No Soup For You!

Levels of bisphenol A, a plasticizer suspected of causing a range of adverse health effects, shot up nearly 20-fold in people who ate canned soup daily for five days, researchers said.
In 75 healthy volunteers participating in a blinded crossover trial, urinary levels of BPA averaged 1.1 mcg/L when they ate homemade soup for five days, but reached 20.8 mcg/L when they ate canned Progresso soups, reported Karin Michels, ScD, PhD, of Harvard Medical School, and colleagues.
"The absolute urinary BPA concentrations observed following canned soup consumption are among the most extreme reported in a nonoccupational setting," the researchers wrote in a research letter published in the Nov. 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Recent data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, for example, indicated that the 95th percentile for urinary BPA was 13.0 mcg/L, Michels and colleagues noted.
BPA is used in a wide range of consumer and medical products to soften plastics. Studies have shown that BPA can mimic the action of female reproductive hormones and may be linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and liver abnormalities. Infants' exposure is a particular concern because they may be more sensitive to these effects than adults.
Last month, researchers found that children whose mothers had high urine levels of BPA during pregnancy were more prone to behavioral problems.
The U.S. government, after initially dismissing concerns about BPA in baby bottles and other consumer products, reversed course in 2010 and promised a major research effort to pin down the health risks.
Because BPA is also used in food can linings, Michels and colleagues sought to examine whether canned soups would be a vehicle to increase human intake of the chemical.
They used five varieties of vegetarian Progresso soups, including tomato and minestrone, and five similar homemade soups. Participants were randomly assigned to start with the commercial or homemade soups, eating a serving of each variety at lunchtime daily for five days. After a two-day washout period, participants who first ate the canned products then had a week of the homemade soups, and vice versa.
Participants could otherwise eat what they pleased during the study.
Urine samples were collected in the late afternoon on the fourth and fifth days of each period. To minimize intraindividual variations, each person's samples from consecutive days were mixed prior to analysis.
BPA levels in urine were adjusted for dilution, using a formula that included the samples' specific gravity.
All the participants had detectable BPA in their urine after eating the canned soup, whereas 23% of samples in the homemade-soup phase were BPA-free.
The mean individual difference between mean adjusted urinary BPA levels following canned versus homemade soups, 22.5 mcg/L, was highly significant, with a 95% confidence interval of 19.6 to 25.5 mcg/L, Michels and colleagues reported.
Results were nearly identical for participants who started the trial with canned soup compared with those initially assigned to the homemade soups.
The researchers did list several limitations to the analysis. The study involved one institution (all participants were students or employees of the Harvard School of Public Health) and the canned soup came from a single manufacturer.
More important, Michels and colleagues indicated that "the increase in urinary BPA concentrations following canned soup consumption is likely a transient peak of yet uncertain duration. The effect of such intermittent elevations in urinary BPA concentrations is unknown."
But they argued that the magnitude of the peaks seen in their study is great enough to cause concern.
"Even if not sustained, [it] may be important, especially in light of available or proposed alternatives to [BPA-containing] epoxy resin linings for most canned goods."

 Primary source: Journal of the American Medical Association
Source reference:
Carwile J, et al "Canned soup consumption and urinary bisphenol A: a randomized crossover trial" JAMA 2011; 306: 2218-20

Have a Healthy and Successful Soup Free Day!

Tips To Keep Healthy During The Holidays!

Today is the start of my holiday festivities. We have family coming for dinner tonight, so I needed to remind myself to not get caught up in the moment. Seasonal festivities and pressures often sabotage healthy holiday eating attempts.

But it doesn't have to be that way. You can have a healthy holiday with family and friends and enjoy the holidays more than ever.

You don't have to give in to the unhealthy eating temptations brought on by the holiday stress of excessive demands on your time, shopping like crazy or coping with hordes of relatives (who you may not even like).

And lets face facts. Your past holiday plans to celebrate by eating it all now and losing it all later have never paned out the way you planned.

Top Ten Healthy Holiday Eating and Lifestyle Tips

By taking charge and planning for healthy holiday eating and a healthy lifestyle during the holidays, you can enjoy a happy healthy holiday and make it through the season with your health and waistline intact.

1. Taking control and plan ahead. Stick with your daily routine as much as possible and make a doable plan before each holiday party.

2. Make plenty of time for exercise. Physical activity helps prevent weight gain and relieves holiday stress. Since exercise helps offset an increase in holiday eating, take a 20 minute walk every chance you get.

3. Shift focus from food to fun. Instead fattening holiday sweets, bake non-edible dough ornaments to decorate. Play games, do puzzles, tumble on mats or go for a walking tour of decorated homes.

4. Always eat before each event. When it's time to gather with family or associates never arrive hungry. Have a light high protein meal beforehand.

5. Limit holiday food exposure. At holiday events, take water and tasty healthy snacks along and sit as far away from the food as possible. In your own home, just serve festive fruits and nourishing nuts.

6. Choose water as your beverage. Most non-alcoholic beverages are full of sugar and calories and alcohol also induces overeating. Make plain or flavored water and herbal teas your beverages of choice.

7. Take a low-calorie party dish. Your host will appreciate the gesture and you'll know there's at least one tasty healthy dish available.

8. Eat 5 or 6 light meals a day. Not feeling too hungry and eating small portions helps keep you from over-indulging at an event. Sit down, get comfortable, eat slowly, savor each bite and you'll eat less.

9. Prepare healthy holiday meals. If you must fix traditional holiday foods, substitute healthy ingredients, like skim milk instead of whole, mashed banana or stevia instead of sugar and applesauce instead of oil.

10. Be rigorous but realistic. Relax and enjoy the season. Unrealistic expectations can only lead to holiday stress and overeating. And don't try to lose weight during the holidays. Just shoot for maintaining.

Tasty food and holiday gatherings go hand in hand. But it's time to get it right. Use these ten healthy holiday eating and healthy lifestyle tips to have a happy HEALTHY holiday this year and for years to come.

Have a Healthy and Successful Holiday Season!

A Poison You May Not Even Know Your Taking

Aspartame, more commonly known as NutraSweet or Equal, is one of the most toxic substances being consumed today. The artificial sweetener, currently used in over 4,000 products worldwide, entertains a sordid past and has been one of the most tested and debated food additives in the history of the FDA. While the manufacturer maintains that aspartame is not a danger to your health, the scientific studies don't necessarily agree. The FDA has approved the product for mass consumption, in spite of overwhelming evidence that aspartame can have neurotoxic, metabolic, allergenic and carcinogenic effects. When you question how such a substance has not been banned, one simply needs to look at the billions of dollars generated by the sale of aspartame each year. In light of the staggering number of dollar signs involved, it's easy to see that the artificial sweetener industry has reached Big Tobacco status. With so much money at stake, the truth suffers almost as much as the health of the consumers, while the shareholders' wealth continues to grow exponentially.

The Ingredients
In 1965, James Schlatter, a chemist for G.D. Searle, was developing an anti-ulcer drug when he accidentally stumbled upon aspartame. Made up of aspartic acid (40%), phenylalanine (50%) and methanol (10%), aspartame is 200 times sweeter than natural sugar.

