Amusement Park Gives Gift to Food Allergy Sufferers

If you struggle with food allergies you might want to consider planning a vaction trip to Santa Claus, Indiana.

Here you will find a thinking company with the ability to consider it's guests health and well being.

Bravo!

Holiday World offers options to visitors with food allergies
Mon May 19, 2008

A southern Indiana amusement park is offering visitors with food allergies prepackaged foods that don't contain wheat, peanuts and other common food allergens.

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari is selling gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, dairy-free ice cream bars and sucrose-free fudge. Restaurants at the park also offer pizza, chicken nuggets and other foods without ingredients such as fish, shellfish, milk, soy or eggs.

Park President Will Koch says parents have expressed concerns in recent years about what foods their children could eat at the park near the town of Santa Claus.

The park's 500 food employees also underwent training on food allergies.

Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press.

Natural Hope for BiPolar

Here is a series of video documents from Canada presented by TrueHope -

Global TV http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=EYp4iaQ4Kos&feature=related Autumn Stringham cures her Bipolar Disorder With Empower Plus

Discovery Health Channel http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=2G6dWIvxlhw&feature=related Medial Wonders: Truehope Bipolar Impossible Cures
Discovery Channel Pt. 1

Discovery Health Channel http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=UJcnLypiR0o&feature=related Medical Wonders: Truehope Bipolar Impossible Cures Discovery Channel Part 2

Discovery Health Channel http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=aA5pbJ-sA5k&feature=related Medical Wonders: Truehope Bipolar Impossible Cures Discovery Channel Part 3

Discovery Health Channel http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=qAUwei2St8Q&feature=related Medical Wonders: Truehope Bipolar Impossible Cures Discovery Channel Part 4

Discovery Health Channel http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=AtWMIN132CA&feature=related Medical Wonders: Truehope Bipolar Impossible Cures Discovery Channel http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=2p8iiyy0RFA&feature=relatedPart 5

EMPOWER PLUS - NATURAL MOOD STABILIZER

See Documentary Film about the Codex Vitamin Issue, Film is Narrated by Dame Judi Dench, the British Actress: http://www.welltv.com "We Become Silent"

Better than Rx for GERD

Nearly 40 Percent Of GERD Patients Taking PPIs Experience Recurring Symptoms is the headline for the following article.

I am not surprised. My reason for no surprise is that I have some different ideas and I have read about the problems with these drugs for quite a few years. You'll find other articles in this BLOG and at my web site about the concerns.

The most serious concern is that the GERD drugs, whether they are OTC of Rx, interfere with important detoxification in the body, called the P450 Cytochrome pathway.

In several cases I have learned about stomach cancers have developed, often several years after starting an Rx, with no further evaluation of the problem by the doctor.

If you wish to take the risk, then please, don't bother to read on.

Another consideration associated with GERD and/or IBS may be food allergies. Allery to wheat, gluten and gliaden have been implicated with esophageal cancers. Our food allergy test kit can easily help you identify problems with 100 foods.

If you are interested in options that may be as or more effective than the drug, you might consider the following -

Look at what and how you eat. Fast food does cause problems. Microwaved food amy do the same. Gulping food like my favorite Golden Retriever is another. Drinking lots of soda or similar types of beverages while eating creates more imbalance. Eating and working continues to stress your digestion.

Chew your food!

It's best to drink fluids well before or after eating a meal. A few sips of water while eating works to help lubricate the food, but generally if you chew food at least 20 times, you may not need extra liquid. Consider too that if you feel that acid, try sipping a glass of room temperature water. It just might give you needed relief.

Using high quality digestive enzymes with each meal is exceptionally helpful, especially if you are over 30. Our favorite is available in our 'simply 4 health' product line.

An excellent helper is a teaspoon of raw apple cider vinegar stirred in a glass of cool water, taken about 20 minutes before a meal.

Other supplements that may help include adding additional Betaine HCl with meals. Most problems with reflux tend to relate to a lowered amount of this important acid that helps digest protein in your stomach.

Eating a half cup of real yoghurt daily can provide you with necessary healthy bacteria in your gut that works to promote better GI health. And I am NOT referring to the over priced and over processed supermarket products hyped on TV in ads with Carrie Fisher. Look for plain low fat or whole milk yoghurt brands like Nancy's, or make your own (it is really easy).

In some cases, chamomile, peppermint or ginger tea may helpful.

In every situation, start with a good self-evaluation of what you can do on your own to make the situation better.

And try to digest this.

