What You Should know about Vitamins and Soy Protein
When you buy vitamins, or better, food supplements, make sure the company doesn’t use chemicals and has cold process manufacturing. Heat kills the natural enzymes.
When starting a new regimen of adding food supplements, some people might break out (acne) for a couple of days or not feel well. The addition of nutritious soy protein to the diet can cause skin problems as well, along with urinary sting, and constipation. This is all part of the normal elimination process. This should be temporary. Ask your doctor if you have questions or concerns about this.
Remember you can't make up for a poor diet by simply adding vitamin supplements.
From The Seattle Times: You may be surprised that China is actually one of the largest exporters of many drugs and vitamins. The United States does not require country-of-origin labels for any of our drugs or food supplements. China's regulators also have financial interest in the industries they are supposed to regulate and inspect. Powercat Secret Company that has invested over $250 million in exhaustive research, clinical trials, and quality tests on their food supplements. This company is NUMBER ONE in the good ol' USA for nutritional supplements! Food Supplements - Made in USA
Changing brands can change your life. The Landmark Nutritional Supplement Study obtained from Berkeley's School of Public Health is an independent study done on long term supplement users, non-supplements users and Shaklee independent distributors using only the products they distribute.
For the last 6 months I have been suffering from chronic severe pain in my left foot which has been diagnosed as a plantar fasiculitis. This is an inflammation of a ligament which runs from the heel towards the large toe. The pain has been so intense that for the last 3 months I have been using a cane to walk. I had to buy new shoes and to put my foot in a cast every night while sleeping. I can't take anti-inflammatory's or pain meds so I just had to suffer.
After the reading the information about anti-aging tonic, I ordered some and began taking one teaspoon a day last Monday.
I couldn't believe it but last Wednesday (after 2 days!), I put down my cane as I could now walk without severe pain. By Friday I had very little pain and today I have NO pain. Just one week and I am pain free. Unbelievable! For any skeptics out there, all I can say is it worked for me and if you have chronic pain you should try this. Rick Navarro, Ph.D.
Please share this with others who may be struggling with autoimmune diseases, especially Sarcoidosis, an auto immune disease that, in my case, caused long bone (not joint) pain and most troubling, breathing difficulties. The disease caused calcium deposits called granulomas to stiffen my lungs, so constricted airways was not the trouble, it was inflamed lung tissue that did not want to expand as it should resulting in shortness of breath as well as coughing. This affected everything in my life. I was unable to even go for walks without being out of breath.
The drug of choice used to treat Sarcoidosis is Prednisone. For anyone not familiar with the drug, it reduces inflammation but along with that it has some terrible and serious side effects such as bone pain, fluid retention, insomnia, and weight gain, to name a few. I began taking a variety of Barefoot Secret supplements and the support the supplements offered soon enabled me to reduce my Prednisone dosage to 20 mg per day from 40 mg. I took no other pain relievers except for the Barefoot Secret Pain Relief.
I was introduced to Anti-Aging Tonic and explained with great excitement that you found an article that resveratrol had been found to help those with COPD. NO JOKING HERE...within about one week my lungs started to feel better. I experimented by taking the Asmanex only in the morning, I cut out the PM dose (I had done this before, but immediately had to go back on the evening dose due to breathing difficulties). After four days without my PM dose. I had a follow up appointment with my pulmonologist on Sept 16th.
He said that based on the NORMAL levels of inflammation in my blood work and the IMPROVED FUNCTIONING of my lungs, that the Sarcoidosis was in remission. I was so elated and thankful! I no longer take any steroid medication. yeah!!!
With the important component of supporting my immune system with the Barefoot Secret supplements and the amazing Anti-Aging Tonic, I am able to win my battle against Sarcoidosis. Thank you for making an amazing and healthy difference in my life. God Bless, Jeannie
This subject has big controversity for sure. Dr. High Fudenberg conducted studies that found that those who have received three to five yearly flu shots increases their risk of Alzheimer's disease tenfold! I don't know about you but that's enough for me to take sides.
The mercury and aluminum, as well as the over-activation of the brain's immune system could be the cause for this dreaded side-effect. The greatest risk of vaccinations triggering brain disorders is among those with impaired immunity. The very young and older people sometimes have a compromised immune system, due to poor nutrition.
A better choice is to build a strong immune system. Several studies have verified that nutrients such as selenium, vitamins E, D and C, zinc and the carotenoids build that strong immune system and keep us healthy all winter long.
The words of Linus Pauling enforces the seriousness of this article on Magnesium and high blood pressure. Twice a Nobel Prize winner, he once said, "You can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to a mineral deficiency."
How often have you read that statement? 10 times, 50 times, 100 times? But who's taking it to heart!
Do we think as time moves on, somehow, somewhere, someone will invent a synthetic substance compatible with the make-up and wonderful design of the living cell, or replenish the soils around the globe with all the minerals that our bodies need?
Linus Pauling uttered those words years ago. Has anything changed? This article is a reminder that it hasn't and that there is a link between low magnesium and high blood pressure.
You may find the information timely in your case because the Western World is suffering a crisis and the rest of the nations are catching up. High blood pressure, coronary heart disease and heart attack are almost reaching epidemic proportions. Some would argue that they have already.
Am I exaggerating? Certainly not! This is a real problem that touches almost everyone and its high time we sat up and took notice. Contrary to popular believe we need as much as 420mg of magnesium a day for men and 320mg for women, but some of us are not even getting half that amount.
