Killing ants naturally with ant exterminators from your pantry, garden and fridge

It's springtime and along with May flowers come infestations of every kind of ant, taking over house and yard. Many ants bite, and most are unwelcome visitors that are difficult to exterminate, such as carpenter and fire ants. How to get rid of ants without using toxic poisons around your home and garden? Natural ant control combines several natural products from your pantry and feed stores to create homemade ant exterminators. You must be persistent in your efforts to exterminate ants, so be prepared to apply treatments on a regular basis throughout the season.

Natural ant exterminator products

1. Mix dry active baker's yeast with an equal amount of honey or molasses. Add a little water to moisten but the mixture should be more of a paste rather than liquid. Spread small amounts of the paste on two inch square pieces of cardboard and place throughout the house where pets and kids can't reach. This natural ant exterminator is a good one to leave out all summer and takes about two weeks to work on its own.

2. Another excellent natural ant control method consists of a mixture of 1/3 cup white vinegar, 2/3 cup water, and 2 to 3 tablespoons of dish soap. Combine in a spray bottle and apply to places with ant infestations, both inside and out. Expect to repeat the application weekly. Use this method with other natural ant control methods.

3. Grow some fresh catnip and sprinkle around ant hills and on pathways to the house. Ants seem to dislike catnip and will avoid it.

4. Repel ants with ground cinnamon for an aromatic natural ant control. Sprinkle the spice on the ground across doorways or on the outside of window sills where ants enter. Ants will not cross the spice barrier.

5. Apply food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) to ant hills as a natural exterminator. DE is a safe for pets and children and works well as an ant control method. DE is also effective for killing fleas, ticks, chiggers and other crawling insects in the house and garden. Buy DE from feed stores, gardening centers and online.

6. Scatter fresh spearmint leaves along the ground around the perimeter of the house as an ant repellent -- they hate it and will not cross the line.

7. Make an ant killer juice by combining one tablespoon of boric acid powder with one cup sugar and enough water to make a runny syrup. Allow the dry ingredients to fully dissolve. Pour the mixture into a squirt bottle, like an old ketchup or mustard container with a long applicator tip. Squeeze a drop or two of the liquid on small pieces of cardboard and place strategically around the house away from pets and children. The ants will at first be drawn to eat the syrup. They'll take it back to the queen and it will kill the entire nest. Use the liquid outside in hot spots as long as it's not accessible to pets. This is a highly effective method for killing all types of ants, including fire ants. Squirt some right down the hole of the ant hill and watch it disappear overnight.

The best approach for natural ant control is by using a combination of the above methods.

Sources for this article include:

WikiHow: How to Kill Ants Without Pesticides
http://www.wikihow.com/Kill-Ants-Without-Pesticides

TheFrugalLife.com : Getting Rid of Ants
http://www.thefrugallife.com/ants.html

Ehow.com: How to Get Rid of Ants Naturally
http://www.ehow.com/how_3791_rid-ants-naturally.html

About the author:
JB Bardot is trained in herbal medicine and homeopathy, and has a post graduate degree in holistic nutrition. Bardot cares for both people and animals, using alternative approaches to health care and lifestyle. You can find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001364941208&ref=tn_tnmn or on Twitter at jbbardot23

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/035708_ant_killer_natural_boric_acid.html#ixzz1tNLlzIq5

How to keep your kidneys healthy, happy and stone-free

Kidney stones are one of the most excruciatingly painful conditions a person can develop. But a recent study published in the Journal of Urology has found that maintaining high intake of calcium and fluids, and cutting back intake of refined salt, can help to prevent kidney stones from forming. Dandelion, aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, cranberry, magnesium, and potassium can all help prevent, or even pass, kidney stones as well.

Dr. Mathew Sorensen, a urologist at the University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSC) in Seattle and his colleagues evaluated data on more than 78,000 American women who were tracked for eight years. During this time, one in 40, or 2.5 percent, of these women reportedly developed kidney stones for the first time.

What the researchers discovered, however, was that high intake of calcium and fluids was linked to a lowered risk of developing kidney stones, while those with the lowest intakes had the highest risk. The 20 percent of women who ate the most calcium, for instance, were 28 percent less likely to develop kidney stones compared to the 20 percent of women who ate the least calcium.

The findings were similar among women who drank the most fluids, which were 20 percent less likely to develop kidney stones compared to those who drank the least fluids. Salt intake, however, appeared to have the biggest effect, as the 20 percent of women who ate the most salt were 61 percent more likely to develop kidney stones than the 20 percent who ate the least salt.

The calcium finding is particularly interesting, as it is widely believed that calcium intake contributes to the formation of kidney stones. But it appears as though eating foods naturally-rich in calcium -- sesame seeds, sardines, collard greens, spinach, kelp, garbanzo beans, and broccoli are a few good examples -- can help prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Dandelion, a powerful medicinal herb that is a known diuretic, also helps increase the amount of urine the body produces, which is believed to help dilute the components that contribute to the formation of kidney stones, and flush them from the body. Aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, cranberry, magnesium, and potassium can all help with preventing kidney stones as well.

"Protein and oxalates in the body have more to do with causing kidney stones than calcium does," write Dr. George Kessler and Col. Leen Kapklein in their book The Bone Density Program: 6 Weeks to Strong Bones and a Healthy Body. "[T]he more natural calcium you get from the foods in your diet, the less likely you are to develop kidney stones."

Sources for this article include:

http://www.reuters.com

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/dandelion-000236.htm

http://www.herbcompanion.com

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=48

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/035494_kidney_stones_remedies_apple_cider_vinegar.html#ixzz1rhLGRcgn

Study: EPA-approved GMO insecticide responsible for killing off bees, contaminating entire food chain

Early last year, leaked documents obtained by a Colorado beekeeper exposed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) illegitimate approval of clothianidin, a highly-toxic pesticide manufactured by Bayer CropScience that the regulatory agency knew was capable of killing off bees (http://www.naturalnews.com/030921_EPA_pesticides.html). Now, a new study out of Purdue University in Indiana has not only confirmed, once again, that clothianidin is killing off bees, but also that clothianidin's toxicity is systemic throughout the entire food chain, which could one day lead to the catastrophic destruction of the food supply.

The study, which was published in the online journal PLoS ONE, investigated the various methods and routes by which a class of insecticides known as neonicotinoids, which includes clothianidin, are harming honey bees. They discovered that both clothianidin and thiamethoxam, another component of neonicotinoid insecticides, persist in "extremely high levels" in planter exhaust material produced during the planting of crops treated with these insecticides, which runs contrary to industry claims that the chemicals biodegrade and are not a threat.

The research team also found neonicotinoid compounds in soil, including in fields where the chemicals were not even sprayed, as well as on various plants and flowers visited by bees. Based on their analysis, the researchers involved with the study determined that bees actively transfer contaminated pollen from primarily neonicotinoid-treated corn crops, and bring it back to their hives. The bees also transfer neonicotinoid compounds to other plants and crops not treated with the chemicals, which shows just how persistent these chemicals truly are in the environment.

