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New results from a 14 yr long study shows only 2 or more soft drinks a week increased the risk of pancreatic cancer by 87%.

The study by the University of Minnesota was done on 60,000 people in Singapore and published this month in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. As Singapore is a wealthy country with excellent health care, doctors believe that the results readily apply to other industrialized nations. It appears that as insulin is made in the pancreas, soda interferes with insulin levels, then contributing to cancerous cell growth in the pancreas. Similarly, diabetes, a disease in which the body’s insulin production is compromised, is also known to increase pancreatic cancer risk.

Natural sugar in fruit juice did not create the same cancer risk.

Dr. Mark Pereira, the study’s lead researcher, believes a possible explanation is that soda drinkers usually have other poor health habits which also increase their risk level, such as smoking and eating red meat, two lifestyle factors already linked to cancer.

230,000 people are diagnosed each year with pancreatic cancer.

The American Cancer Society estimates that only 5% survive for 5 years. Identifying risk factors Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Natural supplements and lifestyle changes can bring significant improvement to lupus by strengthening the immune system and lessoning the risk of other disease with overall better health.

Due to the lack of progress in a cure for lupus and the frequent side effects from the long-term usage of prescribed corticosteroid, implementing a healthy diet, body cleansing, exercise, and natural supplements offer promising options toward a better life for those diagnosed with lupus.

Long-term use of corticosteroids, such as used in the treatment of SLE, can result in adrenal atrophy and suppression of the body’s natural defenses in the immune system. In addition, the treatment often results in side effects such as:

• mood swings
• depression
• generalized edema of body and face
• redistribution of body fat to the abdomen
• weight gain
• lethargy (1)

We are going to briefly cover lupus research results from 4 various health sites, and then take a detailed look at the research and lifestyle changes suggested by Dr. Ray Sahelian, which will be extremely helpful for lupus sufferer determined to improve his or her health.

**It should be noted that there are some slight variations in suggested supplements between the sites. I want to emphasize 2 main points in this regard:

1. I would suggest avoiding any supplement that is questioned as safe by even 1 of the following doctors unless you first discuss it with your physician and have a plan for discerning possible side effects.

2. Before taking any new supplement, research it for any possible side effects relevant to your health, such as allergies, interaction with prescriptions, affect on blood pressure, etc.  The first site is one I have used personally; the second is one I just came across.

Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia              Personal Health Zone

Prevention.com focuses on Omega 3 Fish Oils and Antioxidants for lupus improvement.

The omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil — EPA and DHA — has prevented autoimmune lupus in animals. Studies on humans have been shown to decrease inflammation. 20 grams of fish oil per day combined with a low-fat diet led to significant improvement in 14 out of 17 SLE patients in only 12 weeks. Lower amounts of fish oil did not help.(2) Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

What is Lupus?

Lupus is a condition that affects about 5 million people worldwide, 1.5 million of those being in the USA alone. 70% of those cases are systemic lupus; in half of the SLE cases, major organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, or brain are affected.(1) As Lupus is an autoimmune disease of unknown origin with no effective treatment, we are going to first take a look at the basics: its effect on the body, lupus symptoms, possible causes, and “why” natural remedies. This is Part 1 of a 2 part post. In Part 2, we will cover suggested lifestyle changes to improve and possibly overcome the symptoms of Lupus.

What Does Lupus do in the Body?

Lupus an autoimmune disease; it compromises the immune system, causing the body to attack healthy cells and tissues from within. There are many different types of Lupus, with no two people experiencing the same combination of symptoms.(2)

Symptoms of Lupus

The symptoms of Lupus vary greatly, depending on the type. Discoid lupus erythematosus is usually limited to effects on the skin while systemic lupus erythematosus attacks internal tissues. Hence the abbreviations DLE or SLE. SLE is then also divided into subgroups based on the severity of the disease. (5)

The symptoms of DLE are:

Chronic inflammation, sores, and scarring on the skin, including the face, scalp, ears, and body.

