The Veggie Factor

The ideal veggie schedule

Your goal: 14 cups a week

That might seem like a lot, but it's easier than it sounds. Researchers have divided the entire vegetable spectrum into five "groups" (yes, beans are a veggie!) and broken down your exact weekly needs.

Dark greens

You need: 2 cups per week

Spinach; broccoli; romaine; mesclun; collard, turnip and mustard greens

Payoff: Better lung health, stronger bones, a stronger immune system, lower blood pressure, reduced inflammation and a healthier brain.

Orange vegetables

You need: 1 ½ cups per week

Carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash, pumpkin

Payoff: Better vision, blood sugar control, and lung health; high in cancer-fighting carotenoids.

Beans

You need: 2½ cups per week

Pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans, lentils, edamame, chickpeas, tofu

Payoff: Lower rates of heart disease, high blood pressure, breast and colon cancers, and type 2 diabetes.

Starchy vegetables

You need: 2½ cups per week

White potatoes, corn, green peas

Payoff: The nutrients in this group range from vitamins A, C, B6, and folate to potassium and magnesium, and each vegetable is rich in unique antioxidants, such as cancer-fighting isoflavones in peas and blood pressure–lowering kukoamines in potatoes.

Wildcard

You need: 5½ cups per week

Artichokes, asparagus, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, green beans, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, wax beans, zucchini

Payoff: This eclectic group ensures a broad spectrum of nutrients and antioxidants that protect every system in your body, including beta-carotene in bell peppers and quercetin, a natural anti-inflammatory, in onions.

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/cancer/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100217880&page=1

FDA: Irradiating spinach, lettuce OK to kill germs

Radiation destroys phytochemicals in plants. Phytochemicals are cancer-protective, heart disease-protective, inflammation-protective. In the same way that microwaving broccoli destroys the majority of its cancer-fighting nutrients (which the FDA does not admit to) irradiating food (and not telling us when it is) will deprive us of the vital nutrients that Americans should have complete access to in the face of the horrible diet of processed junk food, fast food, meat and milk that has become the “sad” standard to which most of the population has come to accept and is also the reason why we are the most unhealthy and obese civilized population in the world today. Shame on the FDA for continuing to make us the victims of corrupt business practices.
Please read article below




FDA: Irradiating spinach, lettuce OK to kill germs

AJC Health News
By LAURAN NEERGAARD

Associated Press

Friday, August 22, 2008

WASHINGTON — Consumers worried about salad safety may soon be able to buy fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce zapped with just enough radiation to kill E. coli and a few other germs.

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday will issue a regulation allowing spinach and lettuce sellers to take that extra step, a long-awaited move amid increasing outbreaks from raw produce.
It doesn’t excuse dirty produce, warned Dr. Laura Tarantino, FDA’s chief of food additive safety. Farms and processors still must follow standard rules to keep the greens as clean as possible — and consumers, too, should wash the leaves before eating.

“What this does is give producers and processors one more tool in the toolbox to make these commodities safer and protect public health,” Tarantino said.

Irradiated meat has been around for years, particularly ground beef that is a favorite hiding spot for E. coli. Spices also can be irradiated.

But the Grocery Manufacturers Association had petitioned the FDA to allow irradiation of fresh produce, too, starting with leafy greens that have sparked numerous recent outbreaks, including E. coli in spinach that in 2006 killed three people and sickened nearly 200.

The industry group wouldn’t name salad suppliers ready to start irradiating. But it expects niche marketing to trickle out first — bags of spinach and lettuce targeted to high-risk populations such as people with weak immune systems “who right now may be afraid to eat uncooked produce,” said GMA’s chief science officer Robert Brackett.

“It’s one big step forward in improving the safety of fresh produce,” he added.

California-based produce giant Dole Food Company confirmed it is considering irradiated lettuce. “We are currently doing extensive testing with irradiation and it looks to be very promising,” said spokesman William Goldfield.

A leading food safety expert said irradiation indeed can kill certain bacteria safely — but it doesn’t kill viruses that also increasingly contaminate produce, and it isn’t as effective as tightening steps to prevent contamination starting at the farm.

“It won’t control all hazards on these products,” cautioned Caroline Smith DeWaal of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

She questioned why the FDA hasn’t addressed her agency’s 2006 call to require growers to document such things as how they use manure and ensure the safety of irrigation water. Irrigation is one suspect in this summer’s nationwide salmonella outbreak attributed first to tomatoes and then to Mexican hot peppers.

“We are not opposed to the use of irradiation,” DeWaal said. But, “it’s expensive and it doesn’t really address the problem at the source.”

Won’t zapping leafy greens with X-rays or other means of radiation leave them limp? Not with today’s modern techniques and the right dose, the FDA decided.

The FDA determined that irradiation can kill E. coli, salmonella and listeria, as well as lengthen shelf life, without compromising the safety, texture or nutrient value of raw spinach lettuce — the first greens studied.

