Look Young, Feel Young

WOW!

2008-10-13T03:37:00.001-07:00

Last spring I was walking in a park. A short distance ahead of me was a mom and her three-year-old daughter. The little girl was holding on to a string that was attached to a helium balloon.

All of a sudden, a sharp gust of wind took the balloon from the little girl. I braced myself for some screaming and crying.

But, no! As the little girl turned to watch her balloon go skyward, she gleefully shouted out, "Wow!

I didn't realize it at that moment, but that little girl taught me something.

Later that day, I received a phone call from a person with news of an unexpected problem. I felt like responding with "Oh no, what should we do?" But remembering that little girl, I found myself saying, "Wow, that's interesting! How can I help you?"

One thing's for sure - life's always going to keep us off balance with its unexpected problems. That's a given. What's not preordained is our response. We can choose to be frustrated or fascinated.

No matter what the situation, a fascinated "Wow!" will always beat a frustrated "Oh, no."

So the next time you experience one of life's unexpected gusts, remember that little girl and make it a "Wow!" experience. The "Wow!" response always works.

Rob Gilbert
Editor of "Bits & Pieces"

Antioxidants Attack Cancer Cells

2008-10-11T03:56:00.000-07:00

A New Discovery Has Been Made About How Antioxidants Attack Cancer Cells

by: Russell Johnston

http://www.naturalnews.com/024447.html

(NaturalNews) There's a new reason, and a big one, to think that we benefit
from free-radical-inhibiting antioxidants. We've long thought that by
reducing free radicals, antioxidants can help prevent cancer, of course. But
a recent experiment at Johns Hopkins and published in the March 14 issue of
Science shows how antioxidants may be doing much more: interfering with the
growth of cancers that are already established, and potentially, even
reversing them once established, by knocking out communications signals
between cancer cells that encourage cells to grow and divide. Those
communications signals turn out to be... free radicals, which the cancer
cells often produce in abundance. Runaway cell division was actually slowed
when cancer cells were introduced to the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine,
under experimental conditions. This now demonstrates the existence of a
mechanism that can allow a simple antioxidant to slow down or reverse a
cancer that's already in place.

Genetically altered connective tissue cells expressing the cancerous
H-RasV12 gene, together with non-cancerous cells were used in the study. The
cancer cells produced an abundance of superoxide, a well-known free-radical.
But cells' Ras or Rac1 genes produced proteins that blocked this signal and
kept the cell from turning cancerous, as did doses of other protein
inhibitors. However, it was considered more significant that antioxidants
could also inhibit runaway cell proliferation.

At least in the case of cancers produced by the model H-RasV12 gene, other
cells are influenced to become cancerous "at a distance" if free radicals or
protein-inhibitors aren't present in sufficient numbers to step in and stop
the process.

Kaikobad Irani cautiously summarizes his research by saying that "Control of
signaling pathways involving oxidants may explain why some antioxidants
appear to prevent development of certain cancers." If you're equally
inclined to caution, you may wish to make sure you're getting plenty of
antioxidants.

There are plenty of sources of antioxidants in a good diet, of course, but
by far the most potent and effective antioxidant known to science is as
cheap and available as a long, dark night: that is, melatonin. Turning your
light switch to the off position earlier, keeping it off longer, and making
sure that you are always sleeping in real darkness are excellent natural
ways to boost your melatonin production. Even occasional changes in your
routine, staying up for a couple of extra hours, can reduce your melatonin
for weeks, just as jet lag does.

About the author
Russell Johnston is a private health researcher and writer with a background
in the philosophy and history of science. He began DarknessHeals.com in
order to help publicize dramatic recent medical research showing the
extraordinary importance sleep and chronobiology have for everyone's health.

Vitamin D a key player in overall health

2008-10-11T03:55:00.000-07:00

Vitamin D a key player in overall health of several body organs, says UC
Riverside biochemist

http://www.physorg.com/news142791717.html

Essential for life in higher animals, vitamin D, once linked to only bone
diseases such as rickets and osteoporosis, is now recognized as a major
player in contributing to overall human health, emphasizes UC Riverside's
Anthony Norman, an international expert on vitamin D.

In a paper published in the August issue of the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, Norman identifies vitamin D's potential for contributions to good
health in the adaptive and innate immune systems, the secretion and
regulation of insulin by the pancreas, the heart and blood pressure
regulation, muscle strength and brain activity. In addition, access to
adequate amounts of vitamin D is believed to be beneficial towards reducing
the risk of cancer.

Norman also lists 36 organ tissues in the body whose cells respond
biologically to vitamin D. The list includes bone marrow, breast, colon,
intestine, kidney, lung, prostate, retina, skin, stomach and the uterus.

According to Norman, deficiency of vitamin D can impact all 36 organs.
Already, vitamin D deficiency is associated with muscle strength decrease,
high risk for falls, and increased risk for colorectal, prostate and breast
and other major cancers.

