Vegan diets short on omega-3 and vitamin B12 may increase cardiovascular risk

A new review in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry indicates that many vegetarians, especially vegans, may unknowingly be at risk for certain cardiovascular health problems due to inadequate intakes of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12.

The review stated that although meat eaters are known to have a significantly higher combination of cardiovascular risk factors than vegetarians, people following strict vegetarian and vegan diets are not invulnerable to risk. These diets tend to lack several key nutrients, including iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Meat eaters are known to have a significantly higher incidence of certain cardiovascular risk factors compared with vegetarians, including increased BMI and waist-to-hip ratio, and higher blood pressure, plasma total cholesterol, and triglycerides. However, after reviewing 30 years of studies on vegetarianism, vegetarians and vegans typically have lower concentrations of serum vitamin B12 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in tissue membrane phospholipids when compared to meat eaters.

Risks associated with low vitamin B12 and omega-3 status include an increase in blood clotting (platelet aggregation) due to increased levels of homocysteine, and decreased levels of ‘good’ HDL-cholesterol. Low HDL cholesterol and high homocysteine levels may be linked to an increase in cardiovascular and stroke risk.

The authors suggest that vegetarians, especially vegans, could benefit from increased dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids to improve the balance and ratio of omega-3s to omega-6s. They can also benefit from increased vitamin B12 intake, including use of supplements containing vitamin B12 if necessary. Increasing dietary or supplemental omega-3 and vitamin B12 may reduce clotting tendencies that increase vegetarian and vegans’ otherwise low risk of cardiovascular disease.

Duo Li. Chemistry behind Vegetarianism. 2011. J Agric Food Chem 59(3):777–84.

Multivitamins may improve cognitive function and reduce fatigue during extended multi-tasking

[I wish the numbers used were higher, but this is a start anyway.]

In past years, research on multivitamin supplements and cognitive performance has shown mixed results. A recent study sheds more light on the subject with new correlations between multivitamin use, fatigue, and cognitive function in healthy females.

In a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial, researchers studied the effect of a multi-vitamin/mineral in 216 females between the ages of 25 and 50. Participants attended the laboratory before treatment, and again after nine weeks of treatment. During both visits, cognitive function and task-related mood and fatigue were evaluated in two separate 20-minute assessment periods during which participants completed a four-module version of the Multi-Tasking Framework.

Interestingly, participants in the vitamin/mineral group experienced fewer negative effects on mood and fatigue as a result of extended task completion. Multitasking performance for this group also improved (in terms of accuracy) across all tasks. On two of the tasks – Mathematical Processing and Stroop (a task for measuring reaction time) – improvements were seen in both speed and accuracy.

These findings suggest that healthy members of the general population may experience benefits to cognitive function as a result of increased levels of vitamins and minerals taken as dietary supplements.

Haskell CF, et al. Effects of a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement on cognitive function and fatigue during extended multi-tasking. 2010. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hup.v25:6/issuetoc%22%2025(6):448–61.

Advice I will NOT Follow...

What NOT to Do Before Your Next Dental Appointment…

Read the comments at the bottom of this article. As someone who has had extensive dental work in the past, I WOULD take an antibiotic before and/or after extractions! In EVERY case. I do not have the strongest immune system, no matter what I do. And I've learned that if you have a cavity or abscess...your immune system is already struggling. I am against antibiotics for almost every instance. But there are times when you have to err on the side of caution and take the antibiotics. Thankfully in our country, the choice is still YOURS!

Oral magnesium supplementation may reduce risk of type 2 diabetes

Incidence of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome correlates with availability of magnesium (Mg). Insulin resistance occurs when insufficient insulin is released to produce a normal glucose response from fat, muscle, and liver cells. Magnesium supplementation may improve sensitivity to insulin and help reduce the risk of diabetes in overweight individuals.

Researchers recently studied the effect of oral magnesium (Mg) supplementation on insulin sensitivity and other characteristics of metabolic syndrome in overweight, insulin resistant, non-diabetic patients with normal magnesium levels.

Subjects were tested for eligibility using an oral glucose tolerance test, then randomized to receive either magnesium at 365 mg per day or placebo for 6 months. Trial endpoints included several measures of insulin sensitivity, plasma glucose, serum insulin, blood pressure, and a lipid profile. Compared to placebo, magnesium supplementation resulted in a significant improvement of fasting plasma glucose and insulin sensitivity.

Dietary sources of magnesium include green leafy vegetables, meats, starches, grains and nuts, and milk. Earlier dietary surveys showed that a large portion of adults do not meet the RDA for magnesium (320 mg per day for women and 420 mg per day for men).

In this group of overweight, non-diabetic patients with normal magnesium blood levels, two measures of insulin sensitivity improved following magnesium supplementation. There was also a trend for improvement in blood pressure in the magnesium-supplemented group, though it didn’t reach statistical significance.

Mooren FC, et al. Oral magnesium supplementation reduces insulin resistance in non-diabetic subjects – a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. 2011. Diabetes Obes Metab 13(3):281-4

Confirmed: H1N1 Vaccine Linked to Narcolepsy

A top health official admitted that the vaccine was a mistake and soon after, a Narcolepsy panel confirmed the vaccine’s link to the sleep disorder. Read more...

Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program

• Uncover the eating plan which is uniquely designed for your body--so you can enjoy perfect health, the natural and easy way...
• Discover the truth about cholesterol and why it is so vital for optimal health. And learn the 8 steps to lower your cholesterol levels naturally!
• Learn more about this powerhouse nutrient, what Vitamin B12 supplementation can do for you, and the many dangers of being B12-deficient!
• Discover the important news about Vitamin D, its wonderful impact to your body, why many are still "deficient," and how you can optimize your Vitamin D levels.
• Learn why "sweet" isn't all there is to aspartame and other artificial sweeteners. Unmask the mass deception behind these products, and how aspartame can specifically sabotage your weight-loss efforts!
• Be your own healthy chef in 1, 2, 3!

Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program is a must-have for every household. We can no longer afford "healthcare" in this country. We can only afford to be healthy!

New Research Shows Link Between MMR Vaccine and Autism

A must-read article!

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/02/07/new-research-shows-link-between-mmr-vaccine-and-autism.aspx

**Every state has vaccination exemptions. Do not be fooled by ignorant people into believing that your child must receive a single vaccine in order to attend school!

Why You Can't Trust Drug Companies

"Once you've been exposed to the seedy underbelly of the drug business—the LEGAL drug business—you can't but realize that we're dealing with a very large group of criminals and felons. There's really no nicer way to put it.
After all, companies are run by human beings. Company logos don't make decisions by themselves.
As it currently stands, the company usually gets away scot free or with a slap on the wrist. Oh, they do have to pay fines, and in this case it was three quarters of a billion dollars, but when your profits are over $100 billion, it's is not much more than a speeding ticket inconvenience and widely regarded as merely the cost of doing business.
Unless actual individuals are held accountable, what's to stop those individuals from perpetrating the same crime again and again? Nothing!" ~Dr. Mercola

Drug company whistle-blower Cheryl Eckard talks about her experience trying to fix problems at GlaxoSmithKline. Her discoveries about the dangerous practices of the company made her a key figure in a federal lawsuit.

FDA Seeking to Outlaw IV Vitamin C, Other Nutrients

On December 28, 2010 FDA ordered certain small manufacturers to stop making injectable Vitamin C and several other injectable nutrients which are always used under a physician's supervision by classifying IV Vitamin C, Magnesium and certain B Vitamins as "New Drugs". The nutrients under attack, which form the basis of the popular "Myers Cocktail" and countless therapies for serious diseases, may be provided ONLY by compounding pharmacies under a specific prescription for a specific patient. This means that the cost of these nutrients will increase sharply. It also means that the FDA, always hostile to compounding pharmacies and the independent use of nutrients, bio-identical hormones (now banned at the request of Wyeth/Pfizer, which manufactures dangerous synthetic hormones), the biologically active form of Vitamin B-6 (also banned at the request of a drug company) can pick off individual substances and attack compounding pharmacies at their leisure.

To learn more, and to take action, click here.

FDA rejects Avastin as breast cancer therapy

(CNN) -- "The controversial drug Avastin should be phased out as a treatment for metastatic breast cancer, the Food and Drug Administration said Thursday, citing recent studies that show its benefits may be outweighed by dangerous side effects."

(Really? A chemotherapy drug that is more dangerous than it is helpful?! You don't say! Wow, that's something I've never heard of...)

