalize your body.

3. Decrease your consumption of acid producing foods.

4. Eat a source of L. acidophilus bacillus or any mixture of friendly bacteria daily
.
5. Eat 1 tablespoon of raw pumpkin seed, sunflower seed, or flaxseed daily with a palm full of almonds for an excellent health producing habit.

6. Add 2 or more capsules of AIM Bear Paw Garlic® to your daily routine.

7. Laugh! Dr. Contreras said on TV, "One minute of anger causes six hours of hormonal havoc; one minute of laughter produces 24 hours of good results."

It is true that you can literally heal every system in your body by bringing it into homeostasis through balancing your pH levels. Begin to prove this to yourself-and begin sharing this with potential AIM customers. Do you want to become alive again? Do you want to regenerate yourself? Then, alkalize, alkalize, alkalize!


Testing your pH

Use litmus paper (can be secured from your local drug store).
Test urine and saliva in morning before any food or liquid.
Check color of paper with chart that comes with litmus paper.
Keep working on pH until saliva and urine are at ideal pH.

Visit AIM's webcast at www.theaimcompanies.com and click on the AIM convention icon to hear Dr. Swope's entire presentation.

Fitness By Marilyn
Independent AIM Member - Marilyn Wilson Price