Beta Blockers May Not Prevent Heart Attacks and Strokes

 

By SYDNEY LUPKIN

Oct. 2, 2012
 

New research suggests that beta-blocker pills don't prevent heart attacks, strokes or cardiac deaths in patients with heart disease, but doctors are torn over whether there's enough in the study to make them want to stop prescribing the drugs. Beta blockers have been a standard heart medication for decades.

The study, published in the Journal of American Medical Association, looked at nearly 45,000 patients with prior heart attacks, coronary artery disease or risk factors for coronary artery disease, and found that those on beta blockers didn't show significantly lower rates of heart attack, stroke or cardiac death than those not on the medication.

"This is a very compelling study that has the potential to shake up the conventional wisdom that exists regarding the role of beta blockers in the management of patients with cardiovascular disease," said Dr. Randal Thomas, a cardiovascular specialist at the Mayo Clinic. "At a minimum, it will lead to new studies that address this issue once again."

Beta blockers work by blocking adrenalin receptors in the brain that become activated when the body is stressed. Beta blockers are used to treat heart disease, high blood pressure, anxiety and other conditions.

Some doctors say they are glad beta blockers are being questioned because their use had been "written in stone" for so many years, but others say using a non-randomized data sample is not as reliable as a randomized drug trial.

While the authors attempted to account for differences between the patient groups that might have had an impact on their health, they did not have access to information on why some patients were prescribed these drugs and some were not, said Dr. Richard Besser, the chief heath and medical editor at ABC News.

Dr. Melvin Rubenfire, who directs cardiovascular medicine at the University of Michigan, said he'd been hoping for a study like this, but it won't change his prescribing habits because he uses beta blockers only in specific cases. Rubenfire also weans patients off the pills 18 months after they have a heart attack if they experience adverse side effects, such as fatigue and erectile dysfunction.

Rubenfire said the existing data wasn't enough to determine which patients would benefit from beta blockers, and what kinds of beta blockers are better than others. Beta blockers include at least six brand names, including Sectral, Tenormin and Zebeta.

Even study coauthor Christopher Cannon, a professor at Harvard Medical School, said he will continue to prescribe beta blockers to his patients, adding "I would not make too much of this" because the study is only observational.

"All it can do is raise up an idea for us researchers to consider for further study," he said.

Cannon said this research shows that it's unclear whether beta blockers add more benefit than the other therapies developed in the decades since beta blockers became a standard of practice for treating patients with heart disease. Since patients are often taking several drugs, it's hard to pinpoint how much one agent helps compared with another.

Dr. Steven Nissen, who chairs the department of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, said the medicine might not be ideal for all of the patients it's prescribed to, but a new randomized, controlled trial will be necessary to change guidelines for prescribing beta blockers.

"Abandonment of this type of therapy for post-MI [post-heart attack] patients based upon an observational study is not warranted," he said.

For the time being, the study raises questions, said Dr. Harlan Kumhulz, a professor of medicine, epidemiology and public health at Yale University.

"The question it raises is about how long after having a heart attack should patients remain on beta blockers?" Kumhulz said, noting that beta-blocker patients didn't have better outcomes than the other patients did after the first year. "The study cannot definitively answer that question -- but raises doubts about the need to continue to take them for the rest of a patient's life."

Dr. Lauren Hughes of the ABC News Medical Unit contributed to this report.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/beta-blockers-prevent-heart-attack-stroke-study-jama/story

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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

 

Is the Mainstream Finally Catching On?

 

 

It’s like a really bad joke – the scary news about FDA-approved drugs. Seems every month a study shows that a drug either increases your risk of toxic side effects… or another disease… or even the one it’s supposed to prevent!

Or, best-case scenario, we learn the drug simply doesn’t work.

This latest and worst is about beta blockers. You’ve probably heard of them. Doctors prescribe these drugs to lower blood pressure. They are also used to treat abnormal heart rhythm and chest pain. And physicians usually prescribe them to people who have already had a heart attack to prevent another one.

Millions of people take these pills every day. They think it makes them safe from heart attack. Yet, not surprisingly, that just isn’t the case.

A study in JAMA (Journal of the American Heart Association) brings us this news from a very reliable source. It’s called REACH. It’s a worldwide registry of patients with heart disease or risk factors.

Researchers sifted through REACH data on nearly 45,000 people. They looked at four years’ worth of evidence.¹

What they discovered was shocking. Well not to us… but would be for most people.

It didn’t matter whether or not the patient had already had a heart attack. The beta-blockers did not prevent another heart attack or stroke. And the patients were no less likely to die from their heart condition.

Oh, a tiny fraction fared better. These were the people who’d had the most recent heart attacks. They were less likely to have another heart attack or hospitalization.

But overall, the beta-blockers made no difference in the patients’ outcome. That bears repeating…

The beta blockers did not help save their lives!

“Plenty of people are taking the medications who don’t need them,” says researcher Dr. Lydia Bazzano of Tulane University.²

“A lot of physicians still prescribe beta-blockers, especially in patients who have known [coronary artery disease],” says lead researcher Dr. Sripal Bangalore of the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York. “We need clinical trials to say which are the patients who would benefit from beta-blockers.” ³

Given all the evidence, it’s hard to believe that anyone would actually benefit. A few months ago, we heard that beta blockers actually spiked blood pressure levels.⁴

Apparently, there’s a lot we don’t know about these prescription medications. Problem is, the patent on beta blockers has expired. That means drug companies have no more incentive to study them. There will be no more clinical trials to address these problems.

Many people don’t like beta blockers because of the side effects – fatigue, upset stomach, dizziness, constipation, diarrhea, feeling lightheaded.⁵ Also, beta blockers can cause weight gain.⁶

Since these drugs are generic, they’re cheap. And many, many people take them for YEARS. Yet, as we see in this study, there’s no evidence they work at all!

It brings to mind the evidence against statin drugs. Doctors prescribe them to lower LDL “bad” cholesterol, and to prevent build-up of plaque in arteries.

But, we wondered, how safe are these drugs?

The evidence was clear, in one major study. Patients who took statins actually had MORE plaque in their arteries.⁷ Sad, but true.

This news about beta blockers, then, comes as no real surprise. And if you read Health Watch regularly, you know the best ways to avoid heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.⁸ I’m talking about solutions that really work. Without all the crazy side effects.

First, avoid simple carbs and grains. They raise blood sugar which releases insulin into your system. Insulin stores and builds fat – especially around the waist. That leads to inflammation and heart disease. Also, avoid vegetable oils as they contain unhealthy omega-6 fatty acids. They cause chronic inflammation.

Avoid fried foods, of course. Also, switch from grain-fed “regular” beef and chicken – and embrace organic. Eat plenty of wild, organic berries. And make sure you get plenty of exercise.
These simple changes are sure to help… without any nasty side effects.

P.S. Of course, there are many other all-natural ways to strengthen your heart. Our health research team has uncovered:

• One all-natural supplement that’s more effective than statin drugs (and without the risks)…
• One specific food group – backed by findings from the National Institutes of Health – that reduces heart disease risk by 15 percent in just three months…
• And a Harvard study that shows how one type of exercise drastically slashes heart disease risk.

Find out how you can learn these safe, effective methods for combating heart disease by reading the short letter here.

References:
¹http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1367524
²http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/nm/common-heart-drugs-may-be-less-helpful-than-thought
³http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/nm/common-heart-drugs-may-be-less-helpful-than-thought
⁴http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/05/why-blood-pressure-drugs-can-make-the-problem-worse-and-how-to-beet-this-common-condition-with-a-delicious-food/
⁵http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/ucm118594.htm”>http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/ucm118594.htm
⁶http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21304487
⁷http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/09/new-research-shows-this-deadly-drug-is-even-worse-than-we-knew/
⁸http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2010/10/slash-heart-disease-risk-by-81-percent/

 

http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/10/is-the-mainstream-finally-catching-on/

Why Prescribed Blood Thinners Aren’t Working ...