Aspartic Acid
Aspartate is a neurotransmitter in the brain, facilitating information from one neuron to another. Too much aspartate allows an influx of calcium into the brain cells, triggering an excessive amount of free radicals which kill the cells. Aspartate is referred to as an "excitotoxin" because of the nerve cell damage that it causes. Many chronic illnesses have been attributed to long term excitotoxin exposure, including multiple sclerosis, ALS, memory loss, hormonal problems, hearing loss, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, hypoglycemia, dementia, brain lesions and neuroendocrine disorders.

In 1971, Dr. John Olney, neuroscientist and one of the world's foremost experts on excitotoxins, informed G.D. Searle that his research had revealed that aspartic acid caused holes in the brains of mice. Searle did not inform the FDA of these findings until after aspartame's approval in 1981. This would prove to be one event in a startling pattern of lies and deception.


Phenylalanine
Phenylalanine is an amino acid normally found in the brain. Human testing has shown phenylalanine levels in the blood are increased significantly in those who chronically use aspartame. Excessive levels of phenylalanine in the brain can cause the levels of serotonin to decrease, which can lead to depression, schizophrenia and make one more susceptible to seizures.

Studies conducted on rats by G.D. Searle found phenylalanine to be safe for humans. However, Louis J. Elsas, II, M.D., Director of Medical Genetics and Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine told the U.S. Senate in 1987 that, "Normal humans do not metabolize phenylalanine as efficiently as do lower species such as rodents and thus most of the previous studies on aspartame effects on rodents are irrelevant." Unfortunately, this fell on deaf ears and failed to garner additional testing.

Methanol
By far, the most controversial ingredient in aspartame is methanol (aka wood alcohol). An EPA assessment of methanol states that it is "considered a cumulative poison due to the low rate of excretion once it is absorbed. In the body, methanol is oxidated to formaldehyde and formic acid; both of these metabolites are toxic." This oxidation occurs when methanol reaches 86 degrees F (30 degrees C).

Formaldehyde
A product broken down from aspartate is a known carcinogen and causes retinal damage, birth defects and interferes with DNA replications. The EPA recommends a consumption limit of 7.8 mg/day. A 1 Liter aspartame sweetened beverage contains about 56 mg of methanol, seven times the EPA limit. The most common maladies related to methanol poisoning are vision problems including misty vision, progressive contraction of visual fields, blurring of vision, obscuration of vision, retinal damage and blindness.

Source: www.naturalnews.com

Most foods that say "Sugar Free" will contain aspartame. Here's just a few.
Breath Mints
Carbonated Soft Drinks/Pop
Cereals
Chewing Gum
Flavored Water Products
Fruit Spreads
Hard Candies
Instant Cocoa Mix
Jams & Jellies
Juice
Maple Syrups
Meal Replacements
Most Diet Drinks
Protein Nutritional Drinks
Vegetable Drinks
Yogurts, Drinkable, Fat & Sugar Free

These are consumed by people everyday. Read the label! If it has aspartame put it back!

Have a Healthy and Successful Sweetener Free Day!  

Do You Get A Cold Or The Flu? Not Anymore!

Even when you know how to be healthy, this is the time of year when colds, flu and viruses have a better chance of taking you down.

So here’s your 12-step program for how to avoid getting sick and stay healthy and well.

Although it’s an essential part of the plan, knowing how to stay healthy and well isn’t just based on starting out with robust health. Aggressive pathogens run rampant all day long on any surfaces you touch.

And no matter how well you take care of yourself, you MAY still get infected.

But, with these how to avoid getting sick tips, you can greatly improve your odds of making it all the way through this flu-season unscathed. And if you do get sick, your symptoms won’t be as severe or as long-lasting. I haven't been sick in years and now you can have a fighting chance too!

Here are your flu fighting down-and-dirty-dozen tips for how to avoid getting sick, prevent colds and flu, be well and stay healthy all season long:

1. Stay away from sick people. Although germs are all around us, they’re naturally more concentrated in sick people. So avoid close contact at social gatherings or work with anyone who seems under-the-weather. And, if you must visit somebody in the hospital, sit in a doctor’s waiting room or care for a sick child, which are all germ factories, wear a mask.

2. Eat only super healthy food. How well you eat has a huge effect on whether or not your body has the resistance necessary to protect you from germ invasions. So make sure you’re eating healthy foods, like lean protein, whole grains and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

3. Maintain germ-free hands. Since much of your contact with the world is through your hands, and bacteria and viruses can live on surfaces up to 8 hours, keeping your hands squeaky clean helps protect you from getting sick. Here’s a list of some of the main germ hideout sites:

Malls	Handrails	Shopping carts
Money	Doorknobs	Gym equipment
Schools	Playgrounds	Public restrooms
Libraries	Office phones	Restaurant Tables

And also be wary of cafeteria, restaurant and all group shared foods.

4. Keep hands off your face. One of the best ways for germs to get into your body is through your mouth, eyes and nose. So even if you’re vigilant about washing hands, get in the habit of not touching your face.

5. Avoid breathing toxic fumes. Inhaling airborne germs from people’s coughs and sneezes are infectious. But smoking, second-hand smoke and traffic fumes can destroy vitamin C and also weaken your defenses.

6. Take immunity supplements. Combined with a healthy diet, nutritional supplements definitely help you to stay well. Along with the basic daily nutrients, antioxidant supplements, like A, C, E and selenium, plus vitamin D, enzymes and probiotics can all help you avoid getting sick.

7. Drink plenty of clean water. Drinking water is essential to staying healthy. Add some lemon with natural vitamin C to help fight off foreign invaders and stevia extract to turn it into healthy lemonade.

8. Be sensible about exercise. Staying active helps reduce stress and improves your immune system. But if you feel like you might be getting sick, skip the workout. Your body needs rest and all your extra resources in order to fight off whatever germs you’ve been exposed to.

9. Always get plenty of sleep. Your immune system is very effective at defending you against foreign invaders, but your body needs downtime in order to restore itself. This is especially true if you’re fighting off an infection. So learn how get a good night's sleep – every night.

10. Don’t share food or utensils. Germs can easily find their way into party dips, finger food or any shared dishes or drinks. And be sure to use your dishwasher or hot soapy water to clean dishes at home.

11. Avoid drinking excess alcohol. According to research, alcohol weakens your immune system for up to 24 hours. So, especially if you feel you might be coming down with something, lay off the booze.

12. If you get sick, be pro-active. Drink plenty of liquids (like water with lemon, herb tea and plain broth), avoid congestive foods and overeating, get lots and lots of rest and take extra nutritional supplements.

And be smart about antibiotics. While they’re effective with bacterial infections, like pneumonia or sinusitis, most colds, sore throats and flues are caused by viruses, which are totally unresponsive to antibiotics.

Plus, needlessly taking antibiotics will only weaken your immune system.

While learning how to avoid getting sick, stay healthy and be well takes effort, it’s a vital part of knowing how to be healthy all year long.

To order all you immune boosting supplements click HERE.

Have a Healthy and Successful Sick Free Winter!

Coffee. To drink or Not To Drink.

A cup of plain, black coffee has about 10 calories. But add milk, chocolate, whipped cream and other flavor enhancers and coffee-shop staples such as mocha lattes can contain more calories than a Big Mac. When you consider that many people have these drinks daily, the total calorie intake can add up quickly.If you are not ready to give up coffee just yet but want to steer away from the sugar-laden versions, try these simple steps: you'll still get the flavor, but with less sugar.

