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The Power of Peppermint

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:55:00 +0000

By Madeline Ellis
Monday, 29 December 2008

At the mention of peppermint, candy canes and ice cream comes to mind. But did you know that peppermint is also an age-old herbal medicine that has been used to treat a wide range of abdominal woes? The oil extracted from the peppermint plant contains a host of compounds, but the most abundant and perhaps the most pharmacologically important is menthol. Studies have shown peppermint oil to be fairly effective at relieving irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a collection of symptoms that includes abdominal pain and cramping, bloating, constipation and diarrhea that affects 5 to 20 percent of the population. One explanation is that the oil—especially the menthol—blocks calcium channels, which has the effect of relaxing the “smooth” muscles in the walls of the intestines. Recently, Alex Ford, a McMaster University researcher, concluded that instead of popular over-the counter drugs, peppermint oil should be the first line of defense against IBS.

Peppermint can temporarily allay itching caused by insect bites, eczema and other lesions, including the rash of poison ivy. Peppermint tea can be used as a mouthwash for babies with thrush (yeast in the mouth) or for reducing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, especially for women who want to avoid stronger medications.

Peppermint’s essential oil—menthol—is also an ingredient in many conventional over-the-counter products, including toothpaste, mouthwash, chewing gum, breath mints, chewing tobacco substitutes, cough lozenges and various muscle pain ointments. Menthol stimulates the nerves that sense cold, creating that familiar cooling sensation, and inhibits those that react to painful stimuli, temporarily relieving the pain of muscles and organs that are cramped and in spasm. Your mouth also has some of these nerves, which is why products containing menthol "taste" cool. And, even though the effect doesn’t last long, sometimes even a brief reprieve from a hacking cough or aching muscle can work wonders.

Menthol has also been shown helpful in subduing many disease-producing bacteria, fungi and viruses, but because stronger antimicrobials are available, is usually not the first choice in treating serious infections. “Most of the (effective) species are really from the family Lamiaceae, or mint family,” Pavel Kloucek, a scientist at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, told Discovery News. Kloucek and his team have recently identified two other mint family members—Mentha villosa and Faassen’s catnip—along with another non-mint herb, bluebeard, as also have bacteria-busting abilities. Moreover, essential oils for horseradish, garlic, hyssop, basil, marjoram, oregano, winter savory and three types of thyme also showed potent antimicrobial activity.

The researchers made the discovery while testing the essential oils to determine how well they could, in vapor form, kill the bacteria responsible for Listeria, Staph, E. coli, Salmonella infections, and more. They are hopeful that peppermint oil and others may soon be wafted in vapor form over food to inhibit bacterial growth. Plant essential oils are lipophilic, meaning that they gravitate towards fat, Kloucek explained. “And luckily, in the cell membrane of bacteria, there is plenty of fat, which serves as a seal. Essential oils are attracted to this fat and, as their molecules squeeze in between the fat molecules, they cause leakage of the membrane.” This leakage causes a meltdown that can eventually kill the bacteria.

The obvious problem to overcome in treating foods with essential oils to prevent illness is the oils’ potent taste. While strong mint flavor is desirable in a candy cane, it might not work well with other foods. According to Kloucek and his team, the solution is to carefully match the oil with the food. “To overcome unwanted flavors, an essential oil with the best scent best fitting to the taste of the treated product in the lowest possible concentration should be used,” he said. “You will probably not use garlic essential oil to treat grapes, but for some semi-finished meat products it can be suitable.” Kloucek’s findings have been accepted for publication in the journal Food Control.

Monique Lacroix, a professor at the INRS-Institute Armand-Frappier in Quebec, told Discovery News that she agrees “essential oils have a powerful antimicrobial property.” She particularly liked Kloucek’s study because it addressed the volatile nature of the oils by studying them in their vapor phase, as opposed to direct application.

