Green Tea Towards a Healthier Lifestyle

Research indicates that tea may work against heart attacks, stroke, and thrombosis. Tea contributes to this in several ways. It does so in a general way through its role as gentle stimulant to the heart and circulatory system. Secondly, it appears to keep the blood vessel walls soft. Thirdly, there is evidence that the phenols in tea inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the digestive tract, which could help decrease the cholesterol in the bloodstream. Fourthly, it may decrease the blood's tendency to form thrombi, or unwanted clots. Often several of these functions operate together against stroke or heart attack. Strokes and thrombosis often occur because the blood vessels have lost their elasticity. Rutin, found in green tea, has long been prescribed to keep these walls soft.

Green tea has turned out to be a double-barrelled threat to tooth decay because of the natural polyphenols (tannin) and the fluoride it contains. Polyphenols tend to reduce the formation of plaque, while fluoride strengthens tooth enamel so that it can resist decay.

Considerable research is being carried out on the role of tea drinking in preventing cancer. Out of 25 papers related to health presented at the Hangzhou Symposium, seven reported on research on cancer and tumors. Green tea seems to get the best results, with Lung Ching Preferred. Stomach cancer, the number one cause of death in Japan, is at its lowest rate in Shizuoka prefecture along the coast southwest of Tokyo. One explanation is that Shizuoka is a tea-growing district and its inhabitants drink large amounts of green tea.

Researchers believe that green tea has an effect against cancer because it inhibits the formation or action of cancer-causing substances. Green tea may block the action of nitrosamines which can cause cancer, said Dr. Han Chi, and associate professor at the Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene under the Chinese Academy of Preventative Medicine. In a test of 145 types of tea, she and her colleagues rated green tea highest! , with a blocking rate of 90 percent. Brick, Jasmine, oolong, and black tea followed in that order.

In China it is widely stated that green tea is a source of vitamin C. Since this vitamin is destroyed by heat and tea is made in hot water, this statement seems somewhat contradictory. However, recent tests in China have found that heat destruction of vitamin C does occur, but not in tea. Something in tea, as yet undetermined, apparently helps stabilize vitamin C. The amount of vitamin C contained in green tea varies greatly depending on growing conditions, the age of the leaves at picking, and how long they have been stored. According to Chinese calculations, typical green tea made with three grams of dry leaves to a cup should yield about six milligrams of vitamin C in three infusions in water at 158 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit (70 to 100 degrees centigrade). Eighty-five percent of the vitamin C is released in one five minute infusion at 176 degrees Fahrenheit (80 degrees centigrade). Tea also contains vitamins B1, B2, K and bioflavonoids plus niacin, folic acid, and manganese, but in such small amounts as to be negligible.

Another way tea may help fight cancer is through preventing cell mutation. The antioxidant actions of the polyphenols in green tea inhibit mutation of the DNA in healthy cells, which can cause them to become cancer cells. In rats injected with a cancer-causing substance and fed green tea, cancer did not develop, but it did in the control group without tea.

An antioxidant made from green tea applied to the skin significantly inhibited growth of induced skin cancer in mice. In similar tests in Fujian province, green tea markedly decreased the incidence of Lung cancer in rats. It seems to be the epigallo catechin gallate (EGCC) that reduces the occurence of aberrant DNA replication in epithelial cells.

Some researchers claim tea acts as a mild germicide in the digestive tract to help prevent food poisoning and diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. The antibacterial! effects of tea have been well documented in Chinese scientific literature, writes Dr. Albert Y. Leung in Chinese Herbal Remedies. Green teas have stronger effects than black teas. They are effective against any types of bacteria, including those that cause dysentery, diphtheria, and cholera... in treating bacillary dysentery, amoebic dysentery, acute gastroenteritis (inflammation of stomach and intestine), and enteritis (inflammation of the intestine).

When pregnant or nursing only small amounts of green tea should be used, it may also interfere with the action of MAO inhibitors and blood thinning medication. Also the consumption of green tea may interfere with the absorption of medicines. This article is intended to be for information about the nutritional benefits of green tea only and should not be regarded as medical advice in its own right. You should seek the assistance of a qualified physician if you require medical advice on any condition mentioned in this article.

Kevin Woodward looks after the In Nature web site at http://www.in-nature.com/teas/ which offers top quality Chinese teas and herbs for sale securely online. Memberships are available which entitles you to discounts on the products and a free health consultation, the latter is based on traditional Chinese medicine.

A Boxful of Second Chance

Imagine yourself walking hurriedly along the crowded airport, trying to catch your flight to New Jersey. Suddenly, a man in front of you faints and falls heavily on the floor. He just had a cardiac arrest. As people all around start to rush calling for the ambulance, you and other people try to perform CPR to no avail. Precious minutes pass by quickly, and you soon realize that if the paramedics doesn't get to the man on time, he's dead.

*Cardiac arrest* is one of the leading causes of death in America today. It occurs swiftly and silently, leaving behind a high mortality rate where only 5% survive. And despite the best trained emergency responders like firemen and paramedics rushing as fast as they can, the unfortunate reality is that most of its victims die before reaching the hospital or while they wait for the ambulance. That is often the case in cities that have traffic jams like New York.

When someone has a cardiac arrest, the disorganization of the heart's pumping rhythm causes it to be unable to contract properly and makes an abrupt interruption of blood circulation. This results to oxygen deprivation to the brain, unconsciousness, and inability to breathe. Within 3 to 4 minutes, the victim's brain is likely to be damaged. For this reason, it is very important that emergency medical treatment is given immediately in order to resolve the condition. The most common first-aid treatment for cardiac arrest is the cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR, and defibrillation.

Defibrillation helps revive the heart by sending rapid jolts of energy to shock the heart back into its rhythm. A cardiac arrest victim's chances of survival goes up by 10% with after every minute of its use. We are familiar with how they are used as we see them frequently in hospitals, ambulances, and on television shows like Rescue 911 and hospital dramas like Grey's Anatomy and ER. But we know that it's very heavy, and we need to be sufficiently trained to use it, like the doctors who mutter barely! coheren t instructions on its voltage and then shout ?clear!.? Of course those things cannot be found outside the hospital or the ambulance and you'd be intimidated to touch it, let alone use it.

This is where portable defibrillators come in use. Immediate aid for cardiac arrest victims is now within reach because of its easy-to-carry packaging and its more automated technology. There is no need for complex buttons to press, and it has instructions that are easy to follow, making just about anyone capable of using it to help save lives.

Portable defibrillators should be placed in public areas like malls, airports, theme parks, hotels, offices, and schools. It should also be strategically located along fire extinguishers or public pay phones for easy access. Because four out of five cardiac arrest occurs at homes, it is also advisable to keep a portable defibrillator handy to be used in emergency cases. Explaining to your kids when and how to use it can spell the difference between the life and death of one of your family members.

In 2003, it was found that the use of these portable defibrillators by volunteers in public areas gave a significant increase to the rate of cardiac arrest victims surviving compared to those who only received CPR. The said study was funded primarily by the National Institutes of Health Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute with the American Heart Association. In Milwaukee, where about 1,000 people joined a training program for the proper use of the portable defibrillator, it was reported that the state already had a cardiac arrest survival rate of 9%.

Soon, portable defibrillators will be a common sight in public areas. People will be more familiar on its importance, and almost everyone will know how to use it properly. So the next time you find yourself in the mall or in the airport, keep a vigilant eye on all emergency areas for that small glass case that contains a portable defibrillator. Knowing where one can be found is very important in case an emerg! ency occ urs. Who knows, the next life that could be saved might just be yours.

For more valuable information on Cancer, Heart Health, please visit http://www.healthsnippets.com.

Holistic Cures for Heartburn

If you suffer from heartburn, you may be interested in holistic cures for heartburn. Holistic medicine is becoming increasingly popular. The idea that good health is dependent on many factors is particularly relevant for those who suffer from frequent heartburn. Treatment plans or hollistic cures for heartburn may be more time consuming than taking a little pill, but can be more effective in the long run.

Holistic cures for heartburn may include education on reducing stress in one?s life. It is commonly accepted that stress plays a big role in heartburn. Many people experience their first symptoms during particularly stressful periods of their lives. Those who suffer from anxiety often complain of frequent heartburn and other digestive problems. Techniques such as deep muscle relaxation have proven helpful for some people. Learning how to relax naturally is typically one aspect of hollistic cures for heartburn.

Modern chiropractic offices are good sources for holistic cures for heartburn and many other health problems that seem, at first, to be unrelated to the back. Even, poor posture may lead to or worsen symptoms of heartburn. The different organs and parts of the body may seem to function independently of each other, but the systems are all interrelated. Hollistic cures for heartburn attempt to address the body as a whole.

Education about proper eating habits will also be included in most holistic cures for heartburn. Though spicy, fried and fatty foods may lead to heartburn, it is not just a matter of what you eat. When you eat, how much you eat and under what circumstances can all lead to heartburn. For example, those who experience heartburn at night are often advised to have their last meal at least three hours before bedtime. It takes approximately three hours for the contents of the stomach to be digested. Overeating and obesity can lead to heartburn, as can eating on the go or in a stressful environment. Hollistic cures for heartburn may address any of the! se issue s.

Though they may not call them holistic cures for heartburn, most medical doctors will stress the importance of lifestyle and dietary changes for controlling and preventing heartburn. At one time, hollistic cures for heartburn or any other condition might have been hard to find, but now most practitioners understand the importance of educating the patient. While typical treatment plans include some type of medication, other treatments including the ones mentioned here and many others have proven effective, as well. There is not a specific ?cure? that works for everyone; holistic cures for heartburn vary from individual to individual.

For more information about heartburn and other common digestive problems visit www.digestive-disorders-guide.com.

Patsy Hamilton writes informational articles for the Digestive Disorders Guide. Visit us at http://www.digestive-disorders-guide.com

Stop Heartburn Naturally

According to a recent survey, Americans and other westerners suffer from heartburn symptoms more often than people from Asian and eastern countries. Every day people buy hundreds of antacids and other over the counter remedies to stop heartburn. It may not be easy to try to change habits that lead to heartburn symptoms, but it could be worth the effort. Heartburn symptoms experienced once or more per week may need to be evaluated by a physician, particularly if you try to make changes in your eating habits and the heartburn persists.

You may be able to stop heartburn symptoms by eating smaller meals more frequently. This technique is also recommended for those who have problems with their weight. Regular exercise is also a good idea. Obese and overweight people have more heartburn symptoms than those who are not overweight. The extra pounds put more pressure on the stomach, causing the stomach acid to leak up into the esophagus. It is this flowing back of the stomach acid that is referred to in medical terminology as acid reflux. Stomach acid in the esophagus causes the burning sensation, which is one of the primary heartburn symptoms. The acid can eventually erode the lining of the esophagus. Efforts to stop heartburn or relieve heartburn symptoms include neutralizing the stomach acid, soothing the throat and/or relieving the gas. But, it is important to make efforts to stop heartburn from happening in the first place.

