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Steps for Avoiding Swine Flu - H1N1 Virus
Received via email. Seems like sensible advice, and none of the steps would hurt.
Above Knee Amputation Research
Colon Resection Research
Irregular Heartbeat - Causes & Treatments
Resveratrol - Why Red Wine Extends Life - French Paradox
Resveratrol - 60 Minutes recently ran a piece about Resveratrol, a compound produced by certain plants (like red wine grapes) when they are under attack by bacteria or fungi. Some think resveratrol is the explanation for the French paradox, the observation that the French have a low incidence of heart disease, despite a diet rich in saturated fats. To explain the paradox, some researchers pointed to the relatively high red wine consumption of the French. As red wine studies progressed, researchers isolated a compound in grape skin called resveratrol.
Cholesterol Levels NOT Highly Correlated with Heart Disease
Cholesterol levels not highly correlated with heart disease - Recent study indicates that the two most commonly used risk algorithms (based primarily on blood cholesterol levels) correlate poorly with heart disease. Lead author Dr. Kevin M. Johnson says the risk profiles based on Framingham score or the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) are "weak discriminator of the overall atherosclerotic plaque burden and may lead to over- or undertreatment of patients."
Johnson points out that the Framingham risk estimate is derived from epidemiologic observations. As other studies have shown, Framingham predicts the risk of a coronary event only 60% to 65% of the time. "When you turn around and you try to use that kind of epidemiological data to make a clinical decision in the doctor's office, it falls apart....[T]here will be a lot of people who have a low Framingham risk who have a lot of atherosclerotic plaque, and a lot of people with high risk, by Framingham score, with no plaque,"
Cholesterol - Bookmarks
Low Carb - Bookmarks
Statins - Bookmarks
Unified Theory of Heart Disease - by Linus Pauling
The story of coronary artery disease (CAD) begins with where artery blockages occur and where they don't. Typically, blockages occur in the coronary arteries on the outer surface of the heart. However, blockages are not often found in arteries or veins in any other part of the body (though carotid blockages are becoming more common). Furthermore, the CAD blockages do not naturally occur in other species. What's different about the coronary arteries of the human species that make them vulnerable to heart disease?
To explain the difference, Linus Pauling posited a theory, his Unified Theory of Heart Disease. Pauling observed that the CAD blockages occur in areas of high mechanical stress. Due to their location, these arteries are subject to continuous squeezing, pulling, and tugging from the ceaseless contractions of the heart. Like a garden hose that's repeatedly compressed or squeezed, this mechanical stress has the potential for causing damage. Normally, the body quickly repairs that damage, and in most other mammals (those that do not naturally suffer from CAD), the repair is seamless. In humans, however, the repeated repair process leads to CAD. Why?
Mediterranean Diet NOT Best for Blood Sugar Control
A new study found that a diet of "low-glycemic foods" -- such as beans, nuts, peas, lentils and pasta -- was superior to a high-cereal-fiber diet -- think pumpernickel, rye pita, quinoa, large flake oatmeal and oat bran -- when it comes to lowering blood sugar and other risk factors for heart disease in people with diabetes.
~ 'Mediterranean'-Style Diet Best for Blood Sugar Control - washingtonpost.com
It's a step in the right direction, but overlooks the obvious: people with diabetes 2 are producing insulin but many of their cells have reduced sensitivity to insulin. Without insulin sensitivity, blood glucose levels (from sugar and carbs) remain high causing all kinds of problems.
So why not simply focus on reducing carbs in diabetic 2 people? That way blood sugar doesn't elevate and their body doesn't pump out insulin, which isn't working anyway. Seems so obvious.
Why Organic Milk Lasts Longer than Regular Milk
Why Organic Milk Lasts Longer than Regular Milk - The difference lies NOT in the source of the milk but in how it's processed.
LTLT Pasteurization - The pasteurization process commonly used with regular milk is called "low temperature, long time" (LTLT) pasteurization, which heats the milk to 145 degree F for at least 30 minutes. The temperatures used in LTLT pasteurization do NOT kill all the bacteria in the milk, but do kill enough to keep it safe for a week or so.
UHT Pasteurization - The pasteurization process commonly used with organic milk is called ultrahigh-temperature pasteurization (UHT) and heats the milk to 280 degrees F for 2-4 seconds. UHT pasteurization kills all bacteria in the milk.
Why not use UHT for Regular Milk? Besides killing all bacteria, UHT pasteurization destroys some of milk's vitamins (a small amount) and alters some proteins in the milk so that it cannot be used for making cheese.
Surface Protein TRPA1 Increases Pain After Surgery / Anesthesia
Surface Protein TRPA1 Increases Pain After Surgery Anesthesia - Studies in mice suggest that certain commonly used anesthetics activate the TRPA1 surface protein on nerve cells. When activated, the TRPA1 protein increases or intensifies feelings of pain after waking up from surgery. Anesthesiologists may try to use medications that don't activate TRPA1.
Diet Cure - by Julia Ross
The Diet Cure by Julia Ross - Fascinating book that focuses on how deficiencies in key amino acids can lead to deficiencies in vital neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitter determine how we feel: hungry, full, tired, amped, happy, depressed. When amino acid supplies run low...so do we.
How to Avoid Jet Lag - A New Rule-of-Tum
Avoid jet lag - According to a Harvard animal study, the sleep-wake cycle can be reset by fasting for 12-16 hours. So to avoid jet lag, the researchers offered this rule-of-tum...
- Figure out when breakfast is served in the new timezone
- Don't eat for 12-16 hours before that time
Avoid eating for 12-16 hours - The Harvard study suggests that delayed eating helps reset the sleep-wake cycle, which could help reduce jet lag or adjusting to working a swing shift.
How to Protect Knees When Hiking Downhill
Walk backwards - IMO, walking backwards is the most effective way protect your knees -- though it's often the least practical and most dangerous approach. Walking backwards significantly reduces the strain on the knees during the descent, probably because walking backwards allows the knee to maintain a better ergo-dynamic angle during the descent. Walking backwards also shift effort away from a tired group of muscles. When it's safe to do so, I always descend backwards.
Take small steps - When walking forwards down hill, take short steps or "baby steps" as you descend. Short steps reduce the vertical distance traveled by the leg, which seems to reduce the impact on the knee.
Zig-zag down a hill - Instead of hiking straight down a hill, follow a zig-zag or switch-back pattern as you descend. This practice can decrease the pressure on your knee joints.
BPA - Biphenyl A - Research
- Expose on the Journal: Chemicals In Our Food | Bill Moyers - PBS
- Devastating report of industry and government cover-up of damning research on BPA.
