Tips & Information to Help You Feel Better Now... What are Antioxidants and why do we need them? If you think you're having a heart attack...  Life Line screening saved my brother's life Food Chart  Seven Don't After a Meal 15 Spectacular tricks to teach your body...  Reducing Stress Medline Plus - Trusted Health Information  How to lose weight The Power of Honey  10 Tips For Overturning Denied Health Insurance Claims Recognizing A Stroke Thirst perception not an accurate  Diabetes help      What are Antioxidants and why do we need them? By "Super Market Guru" Phil Lempert We have all heard of antioxidants by now and are aware that they have the potential to improve overall health, delay the onset of many age-related diseases, prevent macular eye disease and reduce the risk of some cancers.  But what are Antioxidants? Antioxidants are nothing more than vitamins, A, C and E, the mineral selenium and bioactive compounds like carotenoids and polyphenols found in foods. Our need for them is derived from a paradox in metabolism. Our bodies require oxygen to function, but oxygen- by itself- is highly reactive, and creates byproducts through oxidation. These byproducts, called free radicals, are potentially damaging to cells. Antioxidants, as the name reveals, can stabilize free radicals before they cause harm. Our body’s defense against oxidative stress decreases over time, which is why a diet rich in food containing antioxidants is needed as we age. Oxidation is a normal process that occurs in the body through normal cell function and metabolism- as well as from outside sources which include pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke, motor vehicle emissions, and many other processes. Environmental free radicals then enter the body through the skin, respiration, and other means. Therefore, achieving a balance with an antioxidant rich diet is crucial to maintaining good health. A food's antioxidant power is measured in units called ORACs, or Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, referring to how much radical oxygen a food can absorb. The ORAC scale was developed by USDA researchers at Tufts University in order to inform the public about different foods antioxidant capacity. Which foods contain the highest ORAC value? One hundred grams of grapes rates 739 on the ORAC scale; 100 grams of blueberries rakes in at 2,400, raspberries, 1,220. One hundred grams of kale and spinach contain 1,770 and 1,260 respectively. And chocolate? 100 grams contains a whopping 13,120 ORAC! (but be careful because that is unsweetened cacao and not a milk-chocolate bar). Individual colors are important indicators- darker foods, like pomegranates (3,037 ORAC) and plums (949), tend to be more antioxidant-rich. Orange foods like sweet potatoes, carrots, and pumpkin contain beta-carotene. Lutein, known for its association with healthy eyes, is abundant in greens. Supermarket Guru suggests sticking with the natural foods mentioned above as well as nuts, and grains. Some other vitamin A rich foods include liver, milk, and egg yolks; vitamin E is found in broccoli, almonds, and mangos, while whole grains provide selenium. Because it may be harder to absorb antioxidants from antioxidant-enhanced food products it is best to stick with natural sources and the foods mentioned above, but if you feel you need a quick fix, look for products that clearly state the ORAC value of what’s inside- and do be mindful of sugar content and other nutrition don’ts.       If you think you're having a heart attack... Bayer Aspirin Crystals ~ Thanks to Mr. Jim Knudsen Bayer is making crystal aspirin to dissolve under the tongue. They work much faster than the tablets. Why keep aspirin by your bedside? About Heart Attacks   There are other symptoms of an heart attack besides the pain on the left arm. One must also be aware of an intense pain on the chin, as well as nausea and lots of  sweating, however these symptoms may also occur less frequently. Note: There may be NO pain in the chest during a heart attack..  The majority of people (about 60%) who  had a heart attack during their sleep, did not wake up.  However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep.   If that happens, immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow them with a bit of water. Afterwards: - phone a neighbor or a family member who lives very close by - say "heart attack!" - say that you have taken 2 aspirins.. - take a seat on a chair or sofa near the front door, and wait for their arrival and... ~ do NOT lie down ~ Life Line screening saved my brother's life About three and a half years ago the National Association of Realtors sent me and all its other members an email urging us to have the Life Line screening tests.  Insurance companies do not pay for these screening tests so doctors seldom order them.  I decided it just might be a good idea. So my brother Richard and I signed up. The bottom line is this: Had Richard not been screened by Life Line he would never have known he had an abdominal aortic aneurysm.  It would have continued to grow until it ruptured and that would have meant sudden death. Since Life Line discovered this aneurysm his doctors continued to monitor it. According to Richard's heart doctor Life Line is a well respected screening company.  