Fish and Fish Oil Linked to Diabetes Risk

A new Harvard study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition links fish and omega-3 oil consumption to type 2 diabetes. Following 195,204 adults for 14 to18 years, researchers found that the more fish or omega-3 fatty acids participants consumed, the higher their risk of developing diabetes. The risk increase was modest for occasional fish eaters, but rose to a 22 percent increased risk for women consuming five or more fish servings per week.

Prior studies have suggested that fat accumulation within muscle cells can lead to insulin resistance which, in turn, contributes to diabetes. People who eat no animal products have less fat in their cells and much less risk of developing diabetes. A low-fat vegan diet has been shown to improve type 2 diabetes.

Kaushik M, Mozaffarian D, Spiegelman D, Manson JE, Willett WC, Hu FB. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, fish intake, and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jul 22. [Epub ahead of print]

Goff LM, Bell JD, So PW, Dornhorst A, Frost GS. Veganism and its relationship with insulin resistance and intramyocellular lipid. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005;59:291-298.

Barnard ND, Cohen J, Jenkins DJ, Turner-McGrievy G, Gloede L, Green A, Ferdowsian H. A low-fat vegan diet and a conventional diabetes diet in the treatment of type 2 diabetes: a randomized, controlled, 74-week clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89:1588S-1596S.

For information about nutrition and health, please visit www.pcrm.org/.

Fo alternatives to fish oils check out flax seed oil supplements.

How to kill bacteria without harsh chemicals

We are being told to wash hands regularly with soap and water and to keep hard surfaces (door handles, telephones, remotes, etc) clean.

If soap and water are not readily available, then use Green People’s lathering Organic Foaming Hand Sanitizer (made with over 95% certified organic ingredients)

This organic breakthrough product is designed to kill germs using natural anti-microbial activity from combining the extracts of Australian Tea Tree and New Zealand Manuka.
These ingredients create a natural alternative to conventional alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Studies have shown that at the level used in this product this ingredient combination kills bacteria E. coli, S. aureus, S. faecalis and S. pyogenes instantly, and kills S. typnimurium, and P. aeruginosa within 10 minutes of contact.

Keep one in your car, gymbag or handbag, and one by your sink so you can stay “bacteria free” all day long. Why not also give your child one when they go back to school?

Chunky Nut & Vegetable Roast

I am a long term vegetarian and love nut roasts but very rarely make them. The Vegetarian Society give this recipe for an easy chunky nut and vegetable roast:

Ingredients

1 carrot, scraped
1 onion, peeled
1 stick celery
200g mixed nuts (e.g. almonds, peanuts, brazil nuts)
2tsp Marmite
2 free range eggs
1 or 2 tsp mixed herbs
salt & pepper
Dried breadcrumbs (for coating tin)

Method

1. Set oven at 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5.
Put all the ingredients into a food processor and process until vegetables and nuts are chopped into chunky pieces.
Put into a bowl and mix with remaining ingredients.

2. Line a 450g/1lb loaf tin with a strip of non-stick paper, grease well and sprinkle with dry breadcrumbs.
Spoon mixture into tin and level the top.

3. Bake uncovered for 45 mins until set.

Serves 4.

Haven't made this yet but looks so easy I'm going to give it a go. The Vegetarian Society list it as a recipe for new vegetarians but us oldies can learn a thing or two too.

31 Ways to Jump Start the Local Economy

There's some great ideas in an article with this title on the web site Yes!

Here's just two of them:

Tip 3
Take your money out of predator banks and put it into a credit union, local bank, or an institution like Shorebank Pacific that supports sustainable businesses.

Tip 18
Do home work parties. Each month, go to a different household to do major home greening, a garden upgrade, or some deferred maintenance.

Read the rest of these thought-provoking tips here >>

Swallowing Big Tablets

We sell nutritional supplements in our online health store and from time to time I get questions about how big the tablets are. This sort of query comes from someone who has difficulty taking tablets.

Of course, it is possible to cut most tablets in half, but that’s a bit laborious and you can end up with bits of tablet flying all over your kitchen.

A different approach is looking at it from a psychological angle. Most people who say they cannot swallow big tablets can swallow a large piece of pizza crust (for example), so I tell them to think about that when they are attempting to swallow a tablet – to tell themselves it is no different from swallowing a large piece of food. Some people find this trick really helps.

Help With Remembering To Take Your Meds

Many older people find it difficult to remember if they've taken their tablets. Here's a great idea from researchers to help seniors do just that:

Doing something unusual, like knocking on wood or patting yourself on the head, while taking a daily dose of medicine may be an effective strategy to help seniors remember whether they've already taken their daily medications, suggests new research from Washington University in St. Louis.

Read more about this>>

Children short of vitamin D

Seven out of ten U.S. children have low levels of vitamin D, raising their risk of bone and heart disease, according to a study of over 6,000 children by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. The striking findings suggest that vitamin D deficiency could place millions of children at risk for high blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease.

Read more about this study.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, which recently updated its vitamin D guidelines, now recommends that infants, children, and teens should take 400 IU per day in supplement form.

Improve Your Digestive Health

Heather Caruso has a new book out - Your Drug Free Guide To Digestive Health

Heather has written articles for my web site www.healthandgoodness.com such as;

What Is detoxification?

and

Colon Cleansing

Check out Heather's book for lots more information on digestive health.

The Benefits Of Water

One of my favourite health supplements is water!

It's free and does great things for us - models swear by drinking lots of water to ensure a clear, radiant skin. Constipation sufferers often find increasing wtare intake makes stools easier to pass.

Here's an easy-to-read summary of the benefits of water.

How green is your medicine?

I like this quote from Genie Rowson:

Green medicine stimulates the body's own healing mechanisms to repair and rebuild itself, and help reverse illness and encourage healing. This approach differs considerably from the more conventional medicine we know so well, which suppresses our symptoms (which are actually the body's healing mechanisms). But does green medicine really work? The answer is yes. Absolutely! Greener systems of medicine such as acupuncture, Chinese medicine and homeopathy are gaining new converts every day, because they really do work! Millions of people worldwide have been healed through these gentler, safer, non-toxic alternatives. There is a wordwide movement towards greener options in every aspect of life.

If you're into homeopathy, check out Genie's web site - There's A Remedy For That. She has a great ailments page with suggestions for homeopathic remedies for a whiole host of complaints.

Herbs for health

We are currently trying to grow Goji berries in our garden. I like an Alara muesli that has dry goji berries in it, but it would be fantastic to be able to pick fresh ones and add them to my breakfast muesli.

I've just come across an article which lists 50 herbs and gives some indication about how to grow them. This is what it says about Goji berries:

These all function berries can help the liver, improve fertility, and help you live longer. They grow best in temperate regions.

Not sure about improving fertility (I'm 61), but living longer and helping my liver - definitely.

help for baby colic

having a baby with colic is distressing both for the mum and for the baby.

A recent study suggests that bacteria in the gut cause inflammation and the distress associated with colic.

Probiotics are known to increase the number of good bacteria and reduce the number of bad bacteria in the gut, but you need to be careful about giving young children probiotics willy-nilly.

Fortunately among all the other great probiotic formulae we sell there's a probiotic formula specifically for children (over 6 months of age). It comes in sachets and so can be added to food.

It's also great for pregnant mums, helping them to give the right strains of bacteria to their baby as it comes down the birth canal.

Avoid Dying Before Your Time

Smoking, high blood pressure and being overweight are the leading preventable risk factors for premature mortality in the United States, according to a new study led by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), with collaborators from the University of Toronto and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. The researchers found that smoking is responsible for 467,000 premature deaths each year, high blood pressure for 395,000, and being overweight for 216,000. The effects of smoking work out to be about one in five deaths in American adults, while high blood pressure is responsible for one in six deaths.

It is the most comprehensive study yet to look at how diet, lifestyle and metabolic risk factors for chronic disease contribute to mortality in the U.S. The study appears in the April 28, 2009 edition of the open-access journal PLoS Medicine.

"The large magnitude of the numbers for many of these risks made us pause," said Goodarz Danaei, a doctoral student at HSPH and the lead author of the study. "To have hundreds of thousands of premature deaths caused by these modifiable risk factors is shocking and should motivate a serious look at whether our public health system has sufficient capacity to implement interventions and whether it is currently focusing on the right set of interventions." Majid Ezzati, associate professor of international health at HSPH, is the study's senior author.