Anxiety and stress lead to heartburn symptoms in many people. Some people experience heartburn symptoms for the first time during an unusually stressful period in their lives. The stomach produces more acid during these times. Some people have been able to stop heartburn by addressing the anxiety and stress. Meditation, deep muscle relaxation, as well as anti-anxiety medications have reduced the number of heartburn symptoms experienced in some cases. Anxiety can be serious and is sometimes accompanied by depression, which can be very serious. It is best no! t to ign ore frequent symptoms of anxiety, just as it is important not to ignore frequent heartburn symptoms.

It may be possible to stop heartburn symptoms naturally by watching what you eat or making lifestyle changes. Spicy and fried foods often lead to heartburn. But most people experience heartburn occasionally. Big holiday meals are common culprits. If you don?t like the chalky taste of antacids, there are drops available that include fennel and mint oils and provide relief from occasional heartburn symptoms.

Patsy Hamilton writes informational articles for the Digestive Disorders Guide. Visit us at http://www.digestive-disorders-guide.com

A Few Reasons to Workout

An exercise routine is important for keeping healthy and in good shape. Many people want to workout but can?t seem to find the time or motivation. This is nonsense! There?s always time, you just need to prioritize. Wake up thirty to sixty minutes earlier every morning. Go for a walk during your lunch hour, or park your car further away from the office. There?s always time for exercise; you just have to be willing to cut into your personal time.

Motivation is a whole other issue, not that you should need a reason to get off the couch and do something healthy. Perhaps some of the reasons listed here will be enough for you to incorporate a workout routine into your lifestyle.

1.Your clothes will fit better. When you work out, you not only lose weight but inches as well. Soon you?ll be able to breathe much easier while wearing blue jeans, which by the way aren?t as snug anymore.
2.Your physical appearance will improve. Your cheeks will be rosy, you?ll have fewer chins and you?ll exude healthiness.
3.It improves your balance and coordination. No one likes a klutz anyway.
4.It will enhance your sexual performance. Need I say more?
5.You?ll sleep better. You?ll also be more relaxed and in a better mood.
6.Daily workouts boost your self-esteem. There?s nothing wrong with a positive outlook.
7.It reduces your risk of heart disease. This should be reason enough.
8.You?ll be more likely to survive a heart attack.
9.Reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure. No one wants that.
10.In older individuals, it can actually improve short-term memory.

Hopefully these reasons are enough to convince you to add a workout routine to your schedule. It doesn?t have to entail hours of heavy lifting at the gym. Go for a long walk, swim or bike ride. Take karate or kayaking lessons. Find some activities that interest you and get moving. Your body will thank you.

James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a ! whole sp ectrum of interest. Read more at http://www.workout-guide.info

Heart Healthy Omega 3 Fats

University research conducted world wide has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids is not only heart protective but has the potential to reverse heart disease as well. Countless studies have indicated that the long term consumption of fish is associated with less incidence of a second heart attack coupled with fewer death rates as a result of cardiac events. According to Dr. Alexander Leaf of Harvard University, foods rich on omega 3 fats can stop arrhythmia before it triggers sudden death from heart attacks. The American Heart Association has also come to embrace the cardio protective benefits of omega 3 fats as well. It is important to note the FDA does NOT allow health claims for the majority of dietary supplements. However, per the FDA, health claims can be made for those dietary supplements providing beneficial omega 3 fats.

According to large scale study published in the British Medical Journal specific benefits of omega 3 acids are as follows:

Counteraction and prevention of cardiac arrhythmia
Lower triglycerides
Lower blood pressure
Promotion of the growth of new blood vessels
Decreased blood clot formation
Reduced inflammation

The above findings have been duplicated repeatedly via major scholarly research projects all over the globe.

It would be safe to say the benefits of a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids can have a profound effect on human health and wellness.

It is also important to point out the fact that the consumption of omega 3 fatty acids should accompany a diet that already has a healthy foundation. It goes without saying that if one consumes fast foods, processed foods, cakes and cookies, you will markedly reduce the health benefits and biological activity of the good fatty acids you consume. Plenty of fruits and vegetables please. Dietary sources of beneficial omega 3 fats include cold water fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines. If quality fish is expensive or difficult to obtain in ! your are a, one may consider supplementing the diet with fish oil readily available at most health food stores. Here?s to your healthy heart!

Dr. Linda Posh MS SLP ND. Doc Posh brings a fresh perspective to natural health and nutrition. She packs a solid educational background with degrees in organic chemistry, psychology and a Masters in Communication Sciences and Disorders. The Dr. sports a diverse work history including experience and expertise in acute care neurorehab services, special education, autism support services, spinal cord injuries, senior rehabilitation services and currently consults to both patients and colleagues in natural health. Recently, she has been in the laboratory, formulating revolutionary whole food nutritional supplements.

Nutra-Resources Liquid Vitamins Website donates all profits to providing free Health Care for those in need. Sign up for Doc Posh?s newsletter. Get the latest in health care discoveries, consumer deception and more. Visit http://www.Nutra-Resources.com for the finest in liquid vitamins.

Obesity in Old Age May Disable Not Kill

Many physical problems are related to obese condition, like difficulties in breathing, personal hygiene, pain in the knees and back and skin problems.

Obesity is a risk factor for arthritis of the knee and hip, potentially disabling conditions. Obesity and its related problems may increase the risk of death at younger ages.

People suffering from obesity more frequently have:

• high blood pressure

• diseases related to hardening of the arteries

• blood clots in the heart and the brain

• non-insulin dependent diabetes

• gallstones

• some types of cancer

• difficulties in mobility

• increased risk of mortality.

Recently, a group of researchers from University of South Florida in Tampa suggests that obesity after the age of 70 may not shorten a person's life, but it may lead to more years of disability.

According to this new study, it is not very clear why obesity does not seem to affect older adults' life expectancy despite its link to greater physical limitations. One of major factor may be chronic inflammation in the body, a state thought to contribute to illnesses such as heart disease.

Obesity and its related problems may increase the risk of death at younger ages. But is a certitude that obese men and women spent more of their later years with some physical disability.

Valerian D is a freelance writer specialized in health issues affecting men like obesity in old people

There Is Still Hope For Memories

It's sad when someone you love can't recognize your voice over the phone. Sadder still if they tell you they can't remember you. But if you're talking to someone you love and he turns and looks at you blankly, it's not sad anymore but tragic. This is what 12 million individuals are experiencing now. Dementia and its variations have been felt in society since the age of medical advances. If dementia and the pain that comes with it are payments for having a longer life, it's a bad deal. It's no good living when you don't even know yourself or the persons who love you.

Dementia, a Latin word which means irrationality, denotes brain cell degeneration and brain dysfunction. *Alzheimer's disease* is a variation of dementia. The disease is a burden, not only for the people who have it, but also for their families and friends. Dementia reduces the quality of people's lives by restricting their mobile functions and affecting their social relationships. Persons afflicted with dementia have reduced memories and have a tendency to be forgetful. Common symptoms of dementia include temporal and spatial disorientation, language problems, and mood swings. In advanced cases of dementia, patients often have difficulty in recognizing numbers and making sound judgments. Since people with dementia are incapable of taking care of themselves, their families shoulder the burden of caring and providing for them. According to medical experts, the risks of developing dementia increases with age. Studies also show that the risks of having dementia increases by 2-20% as soon as a person turns 60. From this perspective, the battle against dementia seems like a lost cause.

However, researchers from Sweden's Karolinska Institute came up with a breakthrough about the relationship of the disease to people's lifestyles. The researchers claim that they have identified triggers, which lead to dementia during middle age. These triggers include obesity, inactivity, high blood pressure, increasing cholesterol levels, and educati! on. Miia Kivipelto, a researcher from the institute, says that lifestyle changes and controlling these triggers are the means to offset dementia. The study proves to be a valuable asset in the area of medical advances because dementia is incurable. Prevention is our only hope against it.

The findings of the studies are practical with a load of common sense. The prevention method it suggests are not difficult at all to put in practice. Obesity, cholesterol, and high blood pressure are also causes of heart disease. These factors cause blood clots and reduce the amount of nutrients, blood flow, and oxygen to the brain. Inevitably, these shorten the life span and promote damage of the brain cells. Kivipelto explains that by eating a balanced diet and avoiding fatty foods, dementia can be prevented along with heart diseases. Regular exercise is also recommended by the research. Movements trigger the repair of brain cells that control motor skills. This enhances the regenerative properties of the brain cells. Exercise also keeps the heart healthy for efficient delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the brain cells.

Even if education seems like the odd man out among the possible triggers of dementia, it makes perfect sense. The research found out that dementia and Alzheimer's disease are more common in people who have not completed higher education. People who have demanding jobs that require strategic thinking are also found to have minimal risks of developing dementia. Engaging in mind exercises, like puzzles and crosswords, also lessen risks of having Alzheimer's disease. In effect, it is the level of mind activity that determines the risks of dementia. The more active a person's brain works, the healthier his brain cells are. Healthy brain cells promote better brain function and regeneration which are crucial in preventing dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Battling dementia is an uphill battle. People with dementia, or with symptoms of dementia, need all the help they can get to make their climb. F! or those who are fortunate not to have the disease, vigilance against the disease is a must. Steps to prevent the onset of dementia are simple and do not require drastic lifestyle changes. The fight against dementia starts with small steps. The researches and medical advances have taken the first step. It's up to us to follow through the path they made. Memories are too precious to leave to chance.

For more valuable information on Cancer, Heart Health, please visit http://www.healthsnippets.com

Anyone Can Save a Life with an AED

Automated External Defibrillators (AED) are becoming more and more prevalent in schools, airports, and public buildings all over the country. These fantastic devices have saved many lives that would have otherwise been lost simply because time is such a critical issue when it comes to heart related problems. Even though emergency response teams respond rapidly, having an AED on hand will enable an individual suffering from a heart attack or other heart related problem to survive until the paramedics arrive. Using an AED, anyone has the power to save a life!

According to the informative Web site Start A Heart, automated external defibrillators are lightweight, portable devices that can jumpstart a victim?s heart by using an electrical pulse called a biphasic shock. Guiding the rescuer with a combination of simple and clear voice, text and graphical instructions, AEDs do nearly all of the work, enabling practically anyone save a life!