ScienceDaily (May 19, 2008) — Despite daily use of doctor-recommended proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to control gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms, nearly 40 percent of patients who take them continue to experience breakthrough, which is a return of GERD symptoms, such as acid regurgitation and heartburn. These breakthrough symptoms lead more than half of GERD sufferers to use over-the-counter (OTC) remedies, according to a survey recently conducted by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.

The survey of 1,064 people with GERD found that approximately 56 percent of those who experienced breakthrough used an OTC treatment -- the majority using an antacid -- to manage breakthrough symptoms. Further, taking an OTC in addition to a PPI has become routine for these respondents. In fact, more than 70 percent have been using OTC medications for at least one year.

"The survey results show that people with GERD are not only using their prescribed PPI, but also are turning to over-the-counter remedies as a stop-gap when they have breakthrough symptoms," said John Inadomi, MD, associate professor of medicine, University of California, San Francisco.

Additional survey findings showed that:

More than 40 percent of respondents on a PPI who experience breakthrough symptoms, report those symptoms occur two to four times per week.
Respondents report breakthrough symptoms occur throughout the day, sometimes multiple times per day. Sixty-five percent of GERD sufferers experienced breakthrough at night and 28 percent report sleep disruption because of their symptoms.
Among patients suffering from breakthrough symptoms, at least 50 percent are not fully satisfied with the specific symptom relief (e.g., acid regurgitation and heartburn) they get from their once-daily PPI.
While 98 percent of respondents who experience breakthrough symptoms report taking their PPI as directed, more than 40 percent have not spoken to their physician about these symptoms.
Nearly two-thirds (57 percent) of respondents report that their physician has not asked about their habitual use of OTC medications, such as Alka-Seltzer, Mylanta, Pepcid Complete and Pepto-Bismol, in addition to their PPI.

"Breakthrough symptoms can be bothersome and frustrating to GERD sufferers, but they aren't talking about it with their physician as often as they should," said Dr. Inadomi. "By discussing the frequency, severity and timing of breakthrough symptoms, physicians and patients can determine if changes need to be made to their GERD treatment."

About GERD

GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is caused by frequent or regular back up of stomach juices from the stomach into the esophagus. It is estimated that GERD affects between 25-35 percent of the U.S. population. Common symptoms of GERD include: heartburn, dyspepsia, regurgitation, chest sensations or pain, acid laryngitis and dysphagia. Proton pump inhibitors decrease acid production by turning off many of the acid pumps in the stomach.

About the Survey

The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive and funded through a grant by TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc. The survey consisted of a 10-minute online, self-administered survey. Participants were 40 percent male, 60 percent female. Forty percent of the respondents were under age 49 and 60 percent were 50 and over. All patients suffered from GERD and had been taking a PPI to control their symptoms for at least three months.

The main sample is associated with a margin of sampling error plus or minus 3 percentage points; for results based on subgroups the sampling error is higher. Where comparisons were made, significance testing was done at 95 percent confidence. Testing differences between groups at the 95 percent confidence level indicates that there is no more than a 5 in 100 chance that the difference observed between the groups could have been obtained by chance.
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American Gastroenterological Association (2008, May 19). Nearly 40 Percent Of GERD Patients Taking PPIs Experience Recurring Symptoms. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 20, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2008/05/080515145404.htm

So you really believe fluoride promotes health?

Fluoride Damages the Thyroid, report shows

First-ever government review of fluoride/thyroid toxicology shows risk.

2008-05-19 15:54:10 - There is clear evidence that small amounts of fluoride, at or near levels added to U.S. water supplies, present potential risks to the thyroid gland, according to the National Research Council's (NRC) first-ever published review of the fluoride/thyroid literature.(A)

Fluoride, in the form of silicofluorides, injected into 2/3 of U.S. public water supplies, ostensibly to reduce tooth decay, was never safety-tested.(B)

"Many Americans are exposed to fluoride in the ranges associated with thyroid effects, especially for people with iodine deficiency," says Kathleen Thiessen, PhD, co-author of the government-sponsored NRC report. "The recent decline in iodine intake in the U.S could contribute to increased toxicity of fluoride for some individuals," says Thiessen.