"It is becoming increasingly clear to researchers in the field that vitamin
D is strongly linked to several diseases," said Norman, a distinguished
professor emeritus of biochemistry and of biomedical sciences who has worked
on vitamin D for more than 45 years. "Its biological sphere of influence is
much broader than we originally thought. The nutritional guidelines for
vitamin D intake must be carefully reevaluated to determine the adequate
intake, balancing sunlight exposure with dietary intake, to achieve good
health by involving all 36 target organs."

Vitamin D is synthesized in the body in a series of steps. First, sunlight's
ultraviolet rays act on a precursor compound in skin. When skin is exposed
to sunlight, a sterol present in dermal tissue is converted to vitamin D,
which, in turn, is metabolized in the liver and kidneys to form a hormone.
It was Norman's laboratory that discovered, in 1967, that vitamin D is
converted into a steroid hormone by the body.

The recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 200 international units (IU)
for people up to 50 years old. The recommended daily intake of vitamin D is
400 IU for people 51 to 70 years old and 600 IU for people over 70 years
old. Norman's recommendation for all adults is to have an average daily
intake of at least 2000 IU.

"To optimize good health you must have enough vitamin D," he said. "Vitamin
D deficiency is also especially of concern in third world countries that
have poor nutritional practices and religious customs that require the body
to be covered from head to toe. Ideally, to achieve the widest frequency of
good health by population, we need to have 90 percent of the people with
adequate amounts of vitamin D."

About half of the elderly in North America and two-thirds of the rest of the
world are not getting enough vitamin D to maintain healthy bone density,
lower their risks for fracture and improve tooth attachment.

"There needs to be a sea change by various governmental agencies in terms of
the advice they present to citizens about how much vitamin D should be
taken," Norman said. "The tendencies of people to live in cities where tall
buildings block adequate sunlight from reaching the ground, to spend most of
their time indoors, to use synthetic sunscreens that block ultraviolet rays,
and to live in geographical regions of the world that do not receive
adequate sunlight all contribute to the inability of the skin to
biosynthesize sufficient amounts of vitamin D."

Found in minute amounts in food, vitamins are organic substances that higher
forms of animals need to grow and sustain normal health. Vitamins, however,
are not synthesized in sufficient amounts to meet bodily needs. Therefore,
the body must acquire them through diet or in the form of supplements.

Because it is found in very few foods naturally, milk and other foods (often
orange juice) are fortified with vitamin D.

While deficiency of vitamin D impacts health negatively, ingestion of
extremely high doses of vitamin D can cause hypercalcemia, a condition in
which the blood's calcium level is above normal. The highest daily 'safe'
dose of vitamin D is 10,000 IU.

"More than ever we need to increase the amount of research on vitamin D,
with more funding from government agencies and pharmaceutical companies, to
meet the challenge of preserving or improving the health of everyone on the
planet," Norman said.

Source: University of California - Riverside

The Vital Role of Cholesterol in Health

2008-10-10T03:51:00.000-07:00

Byron Richards, CCN

"A significant new discovery about the importance of cholesterol to nerve and
muscle health has just been made. The researchers discovered that
cholesterol is vital to the structure of key proteins involved with nerve
transmission. The finding is groundbreaking, its implications in the
context of widespread high doses of statin drugs in the general population
is alarming.

We have known for a very long time that small fragments of cholesterol (not
HDL or LDL, which are large transport vehicles) are required for every cell
in your body to have a three dimensional structure. Scientists estimate
that you have around 6-8 ounces of this structural cholesterol in your
cells, and without it you would be flat as a pancake on the floor.

Nerve cells are known to have higher amounts of this type of cholesterol, as
nerve cells do not split and divide like other cells and so need the extra
cholesterol to liver longer. One of the very adverse side effects of statin
drugs to lower LDL cholesterol, especially when given in the now commonly
used high doses, is that the important cholesterol in cell membranes is
lowered. In the case of nerves this results in early onset nerve death,
poor function, depression, nerve symptoms, and suicide. Such nerve symptoms
will be progressive and worsen as time goes along, especially when the dose
of a statin is raised.

In the case of muscles, various mechanisms of statin toxicity have now been
identified. These factors reduce energy, muscle health, fitness, and
generally make it harder to be healthy.

The new study adds a brand new explanation for nerve and muscle related
problems from taking statins. Researchers studied the structure of a common
and important neurotransmitter receptor called the nicotinic acetylcholine
receptor. Problems with this receptor's function drastically alter nerve
transmission. Such difficulties are found in chronic inflammation,
Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and
addiction issues (alcohol, nicotine and cocaine).

The new discovery is that cholesterol fragments are absolutely vital to this
receptor working correctly and are part of the protein structure of this
receptor. This is a sweeping scientific discovery. It immediately offers a
new explanation as to why statins have so many devastating nerve and muscle
side effects. It also adds clarity to the issue as to why low cholestereol
causes cancer and early risk for death.