• Skip the chocolate sauce and instead opt for a small piece of high-quality dark chocolate on the side.
• Add cinnamon (which may aid digestion) rather than caramel or other sweeteners.
• Forgo the whipped cream; a modest amount of unsweetened half-and-half is a better choice.
• I love adding Mochatonix. It increases energy. Promotes the burning of fat. Helps heighten alertness and endurance levels.
• Leave the sugar in the cupboard and grab some raw honey. Raw honey  contains trace enzymes; minerals, including calcium, magnesium and potassium; amino acids; and vitamins, including a wide range of B vitamins such as riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, thiamin and pyridoxine.

Coffee is full of antioxidants and in moderation can have health benefits. Just make sure to leave out the high calorie additions.

Have a Healthy and Successful Day!

Holiday. Eat This Not That

Holiday parties are notorious for finger foods filled with high-glycemic carbohydrates and unhealthy fats. To help guide you to better nutrition choices this holiday season, use this list of appetizers to avoid:

 Dips. Skip the creamy, cheesy dips and opt for fresh salsa instead.

1. Cocktail franks and mini-meatballs. Neither is a good source of lean protein and both can pack a big serving of calories and sodium. Choose peel-and-eat shrimp or sushi instead.
2. Anything fried. From mini-eggrolls and quiche to chicken wings, deep-fried foods contain altered fats that are detrimental to the body. Wholegrain crackers and a small slice of low-fat cheese can satisfy a savory craving with far fewer calories and fat.
3. Alcohol. An abundance of the good stuff will not only pack on the calories but it will also give you the cravings for high fat, high sugary foods.

Here are healthy options for your cocktail plates!

1. Vegetables. The fiber in veggies will help fill you up, and they provide a nice, satisfying crunch. Choose a spectrum of colors (broccoli, cauliflower and carrots are good choices) and serve with low- or non-fat plain yogurt. Add some fresh herbs and seasonings for flavor.
2. Mixed nuts. When eaten sparingly, nuts are a terrific snack. Walnuts are a favorite, as they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Almonds and roasted soy nuts are also good choices. Nuts can be high in calories and fat (even if it's the healthy monounsaturated kind) so don't overindulge.
3. Smoked salmon. Salmon (especially wild Alaskan sockeye salmon) provides omega-3 fatty acids, the anti-inflammatory, essential fats our bodies need for optimum health.
4. Filtered Water. Not only will it keep you hydrated but it will also help fill you up. Drinking plenty of water will curb the mindless munching. Need a warm drink? Try some green tea.

The holiday's are a time when many pack on the pounds. Keep in mind these few tips and you will survive packing on the pounds this holiday season.

Have a Healthy and Successful Christmas!

The Diet Myth

Many people try to lose weight by eating diet foods that claim to be prepared in a healthy fashion. Whether they are "nutritionally balanced" frozen dinners, supplement shakes or meal replacement bars, they are not truly healthy alternatives to whole food.

Why is Over Sixty Percent of The Population Overweight?

Lets face it. The main reason we gain weight and develop health problems is because of poor eating choices. People are looking for “the magic solution” by buying metabolism boosting drinks or taking meal replacement shakes that promise results. The truth of the matter is, the only way we are going to reverse the effects of bad eating habits is to reverse the cycle by developing good eating habits. 

Do Meal Replacement Bars and Shakes Work?

Meal replacement shakes, drinks, and bars are becoming more popular. They have been around for many years yet the obesity rate continues to rise at a record pace! My personal opinion is that I prefer people eat a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and fish that the earth provides us. However, if you choose a meal replacement bar or shake it is best to not skip your meals but use them as a morning or afternoon snack. It is NOT HEALTHY to replace nutritious foods with only synthetic bars and shakes. You can fool the body some of the time but not all the time.

Many of these prepared foods contain poor ingredients - especially unhealthy fats. Manufacturers love partially hydrogenated oils because they extend shelf life, but in my opinion they are dangerous. For one thing, these oils are sources of trans fatty acids (TFAs), which increase risks of both cardiovascular disease and cancer. TFAs are just as bad, if not worse, for the heart and arteries than saturated fats. They increase total cholesterol, raise "bad" LDL (low density lipoprotein) and lower "good" HDL (high density lipoprotein). Beyond that, TFAs may also have adverse effects on cell membranes and the immune system, and may promote inflammation and aging. 

To sum it all up. Choosing a diet with only meal replacement bars and shakes is not a healthy way to go. You must combine it with healthy balanced meals and exercise for the results to be effective (health wise).   

Stayed tuned to an upcoming blog on "The Perfect Diet" for health and weight loss.

Have a Healthy and Successful Day!

Holiday Stress Relief Tips for Healthy Holidays

Are you having trouble coping with holiday stress? Are healthy holidays even possible?

Holidays can be the best of times or the worst of times. But many people have holiday stress and depression with no stress relief.

If you're suffering from holiday stress or holiday depression and wondering what ever happened to seasonal joy and peace,  found you're not alone. A study from American Psychological Association.

During the holidays people feel burdened with holiday stress from:

• Credit card debt (23%)
• Never enough time (34%)
• Pressures of gift giving (42%)
• Or lack of enough money (61%)

And most everyone turns to over-eating unhealthy foods or drinking alcohol. Not only do we tend to eat and drink more, we have more heart attacks, exercise less and gain an average of 10 pounds.

Ten Top Tips for Healthy Holiday Stress Relief

While "over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house" may sound fun, excessive holiday stress and post holiday depression can seriously undermine your health, happiness and finances.

So try these holiday stress tips to help you have a healthy holiday.

1. Take charge of your holiday. Hospital emergency room and police reports show more sickness, addiction, criminal activity and mental suffering during holidays. So make a list and simplify.

2. Always put yourself first. It's not selfish. Taking care of yourself is an essential part of taking care of others. Rethink the holidays with your well-being in mind. Plan ahead and do what works best for you. 


3. Eat healthy holiday food. The holidays don't have to be fat and sugar free-for-all. Overindulgence causes stress, causing more overindulgence. Healthy holiday eating is choosing an apple over apple pie. 


4. Exercise for stress relief. Walking is an excellent exercise to relieve anxiety and stress. If weather isn't conducive to a walk, go to the mall and weave your way around all the busy harried shoppers. 


5. Take time to rest and relax. Get a good nights sleep, go for a leisurely walk, practice deep breathing and listen to soothing music. Slowing down can actually give you more healthy holiday energy. 


6. Rein in excess shopping. Don't go crazy indulging everyone’s whims. Shop on the Internet and limit your gift-giving to a special few. Happy holiday memories are built on time spent with loved ones. 


7. Say "No thank you" often. Be kind but firm and people will learn to accept turned-down obligation invitations. And if they don't, that's their problem. Only say "yes" to what you really want to do.


8. Keep an attitude of gratitude. Staying positive is important to stress management. Make a daily list of what you’re grateful for.

9. Create your healthy holiday. You don't have to be a slave to holiday traditions. Keep those that work for you and discard the rest. You can always share yourself through e-mails and pictures.

10. Give the gift of joy and love. Holiday stress often puts people in a rotten mood. If you're happy and vibrating with joyful holiday spirit, you'll help others to have a happy healthy holiday spirit too.

Whether your holidays are the best or worst of times is up to you. Follow these ten healthy holiday stress tips for depression and holiday stress relief and have happy healthy holiday seasons for years to come.

Have a Healthy and Successful Stress Free Holiday!

