Friday, August 31, 2007

Ribose (Corvalen)-An Exciting New Discovery!

Corvalen (D-Ribose by Valen Labs) is an outstanding new nutrient (a special sugar-even OK for those who need to avoid sugar!) for those of you who want a powerful energy boost! In addition to its role in making DNA and RNA, those of you familiar with biochemistry remember Ribose as the key building block for making energy. In fact, the main energy molecules (like “Energy dollars”) in your body (ATP, FADH, etc.) are made of ribose plus B vitamins/phosphate. That makes these energy molecules similar to the paper that money is printed on- kind of like being able to print your own energy currency!

Corvalen has many uses, including treating heart muscle weakness (Congestive Heart Failure). We were so impressed with this product that our research center recently completed a study(to be published Nov 2006) reported on in the national news services. Two thirds of CFS/Fibromyalgia patients improved, with an average increase in quality of life of ~25%- outstanding for a single nutrient!

Take 1 scoop 3 times a day for 2 weeks, then decrease to a scoop twice a day, but lower the dose or take it with food if you get hyper from being too energized. The use of Ribose (Corvalen) is a major step forward in treating fatigue with the average CFS/FMS patient in the study having a 45% improvement in energy after 2-3 weeks. In our study, pain, sleep, and “brain fog’ also improved.
by Jacob Teitelbaum M.D.

Buy CorvalenM and Corvalen at a discount with free shipping.

The Health (and Beauty) Dangers of Common Soap

If you are like most people, you believe that bar soap -- the oldest cleanser around - is harmless. So you may be quite surprised to learn that today's popular commercial soaps contain synthetic compounds that are loaded with health risks.

These are some of the most common health symptoms that studies have linked to ingredients found in common commercial soaps and commercial personal care products:
  • Sinus Problems
  • Exacerbated Asthma Conditions
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Migraine Headaches
  • "Unexplained" Sore Throats & Cough
    Rashes, Hives, Dermatitis, Eczema
    irritations to mouth, eyes, skin, lungs
  • Chest Tightness
  • Shortness of Breath

You should know right away that the government does not regulate what "natural" means in soaps labeled natural, so commercial soaps can freely claim to be natural while still using the synthetic compounds discussed below - and they do. If you are already using a "natural" soap, or if you intend to seek a safe alternative, please keep this in mind.

Three Potentially Risky Synthetic Compounds
While there are a number of chemical concerns, there are three synthetic components in commercial soaps you need to be most concerned with: 1) Triclosan; 2) Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS); and 3) Fragrance. Most of the commercial bar soaps (and liquid and other forms) on the market today are composed of these and other chemicals.

Triclosan
The first antibacterial liquid hand soap exploded onto the market in 1995, claiming to be ten times more effective at eliminating disease carrying germs than regular liquid soap. In the eleven years since, antibacterial soaps have become a 16 billion dollar a year industry, adding shampoo, dishwashing detergent, toothpaste and various household cleaners to the "antibacterial" list.

Today, 75% of liquid soaps and over 30% of bar soaps in the US are antibacterial, all containing the synthetic chemical triclosan. Triclosan is the main ingredient in antibacterial products. The intention of triclosan is to prevent bacteria from reproducing, limiting the amount of bacteria on your skin, thereby decreasing illnesses.

Yet a study published in March 2004 found that people who used antibacterial soaps and cleaners developed cold and allergy symptoms as often as those who used regular soaps and cleaners, offering little more protection than ordinary soap against the most common germs.
Current research is showing us that if the widespread use of anti-bacterial soap continues in such an overused frenzy, we could be faced with super germs we can't get rid of.

What the Antibacterial Soap Makers Don't Tell Us
The triclosan in antibacterial soaps does NOT discriminate between good and bad bacteria. But we need good bacteria to survive, to help defend us against bad, harmful bacteria. Our immune systems are being left increasingly vulnerable with the use of antibacterial soaps. Children especially should be exposed to some bacteria in early childhood in order to strengthen their immune systems, but the primary marketing target of the commercial antibacterial soaps is parents with young children. Children who are not exposed to these common bacteria -- because they are being wiped out by antibacterial soap -- may be more prone to allergies and asthma.

Numerous studies have also found that the ongoing use of triclosan:

  • Has been shown to kill your skin cells
  • Dries your skin
  • Can aggravate skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis
  • Does nothing to prevent most illnesses, since colds, flues and more are typically viral (and antibacterial only kills bacteria, not viruses)
  • Dioxin, a highly carcinogenic may be formed during the manufacturing process of triclosan, making it a likely contaminant.
  • Finally, triclosan has now been found in 3 out of 5 women's breast milk. It is also one of the most detected compounds in rivers, streams and other bodies of water, often in high concentrations, and is highly toxic to a number of different types of algae. This could have very destructive effects on aquatic ecosystems.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
One of the most dangerous chemicals being added to virtually every personal care product you can imagine, including soap, shampoo, conditioner, and cosmetics, is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). SLS is an anionic surfactant and the most commonly used chemical in car soaps, garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and personal care products.