Taking charge of your own health will serve as a protection, if you are careful not be distracted by all the misleading noise out there that gives high blood pressure a twist to its label "the silent killer". What will it cost us to stop and listen to that wee, small voice trying to be heard amongst all the clatter, understand what?s being said and take action? A little of our time and the price of a few hamburgers each month compared to the rising cost of medical treatment or our very lives if we fail to act soon enough.
Magnesium and High Blood Pressure - The Missing Link?
People with hypertension should be familiar with sodium and potassium, the two most talked about minerals in connection with the condition. They interact with each other, helping regulate, several systems in our bodies which include blood pressure and hydration. If we get the balance wrong then a chain reaction of events can throw our systems into chaos. The irony is, we are not juggling with all the balls needed in this nutritional balancing act.
Magnesium is also a very important component, but the fact is, its importance has been dampened down. A few dedicated scientists and doctors are totally frustrated by the sheer apathy they receive when trying to convince not only the individual, but whole nations to pay attention to this most important but ignored nutrient. Paul Mason is a fine example. He has shown over and over again with the proof of many scientific trials that magnesium is a, if not the missing link to heart disease and control of high blood pressure.
Magnesium and High Blood Pressure - Examples of how Magnesium Affects Blood Pressure Syndrome X is a complication of several symptoms all related to one another. Magnesium is essential for calcium and potassium assimilation. Muscles in the arterial walls will contract If the calcium level within the cell is too high, whereas magnesium causes these muscles to dilate. Doctors call it "Nature?s Calcium blocker" because it does the same job that Calcium channel antagonists do, modulate vascular tone. It also stimulates nitric oxide, a mechanism at work when we exercise, helping to relax and dilate blood vessels.
High levels of calcium but low levels of magnesium can cause persons to become obese especially concentrating most of the weight gain around the stomach. These people are highly likely to develop high blood pressure, diabetes and insulin secretion, known factors contributing to heart attack.
Magnesium and High Blood pressure - Other Causes of Magnesium Deficiency There is evidence to suggest that the lack of Vitamin D may be a root cause of magnesium deficiency. As we smear on the uv sun block we are in effect hampering the production of vitamin D which is manufactured from sunlight. Most foods contain very little apart from fish. Fish oil capsules are a popular way of making sure we get our vitamin d as well as other nutrients like omega 3.
The continued use of diuretics is another factor causing depletion starting with the wasting of potassium which leads to the loss of magnesium. Adding to the chaos, too much calcium and age related factors involving absorption of minerals are known to cause low magnesium levels.
Magnesium and High Blood Pressure - Finding a Source
Magnesium is missing or almost missing from bottled water which health-conscious people are habitually drinking to avoid the risk of contaminants such as heavy metals and chlorine. At the most you will only find about 30% of magnesium RDA in bottled water, making it a less than adequate source. The question is, from where do we get the other 70%.
There are a few food sources, like pumpkin seed, soy beans, oat bran or spinach, however it can be rather tiring and frustrating having to continuously work out which minerals and how much each food item contains. Apart from that, as I noted previously, the soils are depleted of these vital nutrients, so the chances of getting enough from these foods will vary depending where the produce is coming from.
A wise and easier choice would be to supplement the diet with a balanced mineral, trace mineral and vitamin solution, because although there is an abundance of good quality potassium, calcium, vitamin d, and magnesium supplements on the market, caution must be exercised when deciding how much to take of each one in conjunction to the effect on the others. And remember, they have to be easily absorbed into the intestines to bring maximum benefits.
Whether you suffer from cardiovascular disease, or desire to stay healthy and guard against these death dealing illnesses, give your body all the nutrients it needs to work efficiently. This rule of nature not only applies to magnesium and high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease or heart disease but, as Linus Paulus said, "....every sickness, every disease and every ailment...."
that would be the Big Mac, French Fries, and a Milk Shake...
every once in a while won't make you fat right?
Not if you walk off those extra calories...
Nutritionists in Great Britian helpfully computed just how you have to walk to shake off the 1,411 calories from that Big Mac lunch: 9.5 miles.
Not to pic on McDonalds, the Sun compiled a list of several favorite fast food items and how many miles you have to walk to get rid of the extra calories:
Meat Pizza: 930 calories requires a 6.2 mile walk KFC meal: 910 calories requires a 6.06 mile walk Apple: 45 calories requires a 0.3 mile walk Stick of Celery: 2 calories requires a 0.013 mile walk I saw on TV the other day a woman who was a professional contestant eater. This lady enters in all of those eating contests. Amazingly enough she wasn't heavy at all, but she is a professional at it and had a very strict daily training, exercising and eating regime she follows. I guess the moral of this story is as long as you walk/run/excercise it off don't worry about the calories...
Does a whiff of your breath make Fido roll over and play dead?
If you're brushing and flossing twice a day but still sensing there might be a problem, try changing your diet. Your mouth is only the porthole for bad stomach odors. Think of it as a sewer main breaking: You may smell it aboveground, but the actual problem comes from underground.
Garlic, onions, cabbage, cheese, and coffee are common culprits in bad breath. So is anything your body has particular trouble digesting. As the bacteria in your stomach break down foods, they release odors into and out of your mouth.
More ways to fight bad breath:
Brush, brush, brush! Bacteria in your mouth break down food particles and create volatile sulfide compounds (VSCs), which smell like rotten eggs. In addition to brushing, try a tongue scraper for a clean sweep. Brushing may help your arteries, too. Here's another RealAge tip that explains why.
