Tuesday - July 20, 2010

Perfect Eyes

There are many causes for the various eye conditions. Sometimes an eye condition can be related to another medical condition. Some eye conditions are caused by stress placed on the eyes. Some are inherited.



However, as people age, the problems they develop with their eyesight are primarily caused by free radical damage. Free radicals can damage the retina of the eye, the light sensitive layer at the back of the eye, causing macular degeneration. Inflammation of the blood vessels coming into the eye will cause cellular debris that congests the eye fluids causing the pressure build-up in glaucoma. Cataracts are most likely caused by free radical damage to the lens.

Tuesday - July 20, 2010

Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis)

One of the biggest problems with many herb books is that they simply list a bunch of diseases that herb has been used for without telling you important information such as 1) what part is used, 2) how it is prepared and 3) how it is administered.  All of these things make a difference in how the herb works.

Eyebright is a perfect example of a plant that has fallen victim, not so much to misinformation, but rather to a lack of important data about how it is most effectively used. Most people who are familiar with herbs, will immediately connect eyebright as an eye remedy, and they would be partially correct.

Tuesday - July 20, 2010

See Your Way to Better Vision with Antioxidants

by Steven Horne, RH(AHG)

Millions of Americans have sung the question, "Oh say, can you see?"  Unfortunately, for many millions of senior citizens, the answer to that question is, "No."  That's because diseases like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration rob thousands of people of their vision every year.

The sad thing is that one simple nutritional change could save many people's vision.  That change is to get more antioxidant nutrients into the diet. Antioxidants are extremely critical to eye health because the eyes are extremely prone to oxidative stress and free radical damage.  In fact, oxidative stress is the underlying cause of cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Friday - July 09, 2010

Nervous System Support

The nervous system is a complex system that regulates and coordinates body functions, including the coordination of muscles, the senses, speech, memory, thought and emotion. Nervous system health, especially brain health, becomes a common concern as we age. As we get older, physical changes occur in the brain that can lead to cognitive decline, including a decrease in levels of neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, which plays a large role in memory and learning. Other factors that can adversely affect cognitive health include alcohol abuse, chronic inflammation, vascular diseases and stress.

Saturday - July 03, 2010

This Single Cell Plant Actually Expels Mercury from Your Body…

A study shows that chlorella, a single-celled organism that has been used for many years as a nutritional supplement, can help flush methylmercury from your system. Mice fed methylmercury were given chlorella, and the amount of methylmercury excreted in their urine and feces was approximately twice the amount excreted by mice not treated with chlorella.

Saturday - July 03, 2010

Natural Solutions to Endometriosis

by Steven Horne, RH(AHG)

A common cause of pelvic pain, endometriosis is a disorder where endometrial (uterine) tissue is found outside of the uterus.  This tissue responds to hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle just like the uterine lining.  It falls apart at the same time the uterine lining sheds causing menstruation.  This can cause internal bleeding that results in swelling and inflammation of surrounding tissues. It may even cause scar tissue to form.

Saturday - June 26, 2010

Honey, It's Not Me, It's My Liver!

PMS and Your Liver by Steven Horne, RH(AHG)

Jokes help us defuse difficult and painful situations, which is why PMS is the brunt of many jokes.  It’s no fun for women, or their family members, when PMS creates feelings of anger, irritability, depression, moodiness  or emotional sensitivity.  I know we typically blame it on hormones, but I have a new excuse—blame it on the liver.

Most of the women I’ve seen who have serious problems with PMS have underlying health issues with the liver.  This doesn’t come as a surprise, as many symptoms of PMS are identical to symptoms of liver imbalance, both physically and emotionally.

Saturday - June 19, 2010

BPA in Cans Poses Health Threat, Report Claims

Chemical found in 92 percent of products tested, group calls for federal ban

Bisphenol A (BPA), a common chemical used in the metal linings of some canned foods, poses a serious health threat to consumers and should be banned, a new report claims.

