Health Products For People & Pets

Just In Time For Flu Season - Essante's Organic Sanitizer

WOW! Today we're announcing another addition to the Essante Organics line of products - "Essante's Organic Sanitizer." It's a PERFECT tool in your fight against the flu - whether it is a regular seasonal virus or the new H1N1 that has ALL of us looking for natural solutions! This all new Sanitizer spray is formulated with stabilized oxygen, a known anti-viral, anti-mold, anti-mildew, cleansing and sanitizing ingredient. Clinical in vitro tests confirmed that stabilized oxygen is 99% effective against viruses, bacteria, mold, mildew, and a host of other pathogens. It's interesting to note that stabilized oxygen is even being incorporated into purification systems for water around the world - considered so safe that it's replacing chlorine in older santitation systems as a healthier alternative! We're making the Sanitizer available in an economical 8oz family-sized container - and we recommend you purchase several of the 1oz containers that you can easily fill and take with you to work, to school, to the gym, on the road, in your luggage when you travel!

Those are just SOME of the reasons we're launching the Essante Organics Sanitizer now! It's a perfect addition to our existing flu fighters, the new Calcium supplements and our Earth Greens which are well known alkalizing products. Well, now you have a perfect trio "direct" from the Essante Worldwide laboratories. If you haven't order your supply, be sure to make it a priority now - because we know that the H1N1 flu is a real threat to pregnant women and youngsters under the age of 25.

Unfortunately, with the limited supply of flu vaccines, we all have to be in a position to utilize natural solutions to protect our health and the health of our entire family.

So what makes the new "Essante Organics Sanitizer" SO-O-O special? Take a look at just a few of the benefits you'll receive when you order the new Sanitizer:

Essante Organics Sanitizer is wonderful for purifying your hands - just spray liberally over the entire hand making sure to spray under your nails and allow to dry or blot with a clean paper towel after 30-45 seconds.

Spray Essante Organics Sanitizer liberally on hard surfaces to eliminate pathogens, viruses, bacteria, mold, mildew. Allow spray to remain in place for at least 30-45 seconds before wiping with clean cloth or clean paper towels.

Essante Organics Sanitizer is a wonderful final step when cleaning baby's bottom or changing table. Tuck a travel-size Sanitizer into baby's diaper bag to protect baby when in public areas, bathrooms, or in new surroundings.

Tuck a small travel-size Sanitizer into your child's backpack for use in the classroom - they can easily spray their hands before eating, after visits to the bathroom, and as a final step to cleaning their desks before the next project.

Toss a travel-sized Sanitizer into your gym bag to use on the exercise equipment, during clean-up in the locker room and as a final step for your own hands and nails.

Fill a travel-sized container of Sanitizer and tuck into your purse, briefcase, luggage or your pocket to use at work, while doing daily errands, on the road when you travel or just in case.

Spray Sanitizer lightly in the air and around the room if area has been closed - it'll smell clean and the spray will help to purify the areas before you use them.

Bathroom cleaning getting you down? Spray Sanitizer as the final step to purify the hard surfaces and freshen the air - then spray your own hands so you'll feel as fresh and clean as your bathroom!! Remember to allow the spray to remain on the surfaces at least 30-60 seconds before wiping away - even better, just allow the area to dry naturally.

Get your order in today for your Flu Fighting Trio - "Essante Organics Sanitizer", Calcium supplements and Earth Greens!!

Try Zylene Original Weight Loss Formula For Free!

Get Your FREE Trial of Zylene Original Weight Loss Formula Now!

Finally the once daily Vcap to promote weight loss and power your metabolism. Zylene Original has been specially formulated to help suppress your appetite in order to promote weight loss. While used as part of a calorie controlled diet that includes moderate exercise, Zylene Original will help promote weight loss and power your metabolism with a unique blend of decaffeinated Green Tea, Hoodia Gordonii, Caralluma Fimbriata and other important ingredients. The advanced formula of Zylene Original is the best weight loss formula on the market!

By making Zylene Original part of your daily dietary regimen, along with our other products, you are assured of getting only the highest quality all natural supplements.

Benefits

• Suppress your appetite
• Promote weight loss
• Power your metabolism
• All natural

Order A 1 Month Supply Of Zylene Original Weight Loss Formula

Get Your FREE Trial of Zylene Original Weight Loss Formula Now! (Just pay $4.95 for shipping)

Natural Companies Being Bought Out To Look Healthier

I was just reading an article about how companies that have been offering natural, safe products are being bought out by bigger companies that haven't had the best track records in terms of "being safe." It's a smart move on their part - let the little natural company build up a trusted name for itself, by it and make you look better - like you care. Oh, wait - that's not happening because some of those companies are dropping the brand they bought. For example Odwalla was purchased by Coca-Cola. Odwalla was known for their fresh squeezed orange juice but Coca-cola dropped them because of the extended travel required to get to their distributors. Burt's Bees was bought by Clorox. I remember going into a health food store and seeing this brand exclusively in smaller mom and pop type stores and it make you feel good about using their all-natural lip balm. Clorox wanted to clean up their image and seem more "natural" so they bought Burt's Bees and no it's found in major chain retailers. Lastly, Tom's of Maine natural toothpaste was bought by Colgate-Palmolive which, as you know, is a competitor in the toothpaste market. Colgate toothpaste is required under USA law to put a warning label on the package.  Colgate owns other products that had to be recalled due to safe levels of dioxins. I can personally tell you I tried Colgate once and it burned the heck out of my mouth and my husband's mouth and it wasn't pretty with inside mouth skin peeling. Colgate stated we must have had an allergic reaction. Maybe I can believe that for one of us but not both of us.

In closing, be sure to check the labels when you're buying products you once loved and trusted because they may have been bought out to clean up a not so healthy companies image.

Keeping Your Dog & Cat Safe From Toxins In The Home

We often get calls and emails from concerned dog and cat parents that their dog is licking uncontrollably or is losing hair all of a sudden or they are sick and no one can figure out why. The first thing I ask is if anything has changed inside or outside of their homes or if they are using any new products. Dogs and cats love to explore, taste, rub against and roll around in all sorts of things—many of which contain harmful toxins. Their sense of smell is thousands of times greater than ours so while we may think something has a slight hint of fragrance they are overloaded from the smell. When you scrub your floor your dog or cat oftentimes runs across it when it's still wet (at least that's happened in my house a million times) and then will lick their paws to clean them and ingest harsh chemicals which can eventually lead to death. Items to be careful of inside the home are Wall/floor/toilet bowl cleaners, bleach, detergents, rust removers, metal polish, drain cleaners, ammonia, oven cleaners, furniture polish, floor wax and all those lovely air fresheners (just think of what they are doing to you too!).

Now let's move outside the home. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are a major source of environmental toxins. A study at the School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, revealed that the exposure to lawns treated with herbicides four or more times a year doubled a dog’s risk of canine lymphoma.  The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reported that, when exposed to chemically treated lawns, some breeds of dogs were four to seven times more likely to suffer from bladder cancer.  How many times have you spilled antifreeze in the driveway? Antifreeze has a sweet taste that animals love and can be fatal in a dose as small as 1 teaspoon because it is made with ethylene glycol. Also, de-icing salts used to melt snow and ice on your walkways and driveway can irritate paws and can be poisonous if licked off. Wash and dry your pet’s paws as soon as they come in from the outside.

These are just a few of many things to watch out for that you may not even give a second thought to when purchasing. When choosing cleaning products look for items that are labeled pet and child safe (yes, babies love to lick their hands too when they come into contact with anything) to make sure you are keeping your family safe.  Trilogy carries an excellent line of environmentally friendly cleaning products that you can feel good about using. Although our cleaning products are industrial-strength, they are safe for use in the home. Additionally, these products represent the latest in microbial technology, with friendly bacteria that eliminate the organic wastes that cause odor, rather than just masking the smell.

8 Tips for Arthritis

Tip 1: Make Sure You Really Have Osteoarthritis

While to some of you, today's tip might be very basic. It is absolutely essential that you make sure your diagnosis is correct before you begin wasting money on treatments that are not designed to help your specific situation.

Tip 2: Searching For Just Arthritis Pain Relief? You Shouldn't!

Doctors are very quick to address your joint pain with what has become a "standard" response. Normally, they tell you to take NSAIDS like Aspirin, Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen, and Acetaminophen, or prescribe COX-2 inhibitors such as Vioxx and Celebrex.

Tip 3: Keeping Your Weight in Balance is Key To Taking Control of Your Osteoarthritis!

If your osteoarthritis is affecting your load-bearing joints, keeping your weight within normal ranges is important. Load-bearing joints of course refers to any portion of your body that would be affected by excessive weight. Hips, knees, feet and spine are all load-bearing joints.

Tip 4: The Arthritis Fighting Diet

The most common foods to avoid are:
# sugar
# caffeine
# citrus
# salt
# red meat
# dairy products
# additives
# soft drinks
# corn
# flour

Tip 5: Fighting Arthritis Through Proper Exercise!

As best you can, try to keep painful joint areas in motion, even in a limited manner. Exercise is good for joints affected by osteoarthritis. Even if you don't think you can exercise, you can. Even the lightest exercise can go along way to maintaining joint mobility and health. A good exercise routine is key to beating arthritis.

Tip 6: The Treatments: NSAIDs, Cox-II Inhibitors, Surgery, & Glucosamine

The latest arthritis research has shown that there are some very effective alternatives that have no side effects, are completely safe, ease the pain and tend to the disease. This supplement is Glucosamine.

Recently, Glucosamine has been making a lot of headlines. Glucosamine is an over-the-counter dietary supplement that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis and joint pain. Glucosamine stimulates the production of glycosaminoglycans (GAG's), the important proteins found in cartilage plus proteoglycans, the water holding molecules that make up the cartilage.

