Organic Food Challenge | No GMO | Borganic.org

Florida citrus industry being devastated by unstoppable bacterial disease

2013-05-15T10:19:00.002-07:00

NaturalNews |
A tiny insect called the Asian psyllid is feasting on Florida's citrus trees and spreading bacteria that is leeching nutrients from the trees. The bacterial disease, called Huanglongbing, does not affect humans but does kill off citrus trees. The disease is commonly referred to as citrus greening, which is witnessed when unripe fruit turns bitter and falls from the tree. The disease is relatively new to Florida, first detected in 2005. The citrus greening disease has continued to spread each year since 2005 and in 2012 has been noticed deadlier than ever, devastating orange production to 10 percent losses from initial estimates. Experts are increasingly concerned, since the USDA has downgrading its crop estimates five months in a row now.

Growers reporting 30 to 40 percent losses of oranges picked

Florida Senator Bill Nelson, told The New York Times. "If we don't find a cure, it will eliminate the citrus industry." Florida is the world's second largest orange juice producer with an over $9 billion yearly economy.

Right now, all 32 citrus growing counties are being affected by the disease. These counties have roughed hurricanes, hard freezes, and canker disease, but have not faced a tragedy as great as citrus greening. Some growers are reporting losses between 30 to 40 percent of what they pick each year.

Lifelong citrus grower, Vic Story, owner of 2,000 acres of groves in Central Florida warns, "We have got a real big problem." Story, who manages a total of 5,000 acres of orange trees, sees the various effects the bacteria are having. "It's definitely the biggest threat in my lifetime, and I'm 68. This is a tree killer."

Some orange tree growers selling their farms

As trees become infected, they must be removed to protect neighboring trees from contracting the disease. As trees come down, more middle-sized farmers are unable to afford the losses, abandoning their farms altogether. Many are postponing new growth or just selling their land outright.

Some farmers are finding ways to prevent the disease by eliminating the psyllid altogether. One method of extermination is to introduce lady beetles and lacewings to the area. These bugs find psyllids to be a tasty meal, devouring them without further harming the citrus tree.

The psyllid was first discovered in Brazil. Brazil farmers fought greening epidemic by quickly removing infected trees and planting multiple acres of new growth. Since the orange trees take five years to mature, Brazil may now be seeing recovery. Scientists believe the insect came to Florida through Miami ports about a decade ago. Florida may not have the same luxury Brazil has, with widely available rural growing areas to expand to.

Citrus greening disease costing thousands of jobs and billion-dollar losses

Agriculture analysts from the University of Florida have outlined the steady decline in Florida's citrus production in the past 15 years. In their 2012 report, the researchers detailed 8,000 jobs that have been lost in Florida alone including $4.5 billion in losses in just seven years. Other states, including Texas and Florida, are recognizing the spreading disease and are joining in on efforts to raise money for a cure.

Large, concerted efforts raising money to find an answer

Not all are giving up the fight. The USDA, legislatures, the growers themselves, and even Coca-Cola have stepped in to find a cure for the greening disease.

The USDA has spent millions in the past five years, trying to stay on top of the problem. A Florida legislature recently approved $8 million for greening research.

Coca-Cola has volunteered $2 billion to invest in 25,000 acres of new orange tree groves. Growers are banding together as well, raising money through a self imposed tax. They've raised $60 million over six years to create a research foundation.

Sixty-eight-year-old, lifelong orange tree grower, Vic Story believes, "We think we can do it; we know we can do it."

Sources for this article include

http://www.upi.com

http://www.tampabay.com

http://www.nbcnews.com

Learn more By Lance Devon

www.borganic.org

U.S. drone strikes violate Pakistan's sovereignty: U.N.

2013-03-15T13:15:00.000-07:00

Reuters |

The United States has violated Pakistan's sovereignty and shattered tribal structures with unmanned drone strikes in its counterterrorism operations near the Afghan border, a U.N. human rights investigator said in a statement on Friday.

U.N. special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, Ben Emmerson, visited Pakistan for three days this week as part of his investigation into the civilian impact of the use of drones and other forms of targeted killings.

"As a matter of international law, the U.S. drone campaign in Pakistan is ... being conducted without the consent of the elected representatives of the people, or the legitimate Government of the State," Emmerson said in a statement issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva.

Read More By Louis Charbonneau
www.newscaller.com

Green tea catechins block the formation of plaques to help prevent Alzheimer's disease

2013-03-14T09:26:00.000-07:00

NaturalNews |
As new cases of Alzheimer's disease are expected to quadruple over the next several decades, Big Pharma researchers are plowing billions of research dollars into finding a synthetic cure for an illness that has its roots deeply seated in poor diet, excess stress and a generally unhealthy lifestyle. Unfortunately for the giant pharmaceutical concerns, drugs have yielded nothing but dismal results as one potential miracle cure after another fail to provide any hope as new cases of the mind-robbing disease continue to mount.

For more than a decade, nutrition scientists have been heralding a small number of natural compounds including resveratrol, curcumin and EGCG from green tea extracts that easily cross the blood-brain barrier to promote brain health and improve cognitive function. Researchers from the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute, publishing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, explain how extracts from green tea may block the formation of beta-amyloid plaques that have been linked to the onset of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions that prevent the misfolding of specific proteins in the brain.

Green tea consumption prevents protein tangles that promote Alzheimer's disease progression

Improper accumulations of proteins known as metal-associated amyloids are a hallmark sign of many neurological conditions, including Alzheimer's dementia. Researchers used green tea extract to control the generation of metal-associated amyloid-beta aggregates associated with Alzheimer's disease. Building on a volume of prior studies suggesting a protective role for regular green tea consumption, the team set out to establish a beneficial relationship between the active compound in green tea (epigallocatechin-3-gallate, also known as EGCG) and the formation of amyloid plaques.

The scientists determined that EGCG prevented the formation of amyloid tangles by preventing protein misfolding, and broke down existing aggregate structures in the proteins that contained metals, specifically copper, iron and zinc. Referring specifically to the bioactive catechin, EGCG, lead study author Dr. Mi Hee Lim concluded "A lot of people are very excited about this molecule... we want to modify them for the brain, specifically to interfere with the plaques associated with Alzheimer's."

Nutrition experts note that green tea contains 30 to 40 percent of water-extractable polyphenols while highly oxidized black tea contains between three and 10 percent. White tea has undergone less oxidation than green tea and provides the most potent dose of EGCG catechins. A wealth of scientific evidence supports drinking three to five cups of green or white tea every day to support cardiovascular health and prevent protein aggregates in the brain that significantly increase Alzheimer's disease risk.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.pnas.org/content/110/10/3743
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/uom-gte030513.php
http://www.nutraingredients.com
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130305145137.htm

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/039485_green_tea_catechins_Alzheimers_disease.html

Young girl scout petitions for GMO-free cookies

2013-03-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

NaturalNews |

A young Orange County, California girl scout, Alicia Serratos, has started a Change.org petition to stop making Girl Scout cookies with GMO ingredients. Although the source article for this story had the petition signature count at 100, as of this writing on Sunday night, March 10, 2013, the signature count was 1,000.

You can add your signature here: http://www.change.org. Probably little will come of this petition, but it does make a statement which may gather momentum into a collective impact if others join in.

One signer on the petition remarked that HFCS and hydrogenated oils should be excluded from Girl Scout cookies as well as GMOs. Others threatened to no longer support Girl Scout cookie sale fund raising endeavors if this action is ignored.

This should be applied to Whole Foods

A considerable buzz of self congratulation went around upon Whole Foods' announcement to label GMOs by 2018, five years from now. Why not ban them by end of 2013? After all, the name Whole Foods implies that GMOs aren't even carried by this largest of all health food store chains.

The whole notion of labeling is a distraction from the seriousness of GMOs. It focuses on a "consumer right to know" theme while the vast majority of American consumers don't know or care enough about what they eat to make a difference.

Conversely, European consumers are more food conscious and use the "precautionary principle" to hold off that which is not proven absolutely safe. So EU labeling has created that consumer tipping point to interfere with Monsanto's European invasion.

However, Monsanto and their ilk are playing rope-a-dope with the labeling efforts in this country of mostly junk food consumers. While burning energy and time fighting the good food fight for labeling, the biotech industry's scorched earth march continues with little interruption.

Praising Whole Foods' promise of labeling is another way of saying co-existence is possible with organic and GMO food crops. They are not.

