Why Drink Alcohol To Cut Your Diabetes Risk?

One of the more popular topics that emerged during 2005: The dubious value of drinking alcoholic beverages for your health. A new study has linked the moderate consumption of alcohol each week (5-30 grams) to a sharply lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

Because the lion's share of type 2 diabetics are women, researchers evaluated the health of some 16,000 female patients, who had no symptoms of this dreadful disease at the start of the study. Over about six years, more than 750 women succumbed to diabetes.

Interestingly, patients who drank excessively or not at all had a much higher incidence of type 2 diabetes than those who drank no more than what amounts to three alcoholic drinks a week.

I suspect that's a fluke -- as I pointed out in a similar study last year -- because the benefit probably comes from a component other than alcohol. In fact, I believe the alcohol contained in beverages such as red wine is poisonous and can mess up your hormonal balance.

If you want to get your diabetes under control or protect your health from it, I urge you to follow this simple three-step plan:

• Get moving with an exercise program. Retool your diet based on your body's unique metabolic type.
• Improve your sleep habits.

Yahoo News December 29, 2005

Debunking the Barbie Myth

One of the intangibles that can affect your health just as badly as making the wrong food choices: A poor body image. However, a long-standing contributor to this problem -- the $2 billion Barbie doll industry -- may not be the primary culprit, according to British researchers.Despite being blamed for a wide range of social ills, scientists don't believe the Barbie doll is viewed by young girls as an icon for perfection at all. In fact, many girls in the study played with their dolls in very destructive ways, believing their Barbies to be childish, inanimate objects, certainly not objects worth mimicking.The article argues, rightly, kids really do understand the difference between the real world and the unreal one inhabited by Ken and Barbie dolls, and that blaming a doll on a child's poor eating habits is shaky science at best.That said, body image -- the way in which your outside appearance matches how you feel on the inside -- is certainly a hugely important part of optimizing your emotional health, as it can guide you in making the right choices. But, where do you get started?One of the most effective tools that can help you make this transition to better health -- without the need for a drug -- is one of the simplest to learn: The Emotional Freedom Technique, the energy psychology tool I've used in my practice for more than six years.

Live Science December 30, 2005

Reduce Gum Disease with Grapefruit?

It appears two grapefruit a day may help keep the dentist away. A recent study of 58 people with chronic gum disease showed that after eating two grapefruit each day for two weeks everyone (including smokers) experienced elevated vitamin C levels.The study explains that vitamin C promotes wound healing and reduces damage from unstable free radical molecules thus aiding in the repair of gums. Word to the wise, protein types, who usually don't do well with citrus fruits, should not consume grapefruit as it might actually increase gum disease. The bioflavanoids in grapefruit that produce this benefit would be best obtained from other fruits like blueberries, apples and grapes and almost all vegetables including broccoli, greens and onions. You may be wondering if you could get the same benefits from a vitamin C supplement. Though I consider most supplements safe and some beneficial, there is no substitute for getting vitamins through good food choices.I encourage preventing gum disease naturally. It's particularly important not to use regular toothpaste as it contains fluoride, a dangerous poison not intended for humans.  Chicago Tribune January 1, 2006

How to Reach a Live Person When You Dial Big Companies

If you've ever wondered how to get around those annoying automated phone systems most all major banks and retailers use to screen calls, there's little known codes that let you get past them and go straight to a live operator.Blogger Paul English has posted a comprehensive cheat sheet that offers tricks for finding a live operator at dozens of frequently called companies, including the hard-to-find ones like Amazon.com.His site lists codes that you can dial as soon as the automated system picks up your call so it can be routed directly to a human. It also helps you foil the new breed of customer service hotlines that ask you to say aloud your request.A nifty workaround: Saying the words ''agent'' or ''operator'' will usually redirect you to a live operator at most companies.

