15 Ways To Beat Stress This Holiday Season

The holidays are officially upon us and that means stress levels are rising to an all time high! Here are some helpful and essential tips to lower your stress levels and allow you to have a relaxing and more importantly, fun, holiday season!

1. Emphasize an organic, whole foods diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and adequate amounts of essential fatty acid.

2. Drink plenty of pure, filtered water throughout the day, to avoid dehydration, a common but overlooked cause of stress.

3. Be sure to eat a healthy breakfast. Skipping breakfast can add to stress levels by making you more tired and irritable.

4. Avoid all sugars, refined carbohydrates, food additives and preservatives, and processed foods, and minimize your intake of alcohol and caffeine throughout the day.

5. Regularly practice relaxation exercises and/or meditation.

6. Exercise at least three times each week, for 30 minutes each session. Gentle aerobic exercises combined with moderate weight training can significantly relieve stress and improve your overall mood. Be sure not to overexert yourself, however, as doing so will only increase your stress levels.

7. Useful nutritional supplements include vitamin A, B-complex vitamins, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E, as well as a complete multivitamin/multimineral formula.

8. Useful herbs for dealing with stress including American ginseng, chamomile, passionflower, and valerian root, all of which can be taken as teas.

9. Bach flowers and other flower essences can help to heal unresolved or inappropriately expressed negative emotions that can cause stress, as well as many other physical health problems.

10. Get adequate amounts of sleep each night and be sure to go to bed at the same time.

11. Set up your daily schedule so that you have plenty of time to deal with your daily tasks and focus on accomplishing those that are the most important first.

12. Become more conscious of your fears and worries and examine them objectively. Doing so can significantly reduce their hold on you.

13. Avoid long periods of isolation. Spend regular quality time with your loved ones. If you live alone, seek out your friends.

14. Find and devote yourself to one or more hobbies that you truly enjoy.

15. And finally, cultivate your sense of humor and laugh more often!

 

Monsanto Believes The Safety Of GMOs Does Not Need To Be Tested

January 25, 2012

InfoWars

By Ethan A. Huff

There is a growing body of scientific evidence which proves that genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) are inherently different from natural organisms, including the way the body processes them, as well as how the immune system responds to them. But Monsanto, the largest purveyor of GMOs in the world, believes that GMOs are no different than natural organisms, and that GMO testing is both needless and valueless.

In the “Why aren’t you running human clinical trials on GM crops?” section of Monsanto’s Food Safety page, the biotechnology giant explains its opinion that GMOs are “substantially equivalent” to natural organisms. According to Monsanto, since concentrations of proteins, carbohydrates, and other nutrient factors vary among natural crops, as well as among natural and GM crops, then these differences are automatically unimportant in light of GMO safety.

Furthermore, Monsanto claims that its injection of foreign DNA into its GM crops is also automatically safe because, get this, DNA is present in natural crops as well. Never mind that the injected DNA is foreign and unnatural, and is used to alter the entire genetic structure of GM crops — according to Monsanto, its unnatural DNA is automatically non-toxic because every other plant also has DNA. Case closed.

Using this same absurd illogic, injecting foreign animal DNA into a developing human baby, for instance, must also be safe because that baby contains DNA, right? Or how about drinking antifreeze, which is made of atoms, because your body is also made of atoms?

Based on Monsanto’s pseudoscientific nonsense,everythingcan be considered non-toxic and safe because it is all made of atoms, just like our bodies!

Click here for the full report from InfoWars.

The Hormone Balancing Food Plan For Women

November 3, 2011

Food Matters

By Dr Christiane Northrup

The hormonal health of any woman depends upon the delicate dance of progesterone and estrogen. Estrogen is meant to be the predominant hormone in the first half of the menstrual cycle and progesterone the predominant one in the second half. However, for most women in the industrialized world this is not the case.

There are many causes of hormone imbalance, but at the base of the problem is something called Estrogen Dominance – which means there is too much estrogen and not enough progesterone present in the body. There are many symptoms that result from having low progesterone levels.

The common causes of hormonal imbalance and estrogen dominance include:

taking the pill,
taking HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy),
exposure to environmental poison,
eating non organic and estrogen pumped animal products,
stress in all its forms and
dangerous cosmetics.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
When you consider the average lifestyle of most women today, it is not hard to understand why insulin, estrogen and eicosanoids have become imbalanced, setting the stage for increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, PMS, arthritis and breast cancer. Here are my suggestions for keeping your blood sugar, eicosanoids and hormones in balance.

