Can you really eat your way to happiness? The mood food connection

(NaturalNews) Yes, you really can eat your way to happiness, but perhaps not in the way you might first imagine. By "happiness," I mean lasting happiness, not the fleeting kind of sensory happiness that might be experienced from sucking the cream filling out of a twinkie. And that's the distinction that really matters here: When I talk about happiness, I'm talking about sustainable happiness, not a brief moment of spurious excitement that soon reverses itself and leads to depression.

You see, a lot of people try to eat their way to happiness by eating the "instant joy" foods like ice cream, donuts, cookies and yes, even twinkies. Sugar can, indeed, make us momentarily uplifted because this refined molecule temporarily boosts blood sugar and actively alters brain chemistry. But like any drug, the depression after it wears off is far worse than the brief happiness it appeared to give us. And in the worst cases, we sometimes fall into a pattern of treating that mental rut with yet another hit of sugar to try to keep the happiness going.

This downward cycle of sugar dependence leads us to long-term obesity, diabetes and depression.

As author Timothy Brantley says in The Cure: Heal Your Body, Save Your Life:
"How did these foods affect their moods? Food Group A (Standard American Diet). The subjects all had radical energy fluctuations, staying in a cycle of having to manipulate to produce quick energy after a radical drop. The subjects all remarked that they never realized how addicted they were to sugar and other stimulants, like caffeine, simply to function. The roller-coaster effect on their energy swung them into high and low moods, and many of them got sick consistently."
(http://www.naturalpedia.com/book_Th...)

The Standard American Diet is obviously not the solution we're looking for. But what works better?

Foods for long-term happiness

Fortunately, there are a huge number of other foods that promote long-term happiness. That's what this article is about: Sharing with you the good news on foods that can support healthy moods and promote a positive outlook on life for the rest of your life.

And I have to say that list starts with omega-3 oils. High-quality omega-3s provide one of the most powerful and sustainable boosts to healthy moods of any commonly-available food.

Read up on omega-3s at NaturalPedia: http://naturalpedia.com/omega-3s.html

You can get omega-3 oils from fish, quality marine oil supplements like Moxxor, chia seeds, flax seeds and other quality nutritional supplements.

Beware of grocery store foods that claim to be "made with omega-3s" because the actual quantity of omega-3 oils in those foods is usually so tiny that it hardly matters to your daily nutritional intake.

Enjoy healthy nuts

Pecans are extremely beneficial to supporting not just healthy moods but healthy brain function as well. It's the oils in the nuts that do the trick. Read more at http://naturalpedia.com/pecans.html

Other nuts can also be strongly supportive of healthy moods in the long term: Almonds, pistachios, macadamia nuts and walnuts all have powerful health-supporting properties that affect brain function and therefore mood experiences, too. Eat more raw nuts and you'll create better brain balance for the long term!

Adaptogens and green tea

Green tea seems to provide a subtle mood lift without all the problems of typical stimulants. Just make sure you're getting decaffeinated green tea, and check your source to make sure it doesn't suffer from fluoride contamination (some green tea products grown in certain countries have been known to carry a lot of fluoride).

Adaptogenic herbs are also very, very good at helping your neurology better handle stress. This can often translate into an easier day, reduced stress and improved moods. Adaptogens include ginseng, ashwagandha, rhodiola, cordyceps mushroom and many others.

Learn more about adaptogens at NaturalPedia: http://www.naturalpedia.com/adaptog...

Herbal tonics for mood support

While we're in the realm of herbs, there are several herbal tonic products that are well known to help support healthy moods. St. John's Wort has been clinically shown to work as well as antidepressant drugs to ease symptoms of depression. I usually take it with dandelion or yellow dock to provide additional liver support.

Learn more about St. John's Wort at NaturaPedia: http://www.naturalpedia.com/St_John...

Several Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal formulas are also known to help support healthy moods. Chinese herbs are always used in combination, never in isolation, but one herb that's found in many mood-supporting formulas is Bupleurum.

The history and use of this herb is quite fascinating. Check it out here: http://www.naturalpedia.com/Bupleur...

Eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies

In addition to the omega-3 oils, nuts and herbs mentioned here, focus on consuming large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables. You simply cannot over-eat fresh fruits and vegetables, so eat all you want. They're loaded with mood-lifting nutrients that can also help prevent cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Be sure to buy organic produce wherever possible!

What to avoid

This section can be summed up in just two words: Sugar, Caffeine.

Seriously. If you want to maintain healthy moods, it's crucial to avoid refined sugar and caffeine from all sources. That means no caffeinated coffee, no donuts, no cookies, no Pepsi, etc.

These two chemicals do more to destroy healthy moods in the long term than probably any other chemicals in the food supply. And yet, ironically, they are precisely the two chemicals that people reach for to try to get short-term mood lifts.

They do provide short-term boosts, much like a drug. Heroin might make you feel good in the short term, too, but it's highly addictive and causes huge health problems over the long haul. Sugar and caffeine are similarly addictive and problematic; except they're legal and you don't inject them with a syringe. (Well, at least I hope not.)

If you suffer from mood swings or depression right now, the first and most important change you need to make in your diet is to eliminate refined sugars and caffeine. The second change to make is to start bringing in mood-enhancing health foods such as omega-3s, raw nuts and lots of fresh produce.

But the really important step is to find new ways to enjoy your feed by expanding your experience of all the amazing tastes to be found in the universe of foods provided by Mother Nature. If you've never tried raw food cuisine, definitely check it out at a local raw food restaurant (or find a raw food chef in your area). You'll be amazed at the new spectrum of tastes and sensory experiences provided by raw foods -- and you'll experience huge long-term health benefits from the raw foods, too!

Stay happy with healthy foods

Yes, food can make you happy, but only if you focus on consuming health-enhancing foods that are natural, non-refined and packed with nutrients. Don't compromise your mental experience of life by turning to sugar, caffeine and other short-term stimulants. Or if you're on those right now, find ways to slowly transition off them while embracing some of the healthier choices I've covered here.

In the long term, you'll discover that healthy foods = healthy moods.

