Students now snorting ADHD drugs before taking academic tests

Just when, as a parent, you think you've got this drug thing with your kids handled, they come up with something else to put themselves at risk and make you begin worrying about them all over again.

The most recent trend now, according to reports, is for students to snort - yes, snort - attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs before taking academic exams, not for the high necessarily but to get a better score.

In schools all across the country, students bent on getting better scores on SAT exams and others are snorting ADHD amphetamines like Adderall before tests to help them focus, as well as during late-night study sessions and other times when they are preparing for a test.

The drug does more than just help jolt them awake in the mornings as they got ready to take the make-or-break marathon college preparatory tests; it gives them a laser-like focusing ability that is just right for that kind of situation.

And worse, Big Pharma and the nation's healthcare industry is playing right along.

The pills are all over the place

"Everyone in school either has a prescription or has a friend who does," one student recently told The New York Times.

Around the country, the fierce competition for admission to the better colleges has encouraged students to abuse these amphetamines, according to students, parents and doctors who spoke with the paper.

Once rare in high schools though common in a number of college and graduate schools, teens say they can get the pills from a number of sources - friends, student dealers or, in some cases, from doctors after faking symptoms to parents and physicians.

"It's throughout all the private schools here" in New York, DeAnsin Parker, a psychologist who treats a number of adolescents from affluent neighborhoods, told the paper.

"It's not as if there is one school where this is the culture. This is the culture," Parker said.

Gary Boggs, a special agent for the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), added, "We're seeing it all over the United States." DEA figures say 29 percent of teens say they have close friends who abuse drugs like Adderall and Ritalin.

As if the practice itself wasn't serious enough, the medications themselves are. The DEA lists prescription stimulants like Adderall and Vyvanse (amphetamines) and Ritalin and Focalin (methylphenidates) as Class 2 controlled substances, which is the same as cocaine and morphine, because of high addiction rates for drugs with medical uses.

That compares with, say, Valium, which is a Class 4 drug, though it, too, has been long abused.

Federal officials also say that what few teens probably realize is that even giving the pills away to a friend is considered the same by the government as selling it, and as such constitutes a felony.

Does your work for you

People who actually have ADHD are calmed by these drugs, but people who don't have the disorder find that they are capable of jolting them with an energy and ability to focus that can get them through marathon study sessions, as well as hours-long exams.

"It's like it does your work for you," William, a recent graduate of the Birch Wathen Lenox School in New York City, told The New York Times.

But, as is usually the case, abuse of these drugs has a distinct downside as well. Long-time abusers of prescription stimulants can lead to bouts of depression and mood swings (from sleep deprivation) that can be quite severe. In addition, abusers can develop heart arrhythmias and acute exhaustion or even psychosis during withdrawal, according to experts.

Among the young, there is very little researchers know about the long-term effects. Not only that but drug counselors have said prescription amphetamines can become gateway drugs to abuse of other medications such as painkillers and sleep aids.

Is getting into a better college really worth your health? Far too many teens apparently think so.

What does putting that kind of pressure on our young people say about our society?

Sources for this article include:

http://www.mercurynews.com

http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/houston_genx.pdf

http://www.livestrong.com/article/220494-kids-adderall-abuse/

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/036146_ADHD_drugs_students_academic_tests.html#ixzz1xhoYbBHw

Home remedies help restore your health after eating GMO foods

There have been various reports on NaturalNews and in the mainstream media concerning the side effects of consuming food that has been genetically modified. Symptoms ranging from digestive and reproductive disorders to liver failure, internal bleeding and immune system dysfunction are being reported. A combination of home remedies, nutrition and homeopathic medicines may help restore your health. This list is by no means exhaustive. Individuals who are seriously ill from ingesting GMOs should consult an alternative healthcare practitioner rather than self-treat.

Homeopathic remedies

Not all side effects from GMOs are physical. Homeopathic medicines address physical, mental or emotional symptoms related to the subject.

· Nux vomica supports the liver, for cleansing and rejuvenation. The person needing Nux vomica is generally angry, bossy, eats and drinks to excess and has many digestive upsets.

· Arsenicum album relieves acute cases of vomiting and diarrhea. It is useful after ingesting genetically modified organisms that may trigger a sensitive stomach producing symptoms similar to food poisoning.

· Rhus tox may help an individual who believes he has been poisoned by GMO foods he's eaten. The person may be paranoid, suspicious and restless. He may complain of joint pain, stiffness or display an itchy rash.

· Staphysagria may provide relief for someone experiencing a feeling of outrage over being subjected to the entire GMO takeover of the food system. It is a remedy often used for those who've been raped or attacked and feel violated.

· Gelsemium is indicated for someone who becomes anxious and fearful just thinking about what might happen as a result of eating genetically modified foods. There may be flu-like aches and pains, weakness and a headache in the back of the head and neck.

· Phosphorus should help in cases where there is internal bleeding or blood disorder related to side effects of GMO foods, especially those that produce Bt toxins, such as genetically modified corn.

Nutritional support

· After being deprived of healthy nutrients from genetically modified foods, it's important to replace them with organic foods that provide nourishment, vitamins, minerals and necessary enzymes. Reestablishing balance by restoring a healthy pH and reducing acidosis goes a long way toward protecting and restoring the system that's at the effect of GMOs.

· Start eating organic fruits and vegetables and if you can, juice them several times a day.

· Add green coconut water to cleanse the liver and blood and help destroy parasites, fungi and bacteria that are transmitted through genetically modified organisms.

Boost immune system

· Eat foods that boost your immune system and supply vital nutrients such as vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids.

· Take garlic, echinacea, milk thistle, pau d'arco tea, colloidal silver, or other immune-building herbs to help your body fight toxins from GMO foods.

Alkalize your system

· Create an alkaline environment to destroy invasive organisms and protect the advancement of noxious parasites and disease states.

· Support an alkaline pH with ancient, tiny grains such as quinoa, amaranth and millet. These foods are much more alkaline than other grains and are gluten-free.

· Add organic apple cider vinegar (ACV) to your diet. Mix 2 Tbs with 8 oz. water and drink to establish alkalinity in your gut.

· Mix 2 Tbs lemon juice with 1/2 tsp baking soda for an instant alkaline cocktail. Allow bubbling to settle and add 8 oz. water. Drink at once. You can substitute ACV for lemon juice.

· In cases of extreme emergency when you need to get alkaline fast, mix 1/2 tsp cream of tartar in 8 oz. water and drink immediately.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.naturalnews.com/028245_GM_food_side_effects.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/035734_GMOs_foods_dangers.html
http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/pusztai.html
http://www.psrast.org/

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. She writes about wellness, green living, alternative medicine, holistic nutrition, homeopathy, herbs and naturopathic medicine. You can find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001364941208&ref=tn_tnmn or on Twitter at jbbardot23 https://twitter.com/#!/jbbardot23

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/036141_GMO_homeopathic_remedies.html#ixzz1xhnqCBnv

Giant nuclear cover-up? Explosions, military helicopters filmed near elevated radiation zone at border of Indiana and Michigan

June 6, 2012, was a very strange day for northern Indiana and southern Michigan, where a series of strange explosions and a subsequent nuclear radiation spike left local residents combing for answers. And though there are still many missing pieces to the puzzle, it has become clear that some type of nuclear cover-up is taking place in the region, which is further evidenced by numerous eyewitness accounts of intense shaking and loud booms, audio recordings of inexplicable explosions, and pictures of unmarked aircraft flying during and after the incident.

It all began when separate radiation monitoring stations -- a privately-owned Radiation Network station near South Bend, Ind., and a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) RadNet station near Fort Wayne, Ind. -- detected extremely high levels of nuclear radiation around the same time between June 6 and June 7. Both stations reportedly began to give radiation readings ranging as high as 7,139 counts per minute (CPM), when a normal reading is typically between five and 60 CPM.

You can view a screenshot of the Radiation Network reading, which was later pulled, here: http://www.naturalnews.com/images/Map-US-Radiation-Meters.jpg

As you can see, the South Bend reading shows a shockingly high 7,034 CPM radiation level, which the group later said was incorrect and the result of an "equipment malfunction" (http://www.radiationnetwork.com/Message.htm). But the EPA's RadNet station, which is located about 90 miles away from Radiation Network's South Bend station, also showed elevated radiation levels around the exact same time and on the same day, which leads to more questions about what is really going on here.

RadNet's data has also since been pulled, which is highly suspicious. But if you visit the RadNet Query page (https://cdxnode64.epa.gov/radnet-public/query.do), you can pull up the data yourself from the archive. Simply input "Beta Gross Count Rate (CPM)" in the Selected Parameters box, select Fort Wayne as the Fixed Monitor Location, and select June 6 as the Time Range Criteria.

What you will see are radiation readings that peak as high as 182 CPM around noon on June 6, and suddenly drop to 18 CPM a little more than an hour later. According to the EPA, any CPM level above 100 is high enough to trigger an alert, and yet no official alert was ever issued. In fact, neither the EPA nor anyone else in the government or mainstream media even mentioned the incident, which is now being disregarded as coincidental equipment errors.

Similar high readings were also output by Black Cat Systems, another radiation level tracking site (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwsVLmfZsxk). According to Radiation Network, some of its own stations feed information to Black Cat, which could explain similar incorrect radiation readings being displayed. However, Radiation Network has not confirmed whether or not its South Bend station is one of the readings shared by Black Cat.

Eyewitness accounts indicate strange activity taking place during nuclear anomaly

But the real question here, regardless of the potential Black Cat link, is how could two separate radiation stations nearly 100 miles apart both have equipment errors on the same day around the same time? And what about all the other strange activity that reportedly took place the day of the "faulty" readings, including the deployment of U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) "hazmat" fleets that had allegedly not been moved in years, but that suddenly disappeared?

According to a Reddit reader whose eyewitness account was confirmed by various other readers, a large fleet of DHS emergency response trucks disappeared on June 6 from a parking lot where they had remained unmoved for years. The missing trucks were allegedly emblazoned with a U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) National Incident Management System (NIMS) logo, which suggests that a major emergency had occurred that required immediate attention (http://www.infowars.com).

A series of loud explosions that began more than a week prior to the high radiation readings were also reported throughout the region, which adds another element of mystery to this whole situation. WWMT Newschannel 3 ran a report in late May about the occurrence of a "loud explosion like thunder" that resulted in intense shaking felt throughout several Michigan counties. The rumbling was so loud and intense that one local man thought something had exploded inside his house (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oKj_ptBOUE).

