Kidney Health

Most people have two kidneys, each about the size of a fist, located on either side of the spine at the bottom of the rib cage. In simple terms, kidneys are the body's filter. In a 24-hour period, the kidneys process approximately 200 quarts of blood in order to sift out about 2 quarts of waste products and extra water. The waste and extra water become urine, which is stored in the bladder until emptied.

The kidneys perform the critical task of regulating the body's salt, potassium, and acid content. Other functions performed by the kidneys include:

* Control and stimulate red blood cell production
* Release hormones that regulate blood pressure
* Control calcium metabolism
* Remove waste products from the body
* Remove medication/drugs from the body
* Balance the body's fluids
* Produce an active form of vitamin D

Water has long been considered a vital nutrient for aiding in the process of waste removal. The typical recommendation for water consumption in ounces is ½ the person's body weight. Therefore, a 140-pound woman would need to drink 70-ounces of water per day.

However, newer research has caused some doctors and scientists to contradict the belief that we should all flood our bodies with water. Dr. Stanley Goldfarb and Dr. Dan Negoianu, both of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, reviewed the scientific literature on the health effects of drinking a lot of water. On the subject of facilitating toxin excretion, Dr. Goldfarb claimed that the need for excess water was not verified by any sort of scientific study. Dr. Goldfarb said, "The kidneys clear toxins. This is what the kidneys do. They do it very effectively. And they do it independently of how much water you take in. When you take in a lot of water, all you do is put out more urine but not more toxins in the urine."

The need to drink large amounts of water to help flush the kidneys is now somewhat controversial. The best solution is to listen to your body. Drink when you are thirsty. Drink a little more when you are sick, exercising, or spending time outdoors in the summer.

While the amount of water your kidneys require may be lacking scientific studies, the type of water is not. On April 15, 2008, the National Kidney Foundation (NFK) issued a statement that fluoride can damage the bones of kidney patients. Citing a 2006 National Research Council (NRC) report, the NFK withdrew its support of water fluoridation. The NRC report indicated that kidney patients are more susceptible to fluoride's bone and teeth damaging effects. Those with kidney impairment retain more fluoride and risk skeletal fluorosis, fractures, and severe enamel fluorosis.

Unlike the case for kidney health, the case for drinking lots of water to prevent and/or treat kidney stones has concrete data to back it up. Kidney stones are common, affecting approximately 10-percent of the population, and tend to be genetic. They occur more often in men than women, with the average age of initial onset being between 20 and 30 years old. Once afflicted with a kidney stone, a person is as much as 60-percent more likely to get kidney stones again than a person who has never had them.

Symptoms of a kidney stone attack include:

* Sudden extreme pain in the lower back, side, or groin
* Blood in the urine
* Fever and chills
* Vomiting
* A bad odor and/or cloudy appearance to the urine
* A burning sensation during urination

Many doctors and researchers consider increased water intake one of the most effective methods of decreasing the likeliness of kidney stone formation. Insufficient water intake can lead to kidney stones, particularly in those already susceptible. Dr. Gary Faerber, associate professor of urology at the University of Michigan Health System, states that, "One of the best ways to prevent kidney stones is to stay hydrated throughout the entire 24-hour period. I recommend my patients have at least six to eight glasses of water a day, and I ask them to make sure that they spread that throughout the entire day and up until nighttime. This is important year-round but especially important in the summer months."

While the researchers continue to gather their facts, some of us are left wondering whether we should continue to carry that water bottle around with us. For the average person, drinking a few glasses of water and eating foods rich in water content (watermelon, celery, apples, etc.) is likely enough. If you have kidney disease, are concerned that you may have unhealthy kidneys, or you easily develop kidney stones, avoid fluoridated water. Find out if your town or city adds fluoride. If so, avoid tap water and switch to bottled. And if you suffer from kidney stones, err on the side of caution and drink up.