But give it time: It may take 30 days of eating right before you really feel the full effects with improved mood. Foods are not isolated chemicals that kick in right away. Transitioning to a healthier body and brain with healthy food takes some time. But it's time well spent. After all, you get to eat your way to a more positive outlook on life. And that sounds kinda fun anyway, doesn't it?

Nutrition labels could be mandated on package fronts

(NaturalNews) According to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Kathleen Sebelius, the FDA is working on a plan that would require food manufacturers to print nutrition information on the front of their packaging rather than on the back. The alleged goal of the proposed new mandate is to help busy shoppers quickly decipher nutrition information without having to look at the back of a product.

"Busy shoppers will be able to go into grocery stores and have some easy-to-understand information on the front of packages, giving them quick data on what is a healthier choice," she explained.

While it may seem like a good proposal that would help to improve nutrition transparency, many manufacturers are concerned that the requirement could end up needlessly costing them millions of dollars. Since packaging changes are typically very expensive, many smaller producers might be put out of business by the mandate.

James McCarthy, president and CEO of the Snack Food Association (SFA), expressed opposition to the mandate and instead proposed that the change be made voluntary. Because his organization represents 400 snack food manufacturers and suppliers worldwide, many of which are small- or medium-sized operations, he understands the incredible burden that would be placed on them by the requirement.

And his argument is a rational one, considering the fact that nutrition information can easily be found on products as they currently are. Forcing manufacturers to redesign their packages at a tremendous cost to them hardly seems beneficial. If someone is unwilling to turn the package around to read the nutrition information on the back, it is highly unlikely that he or she will bother reading it off the front.

Others disagree, insisting that the mandate would help to combat childhood obesity. Yet it is unclear precisely how the plan will actually accomplish this, and critics see the plan as nothing more than attack on American business.

The FDA is also seeking to establish universal guidelines for how health information is displayed on product packages. The agency would like to eliminate all self-labeling, or labels that indicate that a product is a "healthy choice" or that it benefits "heart health".

According to Sebelius, all labeling should have a "scientific background" and should be tested through an "evidence-based approach." Therefore her agency made recommendations to the FDA that a "national standard" be developed to accommodate such an approach.

Sources for this story include:

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/63959

Cutting salt in manufactured foods could save the U.S. $32 billion a year in health care costs

(NaturalNews) Researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System in California recently released the results of a study they conducted on the best ways to get Americans to consume less salt. The study was in response to research indicating that even a 10 percent cut in salt intake overall would prevent thousands of heart attacks and strokes over the course of several decades, saving the U.S. government $32 billion in healthcare costs.

Researchers decided that the best approach to reducing overall salt intake is to establish voluntary programs with the U.S. food industry to cut salt levels in food. The U.K. operates under a similar program that is said to work well.

According to Dr. Crystal Smith-Spangler from the VA, even a small decrease in overall salt intake would be effective at reducing the number of deaths due to cardiovascular disease. According to the study, more than 500,000 fatal stroke and more than 480,000 heart attacks would be prevented because of the salt-cutting campaign.

The team also considered the idea of imposing a national tax on salt, but decided that it would likely not be as effective as simply working with the food industry to reduce salt content in food. According to the analysis, the tax would likely only cut salt intake by 6 percent while voluntary collaboration with the food industry would be closer to 10 percent.

According to Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 75 percent of Americans consume more than the daily recommended maximums of salt. Because many Americans eat large amounts of fast and processed foods, which contain excessive amounts of salt, their diets are overwhelmed by salt.

The U.K. salt reduction program has successfully reduced salt content in processed foods by up to 30 percent since 2003. This, of course, is due to cooperation by food manufacturers which have agreed to the program's objectives. Similar programs exist in Japan, Finland, Ireland, Australia and Canada as well.

However, neither the study nor the researchers made any differentiation between natural and synthetic salt. The salt used in most processed foods is a chemical salt created in a laboratory that is far different from natural sea and mineral salts which can actually be beneficial to health. It is important to recognize the difference between common table salt, which is not natural, and natural earth salts when making any recommendations pertain to salt.

Sources for this story include:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS...

Frozen yogurt is not health food

(NaturalNews) It did not even occur to me that people thought frozen yogurt was a "health food" until I spent some time in the USA. There, people line up in droves at frozen yogurt stores to buy a junk food that they're convinced is good for them. And why is it good for them, in their own minds? Because it's "yogurt."

I actually went to the trouble of visiting a line of people at a frozen yogurt store and asking several people there if they could name the ingredients in the frozen yogurt they were buying. Not one of them could. Most just said, "Yogurt." (Are you detecting a pattern here?)

Upon further investigation, I found that frozen yogurt retailers don't make it very easy for you to find out what's actually in their products in the first place. They don't print ingredients on the products they sell, and even their websites make it virtually impossible to find this information.

After some digging, I was able to find the ingredients of the vanilla yogurt powder that's used in one of the nation's most famous frozen yogurt chains. Here's what's in it:

Pure Crystalline Fructose, Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Non-fat Milk, Yogurt Powder, Micro-encapsulated Probiotic (Lactobacillus Sporogenes)

Did you catch all that? The first three ingredients are all sugars, followed by processed cow's milk. Maltodextrin, in particular, has a glycemic index so high that it's practically poison to diabetics. It's often derived from genetically-modified corn, by the way.

As you can see from the ingredients list, frozen yogurt is basically just ice cream with some yogurt powder thrown in. It's ice cream with probiotics.

That doesn't make it healthy food. It's still junk food, but with probiotic powder.

The illusion of healthy food

If I throw probiotics on a pizza, it doesn't turn the pizza into healthy cuisine. If I slap probiotics on a cheeseburger, it doesn't make it a healthy cheeseburger. So why do so many people believe that mixing in a little probiotic powder with ice cream suddenly makes it a "health food?"

The answer? Because they want to.

Frozen yogurt shops don't deliver healthy food, but they do deliver the illusion of healthy food. And in America today, where illusion dominates reality, that's good enough!

People aren't really interested in what they're eating, you see. They just want to be convincingly persuaded that whatever they're swallowing is somehow good for them. That's sufficient evidence in their minds to go ahead and start chowing down.