"A low level of thyroid hormone can increase the risk of cardiac disease, high cholesterol, depression and, in pregnant woman, decreased intelligence of offspring," said Thiessen.(C)

Common thyroid symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, constipation, fuzzy thinking, low blood pressure, fluid retention, depression, body pain, slow reflexes, and more. It's estimated that 59 million Americans have thyroid conditions.(D)

Robert Carton, PhD, an environmental scientist who worked for over 30 years for the U.S. government including managing risk assessments on high priority toxic chemicals, says "fluoride has detrimental effects on the thyroid gland of healthy males at 3.5 mg a day. With iodine deficiency, the effect level drops to 0.7 milligrams/day for an average male."(E) (1.0 mg/L fluoride is in most water supplies)

Among many others, the NRC Report cites human studies which show

- fluoride concentrations in thyroids exceeding that found in other soft tissues except kidney

- an association between endemic goiter and fluoride exposure or enamel fluorosis in human populations

- fluoride adversely affects thyroid and parathyroid hormones, which affect bone health

"If you have a thyroid problem, avoiding fluoride may be a good preventive health measure for you," writes Drs' Richard and Karilee Shames in "Thyroid Power."(F).

Over, 1,700 Physicians, Dentists, Scientists, Academics and Environmentalists urge Congress to stop water fluoridation until Congressional hearings are conducted. They cite new scientific evidence that fluoridation is ineffective and has serious health risks. (www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html)

Please sign the petition and Congressional letter to support these
professionals www.FluorideAction.Net

References:

(A) "Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA's
Standards," Committee on Fluoride in Drinking Water, Board on
Environmental Studies and Toxicology, Division on Earth and Life
Studies, National Research Council of the National Academies of
Science. March 2006 Chapter 8
www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11571

"Thyroid Function: Fluoride exposure in humans is associated with
elevated TSH concentrations, increased goiter prevalence, and altered
T4 and T3 concentrations." (Page 262)

"(The thyroid effects are associated with average fluoride intakes
that) will be reached by persons with average exposures at fluoride
concentrations of 1-4 mg/L in drinking water, especially the
children." (Page 260)

(B) Sodium Hexafluorosilicate and Fluorosilicic Acid
Review of Toxicological Literature, October 2001
ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/Chem_Background/ExSumPDF/Fluorosili ..

(C) Chemical & Engineering News, "Fluoride Risks Are Still A
Challenge," by Bette Hileman, September 4, 2006,
pubs.acs.org/cen/government/84/8436gov1.html

(D) Mary Shomon, About.com Thyroid editor, Patient Advocate --
Author of "The Thyroid Diet" and "Living Well With Hypothyroidism"
thyroid.about.com/

(E) Fluoride, "Review of the 2006 National Research Council Report:
Fluoride in Drinking Water," July-September 2006, by Robert J. Carton
www.fluorideresearch.org/393/files/FJ2006_v39_n3_p163-172.pdf

(F) Thyroid Power and Feeling Fat Fuzzy or Frazzeled"by Richard
Shames MD & Karilee Shames RN, PhD www.thyroidpower.com
www.feelingfff.com/

Fluoride/Thyroid Health Effects
www.fluoridealert.org/health/thyroid/

Sources of Fluoride
www.fluoridealert.org/f-sources.htm

Sulfuryl Fluoride Pesticide Residues Allowed on Foods
www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/sulfuryl.f.all.food.html
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Fluoride
Database of Selected Beverages and Foods
www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/Fluoride/Fluoride.html

Kontaktinformation:
New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc
PO Box 263
Old Bethpage, NY 11804
Web: http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autor: Nys Cof
Web: http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof
Telefon: 5165551212

Further Doubt on Risk of Death from Higher Salt Intake

Quite a few years ago the salt issue was studied. Most of the concern at that time came from the over use of processed salt and the presence of processed salt in foods, raising sodium content.

Processed salt is the commercially available type that you usually find in a box at the grocer.

One key medical researcher, Dr. John Laragh, considered to be an expert on hypertension, often supports the use of natural salt for health.

Too little salt can harm the heart and your normal physiology.

We do not support the use of Himalyan Salt because of the presence of exceptionally high levels of fluoride and several other toxic heavy metals.

We offer Medicine Wheel Natural Salt and farmed salt, known for health benefit.

We also warn against synthetic flavorings like Senomyx that is used in place of salt. They make a similar product for sweet tastes as well. This is not required to be on labels, and may lead to damage to your taste buds. Campbell Soup uses Senomyx.

