==========================================

B-12 FOR FOLKS OVER 50 -- The National Academy of Sciences recommends that all people over 50 years of age take a supplement that contains vitamin B-12. Deficiencies of vitamin B-12 can result in neurological damage that ranges in severity from tingling sensations to a lack of balance and may include memory changes and disorientation. Older adults appear to be consuming enough food that would achieve a Recommended Daily Allowance for the nutrient, but anywhere from 10 to 30% of men and women over age 50 develop a condition in which they cannot absorb the B-12. In this condition, patients produce too little stomach acid and the digestive enzyme that typically separates vitamin B-12 from the protein in food does not function properly. Vitamin B-12 supplements need not be separated from the protein and may pass directly into the body's tissues.

FYI -- Older people who work out in water greatly improve their balance and range of movement. The workouts also reduce their risk of falling during exercise.

GARLIC EFFECTIVE AGAINST PLAQUE -- A four-year, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 280 people showed that using 900 mg of garlic daily stops the build-up of arterial plaque and in some cases leads to plaque reduction. The study recruited patients with at least one of the established risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or smoking. Patients with advanced atherosclerotic plaque were also included. Men who took 900 mg of garlic powder experienced a 1.1% increase in arterial plaque volume while the placebo group experienced a 5.5% increase. Women taking the garlic powder experienced a 4.6% decrease in arterial plaque volume compared with a 53.1% increase among the placebo group.

THE BEST BREAD -- Oat-bran bread is more nutritious than whole-wheat bread because it contains soluble fiber, which reduces levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and increases levels of HDL (good) cholesterol.

IS THERE CHARCOAL IN YOUR MEDICINE CABINET? -- Parents may save themselves a trip to the emergency room if they keep activated charcoal on hand to treat accidental poisonings, according to an 18-month Kentucky study published in a recent issue of "Pediatrics." Activated charcoal was recommended by poison center staff to parents in 138 cases of accidental poisonings in children who ingested medications, vitamins, mushrooms, or other toxins. Home treatment was successful for 115. The other 23 could not find activated charcoal at a store in time, did not have a home phone for follow-up, or preferred going to the hospital. Activated charcoal works best if given within one hour after the poison is swallowed. The fine powder or granules acts like a sponge to soak up toxins and keep them from being absorbed into the bloodstream. It can be mixed with water, juice, yogurt, milk, or soda for easy swallowing. And unlike syrup of ipecac, it does not trigger vomiting. See http://www.aomega.com/lforce/achar.htm for more information and details on an excellent Activated Charcoal product.

THE POWER OF VITAMIN E -- Vitamin E supplements were shown to reduce the risk for a heart attack by an astounding 77%!

CELL PHONE EMISSIONS -- Cell phone emissions make worms bigger and more fertile, say British scientists. Why this happens is still a mystery, but the findings challenge the widely held belief that mobile-phone signals have no effect on living creatures. "These results are very important and potentially far-reaching," William Stewart, head of the British government's research group. Worms exposed to microwaves were 10% larger than worms not exposed to radiation. Until now, regulations created to protect people from microwave radiation from ovens, phones, and radar systems were based solely on avoiding heat from the radiation. But the worms' increased fertility could not be caused by heat, which would actually cause the worms to become infertile. More research is needed to determine how emissions cause changes without warming the tissue.

REAL MEN EAT BROCCOLI -- According to an article published in the "Journal of the National Cancer Institute," men get bladder cancer three times more than women; it is their fourth-leading cancer. But this advice might cut their risk in half: eat some broccoli. In a study of almost 50,000 men, those who ate just two 1/2-cup servings of broccoli a week over a 10-year period got bladder cancer only half as much as men who rarely ate broccoli. What else helped? The men in the study drank 6 cups of water a day and did not smoke.

MOUTH CANCER AND GREEN TEA -- Add another item to the long list of health benefits provided by drinking green tea. A new study from the Medical College of Georgia reports that antioxidant polyphenols in green tea not only prevent oral cancer cells from growing but also kill cancer cells that already are present and help healthy cells survive. Researchers recommend four to six cups of green tea a day. You Do not enjoy drinking green tea? Then use it as a mouthwash - just swish it like a rinse. The key is to expose your mouth's mucous lining to green tea. Green tea possesses anti-diabetic activity that proves to be effective in both the prevention and treatment of diabetes. It has also been linked to improving the body's immune system and possesses anti-aging properties.

WATERMELON FACTS -- An average slice of watermelon dishes-up 14 mg of lycopene, the antioxidant found in red fruits and vegetables and believed to help prevent certain cancers. Watermelon also contains energy-boosting amounts of vitamins A and C, potassium, iron, and fiber, making it a natural functional food and earning the American Heart Association's official heart-checkmark.

NICOTINE GUM -- Ask your doctor about nicotine gum if you are afraid you will gain weight if you quit smoking. Ex-smokers who chewed enough gum to replace their nicotine-intake levels gained only two pounds or less, one study found. They gradually reduced their gum use over three months.