This past December Richard developed a pain in his side for no apparent reason. He went back to his doctor, who then had an ultra sound done, which showed the aneurysm had grown significantly compared to the earlier report by Life Line.  The doctor then had a cat scan and angiogram done followed by surgery.  Richard is now home recovering.  I urge you all to get screened by Life Line.  It could save your life as it has my brother's. Here is a link to schedule a test date for you and everyone in your family.  You can search for testing locations by zip code: https://apps.llsa.com/signups/?SourceCd=ELTR-495&zipcode=94545  Please, don't put it off, sign up today.  It is painless and affordable. Update April 9th: Richard continues to recover, however he spends a large part of each day flat in bed.  He still experiences quite a bit of discomfort.  Yesterday was especially difficult for him.  His visits to the doctors this week were encouraging. While full recovery is still a long way away, the doctor said he is doing well. Update June 9th: Richard's recovery is slower than he had hoped. He can only tolerate being up for a few hours at a time, then he needs to lie flat down in bed and rest for several hours. The doctor recently said this is normal.  We keep reminding ourselves that it could have been so much worse. We're thankful he's still here.  Please get yourself and your loved ones screened.  The alternative is deadly. Joanne 15 Spectacular tricks to teach your body... 1.) If you've got an itch in your throat, scratch your ear. When the nerves in the ear get stimulated, they create a reflex in the throat that causes a muscle spasm, which cures the itch. 2.) Having trouble hearing someone at a party or on the phone? Use your right ear...it's better at picking up rapid speech. But, the left is better at picking up music tones. 3.) If you need to relieve yourself BADLY, but you're not anywhere near a bathroom, fantasize about RELATIONS. That preoccupies your brain and distracts it. 4.) Next time the doctor's going to give you an injection, COUGH as the needle is going in. The cough raises the level of pressure in your spinal canal, which limits the pain sensation as it tries to travel to your brain. 5.) Clear a stuffed nose or relieve sinus pressure by pushing your tongue against the roof of your mouth...then pressing a finger between your eyebrows. Repeat that for 20 seconds...it causes the vomer bone to rock, which loosens your congestion and clears you up. 6.) If you ate a big meal and you're feeling full as you go to sleep, lay on your left side. That'll keep you from suffering from acid reflux...it keeps your stomach lower than your esophagus, which will help keep stomach acid from sliding up your throat. 7.) You can stop a toothache by rubbing ice on the back of your hand, on the webbed area between your thumb and index finger. The nerve pathways there stimulate a part of the brain that blocks pain signals from your mouth. 8.) If you get all messed up on liquor, and the room starts spinning, put your hand on something stable. The reason: Alcohol dilutes the blood in the part of your ear called the cupula, which regulates balance. Putting your hand on something stable gives your brain another reference point, which will help make the world stop spinning. 9.) Stop a nose bleed by putting some cotton on your upper gums...right behind the small dent below your nose...and press against it hard. Most of the bleeding comes from the cartilage wall that divides the nose, so pressing there helps get it to stop. 10.) Nervous? Slow your heart rate down by blowing on your thumb. The vagus nerve controls your heart rate, and you can calm it down by breathing. 11.) Need to breathe underwater for a while??? Instead of taking a huge breath, HYPERVENTILATE before you go under, by taking a bunch of short breaths. That'll trick your brain into thinking it has more oxygen, and buy you about 10 extra seconds. 12.) You can prevent BRAIN FREEZE by pressing your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth, covering as much surface area as possible. Brain freeze happens because the nerves in the roof of your mouth get extremely cold, so your brain thinks your whole body is cold. It compensates by overheating. ..which causes your head to hurt. By warming up the roof of your mouth, you'll chill your brain and feel better. 13.) If your hand falls asleep, rock your head from side to side. That'll wake your hand or arm up in less than a minute. Your hand falls asleep because of the nerves in your neck compressing. ..so loosening your neck is the cure. If your foot falls asleep, that's governed by nerves lower in the body, so you need to stand up and walk around. 14.) Finally, this one's totally USELESS, but a nice trick. Have someone stick their arm out to the side, straight, palm down. Press down on his wrist with two fingers. He'll resist, and his arm will stay horizontal. Then, have him put his foot on a surface that's half an inch off the ground, like a stack of magazines, and do the trick again. Because his spine position is thrown off, his arm will fall right to his side, no matter how much he tries to resist. 