It's much the same with popular religion in the USA today. Few people really believe in God even if they claim to, because if they did, they wouldn't go out and destroy their God-given bodies with alcohol, cigarettes, booze, drugs and junk food. They don't really want to authentically believe in God, you see, because that would require a whole different level of personal discipline to act in a way that honored their beliefs (and honored their body as a temple). If you destroy your health with junk food, your actions scream to the universe that you really don't follow God's will at all.

What was that part in the Bible about gluttony? I don't often quote scripture, but it's relevant here: Proverbs 23:20-21 "Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags."

What people want in America today is junk food, junk news, junk knowledge and junk beliefs. They don't really believe much of anything except those simple spoon-fed beliefs that happen to coincide with the self-destructive lifestyle they wanted to pursue anyway. Life is an all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-smoke, all-you-can-drink orgy! So let's call it "reduced-calorie" dessert and get on with it, shall we?

People pick their beliefs, in other words, to try to justify their actions. Any belief that contradicts their short-term desires will be modified, pushed aside or simply overwritten with some other belief that allows them the excuse to pursue immediate satisfaction. The false belief that "frozen yogurt is health food" serves this purpose nicely.

Why would you swallow something if you don't know what's in it?

Most people, by the way, don't even examine what they eat in the first place. They just shovel it down without a thought.

It was the Greek philosopher Socrates who famously said, "An unexamined life is not worth living." My modern version of this quote in the realm of health is, "An unexamined diet is not worth eating."

And yet people almost never examine what they eat. They chew and swallow blindly, giving less thought to what they put inside their bodies than the clothes they wear outside their bodies.

Actually, they choose their foods from the perspective of entertainment. What taste and texture will be entertaining right now? What will give my taste buds pleasure in this instant, regardless of the lifelong effects of this substance on my body?

What sugars, fats or chemical taste enhancers can I place on my tongue in this instant that will provide some level of sensory experience to my brain and remind me that I'm still alive?

That's the real essence of it, you see. People are sleepwalking through our world half dead, and what they really seek is just stimulation to remind them that they aren't dead yet. Almost any stimulation will do: The loud blaring of speakers at a rock concert, the sexual foreplay with a new partner, the rush of an abused prescription drug, the thrill of a horror movie, the sensory engrossment of a violent video game, the stimulant kick of a Coca-Cola... it hardly matters as long as something is being felt through the numbness of emotional trauma that typifies human experience in our modern world.

The numbed-up, dumbed-down metrosexual seeker of experience is actually a biological stimulation machine with a tiny unit of consciousness tacked on top that's seeking a heavy hit of just about anything to remind himself that he still exists. "I feel, therefore I am," to bastardize Descartes' famous utterance.

But what do we really feel when we pursue a life of delusional junk foods and other false stimulation? We only feel further numbed from reality; numbed from our own bodies, numbed to our spirituality and numbed to the consciousness that would give our lives purpose rather than processed probiotic powder.

In pursuing a life of junk consumption, what becomes frozen is not merely our yogurt but our entire experience of life. Frozen yogurt is perhaps the perfect food metaphor for what's happening in American culture today: The mass consumption of a self-destructive lie that offers a brief moment of satisfaction followed by a lifetime of disease.

Sunflower lecithin, the new alternative to soy lecithin

(NaturalNews) Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status to sunflower lecithin, opening up the market to an option other than soy lecithin. This year, sunflower lecithin is showing up in all sorts of health foods including food bars, breads, green powders and crackers.

Lecithin is used as an emulsifying agent in many foods to keep them at the proper consistency and texture. Since the only source of lecithin available in the U.S. up until this point has been from soy, it has been difficult to determine whether or not the lecithin contained in many foods has been genetically engineered (GE).

The problem with deriving lecithin from soy is that more than 90 percent of the U.S. soy crop is GE. Back when the USDA first drafted its organic standards for food, it made an exception for soy lecithin which, at the time, was not readily available from non-GE sources. As a result, many organic foods, unless specifically labeled as containing non-GMO (genetically modified organism) soy lecithin, can legally contain GMO soy lecithin and still be labeled organic.

Some manufacturers have made a point of obtaining non-GMO soy lecithin for their products, but many do not specify one way or the other. For several years, the Cornucopia Institute has attempted to put pressure on the USDA to update its organic guidelines to mandate that only non-GMO soy lecithin be used in organic products. Since non-GMO soy lecithin became commercially available in 2004, there is no reason for any organic producers to continue using GMO soy lecithin in their products.

Following a petition given to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), the board agreed to remove liquid soy lecithin from its list but voted against removing the dry version. Because dry lecithin is derived using an acetone solvent, and nobody has found a non-chemical alternative, the board caved to corporate pressures to keep dry GMO lecithin on the organic exemption list.

Besides the GMO element, soy is an ingredient that increasing numbers of people are trying to avoid anyway. Whether to address people's allergy concerns or simply to attract consumers that wish to avoid soy's phytoestrogen characteristics, "soy free" is becoming a popular label on many natural and organic products. With the introduction of sunflower lecithin, manufacturers now have a viable emulsification alternative.

The amazing thing about sunflower lecithin is that, unlike soy lecithin, it can be extracted without harsh chemical solvents like hexane and acetone. Using a cold pressing system similar to what is used to obtain things like olive oil, sunflower lecithin is the only kind of lecithin that can be obtained raw and chemical-free. It is rich in phosphatidylcholine (choline) and essential fatty acids like phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine.

Some health brands that have begun using sunflower lecithin include Greens Plus, Betty Lou's, Source Naturals, Happy Baby, Divine Chocolate, Panda, Ciao Bella, and Natural Factors.

Some companies continue to use non-GMO soy lecithin and they indicate it on their ingredient lists. Particularly in the case of companies that produce green powders, some actually highlight the fact that their products contain no lecithin "fillers". Whatever the case, it is important to be informed about the various types of lecithin in use and to encourage your favorite brands to use the best forms if they choose to use it in their products.

The Natural News Store also carries raw sunflower lecithin butter that helps to digest fat and is suitable for vegans.