Some researchers now advise consumers to eat a tablespoon or more of fresh peppermint, and other green herbs daily. A fun way to enjoy peppermint, aside from eating that leftover Christmas candy cane, is by placing peppermint leaves in an ice tray, and then filling the tray with cold water, pushing down any mint leaves that stick out. Put the tray in the freezer for several hours, and then add the peppermint ice cubes to a glass of water, sparkling water, or any other beverage that you enjoy having cold.

SOURCE: Health News Online Jan. 14, 2009

Americans Turn to Complementary, Alternative Medicine for Pain Relief

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:05:00 +0000

By Faith Lapidus Washington
02 January 2009

Complementary and alternative medical practices - which include health products and therapies that aren't generally considered part of conventional medicine - are frequently a part of Americans' health care regimens. That's the finding of a new survey released this month by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), which is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

A Reiki practitioner works with a patient. Reiki is an energy medicine practice that originated in JapanThirty-eight percent of American adults are using some form of complementary and alternative medicine, known as CAM, to help with their health. NCCAM Director Dr. Josephine Briggs says the new survey provides the most current, comprehensive and reliable source of information on Americans' use of unconventional remedies such as medicinal herbs, acupuncture, yoga, meditation, massage and chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation. Most of these patients, Briggs says, hope to alleviate pain. "The most common reason why people turn to complementary and alternative medicine in our survey results is chronic back pain - far and away, the leading reason to use complementary and alternative medicine," she says. "Neck pain, joint pain, headache: All these other conditions are also given as common reasons. But chronic back pain is the leading reason, a very common and difficult condition to treat."As the federal government's lead agency for scientific research into CAM therapies, the center funds hundreds of projects and trials, supports training for researchers and encourages integration of proven CAM therapies into conventional practice.

Click here to continue reading article at VOA News

Homeopathy patients often say health improved

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:57:00 +0000

Reuters.com
By Amy Norton

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many people who opt for homeopathic therapy for their chronic ills report lasting improvements in their health, a new study finds.

Among patients at more than 100 German and Swiss homeopathic practices, researchers found that many reported long-term improvements in chronic conditions such as headaches, allergies and sleep problems.

However, the findings do not necessarily mean the controversial alternative therapy is responsible for the benefits, according to the researchers.

Homeopathy, which originated in Germany in the 1700s, is based on the principle of "like cures like" -- substances that, according to homeopathy, would create certain symptoms in a person can, in a highly diluted form, treat those same symptoms.

Homeopathy is controversial because a number of its central concepts do not accord with modern science, and many studies have found that the remedies are no more effective than inactive placebo substances.

The current study, published in the journal BMC Public Health, looked only at how homeopathy patients tend to fare in their everyday life. Therefore, it does not settle the question of whether the remedies are actually effective, lead researcher Dr. Claudia Witt told Reuters Health.

"This observational study design does not allow (us) to determine any causality between the improvement and the given homeopathic remedy, nor does it exclude the placebo effect," said Witt, of Charite University Medical Center in Berlin.

The findings are based on an eight-year follow-up of 3,709 adults and children treated at 103 homeopathic practices. At the end of that time, Witt's team found, one-third were still undergoing homeopathic treatment, while a bit less than a third had stopped because their health had improved, and a similar proportion had stopped because they felt their treatment was not working.

On average, the study found, patients did report significant improvements in their symptoms over time. Nearly half said their symptom severity had declined by at least 50 percent.

However, Witt and her colleagues say, it's not possible to tell whether the homeopathic treatments bestowed the benefits, because many patients also used other types of alternative care, as well as conventional medicine.

The placebo effect may also have been at work, according to the researchers, with some patients feeling better simply because they believed the homeopathic remedies would help.

SOURCE: BMC Public Health, online December 17, 2008.

6.7 grams of dark chocolate cut heart risk

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:54:00 +0000

From UPI.com Health News

CAMPOBASSO, Italy, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- A large epidemiological study found new beneficial effects of chocolate in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, Italian researchers said.