E. coli actually is fairly sensitive to radiation, while salmonella and listeria require more energy. While irradiation doesn’t sterilize, the FDA ruled that food companies could use a dose proven to dramatically reduce levels of those germs, a dose somewhat lower than meat requires.

But consumers shouldn’t consider irradiation a panacea, either. While E. coli and salmonella tend to affect more people and make bigger headlines, consumer advocate DeWaal has found that norovirus contamination is a leading cause of produce outbreaks.

The irradiation rule goes into effect Friday. The FDA still is considering industry’s petition to allow irradiation of additional produce. The grocery manufacturers group will push for other greens, such as Romaine lettuce, to be next, so that producers could irradiate bags of salad mixes.

While irradiated foods initially caused some consumer concern, FDA’s Tarantino stressed that the food itself harbors no radiation.

“There is no residue, there’s nothing left and certainly no radioactivity left,” she said.

Quick Tip of the Day

Recent studies show that supplementing with 300 mg of Co-Q10 and 10 to 15 grams of D-riblose daily reduces muscle injury and speed recovery in people who engage in intense, prolonged exercise-think running, tennis, or martial arts.

Natural Solutions Mag
Sept 2008

Dr. Mercola's Comments

Americans spend about 90 percent of their food budget on processed foods, which contain a staggering number of artificial food additives, preservatives, colors and flavor enhancers. That your health suffers as a consequence of this assault should come as no surprise.

To review each of the mere dozen mentioned here could fill several books, and would still only be the tip of the iceberg. As you may already know, I wrote an entire book just on artificial sweeteners, called Sweet Deception. The book is currently out of print as we sold out of the last edition, but we hope to have it back in print by the fall.

However, when it comes to food additives, perhaps one of the most important aspects is the health ramifications they have on your children.

New Study Confirms What Astute Parents Have Known for Years

The issue of whether or not food additives such as artificial colors contribute to behavioral problems in children has been disputed for many years. Fortunately, this may soon change.

A carefully designed randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the journal The Lancet last year may have finally shifted the tide (for a free PDF of the full study see this link).

It concluded that a variety of common food dyes, and the preservative sodium benzoate – found in many soft drinks, fruit juices and salad dressings – do cause some children to become measurably more hyperactive and distractible.

The seven ingredients tested in the study included:

* Sodium benzoate (E211)
* Sunset yellow (E110)
* Quinoline yellow (E104)
* Carmoisine (E122)
* Tartrazine (E102)
* Ponceau 4R (E124)
* Allura red AC (E129)

The results of this study have already prompted the British Food Standards Agency (FSA) to issue an immediate advisory to parents, warning them to limit their children's intake of additives if they notice an effect on behavior.

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, the U.S. has not issued any similar warnings.

The worst behavioral responses from the additives were seen in the three-year-olds, compared to the older children in the study. But even within each age group, some children responded very strongly, and others not at all, indicating there are individual differences in how well your body can tolerate the assault of artificial additives. One theory is that the additives may trigger a release of histamines in certain sensitive kids.

Still, I believe that food additives such as preservatives, sweeteners and colorings should be avoided as much as possible, regardless of whether they have a marked effect or not as they clearly have no redeeming nutritional value, and can carry major long-term health risks.

Food Colors May be as Damaging as Lead in Gasoline on Children’s Brains

Another recent article, published in the British magazine The Independent on April 5 2008, reported that artificial food colors (but not the preservative sodium benzoate) are now set to be removed from hundreds of products in the UK because the results of the study mentioned above also indicate that the E-numbers do as much damage to children's brains as lead in gasoline, resulting in a significant reduction in IQ.

The lead author, Professor Stevenson, and his three colleagues have stated:

"The position in relation to AFCs [Artificial Food Colors] is analogous to the state of knowledge about lead and IQ that was being evaluated in the early 1980s ... Needleman [a researcher] found the difference in IQ between high and low lead groups was 5.5 IQ points ... This is very close to the sizes obtained in our study of food additives."

Officials at the British FSA are advising the food industry to voluntarily remove the six food dyes named in the study by the end of 2009, and replace them with natural alternatives if possible.

True to form, the food industry claims the additives are used in a mere “handful” of products, but the website ActionOnAdditives.com has already identified more than 1,000 food products that contain them – most of which are targeted at children.

BEWARE -- Already Banned Food Additives Still Found in Children’s Medicines

Another thing you need to be aware of, as a parent, is that when an ingredient is banned for use in food, it is not automatically banned for use in other areas such as medicine.

According to an expose’ by the British Food Commission last year, food additives that have already been banned for use in food and beverages are still used in a majority of pediatric over-the-counter medicines.

Their survey found that ALL BUT ONE medicine out of 41 contained an additive that had been banned.

