Todays Health Article

December 21, 2011

Today an increasing number of parents, ordinary baby boomers, even their parents, now have fallen into financial hard times. Not only financially stricken, but their health situations have prompted such actions…  living off  the government,  living on the street, or with their children. It has now became apparent and a fact of life! Now for most, none of these are easy solutions, pride usually has a way of getting in the way, and being obligated to your children is not an answer for many. Surprising as it may be, it is a last resort, to ask family for help.

Many parents do not have a good relation with their children, nor have they communicated the fact of their current condition. On the other hand, most children feel no obligation to their parents, afterall their grown up and have their own obligations to themselves and perhaps to their own family. NOW most parents who find themselves, even in their dispair, still feel obligated to their children… through out their whole life… perhaps maternal.

To understand where this article is leading too, we must go back to what, us as parents, are obligated for, once we become parents.

What Our Obligations Are to Their Children?

Today there mandatory laws that clearly spells what every parent has the duty to provide his or her children. These are basic necessities for our children to sustain a normal life which includes food, clothing, and shelter.  This obligation usually terminates when the child is emancipated ( age of eighteen) or when your child graduates from high school. This may also be when your child enters the military, or when the child marries. But the parent’s support or obligation may extend beyond this point, if the child is unable to support himself or herself. Parents if they are able would feel obligated  not to allow their children to become a public obligation, without family support.

The law generally does not dictate the level of support that is provided when the children live with both parents, but when, through divorce or other circumstances. Although the children may face adversity, the level or degree is at the discretion of Parents.

No Laws for Children’s Obligation…

The very best question is Why? The very same people who may have given all they had for their children’s success or failure, now may lay and wait for their own demise. Is it not a fact, that though the law spells out what parents are obligated for, that their maternal love may have exceeded their requirements and are now, due to unexplainable circumstances, facing  complicated sets of circumstances. Perhaps this something our children do not want or will not be faced with yet, so let’s look at the facts.

Facts!

It is nothing uncommon for the Twenty-somethings who have moved back in with their parents after college,  have often been referred often as “boomerangs.”  They just keep coming Back!  But that term may need  to be expanded now to include increasing numbers of seniors and baby boomers—you may call them “baby boomerangs”—who are taking up residence with their adult children and even grandchildren.

• More than 3.6 million parents have lived with their adult children since 2007, according to  Census Bureau data, up 67 percent from 2000. “It’s a return to much closer intergenerational ties than we saw through much of the 20th century,” says Stephanie Coontz, a professor of history and family studies at Evergreen State College and the author of The Way We Really Are: Coming to Terms With America’s Changing Families.
• Factors fueling the trend include tight family finances, the convenience of sharing household chores among several adults, and the increasing number of immigrants who commonly live in extended families, according to Nicolas Retsinas, director of Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.
• Sharing a house almost always cuts the living expenses of all involved. The dismal economy is changing people’s attitudes toward living in an extended family, Retsinas says: “One of the first places people usually turn when they are in trouble is their family.”
• Live-in grandparents sometimes share caring for the little ones, which slashes day-care costs. “When you have highly stressed parents raising kids, there is a sort of win-win situation when you have a parent that you are close to helping with child care or housing costs,” Coontz says. When she is in Olympia, Hinkle spends her mornings caring for granddaughter Adaline. “I get her up and feed her, and then . . . [her mother] Courtney takes over—no day care needed.” Of course, there’s also the potential for squabbles over parenting strategies. “Be very respectful of your child’s parenting style, even if it differs radically from yours,” cautions Joshua Coleman, a psychologist and author of When Parents Hurt: Compassionate Strategies When You and Your Grown Child Don’t Get Along. “Unless advice is requested, try to not intervene.”Care-giving responsibilities often evolve over time. Carolyn Nutt, 64, a retired special-education preschool teacher, has lived with her mother, now 93, for the past 18 years and her mother-in-law, 85, for three years, along with her husband and her son, 24. The family shares a 3,500-square-foot home in North Tustin, Calif. When son Daniel was a child, Nutt’s mother, Augusta Morse, helped out with child care. But now that she has broken both hips, Morse is receiving care from her daughter. “If we needed to go away for a weekend or just to get away for a couple of days, she was always ready to baby-sit for us,” Nutt says. “The least we can do is give it back to her.”
• A CNN report in August 2011, pointed out that in a sense the Baby Boomers (1945-1965) will be the largest Welfare Generation in US history. They will be the first generation to take MORE out of SS than they paid in, by TRILLIONS.”Still, as a generation, they will have paid less into the Social Security system than they are expected to take out. According to a report from the Social Security and Medicare Board of Trustees, the Social Security system is expected to be solvent until about 2037 — largely because of the surplus in the Trust Fund — even though the payroll taxes flowing in stop being enough to cover the expenses flowing out in 2017.The first baby boomers will turn 65… Jan. 1, beginning a flood of applications for Medicarebenefits that experts fear could drain the economy and hold political repercussions for President Obama.The baby boomer generation marked a huge reproductive uptick between 1946 and 1964, when 76 million children were born.
• Told on ABC RecentlyThat the post-World War II generation’s overwhelming demand on the Medicare system could possibly leave future generations with a bigger bill.Medicare currently covers 46 million people, costing the government about $500 billion a year. But when the last of the iconic generation reaches 65 in about 20 years, more than 80 million people will be eligible for Medicare coverage, although the number of working people paying into the program will have decreased from 3.5 per person receiving benefits to 2.3.
• The stock market has faltered and many pension plans have suffered; some pension plans have been reduced or have gone away altogether. Lower market values on homes for people near retirement have also caused concerns for baby boomers who may have been relying on the home as a nest egg.According to a recent study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, 45 percent of baby boomers are at risk of running short of funds during their retirement. Twenty-five percent of working baby boomers exhausted all of their savings during the recession. Other workers have lost their jobs and are struggling to find new positions.Bankruptcy offers people protection from their creditors, including protection from collection activity and foreclosures.Source: USA Today, “Baby Boomers fear outliving retirement savings,” Christine Dugas 25 May 2011

