smart health and energy by Sandie Saunders

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia

2013-10-08T07:37:00.000-07:00

I have CLL...it is the good leukemia, if there is such a thing. My blood has hardly changed over the past couple of years. I really don't worry about it. I see the cancer Doctor once a year to confirm...|"nothing has changed". Cheers everyone!

How much does the World LOVE CANADA?

2011-06-06T07:13:00.000-07:00

We read something similar written by an Australian reporter. Good on them to give kudos to Canada!!!

British newspaper salutes Canada . . . this is a good read. It is funny how it took someonein England to put it into words......
Salute to a brave and modest nation - Kevin Myers , 'The Sunday Telegraph' LONDON :

Until the deaths of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan , probably almost no one outside their home country had been aware that Canadian troops are deployed in the region.

And as always, Canada will bury its dead, just as the rest of the world, as always will forget its sacrifice, just as it always forgets nearly everything Canada ever does.. It seems that Canada 's historic mission is to come to the selfless aid both of its friends and of complete strangers, and then, once the crisis is over, to be well and truly ignored.

Canada is the perpetual wallflower that stands on the edge of the hall, waiting for someone to come and ask her for a dance. A fire breaks out, she risks life and limb to rescue her fellow dance-goers, and suffers serious injuries. But when the hall is repaired and the dancing resumes, there is Canada, the wallflower still, while those she once helped glamorously cavort across the floor, blithely neglecting her yet again.

That is the price Canada pays for sharing the North American continent with the United States , and for being a selfless friend of Britain in two global conflicts.

For much of the 20th century, Canada was torn in two different directions: It seemed to be a part of the old world, yet had an address in the new one, and that divided identity ensured that it never fully got the gratitude it deserved.

Yet it's purely voluntary contribution to the cause of freedom in two world wars was perhaps the greatest of any democracy. Almost 10% of Canada 's entire population of seven million people served in the armed forces during the First World War, and nearly 60,000 died. The great Allied victories of 1918 were spearheaded by Canadian troops, perhaps the most capable soldiers in the entire British order of battle.

Canada was repaid for its enormous sacrifice by downright neglect, it's unique contribution to victory being absorbed into the popular memory as somehow or other the work of the 'British.'

The Second World War provided a re-run. The Canadian navy began the war with a half dozen vessels, and ended up policing nearly half of the Atlantic against U-boat attack. More than 120 Canadian warships participated in the Normandy landings, during which 15,000 Canadian soldiers went ashore on D-Day alone.

Canada finished the war with the third-largest navy and the fourth largest air force in the world. The world thanked Canada with the same sublime indifference as it had the previous time.

Canadian participation in the war was acknowledged in film only if it was necessary to give an American actor a part in a campaign in which the United States had clearly not participated - a touching scrupulousness which, of course, Hollywood has since abandoned, as it has any notion of a separate Canadian identity.

So it is a general rule that actors and filmmakers arriving in Hollywood keep their nationality - unless, that is, they are Canadian. Thus Mary Pickford, Walter Huston, Donald Sutherland, Michael J. Fox, William Shatner, Norman Jewison, David Cronenberg, Alex Trebek, Art Linkletter, Mike Weir and Dan Aykroyd have in the popular perception become American, and Christopher Plummer, British.

It is as if, in the very act of becoming famous, a Canadian ceases to be Canadian, unless she is Margaret Atwood, who is as unshakably Canadian as a moose, or Celine Dion, for whom Canada has proved quite unable to find any takers.

Moreover, Canada is every bit as querulously alert to the achievements of its sons and daughters as the rest of the world is completely unaware of them. The Canadians proudly say of themselves - and are unheard by anyone else - that 1% of the world's population has provided 10% of the world's peacekeeping forces.

Canadian soldiers in the past half century have been the greatest peacekeepers on Earth - in 39 missions on UN mandates, and six on non-UN peacekeeping duties, from Vietnam to East Timor, from Sinai to Bosnia.

Yet the only foreign engagement that has entered the popular non-Canadian imagination was the sorry affair in Somalia , in which out-of-control paratroopers murdered two Somali infiltrators. Their regiment was then disbanded in disgrace - a uniquely Canadian act of self-abasement for which, naturally, the Canadians received no international credit.