In the days that followed, other area residents also reported hearing strange "boom" sounds, and some even reported seeing unmarked helicopters, A-10 Thunderbolts, which are sometimes referred to as the "world's deadliest aircraft," and various other military aircraft and personnel moving in and out of the area (http://naturalsociety.com).

One man who tried to investigate the source of another unidentified explosion further north in Michigan was actually arrested after trying to question the Executive Secretary at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, a year-round National Guard training and exercise facility (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAphZIusdTo).

Some have suggested that either earthquakes or mining operations are potentially to blame for all the strange events. But according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data, there have been no registered earthquakes detected in the southern Michigan or northern Indiana areas during the time frame in which the numerous large blasts, the intense ground shaking, and the nuclear incident occurred. And many area residents say the explosions and shaking they experienced are unlike anything they have ever experienced before.

So the situation in Michigan continues to remain a mystery that nobody in the mainstream media or government is willing to address, let alone try to solve. Should any further details emerge, NaturalNews will present them for our readers to consider and investigate.

Sources for this article include:

http://naturalsociety.com

http://www.reddit.com

http://naturalsociety.com

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/036158_nuclear_explosion_Indiana_radiation.html#ixzz1xhnKMmkd

Flame virus, most sophisticated malicious code ever seen, was developed by U.S. government

Anyone who has spent longer than a day on a computer knows how dangerous to your hard drive malware and other malicious code can be. Most of us have fallen victim to one or the other and have cursed the day the hacker who developed it was born.

Now, according to reports, some of the most sophisticated malicious code ever developed is a product of the United States government, leaving more than a few tech experts and analysts concerned that maybe now, Washington has become a bigger info-terrorist than some of the country's worst enemies.

If you've been following the so-called "shadow war" the U.S. and Israel have been waging against Iran (you didn't know about that?) then you are aware of a malicious code called Stuxnet, a computer worm reportedly developed jointly by Tel Aviv and Washington and dissected in 2009 and 2010, that created havoc among the computer systems managing Iran's nuclear facilities.

Now, analysts believe some of the same code used in Stuxnet was also used in Flame, the latter of which was just identified recently, to form two of the foremost cyber-weapons ever developed.

Two different platforms that shared some of the same code

"We are now 100 percent sure that the Flame and Stuxnet groups worked together," Roel Schouwenberg, a senior researcher at Russia-based Kaspersky Lab, said during a press conference. "The fact that the Flame group shared their source code with the Stuxnet group shows they cooperated at least once."

"We believed that the two teams only had access to some common resources, [but] that didn't show any true collaboration," Schouwenberg continued, in an interview with ABC News. "However, now it turns out that the Stuxnet team initially used Flame to kickstart the project. That proves collaboration and takes the connection between the two teams to a whole new level."

Analysts believe Flame and Stuxnet viruses were built on two completely different platforms and were probably developed independently. Despite that, however, the two shared key pieces of code at some point during the development process, Kaspersky officials said.

"What we have found is very strong evidence that the Stuxnet/Duqu and Flame cyberweapons are connected," Alexander Gostev, Kaspersky Lab's chief security expert, said in a statement explaining that the security firm was able to link the two viruses together.

"In 2009, part of the code from the Flame platform was used in Stuxnet," he said. "We believe that source code was used, rather than complete binary modules," suggesting some degree of crossover. That said, "after 2009, the evolution of the Flame platform continued independently from Stuxnet," he added.

At issue is a module known as "Resource 207," which was found as being earlier versions of Stuxnet and which bears a list of "striking resemblance" to Flame and includes "names of mutually exclusive objects, the algorithm used to decrypt strings and similar approaches to file naming."

Cyber weapon targeting Iran's oil, nuclear industries

Kaspersky says he thinks the two teams worked independently but probably collaborated from time to time, putting forth a theory that Stuxnet was used for the kind of sabotage employed against Iran's nuclear computer infrastructure while Flame, on the other hand, was a general cyber-espionage tool that developers didn't want to mix.

"We think that these teams are different, two different teams working with each other, helping each other at different stages," said Vitaly Kamluk, Kaspersky's chief malware expert.

Both cyber-weapons have been employed against the Islamic republic, reports said. Iran's military said in May that the country's all-important oil industry was affected for a short time by the Flame virus, which has unprecedented capabilities to grab data and eavesdrop on computers. While the extent of the damage isn't known, Iran had to cut the Internet ties to its main oil export terminal, likely to try to contain the virus.

Stuxnet, according to Kaspersky officials, was the first cyber-weapon used to target industrial facilities. "The fact that Stuxnet also infected regular PCs worldwide led to its discovery in June 2010, although the earliest known version of the malicious program was created one year before that," the firm said.

New age of warfare?

More than anything, the security lab's discovery of a link between the two viruses suggests that the U.S. and its allies are actively developing a host of cyber-weapons as part of an asymmetrical arsenal of high-tech tools aimed at degrading a competitor nation's infrastructure and capabilities, all the while protecting domestic assets from penetration.

Following the discovery of Stuxnet and the alleged cyber attack on Iran, a December 2010 Congressional Research Service report put the U.S. and Israel on a short list of countries that included the U.K., France, China and Russia as capable of developing such a sophisticated virus.

"Iranian officials have claimed that Stuxnet caused only minor damage to its nuclear program, yet the potential impact of this type of malicious software could be far-reaching," said the report. "The discovery of the Stuxnet worm has raised several issues for Congress, including the effect on national security, what the government's response should be, whether an international treaty to curb the use of malicious software is necessary, and how such a treaty could be implemented. Congress may also consider the government's role in protecting critical infrastructure and whether new authorities may be required for oversight."

Welcome to the next new age in warfare.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.foxnews.com

http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/attacks/240001841

http://www.kaspersky.com

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R41524.pdf

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/036147_Flame_virus_malicious_code_cyber_terrorism.html#ixzz1xhmc18ed

GMO labeling victory! Measure accepted onto California ballot;

In this breaking news for the food-conscious community, the California Secretary of State has just announced that the GMO labeling ballot measure has met and exceeded the requirements to be placed on the November ballot. (http://www.sos.ca.gov/admin/press-releases/2012/db12-068.pdf) and (http://www.labelgmos.org/we_made_it_on_the_ballot)

This measure, which has been strongly pushed by the Organic Consumers Association, the Institute for Responsible Technology, and a large number of dedicated volunteers and donors, would require genetically engineered ingredients to be indicated on food labels. This is an honest labeling issue that would allow consumers to make informed decisions about what they choose to purchase and consume.

504,760 signatures were needed to qualify for the November ballot, and the GMO labeling signature effort has greatly exceeded this number. Tremendous thanks are due to all those who fought for this honest labeling initiative. NaturalNews has consistently covered this issue from day one, and has helped drive significant awareness and funds to this GMO labeling effort.

A passage of this initiative could spell the end of GMOs in America, as food producers already know that if given a choice, 90+ percent of consumers would choose to avoid genetically engineered food. For this reason, food producers would be forced to switch to non-GMO sources for their food ingredients. This, in turn, would see a near collapse of GM seeds being planted in fields across America.

The disinfo war begins

Of course, Monsanto, DuPont, Big Agriculture and the food industry don't want consumers to know what's in their food. They profit when consumers are kept in the dark, and they will spend tens of millions of dollars to spread disinformation about this initiative in order to influence California voters to vote it down.

Thus, the next great battle begins: The battle for voting YES on the ballot measure. Expect NaturalNews and all the same allies who advocated the ballot measure to now shift gears and start educating voters to support the ballot measure.

This initiative will be won on the internet. It is the website articles, Facebook posts, tweets and emails that will educate consumers to vote YES on this measure. Please join NaturalNews in this effort to achieve victory in November in California because it has global implications. If we can defeat Monsanto at the ballot in November, we will be one step closer to eliminating dangerous GM crops altogether.

We have won a major battle, but an even larger one awaits us in November.

Personally, I don't care who you vote for when it comes to President, as the candidates are virtually identical in their policies. But voting on this GMO ballot measure is the real reason to get out and vote. This is something that was written by the People, advocated by the People, and its passage will help protect the People from greed-driven corporations that sell poison and call it food.

It's time to end GMOs across America. If you're a California voter, vote YES on GMO labeling in November. Spread the word. Stay tuned to NaturalNews for more grassroots activism on this issue.

Victory against GMOs is within reach!

Learn more:
www.labelgmos.org
www.JustLabelIt.org
www.ResponsibleTechnology.org
www.OrganicConsumers.org

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/036160_GMO_labeling_California_ballot_measure.html#ixzz1xhlFWMca

TIME Magazine pushes death agenda: Remove feeding tubes from the dying elderly (and get a cash bonus!)

TIME Magazine is peddling a death agenda propaganda piece with a new issue that features these words on the cover: "HOW TO DIE."

Inside, the magazine promotes a cost-saving death agenda that encourages readers to literally "pull the feeding tubes" from their dying elderly parents, causing them to dehydrate and die. This is explained as a new cost-saving measure that drastically reduces return hospital visits by the elderly... yeah, because dead people don't return to the hospital, of course.

Watch my full commentary on this special death panel issue of TIME Magazine at:
http://tv.naturalnews.com/v.asp?v=53166F436FD2309EC97C414D01F7AB39

Or on YouTube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4FwpAPH7Vk

Kill Granny, get a cash bonus!

The article is part of the new soft-sell, hard-kill agenda of the mainstream media which also featured an article on Newsweek Magazine entitled, "The Case for Killing Granny." (http://lookintoit.org/Euthanasia-%28The-Case-For-Killing-Granny%29.ht...)

The cover of that magazine stated, "Curbing excessive end-of-life care is good for America."

Just as with TIME Magazine, Newsweek is pushing a death agenda that devalues the lives of elderly citizens and actually encourages citizens to have their own parents killed in order to reduce medical costs. In fact, as TIME Magazine says, organizations that embrace these "outcome-based" death panel systems actually receive cash bonuses when they save more money by pulling the plug on granny!

That's the answer to health care in America, you see. It's not about nutritional therapy, using trace minerals to prevent disease, avoiding GMOs and toxic chemicals. Nope, it's about pulling the plug and killing your elders and then convincing yourself that you are compassionate for making sure they die sooner rather than later.

It's trendy to kill your parents off, didn't you know? It's good for the economy! And it's good for society! Death to grandma! For God's sake don't give any water to your dying father, either, because it's better to just let him die from kidney failure. Yep, here's an actual quote from the TIME Magazine story: "Renal failure is a good way to go," the story says. Just dehydrate 'em to death and call it trendy.