The Benefits

There are benefits to combining resources such as financial sharing and many times relieves the financial stress put on one family member. Also if there are siblings, the cost of  daycare may be lesson or eliminated by parents.

There can be income tax breaks available to caregivers. A major one is the ability to claim a parent as a dependent if the caregiver provided more than half of his or her total support for the calendar year and the parent had a gross annual income less than the exemption amount. The tax savings that result from exemptions are significant.

For additional details on tax exemptions, consult a tax professional or visit www.irs.gov. Caregivers should also find out if their employer offers tax-advantaged flexible savings accounts (FSAs) for dependent care expense

Helpful Resources

A good place to inquire about community services for the elderly is a city or county Office on Aging (also known as a Department of Senior Services). To find the office located near an aging parent, contact the Eldercare Location Service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at www.eldercare.gov.

Another helpful resource for caregivers is a geriatric care manager (GCM) who can arrange ongoing care for frail elders, particularly when caregivers are employed or live far away from an aging parent. For the names of local GCMs, visit www.caremanager.org. GCMs generally charge by the hour and may work for a home health agency or a hospital, or work as private practitioners.

Todays Health Comments

Today, and particularly in the years to come millions of parents from the Baby Boomer ages will be facing the fact of financial stricken, and many with health problems that will not be paid for the lack of funds. With struggling economy, foreclosures, shrinking Medicare and Medicaid, many parents will have little options other than state aid, food banks, and governments programs to help. Will our demise obligate our children?

However,  many will not qualify, and  be left with asking relatives for help. I know from my view point, many have no intention of burdening their children, but may need to follow their pride, and ask. I see that already millions have fallen to this choice, and many times beneficial for all concern. It does take compromise on all concerned, especially regarding young children and their up bringing, as all may not have the same points of view regarding what is best.

The important aspect is it brings unity in all lives concerned and generally is beneficial for all.

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Todays Health Article

December 18th, 2011

Why today the following snacks are important to young and old. I believe today Popcorn is one of America’s number one snacks for any event or occasion. It seems to find it’s way into almost every favorite pastime, or event. Yet, the Holidays finds popcorn to be a all time favorite. It cerainly may be found on the Christmas tree as a chain or ornament, yet under the tree as a gift, or as a treat. I as a young child, just loved making popcorn balls, stringing the popcorn, or having a piece of popcorn cake. I also thought little in those days, as to what I was eating, except I knew popcorn was always a part of our Holiday.

Popcorn

I believe it’s name is fitting, as to the wonder of how a kernel of popcorn ( maize) can expand and basically explode once it reaches a  certain temperature and becomes what we know as popcorn. It has not only been around hundreds of years, but actually is one of the oldest forms of corn in North America.

Why Is it Healthy?

The kernel is very rich in vitamin B complex, vitamin E, protein, iron and phosphorus. It also contains thiamine, and riboflavin. Popcorn has more phosphorous as compared to potato chips. The protein content in popcorn is more than other cereal grains. Popcorn is also very rich in iron content when  compared to peanuts, spinach, or eggs, it has much more!

Popcorn is one of those snacks that can be enjoyed by all. The exception is those very young, whom are unable to chew or digest, and this should be avoided. If your so inclined to do so, all those compliments can take away the health benefits, adding calories, and sugar content to your diet

Nutrient	Value
Iron	2.5 mg
Phosphorus	2.8 mg
Calcium	11 mg
Thiamine (B1)	0.39 mg
Riboflavin	0.12 mg
Niacin	2.2 mg
Protein	12.7 mg

The Cranberry

Why eat more Cranberries for the Holidays?  The  benefits from eating cranberries are so many and with  the continuous research, even more benefits  may be  discovered. What you might not know is that the cranberry is one of only 3 fruits native to America.  The cranberry was known for helping Americans survive for hundreds of years. The cranberries were used by the Native Americans in a variety of foods, the most popular was pemmican – this was a high protein combination of crushed cranberries, dried deer meat and melted fat

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During the Holiday season, the whole berry, or dried were often added to the popcorn strings for decorating for the holiday season. They are still used for this purpose to this day, in the same form. Most cranberrries today are eaten by all in their favorite dishes, dried, or in sauce.