- JS Online: REI removes bottles with plastic additive chemical
- JS Online: Are your products safe? You can't tell.
- JS Online: WARNING: The chemical bisphenol A has been known to pose severe health risks to laboratory animals. AND THE CHEMICAL IS IN YOU.
- JS Online: News: Chemical Fallout
Plavix (Clopidogrel) - Side Effects - Research
Effects of Carbs and Sugars on Heart Disease - Research Review
Blueberry Cinnamon Bowl
"" | I don't really like oatmeal, but I like this recipe. I add more than a dash of cinnamon, and add more walnuts. Very tasty.
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground flaxseed
- 1/2 tablespoon ground walnuts
- dash of cinnamon
Bring cup of water to a boil in small saucepan, then stir in oats. Cook for 4 minutes, then add berries and cook until piping hot. Mix flaxseed, walnuts and cinnamon.
Serves 1.
Grilled Sirloin With Garlic And Herbs
Really like this dish. Marinade is excellent. Very easy.
- 4 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons cherry concentrate
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 tablespoon chopped thyme
- Freshly ground pepper
- 12 ounces sirloin steak
In mini food processor, mince garlic and parsley, then add soy sauce and cherry concentrate and process until combined. Pour mixture into shallow bowl and stir in rosemary, thyme, and black pepper. Put sirloin in bowl and coat well with marinade. Pleas in covered bowl in refrigerator and let marinate for 30 minutes.
Heat electric grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Spray olive oil on grill. Place sirloin on grill and cook 5 minutes each side or until medium. Remove and let sirloin sit for 5 minutes, then slice.
Serves 2.
Partners In Health - Making a Difference - Paul Farmer
- 60 Minutes to watch... and a lifetime to act
- Watched this piece on 60 Minutes and was so impressed with Paul Farmer and the organization he co-founded Partners in Health (PIH). The stories literally moved me to tears--I sent a donation right after the segment.
Farmer is a smart determined guy who is making health care available in some really troubled parts of the world like Haiti and Rowanda. His approach is collaborative--he doesn't want these places to be totally dependent on foreign workers, so he's training natives to take care of their own people. He's also being smart about getting drugs to people in need at lower costs by negotiating with manufacturers to produce lower cost generics. He's treating people with AIDS in these countries, drug resistant TB. As he put it, the health care PIH can provide is better than some regions receive in the U.S. Indeed, some U.S. health agencies are using PIH as a model for inexpensive health care delivery. Tremendous impact. The dedication he has is obvious. These are our heroes. These people must be the examples our children follow and admire.
Korean Style Beef and Vegetables
- 3 tablespoons soysauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/4 cup fine chopped scallions
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened pomegranate juice
- 8 ounces stir fry beef or flank steak
- 4 cups chopped bok choy, Napa cabbage, or green cabbage
- 3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds for garnish
Make marinade, whisk together soy sauce and sesame oil in large bowl. Add scallions, garlic, and pom juice and mix well. Slice beef into 1/2 inch strips and put in bowl, coating beef with marinade. Cover and place in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Heat nonstick fry pan. Place beef strips into pan and cook medium heat for 2-3 minutes until meat is done. Discard marinade. transfer meat to bowl. Put bok choy (or other) into heated pan and stirfry over medium heat for 4 minutes. Return cooked beef to pan and mix with bok choy, remove from heat.
Serve on bed of romaine lettuce. Sprinkle sesame seeds.
Serves 2.
Low-Carb Diet Plan - Gary Taubes
Low-Carb Diet Plan - Found this list in Gary Taubes' book Good Calories, Bad Calories to be about right. He culled it from Herman Taller and and Robert Atkins. More-or-less how I am eating. I'm basically avoiding any processed foods and oils, though I do eat Leo Galland's Omega Blast Granola in the morning. In fact, I really love many of the recipes from Leo Galland's Fat Resistance Diet.
Pomegranate Chicken
I was surprised at how tasty this dish is. The marinade provides an wonderful flavor and tenderized the chicken wonderfully.
- 2 skinless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup unsweetened pomegranate juice
- juice of 1 lemon or lime
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- freshly ground pepper
- olive oil spray
- 3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
Cut chicken into thin slices. To make marinade, mix pomegranate juice, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and parsely into large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Add chicken and coat well with marinade. Cover bowl and place in refrigerator for 10 minutes to marinade.
Heat nonstick frying pan and coat with olive oil spray. Put chicken in pan and cook over medium heat for 7-8 minutes, turning occassionally, until cooked through. Discard remaining marinade (do NOT use marinade used to marinade the raw chicken again--throw it out!). Serve over bed of romaine lettuce.
Serves 2.
Good Calories Bad Calories - Gary Taubes - Bookmarks
Why Fat People Always Feel Hungry
Why Fat People Always Feel Hungry - I've been reading a lot about diets and obesity, and I've finally come to some conclusions which have been corroborated in Gary Taubes' paradigm-shattering book, Good Calories, Bad Calories.
The body regulates fat metabolism very precisely in ALL people--fat, lean, and in-between.
In a few sentences - Digestion of carbs and sugars leads to insulin secretion. Insulin secretion tells your body to store fat in fat cells. Insulin secretion also prevents your body from releasing fat from fat cells. You cannot lose weight (burn fat) with insulin in your bloodstream.
In other words - Insulin prevents your fat cells from releasing fat. So if you reduce your blood insulin levels (through low-carb eating), you enable your body to burn fat. But if you keep insulin levels high (through high-carb eating), you absolutely CANNOT burn fat.
The model 1 below explains why people get fat and why fat people constantly feel hungry.
Omega Blast Granola - Plus
I made many changes to the Omega Blast Granola recipe, mostly in the form of more nuts, cinnamon, and vanilla. This has become a morning staple for me; just top with blueberries and milk. Yummy!
2 cups chopped raw walnuts
2 cups chopped raw almonds
2 cup chopped raw pecans
1 1/2 cups raw sunflower seeds
2 generous tablespoons cinnamon
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
2 tablespoon walnut oil or olive oil
2 generous tablespoons vanilla
1 cup of raisins
In large bowl, add oats, bran, nuts, and and mix thoroughly. Add cinnamon and mix thoroughly again. In a separate small container, add wet ingredients (juice, oil, vanilla) and stir thoroughly. Slowly add wet mix to dry mix while stirring and mix thoroughly. Add raisins and mix again. Let mixture sit in open container for about an hour (so alcohol in vanilla can evaporate). Stir mixture every ten minutes or so during the hour. Place in glass container in refrigerator.
Makes about 7-8 cups. Serve 1 cup granola with 1 cup plain yogurt, milk, or unsweetened soymilk per person. Add blueberries or other berries (fresh or frozen)...YUM!!