The researchers also found large effects from a series of other preventable dietary and lifestyle risk factors. Below are the numbers of deaths in the U.S. due annually to each of the individual risk factors examined:

Smoking: 467,000
High blood pressure: 395,000
Overweight-obesity: 216,000
Inadequate physical activity and inactivity: 191,000
High blood sugar: 190,000
High LDL cholesterol: 113,000
High dietary salt: 102,000
Low dietary omega-3 fatty acids (seafood): 84,000
High dietary trans fatty acids: 82,000
Alcohol use: 64,000 (alcohol use averted a balance of 26,000 deaths from heart disease, stroke and diabetes, because moderate drinking reduces risk of these diseases. But these deaths were outweighed by 90,000 alcohol-related deaths from traffic and other injuries, violence, cancers and a range of other diseases).
Low intake of fruits and vegetables: 58,000
Low dietary poly-unsaturated fatty acids: 15,000

All of the deaths calculated in the study were considered premature or preventable in that the victims would not have died when they did if they had not been subject to the behaviors or activities linked to their deaths.

Swine Flu Prevention And Treatment

Here's some great advice from Grace DaSilva-Hill, a homeopathic practitioner:

The best way to keep well is to not connect with the type of fear and alarm that we sometimes hear in the news; eat well with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, drink a lot of good quality water, and supplement with good quality Vitamin C if you feel you need it; many people are taking the herb Astragalus which is what I normally recommend in the winter months to boost the immune system.

Several of my patients (adults and children) have now had swine flu, and I am pleased to say that they have all recovered with the use of homeopathic remedies.

Another way to keep well is to take your constitutional homeopathic remedy; I advise that people take this at least once a year to strengthen the immune system; this way you can cope with anything that may come your way.

There is also a combination of 3 hom. remedies that I have been recommending to people to take as prophylaxis (twice weekly) to avoid getting the flu.

Visit Grace's web site.

Making Changes

I love this article by Marshall Goldsmith in which he talks about why some people just don't get things done and what they need to do about it.

He says:

At the end of my sessions, I ask leaders (who have received 360-degree feedback) to follow up with their co-workers and ask for ongoing ideas about how they can continue to become more effective. A year later, about 70% do some version of this recommended follow-up (as reported by their co-workers, not by them); 30% do absolutely nothing.

He then goes on to explain why he thinks those people do nothing and what they can do to make the ecessary shift. Do read the article.

Travelling Abroad? Don't Get An Upset Tummy

The dreaded tummy upset spoils many holidays, but it can be largely avoided by taking probiotics (preferably starting before you go).

The probiotics help to maintain a coating of friendly bacteria in the intestines to
support natural immunity and digestive health. This means that unfriendly bugs find it difficult to get attached to the intestinal wall and so are more likely to be flushed away.

There are lots of probiotic drinks and supplements out there, but not all of them will work for this very specialised situation.

You need:

• Probiotic strains that can survive hot conditions and do not need to be refrigerated.
• Probiotic strains that are particularly good at coating the wall of the intestine.

Our Travel Probiotic Formula contain 4 important probiotic strains that can do just that:

• Bifidobacterium longum Rosell-175 colonises primarily in the large intestine (or colon). In this region it promotes the production of antibodies, supports the body against toxins and inhibits the development of undesirable bacteria by competitively excluding their attachment to the intestinal wall lining. In addition, a healthy balance of bifidobacteria supports the intestines in assisting transit and optimising a healthy frequency and regularity of bowel movements.

• Saccharomyces boulardii – a unique probiotic yeast which is sold widely in the US, Scandinavia, Germany & France. S. boulardii has undergone extensive clinical research proving its ability to flush out pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella (responsible for 70% of Traveller’s Diarrhoea) and to have therapeutic benefits against diarrhoea.

• Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11 – a natural component of the friendly bacteria in the intestines; the species is one of the most studied in the probiotic world. L. rhamnosus Rosell-11 has been proven to resist bile and gastric acidity over pH 3 – therefore if taken at mealtimes (when pH is around 4), it will pass through the stomach without being damaged. L. rhamnosus Rosell-11 is able to bind strongly to the intestinal cells and helps maintain a strong immune system.

• Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52 – a natural resident of the intestinal microflora; this strain of friendly bacteria has been well studied.

Directions
As a food supplement For travelling abroad can be given to adults and children (over 3 years) with the following recommendations: take one capsule daily with food (ideally with breakfast), preferably starting 3-5 days before departure, continuing during travel abroad and for a few days upon return or as professionally directed.

For young children (under 8 years) or any patient unable to swallow capsules, the content of the capsules may be mixed with a cold meal or beverage.

Safety
It is not recommended to give probiotics to severely immunosuppressed patients, post cardiac surgery patients, patients with pancreatitis, patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or patients with blood in the stool unless under a doctor’s care.

Buy travel probiotics here.

Information And Remedies For Swine Flu

Lots of people are really scared about swine flu, so I've posted three article son our web site to help you see what you need to do:

Swine Flu And High Temperatures

Essential Oils And Herbs To Protect Against Swine Flu And Treat The Symptoms

Choosing A Thermometer

Health And Goodness has its own Facebook page

I've just set up a page for healthandgoodness.com on Facebook. If you have a Facebook account, do take a look and become a fan if you like what you see.

Do vitamin B12 pills help weight loss?

Someone sent me an email asking this question.

Here's my reply:

I do not know of any evidence that supports this idea, except possibly that if you are B12 deficient you are likely to be tired and not want to exercise. Exercise plus sensible eating plus good nutrition leads to weight loss success for many people.

That said our customers report that our weight loss supplement which addresses possible nutritional deficiencies that can slow metabolism and produce cravings successfully helps people lose weight.

But it's no good thinking that you can permanently lose weight and look great with any sort of weight loss pill on its own. That idea is part of the 'you can have whatever you want NOW without saving, without hard work without self-discipline, without considering other people, without considering the future of the planet' and look what a mess that has got us into.

But I'm still interested in the initial question, so have anyone found vitamin B12 helpful for weight loss?

Great cycling clothes for women

I'm a keen cyclist and an avid Tour de France watcher - this year is so exciting.

I also like the cycling clothes from Terry - fun, stylish clycling clothes for women of all shapes and sizes.

I smiled at this great "Queen of the Mountain" tee with tasteful polka dots on one sleeve - for those of you not in the know - in the Tour there is a race for king of the mountain and the winner of that wears a polka dot tee.

A while ago i wrote some tips for those just starting out in cycling.

Help reduce animal suffering - shareholders needed

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is working on a campaign to seek commitments from several prominent companies to end their charitable donations that specifically fund antiquated, unscientific, cruel, and ineffective animal research. We will be filing a number of shareholder proposals to request that the companies implement policies on humane giving. These new policies would end the financial support of animal research with little, if any, human health value, and instead promote the charitable support of humane, nonanimal research with human health benefits. We are in need of persons owning stock in the above listed companies to support these proposals. These proposals are an important step in our efforts to end cruel and ineffective animal research. Our filing deadlines will be quickly approaching in the coming months, so we need to hear from you soon to diligently proceed.

We need one or more shareholders for each one of the companies. The stock must be worth at least $2,000 and have been held at least since September 2008. The stock can be held in your own name, or by your broker, but it cannot be owned through a mutual fund. If you or someone you know fits into this category, and is interested in helping, please contact PCRM attorney Katherine Lin either by e-mail at klin@pcrm.org or by phone at 202-686-2210, ext. 350. If you would like to help, please act now.

Vegetables Much Better Than Drugs at Building Bone Density

Interesting information from the Keefe Clinic:

The evidence continues to pour in that eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is good for your health. In this case, researchers found that both young and old age groups had improvements in bone mineral status when they ate a lot of fruits and vegetables.

Specifically, boys and girls aged 16-18 years and women aged 60-83 years had significant positive associations between spine bone mineral content and fruit intake. In boys, the association was true for neck bone mineral content as well.

Among women aged 60-83 years, a significant positive association was also found between spine bone mineral content and fruit intake. The results found that if fruit intake doubled, it would result in a 5 percent increment in spine bone mineral content.

Previous studies have also found associations between fruit and vegetable intake and positive measures of bone health.