Why Prescribed Blood Thinners Aren’t Working (and it’s Not the Side Effects)

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Looks like Big Pharma and mainstream medicine have outdone themselves once again. And not in a good way…

Researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute just released a study showing that improper dosing of two common blood-thinning drugs may be doing more harm than good.

No surprise there. We know the horrible side effects of conventional medicine.

Millions of patients with coronary artery disease usually take one of two drugs – clopdogrel (Plavix) or prasugrel (Effient).¹ The two drugs are prescribed to prevent blood clots that can lead to a stroke or a heart attack.

It’s another one of those situations where the medicine prescribed to fix the problem may actually cause it. Or not work at all. The side effects aren’t the news. There’s another reason. And it’s not making Big Pharma or the physicians writing the scripts look good.

Researchers recently presented their findings at the AHA Scientific Sessions 2012 in Los Angeles.² For the study, they examined 521 patients currently on one of the two heart disease drugs. They found that blood was not clotting properly in 75 percent of the patients taking the blood thinners. .

What does this say for the millions of others taking these drugs?

Again, it wasn’t the side effects. So why the greater risk?

Most of them were taking the wrong dose!

Out of the 521 patients, only a quarter from each drug group was taking the right dose.

Fifty percent of patients who were taking Plavix were not getting enough of the drug for it to work effectively in preventing blood clots. Then going from one extreme to the other, a quarter of the Plavix patients were taking too much of the drug.

Among the patients taking Effient, this time half were taking too much. The increased dose raised their risk of dangerous bleeding. And a quarter was taking too little of the drug.

The number of people treated in hospitals in the U.S. for drug-related issues has increased more than 50 percent in recent years.³ In 2008 alone, 1.9 million people became sick or injured because they took or were given the wrong dose of medication. Among the drugs sending the highest number of people to the hospital – blood thinners!

Doctors are supposed to know this stuff, right?

In the case of blood thinners such as Plavix and Effient there are no set guidelines for dosage amounts. In fact, the guidelines that are “set” suggest everyone take some same dose of one of these pills. That means a 30-year-old male who weighs 220 lbs. is taking the same dose as an 80-year-old, 120 lb. woman.

Dr. Brent Muhlestein, a cardiac researcher at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute says there is an average dosage range for patients but researchers are finding out that most patients are not falling into that “set” range.

It gets worse…

Doctors aren’t even taking the necessary time to perform tests to determine what dosage would be appropriate. Doctors take into consideration a patient’s age, gender, cholesterol levels, and heart history to prescribe. But those are indicators that researchers found to not be good predictors for how a person will react to the drug.

How did the researchers reach their dosage conclusions? A simple blood test.

“We showed that by performing a simple blood test to see whether or not the blood is clotting properly, we can determine whether patients are getting an appropriate, individualized dose of the medications,” Dr. Muhlestein said. “The test is easy to perform, but not widely used.”

Dr. Muhlestein went on to say that it would be very easy for the doctors to perform the test. “A physician could have the test machine on his or her desk and perform the test right there in the office.”

If it is that simple then why aren’t doctors using it?

Enter Big Pharma…

Patients spend over $1,800 a year on just one of those drugs. And if doctors were to find a lower effective dose that medical bill could be cut in half. That definitely wouldn’t make Big Pharma happy. With more than half of Americans taking at least one medication and one out of six of them taking three or more, doctors do not want to sacrifice their costly cut.

But of course there are several natural alternatives to prevent blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks.

Best of all you can find them in your local grocer for pennies compared to the $1,800 you’d be spending on one of the conventional drugs. We’ve told you about many of them.

Here are just a few – click on the links to read more:

• Apples
• Cherries
• Strawberries
• Grapes

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is a far much safer and effective way to go when preventing heart disease.

Like this Article? Forward this article here to your friends or family or Share on Facebook.

Editor’s Note: More than 2,300 people die of heart disease every day. That means the mainstream’s medical solutions are a failure! Get the scoop on the real, natural solution that one cardiologist credits with restoring heart health to almost every single one of his patients! And the easy way to implement it in your own life, today.

References:
¹http://intermountainhealthcare.org/qualityandresearch/Research-News/Pages/home.aspx?NewsID=1313<
²http://my.americanheart.org/professional/Sessions/ScientificSessions/Scientific-Sessions_UCM_316900_SubHomePage.jsp
³http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/14/medication-related-injuries-on-the-rise/

http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/11/why-prescribed-blood-thinners-arent-working-and-its-not-the-side-effects/

Multivitamins … Prove Not to Be Magic Health Bullet

Friday, November 16, 2012

Multivitamins Back in the News… Prove Not to Be Magic Health Bullet

Multivitamins are back in the news. Last month we exposed Big Pharma’s little secret behind the study that claimed the daily supplement cut the risk of cancer in men by 12 percent.

This time the study on multivitamins that was also published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) comes as no surprise.¹

Dr. Howard Sesso of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School led the study that used data from the Physicians’ Healthy Study II. The very same data used in the cancer study.² It involved almost 15,000 male doctors over age 50.

Again, half the men took a multivitamin. Half took a placebo. Researchers followed the subjects for over 11 years.

At the end of the study researchers concluded that there was no difference in heart-disease rates between the two groups.

“We found that after more than a decade, there is neither benefit nor risk” in terms of heart disease, said Dr. Sesso.

That’s not exactly shocking news.

Roughly 40 percent of American adults take a daily multivitamin.³ They’re hoping for a “quick fix,” or make up for diet deficiencies. Or they’re hoping to prevent any and all chronic diseases. Well that’s problem number one!

Taking a multivitamin isn’t bad. If you take one, don’t stop. Just don’t believe that it’s going to keep you from getting heart disease. And regarding the study, there’s a major point to notice…

Duffy MacKay of the Council for Responsible Nutrition agrees that the results aren’t surprising.⁴ But he does note that the doctors in the study were extremely healthy to start with. Yet heart disease was still prevalent.

But, McKay goes on…

“Unfortunately, this study population is not representative of your average American.”

Most Americans live a sedentary lifestyle. Little to no exercise and bad eating habits. This goes to show even more that if they didn’t help healthy doctors… a single multivitamin isn’t going to protect the average American from heart disease.

Dr. Sesso says it best, “They’re no substitute for a heart-healthy diet, exercising, not smoking, keeping your weight down.”⁵

Of course we’re not saying the vitamins and nutrients within a multivitamin aren’t going to help your overall health. But the vitamin values it contains are simply too low to work on their own to obtain drastic results. Results such as preventing heart disease.

So what can you do?

First…ALWAYS take a high-quality food based multivitamin. Look at the label. Make sure it is made with 100% organic ingredients. Most multivitamins are made with synthetic ingredients.⁶ The quality of these vitamins are often low.

Second…take individual vitamins or add to your multivitamin to reach proper values. If you take a multivitamin, add extra vitamin C. Vitamin C helps repair and regenerate tissues.⁷ It helps lower cholesterol and triglycerides. Take at least 250 mg of vitamin C every day.