Tip 7: How to Evaluate a Glucosamine Product

Glucosamine compounds have opened up an entirely new avenue for all of you who suffer from osteoarthritis. There is nothing new about the use of Glucosamine as a way of easing an arthritic condition. For many years it has been used in Asia and Europe before the English speaking medical community caught on. However, you have to be very, very careful when selecting Glucosamine products.

Your selection should be based on four factors.

You must consider the quality of Glucosamine, method of delivery to body, additional ingredients in the product, and of course, price.

Simply put, the higher quality of Glucosamine you use, the greater your relief will be. Many companies use medium grade Glucosamine so you must be careful to look for the highest quality. You need to look for pharmaceutical quality Glucosamine if you want the fastest and fullest relief and healing.

Secondly, the method of delivery can make the difference between no pain relief and your personally desired pain relief. Most products produced after the breakthrough news of the 1999 Lancet medical journal Glucosamine study, were rushed to the market. In this haste, these companies did not take any time to do tests on their product. They simply assumed pill form would be the most effective. The latest research however, has shown that Glucosamine in liquid form is much more effective. In selecting a Glucosamine product, you should look for one that is liquid form.

Also, crucial to the effectiveness of the product, is the other ingredients that are included in the product. Glucosamine alone is not a cure all. There simply is no cure for arthritis. To receive true help in an arthritic state, you need to look for products that combine a number of arthritis fighting ingredients. You should look for a product that besides Glucosamine Sulfate and Glucosamine HCL, it also contains arthritis-fighting ingredients such as chondroitin, boswellin, bromelain, omega 3 & 6, yucca, manganese ascorbate, and vitamins A, C, and E.

When considering price, you must take care to determine exactly how much supply you are purchasing. Many companies engage in what can only be called a "deceptive" practice. They often will include 60 pills, or 32 oz. of the product, but they don't make it clear that you have to take 6 pills or 4 oz. a day. You think you have purchased a month supply when often you will run out in less than 2 weeks. A good price for a quality liquid Glucosamine product with many of the above ingredients synergistically combined is around $30.

My recommendation for Glucosamine products is Syn-flex®, a 98% pure liquid formula that combines all the ingredients that are essential for pain relief and joint healing.

Tip 8:. 12 Ingredients that Will Ease Your Arthritis Pain

In alleviating arthritis pain, there are twelve key compounds that you should be taking for maximum relief. These are Glucosamine, chondroitin, boswellin, bromelain, omega 3 & 6, yucca, manganese ascorbate, and vitamins A, C, and E.

FREE Report About Warning Labels On Toothpaste

"Why the U.S. Government Requires a Warning Label on Toothpaste"
Read the startling facts about why the U.S. Government is concerned about your health...and you should be too.

Request Your Free Report Now!

Medical Breakthrough For Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Lots of people live everyday with chronic pain of some type. Fibromyalgia can be such a handicap that not only do you feel like getting out of bed, but the depression that comes with it can make you almost suicidal. Get an all natural relief TODAY by checking our new product, Daily Effects

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by fatigue, widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, and multiple tender points — places on your body where slight pressure causes pain…but you know or experience this already.

Here is something you probably do not know. Fibromyalgia isn't progressive, crippling or life-threatening and while there is no “cure” for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue, dramatic results are possible which can improve your lifestyle in ways you could only hope for previously.

Signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary, depending on the weather, stress, physical activity or even just the time of day. Different people experience different signs and symptoms, but common signs and symptoms include:

• Widespread pain

• Chronic aching

• Stiffness

• Sleep Disturbances

• Fatigue

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

• Headaches and facial pain

• Heightened sensitivity

Other common signs and symptoms include:

1. Depression

2. Numbness or tingling sensations in the hands and feet (paresthesia)

3. Difficulty concentrating

4. Mood changes

5. Chest pain

6. Irritable bladder

7. Dry eyes, skin and mouth

8. Painful menstrual periods

9. Dizziness

10. Anxiety

11. Stress

Introducing Daily Effects™…At Last a Safe, All Natural, Highly Effective Chronic Fatigue and Pain Reliever That Supercharges Your Energy Level, Dramatically Decreases the Level and Frequency of Pain and Helps Restore the Lifestyle You Once Enjoyed

Learn More About Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Acai in the News!

Acai is in the news again . . .

July 2008, relish Magazine

Açaí (ah-SAH-ee)

The berry of the açaí palm native to tropical South America, açaí has rocked the health-food world, shooting to the top of the charts of so-called “super-foods.”

The name is derived from the Tupi word iwasi, roughly translated as “fruit that cries water.” Natives have long prized the berry for food and medicinal purposes, saying it cures everything from infection to insomnia. More recently, juice bars popularized it with Brazilian surfers, anxious to ride out claims that it boosts energy and sex drive.

Scientists have confirmed its nutritional value. Açaí is a rich source of antioxidants, with up to 30 times the anthocyanins (known to promote heart-health) of red wine. It’s a great source of fiber, high in amino acids and rich in healthy fats. Findings suggest it defends against aging, improves memory, increases muscle function and prevents prostrate enlargement.

Since the berries lose their potency in 24 hours, processing is an expedited affair. Locals mix fresh pulp with tapioca or use it as a base for other dishes. In the United States, it’s available as frozen pulp, pure juice and in sweetened juice blends. It’s expensive: 4 ounces of straight juice (four daily doses) runs about 10 bucks. The pure stuff is pretty flavorless, but sweetened, it’s similar to blueberries. And whether or not it does wonders for your body, consuming it may be good for the planet: It’s a way to profit from preserving rainforests which are quickly being decimated to make way for livestock production.

Açaí can be found in a multitude of forms: concentrate (perfect for making smoothies), juice, sorbet and powder. Its intense berry flavor is best combined with other fruit flavors, such as bananas, blueberries and orange juice, as pictured in the smoothie here.

Try Fruta Vida Acai Juice

The Amazing Cranberry

Imagine a little red berry that fights cancer, age-related diseases like loss of memory, heart disease, ulcers, and even cavities. Sound to good to be true?  Allow us to introduce our friend, the Cranberry!

In 1996 laboratory studies conducted by University of Illinois scientists and published in Planta Medica demonstrated the potential anti-cancer properties of cranberries. More recently researchers at the University of Western Ontario demonstrated, in animal models, that human breast cancer cells showed significantly lower incidence of tumor development when the experimental group's diet was supplemented with cranberries.

USDA scientists at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University have been finding promising results associated with diets high in antioxidants and other phytonutrients. Preliminary studies suggest that diets containing fruits and vegetables with high ORAC values may provide protection against chronic age-related afflictions like loss of coordination and loss of memory. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity which is a measure of the antioxidant activity for a particular food. Cranberries score very high on the ORAC scale at 1750 ORAC units per 3.5 oz. serving.

A study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association reported that a unique cranberry juice component, a high-molecular-weight nondialysable material (NDM), has the ability to reverse and inhibit the coaggregation of certain oral bacteria responsible for dental plaque and periodontal disease in vitro. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition reported on a preliminary clinical trial using a mouthwash containing cranberry NDM. Saliva samples of the experimental group showed a two order of magnitude reduction in Streptococcus Mutans compared with the placebo group. This is exciting news because a large percentage of cavities can be attributed to Streptococcus Mutans.

Flavonoids have been shown to function as potent antioxidants both in vitro and in vivo and may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis (clogged arteries). Cranberries contain significant amounts of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds that have been demonstrated to inhibit LDL (bad cholesterol) oxidation. Ongoing research continues to suggest that cranberries may offer a natural defense against atherosclerosis.

Peptic ulcers are increasingly being attributed to infection by Helicobacter pylori bacteria, as pposed to stress and/or stomach acidity. A high-molecular-weight nondialysable constituent of cranberry juice has been shown to inhibit the adhesion of H. pylori to human gastric mucus in vitro. These preliminary results suggest that cranberry may be beneficial in the prevention of peptic ulcers through the inhibition of H. pylori adhesion to gastric mucus and stomach tissue.

You can find cranberries in Wholefood Farmacy foods such as, Organic Cranberry Phi, Organic Phi Plus, Cranberry Crunch, Fruitalicious, and Fruitalicious Plus – enjoy!

What Is Quinoa?

Quinoa, though not technically a cereal grain like wheat or oats, has been cultivated and eaten as a cereal for thousands of years by South Americans. Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is the tiny seed of the Chenopodium Quinoa, a leafy plant that is a distant relative of spinach and beets.

Quinoa was called the "mother grain" by the Incas (chisiya mama). Now, as people in the rest of the world learn more about Quinoa, they're discovering that its ancient nickname was well deserved - Quinoa is indeed a nutritional powerhouse.

Quinoa's protein content, about 16 percent, is higher than that of any other grain. Wheat also has a high protein content, about 14 percent, but the protein in wheat and most other grains is lacking in the amino acid lysine, which Quinoa has in abundance. In fact, the amino acid composition in Quinoa is almost perfect. The World Health Organization has judged the protein in Quinoa to be as complete as that in milk. In addition, Quinoa contains more iron than most grains, and is a good source of calcium, phosphorus, folate, and many B vitamins.

Eating a serving of whole grains, such as Quinoa, at least 6 times each week is an especially good idea for postmenopausal women with high cholesterol, high blood pressure or other signs of cardiovascular disease.

A 3-year prospective study of 229 postmenopausal women with cardiovascular disease, published in the July 2005 issue of the American Heart Journal, shows that those eating at least 6 servings of whole grains each week experienced:

Slowed progression of atherosclerosis, the build-up of plaque that narrows the vessels through which blood flows.