Five Rules for Mastering Leptin
Five Rules for Mastering Leptin - I found this a ready summary of Byron and Mary Richards' book Mastering Leptin. The book itself contains an enormous amount of detail, as the authors present their findings from a thorough research review on the recently discovered appetite controlling hormone leptin.
Chicken Parmigiano
Very yummy, easy to fix. Might put on the mozzarella cheese about 10 minutes into cooking. Fresh basil makes all the difference. Deeelissshhh.
- 1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- Olive oil spray
- 1 1/2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
- 3 tablespoon. low fat ricotta cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup shredded low fat mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Preheat oven to 375 F. Rinse chicken with cold water and pat dry with paper towel. Spray a nonstick baking pan with olive oil. Arrange breasts on pan, then cover with tomatoes and ricatta. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with garlic, mozarella, and basil. Bake for 35 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through, the ricotta is bubbling hot, and the mozzarella turns golden brown.
Serves 2+.
Omega Blast Granola
Family favorite for breakfast. Not low carb (due to oats), but hearty and good.
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup oat bran
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup pomegranate juice
2 teaspoon walnut oil or olive oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
After toasting
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup freshly ground flaxseed
Preheat oven to 325 F. In big bowl mix everything except raisins. Spread mixture over nonstick baking pan and bake for 20 minutes, or until nice and brown, stirring occasionally to cook evenly. Remove from oven and toss in raisins and flaxseed. Let cool and put in glass container; store in refridgerator. Makes about 5 cups. Serve 1 cup ganola with 1 cup nonfat plain yogurt, nonfat milk, or unsweetened soymilk per person.
Fat Resistance Diet - Recipes
There are simply not enough meals in the day to enjoy all the great recipes in The Fat Resistance Diet book. Even if I were not on a low-carb diet, I would eat these meals. Absolutely delicious!
- Omega Blast Granola
- Omega Blast Granola - Plus
- Blueberry Cinnamon Bowl
- Chicken Parmigiano
- Pomegranate Chicken
- Korean Style Beef and Vegetables
- Grilled Sirloin With Garlic And Herbs
Fat Resistance Diet - by Leo Galland - Review
Fat Resistance Diet by Leo Galland - After working with the Rosedale Diet - High Fat, Moderate Protein, Minimal Carb Eating Plan, I found that I loved Rosedale's ideas but felt something was missing. Then I bumped into the Fat Resistance Diet by Leo Galland, M.D. Fat Resistance Diet focuses on recovering leptin sensitivity by avoiding systemic inflammation in the body. Leptin is a key hormone in the body that controls appetite, among other things. Like insulin, many people are insensitive to leptin levels in their blood due to chronic inflammation. The Fat Resistance diet is designed by Galland to reduce that inflammation and recover leptin (and insulin) sensitivity.
The book is well written and quite profound in its analysis of the diet's own principles and those of other, competing diets. The meals and recipes included in the book are excellent, and the diet as a whole seems much more sustainable than Atkins, South Beach, Rosedale, etc. The focus is on whole foods as a way to obtain good proteins, good fats, AND good carbs, as well as many micro- and phyto-nutrients. The more I read Galland, the more he made sense and further he refined what I had read before. Control systemic inflammation and you control leptin, insulin, and health.
Nutola
From comments on post from Diet Blog.
Based on the nutola in Rosedale book.
I don't bother to roast the nuts - too much work. Just put a few pecans, pine nuts, cashews, almonds, and blueberries in a small bowl and sprinkle with about a teaspoon of cinnamon.
Then I pour just a little heavy cream over the mixture. It is a great breakfast or snack. I use the heavy cream because it contains fewer milk proteins, just fat, which is what we are after on this diet.
The cinnamon is for taste and improving blood sugar levels - I think it has a chemical that makes cells more responsive to insulin. This has been proven and I believe cinammon is recommended to diabetics now.
Ron Rosedale, M.D. - Metabolic Effects of Insulin
Found this transcript of Ron Rosedale talk on the metabolic effects of insulin. Totally blew me away. Note that it's a talk, and the transcript is filled with typos, but the essence sounds right on. I've copied the transcript here because the site that's hosting the content doesn't look particularly stable, and I don't want to lose the info.
Maya Kaimal Indian Coconut Curry - with Broccoli & Cauliflower
Maya Kaimal Indian Coconut Curry is awesome! Just cook up some chicken, steamed broccoli and cauliflower, and mix everthing sauce and simmer--super! And very low carbs, though technically Rosedale isn't a fan of coconut oil (contained in sauce). I'm not so picky.
Rosedale Diet - Recipes
I like the focus and philosophy of Rosedale. He's VERY knowledgeable and has the science down. I'm not quite there in terms of adopting his approach, but in time. Right now a focus on avoiding processed foods and eating whole foods (eggs, whole meats, fruits, veggies, even milk) has worked well for me. Below are a couple Rosedale recipes I like.
Rosedale Diet - Staple Foods
Nuts and nut butters
Preferably raw, unroasted, unsalted
- almonds
- brazil nuts
- cashews
- hazelnuts
- macadamia nuts
- pecans
- pine nuts
- pistachios
- walnuts
- NO PEANUTS - they are not nuts (they are legumes)
Fruit
- avacado
- olives
Oils
- Almond oil
- avacado oil
- olive oil
Fish highest in omega-3
- halibut
- herring
- mackerel
- orange roughy
- sardines
- tuna
Eggs
- omega-3 enriched eggs (from algae or flax-fed chickens)
Tofu
- plain
- herb
- flavored (Italian, Oriental, Thai)
Protein powder
- egg protein
- vegetable protein
- whey protein
"A" list carbohydrate sources
Vegetables
asparagus artichoke hearts arugula bamboo shoots bell peppers (all colors) bok choy broccoli brussel sprouts cabbage cauliflower celery chard chives cilantro cucumbers endive eggplant fennel greens (collard, turnip, mustard,chard) hot peppers kale kahlrabi lettuce (all varieties except iceberg, which is low in nutrients) leeks mushrooms okra onions parsley radicchio radishes rutabaga scallions seaweed snow peas spinach sprouts string beans turnip watercress zucchini
High fiber starches
- "La Tortilla Factory" tortilla (really?)