15.) Got the hiccups? Press thumb and second finger over your eyebrows until the hiccups are over - usually shortly. Reducing Stress ~ Thanks to Mr. Jim Knudsen 1. Pray 2. Go to bed on time.  3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.  4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health. 5. Delegate tasks to capable others. 6. Simplify and unclutter your life.  7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many).  8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places. 9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.  10. Take one day at a time.  11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.  12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases. 13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.  14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble. 15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday. 16. Carry a book of poetry with you to read while waiting in line.  17. Get enough rest.  18. Eat right.  19 Get organized so everything has its place. 20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.  21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.  22. Every day, find time to be alone.  23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.  24. Make friends with Godly people. 25. Keep a folder of favorite sayings on hand.  26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you God.'  27. Laugh.  28. Laugh some more!  29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.  30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can). 31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).  32. Sit on your ego.  33 Talk less; listen more.  34. Slow down.  35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.  36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.   Start here with 740 topics on conditions, diseases and wellness About your prescription and over-the-counter medicines, herbs and supplements Includes pictures and diagrams Spellings and definitions of medical words     How to lose weight by Teresa Wednesday, April 11, 2007 I have been on many diets - calorie counting, Atkins, South Beach and the Sonoma diet.  They all have failed except for counting calories.  As soon as you go off the fast weight loss programs, you gain the weight back plus some immediately.  Counting calories works if you don't starve yourself to death by eating too small of amount of calories The best way to lose weight is to simply eat smaller amounts of food and eat healthy foods (no fried foods, no heavy deserts, no nibling at the candy bowl at work or eating the Friday donuts).  Simply eat a smaller amount of food and exercise regularly whether it be walking for 30 minutes or bike riding with a club for 3 hours.  All you really need is some physical exercise three times per week.  The weight will come off slowly, but it will stay off.    The Power of Honey When Jennifer Eddy first saw an ulcer on the left foot of her patient, an elderly diabetic man, it was pink and quarter-sized. Fourteen months later, drug-resistant bacteria had made it an unrecognizable black mess. Doctors tried everything they knew -- and failed. After five hospitalizations, four surgeries and regimens of antibiotics, the man had lost two toes. Doctors wanted to remove his entire foot. "He preferred death to amputation, and everybody agreed he was going to die if he didn't get an amputation," said Eddy, a professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. With standard techniques exhausted, Eddy turned to a treatment used by ancient Sumerian physicians, touted in the Talmud and praised by Hippocrates: honey. Eddy dressed the wounds in honey-soaked gauze. In just two weeks, her patient's ulcers started to heal. Pink flesh replaced black. A year later, he could walk again. "I've used honey in a dozen cases since then," said Eddy. "I've yet to have one that didn't improve." Eddy is one of many doctors to recently rediscover honey as medicine. Abandoned with the advent of antibiotics in the 1940s and subsequently disregarded as folk quackery, a growing set of clinical literature and dozens of glowing anecdotes now recommend it. Most tantalizingly, honey seems capable of combating the growing scourge of drug-resistant wound infections, especially methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, the infamous flesh-eating strain. These have become alarmingly more common in recent years, with MRSA alone responsible for half of all skin infections treated in U.S. emergency rooms. So-called superbugs cause thousands of deaths and disfigurements every year, and public health officials are alarmed. Though the practice is uncommon in the United States, honey is successfully used elsewhere on wounds and burns that are unresponsive to other treatments. Some of the most promising results come from Germany's Bonn University Children's Hospital, where doctors have used honey to treat wounds in 50 children whose normal healing processes were weakened by chemotherapy. The children, said pediatric oncologist Arne Simon, fared consistently better than those with the usual applications of iodine, antibiotics and silver-coated dressings. The only adverse effects were pain in 2 percent of the children and one incidence of eczema. These risks, he said, compare favorably to iodine's possible thyroid