Today’s Cranberry Health Facts

The Cranberry appears to help significantly in lowering, or reducing the risk of arteriosclerosis, which can lead to heart attacks, angina and blood clots. They are  also known to be high in flavonoid and their anti-adhesion properties, helping to reverse and reduce the amount of oral bacteria which can lead to dental plaque and periodontal (gum) disease.

This alone should be a good reason why eating more cranberries, can be beneficial for your health.

Cranberries contain more antioxidant phenols than most commonly eaten fruits, which help protect our bodies, by stabilizing free radicals we are exposed to everyday.

The  cranberry has been tied to the benefits of helping in the control or relief of Urinary tract infections.

For information on cranberry health research, visit the Cranberry Institute. http://cranberryinstitute.org/healthresearch.htm

 The Mango

This exotic fruit  has brought lots of attention to the health world today. It has been sought out as a miracle in your medicine cabinet that can help you lose 10 pounds.

Can this exotic fruit, which little is known about, be what the doctor ordered for the Holidays? You may be able to have your cake and eat it too with this change your diet.  Today it’s sharing about the little unknown  fruit, called the African Mango. Why would’nt you want to include this fruit for the holidays?

African Mango

The recent excitement surrounding African Mango and its weight-loss benefits, has suggested this fruit to become part of our diet. Why not? It has actually been used as a diet aid for centuries in Cameroon, Africa,  the only place in the world where African Mango is grown.

The brightly-colored tropical fruit is found exclusively in Cameroon’s west-coastal rain-forests.

Health Benefits of  African Mangos

African Mango differs from other mango fruits, in that it produces a peculiar seed, which natives of Cameroon refer to as “Dikka nuts”. They used it for its wide-ranging medicinal benefits,  ranging from reducing and preventing obesity, lowering cholesterol, regulating blood sugar, and treating infections.

African Mango Clinical

According to a new study published in the medical journal Lipids in Health and Disease, this extract caused an average weight loss of 12.3 pounds in 30 days without diet or exe..rcise

You can find out more about this study here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19254366?dopt=Abstract
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00645775

 In May 2005 a study was undertaken by the Nutrition, HIV and Health Research Unit from the University of Yaounde in Cameroon. The aim of the study was to test the effect of Irvingia Gabonensis seeds on body weight and blood lipids of obese subjects in Cameroon.

You can find out more about this study here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18377661

Todays Health Comments

Today with the Holiday Season just around the corner and the need to maintain healthy during this time, why not try those foods that are actually healthy for you. Popcorn which has always been a favorite, is a great snack for the kids as well for yourself… just watch what you put on it and you will be OK. Cranberries can be added as well… I love the dried cranberries and they are also colorful on the popcorn string for the tree. Also they are great for your favorite additives to baking. The addition of Mangos, you might find their flavor to be a delicious addition to your Holiday dinner. Today we must strive for those foods, fruits, or snacks that will allow us to become healthy and not blooming waistlines. HAPPY HOLIDAYS ! Dj

Todays Health Article

November 22nd, 2011

 I don’t think there will be anything else that I can say or do in my life, that’s as important to giving, and being thankful for, and counting one’s blessings. We are all blessed with a little more than others, and many times more, either thinking, believing, or actually having a LOT less.

Not until you open your eyes to your heart, and really look around, can you really be thankful. Have you read the paper, or watched the  NEWS on the TV these days? Do you realize that… if you are well (healthy), have a job, a warm place to sleep, and a full stomach… you are well ahead of the homeless, the 1 out 6 children going to bed hungry, the 1 of 6 homes that are in some form of foreclosure, and the 1 out of 10 whom are unemployed.

These times, as I have discussed, the “Land of Plenty”, has taken on new changes. It is only when the unthankful choose to be thankful for what they do have, that those who have a little,  give to those who have less and those whom have plenty become the good neighbor they are suppose to be! This is  the key to Thanksgiving. I truly believe in, only giving of oneself… that old phrase, “It is better felt to give than to receive”, can we find the true meaning of what Thanksgiving is all about. Thank God!

A Special Thanks

For those who have stuck it out with me from the beginning know that the web site has taken on many changes over the past couple of years. The whole purpose was to provide informational material…and not bore you to death, yet be informative. Through that format, an audience from all walks of life has been formulated. To my surprise, people from all over the world, 132 countries have log in to this site, and have commented about several articles. Never in my wildest imagination did I grasp the fact that people wanted to read more and more. To those  I THANK YOU…THANK YOU.

The Dilemma

With demand for performance of excellence, great effort as well, endless hours, and research that is required for a informative article verses a individuals opinion, this time has been completely voluntary. Many of my comments have been, not only inspiring to write more, but to help inspire or influence others to move forward to a healthier life.  THE DILEMMA is the site is demanding more and more of my time.

MY CHOICE WOULD BE…  NOT TO HAVE THE ADDS POSTED… I NEED YOUR HELP.

IF YOU HAD A CHOICE… WOULD YOU “DONATE” TO SAVE THIS SITE FROM ADDS.  PLEASE COMMENT!

The Todays Product Center

This will soon be placed on the site to help off set the costs being incurred to maintain this site. These are well researched health products or remedies that are widely sought out and used daily to enhance your health.