The Truth about Prescription Drugs

Men's Health-by Lara Rosenbaum

How much do you think the prescription drugs you take help you? Chances are, you’re giving them too much credit. Most people assume medications work better than they do—and worse, the average person isn’t aware of a drug’s limited benefits—New Hampshire researchers recently found.

According to the study, 39 percent of adults surveyed believed FDA-approved drugs to be “extremely effective,” and 25 percent believed the FDA only approves drugs without side effects. Newsflash: Neither is true.

“Most people don’t realize that to garner FDA approval, a drug company only has to show the medication is better than nothing and the benefit outweighs harm,” says study co-author, Steven Woloshin, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. “The initial studies are also often conducted over a short period of time—usually 6 months.”

Take, for example, the sleep aid Lunesta. While it’s been proven to help people fall asleep faster than if they’d taken a placebo, it only helped folks snooze 15 minutes faster, Dr. Woloshin says. Yep. And those who took the drug experienced side effects, like feeling drowsier the next day.

To be fair, it’s not necessarily the FDA’s fault. “They’re under pressure to quickly bring new drugs to market,” Dr. Woloshin explains.

Dr. Woloshin has been working to get new “fact boxes” approved by the FDA, which feature clear, diagnosis-specific information on a drug’s benefits and risks so that you can be more informed. Until that happens, it’s up to you to talk with your doc, says Michael Steinman, M.D., associate professor of medicine at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. He suggests these steps to help you choose wisely:
•DIY research. Dr. Steinman suggests using MedlinePlus, a service provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Browse by drug to learn the side effects, dosage instructions, and drug interactions.
•Know your needs. Some drugs treat a surrogate outcome, like high blood pressure. “If possible, choose one which has been shown to prevent an actual outcome, like a heart attack, stroke, or even death,” Dr. Steinman says.
•Older drugs can be safer. “It can take 3 to 5 years for serious side effects to show up (and for a medication to be pulled), and sometimes even 7,” Dr. Steinman explains. “Ask how long the drug has been on the market.”
•Remind your doctor what you’re taking. Says Dr. Steinman, “If you experience any negative health changes while taking medication, remind your doctor of your prescription. Sometimes doctors diagnose a new illness rather than see it as a side effect.”

Have A Healthy and Successful Day!

Omega-3 fats from fish oil and supplements prevent and slow arthritis progression

(NaturalNews) Humans have been consuming omega-3 fats from natural fish, nut and seed sources for countless generations. Our core genetic structure depends on a regular supply of the long chain omega-3 fats EPA and DHA to form cell wall structures and perform millions of metabolic functions that we normally associate with vibrant health. Imbalance of omega-3 to omega-6 fats cause a surge in inflammatory cytokines that can lead to the painful and debilitating condition known as osteoarthritis. New research published in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage has shown for the first time that omega-3 fats supplied by fish oil could "substantially and significantly" reduce the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis as we age.

Researchers from the University of Bristol in England tested the effect of omega-3 fats on a breed of guinea pigs that are genetically predisposed to develop arthritis. Guinea pigs were chosen for this study as they develop osteoarthritis in a similar manner to humans. Anecdotal reports over the years provide support for the beneficial effect of fish consumption on joint health. Dr. John Tarlton from the Matrix Biology Research Group and his team set out to confirm the impact of omega-3 fatty acids, either sourced from fish oil or flax oil, in preventing or slowing down the progression of osteoarthritis.

Omega-3 Fat Supplementation Slashes Osteoarthritis Disease Progression by Half

The team fed one group of guinea pigs a diet including full-spectrum omega-3 fats (EPA and DHA) and compared the results to a second control group of non-supplemented animals. Typical degradation of collagen in cartilage and the loss of molecules that give it shock-absorbing properties were both reduced in the omega-3 supplemented group. Researchers noted that omega-3 fats reduced disease by 50 per cent compared to the control group.

Upon examination of the results, Dr. Tarlton explained: "there was strong evidence that omega-3 influences the biochemistry of the disease, and therefore not only helps prevent disease, but also slows its progression, potentially controlling established osteoarthritis." This is a critical finding, as most people suffering from arthritis are prescribed a plethora of ineffective pain medications that dramatically increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease or of suffering a heart attack.

Omega fat imbalance from a poor diet causes excessive joint inflammation and needless suffering. Researchers performing this study concluded "Most diets in the developed world are lacking in omega-3, with modern diets having up to 30 times too much omega-6 and too little omega-3. Taking omega-3 will help redress this imbalance and may positively contribute to a range of other health problems such as heart disease." Many health-minded individuals will want to supplement with a molecularly distilled form of fish oil (minimum 1200 mg EPA/DHA content) each day to combat inflammation and osteoarthritis

To get your Omega 3 oil today Click HERE

Have a Healthy and Successful Omega 3 Filled Day!

How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

Is holiday weight gain traditional for you? With all the seasonal pressure, holiday food temptation may seem just too hard to fight.

So every year you give in and pretend you’ll lose those extra pounds after the holidays.

But studies show the average 2 to 7 lbs. of holiday weight gain are rarely lost. Maybe it’s time to learn how to avoid holiday weight gain from the get go. The 7 steps below can help you have a happier, healthy holiday.

And instead of feasting on fatty food, you’ll feel fulfilled with festive fun!

Then come January 1st, you can begin the New Year with fresh new goals, instead of the same-old, same-old goal of undoing holiday weight gain.

7 Steps for How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

Although the holidays may not be the best time to lose weight, by following these seven steps, you can easily maintain your current weight throughout the holiday season and end up weighing less without the stress.

1. Make a commitment & plan. For most people, eating unhealthy fatty foods and sweets is addictive. To avoid holiday weight gain, like any weight gain, start with a lifelong commitment to healthy eating. Figure out what’s more important to you than eating addictive foods and use your motivating desire to make a strong commitment and a foolproof plan.

2. Keep your eyes on the prize. Focus on your goal instead of addictive unhealthy foods. If you know what you want and your commitment and desire are strong enough, it’ll be easy to always choose plain, low calorie veggies, lean protein, whole grains, raw nuts and fresh fruit.

3. Prepare ahead for each event. Calmly think it through, make a plan and visualize a positive outcome for every holiday gathering. Eat a healthy, low-calorie (but filling) snack beforehand – NEVER go HUNGRY! And, if it’s appropriate, bring along a healthy dish to share with others.

4. Be active & exercise every day. Don’t let the busyness of the season or colder weather give you an excuse not to exercise. Physical activity not only burns calories, it also helps to reduce feelings of stress. So, besides your regular exercise routine, find other ways to stay active.

5. Drink plain water, avoid alcohol. Not only does holiday alcohol add empty calories, it also stimulates appetite and reduces your willpower. At social events, stick with a lemon twist in “bubbly” water and, if you must have a drink, use it as a relaxing reward when you get home. If you indulge have a water between drinks.

6. Manage control of your holidays. You don’t have to be a victim of frantic holiday obligations. You can tactfully turn down invitations, decline to go into holiday-spending debt and politely refuse to eat food that doesn’t serve your goals. You can host your own healthy holiday party or make reservations where you can order what works for you. You can take charge and do it your way to have a happy healthy holiday this year.

7. Maintain a positive frame of mind. Learning how to avoid holiday weight gain can be a challenge. But the holidays can also be a fabulously fun time of year. Just focus on nonfood fun. And if you mess up, don’t stress out over it. Forgive yourself and anyone else involved, get back on track and do whatever it takes to have a happy, healthy holiday!