So who today in the United States knows about the stoic and selfless friendship its northern neighbour has given it in Afghanistan ?

Rather like Cyrano de Bergerac , Canada repeatedly does honourable things for honourable motives, but instead of being thanked for it, it remains something of a figure of fun. It is the Canadian way, for which Canadians should be proud, yet such honour comes at a high cost. This past year more grieving Canadian families knew that cost all too tragically well.

Lest we forget.

God vs. Science

2011-04-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

"Let me explain the problem science has with religion."
The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'
'Yes sir,' the student says.

'So you believe in God?'
'Absolutely'

'Is God good?'
'Sure! God's good.'

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'
'Yes'

'Are you good or evil?'
'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible! He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'
Yes sir, I would.'

'So you're good...!'
'I wouldn't say that.'

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good?
Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent. 'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. '
Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?'
'Er..yes,' the student says.

'Is Satan good?'
The student doesn't hesitate on this one.. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?'
The student falters. 'From God'

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'
'Yes, sir.'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'
'Yes'

'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Again, the student has no answer. 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'
The student squirms on his feet. 'Yes.'
'So who created them?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them?' There is still no answer.
Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom.
The class is mesmerized. 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'
The student's voice betrays him and cracks. 'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'
'No sir. I've never seen Him.'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'
'No, sir, I have not.'

'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'
'Yet you still believe in him? 'Yes'

'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist... What do you say to that, son?'
'Nothing,' the student replies.. 'I only have my faith.'

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own.'Professor, is there such thing as heat? '
' Yes.

'And is there such a thing as cold?'
'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

'No sir, there isn't.'
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested.
The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. 'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'.
We can hit down to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy.
Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat.
You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness? 'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'
'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it?
That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'
'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'
'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains.. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure.
Sir, science can't even explain a thought.' 'It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.'

'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'
'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do. ''Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided. 'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.' The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter. 'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so..
So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.''So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.
Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers.. 'I Guess you'll have to take them on faith.'

'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'
Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world.. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'
To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God.. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.
God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart.
It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down.

PS: The student was Albert Einstein.
Albert Einstein wrote a book titled 'God vs. Science' in 1921.....

I finally saw the blood specialist!

2010-03-17T07:46:00.000-07:00

The first thing she said was "why didn't the surgeon call me"? I could have just told him it was OK. I thought I was going to screem! Anyway the only reason I Kept my cool was because I got totally checked out and now know that I'm totally healthy, kidneys and all. So the blood specialist told me not much more than the Doctor did, except to give me the OK to have surgery. It's a wait and watch situation and I mostly have to watch myself if I feel too tired or start losing weight (I wish) then I'll need to see the Doctor again. There are plenty of new drugs out there to help with CLL if needed so I'm not concerned. ALL IS WELL! I'm taking 3 packs of max gxl and 1 nfuse a day and time will prove that it helps, although I know for a fact that it sure won't hinder. I'll go for yearly blood tests to monitor the situation that way also.

After I left the blood specialists office I called the surgeon and his receptionist told me that he pulled all the legiments in his hand and is backed up for 6 weeks...I was so pissed, anyway I'm on the waiting list again and hopefully you'll see a little less of me by Christmas next year! Mean while I'm going to curves and trying to watch what I eat...you know the routine or should I say "struggle". It's life grand...I hope everyone is blessed with good health and happiness!

The Verdict Is In !!!!

2010-01-05T20:55:00.000-08:00

I saw the Doctor late this afternoon.
Harry drove me and patiently held my hand...the Doctor was 40 minutes late for the appointment. I was ready to turn around and go back home where I would be safe and blissly unaware of my condition...but realistically that wasn't gonna happen.

We eventually got invited into a room. The doctor showed us the test results on the computer and it is official, I have Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) but she assured us that this is "the good one", if you could choose your leukemia this would be the one you'd want. hmmm...

She will be setting up a visit to the blood specialist (hemotoligist) so they can prove that I'm actually still healthy and would be a good candidate for the surgery I'm wanting. So... having said that, there also happened to be some other interesting results regarding my kidneys...oh brother, just cancel the operation til God knows when!