When you get old, they'll kill you too

Be careful what you wish for, all you trendies, because sooner or later, you'll be old, too! And if you created a society in which pulling the plug is the socially-acceptable way to kill off all the "useless old people," then don't be surprised when they cut off your feeding tube, too, and you suffer a slow, painful death while your own children cheer about how socially responsible they are.

Watch my full commentary at:
http://tv.naturalnews.com/v.asp?v=53166F436FD2309EC97C414D01F7AB39

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/036100_death_panels_elderly_TIME_Magazine.html#ixzz1xVoYLQKl

Effective alternative treatments for Lyme disease and protection from tick bites

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne infectious disease in the US. It's transmitted to humans spending time in woodsy areas and from ticks on dogs. The Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria causes Lyme disease and arthritis, manifesting in a multitude of symptoms ranging from rheumatoid arthritis, to fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, neurological states, Bell's palsey, meningitis, heart and lung symptoms. Untreated, Lyme becomes deeply entrenched in the body, developing into an auto-immune disease.

No tests can confirm Lyme disease; rather, a diagnosis is made from the constellation of symptoms. Antibiotic therapy is the conventional treatment; often suppressing symptoms, driving them deep into the tissue, to surface years later in a wide range of troubling diseases.

This article is a is a brief overview of several of the many effective alternative medicines known to prevent and treat Lyme disease.

Prevention

If you have a dog and live in a tick-infested area, treat your yard early in the season with diatomaceous earth. Spray bushes with a mixture of natural pyrethrins, garlic and dish soap. These substances destroy ticks and lessen your chances of being bitten in your own yard.

Take colloidal silver for three to five days before spending time out doors during tick season. Colloidal silver is anti-microbial and kills a wide range of bacteria, acting like a natural antibiotic.

The homeopathic nosode made from B. burgdorferi may prevent the onset of Lyme disease after being bitten, as well as helping to cure it in its later stages.

Early exposure

If you you've been bitten by a tick, start taking colloidal silver immediately. Additionally, other natural antibiotics such as Pau d'arco tea, garlic and Echinacea extract may prevent the onset of infection.

The homeopathic remedy Ledum treats puncture wounds from venomous insect bites. It should be taken right away after being bitten together with colloidal silver.

If you've developed flu-like symptoms in the early stages of lyme disease, the homeopathic remedy Gelsemium should provide relief. It relieves fever, headache, body aches and pain, stiff neck, muscle pains, weakness, and a sensation of heaviness.

Neurological symptoms

Within weeks to months, Lyme disease may progress into neurological symptoms such as Bell's palsy, meningitis, paralysis in the limbs and poor motor coordination. Heart and breathing problems might develop. Homeopathic remedies that may relieve neurological symptoms are Causticum, Tellurium and Sepia. Additionally, the herb Cordyseps improves stamina, increases energy, reduces weakness and fatigue, and increases lung function, relieving breathing difficulties.

Various neurological conditions mimicking serious diseases such as MS, ALS, and Parkinson's may develop in later stages of Lyme disease. The Peruvian herb Samento, or Cat's claw, has been shown to be highly effective for treating neurological disorders. Samento corrects immune dysfunction, blocks the action of certain neurotoxins, and has an anti-microbial action on the B. burgdorferi spirochetes.

Lyme disease and arthritis

The most common symptoms of Lyme disease are rheumatoid arthritis and other musculoskeletal pain and arthritis disease that linger for years. Homeopathic Rhus toxicodendron is the main remedy, especially in long-standing cases where there is suppression from antibiotics. The arthritis or fibromyalgia pain is usually worse on the left side and on first movement. Painful areas get better with continued motion of the affected part. There is stiffness and soreness which is better with warm applications.

Other homeopathic remedies that may offer relief for lyme arthritis are Kalmia latifolia, Pulsatilla, Lachesis, Lycopodium, Ruta graveolens and Phosphorus.

Don't self-treat with Lyme disease and arthritis. Consult a natural healthcare practitioner or an integrative treatment center for care.

Sources for this article include:

http://cassia.org/ledum.htm

http://www.healthsalon.org/505/cure-chronic-lyme/

http://www.homeopathicmd.com/2011/04/homeopathy-and-lyme-disease/

http://www.homeopathyamerica.com/files/LymechatNationalCenter.pdf
http://www.homeopathytoday.org

http://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/treating-lyme-disease-naturally/

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/lyme-disease-000102.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/ld_humandisease_symptoms.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/alerts/lyme.html

http://www.lymeinfo.net/alt.html

/www.lymeinfo.net/alt.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. She writes about wellness, green living, alternative medicine, holistic nutrition, homeopathy, herbs and naturopathic medicine. READ HER OTHER ARTICLES ON NATURAL NEWS HERE: http://www.naturalnews.com/Author1686.html You can find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001364941208&ref=tn_tnmn or on Twitter at jbbardot23 https://twitter.com/#!/jbbardot23

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/036133_Lyme_disease_ticks_prevention.html#ixzz1xVneZPbv

Create a natural first-aid kit for travel this summer

"Schoooool's out for SUMMER!" It's that time of year when people get itchy feet, anxious to go somewhere and do something fun. If you and yours are headed out for some adventures this summer, pack some peace of mind in the form of a natural first aid kit.

There are lots of great, inexpensive herbs, essential oils, and homeopathic remedies to pack along with your bandages and hand sanitizer that will help insure common problems don't put a damper on your trip.

Build your own natural first aid kit

All of the products listed below are available at health food stores, by mail-order, or off the internet. Wrap glass bottles in cloth such as flannel to protect from breakage. These products are safe for use on children and pets as well. A small padded lunchbox makes a nice place to keep your stuff.

• Arnica - get both the pellets for internal use and the gel for external use. For trauma, muscle strains and soreness, bruises. Do not use on open wounds. Also good for sleeplessness and restlessness when over-tired, such as from jet lag. There are homeopathic blends for jet lag.

• Activated charcoal or powdered bentonite clay for traveler's diarrhea or food poisoning. If using on children or pets, be sure to check dosing directions. Make a paste and apply externally to wasp or bee stings to draw out poison. Apis is the homeopathic remedy for stings.

• Calendula cream for soothing and healing wounds and burns, including sunburn. Has astringent, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory properties. Aloe vera is good for burns as well.

• Citronella based insect repellant. Other essential oils that repel bugs include: peppermint, cedar, lemongrass, geranium, rosemary. There are many nice natural (DEET free) blends available. Apply liberally and often.

• Ginger - capsules or crystallized; for motion sickness, soothing stomach upsets, and relieving gas. It has antispasmodic properties.

• Lavender essential oil - an all-purpose remedy; use to help with insomnia, anxiety, headaches, wounds and burns. For most people, it can be applied directly to the skin. One drop takes the swelling and itch out of mosquito bites. It is an anti-inflammatory and has antiseptic properties. Tea tree oil is an antiseptic as well. Use to prevent a wound from getting infected. There are homeopathic bug bite ointments available too.

• Nux vomica homeopathic remedy for overindulgence. Too much excitement, food, drink, sugar. Carbo veg remedy is also helpful for bloating and gas.

• Rescue Remedy - Bach flower remedy for calming all kinds of emotions: anger, grief, fear. Helps with anxiety and sleeplessness. Give it to your pet during a lightening storm, or to a toddler to calm a tantrum, or to an adult having trouble sleeping.

• Yarrow - an anti-inflammatory useful in the treatment of diarrhea, stomach cramps, and other gastrointestinal distress. Open and sprinkle on minor wounds to stop bleeding. Make into a tea to lower fever. Mild sedative, may prevent insomnia.

Other Considerations:

It's a good idea to take your regular vitamins or supplements with you to maintain equilibrium. Vitamin C and the Bs help combat stress, magnesium helps with sleep and constipation. Electrolyte mixes such as Airborne or Emergen-C are good additions too, especially if you will be flying and breathing airplane air.

Depending on your plans, customize your kit. For example, if you're planning an outdoor excursion, you may want to add grindelia spray for poison ivy. Rhus tox is the homeopathic remedy for poison ivy, and very helpful as well.

Additional essentials: bandages, tweezers, instant-read thermometer, moleskin for "second skin" for blisters, elastic bandage for sprains, alcohol wipes, waterless hand sanitizer.

You know what works best for your family, so take those items. Enjoy your trip!

Sources for this article include:

http://www.herbcompanion.com

http://www.naturalnews.com

http://www.naturalnews.com

http://www.naturalnews.com/032633_first_aid_outdoors.html

http://altmedicine.about.com

Balch, Phyllis, CNC. Prescription for Herbal Healing. p. 144-145.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/036119_first-aid_kit_travel_emergency.html#ixzz1xVn2ez5M

Flame retardants found in common grocery store foods

Pressure on chemical companies from legislators is mounting on the issue of toxic chemicals in hundreds of consumer products. Senator Frank Lautenberg has introduced the Safer Chemicals Act, a bill that would require chemical makers to prove their substances are safe before they are approved for use. Although one might expect this requirement to be the current standard, this is not the case.

HBCD - The newest player in toxic chemicals

In a recent study of best-selling grocery store products, researchers discovered that almost 50 percent of the sampled peanut butter and deli meats, as well as turkey, fish, beef and other fatty foods, contained hints of a flame retardant normally utilized in the foam insulation of building walls.

You're probably wondering how a chemical used in building insulation makes its way onto our grocery shelves. Experts propose that HBCDs (hexabromocyclododecane) make their way into the food chain through the air, water and soil.

Arlene Blum, executive director of the Green Science Policy Institute, suggested "They could migrate out of products into dust and end up in sewage sludge. The chemical may then end up in the marine food supply, or the sewage sludge could get put on fields, where it will inevitably contaminate crops and livestock." Essentially, these chemicals cannot be used in any circumstance without the risk of contaminating food sources.

The specific flame retardant, HBCD, is just the newest in a series of synthetic chemicals that investigators are detecting in popular foods. The EPA reported that the flame retardant is "highly toxic" to marine life and can interfere with the role of human hormones and reproduction. Once in the human body, these fat bonding chemicals will bind to human fat, where they can exist for years.

History repeats itself

Frequency of particular childhood cancers, learning disabilities and reproductive issues are emerging at frightful rates. These flame retardants are very similar to banned PCBs, which have been connected to diseases and health risks including cancer, asthma, lower IQ and diabetes, among others. Studies demonstrate as much as 5 percent of childhood cancers, 10 percent of neurobehavioral conditions and 30 percent of childhood asthma cases are related to unsafe chemicals. It's only commonsense to anticipate certain flame retardants such as HBCDs to have similar health risks. It seems that everything we have learned about PCBs has been neglected and now the same mistakes are being made with flame retardants.