See your dentist. Cavities, gum disease, periodontal disease, dry mouth, or an abscessed tooth are just a few oral ailments that can contribute to mouth odor.
Don't skip meals. Not only do certain foods cause bad breath, but so does not eating.
See your doctor. Sinusitis, bronchitis, respiratory infections, kidney and liver conditions, and diabetes are just a few of the medical problems that can cause bad breath. Could you have diabetes? Take this assessment.
Nibble on fresh parsley, mint, or ginger. These are natural breath fresheners.
Get your insides clean with our Herbal-Laxative it works like a tooth brush cleaning the sides of your intestines. Next time you really want to get clean inside and out Herbal-Laxative will do the job. It's probably one of the most cost effective actions you can take for better health and fresh breath
It's true comfort foods do exist. What ever has gotten you stressed out try some of these healty stress relievers...
1. Berries, any berries Eat them one by one instead of M&Ms when the pressure's on. For those tough times when tension tightens your jaw, try rolling a frozen berry around in your mouth. And then another, and another. Since the carbs in berries turn to sugar very slowly, you won't have a blood sugar crash. The bonus: They're a good source of vitamin C, which helps fight a jump in the stress hormone cortisol
2. Guacamole If you're craving something creamy, look no further. Avocados are loaded with B vitamins, which stress quickly depletes and which your body needs to maintain nerves and brain cells. Plus their creaminess comes from healthy fat. Scoop up the stuff with whole-grain baked chips-crunching keeps you from gritting your teeth.
3. Mixed nuts Just an ounce will help replace those stress-depleted Bs (walnuts), give you a whopping amount of zinc (Brazil nuts)-it's also drained by high anxiety-and boost your E (almonds), which helps fight cellular damage linked to chronic stress. Buy nuts in the shell and think of it as multi-tasking: With every squeeze of the nutcracker, you're releasing a little bit of tension.
4. Oranges People who take a 1,000 mg of C before giving a speech have lower levels of cortisol and lower blood pressure than those who don't. So lean back, take a deep breath, and concentrate on peeling a large orange. The 5-minute mindfulness break will ease your mind and you'll get a bunch of C as well.
5. Asparagus Each tender stalk is a source of folic acid, a natural mood-lightener. Dip the spears in fat-free yogurt or sour cream for a hit of calcium with each bite.
6. Chai tea A warm drink is a super soother, and curling up with a cup of aromatic decaf chai tea (Tazo makes ready-to-brew bags) can make the whole evil day go away.
7. Dark chocolate Okay, there's nothing in it that relieves stress, but when only chocolate will do, reach for the dark, sultry kind that's at least 70% cocoa. You figure if the antioxidant flavonoids in it are potent enough to fight cancer and heart disease, they've got to be able to temper tension's effects.
Weight loss isn't just about looking better. If you're one of the nearly 130 million U.S. adults who are overweight or obese, you may be putting your health in jeopardy. Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death (after smoking), and can raise your risks of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, gout, asthma, and even gum disease.
Weight loss experts agree that the best route to weight loss is by making adopting healthy diet and exercise habits that you can maintain for the long term.
By wiseGEEK.com Most of us portion-control-challenge d Americans wouldn't recognize the difference between 50 calories of ketchup or 200 calories of the sweet stuff. But the difference is showing up on our waistlines. To help out, wiseGEEK.com has put together a visual guide with photos of 200-calorie portions of everything from peanut butter to wheat flour to gummy bears.-- Jenna Fisher What does 200 Calories Look like
Omega-3 refers to a group of unsaturated fatty acids. One fatty acid is alpha linolenic acid or linolenic acid. It is also refered to as omega-3. This essential fatty acid cannot be made in the body and must be obtained from the diet or a supplement. The other two fatty acids in the omega-3 family are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The body can produce EPA and DHA by linolenic acid.
Omega-3 fatty acids promotes cardiovascular health and other healthy functioning of many other biological activities. Omega-3 oils spoil easily, so many food manufacturers remove it to keep their products fresh. Thus Omega-3 is not sufficient in many people's diets. Omega-3 oils mostly come from cold water fish and wild game, so most Americans don't get sufficient amounts of Omega-3 because they don't eat these things in abundance.
Another good source of O-mega 3 is flaxseed oil. It can also be found in chia, rapeseed, soybeans, alfalfa, and walnuts.
When our company came out with their new weight loss program (they call it the inch loss program) I didn't even have a clue what Leucine was. I did know it must be pretty important factor for weight loss though. As a Shaklee Distributor I realized early on that research is one of the things that makes our company a cut above the rest. So... What is Leucine?
L-leucine is one of the 20 "common" amino acids that are most abundant in our food. As we've known for many decades, amino acids are the raw materials that are put together in the body to form proteins. But certain amino acids also serve other vital roles in many tissues and organs besides juts being protein building blocks.
Leucine is one of the three amino acids called "branche d chain of amino acide" because of the branched shaped of their chamical structures. Unlike other amino acids, Lucinethat is eaten in the diet is not readily metabolixed in the liver, but rather enters the bloodstream, where it is taken up by the muscle cells.
In the muscle cell, leucine does an important job - it turns on the mechanism to make proteins from amino acids. This protein can then be used to build new muscle. The new protein is made in tine factories inside the cell called ribosomes. Ribosomes are assembled from many pieces. One of these pieces is called eIF4E. When leucine is present the muscle cells, eIF4E is turned on by another protein called mTOR.