You can read the entire report for yourself at the following link:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3250423/?tool=pubmed

"This research should nail the coffin lid shut on clothianidin," said Laurel Hopwood, chairwoman of the Sierra Club's Genetic Engineering Action Team, who is petitioning the EPA to finally ban these chemicals after years of needless delay. "Despite numerous attempts by the beekeeping industry and conservation organizations to persuade the EPA to ban clothianidin, the EPA has failed to protect the food supply for the American people."

Without bees, which are now dying off at an alarming rate due to exposure to clothianidin and various other insecticides and fungicides, one third or more of the food supply will be destroyed, including at least 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables that rely on bees for pollination. This is why Dr. Neil Carman, Ph.D., scientific advisor to Sierra Club, has put out a call for the EPA to immediately ban the use of clothianidin and the other neonicotinoid insecticides for the sake of protecting the food supply from irreversible destruction.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3250423/?tool=pubmed

http://iowa.sierraclub.org/Agriculture/agriculture.htm

http://www.beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/?p=6919

http://www.naturalnews.com/030921_EPA_pesticides.html

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035511_insecticide_bees_collapse.html#ixzz1rhKjmkOE

Thanks to BPA and other chemicals the new age of puberty for girls is 10

Girls as young as 7 years old are now beginning to develop breasts and undergo other body changes that their mothers had not experienced until years later. The prime culprit for this new phenomena is bisphenol A, better known as simply BPA.

BPA is a colorless solid chemical compound which has two phenol chemical groups and is widely used to make polycarbonate polymers and epoxy resins used to make plastics. Prolonged storage as well as high heat cause BPA to leech out. When BPA is leeched into the human body, it mimics estrogen and can offset the delicate hormonal balance in the developing child.

Too profitable to fail?

So widespread has BPA become that it is now found in the vast majority of plastics used commercially today. Most containers and plastic bags contain the compound and it is even found in dollar bills and toilet paper. Most bottled water, which is often subjected to extreme temperatures, has an increased concentration of BPA in the water content. A majority of canned products contain BPA, used as lining for the insides of cans. Microwavable food often comes in containers or bags containing BPA and is especially susceptible to leeching due to high temperatures.

As Natural News reported in April, 2010, the average age that girls begin puberty currently stands at around ten years - a drop of more than a year in a single generation. Notably, a century ago the average age for the onset of puberty in girls was 16. Early onset of puberty in girls can cause a number of problems later in life due to hormonal imbalance, including increased risk of breast cancer. Studies have shown that risk of breast cancer is reduced by7 percentfor every year the onset of puberty is delayed.

Natural News also reported in 2010 that Canada was the first country in the world to declare bisphenol A (BPA) to be a toxic substance that poses risks to human health and the environment. However, annual BPA sales have been estimated at $8 Billion and as history has shown us time and again, it is unlikely that the United States will take action anytime soon against such a highly profitable item. In fact, just this past week Natural News reported that -right on cue - the FDA announced that it would not ban BPA due to lack of evidence of harm.

Other early puberty culprits

While BPA has been identified as a major cause of the early onset of puberty in young girls, it is far from the only culprit. Another class of compounds known as phthalates have been similarly found to disrupt hormone balance. Phthalates are a class of chemicals used as softeners, or plasticizers, in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) vinyl products, including children's toys, decorating and building products, blood bags and solvents. Phthalates are also found in cosmetics, personal care products, wood finishes and insecticides.

Another likely culprit in early puberty onset is the growth hormones which are found in abundance in meat and dairy products. It is likely the growth hormones which are fed to fatten cows, chickens and other food animalsto increase dairy production are behind much of the links which studies have observed between meat and dairy consumption and the early onset of puberty in girls.

Many believe that soy foods and products also play a role in hormonal imbalance problems. Soy is heavily promoted as a health food, but is often highly genetically modified. In addition, soy contains large amounts of estrogen and has been found to affect hormone balance.

Sources included:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A
http://naturalsociety.com
http://www.naturalnews.com/028616_puberty_chemicals.html
http://nutritionfacts.org
http://www.naturalnews.com/030343_BPA_toxic_chemicals.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/035453_FDA_BPA_chemicals.html

About the author:
Tony Isaacs, is a natural health author, advocate and researcher who hosts The Best Years in Life website for those who wish to avoid prescription drugs and mainstream managed illness and live longer, healthier and happier lives naturally. Mr. Isaacs is the author of books and articles about natural health, longevity and beating cancer including "Cancer's Natural Enemy" and is working on a major book project due to be published later this year. He is also a contributing author for the worldwide advocacy group "S.A N.E.Vax. Inc" which endeavors to uncover the truth about HPV vaccine dangers.

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/035504_BPA_puberty_chemicals.html#ixzz1rhKEn5s9

The 5 best natural antibiotics and anti-virals that destroy superbugs and just about everything else

Sir Alexander Fleming discovered the antibacterial power of the mold Penicillium notatum in 1928. Even though it was a natural healing agent effective in destroying Staphylococcus aureus and other noxious bacteria, the pharmaceutical industry got hold of nature's bounty and it became -- along with multiple other Big Pharma inventions -- the nightmare of modern antibiotics, causing as many problems for mankind as they were supposed to help. Because of the overuse of antibiotics, super-bugs have developed that are resistant to all but the most powerful drugs, whose side effects are often dangerous.

In nature's infinite wisdom, several other highly effective substances exist with antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, all able to protect the human body safely and with deep healing powers. You don't have to go much farther than the refrigerator or your pantry cupboard to find safe, delicious foods and herbs to eradicate the most virulent bacteria and viruses.

Garlic

Garlic has been used worldwide for thousands of years for medicinal purposes. This wonder plant treats everything from a simple earache to pneumonia, MRSA, Helicobacter pylori, the flu and even the black plague. Contemporary research has confirmed that garlic possesses numerous antioxidants that kill bacteria and free radicals in the blood protecting the immune system and making it stronger. Garlic's active ingredient allicin can also attack and destroy a variety of viruses -- unlike modern antibiotics -- as well as fugal infections, such as candida. Taking garlic supplements as a prophylactic may help to protect against various pathogens and prevent the onset of disease.

Echinacea

Echinacea has been used for hundreds of years to strengthen the immune system and fight a variety of infections. Traditionally, echinacea was used to treat open wounds, diptheria, cellulitis, blood poisoning, syphilitic lesions and other bacterial-related diseases. Although it's mostly used today for fighting colds and flu, this potent herb possesses the ability to destroy the most virulent bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus which causes deadly MRSA.

Colloidal Silver

The germicidal and antibacterial properties of colloidal silver were discovered almost a century ago. Numerous clinical cases and anecdotal evidence provides us with the knowledge of the power of colloidal silver to kill bacteria, fungal infections and viruses. Even though the FDA has tried to discredit the efficacy of this important healing substance, the effects of colloidal silver in the treatment of bacterial diseases such as MRSA, topical wounds, sores and infections speaks for itself.

Pau D'Arco

Pau d'Arco is an herb native to South America whose active ingredient lapachol, has been found to relieve a wide range of infections include those initiated by bacteria, viruses and fungus. Studies suggest that Pau d'arco may also have cancer-fighting properties, although more research is needed. Pau d'arco was used by the Indians of South America to strengthen the immune system and fight life-threatening diseases. It's best consumed as a tea or decoction.

