Today Health Article

February 6th, 2012

Today we can no longer ignore the fact that hunger, poverty, and deaths are or have been forgotten!  The numbers are so staggering, why are they literally being  forgotten? Perhaps you have no idea hunger is even a fact of life. Or even more so, just struggling to keep your own family fed, that you have not taken into consideration, that you are not alone. Well, if you are one of the 1 in 6 people who are struggling, you know that your children are going to bed hungry as well.

Child Hunger

Hunger Today

About how many… the facts regarding the hunger numbers, are all over the place, the problem is that the last three years have continued to soar, and percentages have been  from a 15% to 20%  increase. Some of the numbers being thrown out are as high as 46 million that are now facing hunger in the USA. The  Global, has thrown up a number as high 900+ million, a staggering number in itself… but the deaths of children under 5 is the most critical… 16,000 to 25,000 a day.

Forgotten Hunger

Yes, that fact  was a day, yet did you see anything about hunger and this staggering number in the News today, yesterday, or the day before. If there was anything in the world that would occur other than hunger and starvation… with those dramatic numbers… it would be headline news for days. Yet our world including the Us has chosen this subject to be  not news worthy. For this reason, those in poverty are not only not fed, but going hungry, dying, and being forgotten as well.

• Sources for Libya comparison…The 2011 Libyan conflict/civil war has been difficult to get accurate death tolls for. Wikipedia lists a number of different sources that say between 10,000 and 30,000 deaths between February and September 2011 (though not all go as far as September).At 21,000 child deaths per day, that would be approximately 0.5 to 1.5 days.

• Sources for Haiti comparison…The BBC reports that “Haiti’s government says about 230,000 people died” in the devastating earthquake in January 2010, although later, a minister said there were 217,000 verified deaths.At 20,860 deaths per day, that would be 10 – 11 days approximately.

• Sources for Asia Tsunami comparison… This site’s article, Asian Tsunami in December 2004, notes that approximately 230,000 people died in that disaster.At 20,860 deaths per day, that would be about 11 days.

• Sources for Iraq comparison… For the Iraq estimate, the John Hopkins study (reported in the Lancet) found 400,000 to 950,000 deaths since the 2003 Iraq invasion (average of some 655,000). Dividing 400,000 by 20,860 gives 19, and 950,000 by 20,860 gives 46, approximately.

The media… had no report. This has been news each and every day for the last three years. Would you listen to the fact that 1 out 6 children are going to bed hungry in our own country?  We were, once the” Land of the Plenty”… now the “Land of the Hungry”. A blunt fact, as this article is being written and published, another 16,000 to 25,000 children will die of hunger.

Why Does The Fact Not Bother You?

It tears me up, to think that children in this country and across the globe are dying of hunger or suffering from something so apparent, yet mankind has closed their eyes and their hearts to this staggering problem. We have pushed the problem of Hunger under the rug , till it it can no longer go unnoticed. “The Problem”,  if it does not bother you now,  it will be  soon be knocking on our doors in other ways.

Cost of Hunger

Although there have been little numbers posted for 2011 as of yet, I feel they will support even greater numbers due to the numbers coming in regarding the food assistance programs. The hunger cost that are piling up, approximately 167 billion, a combination  of economic production, more expensive public education, affordable health care costs, and charities needed to keep families fed.

A reminder that this $167.5 billion does not include the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the other key federal nutrition programs, which run at about $94 billion a year.

We could  call this $167.5 billion America’s hunger bill because in 2010 it cost every citizen $542 due to the far-reaching consequences of hunger in our nation. At the household level the hunger bill came to at least $1,410 in 2010. Considering  this was last years numbers, the actual cost of hunger and food insecurity to our nation is probably higher.

Today’s Health Comments

Today it really is hard to digest (understand) that we have forgotten those in need, that face hunger  due to poverty, and deaths due to starvation… are being swept away silently. If any other crisis, with such great magnitude of loss, it would be front page news and discussed regarding such tragic loss. This is for you to understand that a child under 5, dies every 6 seconds in the world. When are we going to tell the rest of the world, but that is not needed, for they are living it. Yet, we have are own crisis that is increasing rapidly, and 1 out of 6 of our children are going to bed hungry! There has been no mention how their parents were coping. Most would gladly give to their children before feeding themselves. What about the elderly? Why is this a crisis that no one wants to hear about? Is this crisis so far out of control… that we just look the other way. Perhaps it’s time to reach out to others… and think the next time… how much of your food was thrown away last week. I read that last year alone, 95 million dollars worth of food and liquids were discarded. Does that really make any sense at all. Hunger and waste must get together. I am sure that our world would be a healthier place.

 Further Reading

Is That Hunger Pain, Knocking Behind Your Doors, These Days?

Hunger Can No Longer Be Dismissed!

Where or No Where, Is Our Food Reserves Today?

Todays Health Article

February 3rd, 2012

The fact  is much information has been dedicated to the topic of how sugar is related to cancer and much of it has been construed or misunderstood. I like others, know that sugar has been beat up out of concern for our health.  There is other reasons not relating to our sugar consumption but marketing strategies. Never the less most do not understand the simple explanation, and this may clarify some peoples concerns.

The  Facts

Simply put, the facts about sugar and cancer can be confusing. More often tha not, many articles have  presented the material in a format  that is so misleading  that it creates a high level of anxiety for people with cancer.

With that in mind, if you learn a simple amount  of science behind the connections between sugar we eat and cancer risk, you can make wise choices for better health.

The Concept Is…

Sugar feeds cancer!  This is not useful for our understanding, as this is too broad to understand. For  those  who understand the purpose of sugar in our bodies,  the truth … Sugar feeds every cell in our bodies.

Our bodies have a need for glucose, or simple sugar, for energy. So if you were to cut  out every bit of sugar (NADA ,NONE) out of your diet, your body will  step up and make the sugar from other sources, such as our protein, or fat. Sugar substains the energy reguired for healthy cells.