The Alternative

The Donation of $5, $10, or what you feel comfortable would allow us to maintain and become just an informational site. If just 1 out every 100 visiting this site  (during the month) donated… I could not only maintain but enhance the articles, write the ebooks that have been requested, and an ongoing newsletter with the same quality articles.

DONATE NOW!

THANK YOU FOR COMMENTS AND CONTINOUS SUPPORT… HAPPY THANKSGIVING

DJ

Todays Health Article

November 12, 2011

Today, we may be trying to understand the foods that allow us to burn excess fat while choosing those that are also healthy. Sometimes we assume that some  foods are actually of no health value, mostly  because of our lack of understanding their nutritional value.  With in his report I sought out  and came across a specialist who explains this important topic in laymen terms. I found the article of  great value so I have included it in it’s entirety.

The Top 5 Healthiest Fat-Burning Foods some may surprise you!If you want to lose body fat faster, try incorporating these 5 healthy super-foods into your diet & regular meal plans.

by Mike Geary, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition Specialist
Author – The Truth about Six Pack Abs
1.  Grass-fed beef or bison (NOT your typical grocery store beef!) - I know most people think that red meat is unhealthy for you, but that’s because they don’t understand how the health of the animal affects how healthy the meat is for consumption. Keep this in mind — “an unhealthy animal provides unhealthy meat, but a healthy animal provides healthy meat”.

Typical beef or bison that you see at the grocery store is raised on grains such as corn and soybeans. Soy and corn are NOT the natural diet of cattle or bison, and therefore changes the chemical balance of fats and other nutrients in the beef or bison. Grain-fed beef and bison is typically WAY too high in omega-6 fatty acids and WAY too low in omega-3 fatty acids.

On the other hand, grass-fed beef from cattle and buffalo (or bison) that were raised on the type of natural foods that they were meant to eat in nature (grass and other forage), have much higher levels of healthy omega-3 fatty acids and lower levels of inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids (that most people already eat way too much of) compared to grain fed beef or bison.

Grass fed meats also typically contain up to 3 times the Vitamin E as in grain fed meats.

Not only that, but grass-fed meat from healthy cattle or bison also contain a special healthy fat called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in MUCH higher levels than grain-fed meat. CLA has been proven in scientific studies in recent years to help in burning fat and building lean muscle (which can help you lose weight!).  These benefits are on top of the fact that grass-fed meats are some of the highest quality proteins that you can possibly eat… and this also aids in burning fat and building lean muscle.

Grass-fed meats are a little harder to find, but just ask your butcher or find a specialty grocery store and they usually have cuts available.  I’ve also found a good site to order grass-fed meats online – http://healthygrassfed.2ya.com
2.  Avocodos – Even though these are typically thought of as a “fatty food”, it’s all healthy fats!  Not only is this fruit super-high in mono-unsaturated fat, but also chock full of vitamins, minerals, micro-nutrients, and antioxidants.

Also, I think guacamole (mashed avocados with garlic, onion, tomato, pepper, etc) is one of the most delicious toppings ever created, and you can be happy to know that it’s also one of the healthiest toppings you can use on your foods.  Try sliced avocados or guacamole on sandwiches, burgers, scrambled eggs or omelets, in salads, or as a side to just about any meal.

The quality dose of healthy fats and other nutrition you get from avocados helps your body to maintain proper levels of hormones that help with fat loss and muscle building.  Also, since avocados are an extremely satiating food, eating them helps to reduce your appetite in the hours after your meal.  Say goodbye to junk food cravings and bring on that lean body!
3.  Whole Eggs, including the yolk (not just egg whites) - Most people know that eggs are one of the highest quality sources of protein.  However, most people don’t know that the egg yolks are the healthiest part of the egg… that’s where almost all of the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants (such as lutein) are found in eggs.

Egg Yolks contain more than 90% of the calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, thiamin, B6, folate, and B12, and panthothenic acid of the egg. In addition, the yolks contain ALL of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K in the egg, as well as ALL of the essential fatty acids.  Also, the protein of whole eggs is more bio-available than egg whites alone due to a more balanced amino acid profile that the yolks help to build.

Just make sure to choose free-range organic eggs instead of normal grocery store eggs.  Similar to the grass-fed beef scenario, the nutrient content of the eggs and the balance between healthy omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids (in excess) is controlled by the diet of the chickens.

Chickens that are allowed to roam free outside and eat a more natural diet will give you healthier, more nutrient-rich eggs with a healthier fat balance compared with your typical grocery store eggs (that came from chickens fed nothing but soy and corn and crowded inside “egg factories” all day long).
4.  Nuts:  Walnuts, Almonds, Pecans, Macadamia, etc –  Yes, this is yet another “fatty food” that can actually help you burn fat!  Although nuts are generally between 75-90% fat in terms of a ratio of fat calories to total calories, this is another type of food that is all healthy fats, along with high levels of nutrition such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.  Nuts are also a good source of fiber and protein, which of course, you know helps to control blood sugar and can aid in weight loss.