For a healthy heart include an extra B vitamin in the mix as well. Make sure you are getting at least 400 mcg of a B complex.⁸

Then there’s vitamin D. It’s great for your bones. It supports your immune system. And it helps prevent other health problems, like high blood pressure. Vitamin D3 is the one to look for. It’s the sunshine vitamin so during the summer it is easier to get a little extra. But during the winter and when you can’t get outside, you want to take at least 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily.⁹

For optimal heart-health, include an omega-3 to your daily regimen.¹⁰ Omega-3s give you the healthy fatty acids necessary to reduce inflammation and blood clotting. They also keep blood vessels healthy.

Coenzyme Q10 is another important supplement to add for your heart.¹¹ CoQ10 re-energizes the mitochondria in the heart cells. It helps lower the high blood pressure that is linked to heart disease.

This latest multivitamin study is “a wake-up call that this disease is very prevalent in the United States and even if you’re doing a good job, you’re not immune,” said Dr. Vincent Bufalino, cardiologist and spokesman for the American Heart Association.¹²

That bears repeating… “you’re not immune.” Diet and lifestyle play a major role in having a healthy heart. Nothing, not even a multivitamin, can replace a healthy diet.

A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean protein should be your main source of nutrients. So instead of making your diet the “supplement” to your daily multivitamin, make your multivitamin the “supplement” to your heart-healthy diet.

Editor’s Note: More than 2,300 people die of heart disease every day. That means the mainstream’s medical solutions are a failure! Get the scoop on the real, natural solution that one cardiologist credits with restoring heart health to almost every single one of his patients! And the easy way to implement it in your own life, today.

Like this Article? Forward this article here to your friends or family or Share on Facebook.

References:
¹http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1389615
²http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1380451
³http://healthland.time.com/2012/11/05/multivitamins-dont-lower-risk-of-heart-disease/
⁴http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2012/11/05/multivitamins-heart-problems/1682189/
⁵http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/05/14945877-daily-multivitamins-dont-lower-heart-risks-in-men-study-finds?lite
⁶http://naturalsociety.com/why-many-vitamin-studies-are-absolutely-worthless/
⁷http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02811/facts-on-vitamin-c
⁸http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00684/Cardiovascular-Disease-Overview.html
⁹http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/07/five-simple-ways-to-virtually-eliminate-your-risk-of-cancer/
¹⁰http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/supplementing-your-heart-health-omega-3-plant-sterols
¹¹http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00684/Cardiovascular-Disease-Overview.html
¹²http://news.yahoo.com/study-vitamins-dont-lower-heart-risks-men-170444420.html

http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/11/multivitamins-back-in-the-news-prove-not-to-be-magic-health-bullet/

Elderberry - Nature’s Flu Medicine ...

Nature’s Flu Medicine… Effective and Inexpensive

Wednesday, November 21, 2012


By now, you know that the flu vaccine is dangerous and doesn’t work. And you know it’s a bad idea to get one. But no matter what you do, there’s never a guarantee you won’t get the flu.

So what do you do if you contract the virus? Number one – don’t take Tamiflu!

The drug may sound familiar. The government has been stockpiling it since the swine fu outbreak in 2009.¹ It’s quickly become the go-to for doctors during flu season. But we’re not sure why…

Even the FDA released a statement on their website in 2006 regarding Tamiflu:²

“Patients with influenza should be closely monitored for signs of abnormal behavior throughout the treatment period.”

Researchers in Japan deemed Tamiflu so dangerous that they banned the drug for teenagers in 2007.³ The Japanese government claims the anti-flu drug caused odd behavior, hallucinations, and delirium among patients.

A report by Japanese health officials found that over half of children and teenagers who took the drug were more likely to display unusual behavior. That included jumping off houses and running out in to traffic. That’s not all… some users even committed suicide while on the drug.

It’s no surprise, then, that the skepticism is spreading. A leading British medical journal, the BMJ, asked drug maker Roche to release unpublished data about Tamiflu.

BMJ claims there is no evidence that Tamiflu even stops the flu. And really, what good is stopping the flu if you end up suicidal?

Peter Gotzsche, leader of the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Copenhagen even said countries should take legal action to get back the money that was unreasonably spent on stockpiling the drug in case of an unforeseen flu outbreak.

The European Medicines Agency is currently investigating Roche for not reporting side effects and deaths that haven been linked to drugs, including Tamiflu.

But despite the warnings, the World Health Organization put Tamiflu on its list of “essential medicines.”

We would hardly consider it “essential.” Dangerous and ineffective is more like it.

So if you come down with the flu and don’t want to risk jumping off the roof or getting hit by a car we have good news for you.

There’s a natural herb that doesn’t come with the severe side effects. Best of all… in one study it had 100% cure rate in severe flu patients. You don’t get results like that from conventional medicine.

What’s this flu-fighting herb?

Elderberry.

A study out of Norway looked at the effects of elderberry on 60 patients between 18 and 54.⁴ All patients suffered from influenza-like symptoms for 48 hours or less. They took 15 ml of elderberry or placebo syrup four times a day for five days. Patients who took elderberry recovered four days sooner. Symptoms improved in just two days.

What makes this extract so powerful? Elderberry⁵ is loaded with antioxidants that stimulate the immune system. And it contains anthocyanins. These give it its anti-inflammatory properties.

Something that is a must to fight flu symptoms such as aches, pains, and fever.

And there weren’t any reported side effects in either study.

No side effects and it heals? Sounds like a win-win.

You can buy elderberry extract in capsule or syrup form. And you can find it in your local health food store. But don’t eat it raw or it could be toxic.

If you start to come down with the flu this season, consider going to the health food store before you call your doctor. In a matter of days your symptoms will begin to ease with the help of this power berry.

Like this Article? Forward this article here to your friends or family or Share on Facebook.

Tweetables:
- Researchers in Japan deemed Tamiflu so dangerous that they banned the drug for teenagers in 2007. Click to Tweet
- Elderberry is loaded with antioxidants that stimulate the immune system. Click to Tweet
References:
¹ http://news.yahoo.com/british-medical-journal-slams-roche-tamiflu-105747624–finance.html
² http://newscientist.com/article/dn10527″>http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10527
³ http://newscientist.com/article/dn11451-japan-bans-tamiflu-for-teenagers.html
⁴ http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15080016″>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15080016
⁵ http://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu07/pdfs/charlebois284-292.pdf

http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/11/natures-flu-medicine-effective-and-inexpensive/

The Energy Boost That’s Putting Lives at Risk

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Energy drinks are the new craze. Monster, Red Bull, Rockstar… these pick-me-ups are on a whole other level than the old standby, coffee.

Kids, teens, and young adults make up half the energy drink market.¹ They’ve got dozens to choose from, all offering that boost and enhanced performance.

But according to some serious claims against 5-Hour Energy, they’re offering much more than a boost. That “extra” energy may have cost over 13 people their lives and several others life-threatening reactions.² Reactions that include heart attacks, convulsions, and even a miscarriage.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this kind of thing.

Last month the FDA investigated Monster Energy Drinks after the reported death of a 14-year-old girl.³ She drank two 24-ounce Monster Energy Drinks in a 24 hour span. As her autopsy confirmed… She died of cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity. The medical examiner also discovered that she had an inherited disorder that weakened blood vessels.

So, was it the drink or her disease that caused her death? That’s where things get fuzzy.

There’s some confusion when it comes to the amount of caffeine in these drinks. Take a look on the bottle of 5-Hour Energy shots. You won’t even find caffeine content listed.⁴ You can’t even find that information on the company’s website. It merely states one shot has “caffeine comparable to a cup of the leading premium coffee.” Researchers from John Hopkins University found energy drinks to contain three times the amount of caffeine than soda and an energy shot to contain five times the amount.⁵

Coffee and soda consumption is declining while energy drinks are on the rise. Last year sales for energy drinks went up by 17 percent, topping $9 billion.⁶

With the rising sales come rising medical claims. It’s becoming so dangerous that several countries and states have debated restricting energy drink sales.