Aggressive industry lobbyists

The companies that produce these dangerous chemicals are determined to keep cashing in on them, while lying about their health impacts and exaggerating their effectiveness. They go as far as setting up bogus "citizen groups" to promote their agenda. They even hired a prominent Seattle physical, Dr. David Heimbach, who traveled from state to state persuading legislators with a made up story about a baby who died because of a lack of flame retardants in her crib.

One of the so called citizen groups, Citizens for Fire Safety, is pushing for laws requiring fire retardants in furniture. The group describes itself as "a coalition of fire professionals, educators, community activists, burn centers, doctors, fire departments and industry leaders." However, a closer look at the Citizens for Fire Safety reveals only three members, which also happen to be the three leading companies that manufacture flame retardants: Albemarle Corporation, ICL Industrial Products and Chemtura Corporation.

Misplaced trust and lack of oversight

Outdated law has required the EPA to verify a mere 200 of the 80,000 chemicals in its inventory. Experts have been trying for years, without success, to get congress to change the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act, which currently awaits a Senate vote. State laws are starting to making a make changes on this issue, but federal reform is desperately needed.

Most Americans trust that what they buy in grocery stores has gone through some sort of testing or approval process, verifying its safety for commercial use. It's that misplaced trust that chemical manufacturers rely on. Americans need to take action by telling their senators to support the Safer Chemicals Act and other similar bills that will permanently remove these highly toxic chemicals from our society.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.baltimoresun.com

http://www.cnn.com

http://www.saferchemicals.org/safe-chemicals-act/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

http://www.nytimes.com

About the author:
John Mckiernan is a health and fitness writer. He is the owner of Supplement Helper where he writes about supplements, health, fitness and more. He also manages CNA Info, a small blog that is aimed at answering questions for those interested in becoming nursing assistants. All articles are contributed by Fallon C Clark, California registered CNA.

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/036126_flame_retardants_groceries_foods.html#ixzz1xVmTcsDZ

Gattaca becomes reality as scientists start to screen, abort human babies based on 3,500 'genetic faults'

The popular 1997 science fiction film Gattaca portrays a futuristic world in which human beings genetically engineered (GE) with certain desirable and superior genetic traits are given preference to natural-born human beings who are considered inferior. And in just 15 years since the release of the film, this scenario has become a reality, as modern science has come up with a new way to test unborn babies for roughly 3,500 so-called genetic "defects."

The U.K.'s Telegraph reports that a team of researchers from the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle has contrived a method of examining the genetic code of unborn babies via blood samples taken from their mothers, and saliva samples taken from their fathers. The tiny amounts of free-floating DNA present in both samples allow researchers to essentially map the entire genetic code of unborn babies and determine which genetic traits they will have upon birth.

Some babies are born naturally with "de novo" mutations, which are said to be linked to genetic defects such as Down syndrome and cystic fibrosis. These mutations are typically not passed down from parents to their children, and are instead acquired in some other way, including potentially through vaccinations and toxic environmental exposures.

In 39 out of 44 tested cases, the UW researchers were able to accurately pinpoint prior to birth de novo mutations that would occur in babies after birth. And as the technology becomes widely available to parents in the near future, the ghastly scenario depicted in the movie Gattaca will evolve into an ever-present reality where the only unborn babies permitted to live and thrive will be those with "superior" genetic makeups.

"This work opens up the possibility that we will be able to scan the whole genome of the fetus for more than 3,000 single-gene disorders through a single, non-invasive test," said Dr. Jay Shendure, lead scientist for the research published in the journal . His entire team, however, corporately added that "incorporating this level of information into prenatal decision-making raises many ethical questions that must be considered carefully within the scientific community and on a societal level."

Genetic screening will lead to more abortions, more eugenics, and a culture of genetic class suppression

When science starts openly tampering with human life based on subjective perceptions of which genetic traits are desirable and which are not desirable, there is no stopping the pandora's box of population control techniques that will surely ensue. Parents seeking the "perfect" child, for instance, will be more likely to simply abort a child with genetic "errors" and keep trying until they get the one they want.

As government-run healthcare emerges into full reality, state-controlled doctors may begin telling parents that they are not allowed to have an imperfect child because treating that child's inevitable genetic conditions will cost the state too much money. Forced abortions, in other words, could become the norm if genetic testing techniques like the ones developed at UW become widespread.

And ultimately, the breeding of genetically "superior" children will more than likely lead to a genetically superior class of humans that looks down on those with inferior genetic traits. This is exactly what occurred in the movie Gattaca, as "inferior" humans with natural imperfections were denied jobs and treated like second-class citizens.

Instead, researchers should be looking for ways to eliminate the thousands of untested chemicals that are added to the food supply (http://www.naturalnews.com/035680_food_packaging_chemicals_PFOA.html), remove toxic fluoride chemicals from water supplies (http://www.fluoridealert.org/downs-syndrome.htm), and end the administration of gene-tampering vaccines to young children (http://www.naturalnews.com/033062_Rupert_Murdoch_Andrew_Wakefield.html).

These human interventions have been shown to be directly responsible for causing genetic defects in humans, and are just a few of the many causes of de novo mutations. If unborn babies were not exposed to chemicals like bisphenol A, herbicides like glyphosate (Roundup), genetically-modified (GM) organisms, and chemical vaccine adjuvants like Thimerosal (mercury) and aluminum, many of them would not even develop genetic defects in the first place.

Recent research has proven that genetic damage caused by chemical exposure can pass from generation to generation through a process known as epigenetics, even when subsequent generations are not directly exposed to those chemicals (http://www.naturalnews.com). This means that man-made toxins such as those sprayed on conventional food crops, added to processed foods, laced in the water supply, and applied to furniture and other consumer products are a blatant scourge on the human genome.

But science would rather ignore the obvious, and instead design technologies that will allow the system to filter out genetic "undesirables" after they have been conceived. What Hitler and other deranged tyrants of the past tried to accomplish violently is now becoming possible genetically with "scientific advancement" as its cover.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Fighting fatigue - top foods, herbs, supplements and tips

It's no secret that many people experience some level of fatigue on a regular basis. Whether it's at the office, at home or anywhere else, fatigue can truly make you miserable and it can cause the quality of your work suffer. Fatigue makes you feel both mentally and physically tired and weak. In short, it's no fun. All too often people that suffer from fatigue reach for an energy drink. While this method may work for the short term, it's only masking the root cause of the fatigue, while at the same time causing negative health consequences.

A smarter and more permanent approach to beating fatigue is to determine the real cause and start making the changes there. It is safe to say that the primary reasons most people suffer from fatigue are poor diet, lack of nutrients, dehydration, lack of exercise and lack of sleep.

Diet

Here is a list of types of foods that are known to cause fatigue: starchy carbohydrates such as cakes, cookies, doughnuts and foods that contain bleached and processed flour. Any of these types of high-sugar foods that contain lots of simple carbohydrates will give you short-term energy followed by a serious crash.

Certain foods do the opposite and fight fatigue by supplying long term, clean energy with no crash.

Unprocessed complex carbohydrates are the enemy of fatigue. Some of the very best fatigue fighting foods include quinoa, plums, nuts and brewers yeast. Be sure to include sufficient amounts of protein in your diet as well, as a lack of sufficient protein can cause fatigue. If you don't eat meat, buying either a whey or vegetarian protein powder can make this much easier.

Exercise

Lack of exercise can cause the body to feel tired and fatigued because the metabolism slows down and the body starts storing excess fat. Being overweight alone can cause chronic fatigue. Even mild daily exercise is extremely effective in reversing this.

Going for walks outside during the day will help increase your blood circulation. Poor circulation is a known cause of fatigue. Going for daily walks is an easy way to stay healthy and is extremely useful in weight management. Even if you only have a 10 or 15 minute break at work, going for a short walk outside can make you feel refreshed and re-energized.

Dehydration

Dehydration is an under-recognized leading cause of fatigue. Many people don't drink water at all during the day; instead they drink soda, energy drinks and coffee, all of which can cause even further dehydration. Dehydration not only causes fatigue, but a variety of negative side effects including:

-Joint pain
-Dry skin
-Muscle cramps
-Bloating
-High blood pressure
-Build up of toxins in the body
-Weight gain

Dehydration is the sole reason may people experience fatigue. Luckily this is an easy one to fix; drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day to avoid dehydration.

Vitamins, herbs and supplements for fighting fatigue

Supplementing a proper diet and exercise regiment with the right nutrients can give you the edge you need to stay energized and stave off fatigue.

The best fatigue fighting herbs, vitamins and supplements include:

-Ginseng
-Longan berries
-Bee pollen
-Chlorella
-Magnesium
-Carnitine
-B vitamins
-Silymarin

Other causes of fatigue

Other external factors that can cause fatigue include:

-Alcohol
-Caffeine
-Prescription drugs
-Illegal drugs
-Stress

Being sure to get between seven and eight hours of sleep every night is vitally important in the battle against fatigue. If you feel that your diet, exercise regiment, sleeping schedule and supplement regiment are all on track and you've ruled out any other external causes of fatigue, but you're still experiencing fatigue it may have another cause such as anemia, diabetes or a thyroid disorder, which is something that you should visit your doctor or natural health practitioner about.

Sources for this article include:
http://www.healingfoodreference.com/fatigue.html

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003088.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fatigue/MY00120/DSECTION=causes

About the author:
John Mckiernan is a health and fitness writer. He is the owner of Supplement Helper where he writes about supplements, health, fitness and more. He also manages CNA Info, a small blog that is aimed at answering questions for those interested in becoming nursing assistants.

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/036069_fatigue_herbs_supplements.html#ixzz1x2MFOYdc

Vitamin C and the big 'C'

Vitamin C can curb the growth of cancer cells according to New Zealand scientists who provided hard evidence to the connection between the vitamin C and killing "the big C" (cancer). Vitamin C kills cancer because cancer cells do not have the enzyme catalase to break down hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into water and oxygen. Vitamin C tricks cancer cells into thinking it's sugar, so the cancer sucks it up. The result: the tumor is killed from the inside out by the resulting H2O2.