Cancer Cells need Sugar…

Cancer cells, just like healthy cells,need sugar to grow. Now I am reminding you this, so you will  remember that there  is nothing  in particular as to the feeding of cancer cells versus the sugar that feeds the other cells in our body. (the healthy ones)

Yes, You need to Limit Amount of Sugar!

Understanding this further, sugar being the basic ingredient, when you eat a lot of sugar, your body produces a lot of insulin.

Insulin is a natural substance made by the body. Insulin can actually instruct cells to grow.  With this in mind, like the accelerator on the car, can speed up  or rev up our cell growth. Continuing this example, this is a good thing forthe healthy cells.  Why is this a good thing, because the cells in your body grow, divide, die, and are  replaced . This is just part of the natural process of living.

The downside of this, cancer cells can be or will be encouraged to grow more, too. So while some insulin in the body is normal, excess insulin may encourage cancer cells to grow more, which is not a good thing. It’s just unhealthy if we make too much of it.

Best Sources

I t is literally impossible to avoid every bit of sugar in your diet.   Nor should you do so. understanding that healthy cells need to grow as well.The best sources for healthy, complex carbohydrates such as vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and legumes (beans), are the very foods that appear to fight cancer best. So  you do not need to avoid all sugar and other carbohydrates.

What is your answer?

There are three other things in the diet that can help reduce the amount of insulin produced by the body when you eat sugar and carbohydrates. These are protein, fat, and fiber. When eaten along with even the simplest sugars, these three items help the body to make less insulin in response to simple sugar.

If you eat sugar with some protein, some fat, or some fiber, your body won’t produce as much insulin. Eating this other food helps your body process sugar more slowly, and this means that your body does not overproduce insulin. In short, protein, fat, and fiber help your body process sugar in a more healthful way.

Making it Work for You

Here is an ample of how this  may work for you. I am  thinking about fruit and fruit juice. The quanity of insulin your body makes after you eat a piece of fruit is much lower than the amount of insulin produced when you drink fruit juice.  The  reason is whole fruit contains fiber as well and that fiber helps balance out the sugar in fruit.

T o continue this same frame of mine about eating specific foods together to get a healthier snack or meal.  So nstead of having two or three pieces of fruit as a snack, you could try having one piece of fruit and a small handful of nuts. The nuts contain protein, fat, and fiber. These three things help your body keep insulin in balance.

Today’s Health Comments

Today it is important to remember sugar itself is not all bad, it just too much sugar, without enough protein, fat, and fiber to balance it out, can cause our bodies to make too much insulin.

The point here is, it is not the sugar, but rather the insulin that may be a problem for spurring cancer cell growth. To  take preventative measure, you should limit the simple sugar in your diet.

Trying to follow a stringent diet and ward  off every single dessert. is virtually very difficult and remember you need sugar to feed the healthy cells as well. So the bottom line here is moderation. You might find these tips to helpful concerning your food choices:

• Stick with naturally occurring sugar, such as the sugar that is found in fruit.
• Avoid concentrated sources of sugar. It is OK to have 100 percent fruit juice in moderation. Avoid fruit drinks that don’t contain any real fruit juice.
• Limit your  treats, and proportions
• Focus on whole, healthy, unprocessed food, including vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes (beans, lentils, and peas), nuts, and seeds.

Further Reading

Our Sweetest Addiction known Today

Todays Health Article

February 2nd, 2012

Today’s use  of those leafy greens, some we all know about, yet others we may not eat because of the unknown truths and the lack of understanding. It is like most people think… they are good for you but their tastes are bitter. Today you are about to learn of a variety of greens. Greens are a grouping of foods that  closely match our nutritional needs, promote good health, and have a great impact on our immune system.

Spinach Greens

THE TRUTHS ABOUT GREENS

I have noticed that many diet plan have given little attention or even mentioned the need for our green leafy plants, and it even more difficult to find nutritional information. Perhaps it is how they get lumped together with their roots, such as carrots and beats, or the flower grouping, such as cauliflower and broccoli. This gives you some idea that  we are misleading greens for vegetables, when they would be better off to be put into their own food group… greens!

Perhaps Another False Truth

This thought seems to hold with a majority who have not even tried the taste of greens, it was my general assumption of spinach when I was young, that anything that  smelled that bad when it was cooking had to taste bad. It used to about make me gag. However, I enjoy today, because it is totally great fresh, and if not overcooked… is good as well.

So, the most common reasons for the unpopularity of greens is that many people think they taste bitter. This may partly due to the influx, and our addiction to sugar being present in every thing we eat.

Lastly it seems that, we understand  little about these greens, and what is misunderstood, we do not choose to eat. We spend little time in our busy lives to learn about healthy foods. Yet once understood, we are more likely to try if it were to benefit our particular health situation.  Would you not agree?

OK, So What is so Great About these Greens

I have provide some categories that might be found beneficial  to a healthy diet.

1. Greens are  found to have Amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein and they are abundant in greens. In fact eating eating a variety of greens in your diet will provide the essential amino acids needed in your diet. To understand, this makes it easier for our body to build the exact proteins that it needs and are not hard to digest.

The insoluble fiber found in our green leafy plants, offers a critical ingredient needed for our body’s waste and the removal of our body’s toxins. If you could imagine how a sponge absorbs water many times it’s own weight, this is the benefits of insoluble fiber. Not only provides these benefits but actually enhance the immune system.

2. Just mentioning Greens Boost your Immune System because if you take a look at any acid-alkaline food chart, you’ll find that greens are one of the most alkaline of all foods.

While raising your body’s pH by eating an alkaline diet (greens), this is one of the best ways to boost your immune system. Thus, more greens added into your diet will not only boost your nutrition, but also boost your immune system.

3. Greens are rich in vitamins, including vitamin K, E, A, C, and many B vitamins. Greens also contain a wide variety of minerals and important phytonutrients. Calorie for calorie, greens are the most concentrated source of nutrition of any food.

