A Repost From NaturalNews

Pistachios are Heart Healthy Antioxidants

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 by: Wendy Rae, citizen journalist
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(NaturalNews) Pistachios had been linked in previous studies to lowering bad cholesterol, and a new study reported by Science Daily says they also increase antioxidant levels in the bloodstream. Antioxidants are molecules that prevent oxidation damage to other molecules.

Oxidation damage may be a source of serious illness and disease. Low levels of antioxidants in the blood may cause what is called "oxidative stress." Oxidative stress can lead to the dying off of good cells needed to function. It is still unclear in science whether antioxidant levels are associated with degenerative diseases. Penny Kris-Etherton, a Penn State professor of nutrition and head of the new pistachio study, doesn't believe science yet understands antioxidants. "The antioxidant story is very disappointing to the scientific community," said Kris-Etherton in the Science Daily pistachio report.

Pistachios are high in lutein, beta carotene, and Vitamin E. All three of these important vitamins are oil soluble. Oil soluble vitamins are important to health because they are stored in tissues longer and released at a slower rate than water soluble vitamins. Pistachios are also excellent sources of bone building copper, manganese, and phosphorous along with heart healthy potassium and magnesium. Pistachios are the only nut to contain the two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin.

In this new study, researchers gave 2 groups with the same base diet, differing amounts of pistachios. One group received 1.5 ounces of pistachios daily while the other received 3 ounces each day. Both groups had increased lutein, beta carotene, and Vitamin E with all participants decreasing their bad cholesterol levels after the study.

Another heart healthy benefit to these smiling nuts, as they are commonly referred to as, is the presence of the amino acid, arginine. Arginine benefits people who suffer from angina and those who have undergone serious trauma. Arginine is an important factor in cell division, removing ammonia from the body, releasing hormones, and helping maintain a healthy immune system.

A one ounce serving of pistachios has 160 calories. Pistachios have proven to be an excellent source of vitamin B6, fiber, thiamin, and phosphorus. Eating nuts in general is associated with a lower body mass index, and no weight gain was measured by adding the daily intake of pistachios during the study.

Choosing pistachios wisely is the key to obtaining the maximum health benefits. Pistachios are often roasted and heavily salted, making those varieties a danger for those watching sodium levels. Finding a source of unsalted, raw pistachios, could be a great long term asset to one's health plan.

Adding healthy pistachios to your diet is easy. They are a tasty snack by themselves or you can add them to salads, smoothies, or desserts. Organic pistachio nut butter offers the ease of being creative while adding antioxidants to your diet.

Reposted From NaturalNews

A Repost From NaturalNews

Prayer can help bring healing, say researchers

Sunday, August 08, 2010 by: Jonathan Benson, staff writer
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Articles Related to This Article: • New FDA guidelines threaten religious freedoms; Holy water could be regulated as "drugs" and rosaries as "medical devices" • Acceptance is the Key to Change • An Overview of How Stress Kills and How to Develop Your StresSkills Related video from NaturalNews.TV Your NaturalNews.TV video could be here. Upload your own videos at NaturalNews.TV (FREE)

(NaturalNews) Researchers from Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington recently conducted a study on the effects of praying directly with someone for healing. According to Candy Gunther Brown, an associate professor in the Department of Religious Studies at IU and author of the study, "proximal intercessory prayer", as she calls it, can actually help to bring about healing.

Published in the Southern Medical Journal, the study is part of a larger research project investigating the power of spiritual healing practices to heal disease. For this particular study, Brown and her team investigated two charismatic Christian groups known for their healing prayer activities, one from Africa and one from South America.

The team measured the hearing and vision capabilities of impaired people both before and after they received proximal intercessory prayer, and discovered a "statistically significant" improvement in many of them after they had received prayer.

