(NaturalNews by: PF Louis) Three separate studies recently published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives indicate prenatal pesticide exposure to fetuses negatively impact a child's learning ability. Their IQs tend to be lower. The greater the umbilical cord pesticide blood levels, the lower the child's IQ.
Research Focus
These toxins originated mostly from conventional agriculture's heavily sprayed foods. But farmers and farm workers were studied the least.
The three studies focused mostly on urban dwellers who consume those sprayed foods. One was done in UC Berkley, CA, another by Columbia University in NYC, and the other by Mt. Sinai Hospital researchers, also in NYC. It doesn't get much more urban than that.
What's Bad About Pesticides
Most effective pesticides contain different types of organophosphates. As of the turn of our current century, many nations had banned chlorpyrifos and diazinon, from domestic use. Those two pesticides were so heavily loaded with organophosphates that just having bug and ant poisons stored in one's domicile caused health problems to occupants.
Organophosphates (OPs) are spinoffs from biochemical warfare research to create nerve gases for killing humans. Scientists soon discovered that the OPs killed bugs too. Of course, the usual toxicology index that protects the industry is based on the notion that if you don't drop dead soon after exposure to any chemical agent, it's safe!
But eventually, long term neurological deterioration was detected among OP users, even if they hardly used them. The link was made to these organophosphate nerve gas components in chlorpyrifos and diazinon.They were disallowed for home use, but not for agricultural use.
Back on the Farm
Since workers on farms using these pesticides are often subject to skin exposure and inhalation of organophophates, the CDC issued a paper categorizing symptoms of poisoning from biochemical nerve agents and pesticide toxicity.The symptoms described were the same for both.(CDC source below)
If you're having thoughts about Monsanto's Roundup, it is actually an herbicide for killing weeds.Roundup kills all plants.That's why Roundup Ready GM seeds are necessary. They enable using the herbicide while the GMO seed plants supposedly thrive.
Roundup's active ingredient is glyophosate, which is a type of organophosphate that isn't as nasty to the nervous system as other organophosphates. Over 30 organophosphate pesticides used in non-organic commercial farming are USDA approved.
So what if we eat daily while other environmental toxins overload our immune systems. Remember, if it doesn't do great harm immediately, it's safe.
If you have to go with conventionally grown produce occasionally, find out the most and least sprayed from the Environmental Working Group's dirty dozen and clean fifteen list here:http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/
Sources for more information include:
Three new studies reveal children are dumbed down by pesticide exposure in womb http://www.naturalnews.com/032158_pesticide_exposure_intelligence.html#ixzz1Y3DUmP4O
Guide to pesticides in produce http://www.naturalnews.com/033163_pesticides_fresh_produce.html
CDC nerve toxin paper http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/nerve/tsd.asp
Explaining organophosphates http://www.panna.org/resources/specific-pesticides/organophosphates
Explaining Glycophosate in Roundup http://archive.greenpeace.org/geneng/reports/gmo/gmo009.htm
Main stream media article reporting the three pesticide studies http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1379245/Pesticide-exposure-womb-linked-lower-IQ-children.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Monday, September 19, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Pregnancy Stress & Anxiety - Acupuncture During Pregnancy, relief right to the point
By Phyllis Edgerly Ring
In most medical treatment, the words "needle" and "relaxing" don't generally go together.
One Harvard University study estimates that Americans visit acupuncturists more than five million times a year. The National Institutes of Health reports ever increasing use of acupuncture by thousands of doctors, dentists and other practitioners to treat or prevent many illnesses.But when Holly Buchanan of Newmarket, N.H., turned to acupuncture to induce labor at 42 weeks, she experienced "a wave of warmth and realization that gave me a moment to reflect on my body, instead of having my head filled with worry over my first baby being overdue."
As more women seek drug-free treatment for the conditions of pregnancy, this ancient Chinese healing art has much to offer, says acupuncturist and midwife Valerie Hobbs, director of the Boulder, Colo., campus of Southwest Acupuncture College. With no contraindications, it can treat many conditions for which there is rarely another lasting or effective remedy.Chinese medicine identifies more than 2,000 acupuncture points connected with pathways called meridians that conduct vital energy or qi (pronounced "chee") throughout the body. Illness or symptoms are associated with an imbalance of this vital energy. Acupuncture uses hair-thin, disposable needles to stimulate specific areas associated with organ functions in order to restore balance and help the body maintain its own health.
Pointing the Way to Healthy Pregnancy
Acupuncture treatment during pregnancy benefits both Baby and Mother, Hobbs says. "Certain [infant] organ systems develop at certain points in the pregnancy. Babies may be influenced by what is termed 'maternal toxins,' resulting in a childhood tendency for higher fevers when sick, more frequent childhood illness and a tendency for skin problems such as diaper rash and eczema. Regular balancing treatments throughout pregnancy enhance the health of the mother, prevent complications and influence the development of the baby."Treatments are normally given once a month until the last month, when weekly sessions help prepare for labor, she says. An average session lasts 45 minutes, and women usually only feel a mild sensation such as a feeling of slight heaviness at the site of needle insertion.
Among the many benefits of acupuncture during pregnancy, a recent study has shown its particular effectiveness in relieving morning sickness or the potentially more dangerous hyperemesis gravidarum (severe vomiting during pregnancy). The Australian study published in the journal Birth reportes that of 593 women less than 14 weeks pregnant who participated, those who received traditional acupuncture reported having less frequent and shorter periods of nausea than the women who received no acupuncture. These improvements were felt immediately and lasted throughout the study's four-week duration. In the first trimester, acupuncture can also relieve fatigue, migraines and bleeding.While some treatments may cause a slight increase in fetal movements, no treatment, unless intended to start labor, should significantly increase uterine activity, Hobbs cautions. In most states except California, acupuncturists must be nationally certified as a diplomate of acupuncture. An additional national certification is available in Chinese herbology, says Hobbs, who holds both certifications.
