Lowering Triglycerides: Don't Be Misguided

By Laura LaValle, RD, LD

While the Corn Refiners Association and the Sugar Association continue to sponsor studies and media campaigns to promote their "safe, natural sweeteners," whether people know it or not, headlines are running concurrently that attest to the dangers of the over- consumption of sugars.

It was just reported that 1 in 3 American adults has elevated triglycerides,1 a condition that is now known to significantly raise risk for heart disease.  Even children can have high triglycerides, and Heartwire just reported that elevated triglyceride levels in childhood were found to significantly increase the rates of cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke in adulthood.  

I chose to write about this today because the preferred way to lower triglycerides by far, is diet and lifestyle.   The diet that is most effective for lowering triglycerides however, is not the one that is typically recommended in conventional medicine today.  

For instance, the current American Heart Association recommendations for lowering triglycerides are to lose weight; to reduce intake of trans fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and alcohol; to increase intake of omega-3 fats; and  to exercise.  Removing trans fat from the diet and increasing omega-3 via fish oil are both crucial, but in our experience at LMI, these measures will have limited impact if a person's carbohydrate intake (not fat intake) remains too high.  

Elevated triglycerides are seen frequently in people with diabetes.  Diabetics have elevated triglycerides because when blood glucose is elevated, the liver converts the excesses to fat.  But you don't have to be diabetic to have high triglycerides. Anytime you take in carbohydrates in amounts that exceed the body's requirements for energy, you can start to raise triglycerides.

The research is pretty clear -- it is carbohydrates that have the biggest impact on triglycerides.  Here's a quick rundown: 

1. Researchers compared the rate of triglyceride production in the liver with high fat/low carb diets and conversely with low fat/high carb diets (the diet that is currently recommended by the AHA) and found that two factors increase triglycerides: hyperinsulinemia and low fat diets.2 

2. In human subjects consuming more than 30% of their calories from fat, triglyceride synthesis was greatly reduced.  When fat was replaced with carbohydrates, triglyceride production increased.3

3. Several studies looking at low-carb diets compared to low-fat diets for weight loss have found that low-carb diets led to slightly more weight loss than low-fat diets.   Low-carb diets also led to significant lowering of triglycerides compared to low-fat diets.  In fact, low-fat diets didn't lower triglycerides at all, and sometimes led to increases in triglycerides.-4-6

I cannot explain why the dietary recommendations aren't being updated based on these studies. But I can tell you that in practice we find low sugar and starch diets to be the most effective for lowering triglycerides.

Glucose and fructose are the simple sugars that most affect triglycerides.  Glucose is found in high amounts in starchy foods like potatoes, rice, and grains.  It is also found in high amounts in sugar beets and sugar cane from which granulated sugar is made.  Fructose is highest in fruits and fruit juices.  Corn starch can be dissolved to make corn syrup (which is high in both fructose and glucose) and further broken down with enzymes and lye to create high fructose corn syrup.

As Jim's article explained, a recent study found that sweetened beverages that had more fructose than glucose had the worst impact on triglyceride production.  This is the combination of sugars that you would find in beverages like soft drinks, sweetened teas, and fruit juices that are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). 

So, if you have high triglycerides, the first step to take is to eliminate all sweets and sweetened soft drinks, teas, and fruit juice.  Watch for hidden sugars like sucrose, dextrose, corn syrup and HFCS on labels in other foods.  Increasing your activity can be a big help, but if your triglycerides still don't come down to optimum levels of well under 150 mg/dL, you should also reduce your intake of starchy foods like potatoes, rice, and pasta.  

If your carb restriction has to be severe in order to lower triglycerides, it is an indication that your insulin receptors could use some nutritional support. Chromium, magnesium and alpha-lipoic acid are nutrients that we find to be very effective for lowering insulin and thus triglycerides.  

Alpha-lipoic acid was recently found to lower triglyceride production in mice, and not only that, it went on to reduce atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries.  The researchers noted that these results were obtained with what would be the human equivalent dosage of 2000 mg per day.7

References

1. http://www.lipidsonline.org/news/article.cfm?aid=7608.

2. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Jan;77(1):43-50.

3. Proc Nutr Soc. 2002 May;61(2):281-6.

4. NEJM. May 22, 2003. 348(21): 2092-90.

5. JAMA. 2007;297:969-977.

6. Nutrition & Metabolism. 2005, 2:31doi:10.1186/1743-7075-2-31.

7. Circulation. 2008;117:421-428.

[Ed. Note: Laura B. LaValle, RD, LD is presently the director of dietetics nutrition at LaValle Metabolic Institute.   Laura and her husband, Jim LaValle, R.Ph, CCN, ND have developed the powerful and life-changing Metabolic Code Diet – containing step-by-step, easy to follow recommendations for harnessing optimal metabolic energy and turning your body's chemical make up into a fat-burning furnace.]

Direct You Focus on Health and Wealth

By Bob Livingston

Apr 6th, 2009 • Category: Bob Livingston, Health, Personal Liberty Articles, Wealth 

The materialistic-instant gratification-pop culture mentality of many people today is truly astonishing.

If they see it they want it… now. What’s important? Who is the next to leave on American Idol, who is kicked off the island in Survivor, what is my favorite actor up to today?

What’s not important? What are you reading, what are you eating, what medicines are you taking, what is your government doing today to take more of your hard-earned fiat money and perpetuate the fraud that is the government finance system?

The difference in people is how they think. The difference in what people think is what they read. The difference in what they read is how much they read. How much they read is how close to reality they are.

It is so planned that billions of people should live and die and never know or experience reality.

The crowd can be described with one word—frivolous. The people are little children whose existence is prescribed by the system. Yes, our parameter of existence is prescribed because our parameters of thought are prescribed.

Who are the people of the system? They are almost everybody. They are the common folk. They are the professional class. They are, for the most part, the financial class.

A few get through the net to reality.

And most people who climb the economic scale are decoyed and diverted with materialism. Their existence becomes totally dominated by the desire to accumulate material wealth.