Cholesterol is vital to the healthy function of your body, actually core to
survival. You want good levels of HDL and LDL because you are healthy, not
because you have drugged them to look better on paper. The idea of
cholesterol fitness, like physical fitness, is a proper way to look at this
issue."

Getting rid of fears

2008-10-09T03:30:00.001-07:00

"Most fears cannot withstand the test of careful scrutiny and analysis. When we expose our fears to the light of thoughtful examination they usually just evaporate."

Jack Canfield
Speaker and Author
See more of Jack Canfield at: http://www.reachmy2008goals.com

The secret of the achiever

2008-10-08T04:10:00.000-07:00

"Not the maker of plans and promises, but rather the one who offers faithful service in small matters. This is the person who is most likely to achieve what is good and lasting."

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
1749-1832, Poet, Dramatist and Novelist

5 Ways to Keep BPA Out of Your Food

2008-10-08T04:09:00.000-07:00

With new studies linking bisphenol A, a chemical found in the linings
of food and beverage cans, to diabetes and heart disease, you may be
wondering what you can do to minimize your exposure. Here are some good
rules of thumb for reducing your intake of BPA:

1. Buy your tomato sauce in glass jars

Canned tomato sauce is likely to have higher levels of BPA, because
the high acidity of the tomatoes causes more of the chemical to leach from
the lining of the can.

2. Consume fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned

In addition to their BPA-free benefit, fresh produce usually has
more nutrients, which often get lost in the process of canning.

3. Purchase beverages in plastic or glass bottles

Canned soda and juice often contain some BPA.

4. Use powdered infant formula instead of ready-to-serve liquid

An assessment from the Environmental Working Group found that liquid
formulas contain more BPA than powdered brands.

5. Think in terms of moderation

Follow a sensible approach, eating less of those foods that are
higher in BPA.

Sources:
a.. U.S. News & World Report September 17, 2008
a.. Journal of the American Medical Association September 16, 2008;
300(11):1353-5
a.. Journal of the American Medical Association September 16, 2008;
300(11):1303-10

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

It's finally becoming more common knowledge that plastic is not
an inert substance, which is what its manufacturers would like you to
believe. Plastic contains chemicals like BPA and phthalates, which mimic
hormones in your body. Even tiny concentrations can cause problems, and you're
likely being exposed from all angles. Aside from canned goods, they're found
in reusable food containers, plastic wraps, water bottles, personal care
products, you name it.

Plastic is used everywhere.

The Many Health Hazards of Bisphenol A (BPA)

Plastic is so prevalent that according to a Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) study, BPA was detected in the urine of 95 percent of people
tested!

This is alarming when you consider the problems it's been linked
to, including:

a.. Structural damage to your brain
b.. Hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, and impaired
learning
c.. Increased fat formation and risk of obesity
d.. Altered immune function
e.. Early puberty, stimulation of mammary gland development,
disrupted reproductive cycles, and ovarian dysfunction
f.. Changes in gender-specific behavior, and abnormal sexual
behavior
g.. Stimulation of prostate cancer cells
h.. Increased prostate size, and decreased sperm production
I've already discussed the dangers of using plastic containers
and bottles on several occasions; anytime you eat or drink something out of
plastic, you risk exposure. Plastics that are worn out or scratched may
leach even more chemicals into your food, as do hot beverages. Just by
drinking coffee from a plastic-lined paper cup, you could be exposed to 55
times more BPA than normal.

But what's your risk when you use canned goods?

Independent laboratory tests conducted by the Environmental
Working Group (EWG) detected BPA in over half of 97 cans of name-brand
fruit, vegetables, soda, and other commonly eaten canned goods.

There are no government safety standards limiting the amount of
BPA in canned food, and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) safety
standard is 25 times the dose NOW KNOWN to cause birth defects in lab
studies. Their safety standard for BPA has not been updated for 20 years.

But studies in the past decade have shown that low-level
exposures to BPA may actually be MORE dangerous than high-level exposures!

Where traditional toxicology asserts that higher doses does
greater harm, bisphenol A tests show that low doses can be the most toxic of
all, partly because at low levels it can fall below the radar of your body's
natural detox mechanism.

For example, one study found that a low dose of BPA produced a
70 percent higher growth rate of prostate cancer cells in lab animals than
did higher doses (Wetherill et al. 2002). In another; lower doses of BPA
resulted in higher rates of breast cell growth that can precede cancer
(Markey et al. 2001).

Then again, just last month the Journal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA) published a study that found higher urinary BPA
concentrations were associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes in
adults.

Perhaps our dependency on plastic plays a larger role than
anyone ever imagined in the rise of the big three: cancer, heart disease and
rampant diabetes?

BPA and Your Baby - What's the Risk, and What's the Solution?