While training seminars will introduce to the correct methods of using an AED, many AED provide voice instructions and are practically fool proof. In fact, growing research suggests that AED are easier to use and often more effective than CPR! However, it is recommended that those likely to use an AED are complete a training course for defibrillators so that they know exactly know the device works.

The popularity of AED has catapulted this piece of life saving equipment from the obscure to the every day. Companies like Zoll, Welch Allyn and Phillips have introduced affordable AED that are now even practical for home use. For instance, Amazon.com carries the Phillips HeartStart for a competitive $1,295, while the advanced Zoll AED Plus is just $1,695. It is amazing that such a small investment can help you save a life; perhaps even your own! A growing number of grant programs have sprung up to fund public access defibrillators for places such as schools and government buildings.

A great many lives have been saved thanks to these fantastic Automated ! External Defibrillators in a variety of public places. From teenaged athletes with undiagnosed heart problems who suffer heart attacks while participating in their sport of choice to individuals who suffer a heart attack in their local mall or airport, AED are an excellent piece of technology that can literally decide between life and death. If you are in the position to, consider purchasing an AED for your home or place of business. Also, consider learning the correct methods of using an AED in the event of an emergency.

Larry Mitchell is a San Francisco based author.

How Do I Get Rid Of Heartburn? And Other Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get rid of heartburn?

The answer may not be as simple as you had hoped. Heartburn can be caused by many factors including dietary and lifestyle. Frequent or prolonged heartburn is cause for concern and your symptoms should be evaluated by a physician or healthcare professional of your choice.

How do I get rid of heartburn quickly?

An antacid or over the counter product usually works quickly to relieve the burning sensation. Herbal remedies such as fennel oil and other drops may also work quickly. Home remedies such as chewing on a chilled chunk of rhubarb or eating a bite of ice cream works for some people. If you have prolonged heartburn that does not respond to over the counter remedies, you may need a prescription medication to prevent heartburn.

How do I get rid of heartburn after a large meal?

Overeating often leads to heartburn. An over the counter or home remedy should work, but there are certain things to avoid. Being stuffed, you may feel sleepy, but lying down only worsens symptoms. Instead, take a leisurely stroll, but avoid strenuous exercise. Running, bending and stooping will worsen symptoms. Marathon runners and some other athletes often suffer from frequent or prolonged heartburn.

How do I get rid of heartburn after eating spicy foods?

No matter what you ate, any product should provide relief from occasional heartburn, but not all products work for everyone. If you know that spicy foods cause you problems, you can plan to avoid them or take a product designed to prevent heartburn before you eat them. Some over the counter products like Zantac may be taken a half an hour before a meal to prevent heartburn symptoms. People who suffer from frequent or prolonged heartburn are typically advised to avoid spicy foods and make other dietary and lifestyle changes.

How do I get rid of heartburn caused by stress?

The short answer is ?relax?. Sit in a comfortable position. Loosen your clothing. Focus on your posture. E! xhale, e mpty your lungs completely. Inhale, for a four count, hold for a four count and then exhale for a four count. Try to focus on individual muscles in the body that are tense and relax them by first flexing the muscle for ten seconds and then releasing for twenty seconds. Even the counting off of the seconds can help you relax. Stress often leads to frequent or prolonged heartburn. Fast paced lifestyles may lead to stress. Try to slow down for a few minutes before you eat and sit quietly for a few minutes after you eat. Eat slowly and chew well. Making an effort to prevent prolonged heartburn by reducing stress around mealtimes should reduce your need for antacids or other over the counter heartburn medicines.

For answers to other questions about heartburn, visit www.digestive-disorders-guide.com.

Patsy Hamilton writes informational articles for the Digestive Disorders Guide. Visit us at http://www.digestive-disorders-guide.com

Increase HDL Cholesterol and Live Longer

There are several effective ways to increase HDL cholesterol (that?s the ?good? one by the way), that can literally add years to your life, reduce the risk of heart disease, atherosclerosis and stroke.

So, how do we go about getting high HDL cholesterol levels

There are two key ways for increasing your HDL, naturally when combined the results are both faster and satisfying. One method is totally zero cost, the second method can be expensive and also detrimental to your health in some isolated cases.

Lifestyle modifications
This seems so hard for many people, yet the results are zero cost, relatively easy and last as long as you continue a healthy life. In many people, the following lifestyle recommendations will be sufficient to increase HDL cholesterol, and at the same time help to reduce your ?bad? LDL. You?ll also probably reduce your blood pressure and lose those unwanted, potentially dangerous pounds.

The lifestyle modifications that will provide the best results follow below:

Exercise
This is where many people stop reading and find excuses such as not having enough time. The solution cannot always be found in a bottle of pills and it may take a little effort on your side, but believe me it is well worth it!

If you are overweight, losing weight can raise HDL levels quite substantially. In fact, simply beginning an exercise program can help increase the ?good? HDL and this has been known for some time. In the late 1990?s a Stanford University study found that when sedentary men start an exercise routine they improved their HDL by approximately 4.4 mg/dl when the exercise burned off 800-1000 calories a week (if you cycle just 2 hours a week at 11 mph you will burn almost 1000 calories). It seems that duration of exercise, not intensity, provides the greatest benefit. So, the more exercise you do, the higher goes your HDL. Is that so difficult?

Smoking
Aside from HDL, giving up smoking is one of the best things you can do. It has been shown ! that on average, men who smoke have HDL levels 5.3 mg/dl lower than non-smokers. The difference is even more in women: around 9 mg/dl lower than non-smokers. Remember a 4.4 mg/dl can mean a 3-5% reduction in the risk of developing heart disease. Recent articles suggest that quitting all forms of tobacco can increase HDL cholesterol by 15 to 20 percent.

Diet
A Mediterranean-style diet, rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil and legumes, is strongly linked to high blood levels of HDL. So is eating more fish (and taking fish oil supplements) and consuming fewer refined carbohydrates.
Several types of fats can also make a big difference. Most helpful are the monounsaturated fats found in canola, olive, avocado, nut and seed oils; nuts and avocados. Increasing your daily intake soluble fiber is also beneficial. Soluble fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, legumes and oats and whole grain foods.
Moreover it seems the old saying that ?vino fa buon sangue? wine makes good bllod is true. Alcohol, particularly red wine, consumed in moderation, helps to raise HDL. More than one or two drinks a day can be very detrimental for your health.

Drug Therapies
There are several classes of drugs currently prescribed for cholesterol disorders. Even though their prime job is to decrease the ?bad? LDL, they do also increase HDL levels.

Statins
This class of drug can increase HDL cholesterol anywhere from 3 to 10 percent. Being as they are the most effective drug for reducing the harmful LDL, 3-10% isn?t so bad as a fringe benefit. However, other classes of drugs are more effective on HDL, while not quite so effective on getting the ?bad? LDL down to desired levels.

Niacin
This class of drug is actually from the B group of vitamins; however it is a much more potent source than can be found at your local health store. Niacin, or nicotinic acid, can raise HDL levels by 15 to 30 percent. Although this is an effective medication if your suffer from diabetes it is very u! nlikely that your doctor will put you on this class of drugs.

Fibrates
This class of drug is commonly prescribes for triglyceride disorders. However triglycerides and HDL go hand in hand. When triglycerides are high HDL levels are commonly low, and vice-versa. This class of drug generally raises HDL by 10-15%.

Drugs are drugs and don?t come without risks. In fact, some doctors, in order to get their patients cholesterol levels to desired levels, are prescribing statins in together with nicotinic acid or fibrates. This can increase the risk of liver dysfunction or muscle toxicity, a rare but potentially serious complication of statins. This may also occur if combines with some antibiotics or anti-depressants.

From the methods above, you can see that to increase HDL cholesterol levels can be with or without risks; and with or without costs. If you truly value your health, and your money, you should seriously try the lifestyle modifications. If you still need drugs, if you implement the recommended lifestyle modification the dosages are almost guaranteed to be lower. However, never alter the dosage of any medication without speaking to your doctor.

For part 1 of this article, please select the following link: hdl cholesterol ? part 1

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Cholesterol Reduction Great News for Tea Drinkers

Your chest feels tight. Then a pain begins. You feel short of breath and every movement makes it worse. You are experiencing a coronary. Thankfully you survive and start to think about what went wrong and to find ways of adjusting your lifestyle. You may even require bypass surgery or to be on drugs for the rest of your life. Cholesterol is a major factor leading to coronary thrombosis, one of the biggest killers in western society. Most people have heard about cholesterol and appreciate that it leads to heart disease. But what is cholesterol? Why is it dangerous and how can you reduce its harmful effects?

There are a number of fats in the bloodstream; two of the important ones are cholesterol and triglycerides. There are two main forms of cholesterol, HDP (high density lipoprotein) and LDP (low density lipoprotein). The HDP is sometimes referred to as good cholesterol but most of the cholesterol in your blood will be the more sinister LDP - it is this that needs reducing. High levels of LDP and triglycerides cause thickening, hardening and roughening of the normally elastic walls of the arteries. Where the walls have been roughened, blood cells tend to stick, building up to form a clot. The clot can grow and block the artery or be dislodged and block the blood flow elsewhere. In the brain, it is called a stroke, in the lungs, a pulmonary embolism and in the heart, a coronary. Some of the cholesterol in your blood comes from the food that you eat and some is produced by your liver as it processes the nutrients from your food. There is no simple solution to high cholesterol levels; in fact you could be genetically predisposed to high cholesterol.

A study by the Dutch suggests that tea drinkers, particularly women, may derive some protection against the build up of cholesterol in their arteries. Just one or two cups per day seemed to have a marked effect. As always with biological research, there may be other contributing factors, the Dutch team acknowledge that people who drink tea generall! y have a healthier lifestyle and diet. However the fairly high levels of antioxidant flavonoids in black tea are thought to protect against arterial plaques, the fatty deposits that clog arteries, by preventing fat from being deposited on artery walls. In addition, green tea seems to speed up the metabolism, including fat calorie burning, according to researchers from the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Their findings showed a small increase in daily energy expenditure when compared to a control group. It is thought that the caffeine in the tea interacts with the flavonoids in tea to increase the rate of calorie burning.

The British Medical Journal has also reported a Japanese study on the benefits of green tea consumption in preventing cardiovascular disease, liver disorders and possibly cancer. The study, in the 1990s, involved over 100 men aged over 40. Tea consumption was classified as less than 3 cups, between 4 and 9 cups, and over 10 cups per day. It was found that consumption of green tea was significantly associated with lower serum concentrations of lipids and lipoproteins. The study also found that the strong association remained unaltered after age, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and relative body weight were controlled for.