Yet back in the good ole USA, the FDA halted a vitamin C cancer study last year "pending a determination as to the off-label status of intravenous ascorbic acid". But that wasn't enough as they further attempted to ban all production of IV ascorbic acid for the use of cancer treatment. Same story looking back to 1753 when James Lind showed how to prevent and cure scurvy, with citrus fruits containing vitamin C. Unfortunately, 100,000 British Navy sailors died of scurvy until all the old "experts" had died off and were replaced by new-thinkers.

New ideas, even lifesaving ones are typically ignored by the resident experts even after the ideas are proven correct.

What is vitamin C?

Ascorbic Acid, AKA vitamin C, is a water-soluble vitamin known for boosting the immune system. But vitamin C is also an antioxidant that has been linked to younger-looking skin, contributes to the health of teeth & gums, is required for production of collagen and enhances the absorption of iron, B-12, folic acid, B-6 and vitamin E. A mere 100 mg a day of vitamin C given to an infant can even prevent SIDS! (Not one baby in over 20 years, given "Klenner's/Kalokerinos Ascorbate Therapy" is known to have died.)

How much vitamin C do we need?

Man does not make his own vitamin C and the RDA for an adult male is a meager 95 mg of vitamin C a day. That is insanely low when you consider that a 150 pound healthy mammal producing their own vitamin C will make up to 14,000 mg per day.

In a cancer battle the amount of oral vitamin C that is needed can be extreme. When the upper limit is reached it is accompanied by gas, bloating or loose stools. However, when vitamin C is given at a dosage below bowel tolerance, in a few days it can generally be brought up to a higher dose. Using bowel tolerance, start with 1,000 mg of vitamin C taken with each meal. A few days later, add 1,000 mg more to one meal making it 2,000 mg at one meal and 1,000 mg at the others. A few days later add an additional 1,000 mg to yet another meal and so on. Slow down on adding more vitamin C if you have gas, bloating or loose stools.

For high doses of oral supplement of vitamin C avoid the sodium and calcium C forms. Instead, look for ascorbic acid with rose hips or just plain ascorbic acid. Keep in mind that 90% of all the vitamin C now on the market in the USA is manufactured in China using GMO corn. Only buy corn free vitamin C to avoid GMO based vitamin C. For IV treatment you will need to find a naturopathic doctor in a state that allows IV vitamin C to be administered for cancer treatments.

Sources for this article include:

http://clinicaltrials.gov
http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com
http://www.seanet.com

About the author:
Craig Stellpflug is a Cancer Nutrition Specialist, Lifestyle Coach and Neuro Development Consultant at Healing Pathways Medical Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ. http://www.healingpathwayscancerclinic.com/ With 17 years of clinical experience working with both brain disorders and cancer, Craig has seen first-hand the devastating effects of vaccines and pharmaceuticals on the human body and has come to the conclusion that a natural lifestyle and natural remedies are the true answers to health and vibrant living. You can find his daily health blog at www.blog.realhealthtalk.com and his articles and radio show archives at www.realhealthtalk.com

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/036068_vitamin_C_cancer_tumors.html#ixzz1x2Kcuwz9

Dangers of artificial food colors

"Should the FDA be so permissive with chemicals in food, suspect or not, that amount to little more than marketing?" asks The Daily Green (http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/artificial-food-...). This question is particularly pertinent considering that colorings have not always proven to be harmless.

Citrus Red 2, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2 and Green 3, --which include some of the most commonly used artificial food colorings--have all been identified as being, or being contaminated with, potential cancer-causing chemicals, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. And Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 are known to trigger reactions in those with allergies.

History paints an ugly food color portrait

Until the twentieth century, food coloring could only be obtained from what people found in nature. Ancient Romans used saffron and other spices to put a rich yellow color into various foods (http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodhistory/a/foodcolorhistry.htm). Other frequently used natural colors included paprika, turmeric, beet extract, and petals of various flowers.

But many of the other frequently used natural colors were not only unappetizing, but downright dangerous (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1541-4337.2009.00089.x/p...). Bakers added chalk to whiten bread, for example, and sweets manufacturers loaded candy with vermilion (which contains mercury), red lead, white lead, verdigris (which is a copper salt), blue vitriol (which contains copper) and Scheele's green (which contains both copper and arsenic).

The science of food coloring evolved from there and technology created a new kind of dye derived from coal tar, a waste product of coal gas and coke. The synthetic dyes came to be known at coal-tar colors and they are what we still use today.

By the beginning of the 20th century, some 695 of these had been synthesized, and over 80 were on the market. While they were generally a safer alternative to metal salts and used in less quantity, they were still unregulated.

In 1938, responsibility for regulating and enforcing color was granted to the newly instituted Food and Drug Administration. At that point, there were 15 synthetic colors approved for use in foods, 6 of which are still used today.

Modern food colorings have their own problems

While manufacturers were no longer adding mercury or arsenic to their products, food-coloring dangers took center stage, yet again, in the 1950s after many children became ill from eating Halloween candy containing the Orange 1 food coloring. The FDA banned the color after more rigorous testing suggested that it was toxic (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/health/policy/30fda.html).

Red 32 and Orange 2 were also delisted due to the same Halloween incident, according to the Harvard Law School paper, The Palette of Our Palates: A brief history of food coloring and its regulation.

The controversy continued when, in 1976, the agency banned Red 2 because it was suspected to be carcinogenic, according to The New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/health/policy/30fda.html).

Other colors have since been banned in the US including: Violet 1; Reds 2 and 4; Yellows 1, 2, 3 and 4, and Yellow 5 is undergoing testing, according to Encyclopedia Britannica (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/212658/food-colouring).

The FDA decided to remove Red 2 from the provisional list in 1976, after Conflicting studies were published. Some studies showed the dye was safe and others showed that it was not safe and, in fact, caused breast and intestinal tumors in rats and was toxic to gonads and embryos. The FDA de-listed it stating that the color industry had not met its burden of proving the safety of Red 2.

Yellow 5 was the successor to Red 2 in popularity. The color, sometimes called Tartrazine, also had its own problems. It was one of the dyes singled out in 1977 by Ralph Nader's Public Citizen Health Research Group as unsafe. The group pointed to the de-listing of Red 2 and Red 4 a year earlier as evidence that dyes we consider "safe" are often later shown to be toxic.

While the FDA said that Public Citizen was "overstating the issue and causing public alarm that is simply not warranted," they simultaneously admitted that Yellow 5 caused severe allergic reactions in a small number of people.

Is the FDA doing a better job today?

The FDA suggested that problems associated with artificial coloring might be akin to a peanut allergy or intolerance to these substances and not to any inherent toxic properties of the colorings themselves, said the New York Times.

This may not be accurate, according to a 2004 Southampton University study covered by the BBC. A team of researchers found that adding food colors to children's diets increased hyperactivity rates in all young children, not just those who were allergic to food colorings or who had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3742423.stm).

"I want this to address a fundamental issue which is 'Why do we have to have colored food?' said Professor John Warner, the study's author.

"It's absolutely imperative to have follow up studies because we are not now just talking about a population of children with a particular problem we are saying there's a potential for this to be an effect on all children," he said. "And, if that really is the case, then food coloring should be removed."

Consumers can avoid synthetic food colorings by checking labels in grocery stores or by shopping at chains like Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's, which refuse to sell foods with artificial coloring.

Sources for this article include
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1541-4337.2009.00089.x/p...
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/212658/food-colouring
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/artificial-food-...
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/health/policy/30fda.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3742423.stm
http://www.heartland.org/healthpolicy-news.org/article/29857/Group_Ca...
http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodhistory/a/foodcolorhistry.htm

Coke bottles may require cancer warning label if drink ingredients not changed

Back in January, the state of California added to its list of cancer-causing chemicals an ingredient commonly used in flavored soda beverages, which has sent major shockwaves throughout the processed food industry. And according to numerous reports, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and even Whole Foods are having to alter their soda beverage recipes in order to avoid being required by the state of California to label their products as causing cancer.

The cancer-causing chemical in question is 4-methylimidazole, or 4-MI, a byproduct formed during the production of caramel color, an additive commonly used in processed cola beverages. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), caramel color produced using ammonia or ammonia-sulfites creates both 4-MI and 2-MI (2-methylimidazole), which have been shown to be carcinogenic (http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/caramel_coloring_petition.pdf).

CSPI last year petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remove its "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) status from caramel colors produced in this way, but the FDA refused, insisting that caramel color with 4-MI is safe. But Californians apparently believe otherwise, as they overwhelmingly voted to have 4-MI added to the list of toxic substances covered under California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, also known as Proposition 65.

As a result, corporate beverage giants are having to change the way they produce caramel color in order to maintain levels of 4-MI that are below the threshold limit. In the process, they are having to spin the story publicly to make it seem as though 4-MI is not dangerous, and that altering the beverage formulas will not change the taste, color, or consistency of their beverages.

But a 2008 study published in the journal Archives of Toxicology found that 4-MI is toxic, and that it is linked to causing clonic seizures, hyperactivity, impaired gait, chronic inflammation, focal fatty change in the liver, carcinoma, leukemia, and adenoma, among other conditions. The study essentially confirmed that 4-MI is carcinogenic (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17619857).

If it is possible to make caramel color without 4-MI, why have beverage producers continued to knowingly produce the toxic variety?

In a public statement, Coca-Cola denied that 4-MI is carcinogenic, and openly called the cancer warning mandate "scientifically unfounded." But the science speaks for itself, particularly in beverage products made by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo that have been shown to have high levels of both 2-MI and 4-MI. CSPI covered this extensively in its petition to the FDA:
http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/caramel_coloring_petition.pdf

It is no big secret, in other words, that 4-MI is an "undesirable" byproduct of the caramel color manufacturing method long-used by both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. And yet these companies have continued to rely on this method, despite obvious awareness about its toxicity, even though less-toxic methods were most obviously a viable alternative.

The CSPI report names Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Inc.'s Dr. Pepper, and Whole Foods' 365 Cola as having unsafe levels of 4-MI that will have to be reformulated. The same report says the amounts of 4-MI contained in these beverages before the reformulation is responsible for causing roughly 15,000 cancers in the U.S. every year.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.independent.co.uk

Chlorella 101: What you need to know about this nourishing superfood

A single-celled, water-grown micro-algae, chlorella is widely known as a powerful "superfood" supplement with extraordinary nutrient density. It is believed to have been around for eons. One of the few edible species of water-grown algae, chlorella is full of chlorophyll. It contains all of the B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, amino acids, magnesium, iron, trace minerals, carbohydrates and a higher amount of protein (more than 50%) than meat, per grams of weight (http://www.naturalnews.com). It also has a unique set of phytonutrients (http://www.naturalnews.com/034109_chlorella_superfood.html). It binds to toxins and carries them out of the body. It's high amount of protein makes it a staple for many people who do not eat meat. Phyllis Balch, CNC, says it is virtually a complete food.