"However, patients currently taking Avastin as part of their chemotherapy regimen will not immediately be affected, and "doctors should use their medical judgment on whether to continue" its use, said Dr. Janet Woodcock of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. The announcement does not affect Avastin's status as an approved therapy for lung cancer, kidney cancer, colorectal cancer and brain cancer."

So what they are saying is, when your doctor gets around to finding a better, just as expensive alternative, he/she will switch your treatment protocol. And even though Avastin has "dangerous side effects" it will somehow help with these other cancers? Really?

Here is more from Dr. Mercola:

Breaking News: Popular Cancer Drug Declared More Harmful Than Helpful

Vitamin C Powder - Ascorbic Acid

When I realized my Vitamin C tablets were expired, I went to Whole Foods to shop for more. I had gotten some chewable Vitamin C's for my kids at our local pharmacy but it has lots of ingredients that I'd rather them not have (including artificial coloring). So I was looking for something for all of us, without the extra ingredients. What I chose was NutriBiotic's Ascorbic Acid Powder - 8 oz. - Powder . At Whole Foods an 8 oz container was $15.49. One teaspoon contains 4000 mg Vitamin C, or 6667% of daily value. It is vegan, hypoallergenic, gluten-free, and other ingredients are: NONE. Sounds great, but how does the product work? We mixed it with a little orange juice and the powder dissolved quite well, without leaving a noticeable taste. We didn't take the whole teaspoon, of course, but it's good to know that it only takes a little bit to get what you need. Both of my kids had colds/cough and it has worked really well on those. If they had something more serious I probably would have started with the teaspoon. There are many articles online on Vitamin C use, and I suggest you include this powdered ascorbic acid in your medicine cabinet. Here are some good ones, including its use with babies!

http://www.doctoryourself.com/vitaminc2.html
http://www.vaccinetruth.org/vitamin_c.htm
http://www.advance-health.com/c.html
http://www.cforyourself.com/

Gardasil Vaccine Injuries and Deaths

This video was sent out by Dr. Mercola. After being home during Christmas vacation and seeing so many talk shows, news programs, or commercials pushing vaccines, drugs, or mainstream health information, I realized why so many people still believe in Big Pharma. It is EVERYWHERE and rarely do any of these programs present the "other side." Big Pharma must own Fox News by now. I should have counted commercials because I'm pretty sure there were at LEAST two drug commercials in every commercial break. Anyway, here is some outdated information about the Gardasil vaccine, which means by now the numbers are probably actually worse:


For Dr. Mercola's two cents, visit The Lethal Medical Failure That's Still Recommended by Your Doctor

For people who don't know this, it is NOT mandatory for children to be vaccinated in order to attend public school in ANY state. You will read that they are "required" but there is a way around it. At our school, they actually keep the forms to sign in the front office. Let me be more clear:
CHILDREN CAN ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOL IN EVERY STATE WITHOUT GETTING A SINGLE VACCINE FOR ANYTHING, GARDASIL OR OTHERWISE!!!!!

Here is vaccination exemption information.

Natural Calm Magnesium Supplement

For the past hour I've been sitting on the couch with my laptop while my daughter (8) paints my toenails. Now for her age, she is an expert pedicurest (did I just make that word up?) So in no way should it be taking her an hour to get this done. It is, er ...WAS bed time. Anyway, I've been sitting here MISERABLE with jitters. It just got worse by the minute, and all I could think about was making some Natural Calm as soon as possible to get rid of this horrible feeling.

I've noticed that when I get low in magnesium, I get jitters as well as heart palpitations or just a general panicky feeling. Other magnsium deficiency symptoms include:

twitches, cramps, muscle tension, muscle soreness, including back aches, neck pain, tension headaches and jaw joint (or TMJ) dysfunction. Also, one may experience chest tightness or a peculiar sensation that he can't take a deep breath. Sometimes a person may sigh a lot.
Symptoms involving impaired contraction of smooth muscles include constipation; urinary spasms; menstrual cramps; difficulty swallowing or a lump in the throat-especially provoked by eating sugar; photophobia, especially difficulty adjusting to oncoming bright headlights in the absence of eye disease; and loud noise sensitivity from stapedius muscle tension in the ear.
Continuing with the symptoms of magnesium deficiency, the central nervous system is markedly affected. Symptoms include insomnia, anxiety, hyperactivity and restlessness with constant movement, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and premenstrual irritability. Magnesium deficiency symptoms involving the peripheral nervous system include numbness, tingling, and other abnormal sensations, such as zips, zaps and vibratory sensations.

Symptoms or signs of the cardiovascular system include palpitations, heart arrhythmias, angina due to spasms of the coronary arteries, high blood pressure and mitral valve prolapse. Be aware that not all of the symptoms need to be present to presume magnesium deficiency; but, many of them often occur together. For example, people with mitral valve prolapse frequently have palpitations, anxiety, panic attacks and premenstrual symptoms. People with magnesium deficiency often seem to be "uptight." Other general symptoms include a salt craving, both carbohydrate craving and carbohydrate intolerance, especially of chocolate, and breast tenderness. (from http://www.mbschachter.com/importance_of_magnesium_to_human.htm )

If any of these symptoms sound like yourself, try some Natural Calm before heading to the doctor's office. Visit Natural Vitality - Natural Calm Rasp-Lemon, 16 oz powder
for more information and to read the numerous testimonies available. I've tried the orange and the raspberry lemon and both are pretty good. Also, I recommend making it as directed (with hot water like a tea) because you can use less of the powder that way. The hot water activates it and lets just say, less is more! LOL Also, start with a small amount and work up to 3 teaspoons. If you just jump right in with 3 tsp you WILL get diarrhea!

Aaaaaahhhhhh. As I was typing this, I had my son (9) fix some Natural Calm tea for me. I've been drinking it and it's already working! Yes, my kids are awesome...

Making Your Own Juice

When my son came down with the flu, he CRAVED orange juice. Since we were home for Christmas break and I had the time, I got out one of our juicers and made some REAL orange juice. I don't know how long I've had juicers but this was the first time I made orange juice at home! I just couldn't see feeding him that worthless store bought junk when he really needed something fresh, with vitamins intact so he could get better faster. Luckily, our local grocer had oranges on sale, too, so we actually juiced them cheaper than it would cost to buy the pasteurized stuff at the store. Man, was it yummy!

You might be wondering why I have two juicers. Well, they both were given to me. I know we should be using them more, but the fact is, they ARE a pain to clean, and with my limited time these days it just doesn't happen. If I were to come down with cancer or something, yeah, I would find the time then, wouldn't I? Here are the two I have, both of which work decently. There are better ones on the market according to reviews, but if someone gives YOU a juicer, accept it graciously and see what it will do!

This is the Jack LaLanne juicer. It worked really well on the oranges. I do not leave peels on, since I read that it makes the juice more bitter. I prefer a mechanical juicer to the "break your wrist twisting the orange on it" juicer because the mechanical juicer removes all the pulp. Plus, it gets more juice out!

The other juicer I have is a Juiceman. It works adequately, too. I was just reading a review that complained that it didn't work after daily use for over a year. Well I'm thinking that's not bad for what these machines do! Obviously, your juicer will start failing faster if you juice carrots everyday, which a lot of people do.

How to Keep your New Year's Resolution

New Year's Day is right around the corner and you know what that means...so is the failure to keep your resolution! Oh, I know; most people don't even bother making them anymore. I'm not sure if it's an "old age" thing or if society has just given up on themselves accomplishing anything in the New Year, but resolutions seem to be a thing of the past.

Nevertheless, it is easier now than ever before to actually KEEP your resolution! (So if you didn't have one, now is a good time to come up with one!) Whether you want to quit smoking, exercise more, eat better, gain confidence, sell more, make more friends, get organized, or find real joy, 2011 can be your best year yet to accomplish your goal(s).

I am speaking from experience and I can tell you THIS WORKS. Instead of going on about something I've already written about, let me share with you the Think Right Now Behavior Modification Program I wrote about on my website. Whether you actually make a resolution or not does not matter. I know we all contemplate our strengths and weaknesses around this time of year, and think about the little changes we can make to improve our lives. So check out this program and see if it's something that might work for you! (It is!) :)

Flu Prevention and Remedy

Last Monday night, my son came down with the flu. He just didn't feel right, but couldn't explain it. Then the fever came. "Ugggghhhhh," I thought. We had neglected to take our Vitamin D for about a week. The first thing I did was give him some D, some C, and put him in bed. The next morning, he stayed home from school, and I continued the Vitamin D and C regimen, taking them myself, as well as giving it to my daughter. That night he got out of bed, speaking in tongues, and then went into the living room and threw up all over the carpet. As I prepared his midnight bath, he asked, "Mommy, am I gonna die?"