It is not yet known how fruits and vegetables may affect the bones, though some suggest it may be the alkalizing effect of fruit and vegetable consumption on acid-base balance. Other possible mechanisms include the dietary effects of vitamin K, phytoestrogens and other unidentified dietary components they contain.

References:
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition June 2006, Vol. 83, No. 6, 1420-1428
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition June 2006, Vol. 83, No. 6, 1254-1255

Organic Skin Care from Yin Yang Skincare

I really like the folks and products at Yin Yang Skincare. 3 of their products are packages in aluminium because this can be recycled – and recycled – and recycled, infinitely.

The pure botanical skincare products are

Yin Yang Skin Cleanser
Yin Yang Orange Flower Tonic
Yin Yang p H-Amino Gold Defence Lotion

I particularly like the Amino Gold Defence Lotion. I used it on my legs and arms when I did a long bicycle ride recently (970 miles in 12 days) to protect my skin from the sun, but without having to resort to strong chemicals. It is rich in the anti-oxidant vitamin E, derived from wheatgerm oil. Smells divine too - that's the essential oils of sweet orange and lavender. A great cream for athletes, mountaineers, skiers, cyclists, swimmers and horse riders, offering excellent protection for the skin from sun & wind damage.

Weight Loss Pills -stuff that works

We continue to get good feedback on our weight loss supplement - WeightLess - it works for lots of people to speed up metabolism and reduce cravings - a double pronged attack on over-eating. Not suitable if you are sensitive to caffeine, but fine for vegetarians, and we offer a 60-day money-back guarantee - can't say fairer than that.

Weight Loss Pills with a Money-Back Guarantee

Hormone Replacement Therapy Breast Tumours

Previous studies have found that postmenopausal women who have taken a combined estrogen and progestin hormone replacement therapy have increased their risk of developing progestin-accelerated breast tumors. Now, University of Missouri researchers have found that curcumin, a popular Indian spice derived from the turmeric root, could reduce the cancer risk for women after exposure to hormone replacement therapy.

This adds another great benefit to those we already know about - it's an anti-inflammatory herb that is helpful for shoulder, knee and elbow pain and stiffness. Many sufferers from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis also find it useful for its soothing properties. This might sound odd for a spice you associate with curries, but it's there to give colour to the dish not heat.

If you don't fancy eating lots and lots of turmeric. Try our turmeric tablets which have a standradised amount of curcumin - the active ingredient that all the research rests on.

The Best Muesli In the World

I just love the muesli from Alara. They do some interesting varieties and now I've discovered that my local Morrison's supermarket sells one of them - Goji and Yacon.

It's just wonderful and feels like a great way to start the day. The company is doing all the right things too .. aiming to be Carbon neutral by 2010.

They sell orgnaic muesli, a great one for coeliac's and lots more.

Ginkgo Biloba for memory, depression, Alzheimers, vertigo and more

The herb Ginkgo Biloba is rightly prized for its ability to aid memory and concentration.

The tree that the herb comes from is known as a living fossil, because it has been around for millions of years. Ginkgo has long been cultivated in China; some planted trees at temples are believed to be over 1,500 years old. Is it this longevity that gives it an affinity with the trials and tribulations of getting older?

As well as aiding memory and concentration, it may slow down the progress of Alzheimer's disease, and lessen depression and anxiety in the elderly. Ginkgo increases blood flow to the arms and legs, as well as to the brain, so alleviating coldness in the extremities (Raynaud's disease). It may reduce shortness of breath by improving blood flow to the heart. It may also help with tinnitus, dizziness (vertigo) and leg cramps.

Caution: consult your doctor first if you are taking anti-coagulants (e.g. aspirin and warfarin), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) or are pregnant or breast-feeding.

There are many Ginkgo Biloba supplements on the market, but unfortunately many of them contain little of the active ingredients that have been shown to be beneficial in clinical trials. As in so many other areas of life, you get what you pay for. Many of the cheaper brands are not manufactured in the UK. In a recent survey, a staggering 8 out of the 12 UK retail brands failed to meet the 24% flavonglycosides figure. Lamberts Ginkgo 6000mg, the one we sell, was shown to be the best value for money product in terms of quality and price. Each tablet contains a concentrated extract, standardised at 28.8mg (24%) flavonglycosides.

And we're doing 3 for two at the moment. Check it out.

Good housekeeping tip

This came into my Inbox today and made me smile. I hope it does you too:

Always keep several get well cards on the mantle....
so if unexpected guests arrive, they will think you've been sick and unable to clean!

Talking of housework, there’s some evidence that overzealous cleaning can contribute to allergies – read more about this fascinating idea - is dirt good for you?

Do Scientists Exaggerate?

Research scientists like to promote themselves as objective, disinterested tellers of the truth, but a letter in the UK independent newspaper on 8th July 2009 suggests a different picture altogether.

Bob Ward, Policy and Communications Director, Grantham Research Institute On climate Change And the Environment at The London school Of Economics, refers in his letter to some research that found that “just 42% of press releases issued by US academic medical centres provided relevant caveats about the research they described, and 29% exaggerated the importance of their findings.”

In a way this is not surprising, many scientists and doctors are ambitious and want to succeed and be recognised. What they are displaying are common human failings, but we need to remember that these press releases form the basis of what most journalists write, and what journalists write influences our views on how powerful and successful science and medicine are.

Donate Money to your Favourite Charity Without It Costing You Anything

You can raise money for your favourite charity almost effortlessly if you use Easy Fund Raising when you shop online.

Just sign up and choose your preferred charity and then use the link on Easy Fundraising to the online shop you want to go to. M&S, Amazon, John Lewis, Viking Direct, Early Learning, Ticketmaster, Vodaphone, Apple Store, the Body Shop and lots more will make a donation to your charity every time you buy from them. Once you've signed up you need to remember to do the extra couple of clicks to always go through the Easy Fundraising site first.

Expedia is currently making a 1.75% donation
Amazon 1.5%
Next 1.0%
Argos 0.75%
M&S 2.5%
Viking Direct 2.5%
John Lewis 2.5%

This only applies to online orders only, so doesn't happen if you go into your local M&S store for example.

Protecting Your Child

A new CDC resource for educators and parents offers the following strategies:

1.Talk to your child. Parents ask their children where they are going and who they are going with whenever they leave the house. They should take the same approach when their children go on the Internet—where are they going and who are they with?

2.Develop rules. Together with your child, develop rules about acceptable and safe behaviors for all electronic media.

3.Explore the Internet. Visit the websites your child frequents, and assess the pros and cons. Most websites and on-line activities are beneficial. They help young people learn new information and interact with people who have similar interests.

4.Talk with others. Talk to other parents about how they have discussed technology use with their children.

5.Connect with the school. Parents are encouraged to work with their child’s school and school district to develop a class for parents that educates about school policies on electronic aggression and resources available to parents.

6.Educate yourself. Stay informed about the new devices and websites your child is using. Continually talk with your child and explore the technology yourself.

Patient's Lack Of Knowledge

A study in BMC Family Practice makes depressing reading. here is its conclusion:

Many patients and general public do not know the location of key body organs, even those in which their medical problem is located, which could have important consequences for doctor-patient communication. These results indicate that healthcare professionals still need to take care in providing organ specific information to patients and should not assume that patients have this information, even for those organs in which their medical problem is located.

It aslso indicates to me that people aren't really wnating to take responsibility for their illness. If I had a serious medical conditon, I would want to find out all I can about the illness so that I could see what I could do to help myself.

A bamboo bike

More power to the Lutheran pastors who are travellling 13000 miles on a bamboo bike (one bike three revs!) to raise money to fight hunger. they're intending to visit 65 US cities in the process - you can check their progress by checking out their web site. They are taking 100 days and have got 41 left.

What an awesome challenge. I'm a keen bike rider but I don't think I'd be up for that - you'd have to get on pretty well with the others - imagine having a squabble while riding the bike!!

Red Meat and Dairy Products Significantly Increase Risk of Pancreatic Cancer

According to a new study, fat from red meat and dairy products is associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer. As part of the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study, researchers followed and analyzed the diets of more than 525,000 participants to determine whether there is an association between dietary fat and pancreatic cancer. This same study found no association between plant-food fat and pancreatic cancer.
Thiébaut ACM, Jia L, Silverman DT, et al. Dietary fatty acids and pancreatic cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2009;101:1001-1011.