But of course, if you believe the manufacturers, there’s nothing to worry about. They market these drinks as “energy supplements.”

Even worse, they claim that some are even healthy – less calories, no sugar, natural supplements. Yes, they do contain herbal supplements and vitamins but the amounts are not FDA regulated. The FDA allows only 0.02% of caffeine in soda.⁷ But energy drinks don’t have any restrictions like that. Why? Because they’re called “supplements.” So there’s no regulation at all.

Common sense (and research) will tell you that healthy people can tolerate caffeine in moderation. But heavy caffeine consumption has been linked to serious side effects. Caffeine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system.⁸ According to a study out of France, “caffeine increases energy metabolism throughout the brain but decreases at the same time cerebral blood flow.”

In 2009 alone, 13,000 emergency room visits were associated with energy drinks.⁹ There is much scrutiny whether or not the drinks are to blame for the deaths and side effects. After all, the 14-year-old that died didn’t know she had a disease that weakened blood vessels. How many others are walking around with undiagnosed conditions?

But is it even worth the risk? Especially when there are all-natural and safe – and we do mean safe – alternatives?

Step outside. Sunlight may be the quickest and cheapest energy boost.¹⁰ 15-20 minutes in the sun can make a huge difference in your energy level. “Sunlight energizes and elevates mood,” says Dr. Lorraine Maita, a board certified internist from New Jersey.

Swap out a Monster for a glass of water. Water is a simple way to fight lack of energy.¹¹ Fatigue is the first sign of dehydration. You can’t go wrong with nature’s “energy” drink.

When you feel yourself dragging, grab a piece of citrus fruit. The smell alone will get your body revved up. Citrus activates nerves in the mouth, throat, and nasal cavity that trigger a heightened level of brain activity.¹²

Also, don’t be afraid of a little coffee. This drink has gotten a bum rap. But we’re now starting to understand that a cup of Joe could benefit your health. Just don’t load it up with sugar.

Bottom line… our bodies shouldn’t need “energy shots.” A balanced diet and lifestyle should leave us fresh and energetic. If you’re tired all the time, something else is going on. And an energy drink is not going to fix it. As studies have shown, you may end up worse off than you started. Much worse.

 Dead, even.

Of course, we call get tired once in a while. During those moments pass on the energy drinks and try one of our recommended quick energy fixes. Your heart, health, and overall life will truly benefit and you won’t have to worry about taking a trip to the ER.

Editor’s Note: For a natural, caffeine-free “energy drink,” try BioPT Elixir. It’s designed to increase energy and endurance, and reduce fatigue. There are 16 vital nutrients jam-packed into this delicious, 6-oz. drink. Find out why one BioPT Elixir user says “I have the energy of someone half my age,” by watching this special video presentation.

Like this Article? Forward this article here to your friends or family or Share on Facebook.

Tweetables:
- Last year sales for energy drinks went up by 17 percent, topping $9 billion. Click to Tweet
- In 2009 alone, 13,000 emergency room visits were associated with energy drinks. Click to Tweet

References:
¹ http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3065144/
² http://news.yahoo.com/five-hour-energy-linked-heart-attacks-spontaneous-abortion-025115948–finance.html
³ http://usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/22/fda-deaths-monster-drink/1650093/
⁴ http://forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2012/11/15/can-energy-drinks-kill-reprise-new-fda-investigation-this-time-names-5-hour-energy/
⁵ http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18809264
⁶ http://reportbuyer.com/press/new-report-predicts-energy-drink-sales-in-the-us-to-exceed-9-billion-by-2011/
⁷ http://cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57538063/fda-investigates-five-deaths-one-heart-attack-linked-to-monster-energy-drinks/
⁸ http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1356551
⁹ http://news.yahoo.com/us-regulators-report-possible-between-caffeine-shot-deaths-022832005–finance.html
¹⁰ http://huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/12/natural-energy_n_1587391.html#slide=1081195
¹¹ http://health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/HEALTHbeat_060706.htm
¹² http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/natural-energy-boosters/story?id=14682378#.UKZ48xyB6dw

http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/11/the-energy-boost-thats-putting-lives-at-risk/

Bottled Water - The Dirty Truth ...

The Dirty Truth About What’s Really in Bottled Water

 Friday, November 23, 2012

 

You should always read labels. But you shouldn’t always trust them.

There’s one label that most people would never think to question. But you’d be wise to.

We spend more than $22 billion a year on bottled water.¹ But according to a report by the World Wildlife Fund International, people may be getting more than just water in their bottles. And not in a good way…

Based on a survey conducted by the organization, 56 percent of people chose bottled water for taste. 55 percent said convenience played a role in their decision.

Most of us drink bottled water because we think it is the healthy alternative. But if you knew what was in your bottled water you may think twice.

“Bottled water may be no safer or healthier than tap water, while selling for up to 1,000 times the price,” the WWF report said.

So what’s in your bottled water?

Contaminants…

You’ve probably already heard about the dangers of the actual plastic bottles. They contain bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates.² These chemicals have been linked with different types of cancers,³ reproductive problems,⁴ and pose a serious threat to your overall health.

But besides that… there’s the actual water itself. Surely, that can’t be bad for you… right?

Wrong. And here’s why…

The Environmental Working Group tested 10 brands and found 38 low-level contaminants with an average of eight chemicals including disinfection byproducts (DBPs), caffeine and Tylenol, nitrate, industrial chemicals and arsenic, and bacteria.⁵

So OK, I don’t know about you, but we’ve never seen arsenic and bacteria listed on the labels. But what about those labels anyway? One says mineral and spring water, another glacial, and then another labeled pure and natural. But not so fast…

The water may not even be coming from those places. In fact, if we had to guess, they definitely aren’t. Companies don’t have to reveal the location of their source.⁶ And they are not required to provide water quality reports stating treatment methods and purity testing.

Most times your bottled water is simply filled with tap water! Pepsi’s Aquafina and Coca-Cola’s Dasani are nothing more than filtered municipal tap water.⁷

Basic tap water is tested numerous times a day and under constant monitoring.⁸ You may have received a call once or twice from your local water company advising you to boil water for a short period of time or to notify you if it contains more chlorine than usual. At least the calls let us know they are testing. That’s more than we can say about the bottled water producers.

If the water you buy bottled is what comes out of your faucet, you’re basically paying extra for a plastic bottle. And more chemicals.

The bottled water industry disagrees with these findings. But we wouldn’t expect any less.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to regulate bottled water as a packaged food product to assure safety and quality.⁹ Stephen Kay of the International Bottled Water Association says they already do and “it meets specific standards of quality and safety from the source all the way though the finished product.”

But we don’t even know the source. They won’t tell us. And the lab studies don’t lie!

Obviously we can’t give up water. Our bodies need it to function.¹⁰ Water helps our respiration and keeps our body temperature normal. It also aids in cushioning joints and ridding our bodies of waste.

So what can you do? Obviously, tap water isn’t clean of contaminants either.

Your best bet is to filter your own water. Add a filtration unit to your faucet that will eliminate sediment, chlorine, metals, and chemicals. If you are going to buy your water, look and see where it is coming from, make sure it says on the label. And don’t forget to choose glass over plastic.

Like this Article? Forward this article here to your friends or family or Share on Facebook.