So in short, tea drinking is a great habit to develop, especially if it is a good quality, pure organic green tea. Not only does it taste good, it may protect your heart, reduce your chances of cancer and help to keep your weight down, all by drinking just a few cups per day!

When pregnant or nursing only small amounts of green tea or other unprocessed or partially processed teas e.g. oolong should be used, it may also interfere with the action of MAO inhibitors and blood thinning medication. Also the consumption of teas may interfere with the absorption of medicines. Check with your physician before increasing your tea consumption. This article is intended to be for information about the nutritional benefits of green tea only and should not be rega! rded as medical advice in its own right. You should seek the assistance of a qualified physician if you require medical advice on any condition mentioned in this article.

Kevin Woodward looks after the In Nature web site at http://www.in-nature.com/teas/ which offers top quality pure organic Chinese teas, including green tea, plus Chinese medicinal herbs for sale securely online. Memberships are available which entitles you to discounts on the products and a free health consultation based on traditional Chinese medicine.

Discover the Spring Within You!

Spring is when life's alive in everything.
~Christina Rossetti

It?s springtime? The birds are singing, the flowers are beginning to bloom?and it?s also time we spring-clean our homes. It?s hard work; we know that ahead of time, but what drives us to do this massive undertaking year after year? We know the end result from past experience? that freshness we all crave after a long cold winter, that wonderful feeling of openness and freedom that when it is all said and done we feel the joy throughout our entire body and soul. The same can be said for having regular holistic bodywork sessions such as Polarity, RYSE and Reiki?clearing the blocks that hold you back, that are in the way of your health and happiness. It is a process?but the end result is the same?that marvelous feeling of freedom, openness and joyousness in our lives. And continuing a regular maintenance schedule of bodywork will help continue to bring this spring feeling to you throughout the year.

POLARITY THERAPY - A holistic natural health care system of bodywork, exercise, and self-awareness for balancing life energy. Polarity works on the cellular level affecting all areas of the body, as well as our mental and emotional health and spiritual well-being. Polarity teaches us an ongoing balance of life energy is the foundation of good health. When our physical, emotional and mental energies are in harmony, we naturally and spontaneously rise to higher levels of well-being.

RYSE - An acronym for Realizing Your Sublimed Energy. Through this realization we perceive where and how our strength is lost or increased as a result of interaction between individuals, situations and locations. By clearing and balancing these interactions, our energetic systems are strengthened and evolved and we become the person we are meant to be.

REIKI - A gentle, holistic, energy-based therapy that re-establishes a normal energy flow of life force energy throughout the system, which can enhance and accelerate the body's natural ab! ility to heal through alignment of mind, body and spirit.

SOME OF THE MANY BENEFITS:

Relaxation & Stress Relief
Helps relieve pain and assists your body to heal more rapidly.
Relief for Headaches & Muscle Tension
Relief from Anxiety & Depression
Increases energy and creativity
Improved sense of well-being
Promotes restful sleep
Increased Clarity & Focus
Uncovers and releases old patterns of self-limitation
Balances energy on all four levels: mental, emotional, physical and spiritual.

About Tami J. Najim, RPP, LBT, RP, CH Certified in Advanced Polarity Therapy and Energy Awareness Spa Tech Institute 2005 Registered Polarity Practitioner (RPP) with the American Polarity Therapy Association (APTA) 2005 Certified in Shamballa and Usui Reiki II 2006 Professional member of Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) 2005 Certified Hypnotist Greater New England Acadamy of Hypnosis (GNEAH) 1996 Over 20 years experience in human resources, IT management, accounting and customer service Tami was inspired to study Polarity Therapy after her own positive experience. She is dedicated to help others through treatments, education and awareness. A session with Tami includes a combination of Polarity, Reiki and guided imagery to meet her clients' individual needs.

Private healing sessions by appointment only Major Credit Cards accepted.

If you would like more information, please contact me at oneheartspace@yahoo.com or call (978) 270-0174.

Heart Healthy Diet Plan Made Simple

When it comes to maintaining a healthy heart it's important to have a plan - a heart healthy diet plan that is.

Following is a list of wonderful ingredients to have on hand when you're coming up with a good heart healthy diet plan.

*brown rice
*whole wheat pasta
*bulgur
*couscous
*canned beans
*chick peas
*lentils

A heart healthy diet plan should also consist of fruit and vegetables like

*canned fruit (in light syrup or juice)
*canned vegetables to make pur?es
*frozen fruit
*frozen vegetables (frozen fruit juice concentrate is ideal for dressings and glazes).

Other things to include in your heart healthy diet are:

*low fat mayonnaise type dressings
*evaporated skim milk to substitute for cream
*oils - canola, sunflower, olive oil
*margarine that is low in saturated fat (soft and non-hydrogenated)

It's also important to keep the following heart healthy cooking tips in mind.

*Allow the fat to run off your meat by grilling and barbecuing.
*Instead of frying, steam your food.
*Use broth or tomato juice to braise your meat.
*Always skim off any fat before serving homemade soups and stews. This is done by refrigerating the soup or stew overnight and then skimming before your reheat them.
*Keep deep fried foods to a minimum.
*Use non-stick frying pans and woks to eliminate the need to add oil.
*Trim all visible fat from meats as well as the skin from poultry and fish.

Sherrie Le Masurier is a freelance writer who writes extensively on nutrition, fitness and family health. For more heart healthy diet tips visit http://www.hearthealthydietideas.blogspot.com
and http://www.healthandwellnessmatters.blogspot.com - Copyright.

Exercise Won't Hurt a Healthy Heart

In 1924, famous cardiologist Paul Dudley White claimed that Exercise can't hurt a healthy heart. Over the years, several poorly-controlled studies have shown that ultra-endurance events, such a running a marathon, might impaired heart function. Now a study from Northwestern University shows that Dr. White is still correct (Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, February 2006). The authors tested 45 patients before they ran the Chicago Marathon and re-tested them one month after the race. They demonstrated that the race had not caused any abnormalities in heart function.

This does not mean that everyone can go out and run a marathon. People who have damaged hearts can die from over-exertion. If you are a middle-aged person who is thinking about starting a vigorous exercise program, you should get a stress test, an electrocardiogram done while you are exercising vigorously. Tests done while a person is at rest often do not pick up blockages in the arteries leading to the heart. If your stress test shows warning signs, you may need further tests. If you pass your stress test, the odds are strong that you can start your exercise program safely. Once you have your doctor's approval, begin your exercise program gradually to build up the strength of your skeletal muscles and your heart over several months. Then you will be ready to start serious training for your marathon or other endurance event.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter on fitness, health, and nutrition at http://www.drmirkin.com/email/newssign.asp

Strong Heart: How to Become Very Fit

Fitness refers to your heart muscle. The stronger your heart, the more fit you are. The only stimulus that makes any muscle stronger is to exercise that muscle against increasing resistance. To make your skeletal muscles stronger, you have to lift heavier weights or press against greater resistance in any weight-bearing exercise. The only way that you can strengthen your heart muscle is to exercise against greater resistance also.

When you use your legs, your leg muscles squeeze blood from the veins near them toward your heart. Then, when your leg muscles relax, the veins near them fill with blood. This alternate contraction and relaxation of your leg muscles acts as a second heart pushing huge amounts of blood towards your heart. To pump the extra blood from your legs to your heart and then to your body, your heart muscle has to squeeze harder and faster. The harder you exercise, the more blood is pumped by your legs to your heart, and in turn, the harder your heart has to work to push it out towards your body, so your heart has to beat faster and with more force to do more work.

Fitness is determined more by how hard you exercise than by how long you exercise. Exercising at a casual pace does not do much to strengthen either your heart or your skeletal muscles. When you work harder, more blood returns to your heart, and this increased amount of blood fills the inside of your heart and stretches it, so your heart has to pump against greater resistance and the heart muscle becomes stronger.

The latest research shows that exercising for 30 minutes three times a week will not necessarily make you fit, nor does exercising for 60 minutes seven days a week. Exercising at a casual pace does not strengthen muscles. This means that going out and jogging slowly so that your leg muscles are always comfortable and do not burn will not make you fit.

When you exercise intensely, your muscles stretch and tear. It's the tearing that causes the burning during exercise, and leads to the sorenes! s that y ou feel for the next day or two. When your muscles heal from these tears, they are stronger than they were before. So it's the burning during exercise that causes the tearing that causes the next-day soreness. Then you take days off or go slowly so you can recover; your muscles heal, which gets rid of the soreness, and with healing, the muscle is stronger than it was before you did the exercise.

However, there are some serious problems with training for real fitness. If the force on your muscles during exercise is greater than the strength of your muscles, they will tear too much and you will be injured. If your muscles are still sore from a previous workout and you try to exercise intensely, you can cause a serious injury. You must learn to tell whether the burning is the good burning that causes muscle growth or the bad burning in which you put too much force on your muscles and tear them so you can't exercise at all.

The program I recommend for fitness applies only to healthy people. It could cause heart attacks in people with damaged hearts. Before trying this, check with your doctor. The rules for fitness are that you should spend several months exercising at a casual pace and not going for the burn. After a few months, you should be able to exercise 30 minutes every day and not feel sore. Then you are ready to start training.

If you are a runner or a biker, go out and run or ride very fast until your legs burn, slow down until the burning goes away. Then when your muscles feel fresh again, pick up the pace. When your legs start to stiffen, stop the workout. On the next day, either do nothing or go slowly and do not try to do another intense workout until your muscles feel fresh. Then when your muscles feel fresh, you take another hard workout. Remember, trying to exercise intensely on sore muscles will only injure you.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties. For ! more inf ormation and hundreds of fitness and health reports, visit http://www.DrMirkin.com

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Principles of Training

Under the Knife Surgery Options with Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is an incredibly common disease. Also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) it can often be difficult to diagnose properly. The main symptoms of GERD are acid reflux and regurgitation. These are not the only symptoms however and because of the wide variety of symptoms that can crop up they can quite easily mask the true condition that the patient is enduring. This makes a doctors job of finding out what's wrong with you at least twice as hard.

Because doctors can have great difficulty diagnosing GERD they will often prescribe over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medication for the patient and observe the results from that point forwards. Most patients find that the OTC medications resolve their problem although there are some who will experience GERD no matter what medication a doctor may prescribe.

What Tests Are Available?

So why do doctors rely on OTC or prescription medication first? Why not just dive in and perform several examinations on the esophagus? Simply because most of the tests used to diagnose acid reflux are both invasive and quite expensive. What tests can be performed? The most common are as follows:

* Barium x-ray
* Upper gastrointestinal x-ray series
* Upper endoscopy
* Esophageal manometry
* 24-hour pH Test

If any of the above tests do diagnose the presence of GERD then doctors normally first suggest a change in lifestyle as many cases of acid reflux are caused by poor diet, stress and poor eating habits. This change in lifestyle would be in combination with either OTC or prescription medication. If the patient still experiences serious acid reflux after this point then surgery may become an option.