Why labeling GMOs is not enough

By the time Whole Foods or anywhere starts labeling GMO foods in this country, there may not be anymore organic food choices. They can be contaminated even while bearing the USDA certified organic label. The USDA organic certification process does not include GMO contamination.

Any farmer whose fields have been unknowingly contaminated by Monsanto will tell you that buffer zones to permit coexistence among non-GMO and GMO crops don't work. That's a coexistence failure in the fields.

What may be worse is seed contamination. Large scale seed providers for farmers are getting GMO seeds inadvertently mixed into non-GMO seeds, creating unwitting purchases of GMO seeds by organic and conventional farmers.

In a 2006 foodwatch article, the Canadian farmer who fought Monsanto successfully, Percy Schmeiser stated absolutely that "coexistence is not possible." He spoke about how Canada was initially snowed by Monsanto's PR claims about higher yields, higher nutrition, and less chemical pollution. Farmers learned the reality was exactly opposite on all counts.

Percy said, "What it really meant was control of the seed supply and more sales of chemicals by the company. Many of the farm organizations, including the National Farmers Union of Canada, are working hard against any further introduction of GMOs."

Therein lies the only solution folks. For every new species approved by our corrupt federal agencies for genetic engineering, there goes the integrity of that species. GMO apples will eventually lead to no organic apples.

So how does the effort to stop new GMOs from being introduced begin in an area where the federal government and judicial system is corrupted by Monsanto's minions? Locally, with farmers on the front lines - read here: http://www.naturalnews.com/038718_GMO_labeling_healthy_food.html

Sources for this article include

http://laist.com/2013/03/08/6-year-old_girl_scout_petitions_for.php

http://www.naturalnews.com

http://foodwatch.de/english/genetic_engineering/index_ger.html

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/039455_Girl_Scout_cookies_GMOs_petition.html

How to heal your gut using everyday spices

2013-03-11T13:08:00.001-07:00

NaturalNews|
There are many reasons why people develop gastrointestinal problems -- poor diet, food sensitivities and allergies, genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), anxiety and stress are among the most common triggers. And while there is no one-size-fits-all method to treat gut-related disorders once they have already developed, there are a number of natural approaches that may provide relief beyond just removing and avoiding the triggers. Here are six everyday spices that can help heal your gut naturally without the need for pharmaceutical drugs:

1) Turmeric. One of the most medicinal spices known to man, turmeric, which is also commonly referred to as curcumin, its active ingredient, is a powerful anti-inflammatory herb that has been shown to help aid in the proper digestion of food. Because of its strong astringent qualities, turmeric can help seal the lining of the bowel and digestive tract, effectively blocking the condition commonly referred to as leaky gut syndrome.

Turmeric is also known to suppress the excess production of stomach acid, which can cause chronic stomach upset and even physical damage to the intestinal wall. And regular consumption of turmeric has been shown to help prevent gastroesophageal reflux, also known as heartburn, as well as prevent the formation of both gastric and duodenal ulcers.
(http://www.life-enhancement.com)

2) Coriander. Not to be confused with the spice cilantro, which comes from the plant's leaves, coriander, which is derived from cilantro seeds, contains a unique blend of volatile oils that is said to play an important role in the herb's ability to promote digestive healing. Linalool and geranyl acetate both occur naturally in coriander, and have been implicated in treating a host of gastrointestinal disorders.

A study published in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences, for instance, found that patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) benefited greatly from taking coriander for eight weeks as opposed to placebo. As it turns out, coriander works the same way as antispasmodic drugs to relax digestive muscles and alleviate IBS and other similar "overactive gut" disorders, but without causing harmful side effects. (http://experiencelife.com/article/5-healing-spices/)

3) Cumin. If bloating, indigestion, flatulence, diarrhea, or nausea characterize the state of your intestinal tract around mealtime, you might want to start taking cumin. This traditional North African spice aids in the digestion of food by stimulating the release of digestive enzymes during and after meals, and can also help generally soothe the digestive process.

Cumin contains two unique compounds known as cuminaldehyde and thymol that are essential for healthy digestion. The former helps activate the salivary glands, which break down food and prepare its nutrients for proper assimilation, while the latter prevents foods from fermenting in the digestive tract. Cumin also stimulates the digestive process by triggering the release of bile and other digestive enzymes responsible for breaking down food. (http://www.standardmedia.co.ke)

4) Fennel. Known for its licorice-type flavor, fennel is sometimes referred to as the digestive herb, and is particularly beneficial for women suffering from menstrual cramps. Rich in a volatile oil known as anethole, fennel happens to be loaded with a plethora of anti-inflammatory phytochemicals and other powerful nutrients that can help ease abdominal pain and promote healthy digestion, including in babies suffering from colic.

It is not uncommon in Indian culture to eat fennel seeds following meals, as chewing them is known to help promote the secretion of digestive and gastric juices, as well as ease stomach and intestinal inflammation. Fennel can also help increase the absorption of nutrients in the digestive tract, as well as prevent gas and bloating, thanks to its high content of aspartic acid. (http://completewellbeing.com/article/the-digestive-herb/)

5) Ginger. Ginger has long been used throughout the Orient as a remedy for indigestion, and it continues to be recognized today for its powerful ability to quell nausea and aid in the digestive process. Ginger is so beneficial for your gut, in fact, that studies have found it to be an effective remedy for both treating and preventing colorectal cancer, as well as several other types of the disease.

For everyday use, ginger has been found to ease an upset stomach, prevent diarrhea, eliminate feelings of nausea, and treat menstrual cramps. Many people, in fact, choose to take ginger rather than drugs when sailing or engaging in other activities that might cause sea or motion sickness. (http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/ginger-000246.htm)

6) Cayenne. Often mistakenly believed to cause digestive upset because of its intense spicy flavor, cayenne is actually a digestive soother. Not only does cayenne help stimulate the digestive process by promoting healthy muscle movement in the digestive tract, but it also helps regulate the proper production of digestive acids, aiding in the appropriate breakdown and assimilation of nutrients.

Cayenne can also help repair a damaged gut, including stomach ulcers that involve damaged intestinal lining. Many people swear by cayenne's unique ability to literally heal damaged stomach tissue, and studies have shown that capsaicin, the primary compound found in the pepper that makes its "hot," helps stimulate alkali, mucus secretions, and gastric mucosal blood flow, which aid in the healing of stomach ulcers. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16621751)

Sources for this article include:

http://institutefornaturalhealing.com

http://www.liverightlivewell.com

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/039436_gut_health_healing_spices.html

USDA | Common additive in organic food triggers significant inflammation and cancer

2013-03-07T09:01:00.001-08:00

NaturalNews |
Think the USDA has your back concerning organics? Think again. Behind closed doors, corporate interests reign supreme where certified organic policy is concerned. A prime example is the use of carrageenan as a common ingredient. Linked with cancer and inflammation, this accepted additive opens a floodgate of serious health issues. And consumers are generally unaware of the risks while savoring their organic fare. Fortunately, The Cornucopia Institute has exposed the hypocrisy while providing resources for avoiding this disturbing substance found in our favorite foods.

Nixon would be proud

Dubbed "The Organic Watergate -- White Paper," The Cornucopia Institute is one of the first organizations to expose the many instances of fraud regarding USDA organic certification. It's no wonder the policy is rife with abuse, just have a look at the following agribusinesses that represent the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB):

- Earthbound Farm (two representatives have served, a handler and a consumer representative)
- General Mills (four representatives have served, three handlers and a scientist)
- Dean Foods (farmer slot)
- Campbell Soup Company (handler slot)
- Grimmway Enterprises, Inc. (farmer slot)
- PurePak, Inc. (environmentalist slot)
- Campbell Soup Company (handler slot)
- Smucker's (handler slot)
- CROPP/Organic Valley (three representatives, all appointed to a farmer slot)
- Purina Ralcorp (handler slot)
- Driscoll's (farmer slot)
- Phillips Mushrooms (environmentalist slot)

This is the same board that created the policy regarding the use of carrageenan in organic foods. A controversial additive, its approval suggests the influence of corporate interests. According to the Institute:

"Carrageenan was reviewed in 1995 by three scientists with professional relationships to corporate agribusiness, and only one pointed out the potential human health impacts of degraded carrageenan. This is especially outrageous since the scientific community had known for decades, based on an abundance of peer-reviewed published literature, that degraded carrageenan is an inflammatory agent and carcinogenic in lab animals."