The additives found in these drugs included:

* Synthetic azo dyes
* Maltitol and sorbitol
* Benzoate and sulphite preservatives
* Chloroform

The justification for using these toxic compounds is what you'd typically expect from an over-the-counter pharmaceutical trade group: Unlike foods, additives in medicines are used in small quantities and are only taken for a short time.

Does that make you feel any better?

This is just one more reason why it’s so important to question what your doctor or any other health professional may prescribe or recommend for your child, no matter what side of the counter it comes from, as many pediatric drugs can certainly be harmful, if not downright toxic to your child’s health.

Sugar and Salt

White sugar is named in the list above but I would have to disagree and identify high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as far more problematic than white cane sugar. HFCS is the number one source of calories in the U.S. and causes far more damage than white sugar.

Salt is another challenge, as it can and is a health food for many, but it needs to be the right type of salt. Nearly all commercial salt is highly processed and heated to very high temperatures and has many additives added, which are also potentially toxic. So it would be wise to avoid processed foods with conventional salt added.

However, unprocessed salts, like unrefined sea salts and Himalayan salt can be an important part of a healthy diet. Personally, it is uncommon for a day to go by in which I don’t use Himalayan salt. I am a protein nutritional type and tend to do better with high quality salt.

For more information about the hazards of other food additives mentioned in the article above, please see my list of Related Articles.

www.mercola.com

12 Food Additives to Avoid

1. Sodium Nitrate (also called Sodium Nitrite)

This is a preservative, coloring, and flavoring commonly added to bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, smoked fish, and corned beef. Studies have linked eating it to various types of cancer.

2. BHA and BHT

Butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydrozyttoluene are used to preserve common household foods. They are found in cereals, chewing gum, potato chips, and vegetable oils. They are oxidants, which form potentially cancer-causing reactive compounds in your body.

3. Propyl Gallate


Another preservative, often used in conjunction with BHA and BHT. It is sometimes found in meat products, chicken soup base, and chewing gum. Animals studies have suggested that it could be linked to cancer.

4. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

MSG is an amino acid used as a flavor enhancer in soups, salad dressings, chips, frozen entrees, and restaurant food. It can cause headaches and nausea, and animal studies link it to damaged nerve cells in the brains of infant mice.

5. Trans Fats

Trans fats are proven to cause heart disease. Restaurant food, especially fast food chains, often serve foods laden with trans fats.

6. Aspartame

Aspartame, also known by the brand names Nutrasweet and Equal, is a sweetener found in so-called diet foods such as low-calorie desserts, gelatins, drink mixes, and soft drinks. It may cause cancer or neurological problems, such as dizziness or hallucinations.

7. Acesulfame-K

This is a relatively new artificial sweetener found in baked goods, chewing gum, and gelatin desserts. There is a general concern that testing on this product has been scant, and some studies show the additive may cause cancer in rats.

8. Food Colorings: Blue 1, 2; Red 3; Green 3; Yellow 6

Five food colorings still on the market are linked with cancer in animal testing. Blue 1 and 2, found in beverages, candy, baked goods and pet food, have been linked to cancer in mice. Red 3, used to dye cherries, fruit cocktail, candy, and baked goods, has been shown to cause thyroid tumors in rats. Green 3, added to candy and beverages, has been linked to bladder cancer. The widely used yellow 6, added to beverages, sausage, gelatin, baked goods, and candy, has been linked to tumors of the adrenal gland and kidney.

9. Olestra

Olestra, a synthetic fat found in some potato chip brands, can cause severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and gas. Olestra also inhibits healthy vitamin absorption from fat-soluble carotenoids that are found in fruits and vegetables.

10. Potassium Bromate

Potassium bromate is used as an additive to increase volume in some white flour, breads, and rolls. It is known to cause cancer in animals, and even small amounts in bread can create a risk for humans.

11. White Sugar

Watch out for foods with added sugars, such as baked goods, cereals, crackers, sauces and many other processed foods. It is unsafe for your health, and promotes bad nutrition.

12. Sodium Chloride

A dash of sodium chloride, more commonly known as salt, can bring flavor to your meal. But too much salt can be dangerous for your health, leading to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.
www.mercola.com

Did You Know?

Did you know that 80% of your immune system is located in your digestive system?

Health Benefits of Asparagas

So here are the great health benefits I have compiled for the wonderful food of Asparagus…