Off I go for an ultra sound to look at my kidneys and more blood tests. The Doc is pretty sure that it's not serious but it needs to be checked out so we have a starting point...(since we've never looked at my kidneys before) they could have been like this for years and may remain this way for years to come. She says the cause could be strep throat unattended when I was young, although I never, as far as I know, had strep throat. I have had plenty of laringitis though. Anyway, I'm getting nicely checked out and will let you all know how it turns out when all the testing is complete.

Meanwhile, I'm still taking the max and nfuse and very happy that it gives me plenty of energy, mental clarity and great immunity proven since I took no sick days all of 2009.

Speaking of which...I'm so excited to be back to work tomorrow...:(ooo not!
All the best in 2010...my 2010 is starting abundantly with 5 extra pounds, I guess that will be my first goal! what's yours?

Doctor's appointment! Some Test Results.

2010-01-03T11:13:00.000-08:00

Some tests have come back to the Doctor and she wants me to make an appointment to see her for this week...the blood test for Vancouver has yet to be sent.

I wonder what she found...???? Kind of scary! I'm not liking the suspense.

My sister has a blood disorder and my Doctor wants to know what it is. I called and she explained to me what she has, it doesn't seem relevant but I guess the Doctor will decide that.

Apparantly my Grandmother died of Leukemia, not sure which one (I mean which leukemia not which grandma) but...good to know

(or not).

Testing, testing 1 2 3

2009-12-23T21:07:00.000-08:00

Well as the story goes...I saw my Doctor, she sent me for a special blood test at the hostpital which has to be sent to Vancouver and I also had to have a chest xray.

My surgical date is bumped up to Feb 8th...cross your fingers and hope not to die! Just kidding...sort of, but please don't worry we don't think it's too serious, really...I'm healthy as a horse. The Doctor just wants to rule out some things.

My Doctor said she would look into the Max GXL, it will be very interesting to see what she has to say about it...she's very skeptical.

Doctor is very concerned with my white blood cell count

2009-12-22T20:17:00.000-08:00

I have an appointment with my Doctor tomorrow at 2:30 pm...she is very concerned with my high white blood cell count and says that it is very abnormal! I may have to have a bone maro test.....my count is 31.5 and "normal" is considered to be 10.
At the appointment ...
She gave me a physical exam and my lymph nodes are all just fine, so is my spleen.
She says the high count of white blood cells I have are not the fighting ones!
ooh ooh!
She wants to count out a condition called Chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL)
I didn't believe her at first cause Dr Keller said the lymphocytes were the good ones and that is what the max does is increase the glutathione in those cells. But when I read some other articles about CLL they did verify that these particular cells were not the fighting ones...
she told me I should stop taking the max...
I'm not sure I want to do that! I'm going to keep taking it for now!
I also take a very highly concentrated multi vitamin called "Nfuse".
If the max is helping keep the healthy fighting cells strong...then I believe it is a very good thing. Dr Keller treated many cancer patients as he was an Oncologist and many other very ill people and the max made their quality of life much better. That's how he realized he had something very good and it has been scientifically proven to do what it says and has had double blind placebo tests and got a 10 on its Patent. In light of that I'm sticking with the max.

Are lots of White blood cells bad?

2009-12-21T21:04:00.000-08:00

I've been taking max gxl for about 2 years. I very recently had a blood test for a surgical procedure I'm preparing for.
The surgeon called and told me I had a very high white blood cell count and is concerned as to what could be causing it. The Doctors first thoughts are that I am sick, he asked if I had a fever or if I was feeling ok. I said I am feeling perfectly fine.
They may have to postpone the procedure!
He will be phoning my Doctor out of concern and I'm guessing she will be ordering some tests to check me out. I asked the surgeon what could be causing the high count...he said it usually means an infection of some sort. It's the Doctors first clue because the body spikes the white blood cell count to help fight the infection. I think my white blood cell count is always high since I've been taking max gxl.
I didn't mention to him that I was taking the max, I don't think he would have any idea what it is or what it does. He asked that I call my Doctor tomorrow morning, which I will do.