Have a Healthy and Successful Holiday Season! Oh and Merry Christmas to all!

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Have a Healthy and Successful Day!

What Every Parent Should Know About Vaccines.

By Dr. Mercola, MD.

Common sense would suggest that, if we are giving our children more than five dozen vaccinations from day of birth to age 18, we are over-vaccinating our children. Yet, authorities continue to insist that "more is better" when it comes to vaccines without providing adequate scientific evidence to justify that assumption.

If you follow the CDC's recommended vaccination schedule, your child will receive 49 doses of 14 vaccines by the time he/she is 6 years of age. And by the age of 18, the CDC recommends that children should have gotten 69 doses of 16 vaccines.

Today, you'll pay $2200 to purchase all government recommended and mandated vaccines for a child (plus the cost of office visits) because the numbers of vaccines recommended for children have tripled in the past three decades. Sadly though, the short term financial costs to fully vaccinate your child according to the CDC schedule may actually pale in comparison to the costs to your child's long-term health.

The list of problems related to today's vaccines, and vaccine policy, is long and troubling:

1. Children not all biologically identical. The current one-size-fits-all approach to vaccination does not take into account differences among children's genetic profiles or immune responses based on factors such as age, weight, and overall health status.

2. Infant mortality rates between nations appears to be linked to the numbers of vaccinations given to babies before the age of 12 months. More vaccines may contribute to higher infant mortality.

3. Babies receive several vaccines at once—they may receive 8 vaccines or more simultaneously at a doctor visit (between 2 and 15 months of age). Vaccine "layering" may increase the risk for a serious vaccine reaction.

4. Vaccines have not been adequately tested for safety using methodologically sound scientific studies, so their long-term health effects are unknown. Moreover, the effects ofmultiple vaccines given together have not been adequately tested. And pharmaceutical companies have financed nearly all vaccine research to date, which introduces enormous bias.

5. Vaccines do not provide complete or permanent protection against infectious disease. For example, 75 percent of children who contracted chickenpox in a 2001 Maryland outbreak had been vaccinated against chickenpox. A high number of vaccinated persons also have been found in pertussis and mumps outbreaks.

6. Vaccines are not always sterile but can be contaminated with bacteria, viral fragments, and foreign human and animal DNA.

7. Vaccines may contain toxic additives (including aluminum and mercury), which can contribute to your child's toxic load.

8. Some vaccines are associated with a higher number of serious health problems, both immediate and delayed, yet healthcare professionals rarely report vaccine adverse events. Every year, more than 25,000 adverse reactions are reported to the government, including irreversible injuries and deaths. It's been estimated that this represents only about 1 to 10 percent of total vaccine reactions, which means that millions of people may have suffered vaccine reactions and injuries over the past few years.

9. Vaccines, say some researchers, may contain excitotoxins that disrupt your child's immune system (through microglial overstimulation) and damage developing brain structures, which raises his/her risk for a wide range of diseases, including autism, learning disabilities, and psychiatric disorders. New research gives evidence for a link between the high number of vaccines and the autism epidemic.

10. Many children receive even more vaccines than the vaccination schedule recommends. If you take your child to multiple health care providers or facilities, the odds are increased that your child may be given "extra" doses. Ten percent of children aged 19 to 35 months were found to have received extra vaccinations, according to a National Immunization Survey.

11. Preventing natural immune responses to environmental pathogens may not be in your child's best interest. Healthy children receive life-long benefits from naturally occurring immune responses.

Current Vaccine Policy Could Explain Our Higher Infant Mortality Rate

In a recent report on Adverse Effects of Vaccines: Evidence and Causality, an Institute of Medicine committee of medical experts acknowledged a casual link between adverse health effects and vaccination, while confirming that there are too few methodologically sound studies published in the medical literature to make definitive conclusions about many other serious health problems linked with vaccination. This report was published after a review of more than 1,000 vaccine studies by the Institute of Medicine.

According to the most recent National Vital Statistics Report, more than 26,000 American babies born alive in 2009 died before their first birthday, which gives the U.S. a very high infant mortality rate of six infant deaths per 1,000 live births. In 1960, America ranked 12th in infant mortality among all nations of the world. In 2005, we had fallen to number 30.Today in America, there are more premature babies than ever before and more full term babies die before their first birthday than in most European countries.

The most recent study (2011) looking and infant mortality and vaccination is perhaps the most disturbing. It finds that developed nations with the poorest infant mortality rates, like the U.S., tend to give their infants more vaccine doses before age one. To put this into perspective, doctors give American babies 26 vaccine doses before age one, which is twice as many vaccinations as are given babies in Sweden and Japan. Is it really just a "coincidence" that the infant mortality rate is twice as high in America as it is in Sweden and Japan?

Natural Immunity is Superior to Vaccine-Induced Immunity

The more vaccines are studied, the more apparent it becomes that proper vaccine studies are lacking, as vaccine expert and pediatrician Larry Palevsky explains. There is a major difference between natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity. Obtaining natural immunity has far greater benefits.

When children are born, they develop natural immunity to a large variety of microorganisms that they breathe, eat, and touch. The immune responses by cells lining their airways, skin and intestines, are very important in creating "memory" and protection against the organisms they naturally come into contact with. That primary line of defense is a very important step in the maturation of your child's immune system—and it's bypassed when he/she gets a vaccine.

With vaccination, you are merely creating an antibody.

Vaccines do NOT impart long-term immunity because they don't create the kind of memory that occurs when you go through the process of a natural immune response. And natural exposure does not necessarily lead to infection—it is possible to obtain natural immunity without actually getting sick, if your immune system is robust. In fact, vaccines do NOT strengthen the healthy functioning of the immune system, but actually may weaken it.

Bombardment by Multiple Vaccines Can Damage Your Child's Developing Brain

Dr. Russell Blaylock is a board-certified neurosurgeon and expert on vaccines and the nervous system. He may have discovered the central mechanism of how vaccines can contribute to the development of neurological diseases and has proposed a theory about the cause of autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Blaylock's theory can be summarized as follows:

Priming: Your child's immune system gets "primed" through exposure to an excitotoxin, such as a vaccine or an infectious agent, causing his/her microglia (special immune cells within the brain) to shift into "readiness mode."

Microglial Activation: Subsequent exposures to vaccines or other immune stresses over a relatively short period of time activate the microglia into full "battle mode," prepared to defend your child's body against what they perceive as an all-out invasion.

Bystander Damage: Excitotoxins and free radicals are generated, causing "bystander damage" in a runaway process that cannot be shut down. This leads to chronic inflammation and damage to brain tissues, including mitochondrial dysfunction, brain inflammation, seizures, and the other difficulties seen with autism.

Vaccines differ from natural infections in that vaccines can cause brain stimulation for very prolonged periods—the immune system in your child's brain is activated and re-activated by repeated exposure. Babies do not respond to vaccines in the same way as adults, even by one year of age. Immune over-activation can be especially damaging to a baby or young child's developing brain structures, such as the amygdala and limbic system.

This cycle is magnified by the administration of multiple vaccines at once. Many studies suggest this is very risky. Did you know that your 12 or 15 month old baby is allowed to get up to 13 vaccines at once under the CDC Immunization Schedule? How can this NOT be an assault to the immune system or developing brain? When was the last time YOU took 13 different prescription drugs at once without suffering side effects?