Nuts also help to maintain good levels of fat burning hormones in your body as well as helping to control appetite and cravings so that you essentially eat less calories overall, even though you’re consuming a high-fat food.  My favorite healthy nuts are pecans, almonds, pistachios, and walnuts, and by eating them in variety, you help to broaden the types of vitamins and minerals and also the balance of polyunsaturated to monounsaturated fats you obtain.

Try to find raw nuts instead of roasted nuts if you can, as it helps to maintain the quality and nutritional content of the healthy fats that you will eat.

Also, try to broaden your horizons beyond the typical peanut butter that most people eat, and try almond butter, pecan butter, or macadamia butter to add variety to your diet.
5.  Berries – including blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and even the “exotic” Goji berry:  Berries are a powerhouse of nutrition… packed with vitamins and minerals, and also some of the best sources of antioxidants of any food in existance.  Berries also pack a healthy dose of fiber, which slows your carbohydrate absorption and digestion and controls your blood sugar levels to help prevent insulin spikes (which can stimulate fat gain).

Get creative and mix up your berry intake by using the basics — blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries… but also get adventurous and give a more ”exotic” berry a try, such as Goji berries (which are one of the most nutrient-dense and highest protein berries on the planet).

I like to add berries to my yogurt and cottage cheese mixtures, as well as oatmeal or oat bran, salads, or just taking a bag of mixed berries and mixed nuts with me for the day as a mid-day healthy snack!

I hope you enjoyed this look at some of the healthiest fat-burning foods you can possibly eat.  I could list a ton more, but wanted to give you my favorites for now!

For More Details, Click Here!

Todays Health Comments

Today we must include these food in our diet, so that we may be not only using their nutritional values but also their health benefits. Certainly we all have a better understanding of those foods now that may help us burn off some of our excess fat, but help us to maintain our weight as well. This author is responsible for many articles and further reading will be provided. below.

Todays Health Article

November 7th, 2011

Today our sweetest addiction may actually be unknown to most. For we are really are unaware of the tactics and perhaps the hidden agenda that our food and beverages are consistent of. Most of us would like to believe that if we needed a sugar fix we, would just go to the sugar jar or the candy bowl. But the consistent change of verbiage or names of sugars has become increasingly large to feed the biggest legal addiction of them all…the sweetest addiction our body has come to know, and the food industry is dealing it out. The problem is we do not and have not know we been had…cause most of the population are already addicted!

Do You Really Know How Much?

The facts are in and our addiction has been measured. We are definitely “Users”, in a serious way.One hundred and fifty-six pounds. That’s how much added sugar Americans consume each year on a per capita basis, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In other words, you just need to go out and buy 2  of those 100lb. bags of sugar and give away half of 1 bag to your neighbor.

Fact is

Only about 29 pounds of it comes as traditional sugar, or sucrose, according to The Sugar Association, a trade group of sugar manufacturers.

The rest comes from foods.

Of course, those foods include things like candy, soda, and junk food.

Some types of crackers, yogurt, ketchup, and peanut butter, for instance, are loaded with sugar — often in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, or HFCS.

Use of sweetener has increased 3.5% per year in the last decade, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). That’s twice the rate at which the use of refined sugar has grown.

Where is all that sugar going?

In the U.S. diet, the major source of “added sugar” — not including naturally occurring sugars, like the fructose in fruit — is  soft drinks.They account for 33% of all added sugars consumed, says Kristine Clark, PhD, RD, a spokeswoman for the Sugar Association. Clark is also director of sports nutrition in the athletic department of Penn State University.

According to the USDA, sweetened fruit drinks account for 10% of the total added sugars we consume. Candy and cake come in at 5% each. Ready-to-eat cereal comprises 4% of the total. So do each of these categories: table sugar and honey; cookies and brownies; and syrups and toppings.

The biggest chunk, making up 26% of added sugars, comes from a variety of prepared foods like ketchup, canned vegetables and fruits, and peanut butter.

Another high-sugar category? Low-fat products, which may not be as good for your diet as you think. Some contain plenty of sugar to make up for the lack of tasty fat.

“People are often surprised that a low-fat product may not be that different in calories” than regular products, says Connie Crawley, nutrition and health specialist in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Georgia. “A good example is fat-free or low-fat salad dressing, which can be high in sugar.”

 A List of Sugar Names

You may uncover others as well that may be hidden sugars that can be tucked away everywhere in our food today. It is almost like playing hide and go seek with what we eat. If you are one who actually reads the ingredient labels, you find this to be true. An example of our liquid sugar wanting to be renamed Corn Sugar from Corn syrup. The idea is that once we acquainted with their names, its time for change or move on to another. Which has been highly noted in the Soda and Beverage Industry.

 Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners are often accused health problems, and have no doubt become controversial as what side you may stand on, but one thing for sure they still adhere to our sugar fix. It seems as soon as one study proves them to be healthy, another comes out proving them all wrong, so it seems nobody really knows. However, they are becoming prevalent in our foods and drinks without that knowledge.

Approved artificial sweeteners are:

The Natural

The herbal sugar substitute, Stevia, is also a viable option. The best sugar substitutes are fresh fruits, vegetables and other natural foods.