Eat at least three meals per day.
Many women skip breakfast or lunch, or even both, “saving” their calories for dinner. The problem with this approach is that the metabolic rate naturally peaks at noon and slows after that. So the food you eat at night is far more likely to be stored as fat. When you eat breakfast, your metabolism gets jump-started for the day. If you skip it, your metabolism will slow down into conservation mode and this can lead to weight gain.
Cut down on refined and high-glycemic index carbohydrates.

Not all carbohydrates are created equal. Whether certain foods with a high-glycemic index, such as baked potatoes or bananas, can be part of a healthy diet for you depends upon your unique metabolism. If you are a true carbohydrate addict, you need to find what foods are healthy for you. I find that eliminating refined carbohydrates, such as sugar, white rice, bread, alcohol, and foods made with white flour, such as muffins, bagels, pasta, pretzels and other snack foods, helps the body burn stored fat and keeps insulin and blood sugar levels normal.
Consume whole grains in moderation.

Even if you have eliminated refined grains, if you are a carbohydrate-sensitive person you may still have problems with whole wheat, whole rye, whole oat, or millet flour. Research shows that the degenerative diseases that currently plague Americans didn’t arrive on the scene until agriculture became widespread. In fact, the ancient Egyptians were fat and had dental disease associated with a grain-based diet.

Click here for the full report from Food Matters.

Three Ways Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits Weight Loss

October 3rd, 2011

Natural News

By: Celest M. Smucker

Vinegar is a traditional folk remedy long valued for its many health benefits. Recent research shows at least three ways in which the traditional healers were on the right track at least when it comes to weight loss. A 2006 review article in the “Medscape Journal of Medicine” concludes vinegar may have a role in blood sugar control and appetite suppression. Other studies show vinegar may also promote weight loss by preventing fat accumulation through its impact on insulin secretion.

If you want to cut down on nibbling between meals try vinegar. In a 2005 study in the “European Journal of Clinical Nutrition,” scientists fed bread plus low, medium or high amounts of vinegar to twelve healthy subjects, while the control group ate plain bread. Those who received the vinegar felt fuller than the control group, and the effect increased with the amount of vinegar ingested. While vinegar soaked bread may not be your favorite dish, you might try sipping vinegar in water along with your meal or having a salad dressed with vinegar and oil. Be sure to brush your teeth after sipping vinegar as it can be hard on tooth enamel.

Individuals with type 2 diabetes or who are pre-diabetic may benefit from vinegar’s apparent ability to stabilize glucose. A 2007 study reported in “Diabetes Care” followed 11 people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but who were not taking insulin. Every night for 3 nights they ingested either 2 tablespoons of either apple cider vinegar or water plus some cheese. The results showed drinking vinegar at bedtime had a significant and favorable impact on waking, or fasting, glucose concentrations even among the subjects who were taking hypoglycemic medications during the study.

By promoting stable blood sugar vinegar may help prevent the sugar crashes that encourage you to wolf down the nearest source of carbohydrates, shooting your blood sugar back up and starting the cycle all over again. In the 2005 study of vinegar and satiety, the scientists also evaluated blood samples to determine vinegar’s impact on glucose and insulin levels. The low and intermediate vinegar groups had significantly lower blood glucose levels at 15 and 30 minutes, which continued to be measurable at 90 minutes for the high vinegar group. Similarly, the intermediate group enjoyed lower insulin levels at 15 minutes, the high group at 30 minutes.

In a 2004 study in “Diabetes Care,” insulin-resistant individuals who drank vinegar and water followed by a meal enjoyed significantly improved insulin sensitivity compared to a control group. The study authors concluded that vinegar’s effects may be similar to those of some popular diabetes drugs. Of course given the connection between insulin levels and fat storage, these results support vinegar’s use as a fat burning food.

Animal studies offer further proof of the value of drinking vinegar to lose weight. Scientists in Pakistan mixed apple cider vinegar with food given to diabetic and non-diabetic rats. The result was significantly lower LDL and higher HDL cholesterol in the non-diabetic rats. Similarly, the diabetic rats enjoyed significantly lower triglyceride levels and raised levels of HDL cholesterol. In a 2009 study which used mice as subjects, acetic acid (the main ingredient in vinegar) was associated with reduced liver lipids and less fat accumulation.

Click here for the full report from Natural News

Scientist Creates Meat Alternative Made From Recycled Human Waste

June 16th, 2011

Natural News

By: Ethan A. Huff

If you think meatless, genetically-modified (GM) soy food products are a poor alternative to real meat, wait until you see the latest in vegetarian meat replacement technology. According to a recent Inhabitat report, Japanese researcher Mitsuyuki Ikeda has developed a new kind of meatless burger made from soy, steak sauce essence, and — brace yourself — protein matter extracted from human excrement.