Study Title: New Study Casts Further Doubt on Risk of Death from Higher Salt Intake
Study Abstract: From Albert Einstein College of Medicine press release:

(BRONX, NY) — Contrary to long-held assumptions, high-salt diets may not increase the risk of death, according to investigators from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. They reached their conclusion after examining dietary intake among a nationally representative sample of adults in the U.S. The Einstein researchers actually observed a significantly increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with lower sodium diets. They report their findings in the advance online edition of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

The researchers analyzed data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), which was conducted by the federal government among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. These data were then compared against death records that had been collected by the government through the year 2000. The sample of approximately 8,700 represented American adults who were over 30 years of age at the time of the baseline survey (1988-1994) and were not on a special low-salt diet.

After adjusting for known CVD risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes and blood pressure, the one-fourth of the sample who reported consuming the lowest amount of sodium were found to be 80% more likely to die from CVD compared to the one-fourth of the sample consuming the highest level of sodium. The risk for death from any cause appeared 24% greater for those consuming lower salt, but this latter difference was not quite large enough to dismiss the role of chance.

“Our findings suggest that for the general adult population, higher sodium is very unlikely to be independently associated with higher risk of death from CVD or all other causes of death,” says Dr. Hillel W. Cohen, lead author of the study and associate professor of epidemiology and population health at Einstein.

Since the first NHANES survey in the early 1970s, data from NHANES have been used extensively to describe patterns of nutrition and health in the U.S. The results from this current study are consistent with findings reported previously from two earlier NHANES surveys. While the federal government currently repeats NHANES surveys every two years, NHANES III is the latest available survey that can be compared with later death records.

Since NHANES III was an observational study and not a clinical trial, no definite conclusions about cause and effect were possible, says Dr. Cohen. “However, our findings do again raise questions about the usefulness or evensafety of universal recommendations for lower salt diets for all individuals, regardless of their blood pressure status or other health characteristics,” he cautions.

Other Einstein researchers on the study were Dr. Susan M. Hailpern and Dr. Michael H. Alderman.

Grapes for Good

If you are a regular subscriber to my monthly newsletter, herbalYODA Says!, your copy of the May issue gave you a lot of information about grapes and how different forms support good health.

Here is something I received after my newsletter went out on earlier this month giving you another good reason to consider grapes for health. And the darker the better!

This come from Jonathan Wright, MD, via the nutraingredients newsletter which I receive as well. Dr. Wright is acting to help many in Washington state, as well and around the US and other countries, protect their rights to health freedom.

Killer grapes - The major antioxidant in grape skins and red wine shows benefits against deadly pancreatic cancer.

I get a lot of flak every time I send out an eTip about the benefits of wine. While I respect everyone's right to abstain if they so choose, there's no arguing the fact that, in moderation, red wine does help make your heart healthier. And a new study published in the journal Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology shows that the major antioxidant compound in red wine may do a whole lot more. Researchers found that it can actually shut down one of the deadliest types of cancer -- pancreatic.

The University of Rochester Medical Center research team looked at he effects of resveratrol, a potent antioxidant found in grape skins and red wine, on pancreatic cancer cells. When they pre-treated the cells with resveratrol prior to exposing them to chemotherapy and radiation, they found that resveratrol made the cells more receptive to the traditional treatment by reducing their capacity to pump the chemo back out.

While that is an undeniably significant discovery, the next one was, in my opinion, even more exciting. The researchers also found that the resveratrol itself caused apoptosis -- or death -- in the cancer cells. Without chemo.

Of course, this is just one study, and as all scientists like to say "more research is needed" before resveratrol will earn a widespread recommendation from oncologists. But any natural substance that can cripple one of the deadliest forms of cancer and give patients hope for a longer, possibly cancer-free life without the additionally devastating effects of radiation or chemo is worth a closer look.

And in the meantime, resveratrol is available from many natural food stores and online vitamin retailers -- or from a nice glass of red wine.

Source: "Red wine antioxidant may kill cancer cells," NutraIngredients (www.nutraingredients.com), 3/27/08

And more on grape fibre -

Grape fibre beats other fibres for heart benefits: study

By Stephen Daniells
5/19/2008- Antioxidant-rich fibres from red grape may reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease more than other fibre sources, suggests new research from Spain.

Cholesterol levels were cut by nine percent, and LDL (bad) cholesterol by a similar amount after 34 subjects received a daily grape antioxidant dietary fibre supplement for 16 weeks, according to results of the randomised, controlled parallel-group trial published in the journal Nutrition.

Moreover, blood pressure was reduced by about 5 per cent as a result of the grape supplements, report the researchers from Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

"Grape antioxidant dietary fibre showed significant reducing effects in lipid profile and blood pressure. The effects appear to be higher than the ones caused by other dietary fibres, such as oat fibre or psyllium, probably due to the combined effect of dietary fibre and antioxidants," wrote lead author Jara Perez Jimenez.