The study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, found 6.7 grams -- about 1/4 of an ounce -- of chocolate per day is the ideal amount for a protective effect against inflammation -- a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Researchers at the Research Laboratories of the Catholic University in Campobasso, Italy, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute of Milan enrolled 20,000 inhabitants of the Molise region for the study.

People having moderate amounts of dark chocolate regularly have significantly lower levels of C-reactive protein in their blood -- a biomarker for inflammation.

"The 17 percent average reduction observed may appear quite small but it is enough to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease for one-third in women and one-fourth in men. It is undoubtedly a remarkable outcome," lead author Romina di Giuseppe said in a statement.

The best effect is obtained by consuming an average amount of 6.7 grams of chocolate per day, corresponding to a small square of chocolate twice or three times a week but beyond these amounts the beneficial effect tends to disappear."

Soy has staying power as healthy option

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:52:00 +0000

By Sarah Hills
Latest news headlines

23-Sep-2008 -

Consumers in the US are increasingly turning to soy as a healthy choice as they constantly change their eating habits to improve nutrition, according to a study from the United Soybean Board.

Soy is popular for its potential health benefits and versatility and 85 percent of consumers view soy as healthy, the survey showed. This is an increase of 26 percentage points compared to 1997.

The 2008 Consumer Attitudes about Nutrition survey, which is the 15th annual research study sponsored by the USB, also shows that a growing number of consumers specifically seek out soy foods to aid in weight management and promote heart health as well as to reduce the risk of some cancers.

Meanwhile food companies are taking note. According to the Mintel Global New Products Database, between 2000 and 2007 more than 2,700 new foods with soy as an ingredient were introduced in the US. This includes 161 new products last year alone.

The USB report describes soy as “a promising long-term phenomenon” and states: “Turning to soy protein, the ongoing trend toward healthy, versatile foods and an increase in offerings at mainstream grocery stores has promoted the increase of trial and awareness of soy foods and beverages.

“In 1997, 18 percent of consumers surveyed had tried soymilk. Today, this number has more than doubled to 40 percent, and consumption of other soy foods such as edamame and tofu are also on the rise.”

Consumers also continue to recognize soybean oil, commonly labeled as vegetable oil, as one of the healthiest cooking oils. It is relatively low in saturated fat, contains no cholesterol and zero grams of trans fat, which have been linked to health risks as diverse as cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer.

Click here to continue reading article at Nutra Ingredients USA

6.7 grams of dark chocolate cut heart risk

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 23:54:00 +0000

Gardasil is Dangerous As Well As Unproven

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:50:00 +0000

By Dr. Mercola

Merck's Gardasil vaccine is supposed to prevent young women from getting cervical cancer. Now the FDA has approved a claim for two less common cancers as well. But whether it will actually prevent any kind of cancer is unknown.

As of July, the federal government's Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System has received over 9,700 reports of problems since the vaccine's introduction in 2006. These include paralysis, seizures, and miscarriage. Twenty deaths have been reported, although the government has not acknowledged a link yet.

Vaccines were originally developed to protect the public from extremely contagious diseases. Now dangerous and unproven vaccines are being mandated in the hope they will guard against diseases that require very intimate contact to transmit. Where will it end?

Sources:
Health Freedom Foundation

What the Chemical Industry Doesn't Want You to Know about Everyday Products

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:49:00 +0000

By Dr. Mercola

The global chemical industry annually produces about 6 billion pounds of bisphenol A (BPA), an integral component of a vast array of plastic products, generating at least $6 billion in annual sales. The value of BPA-based manufactured goods is probably incalculable. Environmental Working Group studies have found BPA in more than half the canned foods and beverages sampled from supermarkets across the U.S.