Paul English.com

FDA Finally Studies Mercury in Canned Tuna

Last month, I told you about the awesome three-part report by the Chicago Tribune about the very lax federal standards governing the mercury content in the fish -- both canned and fresh -- you buy at the grocery store. Apparently, the FDA read it too...Not surprisingly, during the last week of 2005, the FDA announced a probe, based on reports some canned ''light'' tuna -- a product sanctioned by the agency as a ''safe'' choice -- includes the yellowfin species that often contains high amounts of mercury.It's certainly hard to avoid canned tuna with yellowfin, considering food manufacturers produce some 1.2 billion cans of light tuna annually, and only one producer (Genova) lists yellowfin on its light tuna label.As I've said many times, fish would be a nearly perfect food -- full of protein, essential nutrients and healthy fats -- if mercury wasn't a part of the picture. If you're at all skeptical about the mercury levels in the fish you eat regularly, I strongly recommend using a terrific calculator created by GotMercury.org.Chicago Tribune December 31, 2005 Registration Required

Seatlle Post-Intelligencer December 31, 2005

Does Staying Up Later Reduce Your Chances of Heartburn?

Did you know cutting back on your valuable sleep time -- a proven tool for fighting obesity -- can help you prevent heartburn? Sounds strange to me too...

Japanese researchers have determined a shorter gap between evening meals and bedtime elevates your risks of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Based on a study of some 450 patients (including some 150 who suffered from heartburn), those who hit the sack less than three hours after their evening meal were almost 7.5 times more likely to have heartburn.

Instead of moving back your bedtime, however, you can treat your heartburn far more effectively by making some simple lifestyle changes, like, for example, staying away from acidic and sugary soft drinks.

Two other important variables:

• Knowing your body's unique metabolic type so you'll have a better handle on the right mix of protein and carbohydrates (vegetables) you should be consuming every day.
• Reducing, with the plan of eliminating, grains and sugars from your diet.

Yahoo News December 27, 2005

Dangerous Offender, Obesity, is Tied to Alzheimer's?

I frequently write about two of today's most devastating epidemics: Alzheimer's and obesity. A recent study supports what I've known for a long time – the two are related. Researchers observed a strong correlation between body mass index and elevated levels of beta-amyloid, the sticky protein substance that builds up in the Alzheimer's brain and plays a major role in destroying nerve cells and cognitive behavioral problems associated with the disease. Instances of Alzheimer's are increasing at an incredibly disturbing rate. Experts estimate it will affect nearly 8 million people in the United States alone by 2030. The good news, Alzheimer's in nearly 100 percent preventable if you follow these guidelines:

• Eat lots of high-quality omega-3 fish oil Avoid mercury-laden fish Stay away from aluminum Exercise regularly  Shirk flu vaccinations Try Wild Blueberry IQ Eat based on your body's unique metabolic type  Keep your mind active
• Reduce stress and worry

Jefferson Hospital News December 29, 2005

Doctors Discuss Deadly Obesity Surgeries

With the lethal obesity epidemic on the rise, it is no surprise dangerous weight surgeries are as well. Americans are willing to risk their health, even life, for a quick pound-shedding fix.

In a recent article, doctors discuss which of the popular procedures is safest and best. As I would expect, some also alluded to the additional benefits of diet drugs - the sad, deadly result of a profit-over-health mentality.

Ignoring obvious, far safer approaches to weight loss, doctors discussed: 

• Gastric bypass – stomach stapling surgery with a 2 percent or higher mortality rate and other significant effects including: malnutrition, anemia and osteoporosis Laparoscopic band – an adjustable stomach band with a .1 percent mortality rate and side effects such as vomiting and cramps
• Biliopancreatic diversion – cutting off part of stomach and rerouting the intestines, the riskiest option with up to 5 percent mortality rate and nausea, pain, weakness, sweating, diarrhea are among the effects

With over 31 percent of American adults considered obese, obviously something drastic needs to be done. I urge, don't go under the knife! Take a more holistic approach:  

• Reduce grains and sugars Eat according to your metabolic type Exercise regularly
• Improve your emotional well-being

USA Today  

The Word is Spreading: People Are Skipping Flu Shots

Despite all the scare tactics being used by federal health officials and some shortages, Americans may be indeed getting wiser about the toxic pharmaceutical cocktail known as the vaccine, according to a new report.In just one example, some 30 percent of New York City patients offered flu shots refused them, according to recent surveys. That's much lower than figures collected by the CDC last year, when only 55 percent of whites and 45 percent of blacks over age 65 were vaccinated.Interestingly, the focus of this piece is an attempt to "debunk the urban legends" that scare patients away from vaccines. Yet the most important concern -- exposing you and your children to the mercury-laden chemical thimerosal -- is saved for last and given little attention (mercury-free vaccines for children are difficult to find too).Considering a recent investigation by the FDA into the deaths of 12 Japanese children was linked to Tamiflu, your best protection against the flu definitely isn't a drug or vaccine.To learn more about some effective ways to protect your family from the flu without the need for a toxic drug, I urge you to read my winter flu protocol.