Read the label

Found in a wide variety of organic products, from almond and hemp milk to cottage cheese and yogurt, carrageenan is an familiar ingredient. Unfortunately, many are unaware that it can wreak havoc on the intestinal tract and cause inflammation of the gut -- aggravating conditions such as IBS, Chron's disease and ulcerative colitis. Carrageenan is also implicated in tumors and lesions of the intestine along with other inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and arteriosclerosis.

Lobbyists for the additive proclaim 'food grade' carrageenan is completely safe, the only culprit is degraded carrageenan. What proponents fail to address is the likely conversion of food grade carrageenan into the degraded form during digestion. Scientists have suspected this to be the case since the 1980s. To make the issue more complex, the European Scientific Committee on Food discovered that products containing food grade carrageenan were contaminated with up to 25 percent of the degraded variety.

Beth Buczynski, author of Non-Dairy Milk Additive Could Make You Sick, states, "... research funded by the National Institutes of Health raises serious concerns about harmful effects of carrageenan as an inflammatory agent on the human gastrointestinal tract. Even though carrageenan has been used by the food industry for nearly 50 years, it 'so reliably causes inflammation that scientists actually use it to induce inflammation in biological experiments.'"

As a result of the corrupt USDA Organic seal of approval, we can now enjoy this poisonous ingredient in a vast assortment of organic and natural food products. Thankfully, a choice is available once we are informed. For those who would rather avoid consuming carrageenan, browse this helpful shopping guide.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.cornucopia.org/USDA/OrganicWatergateWhitePaper.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1242073/

http://www.cornucopia.org/DrTobacmanComment_toNOSB.pdf

http://www.care2.com

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com

http://www.cornucopia.org

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/039384_organic_food_carrageenan_additive.html

Top eight herbal and natural remedies for eliminating stress

2013-03-06T10:25:00.000-08:00

NaturalNews |
According to the book Toxemia Explained written by Dr. John Tilden back in 1926, stress is the glue that holds toxemia together. He called all the different types of stress enervation, and toxemia is the condition of inflammation and mucous that doesn't get cleared out of the body.

Enervation acts like glue to hold inflammation and mucous in place, blocking elimination of even normal metabolic waste so that it builds up beyond the body's tolerance.

Dr. Tilden is considered the father of American naturopathy by some. And he described the mental aspects of enervation as indulging in lower negative energies, including fear, anxiety, anger, jealousy, and whatever we do to create stress or hold it in place.

Whatever reactions we have to actual stressful situations can be released, allowing the mind-body to restore to its normal balance. We get stuck in enervation by not releasing stressful reactions and indulging in over eating processed foods, which introduces toxemia.

Toxemia leads to cancer. Thus avoiding cancer and other diseases means first avoiding toxemia. You can download Dr. Tilden's 150-page book free from here: http://www.chrisbeatcancer.com

Most Natural News readers are familiar with dietary basics for well being as well as external pollutants that need to be avoided. But we live in conditions that are conducive to increased enervation from stress more than ever before. So this situation needs to be addressed.

Specific herbs and supplements to help alleviate enervation

Magnesium is a mineral vital to over 300 cellular metabolic events and is vital for heart health. It happens to be in short supply from our mineral depleted topsoil and it does get burned up with chronic stress.

According to Dr. Leo Galland: "Magnesium (Mg) deficiency increases susceptibility to the physiologic damage produced by stress. The adrenergic effects of psychological stress induce a shift of Mg from the intracellular to the extracellular space, increasing urinary excretion and eventually depleting body stores."

So it makes sense to supplement magnesium heavily in addition to eating lots of organic greens and cacao. Most oral supplements are not very assimilable. Dr. Mark Sircus, an occasional Natural News contributor, recommends applying magnesium oil topically. It can be purchased online.

It's not really oil, just feels like it. It comes from ancient water sources and its high mineral content makes it feel oily. Another good source comes a little pricier with health food store oral magnesium products like "Calm" or "A-B Calm." And they are calming. Many opt for the least expensive routine of soaking in a bath of Epsom salts to absorb magnesium.

Foods and oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids are important help stabilize one mentally and calm stress-induced anxiety. (http://www.naturalnews.com/omega-3.html)

Herbs to minimize enervation include St. John's Wort, well known for it's anxiety calming and anti-depressant qualities. Drinking chamomile tea is very relaxing after a stressful day. So is lemon balm tea. Ginseng taken regularly can also alleviate the effects of enervation or chronic stress.

Activities to alleviate stress that don't involve supplements or foods

Binging on comfort foods, consuming alcohol, or watching lots of TV only adds to enervation. Moderate exercise or walking in nature is used by many to release stress. But there is the possibility of taxing yourself back into enervation if you exercise too much.

There are activities specifically designed for relaxing, releasing stress, and leading to calmer, higher states of consciousness that are permanent enough to keep you out of enervation.

They are yoga, tai-chi, chi-gong, and meditation. The last pose of hatha (physical) yoga postures commonly known as the corpse pose is a precursor to meditation if done correctly. (http://alignlife.com/articles/healthyhabits/Master_Yoga_Pose/)

And meditation is ample enervation proofing for those who do it regularly. (http://www.naturalnews.com/028694_anti-aging_meditation.html)

Sources for this article include:

http://www.wholeliving.com

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/walnuts-can-help-you-beat-stress

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/039375_stress_reduction_herbal_remedies_enervation.html#ixzz2MmkprZMA

Benefits of lettuce for digestion | Organic Veggies

2013-03-05T08:50:00.001-08:00

NaturalNews |
Lettuce is one of the most popular green and leafy vegetables today, mostly used for salads. Their nutritional value may vary depending on the specific type of lettuce in question. What's noteworthy though, is the ability of lettuce to affect a person's digestion. For those who are currently suffering from digestive problems, the following are some of the known links between this vegetable and the digestive tract.

Lettuce and fiber content

Lettuce is a good source of dietary fiber which is best known for its ability to aid with digestion. The fiber content of lettuce helps with constipation, providing instant relief for those who are suffering from stomach pains. When consumed on a regular basis, individuals will find themselves experiencing regular bowel movement. Contents of this vegetable even provide help with acid indigestion and other dietary complications.

Lettuce itself aids with the digestion

It helps the stomach process different food types, allowing them to pass easily through the body. In fact, eating lettuce is one of the best ways to decrease the risks of having colon cancer. It also helps with urinary tract diseases and effectively slows down digestion of food.

Non digestion benefits of lettuce

Note that although lettuce is widely known for its ability to help with digestion, that's not the only health benefit of lettuce. The vegetable is also packed with vitamin C which helps boost the immune system. It also helps with keeping the heart healthy and is associated with keeping cancer at bay. In some cases, lettuce is seen as an effective method to prevent premature ejaculation in men.

Perhaps the most popular advantage of eating lettuce is the fact that it has very low calorie content. This means that individuals who want to lose weight are welcome to eat the vegetable every day. What's better is that it is rich in fiber. Hence, lettuce provides that "full" feeling, allowing a person to control what they eat.

Keep in mind though that the benefits of lettuce on health and digestion may still depend on the amount of lettuce eaten. It's important that portion control is practiced by individuals since too much can cause digestion problems rather than prevent it.

Ways to serve lettuce

Although lettuce is most often served as a salad together with different dips, the leaves can actually be eaten alone. They are actually a great snack substitute since they offer that distinctive "crunch" people feel when they bite into something delicious. Of course, adding lettuce to a salad or a sandwich works too and doesn't detract too much from its health value.

A good way to serve lettuce that is slowly gaining popularity today is through juicing. Simply use a blender or a juicer to turn the vegetable into something that can be easily drunk. By doing this, individuals will not only get the purest form of the juice but also create their own mixes according to taste. In some cases, individuals add in different fruits or vegetables to make the juice more palatable and healthier.

Sources for this article include:http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/lettuce.html
http://www.botanical-online.com/medicinalslactucasativasangles.htm
http://www.hsc.on.ca/moffatt/bio3a/digestive/digp5.htm

Learn more by: Sandeep Godiyal

www.borganic.org

How too much sugar leads to cancer

2013-03-04T11:05:00.000-08:00

NaturalNews |

High levels of sugar in the blood spark a biochemical cascade that can lead directly to cancer, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid and published in the journal Molecular Cell.

The research may help explain the long-known connection between poor diet and increased cancer risk.