effects and the unknowns of silver -- and honey is also cheaper. "We're dealing with chronic wounds, and every intervention which heals a chronic wound is cost effective, because most of those patients have medical histories of months or years," he said. While Eddy bought honey at a supermarket, Simon used Medihoney, one of several varieties made from species of Leptospermum flowers found in New Zealand and Australia. Honey, formed when bees swallow, digest and regurgitate nectar, contains approximately 600 compounds, depending on the type of flower and bee. Leptospermum honeys are renowned for their efficacy and dominate the commercial market, though scientists aren't totally sure why they work. "All honey is antibacterial, because the bees add an enzyme that makes hydrogen peroxide," said Peter Molan, director of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. "But we still haven't managed to identify the active components. All we know is (the honey) works on an extremely broad spectrum." Attempts in the lab to induce a bacterial resistance to honey have failed, Molan and Simon said. Honey's complex attack, they said, might make adaptation impossible. Two dozen German hospitals are experimenting with medical honeys, which are also used in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. In the United States, however, honey as an antibiotic is nearly unknown. American doctors remain skeptical because studies on honey come from abroad and some are imperfectly designed, Molan said. In a review published this year, Molan collected positive results from more than 20 studies involving 2,000 people. Supported by extensive animal research, he said, the evidence should sway the medical community -- especially when faced by drug-resistant bacteria. "In some, antibiotics won't work at all," he said. "People are dying from these infections." Commercial medical honeys are available online in the United States, and one company has applied for Food and Drug Administration approval. In the meantime, more complete clinical research is imminent. The German hospitals are documenting their cases in a database built by Simon's team in Bonn, while Eddy is conducting the first double-blind study. "The more we keep giving antibiotics, the more we breed these superbugs. Wounds end up being repositories for them," Eddy said. "By eradicating them, honey could do a great job for society and to improve public health."  10 Tips For Overturning Denied Health Insurance Claims Posted by Deborah Gray on 23rd January 2007 As I said earlier, knowing how to handle your health insurer is one way to be a smart patient. Knowing how to handle denials is obviously a big part of that, since it’s the one time most of us have a problem with our health insurance. You probably will see denials more often for courses of talk therapy than anything else. Therapy is the most expensive form of treatment. But your insurer may also deny your doctor’s request for brand name as opposed to generic medication. Don’t be discouraged if you receive a denial for a type of treatment, and don’t assume the decision is set in stone. Sometimes all your insurer needs to approve the request is a little more information. Sometimes you and your doctor need to explain why your situation is an exception to their policy. Here are some ways to improve your chances of overturning a denial: 1. Read your benefit plan from cover to cover. This is something that most of us don’t do. I know that I do it reluctantly, since more often than not it contains unpleasant surprises. But you need to know where you stand in terms of what treatment is available to you (and what is supposedly not). 2. Know what is expected of you. In general, your part of the bargain usually involves getting pre-certification for procedures and filing paperwork on time. But it’s very important to know exactly what you need to do to hold up your end of the process. 3. Get to know your insurer’s appeals process. Among other things, you need to know how long you have to appeal. There usually is a deadline of between 30 and 45 days to file your appeal. Find out if there is a form to fill out, or if you simply send a letter. 4. Enlist your doctor’s help. Talk to your doctor about any denials and ask for help in fighting them. He or she will also have someone in their practice who’s responsible for dealing with health insurers. He or she should have a lot of hints and tricks to pass on. 5. Work your way up the chain of command. The customer service rep you get on your first phone call doesn’t have the power to make an exception in your case if it goes against standard policy. Politely acknowledge this and ask to be referred to their supervisor or someone else who might be able to. 6. Be persistent. This is a major component in succeeding to overturn a denial. Don’t get frustrated or discouraged. Recognize that chances are good that you won’t succeed right off the bat. Just keep trying. 7. Be polite. The old saying about getting more flies with honey than vinegar is definitely true in this case. The nicer you are, the more the customer service people will want to help you. If you take your frustrations out on them, they will tune you out. 8. Document all communications. For all phone calls, you should document the date, time, name and title of the person you spoke to and summarize the conversation. If the representative is supposed to get back to you with an answer, make sure you get the person’s direct extension, if possible. 