MSNBC December 29, 2005

Could a Generic Zocor ''Hurt'' The Statin Market?

Last week, I told you about Pfizer dodging a bullet when its cash cow, Lipitor, was protected from the generic drug market for five more years by a federal judge. An astute look at the mega-pharmaceutical landscape in yesterday's Chicago Tribune shows how the soon-to-be-generic status of another worthless statin drug -- Zocor -- will be a boon to the conventional drug paradigm at the end of the day.With Zocor moving to generic status in June, this statin will cost close to half as much ($2 a pill) at the retail level. And, because one statin isn't any better -- if not worse -- than any other, health care plans as well as pharmacies will likely be encouraging patients to use the cheaper generic instead.Another advantage for a generic Zocor product: The looming disaster that is the Medicare drug benefit package.Truth is, you can enjoy the same benefits you receive from a statin drug -- generic or not -- without taking one by making simple lifestyle changes which include modifying your eating habits based on your body's unique metabolic type.

Chicago Tribune December 29, 2005 Registration Required

The Cancer-Fighting Power of Vitamin D

I frequently tout the significant benefits of vitamin D and am very happy to see more studies supporting its importance. A recent report, based on findings from 1966-2004, indicates that vitamin D can reduce the risk of colon, breast and ovarian cancers, among others, by as much as 50 percent.The primary role of vitamin D is to keep the balance of calcium and phosphorus in the blood, in turn keeping bones strong, according to experts. Its lesser-known role is regulating cell growth and determining cell development, which is why a deficiency in vitamin D may promote cancerous, rather than healthy, cell growth. Just a reminder, I have also discussed the anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin D and its role in preventing: heart disease, 16 types of cancer, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, bone diseases, chronic muscle pain, weakness and even Parkinson's.Researchers recommended getting your daily intake by eating processed foods, and tended to downplay the easiest and best source – sunshine. Because it can be difficult to get quality sun in the dead of winter, another good source of vitamin D is cod liver oil. American Journal of Public Health December 27, 2005Yahoo News December 28, 2005

Why Are Your Car Seats SO BIG?

To meet the "growing needs" of their customers -- a polite way to describe the obesity epidemic -- a number of foreign automakers like Honda have redesigned some of their 2006 models to fit the wider bodies of Americans.Domestic car companies claim they've been making those accommodations for a while, but Ford recently took the next step: Using nine different body types, including the frame of an morbidly obese man, to guide them during the computer design phase.Ford's justification for bigger seats stems from the growing girth of oversized Americans, up nearly 30 pounds over the past 38 years. The company is also considering inflatable bladders to help passengers of all sizes.So, if you've been wondering why cars are getting bigger and more expensive for no good reason, now you know. Besides, with the impact of smoking and obesity erasing years off the lives of Americans, car manufacturers are probably seeing the market for their products shrinking...

USA Today December 28, 2005

Site Helps You Track Your Amazon Purchases For Price Drop Credits

You know how much of a fan I am of Amazon.com and all the wonderful things they do. Only one problem: What happens when the price of a book or CD you bought on Amazon last week drops?Like most retailers -- brick and mortar or on the Web -- Amazon will refund the difference up to 30 days after you bought it, but you'd have to check their site from time to time. Then, if the price drops, you'll have to contact them to get that credit.AmazonCreditsYou.com is a site long in coming that will do the dirty work of monitoring those purchases for you every day. If the price drops, the site sends you a link that takes you where you can get your credit. It's as simple as completing a one-line form.

AmazonCreditsYou.com

Are You Watching Sports Instead of Playing Them?