Riches are wonderful. They please the flesh but they are a blinder that most often blocks escape to reality. Materialism, properly placed, brings balance and quality time to life. Materialism is a tool, not an end, lest we worship at the altar of mammon.

There is an appalling difference between reality people and people of the system. Frivolous people have their existence on frivolous thoughts and frivolous talk.

My focus is on health and wealth—properly balanced. It is impossible to have one without the other.

Good health is where you can find it. It is seldom found within the sickness system or "orthodox medicine." It is most likely to be found in alternatives.

People can be measured by their proclivity toward alternative health. This is the same as saying their disbelief of pharmaceutical medicine. The more we progress to alternative health the closer we come to reality.

Pharmaceutical medicine is by no definition a health system. It is in every way a commercial business based on profits. Not one doctor in 10,000 suspects this. So tight is the psychological control of the medical system that no amount of persuasion or logic can dislodge it.

The professional medical class is money-motivated and it lusts after the pharmaceutical system, totally unconscious of the realism of human health. A drug system is incompatible with the health of man and animal.

Wealth is long-term value. It most definitely is not the diminishing, deflating paper money system that everyone thinks of as money and wealth.

Silently, a new war has been declared on all people who hold paper money assets. The paper money monster called depreciating paper is consuming more and more while we sleep.

He who builds his fortune, his savings and retirement upon a paper money foundation builds his house upon the sands. This syndrome is no different from the drug addict who plans his existence upon acquiring the next fix.

Think of transferring your existence from pharmaceutical drugs and paper money to life and reality above the "madness of the crowd" while you can.

A Growing Movement Against Mandatory Vaccines

April 8, 2009 

By Melanie Segala

Managing Editor, Total Health Breakthroughs

I used to think that only people with ultra-conservative religious beliefs or anti-establishment opinions home-schooled their kids. But after reading an October 2008 article in USA Today,1 I learned differently. Debra and Curtis Barnes are part of a growing number of Americans who home-school their three children solely to avoid having them vaccinated. 

Debra Curtis is hardly a fringe member of society. She has a busy chiropractic practice in Mississippi and is president of the Mississippi Vaccination Information Center, a group of 159 concerned parents who believe that mandatory vaccinations for school-aged children are a dangerous over-reach by state governments. 

This group is not alone in their concerns. Surprisingly perhaps, they have the support of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), whose thousands of members are not anti-vaccine, but believe that the government and individual school districts do not have the right to mandate vaccines without parental informed consent. The AAPS factsheet says that “42 states have mandatory vaccine policies, and many children are required 22 shots by first grade."2

New Jersey has the highest requirement of mandatory childhood vaccines in the US-- 35 doses of 13 different vaccines,3 most of them administered to children between the ages of 1 and 7. Parents must comply with the vaccine schedule if their children will be attending school or daycare unless they have received a religious or medical exemption. 

Perhaps not surprisingly, New Jersey also has the highest rate of autism among 14 states that were analyzed in 2007 by the CDC4 -- 10.6 cases of autism per 1,000 children (or 1 in 94), compared to an average of 6.6 per 1,000 (1 in 152) children overall.5 

Like the AAPS and the parents of many home-schooled children, citizen groups all over the country are speaking out against the ever increasing number of government-mandated vaccines and mobilizing to do something about it. 

The New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice (NJCVC), an expanding group of parents, physicians, holistic organizations, autism support groups, and other concerned citizens is currently lobbying for a Conscientious Belief Exemption that will allow parents to refuse mandatory immunizations for their children on the basis of sincerely held moral objections. 

Among its top 10 reasons for a conscientious exemption bill, the NJCVC cites the manner in which mandatory vaccines are decided and scheduled. A seven-member advisory panel appointed by the governor determines the state's mandatory vaccine program which is then approved by the health commissioner and governor. The state legislature is bypassed in the process and the concerns of the public are typically ignored6 -- parents and children, the individuals most affected by the vaccine decision-makers have no representation in the matter.

Enter Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, a physician and vocal advocate against mandatory vaccines. Dr. Tenpenny, with a thriving integrative medical practice in Cleveland, Ohio says she has seen far too many devastated parents whose children developed serious medical problems after they were vaccinated. Many of them had to make on the spot decisions in the doctor's office about whether to proceed with a vaccination. Armed with the proper information, they would have said no.7

To help parents faced with increased pressure to vaccinate their children before they can enter school or daycare, Dr. Tenpenny has recently written a book called Saying NO To Vaccines. The book advises them on how they can legally avoid mandatory vaccinations for their children -- and provides them with powerful arguments based on the scientific literature to refute doctors and administrators who insist that vaccines don't harm the immune system or cause chronic disease.8 

According to Dr. Tenpenny, the anti-vaccine movement is gaining momentum at the grassroots level because of the strong scientific evidence that proves they do more harm than good. And perhaps for the rest of us, it's not a moment too soon. 

A new group called People for Immunization (PFI) headed by Dr. Paul Offit (co-inventor and co-patent holder of the rotavirus vaccine) and backed by the CDC, plans to crisscross the US speaking to the public, health professionals, and organizations to promote the science-based value of immunizations. 

One of their stated goals is to advocate strongly to improve the appalling low adult vaccination rates in the United States.9 They also tell us to watch for plans for more mandatory vaccines for adults.9

Unless I'm missing something, PFI seems to conveniently overlook the fact that the vast majority of adults are not falling ill from communicable diseases. What do we need to be vaccinated against? 

If PFI's goals alarm you as much as they do me, you can log on to Dr. Tenpenny's website and join the Coalition Against Mandatory Vaccines. And on the website of the American Association of Health Freedom you can find out more about the Coalition and how to offer your support. As Dr. Tenpenny advises, we must stand up and be heard if we want to preserve our right to refuse mandatory vaccines.

References 

1. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-21-home-school-vaccinate_N.htm.

2. http://www.aapsonline.org/testimony/mandvac.htm.

3. http://njvaccinationchoice.org/.