- "Manna from Heaven" bread (1/4 inch slice-8 grams protein, counts as protein)
- low card fiber crackers (2-3/day)
Legumes
- black soybeans
- hummus (as condiment, not meal)
Rosedale Diet - High Fat, Moderate Protein, Minimal Carb Eating Plan
"" | Rosedale Diet was created by Ron Rosedale, and M.D. centered in Denver, Colorado. Ron Rosedale, M.D. - Metabolic Effects of Insulin. I like the principles of this diet, and I think it's a healthy one to follow. However, I find myself favoring The Fat Resistance Diet by Leo Galland. The Fat Resistance Diet contains some wonderful recipes, though it does permit (even encourage) more carbs like fruit. Even so, I find I'm still losing weight and feeling quite good on the Fat Resistance Diet. Rosedale is a lot more disciplined about carbs, striving for a continuous ketosis state.
Cholesterol Myth - Evidence Refuting Cholesterol Causes Heart Disease
Cholesterol Myth / Heart Disease Myth - I've become suspicious of the current model that high blood cholesterol (particularly LDL) is directly related to coronary heart disease risk (CHD). Operating from this belief, doctors prescribe drugs which reduce blood LDL levels thinking this effect also reduces the heart disease risk (CHD). Specifically, I'm referring to the widespread acceptance of statin drugs (Crestor, Zocor, Lipitor, etc.).
Statins clearly reduce LDL, but they carry with them other effects that may be more relevant to reducing CHD risk than reducing LDL levels. It's like trying to stop aging by stopping hair from turning gray. Gray hair is a symptom of aging, but not necessarily part of the cause. Similarly, LDL may be a symptom of CHD risk, but NOT likely a cause.
However, as I make clear below, I don't think high LDL is necessarily a symptom of high CHD risk.
Work in progress. I hope to have study citations to support each assertion listed below in what I hope will be a more comprehensive model of coronary heart disease (CHD).
Why the Low Fat Diet Is Stupid and Potentially Dangerous - Anthony Colpo
This article by Anthony Colpo contains only part of his critical (scathing) review of research into low-fat diets and the goal of low cholesterol for reducing heart disease risk.
Statin Dangers - Control Cholesterol
Get the Most From Your Statin
Get the Most from Your Statin - Everyday Health reports that when and how you take your statin can influence its effectiveness and absorption.
- Mevacor - Take with food. This almost doubles the amount of medication absorbed into bloodstream.
- Mevacor, Pravachol, Zocor, Lescol - Take with your evening meal. These statins block a one of the liver's key cholesterol-making enzymes, and that enzyme is most active at night.
- Crestor, Lipitor - Take at any time, as these statins stay in the body and bloodstream long enough that you can take them any time.
- Pravachol - If on other medications, try Pravachol, which is less likely to interact with other medications than other statins.
South Beach Heart Health Revolution - by Agatston - Notes
Calcium score - Also called Agatston score, measures the amount of calcified plaque inside the coronary arteries. Higher the calcium score, the higher the chance of heart attack. Excellent predictor of future heart attack risk.
Computed tomography (CT) or electron beam tomography (EBT) - used for imaging heart. Scans provide a calcium score?
Atherosclerosis - When artery walls gradually filled with plaque (cholesterol, inflammatory cells, scar tissue). Different kinds of plaque. Heart attack caused when soft cholesterol rich plaque bursts, resulting in blood clot. Blood clot blocks blood flow to heart. News to me. I thought plaque, not a blood clot, that caused artery blockage and heart attack. But this clot model makes sense, given sudden nature of heart attack. A slowly developing plaque blockage should give the heart time to grow collateral vessels.
Better model of heart attack - Heart attack not caused by plaque blockage in the tube of the vessel (old school). The culprit is plaque depositing in the inner lining of vessel walls, like pimple filled with cholesterol. When pimples bursts, an injury site is created. To heal the injury, a clot will form. If the clot is big enough, it blocks the artery, causing heart attack.
Open-Heart Surgery Recovery - Research
- Dropping Hemoglobin - Anemia
- Anemia (low hemoglobin) can be caused by many things, but the three main bodily mechanisms that produce it are: excessive destruction of RBCs, blood loss, inadequate production of RBCs.
Avoid Hospitals on Weekends!
Avoid Hospitals on Weekends!
In the past decade, studies have found that patients treated at hospitals on weekends have inferior outcomes when compared with those receiving care on weekdays. In some cases, researchers have found, that can also mean a higher death rate.
~ If Possible, Avoid Hospitals on Weekends
Red Bull with Alcohol - Can It Kill You?
If you drink Red Bull with alcohol, can it kill you?
Yoga Anatomy - by Leslie Kaminoff - Review
Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff lets you literally see under the skin of common yoga poses. But the strength of this book lies in how it infuses lessons on anatomy with a core focus on breath and gravity. Through wonderfully detailed illustrations and easy-to-understand text, Yoga Anatomy depicts the skeletal and muscular anatomy of many common yoga asanas.
From breathing to standing poses, Kaminoff (with illustrator Sharon Ellis) helps you see how each muscle is used--and how slight alterations can enhance (or reduce) the effectiveness of a pose. With these images and explanations, it becomes clear how the spine, breathing, and body position are all fundamentally linked in the journey to find a balance point between breath and gravity.
Reversing Heart Disease
In progress
- Atherosclerotic plaques deposit in response to injury
- Mechanical stress causes heart disease in vitamin-C-starved tissues
- In 1989 it was discovered that Lp(a) binds to form plaque, not LDL
- Ordinary cholesterol cannot and does not cause heart disease
- Ten-year experience shows Pauling Therapy is effective, and safe as long as vitamin C is increased.
- Pauling's therapy is so safe, and the medical condition so grave, there is no plausible reason for any physician resisting it, especially in otherwise hopeless cases
- Vitamin C Lowers (LDL) Cholesterol More than Statin Drugs
- Artifical statin drugs increase Lp(a) and lower CoQ10 causing myopathies
- Nearly 60 million Americans are diagnosed with Cardiovascular disease
- Retinal photos confirm chronic scurvy, reversals and Pauling/Rath theory
- Pharmacology experts cite numerous errors in vitamin C RDA research
- Bizzaro World: No published clinical studies!?
MRSA - Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus - Research
MRSA - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - Saw a 60 Minutes piece on MRSA, the antibiotic-resistant strain of staph. It's spread by person-to-person contact, and vulnerable to only one antibiotic--the antibiotic of last resort--vincomycin. And doctors expect this "superbug" to soon develop a resistance to that sole, remaining weapon. What do we do? More research. They hope for a vaccine, and other antibiotic treatments are expected on the horizon. Will this happen fast enough?
Unheathly Restaurant Food - Surprise Winners
Worst Unhealthy Restaurant Food - I was shocked with some of the "winners" from Men's Health's 20 Worst Foods In America. Below are a few that surprised me.