Soon after scientists Frederick Vom Saal and Wade Welshons found the first hard evidence that miniscule amounts of BPA caused irreversible changes in the prostates of fetal mice, a scientist from Dow Chemical Company showed up at the Missouri lab. He disputed the data and declared, as Vom Saal recalls, "We want you to know how distressed we are by your research."

"It was not a subtle threat," Vom Saal says. "It was really, really clear, and we ended up saying, threatening us is really not a good idea."

The Missouri scientists redoubled their investigations of BPA. Industry officials and scientist allies fired back, sometimes in nose-to-nose debates at scientific gatherings, sometimes more insidiously. "I heard [chemical industry officials] were making blatantly false statements about our research," says Welshons. "They were skilled at creating doubt when none existed."

The industry's increasingly noisy denials backfired. By the turn of the millennium, dozens of scientists were launching their own investigations of the chemical. But the chemical industry can expected to fight aggressively against more regulation. Earlier this year, the industry spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to defeat a California legislative proposal to ban BPA in food packaging. The Chemistry Council and allied companies and industry groups hired an army of lobbyists. Tactics included an industry email to food banks charging that a BPA ban would mean the end of distributions of canned goods for the poor.

Sources:
AlterNet September 15, 2008

Chamomile Tea May Ward Off Diabetes Damage

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 02:44:00 +0000

MSN Health & Fitness News
Rats fed herbal extract showed significant decrease in blood sugar levels-- Kevin McKeever

FRIDAY, Sept. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Daily drinks of chamomile tea with meals may help prevent the complications of diabetes, report researchers in Japan and the United Kingdom.

The findings, published in the Sept. 10 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, are based on feeding chamomile extract to a group of diabetic rats for 21 days. Those on the chamomile supplement experience a significant decrease in blood glucose levels. The extract also appears to inhibit ALR2 enzymes and sorbitol, whose elevated levels are associated with increased diabetic complications.

Complications for diabetes include loss of vision, nerve damage and kidney damage.

The researchers said they hoped their work leads to the development of a new chamomile-based drug for type 2 diabetes.

More information

The American Diabetes Association has more about diabetes.
SOURCE: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, news release, Sept. 10, 2008

St. John's Wort: An Ancient Medicinal Plant

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 02:31:00 +0000

By Sonja Flesch-Reiss
Epoch Times Staff

The more than 350 species of Hypericum perforatum, (commonly known as St. John’s wort, Tipton’s weed, John’s grass or Klamath weed) has been a popular herbal folk remedy and also valued by medical practitioners for centuries. Our ancient ancestors also attributed to the plant magical powers, believing that it could protect the wearer against both disease and evil.

Early records retrieved, pertaining to the use of the Hypericum perforatum species, date back to ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. English medical practitioners have used the plant as far back as the 1600s.

“Wort” means plant, and “St. John” refers to the Saint John the Baptist. The plant blooms and is harvested during the time of his birthday, June 24.

The perennial plant grows in the subtropical regions of North America and Europe, West Africa, and some parts of Asia. It is found in woods, open fields, and by roadsides. The plant is most abundant in areas of heavy winter or summer rainfall. Its seeds are vulnerable to low temperature.

Click here to continue reading article

Beware: Natural Substance Knock-Offs in FDA Pipeline are Dangerous

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 02:28:00 +0000

Some of the natural substances taken through the FDA approval process don't appear to be dangerous. Omacor, the FDA approved fish oil, is only a problem because it is so expensive compared to regular fish oil -- although taxpayers bear the brunt of this price difference, because Medicare won't reimburse any other fish oil.

However, there are other natural substances coming through the FDA approval process that are even more troubling. Pipex Therapeutics is seeking approval for Trimesta, a knock-off of natural estriol -- a substance that the FDA has just effectively banned.

But Trimesta may not be a safe version of natural estriol. Trimesta is a taken by mouth, which is known to be a greater risk factor for endometrial cancer than taking the hormones transdermally (through the skin).