The ribosome can now be used to make proteins. As long as the supply of amino acid raw material holds out ( ie.. protein in the diet), with an additional supply of leucine, more of the amoio acid building blocks can be made into the muscle.
For this mechanism to work, protein intake needs to be in the range of 1.5 grams per kilogram of body weight, which is more than the RDA but still considered moderate. The studies also show it's important to have some of that good protein at breakfast.
Weight lifters and bodya builders have been using this information for several years to safely add muscle. But building muscle is improtant for people losing weight as well. Most weight loss diets cause loss of muscle along with the fat. But muscle burns calories, even at rest. For every pound of muscle that we can add (or retain), the body burns and additional 50 calories per day.
Leucine does another special job that can benefit healther and help with weight loss. It aids in insulin metabolism to help us control our blood sugar. That's a whole other article..
A recent inquiry came to me about supplements and leg cramping. Many people have had severe leg cramping when pregnant. It can be terrible. Most people recommended a banana.
Lots of people have terrible PMS and find out that they are deficient in calcium and magnesium. As it turns out a common symptom and nutrition alert for calcium and magnesium deficiency is muscle cramping. Over 300 biochemical reactions in the body are regulated by magnesium says the National Institute of Health. 8 out of 10 people are actually deficient in magnesium. Wow!
Prescription drugs, alcohol, smoke, processed or refined foods and physical or emotional stress all inhibit the absorption of magnesium. Foods that are processed or water that is softened actually strips the magnesium from the foods one might normally find this beneficial mineral. No wonder we are deficient in it!! Health benefits from magnesium and calcium include: helps build strong bones and teeth, it's a "natural muscle relaxer and tranquilizer", builds peak bone mass, prevents polyps and colon cancer, lowers blood pressure, reduces lead toxicity, regulates heartbeat, protects heartbeat, protects the heart, promotes restful sleep, it's essential for clotting of the blood, reduces PMS symptoms ( specifically bloating, cramps, water retention, irritability and moodiness)
- the daily value recommended for magnesium is 200 mg. For calcium it's 1200 mg ( should you be supplementing your calcium be sure that it is paired with vitamin D, K, magnesium, and boron, zinc and copper - these nutrients are what binds calcium to your bones !!)
NBC Dateline did a documentary on cut-up lettuce and spinach packaged in plastic bags. They took us through the whole process and talked about how the Ecoli bacteria is now showing up in the salad mix in bags. They don't know yet how the Ecoli got in, but they do know that deaths and serious sicknesses are occurring in many states.
One woman told about how her child was near death from the lettuce and was sick for a long time. They warned us not to buy any bag salads until they find out from the investigation what is causing this contamination.
A new study from researchers at Oregon State University reveals that a natural ingredient found in beer may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. The ingredient, found in the hops used to brew beer, is xanthohumol, and belongs to a group of plant compounds called flavonoids that can trigger the death of cancer cells along the surface of the prostate gland.
Researchers are quick to point out the amount of xanthohumol in beer is far too low to be of any benefit, estimating it would require consuming a case of beer per day to activate the positive effects. German brewers have already responded by creating a beer with ten times the amount of xanthohumol, marketing it as a "healthy beer."
Young adults with a high intake of omega-3 fatty acids may be less prone to hostility, say researchers, and this could in turn reduce their risk of heart attacks. The study is part of evidence suggesting polyunsaturated essential fatty acids may play a role in mental health.
Hostility predicts both the development and manifestation of coronary disease, writes a U.S. team in European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. They examined the association of dietary omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, as well as fish, with the level of hostility in a sample of 3,581 young adults living in California.
Both intake of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake were separately associated with lower odds of high hostility, they report.
Prenatal Omega-3 vs Allergies in Children
Taking fish oil supplements when pregnant could protect offspring from developing allergies, suggests new research from an Australian team in the December 2003 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Janet Dunstant and her team examined fish oil supplements and their effects in 40 pregnant women (from 20 weeks gestation to delivery) on the immune response in their infants. All the women had a history of hay fever or asthma, making their children at increased risk of allergies. Another 43 women took an olive oil placebo.
The supplements resulted in significantly higher levels of omega-3 and lower levels of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in cell membranes of babies born to mothers in the fish oil group.
This is a testimonial written by Andera... I have to write this at my husband's insistence, concerning the Joint Health Complex and Pain Relief Complex supplements.
After spending over $1,000 at the orthopedic specialist's office, without receiving an guarantee that he could fore-go surgery, my husband asked me to order the Shaklee products mentioned above. I had told him about these after the first visit with the doctor.
My husband has received 2 shots of something supposedly superior to the old-fashioned cortisone shots. Well, although he had some relief immediately after the shots, his pain diminished only somewhat but he still h ad limited motion in his arm. The doctor said he had a problem with what's called the rotator cuff, and surgery would inevitably have to follow.
Well, after a little over one week with the joint and pain relief supplements, my husband comes home from work with a great, big grin. He says, "It's almost too good to be true. I don't even want to say it, but I have almost no pain at all!" The great thing about this, in addition to not having pain, is that he can move is arm around, all he wants, and has full motion.
He works one day a week a double shift at the restaurant, where he's a cook. He had to stop working the double shifts because he's come home in such pain that he almost could not go to work the following day. Now, he comes home after a double shift, experiencing minimal pain, the usual anyone would feel after 12 hours in the kitchen!
So, needless to say, Joint and Pain Relief supplements are here to stay in this household. Once his order is filled, I will set him up on an automatic shipment.