Worst Mexican Entree
Chipotle Mexican Grill Chicken Burrito
1,179 calories
47 g fat
125 g carbs
2,656 milligrams (mg) sodium
Sadly, I really like this chicken burrito. I don't have cheese with it, which helps. I guess nixing the tortilla and cheese and going for the chicken bowl instead would be better. Chipotle tortilla is 330 calories.
Coenzyme Q10 - Research
- Coenzyme Q10
- Ubiquinone, or coenzyme Q10, is an important nutrient. 2 of its primary uses are for those who are taking high cholesterol pills (the statin drugs in particular). Certain lipid-lowering drugs, such as the 'statins' - lovastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin - and gemfibrozil as well as oral agents which lower blood sugar, such as tolazamide and glyburide, cause a decrease in serum levels of coenzyme Q10 and reduce the effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation (7,8). These drugs inhibit the production of coenzyme Q10 by the liver and will cause serious complications unless one supplements coenzyme Q10 back into the diet. A prescription for lipid-lowering statin drugs should always be accompanied with a recommendation to take coenzyme Q10, because if a person is deficient in coenzyme Q10, heart failure is more likely.
- Coenzyme Q10 - Share The Wealth
- CoQ10 is an essential component in the membranes and mitochondria, the "lungs" or "power plants" of the cell[ii]. It is intimately involved in synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the basic respiratory energy molecule in the mitochondria of every cell, and so in generation of 95 percent of the body's energy. It helps the body's cells convert food and oxygen into ATP, a chemical that all tissues require to function properly. There are several thousand mitochondria in each cell.
How to Best Absorb Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ), also known as ubiquinone, is a natural, fat-soluble antioxidant produced in the body. Some reports claim that statins (Crestor, Lipitor, etc.) interfere with the liver's natural production of Coenzyme Q10, reducing quantities by up to 40 percent. As a result, some suggest statin users take supplements of Coenzyme Q10, but warn that absorption varies. Here's some help I found on eHow for how to best Absorb Coenzyme Q10.
McGrath Video Laryngoscope - Dad's New Toy
McGrath Video Laryngoscope - Dad says this is the greatest advancement in laryngoscopes since...the invention of the laryngoscope.
(:youtube BzazUoVe6sg:)
Vitamin C and Heart Disease
Teens and Sex - New Study
Teens and Sex - New Study - Interesting observations from this study reviewed in Psychology Today. As a parent of a pre-teen, it caught my interest. Quotes and notes from the article below...
George Carlin - On Aging
George Carlin
George Carlin on Aging - Received this by email. Totally hilarious and, as per George Carlin, so very insightful. Carlin's wisdom grows with age.
George Carlin on Aging
Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions. "How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!"
You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key. You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead. "How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16!
The Median Is NOT the Message - by Stephen Jay Gould
Stephen Jay Gould
Powerfully persuasive piece that helped me gain a "healthy" perspective on the statistics thrown out by doctors, researchers, other medical professionals--and the media. No understatement to say, this essay made a huge difference in my life and health.
The Median Isn't the Message
by Stephen Jay Gould
My life has recently intersected, in a most personal way, two of Mark Twain's famous quips. One I shall defer to the end of this essay. The other (sometimes attributed to Disraeli), identifies three species of mendacity, each worse than the one before - lies, damned lies, and statistics.
Kinoki - Detox Foot Pads
Kinoki Detox Foot Pads - What a bizzare idea...foot pads to remove toxins from inside your body.
A more plausible product would be detox anal pads.
I don't see how the Kinoki Detox Foot Pads could possibly work. But for $19.95 plus shipping, I can get all the pads I want FOR LIFE!
Yes! All I have to do is pay $9.95 shipping and handling for each additional set of pads. $10 bucks for S&H. Amazing Randi fans was not convinced by claims about Kinoki Detox Foot Pads. One reader had this explanation of how the pads "work".
I wonder how long this company will last. Below are some detox foot pads offered via Amazon that are cheaper.
Robert Kowalski - Heart Healthy Supplement Regimen
Found this in Robert Kowalski's website. Lists in detail the cholesterol fighter's current regimen of vitamin, mineral, and other supplements.
First Aid Myths - Useless or Dangerous?
First Aid Myths - Do NOT try these at home. Some first aid tips cause more harm than good.
- Myth - Pee on jellyfish sting - Since you are far more likely to suffer a jellyfish sting than a shark bite, know this: Peeing is not proven to help jellyfish stings (though testimonials abound). Instead, apply vinegar.
- Myth - Slather butter on a burn - Besides the obvious risk of infection, putting butter or any kind of grease on a burn can TRAP heat and cause scarring.
- Myth - Ice minor burns - Another bad idea. The sudden temperature change will cause more pain. Instead, apply cool water to clean and soothe the area.
Leading Cause of Death in US ... Medical Treatment!
Death by Medicine - According to a review study, more deaths are caused annually in the U.S. by medical treatment and diagnostic procedures than by heart disease or cancer.
WTF!
| Condition | Deaths | Cost | Author |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adverse Drug Reactions | 106,000 | $12 billion | Lazarou(1), Suh (49) |
| Medical error | 98,000 | $2 billion | IOM(6) |
| Bedsores | 115,000 | $55 billion | Xakellis(7), Barczak (8) |
| Infection | 88,000 | $5 billion | Weinstein(9), MMWR (10) |
| Malnutrition | 108,800 | ----------- | Nurses Coalition(11) |
| Outpatients | 199,000 | $77 billion | Starfield(12), Weingart(112) |
| Unnecessary Procedures | 37,136 | $122 billion | HCUP(3,13) |
| Surgery-Related | 32,000 | $9 billion | AHRQ(85) |
| ANNUAL TOTAL | 783,936 | $282 billion | |
| Heart Disease | 699,697 | ||
| Cancer | 553,251 |
And these numbers are based on reported deaths, which suggests the true death toll from medical treatment is much higher.
Is American Medicine Working? Here is the reviewers' reply...
Post Heart Attack Treatments Cause Heart Muscle Death
"The new science of resuscitation is changing the way doctors think about heart attacks—and death itself."
"In an emergency department, you work like mad for half an hour on someone whose heart stopped, and finally someone says, 'I don't think we're going to get this guy back,' and then you just stop--The body on the cart is dead, but its trillions of cells are all still alive."
Assumption: After a heart attack, the heart stops beating and heart muscle cells start dying. Wrong. The heart cells live for hours after someone is pronounced dead. What kills heart cells immediately is a profusion of oxygen. When high levels of oxygen are introduced into oxygen starved (not dead) heart cells, the cell basically commit suicide. Very strange. For some reason the high concentration of oxygen triggers a suicide response in the cells.