Manuka Honey

The most delicious and deadly agent that works to kill bacteria is Manuka honey, which comes from Australia and New Zealand. Researchers have discovered that Manuka honey applied topically can kill a wide range of pathogens, including MRSA and flesh-eating bacteria. Scientists were pleased by the fact that the treated bacteria didn't build up any resistance, rendering the honey ineffective.

Sources for this article include:

University of North Carolina at Wilmington Graduate Fellows Program; "Bubonic Plague: Yesterday's Scourge--and Tomorrow's?"; Tina Blue; December 2000
http://uncw.edu/smec/gk_fellows/Documents/BubonicPlague.pdf

Carson-Newman College: The Black Plague: The Least You Need to Know
http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/documents/Black_Plague.pdf

University of Maryland Medical Center: Garlic
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/garlic-000245.htm

University of Connecticut: Garlic
http://fitsweb.uchc.edu/student/selectives/atolsdorf/garlic.html

Ethiopian Medical Journal, vol. 40(3); D. Dikasso; July 2002: Investigation on the antibacterial properties of garlic (Allium sativum) on pneumonia causing bacteria.
http://grande.nal.usda.gov

University of Maryland Medical Center: MRSA--Treatment
http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/007261trt.htm

University of Maryland Medical Center: Echinacea
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/echinacea-000239.htm

University of Maryland Medical Center: Cellulitis
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/cellulitis-000033.htm

Huntington College of Health Sciences: MRSA--Natural Methods for Prevention
http://www.hchs.edu/literature/MRSA.pdf

FDA -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: Over-the-Counter Drug Products Containing Colloidal Silver
Ingredients or Silver Salts
http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/98fr/081799a.txt

Colloidal Silver: The Undisputed Cure for MRSA and Other Deadly Super-Pathogens
http://www.colloidalsilvercuresmrsa.com/mrsa_cure.htm

MRSA (MULTIPLE-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS): Colloidal Silver as a Real Cure for MRSA
http://www.exfoli.com/mrsa/?p=45

Silver Medicine: Dr. Robert O. Becker, M.D. -- Silver Ions and Electromedicine
http://www.silvermedicine.org/robertobecker.html

Paudarco.org: Pau d'Arco Benefits
http://www.paudarco.org/benefits.php

University of Colorado at Denver: Pau D'Arco
http://ucdenver.edu

The Australian Hone, I killed the superbug
http://www.theaustralian.com.au

About the author:
JB Bardot is trained in herbal medicine and homeopathy, and has a post graduate degree in holistic nutrition. Bardot cares for both people and animals, using alternative approaches to health care and lifestyle. You can find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001364941208&ref=tn_tnmn or on Twitter at jbbardot23

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035516_natural_antibiotics_superbugs.html#ixzz1rhJdXxwE

Prominent heart doctor exposes the myths about cholesterol, statins and low fat diets

Renowned heart surgeon Dr. Dwight Lundell recently stepped forward to expose how embracing the high cholesterol myth has been wrong and the harm that has resulted, stating that the recommendations to lower cholesterol and severely restrict fat intake "are no longer scientifically or morally defensible."

Dr. Lundell explained that inflammation in our arterial walls is the real culprit for heart disease and stated that "the injury and inflammation in our blood vessels is caused by the low fat diet recommended for years by mainstream medicine."

"Simply stated," said Dr. Lundell, "without inflammation being present in the body, there is no way that cholesterol would accumulate in the wall of the blood vessel."

In addition, said Dr. Lundell, "The long-established dietary recommendations have created epidemics of obesity and diabetes, the consequences of which dwarf any historical plague in terms of mortality, human suffering and dire economic consequences."¹

Studies reveal the truth about statins, high cholesterol and inflammation

For several decades, mainstream medicine has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising and propaganda creating and perpetuating the high cholesterol myth. As a result, millions of Americans have followed the advice to severely restrict their intakes of fats and tens of millions have taken dangerous cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.

As Dr. Lundell revealed, the emerging truth is that inflammation is the real culprit in heart disease and drugs and diets designed to lower cholesterol actually contribute to heart disease as well as other health problems. Recent year studies on statin drugs have backed up Dr. Lundell and demonstrated that what few benefits may be derived from dangerous statin drugs actually come from lowering inflammation levels.

For example, researchers with the recent large-scale JUPITER study found that patients who had "healthy cholesterol profiles" but who also had high CRP levels (a marker for inflammation) dramatically reduced their risks of cardiovascular events and death when they took a statin drug which lowered measured CRP levels.²

The conclusions of other recent year statin drug studies give further indications that lowering inflammation is a primary mechanism for cardiovascular benefits. Some excerpts:

"Patients who have low CRP levels after statin therapy have better clinical outcomes than those with higher CRP levels, regardless of the resultant level of LDL cholesterol."³

"The reduced rate of progression of atherosclerosis associated with intensive statin treatment, as compared with moderate statin treatment, is significantly related to greater reductions in the levels of both atherogenic lipoproteins and CRP."⁴

"These results demonstrate that statins reduce IL-6-induced CRP production . . .These findings furnish new evidence for direct antiinflammatory properties of statins . . ."⁵

"initiation of statin therapy was associated with improved survival regardless of the lipid levels. The benefit of statin therapy occurred primarily in patients with elevated CRP."⁶

Indications are that mainstream medicine intends to continue espousing the high cholesterol myth while using the results of studies about inflammation-lowering to tout additional "benefits" for statin drugs.

The inconvenient truth is that statin drugs are not needed to lower inflammation any more than they are needed to lower cholesterol. Natural items such as diet, lifestyle and natural foods and herbs such as turmeric, ginger and omega-3s can effectively lower inflammation far more safely than statin drugs.

According to Dr. Lundell and other experts, the simple solution to quieting inflammation and preventing heart disease is to return to foods closer to their natural state, include colorful vegetables and fruits and some healthy fats in our diets, build muscle, eat more protein and cut down or eliminate foods with inflammation-causing omega-6 fats like corn and soybean oil.

Sources:

¹ http://preventdisease.com/news/12/030112_World-Renown-Heart-Surgeon-S...
² http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/12/01/hll21201.htm
³ http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa042378
⁴ http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa042000
⁵ http://atvb.ahajournals.org/content/25/6/1231.full
⁶ http://content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/content/full/36/6/1774

About the author:
Tony Isaacs, is a natural health author, advocate and researcher who hosts The Best Years in Life website for those who wish to avoid prescription drugs and mainstream managed illness and live longer, healthier and happier lives naturally. Mr. Isaacs is the author of books and articles about natural health, longevity and beating cancer including "Cancer's Natural Enemy" and is working on a major book project due to be published later this year. He is also a contributing author for the worldwide advocacy group "S.A N.E.Vax. Inc" which endeavors to uncover the truth about HPV vaccine dangers.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035514_cholesterol_myths_heart_doctor.html#ixzz1rhJ92dSR

Ammonium hydroxide, health effects of "pink slime"

Awareness of "pink slime" in the schools, restaurants, and supermarkets has caused quite a stir in recent days. BPI, a leading manufacturer of the stuff has subsequently shut down all but 1 of their factories. There are still slime burgers out there and BPI refuses to disclose their consumers. If it's not the process of stripping the scraps, melting them, and spinning them that worries consumers, then it should be the ammonia gas!