Third-trimester treatment can bring much-needed relief from sciatica, backache, pubic and joint pain and even carpal tunnel syndrome, and benefits are sometimes immediate, notes Hobbs. This is also the time when special attention is given to proper positioning of the baby. "By 32 to 34 weeks, the acupuncturist should begin to encourage a head-down position," she says. "In the last four to six weeks, the mother will receive treatments to normalize and optimize labor."As it helps maintain balance during the second trimester, acupuncture can alleviate heartburn, hemorrhoids and stress. While acupuncture can also be used to treat edema, elevated blood pressure or excessive weight gain, the root cause of these may be deeper complications, says Hobbs. "Acupuncturists with adequate training in the care of pregnant women would recognize the potentially serious nature of these symptoms and only offer care concurrent with adequate Western medical care."
Birth and Beyond
Research reported in a November 1998 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that an aspect of acupuncture called moxabustion, when applied to 130 pregnant women with breech presentations, significantly increased the number of head-first births. Used for centuries in China to turn breech babies, moxabustion employs long sticks of the herb moxa to produce a gentle, smoldering heat and a smoke that are held close to an acupuncture point in the little toe. The treatment, most effective at 32 to 36 weeks, should only be used in healthy pregnancies.Acupuncture is used during labor itself mainly to facilitate pain relief and boost energy. But if needed, it can also help stimulate contractions without the use of drugs, says Hobbs. "This is best accomplished over two to three successive days of one-hour treatments, so early referral is essential."
Buchanan first sought acupuncture for relief from a prolonged asthma attack. Successful treatment made her more confident about acupuncture as a means to induce labor. "It has less impact on an unborn baby than the drugs that are used," she says. Although she didn't receive acupuncture during labor itself, Buchanan did receive acupressure during labor with her second child. "It helped tremendously with low back pain, as my babies have big heads and were posterior [deliveries]," says Buchanan.
Acupuncture can provide other benefits post-delivery, too. "Right after her baby was born, a friend of mine started to bleed very heavily," Buchanan says, remembering. "My acupuncturist got out her needles and poked my friend's toe, and it was like a faucet had been immediately turned off."
Postpartum is one of the most critical times for a woman to receive regular preventative care from a Chinese medical practitioner, says Hobbs. Acupuncturists can often offset years of "suboptimal" lifestyle and stress in the first few weeks postpartum, as well as intercept abnormalities in lochial flow to rectify years of menstrual irregularities and prevent them from occurring. "We theoretically prevent serious postpartum depression from occurring by addressing the normal recuperative cycle in the woman," she says.
In addition to restoring a mother's energy levels after the stress of birth and alleviating depression and anxiety, acupuncture can be used postpartum to relieve backache, perineal or other kinds of pain. Isabel Viana of Durango, Colo., has appreciated acupuncture's effectiveness ever since it relieved a 30-year-old pain in her lower back related to undiagnosed food allergies. Two years ago, she sought acupuncture again to help with healing after the Cesarean section that delivered her daughter."I recovered rather fast and completely," Viana says. "I had two treatments, once a week, starting about a week after I gave birth. Two weeks after surgery, my abdomen was pain free. I've heard from other moms who still feel pain in their scar years after surgery. My doctor, who had a C-section herself, said that seven years later, she still felt a numbing in the area."
Acupuncture can provide serious help, but Buchanan notes that it can have its light moments, too. During the induction of her labor, "my practitioner applied electrical stimulation to some of the needles, and the machine, for some reason, kept on playing 'Happy Birthday' over and over!" she says. "She couldn't get it to shut off, and it made us all laugh since we were trying to stimulate labor. I took it as a good sign."
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Antioxidants May Improve Chances of Conceiving in Male Subfertility
Male subfertility affects one in 20 men. Chemicals called reactive oxygen species (ROS) are said to cause damage to cells, and in particular sperm cells, which may result in lowered sperm counts and interfere with their ability to fertilise eggs. Antioxidants include natural and synthetic chemicals, including certain vitamins and minerals, which help to reduce the damage caused by ROS.
The review focused on 34 trials involving 2,876 couples undergoing assisted reproductive techniques such as in vitro fertilisation and sperm injections. Most men in the trials had low sperm counts or low sperm motility. The trials explored the use of many different types of oral antioxidants, including vitamin E, L-carnitine, zinc and magnesium.
Compared to controls, a couple was more likely to have a pregnancy or live birth if the man took antioxidants. However, these results are based on just 964 of the couples in the review for pregnancies and 214 couples for live births. Other trials tested the effects of antioxidants on sperm motility and concentration and showed mostly positive effects, although study group sizes were small.
"When trying to conceive as part of an assisted reproductive program, it may be advisable to encourage men to take oral antioxidant supplements to improve their partners' chances of becoming pregnant," said lead researcher Marian Showell, who works in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Auckland in Auckland, New Zealand. "However, these conclusions are currently based on limited evidence."
There were not enough data comparing different antioxidants to reach any conclusions about the relative effectiveness of supplements. "We need more head-to-comparisons to understand whether any one antioxidant is performing better than any other," said Showell.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110118200813.htm
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Vitamin D Intake in Pregnancy Prevents RSV Infections in Infants
(NaturalNews by: T.M. Hartle)The Journal of Pediatrics published a study that found infants, who are deficient in vitamin D at birth, have a six times higher risk of developing RSV during their first year of life. Nearly 100,000 children under the age of one are hospitalized every single year due to RSV infections. Pregnant mothers must ensure they have adequate levels of the crucial vitamin throughout pregnancy in order to protect their unborn child.