Is Surgery The Answer?

The next issue is whether or not your doctor thinks surgery is the answer to your problem. There is a lot of debate surrounding this topic with the focus being on the safety of the procedure itself and whether or not it can really eliminate all the problems caused by acid ref! lux.

The Nissen Fundoplication

This is the surgical procedure used to fix the problem of acid reflux. It takes place in the upper part of the stomach called the fundus (hence the fundoplication part of the name) which is located near the esophagus. In this procedure, the fundus is wrapped around the lower esophagus to strengthen its barrier function of the lower esophagus. The idea is to tighten the lower esophagus in order to prevent gastreosophageal reflux thereby repairing the main physical irregularity that is often the cause of the symptoms in people suffering from GERD. This is not major surgery however and can be performed laparoscopically (also called keyhole surgery).

Is this surgery safe?

At the moment it's considered totally safe and said to have good results for patients. If in doubt then always seek a second opinion from another doctor or consultant.

Lifestyle Versus Surgery

Many experts feel that people and some medical consultants are far too quick to recommend surgery. There are many other natural and alternative treatments that patients should try first. Again your lifestyle is often the cause of acid reflux and this is the first area that needs to be addressed for any further and future treatment to be successful.

Jill Seimer offers health tips at RefluxLife.com She discussed recently Natural Healing of Heartburn from her experience using natural cures for acid reflux.

The Terrible Truth about Acid Reflux Disease

First of all, acid reflux is not a disease. It is an acquired condition which can be completely healed by eating properly. I wonder if people had acid reflux, gerd and heartburn a thousand years ago. I sincerely doubt it. I believe it is a symptom of the quality of the food we eat today, our eating habits and the stressful times in which we live.

People who eat convenience food on the run can?t expect to enjoy proper digestion. Proper digestion requires chewing food well and not diluting the digestive juices with liquids, the worst of these being carbonated beverages. And of course all the fat associated with convenience food makes the situation worse. Most people who go to fast food chains eat a burger with fries and a large soda. The employees are trained to push the soft drinks on the customers. They look at you as if you are nuts if you opt to skip the big soft drink.

People today are always in a hurry, always late, both parents working and commuting to those jobs. There seems to be no time to shop for and prepare quality food. Children are forced to be self sufficient from an early age. They prepare their own meals, microwaving food which has little food value and is loaded with sodium and fat.

We are raising a generation of future acid refluxers. The parents are no better off, grabbing junk food to eat in the office. No wonder so many people suffer from acid reflux. I?m sure that the big pharma are thrilled at the prospects of future sales.

The medical community wants us to believe that only prescription drugs are the answer for the symptoms of indigestion. Of course this is not true. Antacids are, at best, a temporary fix and they are loaded with harmful ingredients such as sodium and aluminum. PPI drugs (proton pump inhibitors) like Nexium and Prilosec should only be used for eight weeks, at most. It says so right on the package, but after eight weeks what are we to do? Furthermore, these drugs only mask and hide the symptoms and have hundreds of ha! rmful si de effects. They don?t heal the condition! They only make the drug makers rich at our expense!

I used to suffer from acute GERD. I confess that I too ate on the run. I didn?t chew my food properly. I washed everything down with soda and became addicted to a PPI drug - that purple pill. It was so easy and convenient. I could abuse my body and not suffer for it. I thought that drug was my salvation until that illusion came crashing down on me.

After several years of taking this drug, my condition became worse and I was told to double the dose. I began to feel sluggish and tired. My vision suffered and my blood pressure soared. I realized that these were probably side effects of this PPI drug. Perhaps I was suffering from malnutrition? How does the body digest and assimilate food without stomach acid?

I did a computer search and found that there were hundreds of possible side effects. I was shocked at what I found! I was harming my body and I wanted to stop taking this drug! But when I tried to stop taking the PPI, the acid pumps, which had been shut off, went wild and produced more acid than ever before.

I can?t tell you how much I suffered. My esophagus was constantly burning and l feared that I would suffer permanent damage. I couldn?t sleep at night. I was afraid to eat or drink anything but water. My friends didn?t understand my problem. They would call and say, ?Let?s go out for Southwestern barbeque?. Of course, I couldn?t. I loved to eat hot chili sprinkled with raw onions and jack cheese, but it was now my worst nightmare. My life was becoming unbearable!

I was determined to beat this illness. My doctor couldn?t help me ? no one could tell me what to do. I had to heal myself. I became completely dedicated to finding the answers. I studied and researched. I wanted to discover naturopathic treatments as opposed to drugs. I searched high and low for natural remedies that might actually cure acid reflux. I tried every possible remedy and health! y diet I could find. I made myself a virtual guinea pig.

In the end, I found that the answers to the acid reflux problem are really quite simple. With a few changes in lifestyle and with the help of natural remedies, one can absolutely beat the acid reflux syndrome, without the use of drugs.

Remember, that the reason this condition exists in the first place, is due to a damaged esophagus. Let the esophagus heal by not eating the same foods in the same way that caused the damage. Losing weight, exercising, chewing properly, drinking sufficient amounts of water and elevating the head at night, are all simple things that anyone can do to improve this condition.

There are also many natural ingredients found in any health store, which can help during, what I call, the acid reflux recovery period. Herbs, such as slippery elm and marshmallow have wonderful healing properties. Aloe vera juice, licorice and natural honey can sooth the esophagus and assist in the healing process.

I had to take control of my life and assume responsibility for my own actions. I managed to turn things around. I did heal myself of the acid reflux condition. With a little knowledge and discipline, anyone can do the same.

Charles Stewart Richey lives and works in a log cabin on the top of a mountain, wedged between the Lackawaxen and Delaware Rivers. Besides being a writer, he is also well known as an actor, musician and published composer of music under the nom d? plume, Jeremy Wind. He is also an ardent naturalist.

Mr. Richey is a self-educated expert on how to cure acid reflux disease, by natural means and has written an extensive report entitled, ?REFLUX GONE FOREVER, Natural Acid Reflux Remedies?. He explains how the proper application of herbs, health store items, meditation, diet and exercise can heal acid reflux, gerd and heartburn, without the use of drugs.

For information on how to heal acid reflux the natural way, go to =>http://www.refluxgoneforever.com

The Healing Arts: A Firetender's Lesson Part Two Of One Mind and One Heart

On the second day of my Inipis, I began pitching in to help with the fire for the ceremony. I worked with a man named Richard, who I just assumed to be Native American. He was certainly weathered and dark enough. He grunted a lot and gave me little by way of direction. Before we started he told me that in the old ways, a boy desiring to become a major part of the sacred ceremonies would first have to tend fire for seven years for the people. In silence. Anything he learned would be picked up by observation. And then he shut up, and told me to, too.

And that is, for the most part, how I was taught, by careful observation and mimicking all the things that Richard did until I got a sense of not only the nuts and bolts of firetending, but the relationship with fire and ceremony and Spirit that he embodied. It wasn't until a week later that I learned that Richard, in fact, was a fifty-year-old Jew from Brooklyn who had been setting Altar for the Chips for the last year on their road trips.

After my fourth Inipi, I asked for permission to move onto the property of the sponsor to help wherever I could. Given the okay, I dropped everything and did so. Slowly, I got to know the family a little better and after a couple of weeks of tending fire, was invited into the Yuwipi Ceremonies. There was a ceremony each night for the next two weeks, beginning with an Inipi at dusk and then ending with a feast at around midnight after the ceremony.

Spirit literally, physically touched people. People were transformed. People were told that they should prepare for death. People were told that they had to change their lives. People were instructed where to find specific herbs, and how they were to be prepared and taken to effect healing. My experience was that Godfrey, bound tight and completely in a blanket and laid down on a bed of sage in the pitch blackness at the beginning of the ceremony, did not do the telling, touching, or instructing. There were other things there that did the work. He just called ! them in.

Amidst the cacophony of dashing lights in the dark, voices from nowhere in the silence, and the circles of sometimes desperate prayer focused on the greatest good, some people were healed. Some were given blessings and left to go on with their deaths. Not that they were passed by, but because it became both painfully and ecstatically evident to themselves that they didn't want to live anymore.

To a one, though, each of the people involved had nowhere else to go but to these ceremonies, as Western medicine had exhausted all of its options with them. Naturally. After all, they were seeing a Medicine Man!

Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Immune Disorders including AIDS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome were all dealt with, and each outcome was different. I have personally known people who, given up for lost with the above mentioned afflictions, were renewed at least to the point of defying their death sentences (and Ouch! the numbers of people that were so advised by the best of medical professionals was incredible!)

No one left those ceremonies without being deeply affected. Some people left in terror. Let's face it, when was the last time you went to see a doctor and were thrust into a light-tight room filled with a cacaphony of guterral and ancient sounds driven by drumbeat, and then found yourself touched by what could only be called little hands? Some people, as long as they understood that it was not the disease they were changing, but their lives, left whole.

What I grasped was that in the ancient ways it was found that if things were done in a certain way, certain things would happen. Over years and years--perhaps millennia--of trial and error, visions and personal instructions by Spirit and Nature, it was found that the right combination of preparation, songs, intent, and action would beckon Spirit to appear, advise, and affect; time could be dissolved and the miraculous would be attainable.

There are also Spirit allies called Tunkasilas (Tunka-shilas; Grandfathers), some of! whom ta ke physical form as what many cultures identify as little people who doctor the individuals. The Yuwipi calls them in to do what the Creator asks of them to do; heal.

What I witnessed was four individuals, Unci (Grandmother), Charles, Phillip (who, a paraplegic from a car accident, sat in a wheelchair), and Godfrey, the Yuwipi Man, working the space of the ceremony room, speaking to each other, sometimes in Lakota, sometimes in English, cobbling together different parts of the ceremony during their preparations, sometimes instructing, no, NO the rattle goes over THERE, spread the sand from Wahinheya (the Mole) from right to left, not left to right, that song goes like This, all in precise detail with no guidebook or directions to follow but the memory of the way things had been taught them by their ancestors.

And all throughout, what became more and more evident to me was that there was a consistency of intent amongst them, an approach that transmuted into the feeling that, indeed, they became, through the process of preparation and delivery, of one mind, one heart--all in service to the spirit of the individual needing help. This was the gift that they passed on to me by their example, and I embraced it.

But there was more: what I was a part of with them felt so very, very from a completely, and ancient, way of being. At first this was just a feeling, but as time unfolded, I learned just how it was grounded in fact.