I mentioned this to my sister, whose husband is a glacier, and as such, he works long hours working with glass. He's been in terrible pain lately and my sister asked me to order these products for him. He's going to give them a try and, if they work for him as they have for my husband, they'll be on automatic shipment too! (As it is, my bro-in law takes the Vitalea and just placed his second order. My sister who is diabetic and has a thyroid condition, just ordered the Immune Bldg Complex.)
I'm very happy and satisfied with these results for my husband, and my brother-in-law is, too, since he's ordered his second supply. I expect to see wonderful results with the Sleep relief my husband has just ordered, and I'll keep you posted in that regard.
Source: Health Sciences Institute, April 25, 2006 "Low Vitamin K Status is Associated with Osteoarthritis in the Hand and Knee" Arthritis and Rheumatism, Vol. 54, No. 4, April 2006, interscience.wiley.com "Is There a Link Between Vitamin K and Osteoarthritis?" Cynthia K. Buccini, Bostonia, Fall 2005, bu.edu New research indicates that a deficiency of one vitamin may increase the severity of osteoarthritisa.
Low levels of vitamin K may trigger abnormalities in bone and cartilage, says Boston University School of Medicine researcher Tuhina Neogi in an interview that appeared in Bostonia (the BU alumni quarterly). Neogi noted this as the impetus behind her examination of vitamin K and osteoarthritis.
Neogi and her team examined data collected from more than 670 subjects who participated in the Framingham Offspring Study. Blood samples revealed levels of phylloquinone (also known as vitamin K1), and x-rays were used to assess joint space narrowing and the presence of osteophytes, the bony growths that sometimes form in the joints of osteoarthritis patients.
The study produced two key results: 1) Low vitamin K1 levels were associated with a greater severity of osteoarthritis, and 2) Subjects with lower K1 levels had a greater number of osteophytes than subjects with high levels of the vitamin.
Based on the outcome of this study (published in the current issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism), the BU team has already received Arthritis Foundation funding for a clinical trial in which osteoarthritis patients will receive either a vitamin K supplement or a placebo.
Neogi told Bostonia: "We don't know how much vitamin K is necessary for these bone and cartilage proteins to function optimally. Our preliminary observational results suggest that we probably need more vitamin K than the recommended daily allowance."
The current recommended daily allowance for vitamin K is 65 micrograms for women over the age of 25, and 80 micrograms for men in the same age group. But in his Nutrition and Healing newsletter, Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., recommends 5 to 15 MILLIGRAMS per day.
The following SHAKLEE products provide vitamin K: Alfalfa - 50 mcg per serving Vita-Lea - 80 mcg per serving Vita-Lea Gold with vitamin K - 80 mcg per serving OsteoMatrix - 40 mcg per serving. Buy Shaklee Products Onine Distributor --- McAsey Enterprises
This came from: British Columbia Research, Sharon Kirkey, CanWest News Service
Babies treated with an antibiotic before their first birthdays are twice as likely as antibiotic-free infants to develop asthma, new Canadian research suggests.
And the risk of the chronic lung disease grows each time a baby is prescribed one of the drugs.
"This is the best evidence we have right now, and the best evidence that we have looks like there is potentially an association" between antibiotic exposure early in life and asthma, said lead author Dr. Carlo Marra, an assistant professor in pharmaceutical sciences at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. "People should not be prescribing antibiotics unless they're really necessary."
The researchers, who pooled data from eight studies that included more than 12,000 children, found that children were up to 2.9 times more likely to develop asthma if they had been given an antibiotic before the age of one, compared with children who had not received an antibiotic.
In a second analysis, this one involving more than 27,000 children, the B.C. team found a 16% increase in risk for each additional course of antibiotics given to children.
"A lot of the infections in children -- things like otitis media (middle ear infections), bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections -- are being over-treated," Dr. Marra said. "Those are the biggest indications for antibiotic utilization, and, particularly for bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections, a lot of those are viral." Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses.
The findings are published in this month's issue of the journal CHEST.
Asthma, which causes wheezing, coughing and chest tightness, is now the most common chronic disease of childhood. Between 10 and 20% of children in Canada have it, and about 20 children and 500 adults die each year from asthma, according to the Lung Association.
A study released in January found the percentage of boys in Canada aged eight to 11 who were diagnosed with asthma increased from 16% in 1994/95 to 20% in 1998/99. For girls of the same age, asthma jumped from 11% to about 15%.
Asthma rates have climbed dramatically in the last quarter century, and researchers have been trying to understand why. The disease's rise has been linked to everything from ground-level ozone to chlorinated pools.
But one theory blames exposure to antibiotics and the "hygiene hypothesis" -- the idea that kids who are not exposed to enough microbes and germs develop weakened immune systems.
Two types of white blood cells, T-helper 1 cells that fight bacteria and viruses, and T-helper 2 cells that respond to parasites, normally live in harmony. But children not exposed to enough viruses and bacteria may develop jittery immune systems, with an "underdeveloped Th1 system, and an over-developed Th2 system," Dr. Marra said. As a result, children overreact to pollen, dust mites and other normally harmless substances.
Other researchers have probed the asthma-antibiotic connection, but with conflicting results.
The Canadian researchers decided to combine the data to look at whether the use of antibiotics or dose matters.
Dr. Marra's team reviewed studies that compared exposure to at least one antibiotic to no exposure in the first year of life. Of the 12,082 children included, 1,817 cases of childhood asthma were reported.
Overall, infants given at least one antibiotic were 40% to roughly three times more likely to develop asthma as childhood progressed.