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, generally causes mild cold or flu like symptoms in older children and adults. An RSV infection in babies can be much more serious and is more likely to result in complications including pneumonia. Infants under one year of age generally experience the greatest severity of RSV infections. Researchers identified low vitamin D levels at birth as a significant risk factor for RSV infections in the first year of life.
Researchers evaluated cord blood samples for vitamin D levels and found that over 50% had deficient levels of vitamin D. Researchers also surveyed the mothers on vitamin D supplementation and found that nearly half of the mothers surveyed did not take a vitamin D supplement during pregnancy. Dr. Jennifer Shu, a practicing pediatrician and CNN health expert, stated: 'RSV is just one of the infections of early childhood that may be impacted by in-utero vitamin D.' Vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune function and reduced inflammation.
A study published in the Journal of Immunology found that vitamin D decreased the inflammatory response to viral infections. Researchers concluded that vitamin D could reduce inflammation and reduce the severity of RSV infections. Recent research highlights the critical role vitamin D plays in proper immune function. A reduction in RSV infections could be attained if mothers take the initiative to ensure adequate sun exposure or supplement intake.
Vitamin D enhances immune function, reducing RSV infections as well as other illnesses. T cells in the body seek out and destroy any invading bacteria or virus. Vitamin D has shown in recent research to trigger T cell function thereby enhancing the immune system. Adequate vitamin D levels are crucial to the function of the immune system and higher levels protect infants and children from a myriad of infections.
Vitamin D is produced in the skin through exposure to sunlight. It is important to get adequate sun exposure without allowing the skin to burn. Sun exposure should be 10-15 minutes in full sun for adequate vitamin D production. Pregnant women should include a dietary supplement of vitamin D in a dosage recommended by a health practitioner. There is much debate as to how much vitamin D is necessary for optimal health. The Institute of Medicine recommends 400 to 600 IU's for women during pregnancy to provide adequate levels and prevent RSV and low immune function in infants.
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, generally causes mild cold or flu like symptoms in older children and adults. An RSV infection in babies can be much more serious and is more likely to result in complications including pneumonia. Infants under one year of age generally experience the greatest severity of RSV infections. Researchers identified low vitamin D levels at birth as a significant risk factor for RSV infections in the first year of life.
Researchers evaluated cord blood samples for vitamin D levels and found that over 50% had deficient levels of vitamin D. Researchers also surveyed the mothers on vitamin D supplementation and found that nearly half of the mothers surveyed did not take a vitamin D supplement during pregnancy. Dr. Jennifer Shu, a practicing pediatrician and CNN health expert, stated: 'RSV is just one of the infections of early childhood that may be impacted by in-utero vitamin D.' Vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune function and reduced inflammation.
A study published in the Journal of Immunology found that vitamin D decreased the inflammatory response to viral infections. Researchers concluded that vitamin D could reduce inflammation and reduce the severity of RSV infections. Recent research highlights the critical role vitamin D plays in proper immune function. A reduction in RSV infections could be attained if mothers take the initiative to ensure adequate sun exposure or supplement intake.
Vitamin D enhances immune function, reducing RSV infections as well as other illnesses. T cells in the body seek out and destroy any invading bacteria or virus. Vitamin D has shown in recent research to trigger T cell function thereby enhancing the immune system. Adequate vitamin D levels are crucial to the function of the immune system and higher levels protect infants and children from a myriad of infections.
Vitamin D is produced in the skin through exposure to sunlight. It is important to get adequate sun exposure without allowing the skin to burn. Sun exposure should be 10-15 minutes in full sun for adequate vitamin D production. Pregnant women should include a dietary supplement of vitamin D in a dosage recommended by a health practitioner. There is much debate as to how much vitamin D is necessary for optimal health. The Institute of Medicine recommends 400 to 600 IU's for women during pregnancy to provide adequate levels and prevent RSV and low immune function in infants.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Zen Motivation: The Stress Free Way To Get Things Done
(NaturalNews by: Mike Bundrant) During my high stress years as an executive in corporate America, my least favorite part of the day was hearing the alarm clock go off in the morning. Getting up to face a new day of tough work challenges and even tougher office politics wasn't exactly a walk in the park for me. So, I needed a little extra motivation in the morning to put my feet on the floor and head for the coffee pot. How did I do it? Easy. I scared the hell out of myself.
Here's the scenario. I am awakened from sweet slumber by the alarm clock. Naturally, I hit the snooze button. It goes off again five minutes later. You know the deal.Snooze. Alarm. Snooze. Alarm. Snooze. As I keep this up, an image begins to grow in my mind of the consequences of being late for my morning meetings. With each passing moment, the pressure increases until I am imagining the utter embarrassment of being 30 minutes late to a meeting that I am supposed to facilitate. Soon, I am witnessing my whole career flash before my eyes. With a shot of pure adrenaline, I bolt out of bed, bypass the coffee and rush to save my job.
You can imagine after a few years with this self-motivational style, my adrenal glands were not happy. Burn out was inevitable. We all know the benefits of high stress - a lower immune system, poor sleep, high blood pressure - I could go on. My way of motivating myself came at a high price.
Actually, negative motivation styles are common and they are all inherently stressful and ineffective. NLP trainers have narrowed down four typical negative self-motivational styles. I'd like to mention each one and then show how Zen motivation transforms them all.
2. The Dictator: You give yourself "orders" in a stern, commanding voice, much like a military commander. The commands often contain words like: must, have to, should, etc...Not many people like to be ordered around. It is fascinating that many people who report ordering themselves around also report "rebelling" against their own orders.