And the FDA has already approved Prestara, another drug company version of a natural hormone, in this case DHEA. Prestara is taken at an oral dose of 200 mg daily, which is much too high for women; even doses of 50 mg in women may cause facial hair and other undesirable side effects.

Meanwhile, there are now bills in Congress calling for a ban DHEA. Supposedly the concern is about athletes’ use of synthetic steroids. But contrary to false claims, no one can make synthetic steroids out of DHEA. The real reason to ban natural DHEA is to knock out the competition for expensive knock-off drugs.

Click here for article source

Dietary Linoleic Acid May Help Prevent Hypertension

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 02:26:00 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Sept 05 - The results of a study published in the August issue of Hypertension suggest that there is an inverse relationship between dietary linoleic acid and blood pressure. This relationship is appears stronger in patients who are not receiving a dietary or medical intervention.

"Findings from observational and interventional studies on the relationship of dietary linoleic acid, the main dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid, with blood pressure have been inconsistent," Dr. Katsuyuki Miura, of Shiga University of Medical Science, Japan, and colleagues write.

Dr. Miura's group used data from the International Study of Macro-Micronutrients and Blood Pressure to examine the association between dietary linoleic acid and blood pressure in 4680 men and women between the ages of 40 and 59 years from 17 population samples in China, Japan, United Kingdom, and United States.

Data on nutrient intake were obtained from four in-depth 24-hour dietary recalls per person and two timed 24-hour urine collections per person. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured eight times at four visits.

Click here to continue reading article at Medscape Today

Benefit of Wheatgrass - Why People are so Crazy over Wheatgrass Despite its Nasty Taste

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 02:23:00 +0000

By Ruth Tan

What is the Benefit of Wheatgrass?
Wheatgrass is a plant grown from the Red Wheatberry that is moving to the top of the nutritional tree. It's an incredible health elixir. Some people call wheatgrass juice "beer before it's beer"; technically, it is young wheat, but non-alcoholic. Commercials describe the benefit of wheatgrass very vividly - "a shot glass of chlorophyll-laden wheat grass juice is like drinking one day's worth of sunshine".

In recent years, wheatgrass juice has become one of the more popular health beverages and can be found at virtually any fresh juice shop and health store in where I live. Sales of wheatgrass products are booming worldwide. However, a glass of chlorophyll is not easy to go down, many people cringe at the thought of consuming one ounce of this "miracle food" because of its raw pungent taste. Nowadays, it's common to find honey, and lemon, being added to wheatgrass juice to make it more palatable. And the latest concoction I found at the shops was wheatgrass juice with apple juice, which really tasted fantastic!

Now, let's look at each of the benefit of wheatgrass and understand why it's so popularly consumed despite its nasty taste.

A Powerhouse of Nutrients and Vitamins: Nourishes and Strengths the Body
In the form of fresh juice, wheatgrass contains 70% of chlorophyll with high concentrations of vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K, a huge spectrum of minerals such as calcium and magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, sulfur, cobalt, zinc, and protein, and other nutrients needed for our health and well-being. It properties are important for cardiovascular and immune system function, strengthening heart and arterial tissue, lowering blood fat, and useful in the treatment of degenerative disease and reducing inflammation. Each teaspoon of wheatgrass juice has only about 10-15 calories per and no fat or cholesterol. A benefit of wheatgrass is that it provides a remarkable whop of energy. A 1-oz shot glass of it's juice is equivalent in food-vitamin value to two and a half pounds of leafy green vegetables! On an empty stomach, it is assimilated into the blood in just 20 minutes! Humans can't eat wheatgrass directly as the strong cellulose is too woody and fibrous for the long and complex intestines in humans. Grass-eating animals like cows and horses, goats have short intestines.