I told my Doctor a year ago about the max gxl and she totally pooh poohed it. I really hope that I don't have leukemia or anything serious...when it's proven that I'm totally healthy I will be so excited that I have lots of white blood cells because they are my immune system and I'll be certain that I have great immunity! I will continue this conversation when it all unfolds and I get my date back for the surgery. Stay tuned for the next update....

written by Sandie Saunders

Dr.Daria Davidson M.D. recommends Glutathione acceleration

2009-12-16T21:39:00.000-08:00

www.smartmax.ca

click the next line to learn what is so good for you and why!

Dr.Daria Davidson M.D. recommends Glutathione acceleration
www.youtube.com
Witness the medical breakthrough now available to the public

2009-12-05T10:17:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfBzDI4QeV4

WHAT IS GLUTATHIONE ANYWAY?

2009-11-16T20:07:00.000-08:00

Glutathione (GSH) is the body's master antioxidant.

It is a small protein produced naturally in our cells when certain required elements are present. It functions both as an antioxidant and an antitoxin and is a major defense system against illness and aging. Our glutathione level actually indicates our state of health and can predict longevity. There are more than 60,000 published papers on the beneficial effects of glutathione. In the near future the importance of glutathione will be widely recognized because it has the ability to boost the immune system and fight off the damage of free radicals on the cells. Various daily activities can reduce your glutathione such as stress, exercise, infection, injury and environmental toxins. Your glutathione, or in other words, your body's natural defense against aging and cellular damage decreases by about 10% to 15% every decade!* Modern research has shown that individuals who have low levels of glutathione are susceptible to chronic illness. Decreased levels of glutathione can be brought about by continual stress upon the immune system. As we now know, a lowered immune system can bring about illness and disease. This is a ferocious cycle. While you need glutathione for a productive immune system, a weakened immune system hampers the production of glutathione.*
Increasing age and other factors reduce the body's production and utilization of glutathione
Beginning around the age of 20 your body's natural production of this powerful little protein declines about 10 to 15 percent every decade. It is well understood in the medical and scientific community that intracellular glutathione levels cannot effectively be raised by oral glutathione supplementation because it is believed to be destroyed in the digestive system; which is why MaxGXL® is such a groundbreaking discovery.*
To reiterate:*
Glutathione slows down the aging process
Glutathione detoxifies and improves liver function
Glutathione strengthens the immune system
Glutathione works to help improve mental functions
Increases energy
Improves concentration
Permits increased exercise

WHY IS CANADA CHANGING ITS FLU VACCINE POLICY?

2009-11-10T20:28:00.000-08:00

Many countries are pouring millions into orders for swine flu vaccine from pharmaceutical companies. But one country is taking a different approach.
The Irish Independent reports that the some Canadian provinces have suspended the 'normal' seasonal flu shots for anyone under 65 in response to a recent study there. However, the vaccine suspensions do not apply for people over 65.
The study suggests that people vaccinated against seasonal flu are actually twice as likely to catch swine flu.
But plans vary across the provinces of Canada. Last month, British Columbia announced it is suspending seasonal flu shots for anyone under 65 years old, joining Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Nova Scotia in halting the immunizations. Quebec's Health Ministry announced it would postpone vaccinations until January, clearing the autumn months for health professionals to focus on vaccinating against H1N1, which is expected to the more severe influenza strain this season.
"By the time the H1N1 wave is over, there will be ample time to vaccinate for seasonal flu," said Dr. Ethan Rubinstein, head of adult infectious diseases at the University of Manitoba.
Other provinces, including Manitoba, are still pondering a response to the research. New Brunswick, one of the lone holdouts, made an announcement in September that it would forge ahead with seasonal flu shots for all residents in October, as originally planned.
Yet according to an even more recent posting by PreventDisease.com, some provinces are still recommending co-administration of both vaccines in as little as 60 days, according to a staggered schedule.An international panel is currently scrutinising the controversial study's data. Dr Ethan Rubinstein , who has read the study, said it appeared sound.
"There are a large number of authors, all of them excellent and credible researchers," he said. "The sample size is very large, at 12 or 13 million people."
It was back in 1981 that R. Edgar Hope Simpson proposed that a principal cause of seasonal influenza is linked with the deficiency of solar radiation which triggers the production of vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D deficiency is common in the winter, and vitamin D is crucial in allowing your immune system to defend itself against invading organisms.In addition to vitamin D, studies have suggested that people who exercise moderately suffer fewer and less severe colds and flu infections.
In a new study, researchers found that when they had a group of mice regularly run on a treadmill over 3.5 months, the animals developed less-severe symptoms when infected with the flu virus.
Additionally, mice that exercised right before flu infection, but not regularly over the preceding months, also showed some protection against severe symptoms -- which in mice means dampened appetite and weight loss. Those benefits, however, were only apparent in the couple days after infection, whereas regular long-term exercise reduced flu symptoms over the whole course of infection.Sources:
Independent.ie October 26, 2009
Homeland1.com September 29, 2009
CBS News September 25, 2009
PreventDisease.com October 26, 2009
Reuters October 23, 2009