While sugars are necessary for many bodily functions, a healthy person's blood sugar levels remain within a relatively narrow range due to the hormones glucagon and insulin. When blood sugar levels are slightly too high, a person is diagnosed as prediabetic. When blood sugar levels climb even higher, a person is considered diabetic.

Both prediabetes and diabetes are significantly more common in overweight and obese people; indeed, Type II diabetes is actually caused by many of the same factors as obesity. Researchers have long known that diabetics and obese people have a much higher cancer risk, but the reasons for this have remained unclear.

"Previously we were unsure about how increased blood sugar found in diabetes and obesity could increase cancer risk," said Colin Goding of Oxford University, who was not involved in the study. "This study ... opens the way for potential novel therapies aimed at reducing cancer risk in the obese and diabetic populations."

The new findings came from a study examining how intestinal cells react to sugars by releasing GIP, a hormone that signals the pancreas to release insulin. The researchers found that a protein called s-catenin plays a critical role in intestinal cells' ability to release GIP, and that s-catenin becomes more active in the presence of too much sugar.

Significantly, prior research has shown that s-catenin can also interfere with the natural life cycles of cells, causing them to become immortal and thereby precancerous. Further tests by the researchers confirmed that in the presence of high sugar levels, cells begin to accumulate s-catenin in their nuclei, leading directly to the cell proliferation associated with cancerous tumors.

Why a healthy diet is so important

"We were surprised to realize that changes in our metabolism caused by dietary sugar impact on our cancer risk," lead researcher Custodia Garcia Jimenez said. "We are now investigating what other dietary components may influence our cancer risk. Changing diet is one of easiest prevention strategies that can potentially save a lot of suffering and money."

63 percent of deaths worldwide are now caused by noncommunicable diseases, many of which - such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease - are strongly linked to lifestyle factors. Health experts estimate that about one in three cancers could be prevented by improved diet and exercise habits.

But globally, both obesity and diabetes are on the rise. According to the World Health Organization, one in 10 adults around the world are now obese, and global obesity rates are doubling every 20 years. One in 10 adults are also diabetic, and the disease was responsible for 4.6 million deaths in 2011. In the United States, diabetes kills more than two people every hour.

Sources:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130201100149.htm

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/039333_sugar_consumption_cancer_diabetes.html#ixzz2MbDslsxI

Tyson, Cargill among others now drugging your meat with Merck's new Zilmax

2013-02-28T11:51:00.001-08:00

NaturalNews |

Merck scientists have introduced a new drug to the meat industry - Zilmax. This drug bulks up cattle in the last few weeks of their lives, bringing in more revenue for feedlot owners. Four major meat companies now use Zilmax, including Tyson Foods, JBS SA, Cargill, and National Beef Packing Co. Reportedly, Cargill resisted Zilmax for years, but finally got on board to keep up with the market.

Recycling the drug

Zilmax was once called Zilpaterol and was used to treat asthma in humans. The drug was an absolute failure but was found to be a repartitioning agent - a drug that changes metabolism so more muscles are produced instead of fat. The World Anti-Doping Agency banned the drug for human consumption, so Merck re-branded the drug Zilmax and started selling it to feedlots as a growth stimulant.

Journalist visits meat locker, disgusted

As a journalist for Chronicle of Higher Education, Melody Peterson described her visit to the meat locker at West Texas A&M University. Escorted by Ty E. Lawrence, associate professor of animal science, Peterson reported,

"Bloody sides of beef, still covered with a slick layer of ivory-colored fat, hung from steel hooks. Dressed in a white lab coat, a hard hat on his head, Lawrence pointed to the carcass of a Holstein that had been fed a new drug called Zilmax. He noted its larger size compared with the nearby body of a steer never given the drug."

"'This is thicker, and it's plumper,' said Lawrence, pointing at the beast's rib-eye. 'This animal right here,' waving his hand at the pharmaceutically enhanced meat, 'doesn't look like a Holstein anymore.'"

Not a Holstein anymore: is that really something to be proud about? If a Holstein doesn't look like a Holstein anymore, what are we eating and what are we becoming?

Drugged up beef has more profit

The drought in 2012 made it easier for Merck to sell Zilmax. Without needing any more feed or water, a cow can now yield 33 pounds of extra beef when drugged with Zilmax. According to Zilmax advertisements, food production has everything to do with profit now instead of giving people healthy, real meat.

One of their ads boasts:

"Costs $20 Makes you $40 THAT'S ZILMANOMICS! Beef you can count on. Feed Zilmax for the last 20 days for an additional 30 pounds of hot carcass weight and an extra $40 per head, gross profit. That's every four weeks. Let's see the folks on Wall Street beat those returns!"

University researchers, agriculture industry, and pharmaceuticals protecting one another

Agriculture schools increasingly depend on the agriculture industry for research grants. A large portion of those grants cover overhead and administrative costs. Many professors now work for the agriculture companies as consultants and speakers, adding to their personal bank accounts along the way. In a 2005 survey, more than two-thirds of animal scientists reported they had received money from the industry in the previous five years. Critics say some academic animal scientists have become so closely tied to the drug companies that they may be working more in the big companies' interests. Weren't land-grant universities created to serve farmers, ranchers, and their fellow man?

Survive by resistance

Resistance of the big industry drugged-up beef and sell-out university's advice will be the way forward for many American's seeking healthy choices.

Read the labels. Know where food comes from. Ask questions. Buy organic. The American republic can restore its health through knowledge and awareness. With strength in numbers, the people can change the game.

Sources for this article include:

http://money.msn.com
http://chronicle.com/article/As-Beef-Cattle-Become/131480/
http://www.foodrenegade.com/zilmax-growth-promotant-for-cattle/

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/039290_Zilmax_cattle_Cargill.html#ixzz2ME1Poaas

Horsemeat scandal and global processed food suppliers linked to arms trafficking

2013-02-27T10:30:00.001-08:00

NaturalNews |
The unfolding horse meat outrage currently engulfing Europe has taken on a new, bizarre twist, according to investigators. Key figures involved in the unfolding scandal have been linked to a similar secretive network of companies that have ties to convicted Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout.

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, an Eastern European-based group comprised of investigative journalists who have been tracking and reporting on the scandal, has now identified an intermediary business, Draap Trading - which is based in Limassol, Cyprus - as playing a primary role in distributing the horse meat across Europe.

Rocket propelled grenades, automatic weapons - and horse meat?

Britain's The Guardian newspaper, which is also tracking the story, reported that Draap has since confirmed it bought horse meat from a pair of Romanian slaughterhouses before selling the meat to French food processors including the firm Spanghero. That company, in turn, supplied the horse meat to yet another company, Comigel, which turned it into frozen meals for third-party companies like Findus. Some of those frozen dinners contained nearly 100 percent horse meat.

Draap officials say the meat the company supplied to French food processors was clearly labeled as horse meat. Spanghero said the meat was labeled as "beef."

Jan Fasen, who heads up Draap and has denied wrongdoing, "was convicted last year of selling South American horse meat as German and Dutch beef," The Guardian reported.

From here the story gets more bizarre.

The 'merchant of death'

According to investigative reports, Draap's sole director, apparently, is an anonymous corporate services firm called GuardStand, which was established in Limassol in 1996. A joint report released in 2011 by the International Peace Information Service and TransArms, an organization that researches and tracks arms shipments, contained evidence that GuardStand also owned a share in a firm called Ilex Ventures, "a connection that links the company to the global arms trade and Victor Bout," the paper said.

U.S. prosecutors have since filed documents in court alleging that, in 2007, Bout and an associated transferred some $750,000 (?483,000) to Ilex to buy an aircraft used to transport arms and ammunition to trouble spots throughout Africa, in violation of arms embargoes.

The prosecutors have said Ilex was owned and controlled by Bout, who is known as international weapons dealer, "the merchant of death." He was sentenced in April 2012 to 25 years in prison for smuggling arms.

However, who exactly owns GuardStand, and why Draap employs the firm as a director, is an unknown that is likely to be further scrutinized by officials looking into the widening horse meat scandal.

"GuardStand's sole shareholder is Trident Trust," The Guardian said, "a business based in Cyprus that specializes in establishing companies in tax havens chiefly for Russian and Ukrainian clients and which helped set up Ilex."

Petros Livanios, who manages Trident and is a former director of Ilex, declined press interviews.