As usual those most at risk are children and fetuses, which is
why it's appalling to think that these chemicals are commonly used in
everything from the infant formula, to the bottle it's served in, to the
teething rings, and the toys your baby plays with on a daily basis.

Sadly, of all foods tested, infant formula was among the top
three foods that had BPA levels of highest concern.

Just one to three servings was found to contain BPA levels that
have caused serious adverse effects in animal tests. And, for 1 in 3 cans of
infant formula, a single serving was found to contain enough BPA to expose
an infant to BPA levels more than 200 times the government's traditional
"safe" level of exposure for industrial chemicals!

Although the article above recommends using powdered infant
formula instead of ready-to-serve liquid varieties to cut down on BPA
exposure, I want to remind you that nothing beats breast feeding when it
comes to feeding your baby.

Breast milk contains antibodies, immunoglobulins, white blood
cells, lactoferrin, lysosomes, bifidus factor (which helps friendly bacteria
grow in the intestines to ensure acid environment), vitamin B12 binding
protein, and many, many other substances. It also contains essential fatty
acids that help bolster your baby's body against the impact of toxic
chemicals.

And of course, if a mother follows my dietary recommendations,
she will have the best chance of being optimally healthy, and her breast
milk will be even more nutritious.

So remember that if you want the very best by far for your
babies, breastfeed them if at all possible. But if you are going to use
commercial formulas, then using a powdered formula may reduce your baby's
exposure to BPA. According to the EWG's calculations, babies fed
reconstituted powdered formula likely receive 8 to 20 times less BPA than
those fed liquid formula from a metal can.

However, a far better option than commercial formula would be to
try the Infant Formula Fortification Protocol developed by Dr. Patricia Kane
and myself. In addition, the Weston A. Price Foundation has its own infant
feeding recommendations, which are another healthy option.

10 More Tips to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA

1. Only use glass baby bottles and dishes for your baby

2. Get rid of your plastic dishes and cups, and replace
them with glass varieties

3. Give your baby natural fabric toys instead of plastic
ones

4. Store your food and beverages in glass -- NOT plastic --
containers

5. IF you choose to use a microwave, don't microwave food
in a plastic container

6. Use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel travel coffee
mugs rather than plastic or Styrofoam coffee cups

7. Avoid using plastic wrap (and never microwave anything
covered in it)

8. If you opt to use plastic kitchenware, at least get rid
of the older, scratched-up varieties, avoid putting them in the dishwasher,
and don't wash them with harsh detergents, as these things can cause more
chemicals to leach into your food

9. Avoid using bottled water; filter your own using a
reverse osmosis filter instead

10. Before allowing a dental sealant to be applied to your, or
your children's, teeth, ask your dentist to verify that it does not contain
BPA

In the event that you do opt to use plastic containers for your
food or beverages, be sure to avoid those marked on the bottom with the
recycling label No. 7, as these varieties may contain BPA.

Containers marked with the recycling labels No. 1, No. 2, and
No. 4 do not contain BPA (however they may contain other unsavory chemicals
that you're best off avoiding by using glass instead). If in doubt, remember
this handy saying from The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy:

"With your food, use 4, 5, 1 and 2. All the rest aren't good for
you."

How we take difficulties

2008-10-07T03:43:00.001-07:00

"Nothing in life is so hard that you can't make it easier by the way you take it."

Ellen Glasgow
1874-1945, Novelist

Avoid Flu Shots, Take Vitamin D Instead

2008-10-04T03:53:00.000-07:00

Taking vitamin D in these doses is safe, far safer than a flu shot with all the bad chemicals it contains.

Enthusiasm!

2008-10-02T04:19:00.001-07:00

"Every memorable act in the history of the world is a triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it because it gives any challenge or any occupation, no matter how frightening or difficult, a new meaning. Without enthusiasm you are doomed to a life of mediocrity but with it you can accomplish miracles."

Og Mandino
1923-1996, Speaker and Author of The Greatest Salesman in the World

Focus on desire

2008-10-01T03:17:00.000-07:00

"Focus more on your desire than on your doubt, and the dream will take care of itself. You may be surprised at how easily this happens. Your doubts are not as powerful as your desires, unless you make them so."

Marcia Wieder
Speaker and Author

How we respond when bad things happen

2008-09-30T03:48:00.000-07:00

"In the final analysis, the questions of why bad things happen to good people transmutes itself into some very different questions, no longer asking why something happened, but asking how we will respond, what we intend to do now that it happened."

Harold S. Kushner
Rabbi, Author of When Bad Things Happen To Good People

Vitamin D again linked to breast cancer protection

2008-09-30T03:47:00.000-07:00

By Stephen Daniells

http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Science-Nutrition/Vitamin-D-again-linked-to-breast-cancer-protection

26-Sep-2008 -
Increased intake of vitamin D from the diet and from sunlight may reduce the
risk fo breast cancer by over 20 per cent, says a new study.