Ikeda’s poop burger is literally derived from “sewage mud,” which is just a nice way of saying that it was created from human waste. By extracting the protein and lipids from this “mud,” Ikeda was able to take these components, add a reaction enhancer to them, and process the slurry into a meat-like product. Ikeda then added a steak flavoring agent, soy sauce, and food coloring to the mix, and voila, an imitation meat product that he says tastes just like real beef.

According to reports, the final meat-like product is 63 percent protein, 25 percent carbohydrates, nine percent minerals, and three percent lipids.

“I admit that few people would be keen to eat it knowing it’s made of human excrement,” said Ikeda in an interview. “As far as the cost is concerned, because at the moment it includes the cost of research, our artificial meat is 10 or 20 times more expensive than normal meat. But once the research is complete and it’s put on the market, we’ll probably be able to price it at roughly the same level as normal meat.”

Ikeda added that, because his turd steaks are low in fat, they will supposedly be of interest to those who love to eat burgers but who want to watch their calorie intake.

You can watch a video explaining Ikeda’s process of turning stool samples into savory steaks here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1N6QfuIh0g

Click here for the full report from Natural News

Genetically Modified Cows Produce ‘Human’ Milk

April 4th, 2011

The Telegraph

By: Richard Gray

The scientists have successfully introduced human genes into 300 dairy cows to produce milk with the same properties as human breast milk.

Human milk contains high quantities of key nutrients that can help to boost the immune system of babies and reduce the risk of infections.

The scientists behind the research believe milk from herds of genetically modified cows could provide an alternative to human breast milk and formula milk for babies, which is often criticised as being an inferior substitute.

They hope genetically modified dairy products from herds of similar cows could be sold in supermarkets. The research has the backing of a major biotechnology company.

The work is likely to inflame opposition to GM foods. Critics of the technology and animal welfare groups reacted angrily to the research, questioning the safety of milk from genetically modified animals and its effect on the cattle’s health.

But Professor Ning Li, the scientist who led the research and director of the State Key Laboratories for AgroBiotechnology at the China Agricultural University insisted that the GM milk would be as safe to drink as milk from ordinary dairy cows.

He said: “The milk tastes stronger than normal milk.

“We aim to commercialize some research in this area in coming three years. For the “human-like milk”, 10 years or maybe more time will be required to finally pour this enhanced milk into the consumer’s cup.”

China is now leading the way in research on genetically modified food and the rules on the technology are more relaxed than those in place in Europe.

The researchers used cloning technology to introduce human genes into the DNA of Holstein dairy cows before the genetically modified embryos were implanted into surrogate cows.

Writing in the scientific peer-reviewed journal Public Library of Science One, the researchers said they were able to create cows that produced milk containing a human protein called lysozyme,

Lysozyme is an antimicrobial protein naturally found in large quantities in human breast milk. It helps to protect infants from bacterial infections during their early days of life.

They created cows that produce another protein from human milk called lactoferrin, which helps to boost the numbers of immune cells in babies. A third human milk protein called alpha-lactalbumin was also produced by the cows.

The scientists also revealed at an exhibition at the China Agricultural University that they have boosted milk fat content by around 20 per cent and have also changed the levels of milk solids, making it closer to the composition of human milk as well as having the same immune-boosting properties.

Professor Li and his colleagues, who have been working with the Beijing GenProtein Biotechnology Company, said their work has shown it was possible to “humanise” cows milk.

In all, the scientists said they have produced a herd of around 300 cows that are able to produce human-like milk.

The transgenic animals are physically identical to ordinary cows.

Writing in the journal, Professor Li said: “Our study describes transgenic cattle whose milk offers the similar nutritional benefits as human milk.

“The modified bovine milk is a possible substitute for human milk. It fulfilled the conception of humanising the bovine milk.”

Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph, he added the “human-like milk” would provide “much higher nutritional content”. He said they had managed to produce three generations of GM cows but for commercial production there would need to be large numbers of cows produced.

He said: “Human milk contains the ‘just right’ proportions of protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins for an infant’s optimal growth and development.

“As our daily food, the cow’s milk provided us the basic source of nutrition. But the digestion and absorption problems made it not the perfect food for human being.”

The researchers also insist having antimicrobial proteins in the cows milk can also be good for the animals by helping to reduce infections of their udders.

Genetically modified food has become a highly controversial subject and currently they can only be sold in the UK and Europe if they have passed extensive safety testing.