Effects of the gas chamber

Consumers are told by the media that "it's just beef, dude". That's comparative to saying high fructose corn syrup is "just sugar, dude", which we all know is not true. So what exactly happens in the "slime gas chamber"? While human exposure to ammonia gas itself is extremely hazardous to the respiratory tract, it has little effect on digestion since it is a gas. The issue arises when ammonia gas comes in contact with water, like the water within meat. This interaction produces ammonium hydroxide or "ammonia water". Now we have a hazardous gas turned to liquid form that can wreak havoc on the human body.

Ammonium hydroxide

Commonly sold as window cleaner, floor cleaner, wood polish, and a source of food (slime), ammonium hydroxide is a serious threat to a person's health. The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for ammonium hydroxide classifies the substance as very hazardous when in contact with skin. Ammonium hydroxide may produce tissue damage on mucous membranes. The human digestive system is basically one long mucous membrane from mouth to finish. Repeated or prolonged exposure to ammonium hydroxide can lead to health deterioration through accumulation within human organs. Although ammonium and ammonia are essential to proper kidney function and maintaining an acid-base balance within the body, chronic high levels of the chemical can ruin delicate blood vessels and cause harm on the cellular level. By offsetting the balance with the addition of more ammonia molecules, there is more conversion of waste urea by the liver and more excretion of ammonium in the urine.

Good or bad?

The FDA lists ammonium hydroxide as generally regarded as safe (GRAS). Their committee reports; "although there have been no significant feeding studies specifically designed to ascertain the safety threshold of ammonium compounds as food ingredients, numerous metabolic studies have been reported in the scientific literature. Extrapolation of these findings to the concentrations of ammonium compounds normally present in foods does not suggest that there would be untoward effects at such levels." (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov) So, this means there is no study of actual safety thresholds in food ingredients, and its safety is based on an extrapolation of data based on the normal presence of ammonium hydroxide in food, not added. Aside from the kidneys and liver, our digestive system suffers from the ammonium hydroxide. Not only does ammonium hydroxide kill E. coli 0157:H7 (the dangerous one), but it can also destroy the bacterial flora that keeps us healthy! Bacteria are not all bad, but the kind that comes from cow factory leftovers is, and shouldn't be consumed. The bottom line is, know your beef!

Sources for this article include:

http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9922918
http://www.naturalnews.com/027872_ammonia_beef_products.html
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov
http://www.anaesthesiamcq.com/AcidBaseBook/ab2_4b.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium

About the author:
Dr. Daniel Zagst is a chiropractic physician at Advanced Health & Chiropractic in Mooresville, NC. He has a BS in Professional Studies of Adjunctive Therapies, Doctorate of Chiropractic from NYCC, and an Advanced Certificate in Sport Science and Human Performance.

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/035517_pink_slime_ammonium_hydroxide_burgers.html#ixzz1rhIgJc82

Confirmed: Common pesticide crashing honeybee populations around the world

Two new studies published in the journal Science have once again confirmed what several previous studies, including one compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), have found concerning the epidemic of colony collapse disorder (CCD) among bee populations -- neonicotinoid insecticides are largely responsible for causing this deadly phenomenon.

Scientists from both the U.K. and France have now undoubtedly proven that neonicotinoid insecticides, which are commonly used on major food crops, are causing bees to lose their ability to properly navigate the natural environment. And as a result, many of them end up getting lost when they are out pollinating and never return back to their hives, which has resulted in an 85 percent reduction in queen bee production, collectively.

For the first study, which was led by biologist Mickael Henry of INRA, a French agricultural research agency, a research team tagged honeybees with radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips, and dosed some of them with neonicotinoid chemicals. They discovered that those exposed to neonicotinoids were twice as likely as the non-exposed group to lose their way and die outside their hives.

In the second study, David Goulson, a bee biologist at Scotland's University of Stirling, and his team exposed developing bees inside their hives to varying levels of neonicotinoids and set them free to forage in an enclosed field. After six weeks, it was determined that the bees exposed to neonicotinoids grew to be smaller in size than non-exposed bees, and also produced a shocking 85 percent fewer queens.

"Nests have annual cycles," explained Goulson about his team's findings. "They start with a single queen, and the nest grows through the season. If it doesn't get big enough, it doesn't have the resources to pour into rearing queens. The French study shows that exposure to neonicotinoids makes honeybees less likely to find their nest. That's likely the mechanisms that led to our nests growing more slowly."

But these findings are expected when considering that bees are insects, and neonicotinoids are designed to destroy insects. Whether applied to the outsides of seeds as they are planted, or sprayed on crops after they are planted, neonicotinoids are highly toxic to this vital plant pollinator. And the USDA has been aware of this for years, but done nothing about it.

"Bees' ability to navigate is very important," added Goulson. "When they leave their nest, they fly miles to gather food. Anything that makes them even a little bit worse at navigating or learning could be a disaster in those circumstances."

Sources for this article include:

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/03/neonicotinoids-bee-collapse/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17535769

http://www.naturalnews.com/031091_USDA_pesticide.html

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035518_honey_bees_pesticides_science.html#ixzz1rhI4d8qj

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/035518_honey_bees_pesticides_science.html

Investigation reveals Facebook is spying on smartphone users' personal text messages

As early as the late 1970s, there have been privacy concerns in the so-called "information age." And why not? At every stage since the widespread acceptance and use of the computer, and especially the Internet, someone has been trying to invade your privacy.

The latest infringement comes from Facebook, and some other companies, which has resorted to spying on smartphone users' personal text messages, according to a London Times investigation. Users who had downloaded the app for the world's largest social network were subject to the infringement.

For their part, Facebook wasn't alone. According to the London Times, which investigated the privacy violations, photo-sharing site Flickr, dating site Badoo and Yahoo Messenger were also accessing personal texts.

Privacy a 'precious commodity'

The report claimed that some apps even permitted companies to intercept phone calls. Still others, such as YouTube, "are capable of remotely accessing and operating users' smartphone cameras to take photographs or videos at any time," a separate report said.

Smaller firms were also in on the act. They included My Remote Lock (which, ironically, is supposed to be a security app), and the app Tennis Juggling Game. They, too, can supposedly intercept calls.

"Your personal information is a precious commodity, and companies will go to great lengths to get their hands on as much of it as possible," said Emma Draper, of the Privacy International campaign group.

Facebook officials are spinning the spying as little more than investigative field work, saying the world's largest social network is planning on launching its own messaging service soon and, well, needed to observe how one works in the real (virtual?) world.

Oh, and Facebook officials are also hiding behind the old, "You gave us permission when you agreed to download the app" excuse, which 70 percent of downloaders never read, according to a YouGov survey conducted for the Times.

"The Sunday Times has done some creative conspiracy theorizing but the suggestion that we're secretly reading people's texts is ridiculous," Andrew Noyes, a company spokesman, said in a statement following the Times report. "Instead, the permission is clearly disclosed on the app page in the Android marketplace and is in anticipation of new features that enable users to integrate Facebook features with their texts. However, other than some very limited testing, we haven't launched anything so we're not using the permission.

Iain Mackenzie, Facebook's European communication lead, continued to company line, even denying the company was looking to develop its own messaging software.

