Todays Health Articles

April 30th, 2012

Purple Foods

Today’s health can consist of foods that can be very colorful to the eye, and purple foods should be considered not only for their appeal but for their many health benefits. I know that some may be familiar to you and others may not, but are we taking advantage of these healthy foods?  Are we just passing them up as we walk down the grocery aisles for our more familiar items. I know purple carrots  have not found their way into my diet. Perhaps because we are afraid to try out new foods. Yet for some, purple foods are very common to their daily diet. Today, I hope that some of these nutritious purple foods will find their way into your diet, or at least be considered in the future.

Why You Should Consider “Purple Foods”

 Many of these Purple foods are loaded with healing antioxidants. It’s a scientifically-proven fact that thdarker the food, the higher the antioxidant level.Antioxidants are so important to the body, they have the ability to mop up free radicals and keep you looking younger, and longer.

Thus, dark foods with a purple pigment, such as purple onions, concord grapes, purple cabbage, black mission figs, prunes and blackberries, are known for having amazing healing powers.

Did You Know?

The purple pigment in all of these purple foods, fruits and vegetables, contain flavonoids, including resveratrol, which can help decrease blood pressure. Resveratrol helps relax the arterial walls, decreases the pressure in the arteries and allows better circulation. Produce with purple hues contain a variety of polyphenols that can reduce the inflammatory response in the body.Inflammation is considered to be the root of all major diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and immune dysfunction.

Reasons to Eat More Purple Foods:

* The resveratrol found in purple grapes, cranberries, blueberries, bilberries, red wine and grape juice can inhibit the spread of colorectal cancer in animal studies. Studies  have also show that resveratrol can induce cancer cell death in cases of prostate, breast, skin, liver, lung and blood cancers. The curcumin in turmeric seems to boost its anti-cancer activity so have a glass of pinot noir (the type of wine highest in resveratrol) next time you have curry.
* A 2011 study found that anthocyanins from blackberries reduced stomach ulcer formation in rats. Researchers  now believe this is because the antioxidants in blackberries  may prevent oxidation and boost the activity of other important antioxidants, such as glutathione, that are naturally present in the body.
*Black rice, which has more anthocyanins per gram than blueberries, is a delicious antioxidant grain that has been found to reduce damage to the liver incurred by excessive alcohol intake.

*Black currants can lower “bad” LDL cholesterol by up to 13 percent while raising “good” HDL cholesterol. Black currants and bilberries have more anthocyanins than blueberries. Wild raw berries have higher antioxidant content than frozen varieties.
*Vegetables such as purple cauliflower, purple carrots and purple cabbage contain the same plant pigment, anthocyanin, that is responsible for the UTI-fighting power of cranberries. Lab studies show that anthocyanin compounds fight H. pylori, the bacteria that promotes stomach ulcers and urinary tract infections.

*Diabetes benefits from the Anthocyanins within the purple carrots, may help with the effects of diabetes. Notes from a December 2001 article in Nutrition Science News indicate these benefits. Diabetes causes damage to blood vessels, which are made from collagen. These beneficial antioxidants neutralize enzymes that damage collagen and connective tissues. Excessive damage can lead to frequent high blood sugar levels, causing further damage to blood vessels. Anthocyanins help repair and restore collagen, making blood vessels strong and improving blood flow.

 Todays Health Comments

Today purple foods should be part of our diet, yet many of these foods are neglected to eaten. Perhaps some are not even available in your grocery store. I found that to be true in my area. Others may be out of our budget, as healthy foods, many times are more costly.Although many of the purple foods are very affordable and should be considered in your daily diet. My favorite are the berries which I enjoy with my breakfast cereals. I also enjoy most all of them at various times of the year. Like all fruits and foods that are seasonal…it allows you to enjoy them and not get tired of eating the same ones all the time.

Todays Health Article

April 20th, 2012

TURMERIC

Today many spices have been under the close watch  of nutritionists and many studies have been initiated due to turmeric‘s popular demand. Many of us choose to eat healthy, and spices such as turmeric, have a place in maintaining  a healthy body. Turmeric is not just an ordinary spice with a few health benefits, it should be used by everyone all the the time, because it touches a large part of our having a healthy body.

Turmeric History

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) has been used for 4,000 years to treat a  large variety of health conditions.  General studies indicate that turmeric might help prevent infections and some cancers, reducing inflammations, and treat digestive problems.

Turmeric has widely been used in cooking and gives Indian curry its flavor and it’s yellow color. It is also used in mustard and to color butter and cheese. Turmeric has also been used in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. This has been used as an anti-inflammatory to treat digestive and liver problems, skin diseases, and wounds.

It is also a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants scavenge molecules in the body known as free radicals, which damage cell membranes, tamper with DNA, and even cause cell death. Antioxidants can fight free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.

In addition, turmeric lowers the levels of two enzymes in the body that cause inflammation. It also stops platelets from clumping together to form blood clots.

 Health Research

Turmeric may be helpful for the following conditions:

• Indigestion: Turmeric stimulates the gallbladder to produce bile, which some people think may help improve digestion.
• Ulcerative colitis: Turmeric may help people with ulcerative colitis stay in remission. Ulcerativecolitis is a chronic disease of the digestive tract where symptoms tend to come and go.
• Stomach Ulcers: Turmeric does not seem to help treat stomach ulcers. In fact, there is some evidence that it may increase stomach acid, making existing ulcers worse. (See “Precautions” section.)
• Osteoarthritis: Because of its ability to reduce inflammation, researchers have wondered if turmeric may help relieve osteoarthritis pain. One study found that people using an Ayurvedic formula of herbs and minerals with turmeric, winter cherry (Withinia somnifera), boswellia (Boswellia serrata),and zinc had less pain and disability..
• Heart Disease: Early studies suggested that turmeric may help prevent atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque that can block arteries and lead to heart attack or stroke. In animal studies, an extract of turmeric lowered cholesterol levels and kept LDL “bad” cholesterol from building up in blood vessels. Because it stops platelets from clumping together, turmeric may also prevent blood clots from building up along the walls of arteries.
• Cancer: There has been a great deal of research on turmeric’s anti-cancer properties, but results are still very early. Evidence from test tube and animal studies suggests that turmeric may help prevent or treat several types of cancers, including prostate, breast, skin, and colon cancer. Its preventive effects may be because it is a strong antioxidant, protecting cells from damage. More research is needed.
• Bacterial and Viral Infections: Test tube and animal studies suggest turmeric may kill bacteria and viruses. But researchers don’ t know whether it would work in people.
• Uveitis: A preliminary study suggests turmeric may help treat uveitis, an inflammation of the eye’ s iris. In one study of 32 people with chronic anterior uveitis, turmeric was effective as corticosteroids, the type of medication usually prescribed. More research is needed.