Two people with impaired hearing reduced the threshold at which they were able to detect sound by 50 decibels. Three people with vision impairment at 20/400 or worse improved to 20/80 or better after receiving prayer. One woman who was virtually blind before receiving prayer was able to not only see a person's hand afterward, but was able to count the person's fingers and read the 20/125 line on a vision chart.

Brown explained that Christian subgroups that practice proximal intercessory prayer are among the fastest growing groups worldwide because of this phenomenon.

"If [people] feel that a particular religious or spiritual practice healed them, they are much more likely to become an adherent. This phenomenon, more than any other, accounts for the growth of these Christian subgroups globally," she explained.

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A Repost From NaturalNews

Eat Walnuts Daily and Improve Cholesterol Profile in Persons with Type II Diabetes

Monday, August 02, 2010 by: Deanna Dean, citizen journalist
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Articles Related to This Article: • Research shows that seeds and nuts are "brain foods" that can also stabilize your mood • Scientists find walnuts fight prostate cancer • Eating Walnuts may Prevent Breast Cancer Related video from NaturalNews.TV Your NaturalNews.TV video could be here. Upload your own videos at NaturalNews.TV (FREE)

(NaturalNews) As if walnuts weren't already a powerhouse of health benefits, we learn of another significant benefit from a recent study conducted by the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center. Published in the February issue of Diabetes Care, the study concluded that eating 2 ounces of walnuts, about 16 to 22 halves, every day as part of a normal diet may improve cardiovascular health in people with Type 2 diabetes.

Previous studies have demonstrated that walnuts promote heart health in healthy adults, but few of those studies have focused on diabetes.

"The research team found that endothelial function improved significantly when people consumed the walnut-enriched diet for 8 weeks, compared to when they followed their normal diets. We were very gratified by these findings," said Dr. David Katz, Yale University School of Medicine and principal investigator. "We all know the adage about 'an apple a day,' but in fact there are other foods that people should consider adding to their daily diets for specific health benefit. Walnuts rank high on that list."

Dr Katz goes on to say, "There are tens of millions of diabetics in the U.S. right now, and unfortunately, that number will rise rather steeply for the foreseeable future. Identifying simple, accessible, and even enjoyable lifestyle practices that can mitigate the potential harms of diabetes is of clear public health importance."

In another study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 55 participants with type 2 diabetes were put on low fat diets. The only group to achieve a cardioprotective fat profile was the one that ate walnuts every day.

Additional research has confirmed that when walnuts are eaten as part of a low-fat diet, the results show more heart protection for diabetic patients than can be achieved by simply lowering the fat content of the diet.

Weight gain and diabetes are a dangerous equation, so the extra 350 calories from two ounces of walnuts every day could have been problematic for the Yale study participants. However due to daily diet counseling and guidance the group did not gain weight, indicating that even for people for whom weight gain is a risk to their health, walnuts can be a part of a healthy diet.

Your healthmate,
Deanna Dean

Reposted From NaturalNews

A Repost From NaturalNews

Black Raspberries Inhibit Progression of Oral Cancer

Saturday, July 31, 2010 by: Alice E. Marson, citizen journalist
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Articles Related to This Article: • The mineral selenium proves itself as powerful anti-cancer medicine • Cancer is not a Disease - It's a Survival Mechanism (Book Excerpt) • Healing Illness - A Natural Anti-Cancer Protocol Related video from NaturalNews.TV Your NaturalNews.TV video could be here. Upload your own videos at NaturalNews.TV (FREE)

(NaturalNews) Black raspberries have taken center stage in the last decade as a cure or deceleration of one of the deadliest and sixth most common cancers - oral cancer. Research in the last seven years reveals the remarkable effects of black raspberries. They surpass strawberries and blueberries by possessing chemical and antioxidant qualities as anti-tumor agents. They contain ellagic acid, a polyphenol with strong antioxidant activity. In addition, drying the berries into a powder concentrates the ellagic acid and, when used as five-ten percent of the diet, this powder restricts the initiation and progression of oral cancer.