Less progression in stenosis, the narrowing of the diameter of arterial passageways.

Quinoa can be found in your favorite Wholefood Farmacy foods such as Phi Plus, as well as all seven of our Whole Food Farinas: AmpliPhi, BeautiPhi, ClariPhi, DetoxiPhi, ElectriPhi, FructiPhi & GloriPhi.

Benefits of Eating Almonds

Almonds are a wonderful Whole Food and science has recently discovered the benefits of eating them in their whole form. Recent research reveals that the flavonoids in almond skin works synergistically the vitamin E found in almonds. This synergistic combination creates more than 200% the antioxidant power of the almonds and almond skins when separated. "We have identified a unique combination of flavonoids in almonds," said Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D., senior scientist and director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at Tufts University. "Further blood tests demonstrated that eating almonds with their skins significantly increases both flavonoids and vitamin E in the body. This could have significant health implications, especially as people age."

Blumberg's team tested the effects of almond skin's flavonoids alone and then in combination with the vitamin E found in almonds. The tests were done on blood samples containing LDL cholesterol. While almond skin flavonoids alone enhanced LDL's resistance to oxidation by 18%, when the almond’s vitamin E was added, LDL's resistance to oxidation was extended by 52.5%!

"The synergy between the flavonoids and vitamin E in almonds demonstrates how the nutrients in whole foods such as almonds can impact health," says Dr. Blumberg.

You can find almonds in many of your favorite Wholefood Farmacy foods such as Phi Plus, Cranberry Phi, Coco Cherry Phi as well as all seven Wholefood Farmacy Farinas!

Cranberry Phi is a rich tasting, moist and delicious variation of Phi Plus that includes the healthy addition of cranberries. The taste is “out of this world” and Cranberry Phi is a favorite of young and old alike. Recent research shows that Cranberries are packed with antioxidants and phytonutrients that your body can use to ward off disease and aging. In fact, Cranberries score 1750 on the Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) scale. Cranberry Phi Plus is a fantastic meal replacement, a wonderful treat and a great snack at any time of the day or night.

Don't Be Fooled By "Fruit" Products For Kids

Over half of the most aggressively advertised children’s foods that prominently feature fruit on their packaging contain no fruit at all, according to a study released by the Strategic Alliance for Healthy Food and Activity Environments. The study - Where’s the Fruit? reveals that 51 percent of these products do not contain fruit, and another 16 percent contain only minimal amounts of fruit despite prominent fruit promotions on the packaging.      

“Parents drawn to products that seem healthier for their children based on references to fruit on the packaging are being deceived,” explains Leslie Mikkelsen, a registered dietician with the Strategic Alliance and lead author of the study. “Food and beverage companies are some of the most sophisticated communicators in the world and are clearly capable of accurately reflecting what is in their products if they wanted to.” 

The Where’s the Fruit? study identifies the most heavily advertised children’s food products that include words and images of fruit and/or fruit ingredients on the packaging. A total of 37 products were included in the final study, and their ingredient lists were analyzed to determine the presence of fruit ingredients.  A full 51% of the products contained no fruit ingredients at all despite the images of fruits and use of words such as “fruity,” “fruit flavors” and “berry” on the packaging.

“The nation is facing a staggering epidemic of chronic diseases that result from poor eating and physical inactivity,” cautions Dr. Andria Ruth, a pediatrician for the Diabetes Resource Center of Santa Barbara. “Children are particularly affected and these food companies are making parents’ jobs even harder by using misleading packaging to lead them to think that they are making a healthy choice when they are not."

If you’re tired of being misled when it comes to the food that your children eat, then let the Wholefood Farmacy be your oasis of truth amidst this desert of deception. At The Wholefood Farmacy we believe in truthfully describing our products and we don’t rely on fancy artwork or neon colored pictures to get the job done. All of our full sized food packages feature a clear see-though front panel so that you can actually see what’s inside.  Fruitalicious is 100% Fruit - and we’re proud to show you what’s inside.

Sunflower Seeds & Cardiovascular Disease

According to research completed in March 2001 by Dr. K. Phillips of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the sunflower kernel is rich in a number of nutrients that have been shown to protect against cardiovascular and other diseases and to act as antioxidants and anti-carcinogens. When considered in aggregate, this amazing kernel packs a powerful nutritional punch.   

Sunflower kernels contain high levels of vitamin E, betaine, phenolic acids, and choline. In addition, the kernel is a good source of arginine and lignans. Each of these compounds, while perhaps unfamiliar to the layperson, has been studied by the scientific community and shown to offer a variety of health benefits.

• Vitamin E (Tocopherols): May protect against cardiovascular disease.
• Betaine : May protect against cardiovascular disease.
• Phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid):  Antioxidant and anti-carcinogen.
• Choline : Plays a role in memory and cognitive function.
• Arginine : Potential heart benefits.
• Lignans : May protect against heart disease and some cancers; lowers LDL cholesterol and triglycerides

You can enjoy the taste and health benefits of sunflower seeds in many of your favorite Wholefood Farmacy foods such as Phi Plus, Coco Cherry Phi, Cranberry Phi, Cornaborealis, Corn of Plenty, and ClariPhi.

Raisins May Reduce Cancer Risks

Raisins rank among the top antioxidant foods, according to USDA government tests. Early findings suggest that eating plenty of fruits high in antioxidants, such as raisins may help slow the processes associated with aging in both body and brain.

 
Andrew J. Dannenberg, M.D. a cancer researcher at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University reports that the antioxidant catechin, found in raisins and some other fruits and vegetables, in the diet of mice genetically predisposed to intestinal tumors reduced the number of tumors by at least 70 percent compared to the control group. This type of study adds to the body of evidence which shows that components of fruits and vegetables have the potential to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, colorectal adenomas and other gastrointestinal tumors.

Carl L. Keen, Ph.D. from the University of California Davis reports that a significant amount of raisins eaten daily for 4 weeks increased the plasma antioxidant capacity. This in turn decreased the level of circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) also known as the “bad cholesterol”.  These data clearly show raisins are an important part of 5-a-day diet and that benefits of eating raisins are similar to benefits seen when eating other fruits and vegetables with these plant antioxidants.

Christine D. Wu, M.S., Ph.D. of the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Dentistry has found that raisins contain compounds including oleanolic acid that inhibit in vitro growth of Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria in the mouth responsible for tooth decay. Oleanic acid and other compounds in raisins also inhibit organisms associated with periodontal disease, including Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Oleanolic acid is most effective in suppressing in vitro plaque formation by Streptococcus mutans. Prevention of plaque building up on the tooth surface is critical both for preventing tooth decay and promoting healthy gums.

Mary Ellen Camire, Ph.D. of the University of Maine reports that dietary fiber and other components may reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer by binding bile acids and causing their elimination from the body. Camire’s study confirms that eating fibrous foods, such as raisins, stimulates the body to replace the bile acids that have been eliminated by making them from its own cholesterol, thus potentially lowering serum cholesterol and the risk of coronary heart disease. Furthermore, bile acids that are bound by fibers such as those in raisins will not be metabolized to a more toxic form and this may potentially reduce cancer risk.

Gene A. Spiller, Ph.D. of the Sphera Foundation and Health Research Studies Center - Los Altos, CA reports feeding of raisins along with peanuts to 10-12 year old children prior to a soccer game resulted in lower increases in blood glucose and insulin than a snack of a white bagel and jam. This is important because it means a more steady fuel supply to the exercising muscle of the young players. Lower insulin levels are advantageous because high levels of circulating insulin can promote the laying down of fat and may lead to insulin resistance, a concern among US children today, where rates of obesity and type 2 Diabetes are increasing.

You, your family and your children can enjoy all of the health benefits that raisins have to offer with your favorite Wholefood Farmacy foods such as Phi Plus, Apple Cinnamon Phi, Cranberry Phi, Coco Cherry Phi, Fruitalicious, Fruitalicious Plus and Cornaborealis. Enjoy!

Premarin, Prempro & Provera Lawsuit

A federal jury on Thursday ordered Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Upjohn Co. to pay more than $27 million to a Little Rock, Ark., woman who got breast cancer after taking hormone replacement therapy.

The jury on Thursday ruled that Donna Scroggin, who sued the companies in 2004, should receive $19.3 million from Wyeth and $7.7 million from Upjohn Co. in punitive damages. Jurors last month ruled in favor of Scroggin and said that Wyeth inadequately warned her that its drugs Premarin and Prempro carried an increased risk of breast cancer. The lawsuit also named Upjohn Co., the maker of Provera.

The jury ruled last month that Scroggin receive $2.75 million in compensatory damages.

Both drugs remain on the market and carry the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and both continue to be prescribed annually to hundreds of thousands of women to alleviate symptoms of menopause.

Read the entire article here

Please consider natural alternative menopause treatments.  Here are some natural remedies to support balanced hormones and menstrual cycles premenstrually and during menopause - The complete menopause and premenstrual program, Femalite, MellowPause or Dong Quai

The benefits of Whole Grain Corn

Corn is a wonderful whole grain food that is a good source of vitamin B1, Vitamin B5, folate, fiber, vitamin C, Phosphorous, Manganese and a nutrient called beta-cryptoxanthin.

In addition to preventing birth defects, Folate can also help to lower your risk of heart attack, stroke and peripheral vascular disease.  It has been estimated that consumption of 100% of the daily value of folate would, by itself, reduce the number of heart attacks suffered by Americans each year by 10%. Folate-rich diets are also associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer.