The greens of plants usually have much higher vitamin and mineral contents than the roots. Carrot tops, for example, have several times more nutrition than carrot roots, but the tops are usually thrown away. Each type of green has its own unique nutritional profile. If a nutrient is low in one type of green, it is usually abundant in other greens. Therefore, consuming a variety of greens in your diet is the best way to maximize the nutritional benefits of greens.

4. Unlike many vegetables which can cause fermentation and gas if eaten with fruits, greens actually aid digestion by stimulating your body to secrete digestive enzymes. So greens can be successfully combined with any other food.

How Should I Eat Greens?

 The fresh and organic greens will provide to you the highest nutrient contents and eliminate extra toxins. The fresh and non-wilting greens are much more nutritious than greens that are past their prime. Another solution is growing your own greens or buying locally  to ensure freshness and maximize the nutrients in greens.

To Cook or Not To Cook. Cooking breaks down and destroys nutrients in food, and the hotter the cooking, the more nutrition is lost. That being said, low temperature cooking, such as steaming, preserves much of the nutrition in greens.

You might want to consider adding greens to your soup or stew at the last few minutes of cooking, to preserve the nutrition while cooking.

The list of greens can be found here, the list was so long, I provided this website link so you could read at you leisure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_leaf_vegetables

Today’s Health Comments

Are you eating your greens for better health? I know they have been misunderstood by most, yet they can be very nutritional and very beneficial for our health. Mostly few people include only a handful of varieties in their diet. I had not even heard of some of the varieties that are listed on the above site. Yet we are very concerned that they are not going to be liked, so we are not inclined to try. Like most foods that can be eaten raw, this may provide the most nutrients, yet sometimes steaming may be easier for our bodies to digest. To a healthier life, enjoy your greens.

Todays Health Article

January 30th, 2012

Today after reading a couple articles, they prompted the thoughts or questions we must all think about, are our life‘s  reflections healthy in the end. Perhaps as we grow older, we take time to ponder about the meaning of our lives, and reflect upon the past. It could just be an observation, but as we grow older we seem to reflect more on the past than what we might do we the shorter time we have left before us. So you may have been, lately thinking about the meaning 0f life, is it healthy in the end.

In this personal observation, all that we do, how we do what we do in life,  the struggles, the drama, the stress, the pain and suffering, has a permanent reflection on our health. Yet we all know, we live in an impermanent nature, facing the facts about our own life and death meaning.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the meaning of life and the impermanent nature of it all. Observing how we do what we do, the struggles we put ourselves through, the drama, the pain and the suffering. The question that comes to me are these reflections healthy in the end.

While these  thoughts about life, death and purpose drift in and out of my consciousness on a regular basis, it was my research of  my own quest for answers… why I seek God, why I share with others, why I love my family, and the love for my neighbors, and concluding, why I cry with them as well. Is this all healthy? Many people would ask this question…

“What’s the point in life,  we all come to the end?”

You and I both know, we ask this question of ourselves. Why, then when you look around today, you see a lot of struggling… in our own lives as well as the lives of others. There seems to be no shortage today for those who suffer from  hunger, poverty, foreclosures, divorces, and natural tragedies. It seems that there is little goodness that overcomes the weight that struggle carries on our shoulders and our minds. Yet we seek to get through those struggles, putting them in the past, to find peace and happiness.

 Personal Reflections of the Chase for Peace and Happiness

I can only  reflected on my own  life and though I have no idea of the end, the beginning and the middle of my life’s reflection has been fully loaded with life’s struggles. The death of my parents at a young age, lose of finances, home, stress, foreclosure, no employment, spouse with terminal illness, to within minutes of living out on the street. All of  these, in vain of providing for my family of five, a home,  food on the table, and a more promising tomorrow.

 Are You chasing ?s

I would race here and there and chase the dollars so that I could be recognized for awards that measured  success,  travelling more and more for business, bigger house in the country, and spending less and less time with the family This was all in the idea, that  happiness would  fall into place at some distant future. I had  no idea this was all materialistic driven, and I was on some endless treadmill, that at some point, a timer would sound off … and my superficial life would be realized. The End.

But you have to question your self… will that day ever arrive? You and I both know how this life plan goes on, the wanting for more and happiness  seem to be just a step away, it even appears within reach, you just  have to get done whats going on now, or it will always be out of the plan. Is that You?

The Unhealthy Outcome

We  all seem to wisk through life. Many times during of our life, we just are wanting life to move on quickly, like we we have control of it, knowing there is a better part of our life, another chapter that would be happier or peaceful. It is like a writer who would write a fictitious book, knowing how many chapters the book will contain, and how it will end. However, this is real life, not knowing the chapters life will contain, nor the number till the end.  Yet we continue to live like we will live forever.

Yet do we not just treat time as some cheap commodity that we can superficially waste. We have become so consumed in our jobs and relationships that we dislike. We continue to distract ourselves with the negativity of media and other people’s opinions. We  have become so competitive over beauty, status and owning stuff.

We buy into all the empty promises of cosmetics, luxury products, diets, and get rich schemes… all of which are blindly fabricated by others to profit by. Has this all became the very nature of our lives!

WAKE UP… The Wake up Call

Well I hate to burst anybody’s bubble. but I have not met one person who was extremely successful, that had not given something up, or many, for the price of success. I as well,  surrounded myself with a high level of stress, anxiety,work load, no sleep, and was mentally wore out. Now put financial strain, health issues, and death in the family on top of that, I was a walking time bomb that was ready for a trip to the hospital. Failing to recognize that these “dis-eases”  and signs for my emotions…  it was my very soul’s way of saying, “Wake up and do not let a brick hit you in the forehead.  Well my life was so caught up in… I was indestructible, this could not happen to me.

In this race to survive, we sometimes become mentally paralyzed, forgetting about the life, what it could be, and not what it should be by our designed utopia. Don’t you find this all so exhausting, overwhelming, and there is no end to this type of chasing the pot at the end of the rainbow. For me it was about to come to an end.

The Break Through

I and like many others rushed through life in this way. I did not understand til one day my body completely shut down from extreme fatigue and stress. A trip to the hospital and several months of rest and learning how to cope with what no one  could tell me, as to exactly what was going on with me. After months of tests they determined  I was just on a verge of complete exhaustion. I t would just take time.