The non-organ-threatening type of SLE often has symptoms of:

severe fatigue, dyspnea, fever, swollen glands and joints, muscle and joint pain, and rashes or other skin conditions

The organ-threatening type has the same symptoms listed above, as well as negative affects on: Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

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Anti aging is a hot topic as more people realize that you do have the option not to succumb to all the typical ailments of aging and, especially, not to feel the affects of aging as early.

My grandfather decided to make major changes to his health when he turned the age of 39. I am not sure what all food related changes he made, but I know he stopped drinking alcohol, cut back to one cup of coffee a day, and began taking supplements and power walking a mile a day. He enjoyed incredibly good health throughout his senior years. He had a brief bout of severe arthritis in his early 70’s but through research on supplements and faithful prayer it soon disappeared completely. He still had none of the typical old age illnesses, rarely even a cold, when he passed away at the age of 89. On the other hand, I have known people who eat the typical American diet of almost no fruits, vegetables, or water and never exercise. They have already had diseases common to old age in their late 30’s, 40’s, or 50’s.

Many of the lifestyle changes to create a extended, healthier life are easy to make!

I wanted to include abbreviated lists from a couple of different organizations on anti aging. Each website has vast amounts of information to surf through, so please make use of their links to click through and read more ways to have a long, satisfying life.

These 8 tips are from Simply Anti Aging’s pages on health and nutrition. Many more tips on their site.

1. Laugh More. Recent research has shown that laughter really does help us in managing stress. Adopting a humorous view of life’s difficulties can take the edge off everyday stressful situations. Laughter stops the release of damaging stress hormones into the body. (A)

2. Improve Cardio Fitness with Dance. Combining cardio exercise fitness with dancing is a great way to keep fit over 40. (A) Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

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With all the talk on fatty acid, most of us have heard that we need fish oil, flax seed or flax oil, and various omega fatty acids, but few people are really sure how much of what ones, so let’s make it simple!

I recently read a clear cut article on fatty acids by Dr. David J. Foreman, Herbal Pharmacist, who writes a monthly newsletter for the Vitamin Shoppe chain of stores. (We buy most of our supplements there.) I’ll give you the highlights from his article, “Secrets of Healthy Fats Revealed.” The link for the full article is footnoted below.

Dr. Foreman makes an interesting statement that Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are possibly more important than vitamin and mineral supplements because our bodies cannot make them.

EFAs have to come from our diet. Symptoms of a lack of EFAs can include:

• Dry, itchy skin
• Poor memory
• Heart disease
• Poor circulation
• Fatigue
• Mood problems
• Immune weakness
• Hormone imbalances

Not only is it important to have EFAs, but they need to be in a proper proportion to each other. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

There are more options than just calcium supplements to increase your bone density even after you become aware of your osteoporosis.

Let’s look at the options available for natural osteoporosis treatment suggested by 3 well-known authorities in the medical field including a personal program to build your bone density.

Here is a list of a daily regime of supplements suggested by David Edelberg, M.D., medical director of the American Holistic Center/Chicago.

-1,200 mg of calcium
-800 mg of magnesium
-10 mg of zinc
-1 mg of copper
-1,000 mg of vitamin C
-200 IU’s of vitamin D
-50 mg of vitamin B6
-1 mg of folic acid
-1 mg of silicon
-0.5 mg of boron
-5 mg of manganese

Dr. Edelberg says that these supplements can be purchased in most health food stores. You can even find some manufacturers which provide all of these supplements in one capsule. (1)

Dr. John R. Lee’s work specifically with osteoporosis showed that benefits can be achieved independent of age, that osteoporosis reversal is a reality, and that the treatment program is safe, uncomplicated, and inexpensive.

Dr. Lee is world famous for his medical advancements in the realm of women’s health. Here is an excerpt of one of his studies: Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Although osteoporosis is usually considered a disease of women, 30% of osteoporosis fractures occur in men. It affects 75 million people in the US, Europe, and Japan, and causes 1.3 million fractures annually in the US alone. (1).