Here's an interesting non-medical factoid that goes far toward explaining why the epidemic of obesity has grown by leaps and bounds in America, particularly over the past 30 years, that makes perfect sense to me: People like to watch sports far more than playing them. This and other similarly disheartening factoids were recently compiled in the latest Statistical Abstract about various aspects of American life collected by the U.S. Census Bureau.It's no surprise, people are opting for staying home in front of their big screen TVs hooked up to 24/7 sports cable networks filling dead air time with reruns of "classic" sporting events, World Series of Poker tournaments and celebrity sports news. (By the way, TV viewing was up for the eighth straight year too.)One sports sociologist offered an interesting explanation as to why adults are more interested in being spectators than participants: Adults may have taught children not to play sports if they aren't good at them, intentionally or otherwise by the way kids are treated by coaches on sports teams.Just more proof, if you want to nip obesity in the bud, you'll want to place limits on your child's TV viewing immediately and get them moving today. I also have many resources on my Web site that can help parents get moving with an exercise plan of their own too.

Yahoo News December 21, 2005

Big Company Breadwinner: Barley Products Can Claim Heart Benefits

Looks like major food producers will be able to deceive you with yet another flawed health claim – foods containing whole or milled barley grain reduce the risk of heart disease. The FDA recently ruled companies can begin advertising the benefit on product packages. To qualify, the food must contain a minimum of 0.75 grams of soluble fiber – shocking considering the Whole Grains Council set the standard at a minimum of two grams, if not four or five grams. The misleading claim is as backwards as the Food Pyramid. More than 75 percent of Americans would benefit from severely limiting or eliminating all grains – refined, whole, sprouted or otherwise – from their diets. This is particularly true for anyone who is: overweight, has high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. An additional one-third of the remaining people need to avoid grains because they are protein metabolic types. I'm very concerned the public will misconstrue the "heart healthy" message. The dangerous carbohydrate composition in grains often results in obesity – the most dangerous epidemic plaguing the United States. If you're worried about your fiber intake, simply eat more vegetables.

Yahoo News December 23, 2005

Slash Your Blindness Risks, Improve Your Diet

Seems conventional medicine may be finally catching on to the wisdom of improving your health thanks to eating a healthier diet. Almost five years ago, I posted a terrific report on how to reverse macular degeneration. A new study shows how you can lower your odds of succumbing to this disease -- the leading cause of vision loss in seniors -- with an antioxidant-rich diet.Researchers studied the diets of more than 4,000 seniors living in the Netherlands for clues about boosting eye health. Patients whose diets included foods rich in zinc, beta carotene and vitamins C and E were 35 percent less likely to develop macular degeneration, compared to those whose diets lacked any one of the aforementioned nutrients. Moreover, those whose diets were lacking in all of those nutrients increased their risks by 20 percent.Just more evidence, the vitamins your body gets from eating a nutritious diet are far more beneficial for your health than taking supplements.Unfortunately, scientists didn't track the value of foods rich in omega-3 fats which can do an incredible amount of good for you too.Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 294, No. 24, December 28, 2005: 3101-3107

Yahoo News December 27, 2005

Vioxx Trials Could Last Several Lifetimes

An interesting sidebar to the various Vioxx lawsuits being tried across the country: The toll it will likely take on the judicial system and, specifically, judges like New Jersey Superior Court Judge Carol Higbee who's involved in guiding the 4,333 cases in her court, and counting...Should Higbee hear each Vioxx case filed in her court alone -- with each one lasting up to seven weeks -- she would need almost 600 years to finish the job. With some 9,200 cases in the pipeline nationwide and many former Vioxx users still filing, that 600-year estimate may not be so far-fetched after all.Although Merck has made no secret it plans to fight each case one-at-a-time, Higbee, a former medical malpractice attorney, suspects Vioxx rulings could be handed down far sooner. Let's hope Higbee will have some time to work on the 375 non-Vioxx cases waiting for her in the queue until the next Vioxx trial begins Feb. 27.Just a reminder to choose a safer, healthier and cheaper anti-inflammatory alternative over any drug-based "cure," even an over-the-counter medication that can be just as harmful.

Quote.com December 25, 2005

What Do Fish Farms Use For Feed?