"No," I said.

"Is there even a 1% chance?"

"If there was, we would be at the hospital right now."

That's when I realized why people go to the doctor and hospital so often for every little thing. We have been scared by statistics (reported incorrectly) about deaths from flu, and when kids feel that bad we want someone to fix it, lest they become a statistic. The truth is, the flu does feel horrible, but treated correctly, will come and go before you know it.

If TREATED CORRECTLY. My son was fever free by Thursday. Feeling perfectly fine...ready to play...eat...live. This was not a stomach bug, often mislabeled the "flu." This was fever, chills, aches, and delerium. His highest fever that we read was 102.6. That's pretty high for a kid who is normally 97. He also has a history of lung problems...croup as a baby, pneumonia, and asthma (that we nipped in the bud at age 3 with vitamins) so I waited for the secondary infection so many people get after the flu (which is what people actually die from). He doesn't even have a sniffle.

We have liquid Vitamin D at home, so I gave this to my son morning and night. Also, Vitamin C all day. (I did this once when he was 5. That summer he had a fever of 105 and I gave him Vitamin C until he had a really good bowel movement. You can give it until it causes stomach discomfort or loose stools).

I am still flu-free and so is my daughter. If you want to learn more about using Vitamin D, here is another great article from Dr. Mercola:

Can Vitamin D Cure the Common Cold?

Vitamin D According to Dr. Mercola

We've been taking Vitamin D in "large" amounts for the past two years during fall and winter. Though I have two young kids and have historically had a weak immune system, we have been flu free since...I can't remember. Even colds that come up now are gone within a week. In the past, they have dragged on for many weeks. Not to mention, for the first time EVER, both of my kids have been getting "no cavities" reports at the dentist office. This was after YEARS of poor dental health. (See my story on Preventing Cavities in Baby Teeth). So I mention Vitamin D here a lot. It's important. And it's one of those vitamins that keeps getting a bad rap by the sheeple of big pharma. So as long as they keep pushing, I'll keep pushing back. Here's Dr. Mercola's article:

Why the New Vitamin D Recommendations Spell Disaster For Your Health

Long-term Multivitamin Use in Women Reduces the Risk of Heart Attack

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the association between multivitamin use and myocardial infarction (MI) in a large population of women.
The study included 31,671 Swedish women with no history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 2,262 women with a history of CVD aged 49–83 years. At the beginning of the study, the women completed a questionnaire regarding dietary supplement use, diet, and lifestyle factors. Multivitamins were estimated to contain nutrients close to recommended daily allowances.
During an average of 10.2 years of follow-up, 932 MI cases were identified in the CVD-free group and 269 cases in the CVD group. In the CVD-free group, use of multivitamins only, compared with no use of supplements, was associated with a 27% decreased risk of CVD. When multivitamins were used in conjunction with other supplements, the risk of CVD was decreased by 30%. In those that used only supplements other than multivitamins the reduction in risk was much smaller at only 7%. In women that used multivitamins for more than 5 years there was a 41% reduction in risk of CVD.

This research showed that the use of multivitamins was inversely associated with MI, especially among long-term users with no history of CVD. Rautiainen S, Akesson A, Levitan EB, Morgenstern R, Mittleman MA, Wolk A. Multivitamin us and the risk of myocardial infarction: a population-based cohort of Swedish women. 2010. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 92, (5), 1251-6.

**I personally know a woman who suffered from congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy who was rescued by a "friend with a bag of vitamins." The trick is to find high quality, bio-available pills (not the ones that cost $5.99 a bottle on the grocery store shelf.) I can tell you that it takes a lot of CO-Q10 and grape seed extract as well. My friend was at home waiting to die, and that was many years ago. He heart health returned to better than "normal"!

High-Dose Vitamin D Use Questioned by "Experts"

This morning when I woke up I remembered hearing a blurb last week on my local news channel about Vitamin D use not being as positive as many had proclaimed. I missed the news that night, so I Googled it to see if I could find an article online. As I read the article, I realized THIS is why I have a blog to mention these things; for the mainstream people who will believe it without a second thought. Read the article. Just in case they decided to remove comments, I have posted the comments that are there as of this morning. There may be more when you read the article, but here are the first ones...

wbgrant at 8:12 AM December 4, 2010
What is overlooked in this story is that the federal agencies that sponsored the study, the National Institutes of Health, the FDA, etc., severely limited the types of studies that could be considered by the panel. They permitted randomized controlled trials and prospective studies where a single value of blood level vitamin D was made and disease outcomes determined for up to 15 years of follow up. They did not permit case-control studies with blood level vitamin D measured at time of disease diagnosis or ecological studies that use solar ultraviolet B doses as the index of vitamin D production. The permitted studies are generally quite weak while the denied studies are generally strong. Thus, by setting the conditions of the study, the sponsors determined the findings. Many other reviews have found beneficial effects for vitamin D. The interested reader can find such reviews on the Web. There are about 100 diseases for which beneficial effects of vitamin have been identified.

Sunlight Caller at 8:23 AM December 4, 2010
"Vitamin" D is a steroid hormone when metabolized. Because it is a steroid hormone it is orders of magnitude more complex and essential in human function. The most difficult, troublesome medical conditions are often treated with such steroids as either a last resort, or lack of any other medication or procedure which will provide therapeutic benefit.
All other significant steroid hormone medications are available by prescription only. Thus vitamin D, essentially free, presents a problem to the general medical community because it is beyond their control.
Pharmaceutical companies clearly recognize mountains of compelling evidence that confirm vitamin D's obvious benefit in those suffering from a nearly endless list of chronic and acute diseases. This fact makes their profit projections unstable at best. The possibility of widespread use of a low cost alternative to expensive and marginally effective prescription medications is a threat unequaled on their collective radar.
Ultimately the Board has ignored evolution in a comical fashion. It is well know that the human body produces 10-20,000 i.u. in barely 15 minutes of high angle sun exposure. 10-20,000 i.u. naturally, daily, and yet the board cautions that "too much" vitamin D is harmful?
Profits and control are the real issues here.

Ed in Socal at 9:25 AM December 4, 2010

What hasn't been stated is that the "Institute of Medicine" is a Washington DC-based lobbying firm. Members of its board include the CEO of Merck, etc. The so-called study was sponsored and its data provided by onlt major pharmaceutical companies. The report itself was written by employees at Pfizer. The report is clearly a blatant lie designed solely to dissuade the citizenry from taking preventative steps to avoid the very diseases big pharma makes its money by 'treating' with the drugs it manufacturers. The activity by the "Institute of Medicine" is despicable and possibly criminal. The report should be considered worthless, except as evidence against big pharma. That the press reports this as important new guidelines from a quasi-government agency illustrates that the press, as usual, isn't vetting the press releases it prints as news.

AJ2011 at 10:44 AM December 4, 2010
Melissa - it's ironic that you present such a pre-concluded position on vitamin D BEFORE any of the very studies you mention are completed! Your argument is essentially reduced to name-calling as you arbitrarily label certain vitamin D doses as "mega doses" while making NO MENTION of actual 25(OH) vitamin D blood serum levels. It is nonsensical to establish dose recommendations or "limits" without looking at blood levels and the associated epidemiology. See www.uctv.tv/vitamind/ and watch actual scientists from recognized medical schools show the correlation of chronic diseases. They repeatedly show a drastic reduction of cancer incidence & mortality for those with a 25(OH) D level of 40-60 ng/ml, which is (post unfinished)

Help Me PLEASE!!!!!

Please click this link to vote for my entry to win a Springfree trampoline for my kids. I promised them one at Christmas, which is right about when child support stopped coming... Yeah, I chose to keep feeding them instead of getting a trampoline... I know it's a novel idea...

PLEASE VOTE!!!!!

http://apps.facebook.com/contestshq/contests/36453/voteable_entries/5450701?order=recency&view_entries=1

Kids' Drinks Cause Cancer?

This weekend I ended up with the extra "Kool-Aid Jammers" that were given as snacks after my daughter's ball game. There are no ingredients listed on the individual pouch (similar to "Capri Sun," so I had to look them up since both of my kids can't have aspartame. Boy, did I step into a mine field!!