Dr. Mercola's Comments:
In August of this year, I was pleased to publish the news that the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) will be investigating the role of vitamin D in protection against swine flu. The agency began a study last year on the role of vitamin D in severe seasonal influenza, which it is now adapting to the H1N1 swine flu virus.
Carole Baggerly, a major proponent of vitamin D, was the primary person responsible for this amazing, ground breaking decision. After donating one year of her time to convince Canadian government officials to do this, she deserves hero status for her efforts. Her tireless work has helped push a whole nation towards the truth.
She is an incredible role model and source of inspiration for all of us as to the power of what one person can do if they are committed to a noble cause.
Vitamin D and the Flu
Most people do not realize that vitamin D, unlike flu shots, is a proven method to keep yourself from catching an infectious disease.
According to the Irish Independent, R Edgar Hope Simpson was one of the first to discover the link between a deficiency in solar radiation and seasonal influenza. Then, in 2006, the journal Epidemiology and Infection published Dr. John Cannell’s paper Epidemic Influenza and Vitamin D, which presents the hypothesis that influenza is merely a symptom of vitamin D deficiency.
He followed this up with another study published in the Virology Journal last year.
His findings were again confirmed by another recent study -- the largest and most nationally representative of its kind to date -- that involved about 19,000 Americans.
It found that people with the lowest blood vitamin D levels reported having significantly more recent colds or cases of the flu. In conclusion, lead author Dr. Adit Ginde stated:
"The findings of our study support an important role for vitamin D in prevention of common respiratory infections, such as colds and the flu. Individuals with common lung diseases, such as asthma or emphysema, may be particularly susceptible to respiratory infections from vitamin D deficiency."
And as we already know, the vast majority of deaths from the swine flu have occurred in children and adults with pre-existing medical conditions, including obesity, AND, most complications and deaths have been caused by secondary bacterial infections, such as staph – not the virus itself.
Add to this the fact that vitamin D has been shown to have a dramatic impact on nearly all chronic diseases, and you begin to see why optimizing your vitamin D levels may indeed be crucial for avoiding the flu in the first place, and/or avoiding serious and potentially deadly complications from the flu.
There is so much compelling evidence that I believe optimizing your vitamin D levels is one of the absolute best strategies for avoiding infections of ALL kinds, and vitamin D deficiency is likely the TRUE culprit behind the seasonality of the flu -- not the flu virus itself.
I find it hard to believe that the H1N1 virus would respond much differently, especially since it has been found to be a much weaker virus than previous seasonal flu strains.
Some Canadian Provinces Temporarily Suspend Seasonal Flu Shots
Several provinces in Canada have responded proactively to the statistical findings that people who have received seasonal flu shots are TWICE as likely to contract the swine flu, by suspending or delaying the administration of seasonal flu shots.
Unfortunately, it may be too late for people who received the seasonal shot during last year’s season, as the researchers found these folks remained more vulnerable to swine flu well into 2009.
An article in the Deseret Morning News published on Homeland1.com, quotes Dr. Ethan Rubinstein, head of adult infectious diseases at the University of Manitoba as saying:
“It has confused things very badly. And it has certainly cost us credibility from the public because of conflicting recommendations. Until last week, there had always been much encouragement to get the seasonal flu vaccine."
Confusing as it may be, administering two types of flu shots in a single season has never been done before, which raises the risk of unforeseen complications as it is, so it makes sense to stop one in lieu of the other.
Think about it… Certain categories of young children -- depending on where they live and whether or not they’ve received seasonal flu shots before -- would receive as much as 100 mcg of mercury if they received the recommended total of four flu shots!
(Washington and New York state have suspended the mercury limitation for infants and pregnant women for the H1N1 vaccine, so depending on age and previous flu vaccination history, infants in these two states will receive anywhere from one to four doses of mercury-containing flu vaccines.)
This is nothing short of medical crime…
The US has so far ignored the Canadian findings. The CDC is recommending that vaccinations for both seasonal and H1N1 flu go ahead as previously planned.
Several news sources have also stated that “US and European data do not suggest that the seasonal flu vaccine has any impact on getting the swine flu.”
But I would have to raise these questions: has either the US or Europe actually conducted such a study, or compiled the data to review it, in the first place? Or are we saying that the data “doesn’t show a link” simply because we haven’t looked?
So far, no one knows what the medical link between the seasonal flu shot and the swine flu. According to Deseret News:
“One hypothesis suggests seasonal flu vaccine preoccupies the cells that would otherwise produce antibodies against H1N1. But, according to Dr. Rubinstein, the research shows that people who received the seasonal shot during the 2007-08 flu season remained vulnerable to swine flu well into 2009, an interval that should provide most immune systems ample restoration time.”
CBC News Canada published another theory:
“ Theoretically, antibodies created by the immune system after exposure to bacteria or a virus can facilitate the entry of another strain of the virus or disease. The effect has been seen for other viral vaccinations but never for influenza, said Dr. Donald Low, chief microbiologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.”