NuttZo, an organic, nutrient-packed nut butter

(NaturalNews) Good nutrition is the foundation of good health, especially for children in their crucial developmental years. But this is not news to Danielle LiVolsi, a San Diego mother of two and founder of NuttZo, a nutritionally-dense, multi-nut butter company. In fact, Danielle's longtime affection for nut butters helped inspire her to develop her superior line of organic butters that pack a punch both nutritionally and flavorfully.

The NuttZo story is an inspiring one, birthed from Danielle and her husband Kevin's adoption of their first son, Gregory. A Ukrainian orphan, Gregory was severely malnourished and deficient in necessary vitamins. Having always had a heart for good health and nutrition, Danielle began working hard to provide Gregory with a diet rich in the things he was lacking.

Having grown up loving nut butters herself, Danielle decided to include healthy nut butters in her array of nutrition-boosting foods. At the time, there were no nut butters available that contained the diverse array of nutritional components she desired, so she began making a homemade nut butter blend, which would later be sold as NuttZo Original, using some of the richest superfood nuts and seeds available.

"NuttZo is one of my favorite creations because I love peanut butter and tree nut butters," she passionately explained. And an amazing creation it is, packed with valencia peanuts, flax seeds, hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, sea salt and vitamin E tocopherols.

One serving of NuttZo Original contains 650mg of alpha lipoic acid (ALA), or 50 percent of the Daily Value of ALA omega-3s. NuttZo is also 100% organic and is USDA Organic Certified.

At the same time Danielle introduced NuttZo Original, she and her husband also started a non-profit organization called "Project Left Behind" with a mission to help the more than ten million orphan children around the world who lack not only good nutrition but love, meaningful value systems and education.

"NuttZo is all about paying it forward, having a wonderful product that's very healthy and nutritious, and, you know, changing the world one nut at a time," she opined.

The LiVolsis have since adopted a second son who was also a Ukrainian orphan, and the couple continues to reach out to children around the world through Project Left Behind to provide them with "human touch, nourishment and surrogate nurturing tools."

NuttZo has also just released a second nut butter called NuttZo PF which is peanut-free. NuttZo PF contains cashews, almonds, brazil nuts, chia seeds, flax seeds, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds and sea salt, and it packs a whopping 970mg of ALA omega-3s per serving. Like the Original, NuttZo PF is USDA Certified Organic and contains no added sugar.

"When I put out a product, I want it to be exactly what I'd want to eat and feed my family," emphasized Danielle about her NuttZo nut butters.

Not only is NuttZo a powerhouse of organic nutrition, but it is incredibly delicious as well!

To find out more about NuttZo and where to buy it, please visit www.gonuttzo.com.

To learn more about Project Left Behind, please visit www.projectleftbehind.org.

Top soy-free protein bars

(NaturalNews) When it comes to finding the right protein bar to supplement a healthy lifestyle, it can be difficult to find one that is soy-free. Many health-conscious individuals have decided to skip the soy because, in its unfermented state, it mimics estrogen in the body. Excessive amounts of it, especially in men, can be detrimental to hormones and ultimately to health. Aside from organic, most conventional soy is also genetically-modified (GMO), which causes health problems of its own.

However finding premium quality, soy-free protein bars can be a challenge since many of the ones available on the market tend to contain protein that is at least partially composed of soy, if not entirely. So where can one find a soy-free protein bar that is both nutritious and delicious?

Organic Food Bar
Organic Food Bar is one of the best food bar companies in the industry. It sources the highest quality ingredients for its various food bars, one of which contains a whopping 22 grams of protein per bar.

The protein in the Organic Food Bar Protein variety comes primarily from almond butter and brown rice protein, both of which are organic. In fact, everything in the bar is organic, including the dates, sesame seeds, agave nectar, Bio Sprouts and Biodynamic raisins. The company emphasizes the fact that its ingredients are the cream of the crop and are purchased fresh every month – only the best ingredients are used to produce its delicious bars.

Organic Food Bar's entire lineup is impressive, as is the fact that this company was one of the first to create organic food bars. The bars are delicious, lightly-sweetened and nutritionally superior to many of the other bars out there.

For more information, please visit www.organicfoodbar.com.

Perfect Foods Bars
Another excellent food bar is the Perfect Foods Bar, a line of food bars created by Dr. Bud Keith, a nutritionist, and his wife Barbara. They originally developed their bars as a healthy snack for both themselves and their 13 children.

Perfect Foods Bars are handmade with organic peanut butter, organic raw untreated honey, a soy-free protein blend, an array of whole food powders, and a handful of healthy oils rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs). The bars are gluten- and soy-free, contain no refined sugar, and are alkaline-forming. They also contain an excellent 2:1 ratio of omega-3s to omega-6s.

The bars do contain milk and egg proteins in addition to rice protein, so they are not suitable for vegans. However they have a high ratio of protein to carbohydrates and are great for non-vegans. The bars tends to be somewhat sweeter than some other brands, but the sugar content is comparable with the others in its category. The company plans to release an almond butter-based bar this summer.

For more information, please visit www.perfectfoodsbar.com.

Sequel Naturals Vega Whole Food Bars
The Sequel Naturals Vega line of whole food bars is a nutritional powerhouse that packs a decent protein punch. While not as rich in protein as the other brands, the bars have a decent amount of protein and exceptionally high nutritional content.

Vega's Whole Food Vibrancy Bars have nine grams of protein per bar while its Whole Food Energy Bars have ten grams of protein per bar. Both bars are loaded with plant-based nutrients, enzymes, antioxidants, EFAs, probiotics and fiber. These are one of the most potent superfood bars on the market.

For more information, please visit www.sequelnaturals.com/vega.

Natural health news gets nuttier: research shows eating nuts lowers cholesterol

(NaturalNews) NaturalNews has covered how eating pistachios lowers the risk of lung cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/027732_p...) and how a diet rich in nuts may help prevent age-related blindness (http://www.naturalnews.com/026369_r...). Walnuts appear to have breast cancer-fighting properties, too (http://www.naturalnews.com/026115_w...). And now there's even more reason to be nuts about nuts -- scientists have found new evidence that nuts are heart healthy because they dramatically improve blood cholesterol levels, without drugs.