It turns out, the Jammers, among many other drinks, contain chemicals that form benzene (a carcinogen) when mixed together. You can read more here:

Benzene in Soft Drinks

If you think this story doesn't apply to you, see this list of other offenders before you click away:

Partial List of Soft Drinks Containing Ascorbic Acid and Potassium or Sodium Benzoate (Make sure you check current ingredients, as the makers may have changed them since this article was written)
Country Time Lemonade
Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange
Diet Pepsi Twist
Diet Pepsi Vanilla
Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry
Diet RockStar Energy Drink
Fanta - Orange
Fanta - Pineapple
Fruit20 Plus 10 Natural Apple
Giant Fruity Punch Cooler
Hawaiian Punch - Fruit Juicy Red
Hawaiian Punch - Lemonade
HiC Blast - Berry Blue
HiC Blast - Fruit Pow
HiC Blast - Orange Super Nova
Koolaid Jammers - Blue Raspberry
Koolaid Jammers - Cherry
Koolaid Jammers - Grape
Koolaid Jammers - Orange
Koolaid Jammers 10 - Cherry
Koolaid Jammers 10 - Kiwi Strawberry
Koolaid Jammers 10 - Tropical Punch
Lo-Carb Monster Energy
Minute Maid – Tropical Citrus
Monster Energy
Mug Root Beer
Pepsi Twist Lemon
Pepsi Vanilla
RockStar Energy Drink
Sierra Mist
Sierra Mist Free
Sunkist
Sunny D
Sunny D Baja
Sunny D Intense Sport Cool Punch
Sunny D Orange-Fused Strawberry
Sunny D Smooth
Sunny D Smooth + Calcium
Talking Rain sparkling water - Black Raspberry
Talking Rain sparkling water - Harvest Peach
Talking Rain sparkling water - Orange Mango
Talking Rain sparkling water - Pink Grapefruit
Tampico Citrus Punch
Tampico Grape Punch
Tampico Tropical Punch
Tropicana Lemonade
Tropicana Orangeade
Tropicana Pink Lemonade
Tropicana Strawberry Melon
Tropicana Twister Diet Soda (Diet Orange)
Tropicana Twister Soda – Grape
Tropicana Twister Soda – Orange
Tropicana Twister Soda – Strawberry

Cancer and the REAL Leading Cause of Death

In less than an hour, I went from reading a purely innocent article entitled, "How Your Endocrine System is Being Harmed by the Top 5 Home Toxins," to re-discovering a truth I forgot I knew about the real leading cause of death to Americans. First, regarding the article, it is very informative regarding the toxins we bring into our home. For approximately 3-4 years I've kept air purifiers in my home for allergies as well as keeping other toxins and contaminants out of the air. Most people don't realize that lung cancer is actually the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. (But not the leading cause of death...)

I then ended up at another article, "What Caused a Dramatic Drop in Breast Cancer … Plus Top 11 Things You Can do to Lower Your Risk Even More …" It is a great article reminding us all that we do have some control over whether or not we get breast cancer, and if we do, the best way to help fight it.

The "C Word" is something we all fear. We participate in Relay for Life, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, and the Avon 3 Day walk. In the world of public relations, breast cancer especially has gotten a pretty good name for itself, don't you think? But has it earned that right? Looking at projected statistics for 2010, 19% of breast cancer patients will die. But 71% of lung cancer patients will die. Hmmmm. All that hype going toward "breast cancer" and what's really getting us is lung cancer. Perhaps you can say that all the hype has led to better success rates for breast cancer, but I don't think so. And if that were so, why not do the same now for lung cancer?

I watched a new Christiane Northrup lecture on PBS last weekend called, "Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom." She clarified something for me about self breast exams and why studies recently showed that women should stop doing them. Women who did self-exams found more tumors, including malignant ones, and detected some cancers earlier, but there was no significant difference in death rates. According to Dr. Northrup, "early detection" leads to finding cancers that would often go away on their own. She suggested that we take care of our bodies properly, and listen to them because we often get that gut feeling when something is really wrong. If you count all these "baby tumors" as breast cancer, you can see why the survival rate would be good...because the women having them wouldn't have died from the cancer at all. As a matter of fact, I just read somewhere and can't find the source, that cancers are often found during autopsies, where the cause of death was natural. So it's not uncommon to have cancer in our bodies that doesn't affect us at all. But if we start cutting out and attacking every lump or bump, I'm sure the "treatment" will eventually kill us. I highly suggest finding Dr. Northrup's lecture on your local PBS channel!

Now to the real reason I sat down to write. I still haven't shared the leading cause of death. If you have paid attention at all during the last 10 years or so, you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death.

Studies show that few women identify heart disease as their top cause of death. Significantly more women fear breast cancer over heart disease. Yet more women die from heart disease each year than from all cancers combined.

Whether you are a man or a woman, your chance of having cardiovascular disease (and dying from it) are greater than ALL cancers combined. So why is it that we fear the "C Word" so often and then get sneaked up on by a heart attack?! It all comes down to public relations (PR). Whether more money has gone into cancer campaigns, or their campaigns have been more effective, I don't know. But somehow we have grown this massive misconception in our country that cancer is what's going to get us. Perhaps believing that, and then believing that it is something out of our control is the reason so many people live like they do. I don't know.... Perhaps because the treatment for cancer is more dramatic and prolonged, it has garnered the sympathy donations, leading to more PR. It really has a life of it's own, and well, heart disease is something "old" people get and they just die and go away. Sorry to be blunt, but isn't that what's happening here?

If you look at the numbers, it is sad. The American Cancer Society only puts 15% of its funds toward research, but I would bet that most people think otherwise when they donate. The American Heart Association puts 20.8% toward research, but an impressive 40% toward public education. I also just read that the American Heart Association does not receive federal funding (although they do help other organizations receive funding for programs), and one of the goals for the American Cancer Society is to get MORE federal funding!

The point to all this is...we are each responsible for our own bodies. Our doctors, researchers, parents, or kids are not responsible for what we put in our mouths daily, whether we smoke, the air that we breathe or the toxins we invite into our homes. Giving money is not going to keep you alive, but spending that money on your own health WILL. And KNOW THE REAL DANGER FOR YOU. If you have hypertension, cholesterol problems, chest pains, or other little known heart symptoms, you should probably be more concerned about heart health than fearing cancer!

P.S. Eat your veggies!

The Problem with "Health Care"

The problem with health care is plain and simple...it is...PEOPLE. Yes, PEOPLE, and I'll back that up with examples...

People want to eat crap all day long, wash it down with something like pop, alcohol, or even toxin-laden water, and as long as their bellies are full, they are happy as can be. They want to drink to drunkeness, smoke cigarettes, sit on their butts watching television all evening, and wake up the next day and do it all over. People LOVE feeding junk food to their kids and wouldn't dare make them eat healthy food...because they don't eat it themselves. They are fed candy, soda, cookies, and french fries, and if they are lucky, they might get a veggie- corn- once a week. Almost everything kids drink has "sugar" or "high fructose corn syrup" in the first two ingredients, and when they DO drink milk, it's pasteurized and homogenized, making it practically useless. Kids then are given life-altering vaccinations that "people" trust are good for them, not really ever looking at the consequences, because they are sure someone has already done that, and our government SURELY wouldn't do anything harmful to our kids.

When people are sick, they just go to the doctor to get a pill, and if God forbid the doctor says ANYTHING about their weight, they will complain to anyone who will listen for at least two weeks. The problem is, SO many people are sick these days, because of diet, bad habits, and laziness, that it has tipped our health care system upside down. These sick, lazy people expect healthy people who eat right and exercise to pick up their tab. Which is essentially what "insurance" is doing; taking money from everyone to help pay for the sick. And unfortunately, the economically disadvantaged are usually the ones out of work, who smoke, drink, and feed their families crap.

Don't get me wrong. My mother told me a long time ago, "Just because you have no money doesn't mean you don't take care of what you've got." And we didn't have much growing up. But times have changed. Parents have gotten lazy, people have been handed too much, and nobody wants to work for anything anymore. It is much easier to sit on your front porch missing teeth, smoking a Marlboro, and swigging on that 40.

