August / September 2006
( to: Health Newsletter Archive )
Greetings! This edition of the Archangel Health News features:
- HEALTH BYTES: Facts and Tips for Better Living!
- WELLNESS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
- THE HERBAL CORNER: Hawthorn -
"Mayflower For Heart Disease" - HEALTHY RECIPE-OF-THE-MONTH:
Peppered Halibut, Green Beans, and Olive Salad - FEATURED ARTICLE:
"Water Fluoridation: Why it is Not Safe"
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HEALTH BYTES
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SUNFLOWER SAVVY -- Make whole-grain bread baked with sunflower seeds part of your healthy eating plan and you may avoid diabetes. Whole-grain breads and sunflower seeds are both excellent sources of fiber. Sunflower seeds also are rich in vitamin E. Both nutrients have been associated with a reduced risk of type-2 diabetes. If you cannot find bread with the seeds baked in, sprinkle them on buckwheat pancakes or on whole-wheat toast topped with honey.
CALCIUM AND ANTIBIOTICS -- The next time you are taking antibiotics, do not take them with calcium-fortified orange juice. Although it has long been established that certain antibiotics should not be taken with dairy, a recent study revealed that calcium-fortified orange juice also might interfere with these medications. To optimize your antibiotic's effectiveness, wait two hours before ingesting dairy, calcium supplements, or calcium-fortified foods.
HEALTH THROUGH GARDENING -- Growing your own garden has three great benefits to your health. First, it gets you outside in the fresh air around things that grow and give off clean oxygen. You can burn about as many calories doing moderate to intense yard and garden work as a normal aerobic workout in the same amount of time. Research has shown that it also helps to maintain healthy bones. Second, the fruits of your labor help boost your mental health. Seeing something that you have worked at succeed - whether in the form of flowers, fruits, or a good-looking yard - give you a sense of ownership, pride, and confidence. Finally, if you choose to have a vegetable garden, you can be sure that every veggie you grow is free of chemicals and pesticides. The more natural form of food will help clean your body of the unknown chemicals from store produce. So there it is. Three great things from one single garden.
CAYENNE METABOLISM BOOST -- Cayenne pepper can boost your metabolism naturally. Because the pepper is so hot, it warms the body from inside out. That helps speed up your body's processing functions and helps to pump up your circulation, and both of those mean a higher metabolism. If you can handle cayenne pepper, try adding it to dinners and large meals to help your body process all that you are feeding it. You can also mix 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper with a glass of water to get your body pumped up. Cayenne pepper is also available in a tablet that you can take once a day for the same results without the hot taste buds. Just be sure to check with your doctor and stop using it if it gives you an upset stomach.
HOME EARACHE CURE -- One common cause of earaches is a buildup of wax in the ear. Here is a quick home remedy that you can do to get more wax out of the ear than just using cotton swabs. Warm a bottle of baby oil or mineral oil by running it under hot water for a minute. Drop a few drops into the ear and rest your head on the opposite side to bring the oil into the ear. After 1 minute, use a bulb syringe to flush out the ear a few times with warm water. Do this twice a day for about 3 days. The warmed oil helps soften and loosen the wax while the water flushes it all out. This can also help alleviate ringing in the ears and partial hearing loss.
MAGNESIUM -- Magnesium is a key substance in the proper functioning of nerves and muscles. It is also needed for the healthy maintenance of bones. Magnesium is often coupled with Calcium in supplements because of its synergistic effects (it helps the body absorb and utilize the calcium better). It also helps protect the atrial lining from the stress of sudden blood pressure changes. Magnesium deficiency may play a major role in some cases of angina - it has been shown to produce spasms of the coronary arteries and is thought to be a cause of non-occlusive heart attacks. It has also been found that people dying suddenly from heart attacks have a much lower level of heart magnesium as well as potassium than matched controls. Heart attack tip: Did you know that if magnesium is introduced into the IV of a heart attack victim as soon as possible, he has a 60% better chance of surviving than without? Other conditions which appear in people who have lowered magnesium levels (magnesium deficiency): Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Diabetes, Hypertension, Kidney stones, Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP), Osteoporosis, and Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), to name a few.