That was obvious, that change needed to take place, that my love ones needed me more than the success, and all the materialist needs. I had realized that  before we all know it, the sands of our hourglass would run out, and we face the end of our brief existence on this planet, and to my regret, was missing out on what I really loved, my family and God.

Reflecting now, how we  had lived,  its blunt, harsh, and painful, the truth just stings. At the same time, we can use this emotionally charged observation to our advantage—to inspire us and others, and to emotionally move us  in such a way that we begin to live differently.

NOW we have utilized our time to restructure, at least for me and my family, our lives.  Today we still face struggles but we ask ourselves how we live, how we prioritize, how we contribute, and how we can live more fully in the precious moments we are blessed with. While writing this, my grand daughter, going on three just so reminds me that her time, smiles and hugs send such joys through to my very existence, can not be reproduced when you might need them, but to cherish every moment when they are given. To capture the moment.

It is those moments, I now understood…Perhaps  the only thing that is given freely and no conditions from a child,  is love. Something to think about…Is there an easier route to happiness by focusing on doing good work, contributing value to society, sharing joyful experiences with people we like, and remembering to slow down to savor the moments.

Todays Health Comments

So what is the meaning of life you have chosen? Can life’s reflection be healthy in the end? I believe that there is no single answer, as happiness and success are measured by each individual, but they are weighted by what are sacrificed by driven motives and desires. We tend to be more materialistic driven and competitive when we are younger, and as we reflect back we question what our real intentions for doing so. By understanding what feels right to you, and what you want your life to be about, what do you want to be remembered by your family, and seeking God and finally staying healthy by a balance of love.

Todays Health Article

January 29th, 2012

Today we are always looking at healthier eating habits, and for some of us, a craving for chocolate, has just been hard to except that it is bad for us. Well that is not all true, and some people have come to realize, that chocolate has many health benefits that are actually good for us. I jumped for joy, all the the bad raps about chocolate might finally come to an end. I got overly excited because not all chocolate is alike, and come to find out it was a little chocolate coated. But the real truth here is, it’s the dark chocolate that has the most cocoa and least sugar, is what all the excitement is about. So this is a good thing for Chocolate Lovers!

 Dark Chocolate

“Dark chocolate”, also may be  called  the “plain chocolate” or “black chocolate”. It is produced by adding fat and sugar to cocoa. It is chocolate with zero or much less milk than milk chocolate.

The U.S. has no official definition for dark chocolate but European rules specify a minimum of 35% cocoa solids. This Dark chocolate can be eaten as is, or used in cooking. For those seeking Chocolate which is thicker… more expensive baking bars have higher cocoa percentages, ranging from 70% to 99% are sold.

Dark is synonymous with semisweet, and extra dark with bittersweet, although the ratio of cocoa butter to solids may vary.

 The Good News…

For chocolate lovers: A new Harvard study finds that eating a small square of dark chocolate daily can help lower blood pressure for people with hypertension. This  study joins the growing research into the heart-healthy benefits of flavonoids, compounds in unsweetened chocolate that cause dilation of the blood vessels. The Harvard study had announced  in Atlanta, at the American Heart Association’s science session,  that eating a small square of dark chocolate daily can help lower blood pressure for people with hypertension.
The study analyzed 24 chocolate studies involving 1,106 people. It found that dark chocolate, the kind that contains at least 50 to 70 percent cocoa, lowered blood pressure in all participants, but most notably in those with hypertension. Eric Ding of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a coauthor of the study, says researchers also found that chocolate increased insulin sensitivity, good for lowering diabetes risk.

Dark chocolate also appears to affect cholesterol. The Harvard researchers found some evidence for a small decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol and a significant increase in HDL (good) cholesterol. Triglycerides, however, were unchanged.

As the researchers write, there is “rather strong evidence” that cocoa consumption improves several important cardiovascular risk factors “and likely reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.”
Research touting chocolate’s health benefits has become increasingly popular in the past decade. While tea, fruits and vegetables also contain these heart-healthy compounds, “flavonoids are notably abundant in the cocoa solids of the cocoa bean,” the study’s authors write.

Chocolate with a higher proportion of cocoa solids — like unsweetened or dark chocolate — will contain more flavonoids. Dark chocolate, for example, contains from 46 to 61 mg of catechin, a type of flavonoid, in 100 grams (about one ounce), while milk chocolate contains only 15 to 16 mg, the study notes.

 Elderly seeking Continued Health Benefits

Others are encouraging people to eat dark chocolate for its health benefits is appealing advice, and older Americans have taken it to heart. Men and women age 55 and over now make up the bulk of dark chocolate consumers, according to the latest figures from market research firm Mintel.

In a May 2008 survey of consumers who bought chocolate for themselves in the past year, two-thirds of those 55-plus said they chose dark chocolate. Among those 65 and older, the preference for dark was even higher — nearly 75 percent.

Other Chocolate Factors to Consider

Even though chocolate is regularly eaten for pleasure, there are potentially many health effects, both negative and positive. Cocoa or dark chocolate may positively affect the circulatory system.  The other possible effects under basic research include:

• Anticancer, brain stimulator, cough preventer and antidiarrhoeal activities.
• As an aphrodisiac effect, is yet to be seriously proven, yet it is being proclaimed by many articles.
  