Info from the excellent Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine - they factually and systematically build the case for not eating or experimenting on animals

Vegan Shoes

I love shoes but I'm a vegetarian - Bourgeois Boheme hace a great selection of shoes and currently have a summer sale running with up to 60% off.

Exercise Is Great!

I have just been speaking to a neighbour who has finally started exercising and eating less. She’s lost around 28 pounds. One of the things she said is that she can’t believe how well she feels. Her son has been trying to persuade her to take exercise for years but she’s always resisted. Now she wishes she had started earlier and is trying to persuade her husband to start exercising. She was so excited and happy - it was good to see.

Exercise excuses? Here are the answers to all the reasons you give yourself for not exercising.

I was talking to another friend yesterday. She’s a keen cyclist usually but hasn’t done so much lately. She’s also been losing weight but has lost motivation. A week ago we went for a bike ride together, and she came back fired up to get active again. Stupidly (and she admits it herself) the very next day she did an abs class, went for a short bike ride and went for a run. The next day she could hardly move. Instead of having a really active week, she had one active day followed by a fair amount of pain, so if you haven’t exercised much, start slowly and build up gradually.

Solar Showers

Nigels Eco Store has lots of great green solar-powered gadgets for the summer.

The solar shower they sell reminds me of a holiday I had a few years ago when I did a bike ride in Kenya and Tanzania and we were a long way from electricity and other comforts, but our holiday company Escape Adventure New Zealand arranged a great solar shower. What an experience, the sun setting and me in a little enclosure having a solar shower and coming out clean and sparkling to a world of Masai warriors. If you wnat an adventurous cycling holiday with a company that takes its responsibilities to you and the environment seriously check them out.

Travel Without Getting Diarrhoea

You know what they say - prevention is better than cure, so give our probiotics for travellers a try. Special probiotics designed to line your gut in a healthy way so that your body is ready to fight off all the strange bugs it encounters on exotic holidays. Don't let an upset tummy ruin your holiday.

Healthy Heart

Harvard Health Publications from the Hravard Medical school have some interesting looking books on having a healthy heart, working out an exercise plan and lots more. Check them out here.

Homeopathy Information

I regularly get the newsletter from Eugenie Rowson. It's full of information and advice about homeopathy. Go check out her web site and sign up: www.theresaremedyforthat.com

benefits of a vegetarian diet

people are amazed that I'm 61 and often think I'm about 10 years younger. Sometimes they ask me what's my secret - I think exercise and attitude of mind are important but so is a vegetarian diet. Good for me , good for the animals and good for the planet.

Did you know that research has shown that the more intelligent you are the more likely you are to be a vegetarian?

Palm Oil and cosmetics

There is rightly concern about how our desire for products that just happen to contain palm oil is devestating wild life habits as forest is cut down.

I'm a fan of Green People products and was delighted to see this statement from them:

"Palm Oil softens the skin and helps to give skin care products the right feel.
"Unethical growing of palm trees for oil can contribute to deforestation in some parts of the world, threatening natural habitats, particularly the lives of the orangutans.
"We are proud to say the Palm Oil we use is:
- grown ethically - certified organic - from sustainable sources It comes from long-established organic plantations which preserve local flora and fauna and do not cause deforestation."

Check out Green People skin care and do your bit.

Vegetarian Competition

To coincide with National Vegetarian Week 2009 the Vegetarian Society is launching a brand new Seasonal Recipe Competition for Young People. To enter, students just need to submit a starter, main course or pudding and its theme should be based on one of the four seasons. The recipe should be suitable for a small group of people, the two winners will receive either places on a °Cordon Vert Kids in the Kitchen course or Kenwood smoothie makers. The closing date for entries is July 17th. To find out more details go to www.vegsoc.org

No milk diet and bones - osteoporosis

A lifelong vegan diet has no adverse effects on bone mineral density compared to an omnivorous diet, concluded researchers who matched 105 postmenopausal Buddhist nuns who followed a vegan diet to 105 omnivorous women. The researchers analyzed bone mass at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and whole body, and collected a structured food questionnaire for each participant. The vegan group consumed less calcium, 375 g/day compared to 683 g/day, and their total protein intake was significantly less, 35.3 g/day compared to 62.6 g/day.

Ho-Pham LT, Nguyen PLT, Le TTT, et al. Veganism, bone mineral density, and body composition: a study in Buddhist nuns. Osteoporos Int. 2009. Published online April 7, 2009: DOI 10.1007/s00198-009-0916-z.

For information about nutrition and health, please visit www.pcrm.org/. Breaking Medical News is a service of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, 5100 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20016.

probiotics for babies, children and pregnant mums

We sell several different probiotic formulas and there’s one specially for pregnant women and babies and children. Here’s what one satisfied mum had to say about the baby one we sell:

I have been giving my 8 month old daughter Probio Start for the last two
months. She was delivered by emergency c-section and born at 3lb due to
IUGR and pre eclampsia at 36 weeks. She was tube fed and amongst other complications had a very immature gut and suffered badly with cows milk protein intolerance, reflux and colic. She suffered with terrible
constipation, spasms in her bowl and chronic wind.

Attempts at weaning at 6 months upset her digestion terribly and only through a combination of hypoallergenic milk and probiotics we were able to reduce her discomfort and wean her on to solid foods.

I would seriously recommend Probio Start to any mother whose baby is suffering with an immature digestion, passing stools, wind or has an allergy.

I believe that they are responsible for finally getting my daughter on to solid foods without discomfort.

Check out ProbioStart for babies, children and pregnant mums.

Vegetarian Cookery

The UK Vegetarian Society’s ˚Cordon Vert school has created a brand new cookery course inspired by recipes from Linda McCartney’s On Tour cookbook. Paul and Linda McCartney became patrons of the Vegetarian Society in 1995 and Sir Paul has given the course the thumbs up.

Sir Paul said, ‘It’s fabulous to see a course inspired by Linda and her recipes, which will in turn, hopefully, inspire cooks of the future. Those of us in her family are very proud that the Vegetarian Society has chosen to honour Linda in this way. We all wish you the very best of luck.’

The new Inspired by Linda McCartney course will be launched at the Cheshire school’s open day for catering colleges and students on 19 March. The courses themselves are scheduled this year for 22 May, 8 August and 4 October. Visit www.cordonvert.co.uk to find out more.

Head Tutor at ˚Cordon Vert, Christine Tilbury, said, “It would be difficult not to be inspired by Linda’s vegetarian legacy and I found her recipes fantastic – simple and delicious - the way all recipes should be! The inspiration just goes on and on.”

Recipes will include Linda’s Tomato Soup, Wasabi Pea Fritters, Savoury Mille Feuilles, Italian Artichoke Pie with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Pine Nuts, Baby Spinach and Rocket Salad followed by Pecan, Pistachio, Dried Berry and Lemon Macaroons.

The ˚Cordon Vert School has an unrivalled reputation for excellent and innovative vegetarian cuisine, drawing on a variety of international flavours and ingredients reflecting current trends in world cuisine, with fresh and imaginative ideas.Courses run throughout the year and are taught by ˚Cordon Vert’s team of highly qualified and enthusiastic tutors.

help With Health Problems

Our web site offers lots of great information, and there’s a health problems section that offers help in choosing the right nutritional supplements for specific problems:
Acne
Asthma
Constant Tiredness
Cravings & Mood Swings
Cystitis
Depression
Gum Disease
Hay Fever
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Memory Problems
Menopause Problems
Migraine
Pain
Premenstrual Syndrome
Pregnancy Health
Raynaud's Disease
Sore Throats
Stress
Check the information out here:

http://www.healthandgoodness.com/acatalog/Health_Problems.html

Special Offer On Probiotics

Probiotics can help your immune system, your digestive system and your general sense of well-being. We have a special offer running at the moment - buy OptiBac and get free AntiBloat. AntiBloat normally retails at £7.33.

Start with the AntiBloat - one sachet a day for a week - which helps reduce bloating and gets your digestion off to a good start, then swap to OptiBac, a unique and balanced formulation of 6 different probiotic strains combined with prebiotics (i.e. food for the probiotics to flourish) to provide daily maintenance for digestive health and the immune system. A month's course is £8.80.