If you've ever eaten farmed fish, you may not want to know the answer to the question posed in the headline above, based on previous reports I've posted about wild baby salmon being contaminated with sea lice. An international group of bird conservationists believes the practice of fish farms using chicken feces for food -- routine in Asia -- may be responsible for the spread of the avian flu.According to this excellent piece in The Independent (free text link below), using chicken feces is common in integrated livestock-fish farming, which also involves the transfer of pig and duck waste directly to fish farms.Even worse, some believe the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization -- that oversees this practice -- may have been aware for some time, there were serious health risks involved with mixing farmed fish and animal feces.Without exposure to such toxins -- don't forget mercury -- fish would be nearly a perfect food. If you want to get same nutritional benefits, but without the dangers, I recommend taking a high quality fish or cod liver oil daily.

The Independent December 28, 2005

The Science Behind Getting Wet in the Rain

Because the study of physics is one of my passions, I thought you'd enjoy this fun analysis about your chances of getting less wet in the rain by running faster.All of us have done it at one time or another, thinking we'd escape getting drenched. This interesting piece written by an astrophysics expert and fellow with the Royal Astronomical Society breaks down your chances of getting wet mathematically.However, because the human body is a complex thing -- with different shapes and body parts moving in opposing directions -- this scientist admits the real answer involves some cheating in the form of averages and assumptions.Maybe, it's better to keep an umbrella handy after all...

BBC News December 27, 2005

Squeezing the Most Out of Your Day

Aside from our health, arguably, time is the most valuable personal commodity we have. And, despite what you're thinking, you do have control over your time, if you take the necessary steps to manage it better. Always looking for helpful hints on how to squeeze a few extra minutes out of my day, I came across this excellent piece on ways to become more productive that will certainly help you too.

Many of the suggestions outlined in this awesome piece are, not surprisingly, simple things practiced day upon day that become part of a productive routine so you can devote more time to people and pursuits that do matter.

So as not to spoil your reading pleasure completely, here's a sampling of some of the simple and helpful hints you'll discover:

• Always carry a pen and paper (or something to write with and on) to make notes. Talk to cheerful people. Make your work fun.
• Take care of your health by exercising, getting enough sleep and not skipping meals.

Aaron Swartz: The Weblog December 28, 2005

Will a New Anti-Smoking Vaccine Kill More than Cravings?

A so-called nicotine vaccine, NicVax, was recently reported to be safe, well-tolerated and potentially effective in helping people quit smoking. Researchers claimed a 38-week study (hardly time to measure the long-term effects of the vaccine), including 68 current smokers, indicated 38 percent of the people taking a high dose of the vaccine quit for at least 30 days. Also, this study was partially funded by Nabi Biopharmaceuticals that developed NicVax, another sign drug companies, all too frequently, slant results in their favor.I regard vaccination as a morally reprehensible scandal by the drug companies motivated by money, not health benefits. Many vaccines contain high levels of extremely dangerous, even deadly, substances such as thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative.I urge you to seriously evaluate the possible risks and side effects of such a vaccine before ever using it. Instead, quit smoking naturally as part of an overall nutrition plan. Remember, it is imperative not to put on a lot of weight when cutting out cigarettes. Obesity is much more harmful to you than smoking.Yahoo News December 26, 2005

Lose Weight, Gain a Vacation?

Nearly half of the company's 75 employees are participating in a weight loss challenge, running through January. To win, employees must meet one of three goals: lose 25 pounds, reduce body weight by 15 percent or reduce body fat by 15 percent.The company president says the motives are actually selfish. Someone who feels and is healthy will work harder and become more focused. Other companies are following suit in hopes of saving on the cost of health care and optimizing productivity. You may remember a story earlier this year about one employee, who is successfully fighting off obesity and diabetes, cost the company $1,600 in total health care expenditures last year. The average employee who did nothing to treat his ongoing diabetes could cost his company more nine times than amount annually.I can't emphasize the devastating effects of obesity enough. Fight the epidemic with: exercise, reducing the intake of grains and sugars, eating according to your metabolic type and improving emotional health.

Yahoo News December 27, 2005

The SAD Season Strikes America

For Americans, particularly those who live in the Northern Hemisphere, just a reminder the season of Seasonal Affective Disorder -- better known as SAD -- is upon you, if you're not already feeling a bit depressed.