Click here to continue reading article at Natural Cures & Remedies

Soy has staying power as healthy option

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 23:52:00 +0000

Acupuncture Reduces Painful Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatments

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:46:00 +0000

Ancient Therapy Challenges Benefits of Modern Medicine
By JOHN MCKENZIE
Sept. 22, 2008

A new medical study finds that acupuncture, an ancient form of healing that has been around for thousands of years, is as good as, or better than modern medicine in helping ease the side effects of breast cancer treatment.

The findings, which were presented today at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology's annual meeting in Boston, suggest that this ancient therapy can give cancer patients a wide range of benefits above modern medicine.

Cancer treatments, like chemotherapy, which kills breast cancer cells, can wreak havoc on a woman's body, throwing many into menopause with severe symptoms.

"I got about two hot flashes an hour," said Susan Azar, 43, a breast cancer survivor. "Very intense ones where you would break out in a sweat."

The "conventional" remedy for Azar's chemotherapy-induced hot flashes is a daily anti-depressant. But these pills can produce side effects of their own, including dizziness, nausea and constipation.

In an effort to find a way to alleviate some of chemotherapy's symptoms, Azar enrolled in a clinical trial to receive acupuncture once or twice a week, for 30- to 45-minute sessions.

"Two to three weeks into the study, you start to notice the hot flashes, the intensity and the frequency would decline," Azar said.

Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese therapy, practiced for thousands of years, uses very thin needles to reduce pressure at specific points. Most patients do not feel any pain from the needles.

Click here to continue reading article at ABC Health News

Chamomile Tea May Ward Off Diabetes Damage

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:43:00 +0000

Rats fed herbal extract showed significant decrease in blood sugar levels
-- Kevin McKeever

FRIDAY, Sept. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Daily drinks of chamomile tea with meals may help prevent the complications of diabetes, report researchers in Japan and the United Kingdom.

The findings, published in the Sept. 10 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, are based on feeding chamomile extract to a group of diabetic rats for 21 days. Those on the chamomile supplement experience a significant decrease in blood glucose levels. The extract also appears to inhibit ALR2 enzymes and sorbitol, whose elevated levels are associated with increased diabetic complications.

Complications for diabetes include loss of vision, nerve damage and kidney damage.

The researchers said they hoped their work leads to the development of a new chamomile-based drug for type 2 diabetes.

More information

The American Diabetes Association has more about diabetes.
SOURCE: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, news release, Sept. 10, 2008

In Pain? Take One Masterpiece, Three Times a Day

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:39:00 +0000

Hospitals Should Pay Attention to Aesthetics, Scientists Say
Sept. 19, 2008

THE power of art to heal emotional wounds is well known, but could contemplating a beautiful painting have the same effect on physical pain?

To investigate, Marina de Tommaso and a team from the University of Bari in Italy asked 12 men and women to pick the 20 paintings they considered most ugly and most beautiful from a selection of 300 works by artists such as da Vinci and Botticelli.

They were then asked to contemplate either the beautiful paintings, or the ugly painting, or a blank panel while the team zapped a short laser pulse at their hand, creating a pricking sensation.

The subjects rated the pain as being a third less intense while they were viewing the beautiful paintings, compared with contemplating the ugly paintings or the blank panel. Electrodes measuring the brain's electrical activity suggested a reduced response to the pain when the subject looked at beautiful paintings

While distractions are known to reduce pain in hospital patients, de Tommaso says this is the first result to show that beauty plays a part. "Hospitals have been designed to be functional, but we think that their aesthetic aspects should be taken into account too," she says.

Top 10 Vegetarian-Friendly Ballparks

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:28:00 +0000

Internet Travel Monitor - Industry News
August 27, 2008

NEW YORK, NY –

1. Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia Phillies)
2. AT&T Park (San Francisco Giants)
3. Safeco Field (Seattle Mariners)
4. PETCO Park (San Diego Padres)
5. U.S. Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox)
6. Busch Stadium (St. Louis Cardinals)
7. Comerica Park (Detroit Tigers)
8. Coors Field (Colorado Rockies)
9. Turner Field (Atlanta Braves)
10. (tie) Tropicana Field (Tampa Bay Rays)
(tie) Chase Field (Arizona Diamondbacks)

Source: PETA

Organic Produce Will Soon Be Cheaper Than Conventional Produce

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:37:00 +0000

By Dr. Mercola

A study suggests that the rising price of oil could soon make cereal crops grown with chemical fertilizers more expensive than those produced more naturally.