The people who are really getting jacked are the children who are born with diseases or birth defects, who can't get coverage because the insurance companies are panicking over all the other crap they have to pay out for. When our kid gets an ear infection we want to pay a $10 copay to the doctor, and pay $5 for the antibiotic. When our kid has the sniffles, we rush him to the doctor. I can't believe all the times I've heard parents say they were taking their kids to the doctor! You have to be bloody or blue in my house to warrant a doctor visit, and there'd BETTER be something seriously wrong with you!

We have been spoiled with employer-paid coverage and expect it to keep going. We blame corporations for not dishing out. Granted there are some companies that can pay and don't. There are others that can't, or they'd go out of business. You have the freedom in this country to get a job that provides good insurance, or start your own business and make enough money to afford your own coverage. And you'd better sit down for this. You know all that money you raise for your favorite health organizations like the American Cancer Society? Their employees have AWESOME insurance! So while you are barely scraping by paying premiums and still trying to keep enough in your pocket to actually go to the doctor if you need to, you are helping others have it better than you!

So before you blame the insurance companies, the government, the corporations and illegal immigrants (don't get me started on THAT!) take a look around at all the sick people you know who can afford their crappy lifestyle, and then think about people like me who make every effort to eat healthy, drink pure water, breathe clean air, exercise, and avoid toxins, who are paying insurance premiums "just in case" and getting pretty much nothing in return.

Health care begins at home. It starts with what you put in your grocery cart and stock in your fridge. Until people get that right, we will ALWAYS be in dire straits when it comes to health care. People need to wake up and be held accountable for their futures. Instead of saying, "help me," help yourself and make a change...because the alternative is no longer an option.

Drinking Water Quality in Schools

My children were schooled for the first time this spring, after being homeschooled for 3-4 years. About 6 weeks after starting school, they both began to complain about stomach aches. Before they ate, after they ate, and any time in between, I heard the complaints often. At first I blamed the poor quality food they received at lunch. About a week after summer vacation started, I noticed that the complaints stopped. Now I'm not sure what caused the problem, but I'm growing suspicious of the water at the school. At home, we drink distilled water. Our community is known for high nitrate water, and with old pipes at the school we could be talking about lead or copper levels beyond what children should be drinking.

So I started wondering. I was told at some point that restaurants are required to filter their drinking water. I don't know if this is true or not, but from my research I have discovered no such protection for children in schools. As a matter of fact, I found scary stuff that makes me look into this matter further. Here are some links I found if you would like to read more. Keep in mind as you read that the EPA allows a certain level of contaminants in municipal drinking water. As a parent of young kids with developing minds and bodies, I do not agree that they should be drinking ANY level of contaminants.

Also, I do not believe that we should demand that the government spend millions of dollars to fix OUR children's drinking water. My point is that I want to know how bad the water is and if there is anything in place to clean it. If not, the community needs to come up with a solution. I will be writing more on this in the future!

Drinking Water Unsafe at Thousands of Schools

Senate Hearing on Safer School Water Quality Standards with EPA

EPA announces new policies on water quality at schools

Drinking Water Testing and InformationFor Water Well Homeowners, Private Water Well Owners, Realtors, Plumbing Contractors, Water Well Drillers

Raw Cow's Milk is the Cat's Meeeeeooooww

A few weeks ago we took in a kitten that I have now decided was weaned too early. The poor thing is suckling on my fingers, knuckles, toes, and even elbows! I discovered that he really loved licking the bowl of my morning breakfast- raw cow's milk yogurt- so I gave him that luxury. Then I decided to feed him some milk from a dropper to see what he would do. Meeeeoooowwwww!

Now whenever he even sees the milk carton he meows like crazy and demands MORE! We don't give him much, but it really seems to help calm him down. This is not the milk you get at the grocery store. It is raw milk from grass fed cows. And despite what you will read all over the internet about "milk," it has not given him diarrhea at all! I was actually doing some research on it when I realized that it's been a long time since I've hollered out to the internet world, "HEY YOU! Raw cow's milk is good for you and you should drink it everyday!"

We've been consuming raw dairy in our house for about 4 years. I have never been healthier. My cholesterol is low, and with my adrenal gland issues, I've actually read that red meat, salt, and raw dairy is perfect for me. (Good thing I don't listen to conventional wisdom because I would probably be dead by now!)

If you have never tried raw milk, do not write off "milk" because of lactose intolerance. And definitely don't write it off just because some goon on the internet says, "cow's milk is for cows, not humans." Some of us need it very much, and there are many life affirming properties that you can get from real, raw, unprocessed milk. Here is a starter article I have found that might help your research, because really, don't just listen to me either...

Raw Milk
by Tom Cowan, MD

Shower Filters

When I was younger I thought of shower filters as more of a luxury item. They were for people who wanted softer skin and softer hair, without having to lather on lotions or conditioners. As I got older, and the internet came into my life, I learned a lot more about the dangers of chlorine in shower water and its implications to human health.

When I was younger, we also all thought that toxins or chemicals could only enter the body if we swallowed them. We now know that the skin allows what we put on it to enter the body. With that discovery, we should realize that there are some changes to our daily lives that need to happen if we want to protect our DNA and keep our cells from mutating into things like cancer.

The best way to protect yourself from known carcinogens (like chloroform) is to use a good shower filter on your daily shower. For short term effects, your skin and hair will be softer. Even better, those with asthma or COPD will be protected from the harmful affects of chloramines in regular municipal tap water. When water is heated and we breathe in the steam, that steam contains chlorine by-products and any other contaminant that might be in the water. We breathe it in, where it goes into our lungs and directly into our blood stream.

"I have well water" is no excuse to not filter your shower. All water coming into your house will have something in it that your body doesn't need. Showerwise shower filters reduce iron, lead, arsenic, mercury, hydrogen sulfide, several types of bacteria, algae, fungi and mold.

If you know someone who is battling cancer, the Showerwise is an excellent "get well" gift. And if you want to do your best to prevent it in your family, a Showerwise is a definite necessity.

Chemical-Free Progesterone Cream Testimony

If you are male, sorry, this will be TMI. If you are a wonderful boyfriend or husband, this information might just help your girlfriend or wife, so listen up!! :)

Sometime before my 38th birthday, I noticed that my periods weren't as "normal" as they used to be. Instead of every 28 days, they were more like every 21-23 days. Then I noticed that I had spotting, almost every day in between my periods. As someone who had a regular period every 28 days since the age 11 (except for pregnancies), I knew that it was probably time for "the change." For many women, "the change" can take place over a ten year period (no pun intended), when menstruation finally ceases. This time period is known as "peri-menopause."

If you or your woman is in her mid-30s and beginning to have varying cycles, it is probably peri-menopause. But here's the problem...it's a freaking PAIN in the neck. I ruined so many pairs of panties from continual spotting and refusing to use any pads or liners. I just knew I would stop spotting, but I never did. Finally, I had a period show up that I wasn't even sure was my period because I had spotted the whole month. But seven days later, when I was still bleeding through SUPER absorbent tampons, I knew this was either a much heavier than normal period, or I was bleeding to death!

That is where I finally drew the line and decided to try progesterone cream. After the very first month, things went back to normal. My periods went back to a 28 day cycle, and the spotting ceased within the month. Of course, there are many other benefits of progesterone cream, and if you are having other symptoms that you feel may be related to a hormone imbalance associated with peri-menopause, click on the image below to learn a whole lot more about progesterone cream and how it might help you! Don't wait until you have to replace all your panties, and don't wait for your man to Google, "What is wrong with my hormonal woman?"

No Deaths from Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids or Herbs

As we all argue about health care reform, what are we really fighting for? The ability to get prescriptions cheaper that are killing us daily? As we fight about who is entitled to health care, the monsters in control quietly work at removing our freedoms to take supplements that provide health benefits... read the article

The FDA Shuts Down Common Infant Vaccine After Startling Discovery

“U.S. federal health authorities recommended … that doctors suspend using Rotarix, one of two vaccines licensed in the U.S. against rotavirus, saying the vaccine is contaminated with material from a pig virus,” CNN reports. (Read more...)

Sadly, this is an example of a vaccine that really isn't neccesary for U.S. children or those in developed countries. If you do vaccinate your kids, make sure that they are getting what you really think they need, and not every vaccine on the market. It is YOUR child...not the doctor's and NOT the government's. DO YOUR RESEARCH!

Great Article on MSG Dangers

I've always been careful about food choices, but ever since Jamie Oliver has jumped into our living room, I've become even more careful than usual. Obesity has numerous causes, including overeating, of course. But making better food choices is more important now, more than ever before. Making the wrong choices can actually alter your brain, leading to more obesity!