• Research has shown the polyphenols in chocolate inhibit oxidation of LDL cholesterol.
• Consumption of large quantities of any energy-rich food, such as chocolate, without a corresponding increase in activity, is thought to increase the risk of obesity.
• Raw chocolate is high in cocoa butter, a fat which is removed during chocolate refining, then added back in in varying proportions during the manufacturing process. Manufacturers may add other fats, sugars, and milk as well, all of which increase the caloric content of chocolate.
• Chocolate absorbs lead from the environment during production, and there is a slight concern of mild lead poisoning for some types of chocolate.
• The average lead concentration of cocoa beans was a very low ≤ 0.5 ng/g, one of the lowest reported values for a natural food. Lead concentration of chocolate was as high as 70 ng/g for chocolate products and 230 ng/g for manufactured cocoa.200,000 ng is the WHO tolerable daily limit for lead consumption.
• Chocolate is toxic to many animals because of insufficient capacity to metabolize theobromine.
• A BBC report indicated that melting chocolate in one’s mouth produced an increase in brain activity and heart rate that was more intense than that associated with passionate kissing, and also lasted four times as long after the activity had ended.
• Chocolate has been linked with multiple health benefits and liabilities. Research on elderly people showed chocolate might cause osteoporosis.
• Research has shown that it will boost cognitive abilities.
• Scientific evidence has suggested dark chocolate can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems  and also reduce blood pressure in both overweight and normal adults.
• Studies have shown dark chocolate as part of a low-fat diet can lower cholesterol levels in adults.
• In August 2011, Cambridge research published in the British Medical Journal: Eating high levels of chocolate could be associated with a significant reduction in the risk of certain cardiovascular disorders.

Todays Health Comments

Today may be good news for those who enjoy chocolate if they choose dark chocolate. Some may have higher fat and sugar that would take away the healthy benefits. Yet if you have a craving for chocolate, the higher cocoa content and less sugar, would and could be beneficial to your health. The research indication of the polyphenols that exist in chocolate is important to consider. Yet if  you consume too much of the sweeter chocolate, with out the exercise to burn the calories, tou could contribute to one becoming obese, and unhealthy. So  here’s to eating  healthy.

Further Reading

http://todayshealthsite.com/chocolate-just…s-costing-more.html

Todays Health Article

January 27th, 2012

Today it very common to hear people complaining about their aches and pains, most of the time about joint pain in their arms or legs. Well, that’s typical, we begin to wear out, and as they say, not getting any younger. Joint pain is just something that past generations have just learn to live with. You may have used some of the home remedies or vapor rubs to ease the pain, or a pain reliever when its a little unbearable, but what if there was an ingredient that would help those pains and comfort those joints?

Start living healthier by taking care of your joints.

So “No Matter What Your Age,” proper joint care  can be critical. I do not know about you, but sometimes my joints feel like they are like two pieces of metal rubbing together and need a little oil… Like the Tin Man on the Wizard of Oz.  So now I am slowing down, my knees even catchy at times and even sometimes stopping me dead in my tracks?

Millions of Americans feel the effects of aging.

Every movement your body makes puts pressure on your joints. Over time this wear and tear can lead to discomfort and sometimes more serious joint issues. Your joints age over time. Just like the Tin Man who got rusty, you do need regular maintenance to function best.

Our joints make an active life possible and without them our freedom can be taken away. With this in mind, researchers have been working diligently for years to discover the right ingredients and compounds to create a single solution that can help people regain their mobility.

The Past Problem

There have been numerous failed products over the years. There have been cheap glucosamine and chondroitin products and even a greater variety of gimmicky products. Conventional joint products normally include just a single ingredient, such as Glucosamine, and work haphazardly.

Instaflex Joint Support

But through years of waiting, a new compound has been developed in Cambridge, MA.. This new product  is offering stunning results. The  compound is trademarked as “Instaflex Joint support” and is literally changing lives. Instaflex first became available in the US in Fall 2009 and by summer 2011 was the top premium joint product on the market.

Instaflex is the first compound scientifically designed to be a complete joint solution. This joint supplement offers a mix of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate, powerful joint relievers in their own right, but  was not effective for everyone. Instaflex Joint Support combines these proven joint relievers with several new fast-acting compounds including: Hyaluronic Acid, Turmeric Root Extract, and Boswellia Serrata Extract.All are working together to help relieve joints, support joint function, and protect joints for more individuals. Thus by combining a wide array of ingredients carefully selected based on clinical research, into a single once-daily dosage.  This joint solution acclaims…

• Relieve and comfort your joints
• Improve mobility and increase flexibility
• Lubricate for healthy fluid movement
• Protect and enhance your mobility
• Sponsor of Arthritis Foundation

What are people Saying…

What people say… is sometimes may be exploited or exaggerated, but as a whole you can benefit from what their comments are saying. I found that this product has skyrocketed since first introduced. Perhaps the public got caught up in the desire to lessen their joint pain, that has lingered, and were targeted with the hype.

I found a lot of people who were unhappy with the targeting of the one month prescription that was withdrawn out of their accounts if not cancelled within the 14days. This always leaves people in a very unsatisfied mode and I would not encourage others to do so. So heads up if you are not aware, you may be surprised that you have been dinged for more money. Many people had indicated through several websites that it was over priced and they would not continue to pay the amount. Others felt they had not obtained the relief the product had acclaimed. On another note there were some that actually believed they had received relief  in their joint pain.

The Negative Of  Instaflex

* No compound quantities are revealed

* The free trial offer may possibly not be adequate time to test the product or service

* Not all of the components are listed

* No clinical testing was done for the Instaflex formula

* The FAQ area is just not useful

* Instaflex is pricey and buyers are subject to enrolment inside auto-ship system

Todays Health Comments

You and I know joint pain is just part of life, and for some this may be the answer.It does appear that Instaflex has all of the appropriate substances to help relieve a certain sum of joint ache. The problem is  that there certainly nothing about it that makes it one of a kind from most other brands.  This may be why it is hard to justify the higher value. When the joint pain is only slight and does not require a prescription medication, you’ll probably find products offered from any retail pharmacies which will likely be less expensive.

Todays Health Article

January 26th, 2012

Today… Life is on a fast pace, we dash here and run there, eating on the run, our health is being punished, and a need for some type of  diet plan (Dash Diet) is the only solution for better health. Our obesity is still out of control according to the latest reports, meaning out waistlines are still growing, despite the media warnings of the health risks that follow with obesity. High blood pressure and diabetes seem to be the apparent symptoms along with heart diseases. Why do we do this to ourselves… a road to ill health? Is it just because of having  no plan, regarding our eating habits?