Oral cancer refers to malignancies of the oral and nasal cavities, tongue, throat, and larynx. The malignancy or its treatment often affects the neck and face, not only altering the facial appearance, but also interfering with such vital functions as breathing, speech, and swallowing. Oral cancer in the U.S. strikes men 50-75 years of age who have a history of chronic acid reflux, tobacco and alcohol use. Presently, it is also increasingly occurring in women. Rats injected with cancer-causing agents and then fed a berry-rich diet had 80 percent fewer malignant tumors compared to rats on a berry-free diet. In 2002, a hamster model of oral cancer disclosed that dietary black raspberries could suppress tumor development in the oral cavity.

Moreover, if research continues to be as positive as it is currently, the black raspberry could play a major role in the eradication of not only oral cancer, but colon and skin cancer as well. Berries, in addition to a healthful regimen of colorful fruits, vegetables, and nuts, such as cranberries, red peppers, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, nectarines, avocados, spinach, red grapes, almonds, and pecans, are the latest approach to the cancer fight. This intensified treatment program of natural compounds is being universally recognized to reduce the cancer risk. Dr. Gary Stoner, lead researcher at Ohio State University, advocates this regimen.

Pioneering discoveries have occurred in the cultivation of black raspberries at the Hollings Cancer center Medical University of South Carolina, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Kentucky. However, the most extensive, complete and major accomplishments continue to occur at the Ohio State University. Progress is slow, but the series of laboratory and animal studies will help the progress toward the suppression of oral cancer development.

Reposted From NaturalNews

A Repost From NaturalNews

Vinegar Offers Miraculous and Mundane Uses

Friday, July 30, 2010 by: Alice E. Marson, citizen journalist
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Articles Related to This Article: • Learn the Truth about Apple Cider Vinegar and Weight Loss • Apple Cider Vinegar is Effective Treatment for Candida • Detox and Cleanse with Raw Apple Cider Vinegar Related video from NaturalNews.TV Your NaturalNews.TV video could be here. Upload your own videos at NaturalNews.TV (FREE)

(NaturalNews) Research from around the world supports and commends Hippocrates, Father of Medicine, of ancient Greece, circa 400 B.C., for discovering that natural apple cider vinegar is a powerful cleansing and healing panacea for a healthier, stronger, and longer life. He used this elixir for a variety of ills, including coughs and colds. The recorded history of vinegar started around 5000 B.C. with the Babylonians and then the Egyptians in 3000 B.C. were followed by the Chinese in 1200 B.C. Because it eliminates germs, vinegar has been used for thousands of years by many cultures, not only for health reasons, but also as medicinal and cleaning agents to remove bacteria, germs, and odors.

In biblical times, vinegar was used as a flavoring agent, as an energizing drink, and as medicine. It is mentioned eight times in both the Old and New Testaments. In Ruth 2:14 Boaz invited Ruth to eat bread dipped in vinegar. Julius Caesar's army, the Greeks, and the Romans all kept vinegar vessels for healing and flavoring. Even Christopher Columbus in 1492 used barreled vinegar to prevent scurvy. The American Civil War soldiers used vinegar, also.

There are several kinds of vinegars, such as red wine, rice, and balsamic. Vinegar can be made from almost any fruit; however, apple cider vinegar is the most nutritious, notable and popular. There is, also, synthetic vinegar which, of course, has no nutritive value.

Natural, (undistilled) organic, raw vinegar with its sharp, sour taste can really be called one of Mother Nature's most perfect foods. It is made from fresh, crushed apples which are then allowed to mature naturally in wooden barrels as wood seems to "boost" the natural fermentation. The bacteria in the air convert the alcohol into acetic acid, thus producing vinegar.

Real, organic, apple cider vinegar is quite healthy, containing 30 important nutrients, 12 minerals (especially the all important potassium), over six vitamins, essential acids, and enzymes. It is the oldest cooking ingredient, especially popular in the U.S., and is used in marinades, vinaigrettes, salad dressings, chutneys, and as a food preservative. Used by Wiccans, healers, herbalists and aroma therapists, vinegar is a self-made cure, a "cure all," for dozens of ailments. Apple cider vinegar is an old folk remedy claimed to have a plethora of benefits. It is good for insect bites, sunburn, digestion and bowel functions, headaches, arthritic pain, weight loss, urinary tract infections, itching and other skin conditions. Vinegar is one of the most underestimated products on the planet yet it is available in most every grocery store. Do you remember the nursery rhyme Jack and Jill? Vinegar was even mentioned in the last line of the rhyme as a remedy for Jack's headache---vinegar and brown paper.

Not only is vinegar a powerful health medium, but it also is an effective cleaning agent. It cleans and sanitizes bathrooms, kitchens, floors, counter tops, the laundry, ovens, coffee makers, and shower heads. It is a fabric softener and stain, spot and odor remover. Used as a cosmetic, it can tighten facial skin, fight acne, reduce age spots, strengthen nails, brighten teeth and soften hair. Another one of its extraordinary qualities is its versatility in the garden. Vinegar can be used as an herbicide or insecticide and as a rust removal, in addition to cleaning pots, tools, furniture, sprinkler heads, and hands.

Many naturalists believe if you could select only two items for your household that possess usefulness and practicability, one would be vinegar and the other would be hydrogen peroxide. Justifiably, vinegar is considered one of nature's greatest gifts to mankind.

Reposted From NaturalNews

A Repost From NaturalNews

Olive Oil is a Breast Cancer Fighter and More

Thursday, July 29, 2010 by: Derrell Jones, citizen journalist
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Articles Related to This Article: • Raw Organic Virgin Coconut Oil has a hundred uses for health and home • How to Avoid Olive Oil Deceptions that Harm Health • Massive underwater oil cloud may destroy life in Gulf of Mexico Related video from NaturalNews.TV Your NaturalNews.TV video could be here. Upload your own videos at NaturalNews.TV (FREE)

(NaturalNews) The therapeutic effects of olive oil are both wondrous and unquestioned. Used since the most ancient of times olives and olive oil are an important aspect of the Mediterranean diet or any diet for that matter. Hippocrates declared that our food should be our medicine and one of the best places to start is with olive oil.

In 2009 1 in 8 women were affected by breast cancer. Many women, and some men as well, have a predisposition for this terrible disease. But there is no need to despair because there are natural and holistic methods for combating breast cancer and one of those ways is healthy eating habits that includes using olive oil. Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat packed full of antioxidants. The components that make up olive oil have been shown to slow the growth of tumors in breast tissue. It seems the oil inhibits certain proteins that cancer cells need in order to grow. Olive oil also protects our DNA from damage caused by harmful cancer cells.

Dr. Eduard Escrich, as part of a research team with Universitat Autonoma in Barcelona, has conducted preliminary testing on rats which have successfully shown that rats fed an olive oil diet had slower tumor growth. Dr. Escrich cautiously advises about the potential benefits of olive oil based on the study and goes on to say that what we eat is an important aspect of cancer promotion or prevention. The researchers are planning to conduct human trials but have concluded to this point that daily ingestion of 10 teaspoons of olive oil is recommended for optimal benefit.

Olive oil has already been linked to good heart health, reduced allergies, and lower risk of Type II Diabetes, depression and an overall lower risk of cancer. In addition, a healthy diet enriched with olive oil is known for its ability to assist in weight loss which is especially important in women who are battling breast cancer or wish to stave it off. Obesity is a risk factor for cancer and increased body mass is linked to cancer recurrence and a host of other chronic ailments. A person on a Mediterranean styled diet which would most definitely include the use of olive oil can experience a decrease in triglyceride levels and higher HDL cholesterol levels providing for greater fortification against breast cancer recurrence. With all of these benefits adding some cold pressed extra virgin olive oil to your eating plan is a prudent and delicious choice.