"Just as an aside...we didn't say we're launching a messenger product," he said.

Violations of your privacy more the rule than exception

Sound familiar? It should. Reports surface fairly regularly now that we're fully engulfed in the Information Age that your privacy rights are being completely trampled.

So regular are Facebook's alleged violations of your privacy that even the Federal Trade Commission has looked into them.

"But Facebook is a big fish. Today, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of smaller fish -- many in the form of apps for smartphones, which are dealing with the same kind of access to your data that Facebook enjoys but with far less scrutiny," writes Joshua Topolsky for The Washington Post.

And that's what seems to be the problem. There are so many regular electronic privacy violations that more must be done to ensure that all the loopholes are closed.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) recommends a few. First, Congress should update the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 198' (when there was no commercial World Wide Web and no one carried cell phones). That would include a "robust" plan to protect all personal electronic information; institute appropriate oversight and reporting mechanisms; and require safeguards for location information.

"Privacy law doesn't auto-update," says the ACLU. "The Founding Fathers recognized that citizens in a democracy need privacy for their 'persons, houses, papers, and effects.' That remains as true as ever; today's citizens deserve no less protection just because their papers and effects' might be stored electronically."

Sources for this article include:

http://www.foxnews.com

http://www.myfoxdc.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com

http://www.aclu.org

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035110_Facebook_spying_smartphones.html#ixzz1o59dwgYi

Sports drinks are sometimes better than water, but can also cause kidney stones and osteoporosis

Sports drinks are a favorite of athletes and some exercisers to quench their thirst and replenish lost nutrients. These drinks contain calcium, sodium and other minerals called electrolytes. An imbalance of electrolytes may be harmful. Sports drinks can help prevent or decrease some conditions by increasing electrolytes, but drinking them may result in complications like kidney stones, osteoporosis and calcium overdose.

Sweat and loss of electrolytes

Playing sports and working out increases body temperature and results in sweat to cool the body. Sweat contains fluid and electrolytes, such as calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, phosphate, bicarbonate and sulphate. These all leave the body through perspiration. Sweating too much without replenishing lost fluid eventually causes dehydration and possibly heat stroke or circulatory collapse. Drinking water hydrates the body but does not replenish lost electrolytes. Sports drinks contain electrolytes and carbohydrates, which the body burns for energy during exercise. Depending on how much a person sweats, sports drinks may therefore be more beneficial than water.

Muscle cramps and dehydration

Muscle cramps are a possible side effect of dehydration. Drinking sports drinks helps prevent cramping by raising electrolyte levels in the body and staving off dehydration, according to a Medical News Today article published online in July 2005. Consuming a diet that includes carbohydrates and electrolytes can also reduce the amount of fatigue experienced during exercise. People are most at risk for cramping during endurance activities that last over an hour; drinking sports drinks becomes more beneficial during these times.

Electrolyte imbalance

Muscles need calcium, potassium and sodium to contract, according to Level 4 Performance Coach Brian Mackenzie. Muscles contain electric tissue that are activated by electrolyte activity. If the level of calcium, sodium or potassium is too low or too high, called an electrolyte imbalance, muscles become weak or experience severe contractions. Symptoms of an imbalance include seizures, numbness, lethargy, twitching, irregular heartbeat and confusion. Electrolyte imbalances can lead to bone and nervous system disorders.

Kidney stones and osteoporosis

Sports drinks are high in sodium. When the body excretes sodium, it also excretes calcium. This causes high levels of calcium to form in the urine, potentially increasing risk of kidney stones, according to the James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute. The high levels of calcium in urine also leaves little calcium for bones. The body leeches calcium from bones to bind to sodium for excretion. The loss of calcium makes bones weaker and less dense, which increases risk of osteoporosis.

Calcium overdose

Consuming sports beverages, particularly while also taking calcium supplements or a multivitamin high in calcium, may result in hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia is a condition caused by too much calcium in the body. Overdoing it on supplemental calcium is a known cause, according to the Mayo Clinic. High calcium levels interfere with brain and nerve function, muscle contraction and the release of hormones because of the role calcium plays in these functions. Symptoms of hypercalcemia include nausea, weakness, excessive thirst, muscle aches, joint aches, abdominal pain and constipation.

Editor's Note: It's got 'lectrolytes! BRAWNDO! Hey folks, don't forget about all the toxic crap found in sports drinks, either: Artificial colors, chemical sweeteners, corn syrup from GMO corn. The best "sports drink" is coconut water.


Sources for this article include:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com

http://urology.jhu.edu/kidney/STONESprevention.php

http://www.brianmac.co.uk/drinks.htm

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153188.php

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/77714.php

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/health/01brody.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com

About the author:
Sarka-Jonae Miller is a health writer and novelist. She was certified as a personal fitness trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. She also worked as a massage therapist, group exercise instructor and assistant martial arts instructor.
Miller's premiere novel, "Between Boyfriends," was recently published http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006Q6TSCS/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035118_sports_drinks_kidney_stones_osteoporosis.html#ixzz1o58jm9da

Toxic rapeseed and other low-grade oils with additives are being passed off as olive oil

As much as 50 percent of the olive oil sold in the U.S. is not actually pure olive oil, as some brands claiming to be "extra-virgin" or "100 percent Italian," for instance, have actually been adulterated with toxic rapeseed oil, more popularly known as canola oil, soybean oil, and other low-grade oils. In his new book Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil, olive oil expert Tom Mueller explains that not all olive oil is the same, and offers advice on how to spot authentic olive oil amidst all the imposters.

During a recent interview with Terry Gross from NPR's Fresh Air, Mueller explains how olive oil adulteration is much more widespread than people think, if they are even aware of it at all. For olive oil to truly be considered "extra-virgin," it has to come from fresh, crushed olives, and not be refined in any way or contain any chemical solvents. It also has to pass certain tests of integrity in order to be considered legitimate, for which many of the brands popularly sold today would fail.

"The legal definition simply says it has to pass certain chemical tests, and in a sensory way it has to taste and smell vaguely of fresh olives, because it's a fruit, and have no faults," said Mueller. "But many of the extra-virgin olive oils on our shelves today in America don't clear [the legal definition]."

Beige olive oil in plastic bottles is most likely adulterated

Real extra-virgin olive oil should have a vibrant, almost peppery flavor, for instance, and not taste bland or watered down. It is also typically stored in dark, glass bottles so that its array of health-promoting antioxidants, its taste, and its forceful green color -- yes, olive oil should be green, not yellowish in color -- are not harmed by light or damaging UV rays from the sun. For this reason, avoiding olive oil in clear, plastic bottles is recommended.

"What [real olive oil] gets you from a health perspective is a cocktail of 200-plus highly beneficial ingredients that explain why olive oil has been the heart of the Mediterranean diet," added Mueller during his interview with NPR. "Bad olives have free radicals and impurities, and then you've lost that wonderful cocktail ... that you get from fresh fruit, from real extra-virgin olive oil."

Most imported extra-virgin olive oil appears questionable in authenticity

The University of California, Davis published a report on olive oil back in 2010 entitled Tests indicate that imported 'extra virgin' olive oil often fails international and USDA standards. In this report, researchers found that 69 percent of imported and ten percent of California-based oils labeled as olive oil did not pass International Olive Council (IOC) and US Department of Agriculture sensory standards for extra virgin olive oil.