Moderate Drinkers Beware - You Too Could Be Flushing This Vital Nutrient Out Of Your Body

Back in the 1930s, thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, was one of the first compounds to be isolated and recognised as a vitamin, that's to say a compound essential to health which the body cannot manufacture for itself, and which must therefore be obtained from the diet.

The functions of thiamine within the body are highly complex biochemically, but what's important to know is that thiamine and its associated enzymes are essential for the body's production of energy from food. As always with the B complex vitamins, however, the proper functioning of thiamine depends on an adequate supply of the other members of the complex, and the performance of the thiamine related enzymes in this case is particularly dependent on the associated vitamins, riboflavin (B2) and niacin (B3).

That said; there is a characteristic disease of severe thiamine deficiency, beriberi, which has been recognised for several thousand years. This disease should never now be seen outside medical text books in affluent Western societies, but alcoholics and heavy drinkers, for whom the absorption of adequate thiamine presents particular problems, frequently show symptoms.

Beriberi is regarded as having "wet" and "dry" forms, the symptoms of the former being principally observed in problems with the cardiovascular system, including severe fluid retention and in severe cases even congestive heart failure. So-called "dry" beriberi is characterised by problems with the nervous system, particularly the peripheral nerves of the limbs, which may lead to pain and weakness in the muscles.

Beriberi may also have serious effects on the brain, partly through increased free radical activity, leading in extreme cases to conditions known as Wernicke's encephalopathy and/or Korsaloff's amnesia or psychosis. Wernicke's is identified by characteristic physical nervous "ticks", especially unusual movements of the eyes, whereas Korsaloff's is the term applied when these symptoms are accompanied by severe amnesia.

If you think these symptoms remind you of the archetypal "street wino" you'd be right, because in advanced societies they're most commonly found in alcoholics and heavy drinkers, supporting the theory that malnutrition is a major contributor to their problems. It makes sense that this should be so. For not only do such people tend to have very inadequate diets, but their damaged livers also struggle to metabolise the few nutrients which they do take in. Alcohol, of course, is also known as a powerful diuretic, and when you consider that thiamine, in common with the other vitamins of the B complex, is highly water soluble, and easily excreted by the body, you have a potent recipe for nutritional disaster.

So how much thiamine do you need to avoid this disaster?

As always, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for thiamine (most recently established in 1998) is set at the level designed to prevent deficiencies in normally healthy people. But of course, the prevention of deficiency is not at all the same as thing as ensuring optimum health, and the RDAs for thiamine are therefore set at the very low levels of 1.2 mg for men and 1.1 mg for women. As the slight differential suggests, higher intakes are required in proportion with higher bodyweight, and particularly muscular bodyweight. An increased intake of 1.4 mg is also suggested for pregnant women.

A number of common every day foods provide good sources of thiamine. A serving of fortified breakfast cereals, for example, may provide 0.5 - 2mg, a single cup of wheatgerm 4 or more mg. A 3 oz serving of pork will contain up to 0.75 mg, lentils, peas, brown or enriched white rice 0.2 mg, and a slice of wholemeal bread 0.1 mg.

These figures would seem to suggest that most people should have little difficulty in achieving their RDA. But the problem is that thiamine is notoriously fragile, and almost any type of processing of these foods, including boiling or even toasting bread may dramatically reduce thiamine content.

So it's perhaps not surprising that research suggests average intakes in Western societies may be as low as 2 mg a day for men and 1.2 mg for women. These figures are worryingly close to the RDAs which, as noted, are in any case set at a level only designed for the avoidance of outright deficiency. Being averages, it likely follows that there must be many people who routinely fall below them, and there are also factors to be considered which may dramatically increase the body's demand for thiamine and therefore the risk of deficiency.