BPA is ubiquitous in plastic products, found in baby bottles and sippy cups, and it has come under scrutiny in recent years, with studies linking it to a host of health and developmental problems. This latest research looked at its presence in the metal linings of canned foods.

Friday - June 18, 2010

Emotional Issues Associated With PMS and Menopause

How Your Mind and Emotions Affect Hormones And Things You Can Do About It

by Steven Horne, RH(AHG)

In modern medicine it’s popular to view mood changes as being caused by biochemical imbalances.  It is believed that problems with messenger chemicals like hormones and neurotransmitters create mental and emotional health problems.  That’s why the most popular treatment for problems like depression, anxiety and moodiness are drugs that mimic hormones and neurotransmitters. But, what if the reverse were true?  What if the mental and emotional issues are actually the cause of the imbalances in the body’s messenger chemicals? This is a perfectly valid hypothesis, too.

To understand how hormonal imbalances can be the result of mental and emotional issues, it’s important to remember that the endocrine system and the nervous system are intimately connected via the hypothalamus. A part of the brain, the hypothalamus sends messengers to the pituitary that trigger the release of hormones that regulate the rest of the endocrine system.

Wednesday - June 16, 2010

Lung cancer risk 'cut by B vitamin'

People with plenty of a B-vitamin in their blood appear to be at a reduced risk of lung cancer, even if they smoke, a European study suggests.

High levels of Vitamin B6 and the amino acid methionine cut the risk by half, a study of 400,000 people suggested.

These occur naturally in nuts, fish and meat or can be taken as supplements.

But experts told the Journal of the American Medical Association that stopping smoking remained the best way of reducing lung cancer risk.

Sunday - June 06, 2010

Green tea extract may slow leukaemia, researchers have suggested

An extract taken from green tea reduces cancer cells in the blood of patients with a form of leukaemia and may slow progression of the disease, a conference will hear.

Researchers at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in America have found that patients in the early stages of the most common form of leukaemia may respond well to taken supplements of a green tea extract.

The chemical, epigallocatechin galeate (EGCG), was found more than two thirds of 42 patients in the trial showed a significant reduction in the number of leukaemia cells in their blood or other signs the cancer was not spreading.

Saturday - June 05, 2010

Pesticides Cause Parkinson's Disease

A new study just found that Parkinson's disease is linked to pesticide exposure. In fact, the study participants were almost twice as likely to have been exposed to pesticides through their work, and exposure to certain pesticides may have increased the chance of having the disease by more than three-fold. The study looked only at pesticide exposure from work environments and didn't look at pesticides used in home pest control, backyard gardening or our foods.

Saturday - June 05, 2010

High-Fat Meal May Trigger Asthma

Study finds fatty foods lead to inflammation, reduced lung function

It's well known that food laden with fat isn't good for your heart, but now a new study suggests that fatty meals may affect lung function, too.

Australian researchers tested people with asthma before and after a high-fat meal or after a low-fat meal, and found that the high-fat meal increased inflammation and reduced lung function.

Friday - June 04, 2010

Intestinal Health

The human intestinal tract consists of the small and large intestines. The small intestine is approximately 23 feet in length, has a vast amount of surface area, and is where the majority of digestion and absorption of nutrients occurs. The large intestine is only about five feet in length but is significantly wider in diameter than the small intestine.

Tuesday - June 01, 2010

Vitamin D Best Taken With Largest Meal of Day, Study Finds

Blood levels increased more than 50% after timing change, researchers say

Your body may make better use of a vitamin D supplement if you take it with your largest meal, new research suggests. Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic examined 17 patients with vitamin D deficiency who weren't getting better under treatment. Over a period of two to three months, the patients were told to take vitamin D supplements with the biggest meal they ate each day.

Thursday - May 27, 2010

US FDA says acid reflux drugs carry fracture risk

• FDA recommends lower dose, shorter duration of use
• Drugs include Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix
• Package insert labels to include fracture-risk warnings

U.S. health regulators have cautioned doctors and patients of an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine from high doses or long-term use of a widely used class of drugs to control the amount of acid in the stomach.