Cyprus a known international mafia haven

Learn more by J. D. Heyes

Fake sweetener Splenda fills our oceans, scientists find

2013-02-19T14:13:00.001-08:00

NaturalNews |
A new study by scientists from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington found that the bulk of the popular sweetener Splenda, which is used all over the world, is winding up in the Gulf Stream, the "conveyor belt of water transport" that circulates in the Atlantic Ocean from the coast of North American to Europe, Africa and beyond.

The study, conducted by the scientists at the university's Marine Atmospheric Chemistry Research Laboratory and the journal Marine Chemistry, said that only about 10 percent of the main component in Splenda, which is sucralose, is absorbed by the body, meaning 90 percent of it leaves the body and winds up in sewage systems.

"Sucralose, discovered in 1976 and made popular by Splenda in 1999, is used in 80 countries to sweeten foods and drinks without the calories and carbohydrates of sugar," said the university in a press release. "Although it is a derivative of table sugar (sucrose), sucralose cannot be effectively broken down by the bacteria in the human digestive tract. As a result, the body absorbs little or no calories and 90 percent of the chemical compound leaves the body through human waste and enters sewage systems."

Long-term effects? We don't know yet, and that's the problem

Ralph Mead, Brooks Avery, Jeremy Morgan and Robert Kieber, professors at the lab, along with graduate student Aleksandra Kirk, said they were surprised by the dearth of peer-reviewed research regarding what happens to sucralose once it enters the environment.

They said some scientists from Switzerland and North America previously found the chemical compound inland, but the MACRL researchers focused on whether sucralose had entered ocean currents.

After the research team found significant levels of the compound in North Carolina's Cape Fear River, scientists conducted research cruises, sampling waters of the Gulf Stream off the coasts of North Carolina and Florida.

"All of the samples revealed the presence of sucralose," said the university, "which indicated that the artificial sweetener endures the wastewater treatment processes designed to dissolve foreign chemicals."

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/039156_Splenda_ocean_pollution_environment.html#ixzz2LNySU0fr

Magnesium: Helping people achieve better health

2013-02-11T13:55:00.001-08:00

NaturalNews |

Magnesium is one of the many minerals that are essential in improving overall health. It is known as the fourth most abundant mineral found in the human body. Around 50 percent of the magnesium in the body can be found in the bones while the remaining 50 percent is present within the cells of organs and tissues. A deficiency of this essential mineral triggers a lot of problems including those that affect digestion and sleep quality, and high blood pressure or hypertension. Among the major signs that a person is already suffering from magnesium deficiency are the following:

Emotional symptoms including restlessness, hyperactivity, anxiety, irritability, mood swings and depression

Structural symptoms such as muscle spasms, weakness, chronic fatigue and osteoporosis

Cardiovascular symptoms including yellow and fatty arterial plaque, high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat

Premenstrual syndrome

Blood sugar difficulties

Sleep difficulty

Neurological symptoms like pain sensitivity and migraine attacks

It should be noted that this deficiency is also caused by a wide range of factors including excessive sugar, sodas and alcohol intake, over-consumption of coffee and chocolates, high intake of animal protein, high salt and dairy intake, regular exposure to loud noise or music, stress, excessive heat and isolated supplementation of calcium.

Why magnesium is essential to human health

Numerous aspects of human health cannot be expected to survive without an adequate supply of magnesium. One of the many things that magnesium can do is to safely regulate blood pressure. A person who strictly follows a diet plan with fruits and vegetables that are rich in magnesium and potassium can expect to enjoy a lower blood pressure.

People who regularly supply their body with the right amount of magnesium can also expect to enjoy a healthier cardiovascular system. This mineral plays a major role in preventing strokes and heart attacks. Evidence also show that magnesium deficiency increases the risk of dealing with abnormal heart rhythms that trigger complications linked to heart attacks. Reliable research also show that those who have high levels of magnesium in their blood have the lowest risk of suffering from coronary heart diseases.

Another aspect of human health that can greatly benefit from the adequate consumption of foods rich in magnesium is the neurological system. The mineral works in relaxing the nerves and getting rid of any tension, resulting in better sleep. It is also essential in the proper functioning of the brain, digestive system, lungs and nerves; and in the sending of correct messages to his glands, muscles and organs, thereby ensuring that the entire body functions well.

Sources for this article include

1. Why Magnesium is so Important?
http://www.calmag-c.com/2010/04/why-is-magnesium-so-important/

2. Magnesium - Important for your Health
http://www.gvtc.co.uk/articles/article008.html

3. Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Magnesium
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/

About the author:
My name is Sandeep, and I'm a freelance writer and editor. I have previously worked in a content-based company at a managerial level, and now I am currently writing articles for www.quickeasyfit.com.

Learn more

www.borganic.org

Medical marijuana reduces chronic pharmaceutical use, study finds

2013-01-30T10:13:00.002-08:00

NaturalNews |

Medical marijuana may help reduce the use of pharmaceutical drugs among the elderly, providing a safer alternative to drugs that often carry serious side effects, according to a study conducted by researchers from Tel Aviv University. The researchers also found that elderly participants who took medical marijuana achieved not just pain reduction, but also improvement in markers of physical, emotional and cognitive health.

The study was conducted on 19 residents of the Hadarim nursing home in Israel who were between the ages of 69 and 101 and suffered from medical conditions including pain, muscle spasm, tremors and lack of appetite. Participants used medical marijuana (cannabis) in the form of smoke, vapor, oil or powder three times per day. Over the course of a year, participants were monitored for physical improvement and for improvement in quality of life factors such as mood and facility with everyday activities.

Within one year of treatment, 17 of the 19 patients had achieved a healthy weight, with some of the participants experiencing weight gain and the others experiencing weight loss, as needed. Muscle spasms, stiffness, tremors, pain, nightmares, and flashbacks related to post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) were significantly reduced among participants, while sleeping hours were significantly increased. Participants also experienced a significant improvement in mood and in communication skills.

Use of pharmaceutical drugs reduced

Notably, participants also significantly reduced their use of pharmaceutical drugs such as antipsychotics, painkillers, mood stabilizers and drugs for Parkinson's disease. After one year of medical marijuana treatment, 72 percent of study participants had reduced their use of

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/038883_medical_marijuana_pharmaceuticals_drug_use.html#ixzz2JTx8xKfb

www.newscaller.com

Vaccine court' awards millions to two autistic children damaged by vaccines

2013-01-28T10:56:00.000-08:00

NaturalNews |

Quietly and without much fanfare, the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), or more accurately the congressionally-sanctioned kangaroo court whose sole purpose is to shield the vaccine industry from liability for vaccine injuries, has essentially admitted that vaccines cause autism. As reported by the Huffington Post, two more children who developed autism following routine vaccinations have been awarded millions of dollars to help pay for the lifetime of specialized care they will need to address their injuries.

The first case involves a 10-year-old boy named Ryan from California who quickly regressed into an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) following routine vaccinations he received between 2003 and 2005, and specifically the combination measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Prior to getting vaccinated, Ryan was a perfectly healthy young boy who was actually quite advanced for his age, according to reports. But after getting the MMR vaccine on December 19, 2003, he rather quickly developed an encephalopathy, or serious inflammation, in his brain.

Ryan's family and friends testified before the kangaroo court that the cumulative effect of the boy's receiving multiple vaccines from 2003-2005 caused him to suffer "neuroimmunologically mediated dysfunctions in the form of asthma and ASD," a claim that the federal government eventually admitted to be true several years later. Ryan's family eventually received compensation for his "Vaccine Table Injury," but pertinent details about the case have been sealed, including particulars about whether or not the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agreed with the court's decision.

You can read further details about Ryan's case here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/post2468343_b_2468343.html

Similarly, a young girl named Emily developed a seizure disorder and a form of ASD known as pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specific (PDD-NOS) following vaccination with DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis), as well as MMR, HiB (haemophilus influenzae type B), and Prevnar (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine), at 15 months old. According to Emily's court filing, the young girl developed a fever of 105.7 degrees Fahrenheit following the vaccines, which developed into seizures, shaking episodes, and a measles-type rash.

Initially, the government attempted to deny that Emily's injuries were caused by vaccines. The defendants even tried to deny that Emily was even sick in the first place. But it was eventually determined that young Emily had indeed developed an ASD, and the government agreed to settle the case by awarding Emily's family for her vaccine-induced injuries. In Emily's case, the government never came right out and admitted that vaccines were the cause of her injuries, but its actions in dropping its defense prove that there is no other logical explanation.