Tweetables:
- We spend more than $22 billion a year on bottled water. Click to Tweet
- Bottled water may be no safer or healthier than tap water, while selling for up to 1,000x the price. Click to Tweet
- Pepsi’s Aquafina and Coca-Cola’s Dasani are nothing more than filtered municipal tap water. Click to Tweet

References:
¹ http://abcnews.go.com/Business/study-bottled-water-safer-tap-water/story?id=87558#.UKrZAhyB7Px”
² http://jhsph.edu/news/stories/2008/goldman_schwab_bpa.html
³ http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1570083/
⁴ http://web.colby.edu/cleanmakeup/meet-the-ingredients/endocrine-disruptors/
⁵ http://ewg.org/BottledWater/Bottled-Water-Quality-Investigation/Bottled-Water-Quality-Investigation-Test-Results
⁶ http://static.ewg.org/reports/2010/bottledwater2010/pdf/2011-bottledwater-scorecard-report.pdf
⁷ http://thewaterproject.org/bottled_water.asp
⁸ http://water.nationalacademies.org/basics_part_5.shtml
⁹ http://prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumers-vote-for-bottled-water-as-their-number-one-beverage-for-a-healthy-lifestyle-58544272.html
¹⁰ http://cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/water.html

http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/11/the-dirty-truth-about-whats-really-in-bottled-water/#Continue

Nature’s “Aspirin” Prevents Heart Attacks and Strokes without the Side Effects

The Institute for Natural Healing

Friday, November 2, 2012


Americans buy more than 44 million packages of aspirin a year to try and ward off heart attacks and strokes.¹

 
But that daily aspirin may be doing more harm than good. Sure, aspirin acts as a blood thinner. But it also strips away the stomach lining, causing ulcers and bleeding. And if ulcers aren’t bad enough, bleeding can occur inside the brain, resulting in death.

If you are one of the millions worried about having a heart attack there’s another alternative. Minus the bleeding, ulcers, and death.

New research from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) found a natural alternative.² Even the FDA deemed it safe and effective. So safe and effective, that they want it for themselves.³

Dr. Robert Flaumenhaft, a professor at Harvard Medical School, led the study. His group of researchers administered this natural supplement orally to rats. And they discovered that this natural cure had anti-thrombotic properties.

Thrombosis is commonly known as a blood clot. Clots block blood flow to the brain and to the heart. This leads to heart attack and/or stroke.

Researchers tested over 5,000 compounds and this particular one proved to be the most potent.
What is this life-saving compound?

Rutin…

Maybe you’ve never heard of it. But rutin is a flavonoid that proves the old adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” It can be found in many fruits and vegetables including onions, citrus fruits, and – you guessed it – apples. You can also buy it in supplement form.

And it does more good than any of those dangerous drugs…

Because rutin not only proved to prevent arterial clots. But it also showed effectiveness in preventing venous clots. Those can cause deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms. Anti-clotting drugs such as aspirin, Plavix, and Coumadin only target one type of clotting.

“A safe and inexpensive drug that could reduce recurrent clots could help save thousands of lives,” said Dr. Flaumenhaft.

And rutin may just be the answer.

This isn’t the first study that has shown its effects on the body’s blood flow in veins.

In another study, published in the journal Minerva Cardioangiologica, researchers studied how rutin benefits people suffering from chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).⁴ CVI is when leg veins cannot pump enough blood back to the heart. It results in varicose veins, ankle swelling and leg cramping.

Researchers gave 30 patients with CVI a combination of rutin and other supplements including vitamin E. After just 30 days patients showed improvement.

What’s next for rutin?

Researchers still have to conduct clinical trials on humans. Since the FDA has already said rutin is safe, tests on humans can begin without the time and expense to establish the safety of a new drug.

But if you’re interested in this supplement, you may want to hurry and stock up.

The FDA has its sights set on it. This compound is so effective, the FDA wants to make it an approved drug. That would ban it as a supplement. You’d need a prescription to get it. And chances are, it’s going to cost a heck of a lot more too.

But you don’t have to wait for the FDA. Rutin is safe. So skip the aspirin and deathly side effects.

Editor’s Note: More than 2,300 people die of heart disease every day. That means the mainstream’s medical solutions are a failure! Get the scoop on the real, natural solution that one cardiologist credits with restoring heart health to almost every single one of his patients! And see the easy way to implement it in your own life, today. Just go here for all the details.

References:¹http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704511304575075701363436686.html
²http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2012/05/flavonoid-compound-can-prevent-blood-clots/
³http://www.anh-usa.org/exciting-compound-apples/
⁴http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/MED/11292962/reload=0;jsessionid=ayTyOK8I0H1NmNjeFI6d.4

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A reader's comments on the above article:

Gertrude "Trudy" says: On November 3rd, 2012 at 5:07 pm. Permalink
Bromelain, a protein-digesting enzyme in raw pineapple and raw papaya, and as a supplement, does as much good as rutin and more. Up through most of 2011, Wikipedia and some other sites and published findings stated that bromelain was an anti-thrombotic, anti-ischemic, anti-angina, fibrinolytic, apoptotic (cancer-cell killer), anti-inflammatory, COX-1/COX-2/5-LOX inhibitor, selective prostaglandin inhibitor (against joint tissue destructive prostaglandins but not against joint healing and colds/flu fighting prostaglandins), blood thinner, anti-inflammatory, protein digester, plaque reducer, blood pressure normalizer, joint pain reliever, blood pressure reducer, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis reducer, digests away roughened surfaces of damaged blood platelets and makes platelets slipperier. Until at least part of 2011, Wikipedia and other sites stated flatly that it was anti-thrombotic, anti-ischemic, anti-angina, apoptotic, fibrinolytic, and so on. By 2012, Wikipedia and the other sites now only say bromelain is a digestive aid and anti-inflammatory joint pain reliever, period. Censorship!

In my case, as a “brittle diabetes” elderly heart attack survivor who still smoked, in 3 weeks bromelain brought my 201/104 blood pressure and 2.8 blood thickness down to 134/80 and 1.0. In 6 weeks my life-threatening coronary artery blockage was gone, and my other issues of CAD/PAD/RLS were gone, too. My athero- and arterio-sclerosis were better, too, my cardiologist said. This despite still smoking. In a friend’s case, after a heart attack, 2 weeks on bromelain brought his blood pressure from stroke level to 125/75 and his other numbers normalized as well. He was back at work in less than a month. Puritan’s Pride and Swanson’s Vitamins online sell bromelain supplement pretty cheap and their quality is reliable. Or you can just eat raw pineapple (not canned or frozen–heat and cold kill enzymes). Raw papaya was even better–before GMO papaya came along. As a blood thinner, bromelain lets you eat all the healthy cancer-fighting foods that coumadin disallows. My brother-in-law believed his doctor after his stroke (he wouldn’t believe me BEFORE his stroke!) and after a couple of years on coumadin, he now has a small brain tumor growing. I bet he also won’t believe me that Essiac has a 98%-100% full and permanent recovery rate for all cancers they ever used it on, according to every source I ever read on it, including Dr. William C. Douglass II’s paid-subscription newsletter. And a flyer sent to me by the Sarasota Tea Co, Sarasota FL, in 1997 or 1998, stated that a 5-year study of terminal AIDS volunteers from the LA Projects found a 100% full recovery rate in all of them. They didn’t even have HIV remaining.