Consuming foods rich in beta-cryptoxanthin, an orange-red carotenoid found in high amounts in corn, may significantly lower one's risk of developing lung cancer. A study published in the September, 2003 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention reviewed dietary and lifestyle data collected from over 63,000 adults in Shanghai, China, who were followed for 8 years. Those eating the most crytpoxanthin-rich foods showed a 27% reduction in lung cancer risk. When current smokers were evaluated, those who were also in the group consuming the most cryptoxanthin-rich foods were found to have a 37% lower risk of lung cancer compared to smokers who ate the least of these health-protective foods.

Corn is also a good source of Thiamin which is a nutrient essential to good brain cell health and mental function.  The brain uses Thiamin to make a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine which is essential for good memory.  In addition, maintaining healthy acetylcholine levels may help to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Research reported at the 2004 American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) International Conference on Food, Nutrition and Cancer, by Rui Hai Liu, M.D., Ph.D., and his colleagues at Cornell University shows that whole grains, such as corn, contain many powerful phytonutrients whose activity has gone unrecognized because common research methods have overlooked them.  Dr. Liu’s team measured the antioxidant activity of various foods, assigning each a rating based on a formula.  Broccoli measured 80, Spinach 81, Apples 98, Bananas 65, but Corn topped them all measuring a whopping 181.

Wholefood Farmacy foods which are made with whole grain Corn include Veggielicious, Veggielicious Spice, Cornucopia, Cornaborealis, Corn of Plenty, V-10 Creamy Yam Soup and V-12 Creamy Vegetable Soup. We encourage you to make Corn and other whole grains a part of your food choices each and every day!

Oprah Goes Vegan For 21 Days

Oprah, the talk show queen has announced she is going vegan for 21 days as part of a cleanse and will be documenting each day on her blog.  Oprah was inspired to remove meat and animal products from her life for a brief time after rereading the book, “A New Earth.”  She has recipes on her blog and menu plans.

Oprah said she’s not sure how going vegan will change her life, but is up for the challenge.  Oprah blogged - “Don’t know if I’m going to feel better or worse, but I’m willing to try to see if my body at least feels differently.”

On Day 2 Oprah writes - Wow, wow, wow! I never imagined meatless meals could be so satisfying. I had been focused on what I had to give up—sugar, gluten, alcohol, meat, chicken, fish, eggs, cheese. "What's left?" I thought. Apparently a lot. I can honestly say every meal was a surprise and a delight, beginning with breakfast—strawberry rhubarb wheat-free crepes.

Follow Oprah's 21 Day Cleanse, chat with others and view their extremely tasty recipes.

Short on time?  Try some of Wholefood Farmacy's vegan foods.  No dishes, no refridgeration, no preparation - just open a bag and eat! 

A State of Denial - Childhood Obesity

A recent study published by the University Of Michigan Department Of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases and the University of Michigan Child Health Evaluation and Research (CHEAR) Unit shows that a large number of parents may be in denial about their children's weight.  The research was published in Vol. 2, Issue 3; December 10, 2007.

With each passing year, the risks to children who are overweight or obese are becoming clearer and better documented. With respect to asthma, obese children age 6-17 have a 200% higher risk of asthma than children who are at a healthy weight.

Overweight youngsters are also at risk for diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressures as well as other chronic diseases that are usually seen only in adults. Allowing a child to remain overweight or obese is as dangerous to the child's health as smoking cigarettes.

According to the study, one-quarter of US children ages 6 to 17 are either obese or overweight. Surprisingly, less than 10% of parents of obese children ages 6 to 11 reported being "very concerned" about their children's weight.

More than 40% of parents of obese children age 6-11 perceive their children's weight status as "about the right weight".  In reality, a 6-year-old boy of average height, (3 feet 9 inches) would be considered obese if he weighs 55 lbs. or more.

Are you wondering if your child is overweight? Use this special Body Mass Index calculator made especially for children and teens on the CDC website at:

http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/Calculator.aspx

If you find that your child or teen needs to lose weight, experts agree that small gradual changes offer the best chances for success.  One small change that everyone can live with is having healthy, convenient snacks on hand at all times. From there, gradually phase out the junk food, fast food, sodas, energy drinks and candy as you discover healthier choices that your children enjoy.

Provide your child with healthy whole food snacks that are good for them and taste great!

Kick the Kidney Stones

Do you drink soda? In a study with men, 34% of people who drank 6 Mountain Dew 12 ounce cans over 6 months developed or already passed a kidney stone. Stay away from the carbonation and high fructose corn syrup, and drink some cranberry juice to clean your system weekly.

The Best & Worst Foods For Your Body

The Worst Foods for Your Body

	High Fructose Corn Syrup is cheaper and sweeter than sugar. It causes weight gain, can interrupt normal heart health, cause headaches diabetes and more.
	Eating Out whether its fast food or slow food, restaurants give such large portions that your body cannot digest it. It stretches your stomach to make it harder to feel full.
	Trans Fats have a long history being associated with heart disease (the #1 reason for death in America) Compaies aren't required to list it, but always avoid "hydrogenated oil."
	Alcohol not only slows down your metabolism and packs on the pounds, it can cause temorary or permenant memory and vision loss, and causes the skin to age faster.
	Missing Meals is not only bad for your body, it can make you gain weight. When your body lacks nutrition, it goes into horde mode and as soon as you eat again, it stores it as fat.

The Best Foods for Your Body

	Whole Grains found in certain pastas, breads, cereals and more are FULL of nutrients for your body and replace the bleached flour found in white breads.
	Fruits are a great way flush out toxins from your body while leaving you feeling full blood and brain enhancing water.
	Vegetables should take up half of your lunch and dinner plate experts say. They nurish your body with good calories (not empty ones found in processed foods) and help every organ and joint preform at their best.
	Oil is considered "good fat" every one needs fat in their diet to stay healthy. Eating enough "good fats" can actually help you lose the bad fats. OraMD is made of "good fat" oils!
	Lean Protein found in fish, chicken, extra lean beef, nuts and other foods help your body fight against germs and can keep you from getting sick. Fish have been found to ease joint pain and arthritis.

Cut Kidney Cancer Risk - Eat Bananas

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous, 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. Bananas can also help us overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Research published in the January 2005 issue of the International Journal of Cancer suggests that regular consumption of whole fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, is highly protective against kidney cancer. The results of this large population based prospective study (13.4 years) of 61,000 women aged 40-76, show that women eating more than 75 servings of fruits and vegetables per month cut their risk of kidney cancer by 40%.  Among the fruits, bananas were found to be especially protective. Women eating bananas four to six times a week cut their risk of kidney cancer by 50% compared to those who did not eat bananas.

A group called MIND, the largest mental health charity in England, did a study amongst people suffering from depression and found that many felt much better after simply eating a banana. This is because bananas contain Tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

Two-hundred students at a Twickenham (Middlesex, UK) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Bananas have also been recognized for their antacid effects that protect against stomach ulcers and ulcer damage. In one study, a simple mixture of banana and milk significantly suppressed acid secretion.  The nutrients in bananas help activate the cells that compose the stomach lining, so they produce a thicker protective mucus barrier against stomach acids.  Bananas also contain compounds known as protease inhibitors which help eliminate bacteria in the stomach that are the primary cause of stomach ulcers.

This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to help with high blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Try making a banana smoothie with Phi Plus!  Blend one banana with 2 oz. of Phi Plus, your choice of milk and a few ice cubes.  It is delicious beyond words, a very healthy summer time treat, and the kids will love it!

Ginger Can Kill Ovarian Cancer Cells

Ginger can kill ovarian cancer cells while the compound that makes peppers hot can shrink pancreatic tumors, researchers told a conference. Their studies add to a growing body of evidence that at least some popular spices might slow or prevent the growth of cancer.

Dr. Rebecca Liu, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and colleagues tested ginger powder dissolved in solution by putting it on ovarian cancer cell cultures. It killed the ovarian cancer cells in two different ways. First, through a self-destruction process called apoptosis and second, through the process of autophagy in which cancer cells digest themselves, the researchers told a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Ovarian cancer kills 16,000 out of the 22,000 U.S. women who are diagnosed with it every year, according to the American Cancer Society. Ginger has been shown to help control inflammation, which can contribute to the development of ovarian cancer cells.

“In multiple ovarian cancer cell lines, we found that ginger-induced cell death at a similar or better rate than the platinum-based chemotherapy drugs typically used to treat ovarian cancer,” said Dr. Jennifer Rhode, who helped work on the study.

Ginger Mint Dressing made with the Wholefood Farmacy’s Heart of Gold is a great way to add ginger to your daily meal plan.

Heart of Gold Ginger Mint Dressing:

½ cup freshly grated ginger

1 ½ cups Heart of Gold

1 ½ cups fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

1 cup finely chopped fresh mint

Combine ingredients and blend for 30 seconds in a blender.

Add more mint or your favorite spices to taste. Great on salads, great for tossing with steamed veggies or drizzling over fresh veggies

What is Whole Grain Brown Rice?

Milling is the process that turns brown rice into white rice by removing the outer layer known as the bran layer - this alters the nutritional value of the rice. The complete milling process that creates white rice from brown rice destroys 67% of the vitamin B3, 80% of the vitamin B1, 90% of the vitamin B6, half of the manganese, half of the phosphorus, 60% of the iron, and all of the dietary fiber and essential fatty acids.  In short, brown rice is a fiber-rich whole grain whereas white rice is simply a refined and nutritionally depleted processed food.

In March of 2006, research reported in the journal Agricultural Research, Nancy Keim and a team at the USDA ARS Western Human Nutrition Center studied 10 women age 20-45 who ate a whole grain diet for three days, then ate the same foods but with refined grains in place of whole grains. Blood samples at the end of each 3-day period showed that the refined grains diet caused a significant increase in triglycerides and a worrisome protein called "apolipoprotein CIII" (apoCIII), both of which have been associated with increased risk of heart disease.