4. http://www.umdnj.edu/about/news_events/releases/07/r020807_CDCReleases_Study ofAutismRates.htm.

5. http://www.childrens-specialized.org/press/pdf/Star%20LedgerNJshowshighrateofautism.pdf.

6. http://njvaccinationchoice.org/topten.html.

7. http://drtenpenny.com/eye_opener.aspx.

8. http://www.healthtruthrevealed.com/articles/1303027903/article.

9. http://drtenpenny.com/camv.aspx.

Herbs and Spices

by:  Dr. Mercola

Are You Ready to Add More Spice to Your Life --and Your Health*?

Why I Traveled 15,000 Miles to Uncover More about this Ayurvedic Super Spice…

 

If you're a subscriber to the site you already know I place a strong emphasis on eating as much unprocessed, organically grown food as possible for your optimal health.

 

One interesting way that many people overlook on improving their  health is by taking advantage of unprocessed, organic herbs and spices.

Interestingly most of these herbs add virtually no calories to your diet.  You'll find that herbs and spices:

• Maximize your nutrient density -- They contain healthful vitamins and minerals. 

• Help speed up your metabolism -- Because spices are nutrient dense, they are thermogenic. This means they naturally increase your metabolism to help you burn calories. 

• May increase your overall feeling of fullness and satiety -- So you'll eat less. Studies show consuming certain herbs and spices prior to each meal can potentially reduce your calorie intake. 

• Provide you healthful properties -- Help boost and enhance your overall wellbeing with antioxidants that can be more potent than many fruits and vegetables. 

• Benefit your "whole person" -- Herbs and spices tend to enhance your entire body, and not just focus on a particular area. 

  

And this "whole person" approach is where I've focused a great deal of my attention.

Why?

Because my primary focus in making health recommendations for you and your family that address the cause of your health concerns.  Don't Waste Your Time and Health with Synthetically Processed Herbs and Spices.

Just as it's very important for you to select and consume wholesome, unprocessed organic foods, the same applies to herbs and spices.  You want to avoid breezing down the spice aisle of your local grocery store to pick up any old herb or spice.  It is important that you are very selective.

If the herb or spice you're looking for is processed or not organically grown, then you risk missing out on their greatest benefits. You need their most potent active ingredients to provide you with optimal benefits.

If the herb or spice is not cultivated, harvested, produced, and packaged using certified organic processes, you could be robbed of the healthful active ingredients.

In fact, I would recommend you totally avoid herbs and spices not based on 100% certified organic ingredients. Why waste your time -- and risk potential health consequences from artificial ingredients and questionable chemical processes?

India is the home of Ayurveda, recognized as an authoritative source of knowledge and truth in natural health promotion -- with herbs and spices lying at the very heart of Ayurvedic practice. So it would make perfect sense to consider using herbs that were grown in India if you are considering Ayurvedic herbs.

How this Ancient Spice Originated Thousands of Years Ago

That is one of the reasons I traveled over 15,000 miles to India last year -- to find a high quality source of these herbs. During this trip to India, I witnessed firsthand how this Ayurvedic holistic approach and organic processes work in unison.

 

And of the many herbs and spices I studied, one in particular caught my immediate attention. The herb is called turmeric, and it can provide you whole person health benefits:

• Supports your healthy joint function* 

• Promotes your radiant skin* 

• Helps improve your digestion* 

And much more...

Now, there is some debate about the timing of turmeric's first use as a healthy spice.  But one thing is certain. Thousands of years ago, people in India and China used the spice. In fact, some stories suggest usage dates back 10,000 years in India when they say Lord Rama walked the earth.

And the ancient Polynesians carried turmeric with them on their incredible voyage across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii. Today, Hawaiians still use this spice -- known to them as Olena.

While in China, Marco Polo in 1280 AD recorded information on turmeric in his diary:

"There is also a vegetable which has all the properties of true saffron, as well the smell as the color, and yet it is not really saffron."

  

So, turmeric has been used as a substitute for saffron (an old world spice) in Europe for over 700 years.

One of the main healthful ingredients in turmeric is curcumin (a curcuminoid), which gives turmeric its yellow color.

Western scientists first isolated the curcumin molecule in 1815, obtained its crystalline form in 1870, and determined its overall structure in 1910.  Curcumin can potentially benefit you by:

• Promoting your immune system against stress*
  

• Helping maintain your healthy digestive system* 

• Supporting your healthy bones, joints, and overall skeletal system* 

• Helping you maintain cholesterol levels that are already within the normal range* 

• Promoting your healthy blood and liver functions*

 

How Turmeric Provides Antioxidant Nutrients*

You probably know that antioxidants are important nutrients in supporting your health.  They help you slow down free radical damage that can seriously damage your cells, organs and DNA

Turmeric helps protect your cells -- and  helps you counteract this process with its antioxidant content.* 

The antioxidant content within turmeric comes from active compounds called curcuminoids.

These curcuminoids deliver antioxidants that may be:

• 5 to 8 times stronger than vitamin E -- and also stronger than vitamin C 

• 3 times more powerful than grape seed or pine bark extract 

• Strong enough to scavenge the hydroxyl radical -- considered by many to be the most reactive of all oxidants* 

I believe antioxidants are your body's #1 way to neutralize free radicals and help you potentially slow down the signs of normal aging.*

 

Oxidation by free radicals can damage cells and DNA -- and thus impact your aging process* -- something we all would like to put the brakes on.

 

Antioxidants are also key nutrients in:

• Supporting your memory function* 

• Promoting your heart health* 

• Boosting your immune system*

 

So, I can't say enough about the importance antioxidants play in promoting your overall health.* And turmeric is another excellent source of antioxidants for you.

Why this Herb Can Help Enhance Your Outer Beauty*

Speaking of antioxidant nutrients and their potential to impact the aging process, some of the first aging signs you may see as you get older are changes to your skin.

 

Well, the organic ingredients found in turmeric can help promote your healthy skin.*

How does it work?