What It Feels Like Being Shot
What It Feels Like to Be Shot - Found this on Google answers. It was written in response to a question about what happens to a person if he is shot. Does he fly back from the bullet's force and drop dead/unconscious like a rock, etc. (as portrayed in movies)? Or does the victim writhe in agony as he bleeds out? The answer is...very sad.
My name is Jesse (online name Danny Bishop). I myself was shot--in the chest--on November 27th, 1994, at point-blank range with a .22" magnum revolver (single-action, convertable--to.22" LR with alternate cylinder). The bullet was likely 40-grain; the type: .224 caliber high velocity (WMR--Winchester Magnum Rimfire, MAxiMag), with a nominal muzzle velocity of 1,550 fps, from a likely 6.5" handgun barrel (applied pressure, point blank: 324 foot pounds per sq. inch). I can tell you--not from watching it happen--but from actually experiencing it, exactly what it was like...
Dean Ornish Warns - Omega-3 Fats Could Kill You!
Dean Ornish
Dean Ornish Says Omega-3 Fats Could Kill You!! - Yes, you read that right. Recent studies by Dr. Alexander Leaf of Harvard Medical School and others confirm many benefits to Omega-3 fatty acids for most people. However, for a sub-population who have had a heart attack or have congestive heart failure, consuming Omega-3 fats could kill them.
Why?
When heart muscle cells are starved for oxygen (as during heart attack or congestive heart failure), those heart cells become "hyper-excitable." Hyper-excitable cells activate or contract with less stimulus than healthy cells. This increased sensitivity is probably what keeps the weakened cells constricting at all. However, omega-3 fatty acids are "effectively removing these hyper-excitable cells from functioning." And if a significant proportion of the cells pumping your heart are hyper-excitable cells, omega-3 fatty acids could seriously reduce your heart's ability to pump, and in some cases that can cause a lethal heart attack.
Namaste Yoga by Kate Porter
Namaste Yoga by Kate Porter - Saw a gorgeous yoga program on FitTV called Namaste Yoga by Kate Porter. Appears to be a Canadian series. Absolutely gorgeous throughout. Seems to emphasize creating a series of poses in each program that focus on moving with the breath (Hatha Vinyasa). Very much like the power yoga (ashtanga yoga) series approach, but this isn't aggressive at all. Very relaxing with slow movement coordinated with the breath.
Evangeline Duy
In the series, Evangeline Duy is so far my favorite instructor. She's been featured in the programs I have viewed. Her favorite pose is the triangle, and she appears to be quite aware of her beauty. As stated on her page at the Namaste Yoga website:
I'll second that, but all the instructors are gorgeous, as are the settings used in the program, the music, the lighting. Really top-notch "production values" and what appears to be an excellent, well thought out program designed by Kate Porter.
Power Nap Basics from Sara Mednick
Perfect Power Naps - Sara Mednick, a napping specialist, offers these suggestions on taking power naps:
Power Nap Hints
- Recognize you're not being lazy; napping will make you more productive and more alert after you wake up.
- Nap in the morning or just after lunch; human circadian rhythms make late afternoons a more likely time to fall into deep (slow-wave) sleep, which will leave you groggy.
Never Run or Jog Barefoot
No Running Barefoot - On advice I'm sure I found somewhere on the Internet, I tried running barefoot on a treadmill. Nothing special. My usual routine. But the next day my knees where killing me!!! Been a couple weeks now, and I'm still recovering.
NEVER run or jog barefoot. I speak from experience. It's bad for your knees. Horrible for your knees. If you like your knees, don't run or jog barefoot.
But why? Do the shoes really help cushion impact--I thought those claims were all marketing and no science...but I guess I was wrong.
Tanning Protects Against Melanoma?
U.S. Flu Crisis Guidelines
U.S. Flu Crisis Guidelines - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued guidelines for handling a U.S. flu crisis. They adopt various "social distancing" strategies.
Absent from the guidelines are travel restrictions.
Economic concerns led to the ommission of travel restrictions.
Here is the summary statement, word-for-word, from the PandemicFlu.gov website:
Unhappy Meals
Unhappy Meals by Michael Pollan Excellent article on nutrition, the food industry, and journalism...A recipe for poor health.
Food advice can be summed up:
Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
- By food it means whole fruits, vegetables.
- By not too much it means eat until you're 80% full -- control your portions and never stuff yourself.
- By mostly plants it means eat more leafy vegetables and less grains and seeds--but focus on diversity.
Some helpful corollaries:
Cheap, Safe Drug Kills Most Cancers
The drug dichloroacetate (DCA) appears to target cancer cells, causing them to die. It's potency as a cancer killing agent has been tested in tissue cultures and, just recently, in mice -- all with very promising results.
Problem is, this drug has been used for many years to treat rare metabolic disorders and is not patentable as a cancer treatment. Without patent protection, the pharmaceutical industry has no interest in investing millions in clinical trials, even though the drug's impact on cancer could be profound.
U.S. Experiment in Private Healthcare
Healthcare Private or Public - Yes! Magazine published something of an expose regarding the debate on private versus publicly funded healthcare titled: Has Canada Got the Cure? Written by Holly Dressel, the story expands upon the following disturbing statistic:
The U.S. and Canada had similar life expectancy and mortality rates up until about 1970. After 1970, the numbers began to diverge. Currently, Canada has a longer life expectancy and lower mortality rate as compared to the U.S.
~ Yes! Magazine
What changed in Canada? In 1970, Canada began its publicly funded healthcare program. As the article concludes:
This graphic from the article displays data from the World Health Organization, CIA, and Centers for Disease Control.
Why Drinking Too Much Water Is Dangerous
Drinking Too Much Water - Jennifer Strange died from drinking too much water. The fact she drank it during a contest to win a Nintendo Wii video game system -- "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" -- made her death especially tragic...and newsworthy.
How could you die from drinking water?
Basic physiology and osmosis. The kidneys can only process so much water over a given time. If you drink more water than the kidneys can process, your blood dilutes. The diluted blood creates an imbalance (more salt in the surrounding cells than in the blood). To relieve that imbalance, water from the blood starts entering the salty cells. This causes the cells to swell.
Drug-eluting Stents - Bookmarks
Drug-Eluting Stents - What Causes Thrombosis?
Excellent article that describes recent studies on drug-eluting stents, including autopsy results.
In a nutshell: Drug-eluting stents increase risk of coronary artery thrombosis (clot). Drug-eluting stents reduce collateral vessel growth (vascularization). Vessel growth helps the heart handle the loss of blood flow if a clot occurs in the stent site in the coronary artery. So patients with drug-eluting stents not only are more likely to develop a clot, but for that clot to cause more damage due to reduced vascularization in the area of the clot.