Industrial farming relies on fertilizers made from fossil fuels. These fertilizes are used to replace nutrients in the soil. Organic farming, however, improves soil fertility through crop rotations, and is therefore less affected by oil prices.

With oil predicted to reach $200 a barrel within five to 10 years, the profit margin on organic wheat, barley and oil seed rape could soon be significantly higher than for the same crops produced by non-organic methods.

Sources:
Daily Telegraph September 2, 2008

These treehouses for grownups offer a unique way to get back to nature

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:00:00 +0000

By JOHN LEE
SPECIAL TO THE P-I

Nature-loving travelers searching for an idyllic woodland retreat are flocking to an unusual British Columbia sleepover that offers a rustic, squirrel's-eye view of the world.

Suspended several yards above the fern-lined forest floor by sturdy, tree-attached guide ropes, Vancouver Island's Free Spirit Spheres resemble shiny wooden Christmas baubles -- or giant sci-fi movie eyeballs -- nestled among the foliage.

But these two sibling treehouses are not just for the birds. Their exteriors are hand-built from yellow cedar or Sitka spruce encased in clear, waterproof fiberglass, while their interiors recall the homey aesthetics of a cozy Hobbit house.

Each has an ingenious, wood-lined living space filled with cabin conveniences such as comfy beds, surround-sound systems and porthole windows overlooking strapping maple and cedar trees.

Created by Tom Chudleigh -- his workshop is on the bucolic 5-acre property -- each sphere is accessed via a spiral staircase. Eve, the smaller of the two with a diameter of 9 feet, attracts singles or couples who don't mind bumping into each other. Its built-in bed, table and seating are functional and comfortable and twin portholes survey the surrounding branches, sun-dappled pond and two wandering geese.

Click here to continue reading article and see more pictures at Seattle PI.com

Fish oil appears to help against heart failure

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:56:00 +0000

By MARIA CHENG, AP Medical Writer
Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:47 AM ET

MUNICH, Germany - Fish oil supplements may work slightly better than a popular cholesterol-reducing drug to help patients with chronic heart failure, according to new research released Sunday.

Chronic heart failure is a condition that occurs when the heart becomes enlarged and cannot pump blood efficiently around the body.

With few effective options for heart failure patients, the findings could give patients a potential new treatment and could change the dietary recommendations for them, said Dr. Jose Gonzalez Juanatey, a spokesman for the European Society of Cardiology, who was not connected to the research.

"This reinforces the idea that treating patients with heart failure takes more than just drugs," Juanatey said.

The study findings were published online in the medical journal The Lancet on Sunday. They were simultaneously announced at a meeting of the European Society of Cardiology in Munich.

Click here to continue reading article at Yahoo News

The 10 Best Foods You Aren't Eating

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:21:00 +0000

Want To Do Your Body a World of Good? It's as Easy as Expanding Your Grocery List.

By JONNY BOWDEN, Ph.D.
July 9, 2008

Although some guys aren't opposed to smoking some weed, most wouldn't think of eating one. It's a shame, really, since a succulent weed named purslane is not only delicious but also among the world's healthiest foods.

Of course, there are many superfoods that never see the inside of a shopping cart. Some you've never heard of, and others you've simply forgotten about. That's why we've rounded up the best of the bunch. Make a place for them on your table and you'll instantly upgrade your health -- without a prescription.

Beets

These grungy-looking roots are naturally sweeter than any other vegetable, which means they pack tons of flavor under-neath their rugged exterior.