"Dietary interventions to lower blood cholesterol concentrations and to modify blood lipoprotein levels are the cornerstone of prevention and treatment plans for coronary heart disease," Joan Sabate, M.D., of Loma Linda University and colleagues stated in their report, which was just published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. "Recently, consumption of nuts has been the focus of intense research because of their potential to reduce coronary heart disease risk and to lower blood lipid (fat and cholesterol) levels based on their unique nutritional attributes."

The Loma Linda University researchers investigated data from 25 international nut consumption trials involving 583 women and men with high cholesterol or normal cholesterol levels. Each study compared a control group of research subjects to a group assigned to specifically eat nuts regularly. None of the study participants took cholesterol lowering drugs such as Big Pharma's widely prescribed statins.

On average, the people in the trials who ate about 67 grams (approximately 2.4 ounces) of nuts each day had an overall reduction in total cholesterol levels of 5.1 percent. Even more important, there was a 7.4 percent drop in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is known as the "bad" cholesterol, and a significant 8.3 percent change in the ratio of LDL cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good" cholesterol that protects from heart disease.

The news got even better when the scientists looked at the effect of nut consumption on high levels of triglycerides in the bloodstream. These blood fats, when excessive, are known to contribute to the development of heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease; triglycerides may play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes, too. The Archives of Internal Medicine report showed that eating nuts didn't change healthy levels of triglycerides in the body. However, in people with high levels, a diet rich in nuts caused triglyceride levels to take a 10.2 percent nosedive.

Bottom line: the researchers concluded the results of their study support the inclusion of nuts as a natural dietary therapy aimed at improving blood cholesterol levels. "Nuts are a whole food that have been consumed by humans throughout history. Increasing the consumption of nuts as part of an otherwise prudent diet can be expected to favorably affect blood lipid levels (at least in the short term) and have the potential to lower coronary heart disease risk," the researchers stated.

For more information:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...
http://www.naturalnews.com/nuts.html

70 Percent of antibiotics used on animals slaughtered for food

(NaturalNews) Widespread antibiotic use in animal agriculture is drawing increasing fire as a primary cause of the growing prevalence of drug-resistant and ever more lethal superbugs.

"There is clear evidence of the human health consequences [from agricultural use of antibiotics, including] infections that would not have otherwise occurred, increased frequency of treatment failures (in some cases death) and increased severity of infections," the World Health Organization wrote in 2003.

Seventy percent of all antibiotics used in the United States are used promote growth or prevent infection in healthy farm animals -- in other words, animals that are not showing any signs of disease.

"The heavy reliance on routine antibiotic use is a byproduct of the way we raise animals for food: packed into dim and dirty enclosures where they live amid their own filth, eat food that they haven't evolved to digest, and are pretty much stacked atop one another," writes columnist Ezra Klein in the Washington Post.

The food industry claims that such antibiotic use is necessary to keep food prices low for consumers.

"That really is a strange defense," said U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter. "We keep animals in such deplorable conditions that they'll become sick as a dog if we don't dose them?"

The industry's argument is weak on financial grounds as well, Klein says. According to a study conducted by researchers at Tufts University, antibiotic resistant infections cost the U.S. health-care system $50 billion per year. In contrast, the National Academy of Sciences concluded that ending non-therapeutic antibiotic use in farm animals would raise the cost of meat consumption by $5 to $10 per person per year.

"I'd pay that for a lower risk of super-staphylococcus," Klein writes.

Slaughter has introduced a bill, H.R. 1549, that would ban non-medical use of the most effective human antibiotics.

"The bill preserves the seven most effective classes of antibiotics for human use only," she said. "They can be used to treat sick animals, but they can't be used to simply raise animals."

Sources for this story include: www.washingtonpost.com.

Chlorophyll blocks absorption of toxic carcinogens

(NaturalNews) A recent study conducted by researchers from Oregon State University (OSU) has found that chlorophyll works effectively to block bodily absorption of aflatoxin, a fungal contaminant found in many grain and legume stocks. Research participants who were given chlorophyll alongside aflatoxin did not absorb the carcinogen as readily as those who were given only aflatoxin.

Published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, the study utilized a new, state-of-the-art assessment method called "Phase 0" which essentially evaluates the effects of carcinogens by administrating them in safe micro-doses. Praised by researchers as a breakthrough testing procedure, Phase 0 utilizes an accelerator mass spectrometer that is able to measure minute variations of toxic exposure and assess toxicity levels down to the smallest increments.

Many developing countries around the world have food supplies that are tainted with high levels of aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is implicated in causing problems in the liver, including liver cancer. George Bailey, an OSU scientist who has studied aflatoxin exposure in China, found that in one region ten percent of inhabitants die from aflatoxin-induced liver cancer.

Using Phase 0 technology, researchers were able to determine that aflatoxin is absorbed very rapidly by the body once ingested. In the presence of chlorophyll, however, aflatoxin is prevented from entering the bloodstream and quickly eliminated from the system. Supplementation with chlorophyll and chlorophyllin, its derivative, may reduce the number of cases of liver cancer.

Researchers hope to conduct further research in order to better understand logistically how chlorophyll works to block aflatoxin absorption.

Comments by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger

Here's yet more evidence showing the importance of including fresh, raw plants in your diet. Chlorophyll protects you from other dietary toxins and can theoretically even save you from liver cancer.

Chlorophyll offers a lot more benefits as well: It cleanses your blood and helps detoxify your liver, colon and entire digestive tract.

Modern medicine, of course, has utterly failed to recognize any use for chlorophyll whatsoever. But followers of raw living foods understand very well how important chlorophyll is to human health.

What are the best sources? One of the best is parsley juice. Grow your own parsley (or buy it in a store), then juice it with some other fruits and vegetables to make a chlorophyll-rich, highly-nutritious beverage!

Sources for this story include:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_relea...