Whatever the mechanism may turn out to be, waiting for science to figure it out seems foolish.
After all, if the statistics point to what appears to be a cause and effect, why not pay attention and opt for safety first?
At the Same Time, Canada Approves Adjuvanted H1N1 Vaccine…
Fortunately, none of the swine flu vaccines used in the US are allowed to contain adjuvants such as squalene. At least not yet…
Canadians are not so lucky, however. On October 21, the Canadian minister of health issued an interim order approving the sale of an ASO3 adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine called Arepanrix.
Canadians need to know that each 0.5 ml dose of Arepanrix contains:
10.69 mg of squalene
4.86 mg of Tween80. Also known as Polysorbate 80, it may be a hidden inductor of anaphylactic shock. One 2005 study concluded: “Polysorbate 80 is a ubiquitously used solubilizing agent that can cause severe nonimmunologic anaphylactoid reactions. “
5 mcg of thimerosal
“Sun & Exercise” Approach to Avoid Flu
In addition to optimizing your vitamin D levels, exercise may be your second best approach to avoiding the flu.
Reuters recently published the findings of a new study that supports what natural health advocates have taught all along – that exercise improves your immune system response, hence reducing your chances of contracting illness, including viral illness such as the flu.
Previous research has found that regular exercise boosts your immune defenses in such a way that it helps limit a viral attack, or help clear a virus from your body more quickly.
In this study done on mice, even those that only exercised right before being infected with the flu, but not regularly over the preceding months, still achieved some protection against the most severe flu symptoms.
The mice that exercised regularly in the months prior to infection had reduced flu symptoms over the entire course of the infection. They also had lower concentrations of virus in their lungs early on.
It’s quite clear that exercise can boost your body’s innate antiviral defenses, and needs to be an integral part of your lifestyle for optimal health, year-round.
Many Conventional Physicians Have Doubts about H1N1 Vaccines
If there is a silver lining to this swine flu madness, it’s that it is raising many important questions about our willy-nilly approach to vaccine safety in general, and many doctors and health care professionals are now beginning to challenge the assumptions of our vaccine programs, and question the sanity and safety of rushing to mass-vaccinate against such a mild virus as H1N1 with untested and unproven vaccines.
It takes courage to voice these concerns, as anyone who dares to oppose, or even question the logic of our excessive vaccine programs is automatically branded as a heretic of the worst kind.
So I applaud those in the health field who are courageous enough to do so in order to protect the health of their patients.
An article published in Medscape on October 28, 2009, illustrates the opposing viewpoints that clearly exist even within the medical community. The vaccine issue is NOT as clear-cut as many would like you to believe, and those who question the safety of what’s being done are neither fringe fanatics nor quacks.
Many are well-educated health professionals, willing to think for themselves and investigate beyond the dogma taught in medical school and what they’re told by pharmaceutical reps.
In her article, Physicians are Talking About: Is It Worth Getting the H1N1 Vaccine?, Nancy Terry writes:
“… However, other physicians are equally adamant about
not getting the H1N1 vaccine.
"I don't want to be a lab rat," says an internist. "No way I or my family will receive the vaccine. Not a chance!" comments another internist.
"Emphatically no to both vaccines," says a family medicine physician. "I agree with Dr. Joseph Mercola's take on the swine flu and this and the prior round of vaccinations for it. I believe, based on all I've read to date, that vaccinations cause a body more harm than good."
"I remember the last vaccine rushed to production. People died and some developed paralysis," says another family medicine physician. "I prefer to take my chances."
Several physicians wonder about the advisability of vaccinating segments of the population already exposed to influenza.
An emergency medicine physician, who saw H1N1 cases throughout September, comments, "If the epidemiology here mirrors the Southern Hemisphere flu season, by the time H1N1 vaccine is available the virus probably will be done circulating through my community."…
… "This ain't your grandma's seasonal flu virus," says a pediatrician. "It's a quadruple-reassortant swine/avian hybrid that's never been seen before, significantly different from its predecessors, even if relatively wimpy." For this reason, he suggests that caution is warranted with regard to the infection and the vaccine. He adds, "It's not inconceivable that this vaccine could cause side effects not seen with seasonal vaccine, although it seems safe in trials, so far."
A family medicine physician agrees: "Any vaccine made at the last minute and made only by a few manufacturers with huge government contracts at stake cannot help but be higher risk for untoward side effects."
… A family medicine physician comments, "I'm not sure I can justify recommending this vaccine to all children until safety is better ascertained when, so far, cases on the whole seem to be mild."
As you can see, I’m not the only doctor on the block who has serious reservations. Hopefully, together we will be able to make a difference and save countless people from needless harm.
You Can Make a Difference
Most polls show that we ARE making a difference because more people are becoming educated about influenza and flu vaccines, especially H1N1 swine flu. Recent national polls have revealed that 30 to 50 percent in many communities are not planning to get a swine flu shot.