Osteoporosis-related hip fractures are fatal 20% of the time and produce permanent disability half of the time.  With such stats, it is highly beneficial to look at prevention through natural forms of calcium supplements. I’m going give you the recommendations from a couple of different sources, all of which are footnoted at the end of this post.

This is Part 2 of a 3 – Part Post; if you missed the post to assess your risk level, click the above series link. Part 3 will cover Natural Treatment to improve your bone density and minimize bone loss.

 Here is a list of natural calcium supplements condensed from suggestions by Mother Nature.com. Use the link to read their full article.

1. Eat a handful of sesame seeds each morning
2. Drink almond milk morning and night, which is high in calcium. Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S., M.A.SC. suggests making your own by soaking ten almonds in a cup of warm water for 10 minutes, peeling them and mixing into a blender with 1 cup of cow, goat, or soya milk. Then add a pinch each of cardamom, ginger powder and saffron. You can also buy almond milk at stores such as Walmart.
3. A daily intake of dark green leafy vegetables, low-fat dairy products and sardines with bones are a natural calcium supplement suggested by Richard Gerson, Ph.D.
4. For a non-dairy calcium supplement, naturopathic physician Michael Murray, N.D. suggests juicing 3 kale leaves, 2 collard leaves, a handful of parsley, 3 carrots, 1 apple and 1/2 a green pepper. This provides 212 mgs calcium and 102 mgs magnesium, both necessary for good bone density.
5. Two standing yoga poses done once daily are good exercise for maintaining bone density, called the mountain and the tree, as suggested by Stephen A. Nezezon, M.D. A word of caution – elderly and advanced osteoporsis patients should not do the tree pose. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Osteoporosis is a fearful topic for most women, yet the best way to overcome fear is to empower yourself with clear cut information. 

In this 3 – Part Post, we will cover Osteoporosis Risk, Prevention, and Treatment.  “Half of all American women over age 50 will suffer a fracture caused by osteoporosis sometime in their lives [while] one in five sufferers is male. “(1)

Before covering your risk factors, again let me emphasize that you can do much to reduce or eliminate a variety of risk factors with regard to your bone density.  Let me start with a great word of encouragement from WomentoWomen.com:

When you have a lot of risk factors, or just a few strong risk factors, it’s easy to feel like you’re doomed for problems with your bone health; especially with all the frightening statistics we see in the media about bone health and fracture.  But the statistics on lifetime fracture risk project what might happen if you do nothing to improve your bone health. On the other hand, when you take advantage of the many opportunities to support your bones, you will reduce your odds of a fracture.

Since the more risk factors you have, the greater the likelihood of a fracture, the most common sense response is to be proactive and reduce the number of your risk factors. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Let’s answer some questions as to what is safe exercise for diabetics, on checking with your doctor, and adjusting your glucose level. Information is based on article excerpts by Karen Kemmis, footnoted below.

What Exercise is Best?

Don’t groan about this one. In Part 1, we covered all kinds of common ways to increase activity in your daily life, but the truth still remains that aerobic activities are the most beneficial for people with diabetes and, more specifically, type 2 diabetes. Aerobic exercise should last more than 10 minutes and uses multiple muscle groups – preferably arms and legs – in a continuous movement. Aerobic activities should not make you short of breath.(1)

Should I Check First with My Doctor?

If you have not had a stress test, you should only do low-level physical activities until a stress test is done. Then, the level of exercise should be based on stress test results and what you are comfortable with. A good exercise program is 20 to 60 minutes, 4 to 7 days a week. If you are not in good enough shape to exercise this long, you can do several 10-minute sessions throughout the day to reach your exercise time.(1)

What Are My Exercise Choices?

If you did not read Part 1: Easy Activity Tips for Diabetes Prevention & Improvement, please use the above link for a great list of ordinary ways to add physical activity to your daily life.