* It is high in vitamin K and Folate
* Eat asparagus when you are pregnant or thinking about conceiving - because of it being high in folic acid it helps prevent birth defects such as spina bifida
* Great for your heart
* Helps w*Helps menstrual cramps with fertility problems
* Great for your gastrointestinal tract and your colon
* Helps menstrual cramps
* Great food to help treat depression
* Has been known to increase the success rate of chemo therapy
* Is considered a diuretic which means it is a good anti-inflammatory - best for arthritis,asthma rheumatism, and even water retention…PMS
* Help get rid of warts
* Helps detoxify your body
* Add more asparagus to your diet to lover cholesterol
* Great for nursing mothers stimulating milk production
* Has antioxidant agents - prevents the effects of aging
* Has antifungal and antiviral qualities
* Great for your kidneys - cleansing your body by stimulating urination and preventing kidney stones
* Helps prevent bladder and urinary tract infections
* Use to be used as an a aphrodisiac - increase sexual and comforting feelings
* Helps with treating HIV
* Helps prevent multiple sclerosis
* Helps prevent scurvy
* Asparagus has anti-cancer agents - especially lung cancer
* Helps fight chronic fatigue syndrome
* Helps fight off high blood pressure
* If you bruise easily - eat more asparagus
* Is considered a laxative - eat an asparagus if you have diarrhea and constipation
* Great for your capillaries - eat more asparagus to avoid varicose veins
* Great for your eyes preventing cataracts
* If you are experiencing hair loss- eat more asparagus
* Helps treat toothaches

http://www.healthmad.com/Alternative/Health-Benefits-of-Asparagus.2252

Fruits and Vegetables you should buy Organic....

Fruits topped the list of the most contaminated foods based on findings by both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S Food and Drug Administration.

Eating fruits and vegetables which are the highest in pesticides exposes a person to an average of up to 14 pesticides per day. Eating the least contaminated could expose a person to less than 2 pesticides per day.

Buy Organic!!

Peaches
Strawberries
Pears
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Cherries
Spinach
Celery
Lettuce
Potatoes
Nectarines
Grapes (imported)
Strawberries
Pears

Lowest in Pesticides

Onions
Mango
Bananas
Avocado
Asparagus
Cabbage
Sweet Corn (frozen)
Sweet Peas (frozen)
Broccoli
Pineapples
Kiwi Fruit
Papaya

Dr. J. Budwig curing cancer

.What is shocking to most people, the scientific fact that cancer is genetically recessive, not dominant. In fact, the human body is highly resistant to cancer. In 1969, Professor Henry Harris of Oxford University shook the cancer research community to its core when he proved these previous theories wrong. Professor Harris took normal tissue cells and fused three types of cancer cells to them. Surely, he thought, the cancer cells would take over the normal cells and "convert" them into cancer. Surprisingly, they grew normally.

Contrary to popular opinion, cancer takes several decades to develop in humans. Given this long incubation period, science can show us the way to destroy any initial pre-cancerous cells and keep the cancerous ones from causing widespread damage.If you think cancer has a genetic basis, then think again. Dr Robert A. Weinberg of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the world's leading cancer researchers and discoverer of the so-called oncogene (cancer-causing gene), reversed his previous conclusions after discovering that "fewer than one DNA base in a million appears to have been miscopied". It's not enough of a defect! His exact words: "Something was very wrong. The notion that a cancer developed through the successive activation of a series of oncogenes had lost its link to reality." He called the genetic discoveries made thus far "sterile".6 The prime cause of cancer is therefore not genetic. This was announced in 1998. Did you hear about it? Probably not.

In 2006, the heads of the world's largest cancer research centre in Houston, Texas, announced that cancer's prime cause isn't genetic: "'If it could have happened [solving cancer with genetics], it would have already happened with genetic mutations,' said William Brinkley, a senior vice-president at Baylor who says other research should take precedence over the cancer genome projectÉ Dr John Mendelsohn [president of M. D. Anderson Cancer Center] states, 'Any claims that this [genetic research] is going to be the key to curing cancer are not appropriate.'" Thus, the prime cause of cancer is not a genetic mutation. Even if cancer "runs in your family", there is real hope. Unfortunately, the geneticists have it backwards, attempting to force the facts to fit their genetics-based theories when they don't fit the facts, because, as Professor Harris demonstrated many years ago, cancer isn't genetically dominant. Where does this leave us? Where can we look for solutions? What about the popular nutritional solutions to fighting cancer?

"...Dr Otto Warburg discovered and clearly stated that the prime, most basic, cause of cancer is too little oxygen getting into the cell. "We find by experiment about 35% inhibition of oxygen respiration already suffices to bring about such a transformation during cell growth," he stated at a 1966 conference of Nobel laureates in Lindau, Germany. more

Essential Fatty Acids and EFA-containing Oils
The body requires special fats that, among other important functions, make it possible for sufficient oxygen to reach the cells via the cellular membranes, which are the key. These special fats are highly oxygen-absorbing. Called essential fatty acids, or EFAs, these special fats must be supplied from outside the body every day, from foods and certain oils, because your body can't manufacture them on its own. (flaxseed oil and marine phytoplankton are a rich source of EFA or Essential Fatty Acids)

The miracle of EFA "oxygen magnets"
Think of these polyunsaturated EFAs as "oxygen magnets". The proof of this fact is buried in the world's leading medical textbooks and medical journals such as Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry, 26th edition,40 and Human Nutrition Clinical Nutrition, July 1984.41 EFAs are integral to the structure and function of cellular respiration. Without high respiration efficiency, cancer is soon to follow. These EFA oxygen magnets in the cell membrane attract the oxygen that's in the bloodstream and transfer it into the cell, just like little oxygen sponges. This process is supposed to be happening in each of the body's 100 trillion cells. So, no matter how much you breathe or exercise, if you don't have the proper functional EFAs at the cellular level then your cells will not absorb enough oxygen from your bloodstream and you will be that much more susceptible to cancer. Prof. Brian Peskin's article: EFA, Oxygenation and Cancer Prevention

Cancer-Prevention Mechanism of Omega-3 Fatty Acids - The Budwig Diet
Robert Willner, M.D., Ph.D.