The Dash Eating Plan

Now we have come to realize that a plan that is flexible and that is balanced  regarding our eating has shown to be beneficial to our health. Now the Dash diet, the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension, is such a plan, which has proven to provide a eating plan, that if followed, provides health benefits.

The DASH eating plan was one of three eating plans that were compared in research studies sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Their intentions of this research, was to research the effects of diet  regarding one’s high blood pressure.

The results of the research showed…

• Is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and total fat
• Focuses on fruits, vegetables, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products
• Is rich in whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds, and nuts
• Contains fewer sweets, added sugars and sugary beverages, and red meats than the typical American diet
  

  Other Benefits

  The DASH diet has been recently named as one of the best overall diets by US News and World Report. Rich in potassium, magnesium, calcium, protein and fiber, this eating plan has other powerful health benefits in addition to lowering blood pressure and warding off cardiovascular related diseases. Some additional benefits include:

  • Preventing obesity (when combined with regular exercise)
  • Preventing osteoporosis (due to increased calcium intake)
  • Preventing cancer (due to increased antioxidant intake)
  • Preventing diabetes (due to lowered sugar intake)
  • Preventing constipation (due to increased fiber intake)
  • Losing weight (due to a healthier and more nutritious eating plan)

The DASH Eating Plan… also is lowering sodium (salt) than the typical American diet. This is because eating less sodium can help lower blood pressure.

The DASH research showed that an eating plan containing 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day lowered blood pressure. An eating plan containing only 1,500 mg of sodium per day  further lowered blood pressure.

The “The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010″ advise people who have high blood pressure, African Americans, and middle-aged and older adults to aim for no more than 1,500 mg of sodium per day.

The DASH eating plan also includes foods rich in potassium, such as fruits and vegetables.

Below is a table that shows the daily nutrient goals, including potassium, used in the DASH studies.

Daily Nutrient Goals Used in the DASH Studies (for a 2,000-Calorie Eating Plan)

* 1,500 mg of sodium was a lower goal tested and found to be even better for lowering blood pressure. It worked very well for middle-aged and older adults, African Americans, and people who already had high blood pressure.

The Dash Diet…

Is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy foods includes meat, fish, poultry, nuts and beans; and is limited in sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, red meat, and added fats. In addition to its effect on blood pressure, it is considered a well-balanced approach to eating for the general public. It is now recommended by the US Department of Agriculture(USDA) as an ideal eating plan for all Americans.

Not only does the plan emphasize good eating habits, but also suggests healthy alternatives to “junk food” and discourages the consumption of processed foods.

The DASH eating plan shown below is based on 2,000 calories a day. The number of daily servings in a food group may vary from those listed depending on your caloric needs.

Food Group	Daily Servings (except as noted)	Serving Sizes
Grains & grain products	7-8	1 slice bread 1 cup ready-to-eat cereal* cup cooked rice, pasta, or cereal
Vegetables	4-5	1 cup raw leafy vegetable cup cooked vegetable 6 ounces vegetable juice
Fruits	4-5	1 medium fruit cup dried fruit cup fresh, frozen, or canned fruit 6 ounces fruit juice
Lowfat or fat free dairy foods	2-3	8 ounces milk 1 cup yogurt 1 ounces cheese
Lean meats, poultry, and fish	2 or less	3 ounces cooked lean meats, skinless poultry, or fish
Nuts, seeds, and dry beans	4-5 per week	1/3 cup or 1 ounces nuts 1 tablespoon or ounce seeds cup cooked dry beans
Fats & oils**	2-3	1 teaspoon soft margarine 1 tablespoon lowfat mayonnaise 2 tablespoons light salad dressing 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
Sweets	5 per week	1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon jelly or jam ounce jelly beans 8 ounces lemonade

* Serving sizes vary between cup -1 cups. Check the product’s nutrition label.

** Fat content changes serving counts for fats and oils: For example, 1 tablespoon of regular salad dressing equals 1 serving; 1 tablespoon of a lowfat dressing equals serving; 1 tablespoon of a fat free dressing equals 0 servings.

 Adverse Risks of The Dash Diet Plan

The Dash Diet, like any other changes taken towards your eating habits, must be considered regarding your current health conditions. If questionable, seek council from a nutritionists or Doctor before doing so. The studies have not indicated any adverse side affects of such diet, but the diet is new as well. It is very similar to a couple other diets that have been around for some time. The indications for those who have health problems such as diabetes or kidney illness to talk with your doctor before making a decision.

We are all looking for better health and a balanced diet plan such as the Dash Diet plan. It is basically the answer regarding what we may eat, or should eat, but the exercise is still a key here. If we are not burning off what we intake, we will gain weight, though the other benefits may be acquired. We will be just healthier, yet obese. So If you need a plan to decide what to eat, then by all means do so, just do not forget… the body needs exercise as well. The Dash Diet Plan has been recognized as the Number 1 diet for 2 years now, and reviewed  by many and endorsed as well.

Todays Health Article

January 24th, 2012

Today many questions are asked of  those hard core smokers, those who continue to smoke, knowing very well the health risks of smoking, and many have already suffered from their hard core smoking.

In fact you and I both know, we have known those who have suffered from COPD, Asthma, Emphysema, Lung Canc, anerd even suffered surgical to the throat and lungs and they still continue to smoke.

After witnessing the very aspect,  you see people digress from the COPD, chronic coughing, to inhalers, to being diagnosed with throat or lung cancer.  For us people who do not smoke, perhaps we just shake our heads in bewilderment, for the lack of understanding. But to these people who are hard core smokers,  kicking the habit, after being so hooked, it just seems the only answer is simply, to continue smoking.

Hard Core Smokers

I think most can relate to this article, I know I can, though I have never smoked. I have had several of my relatives who went through the progressive steps of smoking, some were smoking 3 packs a day!  I had an Aunt who had a cigarette lit in every room that she was in through out the day so she did not have to carry it around with her. The rooms were filled with smoke, dying from lung cancer, and her reply was, “No reason to stop now”.