Why they're healthy: Think of beets as red spinach. Just like Popeye's powerfood, this crimson vegetable is one of the best sources of both folate and betaine. These two nutrients work together to lower your blood levels of homocysteine, an inflammatory compound that can damage your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease. Plus, the natural pigments -- called betacyanins -- that give beets their color have been proved to be potent cancer fighters in laboratory mice.

How to eat them: Fresh and raw, not from a jar. Heating beets actually decreases their antioxidant power. For a simple single-serving salad, wash and peel one beet, and then grate it on the widest blade of a box grater. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the juice of half a lemon.

You can eat the leaves and stems, which are also packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Simply cut off the stems just below the point where the leaves start, and wash thoroughly. They're now ready to be used in a salad. Or, for a side dish, sauté the leaves, along with a minced clove of garlic and a tablespoon of olive oil, in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Cook until the leaves are wilted and the stems are tender. Season with salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice, and sprinkle with fresh Parmesan cheese.

Click here to continue reading article at ABC Health News

Olive leaf extract may lower cholesterol

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:30:00 +0000

ZURICH, Switzerland, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Taking 1,000 mg of a specific olive leaf extract can lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure, Swiss and German researchers said.

Cem Aydogan of Frutarom Health said that the findings came from a "twins' trial," in which different treatments were given to identical twins.

The researchers conducted a pilot trial with 20 identical twin pairs who had an increased blood pressure, or mild hypertension. Individuals were either given placebo capsules or capsules containing doses of 500 mg or 1,000 mg of olive leaf extract EFLA 943. Pairs of twins were assigned to different treatments. After the subjects had taken the extract for eight weeks researchers measured blood pressures as well as collecting data about aspects of lifestyle.

"The study confirmed that olive leaf extract EFLA 943 has anti-hypertensive properties in humans," Aydogan said in a statement. "This works showed that taking a 1000 mg dose has substantial effects in people with borderline hypertension."

The research is published in the latest edition of Phytotherapy Research.

A New Biopesticide For The Organic Food Boom

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:36:00 +0000

ScienceDaily (Aug. 25, 2008) — With the boom in consumption of organic foods creating a pressing need for natural insecticides and herbicides that can be used on crops certified as "organic," biopesticide pioneer Pam G. Marrone, Ph.D., is reporting development of a new "green" pesticide obtained from an extract of the giant knotweed in a report scheduled for presentation here today at the 236th national meeting of the American Chemical Society.

That 12-foot-high Goliath, named for the jointed swollen nodes on its stem, invaded the U.S. from Japan years ago and grows along the East Coast and other areas. "The product is safe to humans, animals, and the environment," says Marrone, founder and CEO of Marrone Organic Innovations Inc., in Davis, Calif.

The new biopesticide has active compounds that alert plant defenses to combat a range of diseases, including powdery mildew, gray mold and bacterial blight that affect fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals. The product will be available this October for conventional growers, according to Marja Koivunen, Ph.D., director of research and development for Marrone Organic Innovations. A new formulation has also been developed for organic farmers and will be available in 2009.

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Aussies turning in droves to alternative therapies

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:34:00 +0000

Sydney, July 24 (ANI): The number of people visiting complementary health professionals in Australia has increased by 50 per cent in the last decade.

Most had consultations for arthritis (20 per cent), asthma (14 per cent) and mental or behavioural disorders (13 per cent).

Chiropractors, naturopaths and acupuncturists were the most commonly consulted professionals, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics” snapshot of social trends report says that some patients with serious health conditions, such as cancer, made use of relaxation, diet, vitamins, positive imagery and faith healing.

According to the report, 42 per cent of people seeking such treatment had a "priority health condition" such as asthma, diabetes, cancer or mental problems.

The report also revealed that these patients were "in touch with mainstream medicine"; 32 per cent of people who had visited a complementary health therapist had consulted a doctor in the previous two weeks, rising to 63 per cent in the previous three months.

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