A top European cancer research scientist, Dr Johanna Budwig, has discovered a totally natural formula that not only protects against the development of cancer but people all over the world who have been diagnosed with incurable cancer and sent home to die have actually been cured and now lead normal healthy lives. After three decades of research Dr. Budwig, six-time nominee for the Nobel Award, found that the blood of seriously ill cancer patients was always, without exception, deficient in certain important essential ingredients which included substances called phosphatides and lipoproteins. (The blood of a healthy person always contains sufficient quantities of these essential ingredients. However, without these natural ingredients cancer cells grow wild and out of control.)

Blood analysis showed a strange greenish-yellow substance in place of the healthy red oxygen carrying hemoglobin that belongs there. This explained why cancer patients weaken and become anemic This startling discovery led Dr. Budwig to test her theory. She found that when these natural ingredients where replaced over approximately a three month period, tumors gradually receded. The strange greenish elements in the blood were replaced with healthy red blood cells as the phosphatides and lipoproteins almost miraculously reappeared. Weakness and anemia disappeared and life energy was restored. Symptoms of cancer, liver dysfunction and diabetes were completely alleviated.

Dr. Budwig then discovered an all natural way for people to replace those essential ingredients their bodies so desperately needed in their daily diet. By simply eating a combination of just two natural and delicious foods not only can cancer be prevented but in case after case it was actually cured. (These two natural foods, organic flax seed oil & cottage cheese) must be eaten together to be effective since one triggers the properties of the other to be released.) After more than 10 years of solid clinical application, Dr. Budwig's natural formula has proven successful where many orthodox remedies have failed. Dr. Budwig's formula has been used therapeutically in Europe for prevention of: Cancer! Arteriosclerosis, Strokes, Cardiac Infarction, Heartbeat (irregular), Liver (fatty degeneration), Lungs (reduces bronchial spasms), Intestines (regulates activity). Stomach Ulcers (normalizes gastric juices), Prostate (hypertopic), Arthritis (exerts a favorable influence), Eczema (assists all skin diseases), Old age (improves many common afflictions), Brain (strenghthens activity), Immune Deficiency Syndromes (multiple sclerosis, auto-immune illnesses)

Researchers have figured out how the nutrients known as omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fish oils, protect against colon cancer. (The J. of Cell Biology, 10-Jun-2002) more

THE BUDWIG FLAXSEED OIL DIET and RECIPE

The Flaxseed (Linseed) oil diet was originally proposed by Dr. Johanna Budwig, a german biochemist and expert on fats and oils, in 1951 and recently re-examined by Dr. Dan C. Roehm M.D. FACP (Oncologist and former cardiologist) in 1990. Dr. Roehm claims: "this diet is far and away the most successful anti-cancer diet in the world". Budwig claims that the diet is both a preventative and a curative. She says the absence of linol-acids [in the average western diet] is responsible for the production of oxydase, which induces cancer growth and is the cause of many other chronic disorders.

Flax Oil As a True Aid Against Arthritis Heart Infarction Cancer and Other Diseases Dr. Johanna Budwig has researched the healing benefits of fats for well over 50 years. Nominated not less than seven times for the Nobel Prize, she is currently in her early nineties and resides in her native Germany. Six time nobel award nominated doctor says this essential nutrient combination actually prevents and cures cancer!

"In January 1991 I was diagnosed with Advanced Prostate Cancer. Bone scans and other tests indicated no spread so it was decided to operate. During the operation it was discovered that the cancer had spread to the Lymph glands making it stage four. The operation was not completed as that would not be the answer." Learn how Cliff Beckwith cured his prostate cancer with flaxoil and remains cancer free to this day.

Flax Oil and Cancer A Tape Transcription by Clifford Beckwith
"...the only real defense against cancer is the immune system. Everyone gets cancer every day but if the immune system is where it should be those cancer cells are eliminated and we never know it. He says that once a person has developed cancer, even though treatments get it into remission, it will recur again unless the body conditions that allowed it to develop in the first place are corrected. One of the properties of Flax oil seems to be a strengthening of the immune system. It seems important to use enough oil at first to get the immune system deficiencies repaired..."