Todays Health Article

April 14th, 2012

WHITE  COFFEE

Today you may know what white coffee is, drive up to your favorite coffee stand and actually get what you asked for…white coffee! But I am willing to guess you will not have to go far down the road from your favorite stop and they will be asking you questions like you have never heard before. Such as ” How much Creamer or Milk, and or sweetener? This is where all the confusion starts… but what about the white coffee bean, it’s referred to also as “White Coffee”!

White Coffee, might just be by definition, of where you are living, its ingredients, and how long the coffee bean has been roasted. Other words “White Coffee” can just be referred to any of a number of coffee or herbal tea beverages around the world.

WHITE COFFEE BEAN

This is a coffee bean that has been under-roasted, which gives it a light color and different taste from the average roasted coffee. While it is mostly a specialty item and not widely available, it can be found in some coffee shops and purchased through select coffee roaster companies. This article was prompted by a sales sign that announced White Coffee Bean coffee which I had not heard of. Yet I am no expert in the taste of coffee, I have written several articles about some rather original coffees and found to be intrigued by the fact…this coffee does not taste like coffee. White coffee is generally used only for making espresso drinks, not simple brewed coffee. With shorter roasting times natural sugars are not caramelized within the coffee beans, leaving no bitter aftertaste. The flavor of white coffee is frequently described as nut like, with pronounced acidity.

 Coffee with….

Many English-speaking countries, the definition of “white coffee” is regular black coffee that has had milk, cream or some other “whitener” added to it.

Although the term is almost entirely unheard of in the US, where the same beverage might be called “coffee light” in New York. Yet it may be referred to as “light coffee”, “coffee with milk,” or even “regular coffee” in New England.

These cream varieties are commonly called “creamers”  here (US) , can be made of dairy milk, corn syrup derivatives, soy, or nut products. Sweeteners used include cane sugar or artificial ingredients.

White coffee should be distinguished from café au lait, in that white coffee uses room temperature milk or other whitener, while café au lait uses heated or steamed milk.

THE ORIGINAL WHITE COFFEE

This coffee started in the town of Ipoh, Malaysia referring to a drink made from coffee beans roasted in margarine, brewed and served with sweetened condensed milk in a cream-color form.

An example is Chang Jiang White Coffee, or SYL White Coffee. Local coffee manufacturers subsequently mix instant coffee powder with non-dairy creamer or whitener and sugar together, and market the 3-in-1 mixture as White Coffee as well.

Whether roasted with margarine, or prepared in instant 3-in-1 mix, White Coffee in Malaysia should simply refer to how the drink is prepared and presented – added with milk or creamer, so the liquid is cream colored, just like cafe au lait, or Latte in essence.

There is also a form of white coffee, native to Yemen, which refers to the ground shell of the coffee bean. This form of coffee earns its name from its color, and is brewed in the same manner as regular coffee, only with some spices added.

 Herbal Tea

“White Coffee” is an herbal tea originating from Beirut, made with orange blossom water. Traditionally served after meals in Lebanon and Syria, it is often accompanied by candied rose petals, served in decorated cups. Unlike coffee made from beans of the coffee plant, white coffee does not contain caffeine and is considered a mild sedative. In Lebanon, orange blossom water is also used as a perfume while bathing or by applying it directly to the skin.

Todays Health Comments

Perhaps the greatest clarification of “White Coffee” may be found by a simple question… What is in it? Other wise you may recieve some drink with perhaps the name, but nothing close to what you had expected. Although not a coffee drinker, the white coffee bean actually may appeal to the non coffee drinkers. The taste is indicated  to be nutty, not bitter like the fully roasted coffee, that seems to have  had just about everything that man has drank added to it.

Coffee has been acclaimed to have several  health benefits, yet its caffeine addiction has led to other studies, indicating its effects of addiction. There are some who have indicated that the higher the coffee bean is roasted, more caramelization occurs, making the coffee extremely bitter, but less caffeine becomes present.  So there are those who believe that the white coffee is loaded with caffeine. Some compare to Red Bull or Monster drinks which toe the fact. I strongly urge those to understand the ingredients in what you chose to drink.

Further Reading

http://todayshealthsite.com/has-that-daily-buzz-gone-too-far.html

Todays Health Article

April 10th, 2012

      Raspberry

Today the Raspberry has taken on a  new direction and all the focus or attention has been directed towards a solution for weight loss. The raspberry has been enjoyed for centuries, but it has never seen this much attention. There are nutritionist who are claiming remarkable results. For  those who have enjoyed the raspberry,  they have also found that the raspberry contains significant amounts of polyphenol antioxidants.  These antioxidants such as anthocyanin pigments have been linked to potential health protection against several human diseases.

Raspberry Health Value

The aggregate fruit structure of the raspberry contributes to its nutritional value, as it increases the proportion of dietary fibre, placing it among plant foods with the highest fibre contents known, up to 20% fibre per total weight.

Raspberries are a rich source of vitamin C, with 30 mg per serving of 1 cup (about 50% daily value), manganese (about 60% daily value) and dietary fibre (30% daily value). Contents of B vitamins 1-3, folic acid, magnesium, copper and iron are considerable in raspberries.

Did you know the raspberry ranks near the top of all fruits for antioxidant strength, particularly due to their dense contents of ellagic acid, quercetin, gallic acid, anthocyanins, cyanidins, pelargonidins, catechins, kaempferol and salicylic acid. Yellow raspberries and others with pale-coloured fruits are lower in anthocyanins.