SLS has been found to have many side effects:

  • Eye, skin and mouth irritations
  • Membrane alterations
  • May be harmful for the brain, heart, spleen and liver
  • Chronic irritant contact dermatitis
  • Compromising the overall integrity of your skin barrier, rendering it open to exposure to bacteria
  • May actually harm cell function
  • Can corrode the hair follicle and cause hair loss
  • Fragrance

95% of the chemicals used in fragrances are petroleum-based synthetic compounds. Most of these chemicals are not tested for safety. Manufacturers are only required to print "fragrance" on the label, nothing more. Additionally, a product labeled "unscented" may contain a masking fragrance. A product must be marked "without perfume" to indicate no fragrance has been added.

This is just one of the many reasons we do extensive research about ingredients and bring only safe products to our product store.

Fatty Acid Tied to Depression and Inflammation

Last Updated: 2007-04-17 11:50:28 -0400 (Reuters Health)
By Anne Harding

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The imbalance of fatty acids in the typical American diet could be associated with the sharp increase in heart disease and depression seen over the past century, a new study suggests.

Specifically, the more omega-6 fatty acids people had in their blood compared with omega-3 fatty acid levels, the more likely they were to suffer from symptoms of depression and have higher blood levels of inflammation-promoting compounds, report Dr. Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser and her colleagues from Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus. These compounds, which include tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6, are "all-purpose 'nasties' for aging," and have been tied to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis and other ailments, Kiecolt-Glaser told Reuters Health.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in foods such as fish, flax seed oil and walnuts, while omega-6 fatty acids are found in refined vegetable oils used to make everything from margarine to baked goods and snack foods. The amount of omega-6 fatty acids in the Western diet increased sharply once refined vegetable oils became part of the average diet in the early 20th century.
Hunter-gatherers consumed two or three times as much omega-6 as omega-3, Kiecolt-Glaser's team notes in their study, published in Psychosomatic Medicine, but today Westerners consume 15- to 17-times more omega-6 than omega-3.

The researchers investigated the relationship among fatty acid consumption, depression and inflammation in 43 older men and women. The 6 individuals diagnosed with major depression had nearly 18 times as much omega-6 as omega-3 in their blood, compared with about 13 times as much for subjects who didn't meet the criteria for major depression. Depressed patients also had higher levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, and other inflammatory compounds. And as levels of depressive symptoms rose, so did the omega 6 and omega 3 ratio.

The effects of depression and diet enhanced each other, the researchers found. "It was more than additive," Kiecolt-Glaser said. "People who had few depressive symptoms and/or a good diet were generally fine." However, when depressive symptoms increased and diets become worse, "we really saw big differences."

Depression alone is known to increase inflammation, the researchers note in their report, while a number of studies have found omega-3 supplements prevent depression.

Following recommendations for a healthy diet -- and eating fatty fish like salmon, mackerel or sardines every now and then -- could go a long way to promote a healthier omega-6/omega 3 balance, Kiecolt-Glaser said. "If people actually had more fruits and vegetables in their diet, they probably would have less omega-6."
SOURCE: Psychosomatic Medicine, online March 30, 2007.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Daily Prescription for Healing Laughter

PRESCRIPTION: Laugh for 1 minute at least 4 times per day. Increase as needed.
Studies have found that exposure to comedy can have an analgesic effect; that laughter can positively affect mood; and that laughter plays a role in improving immunity and reducing stress hormone reduction, pain, and blood pressure.

Acne

Clearasil Total Control Gentle Cleansing Wipes sold in the United States contain sodium methylparaben, which has been banned in cosmetics by the European Union, as well as ceteareth-20 and ceteareth-12, two ingredients that are not safe for use on injured or damaged skin (including acne, ironically). Other ingredients in Clearasil products have been linked to cancer, allergies and skin and nervous system toxicity.

Clearasil is not alone at the bottom of the class. Neutrogena, Oxy and Clean & Clear are also failing as Safe Personal Care Products.

Breakouts a Problem for You or Someone You Love?
Here are some tried and true ways to help prevent acne:
  • Change your pillowcases frequently: flip to the other side after two days and change at least every four days.
  • If you have long hair, tie it up loosely before going to bed to keep it off your face.
  • Avoid getting hair products on your skin.
  • Use products that are actually “gentle” and for “sensitive skin,” not those that are only marketed as such. Truly gentle products usually have few or no synthetic chemicals and a shorter list of ingredients than the harsher products do.
  • Exercise, eat well, stress less.
  • Keep your hands off your face.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

National Invisible Chronic IllnessAwareness Week, Sept 10-16

DID YOU KNOW…?
Nearly 1 in 2 Americans live with a chronic condition?
96% of illness is invisible?
75% of marriages end in divorce when illness is present?
79% of suicides have uncontrollable physical pain as a factor?

My illness is invisible. But the pain is real. Join me in supporting National Invisible Chronic IllnessAwareness Week, Sept 10-16. 2007. http://www.invisibleillness.com/ National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week’s web site has articles, resources and will feature twenty online seminars during Sept 10-14, 2007. Care enough to be Informed. Little things DO make a difference. National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Depression & Anxiety Natural Relief

There is clinical proof that symptoms of depression and anxiety can be relieved in many patients who supplement with certain vitamins, minerals, and herbal preparations, including:
Omega-3 fatty acids
Vitamin D
B vitamins (especially B-12 and folate)
Magnesium
St. John's wort
Valerian root

Talk to your doctor before adding any of these supplements to your daily regimen.

http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealerts/freecopy.html

Also, very important is the quality/brand of the supplements you take. Don't buy brands made in China. Don't buy your supplements at places like Wal-Mart, Costco, etc. Look for high quality supplements like Metagenics in glass bottles. There is also some evidence that Omega-3 fatty acids help to decrease or manage anger.