Why take it?

One of the main uses of chlorella is to detoxify, or cleanse, the body. It has been found to chelate, or remove, heavy metals from the body according to a Russian study (http://www.naturalnews.com/035177_chlorella_cilantro_detox.html). A study involving rats demonstrated the effectiveness of using chlorella as a counteragent for heavy metal poisoning ( http://www.naturalnews.com). Chlorella-treated rats also had less tissue damage than the control group.

Heavy metals are typically very difficult to get out of your tissues. If you have mercury fillings in your teeth, work in certain industries, have received vaccinations, or have been exposed to radiation, you have heavy metals. Most people have at least some, from our environment and food supply, such as the mercury found in fish. NaturalNews' Paul Fassa reports on a Japanese study which found that all cancer cells contain mercury (http://www.naturalnews.com/035177_chlorella_cilantro_detox.html). Additionally, heavy metal toxicity has been associated with mental decline illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer's.

Additional Benefits

Chlorella cleanses the blood and optimizes oxygen into the blood. It alkalizes the body, correcting a state of acidosis, in which most disease thrives. By definition, then, it also relieves inflammation, which is the root of much disease. It follows that chlorella is a pain reliever, reduces hypertension and enhances the immune system (http://www.naturalnews.com).

In this NaturalNews report, Donna Earnest Pravel says a study on fibromyalgia patients showed a significant reduction in pain and tenderness. In a similar study, hypertension patients were able to go off of their prescriptions upon taking chlorella (http://www.naturalnews.com).

In addition, Pravel also cites a study done on patients receiving flu shots. They took chlorella before receiving their vaccine for a few weeks. They were found to have 2 - 4 times more antibodies when tested, a few weeks after being vaccinated.

Chlorella has also been proven effective for:

• Balancing hormones (relieving PMS, regulating cycles, etc.)

• Treatment of ulcers

• Balancing the digestive system (improving digestion, relieving constipation)

• Increasing the white blood cell count (helps with infections, warding off of illness)

• Reduces or eliminates body odors

• Balances blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar (fighting/preventing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity)

• Reduces occurrence of asthma attacks and allergies

• Treats fatigue

• Helps boost immune response

• Protects the brain and nervous system

• Supports elimination of many kinds of pollutants, from heavy metals to molds

• Boosts tissue growth, healing and repair

• Detoxifies harmful radiation, protects organs

(http://www.naturalnews.com/034109_chlorella_superfood.html, http://www.naturalnews.com/031779_spirulina_radiation.html, http://www.squidoo.com/what-is-chlorella-good-for?)

These are just some of the benefits of taking chlorella. These statements have not been validated by the FDA, but have been validated by centuries of use across many cultures.

How to get it in your diet

Chlorella requires processing due to a strong cell wall that makes it otherwise impossible to gain access to its nutrients. Be sure the products you buy do not use heat or chemicals in their processing. Fassa says a special milling process or rapid pressure change method is necessary to break down the cell wall and make the nutrients bioavailable. You can find chlorella in pill form or powder form, to add to smoothies.

The herb cilantro is also known for its ability to leech mercury out of the body. It combines nicely with chlorella as a superfood and detoxifying combo (http://www.naturalnews.com/035177_chlorella_cilantro_detox.html).

Other things you should know

According to Michelle Bosmier, because of the toxic load the average person carries, sometimes when people start a regime of chlorella they think they are experiencing side-effects. In reality, they are experiencing the effects of detoxification. The cleansing of toxins from the body may give you gas, nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, etc. For this reason, its good to start taking chlorella on a weekend, when you can stay close to home. If the side-effects of detoxing are too much for you, ease up on your consumption, adding it in slowly. The symptoms will pass in a couple of days.

Chlorella has a high amount of vitamin K, so it could interfere with blood thinning medications (http://www.naturalnews.com/028017_chlorella_diabetes.html). It also contains iodine, so if you are allergic, avoid it.

Chlorella is inexpensive partially because it is one of the fastest growing plants on Earth. It is the most potent source of pure chlorophyll available (http://www.naturalnews.com/034109_chlorella_superfood.html). Chlorophyll is identical to human blood except for the center element - blood's is iron; chlorophyll's is magnesium. For this reason it is uniquely wonderful for our health. It is a good addition to most diets and disaster kits. It is readily available and stores well, so stock up!

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/036086_chlorella_superfood_algae.html#ixzz1x2HaiUxl