You may have guessed this due their rich contents of antioxidant vitamin C and the polyphenols mentioned above, raspberries have an ORAC value (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) of about 4900 per 100 grams, including them among the top-ranked ORAC fruits. Cranberries and wild blueberries have around 9000 ORAC units, where as apples only average 2800.

For now there are no clinical studies to date, proving these effects in humans, antioxidant and antiproliferative (chemopreventive) effects against cancer have been linked to the amount of phenolics and flavonoids in various foods including raspberries.

Raspberries are a low-glycemic index food, as are most other berries.

So what is all the Rush About?

Well if you haven’t heard about it yet,  you will. RASPBERRY KEYTONE.It is the weight loss supplement  that is shaking up the health and fitness world . And it’s only just begun. Sales have been skyrocketing.

So, what is raspberry ketone and  why are people rushing to get their hands on it?

What Is Raspberry Ketone?

Raspberry ketone is a metabolite compound found in red raspberries that gives the fruit its sweet odor.

It has been used by cosmetic companies and perfume makers to give a product a fruity smell. The ketones needed  one would have to eat a whole bushel of the fruit, about 90 pounds. The red raspberries are extracted for their ketones, but at a very low level – from 1 to 4 mg in a kilo – making it one of the most expensive natural flavorings.The natural compound can cost as much as $20,000 per kg. In 1965, the Food and Drug Administration placed raspberry ketone on generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status

To get the recommended amount for losing weight, Hence, because of its insufficient supply, it is produced in non-biological processes from chemical intermediate substances.

Since the natural abundance of raspberry ketone is very low, it is prepared industrially by a variety of methods from chemical intermediates. One of the ways this can be done is through a crossed aldol-catalytic hydrogenation. In acetone and sodium hydroxide, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde can form the α,β-unsaturated ketone. This then goes through catalytic hydrogenation to produce raspberry ketone. This method produces a 99% yield.

Rasberry Ketones  Health Impact

It was the similarity of raspberry ketone to adrenaline and ephedrine in their structural formula  that caught the attention of some Japanese researchers which led them to study its effect on mice. The results were released in 2005, showing that mice who were fed a high fat diet did not gain as much weight when given raspberry ketone than the mice who were not given the ketone.

They concluded that this natural phenolic compound from red raspberries hindered the growth of fat tissues.

The raspberry ketone enzyme increases the production of the protein hormone adinopectin. Adinopectin, secreted from the fat tissues of the liver and muscles, controls metabolic deviations that could lead to obesity and other diseases.

What Makes Raspberry Ketone So Good

One of the biggest benefits of raspberry ketone supplements is how quickly it takes effect. Taken at a dose of two tablets a day with a glass of water, and combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, raspberry ketone can produce visible weight loss results in two weeks.

The Raspberry Ketone Supplement

The compound has been shown to work well in fat burning and weight loss. But its efficacy is hastened and enhanced when combined with other thermogenic natural ingredients. Among the most well known combination extracts for raspberry ketone are green tea, acai berry, resveratrol and the African mango. Alone, they are all powerful weight loss products. Combined, they make potent enemies of fats and fat tissues and guarantee a reduction in weight.

Raspberry ketone products and their complementary ingredients are all derived from herbal and organic sources, making them safer than their synthetic counterparts. Because they’re all natural, they’re great for people who want a stimulant-free weight loss product.

Other Uses of Raspberry Ketone

Raspberries have long been known to contain significant levels of antioxidants, the body’s protection against diseases and cell damage. Adinopectin, the hormone protein in the body that is released by raspberry ketone, protects against type 2 diabetes. It also helps prevents the buildup of plaque in the arterial walls and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease that is a risk factor for liver cancer.

Todays Health Comments

I have always enjoyed the raspberry, in fact several bushes, and various varieties grow in our yard, but I was not one  to think that a raspberry would help with weight loss. Yet there are good signs that this supplement coupled with other natural ingredients such as the African Mango might be just the answer for many of us who need to lose weight. The Raspberry Ketone supplement has not been studied other than testimonials, and seems to present no ill side effects as of this article. The future will certainly tell the story. Like any change in your diet you need to be concerned and should consult before making changes. Dj

Todays Health Article

April 2nd, 2012

Carrots

Today’s article about carrots was delayed until today, thinking that this article might get confused or taken as another April Fools Joke. For some reason, carrots seem to be getting a bad rap about this time of the year. It is not just our carrots though,  as food this time of the year, has been portrayed several ways as unhealthy. It is not hard sometimes to get sucked into the se April Fools Jokes. That is just my thought.  You may ask Why? Well has not man become so creative in his means of enticing or convincing us to to eat his products, that it’s easier today to believe… just about anything that is thrown upon us, whether it is right or wrong.

The problem is, if the facts are true then we will benefit from the fact, and can adjust perhaps our eating habits, or ignore and take the chances with our health. On the other hand, these pranksters who create these hoaxes can rally and stir up sometimes  a big hornet’s nest for those who like their vegetables. Many times as well, it creates an financial impact on those who need to sell their product as well.

Recently I was reading a Comment on Facebook, and this article was brought to mine, “How We All can get Sucked In”.  Baby Carrots was the conversation.

Baby Carrots

Now not too long ago, the  “baby carrot“  was entered into the food industry, its name fitting for its size.  It’s original origin, from an immature carrot, this baby cut carrot,  became known as a “baby carrot”.Thus it was a mature carrot that had been cut and peeled in the “baby-cut” style

For those of you who have raised carrots, not all are alike. These vegetables have to be thinned so the remaining have room to grow, and even then you still get carrots that take on fingers that grow into odd shapes. Now as a farmer or just a novice gardener, you soon realize that the harvest of carrots can be wasteful, yet these thinned carrots, or imperfect ones still tasted good.

So an idea crossed a California farmer’s mind to reclaim what would other wise be a wasted product and with a little innovation from a couple pieces of machinery, a green bean cutter and a potato peeler, baby carrots came to be.