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WELLNESS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
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Q & A #1:
My teenage son will not eat fruits or vegetables, and he will not take vitamins. I worry about how this will affect his health and his acne problem. Also, could stress affect his acne?
Yes, stress can affect acne, but lack of nutrition does not. A common misconception is that eating saturated fat and chocolate makes a difference with regard to acne. The truth is, diet does not affect acne. That is not to say eating a diet high in saturated fat and low in fruits and vegetables is good. Practicing poor nutrition can be harmful later in life. In fact, there is evidence that kids who eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fat do better in life; they live longer, have less cancer and heart disease, and have lower risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Q & A #2:
Is it safe for grade school children to play contact sports like football?
The injury rate per minute for football is greater than some sports, and less than others. There is definitely a risk of injury. Young athletes have a higher risk of injury than adults because their bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments are still growing. What might be a simple bruise or sprain for an adult can be a serious injury for a child. Training for the sport, and not just playing the sport, is important. Here are some ground rules for your young athlete: 1. Choose a conditioning program designed specifically for the chosen activity. 2. Warm up and cool down. 3. Do not play if you are tired or hurt. 4. Wear protective gear designed for your particular sport. 5. Play by the rules - they protect you and your teammates. If your child wants to play football, insist on adequate pre-season conditioning. This includes weightlifting and aerobics conditioning. Also, make sure they are provided with appropriate protective equipment. Additionally, as a parent, take responsibility for watching out for overenthusiastic coaches who may push kids too hard, to the point of injury, or who teach their teams to be inappropriately aggressive. Interestingly, the American Association of Pediatricians is working on putting school-aged athletes into weight categories, instead of grouping by age, in an effort to limit the risk of injury.
Q & A #3:
What is Achilles tendonitis?
What used to be called Achilles tendonitis (an inflammatory condition), is now referred to as Achilles tendinosis. The Achilles tendon is the tissue that connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. This is the tendon that is just below the skin at the back of the ankle. Achilles tendinosis is a chronic, degenerative wear-and-tear condition where fibers in the tendon tear, causing burning and discomfort. The condition can possibly lead to a ruptured tendon. To avoid Achilles tendinosis, stretch the tendon two to three times a day. Stretch 30 to 60 seconds each time and do resistance weight training.
Q & A #4:
Is drinking strong coffee more dangerous than drinking regular strength coffee?
It depends on the caffeine content. Too much caffeine is potentially harmful. A typical one-ounce shot of espresso usually has about half as much caffeine as a six-ounce serving of drip coffee.
Q & A #5:
I am concerned that my mother drinks baking soda three times a day, either before or after meals. Should I be concerned about this?
Probably not. Baking soda neutralizes acid in the stomach. Taking small amounts is not harmful. Daily heartburn or indigestion indicates gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is when acid from the stomach comes up into the esophagus. This is a very serious disease. Some people who have GERD can develop cancer and not know it until it is too late. Taking a teaspoon of soda in water, three times a day does not seem excessive. But if you are concerned, get a urine test to determine if the baking soda is harming her. Find out if she is having daily heartburn or indigestion. If so, have her see a doctor.
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THE HERBAL CORNER
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Every American schoolchild learns that the first Pilgrims arrived in the "New World" on a ship called the "Mayflower." But few, if any, know that the name actually refers to "hawthorn," an herb known for centuries as a heart tonic and today widely used as a treatment for heart disease. Herbalists use the flowers, fruit, and leaves of the Hawthorn, which is a small deciduous tree that has white bark, extremely hard wood, sharp thorns, and clusters of white, aromatic flowers. In Great Britain, the blossoms of this tree appear in May, hence its other names - may, mayblossom, and mayflower.
