Journal of Women’s Health Available Free Online in Honor of “National Wear Red Day”
To Promote Heart Health in Women
New Rochelle, NY, February 1, 2008 – Publisher Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. will provide free online access to all issues of its authoritative, peer-reviewed publication Journal of Women’s Health through the end of February in recognition of National Wear Red Day, organized by Go Red For Women and the American Heart Association. Go Red For Women is a movement dedicated to increasing awareness of heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women in America. The Journal is available free online.
Journal of Women’s Health is a core multidisciplinary journal dedicated to the diseases and conditions that hold greater risk for or are more prevalent among women. The Journal covers the latest advances and clinical applications of new diagnostic procedures and therapeutic protocols for the prevention and management of women’s healthcare issues.
“Journal of Women’s Health is the primary source of information that meets the challenge of providing optimum healthcare for women,” says Mary Ann Liebert, President and CEO of Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. “I am happy to provide access to the latest clinical management strategies and cutting-edge research published in the Journal.”
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research including Obesity Management, Thyroid,Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, Breastfeeding Medicine, and Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics .Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News(GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry’s most widely publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm’s 60 journals, books and newsmagazines is available online.
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 140 Huguenot Street, New Rochelle, NY 10801 www.liebertpub.comPhone: (914) 740-2100 (800) M-LIEBERT Fax (914) 740-2110
Friday, February 01, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Give Your Old Bras Away
I've just found out about this: Don't throw your old bras away - Donate them to charity with the BreastTalk.co.uk Bra Appeal. This is what they say:
We're asking for all your old bras as long as they are in good condition and straps and clasps are in good working order. Send them to us and we can distribute them to charities throughout the UK and overseas.
There are many women across the world who for some reason don't have a bra. They may be homeless in the UK or living in a country where the price of a bra is more than a meal for their family. The BreastTalk.co.uk Bra Appeal is trying to help these women by collecting and distributing your unwanted bras to charities in the UK and abroad. http://www.breasttalk.co.uk/bra-appeal/
What a great reason to clear out your undie drawer!
We're asking for all your old bras as long as they are in good condition and straps and clasps are in good working order. Send them to us and we can distribute them to charities throughout the UK and overseas.
There are many women across the world who for some reason don't have a bra. They may be homeless in the UK or living in a country where the price of a bra is more than a meal for their family. The BreastTalk.co.uk Bra Appeal is trying to help these women by collecting and distributing your unwanted bras to charities in the UK and abroad. http://www.breasttalk.co.uk/bra-appeal/
What a great reason to clear out your undie drawer!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Vitamin D for pregnant and nursing women
The BBC has reported that the UK Department of Health is advising that pregnant and breastfeeding women should be supplementing with vitamin D to reduce the risk of rickets in children.
On our secure online shop we sell both a vitamin D supplement and an all-round nutritional supplement for pregnant and lactating women.
On our secure online shop we sell both a vitamin D supplement and an all-round nutritional supplement for pregnant and lactating women.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Do we really need to take nutritional supplements?
Do we really need to take nutritional supplements? I think the answer to this question is ‘yes’.
Many people take a good multivitamin and mineral supplement as an insurance policy – just in case the diet is not quite right, but there seems to be mounting evidence that people are often short of nutrients, such as iron, magnesium and zinc. This may not be enough to bring about the classic deficiency illnesses, such as scurvy and goitre, but a lot of people feel less than well a lot of the time. May be a good all round nutritional supplement is not just an insurance policy but also a necessity for some people.
Children’s requirements are different to adults not only in terms of taste(!) but alos in terms of the strength of different nutrients. Women past menopausal age are advised to take a multivitamin supplement that doesn’t contain extra iron.
Many people take a good multivitamin and mineral supplement as an insurance policy – just in case the diet is not quite right, but there seems to be mounting evidence that people are often short of nutrients, such as iron, magnesium and zinc. This may not be enough to bring about the classic deficiency illnesses, such as scurvy and goitre, but a lot of people feel less than well a lot of the time. May be a good all round nutritional supplement is not just an insurance policy but also a necessity for some people.
Children’s requirements are different to adults not only in terms of taste(!) but alos in terms of the strength of different nutrients. Women past menopausal age are advised to take a multivitamin supplement that doesn’t contain extra iron.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Tea Tree Cream
In the week this enquiry came in from a prospective customer:
Please advise me whether it is safe to use Tea Tree Cream on a 3-month old baby's face & neck.
This was my reply:
in general yes it is, but as with all creams you need to be sensible and use it sparingly and not close to the eyes etc.
Please advise me whether it is safe to use Tea Tree Cream on a 3-month old baby's face & neck.
This was my reply:
in general yes it is, but as with all creams you need to be sensible and use it sparingly and not close to the eyes etc.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Organic Luxury Valentine Gift Idea
Organic skin care company Raw Gaia has produced a new gift set in time for Valentine's day - “I Love You” Box.
The “I Love You” Box contains some of the purest skin care products available anywhere in the world and a delicious raw, organic chocolate bar. All the products are vegan chemical-and cruelty-free.
The “I Love You” Box contains the following items:
Raw Chocolate Face Pack. It is made with four natural ingredients carefully chosen for their nourishing and beautifying properties: raw chocolate powder, -one of the highest known sources of antioxidants in the world-, red clay, turmeric and amla fruit powder. 50g jar
For Her Daughters Living Moisturiser. A beautiful feminine cream with revitalising rosehip, evening primrose and palmarosa. 60 ml jar
Sweet Orange Living Lip Balm. A soothing vegan lip balm with zesty orange essential oil. 10 ml tin
Living Beauty Massage Bar. Made with solid, organic and cold-pressed cacao butter and in a lovely heart shape, it helps to soften and beautify the skin. 50g bar
“Real Orange ” Raw Chocolate Bar. Hand-made by Brighton-based Total Raw Food, Real Orange is a delicious raw chocolate bar, with 58% raw cocoa solids and a delicious orange flavour. It is a smooth blend of ethically sourced, organic and raw ingredients including cocoa (cacao) butter, agave nectar, cocoa powder, carob, sesame seeds and a hint of orange essential oil. 40g bar
The “I Love You” Box retails at £32 and is available from Raw Gaia at www.rawgaia.com and on 01273 311 476.
Further information about this gift set
The “I Love You” Box contains some of the purest skin care products available anywhere in the world and a delicious raw, organic chocolate bar. All the products are vegan chemical-and cruelty-free.
The “I Love You” Box contains the following items:
Raw Chocolate Face Pack. It is made with four natural ingredients carefully chosen for their nourishing and beautifying properties: raw chocolate powder, -one of the highest known sources of antioxidants in the world-, red clay, turmeric and amla fruit powder. 50g jar
For Her Daughters Living Moisturiser. A beautiful feminine cream with revitalising rosehip, evening primrose and palmarosa. 60 ml jar
Sweet Orange Living Lip Balm. A soothing vegan lip balm with zesty orange essential oil. 10 ml tin
Living Beauty Massage Bar. Made with solid, organic and cold-pressed cacao butter and in a lovely heart shape, it helps to soften and beautify the skin. 50g bar
“Real Orange ” Raw Chocolate Bar. Hand-made by Brighton-based Total Raw Food, Real Orange is a delicious raw chocolate bar, with 58% raw cocoa solids and a delicious orange flavour. It is a smooth blend of ethically sourced, organic and raw ingredients including cocoa (cacao) butter, agave nectar, cocoa powder, carob, sesame seeds and a hint of orange essential oil. 40g bar
The “I Love You” Box retails at £32 and is available from Raw Gaia at www.rawgaia.com and on 01273 311 476.
Further information about this gift set
Monday, January 21, 2008
Farm Animals And The Environment
Here's another reason to go vegetarian or at least eat more vegetarian meals:
According to a report from the Food and Agriculture Organization, farmed animals are a top contributor to today’s serious environmental problems. The report found that livestock produced 35 percent to 40 percent of all methane emissions (which have 23 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide), 65 percent of nitrous oxide (which is 320 times as warming as carbon dioxide), and 64 percent of ammonia, which contributes to acid rain. In addition to climate changes, the growth of global meat production adds immensely to water pollution and the reduction of forests for livestock grazing. Nearly 30 percent of the Earth’s entire land surface is used for grazing animals, and that amount is expected to grow because the global livestock sector is growing faster than any other agricultural sub-sector.
Steinfeld H, De Haan C, Blackburn H. Livestock-Environment interactions: Issues and options. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United States Agency for International Development and the World Bank. 2006. Available at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5305e/x5305e00.htm# Accessed: Dec. 4, 2006.
Source: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
According to a report from the Food and Agriculture Organization, farmed animals are a top contributor to today’s serious environmental problems. The report found that livestock produced 35 percent to 40 percent of all methane emissions (which have 23 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide), 65 percent of nitrous oxide (which is 320 times as warming as carbon dioxide), and 64 percent of ammonia, which contributes to acid rain. In addition to climate changes, the growth of global meat production adds immensely to water pollution and the reduction of forests for livestock grazing. Nearly 30 percent of the Earth’s entire land surface is used for grazing animals, and that amount is expected to grow because the global livestock sector is growing faster than any other agricultural sub-sector.
Steinfeld H, De Haan C, Blackburn H. Livestock-Environment interactions: Issues and options. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United States Agency for International Development and the World Bank. 2006. Available at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5305e/x5305e00.htm# Accessed: Dec. 4, 2006.
Source: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
vegetarian glucoamine and chondroitin?
I received this email this morning from a potential customer:
I have been recommended by my physio to take Glucosamine and Chondroitin(?). Your site was recommended by a friend but on looking cannot find Chondroitin. Can you please advise me. It needs to be vegetarian too.
Here's my reply:
you are quite right we don't sell chondroitin on the site.
As far as I know it's never vegetarian ( extracted from cow, pig, shark, fish and bird cartilage) so for that reason we don't sell it. Not all glucosamine is Ok either as often it comes from shellfish but ours is OK for us veggies. I have been a veggie (apart from a minor lapse of about two weeks) for about 30 years and am a member of the Vegetarian Society so I look very carefully at anything I'm thinking of selling.
I have been recommended by my physio to take Glucosamine and Chondroitin(?). Your site was recommended by a friend but on looking cannot find Chondroitin. Can you please advise me. It needs to be vegetarian too.
Here's my reply:
you are quite right we don't sell chondroitin on the site.
As far as I know it's never vegetarian ( extracted from cow, pig, shark, fish and bird cartilage) so for that reason we don't sell it. Not all glucosamine is Ok either as often it comes from shellfish but ours is OK for us veggies. I have been a veggie (apart from a minor lapse of about two weeks) for about 30 years and am a member of the Vegetarian Society so I look very carefully at anything I'm thinking of selling.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Help With New Year's Resolutions
Are your new year’s resolutions running out of steam? Did you start off optimistic that this year you would do it, but now those resolutions are an embarrassment? You may want to lose weight or to give up smoking, to be prettier or nicer, to learn a new language or forget old habits. The big problem, of course, is not making the resolutions but in keeping them. But don’t give up. Even though it’s no longer new year’s day, think about the energy and determination you had at that time to succeed, to get yourself sorted.
So how can you increase your chance of sticking to your resolutions? Remember the carrot-and-stick of traditional thinking? It still has relevance today. Think about the past: what has motivated you to do things you didn’t want to do or that were difficult? These don’t have to be major goals, just tasks that you managed to complete in spite of yourself. Did you decide to give yourself a reward when you completed the task? Did you think about the satisfaction you would feel when you achieved your goal? If these or similar approaches got you going, you are motivated by the carrot. If, however, you kept reminding yourself of the disapproval you would experience if you didn’t complete your task, or if you decided to deny yourself something until you completed your goal, you are motivated by the stick.
Is it sometimes the carrot and sometimes the stick? Can you see a pattern to this? Are work goals usually motivated by the stick, and home goals by the carrot? Do you ever use both at the same time?
Whatever pattern emerges, apply this to your new year’s resolutions. Add the carrot and/or stick to help you achieve what you want.
Also remember that there may be professionals who can help you. Hypnotherapists, for example, can help people who want to lose weight or give up smoking. Life Coaches are an excellent resource if you feel you are stuck in a rut, playing and replaying old behaviour that doesn’t work. To find a suitable professional ask around, visit one of the local natural health centres, check out our therapist listing, or check out Yellow Pages. Don’t be frightened of phoning several therapists to find the one you feel is best for you. Most therapists are quite happy to talk to prospective clients who are unsure about making an appointment, (and if they're not don't make an appointment!)
If you don't fancy seeing a therapist, self-hypnosis CDs can be very helpful too. There's a huge range to help you with all sorts of new year's resolutions.
So how can you increase your chance of sticking to your resolutions? Remember the carrot-and-stick of traditional thinking? It still has relevance today. Think about the past: what has motivated you to do things you didn’t want to do or that were difficult? These don’t have to be major goals, just tasks that you managed to complete in spite of yourself. Did you decide to give yourself a reward when you completed the task? Did you think about the satisfaction you would feel when you achieved your goal? If these or similar approaches got you going, you are motivated by the carrot. If, however, you kept reminding yourself of the disapproval you would experience if you didn’t complete your task, or if you decided to deny yourself something until you completed your goal, you are motivated by the stick.
Is it sometimes the carrot and sometimes the stick? Can you see a pattern to this? Are work goals usually motivated by the stick, and home goals by the carrot? Do you ever use both at the same time?
Whatever pattern emerges, apply this to your new year’s resolutions. Add the carrot and/or stick to help you achieve what you want.
Also remember that there may be professionals who can help you. Hypnotherapists, for example, can help people who want to lose weight or give up smoking. Life Coaches are an excellent resource if you feel you are stuck in a rut, playing and replaying old behaviour that doesn’t work. To find a suitable professional ask around, visit one of the local natural health centres, check out our therapist listing, or check out Yellow Pages. Don’t be frightened of phoning several therapists to find the one you feel is best for you. Most therapists are quite happy to talk to prospective clients who are unsure about making an appointment, (and if they're not don't make an appointment!)
If you don't fancy seeing a therapist, self-hypnosis CDs can be very helpful too. There's a huge range to help you with all sorts of new year's resolutions.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
On the weekend of the 26-27 January 2008, the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch takes place. It's the world's biggest bird survey and the RSPB's biggest event of the year!