Optibac is sugar free. Actimel has 14g of sugar per 100g and Yakult has 18g sugar per 100g!!! (Coca Cola is only 10g / 100g)!

So make the healthy choice and get AntiBloat + OptiBac for £8.80

Special Offers On Self Help Self Hypnosis CDs

I found this startling statistic on a US government web site:

Nearly 40% of deaths in America can be attributed to smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet, or alcohol misuse-behaviors practiced by many people every day for much of their lives. Adopting healthy behaviors such as eating nutritious foods, being physically active, and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or control the devastating effects of many of the nation's leading causes of death regardless of one's age.
http://www.cdc.gov/aging/info.htm

And it's not just about dying early, many people suffer despeartely in the months or years before they die.

So what to do about it. If you find being healthy difficult, check out our self-help CDs. We have ones on

Exercise Motivation
Weight Loss
Stopping Smoking Forever
Dealing With Addictions
Positive Thinking

Everything comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee and we offer world wide prompt dispatch, so give these hypnotherapy CDs a chance.

Natural Asthma Remedies

Asthma is a horrible complaint. Before I got as healthy as I am now I used to get a wheezy chest sometimes and I used o find that very distressing, so I dread to think what a full blown asthma attack must feel like.

I've put togther some natural nutritional supplements that can help asthma sufferers.

Special Offers On self Help Self Hypnosis CDs

we are currently running a special offer on the CDs on our web site - buy one and get the second one for half price.

We have:

• Stop Smoking
• Weight Loss
• Positive Thinking
• Relaxation
• Meditation
• Energy & Motivation
• Self Esteem
• Improving Memory
• Play Better Golf
• Financial Success
• Exercise And Motivation
• and lots more.

You can listen to most of them before you buy.

5 Keys To Fat Loss

Chad and Kim at Fast Track To Fat Loss have launched a new program with a free DVD to get you started.

I have worked with Chad in the past and know that he offers reliable, effective, safe advice about how to lose weight, tone your body and keep the weight off. He's highly motivational.

So get your free fat loss DVD and get started.

Lose Weight With A Food Diary

a food diary can help you eat better. Often writing down everything you eat means you end up eating less. Several studies have confirmed that keeping a food diary helps you lose weight.

here's a simple food log you can use - either print it off as a PDF or download it as an Excel file.

Also check out our weight loss supplements.

Dieting And Flu

A study has found that dieting in winter when flu levels are high is not a good idea as it makes you ore susceptible to the flu virus because it lowers your immune system. This is bad news at least for those in the northern hemisphere because January is the classic time to start dieting – new year’s resolutions and all that.

But don't despair - take this info to heart and become a smart weight loser.

Quick Tips For Managing Your Food Intake Over The Holiday Season

Eat Slower To Eat Less
Wolfing down meals may be enough to nearly double a person's risk of being overweight according to Japanese research suggests. Put you fork down between mouthfuls. Put your sandwich back on your plate between mouthfuls. Thin people often do this automatically. The rest of us have to learn it.

Snacks
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. Snack from a plate, not the packet -- it is easy to feel you should finish the packet. Put what you need on a plate, and put the rest of the pack out of sight.

Party Eating & Drinking
When you go to a party, socialise away from the area where the food and drink are. That way you are likely to eat and drink less and enjoy the party more.

Clean Your Teeth More
Keep a toothbrush handy and clean your teeth with a strong minty toothpaste. This can help reduce your need for sweet food.

Drink More Water
Water fills you up and makes you feel less hungry.

Don't Give Up!
Eaten food you shouldn't? That doesn't make you a bad or weak person. Just accept what's happened and get back to eating healthily.

Get Some Help
Self-hypnosis CDs can help the will power and herb and mineral supplements can help dramatically reduce cravings. It may be too late now to get these in place for the holiday season, but get yourself organized to have that bit of extra support in the new year. Will power is not always enough. If that’s the way you’ve tried in the past and failed, get some help and check out our great products that can help you control your eating. All come with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Happy holidays :-)

20% off self-hypnosis self-help CDs

We’re offering 20% off all the self-help self-hypnosis CDs in our online shop. Offer ends on Friday at midnight.

You need to quote the code SAVE12 as you go through the checkout process. This great saving applies to online orders only.

Get yourself ready for the New Year with

• Exercise Motivation CD


• Financial Success CD


• Stop Smoking CD


• Positive Thinking CD


• Weight Loss CD

And lots more. Carriage is £1.50 (within the UK; outside at cost). Order before noon (Monday to Friday) and your order is sent out by first class post the same day, otherwise the next working day.

All our products come with a 60-day money-back guarantee – we want you to be happy with what you buy from us.

You can listen to excerpts online before you buy.

Self-Hypnosis CDs Make Great Christmas Presents

Self-Hypnosis CDs make great gifts – not too expensive, easy to wrap, easy to post, show you care …

Check out the ones we sell – you can listen to an excerpt of most of them –

• Deep Sleep


• Positive Thinking


• Chakra Meditation


• Driving Test Help


• Play Better Golf


• Exercise Motivation


• Guided Meditation


• Financial Success


• Kids Bedtime Relaxation
  

Check these and more out here.

Stomach Bloating Help

Stomach bloating can be a real problem at any time of the year and particularly at party time when you might want to fit into something slinky.

So we are here to help. Buy 1 pot of Optibac (high quality prebiotic and probiotic supplement) and get a course of Antibloat probiotics free.

The Optibac costs £8.80 and the free AntiBloat is worth £7.33. Carriage is £1.50 (for the UK)

Start with the Antibloat course and then move on to the Optibac when it’s finished.

Suitable for vegetarians.

Get more information and order online:


or you can place phone orders on 0844 412 4486 (outside the UK +44 844 412 4486) quoting the product code 4509 for the Optibac and asking for your free 4502 Antibloat

Are You A woman With Hair Loss?

Are you one of the many women who is concerned about hair loss?

Do you suffer from hair thinning that doesn’t occur in patches but occurs across the whole scalp, possibly with shorter hairs present at the hairline?

You may be suffering from chronic telogen effluvium.

This is particularly likely if you suffer from heavy periods which deplete your iron stores, or if you are a vegetarian who doesn’t eat enough foods with iron and/or vitamin B12 in them.

Try our supplement Iron + Vitamin C + L-lysine + Vitamin B12

This supplement will not help you if you are suffering from alopaecia where you lose your hair in patches, or if the hair loss is just noticeable on the top of your head (so that a central parting looks wider than it should be).

Otherwise give it a try!

Worst foods for pesticide residues

Learn about PAN UK's research on pesticide residues in food and find out about the top (or should we say bottom?) foods for having pesticide residues.
Read more >>

Thanksgiving Weight Loss

More good thoughts from Kim Lyons, BS, CPT, Best-selling author of Your Body, Your Life, Co-trainer on The Biggest Loser, Your Fast Track to Fat Loss Coach

Too many people mess up once and then think their entire diet is ruined.They feel as if everything they've done prior to that day was wasted andthere's no sense going on.

Or even worse, they rationalize to themselves, "Well, I already cheated, so it doesn't matter now, I might as well keep pigging out."

That's nonsense. If you threw in the towel every time you didn't score100% on your diet, most people would never get through more than a few days on any structured program.

Just because you mess up once doesn't mean you should quit! You're only human. Don't let one small slip keep you derailed.

When you've strayed from the plan, enjoy it, don't let guilt and discouragement get you down. Firmly plant your wheels back on the tracks and start rolling again. Deal?

Here's my suggested plan for Thanksgiving dinner or any other special holiday occasion or event coming up:

a.) be a little more active and have a little bit smaller portions the day prior and all the way up to your special meal.

b.) make simple, healthier changes to the foods you love , so that you can enjoy the meal, but in modified, healthier versions.

c.) eat until comfortably full and satisfied, not stuffed.

d.) get right back on track the very next morning.

If you plan these 4 steps a head of time and have the right mindset going into it, you can really enjoy your special meal without sabotaging your progress.

Fed Up With Muesli?

If you're fed up with muesli or just don't like it, try Alara Organic Active. Its truly wonderful - it's gluten free too if that's important to you.

It's a mix of quinoa, amaranth, apple and prebiotic yacon. Fantastic.

I've just been on their site and they've won lots of awards and have great business principles. Do take a look.

I've just noticed you can even make your own muesli by choosing from a list of 60 ingredients and telling them the proportion - bespoke muesli wow!