NaturalNews, CWC pledge $5000 in financial aid to Haiti earthquake victims

(NaturalNews) As the editor of NaturalNews, I was heartbroken to learn of the devastation caused by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti two nights ago. News of the terrible loss of life was slow to circulate due to the near-complete destruction of the communications infrastructure in Haiti. Even now, the body count numbers are only an estimate, but by any measure the estimates are alarmingly high.

When such events occur somewhere around the world, it's always difficult to know what's the appropriate response. Should we go there? And if so, how do we get there? What do we do when we arrive? What should we bring to do the most good?

I've learned that the best way most people can help in such emergencies is to financially support the organizations that know what to do. Give these people the funds they need to get on the ground and help as many people as possible.

One of those organizations is the International Rescue Committee (www.TheIRC.org), a world-class rescue organization that spends 90% of its funds on programs and services (only 6% is spent on administration and 4% on fundraising).

Over the last seventy-five years, they've helped respond to human crises all around the world, including Somalia, Pakistan, Iraq, Taiwan, Indonesia, Afghanistan and more. Watch videos of some of their rescue mission work here: http://www.theirc.org/video

The IRC needs your help... and ours. This is a humanitarian mission, and in the spirit of helping the IRC get people on the ground in Haiti who can help reduce human suffering, NaturalNews has joined with the Consumer Wellness Center (www.ConsumerWellness.com) to donate $5,000 to the IRC to aid victims in Haiti.

Please join NaturalNews in helping earthquake victims in Haiti

Just as importantly as this donation, the IRC needs your donation -- even if it's just $10 or $20. Here's your chance to make a real difference in Haiti, saving lives and reducing human suffering. Make your own tax-deductible contribution at https://www.theirc.org/donate/donate-now

I know it's difficult to realize that you can make a difference from where you are right now, anywhere in the world... but you can! Your donation translates into actionable help through the IRC -- an organization that knows how to best put these funds to use.

Think about what you're going to spend on your next meal at a restaurant with family or friends: seventy-five dollars? A hundred dollars? And now I invite you to make a commitment to call your family or friends and agree to skip your next restaurant meal and instead donate that money to help the people of Haiti.

Your hundred bucks doesn't really go very far in a fancy restaurant, but on the streets of Haiti, it can mean the difference between a wounded child receiving critical medical supplies or dying. It can put a shelter over someone's head or bring them clean water. It can provide a cooked meal or replace simple but desperately needed items like a pair of shoes or a bar of soap.

That's why I'm pledging $5,000 right now to the people of Haiti -- people I don't even know and will probably never meet. NaturalNews isn't a wealthy organization, and giving this much money away puts a dent in our operational budget. But the people of Haiti need this money more than we do right now.

Never forget that here on this planet, we are all brothers and sisters. We may be of different colors, languages, races or religious backgrounds, but we are all 99.8% genetically identical. We all share many of the same aspirations and dreams. We all seek happiness and connection, and when crisis comes, we owe it to each other to help our brothers and sisters by lending a helping hand. It's part of what makes us human.

Prayers and positive intentions are also desperately needed. If you don't send money, please send prayers at the very least. But remember that in a crisis situation money gets practical things done. Money buys blankets, water filters, buckets, socks, medical supplies and temporary lodging. Money buys the fuel for machines to clean up rubble, free trapped victims and begin to rebuild. Haiti needs your prayers right now, and at the same time, the IRC needs your donations, too.

If you can, send both prayers and donations. Here's the donation page once again: https://www.theirc.org/donate/donate-now

Thank you,
- Mike Adams, the Health Ranger and editor of NaturalNews

Dr. Hyla Cass releases new audio course to enhance women's health

(NaturalNews) On the heels of her popular book, 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health, Dr. Hyla Cass, M.D. has just launched her new 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health Audio Course, featuring 9 audio CDs, her "8 Weeks" book and an accompanying workbook.

It's all about teaching women how to restore their energy, enhance their well-being and reclaim their health using all-natural, doctor-approved health strategies.

In this new audio course, Dr. Hyla Cass guides you step-by-step through things you need to know to transform your health starting right now. Here's a sampling of what you'll learn in this remarkable new audio course:

• The 10 most important areas of women's health - how to score yourself across these 10 areas to discover where you can make the most improvements in the shortest time.

• Step-by-step instructions for monitoring your current health status (and adjusting your results as needed).

• How to teach yourself, perhaps for the first, correct breathing and circulation (with potentially huge health benefits).

• How to pinpoint thyroid and adrenal problems using the detailed questionnaire in the book (and then learn how to heal these problems from the inside out).

• What to do about digestive imbalances, yeast infections, Candida and other digestive tract challenges.

• What unexplained migraine headaches might really mean (and how to resolve the core problems naturally and safely).

• How to take advantage of detailed diagnostic lab tests offered by conventional medicine to pinpoint health challenges (and then begin healing them naturally).

• Learn how to interpret kidney test results, liver tests results, blood sugar tests and many others, all in a "holistic" way that goes way beyond mere symptomatic treatment. (You'll combine the best of western medicine and natural medicine!)

• What you need to know about breast health and breast exams (that most women never learn).

• How to take all the information you've gathered and discover the pattern of root causes that reveal your best course of action for healing (an amazing feature of this book).

• Everything you need to know about food - tailored to women's health! Includes guidance on protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, dietary habits, phytonutrients, dealing with cravings and much more.

• How to intelligently choose -- and use -- nutritional supplements specifically to address and enhance women's health.

• How to overcome and heal food addictions in a safe, intelligent way that leads to healthy lifelong habits.

• The importance of detoxification: Where to begin, how to proceed with a detox, and things to watch out for during the experience (this information can save you from unnecessary suffering).

• How to conquer an aspartame addiction. How to quit smoking for good. How to end addictions to caffeine and sugar. Amazing information on this topic, including specific recommendations for targeted supplements that enhance the effectiveness of your efforts.

• How to exercise the right way, specifically for women. Ways to use stress reduction, Pilates, yoga and other gentle movement modalities to vastly increase your total body health.

• Powerful advice on meditation, breathing, aromatherapy, massage and acupressure, complete with detailed recipe suggestions, hints and tips.

• How to really take care of your skin in a natural, non-toxic way, even if you live in a dry climate or harsh environment.