You may be Sugar Addicted

Sugar addicts,  constantly crave more and more for our sugar-fix – even though we have no need nor hunger… because they are empty calories with strong consequences to one’s health. Admitting that you’re a sugar addict. Just like with any addiction, the first step in overcoming sugar addiction is to accept that you’re an addict and understand the consequences. Sugar addiction can cause:

• Weight gain from eating more fattening food to get your sugar-fix.
• High triglycerides, increasing your risk of heart disease.
• Tooth decay from excessive bacterial growth.
• Metabolic syndrome, leading to diabetes.
• Poor nutrition from empty calories.
• Lack of immunity to disease.
• Periods of depression.
• Sleep disorders

The Solution

The simple truth is …it may not be that easy for those who are really addicted, and maybe compared to quitting smoking, yet the time frame may be a lot less. The experts say by drinking adequate water, and reduction to no sugar with substituting natural sweets can be achieved in 3 to 7 days. That is a very short time to tolerate for a new health. The problem lies taking the first step, and professional help may be needed to over come.

Today’s Health Comments

Today, Sugar is an overcoming problem, that too many have, our “Sweetest Addiction Known Today”, and too few are afraid to admit it. Though it has always been controversial, for many centuries Sugar was just know as sugar, and if wanted to add sugar to your food, the sugar spoon was the tool, provided we actually had a sugar bowl on the table. Today that certainly is not the case, since we now have to become avid readers of our labels and a detective to sort out what derivative of the latest sugar, was added to our favorite food. When will all this end, well,when we no longer decide to choose… the sugary enhanced foods. After all, the food and beverage industry, are only in the business to sell products. It is just that simple.

Today’s Health Article

October 11th, 2011

Today, October 11th, 2011 maybe considered just another day, for those who wake up with their bellies fed, for they not know the feeling of hunger pain, the emptiness, and the malnutrition that follows from consistently having no food. It can only be negated by our ignorance that it does not exist. Why do we continue to dismiss that such HUNGER EXISTS.  October is World Hunger Month, yet we should not have to dedicate a month for Hunger Awareness, for people are now hungry every month of every day. NO LONGER CAN WE DISMISS, HUNGER IS HERE!

Considering the Facts

That it now appears on the Bread for the World Web site:–There are 854 million people across the world who are hungry. Yes, another 2 million more have now become hungry, just from a year ago. which was 852 million.

• –Every day  Nearly 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes–one child every five seconds.
• –Hunger is the most extreme form of poverty, where individuals or families cannot afford to meet their most basic need…  food.
• –Hunger manifests itself in many ways other than starvation and famine. Most poor people who battle hunger deal with chronic undernourishment and vitamin or mineral deficiencies, which result in stunted growth, weakness and heightened susceptibility to illness.
• –Countries in which a large portion of the population battles hunger daily are usually poor and often lack the social safety nets other countries enjoy, such as soup kitchens, food stamps, and job training programs. When a family that lives in a poor country cannot grow enough food or earn enough money to buy food, there is nowhere to turn for help.

Our Obligation

Do we not  have an inescapable obligation to address the situation that exists. Or will we dismiss the fact that 854 million in this world are hungry, and lives are ending, yes, ending every five seconds.

Is there any reason why we should not act swiftly upon this need and relieve the burden for those who are faced by hunger. The hungry, the needless loss of life, resulting from life’s conditions, are they not also in need, to be saved  from their despair.

Yet, we all are obligated to do much more than this. We also have the obligation to understand that we may be talking about our neighbors, and even our brothers and sisters, our loved ones, who now be facing hunger.

For Those Who Have!

In the world, there is those who have been Blessed with great abundance, whom seemed to face the challenges of greatness or abundance. Those may also do greatness if so chosen. Others do not have to have great abundance to share with those who have not. There are now many organizations who will accept food donations, pennies or dollars.These institutions may be local or world wide. They are in great need of our help, to over come the massive need.

On the other hand, if you attend a local church, they most likely have a fund to provide for those in need in your community.

For Those Who Have Not!

Those who have not, can be found much more today, people are just caught up in the clutches of despair daily–despite their sustained efforts, acts of life beyond their control. They may now see their children going to bed hungry at night. On no account because of their journey in life, or what country they were born in, should this be dismissed and forgotten.

The real HARD FACT is they as parents see their child dying , and they may also soon die.  Shortly there after their bodies will.washed up on some stat, and their names no longer will be remembered.

Today’s Health Comments

Actions

Remember the words of our Lord who once said: ”Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me” (Mt 25:45). We all need to do our part…that is sharing and caring for one another. As we have little control over the  fact, that in moments we could be in the same shoes, and be facing the same set of conditions. Here there is no excuse for our ignorance and we must do our part. The thought that 1 out 6 children going to bed have not been fed, or are hungry is just inexcusable to me. It should be to all who walk this earth, yet that is not the case…but being dismissed as a fact or stat in the world we live in.