At the University of Utah, in a study of over 2000 people, a team led by Dr. Martha Slattery found that high intakes of whole grains, such as brown rice, reduced the risk of rectal cancer 31%.  They also found that a high-fiber diet, 34 grams or more of fiber per day, reduced rectal cancer by an impressive 66%. The findings were published in the February 2004 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

In a Study presented at American Heart Association Conference, March 2006, overweight children, age 9-15, spent two weeks on an all-you-can-eat diet of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean protein, while exercising 2.5 hours each day. University of California researchers led by Dr. James Barnard reported that in just two weeks the children's cholesterol levels dropped an average of 21%, while insulin levels fell 30%.

In May, 2008, the FDA approved the following health claim for Brown Rice:  "Diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods and low in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers."

Using Brown Rice in place of white rice is one small change that can make a BIG difference in the lives of you, your family and your children.

The Power of Nuts - Reduce Heart Disease

Some fairly recent analyses of the Adventist Health Study findings showed a remarkable relationship between eating nuts and whole wheat bread, and experiencing a reduced risk for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). These findings were the subject of a research article submitted by Dr. Fraser and his colleagues to the Archives of Internal Medicine, and published in its July 1992 issue.

The most outstanding findings of this part of the overall study show that nut consumption reduces the risk of both fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease. Again, the researchers looked for a variety of ways to disprove the finding, adjusting the data for differences in age, sex, smoking habits, exercise, relative weight, and hypertension. The protective qualities of nuts remained statistically significant and essentially unchanged in magnitude.

Those individuals who ate nuts one to four times a week had 26% decrease in the risk of suffering from definite nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) and a 27% decrease in the risk of definite fatal coronary heart disease as compared to those who ate nuts less than once a week. However, those individuals who ate nuts five or more times a week had a 48% decrease in the risk of definite nonfatal heart attack and a 38% reduced risk of definite fatal CHD as compared to the group who ate nuts less than once a week.

Age- and sex-adjusted analyses of the associations between nut consumption and definite CHD were calculated for various subgroups within the Adventist Health Study. Results were examined to see if the association between nut consumption and CHD held up in different segments of the population. The consistency was quite remarkable and adds to the researchers' confidence in the importance of these findings.

Both "ever-smokers" and "never-smokers" showed a 46% decrease in the risk of coronary heart disease when they ate nuts five or more times a week. Study participants with normal blood pressure showed that eating nuts more than five times a week reduced their risk of coronary heart disease by 60% percent, and hypertensive individuals enjoyed a 30% decrease in risk compared to similar subjects who ate few nuts.

Nuts are widely used here at The Wholefood Farmacy and you can find them in many of our foods. In addition, the next time you go to the grocery store, spend a few minutes looking at all of the different types of nuts and consider them in place of other processed food snacks such as potato chips and cheese puffs.  You’ll love them, your kids will love them and your whole family will be much better off.  Now is the best time to put your kids on a path that leads to health, vitality, longevity and happiness.

Grapefruit Juice Speeds Drug Uptake

Most people take medicines with liquid to make them easier to swallow. Grapefruit juice is a mainstay of many breakfast tables and is a natural beverage for helping the medicine go down. That could be a mistake. Grapefruit juice interferes with gut enzymes that influence the transport of drugs into the body, which makes the drugs more concentrated and potentially dangerous. It can increase blood concentrations of some drugs by 1.5 to 15 times above normal for a particular dose. For example, drinking grapefruit juice with Lipitor can raise blood levels of the drug to unpredictably high levels and cause a dangerous muscle disorder called rhabdomyolysis. Grapefruit juice can increase blood levels of calcium channel blockers, statins, sedatives, antihistamines and Viagra. If you drink grapefruit juice and take medications, check with your pharmacist to make sure they are compatible.

Can The Sodas

Gary Foster, director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University and colleagues have just completed a two year study.  Five Philadelphia elementary schools replaced sodas with fruit juice. They scaled back snacks and banished candy. They handed out raffle tickets for wise food choices. They spent hours teaching kids, their parents and teachers about good nutrition.

The results were phenomenal.  The number of students who became overweight during the two-year experiment was a full 50% less than the number of kids who became overweight in schools that didn’t make these changes. The findings are published in the April, 2008, issue of the journal Pediatrics.

In the five test schools, juice, water and low-fat milk replaced sodas. Snacks had to meet limits for fat, salt and sugar. Students who ate healthy snacks got raffle tickets to win prizes such as bikes and jump ropes.

But the schools can’t do it all on their own – the biggest challenge to schools is that kids drink sodas and eat junk food at home – so they come to school expecting to do the same.  As parents, imagine the difference we could make if all of us made these same simple changes in our homes.

Wholefood Farmacy foods taste great, they’re convenient and kids love them.  Let the Wholefood Farmacy help you to take that first step in the right direction.

Natural Vitamin D - The Sun!

With springtime here and summer time right around the corner, many people are once again becoming concerned about exposure to sunlight, but the latest research may really surprise you.

A recent study by researchers at the University of California found that solar ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation can significantly reduce the risk of 16 different types of cancer by naturally stimulating the production of vitamin D in the skin. The study's authors are Cedric F. Garland, Dr.P.H., from the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, and William B. Grant, Ph.D., director of the Sunlight, Nutrition and Health Research Center (SUNARC) www.sunarc.org/about.htm

"Enhancing vitamin D status appears to be the single most important simple thing people can do to reduce their risk of cancer, apart from avoiding tobacco and moderation in the intake of alcohol," say Cedric Garland and William Grant.

It has been frequently reported that those who work outdoors have a reduced risk of developing melanoma [Garland et al., 1990; Kennedy et al., 2004]. The reasons appear to be twofold:

• They develop a tan that blocks the penetration of ultraviolet radiation so it can't produce the free radicals that can lead to melanoma.
• They produce lots of vitamin D.

The researchers recommend that people get their vitamin D from exposure to natural sunlight. Fair-skinned people who live in sunny regions of the country can produce about 1,500 IU of vitamin D in 20 minutes of exposure at noon if only 10 to 20 percent of their body is exposed -- such as chest, back and arms. People should try to expose more of their skin surface for a shorter amount of time, rather than stay in the sun longer with minimal skin exposure, the study says. Darker-skinned people may need up to four times as long to make the same amount of vitamin D as fair-skinned people.

The study recommends wearing hats to avoid prolonged sun exposure on more sensitive parts of the body, such as the face, and to keep moving when in the sun. Garland and Grant caution fair-skinned people to avoid over-exposure, since the skin produces sufficient vitamin D in just 20 minutes a day.
   
A new and gathering body of evidence seems to indicate that the benefits of sunlight, in general, greatly outweigh the risks.   So grab a bag of your favorite Wholefood Farmacy food, take a walk in the park, and make a little sunshine a part of each and every day.

Healthy Spices Help Alzheimer's Patients

Antioxidants are those nutrients in whole foods that keep diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer away. When you think about antioxidants, fruits and vegetables usually come to mind. But those aren't the only foods where these health boosting nutrients are hiding. 

New research shows that herbs and spices also pack a powerful punch when it comes to antioxidants. A USDA study looked at nearly 40 common herbs and spices to test their antioxidant activity.  Oregano emerged as the leader of the pack.

Researchers found that oregano has 3 to 20 times more antioxidant activity than the other herbs studied. In fact, it has more than many fruits and vegetables. Oregano has 42 times more antioxidant activity than apples, 30 times more than potatoes, 12 times more than oranges and 4 times more than blueberries. But that's not the only herb or spice that can improve your health. Dill, thyme, sage, rosemary, ginger and even peppermint have high antioxidant levels too.

The main ingredient in curry is Turmeric, from which a spice called Curcumin is derived. Sally Frautschy, Ph.D., is a researcher from UCLA who has done extensive testing on Curcumin. She says that “we accidentally found out that it blocks every single step in Alzheimer's pathogenesis and it kills nearly every cancer cell in the lab.”  In India, curry is part of the staple diet; they also have the lowest rates of Alzheimer's disease in the world. 

Marcia Herrin, R.D., a nutritionist at the Dartmouth Medical School says "practically every herb and spice that's been studied has some health benefit," herbs and spices are loaded with antioxidants, but we may not be getting those benefits as much as we could. Herrin says Americans don't use many herbs and spices compared to the rest of the world.

Researchers also say that many of these herbs are only absorbed by the body when they're eaten with fat, so recipes that include healthy fats, like those found in Heart of Gold, a delicious plant oil blend available only from The Wholefood Farmacy.

How To Avoid The Flu After Winter Ends

Think You’ve Avoided the Winter Flu? Well… Think Again!

Even with warmer weather approaching (we hope) we are still not out of the woods with regards to flu season. Although this is surprising to most, the flu epidemic can often stretch into spring, which looks to be the case this year.

Geographic location also plays a role… the flu hits the hardest around February in the Northern Hemisphere and September in the Southern.

So, for those who have manage to avoid the flu throughout the winter and thought they were home free-- think again!

In addition, most people are also misinformed about the flu vaccine itself, believing that it prevents infection completely. This is not the case-- the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that while the vaccine helps prevent serious disease, it is not to be considered a cure-all.

Given the uncertainty of the vaccine’s effectiveness (for those who did get the vaccine), as well as the lengthy flu season this year, taking additional steps to prevent the flu is a wise decision.

Why isn’t the Flu Vaccine a Cure-all?

Mutations of the various influenza strains vary each season, and flu vaccines contain a mixture of strains-- which explains why it must be adjusted yearly.