Last year over 400,000 people took part by counting the birds in their garden for an hour. It's really simple to do so you don't have to be an expert and it gives the RSPB a vital snapshot of the UK's birds each winter. Over a period of just one hour, participants are asked to record the highest number of each bird species seen in their garden (not flying over) at any one time. Then all you do is note them on the counting sheet provided and send it in to us. Our scientists can then use the information and patterns in bird numbers to help prioritise our bird conservation work.
Find out more on the RSPB web site.
Last year over 400,000 people took part by counting the birds in their garden for an hour. It's really simple to do so you don't have to be an expert and it gives the RSPB a vital snapshot of the UK's birds each winter. Over a period of just one hour, participants are asked to record the highest number of each bird species seen in their garden (not flying over) at any one time. Then all you do is note them on the counting sheet provided and send it in to us. Our scientists can then use the information and patterns in bird numbers to help prioritise our bird conservation work.
Find out more on the RSPB web site.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Organic Skin Care Range
For the last two months I’ve been using Beyond Organics skin care range – made by Marianne Tregoning near Helston in Cornwall. At the risk of sounding like one of those adverts I’d like to really recommend it to you all.
My skin is softer and more luminescent. I love the smell. The range is completely organic and suitable for vegetarians. Do give it a try.
You can see more about it at the Beyond Skincare web site.
(I have no financial or other incentive to let you know about this - I just love the stuff!)
My skin is softer and more luminescent. I love the smell. The range is completely organic and suitable for vegetarians. Do give it a try.
You can see more about it at the Beyond Skincare web site.
(I have no financial or other incentive to let you know about this - I just love the stuff!)
Friday, January 11, 2008
Breast cancer
One in nine women in the UK will get breast cancer during their lives - a truly startling statistic. This is more than double the amount that were affected 30 years ago.
Risk factors include HRT, increasing alcohol consumption, meat consumption, delayed childbirth and less breastfeeding.
Source: www.vegetarian.org.uk
Risk factors include HRT, increasing alcohol consumption, meat consumption, delayed childbirth and less breastfeeding.
Source: www.vegetarian.org.uk
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Many of you know our online shop as a place to buy effective nutritional supplements, but I thought I’d remind you that we also have great products for pregnant women:
*** Multivitamin & Mineral supplement for women trying to get pregnant, who are pregnant or breastfeeding
*** A self-hypnosis pregnancy CD helping you to be relaxed and calm through your pregnancy
*** A maternity TENS machine for a more pain-free birth
*** A homeopathic childbirth kit - I’ve had several mums buy this as a great gift for a pregnant daughter or daughter-in-law
And we also sell two organic cotton gift sets for newborn babies – it’s difficult for the online image to do justice for these, but everyone goes ‘aah!’ when they see them.
For more information on all our products check out the shop
And remember everything – including the supplements – comes with a 60-day money back guarantee.
*** Multivitamin & Mineral supplement for women trying to get pregnant, who are pregnant or breastfeeding
*** A self-hypnosis pregnancy CD helping you to be relaxed and calm through your pregnancy
*** A maternity TENS machine for a more pain-free birth
*** A homeopathic childbirth kit - I’ve had several mums buy this as a great gift for a pregnant daughter or daughter-in-law
And we also sell two organic cotton gift sets for newborn babies – it’s difficult for the online image to do justice for these, but everyone goes ‘aah!’ when they see them.
For more information on all our products check out the shop
And remember everything – including the supplements – comes with a 60-day money back guarantee.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Low-Fat and Fat-Free Milk Linked to Prostate Cancer
Here's some interesting information on low fat milk:
Two new studies published in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed a positive correlation between low-fat and nonfat milk consumption and the risk of prostate cancer.
One study looked at questionnaires by 82,483 men in the Multiethnic Cohort Study, 4,404 of whom developed prostate cancer over a mean follow-up of eight years. Whether in the form of food or supplements, there was no association between calcium and vitamin D intake and prostate cancer risk. However, consuming 1 cup or more per day of low-fat or nonfat milk showed a positive association for developing prostate cancer, while whole milk consumption showed a decreased risk for total prostate cancer (includes nonadvanced, advanced, and fatal cases).
The other study assessed food frequency questionnaires among 293,888 participants of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-AARP Diet and Health Study, 10,180 of whom were total prostate cancer cases. Skim milk consumption at two or more servings per day was positively associated with an increased risk of advanced prostate cancer.
Park S, Murphy SP, Wilkens LR, et al. Calcium, vitamin D, and dairy product intake and prostate cancer risk: the Multiethnic Cohort Study. Am J Epid. 2007;166:1259-1269.
Park Y, Mitrou PN, Kipnis V, et al. Calcium, dairy foods, and risk of incident and fatal prostate cancer: the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Am J Epid. 2007;166:1270-1279.
Source: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Two new studies published in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed a positive correlation between low-fat and nonfat milk consumption and the risk of prostate cancer.
One study looked at questionnaires by 82,483 men in the Multiethnic Cohort Study, 4,404 of whom developed prostate cancer over a mean follow-up of eight years. Whether in the form of food or supplements, there was no association between calcium and vitamin D intake and prostate cancer risk. However, consuming 1 cup or more per day of low-fat or nonfat milk showed a positive association for developing prostate cancer, while whole milk consumption showed a decreased risk for total prostate cancer (includes nonadvanced, advanced, and fatal cases).
The other study assessed food frequency questionnaires among 293,888 participants of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-AARP Diet and Health Study, 10,180 of whom were total prostate cancer cases. Skim milk consumption at two or more servings per day was positively associated with an increased risk of advanced prostate cancer.
Park S, Murphy SP, Wilkens LR, et al. Calcium, vitamin D, and dairy product intake and prostate cancer risk: the Multiethnic Cohort Study. Am J Epid. 2007;166:1259-1269.
Park Y, Mitrou PN, Kipnis V, et al. Calcium, dairy foods, and risk of incident and fatal prostate cancer: the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Am J Epid. 2007;166:1270-1279.
Source: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Reducing Cravings
I was listening yesterday to a radio interview with the author of a book on food cravings. She stated categorically that, after eating, insulin is produced which stops fat-burning for 3 hours. She repeated this ‘fact’ several times, and from this had drawn various conclusions about what and how we should eat.
One of the conclusions was that we should only eat three times a day – if we ate, more frequently, then the insulin would stop our body burning fat. This information flies in the face of much research that suggests that eating frequent smaller meals containing some protein is the best way to reduce cravings and give satisfactory long-term weight loss.
This does not mean it is wrong – even scientific ‘facts’ do get regularly overturned, but this does not make sense on a lot of different levels. It is a very simple model of the body – hormones such as insulin interact with each other – and anyway there are huge differences between individuals.
Anyway is the body really that precise? She didn't say ‘about 3 hours’. What happens if the person does something that demands a lot of calories in those three hours?
I think this was real nonsense and felt sad that BBC Radio 2 had given air-time to the promotion of a book with half-baked theories in it like this.
One of the conclusions was that we should only eat three times a day – if we ate, more frequently, then the insulin would stop our body burning fat. This information flies in the face of much research that suggests that eating frequent smaller meals containing some protein is the best way to reduce cravings and give satisfactory long-term weight loss.
This does not mean it is wrong – even scientific ‘facts’ do get regularly overturned, but this does not make sense on a lot of different levels. It is a very simple model of the body – hormones such as insulin interact with each other – and anyway there are huge differences between individuals.
Anyway is the body really that precise? She didn't say ‘about 3 hours’. What happens if the person does something that demands a lot of calories in those three hours?
I think this was real nonsense and felt sad that BBC Radio 2 had given air-time to the promotion of a book with half-baked theories in it like this.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Adverse Drug Reactions
If you are in the UK and have had an adverse reaction to a drug, you can report it using the yellow card scheme. Many drugs have side effects - if you;ve exoerienced any, help to make drugs safer by feeding this information back to the authorities.
5 Fitness and Nutrition Tips That Will Refocus Your Life and Career!
Lynn VanDyke always writes high energy articles that get you going. Here's an example:
5 Fitness and Nutrition Tips That Will Refocus Your Life and Career!
By Lynn VanDyke, Master Trainer and Creator of http://www.Melt-The-Fat.com
Your career is probably one of your greatest stressors. You want to earn more income. You want to receive more recognition for your hard work. You want more of a challenge. You want to be more dedicated. You want to thrive and succeed.
Many clients come to me burned out from working day in and day out. They have low energy and trouble sleeping. They lack passion for life. They are searching for that drive and focus that they used to have.
All of my successful clients shared certain traits. Perhaps the most important trait was trust. They trusted themselves and they trusted me. Their body was screaming for activity and nutrients. Their body craved healthy and vibrant foods. My successful clients trusted their body’s enough to become a willing participant in their own fitness and health program.
These successful clients trusted me. They knew that my 5 tips to fat loss was the absolute best, common sense, direct, no fluff route to health. They also know that overall health and fitness leads to a more positive outlook on life. Are you seeing the path to a better career yet?
Start by focusing on you. Get your nutrition and fitness program in gear. Get healthy and centered. This will result in a glowing, radiant, positive attitude. Your life will enhance. Colleagues will notice. Bosses will notice. Your career will improve. Your marriage will improve. Your life will improve!
Follow these 5 tips to fat loss and watch as your body, attitude and life make dramatic changes.
1) Eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day. The first meal should be eaten within an hour after waking and each meal thereafter should be 2-3 hours apart. Each meal should contain a protein and a carb.
Sample protein and carb meals include: salad with mandarin oranges and raspberry vinaigrette dressing topped with chicken slices, cottage cheese and blueberries, whole wheat wrap with black bean spread and chicken slices, sweet potato and turkey, oatmeal and egg whites, or veggie medley and tofu.
2) Drink a cup of water at each meal. It’s also healthy to drink herbal teas or a bit of green/white/red/black teas. It’s best to avoid soda, lemonade, coffee, energy drinks, juices and other processed, high sugar beverages.
3) Get your rest! Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night. It’s also best to take at least 48 hours of rest between strength training the same muscles and taking 1-2 days off from exercising per week.
Resting is not a sign of laziness. It is a sign of a competent and educated exerciser. Overtraining is a serious concern that everyone must be cautious of. Rest your muscles and your mind. You’ll reap more rewards!
4) Cardio should be done at different intensity levels and different session lengths. Consider doing a low intensity/long session, a high intensity/short session and a few medium intensity/medium length sessions. Always start your cardio routine with a warm up and gradually work into higher intensities.
Look into interval training. Interval training has been very effective at burning fat and it helps diminish the boredom factor.
5) Strength train each muscle 1-3 times per week. You should lift a proper weight and perform the proper amount of sets/reps for your strength training method. Always focus on lifter a lighter weight when first starting out. Focus on form and posture. As your confidence increases, begin to work with heavier weights.
Women should also lift heavier weights. It is very hard for women to bulk up and gain massive muscle. To be lean and toned, lifting heavier weights is one of the secrets to success.
Combining these 5 fitness and nutrition tips will yield a healthier and happier individual. Whether you’re a model walking down the runway or an accountant sitting behind a desk, the success of your career and your life starts with your health. Become an active participant sooner than later!
About the Author:
Lynn VanDyke is the creator of the wildly popular ebook, Melt the Fat. It comes complete with over 100 exercises, 160 daily menus, 63 ways to stick with it, 100 strength training routines, 800 healthy meal suggestions and loads more. Learn more by visiting: http://www.Melt-the-Fat.com
5 Fitness and Nutrition Tips That Will Refocus Your Life and Career!
By Lynn VanDyke, Master Trainer and Creator of http://www.Melt-The-Fat.com
Your career is probably one of your greatest stressors. You want to earn more income. You want to receive more recognition for your hard work. You want more of a challenge. You want to be more dedicated. You want to thrive and succeed.
Many clients come to me burned out from working day in and day out. They have low energy and trouble sleeping. They lack passion for life. They are searching for that drive and focus that they used to have.
All of my successful clients shared certain traits. Perhaps the most important trait was trust. They trusted themselves and they trusted me. Their body was screaming for activity and nutrients. Their body craved healthy and vibrant foods. My successful clients trusted their body’s enough to become a willing participant in their own fitness and health program.
These successful clients trusted me. They knew that my 5 tips to fat loss was the absolute best, common sense, direct, no fluff route to health. They also know that overall health and fitness leads to a more positive outlook on life. Are you seeing the path to a better career yet?
Start by focusing on you. Get your nutrition and fitness program in gear. Get healthy and centered. This will result in a glowing, radiant, positive attitude. Your life will enhance. Colleagues will notice. Bosses will notice. Your career will improve. Your marriage will improve. Your life will improve!
Follow these 5 tips to fat loss and watch as your body, attitude and life make dramatic changes.
1) Eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day. The first meal should be eaten within an hour after waking and each meal thereafter should be 2-3 hours apart. Each meal should contain a protein and a carb.
Sample protein and carb meals include: salad with mandarin oranges and raspberry vinaigrette dressing topped with chicken slices, cottage cheese and blueberries, whole wheat wrap with black bean spread and chicken slices, sweet potato and turkey, oatmeal and egg whites, or veggie medley and tofu.
2) Drink a cup of water at each meal. It’s also healthy to drink herbal teas or a bit of green/white/red/black teas. It’s best to avoid soda, lemonade, coffee, energy drinks, juices and other processed, high sugar beverages.
3) Get your rest! Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night. It’s also best to take at least 48 hours of rest between strength training the same muscles and taking 1-2 days off from exercising per week.
Resting is not a sign of laziness. It is a sign of a competent and educated exerciser. Overtraining is a serious concern that everyone must be cautious of. Rest your muscles and your mind. You’ll reap more rewards!
4) Cardio should be done at different intensity levels and different session lengths. Consider doing a low intensity/long session, a high intensity/short session and a few medium intensity/medium length sessions. Always start your cardio routine with a warm up and gradually work into higher intensities.
Look into interval training. Interval training has been very effective at burning fat and it helps diminish the boredom factor.
5) Strength train each muscle 1-3 times per week. You should lift a proper weight and perform the proper amount of sets/reps for your strength training method. Always focus on lifter a lighter weight when first starting out. Focus on form and posture. As your confidence increases, begin to work with heavier weights.
Women should also lift heavier weights. It is very hard for women to bulk up and gain massive muscle. To be lean and toned, lifting heavier weights is one of the secrets to success.
Combining these 5 fitness and nutrition tips will yield a healthier and happier individual. Whether you’re a model walking down the runway or an accountant sitting behind a desk, the success of your career and your life starts with your health. Become an active participant sooner than later!