Stay Positive In The Credit Crunch

Radio, TV and the newspapers inundate you daily with more depressing news about the global economy. It can be difficult to stay positive and focussed and not let all the depressing news get you down.

So if you find yourself more affected than you would like to be, try Alaskan Essence Guardian. Guardian reminds us that protection comes from within us. It protects us from negative energies, by helping us keep strong healthy boundaries, keeping us grounded and connecting us to our inner light so we can project this out instead of absorbing energies that don’t serve us.

Acne Remedy Particularly For Teenage Boys

Have you got a teenager in your household who suffers from acne? Embarrassing, depressing, confidence sapping.

I’ve recommended Zinc Citrate to loads of mums and they almost always tell me that it worked really well.

It’s particularly appropriate for boys with acne – semenal fluid contains a lot of zinc and teenage boys often produce a lot of that, so can be more prone to acne for this reason. You may not want to quite discuss it in these terms with your sons!

Just buy them a pot to try.

Lots of women are short of zinc too – can help with PMS, mood swings and all that stuff.

Help For PMS / PMT

PMS, PMT, premenstrual syndrome whatver you call it it spells misery for many women, their partners and their children.

A study has found that 84% of UK women suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS). What a dreadful figure!

Many years ago I suffered very badly from PMS, and it completely dominated my life. Every month was divided up like this:

7 days of PMS – bloating, tiredness, self-hatred, extreme irritability etc.
7 days of remorse for all the horrible things I’d said and done while under the influence of my hormones
7 days of feeling OK
7 days of feeling apprehensive about the time for PMS coming round again

So what can be done about PMS? Read my article on PMS and find out.

Holiday Fat Loss Survival

Here's some well-timed thoughts from Kim Lyons of Fast Track to Fat Loss.

First key point to remember: you can and should enjoy the holidays. You can enjoy being with family and going out with friends. You can go to holiday parties and have fun.

You can enjoy a few "naughty" meals. You can have some cake and a glass
or two of wine. There's no reason why you can't enjoy yourself AND stay healthy, lean and fit through the holidays. All it takes is some planning, goal-setting, a positive mindset, and little dose of good old-fashioned discipline.

Here's the first of 10 ways that you can follow your nutrition plan and stay in great shape over the holidays without turning into a miserable Scrooge. If you follow this advice, you'll be one of the proud few with a New Year's resolution to be the best you've ever been in 2009 - instead of one of the guilt-ridden many who resolve to reclaim what they lost in 2008.

Ready? Here we go...

#1. Expect to stay on your program over the holidays.
"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail" is a time-worn and cliched statement, but it's still some of the best success advice you will ever hear.

Not only do most people fail to plan, they consciously plan to fail over the holidays. Most people expect to "blow" their diet and skip workouts.They expect to eat more, to exercise less and to gain weight. As a result, they don't even make the effort.

Instead of taking control, they resign themselves to "maintenance" at best,or back-sliding at worst. This negative expectancy leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy. By the first week of January, they're in the worst shape they've been in for a year and they frantically make New Year's resolutions to shed the excess fat they've gained.

You can avoid this trap by planning to succeed. Set up a positive expectation. Resolve now that you will not tolerate slipping backwards. Keep your standards up and don't settle! Not only can you plan to "stay in shape"over the holidays, you can plan to improve! All you have to do is make the decision and expect success.

Colorectal Cancer And Meat Eating

Information from www.pcrm.org:

A recent study from the Ontario Family Colorectal Cancer Registry, established by the U.S. National Cancer Institute, compared the diets of people who had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer to the diets of people who did not have cancer. It turned out that those who ate the most red meat had a 67 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer, regardless of any genetic factors they may have had.

However, some people with specific genes had a much higher risk from meat-eating—up to four times the cancer risk—compared to people who avoid meat.

Every year, 160,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer. About half of all cases are already incurable when they are found.

Cotterchio M, Boucher BA, Manno M, Gallinger S, Okey AB, Harper PA. Red meat intake, doneness, polymorphisms in genes that encode carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes, and colorectal cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention. 2008;17:3098-3107.

A Healthy Energy Boost

One of the most effective supplements for an energy boost is the vitamin B complex. Helps with irritability, mood swings and more. Asthmatics also often benefit from the B complex supplement as do women suffering from premenstrual problems.

We currently have a great price for the 250 tablet size of this important nutritional supplement. Buy a balanced B Complex formula.

Travellers First Aid Kit

Illness and injuries, by their very nature, happen at unpredictable times when it may be difficult or impossible to buy what you need. By travelling with a selection of homeopathic remedies you can be prepared for most eventualities.

Our travel kit contains 36 remedies covering common ailments and injuries along with remedies specifically for the traveller, from travel sickness, fear of flying, bites and stings to holiday tummy upsets and much more.

The kit comes with a comprehensive booklet that introduces you to homeopathy and features an A-Z guide of symptoms that can be treated, along with materia medica section describing the main uses of the remedies contained. Perfect for the frequent and long-distance traveller.

Gelatine Capsules - Alternatives

I'm a long term vegetarian and a member and supporter of the UK Vegetarian Society so I am careful that all the supplements on our Health & Goodness site are suitable for vegetarians and many are also suitable for vegans too.

Ginkgo Biloba works

On our Health & Godness site we sell Ginkgo Biloba and we currently have a buy 2 get 1 free offer going.

I sent a message round an email group I belong to, and a friend Yvonne posted this (completely unprompted by me):

With ref Jane's message.
I started on this fantastic supplement in the Spring at Jane's suggestion as I was experiencing pronounced leg cramp, and poor memory.[generally getting to be an old crock!]
I felt an improvement after about 4-6 weeks, but was uncertain what to attribute it to.... but having left it at home when I went away for a month I have no doubt now that the benefit was down to the Ginkgo & hastily started the daily dose when I got back 2 weeks ago.
I can't recommend it highly enough, it's the single most effective remedy for me.

Immune Boost Special Offer

If you’re dreading winter and the onset of coughs and colds, our advanced multi-strain probiotic and antioxidant blend may be just what you need. Immunox supports the body's resistance to infection and promotes a healthy immune system.



The varied types (strains) of friendly bacteria in Immunox ensure the intestinal lining throughout the gut is well colonised with a healthy coating of friendly bacteria. A strong intestinal lining prevents contaminants and harmful bacteria from entering into the bloodstream. A rich probiotic balance also supports immune cells in the intestinal walls to help limit the growth of pathogenic organisms. The antioxidants in Immunox are a unique and balanced combination of essential antioxidants as well as other potent natural extracts with very powerful regenerating and free radical neutralising properties.



A healthy probiotic balance enhances nutrient and mineral absorption in the intestines, thereby ensuring that the antioxidants are more efficiently absorbed into the bloodstream and can make their way to the cells and organs where they are needed most.



Extracts of Grape Seed, Pine Bark (pycnogenol) and Green Tea in Immunox contain powerful, natural and hypoallergenic free radical scavengers and bioflavonoid complexes that are rapidly absorbed and distributed throughout the body. These antioxidants seek out the free radicals (chemicals produced from the breakdown of foods that can cause cell damage in the body) and neutralise them.



There are many different probiotics but not all are equally effective. Some do not survive the stomach to reach the intestine where they are needed to produce a healthy lactic acid environment that limits survival of harmful bacteria. Our combination of different strains of probiotics have been shown through laboratory tests to survive the harsh environment of the digestive tract and make a positive contribution to health and immunity.



Many people take probiotic drinks but these are often high in sugar and may not contain the most resilient bacteria to survive being drunk and digested. Probiotic drinks also tend to be an expensive way to get the probiotics.



Antioxidants and probiotics are great for the body for other reasons than the immune system, so this supplement offers real whole body benefits. Probiotics also help the digestive system to function more effectively and can reduce wind and assist regular bowel movements. Antioxidants also contribute to outer beauty because they can have a positive impact on the signs of ageing such as wrinkles and sagging skin. Some research also suggests that antioxidants have a positive role to play in reducing the chances of you developing cancer.



Dose: 1 capsule per day. 30 capsules in each bottle. Suitable for vegetarians.