The only good news about SAD -- a condition affecting as much as 20 percent of all Americans and largely women -- is that conventional medicine is finally starting to accept this as a real problem that must be diagnosed and treated, says one Harvard expert.

Some interesting facts about SAD:

• Side effects range from the "mild and self-limiting," according to experts, to suicidal thoughts.
• SAD can be misdiagnosed for some physical illnesses -- mononucleosis and hypothyroidism -- and vice versa.

Unfortunately, one of the safest and most natural treatments for SAD -- getting a healthy dose of vitamin D-rich sunshine -- may not be at all feasible in your part of the country. To get your optimal amount of vitamin D during the winter months, I recommend taking a high quality cod liver oil.

Another crucial component to my protocol for treating SAD: Full spectrum light therapy that can help you feel better physically and mentally after two to three days of treatments.

Detroit Free Press December 27, 2005

MSNBC December 16, 2005

Stay Away From Bad Doctors!

I've posted plenty of pages on my Web site citing many valid reasons you need to stay away from conventional medicine to treat your health. One of those frightening studies I posted earlier this year blamed health care workers for ignoring the mistakes made by their peers that can kill you.

Seems those bad habits start early for doctors and stay that way, based on the findings of a new study.

Scientists compared the unprofessional behaviors of medical school students who continued to behave badly in the workplace with graduates who were never disciplined from 1990-2003. Not surprisingly, doctors who were punished by state medical boards were three times as likely to have been disciplined while in medical school for unprofessional behavior.

So, what does unprofessional behavior encompass?

• Poor relationships with others. The inability to take criticism constructively.
• An unreliability for following up with patients or attending clinics.

No wonder, many more patients are turning to safer, healthier means to treat the real cause of their medical problems and away from the drug-addicted paradigm that is conventional medicine.

New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 353, No. 25, December 22, 2005: 2673-2682

USA Today December 21, 2005

The Benefits of Being Likeable on the Job

Often, I warn you about the consequences of stress that can overwhelm you -- particularly in the workplace -- and share some of the natural, safer ways to treat them. Thanks to this terrific USA Today piece, here's another benefit you may not have considered when it comes to taming your emotions: Likeable people can be more successful in their jobs.The way people feel about you on the job can have a more important effect on how successful you are at forming important work relationships that enable you to get things done. In fact, according to a Harvard Business Review study, likeability trumps competence, even if the disagreeable employee has the right skill set.Other benefits of being perceived to be friendly and likeable on the job: Likeable employees may bring more business to your company because they have better rapport with your customers.

• Being agreeable can often bring more promotions and bigger salaries.
• Conversely, an unpleasant personality may cost you that new job you were looking for, and the old one you wanted to leave behind.

One of the most effective ways to deal with all those inner demons that may be preventing you from making progress in your personal relationships and your career is to learn the how to use the Emotional Freedom Technique, the energy psychology tool I use daily in my practice with the help of my free online manual.

USA Today December 28, 2005

Acrylamide Not Confined to Fries, Potato Chips

An interesting piece I discovered from last week's Los Angeles Times reminded me to remind you about an important fact about acrylamide, a dangerous carcinogen that forms in processed foods cooked at high temperatures: Exposure to this health-harming substance isn't confined to French fries, potato chips or meats.Food scientists have found the presence of acrylamide in such things as breakfast cereal, coffee, bread and black olives and is present in 40 percent of the caloric intake of most Americans.That's made some observers very skeptical California Attorney General Bill Lockyer will get very far in his recent lawsuit that would require food manufacturers and restaurants to issue warnings about the high acrylamide levels present in potato chips and French fries.However, there are experts, including some state scientists and me, who believe the dangers of acrylamide -- once believed to be the only product of industrial waste -- is certainly worth your attention.

• Stop eating processed foods and retool your diet based on your body burns best by eating the best foods for your metabolic type.Increase your intake of raw and minimally cooked foods.
• Get rid of your Teflon-coated cookware today!