Curcuminoids support important blood and liver functions, healthy joints, and your overall well-being.* This in turn helps promote your radiant, supple skin.* Turmeric has been considered to be ‘skin food' for thousands of years in India and other cultures.*

Turmeric helps you:

• Cleanse your skin and maintain its elasticity* 

• Provide nourishment to your skin* 

• Balance the effects of skin flora*

 

So, turmeric can act as your one-two punch against normal aging with its skin promotion and antioxidant capabilities -- outer beauty and inner purity.*

Your Triple-Action Cellular Booster and Adaptogen*

Another potential advantage from turmeric usage involves the smallest living things within you -- your cells.  Turmeric can assist your cells in three ways, by: 

Helping you neutralize substances that can cause cellular stress*

• Maintaining your cells' integrity when threatened by occasional environmental stressors* 

• Providing the antioxidants you need to help support your cells against excessive oxidation and free radicals*

 

And turmeric is also recognized as an adaptogen -- helping to support your body against stress and providing immune system support.*  How this Ancient Spice has Become Embedded in India's Ayurvedic Practice

Turmeric, like other herbs and spices, is a principle herb in Ayurveda -- India's ancient holistic health system.  Ayurveda means "knowledge of life" -- with herbs lying at the very heart of Ayurvedic practice.

And turmeric has multiple  uses within Ayurveda, including blood cleansing and maintaining healthy skin.*

In Ayurvedic terminology, turmeric includes the following:

• Verdana sthapana -- promotes your healthy nervous system and helps you with occasional discomfort* 

• Sangrahani -- supports your absorption of vitamins and minerals* 

• Anulomana -- helps you in purging out wastes and building healthy blood* 

• Rakta stambhaka -- promotes the wellness of your circulatory system*

 

And this is pretty much the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Ayurvedic turmeric uses.

What does all this mean to you?

Simply, turmeric has been used in Indian culture for thousands of years for a multitude of health-promoting reasons.* And an estimated 500 million Indians still use the spice today.

What are Your Sources for Turmeric?

So by now, you might be wondering about potential sources of turmeric.  Well, you could already know you can find it in the spice aisle of your local grocery store. But as I mentioned earlier, I would not recommend you use your local grocery store as a high-quality source of organic herbs and spices.

Even though there may be some good spices available there, it is very difficult to verity their purity and potency.  And also, the turmeric powder you buy in your store is a spice. It doesn't necessarily come from high-quality organic herbs -- and is not produced using certified organic processes. So you risk missing out on its healthful benefits.  Plus, with store-bought turmeric powder, you'll probably just use it once in awhile to cook with -- and not on a daily basis to consistently take advantage of the benefits it offers.

So, what are your other choices?

I would recommend searching for a high-quality, 100% organic-based turmeric supplement.

However, there are some things you need to watch out for when choosing a turmeric supplement.

Avoid Unnecessary Fillers, Additives, and Excipients

When I did my own research on available turmeric supplements, I found a surprising number  of choices.

In addition to the curcumin and curcuminoid ingredients, I r found many products that had other questionable ingredients in the form of fillers, additives, and excipients. An excipient is a substance added to the supplement as a processing or stability aid.

One ingredient, magnesium stearate (also know as stearic acid), is a potentially toxic metal additive from pill production.

 

Another ingredient I found in many turmeric supplements, Dibasic Calcium Phosphate (DCP), may even inhibit the absorption of essential minerals within your system.

There are others you may find as well, but the bottom line here is... you don't want or need these ingredients in your turmeric supplement. Some pose potential health risks -- and really are unnecessary.  In fact, the only "other ingredient" you should accept in your turmeric supplement is the capsule itself.

What You Should Look for in a Supplement Capsule

Okay, it's just a capsule containing your supplement, right?

Well, not exactly.

See, most supplements use gelatin capsules. And you might not be aware these capsules are made from animal by-products -- which include cow, horse and/or pig hides, and various kinds of connective tissues such as tendons, bones, ligaments, organs and some intestines.

Now, there is a better alternative to a gelatin capsule. And that's a vegetarian capsule -- which I highly recommend you look for.

And besides, your best source of turmeric should come from 100% organic ingredients. Using a capsule made from animal by-products does not seem to make sense. Wouldn't you agree?

Make Sure Your Herbal Supplement Comes from a Certified Organic Producer Committed to Quality Processes

The key to delivering an organic-based turmeric supplement rests in the manufacturer's commitment to quality and excellence.

 

In fact, I believe that without these quality processes in place, it really doesn't matter what organic herbs are harvested. You simply won't end up with a top-notch consistent organic formula. And in turn, you won't receive the maximum potential value of the herb.

So, it's important for you to highly scrutinize and research the manufacturer's credentials. And you may not be able to stop with the manufacturer alone. Keep in mind, the total organic process involves planting, cultivation, selective harvesting, and then producing and packaging the final formula.

Here's the type of certifications I recommend you look for:  

• Hazards and Critical Control Points (HACCP) -- International food safety certification that World Health Organization (WHO) standards are met 

• Safe Quality Food (SQF) -- HACCP-based food safety and risk management system covering the identification of food safety, quality risks, and the validation and monitoring of control measures 

• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) -- International certification verifies all required practices necessary for an effective food safety program are followed 

• International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2000 -- International standard for quality, safety, ecology, economy, reliability, compatibility, inter-operability, efficiency, and effectiveness 

• Orthodox Union (OU) Kosher -- Certifies compliance for Kosher observers and followers 

• International organic certificationssuch as: USDA, EU, and NSOP (India)

 

Use This Checklist When Sourcing Turmeric

To take advantage of all the great benefits turmeric has to offer you, I've created a checklist on what you should look for in a turmeric supplement.  Whatever you do, don't settle for second best.

Now, here's my checklist to help you find the best turmeric source:

• Contains only 100% certified organic ingredients -- Turmeric extract with at least 95% curcuminoids 

• Comes in supplement form -- Don't rely on your typically low quality and unpredictable local grocery store spice. Additionally when you heat the spice during cooking many of the beneficial properties are lost. 