Studies show MSG fed Mice became Grossly Obese

Make sure you read the comments at the bottom as well!

High Fructose Corn Syrup Linked to Liver Scarring

There has been a lot in the media about high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) recently and if you weren't aware of this, you may have caught the commercial on TV stating how HFCS is just like sugar. Well, it's not. Don't believe everything you see on commercials...unless it's those numerous side effects for drugs that you "might" get (you WILL) and always double check the information to see for yourself. You can be that if there is a commercial, they are spending that money for a reason, and sometimes it IS to pull the wool over your eyes. Here is one article:

High Fructose Corn Syrup Linked to Liver Scarring

And if you've missed other HFCS information, here's one from 2007 from Dr. Mercola:
How High Fructose Corn Syrup Damages Your Body

There is something in that first article that I don't agree with. The author refers to the solution to heart disease as being a low-fat diet. That is simply not true. Most people these days realize that we have to consume the RIGHT fats, in proportional amounts. But I'm pretty sure Americans on "low fat" diets have proven that they lead to "high carb" diets which are MUCH worse for you. Look at our obesity epidemic for proof...

If you are a parent of young children, check these foods for HFCS and buy alternatives! If you think of some that I'm not listing, please comment and mention them!

jelly/jam, catsup (or Ketchup), soft drinks, syrup, barbecue sauces, salad dressings, baked goods, cereals

You can find alternative jelly, catsup and real maple syrup in your natural foods section.

Lack of Vitamin D in U.S. Kids “Shocking”

Just in time for cold and flu season, here is some information that will be truely helpful to you. Make sure you are getting enough Vitamin D because it is very important and provides many benefits to your entire body!

Root Canal Case Studies: Dental Toxicity and Cancer

Here is the beginning of a great article by Bill Henderson on root canals and cancer.

"Before I begin "harping" again on my favorite subject about cancer cause and cure, let me thank you for your patience while Terry and I enjoyed a wonderful vacation in Italy from July 16th through August 3rd. It took me a couple of weeks to catch up on the backup of calls and e-mails (and get over the jet lag), but it was a wonderful trip. We saw all the "highlights" of Italy -- and some of the lowlights. Our favorite part of the trip, which included Venice, Verona, Pisa, Lucca, Florence, Rome and Naples, was the Cinque Terre. This is a group of five quaint villages literally carved out of the cliff along the Mediterranean. You can hike between them and the coast views are incredible. We even swam some at one of the beaches. If I had it to do over again, I would concentrate on the Tuscany area in central Italy. This includes the Cinque Terre region as well as Pisa (boring), Lucca (Puccini's home), and Florence (incredible).
Now, back to my favorite subject -- dental toxicity and its relation to cancer. Why, you ask, do I keep stressing this subject in my newsletters, radio shows, workshops and speeches? I'll tell you why. Because I've found from talking to about 3,000 cancer patients in the last 9 years that it is a critical factor in almost all of their cancer healing."
Read more...

Should Parents be Forced to Give their Child Chemotherapy?

I just read an interesting blog post from Dr. Laura that I totally disagree with. You can read it here: http://www.drlaurablog.com/2009/05/21/fleeing-from-life-saving-cancer-treatment/

Dr. Laura, like most people in the USA, assumes that chemotherapy is a life-saving cancer treatment that will surely save this boy from his disease. She also assumes that natural treatments will be ineffective. But how does she know? She doesn't. The fact is that information is being withheld from people that would help them better understand how cancer works and how best to defeat it.

I have a friend whose little boy was in cancer treatment. She did a lot of her own research on the side, and found it astonishing that while doctors pumped dangerous drugs into these cancer-stricken children, they also fed them cancer-causing foods and watched parents give them pop from their own machines while in the hospital! People are still in denial that their diets have anything to do with cancer or any other disease they might "end up with." This is because the cancer industry is focusing on the expensive drugs that fund their paychecks and not on what people really need to know!

Quickly Googling "how effective is chemotherapy" will bring up loads of information on this topic including this great article: http://cancerfighter.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/how-effective-is-chemotherapy/ The fact is, chemotherapy has proven much less effective in treating cancers, yet doctors still present it as a panacea for cancer in almost all cases. (It has a 2-5% success rate!)

The other question here is whether or not the government has the right to make us or our children receive medical care that we do not want. How is it any more their right to decide what medical care children should receive than their own parents' rights? And does this mean that if government imposed treatment is forced unwillingly that parents can sue when the treatment doesn't work? The last time I checked, I live in the USA. We have certain freedoms here. And as far as I'm concerned, being intelligent and conscientious and not allowing my child to receive treatment that will possibly kill him before the disease does is a freedom that should be encouraged by our citizens, members of government included. Let them have our soldiers; our children are parents' responsibilities!!

Natural Solution to Urinary Tract Infections

My daughter started having UTI's at age 3. She was fully potty trained, staying dry at night, and I later realized, getting too busy with playing to stop and go potty. Yes, after about a thousand dollars in testing, we found out she was totally fine physically, but she kept on getting infections. This tends to happen when little ones (particularly girls) hold their urine too long. And once they get one infection, they are more susceptible to them in the future.
After a while, I realized that cranberry supplements were very effective in keeping these infections at bay. So we gave them to her daily, even more than what the label suggested. She is now 6.5 and we haven't used the cranberry in a while. But yesterday morning, I knew something was wrong when she woke up at 8 am and I kept hearing the bathroom door close. She asked if she could take a bath because she was "hurting." Oddly enough, this was the first time she has experienced pain with a UTI, and if you've ever had one, you know why that is strange!
So my suspicions were correct, and it took about 10 minutes to talk her into taking the cranberry. (With one infection her fever went up to 106 degrees and she had to get a very painful shot...I simply reminded her of that.) The pills don't taste bad, she was just grumpy and in pain and wanted to defy anything I asked of her.
Within the hour, I had my happy, cheerful daughter back and there were no further signs of infection. Had we not had the cranberry supplements, we would have spent $60 at the doctor and at least $10 for antibiotics, not to mention the havoc that they wreak on the body!
I can only vouch for the ones that we take, the "Solaray CranActin Chewables." This company also has drops, and pills for adults, but the chewable is good for the whole family so it's good to keep around the house.
If your child has never had a UTI you may be wondering how you would know if you don't take your child to the doctor. Like I said, my daughter never experienced pain. She has had pain in her kidney area, but not "down there" like is typical. The very first symptom I ever saw from her was that she had an accident on the kitchen floor. She was totally potty trained. Five minutes later, it happened again. She was also unable to stay dry at night, even though she had been dry at night for six months. Another tell-tale sign is that the urine has a different smell. It stinks, actually. My son got an infection when we drove to Dallas for six hours and I realized when he was having painful urination that he hadn't had any water all day. Yikes! Another symptom which is really scary is blood in the urine. With her first infection, my daughter never complained of pain, so when I saw blood in her urine I was severely alarmed.
The most common reason children get infections is not drinking enough water, and holding their urine. When they hold it, the sensation goes away temporarily and they think they don't have to go anymore. Then it comes back, and they know it will go away, so they wait through it, and resume play. This is where parents come in. Making your children come inside to potty is key to avoiding this problem. If you have to set a timer to remind you, it would be wise. The most important thing to children is having fun, and going potty does nothing but get in the way of their goal.
If you have urinary tract problems yourself, I would definitely get on this regimen! Also, make sure to boost your immune system by eating right and getting outside when it's sunny. And it goes without saying...drink plenty of pure water daily and avoid your favorite sodas.

Crystal Stick Deodorant

If you have seen the Crystal Stick deodorant in the little purple container and always wondered if it worked, it does! As a matter of fact, it works WAY better than other natural deodorants. For me it has even worked better than the "fully loaded" un-natural deodorants that are supposed to stop anything. Not only does the Crystal Stick not stain your shirts, it doesn't leave that gooey mess in your armpits, which might matter to you now that summer is fast approaching. For campers and hikers, you can rest assured that none of nature's winged creatures will be attracted to you this summer since the Crystal Stick has no scent.
The Crystal Stick is made of natural mineral salts and is completely free of chemicals, perfumes, and dyes. You simply wet the stick (or use on wet arm pits after shower) and rub on the arm pits just like you would any regular deodorant. You can also use it on smelly feet!
Of course, after swimming, you would need to re-apply, whereas a regular deodorant would hang on after swimming. If you've always wondered about this product, now you know! Try it...it will save you money! One stick lasts approximately one year.