Thursday - May 27, 2010

Mediterranean Diet Helps Protect Aging Brain

People who scored highest in adherence to diet least likely to suffer mental decline, study finds

Eating a Mediterranean diet may help keep your brain healthy as you age, findings from an ongoing study show.

"This diet emphasizes vegetables, fruits, fish, olive oil, lower meat consumption, and moderate wine and non-refined grain intake," study author Dr. Christy Tangney, of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, said in a news release from the American Society for Nutrition.

Thursday - May 27, 2010

Gut Bacteria Offer New Hope for People with Celiac Disease

Probiotics and/or prebiotics may help alleviate the severity of celiac disease. According to a new research study, intestinal bacteria in celiac patients could influence inflammation to varying degrees.

This means that altering intestinal microbiota could improve the quality of life for celiac patients, and also patients with diseases such as type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune disorders.

Thursday - May 27, 2010

A Helpful Guide For Storing And Saving Produce

When fresh fruits and vegetables are in season it’s a good idea to stock up on nutritious foods… but what’s the best way to maintain shelf life without throwing away unused or ruined produce?

It’s best to eat your foods fresh, but sometimes storage is necessary, especially if you buy items in bulk from farmers’ markets or the grocery. This guide from Raw Food Health online should help you determine how best to store your fruits and veggies.

Wednesday - May 26, 2010

Health Tip: Understanding Organic Foods

And whether they're healthier for you

Organic foods must meet certain standards established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

They must be produced without the use of hormones, herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics or fertilizers created with sewer waste or ingredients that aren't natural, says the Nemours Foundation.

Tuesday - May 25, 2010

Legislation Could Restrict Your Access To Nutritional Supplements

Many of our readers may already be aware of the amendment in the United States House of Representatives' version of the recently passed Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009 (H.R. 4173). This amendment was introduced by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.).

It would give the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the authority to require nutritional supplement companies to perform at least two human studies before making any claims for their products, according to the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH). Currently, supplements are regulated under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA).

Tuesday - May 25, 2010

Vitamin E Helps Treat Common Liver Disease

But only effective in less than half of cases, study finds

A new study has identified vitamin E as a treatment that can provide relief for many of the estimated 10 million Americans who have the most common chronic liver disease.

"This clearly shows that vitamin E is effective for treatment of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis who don't have active diabetes," said study author Dr. Arun J. Sanyal, chairman of the division of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at Virginia Commonwealth University. A report on the trial is published in the April 28 online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Tuesday - May 25, 2010

Dark Chocolate Guards Against Brain Injury

Researchers have discovered that epicatechin, a compound in dark chocolate, may protect your brain after a stroke by increasing cellular signals that shield nerve cells from damage.

An hour and a half after feeding mice a single dose of epicatechin, animals that had ingested the compound suffered significantly less brain damage following an induced stroke.

Tuesday - May 25, 2010

The Silent Epidemic -- Legal Prescription Drug Abuse

Not a lot of attention is paid to prescription drug abuse. But nearly 20 percent of Americans have used prescription drugs for nonmedicinal reasons. Three quarters of those may be abusing prescription drugs.

Between 1992 and 2002, the number of prescriptions written increased by 61 percent. In that same period, the number of prescriptions written for opiates increased by almost 400 percent.

Sunday - May 23, 2010

Chilli peppers help burn away the fat

Eating chilli peppers can help dieters to lose weight by raising their metabolism and burning away fat, according to scientists

Researchers have found that the heat generated by peppers can actually increase your consumption of calories and "oxidise" layers of fat.

And for those that don't like the "burn", they have discovered that an equivalent of the main ingredient "capsaicin" occurs in some non-hot varieties of the fruit The heat of pepper evolved to put animals off eating them, but humans have come to like them and they have been a staple of many diets around the world for thousands of years.