3. Imagine Doing It: You imagine doing an unpleasant task and feel bad, rather than imagining the task completed and feeling compelled to get that result so you can feel good. If you need to do the dishes and don't enjoying washing, rinsing and drying, then imagining yourself doing just that will not be very motivating.
4. Overwhelm: You imagine an entire project, for example, as one global mass of work and do not chunk it down into one step at a time. The feeling of overwhelm is discouraging.
These four common, stressful and unproductive self-motivational strategies tend to defeat their own purpose. Even when they "work" they do not promote health and productivity in the long run.
Zen has much to do with being present and being present has much to do connecting to what is going on in your environment right now. Tuning in to the external world in a particular way automatically calms the mind and eases bodily tensions, allowing a peaceful, grounded, present state of mind to emerge. To prepare for Zen motivation, experiment with some alternatives from among the following.
1. Look at your surroundings, but only notice colors, textures and shapes.
2. Listen to sounds in your immediate environment, but not voices. Tune into mundane sounds like the hum of your computer, the whirl of a fan or the running refrigerator motor. You can also listen to the sound of the wind blowing or the distant traffic, even crickets etc...
3. Feel outside textures and temperatures, such as the fabric of a piece of furniture or the carpet. Perhaps the coolness of a glass of ice water, etc...It also works to feel environmental pressure, such as the pressure of your body against the seat or the general feeling of gravity pulling you toward the earth.
Pick just one external sensory experience such as those listed above and merely tune into it for 20-30 seconds. If your attention wanders, that's fine. Just return to noticing the particular external sight, sound or feeling you had been noticing. After several moments, you will feel yourself "settle" a bit. You will relax and your bodily tension will ease. This is the beginning of a more present, Zen-like awareness.
From here, it's simple. While in this state, gently consider what you need to do, then follow your natural instinct! The steps to Zen motivation are simple:
1. Enter a Zen-like state using your external senses
2. Gently consider what you need to do
3. Follow your natural instinct to act.
Zen motivation is a wonderful alternative to forcing yourself, psyching yourself out or pumping yourself up. These attempts at self-motivation can work, but the pressure put on your mind and body is enormous. So, instead of hitting the snooze button until you just know the world will end if you don't get up, why not gently feel the texture of the sheets against your skin as you awaken? Then, tune into the sounds within your awareness, allowing your mind to settle into each one. These experiences will welcome a new day and actually make getting out of bed a pleasure.
When you are in the shower, pay attention to the feeling of the water running down your back. Enjoy the scalp massage you give yourself while washing your hair. Listen to the water going down the drain. Give into your senses! It's a much richer experience than the usual mind wanderings of the average shower taker.
The sights, sounds and feelings of the world are always with you. Use them to your advantage. Get out of your head and tune into your environment. Once you are grounded in the present, motivating yourself is as simple as considering what needs to be done.
About the author:
Mike Bundrant is a retired mental health counselor, NLP trainer and publisher of Healthy Times Newspaper.
Mike offers online NLP training and certification with the iNLP Center. Visit the iNLP site to receive a free alternative health articles. For more on the Healthy Times printed newspaper in Southern California, visit Healthy Times Newspaper.
Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/033444_stress_zen.html#ixzz1WX0NklZP
Here's the scenario. I am awakened from sweet slumber by the alarm clock. Naturally, I hit the snooze button. It goes off again five minutes later. You know the deal.Snooze. Alarm. Snooze. Alarm. Snooze. As I keep this up, an image begins to grow in my mind of the consequences of being late for my morning meetings. With each passing moment, the pressure increases until I am imagining the utter embarrassment of being 30 minutes late to a meeting that I am supposed to facilitate. Soon, I am witnessing my whole career flash before my eyes. With a shot of pure adrenaline, I bolt out of bed, bypass the coffee and rush to save my job.
You can imagine after a few years with this self-motivational style, my adrenal glands were not happy. Burn out was inevitable. We all know the benefits of high stress - a lower immune system, poor sleep, high blood pressure - I could go on. My way of motivating myself came at a high price.
Actually, negative motivation styles are common and they are all inherently stressful and ineffective. NLP trainers have narrowed down four typical negative self-motivational styles. I'd like to mention each one and then show how Zen motivation transforms them all.
The Four Negative Motivational Styles
1. The Negative Motivator: You become motivated to act only after imagining the horrible consequences of waiting any longer. This was my getting out of bed strategy.2. The Dictator: You give yourself "orders" in a stern, commanding voice, much like a military commander. The commands often contain words like: must, have to, should, etc...Not many people like to be ordered around. It is fascinating that many people who report ordering themselves around also report "rebelling" against their own orders.
3. Imagine Doing It: You imagine doing an unpleasant task and feel bad, rather than imagining the task completed and feeling compelled to get that result so you can feel good. If you need to do the dishes and don't enjoying washing, rinsing and drying, then imagining yourself doing just that will not be very motivating.
4. Overwhelm: You imagine an entire project, for example, as one global mass of work and do not chunk it down into one step at a time. The feeling of overwhelm is discouraging.
These four common, stressful and unproductive self-motivational strategies tend to defeat their own purpose. Even when they "work" they do not promote health and productivity in the long run.
Secret of Zen Motivation
Amazingly, Zen motivation overcomes all four negative motivational styles in one stoke. The key is getting to a Zen-like state. Again, NLP offers some handy tools for accomplishing this.Zen has much to do with being present and being present has much to do connecting to what is going on in your environment right now. Tuning in to the external world in a particular way automatically calms the mind and eases bodily tensions, allowing a peaceful, grounded, present state of mind to emerge. To prepare for Zen motivation, experiment with some alternatives from among the following.