Top 9 Anti -Cancer Foods

Tomatoes
Besides loads of vitamin C, tomatoes are one of the richest sources of the flavenoid lycopene - which gives them their red colour - which has shown to defend, in study after study, against cancers of the lungs, cervix, prostate and mouth. Tomatoes are also one of the chief ingredients of "the Mediterranean diet", now well known for the many important health benefits it conveys.



Blueberries
In addition to plenty of flavenoids - the rich pigment of the berries - which has repeatedly shown to protect against several cancers, blueberries may also hold "the secret of youth". In a study published in Journal of Neuroscience, investigators found that elderly rats fed the human equivalent of at least 1/2 cup of blueberries per day, improved in balance, coordination and short term memory. A normal serving consists of one cup. Like other fruits and vegetables - and particularly so the 'dark' ones - blueberries contain chemicals that act as antioxidants, now believed by scientists to protect the body against "oxidative stress," one of several biological processes that cause aging.



Red Cabbage, Red Beets. All cabbages - including their kin broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussel sprouts bok choy
are not only rich in calcium, but recent research has shown that they are also extremely rich in anti-cancer flavenoids, the source of the purple colour of the red cabbages. But the red cabbage tops them all; it is the richest source of flavenoids among all vegetables, besides red beets, of course. Red beets have so much of these flavenoids that it can alarm people who are not used to them, because it turns urine red. But there is no reason to panic, it's just the abundance of the potent flavenoids in red beets.



Spinach
Also one of the "dark" vegetables, spinach is also a rich source of vitamin C, beta-carotene - both are potent antioxidants - as well as folic acid, now discovered to be so vital to our health that the US Dept. of Health has mandated that it is added to flour. In several studies (University of Minnesota, Environmental Health Services, and others), it has been found that people who include two or more servings of spinach per week in their nutrition have considerably lower lung and breast cancer rates.



Garlic
Studies focused on garlic have shown, again and again, that this pungent onion kin lives up to its age-old reputation of being a powerful all-around health promoting food. The sulphur compounds that give it its strong flavour have now been shown to protect against cancer by neutralizing carcinogens and slowing tumor growth. In a recent Iowa Women's Health study, investigators found that women who consume garlic at least once a week also have a 32% lower incidence of breast cancer. Garlic is, of course, also a major ingredient in the now well known "Mediterranean diet".



Whole Wheat
In a recent study at the University of Iowa, scientist found that the more whole grain there is in a woman's diet, the lower her risk of breast cancer, as well as heart disease. In this study, as well as an analysis of 40 other studies on 20 kinds of cancer, investigators established that consumers of whole wheat products (bread, pasta, cereals) have a 33% lower risk of these diseases than those who do not eat whole wheat products.



Oranges
Already well known for their high vitamin C content, much recent research in the food sciences has shown that oranges are also rich in many other potent anti-cancer compounds. Investigators have now found that oranges contain more than 170 photochemicals, including more than 20 from the potent carotenoid family alone. In addition, compounds called limonoids - which give citrus fruit their slightly bitter taste - appear to be highly active anti-cancer agents as well. Regular consumption of oranges is associated with significantly lower lung and stomach cancers.



Strawberries
In a study tracking the diet and health of 1.271 people, researchers at the Harvard School of Health found that people who love strawberries have a 70% lower incidence of cancer. But, and as many other studies have shown, the same holds true for all other colourful and deeply coloured berries, such as cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, red and purple grapes, and so forth.



Beans
Much recent research in the food sciences has established that all kinds of beans are loaded with protease inhibitors, compounds that make it hard for cancer cells to invade adjacent tissue. Fava beans contain much herein, which has shown to block carcinogens in the digestive tract. And soy beans are especially rich in isoflavones, which appears to reduce the risk of breast cancer by blocking the tumor-growing influence of estrogen. Lentils also belong to the bean family, and are one of the tastiest, most versatile, and easiest to prepare beans.

Alternative Medicine and Cancer

There are two systems of health care which are available in this country today: conventional medicine and alternative medicine. Our conventional medicine is, in many ways, the best medical system in the world. Our emergency and trauma treatment centers are the best in the world. Break your arm or leg, and you want to be headed for a hospital! But when it comes to treatments for illnesses such as lung cancer, convential medicine may not be the best. As a matter of fact, the United States has been ranked as low as 69th in the world in overall health care.

Why? Because of the influence the large pharmaceutical companies have over the American Medical Association and the doctors of America. The large pharmaceutical companies spend millions of dollars each year doing cancer research. They wish to protect their interests. As a result, most U.S. doctors will only follow the cancer treatments which are endorsed by the A.M.A. and involve using pharmaceutical drugs. Thus the information and health choices which your doctor may offer to you are only the A.M.A. approved treatments. But there may also be effective holistic and alternative medicine cancer treatments which you are entitled to know about.

That is what this website is all about; providing you with additional information about cancer research and alternative holistic cancer treatments which have been effective cures for lung cancer. Many of these treatments are options which any patient can use while undergoing traditional treatments.