Next: A living legacy.

Russ Reina shares over 35 years of experience in the healing arts through his web site http://mauihealingartist.com. It is a potent resource for those wishing to deepen their abilities in connection and develop their powers as healers. For a powerful free tool to explore your inner world, please check out his adjunct site http://thestoryofthis.net

(Permission is granted to reprint this article, unedited, provided proper attribution is made and the signature line -- the above resource paragraph -- is kept intact)

Reduce Acid Reflux or Heartburn by Strengthening the LES Valve

Heartburn and acid reflux are typically treated with over the counter products or drugs that reduce stomach acid or block the excretion of stomach acid. It would appear that if our stomach acid needed to be diluted by antacids, our body would be smart enough not produce such a corrosive liquid in our stomach.

That fact is that we need a highly acidic condition in our stomach to properly digest protein. Using drugs to suppress this stomach acid is not the correct way to deal with acid reflux or heartburn. If you do go this route, you will be facing many disease as you get older.

There are many reasons you might have acid reflux. One reason is a weakness in the Lower Esophageal Sphincter valve, LES. LES is a valve between your stomach and your esophagus. When your LES valve is weak, it can allow acidified, partially digested food to flow back up into your esophagus. The acid in the food will burn the lining of your esophagus causing the so called ?heartburn...?

Here are some natural steps that you can use to strengthen your Lower Esophageal Sphincter valve:

These foods can weaken the LES valve ? coffee, peppermint, spearmint, sugar, chocolate, onions, and alcohol. Once you have strengthened your LES, you can return to eating these foods in moderate amounts.

Eliminate those foods that are known to create allergic reactions such as cow?s milk, wheat, white flour, diary products, and other foods.

Avoid overeating and having a large amount of food in your stomach. Excess food in your stomach can increase your stomach gas pressure and force your LES valve to open.

Avoid using certain drugs, although this might be impossible. If you take drugs perhaps you can start looking for and start using some natural remedies so that you can lessen the use of drugs. Here are some of the drugs at cause LES problems ? NSAID?s, bronchodilators, channel blockers, beta-blockers, antianxiety drugs, and nitroglycerine. These drugs relax the muscles around the LES valve causi! ng them to open during normal stomach gas pressures.

Watch how you do certain physical activities, such as waist bending, staining during bowel movements, coughing, and lifting heavy objects. This increases the pressure in the stomach, causing the LES valve to open.

After a meal do not lie down. This causes food to flow back towards the LES valve putting pressure on it. So it is a good reason to eat your last meal around three hours before bedtime.

There you have it, some natural remedies and activities that strengthen or weaken your LES valve. Just applying some or all these will result in reducing the frequency of your acid reflux and heartburn.

Rudy Silva is a Natural Nutritionist. For more tips and information on Acid Reflux and Heartburn go now to his site: http://www.acidreflux-relief.info

Benefits of Walking

Walking

Walking can be an easy yet effective way to burn calories. Walking is great because it requires no equipment, except a comfortable pair of shoes. Walking can burn calories alone with toning leg muscles. Many people take just plain walking for granted, but it is a very effective and cheap way of losing weight.

Here are a few tips on how to walk to achieve the maximal benefits.

PACE:

Go at a pace which your heart rate is within your target heart range. You should do this at least 3 days a week for 20 minutes. If you can walk everyday that would be great also. Walking has a very low risk or injury. Walk faster to burn more calories in a shorter time.

TREADMILLS:

Even though I perfer walking on regular ground a treadmill can be a very effective way to burn calories. One advantage of a treadmill is you can do it inside and the incline can be adjusted. If you raise the incline slightly you can burn more calories.

MOVE YOUR ARMS

Swinging your arms also helps burn calories while walking . Make sure your arms are between 90 and a 145 degree angle at the elbow. Make sure the arm is locked so the pivotal part of your swing is at your shoulder.

We are a group of personal trainers certified through AFFA. Our goal is to provide good Health and Fitness advice.

The Function of Automated External Defibrillators

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are not vastly dissimilar from the ones many of us have seen for years on medical shows or in emergency rooms at hospitals. The device exists to correct a fibrillation, or irregular heart rate that is negatively impacting blood flow, but unlike the standard defibrillators, the automated external defibrillator can be operated by any citizen; even those with little or no medical training.

When a person experiences cardiac arrest or a heart attack, a defibrillator is placed on the chest and an electric current or shock is channeled via electrodes or paddles. The shock is intended to jolt the patient?s elevated and chaotic heart rhythm back into a normal range, thus returning blow flow to normal levels. But in the case of the automated external defibrillator, or AED, the device determines whether or not a shock is warranted, and if so, what level of energy is required to revive the patient. The user cannot override the determination of the AED, and therefore an inexperienced person without medical training need not worry about using the defibrillator on a patient not actually in cardiac arrest.

Due to this drastically reduced risk of abuse, the AED has become a fixture at various public forums such as airports, casinos or sports arenas. There have been many cases where individuals, particularly athletes or the elderly, have been stricken by sudden cardiac arrest only to be saved by the presence of an automated external defibrillator.

One brand of AED available to the public, the Zoll AED Plus, has many features designed to make the use of the defibrillator as simple as possible for someone with little or no medical background. It includes a graphical user interface and voice prompts that will walk the user, step by step, through the entire process, as well as a single pad that eliminates the confusion of placing electrodes on the patient?s body. In addition the Zoll AED Plus runs on conventional batteries, promising both convenience and fin! ancial s avings.

The American Heart Association strongly supports the placement of Automated External Defibrillators or AEDs in any public places where immediate cardiac care may be needed. Other prime targets include shopping malls, gated communities and office complexes.

For those interested in purchasing an AED for use in their community or organization, the FDA may require a physician?s prescription for the device. Your local EMS system can assist you in determining the local and state protocols for owning and operating an AED.

There are also AED training and education courses available through the American Heart Association. One such course is the new Heartsaver AED course that combines CPR and AED training.

With the immergence of Automated External Defibrillators or AEDs, the potentially life saving measure of averting cardiac arrest has been made available to the general public with a very low risk of misuse or abuse. As AEDs continue to appear in more and more public domains, the hope is that the tragic results of sudden cardiac arrest or heart attack can be reduced significantly, giving regular people the chance to be a hero.

Defibrillators Info provides detailed information on automated external defibrillators (AED), implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), portable defibrillators, and more. Defibrillators Info is affiliated with Original Content.

The Portfolio Diet: The Solution to Heart Disease

What if there was a combination of foods that were as effective at lowering LDL cholesterol as prescription drugs? Would it be worth adding some new foods to what you eat each day to avoid medication?

This is what the latest in a series of research studies Dr. Jenkins from the University of Toronto shows. Studies have previously shown that various foods, such as nuts, soy protein, oat bran, and plant sterols all can have a cholesterol-lowering effect. But what if you combined all these foods together? Dr. Jenkins? latest research shows that combining all these foods together is as effective as taking a statin drug. The results showed a 30.9% decrease in LDL cholesterol from the statin and a decrease of 28.2% from the portfolio combination of all these foods.

Dr. Jenkins is calling this a dietary portfolio, but it?s becoming known as ?The Portfolio Diet?. The concept is to add all of these foods, in a type of portfolio plan, like investments, to cover all possibilities for better heart health. This is not a weight loss diet, however, although the concepts for weight loss and lowered cholesterol could certainly be combined, with proper education and guidance by a qualified nutrition expert.

What is the Portfolio Diet?

Just follow these guidelines:

1.Substitute soy foods for meat. Drink soy milk instead of milk and substitute soy protein foods for other meats.

2.Eat as much ?sticky? fiber as possible. People in the study took three daily servings of natural psyllium supplements. Oats and barley replace other grains and preferred vegetables include eggplant and okra.

3.Include plant sterol-enriched margarines, such as benecol and Take Control. Plant sterols are also available in capsule form as dietary supplements.

4.A handful of nuts every day. In the study, almonds were eaten and the Almond Board of California offers portfolio diet recipes on its website (look at recipes on http://www.almondboard.com/), but any tree nut will reduce cholesterol.

Here! are som e examples of a typical day:

Breakfast ? Include soy milk, oat bran cereal with chopped fruit and almonds, oatmeal bread with sterol-enriched margarine, and some jam.

Lunch ? Soy lunchmeats, oat bran bread, bean soup, fruit.

Dinner ? Stir fry with vegetables, tofu, fruit and almonds.

Snacks ? Include nuts, yogurt, and soy milk thickened with a psyllium supplement such as Metamucil.

Has this diet shown to be effective?

Jenkins et al were curious how this diet would work in the real world, so they signed people up who said they wanted to lower their cholesterol levels. They told them what to eat and gave them sample menus -- but they didn't provide any prepared foods.

Dr. Jenkins said that about 30% of the people had a 20% reduction in their LDL cholesterol levels after six months. Another 30% had a 15% reduction in LDL levels, and another third failed to lower their cholesterol levels, believed to be because they were unable to follow the diet as strictly as those with good results. What seemed to be the biggest obstacle for people was eating soy food products. Dr. Jenkins said that most people could eat almonds and substitute plant sterol products for margarine.

Is the diet for you?

Many people are concerned about heart disease and stroke, especially if they are struggling with weight control and high blood cholesterol levels. However, many people are not comfortable going on prescription medications. Since this is an eating plan that does not eliminate food groups or follow some type of fad, there is no risk to going on this ?diet?. In fact, it?s not really a ?diet? at all, but a way of eating. And no one has to do anything but substitute some of the recommended foods for foods they normally eat today.

So, let?s say you would like to try the diet, but, like many other Americans, are concerned about adding soy foods to your diet. You have never eaten them and don?t even know where to find them! Well, they are actually in your favorite supermarke! t alread y! It may be time to experiment, though, because not everyone is going to like all the soy foods that are available. For more on soyfoods, check out the Soyfoods Association of American at http://www.soyfoods.org/. Here is a list of foods to consider:

Soy milk. There are multiple brands and different fat levels. You can buy whole fat, low fat and non fat. You can buy ?regular? (no flavoring), or any number of flavors. I have personally found one brand that I like over others and you may have to experiment to find one you like, as well.

Edemame. These are frozen whole soybeans that are harvested when still green. They can be found in most health food stores, such as Trader Joes or Whole Foods Market, in the frozen food section, usually next to the lima beans. These can be found shelled or in the shell. You can add them to soups or stews or eat them by themselves. I like to eat them as my protein for breakfast.