Los Angeles Times December 19, 2005 Registration Required

Treating Common Back Pain With Yoga

Last week, I told you about the use of yoga to tame the damaging effects of serious diseases ranging from AIDS to Crohn's disease. A new study has found taking yoga classes to be much more beneficial and effective for a more common problem -- chronic low back pain -- than learning how to treat it from a book and even taking therapeutic exercise classes.Researchers monitored the progress of about 100 patients (mainly women in their 40s) divided into three groups: Those given a book to read on back pain and others assigned to exercise classes taught by a physical therapist or sessions in viniyoga, a specially designed and therapeutic style of yoga emphasizing safety.The good news is that the back health of all three groups improved, but those assigned to yoga classes benefited the most (78 percent) based on the Roland Disability Scale, a standard measure that evaluates how patients perform daily tasks like tying their shoes without pain.Here's an even greater benefit: Yoga patients significantly reduced their reliance on health-harming drugs to relieve their back pain. Almost 60 percent had been using some form of pain reliever but, by the end of the study, the number still using pain drugs declined drastically to 21 percent.And what about patients given a book on taking better care of their backs? Their use of pain meds increased from 50 to 57 percent...Just a reminder, there are safer, healthier ways to treat your pain, apart from using a potentially toxic drug.Annals of Internal Medicine, Vol. 143, No. 12, December 20, 2005: 849-856 Free Full Text Article

Forbes.com December 20, 2005

More Immunity to Tamiflu

Here's something I expect will probably get the powers that be -- namely federal health officials and the mega-drugmakers -- more concerned about the avian flu epidemic/hoax: The H5N1 virus may now be resistant to Tamiflu, something I warned you about last year.

Recently, two Vietnamese patients treated early on with Tamiflu died from the flu anyway. What's more, these cases demonstrated a high resistance to that worthless drug.

In those patients who died, researchers found the virus had mutated so it could better overcome the natural functioning of neuraminidase, a genetic chemical that creates and releases copies of infected cells.

Another interesting factoid: A reminder that as many as 18 percent of the children who are treated with Tamiflu develop a drug-resistant strain of the disease. Even the British Medical Journal warned us recently that the avian flu virus isn't capable of causing a human pandemic.

To be prepared for the flu and bolster your immune system without the need for a drug that may not work anyway, here's some helpful hints to get you started:

• Eat the right foods for your body's unique metabolic type. Wash your hands often. Get your sleep! Address the stress that impairs your physical health by learning the Emotional Freedom Technique.
• Start exercising today!

New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 353, No. 25, December 22, 2005: 2667-2772 Free Full Text Article

New Scientist December 22, 2005

Control Your Diabetes NOW!

The latest New England Journal of Medicine (text link below) features an interesting study that makes a compelling argument for getting your diabetes under control. Of course, it bypassed any natural means to do so, however.Based on a study of more than 1,400 patients (ages 13-39) with type 1 diabetes, researchers found those who followed a more aggressive regimen of insulin for more than six years halved their risk of stroke, heart attack and bypass surgery. And, it slashed nerve, kidney and eye disease by 75 percent.Scientists were unsure whether this aggressive course of treatment would work for type 2 diabetes, far and away the common form of the disease with more than a million cases diagnosed each year and a true epidemic if there ever was one.To learn more about the contributing factors to type 1 diabetes and how to treat it, as well as cancer and other chronic degenerative diseases, you'll want to read about my simple four-step plan today.New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 353, No. 25, December 22, 2005: 2643-2653

Yahoo News December 21, 2005

A Smart Way To Promote Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is one of the most natural and health-promoting things a mother can do for her baby as well as herself. A unique plan recently announced by Massachusetts legislators hopefully will boost the number of breastfeeding moms there. New moms delivering their babies at Massachusetts hospitals won't be receiving free diaper bags, filled with baby formula samples (among many freebies) any more, thanks to a legislative ban on the practice.Although this regulation -- the first by any state in America -- doesn't block hospitals from giving mothers formula samples, the aim here, according to experts, is to put an end to a hospital's indirect endorsement of formula over breastfeeding, certainly a wonderful thing.As you might expect, one spokeswoman for one of the leading formula makers believes the ban to be disrespectful to women and "over the top."If breastfeeding isn't an option for you and your new baby, however, there are certainly a number of healthy alternatives at your disposal, outlined in the must-read series I posted earlier this year.

MSNBC December 22, 2005

The items above were blogs from Dr. Mercola. Click here to view more of his "Health Blogs".

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