A dear friend with terminal AIDS tried Essiac along with her AIDS meds in 2001-2002–and her plateaued 250 T cell count rose to 500 in one month, to 750 by the end of the 2nd month and to around 1,000 by the end of the 3rd month. But when she went off her AIDS meds and only used Essiac alone, it fell down to around 800. Thing is–medical science says that once T-cell count falls below 250, it can rise up to 250 again with AIDS meds, but cannot rise above 250 no matter what! No wonder the AMA hopped all over itself to get Essiac information squelched in the 1960s. I was old enough to watch President Kennedy and his doctor on national TV, in a Presidential Message, tell how the doctor used 4-herb “Indian Herbal Tea” as his “only intervention”, he said, to cure–”Not in remission–I’m CURED!” the doctor’s own colon cancer. He promised to tell the ingredients to anyone who called his office next day–and he said he got there at 7 a.m. Next day he came back on TV to say he couldn’t tell us the ingredients. He said that after his broadcast the previous day, the AMA had gotten Congress to create a new law overnight, which means start a bill, pass it through both houses, and vote it into law with a quorum too large for President Kennedy to veto, all before 7 a.m. the next morning. This new law made it a federal crime for anyone,even a doctor, to tell anyone, even his own patients, about anything that cured anything–or to tell what ingredients were in it. So said the two Secret Service men who met him at his office door at 7 a.m. the next morning to advise him of this new overnight law, and they said if he told anyone what was in the Indian Tea they would arrest him and put him in federal prison. President Kennedy introduced him and stood with him on both days. There’s your kind and caring government intervention–and your honest and trustworthy AMA, too. Thank goodness for the Internet!

Bromelain and Essiac sheep-sorrel tea raw materials, recipes and supplements are all over the Web. Just don’t be pregnant, or trying to be pregnant, or nursing–sheep sorrel is an abortifacient, or so I read somewhere years ago. And, like bromelain, for it to do much good, it needs to be taken on an empty stomach, 5 nights a week, preferably as a liquid, sublingually, and held in the mouth awhile. Bromelain isn’t that picky, but it can either work for digestion or for the health stuff–but not both at once. Absorption is 40% on an empty stomach, but only 17% on a full stomach–it gets used up digesting protein in the food you ate. Too long a comment–but glad if it helps someone.

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http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/11/natures-aspirin-prevents-heart-attacks-and-strokes-without-the-side-effects/

The Dirty Little Secret About Imported Fish

 The Institute for Natural Healing

Tuesday, November 6, 2012


Last week we told you how livestock owners were cutting costs by feeding cattle candy. Now another popular food industry is making news. And it isn’t good. In fact, this time it’s even worse…

As you probably know, fish is an excellent source of lean protein. It is low in fat and calories. And depending on the fish you choose, you get essential fatty acids such as omega-3.

But depending on where that fish is coming from, you may be getting a lot more than you think. And it definitely isn’t vitamins and nutrients.

We know about the dangers of mercury and other toxins in fish and how to avoid them.
But that’s only half the story.

Health officials aren’t warning us about what fish suppliers in China and other Asian countries are feeding the fish they send over to the U.S. The fish sold in your local grocer. And the fish you’re eating, fresh and frozen.

Prepare to be shocked (and – sorry – disgusted)!

Let’s look at China first. It is the major exporter of tilapia and scallops.¹ Last year Americans ate over 475 million pounds of tilapia, making it the most popular farmed fish in the U.S.²

But I’m guessing you wouldn’t be as quick to pick up some tilapia for dinner if you knew it had eaten…

Feces.

Unfortunately, you read correctly.

China actually feeds their farmed fish feces from pigs and geese.³ Why? Simple… it’s cheaper than commercial fish food. And with the fish industry becoming so competitive they have to find ways to cut down on costs. Regardless of what it may be doing to the fish… and you!

The animal waste is making the fish sick and prone to disease. And adding manure to the water contaminates it and makes it unsafe for living in.

Michael Doyle, director of the University of Georgia’s Center for Food and Safety says the practice is dangerous not just for the fish, but also for American consumers.

“The manure the Chinese use to feed fish is frequently contaminated with microbes like salmonella,” says Doyle, who has studied food borne diseases in China.

It’s not just tilapia you need to worry about. Watch out for shrimp and scallops imported from Asia.

Workers at a facility in Vietnam sort shrimp on dirty floors with trash and flies crawling all over. They then pack the processed shrimp in dirty plastic bins covered in ice.

Yes, ice is good. However, that ice is frozen tap water often found to be contaminated with bacteria and unfit for human consumption.

The bacteria in the frozen ice can spread to the seafood and in turn poison you. Again, no one is thinking about your health.

Even though the FDA knows about these conditions, it still only inspects a small percentage of imported seafood… less than three percent.⁴

So what can you do to make sure you aren’t eating contaminated fish?

Always buy wild fish.⁵ Avoid imported seafood grown in confined aquacultured areas. If you live on the coast buy local and fresh. And when you’re in the freezer aisle always look at labels. Buy seafood that was caught in America. If you can’t find that, look for fish imported from Canada, Iceland, or New Zealand.

Also, when buying frozen try to pick vacuum-sealed packages opposed to plastic wrapped. It will be fresher and won’t have freezer burn.

Don’t let the seafood industry’s dirty little secret hurt you. You know you can’t rely on the FDA to protect your health so take it in your own hands and make wise decisions. It will definitely be worth it in the long run.


References:
¹http://www.fishwatch.gov/farmed_seafood/outside_the_us.htm
²http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/science/earth/02tilapia.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
³http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-11/asian-seafood-raised-on-pig-feces-approved-for-u-dot-s-dot-consumers
⁴http://abcnews.go.com/Business/consumers-eating-feces-tainted-shrimp-fish-seafood-asia/story?id=17491264#.UJcbgByB7Px
⁵http://fishcooking.about.com/od/howtochoosefreshfish/bb/supermarket_buy.htm

 http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/11/the-dirty-little-secret-about-imported-fish/#Continue

Flu Shots May Cost You Your Life

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

 

The Preventative Measure that May Cost You Your Life

 

 

It’s that time of year. The flyers are everywhere. Doctors are pushing them. Your local pharmacy is offering them at discount. Some companies are even offering them to employees for free.

They think they are doing you a favor. But are they really? Or could their “good” intentions be putting you in danger?

We already told you how this “preventative” measure doesn’t work.¹

And now, what’s become a multibillion-dollar industry may be costing you more than just a trip to the clinic and a waste of time.² It may actually cost you your life. And if not your life, some very serious side effects.

Health officials keep saying they are perfectly safe. But something that is supposed to keep you healthy yet causes the very disease it’s designed to prevent does not sound perfectly safe.

Yes, we are talking about the seasonal flu vaccine. Its lack of effectiveness is not fresh news. We’ve told you all that before. But now we have more confirmation that this “protective” shot is worse than anyone thought.

The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control just released a new double-blind study using ferrets.³ Researchers used ferrets because of their human-like susceptibility to colds and the flu. For the study, Dr. Danuta Skowronski administered the flu vaccine to the ferrets. The results didn’t just show that the vaccine was ineffective. It showed the ferrets that received the vaccine became significantly sicker than the other animals.

You read that correctly. It didn’t keep the animals healthier, it made them sicker!

There have been numerous other studies on the vaccine and the chemicals in it. They all confirm their life-threatening side effects. But the government still wants to push the vaccine on you.

So what are you really putting in your body if you get a flu shot?

Aluminum, antibiotics, formaldehyde, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and thimerosal, a type of mercury.⁴ Definitely NOT your common additives.

But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assures you that they only use these chemicals to stabilize the vaccine. And the amounts found in the vaccines are small.

I don’t know about you. But no matter how “small” these doses are, I don’t want these toxins anywhere near my body… let alone injected straight into it!