However, the association was highest in studies where parents of asthmatic children were asked, did your child ever receive an antibiotic in the first year of life? They may be more likely to report antibiotic use than other parents, because it's human nature for people with a disease to want to explain it.
It's also possible that babies who have early asthmatic symptoms are being misdiagnosed with a respiratory tract infection and put on antibiotics, because asthma is difficult to diagnose in children under one. In other words, the asthma came before the antibiotic.
Bigger and better-designed studies are needed, Dr. Marra said. The researchers are embarking on a study funded by the B.C. Lung Association that will involve about 200,000 children across the province to determine "if there really is an association between antibiotic association and asthma" and whether there are different risks with different types of antibiotics.
Editors Note: For people who would rather go a different route than antibiotics. Explore some of the Shaklee Products that we market to help boost the immune system. I know they sure have worked for our family. It's been over 10 years since we have had to take any antibotics. It's conforting to know if we ever really need antibotics they will work for us. So far though our own immune systems are working. Check out Shaklee Products Online
Back Pain ---importance of Vitamin C for deterioriated disks
This came from Prevention Magazine... I suffered for nine months with severe back pains. I had x-rays, which indicated deteriorated back disks. My doctor said disks can be fused, but he would not recommend such an operation. I would have to learn to live with the pain. He did prescribe some pain pills which made me feel better, but drowsy. After one week, I advised my doctor that I was not going to take any pills. I would rather live with miserable pain than become a dope addict
I could not walk one city block without severe back pain. I could not drive a car more than 50 miles. I had to use a cane for support.
Friends handed me a number of issues of Prevention. I found a “Mailbag” letter from a woman who suffered back pain and took 3,000 to 4,000 milligrams of vitamin C a day. It solved her back problem. I did the same, and within three days my back pain was gone.
Thanks to Judy for passing on this testimony. Why would vitamin C help back pain? Because it is one of the essential ingredients in rebuilding collagen. When re-building our cells---Collagen acts like mortar does when you build a brick wall. Would a wall be very strong without the mortar. No way, you would just have one brick pushing on top of another with no support.
Vitamin C is water soluble and not stored in the body. You must get it everyday. Therapeutic levels of supplementation is essential for helping back problems. You should start with the Shaklee BasicsProtein and the Basic strips to cover the essential nutrient requirements. Consider filling out a Wellness Profile questionnaire to see if you have other issues of deficiency or toxicity.
This is the time of year that the ticks are out in full force. Ticks are know to carry such terrible diseases such as Lyne Disease. I ran across this wonderful testimony about a lady with lyme disease and how she uses Shaklee Products to build back her health. Here is is...
I contracted lyme in 1990 in Arkansas, a state as many are told does not have lyme disease. I found the tick so therefore I knew I had lyme. I developed everyone of the lyme symptoms, but could not get a dr to believe it was lyme. In 1992 we moved to upstate NY and in 1994 when things really got bad for me I finally found a dr to diagnosis me and basically couldn't believe with my symptoms that no one else would treat me for this. I recieved at that time 4 weeks of doxy which temporily helped with things like the black outs, but nothing else. As time went on I got really scared. I actually thought I had Ms because the symptoms were so bad. Well it continued to get worse to the point I was now bedridden. Test showed I was "Full of Arthritis". They put me in physical therapy for 3x wkly and told me to get use to it. To give you a little background on myself, prior to contracted lyme in 1990, I was an extremely active person. Did century rides on my bike, ran 3 miles daily, swam, lifted weights, you name it. Nothng in this world would ever slow me down. Little did I know how severe this disease could be. In fact when I found the tick on me, after collapsing in a store totally paralyzed, my husband was more upset then I because he knew more about lyme. No little tick was going to get me down. When you are lying in bed it gives you lots of time to think and read which is exactly what I did. Prior to contracting lyme I had used supplements, but nothing major. In fact I want to clear the air right now this is not about selling anything it is about what worked for my and why I use a certain brand - Shaklee. I had used the Shaklee multi and that was it but had seen this product do wonderful things for others in my family, including my son who was so sick from birth.
So I thought it was time to test this stuff on me. Through my research I discovered alot about the immune system and how critical it is to any disease to keep it running correctly. I learned alot about environmental toxins, the foods we eat and what is in them and on and on. So I watched what I ate, MEGAdosed on supplements, drank lots of water to flush my system and hydrate me, and learned to listen to my body. So began my recovery. I was up and walking again in a short period of time and a lot of the other symptoms started to disappear. The longer I did what I did the better I got. Below is a list of what I take and why. Please understand I am not into these so called miracle cures. I believe if the body is fed what it needs it will take care of it self. After all we are made of nothing but protein, vitamins, minerals, water, fats, carbos. The problem being is so much of our food is depleted of these things and heavily saturated with chemicals it suppressed the immune function.