Interesting Articles on the FDA and Alternative Medicine

Here are a couple of articles that you might find interesting:

FDA scientists complain to Obama of 'corruption' By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR

'Alternative' Medicine Is Mainstream- By DEEPAK CHOPRA , DEAN ORNISH , RUSTUM ROY and ANDREW WEIL The evidence is mounting that diet and lifestyle are the best cures for our worst afflictions.

Sleep Disorders

Dr. Oz (you know- "Oprah's doctor") is talking about people who have trouble sleeping this week. I can't imagine suffering from a sleep disorder, as I've dealt with a few from time to time for just a short period and they almost drove me mad. As a child, I would sleep walk often. But not being able to sleep is probably one of the worst feelings in the world, and NOT something I could deal with easily.
I'm one of those that falls asleep practically as soon as my head hits the pillow. But sometimes, for whatever reason, I can't sleep! Usually it's because I've got too much on my mind. I try to keep a stress-free life, but things creep in and get to me, and chip away at my sleep.
At one point in my life, I thought I had to get everything done before I could go to bed, so I was up until 2 am some nights. Then I would sleep until 10 am. Recently, I reversed that habit and get up at either 4 am or 6 am (depending on how much I have to do) and go to bed much earlier. This schedule has also helped me get some alone time, which is VERY helpful since I am a single mom who also homeschools. I had read somewhere that going to bed earlier and getting up earlier is a more natural schedule for our bodies and I think this is true. I feel much better. And I know if I don't finish something, I will have time in the morning to do so. Just changing the timing seems to have given me three extra hours in the day. It's wild! If you have control over your schedule, it might be something you want to look into if you aren't doing it already.
In any case, this might help you get the sleep you need if you are lying awake at night, tossing and turning, and watching the hours go by. Happy sleeping!

Yoplait and rBGH Drama - Breast Cancer Cause

Yes, you read that title correctly! The Yoplait/rBGH drama is enough stress by itself to cause breast cancer! So here's the deal. I received a couple of emails from two different organizations. Here is one:

Dear Citizen Activist,
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and you may have already seen the ads touting Yoplait's campaign against breast cancer, called Save Lids to Save Lives .
The company plans to donate 10 cents to the fight against breast cancer for every cup of yogurt with with a pink foil lid that consumers purchase.
Yoplait touts its yogurt as being healthy for women, but what's inside is anything but.
The reality is that Yoplait yogurt is made with milk from cows that have been injected with a synthetic hormone called recombinant bovine growth hormone (called rBGH or rBST). Research indicates that there are numerous health concerns linked to the consumption of dairy from cows injected with rBGH - and breast cancer is one of them.
The bottom line is that rBGH is unsafe - and unnecessary. In fact, the use of rBGH has already been banned in Australia, Canada, Japan, and all 27 countries in the European Union. In addition to the many companies that offer rBGH-free products, big-box stores and food and beverage chains like Wal-Mart, Publix, Kroger, Starbucks, and Chipotle have committed to reducing or completely eliminating dairy products made with rBGH from their stores. If these companies can do it, Yoplait can too. In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and in solidarity with millions of women, ask Yoplait to do the right thing and put a lid on rBGH.
Thanks for staying involved,
The Citizens for Health Team

So of course, I clicked on the button so that my "voice would be heard," and got this response from Yoplait:

Thank you for contacting General Mills concerning BST.

BST (bovine somatotropin) is a hormone naturally found in cows. The synthetic version of this hormone (not to be confused with a steroid hormone) has been subjected to extensive testing. The Food & Drug Administration, American Medical Association, National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture along with a number of other science-based organizations have concluded that there are no food safety issues in conjunction with milk produced by BST-supplemented cows.

Because BST is naturally found in all cows′ milk, there is no scientific way to test the milk to determine if the BST present is from synthetic sources or natural sources. The amount of BST present in milk will not be greater from a synthetic source than it would be occurring naturally.

For more information about Bovine Somatotropin (BST) or Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH) you may wish to visit the United States Department of Agriculture′s website at www.usda.gov.

We hope you will continue to enjoy our products.

Sincerely,General Mills Consumer Services

In response to THEIR response, I received this in my inbox today:

YOPLAIT FOLLOW-UP!
Were you surprised to get a response from General Mills?
We weren't. It's just that their tidy little response was one that only a lawyer or a politician could love. As many of you pointed out to us, General Mills didn't even address the issue! If you go back and connect the dots, you'll see that our Action Alert was about rBGH, and General Mills' response was about BGH.
What's the difference between BGH and rBGH?
To reiterate, Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH) is a natural protein hormone produced in a cow's pituitary gland. Recombinant BGH (a/k/a rBGH) is a synthetic, unnatural hormone injected into the cow so she'll produce more milk - unnaturally!
Why did General Mills only mention BGH and not rBGH?
Because if General Mills dealt with rBGH straight up, they would have to acknowledge that it's banned in Canada, Australia, Japan and all 27 countries in the European Union. And Starbucks and Safeway stores in the northwest (among others) have voluntarily banned it in their products.
Why should you care?

Again, rBGH is not only synthetic; it also increases production of the hormone Insulin Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), which in excessive amounts in humans beyond infancy is a cancer accelerator associated with breast, prostate and colon cancers.In lawyer-land, we call this kind of reply by General Mills sophistry, which is a fancy term for deceitful bull****. We need to make sophistry a thing of the past when it comes to the governance and business of our health.

So there it is in a nutshell. Don't buy into the Yoplait bullpoop. For years I've run from anything "pink" so this is no different for me. As a matter of fact, we only buy organic yogurt anyway, and raw yogurt 99% of the time. But I have not been pinkwashed, and every October I try to reach more converts. For more information, visit Think Before You Pink.

Eliminate Fear of Failure

Here is a great letter from Mike Brescia that I wanted to share because it came to me JUST after I realized these things on my own. Perhaps it will help someone learn much earlier what took me 37 years to learn!

Yesterday, I was asked by a client how he could get the stressors in his life to go away. He said that he was smart, talented, outgoing, hardworking and ambitious, but that he would frequently get overwhelmed with all the responsibilities and all the directions he was being pulled in each day.

I told him that his request is an unreasonable one.

The stressors -- responsibilities -- will not go away, nor should they.

Because to get rid of one, another one will probably, as if by magic, replace it.

This is a good thing, because no responsibilities means that you are either dead or a complete burden to others.

I told him to not wish them to be gone, but to give them new labels and meanings instead. Because when nothing on the outside can or should change, it is on the inside where the only good can be done.

Many parts of your life are literally about jobs, tasks, responsibilities... so when you can experience the joy built into each one of them, instead of seeing them as your curse, you will not feel any negative stress, even though nothing on the outside of you has changed at all.

Our duties are the DOINGS of our lives.

Without them, there is no life at all.

Even play is filled with tasks and duties and rules. What would our favorite games be without rules that all players must adhere to.

I told him that he must change the meaning that he gives to his chores in all areas of his life.

When he does this, what he calls stress will melt away.

He now calls them stressors...

So I told him to call them things he gets to do, vows, promises or pledges.

Instantly he felt great.

He said they didn't seem scary any more.

That is the power of labels. That is why people will work hard and long for a title even when no additional compensation (or any compensation at all) goes with it.

Now, of course, his emotional change was in the moment. And emotions can work quickly for you. But they can just as quickly turn negative again when your lifelong patterns get back in control...

And they WILL take over again even after profound emotional breakthroughs occur.

Life-long conditioning is what put our long-time fears in place. Conditioning over a lifetime is what makes us give the meanings we put on things.

To one person, a sunset is the most beautiful thing in the world, but to another it only means that a dreadful tomorrow is that much closer.

Those viewpoints weren't developed overnight.

Everyone has fears due to unsupportive meanings and viewpoints.

So when I myself feel less than some task I have before me, I now use 'Releasing Fear Of Failure Now!' to give me strength. When I read the words, and affirm to myself silently or out loud, I begin instantly to feel bigger, more capable. Smarter, even though I didn't grow smarter in seconds. Stronger, even though I am no stronger than I was moments before.

And the challenge (responsibility) seems smaller somehow, and easier.

The thing to remember is that nothing has any meaning except the meaning we give it.

And those meanings create emotions, which guide decisions.

To be free of fear and negative stress is to automatically-- without having to think -- view what is in front of you as a grain of sand that can be walked upon and passed by without conscious effort.