Of those brands tested, the following failed to meet extra-virgin olive oil standards:

• Bertolli
• Carapelli
• Filippo Berio
• Mazzola
• Mezzetta
• Newman's Own
• Pompeian
• Rachel Ray
• Safeway
• Star
• Whole Foods

The following brands were found to meet extra-virgin olive oil standards as part of the study:

• Corto Olive
• California Olive Ranch
• Kirkland Organic
• Lucero (Ascolano)
• McEvoy Ranch Organic

You can read the entire UC Davis Study here:
http://olivecenter.ucdavis.edu

Be sure to avoid any olive oil labeled as "light," as these are the lowest quality olive oils available. Also, be sure to choose either California-based olive oils, the vast majority of which are legitimate, or imported olive oils certified by IOC.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.nytimes.com

http://www.npr.org

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035124_olive_oil_adulterated_canola.html#ixzz1o57McDV5

Six steps to create your own organic permaculture garden

Organic gardening avoids the use of chemicals to make plants grow or protect them from insects, relying instead on natural gardening principles used for thousands of years. Permaculture organic gardening goes a step further and also emphasizes growing plants sustainably, working with rather than against the grain of the natural environment. Permaculture organic gardening is growing in popularity as more people realize that it offers an inexpensive and relatively low-maintenance way to grow their own fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers.

Choosing a location

Observe your property at different times of day. Consider which areas receive the most sun, which are in shade for much of the day. Depending on where you live, if sunshine is a scarce commodity, you will want to expose plants to receive as much as possible. On the other hand, in desert regions, you will not want your plants to be in the area most likely to be parched by sun exposure. Also think protecting your garden from the paths where strong winds tend to blow through your property. Even a small property will have microclimates -- notice these and plant accordingly to give different plants either more sun or more shade according to their preference.

Selecting plants

Avoid disease-prone plants which require time-consuming chores such as spraying and pruning by the gardener. Select plants which will thrive in your area rather than those which will require extra labor on your part to protect them from the environment. As far as possible, select plants which serve multiple purposes, such as fruit trees which will put forth blossoms in one season, fruit to pick in another, and provide shade for when you want to sit and enjoy your garden's natural beauty. Native plants are also more likely to attract local pollinators such as bees, and to draw butterflies so that your garden contains even more natural beauty.

Making a home for your plants

Raised beds require less physical effort on the part of the gardener and also benefit plants, providing better air circulation, more protection from spring chills and improved usage of water. Raised beds also mean a small permaculture garden is an option even for apartment dwellers and others with little available space since you can rely on containers and vertical gardening principles.

Feeding your plants

One of the key concepts of permaculture organic gardening is to avoid waste. Having a garden gives you a means of re-using natural waste such as eggshells, apple cores, coffee grinds as well as yard waste which many people throw away. You can either purchase or make a compost bin to turn this organic material into gardening gold which can be used to help your plants grow.

Watering your plants

Modern gardeners who do not follow sustainability principles tend to draw heavily on piped-in water resources, often using hoses and sprinklers to make plants which require abundant water grow in a desert climate. Permaculture organic gardening tries to use natural water as much as possible, maximizing the use of groundwater and rainwater. Rain barrels allow you to collect rainfall and extend its use over longer periods of time.

Protecting plants from pests

Eschewing the use of chemicals does not have to mean a garden full of pests. You can use companion gardening principles, growing plants which deter pests near those which attract them. There is also a natural synergy between some plants which means planting them near each other increases your yield. Also, just as some herbs have a medicinal effect on human health, they also offer benefits to plants which grow near them. For more information about companion planting, visit http://www.appropedia.org/CCAT_companion_planting and http://www.gardeningknowhow.com

If you have space and live in an area where it is permissible to keep poultry, chickens can make a wonderful addition to a permaculture garden. If they are permitted free-range for most of the day, they will consume many pests. Chicken manure also contributes beneficial nitrogen to the soil of your garden.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.safecom.org.au/permaculture.htm

http://www.organicgardening.com

http://www.appropedia.org/Beginners_permaculture_garden

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/035038_permaculture_gardening_how_to.html#ixzz1nQZExyLx

Optimum magnesium intake might prevent ADD/ADHD, Alzheimer's and mental decline

Magnesium, the fourth most abundant mineral in the body, plays a crucial role in activating over 300 chemical responses. It is responsible for the proper formation of bones, maintaining normal muscle function, regulating body temperature, and proper absorption of calcium. Increasingly, medical science is coming to believe that magnesium and other minerals missing from today's diet might prevent cognitive disorders such as ADD, ADHD and bipolar disorder, as well as help prevent Alzheimer's and mental decline as we age.

Eat and supplement wisely to avoid a magnesium deficiency

A deficiency in magnesium affects virtually every area of the body and can present itself with headaches, backaches, muscle spasms, heart arrhythmia, high blood pressure, PMS, osteoporosis, kidney stones, insomnia, anxiety, depression, tingling and numbness in limbs and extremities, and constipation. Magnesium is also a powerful immune modulator and magnesium deficiency has been linked to immune disorders and deficiencies, such as triggering or worsening the symptoms in such conditions as hyperthyroidism, fibromyalgia, Reynaud's and multiple sclerosis.

Magnesium is essential for the proper absorption of calcium. Many instances of magnesium deficiency are simply due to an excessive intake of calcium. We are told about the benefits of taking calcium but, sadly, magnesium (which is needed for proper calcium absorption) is very seldom mentioned. Too much calcium can actually be responsible for adverse health conditions. Dairy foods, for example, are rich in calcium and it is easy for dairy eaters to consume too much calcium if they do not balance their diet with foods rich in magnesium.

The premise that bone loss is due to a calcium deficiency has been proven to be incorrect. Too much calcium in the body is actually responsible for an increased risk of osteoporosis as well as kidney stones and heart attacks. For proper absorption, one should eat or supplement at a ratio of 2:1 calcium to magnesium.

Our Standard American Diet (SAD) is woefully lacking in proper nutrition such as magnesium. Toxins and additives in our diets often prevent our bodies from properly absorbing what little magnesium and other nutrients that we do consume - as do other culprits such as alcohol, caffeine, and smoking. Because magnesium is not produced by the body, it is important to eat and supplement wisely to make sure that the body receives the amount it needs.

Due to poor eating habits and mineral depleted soils, it is estimated that over 80 percent of the American population is deficient in magnesium. The US minimum RDA for magnesium is 420 mg for adult males and 320 mg for adult females. Clinical nutritionists, however, report mounting evidence that this level, in itself, is too low and contributes to the list of degenerative diseases caused by a magnesium deficiency. The optimum daily amount they recommend is between 500 to 700 mg a day.

It is important to eat healthy foods, focusing on as many raw fruits and vegetables as possible. Foods rich in magnesium include: spinach, avocado, bananas, almonds, cashews, dry roasted peanuts, peanut butter, raisins, oatmeal, crude wheat bran, crude wheat germ, whole wheat bread, halibut, cooked black-eyed peas, baked potato with skin, natural plain yogurt, brown long grained cooked rice, and cooked lentils.