Tofu. Also known as ?bean curd?, tofu is a soft, cheese-like food made my curdling soymilk. The curds are then pressed into a solid block. There are different levels of firmness; silken, soft and firm. Silken is a creamy, custard-like product that works well with pureed or blended dishes. Soft tofu is best used in recipes that call for blended tofu, or in soups. The firm tofu is more dense and solid and holds up well in stir fry dishes, even on the grill. The firm tofu is higher in protein, fat and calcium than the other forms, but since this is a plant fat, this should not be an issue. For recipe ideas, see this link from the Indiana Soybean Board; http://www.soyfoods.com/soyfoodsdescriptions/tofu.html

Textured Vegetable (or Soy) Protein Products. This is the soyfood product that many soy burgers and other ?meat substitute? products contain. The best way to determine if these foods are for you are to experiment with a few options.

Miso. Miso is a rich, salty paste condiment that characterizes the essence of Japanese cooking. Traditionally, miso is made by combining wi! th a gra in, salt, and a mold culture and then aged in cedar vats for one to three years. Readers may recognize the name because this is a popular soup.

Soy nuts. Soy nuts are whole soybeans that have been soaked then baked. They can be found in snack isles and manufacturers now include soynuts in any number of coatings, including chocolate.

Tempeh. This is a traditional Indonesian food that is most commonly found in Asian stores. It is a chunky, tender soybean cake. It can be marinated and grilled or added to soups, casseroles, or even chili.

It can be very easy for some people to add nuts to their diet. In fact, it may be harder to not add too MANY nuts! It may also be ?doable? to add more sticky fiber to your diet, also, with a little planning. However, it may be a greater challenge to find soy foods that can be enjoyably substituted for meats you are used to eating. However, if your health depends on it, and you refuse medications, this may be a great thing to try, especially since there are no risks involved with adding these foods to your diet. Just remember that these are foods to be substituted, not added, to the diet. Since calories do also still count, adding extras to your current diet could result in weight gain, leading to new concerns.

Marjorie Geiser helps people overcome their confusion and distress they may feel when trying to add healthy eating and fitness into their busy lives. She offers a free, weekly teleclass phone series to subscribers of her Health Focus teleclass series, which covers all aspects of health each week. She is a Registered Dietitian, Personal Trainer and Life Coach. To learn more about her services, go to her website at http://www.megfit.com or email her at margie@megfit.com.

Antioxidant Therapy and Disease

The process of oxidation takes place in the body as part of the body?s energy-producing metabolism. It provides the vast amounts of energy required to keep us alive, and it continues as long as we live. It is a very precise, ordered process, which calls for the presence of catalysts (such as enzymes) at various stages throughout, and it is designed to produce the maximum amount of energy for the cells without disturbing their balance and functions.

Free Radicals and Ageing

This process can generate by-products, in the form of highly reactive and destructive molecules, called free radicals. These molecules are dangerous because they are unstable. They carry a small electrical charge, and have a single unpaired electron, which makes them extremely volatile and liable to react with other atoms and molecules they contact. Even more free radicals are rapidly generated from these chain reactions.

Biological systems are designed in such a way that free radicals are part of their normal functioning. The body copes with oxidative stress by using its own antioxidant mechanisms based on certain enzymes, proteins, vitamins and minerals, described below. But if free radicals get out of hand, they can overtake this natural defence system and bring about the degeneration of body cells, which ultimately leads to ageing and degenerative disease.

Recent developments in the biochemical study of free radical action have provided a more unified understanding of degenerative processes. It is now possible for researchers to make sense of the causation of a variety of pathological conditions, including cancer, heart disease, atherosclerosis, arthritis, Alzheimer's and other diseases of old age, and to work towards counteracting and preventing these conditions.

Free radicals operate by attacking molecules of protein in the body and causing them to become cross-linked. Cross-linkage degrades the molecules of cells and tissues so that they harden and lose their elasticity. This happens both interna! lly, res ulting in hardening of the arteries and the degeneration of brain tissue, and also externally, producing wrinkling of the skin. Because proteins are the basic building matter of all the types of cells and tissue, this attack affects all protein functions, including cell building and repair, hormone and enzyme production, muscular and vascular tissue, and the immune system. The nucleic acids DNA and RNA, which carry the genetic messages of the cells, are also affected.

Causes of Increased Free Radical Production

To an extent, free radicals are a natural result of body processes. Especially in today's world, however, the production of free radicals is likely to be accelerated by many outside influences:

Pollution, Pesticides, Radiation, Solvents.
Air conditioners, Aerosol sprays, Drycleaners.
Car exhaust fumes.
Physical or emotional stress or trauma.
Cigarette smoke, Excessive alcohol intake.
Illness, Infection.
Faulty protein digestion.
Spoiled or tainted foods, Rancid, heated and hydrogenated fats.
Chemicals in food.
Ozone, Ultra-violet rays.

Add to this the fact that humans eat fewer natural foods (especially raw foods rich in protective elements), and we can see why our health is becoming compromised.

The Benefits of Antioxidant Elements

Ideally, the body protects itself with the help of naturally occurring elements, which it derives directly from the diet, or produces using dietary sources. The first of these to be discovered are often called the First Generation Antioxidants.

Enzymes: Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase, Catalase.
Vitamins: Vitamins A, C, and E.
Minerals: Zinc, Selenium.
Amino Acids: Arginine, Cysteine, Glutamine, Taurine.

The antioxidant enzymes are the first line of defence. But the body needs adequate supplies of other nutrients before enzymes can be effective. Superoxide dismutase requires zinc, manganese and copper, and glutathione peroxidase requires selenium and v! itamin E - which, as we know, operate synergistically. If these nutrients are not available in sufficient quantity, the scavenging activity of the enzymes is reduced.

The Second Generation Antioxidants

As research into antioxidants developed, a ?second generation? of more powerful free radical fighters emerged: the Carotenoids (associated with Vitamin A) and the Bioflavonoids (which enhance the action of Vitamin C). These were far more powerful in their action than Vitamins, and remained longer in the body, increasing their effectiveness even further.

Carotenoids (over 600): Astaxanthin, Lycopene.
Bioflavonoids (over 800): Rutin, Hesperidin, Quercetin, Anthocynosides, Catechins.

If a diet contains enough fruit and vegetables, bioflavonoids should not be lacking, but today's dietary habits and cultivation methods make for deficiency.

Some Notes About Antioxidant Herbs and Health Foods

Herbs: Bilberry, Echinacea, Evening Primrose, Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo Biloba, Hawthorn Berry, Milk Thistle, Rosemary, Wild Cabbage.
Health foods: Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Grape Seed Extract, Green Tea, Pollen, Propolis, Pine Bark Extract.

Tomatoes are the best source of the carotenoid Lycopene, the pigment that gives tomatoes and pink fruits their colour. Studies have proved that lycopene is far better absorbed from cooked tomato products than from raw tomatoes. Lycopene has been shown to have beneficial effects on prostate cancer.

Bilberry, in addition to vitamins A and C, has high levels of anthocynosides. These bioflavonoids fortify blood vessel walls, improving blood flow to the vessels that keep eyes healthy, and they help maintain good circulation throughout the body. Bilberry has a reputation for improving night vision and preventing and treating macular degeneration and cataracts.

Green Tea contains bioflavonoids called catechins. These antioxidants may selectively inhibit the growth of cancer. Positive results have been obtained from studies of green tea, ! although it appears black tea cannot be shown to have the same effects.

Fresh Berry Fruits contain bioflavonoids, especially the dark berries such as noni, goji berries, blueberries, blackberries and pomegranate.

Grape Seed and Pine Bark Extracts both contain proanthocyanidin bioflavonoids. The pycnogenol and catechins present in pine bark extract are said to be extremely effective, exerting a stabilising effect on collagen and cellular membranes of all kinds. Grape seed extract contains a very high level of proanthocyanidins.

Patricia Howitt
Webmistress, Author
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Coronary Angiogram for Your Heart Do You Know What it is?

When the doctor recommends a coronary angiogram to someone close to you, the initial reaction is denial and non acceptance. Some people also believe that anyone who undergoes this test would invariably have to go through bypass surgery. Others believe that it will be painful, requiring prolonged hospital admission. But the truth is that it is a simple X-ray of the heart blood vessels, virtually painless and requires a short stay. Coronary angiogram is one of the most accurate tests in the diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). It is used to pinpoint the location and severity of CAD and is relatively safe. A coronary angiogram is the ?gold standard? for evaluation of CAD. The test is done in a special laboratory called a cardiac catheterization laboratory, which is similar to an operating theater.

How is a coronary Angiogram performed?

The procedure will begin with the physician inserting an intravenous line into a blood vessel in the patient?s arm. Coronary angiography is performed with the use of local anesthesia and is generally not terribly uncomfortable. During a coronary angiogram, a small catheter (a thin hollow tube with a diameter of 2-3 mm) is inserted through the skin into an artery generally in the wrist. Guided with the assistance of a fluoroscope the catheter is then advanced to the opening of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels supplying blood to the heart. Next, a small amount of radiographic contrast, which is easily visualized with X-ray images, is injected into each coronary artery. The images that are produced are called the angiogram.

The procedure takes approximately 10-15 minutes. After the procedure, the catheter is removed and the artery at the wrist is treated with manual compression to prevent bleeding.

Risks and Benefits

Coronary Angiogram is the only test, which allows precise quantification of the severity of CAD to optimally take decisions for the treatment. In appropriate patients, the therapeutic information learned from the angio! gram is far more valuable than the relatively small risk of the procedure. There is a small but finite risk of serious complication from coronary angiography, as it is an ?invasive? test, but in the hands of experienced physicians, this risk is quite small (well below one per cent). Following the test the patients will be given instruction from their physician regarding exercise and exertion, care for the incision area and the use of medications.

Long Term Outlook

Treatment depends on the diagnosis made after the angiography. Narrowed coronary arteries can be treated during the angiogram itself by angioplasty. Another option for severely narrowed coronary arteries is a bypass operation. A coronary angiogram, which is normal, is as precious as the one that shows disease. A normal angiogram rules out a life threatening disease and is an impetus for the further continuation of a healthy lifestyle.

Anna Brandy also writes on Yeast Infection Cure. More info: Symptoms of Yeast Infection

Walnuts Small Portions Big Health Rewards

Want to add some significant health benefits to your diet? Try a handful of walnuts each day. Yes, nuts are making a comeback as a powerful category of health foods and walnuts are leading the pack. Even the FDA allows specific health claims for walnuts as part of a heart healthy diet. Research shows that eating 1 ounce of walnuts (about 14 nuts) may reduce the risk of heart disease. This is because walnuts are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids which have been shown to help protect people from heart disease.