Certain children appear to have a higher risk for developing chronic brain and immune system dysfuntion including autism, than others, if their immune systems are more easily "primed." All it takes is the insult of ONE more vaccine, or ONE more infection, and the stage is set for regression into autism or development of other kinds of neuroimmune disorders like ADD/ADHD and seizures. One of the factors that can increase vaccine risks is if your child is particularly susceptible to immune dysfunction because of an imbalance in their gut flora..

To read the rest of this article click HERE.

Have a Healthy and Successful Vaccine Free Day!

Which One Do You Use?

Choosing the right vitamin supplement is more than just looking at the ingredients. The form in which the supplement is in can make all the difference in the quality of the supplement you are receiving.
Normally, when you ingest a daily vitamin or nutritional supplement tablet, your body must work for up to four hours digesting and absorbing the vitamins and nutrients. During this lengthy breakdown process, a percentage of the nutritive value is lost. Even still, some supplement products do not even break down due to harsh fillers and binders, but pass to the small intestine. When this takes place, none of the contents of the supplement can be absorbed by the body. This is one reason the bioavailability of pills and capsules are significantly lower than isotonic-capable supplements.
Tablets & Capsules: One thing to watch out for in tablets and capsules are binders and fillers. Binders and fillers can include lubricants and disintegrates to aid the body in absorption, but these are added ingredients that your body does not need.
Gummies & Chewables: Gummy and chewable supplements can be appealing because of their colors and tastes, but most are very high in sugars and have fewer active ingredients making is effective in delivering the maximum benefit.
Liquids: If you do not like swallowing tablets or chewing chewables, a liquid supplement may be for you. Liquids may also have a great taste but, many liquid supplements include preservatives that can interfere with the active ingredients.
Isotonic: Isotonic, meaning “same pressure,” bears the same chemical resemblance of the body’s blood, plasma and tears. This means that the body has less work to do to obtain maximum absorption of the nutrients. The isotonic state of the suspension allows nutrients to pass directly into the small intestine and rapidly absorb into the bloodstream. Little nutritive value is lost, making the absorption of nutrients highly efficient while delivering maximum results with great flavor as well.

Make sure your not wasting your hard earned money with supplements you can't digest.

For an isotonic capable supplement click HERE.

Have a Healthy and Successful Day!

Nutrition from diet alone is a myth

One of the biggest health myths is the idea that a person can get all the nutrition s/he needs by simply eating a balanced diet. The truth is that it is next to impossible to get even the minimal RDA amounts of the limited number of vitamins and minerals on the RDA list, much less the amounts of all the many nutrients needed for optimal health from diet alone.

Decades of over-farming has left the world's top soils severely depleted of essential minerals. For the most part, the only minerals replaced have been those needed for optimal growth and not vital minerals such as magnesium which are needed for optimal health.

Foods on our grocers' shelves frequently have had true nutrition processed out (and often harmful additives processed in to enhance shelf life, taste, color and texture). In many instances most of the claimed nutrition comes from added synthetic petrochemical vitamins and crushed rock minerals - which are vastly inferior to natural vitamins and minerals found in food.

 A balanced-diet of 2000 to 2500 calorie a day diet plan which should provide all of the measly nutrient amounts on the limited RDA chart doesn't even come close. Keep in mind that in many instances RDA amounts of vitamins and minerals are merely the theoretical amounts needed to prevent deficiency-related illness. Besides the fact that RDA amounts are often far below the optimal amounts, the RDA list does not include literally hundreds of other valuable nutrients which we have evolved and adapted to utilize.

If it is so easy to get all the nutrition needed from diet alone, why is it that up to 95% of us are deficient in magnesium? For that matter, why is it that most of us are deficient in other vital nutrients as well - even those of us who regularly eat a so-called balanced diet?

Another related myth is the idea that doctors are good sources of information and advice about diet and nutrition. In most instances, mainstream doctors are woefully deficient in information about diet and nutrition. Doctors are taught in medical schools where the primary funding source is the pharmaceutical industry and where curriculum is controlled by the AMA. Not surprisingly, doctors are taught that the way to treat illness is to prescribe drug company medications and to perform mainstream medical treatments. What they are not taught is the vital role that diet and proper nutrition play in our health.

One longtime doctor turned naturopath that I met told me that during his entire mainstream education he had but one single lecture on diet and nutrition. Other doctors, including more recent graduates, confirmed that their educational experience was much the same when it came to diet and nutrition.

In the world of mainstream health misinformation about vegetable and fruit servings, a serving of a fortified "fruit drink" is considered equal to a bowl of fresh organic blueberries and an order of french fries is equal to a bowl of fresh organic spinach. I've seen a poster of a  "protein shake" informing that it is equal to thirteen eggs, thirty apples, ten stalks of celery etc...... really. These are unheard of amounts of nutrients to be absorbed by the body at one time. Remember the saying, if it sounds to good to be true it probably is.

A good plan for obtaining plenty of nutrition to insure a maximum of good health and a minimum of illness is:

1. Eat a healthy and varied nutrient-dense diet with as many fresh organic items as possible.
2. Avoid junk foods, processed foods and inorganic meats - especially processed meat products.
3. Utilize supplemental items such as organic superfood powders and whole food derived nutrients to insure that you get all the vital kinds and amounts of nutrition needed.
4. Use only high quality supplements, when supplementing your diet.

Here's the truth. One of my favorite quotes  “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” ― Hippocrates

Not sure how to determine a high quality supplement? Click HERE

Have a Healthy and Successful Day!

MMMMM Left Over Turkey Soup!

Leftover Turkey Homemade Turkey Soup Recipe-
To begin, add to a large 12 qt. soup pot:
•The bones, skin and scraps from a large turkey. (If your turkey carcass is small, add some chicken necks or other poultry parts).
•2 or 3 small beef shank soup bones (this helps to harden the fat so that you can remove it easily).
... •8 ½ quarts of water
•¼ cup of apple cider vinegar
•1 teaspoon of salt
•2 bay leaves

Bring the water to a boil over high heat, cover and simmer on low for 4 hours. Then let the turkey stock cool overnight on the stove so it has time to absorb all the flavor and nutrients from the scraps and bones.

In the morning, when your turkey stock has cooled, remove the scraps, bones and skin.

Once the bones, skin and major pieces are out, refrigerate the stock for at least 24 hours to allow the fat to harden on top so you can skim it off.

How to Make Turkey Soup

When you've removed all the fat from the stock and are ready to make your turkey soup, place the pot on the stove and turn the burner to high.

Once the stock comes to a boil, turn the burner to low and simmer for the rest of the cooking time. As it heats up, add the following ingredients:
•1½ cups of raw brown rice (or use a mixture of about 1 cup basmati brown rice and ½ cup wild rice)
•½ cup dry vegetable broth (I like to use organic with no MSG)
•4 teaspoons of salt
•2 medium or 3 large onions chopped fine
•2 large or 4 medium peeled sweet potatoes chopped small
•(Optional – add celery, zucchini or summer squash, chopped small)
•2 to 3 cans drained black beans (or use 2 packages frozen petite green garden peas)
•2 large bunches of kale, chard or other dark green leafy veggies chopped fine or shredded in the Cuisinart
•3 tablespoons dried parsley or several stalks chopped fresh parsley
•¼ teaspoon shredded thyme leaf
•4 pinches or 6 shakes nutmeg
•4 cups of chopped leftover turkey meat or 2 lbs. of lean ground turkey pinched into small bits and added a little bit at a time

The rice needs to cook for 1½ hours, the onions and sweet potatoes for 45 minutes to an hour and the peas and greens no longer than ½ hour. But the meat will be thoroughly cooked or heated within about 10 minutes.