==========================================

FEATURED MINI-ARTICLE #1

==========================================

Everyone knows that calcium builds strong bones, but did you know that calcium also strengthens your heart? If you are chronically deficient in calcium, then you are on your way to joining the 20 million or so Americans who have osteoporosis, or brittle bones. You are also at an increased risk of heart disease. The good news is that, according to a study last year, you can decrease your risk of heart attack simply by taking supplemental calcium.

In this eight-year study of almost 35,000 postmenopausal women, those who took a daily calcium supplement (100 to 500 mg) had a 46 percent lower rate of death from heart attack than those who took no calcium supplements. Interestingly, women who consumed a similar amount of calcium from milk and other foods had no significant change in heart attack risk.

What is the mechanism behind calcium's heart protection? By binding with bile acids, calcium helps prevent the absorption of dietary cholesterol, a key factor in heart disease. Calcium also plays a role in regulating blood pressure, and deficiencies are associated with an increased risk of hypertension.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body - or it should be. Unfortunately, calcium deficiencies are epidemic in the United States and elsewhere, due to lifelong dietary and lifestyle habits that promote calcium loss. Many children these days drink excessive amounts of caffeine-rich carbonated beverages -- much to the detriment of their growing bones. Not only are sodas (liquid candy) devoid of calcium, they actually draw calcium out of bones, creating an even greater deficit. And if you are patting yourself on the back because you drink coffee instead of soda, not so fast. Coffee also depletes the body of calcium!

Most Americans fare no better in the food department. Many of us turn up our noses at foods that are rich in calcium, such as collard leaves, kale, turnip greens, almonds, and broccoli, and load up on protein-rich foods. Guess what? Like sodas and coffee, a high-protein diet leaches calcium from the bones.

Eating calcium-rich foods like the ones mentioned above is important, but it is also recommended that everyone get at least 1,000 mg of calcium daily in supplement form. Women and older men who are at increased risk for osteoporosis should increase their intake to 1,200 to 1,500 mg. Calcium should always be taken with magnesium in a 2:1 or 1:1 ratio.

For a great source of calcium, try CalMag Plus! Please see http://www.aomega.com/ahs/c1010a.htm for more information.

==========================================

FEATURED MINI-ARTICLE #2

==========================================

A healthy diet does not have to taste bland. Many common herbs used to spice up a meal are loaded with antioxidants, according to researchers at the United States Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, Maryland. These chemicals shield cells from the effects of free radicals, which are corrosive molecules produced during normal metabolic processes that have been implicated in the development of many aging-related diseases.

In an effort to identify potential new sources of natural antioxidants, Drs. Wei Zheng and Shiow Y. Wang measured and compared the antioxidant properties of numerous medicinal and culinary herbs. All of the herbs were grown under the same conditions at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., Zheng and Wang report in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry."

Oregano lovers will be happy to know that three different types of oregano - Mexican, Italian, and Greek - scored the highest in antioxidant activity. Other antioxidant-packed herbs included rose geranium, sweet bay, purple amaranth, dill, winter savory, and Vietnamese coriander.

Not only were the antioxidant properties in some of the herbs in the study higher than reported values for vitamin E, they even beat out well-known antioxidant-rich foods such as vegetables, berries, and other fruits, the report indicates.

"This study revealed that herbs are an effective potential source of natural antioxidants," the authors write. "Therefore, supplementing a balanced diet with herbs may have beneficial health effects."

==========================================

THE HERBAL CORNER

==========================================

ELDERBERRY, is a shrub-like tree now native to North America. The European elder grows much taller and has been naturalized in the United States and elsewhere. Called the "medicine chest of the common people," man has known of its usefulness for hundreds of years. Elderberry can be found growing both as a wild and cultivated plant, and can grow up to 30 feet tall.

The berries, of course, make a delicious wine and jam, and are rich in vitamins A and C. But elderberry has had an extensive reputation as a healing plant throughout history. The leaves, flowers, bark, and berries have all been used in healing, although all but the berries contain poisonous alkaloids and should not be used internally.

Traditionally, the plant's leaves and bark were used to make topical remedies, such as ointments, mouthwashes, and eyewashes. It was used to induce sweating, stimulate circulation, and act as a laxative. Elderberry is used today to alleviate many cold and flu symptoms including a runny nose, cough, sore throat, fevers, and muscle pain.

Recent findings. Israeli scientists tested a standardized extract of the berry on 40 people and found that it caused a significant improvement in symptoms of the flu or a complete cure in approximately 90 percent of cases within two to three days, compared to six days for a control group. Given the widespread nature of flu epidemics, and the relative paucity of reliable over-the-counter remedies, studies such as this one have boosted elderberry sales in recent years.

Do scientists know how Elderberry works? A pigment in elderberry can help the plant relieve the painful nerve disorder trigeminal neuralgia. The flowers contain flavonoids, such as anthocyanins, an essential oil, mucilage, and tannins which reduce fever and promote sweating. Other compounds in the berry bind to the flu virus and prevent it from penetrating cell walls. The berries are rich in vitamin C that may prevent flu infection.

Elderberry is available in tinctures, liquid extracts, lozenges, syrups, standardized extract capsules, and throat sprays. Although products made from berry extracts are safe when used internally, herbal formulas made from the leaves or bark of the elderberry tree should not be taken internally.

==========================================

HEALTHY RECIPE-OF-THE-MONTH