Even with the best of diets, however, mineral depletion in the soil over the last hundred years makes it difficult to get enough magnesium through diet alone. Therefore, it is often important to make sure that the body is getting its required amount of magnesium through supplementation. Two excellent ways to supply your body with magnesium are by using transdermal magnesium oil and Epsom salt baths.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.naturalnews.com/025567_magnesium_calories_calcium.html

http://healthylifejournal.org

http://www.nutritionalmagnesium.org

http://www.naturalnews.com/029397_epsom_salt_magnesium.html

About the author:
Luella May is a natural health advocate helping people to heal naturally. She partners with Tony Isaacs, who authors of books and articles about natural health which includes the bestseller " href="http://www.rose-laurel.com">Cancer''''s Natural Enemy". Luella contributes to The Best Years in Life website (http://www.tbyil.com) which is geared to baby boomers and others wishing to avoid prescription drugs and mainstream managed illness and live longer, healthier and happier lives naturally. Luella co-moderates the CureZone " href=http://curezone.com/forums/f.asp?f=861"Ask Tony Isaacs"" forum as well as the Yahoo Health Group " href="http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/oleandersoup/ "Oleander Soup"" and hosts her own yahoo group focusing on the natural wellbeing of pets " href="The Best Years in Life Natural Health for Pets"".

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/035047_magnesium_ADHD_Alzheimers.html#ixzz1nQXPlYCY

Parsley is an effective antioxidant, diuretic, blood tonic, and more

Parsley, that little piece of leafy green garnish that seems to decorate every plate in restaurants all across the U.S., is actually a serious herb which packs a powerful punch. Most people smile and ask sheepishly, "Are we supposed to eat it?" If it is certified organic parsley, then the answer is "yes." Parsley leaf is loaded with antioxidants and is a fantastic diuretic. The herb is a wonderful kidney aid, helping to get rid of kidney stones and edema (swelling), as well as healing any urinary tract infection or inflammation. Parsley root is high in calcium, iron, and B complex vitamins.

The antioxidants in parsley are able to combat oxidative stress in vivo

The British Journal of Nutrition published a medical study to measure the antioxidant capabilities of parsley (Petroselinum crispum). Fourteen people ate a restricted diet for two weeks which was high in parsley, but low in other foods containing flavones and other natural sources of antioxidants. Urinary excretion of the flavone apigenin was measured before and during the ingestion of parsley. Apigenin levels were noticeably higher when parsley was added to the diet. The researchers noted that when the subjects were on the restricted diet, their oxidative stress markers rose. However, when the people added parsley during the second week of study, the parsley was able to reverse these numbers somewhat.

Parsley is a scientifically proven diuretic

In 2002, the Journal of Ethnopharmacology published a study confirming the diuretic effects of parsley, as claimed for years in folk medicine literature. Rats were given parsley seed tea to drink. Over a twenty-four hour period, the rats had a marked increase in urinary volume. The scientists believed that parsley works as a diuretic due to a mechanism in the herb which blocks the re-absorption of sodium and potassium. This causes more water to flow via osmosis, and hence, a greater urinary volume.

Herbalists use parsley for kidneys, joint problems, nerves, and more

Dr. John R. Christopher, one of the greatest master herbalists of the twentieth century, used parsley in a variety of ways. He used the herb not only for all kidney and bladder issues, but also for jaundice and sexually-transmitted diseases. Dr. Christopher used parsley for water retention (edema), and suggested parsley root tea for stiff fingers and other joint issues. He said gallstones could be removed by drinking a pint of fresh parsley tea every day. The herb is also calming to the nerves and adrenal glands. Dr. Christopher recommended at least two quarts of strong parsley tea per day for these issues, or even up to a cup of tea every hour. To make fresh parsley tea, add a large handful of parsley to a pint of boiling water. Cover, steep, and drink the tea throughout the day.

According to Dr. Christopher, fresh parsley juice is a very potent healer. Parsley juice is an effective blood tonic, but it should be diluted with some other kind of fresh, organic juice, such as carrot juice. No more than an ounce or two of parsley juice should be taken at any one time.

Sources for this article include:

Pubmed.gov. "Effect of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) intake on urinary apigenin excretion, blood antioxidant enzymes and bio-markers for oxidative stress in human subjects," S.E. Nielsen, et al. British Journal of Nutrition June 1999; 81(6): 447-55. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10615220

Pubmed.gov. "Diuretic effect and mechanism of action of parsley," S.I. Kreydiyyeha and J. Usta. Journal of Ethnopharmacology March 2002; 7993): 353-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11849841

Herbal Legacy.com. "Parsley," by Dr. John R. Christopher http://articles.herballegacy.com/parsley/

About the author:
This article is provided courtesy of Donna Earnest Pravel, owner and senior editor of Heart of Texas Copywriting Solutions.com. Get free biweekly tips on natural healing and herbs by visiting her blog, Bluebonnet Natural Healing Therapy.

Source:: http://www.naturalnews.com/035044_parsley_antioxidants_blood.html#ixzz1nQWprfSw

Vitamin D and cancer - nine facts "they" won't tell you

Before, to be diagnosed with the big C seemed to be an implied death sentence. Patients even go through a stage of self-denial. Who can blame them? Conventional medicine paints a rather bleak future for cancer patients and the remedy it offers does nothing to improve their quality of life, nausea and falling hair not to mention.

However, the recent breakthroughs in science have allowed a peek into the true nature of cancer, allowing researchers to consider the concept of nutritional care. They are now faced with the idea that preventing and maybe even reversing cancer may not necessarily involve the development of expensive drugs but something already available in nature: food and sunshine!

Just the facts

If something so powerful is actually available for everyone, why wouldn't someone take advantage of it?

The recent discovery that the body, with the help of vitamin D, possesses the capacity to fight many chronic illnesses has spurred the interest of many researchers - especially on the possibilities the sunshine vitamin can offer with regard to the prevention and reversal of diseases like cancer. A brief rundown of some facts, revealed by recent studies, can give us a perspective on how vitamin D can help.

1. Vitamin D slashes cancer risk by 77 percent.

A study was conducted involving 1, 179 healthy Nebraskan women who were divided into a control group and a placebo group. In the four years the study was conducted, the group who was receiving vitamin D and calcium supplements revealed a 60 percent decrease in cancers as compared to the placebo group. (http://www.naturalnews.com/021892.html)

2. Vitamin D can prevent cancer.
According to the National Cancer Institute, 80 percent of cancer cases can be prevented. Having a healthy and balanced diet can prevent cancer. An example would be a diet that is low in refined sugar and processed meat and high in fruits, leafy vegetables and vitamin D from dietary sources or the sun. Studies have shown that a diet high in animal products and dairy that contain hormones and saturated fat cause breast cancer. (http://www.naturalnews.com/027334_cancer_diet_breast.html)

3. Sunshine offers powerful healing.

In a study conducted by the French in 2011 on 60,000 post menopausal women, it was discovered that women with increased levels of vitamin D obtained through diet and supplement reduced their risk of breast cancer. These vitamin D levels received a great boost when these women were exposed to actual sunshine. (http://www.naturalnews.com/034286_cancer_prevention_nutrition.html)

Which leads us to suspect that...