Kemmis says that walking, stationary bikes, and swimming or water exercise are some of the good choices. Water exercise is popular because it is less stress on your joints. Another interesting choice Dr. Kemmis makes is exercise DVDs for walking, dancing, and even sitting! Sitting exercises, which many people do not know exist, are a great option for people with lower extremity disorders. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

This is Part 2 of easy, practical tips for preventing or improving your diabetes in your every day life.

In the first post, we discussed why simple daily changes can make a big difference in improving your diabetes or lowering your risk, as well as gave you 10 really easy ways to add movement and activity into your day. If you missed the first post, please click the above link for Part 1: Easy Activity Tips for Diabetes Prevention & Improvement.

Here are 15 easy-to-implement tips which will help you maintain a healthy weight or lose weight, whichever you are in need of.

Notice for healthy weight you want a combination of food and activity tips. These are paraphrased excerpts from info by the National Diabetes Education Program.(1) My comments are in parenthesis.

1. Be physically active in some way for an hour every day. (It doesn’t need to be things we normally think of as exercise. It can be yard work, dancing, walking through the mall, vacuuming or other brisk housework, swimming, walking farther through a parking lot, etc.)

2. Choose mainly healthy foods.

3. Eat smaller amounts during both meals and snacks.

4. Don’t supersize your meals. Order a smaller size or split a large size with a friend.

5. Eat slowly and wait about 15 minutes before deciding if you are still hungry. It takes 15 minutes before your brain can tell if your stomach is full. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

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There are easy, practical tips for preventing or improving your diabetes in your every day life.

Most people cringe or feel hopeless at the mention of preventing or improving their diabetes through increased exercise or weight loss. However, various national diabetes organizations have put together very simple daily practices which anyone can implement to significantly prevent or improve his or her diabetes. So remove from your mind the images of having to turn yourself into a professional weight lifter, marathon runner, or strict vegetarian to better your life!

This is Part 1 in a 3-Part Series to give you some concise information to easily improve your diabetes or greatly lessen your risk.

Why try to prevent or improve your diabetes? Because it can work!

Chinese and American researchers found that diet and exercise programs for people at high risk for diabetes can delay the development of the disease. Over a 6 year period, 577 adults with high blood glucose levels who followed a diet and exercise program reduced incidences of diabetes by 51%. Even though diabetes risk normally increases with age, the study showed that over a 20 year period, good diet and exercise still reduced incidences of diabetes by 43%. (1)

Here are 10 Simple Ways to Increase Your Activity Level in Your Daily Routine:

1. Walk to places you need to go that are close by instead of driving (at times and to places that are safe to walk.). You may even want to wear a pedometer to keep track of your steps each day and challenge yourself to keep improving.

2. If you do drive, park as far away from the door as is safe. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

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If you have a wide variety of health issues and have not been able to locate the source, you may want to check your B12 levels.

B12 is a vitally important nutrient in many bodily functions, yet studies show that 1 out of 4 adults in the US are B12 deficient, and nearly ½ the population has sub-optimal B12 levels. Most people over 50 are likely you are to have a vitamin B12 deficiency, as you absorb less with age. Strict vegetarians and vegans are at risk as the only dietary source are animal products. Studies in India show about 80% of adults there are deficient in vitamin B12.

Today’s research are excerpts from a newsletter by Dr. Joseph Mercola. Click here to read his full article. His B12 article is very lengthy, but if, after reading these excerpts, you feel that the info applies to you, you will probably want to read his article in its entirety.

B12′s Work in the Body

Take a look at this extensive list of B12′s involvement in your health.

• Proper digestion, food absorption, iron use, carbohydrate and fat
  metabolism
• Healthy nervous system function. B12 builds the myelin which
  insulates and protects your nerve endings, allowing them to
  communicate.
• Promotion of normal nerve growth and development
• Help with regulation of the formation of red blood cells
  cell formation and longevity
• Proper circulation
• Adrenal hormone production
• Healthy immune system function
• Support of female reproductive health and pregnancy 
• Feelings of well-being and mood regulation
• Mental clarity, concentration, memory function
• Physical, emotional and mental energy

Common Health Risks from B12 Deficiency

This is a partial list of health problems for which a B12 deficiency could create increased risk: Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

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Laughter  -  It is something we all enjoying hearing, something we all enjoy doing.  It has natural healing powers.  It’s time to do more of it! 