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Martin Luther King, Jr

1. World Hunger Notes — International Development Assistance …

   www.worldhunger.org/articles/links/internationallinks.htm

   Hunger Notes, an on-line magazine about world hunger and poverty in the … International Development Assistance/International Development Institutions …

2. Ability and Readiness of Nations to Reduce Hunger: Analysing …

   sites.tufts.edu/jha/archives/740

   by G Diriba – Related articles
   Jun 14, 2010 – The study reveals that hunger is as much the result of poor or weak … and efforts of a host of individuals,national and international institutions. …

3. Hunger in Our Schools: Share Our Strength’s Teachers Report

Today Health Article

October 3rd, 2011

Todays advantages of herbal beverages, is that they rarely do any harm to the body. They are unlike the flavored sodas of today, which are loaded with sugar, calories, artificial flavors, and preservatives.  The herbal beverages come with health benefits along with healing properties.

 One of the most admired herbal beverages today is the green tea.Green tea is popular because of its antioxidant properties which are clinically proven to postpone aging and fight cancer. Green tea is recommended for diabetic patients too. It has a unique aroma and is very refreshing after a long day at work. Teas blended with herbs, seed, roots and dried flowers like basil, ginger, camomile and so on, herbal tea is considered to have therapeutic benefits. Though these are on a little higher side when compared with conventional black tea, the money spent on them is worthwhile for healthy living.

Amla juice

 Amla, the Indan Gooseberry, is another herbal beverage today that has attracted attention to many health conscious people. The tree is small to medium in size, reaching 8 to 18 m in height, with a crooked trunk and spreading branches. The branches  are 10–20 cm long and are usually deciduous. The leaves are simple, and are closely set along  the branch, and are light green in color.

The flowers are greenish-yellow, with the fruit being nearly spherical, light greenish yellow in color. The fruit is also quite smooth and hard on appearance, with six vertical stripes or furrows.

The berries ripening in autumn, and are harvested by hand, after climbing to upper branches bearing the fruits. The taste of Indian gooseberry is sour, bitter and astringent, and is quite fibrous.

In India, it is common to eat gooseberries steeped in salt water and turmeric to make the sour fruits palatable.

Amla

This fresh-green berry is a remedy to scores of diseases and infections. It is claimed to also delay aging. Loaded with vitamin C, amla juice is recommend for skin, hairs and joints. If  drank regularly it boasts the immune system and the metabolic system, which fine tunes the body to be fit and healthy.

Finding this magical juice at your nearest store might be a remote possibility. You can still benefit from the amla juice concentrate by buying it over the Internet. It is normally suitable for consumption by people of all ages. You can have it as many times in a day and enjoy the renewed energy within you. It is recommended for premature hair greying. Amla juice is an effectual hair tonic. Mix the juice with water and use it for the last rinse on shampooed hairs. Leave to dry naturally for soft and tangle free hairs.

Aloe juice is next on the list of healthy beverages. A lot has been said about the wonderful qualities of aloe. From skin problems to cancer, aloe has been clinically proven to reduce symptoms of many life-threatening diseases. Aloe juice is recommended for relieving joint pain. Mixture of aloe and amla juice is an effective remedy for stomach related problems. Add it with water and have it at least once a day to keep health problems a bay.

Perhaps owing to its medicinal qualities, the Hindus, treat it as a very sacred tree and worship on ‘Akshaya Navami’. In the Kartik month (mid Oct. to mid Nov.) if one takes its dose regularly it provides complete protection against all the disorders due to cold. Amla is unique as it doesn’t leave its chemical ingredient even if it is heated. It is a tree whose no part is useless. It also has the atmosphere purifying qualities. Chemically, besides being the best source to get Vitamin C from, it also has gallic acid, tannic acid, sugar, albumen, calcium, protein, phosphorus, carbohydrates, irons etc.

Amla and Health Remedies Offered

  It seems that taking Amla and Black Til (black sesame seeds) in equal quantity with honey or ghee is linked to increasing mental and physical weaknesses. By taking a cupful of sugarless milk with the murraba of Amla, it helps to revitalize the brain. Some suggest taking every morning with water makes one’s resistant enough to fight off various ailments.

Also the suggestion of taking milk in the morning after licking one teaspoon of ground Amla powder mixed with honey imparts freshness and strength to the body.

 Intellect gets sharpened if one takes the pulp of fresh Amla or Amla juice with honey or ghee every morning and evening.

Other Remedy Facts to Consider

• As an eye tonic and cure of eye ailments
• For curing relief in  heart ailment
• Relieves Pain of Migraine.
• Curing involuntary nocturnal emission
•  Remedies for Sexual Impotence
•  Problems connected with uro generative system
• Acidity and digestive problems
• Female ailments
• Blood impurities
• Diabetes
• Piles
• Stone-problem
• Constipations
• Cold and cough
• Skin troubles
• Baldness and other allied problems
• Gives relief in Jaundice
• Gout
• Removing the spots left by measels, chicken pox, small-pox etc.
• Boils in mouth
• Lice in hair
• Amla as the beautifying agent
• Checking menstrual disorder
• Insect-bite

What you might find so amazing is this gooseberry has  so many benefits regarding our health, and so many remedies, I believe one could write a book on this very subject. Some have studied this berry with great interest and have found what the Hindu’s may have already learned, that this gooseberry is perhaps very key to our longevity  and good health.