Doctors suggest Plavix and aspirin treatment for at least a year to prevent thrombosis (clots).
Drug-eluting Stents
When Our Diet Goes Ape - The Evo Diet
Nine volunteers, with a reality TV camera crew taping, decided to go ape with their diet (sometimes called the EVO diet). For 12 days the volunteers avoided all processed foods and ate only from a generous ration of fruits and vegetables -- a diet of the apes.
The results: Blood cholesterol and blood pressure levels dropped significantly for all.
What they ate: 2,300 calories of fruit, vegetables, nuts and honey
Typical 3-day Rotation included:
- Broccoli, carrots, radishes
- Cabbage, tomatoes, watercress
- Strawberries, apricots, bananas
- Mangoes, melons, figs, plums
- Satsumas, hazelnuts
Interesting stories of the volunteers' experiences.
Blood Test May Predict Heart Failure
Blood Test Predict Heart Failure - High levels of protein called NT-proBNP in the blood may indicate an increased risk of heart attack, stroke or heart failure. Blood protein levels seem to rise when the heart is under stress and unhealthy. Doctors can use a simple blood test for the protein. If levels are high doctors know the heart is under stress, and the patient may need additional medicines or other treatments.
Drug-eluting Stents Reduce Collateral Blood Vessel Growth
Drug-eluting Stents Reduce Collateral Vessel Growth - New study indicates that drug-eluting stents may obstruct the heart's natural ability to form small collateral blood vessels - nature's bypass mechanism. For patients with coronary artery blockages, these vessels normally help supply blood to areas starved by artery blockages. The drug-eluting stents appear to hinder this natural, healing process.
Diabetes Cure in the Nerves
Diabetes Cure in the Nerves
Diabetes cure may be in the nerves - During an experiment, researchers injected capsaicin (the substance that makes chili peppers taste hot) into the pancreas of type I diabetic mice. The capsiacin killed the sensory nerves in the pancreas. Oddly, by killing the nerves with capsaicin, the mice appeared to be cured of type I diabetes.
Researchers wondered if they could get the same effect without killing the nerve cells. After some looking, they identified a neuropeptide that was in low quantities or missing from the pancreas of type I diabetic mice. Oddly, when they injected the neuropeptide ("substance P") into the pancreas of diabetic mice, the mice again appeared cured of type I diabetes...for about four weeks, and then another injection was needed. So it appears that the pancreas of type I diabetic mice were not producing enough "substance P" and the sensory nerve cells were somehow involved.
5 Ways to Beat a Hangover
Five ways to beat a hangover - Most hangover symptoms stem from alcohol's diuretic effect, which can to dehydration. Dehydration can lead to common hangover symptoms like dry mouth, headache, and dizziness. In addition, alcohol can also irritate the stomach lining and cause nausea and stomach cramps in some people. To reduce or prevent these symptoms, have a look at these hangover prevention/reduction tips:
What Happens To Your Body If You Drink A Coke
Another great post from Wade Meredith at Healthbolt. I really like what this guy does. I learned so much from his What Happens To Your Body When You Stop Smoking. Do read the original post:
What Happens To Your Body If You Drink A Coke Right Now?
If link is not available, read cached copy below...
Drug-eluting Coronary Artery Stents Increase Clot Risk
Drug-eluting Coronary Artery Stents Increase Clot Risk
Drug-eluting stents seem to prevent arterial lining from forming over stent. So when patients stop Plavix, clots form (due to exposed metal in artery lining from stent?).
One man, as prescribed by his doctor, stopped Plavix after one year and collapsed from a clot. I wonder: When the drug is gone from the drug-eluting stent (after 6 months?), will the artery lining form properly? Did not appear to do so with that 41 year-old man. If not, is Plavix is safe to take for long-term? Scientists speculate that the problems arise when these drug-eluting stents are used incorrectly, in vessels that are too narrow or where blockages too extensive.
99 Ways To Keep Your Heart Pumping
Wonderful list of tips for preventing heart disease and strokes (most seem research-based). Below are a few of my favorites from the list of 99 heart healthy tips.
6. Grill a steak. You may think it’s bad for your heart, but you’d be wrong. Beef contains immunity-boosting selenium as well as homocysteine-lowering B vitamins. And up to 50 percent of the fat is the heart-healthy monounsaturated variety.
14. Swap honey for sugar. Researchers at the University of Illinois found that honey has powerful antioxidant qualities that help combat cardiovascular disease, while sugar consumption can lower your levels of HDL cholesterol, potentially increasing your risk of heart-related disorders.
77. Have more sex. You might think all that grunting and sweating would increase your risk of a stroke, but University of Bristol researchers say the opposite is actually true. Not only are men who have sex at least twice a week less likely to have a stroke than men who have sex less often, but all that steamy exercise may also help reduce their heart-disease risk by up to a third, compared with guys who aren’t getting any.
98. Add E to aspirin. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that a combination of the antioxidant (shoot for 800 international units) and blood-thinner helped reduce levels of plaque in clogged arteries by more than 80 percent.
RealAge Makeover by Michael F. Roizen
Michael F. Roizen, M.D.
RealAge Makeover and Michael Roizen - I read YOU: The Owner's Manual about a year ago, and was so impress with its clear, accessible explanations about how the human body works. Just saw the PBS "info-mercial" on Michael Roizen, M.D.'s new program/book The RealAge Makeover: Take Years off Your Looks and Add Them to Your Life. Very impressive. Not partnered with Mehmet Oz this time, Michael Roizen again presents simple, clear advice on what you can do to stay healthier and younger.
As Roizen said, no one can do them all, but even doing an important few (like walking 30 minutes a day and avoiding saturated and trans fats) will help keep you significantly healthier and younger.
Post Heart Attack, Late Use Of Stents May Not Help
Angioplasty & Stents Post Heart Attack - This was a little unexpected. Study indicates that using angioplasty or inserting stents more than 25 hours after a heart attack does NOT increase survival rates.
Where's the logic in that?
This article doesn't attempt to explain--in fact, doctors are perplexed by the result--but the piece is still worth reading.
18 Ways to Trick Your Body
Tricking Your Body? - I found this Men's Health article a bit misleading, if not silly...But it had some interesting kernels.
1. If your throat tickles, scratch your ear.
"When the nerves in the ear are stimulated, it creates a reflex in the throat that can cause a muscle spasm," says Scott Schaffer, M.D., president of an ear, nose, and throat specialty center in Gibbsboro, New Jersey. "This spasm relieves the tickle."
2. Use right ear for conversation and left ear for music.
Can't hear what's being said. Researchers at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine say you should lean in with your RIGHT ear, which recognizes speech better.