As well as the consumption of alcohol, these include intensive physical exercise, normal growth in adolescence, pregnancy and breast feeding, and feverish illnesses, particularly malaria. As with alcohol, heavy intakes of tea and coffee have been shown to have a severely depleting effect on the body's levels of thiamine, and this is due to so-called "anti-thiamine factors", in addition to the loss of the water soluble vitamin which may be attributed to the diuretic effects of these drinks. There is also evidence that older people may struggle to absorb sufficient quantities of this nutrient even when their diet appears adequate.

There is no recommended upper safe limit for the intake of thiamine, any excess being easily excreted by the body, and no known toxic effects. Supplementing with thiamine is therefore recommended for the vulnerable groups listed above, which in fact comprise a significant proportion of the supposedly well population, and may well be beneficial for all who seek optimal health and maximum energy levels. The close interdependency of the B vitamins, however, means that thiamine should be taken as part of a supplement containing the whole complex. The proper functioning of the vitamin also requires the presence of adequate minerals, particularly magnesium.

Herbs and Nutrients For Vein Health

Neglecting those bluish or reddish veins creeping under your skin may not be the wisest thing to do. These thread-like veins may be found any where on your body but are commonly seen on legs and facial skin. Initially, such veins may not cause discomfort which may be why we often neglect them. As time passes, however, veins may become swollen and add a blemish to smooth-looking, healthy legs. They can grow to appear as unsightly, bulging veins which spoil the looks of your legs.

Why do such veins appear in some people and not on others? It could be hereditary, but more often than not, it has to do with vein health. Such veins can begin to crop up around the age of 40 or 50. Bulging veins are experienced by more women than men. Advancing age can weaken the valves in the blood vessels. The main function of these valves is to push blood upwards in order to keep circulation flowing smoothly to all parts of the body. De-oxygenated blood is taken to the lungs for oxygenation and oxygenated blood is circulated to the whole body. Since legs experience the most pressure against gravity, valves need to work harder to push blood back up to the lungs for oxygenation. When these valves become weak there is a backflow of blood resulting in the accumulation of pools of blood, that collect to form bulgy-looking veins.

What can you do? Some natural means to help support vein health are given below. In addition, you may want to consider vein supplements.

* Exercise. Regular exercise for at least 30 minutes a day helps to support circulation.
* Keep your legs up against the wall for 10 to 15 minutes a day. This would force the blood to flow down from your legs. If you already have bulging veins, you may want to rest your legs on a pillow when you sleep to elevate them.
* Avoid crossing your legs, or wearing clothes that obstruct circulation.
* Avoid standing for long periods every day. If your job involves long hours of standing, take a 15 minute sitting break every 2 hours.
* Wearing therapeutic stockings can help relieve much of the discomfort associated with swollen veins.
* Maintaining an optimal weight.

While all these methods can help support vein health, proper nutrition and a vein supplement can also help to support healthy veins. Certain herbs and nutrients have been well-researched and studied for their role in supporting vein health. Look for vein supplements that contain the following:

* Vitamin C is a major supporter of vein health. Research indicates that it nutritionally supports healthy blood viscosity, circulation. It also helps to maintain healthy blood pressures.
* Horse Chestnut is known to support healthy circulation especially in the lower legs. It is used extensively in Europe as an important ingredient in vein supplements. Research provides suggestive evidence for the use of horse chestnut to support vein health.
* Gotu Kola nutritionally promotes the growth of collagen and elastin. These are skin proteins which help to form a strong matrix both inside and outside blood vessels. Gotu Kola helps to strengthen vein health.
* Butcher's Broom is a nutrient that helps to maintain healthy blood vessel walls. It also supports healthy circulation, and therefore a vital ingredient in vein supplements.
* Hesperidin is an antioxidant that supports vein health.
* Diosmin is also an antioxidant which is believed to work predominantly to support vein elasticity and capillary integrity.

There are various means to address ugly, swollen veins but none of them are permanent solutions. Some may even involve surgical procedures. Since poor vein health is often associated with bulgy, swollen veins, nutritional support through vein supplements, like Vein Matrix, are the preferred choice of many women and men. A daily dose of targeted nutrients and herbs for vein health will help to support strong veins well into the advanced years of your life.