Emily's case is spelled out further here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/post2468343_b_2468343.html

Courts have quietly admitted in the past that vaccines cause autism, brain damage

Back in 2008, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims also admitted that vaccines, and particularly those that contain the mercury-based preservative Thimerosal, can cause autism. A young girl, whose identity was sealed for the family's protection, was awarded compensation after a series of vaccines caused her to develop severe autism symptoms, including loss of language skills, no response to verbal direction, and no eye contact, among other things.

A year prior, a young boy named Bailey was also awarded compensation after suffering a seizure and developing Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) following vaccination with MMR. Bailey's family was eventually awarded compensation for the boy's injuries, which the court reluctantly admitted were caused by the vaccine.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/post2468343_b_2468343.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/BANKS_CASE.pdf

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/038858_vaccine_court_autistic_children_damaged.html#ixzz2JIWxoLNM

www.borganic.org

COPD Treatments | Easy lifestyle changes

2013-01-22T13:20:00.001-08:00

NaturalNews

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is mainly caused by smoking. Subjecting the lungs to cigarette smoke for a prolonged period of time degenerates and damages the healthy cells of lungs and with time, breathing becomes compromised. Much of the COPD treatments are aimed at preventing further damage and making a patient feel better. COPD, most often, is a combination of two conditions: chronic bronchitis, where bronchial tubes that carry air become inflamed and produce a lot of mucus, and emphysema, where tiny air sacs that expand and contract when breathing in and out are damaged, making the person feel short of breath.

Lifestyle changes can reduce COPD symptoms and progression

Lifestyle changes may help ease breathing and reduce episodes of COPD exacerbation in which sudden flare-ups of symptoms occur. Patients can adopt self-rehabilitation COPD treatment programs that help manage the symptoms and prevent its progression. Simple changes in lifestyle coupled with complete avoidance of tobacco smoking can help patients improve quality of life.

Nutritional intervention can help in managing COPD

Nutritional intervention in COPD treatments have many benefits. Fruits and vegetables have shown to have remarkable effects in preventing the progression of COPD. Eating foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as sardines, flax seeds, salmon, and walnuts also help reduce the risk of COPD or decrease its rate of progression. Too much salt (sodium) should be avoided also. Salt will cause water retention which could affect the ability to breathe. Some fruits such as avocados, melons, and apples, which are effective in treating other ailments, may not be recommended when dealing with COPD. These fruits cause bloating and gas which may lead to breathing problems.

Improve quality of air in the home

Air quality in the home may be poor due to allergens and irritants, which may trigger COPD symptoms. Flare-ups can be avoided by ensuring that good air quality is maintained. Giving up smoking is imperative, along with staying away from second-hand smoke. One of the best natural ways to manage COPD symptoms is to keep the house free from dampness and/or moisture.

Increased moisture content in your home will lead to growth of mildew, bacteria and mold, which can cause infections. Dampness may also trigger allergic conditions of the respiratory system causing breathing problems. Try to keep the bathrooms well ventilated and repair any leaking or dripping faucets. The humidity needs to be controlled by eliminating condensation and moisture. Polluted air needs to be extracted from the house and if there are gas appliances like dryers and water heaters; they need to be connected to a vent that emits smoke outside.

Emotions and feelings will aggravate COPD symptoms

Emotional response has its effects on COPD treatments. Feelings of anxiety may occur when the brain senses that breathing is compromised. This may create panic and could aggravate symptoms of COPD.

Similarly, depression is inherent in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and this is because the breathlessness and loss of appetite that may result in weight loss leaves the person with feelings of negativity and loss. Depression may also result in resuming unhealthy habits, such as smoking cigarettes and drinking too much alcohol, causing further deterioration.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.healthline.com/health/copd/diet-nutrition
http://www.healthline.com/health/copd/managing-at-home
http://www.healthline.com/health/copd/anxiety
http://www.healthline.com/health/copd/depression
http://www.healthline.com/health/copd/sex
http://www.nutritionmd.org

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/038771_COPD_symptoms_nutrition.html#ixzz2Ik2H3Czg

Lower your breast cancer risk with carotenoids

2013-01-20T15:53:00.000-08:00

NaturalNews|

According to a recent analysis of international studies, "Circulating Carotenoids and Risk of Breast Cancer: Pooled Analysis of Eight Prospective Studies," women whose diet include high carotenoid intake have a greatly reduced breast cancer risk.

An analysis of eight international studies were pooled by medical researchers and statisticians at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Their study was reported to the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in October of 2012.

Eight international studies of carotenoid blood levels totaling over 7,000 women were pooled. Slightly over 3,000 were breast cancer case studies and the other nearly 4,000 were control subjects. They were statistically adjusted to assorted variables.

Significantly high inverse associations were observed with high circulating carotenoid blood levels of alpha and beta carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin. These can all be found in fresh, organic fruits and vegetables listed later in this article.

Can't resist kicking Komen around some

That's information that you will never get from the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the pink ribbon bunch that garners big bucks for their huge salaries, including over a half-million dollars a year for its director with executives receiving an average of a quarter-million dollars annually.

This "foundation" uses fear and bleeding heart guilt to sponsor fund raising events with the promise of a foreseeable cure that Big Pharma and the cancer industry will never deliver.

They promote early detection by guiding women into mammograms that even mainstream medicine considers faulty at best. (http://www.naturalnews.com/gallery/articles/Komen_Deception_BMJ.jpg)

Komen doesn't endorse or support free thermography sessions. Thermography reads tissue and organ temperature differences without using radiation or exerting pressure on the breasts. It has been developed to the point of recognizing pre-tumorous conditions in tissues before they fully develop fully into tumors.

If they were really concerned about early breast cancer detection being a life saver, they would promote thermography. Could be they don't because Komen owns stock in companies that manufacture mammogram equipment. (http://www.naturalnews.com)

They also obtain sponsors whose products, which are often carcinogenic, get cheap advertising and positive PR profiles by donating 10 percent of their sales from a specified period to Koman.

Now, Komen even has a Miss America contest contender, Alyn Rose, as a spokeswoman for them. Rose is committed to having both of her breasts surgically removed as a preventative measure because she thinks she's genetically predisposed to breast cancer. (http://www.naturalnews.com)

Less drastic measures for everyone else

Exposing bare skin to sunshine or UVB tanning beds for at least 20 minutes, three or four times a week and/or adding vitamin D3 supplements may furnish enough vitamin D to help prevent cancer of any kind. Vitamin C supplements will offer protection as well.

Minimize sugar intake. Cancer cells thrive on it. But don't use artificial sweeteners. They are carcinogenic. So are most commercial cosmetic products and commercial household cleansers, even detergents. There are natural products from which to choose at health food stores as well as some Target stores.

Details of fresh, organic produce that provide the carotenoids listed in the study can be found here: (http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=116). Zeaxanthin is available as a supplement.

If you are concerned about early detection, request a hand manipulation tumor search or use thermography instead of radiation emitting mammograms.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.vitasearch.com/get-clp-summary/40515

http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org

Exposed: 10 Factos about the Breast Cancer Insustry ... by Mike Adams http://www.naturalnews.com/024536_cancer_women_breast.html

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/038751_breast_cancer_carotenoids_risk.html#ixzz2IYxhreYV

Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious?

2013-01-09T14:03:00.000-08:00

By Mayo Clinic staff |

Once found only in health food stores, organic food is now a regular feature at most supermarkets. And that's created a bit of a dilemma in the produce aisle. On one hand, you have a conventionally grown apple. On the other, you have one that's organic. Both apples are firm, shiny and red. Both provide vitamins and fiber, and both are free of fat, sodium and cholesterol. Which should you choose?
Conventionally grown produce generally costs less, but is organic food safer or more nutritious? Get the facts before you shop.

Conventional vs. organic farming

The word "organic" refers to the way farmers grow and process agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution. Farmers who grow organic produce and meat don't use conventional methods to fertilize, control weeds or prevent livestock disease. For example, rather than using chemical weedkillers, organic farmers may conduct more sophisticated crop rotations and spread mulch or manure to keep weeds at bay.

Here are some key differences between conventional farming and organic farming:

Conventional	Organic
Apply chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth.	Apply natural fertilizers, such as manure or compost, to feed soil and plants.
Spray synthetic insecticides to reduce pests and disease.	Spray pesticides from natural sources; use beneficial insects and birds, mating disruption or traps to reduce pests and disease.
Use synthetic herbicides to manage weeds.	Use environmentally-generated plant-killing compounds; rotate crops, till, hand weed or mulch to manage weeds.
Give animals antibiotics, growth hormones and medications to prevent disease and spur growth.	Give animals organic feed and allow them access to the outdoors. Use preventive measures — such as rotational grazing, a balanced diet and clean housing — to help minimize disease.