Let’s break it down…

• Aluminum – It has been a known neurotoxin for over 100 years.⁵ And it has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease for the past several decades.⁶

• Antibiotics – That doesn’t sound so bad, right? That’s what the doctor gives you when you’re sick. But taking antibiotics can do more harm than good. Antibiotics only kill bacterial infections.⁷ That’s not going to help you with the cold or flu, which are viral infections. And taking antibiotics when you don’t need them only increases your chances of developing an infection. The body builds up a resistance against antibiotics. That allows the bacteria to grow, causing complications and sometimes death.

• Formaldehyde – I’m sure you’ve heard of this one. Mortuaries and medical laboratories use formaldehyde as a preservative. It’s not something you’re supposed to be injected with while you’re living. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services openly admits that formaldehyde causes cancer.⁸

• MSG – A lot of people complain about headaches and migraines after receiving a flu vaccine. It might just be from that “very small” dose of MSG that’s part of the injection. Doctors and dieticians have warned us about consuming too much MSG in our diets. Chinese food, some canned vegetables and soups, and even processed meats contain MSG. It’s an excitotoxin that causes neurons in the brain to become overstimulated.⁹ The result is brain lesions and even death.

• Thimerosal – This is a methyl mercury compound. Mercury is one of the most toxic poisons. It attacks the central nervous system, leaving you permanently disabled or dead.¹⁰ It is so toxic that there is a worldwide treaty in the works to ban mercury.

If you go to the additives page on the CDC’s website, they have completely different descriptions for the chemicals. It’s just another attempt by Big Pharma and the government to deceive you.

The federal government invested $400 million of our money to develop the flu vaccine.¹¹ And where did that money go? Straight to Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, and Lonza. These guys are getting rich while everyday Americans are unknowingly making themselves sick.

If you get a flu shot you may be gambling with your life.

However that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to avoid the flu.

There are safe, natural, and effective ways to stay healthy this season. You’ll want to increase your vitamin D intake and wash your hands. Vitamin D strengthens your immune system.¹² And washing your hands stops the transfer of germs and bacteria.

Neither of those preventative measures ends in cancer, damage to the nervous system, and least of all death.

You definitely can’t say the same about the flu shot.

 

Tweetables:
- The federal government invested $400 million of our money to develop the flu vaccine. Click to Tweet
- Flu shots contain Aluminum, Antibiotics, Formaldehyde, MSG and Thimerosal. Click to Tweet

References:
¹http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/01/flu-shots-only-good-for-big-business/
²http://www.anh-usa.org/flu-sho-forced-on-health-workers/
³http://www.anh-usa.org/a-look-back/
⁴http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/additives.htm
⁵http://orthomolecular.org/library/jom/2000/articles/2000-v15n01-p021.shtml
⁶http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3056430/
⁷http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antibiotics/FL00075
⁸http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/twelfth/addendum.pdf
⁹http://www.omicsonline.org/2157-7013/2157-7013-2-109.pdf
¹⁰http://www.hrw.org/dangers-of-mercury
¹¹http://www.anh-usa.org/flu-sho-forced-on-health-workers/
¹²http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45022571/ns/today-today_health/t/easy-ways-boost-your-immune-system/

 

http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/10/the-preventative-measure-that-may-cost-you-your-life/

Beetroot Juice lowers Blood Pressure

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

 

Why Blood Pressure Drugs Can Make the Problem Worse… and How to “Beet” this Common Condition with a Delicious Food

Most of us have heard one shocking story or another about the dangerous side effects of pharmaceutical drugs. But many people are not aware that some of these drugs can actually worsen or even cause the same disease they are designed to treat.

Tamoxifen is one example. This drug is generally prescribed to high-risk women to prevent breast cancer. But according to a study published in the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer,¹ tamoxifen can actually cause uterine cancer and increase the mortality rate from the disease.

Or consider diabetes drugs, like Avandia. Results from the ACCORD trial (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes) showed that aggressive blood sugar management with these drugs resulted in a 22% increased risk of death in diabetic patients.²

And now, new research shows that the most commonly used drugs for lowering blood pressure actually raise it. That’s right: the drugs that most hypertension patients count on are putting them in harm’s way.

But not to worry, because another recent study confirms that one safe, natural remedy can drastically lower your blood pressure in just three hours.

Blood Pressure Meds Elevate Blood Pressure

The study, which was published in the American Journal of Hypertension, followed the progress of 945 patients over 17 years.

These patients took one of two anti-hypertensive drugs. One was a calcium channel blocker which lowers blood volume. The other was a beta blocker, or ACE inhibitor. These are often called “R” drugs, because they lower the levels of an enzyme called renin. This enzyme is secreted by the kidneys and plays a key role in maintaining blood pressure.

The study showed that the drugs actually spiked blood pressure. And the highest spikes were found in patients with low renin levels.

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University say doctors are too quick to use a one-drug-treats-all option.

“Every clinician knows that there’s a variation in response to antihypertensive treatment,” says study author Michael Alderman, MD. Dr. Alderman is the former president of the American Society of Hypertension. “Some patients will have an elevation in blood pressure.”

Until now, this has been blamed on patients not taking their drugs. Other times doctors put it down to random events.

“But this data shows that it’s not a random event,” he says. “It’s due to a mismatch between the patients’ renin status and the drug.”

Root Remedy Offers Hope

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says one in three Americans over the age of 20 have hypertension. And it lands over 40 million people in the hospital each year.

According to the American Heart Association, elevated blood pressure increases the risk for:

• Heart attack
• Angina
• Stroke
• Kidney failure
• Peripheral artery disease

And while doctors are prescribing drugs that make the problem worse, one simple root can make it better.

A recent UK study – published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension – says that beetroot juice can significantly lower high blood pressure.

The study was conducted by the famous Queen Mary’s William Harvey Research Institute and headed up by Professor Amrita Ahluwalia.

Researchers gave beetroot juice to healthy volunteers. They compared their blood pressure responses and the biochemical changes in their circulation.

They found that not only does beetroot juice lower blood pressure… it does so quickly.

Professor Ahluwalia found that patients lowered their blood pressure within three hours of drinking their daily dose… and the effects lasted for 24 hours!

And the best thing is that consuming beets works best for those who need it most. The researchers found that “the higher the blood pressure, the greater the decrease.”

Researchers also tested a second group of patients with daily nitrate tablets. They too were able to lower their blood pressure. The high nitrate content in beetroot may be one of the reasons it’s so effective in lowering blood pressure. And why the research group has called it an essential “superfood.”

“Beeting” Out the Competition

Beetroot is rich in iron, boron, and folic acid. It also contains betanene, which is why it has such a deep purple color. Betanene is a powerful antioxidant. In fact, it’s even more potent than polyphenols which are believed to be the reason that diets rich in leafy vegetables also lower blood pressure.

Research member Professor Ben Benjamin says that beetroot absorbs and stores super high levels of nitrate. These are found in soil and our bodies use them to control blood pressure.

“When nitrate is present in saliva, bacteria on the tongue converts it into nitrite,” he says. “When the nitrite is swallowed, it’s converted into nitric oxide.”

Nitric oxide is a chemical produced by our blood vessels to help them relax and lower blood pressure.
“Increasing the levels of nitrate with beetroot juice increases this effect,” Professor Benjamin says.

True Stories of Success

“Currently, treatment for high blood pressure involves a cocktail of aspirin, statins, beta blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitors,” says Professor Benjamin. “People don’t like taking all the tablets. They don’t feel well and the treatment is lifelong.”

But he says beetroot is a healthy and safe alternative. The study also found that, like aspirin, beetroot juice prevents blood clots and protects the lining of blood vessels.

People are already putting this superfood to the test.

Sixty-year-old David Kelsall, from Stoke-on-Trent, England, was amazed by the results.

“I discovered my blood pressure was high when my doctor was testing for something else,” he says. “It was not life-threatening but I was anxious to do something about it.”