The potential protective effects of the vitamin were not limited by the
hormone receptor status of the tumours, according to research published
online in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

"This study suggests that vitamin D is associated with a reduced risk of
breast cancer regardless of [oestrogen-receptor (ER) positive and
progesterone-receptor (PR)] status of the tumour," wrote lead author
Kristina Blackmore from Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

Over one million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer every
year, with the highest incidences in the US and the Netherlands. China has
the lowest incidence and mortality rate of the disease.

Hormone-sensitive oestrogen-receptor (ER) positive and progesterone-receptor
(PR) positive tumours are said to be the most common type diagnosed among
breast cancer patients in the US. These tumours are stimulated to grow by
the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

Study details

"Few epidemiologic studies have considered the association between vitamin D
and hormone-receptor-defined breast cancer," wrote Blackmore.

In order to start filling this knowledge gap, the Canadian researchers
analysed the vitamin D intakes of 759 women with breast cancer, and compared
this to the vitamin D intakes of 1,135 healthy controls.

Increased intakes of the vitamin were associated with a 24 per cent
reduction in the risk of developing ER+ and PR+ tumours, said the
researchers. Moreover, increased intakes were also associated with 26 and 21
per cent reductions in the risk of receptor-negative (ER-/PR-) and mixed
receptor (ER+/PR-) tumours. However, these last two associations were not
significant, said the researchers.

"Future studies with a larger number of receptor-negative and mixed tumours
are required," they concluded.

D and the big C

The link between vitamin D intake and protection from cancer dates from the
1940s when Frank Apperly demonstrated a link between latitude and deaths
from cancer, and suggested that sunlight gave "a relative cancer immunity".

Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors - D3, also known as
cholecalciferol, and D2, also known as ergocalciferol. Both D3 and D2
precursors are hydroxylated in the liver and kidneys to form 25-
hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), the non-active 'storage' form, and
1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), the biologically active form that is
tightly controlled by the body.

There is growing evidence that 1,25(OH)2D has anticancer effects, but the
discovery that non-kidney cells can also hydroxylate 25(OH)D had profound
implications, implying that higher 25(OH)D levels could protect against
cancer in the local sites.

Source: American Journal of Epidemiology
Published online ahead of print, doi:10.1093/aje/kwn198
"Vitamin D From Dietary Intake and Sunlight Exposure and the Risk of
Hormone-Receptor-Defined Breast Cancer"
Authors: K.M. Blackmore, M. Lesosky, H. Barnett, J.M. Raboud, R. Vieth, J.A.
Knight

How we lift ourselves

2008-09-25T03:39:00.000-07:00

"We lift ourselves by our thought. If you want to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge your thought of it and of yourself. Hold the ideal of yourself as you long to be, always everywhere."

Orison Swett Marden
1850-1924, Author and Founder of Success Magazine

Vitamin B12 Keeps Your Brain Young

2008-09-24T03:12:00.000-07:00

Older individuals with low levels of vitamin B12 are at increased risk
of having brain atrophy or shrinkage. Brain atrophy is associated with
Alzheimer's disease and impaired cognitive function.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a public health problem, especially among
older people.

In a study involving more than 100 volunteers aged 61 to 87, all
participants underwent annual clinical exams, MRI scans and cognitive tests,
and had blood samples taken. Individuals with lower vitamin B12 levels at
the start of the study had a greater decrease in brain volume. Those with
the lowest B12 levels had a sixfold greater rate of brain volume loss
compared with those who had the highest levels.

However, none of the participants were actually deficient in vitamin
B12 -- they just had low levels within a normal range.

Other risk factors for brain atrophy include high blood pressure,
diabetes and high cholesterol.
Sources:
a.. U.S. News & World Report September 8, 2008
a.. Neurology 2008; 71: 826-832

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

The first thing that jumped out at me about this study wasn't only the
benefits of vitamin B12, but the risk that's there if your levels are low.
Not deficient, necessarily, just within the low range of normal

"Our results suggest that rather than maintaining one's B12 at a level
that is just above the cut off for deficiency, it might be prudent to aim to
keep it higher up than normal range," the study's lead researcher said.

This is really important to hear, as most people would assume that if
their levels are within the normal range, they're fine. In reality, you
cannot always count on the "normal" reference ranges that come with your
blood tests. Vitamin D is another example of a test that lists "normal"
ranges that are not nearly adequate to keep you healthy.

This really reminds me in many ways of the story of vitamin D. For
many decades the "experts" believed that all you needed was 400 units per
day. Now we know that you need about ten times that much or the equivalent
amount of sun to produce that in your skin.

To really know if your nutrient levels are where they should be to
keep you optimally healthy, you need to do some major research of your own
(seeking out scientific studies like this one), or you need to seek the
guidance of a health care practitioner who thinks outside of the box -- and
understands that there is a major difference between "average" and
"optimal."

Getting back to vitamin B12, though, there are many important reasons
to make sure you're getting enough in your diet.