About the Author:
Lynn VanDyke is the creator of the wildly popular ebook, Melt the Fat. It comes complete with over 100 exercises, 160 daily menus, 63 ways to stick with it, 100 strength training routines, 800 healthy meal suggestions and loads more. Learn more by visiting: http://www.Melt-the-Fat.com
Friday, January 04, 2008
Weight Loss Pills That Work
One of the great things about having an internet shop is when people give you positive feedback. Even though I know the stuff we sell works, I'm always pleased when customers have the experience and let me know.
Today I had an email from Tracy Williams in Hampshire (UK) she has been trying the WeightLess weight loss supplement and she told me this:
"I now constantly feel like I have just eaten the largest roast dinner!"
She's only been taking them a few days and is delighted. This really must be one of the best weight loss supplements around.
I also had a very positive comment today about the TENS machine we sell too.
Today I had an email from Tracy Williams in Hampshire (UK) she has been trying the WeightLess weight loss supplement and she told me this:
"I now constantly feel like I have just eaten the largest roast dinner!"
She's only been taking them a few days and is delighted. This really must be one of the best weight loss supplements around.
I also had a very positive comment today about the TENS machine we sell too.
Protest About Broiler Chickens
I don't know if anyone is interested in joining a campaign to help end the suffering of broiler chickens, but River Cottage on channel 4 have started a petition on the following website www.chickenout.tv, to end it, and they need as many supporters as they can find. Hope you can help and give the chickens a brighter new year.
Ginger And Infection
More proof of the efficacy of ginger:
Ginger extract inhibits LPS induced macrophage activation and function
Sudipta Tripathi , David Bruch and Dilip S Kittur
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2008, 8:1doi:10.1186/1472-6882-8-1
Published:
3 January 2008
Abstract (provisional)
Background
Macrophages play a dual role in host defence. They act as the first line of defence by mounting an inflammatory response to antigen exposure and also act as antigen presenting cells and initiate the adaptive immune response. They are also the primary infiltrating cells at the site of inflammation. Inhibition of macrophage activation is one of the possible approaches towards modulating inflammation. Both conventional and alternative approaches are being studied in this regard. Ginger, an herbal product with broad anti inflammatory actions, is used as an alternative medicine in a number of inflammatory conditions like rheumatic disorders. In the present study we examined the effect of ginger extract on macrophage activation in the presence of LPS stimulation.
Methods
Murine peritoneal macrophages were stimulated by LPS in presence or absence of ginger extract and production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were observed. We also studied the effect of ginger extract on the LPS induced expression of MHC II, B7.1, B7.2 and CD40 molecules. We also studied the antigen presenting function of ginger extract treated macrophages by primary mixed lymphocyte reaction.
Results
We observed that ginger extract inhibited IL-12, TNF-alpha, IL-1 (pro inflammatory cytokines) and RANTES, MCP-1 (pro inflammatory chemokines) production in LPS stimulated macrophages. Ginger extract also down regulated the expression of B7.1, B7.2 and MHC class II molecules. In addition ginger extract negatively affected the antigen presenting function of macrophages and we observed a significant reduction in T cell proliferation in response to allostimulation, when ginger extract treated macrophages were used as APCs. A significant decrease in IFN-gamma and IL-2 production by T cells in response to allostimulation was also observed.
Conclusions
In conclusion ginger extract inhibits macrophage activation and APC function and indirectly inhibits T cell activation.
Ginger extract inhibits LPS induced macrophage activation and function
Sudipta Tripathi , David Bruch and Dilip S Kittur
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2008, 8:1doi:10.1186/1472-6882-8-1
Published:
3 January 2008
Abstract (provisional)
Background
Macrophages play a dual role in host defence. They act as the first line of defence by mounting an inflammatory response to antigen exposure and also act as antigen presenting cells and initiate the adaptive immune response. They are also the primary infiltrating cells at the site of inflammation. Inhibition of macrophage activation is one of the possible approaches towards modulating inflammation. Both conventional and alternative approaches are being studied in this regard. Ginger, an herbal product with broad anti inflammatory actions, is used as an alternative medicine in a number of inflammatory conditions like rheumatic disorders. In the present study we examined the effect of ginger extract on macrophage activation in the presence of LPS stimulation.
Methods
Murine peritoneal macrophages were stimulated by LPS in presence or absence of ginger extract and production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were observed. We also studied the effect of ginger extract on the LPS induced expression of MHC II, B7.1, B7.2 and CD40 molecules. We also studied the antigen presenting function of ginger extract treated macrophages by primary mixed lymphocyte reaction.
Results
We observed that ginger extract inhibited IL-12, TNF-alpha, IL-1 (pro inflammatory cytokines) and RANTES, MCP-1 (pro inflammatory chemokines) production in LPS stimulated macrophages. Ginger extract also down regulated the expression of B7.1, B7.2 and MHC class II molecules. In addition ginger extract negatively affected the antigen presenting function of macrophages and we observed a significant reduction in T cell proliferation in response to allostimulation, when ginger extract treated macrophages were used as APCs. A significant decrease in IFN-gamma and IL-2 production by T cells in response to allostimulation was also observed.
Conclusions
In conclusion ginger extract inhibits macrophage activation and APC function and indirectly inhibits T cell activation.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Healthy Easy Recipe - Black Bean Dip
Another great recipe from the Cancer project:
Black Bean Dip
This simple bean dip is versatile and virtually fat-free. Keeping your fat intake low is crucial for keeping hormone levels within healthy limits to lower breast and prostate cancer risk. Add cumin to this recipe for added flavor and antioxidants.
Enjoy this dip on crackers, raw vegetables, or as a sandwich spread.
Directions
Makes 6 servings
1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed, or 1 1/2 cups of cooked beans
1 cup salsa
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
Combine beans and salsa in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Add cumin, if using.
Nutrition Information
Per serving (1/6 of recipe):
81 calories
0.4 g fat
0.1 g saturated fat
4.2% calories from fat
0 mg cholesterol
4.7 g protein
15.4 g carbohydrate
2.7 g sugar
3.8 g fiber
280 mg sodium
47 mg calcium
1.6 mg iron
6.4 mg vitamin C
172 mcg beta-carotene
0.6 mg vitamin E
This recipe is a preview from the upcoming NEW EDITION of The Survivor's Handbook: Eating Right for Cancer Survival.
View The Cancer Project Recipe of the Week Archive.
Black Bean Dip
This simple bean dip is versatile and virtually fat-free. Keeping your fat intake low is crucial for keeping hormone levels within healthy limits to lower breast and prostate cancer risk. Add cumin to this recipe for added flavor and antioxidants.
Enjoy this dip on crackers, raw vegetables, or as a sandwich spread.
Directions
Makes 6 servings
1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed, or 1 1/2 cups of cooked beans
1 cup salsa
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
Combine beans and salsa in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Add cumin, if using.
Nutrition Information
Per serving (1/6 of recipe):
81 calories
0.4 g fat
0.1 g saturated fat
4.2% calories from fat
0 mg cholesterol
4.7 g protein
15.4 g carbohydrate
2.7 g sugar
3.8 g fiber
280 mg sodium
47 mg calcium
1.6 mg iron
6.4 mg vitamin C
172 mcg beta-carotene
0.6 mg vitamin E
This recipe is a preview from the upcoming NEW EDITION of The Survivor's Handbook: Eating Right for Cancer Survival.
View The Cancer Project Recipe of the Week Archive.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Herbal Liver Detox
It's that time of the year when many of us look back at the excesses of the holiday season and decide we need to do something to get in shape. I've just posted an article on liver detox on our health site.
We also have a great herbal liver detox formula in our online health shop. Like everything we sell it comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you can buy with complete confidence. I'm confident it's one of the best herbal formula around.
If you're worried about internet card scams, the online orders are processed by Protx so that means we don't get to see the card details - not that we'd do anything bad with them if we did!!
We also have a great herbal liver detox formula in our online health shop. Like everything we sell it comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you can buy with complete confidence. I'm confident it's one of the best herbal formula around.
If you're worried about internet card scams, the online orders are processed by Protx so that means we don't get to see the card details - not that we'd do anything bad with them if we did!!
Friday, December 28, 2007
New year inspiration
Robert Middleton sent this out to his ezine list and I thought I'd pass it on - do take time to watch and listen:
Successful businesses, large or small, are built on a foundation of
great service. But what is great service, really?
After you watch this little online video you'll understand what
service is in a whole new way. It's only 3 minutes long and once
you see it, I promise you, you'll never forget it.
http://tinyurl.com/2zesmp
Successful businesses, large or small, are built on a foundation of
great service. But what is great service, really?
After you watch this little online video you'll understand what
service is in a whole new way. It's only 3 minutes long and once
you see it, I promise you, you'll never forget it.
http://tinyurl.com/2zesmp
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Red Meat And Cancer
I'm a vegetarian so I'm always pleased to see research like this which confirms that meat eating is not the great option that many people thik it is:
(Editors' Summary of A Prospective Study of Red and Processed Meat Intake in Relation to Cancer Risk by Amanda J. Cross, Michael F. Leitzmann, Mitchell H. Gail, Albert R. Hollenbeck, Arthur Schatzkin, and Rashmi Sinha Read the full article
Background.
Every year, there are more than 10 million new cases of cancer around the world. These cases are not spread evenly across the globe. The annual incidence of cancer (the number of new cases divided by the population size) and the type of cancer most commonly diagnosed varies widely among countries. Much of the global variation in cancer incidence and type is thought to be due to environmental influences. These include exposure to agents in the air or water that cause cancer, and lifestyle factors such as smoking and diet.
Researchers identify environmental factors that affect cancer risk by measuring the exposure of a large number of individuals to a specific environmental factor and then monitoring these people for several years to see who develops cancer. The hope is that by identifying the environmental factors that cause or prevent cancer, the global burden of cancer can be reduced.
Why Was This Study Done?
Diet is thought to influence the incidence of several cancers but it is very difficult to unravel which aspects of diet are important. Being overweight, for example, is strongly associated with an increased risk of developing several types of cancer, but the evidence that the intake of red meat (beef, pork, and lamb) and of processed meat (for example, bacon, ham, and sausages) is linked to cancer risk is much weaker. Although several studies have linked a high intake of red meat and processed meat to an increased risk of colorectal cancer (the colon is the large bowel; the rectum is the final few inches of the large bowel before the anus), whether this aspect of diet affects the risk of other types of cancer is unclear. In this prospective study, the researchers have examined the association between meat intake and the incidence of a wide range of cancers.
What Did the Researchers Do and Find?
In 1995–1996, nearly half a million US men and women aged 50–71 y joined the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. The participants in this study—none of whom had had cancer previously—completed a questionnaire about their dietary habits over the previous year and provided other personal information such as their age, weight, and smoking history.
The researchers used these data and information from state cancer registries to look for associations between the intake of red and processed meat and the incidence of various cancers. They found that people whose red meat intake was in the top fifth of the range of intakes recorded in the study (the highest quintile of consumption) had an increased risk of developing colorectal, liver, lung, and esophageal cancer when compared with people in the lowest quintile of consumption. People in the highest quintile of processed meat intake had an increased risk of developing colorectal and lung cancer. The incidences of other cancers were largely unaffected by meat intake.
What Do These Findings Mean?
These findings provide strong evidence that people who eat a lot of red and processed meats have greater risk of developing colorectal and lung cancer than do people who eat small quantities. They also indicate that a high red meat intake is associated with an increased risk of esophageal and liver cancer, and that one in ten colorectal and one in ten lung cancers could be avoided if people reduced their red and processed meat intake to the lowest quintile.
However, although the researchers allowed for factors such as smoking history that might have affected cancer incidences, some of the effects they ascribe to meat intake might be caused by other lifestyle factors. Furthermore, because the study's definitions of red meat and processed meat overlapped—bacon and ham, for example, were included in both categories—exactly which type of meat is related to cancer remains unclear.
Finally, most of the study participants were non-Hispanic white, so these findings may not apply to people with different genetic backgrounds. Nevertheless, they add to the evidence that suggests that decreased consumption of red and processed meats could reduce the incidence of several types of cancer. (Read the full article)
Additional Information.
Please access these Web sites via the online version of this summary at http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0040325.
The American Cancer Society provides answers to common questions about diet and cancer
Information is available from the charity Cancer Research UK about diet, healthy eating, and cancer
The American Institute for Cancer Research also provides information on diet and cancer.
The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study presents information on the impact of diet and lifestyle factors on risk of cancer
The US National Cancer Institute provides information about the kind of food questionnaire used in this study
Read the full article
(Editors' Summary of A Prospective Study of Red and Processed Meat Intake in Relation to Cancer Risk by Amanda J. Cross, Michael F. Leitzmann, Mitchell H. Gail, Albert R. Hollenbeck, Arthur Schatzkin, and Rashmi Sinha Read the full article
Background.
Every year, there are more than 10 million new cases of cancer around the world. These cases are not spread evenly across the globe. The annual incidence of cancer (the number of new cases divided by the population size) and the type of cancer most commonly diagnosed varies widely among countries. Much of the global variation in cancer incidence and type is thought to be due to environmental influences. These include exposure to agents in the air or water that cause cancer, and lifestyle factors such as smoking and diet.
Researchers identify environmental factors that affect cancer risk by measuring the exposure of a large number of individuals to a specific environmental factor and then monitoring these people for several years to see who develops cancer. The hope is that by identifying the environmental factors that cause or prevent cancer, the global burden of cancer can be reduced.
Why Was This Study Done?
Diet is thought to influence the incidence of several cancers but it is very difficult to unravel which aspects of diet are important. Being overweight, for example, is strongly associated with an increased risk of developing several types of cancer, but the evidence that the intake of red meat (beef, pork, and lamb) and of processed meat (for example, bacon, ham, and sausages) is linked to cancer risk is much weaker. Although several studies have linked a high intake of red meat and processed meat to an increased risk of colorectal cancer (the colon is the large bowel; the rectum is the final few inches of the large bowel before the anus), whether this aspect of diet affects the risk of other types of cancer is unclear. In this prospective study, the researchers have examined the association between meat intake and the incidence of a wide range of cancers.
What Did the Researchers Do and Find?
In 1995–1996, nearly half a million US men and women aged 50–71 y joined the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. The participants in this study—none of whom had had cancer previously—completed a questionnaire about their dietary habits over the previous year and provided other personal information such as their age, weight, and smoking history.
The researchers used these data and information from state cancer registries to look for associations between the intake of red and processed meat and the incidence of various cancers. They found that people whose red meat intake was in the top fifth of the range of intakes recorded in the study (the highest quintile of consumption) had an increased risk of developing colorectal, liver, lung, and esophageal cancer when compared with people in the lowest quintile of consumption. People in the highest quintile of processed meat intake had an increased risk of developing colorectal and lung cancer. The incidences of other cancers were largely unaffected by meat intake.