Suzanne Somers’s Quest to Educate the World About How to Delay Aging

Americans continue to suffer and die prematurely while proven methods exist to forestall pathological aging processes. Life Extension® members long ago gained access to solid scientific data showing how healthy lifestyle choices slash disease risk. Yet the majority of Americans have their youth robbed by an epidemic of medical ignorance that results in sharply higher incidences of cancer, vascular occlusion, arthritis, dementia, and virtually every other age-related disorder. While membership in the Life Extension Foundation® continues to grow, we still reach only a small fraction of the population. When a famous celebrity appears on national television to espouse what Foundation members learned decades ago, however, the average person stops to notice. Suzanne Somers has turned her life around by removing toxic compounds from her environment, eating organic foods, meticulously keeping her hormones in natural balance, having her blood regularly tested, taking the appropriate supplements, and utilizing advanced stem cell therapy. Suzanne is not the only prominent personality doing this. Hollywood has long emphasized youthful appearances and those involved in show business are early examples of humans taking aggressive steps to thwart degenerative changes. What differentiates Suzanne from our other celebrity members is that she describes in meticulous detail the many virtues she has personally attained by following a science-based youth restoration program. In her latest book titled BOMBSHELL, Suzanne reveals to the public much of the data that Life Extension members already view as common sense approaches to protect against age-related illness. What impresses us is the ability of Suzanne Somers to appear in the national media and describe in “people speak” how humans can successfully intervene into pathological aging processes. By lifting the veil of scientific ignorance, Suzanne educates millions of people about novel methods to slow and reverse degenerative processes. The following is an excerpted chapter from Suzanne’s new book BOMBSHELL that describes 18 underlying mechanisms that cause us to age and how each of them may be circumvented. Advanced Age Reversal Based on new findings about the mechanisms of aging, the universal dream of a longer life is now a scientific reality. But what if you want to go deeper than making just a few changes and you want to dive into a more advanced age-reversing program? I asked Bill Faloon of Life Extension to provide a plan to counterattack the eighteen most common things that age us. Consult with an antiaging physician to see which of these might be issues for you, so that you can tailor your plan of attack to your individual needs. The phenomenon known as “aging” is the result of pathological changes that are somewhat controllable using existing technologies. By prolonging our healthy life span, we put ourselves in a position to take advantage of future medical breakthroughs that could result in dramatic extensions of the human life span. This chapter reveals what do about the eighteen controllable causes of age-related disease; follow these simple steps to correct them. Aging Factor 1: Chronic Inflammation Persistent inflammation occurs frequently with aging and is a primary contributor to the deterioration that our body undergoes as we grow old. Inflammation can be triggered by both internal and external causes, making it difficult to prevent. For instance, excess belly fat releases inflammation-causing molecules called cytokines. Continuous low-level inflammatory assaults inflict damage on everything from brain cells and arterial walls, to cell regulatory genes. Heart attack, stroke, heart valve failure, cancer, and Alzheimer’s have all been linked to the chronic inflammation that occurs in most of us as we age. Solution: Comprehensive Anti-Inflammatory Regimen An array of clinically proven nutrients and hormones has been shown to effectively target the mechanisms behind inflammation. The agents listed next operate in multiple ways to neutralize pro-inflammatory processes. Nutrient Typical Daily Dose Fish oil 1,400 mg EPA and 1,000 mg DHA Curcumin* 400-800 mg Bromelain (enteric coated) 500-1,000 mg DHEA (dehydro-epiandrosterone) 15-50 mg The most commonly used blood test for inflammation is known as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, or hs-CRP. Any doctor should be able to provide this test for you, or you can order it directly by logging on to www.suzannesomers.com. CRP levels in men should ideally be below 0.55 mg/L while women should be below 1.50 mg/L. In addition to the nutrients and hormones described in this section, those with persistently high levels of C-reactive protein should seek to reduce their fasting blood glucose levels to below 85 mg/dL of blood. Carrying excess fat pounds, especially in the belly, is a common cause of systemic inflammation. There are nutrients that impede the absorption of carbohydrates and thus facilitate weight loss along with reductions in fasting blood sugar. (You will read in Aging Factor 16 about natural ways to reduce belly fat and lower blood glucose.) Those with stubbornly high blood sugar levels may need to take a standardized green coffee bean extract (350 mg three times daily) that has been shown to naturally block the overproduction and release of glucose into the bloodstream. High LDL (bad cholesterol) can also spark systemic inflammatory fires. Your LDL levels should ideally be kept below 80-100 mg/dL. The presence of inflammatory factors in the blood is why blood testing is so important when designing an individualized program to neutralize your Aging Factors. To inquire about low-cost comprehensive blood testing in your area, log on to www.suzannesomers.com and click through to Life Extension. Aging Factor 2: Glycation It is well known that diabetics age prematurely and die about 10 years earlier than non-diabetics. One reason for this is a process called glycation, in which glucose (and other sugars) bind to proteins and/or fats in the body to form nonfunctioning structures. Diabetics suffer accelerated glycation. What few people realize is that non-diabetics also suffer from deadly glycation reactions, only at a slower rate. The health consequences of glycation are most evident in damage to the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and blood vessels. Glycation speeds up these kinds of age-related damage, but there are simple steps you can take to slow it down. Solution: Facilitate Glucose Metabolism and Inhibit Glycation Numerous studies have shown that the nutrients listed below suppress dangerous glycation reactions in the body. Nutrient Typical Daily Dose Carnosine 1,000 mg Pyridoxal-5’- phosphate (active form of vitamin B6) 100 mg Benfotiamine (a form of vitamin B1) 150 mg Chromium 500 mcg Aging Factor 3: Methylation The DNA within every cell of your body requires constant enzymatic reactions called methylation for maintenance and repair. Aging cripples youthful methylation metabolism. The resulting DNA damage can manifest as cancer, liver damage, and brain cell degeneration. Solution: Methyl Donors Low-cost nutrients can safely restore methylation activity to youthful levels. Taken together, the following nutrients are referred to as “methyl donors.” They induce so-called remethylation reactions—boosting levels of methylation activity and restoring healthy cellular function and repair. Nutrient Typical Daily Dose L-methylfolate (active form of folic acid) 1,000 mcg Pyridoxal-5’- phosphate (active form of vitamin B6) 100 mg Vitamin B12 1,000 mcg TMG (trimethylglycine) 500-1,000 mg S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) 200-400 mg Aging Factor 4: Mitochondrial Dysfunction Over 350 studies published in 2010 alone show how mitochondrial degradation leads to the onset of virtually every degenerative disease. Mitochondrial dysfunction can result in congestive heart failure, muscle weakness, fatigue, and neurological disease. The good news is that researchers have found that age-related mitochondrial decline may be reversed. Solution: Mitochondrial Support To energize and restore aging mitochondria, the following four nutrients should be taken each day. Nutrient Typical Daily Dose CoQ10 as ubiquinol 100-200 mg Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) 10 mg Acetyl-L-carnitine arginate 675 mg R-lipoic acid 150 mg Aging Factor 5: Hormone Imbalance The cells in your body are synchronized to function by communication signals called “hormones.” Aging creates severe hormone imbalances that contribute to depression, inflammation, osteoporosis, coronary artery blockage, and loss of libido. These age-related hormone imbalances drastically affect quality of life. As testosterone, estrogen, progesterone (in women), and thyroid hormone levels inevitably decline, mood, energy levels, muscle mass, metabolism, memory, mental performance, and fulfilling sex all go by the wayside. Age-related declines in hormone levels can be extreme. Serious health problems often don’t get the right care because doctors fail to recognize that their aging patients’ disorders may be caused by hormone concentrations that are up to 90% lower than in their youth. Solution: Bioidentical Hormone Replacement with Nutrient Support The most effective way to bring your sex hormones into balance is by restoring them to youthful levels with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. There’s no fixed dosage for these hormones. You and your doctor tailor the amount that’s right for you through careful monitoring of your blood test results. How to Support Hormone Balance Nutrient or Intervention Typical Daily Dose For Women (no prescription needed) DHEA* 15-25 mg Pregnenolone* 50-100 mg Natural progesterone cream Follow label directions Broccoli extract 400-800 mg Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) 80-160 mg Apigenin 25-50 mg Calcium D-glucarate 200-400 mg Vitamin D3 5,000 IU For Women (requires prescription) Bioidentical hormone replacement Based on individual blood test results For Men (no prescription needed) DHEA* 25-100 mg Pregnenolone* 50-100 mg Saw palmetto extract 320 mg Stinging nettle root extract 240 mg Lignan extract 20 mg Vitamin D3 5,000 IU Broccoli extract 400-800 mg Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) 80-160 mg Apigenin 25-50 mg For Men (requires prescription) Bioidentical hormone replacement Based on individual blood test results * Consult with your physician before taking DHEA or pregnenolone. Do not use DHEA or pregnenolone if you are at risk for or have been diagnosed as having any type of hormonal cancer, such as prostate or breast cancer. Those taking bioidentical hormones should consider taking nutrients shown to help aging men and women safely utilize their hormones, protect against hormone-dependent cancers, and eliminate potentially carcinogenic compounds found in our diet and environment. Estrogen imbalance poses a major threat to both women and men. Clinical studies reveal that too much or too little estrogen puts men at greater risk for heart disease, atherosclerosis, stroke, prostate cancer, and osteoporosis. Compounds found in cruciferous vegetables help our bodies regulate estrogen metabolites, neutralizing dangerous ones. The chart in this section describes bioidentical hormones you can obtain right now and the nutrients you should take with them. Fortunately, many of these nutrients are available in special multiformulas, so you don’t have to take a lot of pills. Aging Factor 6: Excess Calcification Aging disrupts calcium transport, resulting in excess calcium infiltration into the soft tissue cells of the brain, heart valves, and middle arterial wall (causing arteriosclerosis). Many age-related disorders are related to excessive calcification, including memory loss, aortic valve stenosis, atherosclerosis, vision problems, even dementia. Gradual calcium buildup in your coronary arteries can constrict blood flow, causing chest pains and putting you at greater risk for a heart attack. These deadly age-related processes can be halted and possibly reversed using two low-cost nutrients. Solution: Vitamins K and D Lining our blood vessels is a protein that regulates whether or not circulating blood calcium infiltrates (calcifies) our arteries. This protein requires vitamin K2 to function. When one is deficient in vitamin K2, vascular calcification occurs. When sufficient K2 is present, this protein functions to shield against arterial calcification. Vitamins D and K work together to help remove calcium from circulation in the blood, trigger bone formation, and maintain bone strength. Vitamin D helps your bones absorb calcium. Vitamin K ensures that calcium is deposited in your bones and stays out of your arteries. Together they work to prevent excess calcium from depositing in your brain, arteries, and other soft tissues. Nutrient Typical Daily Dose Vitamin D3 5,000 IU Vitamin K1* 1,000 mcg Vitamin K2 as MK-4 1,000 mcg Vitamin K2 as MK-7 100 mcg * If you’re taking anticoagulant drugs like Coumadin® (warfarin), talk to your doctor before starting on a vitamin K regimen. Aging Factor 7: Digestive Enzyme Deficit Digestive enzymes are essential to the body’s absorption and full utilization of food. They speed the chemical reactions that break down food in the digestive tract. Raw foods also provide enzymes that naturally break down food for proper absorption. The capacity of the living organism to make enzymes diminishes with age. One reason we pack on the fat pounds, feel sluggish, and grow more vulnerable to infectious disease as we grow old may surprise you. It’s a connection I never made until I started talking to antiaging experts. Our aging bodies no longer produce sufficient amounts of the active chemical compounds we need to extract essential nutrients from the foods we eat. Meeting the full range of our nutritional requirements can create a high demand for these digestive enzymes. Their gradual loss accounts for many health problems that plague aging adults, from impaired immunity to digestive distress and nutritional deficiencies. Solution: Tailored Enzymatic and Nutritional Support Nutrient Typical Daily Dose A complete high-potency digestive enzyme blend Per label instructions Prebiotic Fiber Blend About 6 grams Another way to restore digestive enzyme balance is to ensure you have enough beneficial bacteria in your gut. Supplements that supply these living bacteria are called probiotics. You also need to ensure that “good” bacteria are getting enough of the nutrients they need to thrive. Dietary deficiency of these nutrients—known as prebiotics—is another reason we don’t have the robust digestive enzyme balance of our younger days. So your digestive support strategy is threefold: Replenish youthful levels of digestive enzymes. Repopulate your gut with beneficial bacteria using probiotics. Nourish beneficial bacteria so they can thrive with prebiotics. One final word of caution, and something else that might surprise you: High-quality digestive enzyme supplements can cause you to gain weight if you’re not careful. They work so well in helping your body break down food efficiently that you don’t get that “full” feeling as quickly. So you may wind up eating more than you should, even though you know you shouldn’t. Aging Factor 8: Fatty Acid Imbalance Aging distorts the metabolism of essential fatty acids, throwing their delicate proportion and interplay off balance. The resulting fatty acid imbalance may manifest as anything from irregular heartbeat and skin disorders to heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Solution: Fatty Acid Intervention Nutrient Typical Daily Dose Fish oil 1,400 mg EPA and 1,000 mg DHA Gamma-linolenic acid 300-600 mg Lecithin granules 10 grams Aging Factor 9: DNA Mutation