Todays Health Comments

This article today made believe I should run out and buy some Amla juice, but knowing we just do not have these trees growing in our backyard, the health food stores or the Internet is the most probable resource to purchase. Although we actually grew native gooseberries, I had no idea that their were others with such health benefits, so I will have to check out our local gooseberries as well. There is numerous health remedies which have included this juice or other parts of the plant, which have aided in our health.

Further Reading

 Yokozawa T, Kim HY, Kim HJ, et al. (Sep 2007). “Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) attenuates age-related renal dysfunction by oxidative stress”. J Agric Food Chem. 55 (19): 7744–52. doi:10.1021/jf072105s. PMID 17715896.

• ^ Rao TP, Sakaguchi N, Juneja LR, Wada E, Yokozawa T (2005). “Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) extracts reduce oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats”. J Med Food 8 (3): 362–8. doi:10.1089/jmf.2005.8.362. PMID 16176148.
• ^ Jacob A, Pandey M, Kapoor S, Saroja R (Nov 1988). “Effect of the Indian gooseberry (amla) on serum cholesterol levels in men aged 35-55 years”. Eur J Clin Nutr 42 (11): 939–44. PMID 3250870.
• ^ Qureshi SA, Asad W, Sultana V (Jan 2009). “The Effect of Phyllantus emblica Linn on Type — II Diabetes, Triglycerides and Liver — Specific Enzyme”. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition. 8 (2): 125–128. doi:10.3923/pjn.2009.125.128. http://www.pjbs.org/pjnonline/fin991.pdf.
• ^ Tarwadi K, Agte V (Aug 2007). “Antioxidant and micronutrient potential of common fruits available in the Indian subcontinent”. Int J Food Sci Nutr 58 (5): 341–9. doi:10.1080/09637480701243905. PMID 17558726.
• ^ ^{a b c d} Dharmananda S. Emblic Myrobalans: Amla, Institute of Traditional Medicine [2]
• ^ Habib-ur-Rehman, Yasin KA, Choudhary MA, et al. (Jul 2007). “Studies on the chemical constituents of Phyllanthus emblica”. Nat. Prod. Res. 21 (9): 775–81. doi:10.1080/14786410601124664. PMID 17763100.

Todays Health Article

Sept 26th,  2011

Today, is it just my imagination or is our unheard Crying Out, more reality today?. Are we just no longer listening to others CRYING OUT? Strangely enough this site posted an article,”Is No One Listening to Our Crying Out,” almost a year ago, and was received very warmly. However, with all the reaching out, the  great need, and  the understanding to listen,  it has   become even more apparent today, than a year ago. Supportive argument leads us to believe this to be the truth. With this in mind, how healthy is our unheard tears, our crying out? Can these actions be overcome, to this now, apparent problem.

The Problem

Perhaps for many, health has taken a back step to the many needs of today, with what all families, or individuals must face today. As a result, we have isolated ourselves to the tasks we have on our own platter, becoming blinded, and often hardened by all that surround us, each and every day. Therefore we have we failed miserably to listen to others who are crying out.

Behind Closed Doors

Unless you are able to be a mouse in the corner, seldom, is the crying out realized by others, and our crying out  remains unheard of, behind closed doors. Whether those crying out have expressed so, due to the trauma, loss of love ones, health issues, financial woes, and numerous others, they all have found  their way behind closed doors. For those who seek to keep their lives private,  little escapes beyond those doors, yet this may be unhealthy for some. This path may be also considered due to the lack of choices, financial resources or simply  unaware of the benefits of reaching out.

Crying OUT! 

   Defining Crying Out may instantly thought of as a practice some parents choose to train their infants to sleep nightly. For those parents practicing this method may actually realize or experience this definition of crying out.

   Crying out takes you to an emotional level where you want  to  scream or shout aloud, to the top of your lungs! It not necessarily  physically crying, however it may be the beginning or the end of this emotional event. This is triggered when your especially in pain, the fear of or act of terror, or emotional trauma. Many cry out upon hearing the lose of a love one. Crying out may progress actions by such striking out, a release of emotions that are and can become harmful to themselves as well as others.

Why 

OUR EMOTIONS  take on many directions and can be experience by all ages, we hear of those teens being bullied, youngsters struggling to make friends, and all  those whom struggle with  their handicaps. Within the adult world we have those unemployed, adverse financial devastation, foreclosures, divorces, legal actions,  No Health Insurance, poverty, Hunger, loss of love ones, and ever increasing elderly issues and not to forget all the addictions. It’s not hard to understand, that we have alot of people everyday crying out, seeking an understanding to their emotions and the situation at hand.

Most Experts Agree

 Most experts will agree, crying is very therapeutic, and is a great release of emotions. Most would also agree that a good cry out makes it all seem to be all better. Everyone will most likely, in their life, face the loss of a loved one, or some tragedy or event that will touch our emotions. We all seem to move through the healing and grieving process in many different ways. Therefore in these cases, crying out maybe just coming to terms,  grieving, or mourning for their loss. We all seek a area of comfort and understanding just to move on.

Symptoms

Seeking Help

Todays Health Comments