1. Look at your surroundings, but only notice colors, textures and shapes.
2. Listen to sounds in your immediate environment, but not voices. Tune into mundane sounds like the hum of your computer, the whirl of a fan or the running refrigerator motor. You can also listen to the sound of the wind blowing or the distant traffic, even crickets etc...
3. Feel outside textures and temperatures, such as the fabric of a piece of furniture or the carpet. Perhaps the coolness of a glass of ice water, etc...It also works to feel environmental pressure, such as the pressure of your body against the seat or the general feeling of gravity pulling you toward the earth.
Pick just one external sensory experience such as those listed above and merely tune into it for 20-30 seconds. If your attention wanders, that's fine. Just return to noticing the particular external sight, sound or feeling you had been noticing. After several moments, you will feel yourself "settle" a bit. You will relax and your bodily tension will ease. This is the beginning of a more present, Zen-like awareness.
From here, it's simple. While in this state, gently consider what you need to do, then follow your natural instinct! The steps to Zen motivation are simple:
1. Enter a Zen-like state using your external senses
2. Gently consider what you need to do
3. Follow your natural instinct to act.
Zen motivation is a wonderful alternative to forcing yourself, psyching yourself out or pumping yourself up. These attempts at self-motivation can work, but the pressure put on your mind and body is enormous. So, instead of hitting the snooze button until you just know the world will end if you don't get up, why not gently feel the texture of the sheets against your skin as you awaken? Then, tune into the sounds within your awareness, allowing your mind to settle into each one. These experiences will welcome a new day and actually make getting out of bed a pleasure.
When you are in the shower, pay attention to the feeling of the water running down your back. Enjoy the scalp massage you give yourself while washing your hair. Listen to the water going down the drain. Give into your senses! It's a much richer experience than the usual mind wanderings of the average shower taker.
The sights, sounds and feelings of the world are always with you. Use them to your advantage. Get out of your head and tune into your environment. Once you are grounded in the present, motivating yourself is as simple as considering what needs to be done.
About the author:
Mike Bundrant is a retired mental health counselor, NLP trainer and publisher of Healthy Times Newspaper.
Mike offers online NLP training and certification with the iNLP Center. Visit the iNLP site to receive a free alternative health articles. For more on the Healthy Times printed newspaper in Southern California, visit Healthy Times Newspaper.
Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/033444_stress_zen.html#ixzz1WX0NklZP
Monday, August 29, 2011
Beat Stress And Improve Health By Cycling
(NaturalNews by: Shona Botes) Many health and fitness experts agree that cycling is one of the best forms of exercise available. Bicycles were first introduced in Europe during the late 19th century. Shortly thereafter, they made their way to the US. Not only does cycling burn a significant amount of calories, but it also helps to improve fitness levels and overall health.
Studies have shown that cycling is able to promote circulation in the body, eliminate the appearance of cellulite from the thigh region and even lower blood pressure. It is also able to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes by up to 50%. Those who cycle regularly display fitness levels equivalent to that of being ten years younger.
Cycling helps to strengthen the immune system and can even decrease the formation and activity of tumour cells within the body. It also has the ability to reduce one's Body Mass Index (BMI). Middle-aged women who took up cycling for just a few minutes each day gained approximately 1.5 pounds less over a 16 year period than those who didn`t. Those who only used cycling as a form of commuting experienced a significant improvement in their overall health.
Cycling is able to increase bone density and strength. It also helps to relax mind and body, which makes it an ideal way to fight against depression and other psychological conditions. It can also be beneficial to those suffering from any form of hormonal imbalance. It provides the balance between relaxation and exertion, which is important in maintaining the body`s inner equilibrium. It also greatly improves stamina levels to promote an overall sense of well-being. Those who cycle experience less strain on back muscles as well as reduced impact on knee and ankle joints. This makes it the ideal form of exercise for those who are slightly overweight.
Cycling can be a highly social activity because of the fact that you sometimes meet fellow cyclists along the way while cycling. It is also a lot cheaper to maintain a decent bicycle than a car. Those who cycle help our environment by reducing the amount of carbon monoxide emissions and other pollution created by driving.
It should be taken into account however, that you should always consult with a physician if you suffer from any form of back problem, joint condition or arthritis before taking up cycling as a form of exercise.
Her blog may be viewed here
Some of her photography work may be viewed here
Other articles written by her may be viewed here
Studies have shown that cycling is able to promote circulation in the body, eliminate the appearance of cellulite from the thigh region and even lower blood pressure. It is also able to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes by up to 50%. Those who cycle regularly display fitness levels equivalent to that of being ten years younger.
Cycling helps to strengthen the immune system and can even decrease the formation and activity of tumour cells within the body. It also has the ability to reduce one's Body Mass Index (BMI). Middle-aged women who took up cycling for just a few minutes each day gained approximately 1.5 pounds less over a 16 year period than those who didn`t. Those who only used cycling as a form of commuting experienced a significant improvement in their overall health.
Cycling is able to increase bone density and strength. It also helps to relax mind and body, which makes it an ideal way to fight against depression and other psychological conditions. It can also be beneficial to those suffering from any form of hormonal imbalance. It provides the balance between relaxation and exertion, which is important in maintaining the body`s inner equilibrium. It also greatly improves stamina levels to promote an overall sense of well-being. Those who cycle experience less strain on back muscles as well as reduced impact on knee and ankle joints. This makes it the ideal form of exercise for those who are slightly overweight.
Cycling can be a highly social activity because of the fact that you sometimes meet fellow cyclists along the way while cycling. It is also a lot cheaper to maintain a decent bicycle than a car. Those who cycle help our environment by reducing the amount of carbon monoxide emissions and other pollution created by driving.
It should be taken into account however, that you should always consult with a physician if you suffer from any form of back problem, joint condition or arthritis before taking up cycling as a form of exercise.