• How to keep yourself on track with your health progress, and how to make adjustments if you temporarily backtrack. This information alone can mean the difference between health failure and lifelong health success.

• How to completely de-stress your life, starting with clever ways to recognize hidden stress and eliminate it from your life.

• Numerous recommendations for nutritional supplements to help lower your stress levels, including specific dosage recommendations and any relevant precautions.

• How to balance your brain chemistry and restore lasting positive moods without turning to dangerous drugs. This chapter reveals some of the most valuable tips you've ever read on women's health, mood support and brain chemistry.

• How to protect and boost your memory and cognitive function -- this information can make a huge difference in the quality of your life.

• The full-on truth about women's hormones, PMS, HRT and your body's natural cycles. You'll learn how to increase your awareness of what's happening with your hormones and how to better balance them with nutritional supplements and simple day-to-day lifestyle decisions. Amazing solutions are revealed in this section!

• How to overcome menstrual cramps, menstrual irregularity, PCOS, endometriosis; and even ways to handle menopause using natural, holistic approaches that really work. This isn't just theory, either... this is what's working right now for real women in the real world.

• How to measure your hormone levels - and then intelligently use that information to make adjustments where needed.

• Complete descriptions of hormone-balancing herbs: What they are, where to get them, how they operate and how much to take for particular needs.

• Smart ways to deal with low energy: How to assess the root cause of energy problems, then resolve them naturally and safely.

• Specific strategies for dealing with thyroid and adrenal problems, including hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, weight retention and many other areas.

• Extremely valuable tips and strategies for detecting and overcoming metabolic imbalances, blood sugar imbalances and even type-2 diabetes (with lots of specific recommendations for healing supplements that can make a huge difference).

• What you need to know about chemical sensitivities and food allergies -- this information could save you from years of unnecessary suffering. Lots of specific, action-oriented recommendations here.

• Numerous ways to overcome musculoskeletal pain, including arthritis and osteoporosis: Truly life-changing, tried-and-true advice that really works for women's health.

... and literally hundreds of real-world tips, exercises, strategies and gems of knowledge from the brilliant mind of Dr. Hyla Cass.

The 9-CD audio course (plus accompanying books) is offered by Truth Publishing:
http://www.truthpublishing.com/Prod...

If you already own the Dr. Hyla Cass book, the course is available without the book (includes just the audio CDs and the new workbook) here:
http://www.truthpublishing.com/Prod...

Dr. Hyla Cass: A true gem of a doctor and a delightful human being

Dr. Hyla Cass is one of those exceedingly rare individuals who can bridge the worlds of conventional medicine and holistic healing. She's a superb communicator and possesses a storehouse of knowledge about natural healing. It's no exaggeration to say that of all the hundreds of interviews I've ever conducted with health professionals, the audio interview I recently completed with Dr. Hyla Cass is the most enjoyable I've ever done.

A few months ago, I received the opportunity to meet Dr. Cass in person. We spent several hours together at an event in California, discussing philosophies of holistic medicine and ways to reactivate the body's natural healing potential. During these conversations, I quickly came to realize that not only was Dr. Cass up to speed on all the important core concepts of holistic medicine, but her knowledge of women's health far surpassed my own.

I found myself asking questions and listening intently to her answers, which were wrapped in a storehouse of practical knowledge acquired from one-on-one medical consultations with literally thousands of women presenting virtually every health condition imaginable.

Little did I know she was going to consolidate all that knowledge, put pen to paper and author what I've now come to recognize as the single most useful and resourceful natural health course that's ever been written for women.

A treasure chest of knowledge and practical advice on women's health

The 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health audio course wastes no time in getting right to the core issues of women's health, using practical, step-by-step language and advice acquired from years of intelligent medical practice in the real world.

This is no "encyclopedia" of diseases, by the way. It's not focused on disease. It's focused on health, and it's so impactful on the issues that really matter that, in my opinion, it might as well be called The Missing User Manual for Women's Health. It's as if this course should have been given to every woman at birth, with a new chapter unfolded before her as she transitions into each new phase of life as a human being. (It's really that good.)

Investing in your own health

The information in this course could literally save you many tens of thousands of dollars in medical costs that might typically be spent trying to treat the symptoms of disease. Rather than wasting all that time and money, 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health puts you in charge, showing you how to increase both the awareness of your health status and your control over your health outcome.

Truth Publishing offers the course with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Learn more at:
http://www.truthpublishing.com/Prod...

Founders of Boku Superfood and Gnosis Chocolate featured on NaturalNews Talk Hour

(NaturalNews) The NaturalNews Talk Hour presents a very special holiday evening with TWO of the most health-conscious, nutritionally-sound companies on the market today. Reno Rolle, Co-Founder of Boku International, Dr. BJ Adrezin, Master Formulator of Boku products and Vanessa Barg, Founder of Gnosis Chocolate.

"Understanding the Super Food Miracle" and "Conscious Commerce" begins this Thursday evening at 6pm Pacific / 9pm Eastern, and registration is free. Simply enter your email address in the registration form on the right column of this page. You'll be emailed the call-in number to listen to this broadcast on Thursday.

The NaturalNews Talk Hour is a "behind the scenes", up close and personal look at the most important issues of our time. Discover what the mainstream media hasn't told you about the secrets of optimal health, freedom and the pursuit of happiness.

Jonathan Landsman, host of NaturalNews Talk Hour, says "this final show of the year promises to be one of our very best. You'll discover how to properly nourish the body and support a healthier planet by making more conscious choices about our food purchases. Reno and Vanessa represent two of the finest health food companies on the planet!"

With participation by the Health Ranger, the NaturalNews Talk Hour features top-notch guests like Drs. Julian Whitaker, Bernie Siegel, T. Colin Campbell plus many other notable experts on healthy living.

Feedback has been extremely positive. Here's a testimonial from one of our listeners:

Jonathan is a respectful and caring host and the information he provides is not only informative and educational, but also fantastic reinforcement to all that I learn. The talk hour provides wonderful insight on breaking stories and includes exceptional speakers on important health topics, both in and out of the news. Thanks for the show – you make me smile every week!" - Kim T.