• Avoids fillers, additives, and excipients -- No need for questionable "other ingredients" in the formula 

• Provides a vegetable capsule -- Avoid gelatin-based capsules whenever possible 

• Is produced by a certified organic manufacturer with high-quality organic and safe production practices -- Don't settle for second best here! 

13 Ways this Ancient Herb Can Help You Spice Up Your Life (and Your Health*)

 

Let me summarize a few of the ways this 100% certified organic-based Turmeric can spice up your whole person:

• Boosts your antioxidant protection against free radicals* 

• Helps promote your healthy skin* 

• Supports your overall eye health* 

• Provides you immune system support* 

• Aids your skeletal system and joint health* 

• Encourages your healthy liver function* 

• Helps you maintain healthy cells with support against free radicals* 

• Balances the health of your digestive system* 

• Aids you in support of healthy blood and your circulatory system* 

• Helps you maintain normal cholesterol levels to support your cardiovascular system* 

• Assists your neurological system's healthy response to stress* 

• Promotes a healthy female reproductive system* 

• Helps you maintain blood sugar levels already within the normal range*

 

And more...

Millions of people use turmeric on a daily basis in their lives today. In India alone, up to 500 million people use it in one form or another every day.

Isn't it time you gave your body what it deserves?

The Scientific Death of Jesus

I thought that this article from Time magazine would be interesting in light of the one from Newsweek that stated:

"According to the American Religious Identification Survey the percentage of self-identified Christians has fallen 10 percentage points since 1990, from 86 to 76 percent.

Fewer people now think of the United States as a "Christian nation" than did so when George W. Bush was president (62 percent in 2009 versus 69 percent in 2008). 

Two thirds of the public (68 percent) now say religion is "losing influence" in American society, while just 19 percent say religion's influence is on the rise. 

The proportion of Americans who think religion "can answer all or most of today's problems" is now at a historic low of 48 percent. During the Bush 43 and Clinton years, that figure never dropped below 58 percent."

So, who is Jesus?  

Why did he choose to die, and how did he meet his historical demise? 

 

Jesus of Nazareth, a Galilean Jew who was regarded as a teacher and a healer, was charged with sedition against the Roman Empire for claiming to be the Holy Son of God. 

At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to the death penalty – He was crucified.

   

At this time in history, death by crucifixion was reserved for only the worst of criminals. Large sharp nails, about 15 to 20 cm long each with a point of 6 cm, were carved into the pulses -- not into the palms as you’re typically told, as the flesh of your palm would simply tear from the weight of your body.

 

In the pulse, there’s a tendon that extends to your shoulder, and when the nails were hammered in, it would break that tendon.  

 

This forced Jesus to use all the muscles of his back in order to breathe, as the air was forced from his lungs by the weight of his torso. In this way, Jesus had to support himself onto the single nail carved into his feet, which was bigger than those driven into his pulses, as both feet were carved together. 

Since his feet could not endure for a long time without tearing, Jesus was forced to alternate that “cycle” in order to breathe.

It is believed the process of crucifixion took several hours to complete.  Jesus endured this cruelty for 3 hours.

 

A few minutes before He died, Jesus was no longer bleeding, for he had no blood left in his body. He was simply pouring water from his cuts and holes.

 

The human body is composed of nearly 3.5 liters of blood (for adults). Jesus shed every drop of His blood. He had three nails hammered into his members; a crown of thorns on his head and a spear plunged into his chest by a Roman soldier insured his demise.

Added to his suffering was the burden of carrying his own cross for almost 2 kilometers, weighing 30 kilograms while the crowd spat on his face and threw stones.

 

Why Did Jesus Choose to Die?

Christians believe that Jesus had to pass this excruciating experience so that all the sins of the world could be forgiven. New Testament writers claim that Jesus’ death fulfills the Old Testament prophecies, which point to a servant who would be punished for the sins of others.

 

Isaiah 53:5, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

  

Christians believe that Jesus willingly sacrificed himself in the same way that lambs were once sacrificed as a symbolic way of atoning for sin. 

  

Centuries later, it remains the most beautiful and poignant expression of love, humility and sacrifice.

 

Share This Story With People You Care About 

It’s so easy to forward jokes and amusing stories by e-mail. Why not send a different kind of message for a change?

 

This Easter, take a minute to forward this rare message of love to the people who are closest to you.

Corn is Making the World Unhealthy

Pundit George Will has joined the ranks of those who have noticed that the U.S. government’s treatment of corn is wrecking the health of Americans.

Ever since Nixon, government policy has been to sell large quantities of calories as cheaply as possible -- especially calories coming from corn. Now, a quarter of the 45,000 items in the average supermarket contain processed corn, often in the form of high-fructose corn syrup.

The result? 

Rates of chronic diseases like cancer and Type 2 diabetes are much higher today than they were in 1900. Type 2 diabetes is a $100 billion a year consequence of, among other things, obesity related to a corn-based diet. Four of the top 10 causes of American deaths -- coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer – have well-established links to diet as well.

Making matters worse, by now you may have seen “crystalline fructose” as an ingredient in beverages. 

If you’ve been wondering what it was, it turns out that crystalline fructose “is produced by allowing the fructose to crystallize from a fructose-enriched corn syrup.” This information is from the sugar producers themselves. So, it is made from corn syrup, and not only corn syrup, but “fructose enriched” corn syrup. Sounds like another name for high fructose corn syrup.

Fructose and glucose are metabolized differently in the body. Glucose is metabolized in every cell in the body, but all fructose must be metabolized in the liver. When a diet includes a large amount of fructose, then it creates a fatty liver, and even cirrhosis. Crystalline Fructose contains a 99.5 percent minimum of fructose assay, which is an even higher percentage of fructose than regular HFCS!

Another ingredient of crystalline fructose is arsenic. Additional chemical compounds that make up crystalline fructose are heavy metals, lead, and chloride

Dr. Mercola's Comments: 

As I’ve stated on numerous occasions already, the number one source of calories in the United States is high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). I find that so amazing, it bears repeating. The average American consumes about 12 teaspoons of it every day, though the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) estimates that teens and other “high consumers” may consume 80 percent more than that.