4. There are private interests involved.

The medical establishment's dismissive take on vitamin D and its effects on cancer cannot seriously be taken in the light of new research supporting the effect of vitamin D on cancer. One cannot help but be suspicious of this rather cold shoulder treatment, especially when non-profit organizations that supposedly support the active search for a cure have financial ties with pharmaceutical companies, mammography equipment companies and other organizations that profit from cancer. Moreover, research on vitamin D is a threat to the cancer industry because it shows a way of dealing with cancer for free. (http://www.naturalnews.com/021892.html)

5. Chemotherapy does not work.

One of the current remedies offered by conventional medicine when dealing with cancer is chemotherapy. Let it be said once and for all: chemotherapy does not have any positive effect on cancer. There is no scientific evidence that supports such fact. It shrinks tumors, but it doesn't initiate the healing that needs to take place to reverse cancer and to stay cancer free. What's more, its side effects are well documented - effects that worsen the patient's condition instead of improving it. (http://www.naturalnews.com/024536_cancer_women_breast.html)

6. The recommended daily allowance of vitamin D does not provide cancer prevention benefits.

The revised recommended daily intake provided for vitamin D (600 IU for children and adults until 70 years old and 800 IU for adults above 70) has been criticized as below the required levels that provide anti-cancer effects. According to Dr. Cedric Garland, recent studies have shown that daily intakes of vitamin D by adults along the range of 4,000 - 8,000 IU is necessary to maintain the vitamin D blood levels needed to reduce the risk of several diseases including cancer. (http://www.naturalnews.com/031577_vitamin_D_scientific_research.html)

7. Exposure to the sun does not necessarily cause skin cancer.

A study conducted by researchers from Leeds University in 2009 found that increased levels of vitamin D were linked to improved skin cancer survival odds. Since most people are vitamin D deficient, it has left them vulnerable to a host of other diseases including cancer. The advantages of getting enough sun exposure far outweigh the disadvantages that are now being questioned by breakthrough science. (http://www.naturalnews.com/032533_sun_exposure_skin_cancer.html)

8. Cancer can be inherited.

The idea that cancer runs in families is a popular theme in the medical establishment. However, tons of research has now shown that cancer can be avoided through the maintenance of increased vitamin D levels in the blood. If a direct ancestor had cancer, chances are they were exposed to cancer causing agents like cigarette smoke, skin care products or chemical solvents. By identifying and avoiding these agents, you have lowered your chances of getting cancer. (http://www.naturalnews.com/024536_cancer_women_breast.html)

9. Watch what you eat.

Our nutrition actually determines our health. Recent findings have shown that the prevention and treatment of cancer may not necessarily be solved by an expensive drug but something that has always been available to us - good food. According to a new study by researchers from the Harvard School of Public health, men who eat fish five times a week run a 40 percent lower risk of developing colorectal cancer, , and fish is an excellent source of vitamin D. (http://www.naturalnews.com/021136_fish_protein_colorectal_cancer.html)

We are now at a point in time when we can choose our healing process. Having the courage to avail of other methods than what is offered by conventional medicine may spell the difference between a better quality of life and a difficult and questionable recovery. Cancer prevention is now a matter of choice. We can avoid it or we can invite it. It's all up to us.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035063_vitamin_D_cancer_facts.html#ixzz1nQUi9zUn

Coconut oil may be able to reverse the progression of Alzheimer's disease

Reliable conclusions about the causes of Alzheimer's disease remain elusive, and effective drugs to treat the disease remain equally scarce. An actual pharmaceutical cure seems as close to becoming reality as a cure for cancer (i.e. nowhere in sight). Yet a Florida doctor was actually able to reverse her husband's Alzheimer's disease just by giving him four teaspoons of coconut oil per day. In the course of a year he not only regained the ability to exercise and to care for himself, but his brain atrophy was completely halted.

The most cutting-edge research suggests that Alzheimer's may stem from an inability of the brain to process glucose, leading to cell death. But the brain has another source of fuel: ketones, produced by the body from mid-chain triglycerides like those found in coconut oil. In fat, the most promising experimental Alzheimer's drugs being tested today is nothing more than medium-chain triglycerides derived from coconut and palm kernel oil.
Coconut oil also turns out to be an extraordinary cooking oil because it resists smoking, even at high temperatures. Try cooking in coconut oil instead of olive oil (or cheaper vegetable oils) and you'll notice a clear difference. Finally, coconut oil is also a fantastic food storage item as long as you can keep it cool. It's a dense source of healthy calories that's usable as both food and medicine. In fact, it can be used as the base for many salves, pastes or even herbal suppositories.

Source: 25 Amazing Facts About Food, authored by Mike Adams and David Guiterrez. This report reveals surprising things about where your food comes from and what's really in it! Download the full report (FREE) by clicking here. Inside, you'll learn 24 more amazing but true facts about foods, beverages and food ingredients. Instant download of the complete PDF. All 25 facts are documented and true.

Additional Sources:
http://www.coconutketones.com/
http://www.anh-usa.org/coconut-oil-and-alzheimer%E2%80%99s-disease/

Source:http://www.naturalnews.com/035045_coconut_oil_Alzheimers_brain_function.html

Fukushima radiation detected 400 miles away in Pacific Ocean at levels 1,000 times higher than previous readings

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster is far from over, as new reports explains that water samples taken nearly 400 miles off the coast of Japan in the Pacific Ocean are showing radiation levels of up to 1,000 times higher than previous readings. Presenting their findings at the recent Ocean Sciences Meeting in Salt Lake City, Ut., scientists continued to claim these severely elevated radiation levels are not a significant health or environmental threat.

Back in June 2011, a ship carrying scientists traveled off the eastern coast of Japan collecting water samples at distances of roughly 20 miles to 400 miles from the coast. Upon analysis, these samples were found to contain elevated levels of cesium-137 at ten to 1,000 times higher than levels detected before the Fukushima disaster, which is highly alarming.

Included in the detections was the presence of radioactive silver, which is an obvious product of melted control rods at the nuclear facility. The mainstream media is claiming that this silver is simply a result of nuclear fission, but the reality of the situation is that this silver is evidence of a complete core meltdown at the facility, which is obviously having widespread repercussions.

Meanwhile, Hartmut Nies, an official from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), insists that all this radiation is not that big of a deal. He even went so far at the recent meeting to claim that "if it was not seawater, you could drink it without any problems," a completely absurd position that has no grounding in science.

As part of their misinformation campaign, IAEA officials and others compared the radioactive cesium and silver to the naturally-occurring, elemental potassium-40 found in seawater. This natural potassium, of course, is much different than the radioactive elements being emitted from Fukushima, as sea creatures have developed a natural tolerance for potassium-40.

Even those falsely claiming that all this radiation is completely harmless to humans are at least admitting that the findings are indicative that the Fukushima nuclear facility is still leaking radiation into the environment. Marine chemist Ken Buesseler, for instance, who recently said radioactive seafood is safe and that he would eat it, told Fish Info & Services that the reactor "still seems to be leaking," and that it "hasn't shut off completely."

Sources for this article include:

http://www.cbsnews.com

http://enenews.com

http://www.cnn.com

http://www.fis.com

by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer, Natural News

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/035065_Fukushima_radiation_Pacific_Ocean.html