Click here for the full report from the Telegraph

America’s “Healthiest” Fast-Food Breakfasts

March 2nd, 2011

Health.com

By: Nicole DeCoursy

Used to be, when you grabbed breakfast on the go, it was a diet disaster: nothing but fat-and-calorie bombs like butter-soaked croissants and jumbo muffins. Now, it’s much easier to do right by your body: Fast-food legends like McDonald’s and IHOP, as well as newbies like Cosi and Panera Bread, offer surprisingly healthy options that are filling, light, and much easier on your arteries.

No. 1 Spinach Florentine Breakfast Wrap (Cosi)

“When you wake up, your body hasn’t had fuel for about 10 to 12 hours,” says Dr. Gerbstadt, one of our judges. So this standout refuels you and keeps you satisfied so you don’t overnosh the rest of the day. “With most other breakfasts, you would need to add another food to get this much protein,” Dr. Gerbstadt explains. “Plus, the fiber content is much higher than you’d usually find in such a high-protein meal.”

Calories 334; Fat 21g (sat 8g); Protein 24g; Carbohydrate 21g; Fiber 11g; Sodium 516mg

Room for improvement: The fat content is on the high side (since the wrap is made with eggs), so eat low-fat fare throughout the day—or split this hearty pick with a friend.

No. 2 Protein Artisan Snack Plate (Starbucks)

This Starbucks sampler scores high for having all the components of an ultra-satisfying breakfast—protein, fiber, whole grains, and fresh produce, says panelist Frances Largeman-Roth, RD, Senior Food and Nutrition Editor at Health. You get to nibble on yummy fare—hard-boiled egg, cheddar and apple slices, multigrain muesli bread, grapes, and honey peanut butter spread—in the right portions, Largeman-Roth explains.

Calories 370; Fat 19g (sat 6g); Protein 13g; Carbohydrate 36g; Fiber 4g; Sodium 470mg

Room for improvement: Along with all that protein and fiber, you get 19 grams of fat. Tip: Eat half of either the honey peanut butter spread or the cheese.

No. 3 Berry Topper Ideal Meal (Jamba Juice)

“It really is an ideal meal because it meets all of your nutrient needs,” judge and nutrition expert Robin Miller says. It’s made with yogurt and soy milk, great sources of calcium and vitamin D—two nutrients women often lack. Also blended in are vitamin C–packed strawberries, blueberries, and bananas. And the organic pumpkin flaxseed granola gives you a dose of healthy fats for heart health.

Calories 300; Fat 4.5g (sat 0.5g); Protein 9g; Carbohydrate 59g; Fiber 7g; Sodium 85mg (for 12 ounces)

Room for improvement: Stick to the small (12-ounce) size—larger serving sizes load on the calories.

Click here for the full report from Health.com

High Levels of Vitamins C and E Help Prevent Metabolic Syndrome

January 7th, 2011

Natural News

By: Jonathan Benson

The precursors to cardiovascular disease and diabetes include a range of markers collectively known as metabolic syndrome. And researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University have found that maintaining high levels of both vitamin C and vitamin E helps to prevent the onset of metabolic syndrome.

Jean Mayer and her team evaluated 353 Ecuadorian men and women over age 65 from three different low-income communities outside of Quito, Ecuador. Forty percent of the population had metabolic syndrome, primarily due to a very poor diet rich in simple carbohydrates and processed sodium, and low in nutrient-rich whole foods. The authors observed, however, that those with the highest blood levels of vitamins C and E were less likely to have metabolic syndrome.

“After adjusting for age and sex, we observed significant relationships between the metabolic syndrome and two of the micronutrients, vitamins C and E,” explained senior study author Simin Nikbin Meydani, Ph.D., director of the USDA HNRCA and the Nutritional Immunology Laboratory at the USDA HNRCA. “The association suggests that having higher blood levels of vitamin E may protect against the metabolic syndrome.”

Many of the participants also had very low vitamin C levels which was likely due to a limited intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, said the authors. And most of the participants ate lots of starchy, sugary foods like white rice, potatoes and white bread, so their overall nutrient profiles were largely limited.

Researchers also noted a connection between metabolic syndrome and C-reactive proteins (CRP), an inflammatory marker connected to cardiovascular disease. So by boosting healthy antioxidant levels with nutrients like vitamin C, populations can better fend off metabolic syndrome and its resultant diseases.

Click here for the full report from Natural News

Change Diet and Lower Risk of Heart Disease By Over Eighty Percent

December 30th, 2010

Natural News

By: John Phillip

Nearly one million people fall victim to heart disease every year. The vast majority of these people are unaware that this devastating condition can be prevented with a natural approach to diet. Researchers from the European EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) study have developed a plan that can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease by 81%. Medical researchers understand that heart disease begins early in life and progresses to threaten life as we approach our senior years. The good news is that heart disease can be controlled and reversed by making simple changes to lifestyle and diet.