Most of this is consumed in the form of sodas, but that’s not the only source of HFCS. This dangerous sweetener is also in many processed foods and fruit juices, so to avoid it you really must focus your diet on whole foods and, if you do purchase packaged foods, become an avid label reader. 

 

And now, you’ll need to put yet another item on your list to look for -- a new version for HFCS: crystalline fructose, which is even worse for your health than HFCS. 

 

I didn’t think it was possible, but they’ve managed to do it. 

How High Fructose Can Destroy Your Health

 

George Will is absolutely right when he says that high fructose corn syrup is wrecking the health of Americans.

 

Until the 1970s, most sugar was sucrose derived from sugar beets or sugar cane. But sugar from corn, especially high fructose corn syrup, is now more popular because it is much less expensive to produce.

 

It also contains nearly twice the fructose of the sugars that came before it.

 

Research has clearly linked it to the rise in obesity and metabolic syndrome, as it is metabolized to fat in your body far more rapidly than any other sugar. Adding insult to injury, because most fructose is consumed in liquid form, its negative metabolic effects are significantly magnified.

Just like other sugars it disrupts your insulin levels, and elevated insulin levels are going to  increase your risk of nearly every chronic disease known to man, including: 

• Cancer

• Heart disease

• Diabetes

• Premature aging

• Arthritis and osteoporosis

 

You name it, and you will find elevated insulin levels as a primary factor.

There’s also new evidence that HFCS in particular increases your triglyceride levels and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. It also harms organs like your liver and pancreas, leading to bone loss, anemia, and heart problems, just to name a few.

 

Says Dr. Andrew Weil:

“Your body doesn’t handle large amounts of fructose well. You can maintain life with intravenous glucose, but not with intravenous fructose; severe derangement of liver function results. There’s also evidence that a high intake of fructose elevates levels of circulating fats (serum triglycerides), increasing the risk of heart disease. I never use fructose in my home.”

I avoid HFCS like the plague as well, and if you care about your health, so would you.

If you haven't yet read the amazing scientific analysis on fructose in one of my favorite nutritional journals, I would strongly encourage you to do so as it will open your eyes to some of the major problems with this sweetener.

What Could be Worse than High Fructose Corn Syrup?

Enter “crystalline fructose,” a high-octane variety of HFCS.

 

Whereas regular HFCS contains 55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose, crystalline fructose is at minimum 99 percent fructose, which could only mean that all the health problems associated with fructose may be even more pronounced with this product.

In addition to that, crystalline fructose may also contains arsenic, lead, chloride and heavy metals -- a laundry list of things you want to avoid at all cost. Especially if you have children, as all of these contaminants can impact your child’s development and long-term health.

(Regular HFCS has also recently been shown to be widely contaminated with mercury, another heavy metal that carries significant health risks, especially for children. In one study, almost half of tested samples of commercial HFCS contained mercury. It was also found in nearly a third of 55 popular brand-name food and beverage products where HFCS is the first- or second-highest labeled ingredient.)

Don’t be Deceived by Healthy-Sounding Drinks

One popular product containing crystalline fructose is Vitaminwater. Folks, please do not make the mistake of believing Vitaminwater is a healthy product simply because it has “vitamin” and “water” on the label. 

According to the Cleaner Plate article linked above, many people report feeling less than stellar after drinking Vitaminwater, citing after-effects like headaches, stomachaches, and most frequently, diarrhea.

 

Your best bet for your primary fluid replacement is just pure, fresh water. Your body does not need anything added to the water to make it any “healthier” than it already is.

Remember, the food industry spends about $40 billion a year on advertising, with the intention of brainwashing you to believe that junk food is somehow good for you and your kids. And the beverage industry is part of that pack.

 

The more informed you are and the smarter you shop, the healthier you and your family will be.

Ashma

Conventional asthma treatments can increase your risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. Fortunately, there are safe, natural strategies you can use instead that can virtually eliminate your need for dangerous drug treatments.

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Asthma has increasingly become a very common affliction. In fact, it now affects some 20 million Americans, as it has increased by more than 300 percent over the last 20 years.

  

Asthma is an inflammatory condition, typically of your upper airways, that can cause: 

• Chest tightness 

• Shortness of breath 

• Wheezing 

• Coughing 

Coughing is frequently overlooked, however it is one of the hidden symptoms, so if you suffer from unexplained bouts of coughing, you should consider getting yourself checked for asthma.

 

The Dangers of Conventional Asthma Treatments

 

The conventional asthma treatment typically consists of a non-steroidal bronchodilator – an anti-inflammatory agent that you inhale. It causes the smooth muscle cells in your lungs to relax, which opens up your airways.

If that doesn’t t work, the next level is typically an inhaled steroid, which is a very potent anti-inflammatory agent. The reason these aggressive types of intervention are performed is because asthma is indeed a serious condition. It can be fatal, so you need to be serious about treating it.

  

Unfortunately, the conventional approaches are not without side effects.

 

In addition to local side effects, the most common side effect -- which is typically not appreciated -- is that non-steroidal bronchodilators will double your risk of a heart attack.

 

And steroids, even though they can help reduce the inflammation in your lungs, are fraught with serious side effects, including: 

• Cardiovascular disease 

• Impaired growth of your body and internal organs (including your brain) 

• Infections 

• Cataracts 

• Osteoporosis 

• Diabetes 

• Weight gain 

• High blood pressure, and a variety of other disease conditions 

These aggressive drug approaches clearly do not treat the cause of your asthma, and they can be quite dangerous, even lethal.

  

Clearly you’ll want to avoid having to resort to such measures. Fortunately there are simple strategies you can use that will virtually eliminate your need for these medications.