Source Dr Mercola.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgPM9d8QOL0

2009-11-01T15:30:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgPM9d8QOL0

SIMPLE WAY TO LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE

2009-10-18T11:44:00.000-07:00

Avoid THIS…

Posted by: Dr. Mercola October 17 2009 108,930 views

A diet high in fructose, a form of sugar found in sweetened soft drinks

and junk food, raises blood pressure in men.

Two recent studies provided the first evidence that fructose helps raise blood pressure. One study further suggested that people who consume junk foods and sweetened soft drinks at night could gain weight faster than those who don't.

Fructose accounts for about half the sugar molecules in table sugar and in high-fructose corn syrup, the sweetener used in many packaged foods.

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

In some circles these days, it’s becoming increasingly fashionable to claim that the many ills attributed to fructose are overblown. After all, you might hear, it’s just sugar, no better or worse than any other sort of sugar, right? It’s a natural substance found in fruit, after all, so how bad could it possibly be?

The delusion that fructose is an acceptable form of sugar is quite prevalent even in many nutritional circles.

You can thank the Corn Refiners Association for that line of thought. The CRA has been pouring millions of dollars into an ad campaign designed to create the notion that fructose, and especially

high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), is nothing more than a harmless snack.
This could not be farther from the truth!

Fructose contains no enzymes, vitamins or minerals, and it leeches micronutrients from your body. A mountain of evidence has accumulated demonstrating that it is absolutely terrible for your health.