And this leftover turkey soup recipe only has about 150 calories per cup.

This homemade turkey soup recipe is not engraved in stone. So feel free to experiment and create your own great leftover turkey soup.

have a Healthy and Successful Day!

Thanksgiving tips

Gobble Gobble!!!!

From Coach Lydia at http://lifeismysport.blogspot.com

It’s Thanksgiving day and what do you do?! You get up prep the turkey throw it in the oven; have a cup of coffee and maybe a little bite to eat. You start running through your checklist and time is flying you say there is no time to workout. As you are prepping for the big meal, you are grabbing a bite here and there ---cheese, crackers, a few chips but you completely skip having any decent meals, until you sit down with the family. And instead of eating smart, you gorge on mash potatoes, stuffing, gravies, green beans casserole, etc…. and a cup or two of the holiday cheer. Right?!

I know what you guys are thinking come on Coach Lydia…. It’s Thanksgiving give it a break.

Now I’m not saying you can’t enjoy your holidays, but let’s be smart about it.

Here are some simple focused tips to help you keep on track and not blow it.

Don't: Skip your workout.

Squeeze in a workout wherever you can. How else will you burn off the mash potatoes or Giada’s Italian inspired stuffing you watched her make on the TODAY show. I know schedules can be tight whether you are doing the cooking or traveling to eat someone else’s cooking.

Take 15 minutes of hard and fast—Jumping rope 90 seconds, rest for 30 seconds. You have steps? Run up and down your steps for 2 minutes, burpees for 2 minutes, crunches for 2 minutes keep going till you get to 15 minutes. Sprint up and down your street for 15 minutes. Or simply find 5 exercises you like and do them for 1 minute each (totaling 5 minutes) do it 3x with only 1 minutes rest in between. Going fast and hard will rev up your metabolism to help cope with the day and it's such a surge on your body that it takes your body a lot of effort to get back to beginning state that you can burn extra fat up to 38 hours after that type of intensity. <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--> <!--[endif]-->

Don’t: Hold out.

The worst thing you can do is “save” for the big meal. Your body burns fat when it’s fueled on a consistent basis. If you starve yourself until the big meal is ready all your hard work up to Turkey day suffers. Be smart and eat breakfast and lunch (healthy meals) and drink LOTS of WATER.

Do: Stay in Control.

Before you dig into the potatoes, butter that roll and dive into the stuffing. Eat protein and veggies first. Protein and veggies are naturally low glycemic and help blunt the blow of not so good carbs. Slowing down how fast your body breaks down the potatoes, stuffing and breads will reduce the chance of you going into fat storing mode.

Next set a meal budget for yourself. Limit yourself to one cocktail, loads of fresh veggies and fruit, one small piece of dessert, etc. I don’t believe in portion control with the right foods, but practicing portion control on the sweets and alcohol can help keep off excess holiday pounds.

Everyone has a holiday favorite—from Mom’s special stuffing to grandma’s pumpkin pie. And if you only get to indulge in these treats once a year, there's no reason to deprive yourself. Just remember: everything in moderation.

Great way to stay in control and blunt the yummy carb impact.

Don't: Leave with leftovers.

Post-party indulging plays a huge role in holiday weight gain. You only can fight the temptation of leftover pumpkin pie for so long! Leave behind the leftovers altogether. When I host the festivities, I always make sure my guests go home with leftovers.

Do: Be realistic.

It's likely you won't be motivated to drop five pounds during the holidays—but that doesn't mean you have to gain the average 7-10 lbs, either. Set a goal to maintain your current weight, and worry about actual weight loss once the New Year is in full swing.

Holidays are meant to be enjoyed--- So enjoy: your friends, family and life. Just keep your goals in mind, keep reminding yourself that you are committed to reshaping your health, body and life. Then go and enjoy yourself!

Coach L

To all my friends south of the boarder have a safe and great day tomorrow!

Have a healthy and Successful Day Today!

Vitamin D proven far better than vaccines at preventing influenza infections

(NaturalNews) If scientists discovered something that worked better than vaccines at preventing influenza, you'd think they would jump all over it, right? After all, isn't the point to protect children and adults from influenza?

A clinical trial led by Mitsuyoshi Urashima and conducted by the Division of Molecular Epidemiology in the the Department of Pediatrics at the Jikei University School of Medicine Minato-ku in Tokyo found that vitamin D was extremely effective at halting influenza infections in children. The trial appears in the March, 2010 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Am J Clin Nutr (March 10, 2010). doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.29094)

The results are from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 334 children, half of which were given 1200 IUs per day of vitamin D3. In other words, this was a "rigorous" scientific study meeting the gold standard of scientific evidence.

In the study, while 31 of 167 children in the placebo group contracted influenza over the four month duration of the study, only 18 of 168 children in the vitamin D group did. This means vitamin D was responsible for an absolute reduction of nearly 8 percent.

Flu vaccines, according to the latest scientific evidence, achieve a 1 percent reduction in influenza symptoms

This means vitamin D appears to be 800% more effective than vaccines at preventing influenza infections in children.

To further support this, what really needs to be done is a clinical trial directly comparing vitamin D supplements to influenza vaccines with four total groups:

Group #1 receives a vitamin D placebo
Group #2 receives real vitamin D (2,000 IUs per day)
Group #3 receives an influenza vaccine injection
Group #4 receives an inert injection

Groups 1 and 2 should be randomized and double blind while groups 3 and 4 should also be randomized and double blind. The results would reveal the comparative effectiveness of vitamin D versus influenza vaccines.

Unfortunately, such a trial will never be conducted because vaccine pushers already know this trial would show their vaccines to be all but useless. So they won't subject vaccines to any real science that compares it to vitamin D.

To order your vitamin D click HERE

Vitamin D also significantly reduced asthma in children

Getting back to the study, another fascinating result from the trial is that if you remove those children from the study who were already being given vitamin D by their parents, so that you are only looking at children who started out with no vitamin D supplementation before the trial began, the results look even better as vitamin D reduced relative infection risk by nearly two-thirds.

More than six out of ten children who would have normally been infected with influenza, in other words, were protected by vitamin D supplementation.

Also revealed in the study: vitamin D strongly suppressed symptoms of asthma. In children with a previous asthma diagnosis, 12 of those receiving no vitamin D experienced asthma attacks. But in the vitamin D group, only 2 children did.

While this subset sample size is small, it does offer yet more evidence that vitamin D prevents asthma attacks in children, and this entirely consistent with the previous evidence on vitamin D which shows it to be a powerful nutrient for preventing asthma.

To order your vitamin D click HERE

Vaccine pushers aren't followers of real science

Now, given that vitamin D3 shows such a powerful effect in preventing influenza -- with 800% increased efficacy over vaccines -- shouldn't CDC officials, doctors and health authorities be rushing to recommend vitamin D before flu season arrives?

Of course they should. But they won't. Because for them, it's not about actually preventing influenza and it never has been. The vaccine pushing camp is primarily interested in using influenza as an excuse to vaccinate more people regardless of whether such vaccines are useful (or safe).