  

Safe and Effective Strategies to Treat Your Asthma 

Although asthma is a serious disease, safely treating your asthma is not a complicated affair. Here are some basic, simple strategies that can help treat the root of your problem: 

 

Optimize your vitamin D levels – We now know that there’s a very strong connection between vitamin D levels and asthma, as vitamin D can be a very powerful immune modulator. However, I don’t suggest just taking the recommended daily allowance, which is a mere 400 units a day. You really need to make sure you’re getting therapeutic levels.

  

This is ideally obtained from exposing a significant amount of your skin -- not just your hands and face -- to appropriate amounts of sunlight.

  

What is an appropriate amount of sun exposure? 

Enough, from either the sun or a safe tanning bed, to turn your skin the very lightest shade of pink. Once you reach that shade of pink, your body is not going to produce any more vitamin D. In fact, you’re only going to cause damage to your skin if you increase your exposure past that point.

  

You can actually produce up to 20,000 units of vitamin D per day through this kind of exposure. However, you don’t need to be concerned with how much you’re producing, as your skin has a feedback loop that will shut down the production of vitamin D past a certain point. As you get sufficient levels in your body you’ll automatically produce less accordingly, so there’s never any risk of overdosing when getting your vitamin D from the sun.

 

When you swallow vitamin D however, this feedback loop does not exist so you need to be careful if you chose to take an oral vitamin D supplement as overdosing can be just as bad as being severely deficient.

  

I do recommend oral supplements if you don’t have regular access to the sun or a safe tanning bed.  But if you do, make sure you  monitor your blood with an accurate test .  The one caution here in the US is to be certain your test is performed at a lab like Labcorp, that uses the gold standard Diasorin test for checking vitamin D levels. Due to information published by the New York Times about Quest labs, where they admitted to inaccurate results, I no longer recommend using them.  

If you get your levels to about 60 ng/ml, there’s a strong likelihood -- especially if you combine it with exercise and balancing out your omega 3 and omega 6 fats as described below -- that you will not experience the symptoms of asthma anymore.

  

Increase your intake of animal-based omega 3 fats – I can’t emphasize enough the importance of getting sufficient amounts of high quality animal-based omega 3 fats in your diet.

  

Because although I strongly believe we all need plant-based omega 3 fats (and I consume some virtually every day myself, like hemp seed or flax seed), the difference is that most of us do not possess the metabolic machinery to rapidly convert the ALA in these plants to the higher order fats DHA and EPA, which are potent anti-inflammatories.

  

Although I still recommend fish oil in some instances, I believe krill oil is an even better source of omega 3 fats for most people.

 

Reduce your intake of omega 6 fats – In addition to adding omega 3 fats to your diet, you also want to reduce the amount of omega 6 fats you consume because the ratio between these two fats is very important.

  

Many don’t realize that about a century ago, people only consumed 1-2 pounds of plant-based omega 6 fats per year. Today, the average American is consuming about 75-80 pounds a year of these vegetable oils, such as corn oil, soy- and safflower oil.

 

When you eat lots of them, which you will if you use a lot of processed foods, the balance between omega 3 and omega 6 fats will become distorted, which can cause the type of inflammation that leads to asthma.

 

Consider the hygiene hypothesis – There’s a tendency in our modern culture to be obsessive about cleanliness, especially in children. However, this may not be as healthy as initially thought. It appears that being exposed to common bacterial and viral infections as a child can be instrumental in providing the stimulus to your immune system to prevent asthma naturally.

 

Get regular exercise – Exercise (especially out in fresh air if you’re an asthmatic) is actually crucial as it helps to moderate your insulin levels. It increases your insulin receptor sensitivity, and as a result your body produces less insulin, which tends to optimize it. Research has also shown that asthmatics who exercise tend to show improvement in:

• Maximum ventilation 

• Maximal oxygen uptake 

• Work capacity, and 

• Maximum heart rate 

You can also use allergy testing to build up your immune system.  My experience is that conventional testing does not work very effectively and there is a fair amount of risk. A far better intradermal skin test would be provocation neutralization testing.

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) has a list of physicians who are trained in this highly effective technique.

 

Conclusion 

Don’t you agree it’s a safer and wiser strategy to address the cause of your disease, rather than treating the symptoms with expensive, potentially dangerous drugs?  If you follow these simple strategies mentioned above, you can virtually eliminate your need for bronchodilators and steroid drugs.

Asthma Relief Without Medications 

By Christine Wheeler, MA

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a popular new asthma treatment (no drugs required) that often works where nothing else will. The discovery behind the method is that anxiety and other emotional issues are often at the root of the illness. Resolve the emotional causes (which EFT can usually do quite rapidly) and the wheezing and congestion typically fade. 

Interestingly, the medical literature largely ignores fear, guilt, anger & trauma as a cause of asthma attacks. Note, for example, these explanations given at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Web site:

Causes of an Asthma Attack: Environmental exposures, such as house dust mites and environmental tobacco smoke, are important triggers of an attack. [Note that emotions are not included as a cause.]

How Asthma is Treated: You can control your asthma and avoid an attack by taking your medicine as prescribed and avoiding the triggers that can cause an attack. It's just as important that you remove the triggers in your environment that you know make your asthma worse. [Also note that emotional relief is not included in the treatment.]

Medical doctors often agree, however, that emotional factors such as stress can aggravate or even trigger asthma attacks. But that is not the same as considering unresolved emotional factors as a cause. Interestingly, EFT approaches asthma strictly from the emotional point of view and EFT clients usually report impressive relief. This offers eye-opening possibilities for physicians and their patients.

While EFT is not perfect, its clinical results should command the attention of any objective observer. In about 80 percent of the EFT cases, wheezing and congestion in the chest noticeably subsides within moments. Sometimes people get complete relief from an attack in as little as three minutes. And, again, this is done without the use of the medications or inhalers.

EFT borrows from the much-heralded discoveries of Albert Einstein (i.e. everything, including your body, is composed of energy) ... AND ... from the ancient wisdom of Chinese acupuncture.  

In essence, EFT is an emotional version of acupuncture except that needles are not necessary.  Instead, certain release points are stimulated by tapping them with the fingertips. Further, the basics of EFT can be learned by anyone and can be self-applied (usually in minutes).