It took asthma, COPD, emphysema and finally, throat cancer to get my neighbor, a retired cattle rancher, to try to quit smoking.  It was unfortunate, this 70-year-old was so hooked, he couldn’t kick the habit even after part of his voice box  was  removed. Leaving the tuning fork to speak for him. Remembering, his last understandable comment “‘Okay, I’m not going to smoke again.’  But when he came home from surgery, and had recovered, it was  just a few weeks later,  he started  to smoke  again. Later to passed away from lung cancer.

I truly believe he just couldn’t help himself, he was a hard core smoker, who truly was addicted.

Facts that Support Hard Core Smokers

According to a new study in the American Cancer Society journal CANCER,  many patients find themselves smoking after diagnosis.

Researchers looked at 2,456 lung cancer patients and 3,063 colorectal patients and discovered that at time of diagnosis, 38 percent of the lung cancer patients and 15 percent of the colorectal patients were smokers.

Five months later, despite a cancer diagnosis, 14 percent of the lung cancer patients were still lighting up and again 9 percent of the colorectal patients were having their smoke.

 Question is…”Why stop now?”

“People think it’s a no-brainer and are surprised that cancer patients continue to smoke after they’re diagnosed,” says Elyse R. Park, a clinical health psychologist and associate professor of psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School and lead researcher for the study. “But people still struggle to quit even after they’re diagnosed. There are a lot of barriers to quitting, including a lot of stigma.“

Park says many of the people who can’t quit are “hard-core” smokers. they smoke a high number of cigarettes a day. Many, also, are surrounded by other smokers.

“These people are nicotine addicted, so it’s tough for them,” says Park. “They also have a lot of self-blame for causing the disease. There are feelings of fatalism. They think, ‘Why stop now?’ And a lot of people are very judgmental about lung cancer patients causing their own disease.”

The American Lung Association estimates that active smoking is responsible for close to 90 percent of lung cancer cases; radon causes 10 percent, and occupational exposures to carcinogens account for approximately 9 to 15 percent.

“We have tried Everything!”

That is a common statement from those who have tried the “Hypnosis, Chantix, patches, cessation groups, acupuncture, the gum, the lozenges — and  NONE of that stuff did anything for them.

Many times  depression plays a part, facing the thought of cancer, seeing a death sentence,  and perhaps  feeling no difference can be made. Feeling it is just too late for them! Yet  it’s the best time to quit because it has the potential to improve their cancer treatment, from breathing easier and feeling less fatigue to reducing the chance of infection after surgery. With no smoke, the efficacy of chemo and radiation and may even double the chances of survival for lung cancer patients.

The Answer is…

The human being is very complicated and each individual is just that, so what might work for you, may not for your friend. However, society as well hard core smokers, realize many times, the need to quit smoking, but just have not found that one solution to quit.

Recently studies now are suggesting this major advancements, that it is not the nicotine that is the killer, but the smoke containing all the ingredients, that make cigarette smoking harmful. In fact, studies have compared nicotine to a cup of coffee. It is similar to caffeine and has little ill effects toward our health.

With that in mine if you are addicted to nicotine… you just need a solution to get rid of the smoke. That is exactly what one Chinese inventor accomplished, calling it the electronic cigarette. Thus creating the inhaling of the vapors, by eliminating the smoke inhaled by the traditional cigarette.

Many have chosen this option to help them either reduce the amount of nicotine in their body, to stop smoking for good, or as many of the hard core smokers have indicated, they love their nicotine, but not the harmful effects of smoking.

Many have indicated that within a short period of time, the capability of breathing better and feeling better due to no longer inhaling the smoke. For those hard core smokers who have already been handed the health warnings, perhaps this may be just the answer. Now over a half a million smokers are using this option to deliver their nicotine habit.

Electronic Cigarette

Todays Health Comment

Today with my understanding of the human addiction for nicotine, it is not easy to see friends and family to suffer from the ill-effects of smoke from the cigarette. We still have huge numbers of cigarette smokers today, in fact in the millions, and our youth makes up a great portion of this, meaning millions will also become hard core smokers. The answer is… to understand the risks and find a solution that fits you… to Stop smoking. Having done a little research on the electronic cigarette, I  believe they may become the answer for many who choose a healthier life if they choose to keep smoking, and an answer for those who want to stop.

Further Reading

 Review Electronic  Cigarette

Todays Health Article

January 22nd, 2012

Today we may be looking for medicines that have healing capabilities that have not emerged, as with the common cold or even that nasty scratch, yet some find that honey may just be the cure. I know my grand parents had sold Honey for  many years, and were great enthusiasts when it came to sharing what their honey was good for.

I as kid,  just  liked it on my cornbread and also my  peanut butter and honey sandwich. Yet, when I had a sore throat, my mom would give me a teaspoon of honey a few times a day, it was good going down, and seemed to help. I was never a tea lover but my parents always seem to think, adding the honey gave them a healthier drink. Now growing up on a farm, and living many miles away from town, we just did not hop in the car every time we got a cut or scratch, mom would reach into her cupboard of tricks and do what she thought was right for the wound.

I believe some of these remedies just get handed down from one generation to the next. Well it did not stop there as we also had lots of animals on the farm, which were also prone to have cuts and wounds as well. Guess what, we would pull out the honey jar and paste the stuff onto the wound.

HONEY… HONEY

Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. There is a great variety of honey flavors produced by the honey bees, depending on their nectar source, and their environment.

Honey bees transform nectar into honey by a process of regurgitation, and store it as a primary food source in wax honeycombs inside the beehive. This honey is used for the bees to stay alive when food is not availabe for them. Therefor those who capture the Honey from the bee hives, must leave enough for the bees to survive,  and encourage overproduction of honey so the excess can be taken.

Facts…

Honey gets its sweetness from the monosaccharides fructose and glucose, and has approximately the same relative sweetness as that of granulated sugar.

It has attractive chemical properties for baking, and a distinctive flavor that leads some people to prefer it over sugar and other sweeteners.^[

Most microorganisms do not grow in honey because of its low water activity of 0.6.