Why is Vitamin B12 so Important?

It's been estimated that 40 percent of the U.S. population is
deficient in vitamin B12, a serious public health problem when you consider
how important this vitamin is for your health. Vitamin B12:

. Is needed for proper digestion, food absorption, carbohydrate and
fat metabolism.
. Helps folic acid regulate the formation of red blood cells, and
helps your body use iron.
. Keep your nervous system healthy by assisting the nerves of your
body to function and communicate in an optimal manner.
. Helps in cell formation and cellular longevity.
. Helps support female reproductive health.

. Promote normal nerve growth and development by maintaining the fatty
sheaths. These fatty sheaths play a vital role as they cover and protect
your nerve endings.
. Is critical to your circulation and adrenal hormone production
. Helps boost your immunity.
. Supports a healthy mood and feelings of well-being, and provides
excellent support for your memory, mental clarity, and concentration.
. Helps to boost your energy levels.

Who is at Risk of Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

The group most at risk is those who do not eat meat or animal
products. Vitamin B12 deficiency is VERY common, almost universal, in strict
vegetarians and vegans, as vitamin B12 is NOT readily available, if at all,
in plants.

Vitamin B12 is found almost exclusively in animal tissues, including
foods like beef and beef liver, lamb, snapper, venison, salmon, shrimp,
scallops, poultry and eggs. And, the few plant foods that are sources of B12
are actually B12 analogs. Simply put, an analog is a substance that blocks
the uptake of true B12. The result being, your body's need for the nutrient
actually increases.

You may also be at risk of B12 deficiency if you have stomach
problems. This is because B12 needs the help of a protein in order to be
absorbed. That protein is called intrinsic factor, and if your stomach is
irritated or inflamed, it may stop producing intrinsic factor, making it
nearly impossible for your body to absorb B12.

Other factors also influence your body's B12 levels:

. Age: People over 50 tend to have a limited ability to absorb B12.

. Drinking coffee: A study in Clinical Chemistry found that people who
drank four or more cups of coffee a day had a 15 percent reduction in
multiple B vitamins compared to those who drank no coffee.

. Taking medications: Many prescription drugs diminish your body's
levels of B12, including antibiotics, anticancer medications,
anticonvulsants, anti-gout medications, antihypertensives, antiParkinson's
medications, antipsychotics, antituberculosis medications, birth control
pills, cholesterol-lowering drugs, and potassium replacements.

. Those who have undergone weight-loss surgery, which can impair your
body's ability to absorb B12 and other vitamins.

. Those exposed to laughing gas anesthesia or nitrous oxide.

If you are concerned about getting enough vitamin B12, it is important
to know that most oral vitamin B12 supplements do not work well at all.
Vitamin B12 is the largest vitamin known and it is not easily absorbed.

Ideally, you should make sure you're getting plenty of vitamin B12 by
eating animal foods that are right for your nutritional type, and follow the
advice in Take Control of Your Health to overcome any stomach issues that
may be inhibiting your absorption.

If you do choose to supplement, studies show that sublingual
(under-the-tongue) forms of vitamin B12 are better absorbed by your
bloodstream than tablet or inhaled (through your nose) versions.

Taking failures seriously

2008-09-23T03:35:00.000-07:00

"When we can begin to take our failures seriously, it means we are ceasing to be afraid of them. It is of immense importance to learn to laugh at ourselves."

Katherine Mansfield
1888-1923, Author

Learning and the learned

2008-09-22T10:39:00.001-07:00

"In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."

Eric Hoffer

Pain and quitting

2008-09-18T03:33:00.001-07:00

"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever."

Lance Armstrong
Cancer Survivor and Athlete

Past, present, and future

2008-09-17T04:28:00.000-07:00

"One day at a time - this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone: and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering."

Ida Scott Taylor
1820-1915, Author

Being Vegetarian Shrinks Brain

2008-09-17T04:27:00.000-07:00

Becoming a vegetarian could be good for the planet, but it’s bad for your brain. Scientists at Oxford University in England have found that vegetarians are six times more likely to have brain shrinkage than those who include meats in their diets.

"If things are not going well ... "

2008-09-16T03:31:00.001-07:00

"If things are not going well with you, begin your effort at correcting the situation by carefully examining the service you are rendering, and especially the spirit in which you are rendering it."

Roger Babson
1875-1967, Statistician and Columnist

Why we read

2008-09-15T03:23:00.000-07:00

How are you coming with your home library? Do you need some good ammunition on why it's so important to read? The last time I checked the statistics...I think they indicated that only four percent of the adults in this country have bought a book within the past year. That's dangerous. It's extremely important that we keep ourselves in the top five or six percent.