For over a thousand years, long before the realm of modern science, age old proverbs reminded people of the healing power of laughter, 

A rejoicing heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Prov. 17:22

Dr. Don Colbert shares that laughter is one of his prescriptions to patients who come to be placed on nutritional programs. He has discovered that when he asks patients how often they laugh, most cancer patients respond, “I never laugh.” He prescribes 10 belly laughs a day for his patients. (1)

Research has shown a wide variety of healing aspects from laughter:

Pain Relief - A study of patients recovering from surgery showed that the group which was allowed to choose the humorous movies they saw benefited the most from the laughter therapy and required fewer pain-killers compared with a control group that saw none at all. (2) Other research has also shown laughter to increase one’s pain threshold. (4)

Lower Blood Pressure - Laughter reduces the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), and dopamine (4); stress hormones, on the other hand, increase the number of platelets, causing obstructions in the arteries and raising blood pressure. (3) Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

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What’s in your wardrobe? Studies are showing that the most popular style of bras hinder lymph node function, increasing breast cancer risk.

Ill-fitting bras, as well as the most popular style of bra, the metal underwire, increase your potential health risks. Lymph nodes, which purpose are to daily excrete toxins from your body, are unable to drain properly when tight-fitting bras or underwire bras consistently press on their reflex points.

Dr. Joseph Mercola recently sent out a newsletter with data from various doctors and researchers studying the effects of impaired lymph node drainage due to constrictive clothing. We are exposed to many dangerous toxins everyday that the body needs to eliminate. Dr. Mercola says that even the aluminum in antiperspirants is a dangerous toxin which the body needs to eliminate.

I’m categorizing below a few excerpts from this essential information related to breast cancer. Please use the newsletter link here or the one at the end of this post to read Dr. Mercola’s full article.

How do ill-fitting bras, underwire bras, and other constrictive clothing increase cancer risk as well as fibrocystic breasts?

Read the important medical findings from these 3 excerpts:

Over 85 percent of the lymph fluid flowing from the breast drains to the armpit lymph nodes. Most of the rest drains to the nodes along the breast bone. Bras and other external tight clothing can impede flow…as a result of cutting off lymphatic drainage, so that toxic chemicals are trapped in the breast. Dr. Michael Schacter, M.D, The Prevention and Complementary Treatment of Breast Cancer Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

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You can significantly improve your overall health and nutrition for only a few dollars a day by incorporating super foods into your diet.

Superfoods (or super foods) are foods that are so rich in nutrients that they can treat or prevent disease. One can incorporate the natural forms into your daily meal plans or obtain the benefits of a wide variety that would be virtually impossible to eat by using one of the many new superfood supplements available. The following data and suggestions are excerpts from an article by Dr. David J.Foreman, Herbal Pharmacist, author of the monthly newsletter for the Vitamin Shoppe chain of stores. See the footnote below for a link to the complete article.(1)

According to Dr. Foreman’s research, most experts are now recommending 9 servings per day of fruits and vegetables.(1)

Few of us ever achieve that level on a daily basis. In addition, there are certain “superfoods” which have vastly higher amounts of beneficial phytonutrients and phytochemicals than the average fruit or vegetables one typcially eats. You should try to incorporate natural forms of these foods into your diet as much as possible, but also seriously consider a superfood supplement, as some superfoods are either not easy to fix or not tasty to the average person.

You can enjoy common health benefits from superfoods such as:

-Increased Energy
-Balancing of Your pH
-Strengthening Your Immune System
-Detoxifying Your Body
-Good Source of Fiber
-Nutrients More Easily Digested and Absorbed

Dr. Foreman personally saw major changes in his overall health after using a superfood supplement, including increased energy, better sleep, more effective digestion, clearer skin, and improved vision.

Here are some ways superfoods treat or prevent disease: Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »