Water World

An excerpt from an article by Allan Richter and Linda Melone

Drinking Water Safely

No wonder so many health advocates recommend that people drink eight glasses of water a day, or more when you exercise. Water helps flush out toxins, carry nutrients to cells, ease digestion, regulate body temperature and is important for blood flow. Identifying our cleanest water sources, however, can be difficult—some tap water has been found to contain traces of prescription drugs and chemicals, while bottled water can leech chemicals in plastic and the containers needlessly occupy space in landfills.

Best Foot Forward

Jumping into summertime fun is much easier when your feet don’t hurt.

An Article by Lisa James

It’s warm outside and people are jogging, hiking and playing sports. Yet here you sit on the sidelines, soaking your achy feet.

Millions of Americans are limping through life. “After 30 years in practice, I am still amazed at how many people are willing to tolerate foot pain,” says Robert Kornfeld, DPM, founder of The Institute for Integrative Podiatric Medicine and The Kornfeld Center in Manhasset, New York.

Foot problems may sound minor. But they can diminish your quality of life—and limit your exercise capacity. What’s more, a number of ailments can leave marks on the feet that are discernible to the trained eye.

The Microbe Fighter

Tea tree oil, Australia’s best-known natural remedy,
is a skincare multi-tasker—and more.

An Article By Karen Tenelli

In the Australian state of New South Wales, on the country’s southeastern coast, there is a lake the color of tea. Lake Ainsworth is a popular recreational spot, but that’s only part of its story. The lake had long been revered by the Bundjalung aborigines for its healing powers. It was place where women went to cleanse themselves after giving birth. Anyone with sores, wounds or skin afflictions would bathe to find relief. Modern Australians still go to Lake Ainsworth for rejuvenation, their skin and hair softer and smoother when they emerge from its brown waters. 

The lake takes its color from the surrounding trees, which are in the Melaleuca family—better known as the tea tree. Today the tea tree is grown on carefully cultivated plantations, its leaves distilled into an oil valued worldwide for its antimicrobial properties.

Supplements Are Foods

The USDA’s omission of nutritional supplements continues a disturbing trend.

This month, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) dismantled its Food Pyramid and replaced it with a graphic of a plate—cleverly named MyPlate. What does this accomplish? In theory, the new graphic makes it easier for consumers to adhere to a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy. Unfortunately, the USDA forgot to include the one daily food serving that Americans may need the most: nutritional supplements.

When Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) in 1994, it classified nutritional supplements as foods. Puzzlingly, despite this classification supplements were never included in the USDA’s Food Pyramid...and now that snub continues with MyPlate’s omission of supplements. This is particularly egregious considering the nutritional state of our food supply, which could make supplements more important than ever.

Hollow Foods

According to the Earth Summit Statistics meeting of 1992, farmland in the United States is over 85% micronutrient depleted—a figure that may be considerably worse in 2011. That means the fruits and vegetables on MyPlate may be nutritionally diminished by factory farming. In addition, some experts suggest that these foods may be depleted even further by processing, microwaving, canning, cooking and freezing. Ultimately, the USDA’s MyPlate graphic might be more like an empty plate, loaded with food that simply isn’t as nutritionally vital as we expect it to be.

If our foods are diminished, what about our bodies? Drugs are increasingly known to interfere with the absorption, synthesis and utilization of nutrients in the body. And as we age, we have an even harder time absorbing and using nutrients, which increases our risk of nutritional deficiency. Supplements are a solution.

Forbidden Rice

Forbidden Rice® is Lotus Foods’ top- selling product due in part to recent publicity about the high antioxidant content of black rice. “With the study given by Dr. Xu and the American Chemical Society Conference a few weeks ago showing that black rice has more anthocyanins (powerful antioxidants) than blueberries, we have had a surge in interest in this product,” explained Levine. This medium-size heirloom rice is treasured for its delicious roasted nutty taste, soft texture and beautiful deep purple color. The rice is also rich in iron and, according to Chinese herbal medicine, considered to be a blood tonifier.

See the oprmagazine for more details.

A Healthy Hair Style

Aubrey Organics has introduced its new USDA and NOP (National Organic Program) certified NuStyle Organic styling collection, which includes two new hairsprays (MSRP $9.95, 5-oz.)

Formulated with nutrient-rich organic quinoa protein, which works as a natural shine booster, these products strengthen and protect hair while keeping any style looking great all day.

Immune Balance™ Gluten FREEze™

Immune Balance™ Gluten FREEze™is a dynamic, broad-spectrum enzyme, probiotic and targeted nutrient formula that provides multidimensional immune and digestive support for gluten-free and dairy-free lifestyles. Gluten FREEze contains the clinically-studied immune activator Dipeptidyl Peptidase (DPP. IV) which has been shown to aid in the digestion of hidden gluten and dairy in the diet.

Kicking GMOs Out of the Marketplace

An excerpt from an article by Jeffery M. Smith

...


Concern about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in our food supply is attracting a lot of attention these days: FDA’s attempt to fast-track approval of genetically engineered salmon has resulted in unprecedented media coverage; “GMO-Free" was the fastest growing claim for store brands in 2009; it’s now the fifth fastest overall health and wellness claim; and Supermarket News predicted 2010 would see an unprecedented upsurge in consumer concern about GMOs.
While it would be great if awareness spurred action to regulate GMOs, don’t hold your breath. FDA doesn’t require GMO labeling and this is unlikely to change soon.

Consumers Can Kick Out GMOs

The good news is when it comes to making changes in our food supply, consumers are in control. Since GMOs don’t offer a single consumer benefit, if even a small percentage of shoppers stopped purchasing products containing them, they’d be dropped by food companies.
This is what happened in Europe. In 1999, the biotech industry was projecting GMO seeds would replace 95 percent of commercial seeds within five years. But when a gag order was lifted on a top scientist who discovered GMO health dangers, a media firestorm ensued. Ten weeks and 750 articles later, most European food companies had committed to stop using GM ingredients.
In the United States, consumers forced GM bovine growth hormone (rbGH) out of most dairy products and dairy cases, including Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Dannon and Yoplait.

About GMOs

Short for genetically modified organisms; also known as genetically engineered foods. To create a GMO, scientists inject a host organism (a plant with a foreign gene that will help resist pesticides, pests or freezing. Scientists also inject a virus or bacteria to encourage the foreign gene's invasion and an antibiotic marker gene to determine if the process worked. Because debate over the safety of GMOs continues, the FDA provides testing and regulation updates but the U.S. government doesn' require labeling of genetically modified foods. The only way to be sure you're not eating GMOS is by choosing products from certified organic producers who, compliant with USDA guidelines, do not use genetically modified seeds or ingredients. -Jessica Rubino

Misti's Fabulous Cookies

1/2 c. coconut oil
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. peanut butter
2 c. sucanat
2 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. sea salt
3 c. sprouted spelt flour
1/2 c. coconut flour
1/2 c. flax meal
1 c. chocolate chips
3/4 c. coconut
1 c. walnuts

Cream together butter, coconut oil, and peanut butter with sucanat. Add vanilla and eggs. Mix flours, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Blend with creamed mixture. Add chocolate chips, coconut and nuts. Shape dough into balls. Place balls on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350º for 12-16 minutes, or until slightly brown on edges.

Enjoy!

Calcium/Magnesium with Vitamin D Recall Update

An update from Michael Leiah, Ph.D., Technical Director of NOW Foods

We recently recalled several lots of Calcium/Magnesium with Vitamin D Softgels (items 1251 & 1252) because of high levels of Vitamin D. The problem came to our attention when we received two adverse event reports from consumers who underwent a regular blood screening and were found to have high levels of Vitamin D. We immediately started investigating. Like most manufacturers, we outsource our softgels, because softgel manufacturing is a very specialized process. Our specifications to our manufacturer were checked and were correct. However, we found that the manufacturer made a mistake in the batch calculation. The day we confirmed the mistake we issued the recall. Corrective actions are now in place to prevent the possibility of a similar error. As of mid-June, a new batch of Cal/Mag with Vitamin D Softgels was released and is now available. It is easy to identify this batch as the phrase "Easily Absorbed" was added  to the upper left hand corner of the label. This new batch has been double and triple-checked to assure formulation accuracy.

The Power of Coconut

History and Legend

For more than 4000 years, history and folklore across the tropical world have revered coconut water as a natural source of nutrition, wellness, beauty and hydration.

• Coconuts were called the "tree of life' in Sanskrit and the "staff of life" in Hawaiian legend and both cultures believed coconut water had magical healing powers.
• During WWII coconut water was used as a natural saline dip saving the lives of many Allied soldiers.
• The World Health Organization promotes coconut water as a natural treatment for dehydration.
• Today coconut water is used across continents to cure digestive ailments, as a beauty aid, to relieve cramps, to re-hydrate athletes and nourish post-partum moms.

Essential Oxygen+ Food Grade Oxygen Peroxide

IT WORKS!

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Extaordinary Health Monster Muffins

Fiber is important for healthy digestion. The following recipe is perfect for getting some of that essential nutrient. All credit goes to the Extraordinary Health Magazine for this  Fiber-licous Recipe.

Makes about 12-18 large muffins 

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