Reposted From NaturalNews

A Repost From Pat Hagan As Forwarded By Sheila Wall

Gel that can help decayed teeth grow back could end fillings

By Pat Hagan

Last updated at 2:50 PM on 27th July 2010

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Open wide: Thanks to a new gel, soon this won't hurt

A gel that can help decayed teeth grow back in just weeks may mean an end to fillings.

The gel, which is being developed by scientists in France, works by prompting cells in teeth to start multiplying. They then form healthy new tooth tissue that gradually replaces what has been lost to decay.

Researchers say in lab studies it took just four weeks to restore teeth back to their original healthy state. The gel contains melanocyte-stimulating hormone, or MSH.

We produce this in the pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland just behind the bridge of the nose.

MSH is already known to play an important part in determining skin colour - the more you have, the darker your flesh tone.

But recent studies suggest MSH may also play a crucial role in stimulating bone regeneration.

As bone and teeth are very similar in their structure, a team of scientists at the National Institute for Health and Medical Research in Paris tested if the hormone could stimulate tooth growth.

Their findings, published in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Nano, could signal hurtnot just an end to fillings, but the dreaded dentist drill as well. Tooth decay is a major public health problem in Britain. Around £45m a year is spent treating decayed teeth and by the age of 15, teenagers have had an average of 2.5 teeth filled or removed.

Decay is caused by bacteria, called streptococcus mutans, that live in the mouth and feed on sugar in the diet. Once the bacteria stick to the enamel, they trigger a process called demineralisation - they turn sugar in the diet into a harmful acid that starts to create holes in the teeth.

For decades, the main treatment for cavities has been to 'drill and fill'. However, an estimated one in five Britons suffers from dental phobia, a fear of dentists which means some would rather endure pain and suffering than face the prospect of having their teeth drilled.

The new treatment is painless. And although fillings halt decay, they can come loose and sometimes need refilling.

Experts believe new tooth cells would be stronger and a permanent solution.

The French team mixed MSH with a chemical called poly-L-glutamic acid. This is a substance often used to transport drugs inside the body because it can survive the harsh environments, such as the stomach, that might destroy medicines before they get a chance to work.

The mixture was then turned into a gel and rubbed on to cells, called dental pulp fibroblasts, taken from extracted human teeth. These cells are the kind that help new tooth tissue to grow.

But until now there has been no way of 'switching' them back on once they have been destroyed by dental decay. The researchers found the gel triggered the growth of new cells and also helped with adhesion - the process by which new dental cells 'lock' together.

This is important because it produces strong tooth pulp and enamel which could make the decayed tooth as good as new.

In a separate experiment, the French scientists applied the gel to the teeth of mice with dental cavities. In just one month, the cavities had disappeared. The gel is still undergoing testing but could be available for use within three to five years.

Professor Damien Walmsley, the British Dental Association's scientific adviser, said the gel could be an interesting new development, but stressed it is unlikely to be able to repair teeth that have been extensively damaged by decay.

'There are a lot of exciting developments in this field, of which this is one,' he said. 'It looks promising, but we will have to wait for the results to come back from clinical trials and its use will be restricted to treating small areas of dental decay.'

Scientists have developed a 'tongue' gel as part of a new approach to tackling bad breath and preventing tooth decay.

Halitosis is usually caused by bacteria in the mouth. The latest treatment, developed by Meridol, takes a mechanical and chemical approach. It consists of a tongue scraper, gel and mouth wash.

The extra-flat tongue cleaner is used to scrape bacteria off the tongue. The tongue gel and mouthwash are anti-bacterial and contain chemicals that attach themselves to odour-producing compounds, which are then flushed out with the mouthwash. Both gel and mouthwash contain fluoride.

Reposted From Pat Hagan As Forwarded By Shiela Wall