Today though many of the Baby Carrots have been bred to be used at the baby stage, one such is the Amsterdam Forcing.  The reason behind this was to eliminate such processing and still have a sweeter carrot than their full grown relative.

The Carrot Hoax

This was the email that was started in 2008

“Subject: baby carrot : Important Information!!

The following is information from a farmer who grows and packages carrots for IGA, METRO, LOBLAWS, etc.

The small cocktail (baby) carrots you buy in small plastic bags are made using the larger crooked or deformed carrots which are put through a machine which cuts and shapes them into cocktail carrots . most people probably know this already.

What you may not know and should know is the following: once the carrots are cut and shaped into cocktail carrots they are dipped in a solution of water and chlorine in order to preserve them (this is the same chlorine used your pool) since they do not have their skin or natural protective covering, they give them a higher dose of chlorine.

You will notice that once you keep these carrots in your refrigerator for a few days, a white covering will form on the carrots, this is the chlorine which resurfaces. At what cost do we put our health at risk to have esthetically pleasing vegetables which are practically plastic?

We do hope that this information can be passed on to as many people as possible in the hopes of informing them where these carrots come from and how they are processed. Chlorine is a very well known carcinogen.

Please let us make this information available to as many people as possible. If you care about your family and friends, pass it on.

The Truth about Baby Carrots

The  true Baby Carrots are carrots grown to the “baby” stage. These carrots can be readily identified by the fact that there is a true top on each carrot. Some farmers leave a little bit of green on the top of the carrot to prove that it is a true baby carrot. Some people prefer these baby carrots due to a belief that they are more natural or nutritious. These carrots are usually a lot more expensive then the second kind of baby carrots.

Manufactured Baby Carrots, or “baby-cut” carrots are more common and also less expensive then the true baby carrots. As mentioned earlier. these carrots, baby cut carrots, came from the idea of cutting these carrots down to 2 inch sections, peeling them and selling them as baby carrots.

The White Discoloration

This is common with many fruits and vegetables, including carrots. It happens when they are cut, peeled or bruised,  displaying a discoloration  caused  by enzymes. This reaction is called melanosis.

You may be familiar with the brown discoloration which forms on an apple when you bite into it and then leave it on the table for a short while, that is the melanosis.

In carrots this process causes a white discoloration, known as white blush. Therefore, carrots left in your fridge for a few days do not turn white because they are leaching chlorine, that whitening is caused by tissue damage.

Chlorinated Water

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency “Vegetables may be washed in chlorinated water in order to reduce microbial contamination. This water would be very much like your tap water. While it is “the same chlorine used in your pool”, it is also the same chlorine used in your municipal drinking water, and in your salt.There are strict guidelines as to how long vegetables may be submersed in the chlorinated water and they have to be thoroughly rinsed afterward.”

Todays Health Comments

This is sad that our food, carrots in this example of how some truth is diluted with facts that are not only harmful but are targeted to scare you into not eating them. Yet if you think about it how many times have you washed your vegetables under the tap water? It is the same example illustrated here. Many times it is best to check out these kind of emails before forwarding them to your friends. The delete button to the trash bin is the best bet.

Todays Health Article

March 26th, 2012

WATER

Todays article about “Water‘s outcome” may be a little alarming! In fact I compare this to… “The Frogs in the Frying Pan”, and we are the frogs, and we are not knowing it. For those who do not understand this common illustration… if you put a live frog into a hot frying pan, immediately he would jump out, recognizing that the heat would endanger him. Yet this same frog, if put into a cold frying pan setting on the burner, he would feel safe. But yet as the burner, being turn on slowly, would not recognize that he was slowly cooking and eventually it would be his demise.

COULD  WATER’S OUTCOME… BE OUR DEMISE?

To understand the alarming facts, that we may actually be fitting into the same illustration, we first must come to know the facts. To understand  the seriousness of  how and why… our water outcome needs to be  understood regarding its uses, needs, amounts, and shortages.

 Our WATER AMOUNTS on EARTH

Did you know… water actually covers 70.9% of the Earth’s surface?  Yet on this  earth, 96.5% of the planet’s water is found in oceans. The remaining 3.5%  consists of  1.7% in groundwater, 1.7% in glaciers and the ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland, a small fraction in other large water bodies, and 0.001% in the air as vapor, clouds (formed of solid and liquid water particles suspended in air), and precipitation.

You must understand that only 2.5% of the Earth’s water is freshwater, and 98.8% of that water is in ice and groundwater. Less than 0.3% of all freshwater is in rivers, lakes, and the atmosphere.

Water Cycles

Our water on Earth moves continually through what is hydrological cycle of evaporation and transpiration (evapotranspiration), condensation, precipitation, and runoff, usually reaching the sea.  This evaporation and transpiration contribute to the precipitation over land.

Water is Essentially Needed

The need for drinking water  is essential for us humans and life forms as we know it. The dietary reference to intake  of water reported by the United States National Research Council in general recommended (including food sources): 3.7 liters for men and 2.7 liters of water total for women. Specifically, pregnant and breastfeeding women need additional fluids to stay hydrated.

The Institute of Medicine (U.S.) recommends that, on average, men consume 3.0 liters and women 2.2 liters; pregnant women should increase intake to 2.4 liters (10 cups) and breastfeeding women should get 3 liters (12 cups), since an especially large amount of fluid is lost during nursing.

Of this daily intake, about 20% of water intake comes from food, while the rest comes from drinking water and beverages (caffeinated included). With physical exertion and heat exposure, water loss will increase and daily fluid needs may increase as well.

Cold water and Chilling Facts!

The facts presented here should not be taken lightly, water is  needed for our existence.

FACT… It is estimated that the population of the world reached one billion for the first time in 1804. It would be another 123 years before it reached two billion in 1927, but it took only 33 years to rise by another billion people, reaching three billion in 1960. Thereafter, the global population reached four billion in 1974, five billion in 1987, six billion in 1999 and, according to a United Nations estimate, seven billion in October 2011. Yet the United States Census Bureau, had anticipated that the world population would not reach seven billion before early 2012.