Hawthorn is prescribed as a mild tonic for the heart and circulatory system because of its vasodilator effects. The active ingredients present in the herb are thought to dilate the blood vessels, thereby facilitating the flow of blood through the arteries and lowering blood pressure. Hawthorn is also believed to increase the pumping force of the heart muscle and to eliminate arrhythmias. Some practitioners think Hawthorn may be effective for preventing kidney stones. Others believe it to have a calming effect on the nervous system which is why they sometimes recommend it as a remedy for insomnia and other sleep disorders. Those who suffer from stress, anxiety, and other nerve-related conditions may also benefit from drinking Hawthorn herbal tea.
Hawthorn is readily available as liquid extract, capsules, tea, and in tablet form herbal formulations. Ailments which may be improved through using Hawthorn include: arteriosclerosis, myocarditis, hypertension, hypotension, heart palpitations and murmurs, angina, and arrhythmias. The herb may also prove effective against sore throats (when used as a gargle) and some nervous system disorders. Hawthorn possesses the following properties: antispasmodic, vasodilator, and sedative/calmative. Although relatively safe in small doses, taking very large amounts of Hawthorn may result in a dramatic drop in blood pressure, which in turn may cause faintness and even loss of consciousness.
HEART FORMULA is an all-natural, safe, and effective dietary supplement that contains hawthorn extract plus a wide variety of cardiovascular supporting vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and other herbal extracts. Check out HEART FORMULA at http://www.aomega.com/ahs/h6107a.htm and order a bottle today!
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HEALTHY RECIPE-OF-THE-MONTH
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- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/4 cup fat-free chicken broth
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed
- 4 (6-ounce) halibut steaks (about 1 inch thick)
- Olive oil-flavored cooking spray
- 3 tablespoons freshly cracked mixed peppercorns
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 cups torn red leaf lettuce
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 medium tomatoes, each cut into 8 wedges
- 1/4 cup chopped Greek ripe olives
2. Coat halibut with cooking spray; rub peppercorns and salt over both sides of steaks. Prepare grill. Place halibut on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 3 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Break halibut into pieces; discard skin and bones.
3. Place lettuce in a large bowl, and add lemon juice, tossing to coat. Divide lettuce mixture evenly among 4 plates. Arrange green beans, halibut, and tomato wedges evenly on plates, and sprinkle each serving with chopped olives. Drizzle vinaigrette over salads.
Yield: 4 servings.
Nutritional Information: CALORIES 274 (26% from fat); FAT 7.8g (sat 1.1g, mono 3.6g, poly 2.1g); PROTEIN 38.3g; CARBOHYDRATES 13.5g; FIBER 4.1g; CHOLESTEROL 80mg; IRON 4.7mg; SODIUM 620mg; CALCIUM 168mg
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FEATURED ARTICLE
by Daniel G. Stockin
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Of late we have once again learned that health officials sometimes change their minds about what is considered healthy and safe. The recent warnings from FDA about previously-FDA-approved pain medications and over-the-counter diet aids and cough suppressants demonstrate this.
Have you ever wondered what medications and health practices we accept today will later be known to have harmed us, rather than helped us? Here is one practice whose reversal is just around the corner: fluoridating our drinking water to prevent cavities. We have said for fifty-plus years that fluoride is safe, effective, and necessary. But now information is pouring in from around the world and the United States that shows that fluoridated drinking water may actually be causing many of the diseases we have come to call diseases of aging. Included are hip fractures, thyroid disease, and joint pain, as well as several other disorders that affect persons of all ages.
Consider this: it has now come out that most of the fluoride we have been injecting into our drinking water is silicofluoride, a substance that has never been tested or approved by any federal agency. And where does it come from? It is a fluoride-containing air pollutant emission captured by smokestack "scrubber" equipment at phosphate fertilizer factories. If it is emitted into the air it is a pollutant; if it is discharged into a lake or river, it is a pollutant; it is regulated by EPA as a water contaminant; but if it is placed in our drinking water and we ingest it into our bodies, it is somehow called a "nutrient." Because of the industrial processes and raw material used as its source, the fluoride also comes contaminated with radioactive uranium decay compounds, arsenic, lead, and mercury.