About the author
Shona Botes is a budding blogger, as well as a fabulous frugalist. Her spare time is spent engaged in blogging, cycling, photography, as well as green living and natural healing and remedies.Her blog may be viewed here
Some of her photography work may be viewed here
Other articles written by her may be viewed here
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Pregnant Women and Strokes
(NaturalNews by: Mark Sircus., AC, OMD)We have known for a while that increasingly, children are having strokes, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. In a study of over 200 children who had suffered a stroke, nearly 80 per cent were found to have abnormalities in the brain's arteries. These abnormalities were due to an inflammation, a narrowing or a tear in the artery walls and researchers believe they were caused by a variety of infections or diseases. Now we have to sadly look at what's happening to pregnant women.
Women rarely have strokes during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth, but researchers have seen a big jump in such events over the past 12 years, according to a U.S. study published the 27th of July. A total of 4,085 pregnancy-related stroke hospitalizations were documented in the United States in 1994-95, and that number rose 54 percent to 6,293 in 2006-07, said the study inStroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Of course medical officials and doctors have not the slightest idea of what might be the most basic cause of this alarming rise. They speculate that more women are overweight when they become pregnant, which can add to the likelihood of complications from diabetes and high blood pressure.
"Now, more and more women entering pregnancy already have some type of risk factor for stroke, such as obesity, chronic hypertension, diabetes or congenital heart disease," reported Dr. Elena Kuklina, the study's author. The question remains, what is the underlying condition or conditions that lead to chronic hypertension, diabetes or congenital heart disease?
What good is the medical press when they publish an article like this without going further to address the underlying causes of these strokes pregnant woman are suffering from? This recently published information about strokes fails to mention, for example, the detriment of drinking diet soda and the increased risk of stroke that comes from drinking products from Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola and many other companies. Researchers found that people who said they drank diet soda every day had a 48 percent higher risk of stroke or heart attack than people who drank no soda of any kind. The beverage findings should be "a wakeup call to pay attention to diet sodas," said Dr. Steven Greenberg. He is a Harvard Medical School neurologist and vice chairman of the International Stroke Conference in California, where the research was presented on Wednesday. A simple solution, health experts say, is to drink water instead. Aspartame, a toxic chemical, is found in over 6,000 diet products and is being consumed by an estimated two-thirds of the population.
The National Institute of Health tells us that magnesium deficiency can cause metabolic changes that may contribute to heart attacks and strokes. Dr. Tavia Mathers and Dr. Renea Beckstrand from Brigham Young University published in theJournal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitionersin 2009 that magnesium has been heralded as an ingredient to watch in 2010 and noted that magnesium is helpful for reduction of the risk of stroke.
Dr. Saver and colleagues investigated the neuroprotective effect of early magnesium infusion in ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke in the field; three quarters of the infarct cohort were treated with magnesium within two hours of onset, and nearly one-third within one hour of onset. Dramatic early and good results were reported in the early (42% of According to the current European treatment guidelines, no
neuroprotective treatment is recommended for stroke patients.
Dr. Jerry Nadler says, "Higher dietary intake of magnesium was among the factors associated with a reduced risk of stroke in men with hypertension. In a survey of almost 45,000 men ages 40 to 75,the overall risk of stroke was significantly lower for men in the highest quintile of intake of potassium, magnesium, and cereal fiber, but not of calcium, compared with men in the lowest quintile of intake. A similar relationship was reported this year by Meyer and colleagues, who observed that a diet rich in magnesium, grains, fruits, and vegetables reduced the likelihood of developing type-2 diabetes in a group of almost 36,000 women. While no consistent effect of magnesium on blood pressure has been noted among persons with diabetes, a significant blood pressure reduction was noted in diabetic patients with hypertension after dietary sodium was replaced with potassium and magnesium."
The results of a 10-year study published in the August 28, 2008 issue of theNew England Journal of Medicinefoundthat magnesium administered to women delivering before 32 weeks of gestation reduced the risk of cerebral palsy by 50 percent.The Beneficial Effects of Antenatal Magnesium (BEAM) trial was conducted in 18 centers in the U.S., including Northwestern Memorial, and is the first prenatal intervention ever found to reduce the instance of cerebral palsy related to premature birth. Magnesium sulfate and magnesium chloride are used in obstetrics to stop premature labor and prevent seizures in women with hypertension.
Pregnancy cannot be normal unless magnesium levels are adequate. The concentration of magnesium in the placental and fetal tissues increases during pregnancy. The requirements for this element in a pregnant woman's organism generally exceed its supply; hence, pregnancy should be considered a condition of "physiological hypomagnesemia."
Magnesium is Always Good for Mother and Fetus
Magnesium is used intravenously to prevent hypertensive crises or seizures associated with toxemia of pregnancy. Magnesium is needed for reproductive fertility and the use of pharmaceutical contraceptives is known to diminish magnesium stores in our body. The rate of premature births has increased more than 30 percent since 1981, but a central obvious cause is ignored by doctors. Magnesium plays a crucial role in fertility, pregnancy, and in early newborn life and many of the problems associated with pregnancy and birth can be resolved by magnesium supplementation.
In 1991 Dr. Jean Durlach said, "Primary magnesium deficiency may occur in fertile women. Gestational magnesium deficiency is able to induce maternal, fetal, and pediatric consequences that might last throughout life. Experimental studies of gestational Mg deficiency show that Mg deficiency during pregnancy may have marked effects on the processes of parturition and of postuterine involution. It may interfere with fetal growth and development from teratogenic effects to morbidity: i.e. hematological effects and disturbances in temperature regulation. Clinical studies on the consequences of maternal primary Mg deficiency in women have been insufficiently investigated." Magnesium is frequently used as the treatment for stopping premature labor and the seizures of eclampsia at the point it starts, but might be more helpful in preventing these if supplemented throughout the course of pregnancy.