Fructose and Fruit
It is true that fructose is found in fruit. However, eating small amounts of whole fruit does NOT provide tremendous amounts of fructose and is not be a problem for most people, unless diabetes or obesity is an issue. Berries, especially blueberries, raspberries and cranberries, are some of the healthiest fruits around, as they are loaded with powerful antioxidants -- and have relatively small amounts of sugar.
But in fact, you can get too much fructose from fruit sources, especially if you consume your fruit in the form of juice.
When fruit is intact and whole, its fiber will somewhat moderate the release of fructose into your bloodstream, as well as somewhat moderate insulin release. Fruit juice contains little to no fiber -- but it does contain about eight full teaspoons of sugar per eight-ounce glass. This fructose is brought rapidly in your body, promoting obesity and other problems. Humans were not meant to drink their calories.
Even Worse Than Table Sugar
Table sugar (sucrose) is far from being a food I recommend; all sugar can cause serious health problems. But the fact is, fructose is the worst of the lot. It is metabolized to fat in your body far more rapidly than any other sugar, and, because most fructose is consumed in liquid form, as fruit juice or as soda, its negative metabolic effects are significantly magnified. Those negative effects include:
Diabetes
Obesity
Metabolic Syndrome
An increase in triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels
Liver disease
And now, according to the research described above, it appears that fructose can lead to high blood pressure as well. High blood pressure is a serious health concern that can cause heart disease and increase your risk of having a stroke. It’s especially dangerous because it often has no warning signs or symptoms.
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Until the 1970’s, most sugar was sucrose derived from sugar beets or sugar cane. But sugar from corn, especially HFCS, is now more popular because it is much less expensive to produce. As a result, the use of HFCS in the U.S. diet increased a staggering 10,673 percent between 1970 and 2005! HFCS also contains nearly twice the fructose of the sugars that came before it.
HFCS is now present in a dizzying array of products, especially processed foods, and it is the sweetener used in most sodas. It is a prime factor behind the current obesity epidemic, which is largely fueled by sugary sweet soft drinks.
Soft drinks are the leading source for calories in America, and the major reason why about 9 percent of average dietary energy intake in the United States now comes from fructose. Think about that -- very nearly one in ten calories! Would a meal look healthy to you sitting on your plate if nearly 10 percent of it were pure sugar?
But HFCS isn’t only a problem because it’s a nutrient-free source of endless calories. It also harms organs like your liver and pancreas, leading to bone loss, anemia and heart problems, just to name a few. HFCS has been found to inhibit the action of your immune system's white blood cells. Unbound fructose, which is found in large quantities in HFCS, can interfere with your heart's use of minerals such as magnesium, copper and chromium.
Still think fructose is harmless?
Avoiding Fructose
The average American drinks an estimated 60 GALLONS of soda every year, and one extra can of the sweet stuff can add up to 15 extra pounds over the course of a year. Right off the bat, you can greatly reduce your fructose intake by eliminating all soda and sugary drinks from your life.Since HFCS is present in many processed foods, to avoid it completely you need to focus your diet on whole foods. And if you do purchase any processed foods, make sure you read the label -- and put it back on the shelf if it lists high fructose corn syrup as an ingredient.However, like most areas in life, you want to choose your poisons carefully. Even though fructose is clearly something you want to avoid, except for the small quantities obtained through the moderate consumption of whole fruit, it is not as bad as artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners damage your health even more rapidly than HFCS. So ideally avoid ALL sodas, even diet sodas.

One of the best steps you can take to improve your health is to replace all soda and sweet drinks with pure, clean water.

source mercola.com

Fat Hormone Influences Your Motivation to Eat

2009-10-15T20:31:00.000-07:00

A new study helps to explain how leptin, a hormone produced by fat tissue, influences your motivation to eat.

The researchers described for the first time a collection of leptin-responsive neurons in the brain's lateral hypothalamic area (LHA). Those LHA neurons feed directly into the mesolimbic dopamine system, which controls the rewarding properties assigned to things.

The study therefore adds to growing evidence that leptin doesn't turn your appetite on and off just by controlling whether you feel hungry or full. It can also make you want food more or less regardless of hunger.Sources: http://smart.max4u.com/maxwlx

source Mercola.com