This is what I take:
Soy Protein - You can not build a cell without protein as well it needed to repair tissue cells Vita Lea - Best all round multi vitamin Vita C - This is problem my favorite and I megadose on this. So good for the immune system and fighting infections. B-complex - Converts food to energy, builds red blood cells, and helped with my neuro damage. Formula I - This is designed specifically for the immune system. Garlic - Again great for the immune system as well as the heart. I had developed heart complications. Lecithin - It is a fat immulsifier for the heart problems. As well it got my liver enzymes back to normal. Alfalfa - Great for arthritis as well as allergy problems which I developed after the lyme. Also great for fighting infections. Fiber - For the obvious reasons, digestion. It is so critical to have a properly running digestive tract to rid the body of toxins. If the body does not flush the toxins out it will reinfest itself. Americans are the most constipated people in the world. Herb Lax - Again for the obvious reason, but as well this product cleanses lymph glands and blood stream. Calcium Magnesium - This stopped the muscle spasms Optiflora - For intestinal bacteria Vita E - For heart and immune function Beta Carotene - Immune Function
As you can see from the list I take alot of supplements. But these supplements along with some diet changes have brought my life back to normal. I look at it like this, instead of eating a bag of M&M's I eat supplements. One thing I must stress also was I avoid sugar. This is the quickest way I can bring my arthritis pain back. I have learned that it is because sugar dehydrates you and then causes digestion problems. As I mentioned earlier listen to your body. Each of use is different. You had also mention your husband had candida problems and it wasn't from antibiotic use. This is true. We get more antibiotics in the food we eat then we consume. And if the body is stressed with any disease, infection, healing a wound, etc this will cause the immune system not to keep the yeast under control.
I am so sorry to hear about your family all suffering from this disease. I hope I have offered some help. I will continue to stress to use Shaklee supplements. I know no other company with a better product. I have researched these people as well have tried other brands and there is no comparison. There is a lady in NY that I will gladly give her name to you if your brother would like to contact her. She too suffered from lyme and candida and is always willing to help people. She works very closely with a homeopathic dr. and as well highly recommends using Shaklee. Good luck and if there is anything else I can help you with or answer any other questions please don't hesitate to ask. If it takes a few days to get back please don't think I don't care it's just I'm traveling alot these days with business. God Bless, Mary
Yes that is a pretty powerful statement... but that is the testimony that came to us! Here is the testimony.. I wanted to write to you to let you know of my wonderful experience with the Airsource 3000 that I purchased. I've had it for about nine months now and it has changed my life.
In 1999, I was diagnosed with adult on-set asthma, which I believe was brought on by a house I was renting that was full of mold. Every spring and summer since then I would suffer from several severe asthma attacks a week. I work for myself doing bookkeeping and Quickbooks training, and I would literally be crippled with these attacks and unable to work. Unfortunately, if I don't work, I don't get paid. So, doctors kept adding medications to try to get me comfortable, but I feel they never fully worked for me. I was always winded, even on a short walk. Exercising was next to impossible. My voice was hoarse all the time as a side effect of medication, so I had to stop the teaching aspect of my job. It was too difficult to talk for hours straight.
I was on FIVE different medications for asthma when I bought the Airsource 3000. Some of these medications were covered under insurance and some were not! I was paying close to $300/month, just for the asthma medications! This was an extreme financial burden, especially since I would still be sick for at least several days per month and would lose that time and money.
After 8 months of having the Airsource 3000 in my home, I am off ALL let me repeat that ALL asthma medications. Of course, I had the support and monitoring of my wonderful doctor who has been at my side for a number of years now trying to find the right combination for me. I attribute my success completely to the Airsource 3000. I have NOT had an asthma attack in well over six months and I haven't even had a cold this winter.
My fifteen year old son has always had terrible allergies and carries wads of tissues in his pockets. Since I've had the Airsource 3000, I never hear him sniffle. Both my children have had two colds this winter (at different times), but they were mild and the rest of the family didn't get them. In the past if one of us had a cold; it cycled through the whole family. The money I've saved in not buying tissues has been an unexpected pleasure – as well as the saved monthly cost of the medications! My Airsource paid for itself in less than two months.
I believe my overall health has been improved by the Airsouce 3000. I sleep better, wake up more refreshed. Exercising is easier. I don’t dread the spring and summer any more! My mother, who lives in Maine, has cardiomyopathy which has resulted in her losing all but 30% usage of her heart. She has a very hard time breathing at times, and has allergies.
I brought my Airsource 3000 up to Maine with me on a visit and within a day and half she couldn't believe how much easier it was for her to breath. She thought it just might be a fluke but the next two times we visited (once in Maine and once at my house in Massachusetts), she was amazed at the difference the Airsource 3000 made for her breathing. She was able to sleep through the night instead of being woken up by allergies. She was much more rested and overall comfortable. She was less winded. She had to have an Airsource 3000 of her own. She also has been very pleased with the health benefits she's experienced since she's had it.
I took it on vacation last year when we stayed in a condo for a week on Myrtle Beach, SC. I was nervous because I've had asthma attacks staying in hotels and other places away from home, especially places with wall-to-wall carpeting. I plugged in my Airsource the minute we got there and never had one problem.
On a side note, I love that the Airsource 3000 takes odors away so quickly. I've used it in a bedroom with three stinky, teenage boys. The room is fresh and clean smelling in less than two hours. Most chemical air cleaner sprays make my allergies worse and can bring on an asthma attack for me so I don't use them. My husband brews beer at home and for those of you who have not had the pleasure of smelling hops cooking let me tell you how horrible the smell is! I put the Airsource 3000 in the kitchen and I can be in the next room and not smell a thing!