Americans now spend 27 billion dollars a year in pursuit of alternative natural medical treatments. This has become a big threat to the medical establishment. Consider the following:

1. The cancer industry is now the second largest industry in the U.S.. Only the petrochemical industry is larger.

2. The American Medical Association has the largest lobbying group in Washington. Ask yourself why our doctors have to spend so much money on our politicians? What special influence or favors do they need?



These facts are shocking Hopefully you will have the courage, open mind and enough intellectual honesty to look further into alternative treatments and natural cures for lung cancer. Remember that we live in a free country. No one has the right to restrict our choices of medical treatment.

Cancer

Cancer can only grow in your body when your immune system is weak. It is that simple. Strengthen or rebuild the immune system, and the cancer will go away.

Each one of us has hundreds of thousands of body cells regenerate each day. Cancer research has shown that one or more of these new cells will be cancerous. So each and every day, each one of us has cancer! But why do we not become ill with cancer? Because each and every day our immune systems destroy the cancer cells which appear in our bodies. It is only when outside factors have caused our immune systems to weaken to the point where they cannot properly perform their functions, that the new cancer cells are allowed to grow, eventually leading to a life-threatening situation.

Cells can not grow in an oxygenated body...

GO Organic!!

Go Organic. Canadian researchers report that dieters with the most organochlorines (pollutants from pesticides, which are stored in fat cells) experience a greater than normal dip in metabolism as they lose weight, perhaps because the toxins interfere with the energy-burning process. Other research hints that pesticides can trigger weight gain. Always choose organic when buying fruit and vegetables - they tend to have the least pesticides, and may even help you maintain a healthy weight!

www.naturalcures.com

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is delicious, nutritious, creamy and smooth natural plant oil. Coconut oil is highly recommended not only for its lovely texture and taste, but also for its many valuable health benefits. In its raw, undenatured state, it is a clean, healthy saturated plant fat. The issue of saturated fat can be very confusing, so let’s get this clear right now. Though we do need to minimize our intake of saturated animal fats, saturated plant or vegetable fats are another story. It is important to note that toxins are stored in fat, and that goes for animals as well as humans. So, when you eat conventionally-produced meat, the fat in the meat contains a hefty serving of chemicals and toxins. This is part of the why it is essential to eat organically produced animal products.

In the case of vegetable fat, we are dealing with a whole different beast! Saturated plant fats are actually beneficial for us, and healthy vegetable fats are difficult to come by. You may have heard that coconut oil helps you lose weight. Coconut oil helps raise the body’s temperature, and this in turn contributes to weight loss. In our culture, many people suffer from thyroid dysfunction and some are overweight due to these low thyroid conditions. This leads to lowered metabolic function. Coconut oil helps boost the metabolism by raising the body’s temperature, which in turn means you have more energy. With this increased energy, your exercise and movement ability can get a boost; all of a sudden, you feel like moving around more. You might find yourself walking every day, taking more trips to the gym, and this movement furthers your weight loss capacity.

We are not promising anything, though stories abound of those who have been able to wean themselves off of their thyroid medication over a period of time by vastly improving their diet and consistently consuming medicinal quantities of coconut oil.

To learn more about the many benefits of coconut oil, join the site. You will learn the benefits and value of this amazing oil, along with many suggestions and recipes that easily replace traditional fats, oils, lard and butter, with the miraculous coconut oil.

www.naturalcures.com

Cancer Patient Wins $9 Million from HealthNet in Arbitration Settlement

An arbitrator called HealthNet's practices "despicable" after awarding $9 million to a cancer patient who whose medical coverage was canceled by the company after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

The award issued by an arbitration judge was the first of its kind and prompted Health Net to announce it was scrapping its cancellation practices that are under fire from state regulators, patients and the Los Angeles city attorney.

Arbitrator Sam Cianchetti, a retired Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, found that Health Net violated numerous state laws in canceling Patsy Bates' policy and declared the company's actions "despicable."

Cianchetti also blasted the company for tying employee bonuses to the number of policies canceled and the amount of money saved.

"It's difficult to imagine a policy more reprehensible than tying bonuses to encourage the rescission of health insurance that keeps the public well and alive," he said in a 21-page opinion.

Ms. Bates is self-employed and transferred her coverage to HealthNet in order to get a better rate.

"Bates was contacted by Mr. Robert Torrez, who called regarding health insurance. When advised she already had health insurance, Torrez suggested he might be able to get her a better rate. An appointment was made," reads the arbitration award.

The arbitrator found that HealthNet's agent did not properly explain and review the forms Ms. Bates was required to sign and also changed her weight on the application without her written consent.

"When asked about her weight, she told him her weight on her driver's license was 185lbs. She never told Torrez to change the weight, nor was she aware that the weight had been changed."