What Do These Findings Mean?
These findings provide strong evidence that people who eat a lot of red and processed meats have greater risk of developing colorectal and lung cancer than do people who eat small quantities. They also indicate that a high red meat intake is associated with an increased risk of esophageal and liver cancer, and that one in ten colorectal and one in ten lung cancers could be avoided if people reduced their red and processed meat intake to the lowest quintile.
However, although the researchers allowed for factors such as smoking history that might have affected cancer incidences, some of the effects they ascribe to meat intake might be caused by other lifestyle factors. Furthermore, because the study's definitions of red meat and processed meat overlapped—bacon and ham, for example, were included in both categories—exactly which type of meat is related to cancer remains unclear.
Finally, most of the study participants were non-Hispanic white, so these findings may not apply to people with different genetic backgrounds. Nevertheless, they add to the evidence that suggests that decreased consumption of red and processed meats could reduce the incidence of several types of cancer. (Read the full article)
Additional Information.
Please access these Web sites via the online version of this summary at http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0040325.
The American Cancer Society provides answers to common questions about diet and cancer
Information is available from the charity Cancer Research UK about diet, healthy eating, and cancer
The American Institute for Cancer Research also provides information on diet and cancer.
The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study presents information on the impact of diet and lifestyle factors on risk of cancer
The US National Cancer Institute provides information about the kind of food questionnaire used in this study
Read the full article
TENS machines
I received this qiestion from a visitor to our online health shop:
Please tell me what is the difference between TENS used in pregnancy, and
other TENS available.
The answer is in fact very simple: the pregnancy TENS uses bigger pads and has a boost function for when you experience the pains associated with contractions. Most pregnancy TENS machines can also be used after childbirth as a regular TENS machine for sciatica, back pian, etc.
Please tell me what is the difference between TENS used in pregnancy, and
other TENS available.
The answer is in fact very simple: the pregnancy TENS uses bigger pads and has a boost function for when you experience the pains associated with contractions. Most pregnancy TENS machines can also be used after childbirth as a regular TENS machine for sciatica, back pian, etc.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Recycle Your Old Mobile Phone
WaterAid's mobile phone recycling scheme has been highly successful so far raising over £40,000! Why not donate your old mobile and benefit both the environment and those in the developing world?
Please send your old mobiles directly to:
WaterAid
FREEPOST LON16281
London
WC1N 3BR
Or if you have 20 or more phones you can arrange a free courier collection by calling 0800 298 9069.
It costs WaterAid just £15 to provide one person with a lasting supply of clean water, sanitation and hygiene education. That's the equivalent on average of just three phones sent in to be recycled!
An average of £5 will be donated to WaterAid for every working handset sent to be recycled.
Please send your old mobiles directly to:
WaterAid
FREEPOST LON16281
London
WC1N 3BR
Or if you have 20 or more phones you can arrange a free courier collection by calling 0800 298 9069.
It costs WaterAid just £15 to provide one person with a lasting supply of clean water, sanitation and hygiene education. That's the equivalent on average of just three phones sent in to be recycled!
An average of £5 will be donated to WaterAid for every working handset sent to be recycled.
Women And Burn Out
Here's some info on stress and burnout from the Vale Practice in SE London:
Roz Pendlebury, psychotherapist and couples counsellor says: “Women in particular are getting overwhelmed by their busy lifestyles juggling work, relationships, family, friends and the pressure to look good. This results in a wide range of emotional symptoms, the most common of which are panic attacks, angry outbursts and rows with a partner or child; drinking and eating too much and a loss of joy in living.”
Homeopaths Marianne Atherton and Rosy Byatt are also concerned at the stress-related symptoms they see in girls as young as 12 or 13. Rosy Byatt says: “One of the main manifestations of this is a disruption to their whole endocrine system, because of adrenal imbalance. This in turn has a profound effect on their female horomonal balance and menstrual cycle.
“Such an imbalance can lead to debilitating PMT, hormonally-related skin problems and in the long term can affect their fertility.”
Angelo D’Alberto, the Vale Practice’s acupuncturist reports a predominance of “sleeping problems, digestive disturbances, anxiety and panic attacks, emotional volatility, hyperthyroidism, and menstrual irregularities (painful periods, PMT, irregular cycles, and even fertility issues) “ among his mainly 20- to 40-year-old female clients.
Herbalist Heidi Collins explains the reasons for the fairer sex’s particular vulnerability to stress: “Women in particular are greatly affected by stress due to its effects on hormone balance. Prolonged stimulation of the adrenal glands leads to lowered progesterone and consequently oestrogen dominance. This produces premenstrual symptoms such as breast tenderness, depression, anxiety and irritability. These symptoms I see all the time.
“The body responds to stress by activating the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline. The main effects of adrenaline are that it causes the heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar to increase, and digestive system activity to decrease. In chronic stress this and other adrenal hormones are continuously raised which can lead to high blood pressure and other heart problems, diabetes, and digestive disturbances such as IBS. The adrenals may eventually become exhausted leading to depleted energy levels, dizziness, and lowered immune system. Skin conditions are also very closely related to stress, particularly psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, and there is often a connection with those who don't deal with stress and tend to ‘pack emotions away'.
“A problem with stress is that for many years it will cause symptoms not thought serious enough for orthodox investigation. Also, as the symptoms of stress are so varied and unspecific, there is no 'target' for an orthodox drug.”
Complementary therapies generally aim to restore the patient’s system to a state of balance, but there is much that the individual can do to improve their own health simply by adjusting their lifestyles.
How to minimise the effects of stress:
- Avoid stimulants such as caffeinated drinks (caffeine inhibits the break down of adrenaline), and replace with calming herbal teas such as chamomile, and lemon balm. Dandelion coffee can make a pleasant coffee substitute which is also beneficial for the liver.
- moderate alcohol intake (it further depletes immune function, vitamin C, lowers vitality)
- Supplement with vitamin C, magnesium and B complex
- Adopt relaxation techniques such as yoga, Tai chi, breathing exercises, meditation
- Do whatever makes you feel relaxed - painting, walking, gardening, listening to music, or try hypnotherapy to release more deep-seated tensions.
- Book yourself regular (once monthly, if possible), therapeutic treatments such as massage or reflexology.
- Seek help for ongoing relationship problems. Couples counselling can help people to manage their behaviour and communicate more effectively.
The Vale Practice has over 27 therapists to call on. Therapies include: Osteopathy, Remedial and Deep Tissue Massage, Reflexology, Reiki, Swedish Massage, Eco Beauty, Chinese Herbal medicine, Nutrition, Naturopathy, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Psychotherapy, Hypnotherapy, Tui Na Massage, Shiatsu, Allergy Testing, Aromatherapy, Sports Injury Massage, Indian Head Massage, Counselling, Cranial Osteopathy, Group Therapy, Life and Work coaching, Chiropody, Medicinal Herbalism,
Bio Energiser and Child Art and Psychotherapy
For further information contact: Practice manager: Kate 020 8299 9798/020 8299 9942
Roz Pendlebury, psychotherapist and couples counsellor says: “Women in particular are getting overwhelmed by their busy lifestyles juggling work, relationships, family, friends and the pressure to look good. This results in a wide range of emotional symptoms, the most common of which are panic attacks, angry outbursts and rows with a partner or child; drinking and eating too much and a loss of joy in living.”
Homeopaths Marianne Atherton and Rosy Byatt are also concerned at the stress-related symptoms they see in girls as young as 12 or 13. Rosy Byatt says: “One of the main manifestations of this is a disruption to their whole endocrine system, because of adrenal imbalance. This in turn has a profound effect on their female horomonal balance and menstrual cycle.
“Such an imbalance can lead to debilitating PMT, hormonally-related skin problems and in the long term can affect their fertility.”
Angelo D’Alberto, the Vale Practice’s acupuncturist reports a predominance of “sleeping problems, digestive disturbances, anxiety and panic attacks, emotional volatility, hyperthyroidism, and menstrual irregularities (painful periods, PMT, irregular cycles, and even fertility issues) “ among his mainly 20- to 40-year-old female clients.
Herbalist Heidi Collins explains the reasons for the fairer sex’s particular vulnerability to stress: “Women in particular are greatly affected by stress due to its effects on hormone balance. Prolonged stimulation of the adrenal glands leads to lowered progesterone and consequently oestrogen dominance. This produces premenstrual symptoms such as breast tenderness, depression, anxiety and irritability. These symptoms I see all the time.
“The body responds to stress by activating the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline. The main effects of adrenaline are that it causes the heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar to increase, and digestive system activity to decrease. In chronic stress this and other adrenal hormones are continuously raised which can lead to high blood pressure and other heart problems, diabetes, and digestive disturbances such as IBS. The adrenals may eventually become exhausted leading to depleted energy levels, dizziness, and lowered immune system. Skin conditions are also very closely related to stress, particularly psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, and there is often a connection with those who don't deal with stress and tend to ‘pack emotions away'.
“A problem with stress is that for many years it will cause symptoms not thought serious enough for orthodox investigation. Also, as the symptoms of stress are so varied and unspecific, there is no 'target' for an orthodox drug.”
Complementary therapies generally aim to restore the patient’s system to a state of balance, but there is much that the individual can do to improve their own health simply by adjusting their lifestyles.
How to minimise the effects of stress:
- Avoid stimulants such as caffeinated drinks (caffeine inhibits the break down of adrenaline), and replace with calming herbal teas such as chamomile, and lemon balm. Dandelion coffee can make a pleasant coffee substitute which is also beneficial for the liver.
- moderate alcohol intake (it further depletes immune function, vitamin C, lowers vitality)
- Supplement with vitamin C, magnesium and B complex
- Adopt relaxation techniques such as yoga, Tai chi, breathing exercises, meditation
- Do whatever makes you feel relaxed - painting, walking, gardening, listening to music, or try hypnotherapy to release more deep-seated tensions.
- Book yourself regular (once monthly, if possible), therapeutic treatments such as massage or reflexology.
- Seek help for ongoing relationship problems. Couples counselling can help people to manage their behaviour and communicate more effectively.
The Vale Practice has over 27 therapists to call on. Therapies include: Osteopathy, Remedial and Deep Tissue Massage, Reflexology, Reiki, Swedish Massage, Eco Beauty, Chinese Herbal medicine, Nutrition, Naturopathy, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Psychotherapy, Hypnotherapy, Tui Na Massage, Shiatsu, Allergy Testing, Aromatherapy, Sports Injury Massage, Indian Head Massage, Counselling, Cranial Osteopathy, Group Therapy, Life and Work coaching, Chiropody, Medicinal Herbalism,
Bio Energiser and Child Art and Psychotherapy
For further information contact: Practice manager: Kate 020 8299 9798/020 8299 9942
Exercise And Music
Here's some thoughts on music for exercise from Kristoph Thompson:
Research has shown that listening to music helps us to exercise harder and for longer. Music can provide us with something to focus our attention, relieving boredom and decreasing our sense of effort and exertion.
Our attention span has a limited capacity and music works by distracting us from feelings of pain or fatigue. Listening to music also helps with our motivation to exercise. Scientists are agreed that motivation is influenced by changing situations and environments, and listening to music while exercising provides an extra stimulus for the brain.
How to choose the right music for you
Songs with lyrics that inspire physical activity, such as ‘keep on moving’ may well enhance the success of your workout. It’s important that you play the music loud enough to block out other noise distractions so that the music becomes the central focus of your attention. Try to listen actively to the lyrics and the beat while you exercise as it may not have the same impact as background noise.
The type of music you select should reflect your own personal tastes: studies have shown a wide variety of musical styles are capable of enhancing performance, ranging from pop to classical music. Many people believe that variety is the spice of life, and it is certainly essential to our attention system.
If you employ the same musical selections time after time, your sensory system may well adapt by switching-off – a process known to psychologists as ‘sensory adaptation’. So be sure to vary your selections if you want to benefit from the distracting effects of music.
Research has shown that listening to music helps us to exercise harder and for longer. Music can provide us with something to focus our attention, relieving boredom and decreasing our sense of effort and exertion.
Our attention span has a limited capacity and music works by distracting us from feelings of pain or fatigue. Listening to music also helps with our motivation to exercise. Scientists are agreed that motivation is influenced by changing situations and environments, and listening to music while exercising provides an extra stimulus for the brain.
How to choose the right music for you
Songs with lyrics that inspire physical activity, such as ‘keep on moving’ may well enhance the success of your workout. It’s important that you play the music loud enough to block out other noise distractions so that the music becomes the central focus of your attention. Try to listen actively to the lyrics and the beat while you exercise as it may not have the same impact as background noise.
The type of music you select should reflect your own personal tastes: studies have shown a wide variety of musical styles are capable of enhancing performance, ranging from pop to classical music. Many people believe that variety is the spice of life, and it is certainly essential to our attention system.
If you employ the same musical selections time after time, your sensory system may well adapt by switching-off – a process known to psychologists as ‘sensory adaptation’. So be sure to vary your selections if you want to benefit from the distracting effects of music.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
A free course on blogging
I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.
It covers:
- The best blogging techniques.
- How to get traffic to your blog.
- How to turn your blog into money.
I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Essential Oils and the health of the therapist
I've just added a new article about the effect of aromatherapy oils on the therapists themselves. The article is written by Penny Price and here's a bit more about her:
Penny has had a background in aromatherapy that has not been available to many: she witnessed her mother and father work to get the therapy and the training for the therapy established in the UK. A therapist herself for 25 years, she is still at the cutting edge of developing aromatherapy - in its practice, its developing curriculum and in how it is taught.
Penny holds the only research degree in aromatherapy awarded by Oxford University and is in demand as a lecturer and teacher in the UK and abroad. The Masters Degree in Education is entitled: Managing school environments: children’s responses to change in the aromatic environment.
Penny’s commitment to quality in both product and training was the driving force in her establishing Penny Price Aromatherapy Ltd and the Penny Price Academy. Penny regularly visits growers and suppliers of essential oils to ensure that they are of medical grade for the most beneficial results. At the present time, Penny has 3 schools in the UK, plus a smaller school in Walsall Hospice. Abroad, there are satellite schools in Japan, Taiwan, Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Australia, Norway and the USA. The distribution network has also grown and apart from countries where there is a school, Penny also has distributors in Greece, Korea and Brazil. Penny’s unfailing drive and energy is the force behind the success of the business.