To buy a single bottle or to take advantage of our special offer – put 3 in the quantity field - go to



http://www.healthandgoodness.com/acatalog/Immune_Boost.html

Eat Slower To Eat Less

Not a magic pill; just common sense when you think about it. This is soemthing I have been advocating for a long time in the information about weight and shape management on my web site and it's good to see that the scientists back that now:

Wolfing down meals may be enough to nearly double a person's risk of being overweight, Japanese research suggests.
Osaka University scientists looked at the eating habits of 3,000 people and reported their findings in the British Medical Journal.
Problems in signalling systems which tell the body when to stop eating may be partly responsible, said a UK nutrition expert. Read more>>

Meat-free money saving recipes

In light of the UN’s Dr Rajendra Pachauri's recent call for people to eat less meat to help save the environment, and the 22% rise in meat and fish prices, there’s never been a better time to try meat-free meals.
The Vegetarian Society can help you do your bit for the environment and feed four people for less than £5 a meal. With recipes ranging from a simple vegetable soup through to a hearty sausage hotpot and a fast fruity crumble. For more details visit www.vegsoc.org or call 0161 925 2000.

“What we choose to eat is one of the biggest factors in the personal impact we have on the environment and everyone can enjoy tasty, meat-free meals on a budget. Research studies have shown that the single most damaging foodstuff is beef and all non-vegetarian diets required significantly greater amounts of environmental resources, such as land and water. By feeding grain and vegetables directly to people (rather than livestock) we can increase the amount of food available to everyone.” said Caroline Chisholm Head of Communications, the Vegetarian Society.

Hot Dogs In US schools

This came in from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. If you're in the US, I hope you'll get signing the petition and let other people know about it too.

On October 9 we took a monumental step forward to protect our kids. The Cancer Project, PCRM's affiliate organization, filed a formal petition with the U.S. Department of Agriculture demanding a halt to the distribution of hot dogs and other processed meats to our nation’s children through the National School Lunch Program.

These products have been shown to increase the risk of cancer in adulthood.The petition sites a report by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund which reviewed 58 research studies and concluded that “processed meat is a convincing cause of colorectal cancer.”

The petition also includes declarations of support from several prominent nutrition and cancer experts, including Walter Willett, M.D., Dr.P.H., chair of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. Just as tobacco causes lung cancer, processed meats are linked to colon cancer. Serving these products to children is no longer defensible. The federal government should be encouraging schools to serve healthful foods.Join the fight! Keep our kids healthy by signing our petition to Department of Agriculture Secretary Schafer.

Buy 2 Get 1 Free

We have lots of special offers running on our nutritional supplements. We don't compromise on quality, but we do help you on the price.

Check them out here.

Enjoying Food And Weight Loss

Obese people expect to enjoy food more than lean people do, but when they eat, they enjoy it less, a brain study shows. And that's a problem. To make up for the missing enjoyment, obese people eat more high-calorie food. Overeating further dulls food enjoyment and locks people in a vicious circle.

Read more. (this article runs over two pages, be sure to read till the end on the second page.)
Check out our weight management program too.

Nickel Allergy And Mobile/Cell Phones

People who are allergic to nickel may get a rash on their cheek or ear if they spend a lot of time talking on a cell phone containing nickel. They might also get a rash on the fingers if they send lots of text messages, according to The British Association of Dermatologists.

Read more.

Plant-Based Diet Helps Reduce Premature Aging and Disease Risk

Plant-Based Diet Helps Reduce Premature Aging and Disease Risk

In a study released today by The Lancet Oncology, Dean Ornish, M.D., and colleagues found that comprehensive lifestyle changes, including a low-fat vegan diet, increase the body’s ability to fight premature aging, cancer, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. Twenty-four men participating in a prostate cancer study switched to a plant-based diet and added daily exercise and relaxation techniques. Among other beneficial effects that were previously reported, the intervention led to increased levels of telomerase, an enzyme that protects and repairs DNA. Blood levels of telomerase increased by an average of 29 percent during the study.

Ornish D, Lin J, Daubenmier J, et al. Increased telomerase activity and comprehensive lifestyle changes: a pilot study. Lancet Oncol [advance online publication]. September 16, 2008; DOI 10.1016/S1470-2045(08)70234-1.

Sleep, Worry And The Economy

Concern about the economy is keeping about half of people in the UK awake at night, an online poll suggests.

Nearly half of the 1,000 men and women surveyed by NetDoctor said they were sleeping worse now than a year ago.

One-fifth of them are regularly getting fewer than five hours sleep a night and a quarter wake up more than three times a night, the survey suggests.
Stress was cited as a major factor, with two-thirds blaming money and work worries for their insomnia.
read more Try our self-hypnosis Deep Sleep CD.

Bank with a bank that represents your ethical concerns

The UK Co-operative Bank has had a unique Ethical Policy since 1992, which has given their customers a say on what types of businesses they do, and don't, finance. In the last 16 years, over £900 million of their customers' money has been withheld from businesses whose activities conflict with the policy. Issues have ranged from human rights to animal rights, the arms trade to the environment.

Free Travel First Aid Kit

we are curently offering a free travel first aid kit with two of our Probiotic lines:

1. Travla - minimise the chance of a holiday tummy by taking Travla probiotics. This natural health formula is a proven formulation of unique probiotic strains designed to support the traveller’s digestive health and immunity while abroad.

2. DiarSafe - Our product contains extra strength S. boulardii, an internationally acclaimed probiotic to help naturally support bowel health, comfort and function during episodes of diarrhoea. S. boulardii has undergone extensive clinical research proving its ability to flush out pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella and its therapeutic benefits against diarrhoea.

What Works In Fitness

Here's part of a newsletter I received from Reema Sarin:

We want to quickly bring you up to speed with ‘What’s in and working well’ in the world of Fitness, which is:

• Intense cardio exercise routines, ideally 20 – 30 minutes, at least 3 times a week, with a combination of strength training exercises for your arms and legs and floor workouts for toning your abdominal muscles for another 20 minutes. The combination of the above is has proven to be very effective and will give you excellent results in just a few weeks!

• Do change your cardio workouts at least twice a week to incorporate Running, Power Walking, Cycling, Swimming, Aerobics and other cardio workouts with Gym machines. Remember; never let your body get used to any one type of work out. For effective weight loss and fitness, you need to keep surprising your muscles with new types of fat burn exercises which have proven to give far greater results in a relatively shorter duration of time. For aerobic workouts, the latest trend is to keep the moves simple and repetitive as opposed to fancy choreography.

• And to get the maximum out of your workouts, choose your 3 or 4 of your favorite songs, with fast beats and good rhythm (at least 120 beats per minute). Fantastic upbeat music is a true energy booster and believe me it will simply do wonders to motivate you and make you workout to your optimum potential. Enjoy yourself and let your music work you out!

• Last but not the least, keep your diet wholesome and healthy – LOTS of water, fruits, vegetables, proteins; LOW in fat, fried foods, deserts and processed foods. And if you really want to drop weight – Cut out Alcohol and reduce your SALT intake considerably.

And watch the phenomenal Results! So folks, enjoy your work-outs with lots of good music; make your workouts interesting and keep the ‘Fitness is Fun’ spirit alive!

Reema Sarin (Fitness Consultant & Choreographer, BOLLYFIT Program) http://reemafitness.com/mlm/clink_track.php?cust_id=554&link_id=1

Studies Verify Link between Diet and Type 2 Diabetes

Here's some information from the Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine:

Studies Verify Link between Diet and Type 2 Diabetes

Three long-term studies published in Archives of Internal Medicine show how food choices lead to type 2 diabetes.

Researchers at Boston University followed 43,960 African American women over 10 years, and found that type 2 diabetes developed more often among those who consumed more sweetened beverages.

Researchers at Addenbrook’s Hospital in Cambridge, England, found that higher plasma vitamin C levels and greater consumption of fruits and vegetables were associated with a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes among 21,831 adults followed over 12 years.

A third article, from Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, Seattle, found that among 48,835 Women’s Health Initiative participants, women assigned to a low-fat diet trended toward a reduced disease incidence, which authors attributed to weight loss.

Palmer JR, Boggs DA, Krishnan S, Hu FB, Singer M, Rosenberg L. Sugar-sweetened beverages and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in African American women. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168:1487-1492

Harding AH, Wareham NJ, Bingham SA et al. Plasma vitamin C level, fruit and vegetable consumption, and the risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus: the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer-Norfolk Prospective Study. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168:1493-1499.