The results suggest the antioxidant-rich fibre could be an interesting ingredient for the growing heart health market. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) causes almost 50 per cent of deaths in Europe, and is reported to cost the EU economy about €169bn ($202bn) per year.

Study details

Perez Jimenez and co-workers recruited 21 subjects with normal cholesterol levels (normocholesterolemic) and 13 people with high cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolemic), and assigned them to receive a daily supplement of 7.5 grams of grape antioxidant dietary fibre, giving a daily dietary fibre dose of 5.25 grams and a daily polyphenol dose of 1400 mg.

A control/ comparison group of nine non-smokers not given the grape fibre supplement was also included in the trial.

At the end of 16 weeks of intervention, in addition to the overall cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol reductions (both nine per cent), the hypercholesterolemic subjects were found to experience greater benefits, with total and LDL cholesterol reduction of 14.2 and 11.6 per cent, respectively, in this subgroup.

Additionally, this subgroup also exhibited an 18.6 per cent reduction in blood triacylglycerol levels, added Perez Jimenez and co-workers.

Mechanism

Commenting on the potential mechanism, the researchers stated that the combination of dietary fibre and antioxidants in the grape ingredient may explain why the potential benefits exceed those previously reported for oat fibre or psyllium.

"Grape antioxidant dietary fibre contains relatively large amounts of proanthocyanidins (condensed tannins), which are partially bioavailable in the small intestine, but a major part reach the colon, where they may provide a high antioxidant status," stated the researchers.

"The daily intake of dietary fibre in Western countries is estimated at about 20 g. The incorporation of 7.5 g/d of GADF in a usual diet would provide a dietary fibre intake closer to the current recommendations (25-30 g/d), along with an appreciable amount of polyphenols.

"This amount of polyphenols in a dose of 7.5 of GADF (1.44 g) would increase the daily intake of polyphenols by 50 per cent in the Mediterranean Spanish diet," they added.

"Further research on the relative contributions of fibers and flavonoids to prevent cardiovascular disease is needed," concluded Perez Jimenez.

Source: Nutrition (Elsevier)
Published online ahead of print 15 May 2008, doi:
"Effects of grape antioxidant dietary fiber in cardiovascular disease risk factors"
Authors: J. Perez Jimenez, J. Serrano, M. Tabernero, S. Arranz, M.E. Diaz-Rubio, L. Garcia-Diz, I. Goni, F. Saura-Calixto
Copyright - Unless otherwise stated all contents of this web site are © 2000/2008 – Decision News Media SAS

Beware Pesticides

Whether you use pesticides indoors or out it is very important to know the risks of using these chemicals.

Even though the corporate pitch is "no harm", the real facts are that exposure to these chemicals can and do damage health.

Many natural pesticides can be made and used, some are included in my book, "My Happy Garden". Improving soil and plant nutrition yields the same benefits as improving your own cellular nutrition.

Safer commercial products are also available.

DNA damage 'caused by pesticides'
By David Loyn, BBC News

New research in India suggests exposure to pesticides could have damaged the DNA of people in farming communities, leading to higher rates of cancer.

Scientists at Patiala University, Punjab state, did the study, tracking a group of farmers for several months.

But a spokesman for the crop industry trade association said a causal link between pesticide use and cancer could not be established.

There have been concerns about potential links for several years.

This new study discovered that the DNA of farmers in Punjab has been altered, making them susceptible to cancer.

'Significant change'

Professor Satbir Kaur said the study ruled out other factors such as age, alcohol intake and smoking, concluding that the probable cause of this fundamental change in the building block of life was use of pesticide sprays.

"We found significant change in the DNA, so the cancer risk is greatly increased when the extent of DNA damage is very high," he said.

Salil Singhal of the industry trade association, the Crop Care Federation of India, said that this causal link could not be possible.

"There is no pesticide in use today which can cause cancer," he said.

Mr Singhal said farmers use sprays only a few times each season.

But this correspondent found farmers who needed to use them far more than that in order to keep ahead of the pests.

One farmer, who said that he was spraying night and day, does have cancer.

As the world struggles to find its way back to securing affordable food supplies, new crop varieties have not kept up the promise of the early days of the green revolution in Asia.

Meanwhile, yields have gone down.

And these disturbing indications of a potential threat to human health raise questions over whether intensive farming like this is sustainable.

Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/7407707.stm
Published: 2008/05/19 05:44:40 GMT
© BBC MMVIII