According to current projections, the global population will reach eight billion by 2025–2030, and will likely reach around nine billion by 2045–2050. Alternative scenarios for 2050 range from a low of 7.4 billion to a high of more than 10.6 billion.

FACT…The scientific consensus is that the current population expansion and accompanying increase in usage of resources is linked to threats to the ecosystem. The InterAcademy Panel Statement on Population Growth, which was ratified by 58 member national academies in 1994, called the growth in human numbers “unprecedented”, and stated that many environmental problems, were aggravated by the population expansion.At the time, the world population stood at 5.5 billion, and lower-bound scenarios predicted a peak of 7.8 billion by 2050.A number that current estimates show will be reached in the late 2020s, yet we have already in 2012 reached the 7 billion.

The 10 countries with the largest total population:

Rank	Country / Territory	Population	Date	% of world population	Source
1	People’s Republic of China[63]	1,349,900,000	March 26, 2012	19.3%	Chinese Official Population Clock
2	India	1,203,710,000	March 2011	17%	Census of India Organisation
3	United States	313,246,000	March 26, 2012	4.47%	United States Official Population Clock
4	Indonesia	238,400,000	May 2010	3.34%	SuluhNusantara Indonesia Census report
5	Brazil	196,163,000	March 26, 2012	2.8%	Brazilian Official Population Clock
6	Pakistan	179,099,000	March 26, 2012	2.56%	Official Pakistani Population Clock
7	Bangladesh	158,570,535	July 2011	2.26%	2011 CIA World Factbook estimate
8	Nigeria	155,215,000	July 2011	2.22%	2011 CIA World Factbook estimate
9	Russia	141,927,297	January 1, 2010	2.027%	Federal State Statistics Service of Russia
10	Japan	127,380,000	June 1, 2010	1.82%	Official Japan Statistics Bureau

FACT… Access to safe drinking water has improved over the last decades in almost every part of the world. But look at these alarming facts:

• 1.1 billion people  one-sixth of the world’s population in the world do not have access to safe drinking water!

• 2.2 million people die every year in developing countries, most of them children,  from diseases associated with lack of access to safe drinking water.

• Half of the world’s hospital beds are filled with people suffering from water related illnesses.

• In the past 10 years, diarrhea linked to drinking water, has killed more children than all the people lost to armed conflict since World War II.

• 50 percent, nearly half of the world’s population fails to receive the same level of water services available 2,000 years ago to the citizens of ancient Rome.

• Lack of sufficient funding. That billions of people remain without access despite three decades of international effort and publicity about these water issues. This demonstrates the water problem and the lack of funding priority, and it’s failure to focus on a solution.

Seventeen of the twenty two industrial nations have failed to meet very modest targets set by the United Nations of spending 0.7 percent of the nations Gross National Income on overseas development assistance. With limited funding of such water issues, water access problems remain out of reach for the developing countries.

• Some 6,000 children die every day from disease associated with lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene – equivalent to 20 jumbo jets crashing every day.

• 80 percent of diseases in the developing world are caused by contaminated water

• Waterborne diseases (the consequence of a combination of lack of clean water supply and inadequate sanitation) cost the Indian economy 73 million working days per year.

• It is estimated that pneumonia, diarrhea, tuberculosis and malaria, which account for 20% of global disease burden, receive less than one percent of total public and private funds devoted to health research.

• Just providing access to clean water, without any other medical intervention, we could save 2 million lives a year.

• The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns.
– www.water.org

• In China, India and Indonesia, twice as many people are dying from diarrhea diseases as from HIV/AIDS.

• The average person in the developing world uses 2.64 gallons of water a day. The average person in the United Kingdom uses 35.66 gallons of water per day. The average person in the United States uses between 100 and 175 gallons every day at home.

• More than 40 million hours are wasted each year in Africa alone from women and children gathering water.

• In 1998, 308,000 people died from war in Africa, but more than two million (six times as many) died from diarrhea disease.

 Water, It is estimated that 5.3 billion people…

 Accounting for two-thirds of the world’s population, will suffer from water shortages by 2025. However, some observers have estimated that by 2025 more than half of the world population will be facing water-based vulnerability.

A past report (November 2009), suggested that by 2030, in some developing regions of the world, water demand will exceed supply by 50%.

Water plays an Important Role in the World Economy

There are two assessments. Over 1.4 billion people live in river basins where the use of water exceeds minimum rechrge levels (UNDP Human Development Report 2006). By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world population could be under water stress conditions (FAO).

According to consulting firm, Beverage Marketing Corp., Americans drank 8.7 billion gallons of bottled water last year, compared with 8.8 billion in 2007 — the first decline this decade. Per capita consumption dropped from 29 gallons to 28.5. Jeff Cioletti, editor in chief of trade publication Beverage World, said he doesn’t believe bottled water will return to galloping growth for a long while.

The results, according to Food & Water Watch, more than 17 million barrels of oil — enough to fuel 1 million cars for a year– are needed to produce the plastic water bottles sold in the United States annually. And about 86 percent of the empty bottles get thrown into the trash rather than recycled. Beverage companies have responded through recycling initiatives and purchasing carbon offsets.

Total Industrial Water Use

In the world is about 22%, with high-income countries using 59%, and low-income countries using a minuscule 8%. These figures will rise with industrial production.The annual water volume use by industry is increasing at an enormous rate. Annual water volume use will most likely increase from 752 km³/year in 1995 to 1,170 km³/year by the year 2025. All figures are according to the website Water Science For Schools.

Approximately 70% of the fresh water used by humans goes to agriculture.

At the global scale, 2,788,000 km² (689 million acres) of agricultural land was equipped with irrigation infrastructure around the year 2000. About 68% of the area equipped for irrigation is located in Asia, 17% in America, 9% in Europe, 5% in Africa and 1% in Oceania. The largest contiguous areas of high irrigation density are found in North India and Pakistan along the rivers Ganges and Indus, in the Hai He, Huang He and Yangtze basins in China, along the Nile river in Egypt and Sudan, in the Mississippi-Missouri river basin and in parts of California. Smaller irrigation areas are spread across almost all populated parts of the world.Only 8 years later in 2008, the scale of irrigated land increased to an estimated total of 3,245,566 km², what is nearly the size of India.