Here is a synopsis of an actual case using EFT for asthma, which can be read in its entirety at the EFT Web site:

Dr. Ed Leshin, a chiropractor and acupuncturist, used EFT to give immediate relief in a severe asthma case.

Carol came into Dr. Leshin's office in the midst of an asthma attack. She had used her inhaler three hours earlier but was still experiencing difficulty breathing. She was pale and sweating and quite frightened by her struggle to breathe. No matter how many asthma attacks one gets, it is still a scary experience. Some people say it is like trying to breathe through a straw ... while an elephant sits on your chest.

Dr. Leshin listened to Carol's lungs and noted considerable wheezing and congestion. Carol was becoming increasingly stressed by the attack and Dr. Leshin suggested EFT to relieve the anxiety related to her asthma attack. They focused on doing EFT for about 15 minutes and Carol's anxiety calmed considerably. She indicated that her initial symptoms had been close to the maximum ... on a scale of 1-10, they were a 12! After they did EFT the symptoms abated by about 50 percent. Dr. Leshin then reported:

"I listened to her lungs again, and they sounded 50% better.

 In fact there were no wheezing sounds anymore!"

Even though the symptoms of her asthma attack did not completely leave, Dr. Leshin believes that EFT allowed her to avert a trip to the emergency room.

Please note that, in addition to improving asthma with EFT, it has been a consistently effective healing tool for hundreds of other physical, mental and emotional ailments.

  

While a complete description of EFT is beyond the scope of this article, you can learn all the basics from the free EFT Get Started Package, including a free download of the 79-page EFT Manual (it includes all the basics). Those wishing to save time and dive right in can get the very affordable training DVDs.

Please consult qualified health professionals before putting EFT into practice for yourself or others. 

A Natural Treatment For Asthma 

Even though exercise can trigger asthma attacks, a review of studies on the subject shows that asthmatics benefit from exercise on the whole, as it improves their cardiopulmonary fitness.

Asthmatics who exercised regularly showed improvement in:

• Maximum ventilation 

• Maximal oxygen uptake 

• Work capacity, and 

• Maximum heart rate.

Exercise showed no significant effect in other measures such as expiratory air-flow rate, expiratory volume, and days of wheezing. There was no evidence suggesting that regular exercise worsens asthmatic symptoms.

The review examined 13 studies, involving more that 450 total participants. It may be advisable for asthmatics to seek counseling on ways to prevent and treat exercise-induced asthma.

Sources:    Center for the Advancement of Health October 21, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comments: 

Just no way around it, exercise is vital to your long-term health program. We simply all need to exercise and if we don't we are asking for trouble. Exercise affects just about every area of your life and can radically improve conditions you had no idea it would influence, like cancer and as this study shows, asthma.

This study illustates another important characteristic of exercise in that it is best viewed like a drug that needs to be precisely prescribed to achieve maximum benefits. Most people believe, however, if they merely invest some time, somehow exercise will magically give them all the benefits they're seeking.

To achieve the incredible benefits exercise has to offer, it needs to provide a significant cardiovascular stress to induce biochemical changes, like increasing mitochondria in the muscle to burn fat while one is sleeping.

It is also possible to overexcise and this Saturday I am running an article that clearly demonstrates that.

In addition to exercise there are a number of simple and highly effective lifestyle modifications that should radically improve the quality of breathing in those who have asthma.

• Increase fish or cod liver oil and reduce your intake of regular vegetable oils. This maybe the single most important nutritional intervention you can make as it will radically the inflammation associated with asthma, and won't damage your bones like prednisone. 

• Consider using Vitamin E 

• Tomatoes have high amounts of lycopene that should help asthma 

• Avoid using Tylenol as that may worsen athma 

• Write about your worries. This simple act has a profound positive benefit on improving asthma.

Hypertension on the Brain

April issue: Health Revelation

Get it under control fast 

If you or someone you love is battling high blood pressure, then you already know how challenging that fight can be. 

After all, some 70 million Americans are struggling to control hypertension, often with medications. In many cases, those drugs may not even be necessary, and I'll tell you why in a moment. 

But first, I'd like to point out an interesting new study that shows just how important it is to keep your blood pressure under control, especially as you age. This study found that elderly people who suffer from hypertension have trouble thinking straight when their blood pressure spikes. 

Researchers from North Carolina State University tracked 36 older people, average age of 73, for two months. Twice a day, their blood pressure readings were taken, and they were given cognitive tests to measure things like pattern recognition, problem solving, and thinking ability. 

Those who suffered from hypertension did worse on the test on days when their blood pressure spiked, showing that the condition – or perhaps the stress caused by it – impaired their ability to reason and think clearly. 

On the other hand, the researchers found that those with normal blood pressure levels did just fine on their tests, even when their blood pressure rose. 

The results were published in the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, and show how the risks of hypertension go far beyond heart attack and stroke, and how the condition plays a tremendous role in the everyday quality of life. Previous studies have linked hypertension to dementia, and others have associated high blood pressure with diminished cognitive performance. 

Many people have a hard time keeping their high blood pressure under control because they don't know what's causing it. A lot of docs don't know either, so they just end up prescribing diuretics or beta blockers and hoping for the best. 

But that's a lot like walking down a mountain trail blindfolded, simply because you think you know where it leads. I happen to live in a place with a lot of those trails, and I can tell you – they're plenty difficult even when you can see where you're going. 

The fact is, hypertension can be caused by any of a number of things. And if you don't find the reason before you choose the treatment, you may as well keep that blindfold on as you tumble downhill. 

In my experience, high blood pressure is often caused by a deficiency of key nutrients. Phenylalanine is a typical culprit, but there are others as well. The upside is that these deficiencies can be corrected, no beta blockers – or blindfold – necessary. If you are having problems with your blood pressure, be sure to read the May issue of Health Revelations. I'll have much more on the subject there, as well as a detailed list of key nutrients that can help you take control of your hypertension.