Dangers of MSG That May Surprise You

A silent killer that’s worse than alcohol, nicotine, and drugs is likely lurking in your kitchen cabinets and even your child’s school cafeteria. It’s monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer that’s known widely as an addition to Chinese food, but that’s actually added to thousands of the foods you eat.

Dr. Mercola's comments:
MSG is used in countless foods in your supermarket, local restaurants, school cafeterias, and more. Everything from soup to crackers to meats may contain it because MSG, as dangerous as it is, makes food taste good and it is dirt cheap, just like sugar. Incredibly, even infant formulas and baby food contain this poison, even though babies and infants, who are four times more sensitive than adults to the toxic effects of this chemical, are the most at risk.

There are a couple of main reasons why MSG is one of the worst food additives on the market. First, as Dr. Blaylock, author of the highly recommended Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills, says in the video, MSG is an excitotoxin, which means that it overexcites your cells to the point of damage, acting as a poison. The second part of the equation is that MSG can be literally hidden in food labels, under names like broth, casein, hydrolyzed, autolyzed, and more, making it extremely difficult to identify.MSG is also a probable cause contributing to the obesity epidemic.

As the FDA continues to vouch for its safety, scientists have known that MSG causes obesity since the 1960s! It is clearly not worth a few bites of tasty junk food to give your body the green light to produce visceral fat, the most dangerous type that surrounds your organs and increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, insomnia, type 2 diabetes, and more. Yet, that is exactly what you’re doing when you eat foods that contain MSG.

Eliminating MSG from your diet is a wise choice for everyone, including pregnant women. To do so, stick to natural, unprocessed foods. And, if you do eat processed foods, be on the lookout for the many hidden names for MSG on food labels. They include (but are far from limited to):
Gelatin
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP)
Yeast Extract
Malted Barley
Rice Syrup or Brown Rice Syrup

The dangers surrounding MSG are, perhaps, most concerning for new moms who are unable to breastfeed, and are looking for an alternative to the MSG-laden infant formulas on the market. Fortunately, women who are unable to breastfeed can make an extremely nutritious, MSG-free infant formula for their baby using raw milk.

Monday, August 27, 2007

Benfotiamine for Nerve Pain

"Benfotiamine was developed in Japan in the late 1950s to treat alcoholic neuropathy, sciatica, and other painful nerve conditions. Japanese researchers patented the process in1962. It has been used for over a decade in Germany. And although it has been used successfully for over 12 years in Europe for the prevention and relief of symptoms in people already suffering with various neuropathies, it has only recently been introduced into the United States."

You can find more information about benfotiamine at benfotiamine.org, and HSI members can read Kathryn's full article in the HSI Members Alert archives on our web site at hsibaltimore.com.

Benfotiamine can be ordered through Life Extension

Saturday, August 25, 2007

10 Unsolved Mysteries of the Brain

The human brain -- that three-pound mass of gray and white matter between your ears -- is the most complex object in the universe. It contains as many neurons as there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy, and we know as much (or as little) about how they function as we know about all those stars.

This fascinating article from Discover Magazine takes a look at 10 of the so far unsolved mysteries of your brain, including:
How is information coded in neural activity? Neurons are specialized cells within the brain that produce brief spikes of voltage in their outer membranes. Each neuron in the cortex receives input from as many as 10,000 other neurons. But what is the code? They used an apt description to describe the problem. It’s like taking the cover off a computer, measuring the chatter of high and low voltage between a few transistors and trying to figure out the content of the Web page being viewed.

How are memories stored and retrieved? When you learn something new, your brain undergoes physical changes, but no one really knows what those changes are. Even more mysterious is the act of memory retrieval. How is it that certain answers are immediately obvious to you?
What are emotions and feelings? Brains are often referred to as information-processing
systems. But that doesn’t account for your brain’s role in “creating” emotions, fears, and hopes. Emotions are measurable physical responses to stimuli: the increased heartbeat and perspiration that accompanies fear, for example. Feelings, such as happiness, envy or guilt, are even more perplexing. These are entirely subjective experiences that may or may not accompany the emotional process.

One thing’s clear, however -- whether we’re ever able to decode the human brain or not -- and that is the fact that your brain is intricately involved in your overall health, whether mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual. A healthy lifestyle can help protect, nourish, and revitalize that most valuable asset -- your brain.
Discover Magazine July 31, 2007

Friday, August 24, 2007

Harmful effects of Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS)

Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS)
It's cheap...It foams a lot...It thickens with salt.

SLS, more commonly known as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, (a common foaming ingredient found in everything from shampoo, body wash, bubble bath and toothpaste) is the culprit in thousands of complaints to the FDA. According to Ruth Winters, author of “A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients” the FDA has received reports from consumers that include reactions to SLS such as eye and scalp irritation, tangled hair, swelling of hands, face and arms, and split and fuzzy hair.