I absolutely love my Airsource and I will never be without it. I talk about the Airsource to everyone I meet and I would recommend it to anyone. You can't even imagine all the benefits and you have to experience it for yourself. Thanks so much to my Shaklee Distributor for educating me on this wonderful technology! I am forever in your debt! Margaret
Immunity Booster Aids Health of U.S. Skiers and Winter Athletes at Any Level
Pleasanton, Calif., March 14 2006 - Many U.S. athletes brought more than focus and determination to Torino - they brought Shaklee nutritional products. The U.S. Ski Team® and U.S. Snowboarding™ wouldn't think of hitting the slopes without NutriFeron™ from Shaklee, a leading provider of natural nutrition. Not just for top-performing athletes, clinically-proven dietary supplement NutriFeron also helps everyday sports enthusiasts stay healthy and active during winter months by boosting the body's production of natural interferon, a protein critical to strengthening immune response and healthy immune function.*
"The U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding athletes travel four to six months straight each year. NutriFeron makes a big difference in strengthening our athletes' immune systems as they push through extreme climates and tough training," says Susie Simmons, United States Ski Association (USSA) Sports Dietitian & Physiologist.
Although recreational skiers and outdoor sports enthusiasts may not keep such an intense travel and workout schedule, it is always important to take extra care during the winter months in order to maintain good health.
"People participating in outdoor winter sports or exercise should be aware of how cold weather can affect athletic performance," says Jamie McManus, M.D. as chairman of Medical Affairs, Health Sciences and Education. "The athletic performances during the recent competitions in Torino may inspire individuals to get outside and get active, but keep in mind that without proper preparation, cold weather can bring with it an increased risk of illness and muscle injury."
In Manhattan, KS, Adam McAseya Shaklee Distributor with a successful health and wellness business, passes along some top tips from Dr. McManus on staying healthy and fit during the winter months.
Stay hydrated. Thirst is diminished by cold weather, and overdressing can result in excess fluid loss from perspiration and breathing in dry air. Pay special attention to fluid intake before, during, and after exercise with small, frequent drinks of water or a sports beverage.
Supplement your diet. To ward off winter illness, add immunity-booster Shaklee NutriFeron to your daily regimen, as well as vitamins such as Shaklee Vita-Lea(r) or calcium supplements containing the optimal amount of vitamin D to help compensate for less nutrient-giving daylight.
Eat to warm up. When chilled by cold winter weather, enhance recovery by warming up with hot liquids and foods. Cold food and fluids can temporarily lower body temperature.
Keep it regular. Regardless of the weather, try to exercise 30 minutes per day. Even 10 to 15 minute spurts two to three times a day add up to benefit your health.
About Shaklee Corporation
For 50 years, Shaklee has been a leading provider of natural nutrition and environmentally-friendly household products. The Shaklee brand is synonymous with high quality and efficacy, representing one of the most well-established names in the nutritional supplement and direct selling industries. With a robust product portfolio, including over 48 patents and patents pending worldwide, Shaklee operates in Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico and the U.S., and has over 700,000 members worldwide. For more information, visit www.mcaseyenterprises.com .
Shaklee Sponsor's US Ski Team... Raising your Game!
Shaklee Active Nutrition products have fueled the 20th century’s leading world-record breakers in physical endeavors. "Shaklee products assist the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding athletes to train and compete in optimal condition." Andy Walshe, Assistant Athletic Director, Sports Science U.S.S.A.
Wanta Raise your game? Every moment you push your body to the max, you are losing important fluids, burning through your energy reserves, and subjecting your body to fatigue and pain. In fact, professional athletes can sweat away as much as 5-8 pounds during a game or event. Ask any professional athlete, and he or she will tell you how important it is to stay hydrated, maintain energy, and recover quickly. It takes more than skill to be the best you can be. It takes proper nutrition — Shaklee Active Nutrition — to get the competitive edge.
Shaklee is the proud nutritional sponsor of the US Ski Team and SnowBoarding athletes. In fact, NutriFeron™ is the official immunity product of the team.
The U.S. Ski Team is comprised of 14 different men's and women's national teams in Alpine, Cross Country, Disabled, Freestyle, Jumping, Nordic Combined and SnowBoarding categories and has been training with Shaklee as their official nutritional sponsor for the past two years. The teams are competing hard and are very selective about their nutrition, so Shaklee is honored to be the product of choice for this outstanding line-up of athletes. If you saw Hanna Kearny at the Chicago Conference this past August, watch for her - she is unstoppable!
Shaklee works closely with the team nutritionist; keeping athletes healthy is the primary challenge as they push through tough competition schedules. Their goal is to win the most medals of any nation in skiing and snowboarding this month, when all eyes will turn to Torino, Italy, February 10-26, 2006.
Here's what the United States Ski Association (USSA) Sports Dietitian and Physiologist, Susie Simmons, had to say about NutriFeron:
"NutriFeron has had a huge impact on the health of many of our athletes. U.S. Ski Team & U.S. Snowboarders travel four to five months straight each year, flying in winter conditions to many different countries. NutriFeron makes a big difference in strengthening their immune systems, as they push through jet lag, drastic temperature, tough training and the stress through competition. The team takes NutriFeron wherever in the world they are traveling to train and compete."
The recommended daily intake of EPA plus DHA is about 650mg rising to 1000mg/day during pregnancy and lactation. Clinical trials have used anywhere from 1 g/day to 10 g/day, but little additional benefits have been observed at levels above 5 g/day of EPA and DHA combined. The benefits of theraputic supplementation may become evident in a few weeks when blood parameters (triglycerides, fibrinogen) are involved, but may take 3 months or longer to materialize in degenerative diseases like atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Fish oil supplementation does, however, lower blood conentrations of vitamin E, so it is a good idea to take 200 IU/day of synthetic or 100 IU/day of natural vitamin E when adding fish oils to your diet.
To buy Fish Oil online visit the following link:
http://www.shaklee.net/amcase...