On the other hand, if you are trying to identify a piece of music, lean in with your LEFT ear. The left ear is better at sensing (recognizing?) music tones.
3. Need to pee but no toilet nearby? Think about sex.
Laws of the House of God
House of God Laws - Rumor has it, when medical interns, residents, and nurses need an attitude adjustment because of what they face all day, they refer to the Laws of The House of God.
The laws come from Samuel Shem's book The House of God. A work of fiction, the novel is loosely based on Shem's year as a medical intern. It's a fast pace, cynical view of medical training that bombs all the Marcus Welby M.D. illusions our culture used to carry about the medical profession.
Cure Cancer with Rice Bran?
Rice Bran Cures Cancer - This article exposes a potential cancer cure from Japan that's been overlooked. Here's the basic idea:
Cancer cells contain more iron than other cells (to support growth). Seed and rice bran contains a compound (inositol hexaphosphate or IP6) that "chelates" or binds iron, making it unavailable to fuel the tumor cell's growth. Man-made chelating drugs can work, too, but most have dangerous (even toxic) side effects, and their effectiveness appears to be inferior to the natural sources found in seed or rice bran.
What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Smoking?
Stop Smoking! - Just Quit! - Wade Meredith has written a stellar blog post: What Happens to Your body if you stop smoking Right now? Totally fascinating. The timeline he lays out is just too important not to share. Do see the original post by Wade Meredith at HealthBolt.net. If for some reason that is not available, read the cached copy below.
In either case, be sure to see this alternate version. Also see this What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Smoking Chart.
Old but Not Frail: A Matter of Heart and Head
Old but Not Frail: A Matter of Heart and Head - This article contained some helpful tidbits on aging and frailty that boiled down to these three suggestions:
- View aging as positive
- Keep walking
- Avoid cardiovascular disease
Caveat: Scientists cannot say that walking, cardiovascular health, and a positive view of aging will reduce your chances of becoming frail. They only know that already frail people most often do NOT possess any of these three traits. Still, the advice couldn't hurt.
Below are some relevant quotes from the article that support the findings.
Internet Is A Denial Of Service Attack On Your Brain
Intriguing perspective on the how the Internet is a denial of service attack on your brain.
Quotes
"We found that mental performance, the capability of the brain, was also reduced. Workers cannot think as well when they are worrying about e-mail or voice mails. It effectively reduces their IQ," says Wilson.
Stress Can Shrink and Age Your Brain
Stress Can Shrink and Age Your Brain
Fact: Stress shrinks neuronal cells in the brain that affect memory, decision-making, and attention (at least in mice).
Prevention: Exercise and seeing a "shrink" (cognitive therapy, etc.)
Even One Fatty Meal Affects Arteries
Just one meal of saturated fat can inflame the inner lining (endothelium) of blood vessels. This reduces the vessels' ability to expand and increase blood flow. Further, the inflammation can lead to lesions or cracks between the cells in the vessel lining, which are repaired by the body using cholesterol (oversimplification). When bad cholesterol (LDL) is used for the repair, plaque buildup and arteriosclerosis can result. When good cholesterol (HDL) is used for the repair, plaque buildup is less likely.
Just one meal of high saturated fats can reduce good cholesterol (HDL) levels. Conversely, one meal of unsaturated fats can increase good cholesterol (HDL) levels.
Worst Breakfast Ever
Take a gander at the total fat, saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol content in this mother of a breakfast from Swanson. It's called the Hungry Man All Day Breakfast--sure to give you arteriosclerosis.
I'll take two.
Swanson Hungry Man All Day Breakfast
Can You Become Immune to Cancer?
Immune to Cancer - Scientists discovered that some mice just don't get cancer--they seem somehow immune. So they took the white blood cells of those cancer resistant mice, and inject them into previously non-resistant mice. Within a few days or weeks of being injected, those normal mice become resistant or immune to cancer.
Will this approach work in humans?
Calvin on Ritalin Cartoon
Bird Flu Most Deadly In Teens Young Adults
Bee Sting Remedies
Advice below is adapted from the Dr. Greene site, which seems pretty sensible compared to others.
Bee Stings Remedies
If stung by bee, consider trying one or more of the following bee sting remedies...
Depression Learning Path
This site is quite lengthy, so below are some notes I took while reading through the website pages. Notes are not complete, but a good taste. I really found this website helpful in understanding depression and options for treating the condition/disease.
Depression
Stress Notes
Secrets of Stress Management
Photo by Adrian Sampson Received via email. Dunno who to credit.
Stress Management - When explaining stress management to an audience, the lecturer raised a glass of water and asked:
"How heavy is this glass of water?"
Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.
The lecturer replied:
"The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it.
"If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.
In each case, it's the same weight:
The longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.
Yoga Instructor Sara Ivanhoe
Sara Ivanhoe Yoga - Watched an excellent instructional video, Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies with the beautiful and poised Sara Ivanhoe. Very well produced and directed (except for the annoying sound effects used to highlight tips, note, and warnings). Ivanhoe comes across so clear, effective, and genuine. She'd make a wonderful television anchor. Top notch. Further, it looks like the DVDs produced by Anchor Bay share excellent production values and information.
The DVD goes through 12 basic poses, describing each clearly and simply. I never found the format boring or tedious. Useful tips sprinkled throughout kept the presentation interesting, yet you get full yoga session by watching the presentation. Very effective format and structure. Hate to say it, but these Dummies products tend to be pretty good.
Why Bird Flu Doesn't Spread Between Humans
Article appears to describe in detail the mechanisms that allow (or prevent) bird to humand, and human to human transmission of the bird flu virus.
Bird Flu
Policosanol-New Natural Way To Control Cholesterol
Low Cholesterol Diet
Cholesterol Lowering Foods
Ancient Folk Remedy May Help Control Cholesterol
Guggulsterone from Guggul Tree Sap - This is an older (2002) article on the medicinal and chemical properties of a substance found in the sap or resin of the Asian Indian Guggul tree. The compound, called guggulsterone, blocks the FXR receptor (where?). The FXR receptor controls bile levels (and production) in the liver. By blocking the FXR receptor, the guggulsterone compound prevents the uptake/recycling of cholestrol laiden bile from the small intestine, thus breaking the metabolic cycle for bile. That's my best understanding from the article. May need more research. Sounds like the guggul sap is available in health food stores, particularly in India, where it's been used for the last 40 years to treat heart disease. Another "natural" remedy.
Cholesterol Basics
Cholesterol
Zocor
Diet Plan
Food Addiction Diet Plan
Fat Burn Principle
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