We are continuously exposed to synthetic and natural carcinogens in our food supply, in everyday household products, and in our environment. Cooking any food at high temperatures (above 250 degrees Fahrenheit) also generates toxic cancer-causing agents. These environmental and dietary compounds mutate cellular DNA. Aging cells gradually lose their ability to repair DNA from these constant assaults. The resulting DNA damage can cause normally functioning cells to proliferate out of control, turning them into cancer cells. These processes can be halted and reversed with a number of plant-based compounds that break down carcinogens, prevent cells from becoming cancerous, and disable mutated cells. Solution: Targeted DNA Protection and Repair Nutrient Typical Daily Dose Chlorophyllin 100-300 mg Curcumin* 400-800 mg daily Broccoli extract 400-800 mg Watercress extract 50-100 mg Rosemary extract 50-100 mg Apigenin 25-50 mg Aging Factor 10 : Immune Dysfunction As the aging immune system loses its ability to attack bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells, it instead generates excessive levels of inflammatory chemicals that turn on its host and create autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid syndrome. Solution: Supercharge Your Immune System You can restore your immune system using a few safe, low-cost compounds that target age-related immune conditions. They enhance different parts of your immune system at the same time to optimize your defenses against infectious disease, including pneumonia, the flu, and other highly infectious diseases. Nutrient Typical Daily Dose Vitamin D3 5,000-8,000 IU DHEA 15-50 mg Beta 1,3/1,6 glucan 100-600 mg Probiotic 333 million colony forming units (CFU) High-potency multinutrient formula Two tablets/capsules Lactoferrin 300 mg Aging Factor 11: Enzyme Imbalance Youthful functions within your cells depend on multiple enzymatic reactions occurring with precise timing. Aging causes enzyme imbalances in the brain and liver. The result can manifest as neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s or persistent memory loss. Impaired liver function results in toxic damage to every cell in the body. Solution: Restore Youthful Enzyme Cofactors Nutrient Typical Daily Dose L-methylfolate 1,000 mcg S-adenosyl- methionine (SAMe) 200-400 mg High-potency multinutrient formula Two tablets/capsules Aging Factor 12: Loss of Mitochondria The increasing weakness and fatigue we inevitably experience as we get older isn’t only the result of a steady age-related decline in the amount of energy our mitochondria can produce. The number of healthy mitochondria throughout our bodies declines sharply as well. Solution: Stimulate Growth of New Mitochondria Mitochondrial biogenesis is the scientific term for the process of growing fresh mitochondria. The most recent research indicates that the following nutrients listed can trigger mitochondrial biogenesis and increase mitochondrial energy output. Nutrient Typical Daily Dose Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) 10-20 mg CoQ10 100-200 mg R-lipoic acid 300-600 mg Trans-resveratrol 250 mg Acetyl-L-carnitine 1,000-2,000 mg Aging Factor 13: Excitotoxicity Excitotoxicity is the pathological process by which nerve cells are damaged and killed by excessive stimulation by neurotransmitters such as glutamate. The result is brain cell damage and destruction leading to neurological disorders. Excitotoxicity contributes to lasting brain damage that arises from events like stroke and traumatic brain injury. Solution: Compounds That Protect Against Glutamate Injury There are nutrients that can protect brain cells and neurons from excitotoxicity injury and regenerate damaged cells. Nutrient Typical Daily Dose Vinpocetine 15-30 mg B12 1 mg Magnesium threonate 1,000-2,000 mg Blueberry extract 500-2,000 mg Melatonin 1-10 mg before bed Carnosine 1,000 mg Aging Factor 14: Circulatory Deficit Delivery of nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood to the brain, heart, and extremities is impaired as a part of normal aging. Major strokes and ministrokes are common problems associated with circulatory deficit to the brain. The skin of all aged people shows the effects of lack of nutrient-rich blood to the upper layers. An underlying cause of circulatory deficits is endothelial dysfunction, which destroys the inner lining of blood vessels and decimates their ability to efficiently trans- port blood. Solution: Multimodal Support for Healthy Circulation With all the mainstream medical and media attention focus on cholesterol and high blood pressure for heart health, a major issue facing most maturing people has been overlooked: healthy circulation. Anywhere from two-thirds to three-fourths of Americans are concerned about circulatory issues by some estimates. Ruptured blood vessels, embolism, stroke, and varicose veins affect many people. Many resort to blood-thinning medications with potentially dangerous side effects. Most have been kept in the dark about low-cost, natural alternatives. One of the most exciting is a brand-new, cutting-edge, high-potency tomato extract. This tomato extract is specially processed in such a way that provides benefits you cannot obtain by consuming cooked tomato products. In human clinical trials, it’s proven to be completely safe with no side effects. Just three grams improves blood flow within ninety minutes and lasts for more than twelve hours! It’s already been approved in Europe for clinical use. It works by helping improve the balance of clotting factors—platelets—in your bloodstream. Even more exciting, it worked for 97 percent of test subjects, which means it will most likely work for you, without the risk of hemorrhaging, organ damage, and other side effects associated with blood-thinning drugs. To protect against endothelial dysfunction, a critically important nutrient is pomegranate. In human clinical studies, those who drank pomegranate juice along with taking their standard therapy are able to reverse markers of circulatory deficit. In one study, circulation to the brain increased by 30 percent after one year in the pomegranate group, compared to reduced circulation to the brain in the placebo group not getting pomegranate. Both groups continued with their standard therapies. Nutrient Typical Daily Dose Tomato extract 3 grams Pomegranate extract 500 mg Fish oil 1,400 mg EPA and 1,000 mg DHA Sweet orange extract 600 mg Vinpocetine 10-30 mg Aging Factor 15: Loss of Youthful Gene Expression In response to normal aging and environmental toxins, changes occur in genes required to sustain youthful cellular function. What happens is that genes that maintain cellular health slowly “turn off,” while genes that make us vulnerable to degenerative pathologies become overexpressed (turned on). As cells lose their youthful gene expression profile, we succumb to a plethora of discomforts, diseases, and eventual death. Solution: Activate Your Longevity Genes Longevity researchers have known for seventy-five years that consuming far fewer calories while meeting all nutritional needs can greatly increase life span in some species. More recently, geneticists discovered why: caloric restriction activates genes that slow cell aging. In 2003, remarkable news arrived from the scientific community that a compound found in red grapes and other plants called resveratrol extended the life span of certain cells by as much as 70 percent. Even more exciting were findings in 2006 from a team of Harvard researchers showing that resveratrol “switches on” many of the same genes as caloric restriction! Today this remarkable compound has attained celebrity status, with nationally known doctors endorsing its use. Medical researchers have found it combats not only aging but also the diseases of aging. Further research into the area of youthful gene expression has brought to light a new class of compounds like resveratrol that enables aging cells to reverse course and function as though they were young again. These compounds work in synergy with resveratrol, mutually complementing and reinforcing its rejuvenating biological effects. The following box describes four nutrients that help promote more youthful gene expression. Many of them can be found in multi-ingredient formulations, so you only need to take a few pills each day to obtain these potencies. Nutrient Typical Daily Dose Trans-resveratrol 250 mg Fisetin 48 mg Trans-pterostilbene 3-100 mg Vitamin D 5,000 IU Aging Factor 16: Loss of Insulin Sensitivity In youth, we efficiently utilize ingested carbohydrates to produce cellular energy with a minimal amount converted to body fat storage. Aging reduces cellular sensitivity to insulin, which results in most people suffering chronically high blood glucose and insulin. This not only contributes to common age-related disorders but also unfavorably influences gene expression patterns. Even if a blood test shows fasting glucose levels are normal, too many of us suffer from constant exposure to excess glucose throughout our normal days. In the presence of excess glucose, healthy tissue comes under an incredibly destructive free-radical assault. The ensuing cellular destruction has been linked to everything from blood vessel damage and stroke to cancer. The bottom line is that most of us are playing with fire when it comes to excess blood sugar. Without knowing it, we place ourselves under a lifelong assault from excess glucose that wreaks havoc on our bodies long before we or our doctors recognize it. This is why some experts call glucose the silent killer. Even modest spikes in blood sugar (fasting glucose above 85 mg/dL) have been linked to increased risk of heart attack. Solution: Restore Youthful Glucose Control The good news is that forward-thinking researchers have identified a number of safe, completely natural substances that work in different ways to keep our after-meal blood sugar levels in check. The most recently discovered of these is green coffee bean extract. I’m going to go into a bit of detail here because it really is exciting. It works by blocking the destructive elevation in blood sugar that occurs after meals. Researchers have identified the active compound in raw coffee beans that combats excess blood sugar as chlorogenic acid. It brings blood sugar under control by both reducing the release of stored glucose into our bloodstreams and stopping the creation of excess glucose within our bodies. In a recent clinical trial, just 350 mg three times a day of green coffee bean extract produced a remarkable 35 percent reduction in after-meal glucose spike. After twelve weeks, study participants shed on average almost eleven pounds, with fat loss accounting for 92 percent of the weight. Nutrient Typical Daily Dose Green coffee bean extract 350 –1,050 mg Green tea phytosome 300 mg Irvingia gabonensis extract 300 mg Chromium 500 mcg Cinnamon 175 –350 mg R-lipoic acid 150 –300 mg Aging Factor 17: Loss of Bone Density Aging gradually weakens bones through decalcification and trace mineral loss. A compromised skeletal system negatively affects immune strength, blood cell production, nervous system function, insulin sensitivity, energy metabolism, and weight management. Solution: Broad-Spectrum Bone Support Ninety-nine percent of the calcium in our bodies resides in our teeth and bones. It stands to reason that if our bones and teeth store so much calcium, we would need to obtain additional calcium to preserve their strength. The real controversy is why mainstream doctors remain unenlightened about the need of maturing people to take the right kind of calcium supplement—and the proper nutrients to support it. Ideal forms of calcium to look for on labels are dicalcium malate, calcium bisglycinate, or calcium citrate. They’re easily tolerated by the body, highly absorbable, and supportive of bone mineral density—the key measure of a calcium supplement’s value. A daily dose of at least 1,000 mg is recommended for female adults. Women can take up to 1,200 mg. You won’t get any additional benefit from high doses. (Men only need around 800 mg a day of supplemen- tal calcium.) Your body can’t readily absorb calcium without vitamin D3. This vitamin also ensures calcium deposits properly in bone tissue. There are receptors for vitamin D3 in more than thirty different tissue types throughout the body. D3 binds with them to promote immune function, reduce inflammation, reduce hardening of the arteries, enhance heart function, improve brain and nerve tissue performance, and even prevent cancer. It’s a good idea to have your vitamin D blood levels checked to make sure you’re getting enough. The current evidence suggests that your readings for 25-hydroxy-vitamin-D should be between 50 and 80 ng/ mL in blood for optimal health. Experts suggest taking at least 2,000 IU per day, with most people requiring 5,000 IU per day, to achieve blood levels in a healthy range. Nutrient Typical Daily Dose Calcium 1,200 mg Vitamin D 1,000 IU Magnesium 340 mg Zinc 2 mg Manganese 1 mg Silicon 5 mg Boron 3 mg Vitamin K1 1,000 mcg Vitamin K2 as MK-4* 1,000 mcg Vitamin K2 as MK-7 100 mcg * If you’re taking anticoagulant drugs like Coumadin (warfarin), talk to your doctor before starting on a vitamin K2 regimen. Aging Factor 18: Oxidative Stress Free radicals are fiery unstable molecules that have been implicated in most diseases associated with aging. At the molecular level, the continuous chemical reactions keeping your heart beating, your blood moving, and your brain working look like controlled infernos. The constant exchange of electrons wheeling inside the tiny energy-producing powerhouses in your cells called the mitochondria throws off enormous quantities of energy. The problem is that as we get older, the cellular structures that once kept these fires under control begin to degrade, including the mitochondria themselves. Aging causes our cells to lose control over these reactions and renders them more vulnerable to destruction. Solution: Quench the Raging Fires Within Antioxidants have become popular supplements to protect against free-radical-induced cell damage, but few people take the proper combination of antioxidant supplements to adequately compensate for age-induced loss of endogenous antioxidants such as SOD, glutathione, and catalase. Nutrient Typical Daily Dose Superoxide dismutase/ Gliadin complex (GliSODin®) 500 mg Pomegranate extract 500 mg Green tea extract 725 mg Grapeseed extract 150 mg S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) 200-400 mg Astaxanthin 5-6 mg R-lipoic acid 300-600 mg High-potency multinutrient formula Two capsules Gamma-tocopherol/ sesame lignans 200 mg gamma-E tocopherol with 20 mg ofstandardized sesame lignans One Final Note Children can benefit by taking vitamin supplements, but it is the aging human whose body is depleted of the endogenous antioxidants, hormones, enzymatic repair systems, and other biological chemicals needed to sustain life. What is optional in childhood becomes mandatory as humans enter middle age and become vulnerable to a host of degenerative diseases that await them if they fail to protect themselves. The encouraging news is that supplements like fish oil, vitamin D, lipoic acid, curcumin, CoQ10, resveratrol, DHEA, vitamin K, and SAMe function to circumvent multiple aging factors that conspire to rob us of our youthful health. This means that you don’t have to take gobs of pills to counteract the multiple mechanisms of aging described in this chapter. Adapted from BOMBSHELL by Suzanne Somers. Copyright © 2012. Published by Crown Archetype, a division of Random House, Inc.To order a copy of Bombshell, call 1-800-544-4440 Article from:  Life Extension Magazine June 2012 Source: http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2012/jun2012_Suzanne-Somers-Quest-to-Educate-World-About-How-to-Delay-Aging_01.htm