But this isn’t the worst of it. SLS is a wetting agent, or surfactant, whose purpose is to reduce the surface tension of the water thus allowing the shampoo to spread easier and penetrate more easily. It is a cheap ingredient and mixed with Sodium Stearate, usually composes approximately fifty percent of a shampoos ingredients. About forty percent is water and the other 10 percent is preservatives, fragrance and color. Many shampoos that claim to have herbal extracts usually include them in the water content - which is fine. However, with all the other chemicals, the risks far outweigh the benefit these herbs provide.

Judi Vance, a pioneer in the fight to educate consumers about the chemicals contained in most personal care products and author of “Beauty to Die For” has done exhaustive research on SLS. Here are some of the results of her findings: There are four categories of detergents. They include Anionic, Nonionic, Cationic and Amphoteric. Amphoteric and Anionic are the types found in most shampoos, conditioners and lotions. Anionic are the cheapest and foam the best while Amphoteric are the mildest group and are used in shampoos for their conditioning abilities. Their sibling, the Nonionic group, are used in spray-on oven cleaners. But here is where the problem lies.

A study citied in the Wall Street Journal (November 1, 1988) linked SLS to cataracts and nitrate absorption (nitrates are carcinogens-or cancer causing substances). Apparently, this absorption occurs when the SLS becomes contaminated with NDELA (N-nitrosodiethanolamine) during processing. This contamination comes about as a result of SLS coming into contact with any number of chemicals including TEA (triethanolamine) which is a commonly used ingredient in shampoos as a detergent. The equation looks like this: SLS + TEA = NDELA (a nitrosamines and a recognized carcinogen). What bothers us is that while many companies claim that SLS is a safe ingredient (the jury is still out on this) the problem is what we refer to as the “chemical cocktail”. When these ingredients come into contact with one another, some will bond forming cancer causing nitrosamines. This is where the danger lies.

To be realistic, there is no way that the FDA could possibly test all the combinations of chemicals available. So, while some chemicals may be mild or classified as safe independently, once you combine them, dangerous things can happen. Just because SLS supposedly comes from coconuts doesn’t mean the molecular structure isn’t potentially damaging. There is a lot of information available on SLS - it is very controversial these days. The presence of the “chemical cocktail” is a very real and ticking time bomb.

Read labels and choose alternatives. Many companies have developed products that foam just as or nearly as well as many large scale commercial products. And just because a product claims to be natural (they can say the product is natural if it contains SLS since it’s derived from coconuts) doesn’t mean it’s safe. Read labels, research and ask questions. Other names for sulfates include sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate. If you see sulfate in the ingredients, don't use it!

Industrial Use, Personal Care Product, Harsh Floor Cleaners, Engine Degreasers, Car Wash Detergents, Laundry Detergents, Toothpaste, Shampoos, Body Gels, Bubble Baths, Facial Cleansers, Baby Wipes, Baby Shampoos & Bubble Baths

SLS can damage the immune system; causing separation of skin layers and inflammation of skin.
-Journal of the American College of Toxicology; Vol. 2, No. 7, 1983
SLS penetrates into the skin and into the eyes, and is also held in the brain, heart and liver. A single drop stays in the brain and body for a few days - Doctor's worry: Is your baby safe?

-By David L. Kern, New health and longevity
SLS denatures proteins of eye tissues - impairing eye development permanently.

-Dr. Keith Green, PHD, D.Sc., Medical College of Georgia
SLS is a mutagen. It is capable of changing the information in genetic material found in cells. SLS has been used in studies to induce mutagen in bacteria.

-Higuchi, Araya and Higuchi, school of medicine, Tohoku University: Sendai 980 Japan
SLS is a potent carcinogen when contaminated with a nitrosamines.

-FDA Report 1978

TAKE CONTROL OF STRESS WITH THE FOLLOWING TIPS:

Simplify
Set priorities for yourself. Organize your time so that you do the things that are most important to you first. Let less important things go.
Identify things that cause you the most stress. Then, look for ways to get around them. For example, if you find traveling stressful, see if you can make a phone call instead.
Concentrate on doing one thing at a time. Once you have finished a task, take a moment to let yourself feel good about getting it done. Take a rest if you need it, and then move on.
If you are running late, or if you feel overwhelmed, cancel or reschedule your appointments.
Learn to say "no." Save your energy for the things that are most important to you.

Get support
Don't try to do everything yourself. Ask your friends and family members to help with some of your responsibilities.
Talk about your feelings with family and friends. Make sure you take time for social activities and exercise. You'll be more prepared to deal with situations that cause you stress if you've taken time for fun!

Plan ahead
Think about which situations cause you stress. Then, plan ahead to minimize or avoid these predictable sources of stress. For example, if waiting in line is stressful for you, bring a book to help pass the time. If you find the morning rush stressful, get up 15 minutes earlier so that you don't feel so rushed.
Schedule breaks for yourself throughout the day. This will give you a chance to rest, and will also prevent the stress that comes from getting "behind schedule."