In one of the Monthly Letters from the Royal Bank of Canada it was pointed out that reading good books is not something to be indulged in as a luxury. It is a necessity for anyone who intends to give his life and work a touch of quality. The most real wealth is not what we put into our piggy banks but what we develop in our heads. Books instruct us without anger, threats and harsh discipline. They do not sneer at our ignorance or grumble at our mistakes. They ask only that we spend some time in the company of greatness so that we may absorb some of its attributes.

You do not read a book for the book's sake, but for your own.

You may read because in your high-pressure life, studded with problems and emergencies, you need periods of relief and yet recognize that peace of mind does not mean numbness of mind.

You may read because you never had an opportunity to go to college, and books give you a chance to get something you missed. You may read because your job is routine, and books give you a feeling of depth in life.

You may read because you did go to college.

You may read because you see social, economic and philosophical problems which need solution, and you believe that the best thinking of all past ages may be useful in your age, too.

You may read because you are tired of the shallowness of contemporary life, bored by the current conversational commonplaces, and wearied of shop talk and gossip about people.

Whatever your dominant personal reason, you will find that reading gives knowledge, creative power, satisfaction and relaxation. It cultivates your mind by calling its faculties into exercise.

Books are a source of pleasure - the purest and the most lasting. They enhance your sensation of the interestingness of life. Reading them is not a violent pleasure like the gross enjoyment of an uncultivated mind, but a subtle delight.

Reading dispels prejudices which hem our minds within narrow spaces. One of the things that will surprise you as you read good books from all over the world and from all times of man is that human nature is much the same today as it has been ever since writing began to tell us about it.

Some people act as if it were demeaning to their manhood to wish to be well-read but you can no more be a healthy person mentally without reading substantial books than you can be a vigorous person physically without eating solid food. Books should be chosen, not for their freedom from evil, but for their possession of good. Dr. Johnson said: "Whilst you stand deliberating which book your son shall read first, another boy has read both.

Earl Nightingale

Behave yourself

2008-09-11T03:09:00.001-07:00

"Believe there is a great power silently working all things for good, behave yourself and never mind the rest."

Beatrix Potter
1866-1943, Author and Illustrator

Study adds colon cancer to list for trans fats' harm

2008-09-11T03:07:00.000-07:00

10-Sep-2008 -

Increased intakes of trans fatty acids may increase the risk of colorectal
tumours by about 86 per cent, suggests new research from the US.

The study followed almost 622 North Carolinians who underwent complete colon
exams between 2001 and 2002 and found significant colorectal cancer risk
increases for higher intakes of trans fatty acids.

The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, looks set to
heap more pressure on the food industry to remove and reformulate products
without trans fats, one of the industry's bêtes noires.

"These results suggest that consumption of high amounts of trans-fatty acid
may increase the risk of colorectal neoplasia [abnormal cell growth in the
colon and rectum], and they provide additional support to recommendations to
limit trans-fatty acid consumption," wrote lead author Lisa Vinikoor from
the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Though trace amounts of trans fats are found naturally in dairy and meats,
the vast majority are formed during the partial hydrogenation of vegetable
oil that converts the oil into semi-solids for a variety of food
applications.

Trans fatty acids have been useful in foods due to their extended shelf life
and flavour stability, and displaced natural solid fats and liquid oils in
many areas of food processing.

But scientific reports that trans fatty acids raise serum levels of
LDL-cholesterol, reduce levels of HDL-cholesterol, can promote inflammation,
can cause endothelial dysfunction, and influence other risk factors for
cardiovascular diseases (CVD), has led to a well-publicised bans in New York
City and Philadelphia restaurants, and other cities, like Boston and
Chicago, considering similar measures.

The new study adds to a small number of previous studies reporting that
increased levels of markers of trans-fat intake are associated with an
increase risk of cancer of the colon and rectum.

Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer in the US, according to
the American Cancer Society. About 150,000 new cases will be diagnosed in
the US this year, says the society, with an almost 50-50 split between men
and women.

Study details

Vinikoor and co-workers recruited over 600 people from the University of
North Carolina Hospitals. Dietary, lifestyle and other demographic details
about them were achieved via interview, while colorectal health was verified
using results of complete colonoscopies.

The highest trans fatty acid consumption was associated with an 86 per cent
increase in colorectal cancer risk, compared to the lowest consumption.

Further analysis of the colorectal area suggested that trans fatty acid
consumption did not influence the location, size or number of benign tumours
(adenoma).

While further studies are required to verify the results, it is clear that
the study may heap more pressure on the food industry to reformulate and
remove trans fatty's from products.

Alternatives to trans fats

The food industry as a whole has expressed its commitment to removing trans
fatty acids from its products, but such reformulation is not straightforward
and presents challenges.

Paul Wassell and Niall Young from Danisco's Multiple Food Application Group
reviewed the options available to formulators and stated that designing
foods with trans-fat alternatives must be a "multidisciplinary' approach"
(International Journal of Food Science and Technology, Vol. 42, pp 503-517).