Do that and your life will be a smooth, enjoyable flow, no matter what "difficulty" or "deadline" you have in front of you.

'Releasing Fear Of Failure Now!' can do that for you.

It will internalize and condition into you empowering emotions relating to the things that frighten you and that stop you from living fully and being as adventurous as you once dreamed of being and still dream of being.

Fearlessly,

Mike Brescia

PS: The introductory 25% discount on 'Releasing Fear Of Failure Now!' is ending soon. You do not want to miss out on this remarkable price reduction!

I have purchased many of the Think Right Now! programs and can attest to their effectiveness. If everyone used these programs, there would be LOTS of useless books removed from circulation!

Is Your Organic Food Really Organic?

When you buy food with a "USDA organic" label, do you know what you're getting? Now is a good time to ask such a question, as the USDA just announced Monday it was putting 15 out of 30 federally accredited organic certifiers they audited on probation, allowing them 12 months to make corrections or lose their accreditation. At the heart of the audit for several certifiers were imported foods and ingredients from other countries, including China. read more...

Is Gardasil Killing Our Teens?

This is a MUST read article regarding the HPV vaccine and its effects on the young girls who have received this deadly, worthless vaccine.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/08/02/hpv-vaccine-blamed-for-teen-s-paralysis.aspx?source=nl

GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SUGAR TO HIT SUPERMARKET SHELVES THIS YEAR

ALERT: OCA LAUNCHES KELLOGG'S BOYCOTT

GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SUGAR TO HIT SUPERMARKET SHELVES THIS YEAR

The Organic Consumers Association's (OCA) and allies are calling for a boycott of all Kellogg's products after Kellogg's refuses to source only GE-Free Sugar. Monsanto's RoundUp Ready Genetically Engineered Sugar is due to hit stores this year, exposing millions of consumers to untested and unlabeled "Franken Foods" that threaten human heath, the environment and farmers' rights everywhere. Take Action-Join the Boycott!

http://organicconsumers.org/kelloggs.cfmSign OCA's Petition to Kellogg's http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1300

Make a Free Call to Kellogg's and let them know how you feel http://organicconsumers.org/ge/CallKelloggs.htm

Send a Letter to the Editor of you Local Newspapers about the Boycott http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/letter/?letter_KEY=1009

Komen Gives Money to Planned Parenthood

This article just blew me away. I've already stated where I stand on the whole pink ribbon campaign, but even knowing what I know about the cancer industry, this still totally shocked me. Apparently, some Komen affiliates are donating thousands of dollars, over $700,000 in all, to local Planned Parenthood offices. While Planned Parenthood says that the donations are earmarked for breast exams, if you know anything about money you know that it just freed up money for other procedures such as abortions. (I remember back when the Georgia Lottery was being discussed and how they brainwashed people into believing that it would bring more money into the schools. Sure it brought money into the schools, and the money that was already being spent on the schools went somewhere else. Nice, huh?)

Anyway, we're all adults. Let's be real. I guess I can't double-boycott the Komen Foundation, but this is just another reason why you should if you haven't. Use your money for your own prevention strategies and do your due diligence when it comes to cancer and cancer research. While I once supported them all, including the American Cancer Society and their famous "Relay for Life," I now go out of my way to avoid giving any cancer research company my money. If a product has a pink ribbon, I will not buy it. I will either go without or use a different brand. For more information, you can visit http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/

Here's the article: http://www.lifenews.com/nat3849.html

FDA Action Against Raw Milk

Being consumers of raw milk, articles like this catch our attention. It is amazing that we live in a "free" country, yet we cannot easily obtain and consume what WE feel is a nutritious food. How is it that selling raw meat - parts of a dead animal- is not questioned, but selling raw milk is under intense scrutiny? Does that make any sense at all?

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/04/08/fda-action-against-raw-milk.aspx

What are you doing for Earth Day?

As my kids have gotten older, I try to teach them why conserving resources is important to me, and why I do things a little differently than others might. My son just happened to be born on Earth Day, and I have an earth tattoo from my "just want to see what it feels like" early twenties. I also have to admit that I am somewhat of a tree hugger, but not so much that I wear sandals in the winter. Even I catch myself doing things that are wasteful, and smacking myself on the head with a "do'h!" Like having reusable bags, but leaving them at home. Or not taking the time to learn more about recycling in my area and throwing it all in the trash. We've lived in our town for two years, and this Earth Day I made the committment to learn about recycling and where we take our recyclables. I'm also considering putting this "green" information together for new residents so that they know what's what. Since I homeschool, our science and social studies lessons during the month of April are ALL about things that we can do in our homes to help make our community and planet a little better for us all. We will be visiting the recycling center as well as our new state of the art landfill that was put in two years ago, and hopefully they will get an idea of the impact of what we throw away. Here are some things that other work at home moms are doing to keep our planet healthy:

"We are now using a 3 bag system (often used for sorting dirty clothes) to recycle. One bag is for pop cans/bottles, one bag is for other type cans and the last bag is for plastics. We are keeping it in our garage very close to the door which is close to the kitchen for ease of use. We already recycle newspapers, phone books magazines, etc. We are also being more diligent with electricity. Turning off lights when not in use. My 4.5yo loves joining in. We try and make it fun for her to be able to participate and learn how to help our environment." Photo Bug Baby - Toni Saussele

"Our family doesn't leave the water running while brushing our teeth as this seems such a waste of water. We also recycle paper, plastics and tin/metal every day. We reuse our plastic water bottles that we have bought from the store when we were "on the run". Plus, when we are done using the water bottles, we recycle them. (We try not to have the need for purchasing water from the stores). When possible we try to purchase paper products that have been made out of recycled paper.

We also have a compost. This cuts down on the trash that is going into our landfills and the compost can be used as a natural fertilizer in our garden. Our family use "green" products when ever possible. This includes all types of cleaning products to bath and body products. This not only helps the earth by not using harmful chemicals but also helps better our health at the same time.

Our family business reuses packing materials/containers whenever possible to cut down on waste as well as passing savings onto our customers. The bulk of our products are made from a renewable resource that is natural and non-toxic to the earth and humans (or animals)." SeaGlass Candles - Kelly

"Businesses and consumers today can choose from a wide range of high quality products that are equal in performance to traditional products, but can result in lower waste, fewer chemicals, lower energy use and less material use. At Dezigns by T we go for the greener options when purchasing products and materials for our homes and office. From printing on post-consumer recycled content (PCR) paper to switching from incandescent bulbs to energy efficient compact fluorescents to packaging our products with recycled materials we believe in making more personal decisions with the environment in mind.

In our quest to further reduce our carbon footprint Dezigns by T has partnered with TerraPass to sponsor clean energy and carbon reduction projects that result in a verified, measurable reduction in carbon emissions. We invite you to visit our TerraPass partner page to learn more about the projects that Dezigns by T and TerraPass support and to find out how your organization can balance its carbon emissions."

"I saw a show about climate change on Oprah awhile back, and I ran straight out to Home Depot to get my water heater insulation, programmable thermostat, and compact fluorescent light bulbs. It took me about six months to take the time to install the thermostat and wrap my water heater. At least they are both done now! No more forgetting to turn down the thermostat at night in the winter. I don't use those light bulbs in the most used lights, rather I use them in the most left on lights—places where the light bulb will be on for a long time if left on because I don't frequent those rooms very often—the pantry, laundry room, garage, and the one walk-in closet. In the bedroom light fixtures that have three light bulbs, I use one CLF and two incandescent bulbs. That way I still get the look of incandescent light. For the other lights, I buzz around the house shutting off lights all the time now. I have turned into my mother! Since 12 months ago, our natural gas bill has gone down $42 USD/month, and our electricity bill has gone down $20 USD/month. And I have also finally purchased reusable grocery bags and produce bags. Slowly we're starting to remember to bring them from the car to the store for actual use." Modest Clothing Directory - Dara Becker

"The Green Path Company is a family owned-company and we all made a commitment to make some simple, inexpensive changes to our lives such as reducing junk mail and unsolicited catalogs, unplugging electronics to cut down on energy consumption, and conserving water through the installation of low-flow shower heads. Our website features a “Green Tips” page as well as a FREE packet outlining some easy changes to make around the house. The packet contains 10 tips you can incorporate into your daily or monthly routine that help us conserve energy and protect the environment. If you are interested in receiving this FREE information you can contact us at The Green Path Company and we will send the packet out to you!" Regionz Kidz - Lisa Smith