Antibiotics are proven ineffective for coughs: Try Chinese medicine and herbs instead

2013-01-07T17:06:00.000-08:00

NaturalNews |

Antibiotic effectiveness has been reduced because of over-prescribing
“Using the antibiotic amoxicillin to treat respiratory infections in patients not suspected of having pneumonia is not likely to help and could be harmful,” Little said.
“Overuse of antibiotics, dominated by primary care prescribing, particularly when they are ineffective, can lead to the development of resistance and have side effects like diarrhea, rash and vomiting,” Little continued. “Our results show that people get better on their own. But given that a small number of patients will benefit from antibiotics the challenge remains to identify these individuals.”
Earlier research into whether antibiotics were actually beneficial in the treatment of chest infections that included symptoms of weakness, high fever, shortness of breath, fatigue and coughing, produced conflicting conclusions, especially in older adults where chest infections have the potential of causing additional complications.

Researchers randomly assigned and divided patients into two groups – one that received an antibiotic for their cough and one that received a placebo – three times daily for seven days.
The study found little measurable difference in the severity and duration of symptoms that were reported from each patient group. Similar findings occurred in older patients as well – those who were aged 60 or older, a demographic that accounted for one-third of the entire study population.
Additionally, those who took antibiotics reported having more side effects, including nausea, rash and diarrhea, compared to those taking the placebo.
The study is particularly important, given the growing human resistance to antibiotics being seen all around the globe.

Fortunately, there are alternatives to treating mild forms of chest infections and cough, and it’s a treatment that has been around for centuries.
“Traditional Chinese medicine is especially effective in the treatment of coughs because of its careful differentiation of the various types,” write Bill Schoenbart and Ellen Shefi for Discovery Health.
For instance, they note, coughs due to heat produce a sticky phlegm that’s difficult to expectorate, so it is treated with cooling, moistening herbs and acupuncture directed at specific points on the body which clear heat from the lungs.

By comparison, “cough due to cold is accompanied by chills and copious mucus; it is treated with warming, drying herbs and the application of moxibustion,” a traditional Chinese medicine therapy using moxa, or mugwort herb, they wrote.

Here are two more treatment options for cough:
– Treating a dryness cough caused by wind: Usually contracted due to overexposure to a dry environment, symptoms are a dry, non-productive cough accompanied by a sore throat with a ticklish sensation. The focus is to repel the dryness; a typical formula includes Sang Xing Tang (pronounced sahng shing tahng), which helps moisten the lungs and repel the “dryness pernicious influence,” Schoenbart and Shefi said. The treatment should be accompanied by a diet of soups and plenty of liquids, and follow-up treatment should include American ginseng daily for two weeks.
– General acupuncture therapy: Acupuncture therapy in general is an ideal way to treat coughs from a number of causes. “Needling a point on the Conception Vessel meridian (an extra meridian) just above the sternum can quickly calm a cough and assist breathing. Moxa therapy is used typically in the cold, damp type of cough, since there is a need for warmth in that pattern,” Schoenbart and Shefi wrote.
Most Americans tend to use over-the-counter elixirs to treat coughs, but many of them prove ineffective. Chinese therapies can help.
Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20767470
http://health.howstuffworks.com
http://www.activeherb.com/cough/
http://www.fda.gov

Learn more By J. D. Heyes

www.newscaller.com

How to prevent gallstones with everyday foods | Organic Foods

2013-01-06T10:39:00.000-08:00

Newscaller.com |

Hoping to avoid gallstones while doing nothing to actually prevent them from forming is like hoping your car will not run out of fuel while never visiting a gas station. If you are serious about preventing gallstones, in other words, it is important to regularly feed your body the nutrients it needs to maintain a clean, well-functioning gallbladder. Here are some useful tips for preventing gallstones with everyday foods:

1) Juice fresh fruits and vegetables daily. The gallbladder is designed to work in conjunction with the liver to digest food and eliminate toxins. But when one or both of these vital organs gets clogged up due to poor nutrition or toxic buildup, cholesterol can crystallize with calcium to form gallstones. At this point, it becomes much more difficult to break these stones down and prevent them from further complicating your health.
Juicing fresh, alkalizing fruits and vegetables, however, can help quell inflammation and enzymatically detoxify both your liver and gallbladder on a regular basis. Raw, unfiltered apple juice, which is rich in pectin, will help soften and disintegrate any existing gallstones, as well as prevent new ones from forming. Lemons, celery, tomatoes, and beets are also excellent additions to any daily juicing regimen.
If you suffer from existing gallbladder pain, the following juicing recipe may be helpful in eliminating that pain, and any gallstones you might already have:
http://www.gallbladderattack.com/beetrecipe.shtml#beetrecipe

2) Make sure you are eating enough healthy fats. Though some experts encourage gallbladder patients to avoid fats altogether, especially when they have already had gallbladder surgery, certain fats are actually helpful in warding off potential and existing gallstones. Olive oil is often included in many gallbladder detoxification regimens, for instance, and healthy saturated fats from coconut oil and grass-fed animal products actually help synergize the assimilation of important nutrients from other foods that are responsible for maintaining a clean liver and gallbladder.
Just be sure to avoid toxic fats such as soybean and canola oil, which come from a class of fats that are a primary cause of disease-causing inflammation. Chronic inflammation, as we have covered before, is responsible for causing high cholesterol, as vegetable-based and hydrogenated oils are dangerously high in omega-6 fatty acids compared to omega-3 fatty acids. By taking more omega-3-rich fish oils and eating only animal fats that come from hormone-free, pasture-based animals, you can help naturally lower your cholesterol and take a significant toxic burden off your vital organs (http://www.naturalnews.com).

3) Supplement with either sunflower or non-GMO soy lecithin. One of the easiest and quickest ways to dissolve gallstones is to supplement with lecithin derived from either sunflower or non-GMO (genetically-modified organism) soy. As it turns out, lecithin, a fatty substance made of choline and inositol, is a primary component of cell membranes, and requires high amounts of bile to digest. When it enters the liver after ingestion, lecithin is dissolved into this bile, and in the process hardened gallstones are also dissolved.
“A low lecithin concentration in the bile may be a causative factor for many individuals with gallstones,” writes Michael T. Murray, N.D., in his book Textbook of Natural Medicine, 2nd Edition, Volume 2. “Studies have shown that taking as little as 100 mg (milligrams) of lecithin three times per day will increase the concentration of lecithin in the bile, while larger doses (up to 10 g) produce even greater increases.”

Read More

Seven amazing health benefits of coffee enemas | Naturalnews

2012-12-21T10:21:00.000-08:00

Newscaller.com | If you are truly serious about transforming your health in dramatic ways, implementing coffee enemas into your regular routine is essential for achieving the life-changing results you have always desired. No matter what dietary protocols, exercise routines, or lifestyle habits you embrace, coffee enemas can help you reach the next level of vibrant health that you might not have even thought possible. Here are seven specific ways that coffee enemas can drastically improve your health:

1) Coffee enemas reduce levels of systemic toxicity by up to 700 percent. According to the late Dr. Max Gerson, a pioneer of coffee enema therapy and its effectiveness as part of his famous Gerson Diet, caffeine and other beneficial compounds in coffee stimulate the production of glutathione S-transferase (GST) in the liver. GST is said to be the “master detoxifier” in the body, as this powerful enzyme binds with toxins throughout the body and flushes them out during the enema process.
According to a 1982 study conducted by the National Research Council (NRC), the effect of

green coffee bean consumption on the production of GST in test mice was an astounding 600 percent increase in the liver, and a 700 percent increase in the small intestine. In humans, the effect is similar, if not amplified, during a coffee enema, as coffee is able to directly stimulate the liver without having to first run through the digestive tract. The result is a powerful detoxifying effect that is unmatched by sheer diet alone.

2) Coffee enemas cleanse and heal the colon and digestive tract, improve peristalsis. Besides detoxifying, coffee enemas also cleanse and flush the digestive tract and colon without substantially disrupting the beneficial flora that populate a healthy gut. By regularly taking coffee enemas, you will not only help keep your digestive tract clean and free of debris and toxic buildup, but you will also promote healthy peristalsis, which is the series of organized muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract and the tubular organs that connect to the kidneys and bladder.