"Successful replacements of trans fatty acids is not easily achieved by
simply removing the trans isomer, because of a host of beneficial functional
characteristics that are readily attributable to trans fatty acids," wrote
Wassell and Young, pointing out that the presence of the trans isomer
influences melting behaviour, oxidative stability and textural properties.

At last year's IFT in Chicago, Walter Willett from Harvard School of Public
Health said that limiting and labelling trans fatty acids in food is not
enough, and they should be banned.

Professor Willett told food manufacturers and food professionals in Chicago
that Denmark had taken the right approach to the trans fatty acid issue -
the Scandinavian country introduced legislation in 2004 that required
locally and imported foods to contain less than two per cent industrially
made trans fatty acids, a move that effectively abolished the use of
partially hydrogenated vegetable oils in the country.

Source: American Journal of Epidemiology
Volume 168, Issue 3, Pages 289-297; doi:10.1093/aje/kwn134
"Consumption of trans-Fatty Acid and Its Association with Colorectal
Adenomas"
Authors: L.C. Vinikoor, J.C. Schroeder, R.C. Millikan, J.A. Satia, C.F.
Martin, J. Ibrahim, J.A. Galanko, R.S. Sandler

Hearing Loss and the Hearing Function

2008-09-11T03:06:00.000-07:00

"Hearing impairment" or "hearing loss" is thought to be a consequence
of age, but from an up-to-date investigation, it became clear that
there are other causes other than age. While in China, they believe
that the hearing function has something to do with smell.

Do you know that the sound of music you hear may be different when
heard by others? Why will it be heard differently depending on the
person?

Suppose that before we play music, we inform the listeners that there
shall be a word or noise saying "New York, New York", and ask the
listeners how many times they heard it? Probably 70-80% of them will
say, "Yes, yes, we heard that". But then, there was not even a
word "New York" at all but we just inserted scratching noise.

From this experiment, we understand that the Chinese was right to say
that the hearing function has something to do with smell. We really
do not hear sounds by our ears alone. We hear sounds both by smell
and vision, too. Our brain is made to fill up the portions where
objects are blank or hidden.

Now let's take another case. Let's say you saw a bomb blasting photo
and you did not hear any sound. But by means of seeing the blasted
bomb, you will imagine a "Big Bang" or illusion of sounds that exists
in your brain. The brain recalls or restores the sounds lacking in
the photo. You can call it "Phonological restoration".

We also conducted experiments of hearing impairment with the elders
and young people. As expected, in a certain accustomed short Japanese
words, the elders can hear more than the younger ones. However,
English-related short words were heard by younger people. From this
experiment, we truly conclude that hearing is not only by ear but by
individual memories, too. Memories in the brain can repair or fix the
part where sounds are not heard and remain blank. And they can
understand it as if they heard it right.

It's just like the illustrations below. The sights are obstructed or
blocked by lattice doors or windows. Yet, you can imagine the
unviewed portions and repair it to see or imagine the entire sight.
It is just the same with the hearing function.

http://www.pyroenergen.com/articles08/images/window-grills.jpg
http://www.pyroenergen.com/articles08/images/door-grills.jpg

The way this repair capability works varies on the subject among
young and old people. Although it is true that the hearing function
weakens with age, there are ways to restore it artificially. Also,
there are elders whose hearing function is greater than young stars.

Do you notice that elderly people can gather easily and talk to each
other and gossips go around without end? There appears to be no
problem of hearing loss among them. Why?

It is because when the subject of their conversation is favorable
among them, they can fix or repair unknowingly where they were not
able to hear by means of action or movement of each lip. It is just
like the grill window illustrations shown above.

Of course, it is true that when most of us get old, our hearing
senses deteriorate due to hardening of eardrums.

Well, what is the main reason of hearing loss? Our studies show that
there are many elderly who have good hearing just like young people.
We tried to analyze more conclusively on what can cause hearing loss.

At first, we came to understand that people who have hyperlipidemia
(excessive fats in blood), diabetes, and kidney disease are more at
risk of hearing loss or deafness.

In the case of hyperlipidemia, cholesterol deposits form on the inner
surfaces of the arteries obstructing blood flow, and will easily clog
the capillaries in the ear. In addition, diabetes can cause raised
capillary pressure. And when kidney function fails, the ability to
discharge the wastes that formed in the ear capillaries will also
fail. Improvement in lifestyle such as moderate exercise and healthy
diet will help prevent hearing impairment or deafness.

There are families that have misunderstanding or troubles among the
elderly and young generations even in various companies because of
hearing loss.

Try to make subjects to talk about at the same level with young and
old generations. In this way, you can avoid frequent
misunderstandings or misinterpretations from each other.

Let's start just like gossip-gathering.

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About the Author:
Junji Takano is a Japanese health researcher involved in
investigating the cause of various diseases since 1960. In 1968, he
invented Pyro-Energen, the first electromedicine device that
eradicates viral diseases, cancer, and diseases of unknown cause
effectively without side effects.
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