He was considering drugs when he read the reports about beetroot juice.

“I drank three bottles of it a week,” he says. “Less than four weeks later, my blood pressure had already leveled out. Now, a few months later, it is under control and normal. I am still drinking the juice, and I’m going to continue doing so. It may not help everyone, but it’s helped me.”

Getting Beetroot into Your Diet

Beetroot has a medium glycemic index score of 64… but this doesn’t need to be a problem. That’s because you only need a small amount of beetroot juice to lower your blood pressure.

“We found that only a small amount of juice is needed – just 250ml – to have this effect,” says Professor Ahluwalia. That’s about one cup.

We recommend Biotta Organic Beetroot Juice. Not only does it taste delicious, but it’s also inexpensive, especially when you consider the positive benefits.

You can also blend raw beets into a morning smoothie or roast them in the oven and slice and serve over salads.

References:
¹ http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1525-1438.2007.01025.x/abstract;jsessionid
² http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0802743#t=articleDiscussion


http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/05/why-blood-pressure-drugs-can-make-the-problem-worse-and-how-to-beet-this-common-condition-with-a-delicious-food/

Oregano, a Super Herb, Wards Off Prostate Cancer

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

 

Windowsill Herb Wards Off Prostate Cancer

As if you needed a reason to eat that slice of pizza. Or your other favorite Italian dish…

Along with flavor, oregano offers several health benefits. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.¹ Studies indicate that it even helps fight breast cancer.²

Now a new study shows it may benefit men battling prostate cancer.

One out of six men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. Most don’t die. But they do undergo treatment and surgeries with harsh side effects. But now…

Professor Supriya Bavadekar PhD from Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY may have found a new type of treatment in the form of oregano.³ “We’re hoping this translates into a drug with lesser adverse effects in patients,” Dr. Bavadekar said.

Dr. Bavadekar and her team studied the effects of the natural herb using different concentrations. They exposed the prostate cancer cells to oregano in three different time periods – 24 hours, 48 hours and 96 hours.

The results? The oregano killed the cancer cells.

But even better…

The oregano didn’t just kill some of the cells. In 96 hours the drug produced almost 100 percent inhibition.

“We’re thinking this compound could be used by itself or in combination with other agents,” Dr. Bavadekar said. Best of all?

Oregano proves to be nontoxic. Meaning…no harsh side effects.

“Its effects on cancer cells can really elevate the spice to the level of a super-spice, like turmeric,” Dr. Bavadekar said. “If the study continues to yield positive results, this super-spice may represent a very promising therapy for patients with prostate cancer.”

But what is causing the cells to die?

It’s called carvacrol… This compound is found in an array of plants and herbs including wild bergamot, thyme and pepperwort. But it’s most abundant in oregano.

Carvacrol induces apoptosis or cell suicide in prostate cells. The higher the concentration, the more cell death.

Researchers from India also tested the effects of carvacrol on cancer cells.⁴ Just as it did in the first study, carvacrol produced cell suicide. At a 500 ml concentration carvacrol induced cervical cancer cell death up to 80 percent. Again, the higher the concentration, the higher the cell death.

Studies on carvacrol as a form of cancer treatment are still in the early stages. Dr. Bavadekar said she is optimistic about what they will uncover in future studies.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t start benefiting from the super spice now. Add a little spice to your life. Oregano is safe. It’s natural. And it’s easily available. You can even grow it at home.

Make it a cooking staple. Start by sprinkling a little oregano on your favorite healthy dishes. A dash here, a dash there. Don’t care for the spice in food? You can still benefit.

You can find oregano oil capsules at your local health food store. Or they can easily be bought online. Oregano oil contains a high concentration of carvacrol.

Oregano won’t just add flavor to your dishes. It could add years to your life by helping keep prostate cancer at bay.

References:
¹http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19075694
¹http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20096548
¹http://www.liu.edu/Brooklyn/About/News/Press-Releases/2012/April/BK-PR-Apr25-2012.aspx
¹http://www.biolmedonline.com/Articles/MAASCON-1/Vol3_2_307-312.pdf

 

http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/09/windowsill-herb-wards-off-prostate-cancer/

 

Ginger - the Spice With Healing Powers

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

This Spice Soothes Your Stomach… and Could Prevent Cancer

Many people love Chinese food. Others crave Indian, Korean, or Jamaican dishes. And usually it’s because of one particular spice they all share…

In many parts of the world, it has been known for centuries for a different reason. And that’s the one we’re interested in today…

You see, this spice has great healing powers.

Traditional doctors in Asia, Africa, India, and South America have known it helps ease stomach problems and much more.

Modern-day scientists are finally catching on. They have tested this plant root in the laboratory. And once again, traditional doctors were right all along…

A previous study showed that it effectively fights colorectal cancer,¹ the second leading cause of cancer death in America.² The authors noted that this spice “…seem(s) to be promising for cancer prevention; however, further clinical studies are warranted to assess the efficacy and safety…”

And further clinical studies are exactly what we now have…

Because another group of researchers have confirmed it’s a powerful weapon against prostate cancer.  A cancer that you’re all but guaranteed to get if you’re a man who lives long enough.

The researchers from Georgia State University undertook the first study of its kind. Rather than assessing one compound from this plant root, they tested the whole thing to see how it affects cancer growth.³ And the results were very encouraging.

So what was it?

A whole ginger root.

Scientists implanted human prostate cancer in mice. The experiment lasted only eight weeks. But during that time, the whole ginger extract reduced tumors by as much as 56%. And it was completely safe.

Results indicate you’d need to eat about 3 ½ ounces of the whole root extract every day to see these kinds of benefits.⁴

The powerful antioxidants in ginger help stop free radicals from damaging genes. They stop cancer before it gets started. And they may even stop cancer cells from growing, researchers say.⁵

But of course, the wonders of this spice don’t end there…

It also soothes the side effects of cancer treatment.

A study in India involved children and young adults with bone cancer. They were all getting chemotherapy. Could ginger root powder relieve their nausea and vomiting?

Half the children got ginger root powder capsules. Half got a placebo. The control group had significantly more moderate to severe nausea and vomiting, compared to the “ginger group.” The ginger group also had fewer delayed reactions to their treatment.⁶

Another large study involved women with cancer. They had surgery, and were taking the cancer treatment drug cisplatin. They started taking ginger capsules when they started the drug, and took it for five days. Ginger eased their nausea.⁷

In a different study, women took three ginger capsules daily for three days before starting chemotherapy. They took capsules for three days during treatment, too. The ginger really helped their nausea. Each capsule had 250 mg of ginger.⁸

Around the world, doctors prescribe ginger to treat the common cold, fever, sore throats, vomiting, motion sickness, arthritis, sprains, cramps, high blood pressure, and fever.

There are many ways to add ginger to your diet. You can buy raw ginger at a grocery store and make it into a tea. It’s also available as a supplement. It comes in extract or capsule form… and you can get them online or at a health food store.

References:
¹http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Cancer%20Prev%20Res%20%28Phila%29.%202011%3B4%2811%29%3A1929-1937
²http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/
³http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21849094
⁴ http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/233099.php
⁵http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Baliga%20M%2C%20Haniadka%20R%2C%20Pereira%20M%2C%20et%20al.%20Update%20on%20the%20chemopreventive%20effects%20of%20ginger%20and%20its%20phytochemicals.%20Crit%20Rev%20Food%20Sci%20Nutr.%202011%3B51%286%29%3A499-523
⁶http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20842754
⁷http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Int%20J%20Gynecol%20Cancer.%202004%3B14%286%29%3A1063-1069
⁸http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3361530/

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