Dr. Durlach has also shown the increased safety of using magnesium chloride over magnesium sulfate. There is also evidence that magnesium deficiency/depletion is involved in the etiology of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
The evidence is clear that inadequate magnesium intake is common
during pregnancy and that the plasma levels of magnesium tend
to fall, especially during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Dr. Mildred S. Seelig
It really is a crying shame that contemporary medicine cannot put its shoes on and tie the laces when it comes to magnesium medicine. When it comes to helping pregnant mothers weather the stress of pregnancy, and navigating around the potential risks of strokes, seizures and many other complications associated with pregnancy and birth, there is nothing like magnesium.
Doctors who practice pharmaceutical-driven medicine are like builders who forget to build the foundation. They prescribe medicines that further strip the body's cells of their magnesium stores without paying any attention to the deficiencies that are there. That's medical negligence and malpractice all rolled into one.
For all the references, sources and more articles please visit Dr. Mark Sircus blog.
About the author:
About the author:
Mark A. Sircus, Ac., OMD, is director of the International Medical Veritas Association (IMVA)http://www.imva.info/.
Dr. Sircus was trained in acupuncture and oriental medicine at the Institute of Traditional Medicine in Sante Fe, N.M., and at the School of Traditional Medicine of New England in Boston. He served at the Central Public Hospital of Pochutla in Mexico, and was awarded the title of doctor of oriental medicine for his work. He was one of the first nationally certified acupuncturists in the United States. Dr. Sircus's IMVA is dedicated to unifying the various disciplines in medicine with the goal of creating a new dawn in healthcare.
He is particularly concerned about the effect vaccinations have on vulnerable infants and is identifying the common thread of many toxic agents that are dramatically threatening present and future generations of children. His book, The Terror of Pediatric Medicine, is a free e-book offered on his web site. Humane Pediatrics will be an e-book available early in 2011 and then quickly as possible put into print.
Dr. Sircus is a most prolific and courageous writer and one can read through hundreds of pages on his various web sites.
He has recently released a number of e-books including Winning the War Against Cancer, Survival Medicine for the 21st Century, Sodium Bicarbonate, Rich Man’s Poor Man’s Cancer Treatment, New Paradigms in Diabetic Care and Bringing Back the Universal Medicine: IODINE.
Dr. Sircus is a pioneer in the area of natural detoxification and chelation of toxic chemicals and heavy metals. He is also a champion of the medicinal value of minerals and seawater.
Transdermal Magnesium Therapy, his first published work, offers a stunning breakthrough in medicine, an entirely new way to supplement magnesium that naturally increases DHEA levels, brings cellular magnesium levels up quickly, relieves pain, brings down blood pressure and pushes cell physiology in a positive direction. Magnesium chloride delivered transdermally brings a quick release from a broad range of condition. His second edition of Transdermal Magnesium Therapy will be out shortly. In addition he writes critically about the political and financial crises occurring around us.
International Medical Veritas Association:http://www.imva.info/
http://publications.imva.info/
Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/033402_pregnant_women_strokes.html#ixzz1VzDHalg3
Women rarely have strokes during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth, but researchers have seen a big jump in such events over the past 12 years, according to a U.S. study published the 27th of July. A total of 4,085 pregnancy-related stroke hospitalizations were documented in the United States in 1994-95, and that number rose 54 percent to 6,293 in 2006-07, said the study inStroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Of course medical officials and doctors have not the slightest idea of what might be the most basic cause of this alarming rise. They speculate that more women are overweight when they become pregnant, which can add to the likelihood of complications from diabetes and high blood pressure.
"Now, more and more women entering pregnancy already have some type of risk factor for stroke, such as obesity, chronic hypertension, diabetes or congenital heart disease," reported Dr. Elena Kuklina, the study's author. The question remains, what is the underlying condition or conditions that lead to chronic hypertension, diabetes or congenital heart disease?
What good is the medical press when they publish an article like this without going further to address the underlying causes of these strokes pregnant woman are suffering from? This recently published information about strokes fails to mention, for example, the detriment of drinking diet soda and the increased risk of stroke that comes from drinking products from Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola and many other companies. Researchers found that people who said they drank diet soda every day had a 48 percent higher risk of stroke or heart attack than people who drank no soda of any kind. The beverage findings should be "a wakeup call to pay attention to diet sodas," said Dr. Steven Greenberg. He is a Harvard Medical School neurologist and vice chairman of the International Stroke Conference in California, where the research was presented on Wednesday. A simple solution, health experts say, is to drink water instead. Aspartame, a toxic chemical, is found in over 6,000 diet products and is being consumed by an estimated two-thirds of the population.
The National Institute of Health tells us that magnesium deficiency can cause metabolic changes that may contribute to heart attacks and strokes. Dr. Tavia Mathers and Dr. Renea Beckstrand from Brigham Young University published in theJournal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitionersin 2009 that magnesium has been heralded as an ingredient to watch in 2010 and noted that magnesium is helpful for reduction of the risk of stroke.
Dr. Saver and colleagues investigated the neuroprotective effect of early magnesium infusion in ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke in the field; three quarters of the infarct cohort were treated with magnesium within two hours of onset, and nearly one-third within one hour of onset. Dramatic early and good results were reported in the early (42% of According to the current European treatment guidelines, no
neuroprotective treatment is recommended for stroke patients.