Honey  may sometimes contains endospores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which can be dangerous to infants, as the endospores can transform into toxin-producing bacteria in the infant’s immature intestinal tract, leading to illness and even death.

Honey has a long history of human consumption, and is used in various foods and beverages as a sweetener and flavoring. It also has a role in religion and symbolism.

Is there any truth to the Healing Powers of Honey?

The list of honey’s beneficial functions is a long one.

• Honey increases calcium absorption
• can increase hemoglobin count and treat or prevent anemia caused by nutritional factors
• can help arthritic joints, when combined with apple cider vinegar
• fights colds and respiratory infections of all kinds
• can help to boost gastrointestinal ulcer healing
• works as a natural and gentle laxative
• aids constipation, allergies and obesity
• provides an array of vitamins and minerals
• supplies instant energy without the insulin surge caused by white sugar

Many have found raw honey helpful for its positive effects against allergies and hay fever, and one or two teaspoons last thing at night can help with insomnia.

As an antiseptic, honey is also a drawing agent for poisons from bites or stings or infected wounds, and has outperformed antibiotics in treatments for stomach ulcerations, gangrene, surgical wound infections, surgical incisions and the protection of skin grafts, corneas, blood vessels and bones during storage and shipment.

Honey is also exceptionally effective for respiratory ailments. One Bulgarian study of almost 18,000 patients found that it improved chronic bronchitis, asthmatic bronchitis, chronic and allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. It’s an effective treatment for colds, flu, respiratory infections and a generally depressed immune system. Whereas sugarshuts down the immune system, a good quality honey will stimulate it into action.

May Berenbaum, Ph.D., a University of Illinois entomologist. Honey has been used for centuries to treat a wide range of medical problems like wounds, burns, cataracts, skin ulcers and scrapes, she says. And now various researchers worldwide are also studying and finding strong antimicrobial properties in some honeys.

Todays Health Comments

Today Honey, just may be getting as much attention as those little bees give to making it. Honey has been sought out for it medical uses since the beginning of time and certainly for it’s sweet taste. I have always enjoyed Honey and it is on the kitchen counter all the time. It is used in our drinks and foods, but how about that sore throat or cuts…yes. I have to share this… as our friend was just at wits end, regarding the healing of a surgical procedure. The incision had gotten infection that was just not going awa…with serious convincing,  the doctor dressed the bandages with honey, and with a few weeks, it was all healed up. When we lived on the farm, we used Honey all the time, since we had 5 or 6 Bee stands of which we took honey from. When we had animals get wounded… we would use Honey to dress the wound. I believe Honey holds an amazing amount of healing power, and believe we are just seeing the beginning of the research of this food.g

Further Reading

“In What Ways have You Experienced the Benefits of Honey?” 

Todays Health Article

January 21st, 2011

Todays top story regarding a nail gun, is not that uncommon, but this person is just lucky to be alive!  Many have carried this story due to the humor added and due to the near life and death consequences of this accident. Praise God he has recovering and all is being excepted, on such a light note. Yet, many accidents such as this one, appear more often than not. Yes, it can be a serious health issue and considering that most nails that go through a nail gun are contaminated with dirt and oil to maintain the gun, as well as the force of air. This person may or may not deal with other issues. My Prayers go with him and his family. I have included a news release below.

.News for nail in the head guy

Man, 32, shoots 3.5in nail into his head and doesn’t notice for …

Why a Nail Gun?

The whole purpose of such tools was to replace the common hammers used and to speed up the use of many construction activities needed for building or finish work. Nail guns were at one time, just found in the tool boxes of framers and finish work contractors. Today more and more so, have found their way into the hands of the weekend handyman and even lady hobbyist.

The Problem Is….

Nail Guns are Causing several Injuries

One report indicated there were approximately 36,000 reported injuries due to nail guns. Of this number approximately 3.9% of all workers compensation claims in the U.S. last year were a result of injuries to workers caused by nail gun accidents. Among those workers injured by a nail gun last year, as many as 25.5 percent involved paid… lost work time. According to a new study from State of Washington.

The study reported that the hands and fingers were the most commonly injured parts of the body. Actually anywhere from 80-to-89 percent of all injuries from nail guns are being puncture wounds to the hands and fingers from the nails.

In fact, more than 70% of all nail gun injuries at residential work-sites occur during the wood framing and sheathing stage of construction.

Approximately 69% of puncture injuries caused by nail guns are due to what the Home Builders Association of America calls: “Inadvertent gun discharge, or misfire, most of which, according to the Association, are preventable by the use of sequential triggers.

Safety and Solution

The best advise given for these tools is to read the instruction manual before using…that is the first step! I believe my dad’s advice “Any tool can be harmful if used incorrectly or not understood!” Many times application, improperly. leads to these accidents. Short cuts can prove to be fatal. Most people who use these tools have no respect or understand how dangerous a nail gun can be if used improperly.

The training and education of workers who use these tool are vitally important components to prevent serious injury, or worse, but what about the weekend handyman?

For you who fall into this category… think about what a nail gun is designed to do!  Nail guns are powerful tools that are able to drive pointy pieces of steel through the hardest surfaces, even concrete and steel.

It does not take too much of imagination to imagine the damage these devices can do to the soft tissue and bones of a your body!

 Todays Health Comments

Today accidents from nail guns are not that uncommon, with 36,000 being reported and I am sure there may be equally that amount not. Those who have no medical coverage and treat their foot or hands with their home care. Only those so serious such as a nail to the head grabs people’s attention…some might find that humorous, I find it disturbing that people have to have their lives endangered before attention is given. I seriously believe that the average person who is given a loaded gun might shoot themselves if they do not understand that it actually has a safety to prevent that and not carry a bullet in the chamber. There is little difference in the use of a Nail Gun, use it appropriately for the tool it is and treat it like a loaded gun, DO NOT POINT IT AT ANYONE, NOR YOURSELF AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HAND. If you do this you certainly will lessen the odds of an accident!