The Penny Price Academy is the only school in the UK that teaches (and is insured for) aromatic medicine (the intensive use of essential oils for specific conditions).
Penny is much sought after to lecture in aromatherapy around the world. In 2007 alone she has travelled to Greece, Germany, Sri Lanka, France and Taiwan.
Penny is married to Dr Robert Stephen, who alongside being a teacher and a priest in the Church of England, is CEO of the business and also teaches aspects of aromatherapy. Together they have 8 children.
Publications
Aromatherapy for Babies and Children. 1994: London: Thorsons.
Distance Learning Course: Aromatherapy and Massage. Regent Academy of Fine Arts, London (1998).
The Ethics of Christian Involvement with Complementary Medicine. (Awaiting publication).
Managing school environments: children’s responses to change in the aromatic environment. Oxford University, Oxford (2002)
Penny contributes to many magazines and has written articles for Here’s Health, Aromatherapy Quarterly, Positive Health, Aromatherapy World, Woman’s Own and The Aromatherapist. She has a regular monthly article in Today’s Therapist and at the present time has several articles on various websites.
Penny has had a background in aromatherapy that has not been available to many: she witnessed her mother and father work to get the therapy and the training for the therapy established in the UK. A therapist herself for 25 years, she is still at the cutting edge of developing aromatherapy - in its practice, its developing curriculum and in how it is taught.
Penny holds the only research degree in aromatherapy awarded by Oxford University and is in demand as a lecturer and teacher in the UK and abroad. The Masters Degree in Education is entitled: Managing school environments: children’s responses to change in the aromatic environment.
Penny’s commitment to quality in both product and training was the driving force in her establishing Penny Price Aromatherapy Ltd and the Penny Price Academy. Penny regularly visits growers and suppliers of essential oils to ensure that they are of medical grade for the most beneficial results. At the present time, Penny has 3 schools in the UK, plus a smaller school in Walsall Hospice. Abroad, there are satellite schools in Japan, Taiwan, Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Australia, Norway and the USA. The distribution network has also grown and apart from countries where there is a school, Penny also has distributors in Greece, Korea and Brazil. Penny’s unfailing drive and energy is the force behind the success of the business.
The Penny Price Academy is the only school in the UK that teaches (and is insured for) aromatic medicine (the intensive use of essential oils for specific conditions).
Penny is much sought after to lecture in aromatherapy around the world. In 2007 alone she has travelled to Greece, Germany, Sri Lanka, France and Taiwan.
Penny is married to Dr Robert Stephen, who alongside being a teacher and a priest in the Church of England, is CEO of the business and also teaches aspects of aromatherapy. Together they have 8 children.
Publications
Aromatherapy for Babies and Children. 1994: London: Thorsons.
Distance Learning Course: Aromatherapy and Massage. Regent Academy of Fine Arts, London (1998).
The Ethics of Christian Involvement with Complementary Medicine. (Awaiting publication).
Managing school environments: children’s responses to change in the aromatic environment. Oxford University, Oxford (2002)
Penny contributes to many magazines and has written articles for Here’s Health, Aromatherapy Quarterly, Positive Health, Aromatherapy World, Woman’s Own and The Aromatherapist. She has a regular monthly article in Today’s Therapist and at the present time has several articles on various websites.
A Seasonal Tip
A seasonal health reminder from the Cancer Project:
Take time for yourself. The holiday season can cause a lot of stress, whether it is dealing with crowded stores, airports, and roads; choosing the right gifts; or even carrying an extra load at work while so many co-workers take vacation time. Don’t forget to take care of yourself with some quiet time, or whatever activity relaxes you, whenever things seem to get a little too hectic.
Take time for yourself. The holiday season can cause a lot of stress, whether it is dealing with crowded stores, airports, and roads; choosing the right gifts; or even carrying an extra load at work while so many co-workers take vacation time. Don’t forget to take care of yourself with some quiet time, or whatever activity relaxes you, whenever things seem to get a little too hectic.
Bowen For Dogs
Bowen therapy works great for people, and many practitioners also have success with animals too. Here's an interesting story from Rosemary Cunningham:
"I get so excited about Bowen technique and here’s why. Jake is a lovely, gentle but totally neurotic Dalmatian – and after an incident at home his back legs and his tail were totally paralysed. Sue his owner, took him to see four different vets, and three of them recommended putting him down. I introduced Sue to my friend Wendy Shearman, who gave him his first Bowen treatment. The next day he had a small movement in his tail and continued to improve until after his third weekly treatment Jake suddenly seemed to remember his legs and ran out into the garden! He is now back to his old self (although he does have Bambi back legs!) Wendy can be contacted on 01245 263328 [UK]. She treats humans with reflexology and Bowen and is training in Canine Bowen."
"I get so excited about Bowen technique and here’s why. Jake is a lovely, gentle but totally neurotic Dalmatian – and after an incident at home his back legs and his tail were totally paralysed. Sue his owner, took him to see four different vets, and three of them recommended putting him down. I introduced Sue to my friend Wendy Shearman, who gave him his first Bowen treatment. The next day he had a small movement in his tail and continued to improve until after his third weekly treatment Jake suddenly seemed to remember his legs and ran out into the garden! He is now back to his old self (although he does have Bambi back legs!) Wendy can be contacted on 01245 263328 [UK]. She treats humans with reflexology and Bowen and is training in Canine Bowen."
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Increasing Your Protein Intake
Many people eat too much protein in the form of meat, but some people struggle to eat enough, particularly some (but not all) vegetarians, so here are three ideas from Kristoph Thompson:
Quinoa pronounced ‘keen-wa’ is one of the best vegetarian sources of protein, containing all 8 essential amino acids. It was once called ‘the gold of the Incas’ who recognised its value in increasing the stamina of their warriors, today is makes a good, high-protein alternative to rice!
When you’re feeling hungry snack on nuts, nuts and more nuts! Nuts are an excellent source of protein. Brazil nuts contain 15.5 per 100g, almonds, 23.4 per 100g and peanuts have a whopping 28.5 per 100g. Try to go for a variety, but remember that nuts are also high in fatty acids so never eat more than a handful at a time. Always choose unsalted.
Choose high protein spreads like peanut butter, tahni and hummus over jams and honey. Not only are they higher in protein meaning you’ll stay fuller for longer but they contain less sugar too!
Quinoa pronounced ‘keen-wa’ is one of the best vegetarian sources of protein, containing all 8 essential amino acids. It was once called ‘the gold of the Incas’ who recognised its value in increasing the stamina of their warriors, today is makes a good, high-protein alternative to rice!
When you’re feeling hungry snack on nuts, nuts and more nuts! Nuts are an excellent source of protein. Brazil nuts contain 15.5 per 100g, almonds, 23.4 per 100g and peanuts have a whopping 28.5 per 100g. Try to go for a variety, but remember that nuts are also high in fatty acids so never eat more than a handful at a time. Always choose unsalted.
Choose high protein spreads like peanut butter, tahni and hummus over jams and honey. Not only are they higher in protein meaning you’ll stay fuller for longer but they contain less sugar too!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Stress Reduction Tip
Here's a stress reduction tip from Alicia Sirkin:
The holidays can be overwhelming...so much to do, so little time! Are you having difficulty prioritizing, feeling overwhelmed and doubting your ability to handle tasks or feeling inadequate when facing responsibilities? The "ELM" flower remedy may be just what you need to feel capable again--helping you to efficiently handle tasks and breeze through your "To Do" list.
Dosage: Put two drops of the Bach Flower Remedy "ELM" onto your tongue or rub onto the inside of your wrists or temples. Or, put two drops into a glass of water and sip frequently, repeat until you are satisfied with the results. Dose at least 4 times a day or more, and as often as every 3 - 5 minutes if desired. You cannot overdose.
Check out Alicia's website.
The holidays can be overwhelming...so much to do, so little time! Are you having difficulty prioritizing, feeling overwhelmed and doubting your ability to handle tasks or feeling inadequate when facing responsibilities? The "ELM" flower remedy may be just what you need to feel capable again--helping you to efficiently handle tasks and breeze through your "To Do" list.
Dosage: Put two drops of the Bach Flower Remedy "ELM" onto your tongue or rub onto the inside of your wrists or temples. Or, put two drops into a glass of water and sip frequently, repeat until you are satisfied with the results. Dose at least 4 times a day or more, and as often as every 3 - 5 minutes if desired. You cannot overdose.
Check out Alicia's website.
Monday, December 17, 2007
10 Top Tips for Delightful Harmony through the New Year
Here are 10 tips from Ishi Khan Jackson to help you survive till the new year (and beyond):
- Decide you want harmony
- Expectation: Take an honest look at what you expect from the Christmas period
- Listen, really listen to the expectations of those you’ve chosen to share the time with. Can you understand where the person’s coming from?
- Inform: Tell them your expectations. Do they understand where you’re coming from?
- Get together and list all kinds of ways to spend the period. Let your imagination run free and free yourself from any fear of making changes to the norm. Don’t judge the practicality or sanity of your ideas at this stage. No matter how silly they may sound, air these ideas, they are just ideas.
- Honour your space. Give yourselves a day or two to digest and mull over all the ideas.
- Take note and listen to what the opinion of others about the ideas
- Freely share your thoughts about the ideas.
- Ultimately, pick and mix. (Not shoplifting at Woolies!) Pick parts of the ideas you like and mix them with parts of the ideas others like. Between you, you’ll definitely come up with something for everyone.
- Let yourselves have fun, congratulate yourselves on being proactive and celebrate your growth!
Copyright Ishi Khan-Jackson
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Magnets On Clothes
As many of you know I'm a keen cyclist, and it is time to buy a new waterproof cycling jacket - my old one is letting in water big time. I liked the look of the Cannondale Morphis Shell Ladies Jacket, particularly the fact that you could get it in lime - one of my favourite colours.
But when i read the details about it, it said this:
So sadly much as I liked this jacket, I'm not buying it. I think I'm going for the Gore alpine ladies waterproof jacket instead.
But when i read the details about it, it said this:
Sleeves detach as one piece! Just 2 quick zips and it morphs into a vest—and then back to a jacket, secured in place by magnetsGreat to have this level of versatility ('vest' in UK English is a gilet - oh, that's French, what a funny world we live in), but magnets are not like zips and buttons. Magnets can do things to the body that is under them. That's why people wear magnetic bracelets or go for magnet therapy. These are healing applications, but magnets used inappropraitely can cause health problems.
So sadly much as I liked this jacket, I'm not buying it. I think I'm going for the Gore alpine ladies waterproof jacket instead.
Surviving Christmas
here's some thoughts on surviving Christmas:
- Keep healthy snacks at the front of the fridge or cupboard. Put unhealthy snacks at the back of the cupboard or fridge. Put them in plain dark containers.
- Take Milk Thistle before Christmas if you’re likely to drink lots of alcohol. It’s a great liver detox – take it now and it will help your liver stay strong, but do not use it as an excuse to drink more.
- If you’re trying to lose weight, this is a good time to go for weight maintenance rather than weight loss. Don’t put loads of pressure on yourself.
- When you go to a party, socialise away from the area where the food and drink are. That way you are less likely to be tempted.
- If you’re in charge of the food, reduce the number of times you go to the supermarket. The more often you go the more you are likely to buy unhealthy food. Go with a list and eat something before you go – that way you are less likely to buy all those extra things you don’t really need.
- Make sure you drink enough water particularly if you are drinking alcohol.
- Check out my article on dealing with those relatives and colleagues at social events
Guzzling sport drinks leads to weight gain
A report from the University of California at Berkeley said students who drink a 20-ounce sports drink every day could gain about 13 pounds in a year as they contain more sodium and as much as two-thirds the sugar as some fizzy drinks! We say, if you’re exercising for an hour or more, a sports drink will be an essential part of your workout. When you’re not working out – stick to water.
Source: Kristoph.co.uk - Monthly News
Source: Kristoph.co.uk - Monthly News
Friday, December 14, 2007
I'm sending myself junk mail!!
Over the last few days a lot of emails to me have been put automatically in the Junk folder. I couldn’t understand why this was suddenly happening to emails from friends and colleagues. Eventually the penny dropped – all the emails put in the junk folder like this were replies to emails from me and I’d changed my email signature to this:
Want to lose weight? Need some help? Try our weight loss nutritional supplement - 60 day money back guarantee even if you've emptied the pot!
I’ve changed my email signature back to what it was previously, and now my messages act like they did before. I can only think that my anti-spam software was bothered by the terms ‘weight loss’ and ‘lose weight’.
It’s sad really, because it indicates just how many rubbish offers there are out there, how many charlatans take advantage of people’s desire to lose weight.
It’s also sad because it means that people like me who have genuine offers that work can’t get them out to the people who could benefit from them.
This weight loss supplement works really well – I had someone recently say she’s lost over 20 lbs since she’s been taking the capsules (about 2 months) and she’s not even taking the full dose every day.
Want to lose weight? Need some help? Try our weight loss nutritional supplement - 60 day money back guarantee even if you've emptied the pot!
I’ve changed my email signature back to what it was previously, and now my messages act like they did before. I can only think that my anti-spam software was bothered by the terms ‘weight loss’ and ‘lose weight’.
It’s sad really, because it indicates just how many rubbish offers there are out there, how many charlatans take advantage of people’s desire to lose weight.
It’s also sad because it means that people like me who have genuine offers that work can’t get them out to the people who could benefit from them.
This weight loss supplement works really well – I had someone recently say she’s lost over 20 lbs since she’s been taking the capsules (about 2 months) and she’s not even taking the full dose every day.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Weight loss gurantee
I was out riding my bike with a friend who’s decided to get fit. She’s doing the right things: taking more exercise and eating more healthy foods. I told her about the weight loss supplement we sell if she feels she needs some help to lose weight at any time. She was interested but asked: “Do they work?”
I felt like saying: “No, course they don’t – I just want your money!” but instead I told her about our guarantee:
60-day money-back guarantee even if you’ve taken the last one.
Everyone always queries this guarantee because they feel it’s too good to be true. But I feel confident in making this guarantee for everything in our online health shop because I only see stuff that I’ve researched and know is likely to work for most people.
Of course, there will be people who take a dishonest advantage from this guarantee, but I can live with that. What I want is for people to see this guarantee and know that they can trust what we sell to be effective – not for everyone in all circumstances – but for a lot of people who are looking for help to lose weight and improve their lives.
I felt like saying: “No, course they don’t – I just want your money!” but instead I told her about our guarantee:
60-day money-back guarantee even if you’ve taken the last one.