What’s more, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already initiated plans to modify next year’s flu vaccine, as all three strains used in the concoction have already shown mutations.

How to Avoid Getting the Flu as Winter Ends

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet are the first steps to providing a sound platform to support wellness and vitality in the body, which includes getting proper sleep and regular exercise.

Many people are unaware that there are effective homeopathic alternatives to the conventional flu vaccine. Orally administered, homeopathic flu vaccines may be used by all ages and can help to prevent influenza infection--without the side effects and complications sometimes experienced by the conventional flu vaccine.

Related Products

KiddieBoost™ Promotes healthy immune functioning and reduces infection and illness risks in children.

ImmunityPlus™ Promotes healthy immune system functioning and helps fight viral and bacterial infections.

Detox Drops™ Promotes natural cleansing and the ability to eliminate toxins.

ComfiCoff™ Promotes relaxation to soothe throat and chest discomfort, irritation and congestion.

Throat & Tonsil Dr™ Promotes throat and tonsil health and the body's infection resistance.

Sniffly Sprinkles™ Helps maintain easy breathing, clear noses and open chests in children.

BronchoSoothe™ Promotes easy, comfortable and normal breathing.

AdrenoBoost™ Protects adrenal glands from the damaging effects of stress to maintain healthy functioning.

Congesto-K KiddieRub™ Promotes nose and chest clarity in children to maintain relaxed, easy breathing.

Congesto-K Pillow Spritzer™ Promotes clear airways and entire respiratory tract health in adults and children.

BioVent Drops™ Supports bronchial and respiratory health for easy breathing.

There are also many natural remedies that can help to promote immunity and build resistance to common ailments, as well as help lessen the severity of an occurrence. Herbs such as Hypoxis rooperi and Astralagus membranaceus help to boost the immune system (both which are found in ImmunityPlus™) and act as strengthening tonics. Echinacea is another powerful herb that has been shown to greatly support the immune system, and thus help the body to ward off the flu virus.

However, sometimes getting sick is just inevitable, given the numerous different strains of the virus-- combined with the unfortunate ease of transmission.

Natural herbal and homeopathic remedies have been proven to be extremely beneficial in alleviating the effects of influenza without drying out the mucus membranes (which can happen with conventional decongestants) or robbing the body of good bacteria (which can happen with conventional antibiotics).
Using a natural cold and flu remedy will not only help you to address the underlying cause of influenza, but ensure that you maintain optimal health and well-being.

Other effective healing herbs that provide a natural cold and flu remedy include Yarrow, Elderflower, and Peppermint. When these herbs are combined together, they can help to reduce fever and act as an inhalant to relieve chest congestion effectively. Remember to source herbal remedies from a reputable company, as therapeutic dosage and ingredient quality is important when using herbal medicines.

"Sniffly Sprinkles should be a standard requirement for every mother’s medicine cupboard! They have helped my children time and again. I even took some to my neighbor for her little girl, and I made a friend for life!" - Mrs. J. Oberholzer

"My children in daycare have been very healthy this year (aged 2 & 4 years). The only thing I can [attribute it] to is KiddieBoost as I haven’t changed anything else; I started giving it to them 3 months ago. Thank you for a great product." -Nicole J.

"Throat and Tonsil Dr. has saved me in a lot of ways. It is the only product that has worked for me… I love it and I will continue taking it. I've also used several other products, including some for my kids, and they all work GREAT!!! THANK YOU!!!" - Ivy F., NV,

Fruits and Veggies: Fresh, Canned, or Frozen?

You already know to eat at least five servings each of fruits and vegetables. But does it matter how these goodies make it to your plate?

Fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the produce aisle are usually best, as long as you're eating them soon after picking. Sometimes though, it's not always possible to purchase produce when it's fresh off the farm.

Seasonal changes will also affect which type of produce we purchase, since fresh fruits and vegetables often are quite expensive. If you can't afford to purchase all your fruits and vegetables fresh, try canned and frozen.

Frozen produce is nutritionally comparable to fresh but canned produce does lose some vitamins and minerals during the heating process. However, the canned versions of at least three vegetables are actually higher in healthful phytochemicals than their fresh versions: Corn, carrots, and tomatoes all benefit from the canning process.

Another benefit of frozen and canned produce: They have a longer shelf life, so you can keep them on hand for quick additions to meals.

If you do purchase more canned or frozen produce, make sure the label says they contain no added salt and sugars. (Remember "heavy syrup"?)

Bottom line: It's more important to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day than it is to worry about how they made it to your plate.

Article by - Johns Hopkins University.

Fish Oil Decreases Inflammation

A study at the University of Michigan confirms that  fish oil consumption can reduce cellular inflammation.  Researchers at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, published a study demonstrating that increased fish oil consumption and decreased vegetable oil consumption curbed the body’s overproduction of prostanoids.

Prostanoids are valuable chemicals, as they help regulate blood pressure and reduce allergic reactions. But when prostanoids are produced excessively, it leads to inflammation of organ and other bodily tissues. This inflammation can cause redness, pain and, in some cases, visible swelling. Many believe that cellular inflammation is a major cause of multiple illnesses and disease states.

Researchers are hopeful that these findings will lead to new, more effective anti-inflammatory drugs, as current treatments are frequently accompanied by many side effects.

Sealogix Omega-3 is an ultra-concentrated, ultra-refined fish oil, awarded an  IFOS 5-Star Rating for purity, quality and concentration. With hundreds of scientific studies substantiating the positive health benefits of Omega-3's, fish oil is the smart choice for people who wish to lead healthier lives. We use state-of-the-art processing to remove impurities and provide you with a fish oil supplement that is safe and effective. Due to its superior quality and high concentration of nutrients, Sealogix is an exceptional value compared to other market brands

What to do when your weight loss flatlines

BUST THROUGH PLATEAUS

Scale Down!
What to do when your weight loss flatlines
Allison Winn Scotch

You've been eating fewer calories, your trainer is your new BFF, and your body has gotten teenier. But now it seems like you couldn't lose a pound unless you cut your arm off. You've hit the dreaded plateau — a frustratingly common dieting phenomenon. "At a certain point in weight loss, usually after losing about 10 percent of your weight, you may have to tweak your diet and exercise to jump-start your body again," says Susan Mitchell, Ph.D., R.D., co-author of Fat Is Not Your Fate. Here's why you might stall and what you can do to rev back up.

You're eating for 164 (pounds, not people).

Flatline Yeah, losing mass means you look better in your low-riders, but it also means there's less of you to burn calories. It's a cruel truth: Your basal metabolic rate (BMR) — the number of calories your body needs just to exist — gets lower as you get littler. Keep eating for your old weight and you're going to hit a wall.

Finish line As the number on the scale goes down, so too must your food intake. Figure out your BMR by dividing your current weight by 2.2 pounds, then multiplying this number by 0.9, and then by 24. Now multiply your BMR by 1.2 and voil: You've got the average number of calories your body burns per day when you factor in normal activities. (Add another 300 to 500 on days you do an hour of moderate to intense exercise.) Once you have your final number, shave off 500 to find out how many calories you need to eat to lose a pound a week, or 300 to lose 2 pounds a month. Just don't ever go below 1,200 a day or you'll run into the problem below.

You're eating for 95.

Flatline Here's the flip side: There's such a thing as eating too little to lose weight. "The body needs a certain number of calories per day to meet minimum metabolic needs, such as cardiovascular function and respiration," Mitchell says. When you're running on empty, your brain sends signals to various organs (like your thyroid), telling them to slow down your metabolism to conserve energy.

Finish line Strategy? Simple: "Increase your calories," Mitchell says. "Many women are afraid to do this because they think they'll gain weight, when actually the body will function more efficiently and they'll start losing again." If you're stuck (and starving), try adding 100 calories a day for 2 weeks.

You could work out in your sleep.

Flatline Been repeating the same moves since you made your New Year's resolutions? You need a kick in your (shrinking) behind. "When your body is used to an exercise, it stops making physiological changes," says Cassandra Forsythe, a nutrition and exercise scientist at the University of Connecticut. Translation: Your bod has become so efficient at doing your current routine that it's burning fewer calories. Want proof? A recent study in the International Journal of Obesity found that runners who didn't increase their mileage gained weight over time.

Finish line Mix it up. "To grow more muscle and keep your metabolic rate high, you have to damage the muscles a little by challenging your body with a different workout," Forsythe says. If you're a treadmill rat, get on the elliptical or bike. If you're hell-bent on the treadmill, up the intensity (by adjusting the speed or incline) every other minute, or work up to a longer run by adding a half mile every couple of weeks. In the weight room, forget those 15 reps you usually do with a 5-pounder: "Decrease the number of reps and increase the weight, using one you can lift only five to eight times," Forsythe says.

You've become an exercise fanatic.

Flatline So you've amped up your workout. Great! Now you have to give your body time to recover. If you don't schedule any downtime, the pounds won't budge. "When you're sore after a workout, it's because you've torn the muscle fiber," explains Angela Corcoran, head of education and corporate development at the American Academy of Personal Training in New York City. "When you rest, the muscle fiber has a chance to heal and comes back more effectively. This drives up metabolism, so you burn more calories at rest."

Finish line Take a day off! Corcoran says she's seen clients lose weight after logging a few days of rest. But this doesn't mean you get a week to lie around watching Lost reruns (nice try): 24 to 48 hours is all your body needs to recover and recharge. Forsythe suggests working out 2 consecutive days followed by a day of rest, taking no more than 3 days off in a row.

Your body balks.