Water - Beyond Its Libido Powers!

"When the body is well hydrated, all of the physiological and hormonal prerequisites to a satisfying sex life and more-than-adequate libido will be in place. In addition, one or two glasses of water before the "event" will help in achieving a firmer and sustained erection in men and the joys of participation in women." - Dr. F. Batmanghelidj

I have been a Holistic Health Practitioner for over 15 years. I am a healthy 43 year old woman. Most people are stunned by my age and ask me what my secret is. I tell them plenty of water and plenty of sleep. Of course it's just words to them. But to me it's my life, my body and my entire well being. I kid you not when I say that water has been my preventative medicine and a big part of my daily and sacred rituals. Simply put, I just can't live without water.

Throughout the years of my practice, I have seen, treated and coached 2 - 3 hundred clients. What I find common in every last one of them is their lack of sufficient water consumption and their belief that they are drinking plenty of water. Add their illusions and misunderstandings around the power and properties of water and you get a dried up prune trying to dance. Constipation, migraine headaches, low libido, tumors, arthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, back and neck pain, asthma, allergies, cancer, obesity, depression - just to name a few - are all signs of dehydration in the body. Those imbalances and cries from the body have only been given names and titles that have now taken on a life of their own.

The mental thinking is drugs for pain; surrender to someone else to take care of the imbalance rather than an active participation and understanding of the way the body functions. (And when you get to understand that powerful temple you live in then you have mastered one of life's greatest lessons and mysteries.) Everyone knows that water is good for the body. They seem not to know how essential it is to ones well-being. They do not know what happens to the body if it does not receive its daily need of water.

The truth is dehydration is the underlying cause of diseases. The rest is the scientific and medical community stroking their egos with massive words and the titling of some imbalance in the body that they, in fact, do not quite understand themselves.

In his book, The Body's Many Cries for Water, Dr. F. Batmanghelidj says, "Medical professionals of today do not understand the vital roles of water in the human body. Medications are palliatives. They are not designed to cure the degenerative disease of the human body. Medicine doe not cure diseases. They only mask them."

"We misinterpret thirst signals as pain, and treat them with drugs which silence instead of cure the problem. Because dehydration eventually causes loss of some functions, the various signals given by water distribution system regulators during severe and lasting dehydration have been translated as indicators of unknown disease conditions of the body. I discovered that histamine is a vital chemical messenger in the brain. Histamine has a most important function not written about in medical textbooks. It is in charge of water intake and drought management in the body. It is less active when the body is fully hydrated, and becomes increasingly active when the body becomes dehydrated. To hush the body's call for water by masking the symptoms with drugs is like turning out the dashboard light that signal us that our car is about to overheat."

"Every function inside the body is regulated by and depends on water. Water must be available to carry vital elements, oxygen, hormones, and chemical messages to all parts of the body. Without sufficient water to wet all parts equally, some more remote parts of the body will not receive the vital elements that water supplies. Without sufficient water to constantly wet all parts, your body's drought-management system kicks into action. The histamine-directed chemical messenger systems are activated to arrange a new, low quota of water for the drought-stricken area. When histamine and its subordinate "drought managers" come across pain-sensing nerves, they cause pain. This is why dehydration produces pain as its first alarm signal. If the dehydration persists and is not corrected naturally with water, it becomes symptom-producing and, in time, develops into a disease condition."

I am also a mother and I apply my natural health practices and beliefs in my role as a mother. I can not afford expensive medical bills and frankly do not fully trust a system and industrial complex that is based on capitalism and profits while gambling my health away. So I use the natural resources of the earth to restore balance and to remedy any issues that my family and I may have or encounter.