Everyone always queries this guarantee because they feel it’s too good to be true. But I feel confident in making this guarantee for everything in our online health shop because I only see stuff that I’ve researched and know is likely to work for most people.
Of course, there will be people who take a dishonest advantage from this guarantee, but I can live with that. What I want is for people to see this guarantee and know that they can trust what we sell to be effective – not for everyone in all circumstances – but for a lot of people who are looking for help to lose weight and improve their lives.
The benefits of exercise
A new study from researchers at Bristol University (UK) has shown that exercise can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by a third, and that lack of physical exercise can lead to depression and dementia.
If you want to do something about it, but can’t get yourself motivated then check out our hypnotherapy CD for exercise and motivation You can listen to a sample online). I suggest you also read my article on dealing with exercise excuses.
If you want to do something about it, but can’t get yourself motivated then check out our hypnotherapy CD for exercise and motivation You can listen to a sample online). I suggest you also read my article on dealing with exercise excuses.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Reform of the US farm bill
Although I'm based in the UK, I'm a great admirer of the work of the US Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine.
Here's some information I received from them today:
"With pressure mounting for reform, the Farm Bill is still awaiting a vote in Congress. PCRM and its supporters are making sure that the problems with this legislative bonanza for Tyson Foods and other meat companies are at the forefront of discussion in newspapers, on television, and on the Senate floor. A growing number of observers are questioning why the Farm Bill provides taxpayer-funded subsidies for meat, sugar, and other unhealthy foods, while fruits and vegetables receive little support."
Want to read more, then click here.
Here's some information I received from them today:
"With pressure mounting for reform, the Farm Bill is still awaiting a vote in Congress. PCRM and its supporters are making sure that the problems with this legislative bonanza for Tyson Foods and other meat companies are at the forefront of discussion in newspapers, on television, and on the Senate floor. A growing number of observers are questioning why the Farm Bill provides taxpayer-funded subsidies for meat, sugar, and other unhealthy foods, while fruits and vegetables receive little support."
Want to read more, then click here.
Buy health products and help charities
Here’s a painless way you can help two of my favourite charities. From now until the end of January I will donate 15% of anything you spend in my online shop (excluding VAT and carriage) to the Maun Homeopathy Project or Village Water. I've chosen these two charities because I personally know and trust the people who created these charities, and they are small charities making a big difference.
My online shop sells lots of goodies including Helios homeopathic kits, nutritional supplements, hypnotherapy CDs, organic cotton baby gifts, Indigo essences, homeopathic creams, TENS machines and more. Some of the things would make great gifts. Everything on the site is covered by a 60-day money-back guarantee.
It’s simple – you go to the site and buy what you want either through our secure online shop or by phoning 01736 336993 (9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday UK time) and then you email me to tell me which of the two charities you want to support.
This is in addition to all my normally charity giving, which is 12% of my profits. So go spend - and help these two charities.
My online shop sells lots of goodies including Helios homeopathic kits, nutritional supplements, hypnotherapy CDs, organic cotton baby gifts, Indigo essences, homeopathic creams, TENS machines and more. Some of the things would make great gifts. Everything on the site is covered by a 60-day money-back guarantee.
It’s simple – you go to the site and buy what you want either through our secure online shop or by phoning 01736 336993 (9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday UK time) and then you email me to tell me which of the two charities you want to support.
This is in addition to all my normally charity giving, which is 12% of my profits. So go spend - and help these two charities.
Nutritional Supplements And Health
A lot of people seem to think they don’t need to take nutritional supplements, but there is mounting evidence that this is not true. While we continue to live such stressed and polluted lives, we need all the help we can get.
Stress can lead to an increased need for some vitamins and minerals. Vitamin B complex and magnesium can help the nervous system to stay healthy. These supplements can also help you to feel less agitated and anxious.
In recent years there has been a lot of interest in antioxidants. Antioxidants are mainly found in fruit and vegetables, hence the widely supported advice to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, but some advice goes further and suggests that everyone should be taking antioxidant supplements. Antioxidants are designed to counteract free radical damage. Free radicals attack healthy cells damaging cell DNA and possibly leading to cancer. Free radical damage also produces many of the changes we associate with ageing. Excess free radical production in the body is caused by, among other things, stress, radiation and environmental pollution. Some vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients act to ‘mop up’ free radicals. Selenium with vitamins A, C and E is a good antioxidant formula that many people find beneficial.
Be careful when you buy supplements: many of the cheap ones have very little of the important active ingredients and they may not be in form that is easily absorbed by the body. Sadly the ‘pile em high and sell em cheap’ mentality has affected the nutritional supplement market as well as many other aspects of life. Cheap is not really cheap if it’s ineffective, instead it’s a waste of money. On my online shop I sell nutritional supplements that are backed up by research, and we even offer a 60-day money-back guarantee even if you’ve emptied the pot!
Stress can lead to an increased need for some vitamins and minerals. Vitamin B complex and magnesium can help the nervous system to stay healthy. These supplements can also help you to feel less agitated and anxious.
In recent years there has been a lot of interest in antioxidants. Antioxidants are mainly found in fruit and vegetables, hence the widely supported advice to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, but some advice goes further and suggests that everyone should be taking antioxidant supplements. Antioxidants are designed to counteract free radical damage. Free radicals attack healthy cells damaging cell DNA and possibly leading to cancer. Free radical damage also produces many of the changes we associate with ageing. Excess free radical production in the body is caused by, among other things, stress, radiation and environmental pollution. Some vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients act to ‘mop up’ free radicals. Selenium with vitamins A, C and E is a good antioxidant formula that many people find beneficial.
Be careful when you buy supplements: many of the cheap ones have very little of the important active ingredients and they may not be in form that is easily absorbed by the body. Sadly the ‘pile em high and sell em cheap’ mentality has affected the nutritional supplement market as well as many other aspects of life. Cheap is not really cheap if it’s ineffective, instead it’s a waste of money. On my online shop I sell nutritional supplements that are backed up by research, and we even offer a 60-day money-back guarantee even if you’ve emptied the pot!
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Natural Treats
There’s an advert in Today’s Times newspaper from Nestle for confectionery/sweets that made me see a little red.
They say: “We’ve added something on the outside, to tell you what we haven’t added inside.”
There are pictures of Smarties, Milkybars and Fruit Pastilles with slogans such as ‘all natural ingredients’ and ‘ no artificial colours or flavours. Contains 25% fruit juice’.
So that’s alright then. These are ‘healthy’ sweets to give kids! Far from it, they are packed with sugar which rots teeth and causes fluctuations in blood sugar and mood swings.
I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with the odd chocolate bar, but let’s not kid ourselves we are doing something good and healthy by giving this stuff to our children.
They say: “We’ve added something on the outside, to tell you what we haven’t added inside.”
There are pictures of Smarties, Milkybars and Fruit Pastilles with slogans such as ‘all natural ingredients’ and ‘ no artificial colours or flavours. Contains 25% fruit juice’.
So that’s alright then. These are ‘healthy’ sweets to give kids! Far from it, they are packed with sugar which rots teeth and causes fluctuations in blood sugar and mood swings.
I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with the odd chocolate bar, but let’s not kid ourselves we are doing something good and healthy by giving this stuff to our children.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Perimenopause Symptoms And Treatment
I received this email today:
"Which products would you recomment for what I think is perimenopause.
I am feed up of feeling so awfull, I assumed as I still have periods though not regularly (three to four months gaps), I had to suffer this until the real menopause. However now the hot flushes have started too, I am wondering if all the other symptoms I had also relate to what I am told is perimenopause (listless, irritability, depressed, etc)"
and this is my reply:
Sorry you're feeling so grim. Unfortunately many women (and doctors) seem to believe that it's inevitable that they feel bad during and leading up to the menopause. I'm glad you don't.
Personally I found Neways wild yam and chaste berry cream great as I approached the menopause. Sage tablets are particularly helpful for hot flushes.
For the irritability and depression etc. I suggest you try vitamin B complex - we sell this in our shop too.
Alternatively (or as well) you could try the Bush Flower Essence Woman - that's in the Woman's section of our site too.
It's important at this time also to take care of yourself, eat well, drink lots of water, pamper yourself and go easy on yourself. Hope this info helps.
"Which products would you recomment for what I think is perimenopause.
I am feed up of feeling so awfull, I assumed as I still have periods though not regularly (three to four months gaps), I had to suffer this until the real menopause. However now the hot flushes have started too, I am wondering if all the other symptoms I had also relate to what I am told is perimenopause (listless, irritability, depressed, etc)"
and this is my reply:
Sorry you're feeling so grim. Unfortunately many women (and doctors) seem to believe that it's inevitable that they feel bad during and leading up to the menopause. I'm glad you don't.
Personally I found Neways wild yam and chaste berry cream great as I approached the menopause. Sage tablets are particularly helpful for hot flushes.
For the irritability and depression etc. I suggest you try vitamin B complex - we sell this in our shop too.
Alternatively (or as well) you could try the Bush Flower Essence Woman - that's in the Woman's section of our site too.
It's important at this time also to take care of yourself, eat well, drink lots of water, pamper yourself and go easy on yourself. Hope this info helps.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Breastfeeding and childhood asthma
Here's some interesting information breastfeeding and the prevention of asthma and wheezing in children:
BMC Pediatrics 2007, 7:39doi:10.1186/1471-2431-7-39
Published: 28 November 2007
Abstract (provisional)
Background
The question of the protective effect of breastfeeding on development of asthma has raised substantial interest, but the scientific evidence of the optimal duration of breastfeeding is controversial.
Methods
The authors elaborated the optimal duration of breastfeeding with respect to the risk of asthma primarily, and secondarily to the risk of persistent wheezing, cough and phlegm in school age in a population-based cohort study with the baseline in 1991 and follow-up in 1997. The study population comprised 1984 children aged 7 to 14 years at the end of the follow-up (follow-up rate 77). Information on breastfeeding was based on the baseline survey and information on the health outcomes at the follow-up.
Results
There was a U-shaped relation between breastfeeding and the outcomes with the lowest risk with breastfeeding from four to nine months for asthma and seven to nine months for persistent wheezing, cough and phlegm.
Conclusions
Our results suggest a U shape relation between duration of breastfeeding and risk of asthma with an optimal duration of 4 to 6 months. A true concave relation would explain the inconsistent results from the previous studies.
You can check out the full article here.
BMC Pediatrics 2007, 7:39doi:10.1186/1471-2431-7-39
Published: 28 November 2007
Abstract (provisional)
Background
The question of the protective effect of breastfeeding on development of asthma has raised substantial interest, but the scientific evidence of the optimal duration of breastfeeding is controversial.
Methods
The authors elaborated the optimal duration of breastfeeding with respect to the risk of asthma primarily, and secondarily to the risk of persistent wheezing, cough and phlegm in school age in a population-based cohort study with the baseline in 1991 and follow-up in 1997. The study population comprised 1984 children aged 7 to 14 years at the end of the follow-up (follow-up rate 77). Information on breastfeeding was based on the baseline survey and information on the health outcomes at the follow-up.
Results
There was a U-shaped relation between breastfeeding and the outcomes with the lowest risk with breastfeeding from four to nine months for asthma and seven to nine months for persistent wheezing, cough and phlegm.
Conclusions
Our results suggest a U shape relation between duration of breastfeeding and risk of asthma with an optimal duration of 4 to 6 months. A true concave relation would explain the inconsistent results from the previous studies.
You can check out the full article here.
Credit Card Scams
not strictly within the remit of this blog, but thought I should publicise this email I got from a friend:
This one is pretty slick since they provide Y O U with all the
information, except the one piece they want.
Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it.
This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.
One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called on Thursday from "MasterCard".
The scam works like this: Person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank) did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for £497.99 from a Marketing company based in London ?" When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from £297 to £497, just under the £500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?" You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 0800 number listed on the back of your card (0800-VISA) and ask for Security.
You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"
Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works the caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card." He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers." There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security numbers
that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your
card. Do you have any other questions?" After you say, "No," the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do", and hangs up.
You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of £497.99 was charged to our card.
Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or MasterCard directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.
What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a "Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening .
Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each other, we protect each other.
This one is pretty slick since they provide Y O U with all the
information, except the one piece they want.
Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it.
This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.
One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called on Thursday from "MasterCard".
The scam works like this: Person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank) did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for £497.99 from a Marketing company based in London ?" When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from £297 to £497, just under the £500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?" You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 0800 number listed on the back of your card (0800-VISA) and ask for Security.
You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"
Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works the caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card." He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers." There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security numbers
that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your
card. Do you have any other questions?" After you say, "No," the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do", and hangs up.
You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of £497.99 was charged to our card.
Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or MasterCard directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.
What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a "Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening .
Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each other, we protect each other.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Animal Acupuncture
Here's some interesting info on animal acupuncture:
Acupuncture in Animals—How Is it Different from Human Use?
The principles underlying the use of acupuncture to treat pain and other medical ailments in humans are essentially the same in animals, but the practice of veterinary acupuncture is quite different and less well-defined due to the physiological differences among animal species and the changing views on how acupuncture works, according to a report in a recent issue (Volume 13, Number 5) of Alternative and Complementary Therapies, a publication of Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
The paper is available free online
Narda Robinson, DO, DVM, MS, Shipley Professor in Complementary and Alternative Medicine at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Fort Collins, describes the application of acupuncture techniques in various animal species in the paper entitled, “Veterinary Acupuncture: An Ancient Tradition for Modern Times.”
Several safe and effective methods of acupuncture stimulation in animals exist to treat conditions such as back pain, non-surgical lameness and colic in horses, reproductive problems in cows, neurologic injury and arthritis in dogs, and sinusitis in snakes. These techniques include dry needling, in which a thin sterile needle is inserted at an acupuncture point.
Moxibustion involves the heating of acupuncture points using a smoldering herb wrapped in wax paper. In electroacupuncture, the needle is attached to an electrical lead to enable the delivery of an electrical stimulus to the acupuncture point.
With regard to the technique known as “gold bead implantation,” which is sometimes used to treat hip dysplasia in dogs, Robinson says that “gold bead implantation is an ineffective and possibly harmful technique that warrants serious re-evaluation.”
Robinson also presents some of the challenges associated with transposing acupuncture points used in humans to animal species. Identifying appropriate placement points along the back is complicated by the varying numbers of vertebrae both between and within animal species. Humans have 12 thoracic vertebrae, whereas horses have 18, for example.