9. Follow up. Set yourself a schedule after each call for following up, like three business days. 10. Be organized. Keep all your notes and papers in one folder so that you have it all at your fingertips. While there is no guarantee that you’ll succeed in overturning an appeal, utilizing these tips improves your chances greatly. Good luck!    RECOGNIZING A STROKE Contributed by Ms. Linda Jo Lawson Bruton Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps. Read and Learn! Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.  Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions: 1. *Ask the individual to SMILE. 2. *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. 3. *Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE ! (Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today.)  If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last February. Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.   Thirst perception not an accurate indicator of the need to consume water, says prominent doctor Mike: I'd like to you talk about how people can know when they need to drink water, because you talk about in the book how some of the signs of dehydration, the classic signs are not necessarily the only signs, and also how much should an average person be drinking? Dr. B: First and foremost, don't wait until you get thirsty, because that's an error. Unfortunately, the National Academy of Sciences and some other people recently have been telling people to wait until they get thirsty before they drink, which is the main error that we inherited 100 years ago from a man called Walter Bradford Cannon. And that's why, at the time, there was a Frenchman saying that dehydration or thirst is a general sensation and we should study it, and Walter Bradford Cannon said, no, thirst is only a matter of dry mouth. When the mouth is dry we are thirsty, which is an arrogant statement, and unfortunately western medicine bought into that understanding, and that's why we have a sick-care system, because from the age of 20 onwards, we gradually, imperceptibly become dehydrated without knowing it. We lose our perception of thirst. By the age of 70 we may be totally thirsty and obviously thirsty and yet not recognize the need to drink water, even when water is put next to us. This was done as an experiment. A scientist asked a group of elderly people to withhold from drinking water for 24 hours, and similarly with young people. After 24 hours when water was made available, the elderly did not recognize that they were thirsty. Mike: Even after 24 hours with no water? Dr. B: Correct. Even when water was left next to them, some of them wouldn't reach for it. But the young people drank water, and corrected this dehydration. Now, this is a major problem, and that's why we have so many people in the elderly sector of our society who are sick, because they are totally dehydrated and they do not recognize it. So, waiting to get thirsty is to die prematurely and very painfully. In fact, this is the title of an article that is posted on my website and also on NAFHIM, National Association For Honesty In Medicine. We should not wait to get thirsty, because water is the main source of energy. By the time you get thirsty, you will have lost energy from the water that you should have drunk and made available before you get thirsty. So, if you don't allow the gas tank of your car to come dry before you stop and take some gas, then why should you let your body become thirsty so that it stalls on the roadside before you drink water? So, first thing, people should never allow themselves to get thirsty -- they should drink throughout the day. An average person needs two quarts of water a day. Average person really needs four quarts of water a day. But two quarts we have to supply. Two quarts we get from food metabolism and water content in foods. We need this amount of water to manufacture at least two quarts of urine. You know, not to put pressure on the kidneys. When we drink enough water so that the urine is colorless, that is a good sign. When the urine becomes yellow, it means that the body is beginning to become dehydrated and when it becomes orange, then the body is truly dehydrated and some part of the body is suffering from that dehydration. Mike: So this is a very easy sign that people can pay attention to. Dr. B: Absolutely. Mike: They don't need a medical degree to see the color of their urine. Dr. B: Well, that's why we should become observant to our urine production. And breathing -- when we are short of breath, it means we are dehydrated. Mike: Are there other similar, simple symptoms that people can pay attention to? Dr. B: The skin -- if the skin is nice and loose and smooth, then we are hydrated. If it becomes creasy and shriveled, it means dehydration. The crow's feet on the face of elderly people, that's a sign of dehydration. The turkey neck under the chin is a sign of dehydration. These are mentioned in my books, Your Body's Many Cries for Water, and also in my Water For Health, For Healing, For Life. I recommend everyone to read Water Cures, Drugs Kill, because in this book I've identified over 90 health problems that we in medicine have called disease, and yet water cures them.   