My son's gum recently began swelling. I knew that his body was fighting an infection as a result. I paused and asked for guidance from the divine healer within. My son had not brushed properly and a piece of food had been stuck in his teeth that had caused the swelling and canker sores in his mouth. I knew that if I took him to the dentist they would put him on an antibiotic that would get rid of the harmful bacteria as well as the ones that his body needs. And I would walk out with a big bill. Empowering the Dentist while dis-empowering me and my pocket book.

So I did my research and chose the healing herbs and methods that I knew would work. My son even played an active role when he walked straight up to a homeopathic remedy, picked it up and said, "Here Mommy". When I looked it up it was exactly what he needed to cure the canker sore in his mouth. I applauded and thanked him for listening to his inner healer. So I made him drink plenty of water. At least a huge cup full every other hour. (room temperature) I wanted him to go to the bathroom and clean out the toxic from the months before and from traveling to Brazil with his father, being away from me for a while. I also gave him Echinachea (tincture) to take care of the infection. And I had him rinse his mouth with hydrogen peroxide - making sure he doesn't swallow it. This alone is so powerful in drawing out the toxic from any punctures or wounds in the body. The very next day the swelling began to diminish. And of course I got him back on track with brushing twice a day and flossing. This is only one of our natural remedy stories throughout our 10 years together. Ask any one who knows me and they will tell you that when i was told my son needed steroids I grabbed him and ran out of the hospital daring anyone to touch us. Believe me when I say that i am a Doctor's worst nightmare because I challenge them and ask them questions that not only leave their heads spinning but also provokes them as well.

Please.... when I say that water is so so powerful I am not whispering it. I am screaming loud at the top of my lungs hoping all humans would hear me. And that it can prevent even the most horrific diseases that man still does not understand like..cancer, diabetes, etc. As well, the healing industry has taken on a fast pace life of its own with everyone telling you their way or the highway. Don't be fooled. It is so simple! We only make it complicated. And all the therapies are worthless without the proper consumption of the purest and most readily available element and remedy- WATER!!. YES!! And I am not here to convince you at all. I am just here to share because if I don't then it would only be selfish of me and I would not be in alignment with my true purpose.

Health Factors

At times we might wonder why we feel tired most of the time, but there are quite a number of reasons among these may include depression, stress and diet. We have got other foods to consider like oysters as they can help to boost immunity. As they are not only renowned aphrodisiac, but also full of health promoting vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Oysters are an excellent source of protein. They are rich in vitamin E and omega 3 fatty acids for heart health, and brain boosting B vitamins including B12 which helps fight fatigue. They also contain vitamin D, which is needed for healthy bones and teeth as well as potassium, iron and selenium.

Oysters are a rich source of iodine which is necessary for the proper functioning of the thyroid and reproductive hormones. Ginseng is well known for its ability to increase energy and vitality. It raises body metabolism and is believed to increase the utilization of nutrients and oxygen in the cells. Ginseng also slows the heart rate and decreases the heart's demand for oxygen and prevents nervous disorders such as anxiety and stress. It also treats stomach and digestive troubles, lowers blood sugar levels and is said to prolong longevity. Wild oats are nourishing and restorative to nerves and reproductive organs as well as being anti depressant and strengthening. They are a good remedy for keeping going, weakness and nervous exhaustion. Oat bran meanwhile has become well known for combating high levels of blood cholesterol. When combined with water in the bath, they can help to alleviate skin irritations. Oats are especially good for irritable bowel syndrome.

Jasmine has a reputation as an aphrodisiac, also reducing impotence in men and frigidity in women. Its relaxing and anti depressant effect helps with post natal depression. It is as well excellent for stress relief and is uplifting during times of lethargy. So as a tea you can get a whole lot of benefits.

The Water and The Human's Health

There is no more mysterious and amazing substance than water. The explanation of its characteristics is hidden in its molecular and intermolecular structure.