In those animal species with tails, the tail contains nerve and vascular structures that may be appropriate stimulation sites for treating disorders such as back pain or fecal incontinence. Similarly, the hand, which contains one of the strongest acupuncture points in the human body—the point Hegu or LI4, does not have a transposable counterpart in animal physiology that would allow veterinarians to translate acupuncture points used in humans directly to animal species.
Alternative and Complementary Therapies provides the latest information on evaluating alternative therapies and integrating them into everyday clinical practice. Topics include integrative medicine; botanical medicine; acupuncture and Chinese medicine; vitamins and supplements; nutrition and diet; holistic medicine; mind-body medicine; ayurveda, traditional medicine, homeopathy and naturopathy; yoga and bodywork; and massage therapies.
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Medical Acupuncture, Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, and Journal of Women’s Health. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry’s most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm’s 60 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available at www.liebertpub.com
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.140 Huguenot St., New Rochelle, NY 10801www.liebertpub.com Phone (914) 740-2100(800) M-LIEBERTFax (914) 740-2101
Acupuncture in Animals—How Is it Different from Human Use?
The principles underlying the use of acupuncture to treat pain and other medical ailments in humans are essentially the same in animals, but the practice of veterinary acupuncture is quite different and less well-defined due to the physiological differences among animal species and the changing views on how acupuncture works, according to a report in a recent issue (Volume 13, Number 5) of Alternative and Complementary Therapies, a publication of Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
The paper is available free online
Narda Robinson, DO, DVM, MS, Shipley Professor in Complementary and Alternative Medicine at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Fort Collins, describes the application of acupuncture techniques in various animal species in the paper entitled, “Veterinary Acupuncture: An Ancient Tradition for Modern Times.”
Several safe and effective methods of acupuncture stimulation in animals exist to treat conditions such as back pain, non-surgical lameness and colic in horses, reproductive problems in cows, neurologic injury and arthritis in dogs, and sinusitis in snakes. These techniques include dry needling, in which a thin sterile needle is inserted at an acupuncture point.
Moxibustion involves the heating of acupuncture points using a smoldering herb wrapped in wax paper. In electroacupuncture, the needle is attached to an electrical lead to enable the delivery of an electrical stimulus to the acupuncture point.
With regard to the technique known as “gold bead implantation,” which is sometimes used to treat hip dysplasia in dogs, Robinson says that “gold bead implantation is an ineffective and possibly harmful technique that warrants serious re-evaluation.”
Robinson also presents some of the challenges associated with transposing acupuncture points used in humans to animal species. Identifying appropriate placement points along the back is complicated by the varying numbers of vertebrae both between and within animal species. Humans have 12 thoracic vertebrae, whereas horses have 18, for example.
In those animal species with tails, the tail contains nerve and vascular structures that may be appropriate stimulation sites for treating disorders such as back pain or fecal incontinence. Similarly, the hand, which contains one of the strongest acupuncture points in the human body—the point Hegu or LI4, does not have a transposable counterpart in animal physiology that would allow veterinarians to translate acupuncture points used in humans directly to animal species.
Alternative and Complementary Therapies provides the latest information on evaluating alternative therapies and integrating them into everyday clinical practice. Topics include integrative medicine; botanical medicine; acupuncture and Chinese medicine; vitamins and supplements; nutrition and diet; holistic medicine; mind-body medicine; ayurveda, traditional medicine, homeopathy and naturopathy; yoga and bodywork; and massage therapies.
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Medical Acupuncture, Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, and Journal of Women’s Health. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry’s most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm’s 60 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available at www.liebertpub.com
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.140 Huguenot St., New Rochelle, NY 10801www.liebertpub.com Phone (914) 740-2100(800) M-LIEBERTFax (914) 740-2101
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Calm Babies
last night I was watching Dragons Den on TV and a would-be entrepreneur was showing her baby clothes range worn by mothers and carers to stimulate and interact with the baby.
We seem to have moved a long way from the idea of putting the baby out in the garden in the pram and leaving it alone for a long time to a beleif that constant stimualtion is needed for young children to develop.
Toys are getting bigger, brighter and noisier but is this what babies need all the time. I beleive strongly that babies need some down time (just like the rest of us) just to be quiet and to be. This is crucial to their development too. Our modern world is full of stimultion - let's moderate its impact on the very young.
Coincidentally yesterday I was adding all the combination Indigo essences to our online Health shop. They can safely be used with young babies as well as older children to help them be happier, calmer and more at peace with themselves and their world. isn't that what we ant for them and for ourselves?
We seem to have moved a long way from the idea of putting the baby out in the garden in the pram and leaving it alone for a long time to a beleif that constant stimualtion is needed for young children to develop.
Toys are getting bigger, brighter and noisier but is this what babies need all the time. I beleive strongly that babies need some down time (just like the rest of us) just to be quiet and to be. This is crucial to their development too. Our modern world is full of stimultion - let's moderate its impact on the very young.
Coincidentally yesterday I was adding all the combination Indigo essences to our online Health shop. They can safely be used with young babies as well as older children to help them be happier, calmer and more at peace with themselves and their world. isn't that what we ant for them and for ourselves?
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Use Sound For Good Health
I've just published an article on sound therapy by Lyz Cooper on our Health site. It's very well written and includes some self-help tips. Here's one:
"An easy way to begin working with sound is to start with your own voice. Unless there is a physiological or neurological imbalance, everyone has a voice. For a quick pick me try a quick boost of ‘sonic caffeine’ first thing in the morning. A few minutes of toning a high pitched ‘EEEE’ will stimulate the mental level and leave you feeling tingly and ready for a wonderful day. You can also use this method if you are studying for an examination or about to give a presentation."
How about "sonic hot chocolate"? Read the full article and learn more about sound therapy and more self-help tips too.
"An easy way to begin working with sound is to start with your own voice. Unless there is a physiological or neurological imbalance, everyone has a voice. For a quick pick me try a quick boost of ‘sonic caffeine’ first thing in the morning. A few minutes of toning a high pitched ‘EEEE’ will stimulate the mental level and leave you feeling tingly and ready for a wonderful day. You can also use this method if you are studying for an examination or about to give a presentation."
How about "sonic hot chocolate"? Read the full article and learn more about sound therapy and more self-help tips too.
Monday, November 19, 2007
World Toilet Day
Today is World Toilet Day, WaterAid has marked the date with the launch of a report; 'The State of the World's Toilets'. While most people avoid the subject WaterAid are embracing the opportunity to get the world talking about toilets - the good, the bad and the ugly.
WaterAid's report covers every aspect of the humble yet vital toilet from silly facts like: women are more apt to be grabbers and wadders of toilet paper, whereas men are more likely to be folders, to the world's greatest toilet 'a sleek, tankless, one-piece toilet with integrated washlet seat'. There's also a brief history of the Great British toilet and a description of the worst toilet in the world!
"Toilets are a taboo subject, but we cannot and we must not ignore the global crisis in sanitation, diarrhoeal diseases are the second biggest killer of children in the world. Simply providing safe water, sanitation and hygiene education could save 5000 children's lives every day. Governments must act now to prioritise sanitation provision for the world's poorest people." Oliver Cumming, WaterAid Sanitation and Environment Policy Officer.
'The State of the World's Toilets' ranks the worst countries in the world for sanitation provision, with 40% of the world's population lacking somewhere safe to go to the toilet the list is long and made up of some of the poorest countries in the world.
Download the full The State of the World's Toilets report ( PDF 491Kb)
You can also buy a toilet to help someone who doesn't have access to good sanitation.
WaterAid's report covers every aspect of the humble yet vital toilet from silly facts like: women are more apt to be grabbers and wadders of toilet paper, whereas men are more likely to be folders, to the world's greatest toilet 'a sleek, tankless, one-piece toilet with integrated washlet seat'. There's also a brief history of the Great British toilet and a description of the worst toilet in the world!
"Toilets are a taboo subject, but we cannot and we must not ignore the global crisis in sanitation, diarrhoeal diseases are the second biggest killer of children in the world. Simply providing safe water, sanitation and hygiene education could save 5000 children's lives every day. Governments must act now to prioritise sanitation provision for the world's poorest people." Oliver Cumming, WaterAid Sanitation and Environment Policy Officer.
'The State of the World's Toilets' ranks the worst countries in the world for sanitation provision, with 40% of the world's population lacking somewhere safe to go to the toilet the list is long and made up of some of the poorest countries in the world.
Download the full The State of the World's Toilets report ( PDF 491Kb)
You can also buy a toilet to help someone who doesn't have access to good sanitation.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Zinc - How Do You Know If You Need It?
One in three people in the UK fail to consume sufficient zinc in their diet. This is a truly horrendous statistic as zinc is necessary for the body to manufacture enzymes. Enzymes are vitally important to a healthy body. Deficiency symptoms include red, greasy skin on face; skin problems; poor hair growth; dandruff; night blindness; brittle nails; white spots on nails and persistent leg ulcers & pressure sores.
Zinc is a particularly important mineral for teenage boys and can often help with that teenage nightmare – acne.
So how do you know if you are short of zinc? If you’ve got an appalling diet you might just want to buy a high quality zinc supplement, but if you’re uncertain there’s a very simple test to show if you’re short of zinc. You taste a liquid solution of zinc and the taste you experience will show if you need to take a zinc supplement or up your intake of zinc rich foods (e.g. seeds, walnuts, lentils and whole grains).
Zinc is a particularly important mineral for teenage boys and can often help with that teenage nightmare – acne.
So how do you know if you are short of zinc? If you’ve got an appalling diet you might just want to buy a high quality zinc supplement, but if you’re uncertain there’s a very simple test to show if you’re short of zinc. You taste a liquid solution of zinc and the taste you experience will show if you need to take a zinc supplement or up your intake of zinc rich foods (e.g. seeds, walnuts, lentils and whole grains).
Vegetarian Thanksgiving.
I have been a vegetarian many years so I really like the work of the US Cancer Project which is encouraging people to adopt a vegetarian life style for health reasons.
With Thanksgiving coming up they've put together lots of recipes that are both healthy and delicious. Here's an example of one of their recipes:
No-Meat Loaf Makes 1 loaf (about 12 slices)
Serve this great-tasting loaf with Mushroom Gravy for a hearty meal that’s sure to please. A food processor makes it easy to make the bread crumbs (or you can purchase already-prepared bread crumbs) and to finely chop the walnuts and vegetables.
1 1/4 cups quick-cooking or regular rolled oats
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs, preferably whole-wheat (2–3 slices bread)
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 14-ounce package Lightlife Gimme Lean Ground Beef Style meat substitute, other ground beef-style meat substitute, or 2 cups cooked bulgur
3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce1 cup plain tomato sauce, or 1 cup of crushed tomatoes
2 teaspoons stone-ground or Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
vegetable oil spray
1/2 cup ketchup or barbeque sauce (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F.
Use a food processor to finely chop walnuts, onion, celery, carrot, and green bell pepper.
Combine all ingredients except vegetable oil spray and ketchup or barbeque sauce in a large bowl.
Stir with a large spoon or knead by hand until well-mixed, about 1 minute.
Press into a vegetable oil sprayed 5"×9" loaf pan or similar baking dish.
Top with ketchup or barbeque sauce, if using.
Bake 60 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.
Per slice:
104 calories
2.6 g fat
0.3 g saturated fat
22% calories from fat
0 mg cholesterol
8.2 g protein
13.9 g carbohydrate
2.7 g sugar
2.5 g fiber
418 mg sodium
37 mg calcium
1.7 mg iron
5.9 mg vitamin C
463 mcg beta-carotene
0.6 mg vitamin E
Recipe by Jennifer Raymond, M.S., R.D.
You can find more vegetarian thanksgiving recipes on their web site.
We also have more vegetarian thanksgiving recipes on the Health And Goodness web site.
With Thanksgiving coming up they've put together lots of recipes that are both healthy and delicious. Here's an example of one of their recipes:
No-Meat Loaf Makes 1 loaf (about 12 slices)
Serve this great-tasting loaf with Mushroom Gravy for a hearty meal that’s sure to please. A food processor makes it easy to make the bread crumbs (or you can purchase already-prepared bread crumbs) and to finely chop the walnuts and vegetables.
1 1/4 cups quick-cooking or regular rolled oats
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs, preferably whole-wheat (2–3 slices bread)
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 14-ounce package Lightlife Gimme Lean Ground Beef Style meat substitute, other ground beef-style meat substitute, or 2 cups cooked bulgur
3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce1 cup plain tomato sauce, or 1 cup of crushed tomatoes
2 teaspoons stone-ground or Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
vegetable oil spray
1/2 cup ketchup or barbeque sauce (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F.
Use a food processor to finely chop walnuts, onion, celery, carrot, and green bell pepper.
Combine all ingredients except vegetable oil spray and ketchup or barbeque sauce in a large bowl.
Stir with a large spoon or knead by hand until well-mixed, about 1 minute.
Press into a vegetable oil sprayed 5"×9" loaf pan or similar baking dish.
Top with ketchup or barbeque sauce, if using.
Bake 60 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.
Per slice:
104 calories
2.6 g fat
0.3 g saturated fat
22% calories from fat
0 mg cholesterol
8.2 g protein
13.9 g carbohydrate
2.7 g sugar
2.5 g fiber
418 mg sodium
37 mg calcium
1.7 mg iron
5.9 mg vitamin C
463 mcg beta-carotene
0.6 mg vitamin E
Recipe by Jennifer Raymond, M.S., R.D.
You can find more vegetarian thanksgiving recipes on their web site.
We also have more vegetarian thanksgiving recipes on the Health And Goodness web site.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Help With Stress
One of our customers sent me this email today:
"I bought Ginkgo off you recently and was wanting to also get a multi vitamin - they all seam to have the common stuff that I think you get in a daily diet but wanted to know if you have anything with a bit extra. No reason as im not run down but I have a very busy lifestyle and want to stay on form."
This was my reply:
"Rather than going for a multivit in your situation I'd probably go for the stress pack."
A lot of people are confused by nutritional supplements so I've started putting together packs - so far I've done insomnia, skin, digestion, arthritis and stress - specific nutritional supplements that work together and have been shown by research to benefit a particular problem. The packs have two advantages - the supplements are pre-chosen for you and also you save 10% on the price you'd pay if you bought these individually.
"I bought Ginkgo off you recently and was wanting to also get a multi vitamin - they all seam to have the common stuff that I think you get in a daily diet but wanted to know if you have anything with a bit extra. No reason as im not run down but I have a very busy lifestyle and want to stay on form."