Good info - Good health What's the real story about sugar, does it turn into body fat, how does it affect health? How to quit the soft drink habit. Diabetes help Contributed by Ms. Linda Jo Lawson Bruton Reversing diabetes You've been reading from an exclusive interview with Dr. Batmanghelidj, author of Water For Health, For Healing, For Life. Dr. B. is also the founder of the National Association for Honesty in Medicine  and author or, "Your Body's Many Cries For Water." Look for his new, upcoming book, "Obesity, Cancer and Depression: Their Common Cause and Actual Cure." Learn more about Dr. B. at www.WaterCure.com. (His books are featured in the Amazon.com sidebar). About the author: Author Mike Adams is a holistic nutritionist with over 4,000 hours of study on nutrition, wellness, food toxicology and the true causes of disease and health. He is well versed on nutritional and lifestyle therapies for weight loss and disease prevention / reversal. View Adams' health statistics showing LDL cholesterol of 67 and outstanding blood chemistry. Adams uses no prescription drugs whatsoever and relies exclusively on natural health, nutrition and exercise to achieve optimum health. He serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Research Center and is author of several books about health and nutrition, including The Five Soft Drink Monsters and Superfoods For Optimum Health. ~ Thank you Linda Jo Lawson Bruton for referring this article to us. Linda inspired us to create this section. Thank you again. top of page    Food Chart   apples Protects your heart prevents constipation Blocks diarrhea Improves lung capacity Cushions joints apricots Combats cancer Controls blood pressure Saves your eyesight Shields against Alzheimer's Slows aging process artichokes Aids digestion Lowers cholesterol Protects your heart Stabilizes blood sugar Guards against liver disease avocados Battles diabetes Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes Controls blood pressure Smoothes skin bananas Protects your heart Quiets a cough Strengthens bones Controls blood pressure Blocks diarrhea beans Prevents constipation Helps hemorrhoids Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Stabilizes blood sugar beets Controls blood pressure Combats cancer Strengthens bones Protects your heart Aids weight loss blueberries Combats cancer Protects your heart Stabilizes blood sugar Boosts memory Prevents constipation broccoli Strengthens bones Saves eyesight Combats cancer Protects your heart Controls blood pressure cabbage Combats cancer Prevents constipation Promotes weight loss Protects your heart Helps hemorrhoids cantaloupe Saves eyesight Controls blood pressure Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Supports immune system carrots Saves eyesight Protects your heart Prevents constipation Combats cancer Promotes weight loss cauliflower Protects against Prostate Cancer Combats Breast Cancer Strengthens bones Banishes bruises Guards against heart disease cherries Protects your heart Combats Cancer Ends insomnia Slows aging process Shields against Alzheimer's chestnuts Promotes weight loss Protects your heart Lowers cholesterol Combats Cancer Controls blood pressure chili peppers Aids digestion Soothes sore throat Clears sinuses Combats Cancer Boosts immune system figs Promotes weight loss Helps stops strokes Lowers cholesterol Combats Cancer Controls blood pressure fish Protects your heart Boosts memory Protects your heart Combats Cancer Supports immune system flax Aids digestion Battles diabetes Protects your heart Improves mental health Boosts immune system garlic Lowers cholesterol Controls blood pressure Combats cancer kills bacteria Fights fungus grapefruit Protects against heart attacks Promotes Weight loss Helps stops strokes Combats Prostate Cancer Lowers cholesterol grapes saves eyesight Conquers kidney stones Combats cancer Enhances blood flow Protects your heart green tea Combats cancer Protects your heart Helps stops strokes Promotes Weight loss Kills bacteria honey Heals wounds Aids digestion Guards against ulcers Increases energy Fights allergies lemons Combats cancer Protects your heart Controls blood pressure Smoothes skin Stops scurvy limes Combats cancer Protects your heart Controls blood pressure Smoothes skin Stops scurvy mangoes Combats cancer Boosts memory Regulates thyroid aids digestion Shields against Alzheimer's mushrooms Controls blood pressure Lowers cholesterol Kills bacteria Combats cancer Strengthens bones oats Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Battles diabetes prevents constipation Smoothes skin olive oil Protects your heart Promotes Weight loss Combats cancer Battles diabetes Smoothes skin onions Reduce risk of heart attack Combats cancer Kills bacteria Lowers cholesterol Fights fungus oranges Supports immune systems Combats cancer Protects your heart Straightens respiration   peaches prevents constipation Combats cancer Helps stops strokes aids digestion Helps hemorrhoids peanuts Protects against heart disease Promotes Weight loss Combats