Tinker LF, Bonds DE, Margolis KL et al. Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of treated diabetes mellitus in postmenopausal women: The Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168:1500-1511.For information about nutrition and health,

Visit www.pcrm.org/ for more health and nutritional information.

‘Bach’ And ‘Bach Flower Remedies’ Remain Generic

Today I received this news from Healing Herbs:

‘Bach’ And ‘Bach Flower Remedies’ Remain Generic

Community Trade Mark Office finds Nelson's ‘Bach’ and ‘Bach Flower Remedies’ Registrations INVALID

· We are very pleased to announce that on 11 September 2008, the OHIM (the European Community Office for the registration of Community Trade Marks) decided that the words ‘Bach’ and ‘Bach Flower Remedies’ are generic, that Nelson's Community Trade Marks were invalid and awarded costs in our favour (Euro 1,150).

· In 2000, Healing Herbs won the last round of appeal, in the House of Lords, confirming the decision at trial and in the Court of Appeal: that the UK trade mark registrations Nelsons/Bach Flower Remedies Ltd had obtained for BACH/BACH FLOWER REMEDIES were invalid because they were descriptive or generic terms.

· Nevertheless, Nelsons/Bach Flower Remedies Ltd applied for and obtained Community trade mark registrations for the very same words.

· Healing Herbs Ltd could not oppose their applications then since we had no similar trade marks ourselves.

· Of course, Healing Herbs' position has always been clear – we say that the words are generic and no-one can claim exclusive rights over them.

· What Healing Herbs could do, immediately ‘Bach’ and ‘Bach Flower Remedies’ were registered as Community Trade Marks was to apply to have these registrations cancelled. This we did.

· The OHIM, in a very clear decision, has now made a number of telling findings, including:

§ Healing Herbs had filed "abundant evidence" to show the terms were generic

§ Both the specialised public and the general public considers the terms descriptive and generic

§ Nelsons/BFRL failed to prove that the terms had acquired distinctive character when they filed their applications

§ Showing large sales and advertising expenditure was not good enough

We are very pleased that our proceedings have been successful; justice has again been done. · [Nelsons/BFRL have two months in which to file an appeal.]

We stock some of Healing Herbs Bach Flower cream and Rescue Remedy.

Free UK Postage On Nutritional Supplements

We're currently offering free UK postage on nutritional supplements and all the other great health products on our site. We already have great features:

1. Everything comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

2. We have special offers including 3 for the price of 2.

3. All our supplements are suitable for vegetarians and vegans too.

4. We sell high-quality supplements that use the latest research to make sure the dosoage and formulations are correct.

5. Order before noon (Monday to Friday) and we despatch the same day.

5. We give 12% of our profits to charitable causes.

Buy from us with confidence and right now if you live in the UK you get free 1st class postage.

Meat eating and prostate cancer

Eating meat and dairy products may increase the risk of prostate cancer, research by a University of Oxford team suggests. They examined the results of 12 studies, featuring a total of nearly 9,000 men.

Read more

Action On Climate Change

The UK government has enormous power to direct our energy and transport future – but it is torn between the lobby for fossil fuels, and what it knows from scientists to be true: we must cut CO2 emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, or we will not limit climate change to 2°C.We have to help create the political space in which the government can make the right climate choices, and you can help make it happen by demanding strong, fair, joined-up, climate-savvy policies.

Tell Gordon Brown to choose a climate-friendly BritainIn the next few months there is an opportunity. Key decisions that affect our climate future will be made:

• E.ON, one of the world's largest energy companies, is planning to invest in the UK's first coal power station for 30 years at Kingsnorth, Kent. Gordon Brown can stop Kingsnorth from getting the green light.

• In December, the world's governments will gather at the United Nations and try to forge international agreement on tackling climate change. Gordon Brown can be a climate champion at the UN talks.

By raising our voices, we can put pressure on Gordon Brown to choose a clean and climate-friendly Britain. We can avoid a climate catastrophe and stop climate change pushing poor people deeper into poverty.Tell Gordon Brown to lead the way on climate action

Grilled Chicken And Cancer

A new PCRM study in Nutrition and Cancer: An International Journal found that grilled chicken items at leading chain restaurants are birds of a feather when it comes to increasing cancer risk. An analysis of 100 grilled chicken items from McDonald’s, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Chili’s, Applebee’s, Outback Steakhouse, and T.G.I. Friday’s found that all contained PhIP, the most abundant of a group of carcinogens called heterocyclic amines (HCAs)—and the HCA likely to contribute most to overall cancer risk.
Read more >>

Type 2 Diabetes And Drinking Water

A recent article in the “Journal of the American Medical Association” has linked low-level arsenic exposure, possibly from drinking water, to Type 2 diabetes.

We sell two water filters – one for the home and a portable one for when you’re on the go or on holiday – that will help minimise this problem.

Cheaper than drinking bottled water and better for the environment too.

Childhood Asthma Link

A major international study, involving more than 200,000 children in 31 countries, has found those treated with paracetamol in the first year of life had a 46 per cent increased risk of developing asthma by the age of seven.The risk was up to three times higher among children who were the heaviest users of the drug, indicating a strong dose-dependent link.

Read more about this.

Miscarriages and obesity

Women who have had a miscarriage could be at greater risk of miscarrying again if they are obese, research suggests.
Read more on this story.

Check out our weight loss program too - 60-day money-back guarantee.

Weekend Fat Loss Strategies

It's often easier (at least a bit!) to stay on track with a weight loss regime during the week, but then to blow it over the weekend. Kim Lyons has some weekend fat loss strategies to help you cope. Do have a read.

This made me laugh!

This really made me laugh this morning . It came in on eth ebottom of an email. I don't know who first said it, but enjoy it:

Save the Earth... it's the only planet with chocolate.

Help knit a petition for Oxfam

Oxfam are calling on knitters everywhere to turn their knitting needles into poverty fighting needles by creating a patch for Oxfam's giant baby blanket - a 'visual petition' they're handing in to world leaders in September 2008, demanding that they honour their promises to make sure mums in poor countries get the maternal health care they need.

Click here for more info.

Has the Oympics inspired you?

Has the Olympics inspired you? May be not with any hope of ever being an Olympian, but just to get out there and get fitter?

If you have, but you know you find it difficult to sustain enthusiasm for exercise and fitness, get yourself some support in the shape of our Exercise Motivation self hypnosis CD. This CD helps you to look forward to exercise, to enjoy it, to commit yourself to getting fitter and healthier.

Check it out – we’ve got a sample you can listen to.

And remember everything in our health products shop comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee, so if you don’t like it you can return it and get your money back (less the carriage charge).

Go for it, enjoy yourself, get fit.

Free Web site healing experience

I received this email from a colleague Andrew Kemp:

I have now finished converting the principles I use in my kinesiology practice into a free website healing experience, with specially composed music running alongside. I have put it into a new website, along with free access to the latest version of my book 'Quantum K'. The website is http://www.quantumk.co.uk/ My goal is to provide some support to those who are interested in subtle healing but cannot afford to see a therapist regularly. It is also designed to support those who do see a therapist but need additional support in between sessions.

Air Pollution

The Olympics in China has reminded us about the problems of air pollution. Athletes have been concerned about how the pollution levels will affect both their health and their performance. Images from China show far from crystal clear air so the concerns seem justified.

It is easy to view the quality of Chinese air as a remote problem. After all, our air doesn’t look like that, does it? But there are problems with air quality in many countries, even where we cannot see any obvious cause for concern. Read On >>

herbs and spices for good health

there's an interesting study of the benefits of herbs and spices. The article in particualr focuses on the benefis of cinnamon for diabetics, but includes other herbs and spices too.

The conculsion is that we should all be using a lot more herbs and spices to increase the health value of our food.

It's easy to grow a few herbs in pots on a window sill at least in summer, and it's great to have some health advice that tells you to do something rather than things not to do!

My Child Is Being Bullied

with the return of children to school after a long break many children and parents are feeling apprehensive. Saddly for some children school is not a great place to be but is a place of torment. Bullying is a real part of many children's lives and can have lasting effects on their confidence and ability to make friends and forge relationships even later in life.

The Indigo essences - specially formulated for children - can be a great help, so I've written a piece on bullying and the Indigo essences in time for the new school year.