Dr. Jerry Nadler says, "Higher dietary intake of magnesium was among the factors associated with a reduced risk of stroke in men with hypertension. In a survey of almost 45,000 men ages 40 to 75,the overall risk of stroke was significantly lower for men in the highest quintile of intake of potassium, magnesium, and cereal fiber, but not of calcium, compared with men in the lowest quintile of intake. A similar relationship was reported this year by Meyer and colleagues, who observed that a diet rich in magnesium, grains, fruits, and vegetables reduced the likelihood of developing type-2 diabetes in a group of almost 36,000 women. While no consistent effect of magnesium on blood pressure has been noted among persons with diabetes, a significant blood pressure reduction was noted in diabetic patients with hypertension after dietary sodium was replaced with potassium and magnesium."
The results of a 10-year study published in the August 28, 2008 issue of theNew England Journal of Medicinefoundthat magnesium administered to women delivering before 32 weeks of gestation reduced the risk of cerebral palsy by 50 percent.The Beneficial Effects of Antenatal Magnesium (BEAM) trial was conducted in 18 centers in the U.S., including Northwestern Memorial, and is the first prenatal intervention ever found to reduce the instance of cerebral palsy related to premature birth. Magnesium sulfate and magnesium chloride are used in obstetrics to stop premature labor and prevent seizures in women with hypertension.
Pregnancy cannot be normal unless magnesium levels are adequate. The concentration of magnesium in the placental and fetal tissues increases during pregnancy. The requirements for this element in a pregnant woman's organism generally exceed its supply; hence, pregnancy should be considered a condition of "physiological hypomagnesemia."
Magnesium is Always Good for Mother and Fetus
Magnesium is used intravenously to prevent hypertensive crises or seizures associated with toxemia of pregnancy. Magnesium is needed for reproductive fertility and the use of pharmaceutical contraceptives is known to diminish magnesium stores in our body. The rate of premature births has increased more than 30 percent since 1981, but a central obvious cause is ignored by doctors. Magnesium plays a crucial role in fertility, pregnancy, and in early newborn life and many of the problems associated with pregnancy and birth can be resolved by magnesium supplementation.
In 1991 Dr. Jean Durlach said, "Primary magnesium deficiency may occur in fertile women. Gestational magnesium deficiency is able to induce maternal, fetal, and pediatric consequences that might last throughout life. Experimental studies of gestational Mg deficiency show that Mg deficiency during pregnancy may have marked effects on the processes of parturition and of postuterine involution. It may interfere with fetal growth and development from teratogenic effects to morbidity: i.e. hematological effects and disturbances in temperature regulation. Clinical studies on the consequences of maternal primary Mg deficiency in women have been insufficiently investigated." Magnesium is frequently used as the treatment for stopping premature labor and the seizures of eclampsia at the point it starts, but might be more helpful in preventing these if supplemented throughout the course of pregnancy.
Dr. Durlach has also shown the increased safety of using magnesium chloride over magnesium sulfate. There is also evidence that magnesium deficiency/depletion is involved in the etiology of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
The evidence is clear that inadequate magnesium intake is common
during pregnancy and that the plasma levels of magnesium tend
to fall, especially during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Dr. Mildred S. Seelig
It really is a crying shame that contemporary medicine cannot put its shoes on and tie the laces when it comes to magnesium medicine. When it comes to helping pregnant mothers weather the stress of pregnancy, and navigating around the potential risks of strokes, seizures and many other complications associated with pregnancy and birth, there is nothing like magnesium.
Doctors who practice pharmaceutical-driven medicine are like builders who forget to build the foundation. They prescribe medicines that further strip the body's cells of their magnesium stores without paying any attention to the deficiencies that are there. That's medical negligence and malpractice all rolled into one.
For all the references, sources and more articles please visit Dr. Mark Sircus blog.
About the author:
About the author:
Mark A. Sircus, Ac., OMD, is director of the International Medical Veritas Association (IMVA)http://www.imva.info/.
Dr. Sircus was trained in acupuncture and oriental medicine at the Institute of Traditional Medicine in Sante Fe, N.M., and at the School of Traditional Medicine of New England in Boston. He served at the Central Public Hospital of Pochutla in Mexico, and was awarded the title of doctor of oriental medicine for his work. He was one of the first nationally certified acupuncturists in the United States. Dr. Sircus's IMVA is dedicated to unifying the various disciplines in medicine with the goal of creating a new dawn in healthcare.
He is particularly concerned about the effect vaccinations have on vulnerable infants and is identifying the common thread of many toxic agents that are dramatically threatening present and future generations of children. His book, The Terror of Pediatric Medicine, is a free e-book offered on his web site. Humane Pediatrics will be an e-book available early in 2011 and then quickly as possible put into print.
Dr. Sircus is a most prolific and courageous writer and one can read through hundreds of pages on his various web sites.
He has recently released a number of e-books including Winning the War Against Cancer, Survival Medicine for the 21st Century, Sodium Bicarbonate, Rich Man’s Poor Man’s Cancer Treatment, New Paradigms in Diabetic Care and Bringing Back the Universal Medicine: IODINE.
Dr. Sircus is a pioneer in the area of natural detoxification and chelation of toxic chemicals and heavy metals. He is also a champion of the medicinal value of minerals and seawater.
Transdermal Magnesium Therapy, his first published work, offers a stunning breakthrough in medicine, an entirely new way to supplement magnesium that naturally increases DHEA levels, brings cellular magnesium levels up quickly, relieves pain, brings down blood pressure and pushes cell physiology in a positive direction. Magnesium chloride delivered transdermally brings a quick release from a broad range of condition. His second edition of Transdermal Magnesium Therapy will be out shortly. In addition he writes critically about the political and financial crises occurring around us.
International Medical Veritas Association:http://www.imva.info/
http://publications.imva.info/
Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/033402_pregnant_women_strokes.html#ixzz1VzDHalg3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)