Prostate Cancer Lowers cholesterol Aggravates diverticulitis pineapple Strengthens bones Relieves colds Aids digestion Dissolves warts Blocks diarrhea prunes Slows aging process prevents constipation boosts memory Lowers cholesterol Protects against heart disease rice Protects your heart Battles diabetes Conquers kidney stones Combats cancer Helps stops strokes strawberries Combats cancer Protects your heart boosts memory Calms stress   sweet potatoes Saves your eyesight Lifts mood Combats cancer Strengthens bones   tomatoes Protects prostate Combats cancer Lowers cholesterol Protects your heart   walnuts Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer boosts memory Lifts mood Protects against heart disease water Promotes Weight loss Combats cancer Conquers kidney stones Smoothes skin   watermelon Protects prostate Promotes Weight loss Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes Controls blood pressure wheat germ Combats Colon Cancer prevents constipation Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes improves digestion wheat bran Combats Colon Cancer prevents constipation Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes improves digestion yogurt Guards against ulcers Strengthens bones Lowers cholesterol Supports immune systems Aids digestion top of page      Seven Don't After a Meal *     Don't smoke - Experiment from experts proves that smoking a cigarette after meal is comparable to smoking 10 cigarettes (chances of   cancer is higher).   *     Don't eat fruits immediately -  Immediately eating fruits after meals will cause stomach to be bloated with air. Therefore take fruit 1-2 hr after meal or 1hr before meal. *     Don't drink tea - Because tea leaves contain a high content of acid.This substance will cause the Protein content in the food we consume to be hardened thus difficult to digest. *    Don't loosen your belt - Loosening the belt after a meal will easily cause the intestine to be twisted an blocked. *    Don't bathe - Bathing will cause the increase of blood flow to the hands, legs & body thus the amount of blood around the stomach will therefore decrease.  This will weaken the digestive system in our stomach. *    Don't walk about - People always say that after a meal walk a hundred steps and you will live till 99. In actual fact this is not true. Walking will cause the digestive system to be unable to absorb the nutrition from the food we intake. *     Don't sleep immediately - The food we intake will not be able to digest properly. Thus will lead to gastric & infection in our intestine. top of page   For information on buying or selling east bay homes, please contact me at 510-429-4800 or send me a note on the Contact Joanne form. Joanne L. Gardiner, Broker, e-PRO Realtor Advantage Realty 3205 Whipple Road - Union City, California 94587 (510) 429-4800 San Francisco Bay Area  San Francisco East Bay Real Estate

Resources & More Tips Things You Can Do to Expedite Weight Loss By Judi Sheppard Missett There is a natural focus on weight loss at this time of year, but lasting success does not come from quick-fix diets. To achieve a healthy weight and maintain it for years to come, you must make permanent lifestyle changes -- and the sooner the better. More than 50 percent of Americans are overweight. A full 33 percent of adults are obese, and 25 percent of children (that's one in four!) are seriously overweight. But there are things you can do right now that will have a tremendous impact on your efforts. Try these proven fixes: Learn correct portion sizes. You may be shocked to learn that today's typical bagel is equivalent to three to four servings. Fast-food restaurants have inflated the servings of french fries and burgers up to five times what they used to be. In reality, a single serving equals the following:   Grains: 1/2 cup of rice, potatoes, noodles; 1 slice of bread; 1 cup cold cereal Vegetables: 1/2 cup (leafy vegetables: 1 cup) Fruit: 1 medium apple, banana, etc. or 1/2 cup canned fruit Meat: 3 ounces (about the size of a deck of cards) Dairy: 1 cup of milk or yogurt, 1 1/2 to 2 ounces of cheese The Food Guide Pyramid does recommend several servings from each food group, as follows: 9-11 servings of grains 4-5 servings of vegetables 3-4 servings of fruit 2-3 servings of dairy 2-3 servings from the meat and bean group Still, most people eat more than the recommended daily amounts, except when it comes to fruits and vegetables. Invest in a food scale and get a full run-down of the Food Guide Pyramid guidelines at http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic . Eat five to six small meals a day, rather than three large meals. By eating 300-400 calories every three to four hours, you keep your blood sugar levels stable and your hunger at bay.   Consume a balance of protein (20 percent to 25 percent), ca rbohydrates (55 percent to 60 percent) and fat (15 to 25 percent). Know your carbohydrates. Whole grains and high-fiber fruits and vegetables lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes and provide a wealth of vitamins. Refined and simple carbohydrates (e.g., white bread and potatoes), on the other hand, cause insulin to spike and then plummet, which can stimulate hunger. Don't avoid fat. Just eat the right kinds in the right amounts. Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish and some nuts, keep you satiated and actually lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. Opt for mono- and polyunsaturated fats fou nd in olive oil, avocados, chickpeas and nuts rather than saturated fats found in meat and dairy.   Drink plenty of water. Water is the best fluid for your body and has zero calories. Drink it instead of soft drinks, juice and alcohol, which offer lots of calories with little or no nutritional value. Keep a food log. When tallying your calories for the day, it's so easy to forget the two cookies you munched midmorning or the glass of wine you had with dinner -- unless you write everything down. Food logs are also helpful in identifying and changing eating patterns. Exercise. No weight-loss program is complete without regular exercise. Not only is exercise helpful when it comes to shedding pounds, but numerous studies have confirmed that it is extremely important for weight maintenance. A well-rounded fit ness program should include aerobic, strength and flexibility training.  Optimistic attitude keeps you healthy, delays aging, researchers say  Overview: You may not be as young as you feel, but research has found that a positive attitude may delay the ageing process. The University of Texas found people with an upbeat view of life were less likely than pessimists to show signs of frailty. The researchers say their findings suggest psychosocial factors - as well as genes and physical health - play a role in how quickly we age. Their work is published in the journal Psychology and Aging. The Texas team carried out tests on 1,558 older people from the Mexican American community to examine whether there was a link between positive emotions and the onset of frailty. Lead researcher Dr Glenn Ostir told BBC News Online: "I believe that there is a connection between mind and body - and that our thoughts and attitudes/emotions affect physical functioning, and over all health, whether through direct mechanisms, such as immune function, or indirect mechanisms, such as social support networks." A team from North Carolina State University asked 153 people of different ages to carry out memory tests after being exposed to positive and negative words to describe stereotypes about ageing. The results showed that memory performance in older adults was lower when they were primed with negative stereotypes. In contrast, there was much less difference in performance between young and older adults primed with positive stereotypes. The researchers say their findings suggest that if older people are treated like they are competent, productive members of society, then they perform that way too. Lead researcher Professor Thomas Hess told BBC News Online: "There may be social situational factors that can have a very strong impact on older adult memory performance. "It may be that if people can suppress these negative thoughts that they will do much better, and that a positive attitude can promote effective functioning."   “The goal of Test for Life California is to help educate people on the importance of HIV screening,” said Abner Mason, Executive Director of AIDS Responsibility Project and member of the Test for Life California Coalition. "Too many Americans are unaware of their HIV infection. Routine testing will limit the rate of new infections and can help move more patients into early and effective treatment that will allow them to lead healthy and productive lives. "Routine testing will limit the rate of new infections and can help move more patients into early and effective treatment that will allow them to lead healthy and productive lives." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are approximately 250,000 to 300,000 Americans who do not know they are infected with HIV. CDC also estimates that the majority of new infections are a caused by individuals who are unaware of their status and are unknowingly spreading the disease. More info  Dr. Michael Roizen serves as chair of the Divison of Anesthesia, Critical Care Medicine and Comprehensive Pain Management at the Cleveland Clinic. But he is probably best known for his anti-aging expertise. His book RealAge: Are You as Young as You Can Be? was a New York Times bestseller, and was ultimately translated into 22 languages. He followed up with The RealAge Diet and Cooking the RealAge Way. The website RealAge.com has 3.4 million U.S. subscribers. He is co-author with Dr. Oz on the bestselling You books, including the latest, You: On a Diet. Dr. Roizen is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Williams College and received his medical education at the University of California- San Francisco. Dr. Mehmet Oz is an attending heart surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and is also the director of the Cardiovascular Institute at Columbia University Medical Center. With Michael Roizen, MD, he has co-authored the bestselling books You: The Owner's Manual, You: The Smart Patient and You: On a Diet. He has a BA from the Wharton School of Business, an MA from Harvard and an MD and MBA from Columbia, and is a frequent guest on Oprah, Good Morning America and other TV shows.

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