People hearing this are shocked. "Why were we not told this?" they ask. Well, we were - but not really. Buried in many water agencies' water quality reports amongst a dizzying list of chemical names is a little-observed statement that the source of the "contaminant" fluoride is discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories.
The pro-fluoride people tell us that the toxic fluoride, arsenic, and radioactive compounds are diluted in the water, therefore they pose no harm. But what we have not been told is that these compounds are cumulative poisons. The small amounts we ingest accumulate in our bodies, and can cause bone cancer, thyroid disease, kidney damage, and joint pain. If your kidneys work well, approximately half of the fluoride you ingest goes out in your urine, but the remaining half is stored - cumulatively and potentially harmfully - in your body.
How do you feel that your body and the bodies of your loved ones are being used as the final resting place of the toxic discharges of industry? As a public health professional with a background in hazardous materials management and assessment, I can tell you that I am now firmly against fluoridation. And a growing number of other medical, dental, and public health professionals are also calling for a halt to fluoridation, including eleven EPA employee unions representing 7,000 EPA scientists, lab workers, and other employees across the United States.
There is more disturbing news. It turns out that in 2000, dentists admitted that fluoride helps prevent cavities primarily topically, while in the mouth - not by your body’s systemic absorption of the chemical. So then the logical question is: why continue drinking a toxic chemical throughout your whole body, over your entire lifetime, if its main action against cavities occurs when it touches your teeth in the mouth? The in-mouth topical action voids the whole reason we originally put fluoride in water in the first place - we were told it needed to be systemically absorbed. To continue supporting the drinking of primarily-topically-acting fluoride would be like your doctor handing you a bottle of liquid sunscreen and telling you, "drink this to prevent sunburn."
You and your family also receive fluoride in foods - in your cereal, bread, baby food, canned foods, tea, sodas, pasta, and frozen foods (because they are made with fluoridated water), as well as from toothpaste and antibiotics. A number of government agencies are taking another look at the safety of fluoridation, and the fact that we absorb it cumulatively from so many unmonitored sources is one of the reasons for them doing so.
Large numbers of cities and countries around the world reject water fluoridation, and many of them that do not have any form of fluoridation have lower cavity rates than our fluoridated cities. The entire island of Long Island, with more than 40 water districts serving 3 million people, has stopped water fluoridation. Other cities and water districts in many states are now reexamining fluoridation’s safety. The dental industry and public health agencies are fearful and defensive, and one can understand why. It is projected that the health effects and lawsuit costs from fluoridation will dwarf those of tobacco.
In late October and early November of 2005, six of seven U.S. communities voting on fluoridation rejected it. Some voters and city councils have looked closely at the disturbing links between fluoride and specific diseases, but one of the main reasons for the opposition to fluoride is that an increasing number of Americans believe that an individual does not need to be a scientist or doctor to understand the dangers of fluoridation. They feel that any average citizen knows better than to intentionally add to drinking water an untested industrial discharge that is a cumulative poison. It flies in the face of common sense, they say. They do what many who read this article may want to do: contact their water district and governing officials and tell them, "Stop the fluoride!"
Daniel G. Stockin, MPH, is a 17-year public health professional. He was manager of EPA’s Western Regional Lead Training Center and worked with hazardous materials at two large universities. He is now Senior Operations Officer at The Lillie Center, Inc., a public health and environmental health services firm based in Brentwood, Tennessee. He may be reached at 615-370-5788, or by email at: dan@thelilliecenter.com
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Thank you for reading this edition of the Archangel Health News and may God bless you and your health!
Darrin and Sandi Quiles
Archangel Health and Nutrition Store
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Copyright © 2006 by Sandi and Darrin Quiles. All rights reserved.
Please note: the information contained herein has been compiled from various sources. The above statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We make no claims, either expressed or implied, that any products mentioned in this newsletter will cure disease, replace prescription medication, or supersede sound medical advice.