Drugs Can`t Fix Heart Disease
The typical patient diagnosed with heart disease is placed on a low fat diet and given a handful of medications including statins. Statins cause muscle pain in 40% of those who take them, and information from a study published in The Lancet journal confirms that this class of medication causes diabetes. Volumes of research confirm that high cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease, yet it remains a popular target of treatment because it`s easy to lower with drugs. Similarly, a low fat diet perpetuates and worsens heart disease as it triggers continual blood sugar surges and high triglycerides.

Correcting the Real Cause of Heart Disease
The results of the EPIC study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine demonstrate that changes in diet could lower the risk of a heart attack by 81% through inflammation reduction and lowering blood pressure. The study highlighted four dietary factors that result in heart disease.

Refined Carbohydrates, Grains and Sugar: Processed foods have become a staple in the typical diet. These foods are loaded with simple carbs that quickly break down to glucose and cause rapid blood sugar spikes. This eventually leads to insulin resistance and damages the delicate inner endothelial lining of the coronary arteries. Cut all breads, pasta, rice, sugary treats and any foods made with wheat (including whole grain) or corn.

Excess Omega-6 Vegetable Oils: Vegetable oils are used in virtually all baked and processed foods to enhance flavor and increase shelf life. Excess amounts of vegetable fats trigger the release of inflammatory chemical messengers that increase oxidative stress and damage the vascular system. Vegetable oils are only stable at room temperature and should not be used for cooking. Avoid all fried foods and corn fed meats.

Omega-3 Fat Deficiency: Our modern diet is virtually void of health-sustaining Omega-3 fats that have been a part of the human diet for countless generations. The proper ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fats is ideally 1:1. Experts agree that many people are closer to a 20:1 ratio. This creates an imbalance and promotes systemic inflammation. Include tuna, salmon, sardines, nuts and seeds to balance your fat ratio or include a high potency fish oil supplement.

Oxidative Stress: The normal course of breathing, eating and moving generates free radicals that can damage our genetic structure and cause LDL cholesterol to become oxidized. We can`t avoid the process entirely but we can include healthy quantities of fresh vegetables, berries and targeted supplements to negate the effects of free radicals on our heart and other organs.

Heart disease is the leading killer of people in western society. Most of these deaths can be prevented by following a natural diet and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Reduce your risk of death from heart disease by making these changes today and live to pass the word to your great grandchildren.

Click here for the full report from Natural News

15 Steps To A Stress-Free Holiday

The holidays are officially upon us and that means stress levels are rising to an all time high! Here are some helpful and essential tips to lower your stress levels and allow you to have a relaxing and more importantly, fun, holiday season!

1. Emphasize an organic, whole foods diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and adequate amounts of essential fatty acid.

2. Drink plenty of pure, filtered water throughout the day, to avoid dehydration, a common but overlooked cause of stress.

3. Be sure to eat a healthy breakfast. Skipping breakfast can add to stress levels by making you more tired and irritable.

4. Avoid all sugars, refined carbohydrates, food additives and preservatives, and processed foods, and minimize your intake of alcohol and caffeine throughout the day.

5. Regularly practice relaxation exercises and/or meditation.

6. Exercise at least three times each week, for 30 minutes each session. Gentle aerobic exercises combined with moderate weight training can significantly relieve stress and improve your overall mood. Be sure not to overexert yourself, however, as doing so will only increase your stress levels.

7. Useful nutritional supplements include vitamin A, B-complex vitamins, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E, as well as a complete multivitamin/multimineral formula.

8. Useful herbs for dealing with stress including American ginseng, chamomile, passionflower, and valerian root, all of which can be taken as teas.

9. Bach flowers and other flower essences can help to heal unresolved or inappropriately expressed negative emotions that can cause stress, as well as many other physical health problems.

10. Get adequate amounts of sleep each night and be sure to go to bed at the same time.

11. Set up your daily schedule so that you have plenty of time to deal with your daily tasks and focus on accomplishing those that are the most important first.

12. Become more conscious of your fears and worries and examine them objectively. Doing so can significantly reduce their hold on you.

13. Avoid long periods of isolation. Spend regular quality time with your loved ones. If you live alone, seek out your friends.

14. Find and devote yourself to one or more hobbies that you truly enjoy.

15. And finally, cultivate your sense of humor and laugh more often!

- KT

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