The Healing Power of Gratitude

By Joan Buchman
Note: Joan Buchman is a fibromyalgia patient who lives near San Diego, California. She has participated in many groups of the CFIDS/Fibromyalgia Self-Help Program, including leading several introductory courses.

I struggled with fibromyalgia for eight years before achieving stability. Little did I suspect as 1999 began that a crisis was coming that would upset that stability or that help would come from a simple daily exercise.

My fibromyalgia began when I developed muscle pain in my upper legs over several months in 1991. Then I started having problems with my sleep, waking up several times during the night and feeling totally exhausted in the morning. After months of visits to a number of doctors, I was finally diagnosed with FMS in October 1992. I was relieved to find a name to go with my symptoms, but after that initial euphoria, was left with the task of learning how to live with this debilitating and chronic illness.

I spent the next few years experiencing the stages of grieving and over time came a long way toward acceptance of my condition, creating a life within the limits of this illness. My regimen included reading all I could about my illness, resting, and learning what kinds of exercise I could do without exacerbating my condition. I also joined a local FMS support group, became good friends with other FMS patients and re-evaluated which activities and relationships were causing me stress, making some changes. I gradually improved to where most days, physically,
I was between 40% and 60% of my functioning before FMS. Physically, mentally and emotionally, I had crafted a life that worked for me and my illness; I was feeling the best I had in many years.

Family Crisis Upsets a Delicate Balance
Then, in early 1999, a family crisis arose that upset the delicate balance I had so carefully created. Suddenly, a previously slow-growing thyroid cancer that my husband’s sister, Janette, had been living with for over 20 years, became active and very fast moving. After unsuccessful chemotherapy, the cancer had spread to her liver and she was going downhill quickly. My husband Paul and I asked her to come live with us, which she accepted. She moved in on February 14. For the next 5-1/2 months, we lived together, sharing the ups and downs, the laughter and tears, the hope and the fear. She died on July 29.

As Janette’s primary caregiver, I was unable to continue with my daily routine of exercise, regular resting and social activities. The high stress and the loss of my routine led to some increase in pain and fatigue. The stress of care giving for those months affected me emotionally more than anything. Seeing someone I loved fading before my eyes was very difficult. During this crisis, the emotional support I needed came from an unexpected source.

Help from a Simple Exercise
A few months before Janette came to live with us, I was browsing in a local bookstore while doing Christmas shopping. I spotted a book titled “The Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude.” I recognized Sarah Ban Breathnach as the author of “Simple Abundance.” Most of the book consisted of a page for each day of the year, followed by five blank lines. I was intrigued by her idea that there could be powerful effects from writing each day five things you were grateful for. I bought the book as a gift to myself, little knowing what a significant role that small book would play in helping me survive one of the most stressful periods of my life.
For a month and a half before Janette came, I wrote in my Gratitude Journal every day. It was the last thing I did at night before going to sleep. Sometimes I struggled to find 5 things for which I was grateful; occasionally, one of those was, “I’m grateful this day has ended.” But I stuck with it.

During the months Janette was with us, I felt it was very important to keep up with the Gratitude Journal and I focused on aspects of this situation from which I could pull out something to be thankful for. Often, it was something Janette was doing to find peace with her life and death. She reached out to just about everyone who had ever been in her life. In return, she experienced an outpouring of love like I had never seen. She received many letters, phone calls, even visits from old friends who traveled cross-country to see her. At times, this outpouring was overwhelming to her. But, at the same time, she was so nurtured by it, it helped give her strength to go on. Janette was a constant inspiration, for in her final months, besides reaching out to others, she took time to appreciate her surroundings and the pleasures of everyday life. We took her to the California Coast one weekend and she was inspired by the nature that was there. She stared at the ocean and the contentment on her face was amazing. Paul took her to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and she loved it. She was reaching out to grasp everything around her, even though she knew she didn’t have long to live.

Learning the Power of Gratitude
Janette taught me to treasure what I have right now. Gratitude means appreciating what you have and making the most from that. So I began to express in my journal appreciation for people in my life and my life as it was. That led to feelings of gratitude for the lessons I had been learning about myself because of my illness. I had learned that moving as fast as I could, doing as much as possible, was not making me happy. I was not taking any time to nurture my physical, mental or emotional needs. I believe that my body was shouting at me to slow down and savor life.
I think I would have learned about gratitude on my own by writing the Gratitude Journal for that entire year. But Janette, as a shining example of experiencing gratitude during a crisis, gave me a crash course in finding gratitude in my life. From Janette’s model of living her last days with grace and appreciation of everything she had right then, I learned that I can live a happy and peaceful life with my chronic illness. In fact, I would even say I am grateful for FMS, for without it, I would not have been forced to take a close look at how I was living. My life today is not the life I had imagined, but, looking back, I realize that I was not on a track for happiness and peace. Because of FMS, I have had the opportunity to find out what is really important for me to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Gratitude is not about “looking at the bright side” or denying the realities of life. Gratitude goes much deeper than that. It’s about learning from a situation, taking the good to help deal with other challenges in the future. It’s about finding out that you have more power over your life than you previously imagined. You can stop being a victim of your circumstances and reach out to the joy in living. If you open your heart to the good in your life, gratitude becomes as much a part of your life as breathing.
So I continue to write in my Gratitude Journal. Only now, I do it in my head, every minute of every day. I do not limit myself to five lines.

The gift I gave myself that Christmas of the Gratitude Journal changed my life. After struggling with FMS for years, searching for answers and cures, I was finally able to reach a level of acceptance that has dramatically improved my quality of life. I am better at pacing my activities, listening to my body and have more patience with myself and others. I have found joy at every turn, from appreciating the beauty of nature to improved relationships with family and friends. I still have muscle pain and fatigue. Those symptom levels remain fairly constant. But that journal opened the door to unconditional happiness with the hand I was dealt. I can look beyond the pain and fatigue and look forward to each day and the joy it will bring. And it all started with a book I saw at a bookstore amid the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping.

Is Sugar More Addictive Than Cocaine?

According to a new research study, refined sugar is far more addictive than cocaine -- one of the most addictive and harmful substances currently known.An astonishing 94 percent of rats who were allowed to choose mutually-exclusively between sugar water and cocaine, chose sugar. Even rats who were addicted to cocaine quickly switched their preference to sugar, once it was offered as a choice. The rats were also more willing to work for sugar than for cocaine.The researchers speculate that the sweet receptors (two protein receptors located on the tongue), which evolved in ancestral times when the diet was very low in sugar, have not adapted to modern times’ high-sugar consumption.Therefore, the abnormally high stimulation of these receptors by our sugar-rich diets generates excessive reward signals in the brain, which have the potential to override normal self-control mechanisms, and thus lead to addiction.

Additionally, their research found that there’s also a cross-tolerance and a cross-dependence between sugars and addictive drugs. As an example, animals with a long history of sugar consumption actually became tolerant (desensitized) to the analgesic effects of morphine. Posted from Dr. Mercola

Quit Complaining -- It May Make You Feel Worse

Voicing your frustrations is a natural way of dealing with them -- but watch out. Talking your problems to death can make you feel even worse.

A recent study found that teenage girls who vented to each other about their problems, from boy trouble to social slights, were more likely to develop depression and anxiety -- and the same is likely true for adult women, says Amanda Rose, the author of the study.

Lack of Sunshine Causes 600,000 Cancers a Year

A new study looking at the relationship between vitamin D serum levels and the risk of colon and breast cancer across the globe has estimated the number of cases of cancer that could be prevented each year if vitamin D3 levels met the target proposed by researchers.
Cedric F. Garland, Dr.P.H., cancer prevention specialist at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and colleagues estimate that 250,000 cases of colorectal cancer and 350,000 cases of breast cancer could be prevented worldwide by increasing intake of vitamin D3, particularly in countries north of the equator. Vitamin D3 is available through diet, supplements and exposure of the skin to sunlight.

Have you had your NingXia Red today?

NingXia Red:

Wolfberries, eliminate the free radicals that causes DNA damage. Free radicals can damage both fats and proteins in the body. Fats are essential structural components of the cell membranes, especially in the cells of the eyes, liver, and brain. Proteins are the building block of the heart muscle and cellular DNA, the command-and-control center for cellular regeneration.
If the DNA becomes damaged, the cell losses control, mutates, and either self-destructs or grows out of control.

Also levels of long-chain polyunsaturated fats (ie., and DHA and EPA), are crucial building blocks of the brain, eyes, heart, and other organs. DHA occurs in unusually height concentrations in the cerebralcortex---the most advanced structure of the brain where logic and reasoning take place.
In 20-year-olds, levels of DHA are very high. But as their DHA becomes oxidized due to free radical attacks with advancing age, their cognitive powers dimish, hormone levels decline and immunity falters.

The body uses a battery of enzymes and antioxidants to maintain levels of DHA because it is so essential for the function of vital organs. But eventually so much DHA becomes oxidized or damaged that it surpasses the ability of the body to repair and replace it. By the time a person reaches age 70, DHA levels in the brain, eyes and heart are less than half those of a 20-year old's. This contributes to impaired vision, memory loss, dementia, arteriosclerosis and eventually death.

Ningxia Wolfberry research:
There are 3 ways that wolfberry can protect against cancer and premature aging:
1. Protects cells from DNA damage and mutations. As the highest know antioxidant food, the Ningxia wolfberry protects cellular DNA against mutations for ROS-reactive oxygen species (free radicals). Over a dozen studies have documented the wolfberry's clinical role in treating cancer.

It is believed that free radical caused, oxidative damage may be responsible for the steady mental decline in person with Down's syndrome.

Researchers are beginning to link the mental deterioration in Downs Syndrome with accelerated neuron death caused by free radicals. Akira Sawa, PhD, a scientist at Johns Hopkins, suggests that as reactive oxygen species attack the brain, neurons are forced to die off prematurely (known as accelerated apoptosis). As the cells are destroyed faster than the body's ability to replace them, the brain suffers worsening dementia, memory loss and eventually death.
Because there are Blueberries in the NingXia Red they help protect the brain also.

As one of the highest known antioxidant foods, blueberries are blessed with a unique profile of polyphenols that can protect the body from oxidative damage caused by aging and inflammation. The polyphenols found in blueberries are very different from those that occur in the Ningxia wolfberry and operate on a very different mechanism. Studies found at Tufts University show that blueberries protect the brain, heart, and liver against the oxidative damage that occurs with age.

Studies show that increasing dietary intake of fruits and vegetables, can retard and even reverse age-related declines in brain function and in cognitive and motor performance in rats.
Dr. Galli referred to the brain-protecting aspects of fruit extracts.

"Dietary supplementation with fruit or vegetable extracts high in antioxidants (e.g., blueberry)," can decrease this vulnerability to oxidative stress by reduction in neuronal signaling and behavioral deficits."
1. Strawberry and blueberry extracts also markedly increase brain levels of glutathione, a key sulfhydryl antioxidant that protects neurons from free radical attack and oxidative damage.
Dr. Bickfored concluded that "nutritional source of antioxidants are important for improving learning and memoryin aged animals and possibly in humans as well."
2. A second study by USDA showed after subjecting the animals to a battery of tests including rod walking, wire suspension, plank suspension, inclined screen, accelerating rotarod and the Morris water maze, Dr. Joseph found that the blueberry-supplemented animals far outperformed the control group. The animals displayed a noticeable improvement in both physical abilities and cognitive function. During the rotarod and rod-walking tests, the blueberry-fed animals resisted falling over 50% better than the control group.
3. Dr. Joseph conducted a third study that validated the potent antioxidant and brain-protecting ability of strawberry and blueberry extracts. He exposed laboratory animals to an atmosphere of 100% oxygen, which can accelerate neuron death in the brain and can mimic the cognitive declines that occur naturally with aging. Animals treated with fruit extracts exhibited far better cognitive function than unsupplemented controls following 48 hours of exposure to pure oxygen.
Ningia wolberry puree:
1. Highest antioxidant food
2. Rich in immune-stimulating polysaccharides 3. High in ellagic acid, which prevents DNA mutation
Blueberry juice:
1 One of the riches foods in proanthocyanidins.
2. Tufts University studies show that it protects against brain aging.
3. University of Mainz studies show that it protects cell DNA.
Pomegranate Juice:
1 Has 3 times the antioxidant activity as green tea 2. Just two ounces reduces oxidized cholesterol by 40%.
3. Powerful circulatory and cardiovascular protectant.
Raspberry Juice:
1. High in quercetin and other antioxidants.
2. Has one of the highest levels of ellagic acid.
Lemon and Orange Essential Oils
1 High in limonene which combats cell mutation
Agave Nectar:
1. A natural cactus juice from the Agave Tequila 2. Has glycemic index of 11, the lowest of any sweetener..

Ningxia Wolfberry: In the mid 1980's when biochemists at the Ningxia Institute of Nutrition analyzed the Ningxia wolfberry (which is called Goji Berry by Native Chinese and Lycium Barbarun L by botanists), they found that it was virtual vitamin capsule in the form of a fruit. Over 15% protein by weight, the wolfberry contains over 21 essential minerals, 18 amino acids, and substantial amounts of chromium. Levels of vitamins such as thiamin (vitamin B)niacin (vitamin B3), and vitamin C were extraordinarily high.

To confirm these results, we commissioned an independent lab in the United States to run another analysis: The results showed that:

Ningxia Wolfberry Nutrient Summary:
67 times the thiamin (vitamin B1) of brown rice
2 times the niacin (vitamin B3) of baker's yeast
3 times the vitamin C of raw oranges
5 times the calcium of raw cauliflower
2 times the beta carotene of raw spinach
Highest Known Source in Vitamins B1 and B3:

The Ningxia wolfberry is richest known whole food source of natural vitamin B1 or thiamin. Thiamin is essential for proper energy production, carbohydrate metabolism, and thyroid function. Thiamin deficiencies can result in impaired carbohydrate burning and a decline in the energy hormone thyrotropin. The wolf- berry also has 100 times the niacin (vitamin B3 as oat bran. Over two decades of research document the ability of niacin to support the heart.
Minerals: Key to long Life
Minerals truly are the "Cinderella's" of the nutrition world because vitamins cannot be utilized by the body nor be assimilated without the aid of minerals. Moreover, the human body cannot manufacture a single mineral (unlike vitamins, some of which the body can manufacture on its own).

Minerals perform a countless pivotal functions in the human body. Not only are they crucial to the electrolyte balance of our cells, which forms the foundation of health, but they also play essential roles in nerve conductions, muscle contraction, heart action, blood clotting, protein metabolism, bone and teeth formation, and enzyme activation. Every process of the body is dependent on minerals.

Minerals also constitute central components of some of the most powerful antioxidant compounds in the human body. The mineral Zinc is instrumental in the formation of superoxide dimutase (SOD), a key enzymatic antioxidant that declines with age. SOD is responsible for deactivating the most prevalent and dangerous free radical in the body; superoxide.

Calcium--Important for building bones; shown to help
reduce body fat and lower the risk of some cancers.
Chromium (trivalent)--part of the Glucose Tolerance Factor, it enhances insulin sensitivity and makes it easier for glucose to enter the cell
Magnesium--Reduces the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease; treats depression and headaches.
Potassium--Lowers blood pressure and is associated with improved longevity.
Copper, Zinc, and Magnesium-- Essential for collagen development and blood vessel health; superoxide dismutase (SOD), one of the most vital antioxidant enzymes in the body. The most important of these processes are cellular respiration, cellular utilization of oxygen, DNA and RNA reproduction, maintenance of cell membrane integrity, and sequestration of free radicals.

Balancing Minerals:
Minerals must be properly balanced. For example, excess dietary calcium or copper can result in a Zinc deficiency and poor immunity. Conversely zinc consumption in excess of 300 mg per day not only suppresses immunity but also contributes to copper depletion and anemia.
Both the mineral profile and mineral balance of the Ningxia wolfberry is without equal in the plant kingdom, with magnesium to calcium ratios at almost 1:1, zinc to copper ratios at 2:1 and potassium to magnesium rations at 8:1.
Potassium and Magnesium:
Wolfberries are also rich in potassium and magnesium.
A three-ounce serving of dried fruit contains nearly 1600 mg of potassium--which is quadruple the amount found in 3 oz. of fresh bananas, which is looked upon by many as a high potassium food.

Potassium is the single most important mineral to human health and longevity, being essential for normal electrolyte and pH balance within the cell. When excess sodium begins to accumulate in conjunction with a potassium deficit, this can result in hypertension (high blood pressure) and high blood sugar, both of which can lead to lowered GABA production and exert a dampening effect on the hypothalamus and pituitary glands. This can directly contribute to subnormal growth hormone levels as we age.

Our potassium deficit becomes more lopsided as we grow older and the kidneys become less and less able to effectively retain potassium and excrete sodium from the body. Researchers have estimated kidney function declines by up to 75% between age 30 and 80.

A multi-year longitudinal study on aging clearly demonstrated that declining potassium levels are closely linked with signs of aging. Conducted over a period of nearly two decades, researchers followed 650 subjects and found that between age 40 and 60, potassium levels in the body dropped by over 13%.This decline in potassium levels, coincides closely with the decline in GABA and growth hormone levels, suggesting that declining GABA, growth hormone, and potassium levels may be linked.

Increasing your intake of potassium can potential slow the age-related decline of GABA and growth hormone,. The Ningxia wolfberry is the highest known, whole food source of whole food potassium.

Triple the Vitamin C of Raw Orange
Just 100 grams of dried Ningxia wolfberries contain well over double the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C (ascorbic Acid). The value of vitamin C for health has been well documented, with extensive research documenting its antioxidant and immune- enhancing properties..

There is a lot more info on the rest of the Nutrient that is in the Ningxia wolfberry Like High Protein(Powerhouse), Arginine, Fiber (the Staff of Life), More than Vitamin, Minerals, and Amino Acids, Carotenoids(Beta Carotene), Zeaxanthin and Lutein, Beta-caryptoxanthin, Polysaccharides (Anti-cancerous and immune-stimulating),Cerebrosides and Pyrroles(protects the liver),Ellagic Acid and Polyphenols (Anti-cancer and detoxifying properties).
One of toughest achievements in the development of superfood is creating a blend of juices that do not stimulate yeast and fungus overgrowth in the gastrointestinal system.

So by combining proven antifungal agents such as pomegranate with low-dextrose, low-glycemic, high-polysaccharides fruits such as Ningxia wolfberry, raspberries, and blueberries, here is a juice blend that would discourage the overgrowth of yeasts rather than promote them.
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Can you imagine what this Drink can do for you??????
It has the ability to neutralize the super oxidized free radicals in the body. They are the most aggressive of all free radicals. That causes the body to age and disease to set in like cancer. By neutralizing the free radicals, our body will have the ability to boost the immune system and increase energy.

Dr. Hill (Administrator of the Young Life Research Clinic In Utah), states the "Wolfberry juice isn't a fruit drink; it is a super food. Nutritionally, it is very sound. It can have a great impact on your system almost immediately. What we are trying to encourage people to do at the clinic is to change their lifestyles. And change is much easier when you can incorporate a product that not only tastes good but also helps you change your lifestyle nutritionally. I would strongly recommend the use of wolfberry juice to everyone!!!!

Because of the history behind the Ningxia wolfberry it is recognized world wide.. It nourish the yin, supports the blood, helps support the kidneys and liver, strengthens the eyes, fortify the muscles and bones, enhance the "chi" or life force, and increases energy. From of the history of Ningxia wolfberry, it will be lot easier to market internationally because everyone knows the story behind the Ningxia wolfberry.

There are other species of wolfberries, but Young Living is the only company in United States that buys the Ningxia wolfberries. Other species have low antioxidants, Ningxia wolfberries has the highest.
Ningxia Red. Get this.... the benefits of out of just drinking 1 oz. of Ningxia Red you would need to have eat or drink:
4lbs carrots, 8 oranges, 2qts of carrot juice, 1 pint of orange juice, 2lbs of raw beets, 2 cups of beet juice, 3 cups of blueberries, and 2 cups of raspberries.
What could be better than that?!?!?
ONE OUNCE OF NINGXIA RED EQUALS ALL OF THAT COMBINED FOR ANTIOXIDANT POWER!!!!!!!!