After Ms. Bates was diagnosed with breast cancer, HealthNet rescinded her coverage because of the weight change and left her with over $100,000 in unpaid medical bills.

Health Net ordered to pay $9 million after canceling cancer patient's policy [LATimes]
Arbitration Award (PDF) [LA Times]

http://consumerist.com/359904/cancer-patient-wins-9-million-from-healthnet-in-arbitration-settlement

A Relationship between Tylenol and Asthma

Researchers have linked the use of the painkiller acetaminophen (Tylenol) to both asthma and rhinitis. Individuals who used acetaminophen on a daily or weekly basis were shown to exhibit far more severe symptoms of asthma and rhinitis than those who didn't use the drug. (Thorax 00;55(4):266-70)

Acetaminophen has been shown to deplete the compound glutathione from lung tissue. Glutathione is a very important antioxidant that can limit lung tissue inflammation. Also, there is a direct relationship between glutathione levels and premature aging. You can read more about this under Acetaminophen Poisoning in the article called "What Scientists Know About Aging."

Acetaminophen-containing products (Tylenol, Midol, Alka-Seltzer Plus, Vanquish, etc.) result in over 100,000 calls a year to poison control centers, 560,000 visits to emergency facilities, 260,000 hospitalizations, and 450 deaths. From 1996 to 1998 the average annual deaths directly attributed to acetaminophen averaged approximately 458. I wonder what the regulatory agencies would do if a supplement were to kill 450 people a year?

Confidential documents revealed that the FDA has purposely avoided addressing the dangers of acetaminophen to avoid offending Johnson and Johnson (the dominant marketer of acetaminophen products) and the pharmaceutical industry. (BMJ 02;325:678)

The regulating authorities in the United Kingdom recognized that they were having the same problems, and required that acetaminophen be blister-packed instead of sold as bottles of loose tablets. Their research indicated that individuals would be less likely to overdose when the medication was packaged differently. By simply repackaging the acetaminophen, they have significantly reduced the number of drug-related poisonings, liver transplantations, and deaths. (RJM 01;322:1203-7)

I doubt that any such thing will happen in the U.S., simply because the change in packaging resulted in UK sales of acetaminophen products dropping from $123 billion to $84 billion. Thus, although 50 million Americans take some form of acetaminophen for pain each week, the FDA proceeds as if the known side effects, such as immune suppression, hearing loss, liver damage, and even death, are all acceptable risks for a pain reliever.

The FDA and other "watchdog" government agencies seldom are called to account for erroneous or irresponsible decisions. In the Dow Chemical silicone breast implant suit, the government was recently awarded $9.8 million for medical expenses paid out through Medicare and Medicaid. It didn't seem to matter that another agency, the FDA, of the same government had previously approved the use and sale of these implants and is currently considering whether to allow them to be sold again.

Further, these same agencies show definite bias when it comes to evaluating the risks associated with drugs. A good example is the fact that the agencies are constantly pushing for vaccinations and flu shots. For some reason, however, they neglect to tell the public that the preservative in these flu shots and vaccines is mercury.

It seems that many over-the-counter drugs that are generally considered harmless are instead shortening our lives and contributing to serious health problems. The latest figures show that roughly two million people are now being hospitalized each year from drug side effects and more than 100,000 of them die from those effects. That's enough to make drug side effects the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.

A Positive Role for Acetaminophen

You may have seen one of many bizarre television programs showing how brown tree snakes have practically taken over this island of Guam. Since an accidental introduction in the 1940s, these snakes have mushroomed in population to as high as an estimated 26,000 snakes per square mile. Since they have no natural enemies, they have decimated the lizard, rabbit, and bird populations. and been known to eat piglets, puppies, and even bite unattended babies. And by crawling along power lines, they've created electrical shorts resulting in local blackouts. All efforts thus far to eradicate the snakes have been ineffective.

When researchers placed two 40-milligram acetaminophen tablets inside dead, newborn mice and fed them to the snakes, every snake that took the bait died. Since previous toxicology studies have shown that the drug poses little risk to other wildlife and domestic animals, it appears that Tylenol may be the answer to the snake problem.

Hormones via Hair Care

Hormones via Hair Care

In the mid-1990s, Dr. Chandra Tiwary at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas contacted the FDA with concerns about various hair products that contain estrogen. The FDA wasn't interested. A few years later Dr. Tiwary published his findings, which again received very little publicity.

Dr. Tiwary reported on the results of four African-American girls age 1 to 8 years that developed breasts or pubic hair 2 to 24 months after starting to use estrogen or placenta-containing hair products. When the use of these products was stopped, the development of breasts and pubic hair also ceased. [Clin Pediatr 98;37(12):733-9]

To determine the scope of the problem, Dr. Tiwary later surveyed different racial groups that used the pediatric clinics at military medical facilities. He was the chief of pediatric endocrinology at Brooke Army Medical Center at the time.

http://altmedangel.com/envronmt.htm