The NaturalNews Talk Hour is sponsored by the NaturalNews Moxxor Team, health-conscious, caring individuals committed to making a difference in the world we live in.
To become a team member, email naturalnewsteam@optonline.net. Each show will continue to feature the top natural health experts in the world. To receive each week's unique call-in number, simply register by entering your email address in the form on the right.

This week's guests: Reno Rolle, Co-Founder of Boku International, Dr. BJ Adrezin, Master Formulator Boku International and Vanessa Barg, Founder of Gnosis Chocolate

Reno Rolle and Dr. BJ Adrezin, "Understanding the Super Food Miracle" and Vanessa Barg, "Conscious Commerce" Thu. Dec. 17th

Our first guests will be Reno Rolle, Co-Founder of Boku International and Dr. BJ Adrezin, Master Formulator of Boku International.

Boku Super Food's mission is to positively impact the highest number of people possible with the healing power of natural, organic nutrition.

Boku Super Food is an extremely high-end, certified organic (and vegan) combination of the very best superfoods on the planet. When you add Boku Super Food to any smoothie (or just a glass of water), you instantly upgrade that smoothie to a nutrient-dense, disease-fighting natural medicine powerhouse that works wonders on your health.

Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, says "the ingredients found in Boku Super Food can help protect your liver and kidneys from damage caused by pharmaceuticals! It's true: These nutrient-dense superfoods protect your body from drugs, chemicals and food additives. If you take pharmaceuticals, eating superfoods is a great way to help ensure that those pharmaceuticals don't kill you."

In addition, Mike says "the ingredients found in Boku Super Food contain natural plant-based medicines that regulate cholesterol and normalize blood pressure, even better than pharmaceuticals. In fact, in my opinion this product makes hundreds of pharmaceuticals obsolete."

Boku Super Foods can be found at http://www.bokusuperfood.com

Our next guest Vanessa Barg (aka Chocoalte Girl) is the creator of Gnosis chocolate, a certified holistic health counselor who began experimenting with raw chocolate because of her passion for health, nutrition, and the amazing qualities of this nutrient-dense superfood. She mixes every recipe, pours every mold, and decorates every bar by hand. She has worked hard to select the most potent combinations of superfoods to complement the highest quality raw chocolate in every bar.

Handcrafted using the finest 100% Organic raw ingredients, Gnosis Chocolate is made with care for our health and environment. Each bar is free of refined sugar, dairy, soy, cholesterol and gluten! With 13 decadent, unique flavors to choose from, you will continually be amazed at how satisfying these bars are - no matter what you crave!

This is the bar of choice for those who like their chocolate to deliver on all levels. Gnosis Chocolate makes every bar with loving intentions for your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

You can find more information on Gnosis chocolate at http://gnosischocolate.squarespace.com

The NaturalNews Talk Hour is happy to announce exclusive offers from Boku Super Food and Gnosis Chocolate. Don't miss out…super-saver discounts will be provided ONLY to our listening audience.

Register now using the email form in the right column, and you will be emailed the call-in number before the show. Don't miss out -- space is limited -- register now.

Phytochemicals in plant-based foods fight obesity and prevent disease, researchers say

(NaturalNews) If you ever feel tempted to go for a cheeseburger, fries and a soft drink, consider this: along with the fast food, you are ordering up an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and obesity. But the opposite is true, too. According to a new University of Florida (UF) study, if you stay away from processed and fast foods and instead eat a lot of veggies, nuts and fruits, you will actively be helping to prevent or reverse harmful metabolic processes in your body. The result? Better health and a slimmer body.

An important advantage to having plant-based foods as an abundant part of your daily diet appears to result from the phytochemicals they contain. As noted in the UF findings recently published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, these natural substances prevent oxidative stress -- a process linked to being overweight and to the onset of diseases including heart disease and diabetes. Phytochemicals include lycopene from tomatoes, isoflavones from soy, beta carotene from carrots, anthocyanins from blueberries, allicin from garlic, and many more.

Without enough phytochemicals and antioxidants to counteract oxidative stress, damaging free radicals cause inflammation and other toxic problems in the body. In overweight people, excess fat tissue and certain enzymes that are more active also trigger the production of excessive free radicals, according to a media statement by the UF researchers.

The research team, headed by Heather K. Vincent, Ph.D., studied a group of 54 young adults divided into a normal weight and an overweight or obese group, analyzing their dietary patterns over several days. Surprisingly, the people in both groups took in about the same amount of calories. However, the overweight and obese young people were found to be eating fewer plant-based foods. That means those who were carrying around excess pounds were consuming fewer protective trace minerals and phytochemicals and consuming far more saturated fats.

In addition, those eating less plant-based foods were found to have higher levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in their bodies than their normal-weight counterparts. This is a crucial finding because oxidative stress and inflammation are processes clearly associated with the onset of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and joint disease.

"Diets low in plant-based foods affect health over the course of a long period of time," Dr. Vincent explained in a statement to the press. "This is related to annual weight gain, inflammation and oxidative stress. Those are the onset processes of disease that debilitate people later in life."

"People who are obese need more fruits, vegetables, legumes and wholesome unrefined grains," she said. "In comparison to a normal-weight person, an obese person is always going to be behind the eight ball because there are so many adverse metabolic processes going on."

In order to get enough protective phytochemicals daily, the UF researchers concluded that people should try to consume plant-based foods such as leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes at the start of each meal. As a way to encourage people to get enough phytochemicals from meals and snacks, Dr. Vincent also called for use of a phytochemical index, which compares the number of calories consumed from plant-based, nutrient-rich foods with the overall number of calories taken in each day.

"Fill your plate with colorful, low-calorie, varied-texture foods derived from plants first. By slowly eating phytochemical-rich foods such as salads with olive oil or fresh-cut fruits before the actual meal, you will likely reduce the overall portion size, fat content and energy intake. In this way, you're ensuring that you get the variety of protective, disease-fighting phytochemicals you need and controlling caloric intake," said Vincent, an assistant professor in the UF Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute, in the media statement.

For more information
http://news.ufl.edu/2009/10/21/phyt...