“The big question is, ‘Will we have enough food?’” notes Nancy Morgan, livestock economist for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. “With the existing animal [population] and good management practices, there is enough livestock to feed the world.”

The FAO tracks livestock populations worldwide. According to their research, there are nearly 19 billion chickens, 1.5 billion cows and 1 billion each of sheep and pigs around the globe. All of which need water to drink.

Natural Disasters on the Rise

GENEVA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua)–There has been a “dramatic” rise in natural disasters during the past decade, the director of the Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) said on Thursday.

“The number of events have gone up very, very dramatically,” CRED Director Debarati Guha-Sapir said in Geneva.

During the 2000 to 2009 period, there were 385 disasters, an increase of 233 percent since 1980 to 1989, and of 67 percent since 1990 to 1999, according to CRED data.

Though earthquakes made up 60 percent of natural disasters from 2000 to 2009, climate-related events, such as droughts, storms and floods, have made up the majority of disasters overall, increasing tenfold since data was first collected in 1950.“Have climate-related disasters increased? The answer is yes,”

With these occurences, many times the life sustaining needs are completely destroyed, requiring emergency essentials for survival… water being first on the list.

WORLD CONFLICT CONCERNING WATER

Drought, floods and a lack of fresh water may cause significant global instability and conflict in the coming decades, as developing countries scramble to meet demand from exploding populations while dealing with the effects of climate change, U.S. intelligence agencies said in a report this last Thursday.

Their assessment reflected the joint judgment of federal intelligence agencies saying the risk of water issues causing wars in the next 10 years is minimal even though water might create tensions within and between states and threaten to disrupt national and global food markets.

But beyond 2022, it says the use of water as a weapon of war or a tool of terrorism will become more likely, particularly in South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

At a U.N. news conference in New York marking World Water Day, Ania Grobicki, executive secretary of the Global Water Partnership, which includes government, private sector, academic and nongovernmental groups, said, “Water is a global issue and is increasingly seen as a global risk.”

She pointed to the World Economic Forum’s 2011 Global Risk Report which for the first time included water as one of the top five global risks. The report said the rapidly rising global population and growing prosperity are putting “unsustainable pressure” on resources and demand for water, food and energy is expected to rise by 30 percent to 50 percent in the next two decades.

Another report in summary does not identify the specific countries most at risk. But it notes that the study focused on several specific rivers and water basins. Those included the Nile in Egypt, Sudan and nations farther south, the Tigris and Euphrates in Iraq and the greater Middle East, the Mekong in China and Southeast Asia, the Jordan that separates Israel from the Palestinian territories, the Indus and the Brahmaputra in India and South Asia as well as the Amu Darya in Central Asia.

Todays Health Comments

Today we must understand that water is limited globally, population is now a factor, and agriculture is required to feed this population. Today water may not only become a serious problem, but like those frogs in the frying pan,  slowly we may befacing our demise. We have not recognize the problem as to severity, we are just on low heat, but when the severity reaches to high heat, there will be little that we can do. We are being complacent while others are suffering or dying from no access to safe water. It is those who survive on less water than what it takes to flush 1 flush our toilet ( 2and1/2 gallons of water, yet we use an average of 140 gallons a day. Just think about those 6000 children who are dying every day for the lack of water.

This does not dramatize the fact…7billion people now share the same amount of water that once was shared with less than the first billion in 1804. Just 200+ years, our population  at 7 billion, expecting with in less than 50 years could reach the 10 billion, now is the time to take action. Is is already too late? The funding needed to gain control may be out of reach!  The solution may be for those who have to start considering how much water we actually use.

When desperation sets in, the need for water becomes more prevalent, the control of water will become also, this may become not only local issues in our country, but water will be fought over, especially in those countries where population is great, and their neighboring countries control the rivers and streams that provide their water now. It will not be over financial greed or control of strategic land, but for water to survive.

The solution may be that now is the time.

We have an abundance of water… it’s our managent of water, that is wreclkless!We use it like it is never going to run out. We have not faced the water shortages like other countries and our priorities have certainly not been placed on conservation of the water we do have. All these practices, plus the production of food must play a greater  part in the future. We must  sustain as a nation, but globally as well. We must begin to think of others when you turn on the  faucet and the water continues to pour out… what would your thoughts be if it was for the very last time. I do not know what our future holds in store, God willing, he will provide us answers.

Todays Health Article

March 20th, 2012

Today you most likely heard  about green tea, and it’s health benefits. But what you may not know… are actually what are the health benefits, how you might obtained these healthy benefits, and how much should you drink?

Green Tea originated from the country of China and then further became known through out Asia. Green tea has just become more wide spread in the western civilization recently, although they have in the past, been black tea drinkers.

 There are Many Varieties of Green Tea

Where the confusion starts to set in is that  there are many varieties of green tea now being grown. Also these varieties of green tea can differ substantially due to the growing conditions, production, and processing. I have included a link  below this article  for further reading that may be beneficial.

What are the Actual Benefits of Green Tea?

Within the last few decades green tea has been subjected to several studies to determine its benefits to those who drink green tea. These medical studies have found that regular green tea drinkers may have lower risk of developing heart disease and certain types of cancer. Continuing with the medical studies, they have shown that green tea does not raise the metabolic rate enough to activate immediate weight loss, a green tea extract containing polyphenols and caffeine, has been shown to induce thermogenesis and stimulate fat oxidation, boosting the metabolic rate 4% without increasing the heart rate.

Flavonoids in an average cup of green tea is higher than that in the same volume of other food and drink items that are traditionally considered of health contributing nature, including fresh fruits, vegetable juices or wine.

Flavonoids are a group of phytochemicals in most plant products that are responsible for such health effects as anti-oxidative and anticarcinogenic functions.

However, based on the same USDA survey, the content of flavanoids may vary dramatically amongst different tea products.

Green tea’s antioxidants, called catechins, scavenge for free radicals that can damage DNA and contribute to cancer, blood clots, and atherosclerosis. Grapes and berries, red wine, and dark chocolate also have potent antioxidants.

How to obtain the Green tea benefits

Because of green tea’s minimal processing — its leaves are withered and steamed, not fermented like black and oolong teas. Simply by choosing the desired taste, which may be by visiting you local tea house, or by buying a few at a time. The key is to look for those who have the least additives and preservatives. Tea houses are the easiest to try several varieties of teas.

The Real Question is “How Much do I Drink?”

But there’s still a question of how much green tea do you need to drink to reap its health benefits.Many people still confuse about how much green tea should be drank everyday  to provide certain health benefit for us.

Is a cup of green tea enough, or should be drinking more? this articles is explaining about how much cups of green tea shouldwe drink to get its beneficial effects.There are no real side effects of drinking green tea.

The problem that green tea might impose on our health, is if green tea is taken over the daily recommended levels.

Experts recommend at least 3 cups of green tea per day to effectively lose weight.

Taking over 6 cups a day can cause palpitations (when you can hear your heart beating or irregular heart beating) due to caffeine overdose. The average cup of green tea contains anywhere from 8 to 20 mg of caffeine, while black tea contains at least twice that amount — 40 to 60 mg.

Overdose (quantities more than 300 mg caffeine, more than 5 cups/day) can lead to negative effect on the CNS and irritation of the stomach.

Most of the research showing the health benefits of green tea is based on the amount of green tea typically consumed in Asian countries-about 3 cups per day (which would provide 240-320 mg of polyphenols. A cup (200 mL) of green tea (Gun Powder,Hangzhou, China) contains about 142 mg EGCG, 65 mg EGC, 28 mg ECG, 17 mg EC,and 76 mg caffeine.

Researchers at Japan’s Tohoku University studied 1003 subjects over age 70, comparing their green tea intake and mental sharpness, using a Mini-Mental State Examination, a well-accepted standardized test for measuring cognitive function. Drinking more than 2 cups a day of green tea slashed odds of cognitive impairment in elderly Japanese men and women by 64%! And a Japanese cup of green tea is much smaller than its American counterpart-only about 3.2 fluid ounces. At every level of cognitive impairment-from minimal to severe-those drinking the most green tea experienced significantly less mental decline than those drinking the least. Compared with elderly Japanese who drank less than 3 cups a week, those drinking more than 2 cups a day had a 54% lower risk of age-related declines in memory orientation.

Todays Health Comments

Today, Green Tea is becoming more and more popular amonst tea drinkers for its taste as well as it’s health benefits. Though I drink tea on an occasion or two… it is something my family enjoys on a routine basis. I do believe the benefits certainly are beneficial to our health. Green tea will most likely benefit those who consistently drink on a regular basis.

Further Reading

 http://todayshealthsite.com/how-may-you-become-green-tea-smart.html

Varieties of Green Teas

Todays Health Article

March 19th, 2012

Today we will shortly be amongst the legality decisions regarding our health care. I am not a profound lover of politics, as to the value it has presented itself. Many times honesty, morality, and personal responsibility has been compromised or lacking,  which seem to be overwhelmingly lacking in our past.

Having said all that, I still try to follow what’s going on. The  big question is… Why should I even care? Well like it or not… because we all need to know what’s going on.  For one reason, if I plan to vote, and how can I expect things to get better (or not get worse) if  we do or do not do anything about it.

For those who have not caught up on what’s happening with the Health Care Reform bill, this may be the last time, until 2014 to speak out. Just to review for a moment, your health care is being decided as we speak. Though the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010, now the law (along with the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010) is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress. 

documentation of  http://housedocs.house.gov/energycommerce/ppacacon.pdf

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Full title	The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Acronym	PPACA
Colloquial name(s)	Affordable Care Act, Health Insurance Reform, Healthcare Reform, Obamacare
Enacted by the	111th United States Congress
Effective	March 23, 2010 Specific provisions phased in through to 2020
Citations
111–148
Stat.	124 Stat. 119 through 124 Stat. 1025 (906 pages)
Codification
Legislative history
Introduced in the House as the “Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009″ (H.R. 3590) by Charles Rangel (D–NY) on September 17, 2009 Committee consideration by: Ways and Means Passed the House on October 8, 2009 (416–0) Passed the Senate as the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” on December 24, 2009 (60–39) with amendment House agreed to Senate amendment on March 21, 2010 (219–212) Signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010
Major amendments
Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011
Supreme Court cases
None

With PPACA reforms, certain aspects of the private health insurance industry and public health insurance programs, increases insurance coverage of pre-existing conditions, expands access to insurance to over 30 million Americans, and increases  the projected national medical spending ^{( 8 to 900 + million)}  while lowering projected Medicare spending.

OPPOSITION  TO HEALTH CARE

A majority of the states, and numerous organizations and individual persons, have filed actions in federal court challenging the constitutionality of PPACA.

As of January 2012,

Two of four federal appellate courts have upheld the bill.

A third declared the individual mandate unconstitutional.

The fourth ruled the federal Tax Anti-Injunction Act prevents the issue from being decided until taxpayers begin paying penalties in 2015.

The Supreme Court has scheduled six hours for oral arguments March 26–28, 2012, and will issue its decision by the end of June.

Today’s Health Comments

This is probably one of the more important reforms our health care has seen. It is certainly one of the most confusing, costly, and longest written bill ( over 2000 pages) if you so desire to read, and our health care is on the line. To bring this to our laps and say you will own health insurance under these terms presents a legal issue, and government control. If you choose not to abide by such law, you will be penalized by taxes. This almost reminds me why we had a Tea Party many years ago and separated our connection with the then government control. That is the direction this bill enacted into law… Now we are being confronted with its terms and conditions… and who has the time to read 2000 pages. There is no doubt that we need an health care reform in this nation… What is your Solution?

Further Reading

Is-our-health-a-forcast-of-facts-guidelines-reform-and-legal-actions.html

Understanding-todays-health-care-reform-may-only-be-a-disappointment.html

Todays Health Article

March 16th, 2012

Today’s health article brings to your attention, those seeking the use of the electronic cigarette or commonly known as the e-cig, are falling into some unscrupulous hands. Today with the increasing popularity of the e-cig, it is no wonder everyone is finding their way into this needed marketplace. Unfortunately, for those entering online perhaps for the very first time, to purchase, are falling into the scams and the unscrupulous activities of taking your money, little about you! This can not only be discouraging but is of no benefit for those who are in need of the E-cig or change.

The E-Cig

For the most part, the E-cig is really not known well to the masses of the general public, yet most who are smokers have heard of these devices. The E-cig is a vapor driven cigarette, using an electronic battery, and your favorite flavor is inhaled through this process. Therefore ,with the E-cig, there are no burning chemicals, nor tars to inhale into the lungs, yet the feed of your nicotine addiction, is without the lighting up. For many, they find the E-cig more beneficial for their health, because nicotine in itself is really not life threatening. In fact, this  E-cig, is considered in the same health risk as caffeine is to a cup of coffee. With all that said there has been an increasing demand for this E-cig. It is not an instrument or a cessation product to quit smoking, yet some say the E-cig has helped. Again the E-cig has more or less has taken on it’s own path to not only to help save dollars vs. the cost of regular cigarettes, but for the hard core smokers, it is an option for their nicotine addiction.

The Free E-cig  SCAM

It does not take much time now days to google in- “Free E-cig Scams” and become some what shocked… the numerous articles written about the free E-cig packages being offered to those in need. In fact if you spent much time at all online looking to buy E-cigs, the free trials are every where, including fake testimonials and review sites that have been duplicated by those eager to entrap you to various sites. My WARNING TO YOU…THESE ARE SCAMS!

  Once you have entered your name, address, email and phone number you are usually taken to a second page.  The second page usually shows a special discount and asks for you to pay a small amount for shipping and handling.

 What you need to read is the fine print!

The fine print will show you have 14 days for your trial, then you will be charged $100+.  Then you are also signed up for the automatic refill cartridge wit orders of $50+ and another $10 for shipping and handling.  Many times, the E-cig starter kit doesn’t arrive until after the 14 day trail period.  Even worse is when the customer doesn’t notice the charges on their credit card until after the electronic cigarette company sends the first month refills.  By then it’s too late.  You’re hit with or $150 of credit card charges and stuck with some of the worst quality e cigarettes you can buy!

Words Such as…

The terms and conditions of the agreement and legally binding contract you will be entering into by making this purchase.

The General Agreement usually goes something like this:

By clicking to order, you agree to our terms and conditions and are enrolled in the  XYZ, at Associates Automatic We Ship, Refill, and Bill your credit card. You will be charged  to cover the shipping & handling of your Risk “Free Trial Offers for electronic cigarettes or  E-cigs of the XYZ Electronic Cigarette Starter Kit. This S&H fee is non refundable.

If after certain number of days (10 to14 usually)from ordering  your free kit from XYZ ,  the Electronic Cigarette Starter Kit must be returned with a valid Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number. The starting date is when order and you may not even receive until the days have run out. Now this set of circumstances allows your credit card to be  billed for the full purchase price of the starter kit (Usually 1 Arm and 1 Leg).

 Beware of this …The 10 to 14 day Risk Free Trial includes transit time.

“The day you order the product counts as day one of your free trial regardless of the time of day.”

So, if it takes 3 days to get to you…oh well, now you have 7 days left to use it and if you decide to return it….well it has to be in their hands before the 10 Day trial period is up. You 10 Day Trial just turned into 4 Days. Yes, they do have it down to the SECOND, don’t be late!

If you are looking for a trial offer most reputable companies will give a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee. You stand a better chance with these companies and chances are you will be satisfied with their product.  . Not only that, you will find the prices are much more realistic. A couple of the reviewed vendors have FREE shipping.

When you are enrolled, they will typically ship you the refill cartridges every 30 days with your first order being sent out on day 23 so that you will receive the order by day thirty (30).

The monthly charge is (typically) around $60 per month for shipping and handling, a total cost that is way too much

A “Note” that is usually included:

You agree that you voluntarily purchased products from this Website and you will NOT dispute, in the form of a charge back to your bank or credit card company, all or any portion of the associated costs for products and/or services. You further acknowledge that you have read entirely, understand and agree that the cancellation policy herein shall be your sole method for exchanging or requesting a refund, that no refunds or guarantees are available for the monthly shipments (the Cartridges), and that you will not attempt to charge back or otherwise attempt to manipulate this agreement to which you are bound by voluntarily accessing and ordering products and/or services from XYZ, LLC and Associates. Fraudulent charge back attempts will result in a penalty fee of $100 being charged to your card for processing fees.”

The Solution

In most cases it is extremely time consuming and not without difficulty to get your money back from these type of programs. it is best to look for those who are reputable, who offer the 30 day free trial, purchase through accounts that protect you as well as the vendor. These programs such as EBay, Amazon, Clickbank and many others control this type of activity.

Building a relationship with an online supplier by comments or seeking information about the site… how the site might look regarding its business. An example…all products sold, as mention have an identification number, and a transaction number to your card. You might be 1 step ahead before ordering to check them out on the Internet under E-cig scams! Many fall to these sites quickly if people are disgruntled.

Today’s Health Comments

Although I have never smoked… If I were looking for a solution to this habit, perhaps this might be an answer to many people’s use of the nicotine habit. Many studies have indicated the beneficial results of e-cigs. The task at hand is not being scam for the solution to better health. Many reputable suppliers on the Internet amongst those who are enticing the free trials. Those words should be a heads up to read the fine print before giving away your credit card information…and the cost of what might be a nightmare later. I hope this is helpful and not too discouraging for those who are seeking the E-cig  for a healthier life.

Todays Health Article

March 14th, 2012

Today with all of the attention being directed upon what we should and should not eat to have a healthy way of life, some foods may surprise you. In fact, what may be shared here today, may be actually adding pounds to your waistline, and you are not knowing it. These fattening foods that I’m going to talk about … most people falsely believe these are foods which are “healthy”.