In September of 2002, the Food Nutrition Board of the National Academies? Institute of Medicine released dietary recommendations that people must include omega-3 fatty acids daily since it is not produced in the body. The recommendation is for 1.6 and 1.1 grams per day for men and women and one ounce of walnuts is all that is needed to meet these needs.

California?s Loma Linda University in 1993 was the first to discover the heart healthy benefits of walnuts. They found that consuming walnuts in a controlled diet reduced LDL (bad) cholesterol and overall heart disease risk more than the Step One Diet recommended by the American Heart Association. Several studies since that time have confirmed similar findings. Research has also shown that foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce blood pressure, arterial inflammation, and the stickiness of platelets. Omega-3 fatty acids are also found to be helpful as a mood supporter for people with anxiety and depression. According to Universities of Minnesota and Oslo, walnuts are cited as the largest single source of antioxidants, next to rose hips.

Ok, so we can see how they are good for us but what about all of those calories and fat? Will they make us gain weight? The answer is no. Although walnuts do have a lot of fat it is a good source of fat that is protective for the heart. As for weight gain, they do pack some calories but researchers at Brigham and Women?s Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health found three time! s as man y people trying to lose weight were able to stick to a plan that contained nuts, and peanut butter versus the traditional low fat diet. As long as you watch your portion sizes and overall calories, a handful of nuts each day may actually promote weight loss. The fat, protein, and fiber in nuts help you to feel full longer so you eat less during the day.

You don?t have to break out the cookbooks to add walnuts to your diet, just eat them straight from the bag. You can add them to cereal, yogurt, and salads or just snack on them solo. If you want to get really creative you can find recipes that include walnuts as well. To keep your walnuts fresh, store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 months or for a year in your freezer.

Owner of Real Living Nutrition Services, Meri Raffetto is a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She specializes in weight management and cardiovascular nutrition and offers online programs to help people reach their weight loss and health goals. For more information visit http://www.reallivingnutrition.com.

Holistic Healthcare versus Traditional Western Medicine

The Western medicine community recently asked the question: Will Alternative Healthcare, a.k.a. Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Western Medicine (WM) merge? This question implies there is reason to wonder and/or we need to consider the benefits a merger might create. The consideration of merging Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Western Medicine is analogues to comparing apples to oranges. The only comparison between apples and oranges is that they are both fruit?but the comparison ends there. Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit Healing and Western Medicine is diametrically polar opposites with nothing in common, except the subject (you). I will explain.

In order to understand the ideology of Western Medicine, you need to examine the language used by doctors and researchers. Their choice of words reveals their belief systems and the models they use to understand the way they think healing works. When observing the state of Western Medicine and the unprecedented influence of pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, an interesting paradox arises. The drug companies claim that pharmaceuticals and OTC can do wonders for people: lower cholesterol, end clinical depression, reverse osteoporosis, eliminate allergies, cure cancer, cure MS, calm children and many other similar promises.

If prescription or OTC drugs are so good for people, where are all the healthy medicated customers? The truth is, there aren't, any. There's nobody taking twelve prescriptions or OTC drugs with a clean bill of health. In fact, the more prescriptions a person takes, the worse their overall health. And if you approach the healthiest people you can find and ask what prescription drugs or OTC drugs they're taking in order to be so healthy, they'll give you a confused look: Healthy people don't take prescription or OTC drugs!

This sort of language is not uncommon from researchers in Western Medicine. They perceive the hum! an body as a battleground on which wars are waged against invaders (viruses, bacterial infections and tumors). Beginning with the Victorian era, Western society has become addicted to quick fixes and results with no effort. Western Medicine has in some instances provided this result. When Western Medicine doesn?t produce a ?quick fix? result the answer is: ?Sorry, it couldn?t be helped?the surgery was a success, the patient died.? It is interesting to note the AMA reports a dismal success rate?approximately 250,000 people die each year due to misdiagnosis and/or the treatment does little or nothing to improve the person?s health. In other words these people didn?t die due to an illness they died due to the wrong treatment.

Western Medicine?s theory and doctrines fail to recognize that diseases are not separate from the person. In fact every disease can be more accurately called an expression of the patient's lifestyle, beliefs, and energies. Cancer is not a tumor, for example: it is a systemic disorder that can only truly be cured by helping to support the body, not by attacking it with chemical bombs or knives. The tumor is merely one physical expression of the systemic disorder, and simply removing the tumor does nothing to cure the disease. The body is designed to heal itself?given it has the proper care?nutrition, herbal supplements, spiritual and emotional well-being.

The body is designed to heal itself provided it has the proper support to do its job. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on a concept of balanced qi (pronounced chee), or vital energy, that is believed to flow throughout the body. Qi is proposed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance and to be influenced by the opposing forces of yin (negative energy) and yang (positive energy). Disease is proposed to result from the flow of qi being disrupted and yin and yang becoming imbalanced. Among the components of TCM are herbal and nutritional therapy, restorative physical exercises, meditatio! n, acupu ncture, and remedial massage.

Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit healing has existed since the beginning of time amid religious beliefs and practices, along with the mystery, superstition, fear, and misunderstanding. Holistic Healing is now becoming recognized regardless of what anyone chooses to believe or think. Ask almost anyone about their spiritual well-being and they will probably tell you, Yeah, I am a spiritual person, I go to church frequently.? Therein, the confusion arises out of the association of healing with religion. The majority of people, including religious leaders, do not understand the difference.

Definition: HEAL 1. To restore to health or soundness, 2. To set right, repair, 3. To restore a person to spiritual wholeness, 4. To become whole and sound, to return to health.

Definition: SPIRIT 1. The vital principle or animating force within living beings, Incorporeal consciousness. There are about twelve more elaborations mostly to do with various religious implications.

Definition: RELIGION 1. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe, 2. A set of beliefs, values and practices based on the teachings of a religious doctrine.

Thus, based on Western Medicine?s common interpretations of how things 'ARE', many paradoxes are created. The resultant effect is confusion and un-wellness. The Truth, as Carl Jung and others have carefully worded in their writing, is this: Every Thing in the universe is Energy and Consciousness. How anyone thinks or feels about that Fact cannot change it. The purpose of All religions is the recognition that humans have a part of themselves that is not physical and there is a need to explore and experience this aspect of themselves. Part of the intent is to discover one's purpose and to live in the best way possible. Another part of that goal also includes the attainment of Truth and Spiritual Wellness. However, the result of religious teachings with ! regard t o our Spiritual health has been an abysmal failure. If the most important aspect of our being is our Spiritual self, and it has been neglected, it is a miracle we have existed this long.

Many churches are in a state of extreme confusion in an attempt to avoid accepting the ?Truth.? The greatest struggle is how to incorporate all the now known knowledge and assimilate it into the religious dogma and theology. The problem is the impossibility of reconciling the obvious flaws in most theology and doctrine. The obvious shortcomings and how political and nationalistic and other special interests and agendas have resulted in a history filled with disappointment, tragedy, confusion and religious wars.

In many cultures it has always been thought and/or known that we are spiritual beings, the biggest exception is in western industrialized cultures that we believe we are people who happen to have a soul. Eastern philosophy believes we are a soul first, housed in this thing called a ?body.? The most beautiful and simple interpretation of how everything 'IS' can be found in the Native American tradition. Everything in the universe is Spirit, each thing in it is of the same Spirit and it is all Connected. This is exactly what we are beginning to understand in science and quantum physics, that everything in the universe is made of the same thing and has a consciousness about it. The two things that frustrate scientists the most is the fact that all these things operate across time, space and dimensions they do not yet understand, and the ability of things to operate on inter-dimensional and multi-dimensional levels. A high degree of new understanding about the science and physics of what spiritual really means is now mostly coming from independent researchers. High-tech and aerospace research physicists and scientists, all seem to have a more concise and accurate understanding of Spirit and the Spiritual than those from a theological background.

The Reality and The Truth of Spirit?In plain language,! there i s only One God or Universal Energy that Is Everything. There is only One Consciousness. We are only one individuated expression of The One. All the dogma, theology and religious beliefs anyone chooses to pile on this truth is commonly referred to as Bunk. It is the lack of true knowledge and the application of these distortions, which have been the source of all emotional, physical and spiritual problems. Spirit is alive, it is something that is lived and experienced, the surest way to destroy or suppress it is to organize it and institutionalize it.

Spiritual Experiences teach us: Everything we think or feel affects oneself and others. We need to realize every feeling?anger, fear, hate, sadness, judgment?are mind generated emotions and need to be modified or eliminated. Left to fester?anger, fear, hate, sadness, judgment, creates physical reactions. For every physical reaction, a.k.a. symptoms?i.e. colds, cancer, MS, and everything from A to Z, there is a direct link to mind generated emotions. When these mind generated emotions are eliminated and the wounds created from long term and dysfunctional expressions are healed, the physical manifestation labeled as illness by Western Medicine is eliminated.

The bottom line is Health and Well-Being is affected by two factions?Doctors and Ministers. Doctors are trained as mechanics who work on the physical mechanism. They are in the Business of ?Treatment.? They are Not Trained in the Art of Healing. Most doctors do not even understand the most rudimentary concepts of Healing. Most do not realize how they can produce damage and even induce death sentences on their patients.

There is little difference in the effects produced by an intentional damaging curse or a prayer prayed improperly, bad advice or simply some random negative thought. Ministers are trained in traditional theosophical dogmatic perceptions specific to the cultural religious views they ascribe to. Most people have little concept about True Spirituality or how the universe real! ly opera tes. As a consequence they convey misinformation, half-truths, superstitions and fears along with a multitude of associated damaging information into a person's consciousness. The result of which is Confusion and Paradox?which leads to distress, disease and un-wellness.

Both the good in our lives and the dis-eases we have are the results of our experiences, conditioning and beliefs. It is the experiences, conditioning and beliefs that are counter to our true nature that causes the damage. No matter how dire a client?s predicament seems to be, I Know if they are ?Willing? to do the emotional and spiritual work of releasing old habits, beliefs and forgiving, everything can be healed. The word ?incurable? used by Western Medicine really only means that the person can not be ?cured? by ?outer? methods and that they must Go Within to effect their healing. The condition was created as a way to cope?it came from within and can be healed from within. Reference: Heal Your Body, Louise L. Hay

Since Holistic/Metaphysical Healthcare focuses on supporting the Mind, Body, Spirit to heal itself as it is designed to do and Western Medicine perceives the human body as a battleground on which wars are waged with chemical bombs and scalpels against invaders, how can these divergent ideologies be merged?

The answer: They can?t be?i.e. water and vinegar doesn?t mix?it is metaphysically impossible. Likewise, it is metaphysically impossible to merge Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Western Medicine. Anyone who would consider such a merger does not understand the laws of Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit healing.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life's challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net