This was my reply:
"Rather than going for a multivit in your situation I'd probably go for the stress pack."
A lot of people are confused by nutritional supplements so I've started putting together packs - so far I've done insomnia, skin, digestion, arthritis and stress - specific nutritional supplements that work together and have been shown by research to benefit a particular problem. The packs have two advantages - the supplements are pre-chosen for you and also you save 10% on the price you'd pay if you bought these individually.
homeopathy for child birth
every time we get an order for the homeopathic childbirth kit in our online store I get a warm glow knowing that some baby (and mother) somewhere is going to get off to a good start in life.
The remedies included are:
Aconite 200
Hypericum 200
Arnica 200
Ipecac 200
Bellis-p 200
Kali carb 200
Calendula 200
Kali phos 200
Carbo veg 200
Phytolacca 200
Caulophyllum 200
Pulsatilla 200
Chamomilla 200
Secale 200
Cimicifuga 200
Sepia Gelsemium 200
Staphisagria 200
it comes with a little booklet expalining how and when to use the remedies.
People sometimes uy them as gifts for pregnant friends and many pregant women buy them for themselves.
The remedies included are:
Aconite 200
Hypericum 200
Arnica 200
Ipecac 200
Bellis-p 200
Kali carb 200
Calendula 200
Kali phos 200
Carbo veg 200
Phytolacca 200
Caulophyllum 200
Pulsatilla 200
Chamomilla 200
Secale 200
Cimicifuga 200
Sepia Gelsemium 200
Staphisagria 200
it comes with a little booklet expalining how and when to use the remedies.
People sometimes uy them as gifts for pregnant friends and many pregant women buy them for themselves.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Give A Computer Get A Computer
I'm not in North America, but a North American colleague sent this to me:
Give One Get One
Between November 12 and November 26, OLPC is offering a Give One Get One program in North America. This is the first time the revolutionary XO laptop has been made available to the general public. For a donation of $399, one XO laptop will be sent to empower a child in a developing nation and one will be sent to the child in your life in recognition of your contribution. $200 of your donation is tax-deductible (your $399 donation minus the fair market value of the XO laptop you will be receiving).
For all U.S. donors who participate in the Give One Get One program, T-Mobile is offering one year of complimentary HotSpot access. Find out more.
Please be aware that we will make every effort to deliver the XO laptops by the holidays, but quantities are limited. Early purchasers have the best chance of receiving their XO laptops in time for the holidays, but we cannot guarantee timing
Give One Get One
Between November 12 and November 26, OLPC is offering a Give One Get One program in North America. This is the first time the revolutionary XO laptop has been made available to the general public. For a donation of $399, one XO laptop will be sent to empower a child in a developing nation and one will be sent to the child in your life in recognition of your contribution. $200 of your donation is tax-deductible (your $399 donation minus the fair market value of the XO laptop you will be receiving).
For all U.S. donors who participate in the Give One Get One program, T-Mobile is offering one year of complimentary HotSpot access. Find out more.
Please be aware that we will make every effort to deliver the XO laptops by the holidays, but quantities are limited. Early purchasers have the best chance of receiving their XO laptops in time for the holidays, but we cannot guarantee timing
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Sugar
I had a visitor yesterday who apologised profusely for wanting sugar in his coffee. He said: "Knowing what you do, I know you won't approve." It reminded me of when my children were young and we went to another mum's house. There were lots of mums there and everyone was offered cake except me. I commented on this and she said: "Oh, I know how interetsed you are in health and that stuff so I didn't think you'd want cake."
It's interesting that people think I never eat cake or take sugar because I'm interested in health, but I believe strongly that a healthy person can eat cake and have some sugar - not all the time, but occasionally, and it's no big deal. If you can only stay healthy by avoiding lots of things all the time and following a strict regime, you are not truly healthy. We have evolved to live in an imperfect world (may be not as imperfect as it is!!), so it should be possible to do all sorts of things in moderation.
It's interesting that people think I never eat cake or take sugar because I'm interested in health, but I believe strongly that a healthy person can eat cake and have some sugar - not all the time, but occasionally, and it's no big deal. If you can only stay healthy by avoiding lots of things all the time and following a strict regime, you are not truly healthy. We have evolved to live in an imperfect world (may be not as imperfect as it is!!), so it should be possible to do all sorts of things in moderation.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Weight Loss programme
I've added a new product and a new section to our online store.
The newest product is WeightLess, a thermogenic supplement, packed with nutrients to help stimulate a sluggish metabolism and low energy levels. They are particularly suitable for people who are not able to lose body fat even when following a low calorie diet.
The capsules contain caffeine, green tea extract, yerba mate, guarana, vitamin B6, Siberian ginseng, betaine HCL, apple cider vinegar, chromium polynicotinate, iodine and more.
Earlier this week a friend who has been taking these capsules told me (without prompting):
"My sweet tooth is practically non-existent... I've saved a fortune on not buying junk food .. and I've lost 6 lbs."
At this stage she had been taking the capsules for less than two weeks.
Weight loss is a big health issue for a lot of people, so we are pricing these capsules at a lot less than directly comparable products.
In this online section of our shop we also have a Weight Loss self-hypnosis CD so you can tackle weight loss from a psychological standpoint, and other products that can help you lose weight in a healthy and sustained way.
A recent study that you may have read about shows how important weight is in a cancer prevention programme. Being at a sensible weight is important for self esteem and health, so here are some products that can help you along the way.
All our products come with a 60-day money-back guarantee (excluding shipping) – so even if you’ve taken all the capsules you can still get your money back if you’re dissatisfied.
The newest product is WeightLess, a thermogenic supplement, packed with nutrients to help stimulate a sluggish metabolism and low energy levels. They are particularly suitable for people who are not able to lose body fat even when following a low calorie diet.
The capsules contain caffeine, green tea extract, yerba mate, guarana, vitamin B6, Siberian ginseng, betaine HCL, apple cider vinegar, chromium polynicotinate, iodine and more.
Earlier this week a friend who has been taking these capsules told me (without prompting):
"My sweet tooth is practically non-existent... I've saved a fortune on not buying junk food .. and I've lost 6 lbs."
At this stage she had been taking the capsules for less than two weeks.
Weight loss is a big health issue for a lot of people, so we are pricing these capsules at a lot less than directly comparable products.
In this online section of our shop we also have a Weight Loss self-hypnosis CD so you can tackle weight loss from a psychological standpoint, and other products that can help you lose weight in a healthy and sustained way.
A recent study that you may have read about shows how important weight is in a cancer prevention programme. Being at a sensible weight is important for self esteem and health, so here are some products that can help you along the way.
All our products come with a 60-day money-back guarantee (excluding shipping) – so even if you’ve taken all the capsules you can still get your money back if you’re dissatisfied.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Why buy from us?
I'm always tinkering with our online health store, and over the last few days I've been thinking about why people should buy from us. These are the reasons I immediately thought of:
Buy from us because:
Buy from us because:
- Our company is based on ethical principles - offering well-researched information and products. We were ethical long before that word became fashionable in a business context.
- We offer a 60-day money back guarantee on all our products, including the supplements (excluding shipping charges). Even if you are down to the last tablet in the pot, you can still send it back for a complete refund.
- Although this online store is relatively new, I have been in business since 1982, offering health advice and help through my therapy practice.
- All our nutritional products are suitable for vegetarians and most are also suitable for vegans. I have been a vegetarian for over 30 years, and am a member of the UK Vegetarian Society.
- We do not make extravagant claims for the products we sell. I hate the hype I meet on many sites, raising unrealistic hopes or insulting your intelligence. We build trust in our site through the advice, the products, our refund policy and the service we offer, so that you want to come back to the site again and again.
- Many sites rely on barely-legal 'special offers' to generate sales. We do make special offers from time to time, but these are always genuine, and are often designed to introduce you to a new product. Fundamentally I believe in always offering effective products that don't rip anyone off.
- Your credit card information is safe with us; we follow good practice in keeping your details safe.
- Your privacy is guaranteed. We do not sell, give away or exchange your details.
- We donate at least 12% of our profits to charity, currently including WaterAid and the Maun Homeopathy project.
- We bank with the Co-Operative Bank, a bank with a clear ethical investment policy on oppressive regimes, the arms trade, the tobacco industry, animal welfare, etc.
So, now you know some of the reasons shopping with us makes sense.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Choose How You Are
I regularly get an email newsletter from Robert Middleton. He writes well - here's a piece out of his latest ezine that I particularly liked:
This Monday morning I woke up with a huge pile of things on my
plate. Not only did I have the eZine to write, but my in-progress
projects include writing an online marketing software program,
gearing up for my next Certification Program, giving feedback to
my Marketing Coaches and creating a big fundraising event for a
non-profit organization (Room to Read).
What I noticed, before even getting out of bed, was that I was
gearing up to BE overwhelmed. I also remembered that when I'm
overwhelmed, I either start procrastinating, stuck in not knowing
what to do first, or I go into "stressed-out panic mode."
I also remembered that both of these options were not very
effective in handling overwhelm. So I asked myself, "If I couldn't
be overwhelmed, who would I be?" The answer came quickly: "I'd
be calm, focused and fearless."
I clearly saw that if I was calm, focused and fearless, I'd look at all
the things I had on my plate, do a little planning and prioritizing
and then do one thing at a time. And then I asked myself, "Who
am I going to choose to Be? Overwhelmed, or calm, focused and
fearless?"
By Robert Middleton of Action Plan Marketing. Please visit
Robert's web site at www.actionplan.com for additional
marketing articles and resources on marketing for professional
service businesses.
This Monday morning I woke up with a huge pile of things on my
plate. Not only did I have the eZine to write, but my in-progress
projects include writing an online marketing software program,
gearing up for my next Certification Program, giving feedback to
my Marketing Coaches and creating a big fundraising event for a
non-profit organization (Room to Read).
What I noticed, before even getting out of bed, was that I was
gearing up to BE overwhelmed. I also remembered that when I'm
overwhelmed, I either start procrastinating, stuck in not knowing
what to do first, or I go into "stressed-out panic mode."
I also remembered that both of these options were not very
effective in handling overwhelm. So I asked myself, "If I couldn't
be overwhelmed, who would I be?" The answer came quickly: "I'd
be calm, focused and fearless."
I clearly saw that if I was calm, focused and fearless, I'd look at all
the things I had on my plate, do a little planning and prioritizing
and then do one thing at a time. And then I asked myself, "Who
am I going to choose to Be? Overwhelmed, or calm, focused and
fearless?"
By Robert Middleton of Action Plan Marketing. Please visit
Robert's web site at www.actionplan.com for additional
marketing articles and resources on marketing for professional
service businesses.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Geopathic Stress Book
It's interesting to see that someone is selling my original book on ebay with a 'buy it now' price of US Dollars 88!
It's cheaper and makes more sense to buy my latest version of this book - enlarged with lots of new material. You can buy it from many booksellers or direct from my health web site.
It's cheaper and makes more sense to buy my latest version of this book - enlarged with lots of new material. You can buy it from many booksellers or direct from my health web site.
Friday, November 02, 2007
Battle Of Ideas
I really enjoyed attending the Battle Of Ideas weekend, although by the end of the weekend I felt like my brain had been removed, whizzed in a liquidiser and then poured back into my head!
There were lots of great discussions and provocative things said. I particularly enjoyed the debates on obesity, the resurrection of religion, Darwin and Intelligent Design, the politics of climate change.
The debate I didn’t enjoy was: CAM: junk science or genuine alternative. When I saw the line up, I realised immediately that complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) had no real champion in the speakers. Professor Edzard Ernst who is the Laing Chair of Complementary Medicine, University of Exeter And Plymouth, was one of the speakers. At first sight this seems like a voice for the CAM community, but professor Ernst seems to be wedded to the double blind placebo trial as the only way of accessing information. I have written on my web site for therapists about why I feel this has profound flaws for understanding CAM. My concerns were confirmed when I listened to the speakers who presented a caricature of the typical CAM client as the neurotic worried-well. When there was a chance for the audience to speak I got a chance to say I didn’t recognise this typical client and that when I’d been a therapist I’d seen (and helped) people with eczema, asthma, epilepsy, arthritis and more, and these people certainly couldn’t in any way be characterised as the worried well. Unfortunately many of the speakers from the floor spoke against CAM. I felt very disheartened but cheered myself up with the thought that a few years ago there wouldn’t have even been a debate on CAM, as it wouldn’t have been seen as a significant enough phenomenon to be worth having a debate on.
The really outstanding debate for me was entitled: “My brain made me do it: biology and freedom”. Lucid, elegant arguments from a lawyer, neuroscientists and professors of geriatric medicine and sociology. It was enthralling to listen to, and the questions and comments from the audience posed more ideas. No conclusions were drawn, but that is the nature of this event – you are presented with well argued, opposing views and left to draw your own conclusion.
I shall certainly be booking for next year’s Battle of Ideas.
There were lots of great discussions and provocative things said. I particularly enjoyed the debates on obesity, the resurrection of religion, Darwin and Intelligent Design, the politics of climate change.
The debate I didn’t enjoy was: CAM: junk science or genuine alternative. When I saw the line up, I realised immediately that complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) had no real champion in the speakers. Professor Edzard Ernst who is the Laing Chair of Complementary Medicine, University of Exeter And Plymouth, was one of the speakers. At first sight this seems like a voice for the CAM community, but professor Ernst seems to be wedded to the double blind placebo trial as the only way of accessing information. I have written on my web site for therapists about why I feel this has profound flaws for understanding CAM. My concerns were confirmed when I listened to the speakers who presented a caricature of the typical CAM client as the neurotic worried-well. When there was a chance for the audience to speak I got a chance to say I didn’t recognise this typical client and that when I’d been a therapist I’d seen (and helped) people with eczema, asthma, epilepsy, arthritis and more, and these people certainly couldn’t in any way be characterised as the worried well. Unfortunately many of the speakers from the floor spoke against CAM. I felt very disheartened but cheered myself up with the thought that a few years ago there wouldn’t have even been a debate on CAM, as it wouldn’t have been seen as a significant enough phenomenon to be worth having a debate on.
The really outstanding debate for me was entitled: “My brain made me do it: biology and freedom”. Lucid, elegant arguments from a lawyer, neuroscientists and professors of geriatric medicine and sociology. It was enthralling to listen to, and the questions and comments from the audience posed more ideas. No conclusions were drawn, but that is the nature of this event – you are presented with well argued, opposing views and left to draw your own conclusion.
I shall certainly be booking for next year’s Battle of Ideas.
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