3) Coffee enemas boost energy levels, improve mental clarity and mood. As with any detox protocol, the body is effectively ridding itself of poisons that sludge up the blood; decrease oxygen transfer; and clog up the intestines, all of which generally leave a person feeling fatigued and ill. A coffee enema is a particularly effective detoxifier; however, as the direct absorption of caffeine and palmitates into the bloodstream stimulates the release of bile and the efficient removal of wastes from the body in one fell swoop. The end result is a detoxifying release so powerful that many people describe it as a “high” marked by significantly improved energy levels, enhanced mental clarity, and better moods.

Top six alkaline foods to eat every day for vibrant health | Use Organic Foods

2012-12-08T14:04:00.001-08:00

Newscaller.com |
The typical American diet is a deadly one, consisting primarily of toxic and acid-forming foods like processed sugars, artificial sweeteners, refined grains, conventionally produced meats and dairy, and hidden genetically modified organisms. All this, combined with a plethora of other challenging environmental factors (such as lack of rest, psychological stress, and pharmaceutical drugs), mean it’s no wonder that more and more people are being diagnosed with chronic, degenerative illnesses or otherwise deadly conditions for which modern conventional medicine claims to have no known cure.

One of the basic underlying problems with this unsustainable lifestyle – and there are many – is the average consumer’s lack of understanding that the body must balance the blood’s pH levels at a slightly alkaline level of 7.365 in order to survive. When a person ingests food to “burn” for fuel, the digestive and metabolic process transforms it into a kind of ash which is either acidic or alkaline. The laws of modern biochemistry further explain that it is not the organic matter of foods (whether the food itself is acidic or alkaline), but their inorganic matter (such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, sulfur, phosphorous; that is, how they break down in our bodies), that determines either the acidity or alkalinity of this ashy residue. For this reason, and because all foods in nature contain both acid and alkaline-forming elements according to the Conscious Living Center, balance is either achieved or thwarted as a direct result of the foods we choose to eat. Too many acid-forming foods can have dire consequences for our health, with “acidosis” being a common diagnosis in diabetics, for example. This is because when the nutrients required to maintain this slightly alkaline state cannot be obtained from food, the body will instead draw from its own stores, like the bones or other vital tissues – damaging its ability to repair itself and detoxify heavy metals, thereby making a person more vulnerable to fatigue and illness. And the margin for error is small. Even an only slightly acidic pH of 6.9 can actually lead to coma and death.

Of course, the ultimate goal is balance. Eating too many alkalizing foods can lead to its own fair share of complications over time, but the risk of this is seemingly less likely, given the current sorry state of today’s highly addictive consumerist diet. To combat the effects of such a diet, here are six of the most alkaline-forming foods to work into your everyday meals:

1. Root vegetables

Due to the healing “yang” nature of these foods in traditional Chinese medicine, and their tendency to be more rich in minerals than many other vegetables, it may be safe to say that you can’t get enough of them. Look for radishes especially (black, red or white), as well as beets, carrots, turnips, horseradish and rutabaga. Ready to eat after steaming for just 15-20 minutes, root vegetables will help you feel both satiated and better grounded.

2. Cruciferous vegetables

These are the veggies we all know and love, made even more delicious with just a small amount of healthy, homemade sauce like pesto. Choose from broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and the like.

3. Leafy greens

These include kale, Swiss chard, turnip greens and spinach – of which spinach may in fact be the best pick. Known especially for its rich vitamin K and folate content, spinach is also packed with vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, antioxidants and fiber, helping to improve digestion and even vision.

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Higher vitamin D intake linked with cognitive performance and Alzheimer’s disease risk in women

2012-12-05T10:01:00.000-08:00

Newscaller |
Higher blood saturation levels of vitamin D have been conclusively shown to lower the risk for a myriad of chronic illnesses including heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. More recent scientific studies are beginning to draw a solid connection between intake of the sunshine vitamin and how well we retain memories, utilize thought processes and learn new concepts. Additionally, many forward thinking health researchers are providing clear evidence that the prohormone can impact the overall risk for developing the insidious memory robbing illness known as Alzheimer’s disease.
A research team from the Angers University Hospital in France has released the results of a study in the Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences that demonstrates how vitamin D may be a vital component for the cognitive health of women as they age. In the study, scientists provide evidence to demonstrate that higher vitamin D dietary intake is associated with a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Study highlights the critical importance of vitamin D

supplementation among the elderly

In past studies, researchers have concluded that low vitamin D levels among older women are associated with higher odds of global cognitive impairment and a higher risk of global cognitive decline. This study was based on an analysis of 6,257 older women who had vitamin D levels measured during the Study of Osteopathic Fractures and whose cognitive function was tested by the Mini-Mental State Examination.
The researchers found that participants with the lowest blood concentration of vitamin D (fewer than 10 ng/mL using the standard 25(OH)D blood test) were associated with significantly higher odds of global cognitive impairment at baseline among the older women. Those with blood saturation levels considered to be low (fewer than 20 ng/mL) were associated with a higher risk of incident global cognitive decline, as measured by performance on the Mental State Examination. It is important to note that vitamin D readings below 20 ng/mL are frequent among those aged 65 and older, placing them at considerable risk for cognitive decline and dementia.

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Heal autism, depression and autoimmune disorders with a GAPS diet | Organic foods

2012-12-01T10:30:00.004-08:00

Newscaller.com |
The Gut and Psychology Syndromediet (GAPS) is not for the faint of heart. It requires patience and dedication, not to mention time — up to three years. But for those suffering from asthma, food intolerance and allergy, developmental delays, depression or a spectrum of

digestive disorders, it can be a miracle. Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, creator of the diet, believes that all disease begins with a compromised gut and if the digestive tract is healed, so is health.

A damaged gut equals compromised health

Through poor food choices, environmental toxins or genetic disposition, the gut can develop lesions that leak toxins into the bloodstream. This opens the door to a host of dysfunctional autoimmune conditions, systemic candida infections and neurological disorders. Dr. Campbell-McBride, who specializes in neurology and human nutrition, recognizes the crucial role a well functioning digestive system plays in physical and mental health. Using the GAPS protocol, she has witnessed full recoveries from autism to irritable bowel syndrome to food allergies.

Fundamental GAPS

The GAPS program is intended to heal the gut, balance intestinal flora, detoxify the body, vastly improve digestion and subsequently, health. It is not a quick fix. “Rather, it is about completely pulling back from all those things that exacerbate our already over-loaded, tired, lethargic, toxin-ridden, out-of-balance and damaged system, so that our gut can truly heal,” according to Stephanie Langford, author of Keeper of the Home website.
The essence of GAPS consists of high quality meats and oils, fermented foods, eggs and an abundance of produce. Grains, starchy vegetables, sugar and caffeine are strictly forbidden. Bone broth and soup along with probiotics are the cornerstone of the program. Additionally, food combining is important to minimize digestive strain. To begin, an introduction dietis followed for several weeks up to many months, depending on the constitution and reactions of the individual. Ginger tea, homemade yogurt/kefir, egg yolks, animal fats, nuts and seeds, meat stews, fermented vegetables and avocados are consumed in stages during the initial transitionary period. Nut-flour breads, cooked apples and winter squash are also included. An organic diet is recommended with a focus on grass-fed, free-range animals.

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Five essential steps toward having a healthier, greener household organic

2012-11-26T14:10:00.000-08:00

www.newscaller.com | The one place where you can exercise some control over your environment is inside your home or apartment. There’s little that can be done to directly eliminate vehicular exhaust, factory or refinery pollution, radiation, chemtrails, and whatever else is being done do destroy the planet and us.
Whatever amount of time we spend indoors should be as clean and chemical free as possible. Even toxic chemical fumes we don’t contact physically or consume can leak into your indoor air. There are several ways to create a healthy, green home environment.

Five steps toward a healthy and green household

(1) The first is the easiest. Throw out those toxic commercial non-biodegradable cleansers and detergents and replace them with non-toxic and biodegradable brands, such as 7th Generation. Borax is also safe for indoor use and laundry. There are several from which to choose at health food and Target stores.
Need or want to go cheaply? Use baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and vinegar for cleaning bathrooms and kitchens. Vinegar water and a dash of biodegradable detergent can be used on bare floors and walls.

If you can find it, BonAmi is a natural bathroom/kitchen cleanser that is safe, effective, and even cheaper than the commercial stuff. They don’t advertise, but it’s been around for a long time.