Flatline Like it or not, you have a "set point," Forsythe says — a genetically determined weight where you're most comfortable. To stick to this number and regulate its fat stores, your body uses a gazillion physiological mechanisms, like interactions between hormones and molecules that affect hunger levels. So if you're trying to drop 20 pounds below your set point, you're getting in the ring with Mama Nature: When you don't eat enough to maintain your set point, your body thinks you're starving and "responds by lowering its metabolic rate, which reduces the number of calories you burn," Forsythe says.

Finish line The best way to conquer your set point is to speed up your metabolism with regular exercise — at least 30 minutes of cardio, 5 days a week. It also helps to increase the amount of good fats (such as monounsaturated) and lean protein (think fish and poultry) in your diet — these foods can accelerate your metabolism.

Need Weight Loss Help?  Try these products - 7 or 13 Day Whole Food Diet, Fruta Vida's Slim for Life Weight Loss Program, Zylene Weight Loss Pill, TrimLogix Weight Loss Shakes, Power Pops Weight Loss Candy with Hoodia

Cinnamon can significantly reduce blood sugar levels in diabetics

The use of Cinnamon as a spice and as a medicine dates back to 2000 BC.  Just half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day significantly reduces blood sugar levels in diabetics, a study has found. The effect, which can be produced even by soaking a cinnamon stick your tea, could also benefit millions of non-diabetics who have blood sugar problem but are unaware of it.

The discovery was initially made by accident, by Richard Anderson at the US Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland. "We were looking at the effects of common foods on blood sugar; one was the American favorite, apple pie, which is usually spiced with cinnamon. We expected it to be bad. But it helped," he says.

The active ingredient in cinnamon turned out to be a water-soluble polyphenol compound called MHCP. In test tube experiments, MHCP mimics insulin, activates its receptor, and works synergistically with insulin in cells.

To see if it would work in people, Alam Khan, who was a postdoctoral fellow in Anderson's lab, organized a study in Pakistan. Volunteers with Type 2 diabetes were given one, three or six grams of cinnamon powder a day, in capsules after meals.

All responded within weeks, with blood sugar levels that were on average 20 per cent lower than a control group. Some even achieved normal blood sugar levels. Tellingly, blood sugar started creeping up again after the diabetics stopped taking cinnamon.

In the volunteers, the Cinnamon also lowered blood levels of fats and "bad" cholesterol, which are also partly controlled by insulin. And in test tube experiments it neutralized free radicals, damaging chemicals which are elevated in diabetics.

Cinnamon's essential oils also qualify it as an "anti-microbial" food, and cinnamon has been studied for its ability to help stop the growth of bacteria as well as fungi, including the commonly problematic yeast Candida.

You will find Cinnamon used in many of your favorite Wholefood Farmacy foods including Phi Plus, Apple Cinnamon Phi, DetoxiPhi, Joule and Cornaborealis.

Brazilian Berry Destroys Cancer Cells in Lab, UF Study Shows

This little berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world. It can often be found in juice form in health food and gourmet stores.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A Brazilian berry popular in health food contains antioxidants that destroyed cultured human cancer cells in a recent University of Florida study, one of the first to investigate the fruit’s purported benefits.

Published today in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the study showed extracts from Açaí (ah-SAH’-ee) berries triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested, said Stephen Talcott, an assistant professor with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

“Açaí berries are already considered one of the richest fruit sources of antioxidants,” Talcott said. “This study was an important step toward learning what people may gain from using beverages, dietary supplements or other products made with the berries.”

He cautioned that the study, funded by UF sources, was not intended to show whether compounds found in Açaí berries could prevent leukemia in people.

“This was only a cell-culture model and we don’t want to give anyone false hope,” Talcott said. “We are encouraged by the findings, however. Compounds that show good activity against cancer cells in a model system are most likely to have beneficial effects in our bodies.”

Other fruits, including grapes, guavas and mangoes, contain antioxidants shown to kill cancer cells in similar studies, he said. Experts are uncertain how much effect antioxidants have on cancer cells in the human body, because factors such as nutrient absorption, metabolism and the influence of other biochemical processes may influence the antioxidants’ chemical activity.

Another UF study, slated to conclude in 2006, will investigate the effects of Açaí’s antioxidants on healthy human subjects, Talcott said. The study will determine how well the compounds are absorbed into the blood, and how they may affect blood pressure, cholesterol levels and related health indicators. So far, only fundamental research has been done on Açaí berries, which contain at least 50 to 75 as-yet unidentified compounds.

“One reason so little is known about Açaí berries is that they’re perishable and are traditionally used immediately after picking,” he said. “Products made with processed Açaí berries have only been available for about five years, so researchers in many parts of the world have had little or no opportunity to study them.”

Talcott said UF is one of the first institutions outside Brazil with personnel studying Açaí berries. Besides Talcott, UF’s Açaí research team includes Susan Percival, a professor with the food science and human nutrition department, David Del Pozo-Insfran, a doctoral student with the department and Susanne Mertens-Talcott, a postdoctoral associate with the pharmaceutics department of UF’s College of Pharmacy.

Açaí berries are produced by a palm tree known scientifically as Euterpe oleracea, common in floodplain areas of the Amazon River, Talcott said. When ripe, the berries are dark purple and about the size of a blueberry. They contain a thin layer of edible pulp surrounding a large seed.

Historically, Brazilians have used Açaí berries to treat digestive disorders and skin conditions, he said. Current marketing efforts by retail merchants and Internet businesses suggest Açaí products can help consumers lose weight, lower cholesterol and gain energy.

“A lot of claims are being made, but most of them haven’t been tested scientifically,” Talcott said. “We are just beginning to understand the complexity of the Açaí berry and its health-promoting effects.”

In the current UF study, six different chemical extracts were made from Açaí fruit pulp, and each extract was prepared in seven concentrations.

Four of the extracts were shown to kill significant numbers of leukemia cells when applied for 24 hours. Depending on the extract and concentration, anywhere from about 35 percent to 86 percent of the cells died.

The UF study demonstrates that research on foods not commonly consumed in the United States is important, because it may lead to unexpected discoveries, said Joshua Bomser, an assistant professor of molecular nutrition and functional foods at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

But familiar produce items have plenty of health-giving qualities, he said.

“Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with decreased risk for many diseases, including heart disease and cancer,” said Bomser, who researches the effects of diet on chronic diseases. “Getting at least five servings a day of these items is still a good recommendation for promoting optimal health.”

Read about more media and studies on the acai berry

What's For Breakfast? Make It Healthy!

Researchers at Harvard Medical/Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston found that hungry children are more likely to have behavioral and academic problems than children who get enough to eat.  At school, hungry children had more problems with irritability, anxiety and aggression, as well as more absences and tardiness.  (Pediatrics, January, 1998; Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, February, 1998)

The recent Tufts University Statement (1998) on The Link Between Nutrition and Cognitive Development in Children cites new findings: "Recent research provides compelling evidence that under-nutrition impacts the behavior of children, their school performance, and their overall cognitive development".

The importance of a healthy breakfast is paramount to your child's health, behavior, and academic performance.  We encourage you take a stand for your children and make a healthy breakfast, everyday, the rule in your home.

If you're on go and don't have much time, please consider these quick, easy and very nutritious ways that The Wholefood Farmacy foods can help.

Our fruit based Farinas (BeautiPhi, ClariPhi, ElectriPhi, FructiPhi & GloriPhi) can provide a wonderful way to add taste, variety and nutrition to oat meal, cream of wheat, and whole grain breakfast cereals.  Simply sprinkle them over these healthy breakfast foods and you're done!  Phi Plus, TropiPhi and Fruitalicious also make a wonderful and very delicious addition to these healthy breakfast foods and they provide a wonderfully sweet alternative to processed sugar.

Breakfast Smoothies are also a quick and easy way to start your child's day with healthy whole food nutrition.  Start with some fresh fruit and your choice of milk, then add any of our fruit based Farinas - hit the button and in 15 seconds it's ready to go.   

Make Phi Plus cookies the night before. Form Phi Plus into the shape of cookies then drizzle with Wholefood Farmacy Organic Coconut Oil and refrigerate.  In the morning, you'll have some very healthy and very tasty treats ready when you're on the go.

Set the alarm clock a few minutes earlier and give your kids the daily advantage of a Healthy Start - it makes all the difference in the world.

The science is crystal clear.  Children who eat a healthy breakfast before school are healthier, more alert, have more energy, exhibit better behavior and get better grades. A recent State of Minnesota Breakfast Study found that students who ate breakfast before starting school had a general increase in math grades and reading scores, increased student attention, reduced nurse visits, and improved student behaviors.  (December, 1997)

The Effects Of Proper Hydration on Your Health

75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%. One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a U-Washington study.

Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back, and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory,trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Can Dogs & Cats Take Fish Oil?

Yes, Dogs & Cats Benefit From Fish Oil!

In research studies, fish oil has shown positive benefits in helping pets with disease. Fatty acids are among the most commonly used nutritional supplements used in treating dogs and cats. Fortunately, they have been used successfully long enough that most conventional veterinarians include their usage in the treatment of at least some diseases. Though some pet diets may include Omega-3 fatty acids, virtually none include satisfactory amounts of the most important Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Many pet foods contain primarily Omega-6 fatty acids from vegetable oils resulting in a highly unbalanced ratio of Omega-6s to Omega-3s. Research has shown that a ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 of 5:1 to 10:1 is optimal for dogs and cats and therefore supplementing with a high quality Omega-3 fish oil supports pet health.

Omega 3 oils support heart, vision and joint health, provide important nutrients for proper immune function, and nourish the skin and coat. First suggested for use in treating allergies in pets, they are now advocated in cases of kidney disease, elevated cholesterol, and arthritis as well. Veterinarians are discovering that fatty acids can be valuable for a variety of conditions. Fish oil supplementation may be helpful for pets with inflammatory diseases including allergies, arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease, and cancers. Pets with any type of inflammatory disease may benefit from fish oil supplementation. In general, more severe disease requires doses higher than those commonly recommended.

Fish oil is very effective in some pets with allergies and skin disease. It is easy to administer (via gel caps or liquid) and can reduce the amount of corticosteroid or antihistamine needed to control itching. Most pets take either form well. For pets that are difficult to "pill," the liquid form is quite popular. Owners of dogs and cats 20 pounds and under find the liquid form more cost effective than the large bottle of fatty acid capsules that we prescribe. The response is variable in other diseases (such as kidney disease) but fish oil appears effective in research studies. In pets with some types of cancer, fish oil has slowed down the growth and spread of the cancer. While more studies are needed on other types of cancer, the general recommendation is to add fish oil to the diets of all pets with cancer.

As with other supplements, the use of fatty acids often allows doctors to lower the dosages of drugs such as corticosteroids or antihistamines. Choosing a high quality Omega-3 fish oil supplement with exceptional purity and freshness, as well as, high levels of Omega-3s is key to supporting pet health.

How Quickly Will My Pet Benefit From Omega 3 Supplements?

While the pet begins benefiting quickly, you may not notice a difference for 3-4 months. The pet's body will change from the inside out—first the individual cells, then tissues, then organs. Gradually you'll notice the coat and skin become more radiant. When you see this, you'll know the internal organs, including the kidneys, liver, heart, and brain, are also experiencing more radiant health.

Because fats are an expensive component of pet foods, many commercial foods do not contain high levels, especially of the Omega 3 fatty acids. Most pets benefit from fatty acid supplements. We recommend SeaLogix Ultra Refined Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil

Fish Oil Purity

We have no one but ourselves to blame for the toxic contaminants found in fish oil. These toxins include mercury (from the burning of coal), PCBs (used in electrical insulation), and dioxins (the active ingredient in defoliants used in the Vietnam War). Although production of PCBs and dioxins has long been banned, they rarely break down and thus accumulate in the marine food chain that ends with fish. These toxins are known carcinogens and neurotoxins. In fact, the levels in the Eskimo population, who consume large amounts of fatty fish rich in EPA and EPA, are well above the safety standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO), and recent studies indicate that they are approaching the upper limits of safety in the Japanese population.

Here lies the dilemma - how to remove these toxins to obtain all the tremendous health benefits of EPA and DHA. The solution was the development of a new manufacturing process for producing ultra refined EPA/DHA concentrates.

Buyer Beware!
If you or someone you know is using a fish oil that is not tested by an independent laboratory for concentration, purity and stability, it's buyer beware. Ask the manufacturer of that fish oil what it is trying to hide. It's one thing to print pharmaceutical-grade on a label, it's quite another to actually make a truly "pharmaceutical grade ultra refined" fish oil.

Fish Oil Liquid Or Capsules For My Pets, Which One Should I Choose?

Dogs and cats are extremely smart! Think of it this way...after a few days of trying to jam the capsule down your pet's throat, you may find yourself chasing him/her around the house! It's a lot easier if you make it "treat time!" We recommend putting liquid Fish Oil in cream cheese, peanut butter, cottage cheese or anything that your pet likes. Your furry friend will never know it's there and you're giving your animal a healthy treat!

FDA Recommends Not Giving Children Under 6 Cold Medicine

Many parents are concerned about the recent FDA recommendation that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines not be given to children under 6 years of age because of a lack of effectiveness and potential for side effects.

With this recent news in mind, a team of researchers from the Penn State College of Medicine decided to put nature to the test.   They tested the effectiveness of three different approaches for children who were having trouble sleeping due to a cough.

The children in the study were given either no treatment at all, a little bit of buckwheat honey or dextromethorphan (DM), the chemical cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cold medicines.  The children receiving the honey or DM took it about 30 minutes before bedtime.

The research team found that honey was more effective in reducing the severity and frequency of nighttime cough compared with DM or no treatment at all. Honey also allowed the children to sleep better.  The findings are published in the December, 2007, issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

According to the study's lead researcher, Dr. Ian Paul, Penn State's director of pediatric clinical research: "Honey provided the greatest relief of symptoms compared with the other treatments.  With honey, parents now have a safe and effective alternative to use for children over age 1 that have cough and cold symptoms".  Some of the children were hyperactive for a short time after being given the honey, Dr. Paul said. However, children who received honey slept better and so did their parents, he noted.

Paul cautioned that honey should never be given to children younger than 1, because of the rare risk of infantile botulism. In addition, he noted, cough medicines that mention "honey" on the label actually contain artificial honey flavor not real honey.

Honey has been used for centuries to treat upper respiratory infection symptoms such as cough. In addition, honey has antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, and also soothes the back of the throat.

Once again, science has proven that food really can be your medicine.

100 Calorie Snack Packs - Worth The Price?

100 Calorie Snack Packs are all the rage. They are easy to track calories but most of them aren't very nutritious and are very costly. They typically cost more per ounce than larger serving packages. It seems as though each day there are more and more "mini" 100 calorie snack packs available of your favorite foods and the television advertises them non-stop.

Are 100-calorie bags worth the cost? "We are a nation on the go, looking for convenience and used the right way, there is nothing wrong with them," said dietitian Julie Walsh. "Used the wrong way and you are going to pile on a lot of additional calories that don't add a lot of nutrients to the diet." The Center for Science in the Public Interest has compared the costs of 100 Calorie packs against the bigger portions and found price increases of over 200%. You're going to pay more for the packaging, too. With a full bag of pretzels, the cost is about 17 cents an ounce. Divided into 100-calorie packs, the same pretzels cost nearly 40 cents an ounce, more than double. According to Walsh, "Whenever you pay for convenience, there's going to be a higher price."

What else can you eat that is 100 calories? A container of yogurt or an apple flavored with a tablespoon of peanut butter, which is a much healthier snack, Walsh said.

From director Michael Jacobson: "Hundred-calorie packs are an ingenious way for companies to charge consumers more for less," [...]. "Manufacturers get the best of both worlds--they make more money, and they look like they're helping people control their weight." When you purchase these 100 calorie snack packs you will notice that there isn't much in each serving. 100 calories is not a lot and most people will not be "filled up" or satisfied after eating just 1 snack pack.

Many of the 100-calorie pack items are free of trans fats and low in sugar, but don't confuse them with a nutritious snack, experts say. That's because they're highly processed, and not nearly as good for you as fresh fruits and vegetables. It is definitely cheaper to buy in bigger packages or bulk and repackage yourself into smaller serving sizes. Look at the back of the bag and see how many ounces, chips, cookies, etc is 1 serving size and the number of calories and pack accordingly.

Don't forget about nutrition! While cookies and chips may taste good they are not fuel for your body. Try a whole food snack instead.

Here are the 10 worst offenders along with the percentage increase that consumers pay for the 100 calorie versions.

1. Cheese Nips 279%

2. Keebler Chips Deluxe Cookies 250%

3. Chex Mix 248%

4. Ritz Crackers/Snack Mix 229%

5. Goldfish Pretzels 196%

6. Keebler Graham Crackers 188%

7. Oreo Cookies/Thin Crisps 187%

8. Keebler Sandies Cookies 185%

9. Snyder’s Pretzels 175%

10. Chips Ahoy Cookies/Thin Crisps 175%

Is The Sun Good For You?

HUH? I SHOULD SPEND MORE TIME IN THE SUN?
By Robert Bazell, Chief MSNBC Science & Health Correspondent

One of the refrains we hear most often covering the health and science beat is: “You tell me one day something is bad for me and then it is good.” There are many legitimate reasons for this perception, and this story is a fine example. 

About three decades ago, dermatologists alarmed at the rising incidence of skin cancer began a campaign to get people to stop spending so much time in the sun, or at least to cover up with strong suntan lotion if they did. The effort was enormously successful.

Now there is a big problem with it. When the sun’s rays (unfiltered by lotion) strike our skin, our bodies produce vitamin D. Scientists always knew vitamin D is critical for good health. Children not exposed enough to the sun can get a terrible disease called rickets.  But around 1989 scientists began to discover that vitamin D played an important critical role in all the cells in the body, and they hypothesized that a lack of vitamin D could increase the risks for cancer.

Large population studies have now verified that people with low vitamin D levels indeed have higher levels of several common types of cancer, including colon and breast. Some of the best research comes from the Nurse’s Health Study and the Health Professionals Study -- two efforts run by the Harvard School of Public Health that have been following tens of  thousands of people for decades. The latest study looks at cancer incidence in men. In addition to the Harvard study, two others came out today demonstrating an increased incidence of breast cancer in women with low levels of vitamin D. Those were presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

So how much vitamin D do we need? Based on these latest studies, experts now recommend a minimum of 1,000 units a day. We get about 200 from food and supplements usually contain 400. That is where the sun comes in. No one is saying people should get sunburned or even tan. But you can get 1,000 units of vitamin C by spending 10 minutes in the sun in the middle of the day with your arms and face exposed. Amazingly, with our automobile and indoor lifestyle many Americans do not get even that much.  So here is an example where the advice is changing not because of confusion, but because science is making genuine progress.

Once again, science is confirming the age old wisdom that sunlight is essential and beneficial to all living things. As the colors and smells of spring are beginning to fill the air, we encourage you to start the season by doing a Tri-Decathlon or a Liquithon which, incidentally, includes an hour a day of walking, fresh air, and sunshine.   These 13 day programs of whole foods, water, walking, and sunshine turn out to be life changing events for many who rise to the challenge.  Are you up to the challenge?