Even if vitamin D offered 100% protection against all influenza infections, they still wouldn't recommend it.

Why? Because they flatly don't believe in nutrition! It runs counter to their med school programming which says that nutrients are useless and only drugs, vaccines and surgery count as real medicine.

The vaccine pushers, you see, aren't followers of real science. You could publish a hundred studies proving how vitamin D is many times more effective than vaccines and they still would never recommend it.

They are promoters of medical dogma rather than real solutions for patients. They promote vaccines because... well... that's what they've always promoted, and that's what their colleagues promote. And how could so many smart people be wrong, anyway?

But that's the history of science: A whole bunch of really smart people turn out to be wrong on a regular basis. That's usually how science advances, by the way: A new idea challenges an old assumption, and after all the defenders of the old (wrong) idea die off, science manages to inch its way forward against the hoots and heckles of a determined dogmatic resistance.

This attitude is blatantly reflected in a quote from Dr John Oxford, a professor of virology at Queen Mary School of Medicine in London, whose reaction to this study was: "This is a timely study. It will be noticed by scientists. It fits in with the seasonal pattern of flu. There is an increasing background of solid science that makes the vitamin D story credible. But this study needs to be replicated. If it is confirmed we might think of giving vitamin D at the same time as we vaccinate." (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/ne...)

Did you notice his concluding remark? He wasn't even considering the idea that vitamin D might replace vaccines. Rather, he's assuming vitamin D only has value if given together with vaccines!

You see this in the cancer industry, too, with anti-cancer herbs and nutrients. Any time an anti-cancer nutrient gains some press (which isn't very often), the cancer doctor will say things like, "Well, this might be useful to give to a patient after chemotherapy..." but never as a replacement for chemo, you see.

Many mainstream doctors and medical scientists are simply incapable of thinking outside the very limiting boxes into which their brains have been shoved through years of de-education in medical schools. When they see evidence contrary to what they've been taught, they foolishly dismiss it.

"The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible." - Bertrand Russell

  To order your vitamin D click HERE                                                                                                 

Medical journals as guardians of ignorance

Medical journals largely function not as beacons of scientific truth but as defenders of pseudoscientific dogma. To have your paper published in most journals, your paper must meet the expectations and beliefs of that journal's editor. Thus, the advancement of scientific knowledge reflected in each journal is limited to the current beliefs of just one person -- the editor of that journal.

Truly pioneering research that challenges the status quo is almost always rejected. Only papers that confirm the presently-held beliefs of the journal's editorial staff are accepted for publication. This is one reason why medical science, in particular, advances so slowly.

Studies that show vitamin D to be more effective than vaccines will rarely see the light of day in the scientific community. It is to the great credit of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, in fact, that it accepted the publication of this paper by Mitsuyoshi Urashima. Most medical journals wouldn't dare touch it because it questions status quo beliefs about vaccines and influenza.

Medical journals, you see, are largely funded by the pharmaceutical industry. And Big Pharma doesn't want to see any studies lending credibility to vitamins, regardless of their scientific merit. Even if vitamin D could save America billions of dollars in reduced health care costs (which it can, actually), they don't want vitamin D to receive any scientific backing whatsoever because drug companies can't patent vitamin D. It's readily available to everyone for mere pennies a day.

In time, it will be recognized as superior to vaccines for seasonal flu, but for now, we must all suffer under the foolish propaganda of an industry that has abandoned science and now worships a needle.

To order your Vitamin D TODAY click HERE

Have a Healthy and Successful Vitamin D Filled Day!

Are You Deficient in B Vitamins

Did you know 80% of the population is deficient in B12?
Vitamin B12 depletion and deficiency are much more common than previously thought, especially in the over-60 population. Equally disturbing are emerging signs that other age groups harbor suboptimal blood levels of B12 as well.

Why is vitamin B12 deficiency such a big deal?

Your body depends on vitamin B12 for a host of functions, including…

Helping to maintain normal energy levels
Promoting healthy neurological activity, including mental alertness
Supporting normal homocysteine levels for healthy cardiac function
Helping to ease occasional stress and sleeplessness
Maintaining healthy cell growth and repair
Promoting normal immune function
Supporting normal metabolism of carbohydrates and fats
When your blood levels of vitamin B12 are low, one or more of these functions may be disrupted.

Without adequate blood levels of B12, you can experience symptoms related to low energy, mental fatigue, mood changes, sleep difficulties, and even occasional indigestion.

Your body relies on the efficient conversion of carbohydrates to glucose – your body’s source of fuel – just like your car needs to be able to use gas to run smoothly. Vitamin B12 plays a major role in that conversion in your body. Likewise, B12 enables your body to convert fatty acids into energy as well.

Overall, vitamin B12 is a nutrient your body cannot do without for efficient, healthy metabolism of fats and carbohydrates.

The older you get the more likely you are to have a vitamin B12 deficiency.  The two ways that you become deficient in vitamin B12 are from not getting enough in your diet and from losing the ability to absorb it. Also the older you get the more your digestive system breaks down, especially if you have been following the standard American diet. Specifically the lining of your stomach gradually loses its ability to produce hydrochloric acid which releases vitamin B 12 from your food. The use of antacids or anti ulcer drugs will also lower your stomach acid secretion and decrease your ability to absorb vitamin B 12.  Infection with Helicobactor pylori, a common contributor to stomach ulcers, can also result in vitamin B12 deficiency.

If you often feel tired, run-down, and lacking in energy, you're not alone.  Low energy is one of our country's biggest health complaints.

Some of the top reasons for this are: 

Refined foods sold in grocery stores are depleted of vital nutrients...
Refined foods are loaded with sugar...
Refined foods are full of chemicals...
Refined foods are overloaded with food colorings; and...
Refined foods are loaded with preservatives...
...but it doesn't stop there, either. 

Add the harmful effects of caffeine, pollution, conventional therapies, and the stress most of us experience everyday... and you've got yourself a recipe for energy drain.

Not many know it, but if you or a family member experience: 

Tiredness and feelings of weakness...
Less-than-optimal nervous system functioning...
Less-than-optimal eye health...
Loss of appetite and unintended weight loss...
Occasional constipation and gas...
Feelings of mild moodiness...
Less-than-optimal memory...
A tendency toward nervousness...
Less-than-optimal balance...
Less-than-optimal liver or heart health...
Premature grey hair...
Occasional digestive issues...
...you may need to supplement with vitamin B12, even if you eat foods rich in B12.

You can eat plenty of meat, poultry, lamb's liver, brewer's yeast, clams, eggs, herring, mackerel, kidneys, milk, dairy products, or seafood -- and still have low levels of B12.  How can that be?

It could be because your body is unable to absorb it from your gut.  You see B12 needs the help of a protein in order to be absorbed.  That protein is called intrinsic factor.  And because the lining of your stomach makes intrinsic factor, people with less-than-optimal gastrointestinal health often need to supplement with B12. 

Thus, the need for supplementation

Don't be fooled by supplements out on the market today! The absorption of  vitamins in a pill, liquid, capsule, tablet or gelcap just don't cut it. The absorption rate is less than 50% in those forms. So if you want a supplement that has up to 95% absorption and is the most powerful delivery system taken orally click HERE to get more information.

Have a Healthy and Successful Vitamin B Day!


Source Dr Mercola