But for us the water is firstly the most important component of the human organism, providing the connection of the outer and the inner world, the transportation of the substances between the cells and the organs. The water corresponds the main medium of the metabolic process as it is a solvent of organic and inorganic substances. The water forms a part of different systems of organic substances. For example, each gram of glycogen (animal starch) contains 1.5 ml of water, and each gram of protein contains 3 ml of water. Such structures as cell membranes, transporting particles of blood, macromolecular and supramolecular structures are formed with the help of water. In the process of the metabolism and the oxidation of the hydrogen, which forms a part of the substrates (proteins, fats and carbohydrates), endogenous "oxidation water" is generated, and its amount depends on the species of disintegrating substrates and the metabolic rate. So, during the oxidation of 100 g of fat more than 100 ml of liquid are formed, 100 g proteins - about 40 ml water, 100 g carbohydrates - 55 ml water. The rise of energy metabolism leads to the sharp growth of the amount of endogenous water.

But endogenous water is not enough for provision of water medium of metabolic processes, especially the excretion in the dissolved form of metabolic products. Particularly, the rise of the consumption of the proteins and respectively their final transformation in the urea, which is removed from the organism with the urine, leads to the inevitable growth of the loss of water in the kidneys, which demands of the heightened flux of water into the organism. When passing to the carbohydrate diet with the little quantity of common salt NaCl reduces the need of the organism in water.

The total amount of liquid in the organism of a human depends on its mass and averages 38-42 liters. Its content in different tissues varies from 10% in the adipose tissue to 83-90% in the kidneys and blood. With the years the amount of water in the organism is lessening, so as in the case of obesity. Women have less water in the organism than men.

The water in the organism forms two water spaces: intracellular (2/3 of the whole water volume) and extracellular (the whole water volume). In pathology there appears one more water space - water of the body cavities: abdominal, pleural, etc. The extracellular water space includes two sectors: 1) intravascular water sector, i.e. blood plasma, the volume of which is about 4-5 % of the body mass, and 2) interstitial or intercellular water sector, containing ¼ of all the water of the organism (15% of the body mass). It is more movable, changing the volume if there is a redundancy or deficiency in water. (Remember this peculiarity, we will return to it when talking about the mechanism of the "summer" cleaning of joints). All the aqua in the organism is renewed approximately once a month and intercellular aqua space - once a week. (And this peculiarity is also very important for determination of the duration of the "summer" cleanings).

The redundant inflow of water leads to its accumulation if few water is exuded, and this shift of the water balance is called hyperhydration. In this case aqua is mostly accumulated in the interstitial aqua sector. The significant hyperhydration declares itself in water intoxication. Water intoxication can be followed by the excitation of nerve cells and the onset of muscular spasms.

The defective inflow or the redundant excretion of water leads to the reduction of liquid spaces, mostly of the interstitial sector. This is called the dehydration. It can be followed by the hemoconcentration, the worsening of its properties and abnormalities of hemodynamics. The reduction of water in the organism to 20 % of the body mass leads to the fatal outcome.

The system of regulation of the water balance provides the main life processes: firstly, the maintenance of the constancy of the water volume in the organism, secondly, the optimal distribution of water between the aqua spaces and sectors. The activity of kidneys, other eliminative organs, drinking water consumption and thirst are referred to the factors of the maintenance of relative aqua constancy.

The significance of water as a solvent is especially important, because all the substances absorbable in the blood or the lymph are preliminarily resolved in water. The liquid transfers the nutrients to the cells and removes decay products, which are removed from the organism by the kidneys and sudoriferous glands.

Besides, the oxidation processes are progressing in the water, and the oxidative breakdown very often goes on with the addition of the water molecule.

Also the water takes part in the regulation of the body temperature: vaporizing, it cools the body and lowers the temperature. The water protects from the heat exhaustion in the hot places, under the sun and during the long passages. Finally, the water enter in the composition of the digestive juices, the fluids of the gastrointestinal tract.

The need of the human in aqua is 2-2.5 liters per day. This liquid comes to the organism from the following sources: 1) the water consumed as a drinking (900-1200 ml) and containing in the food (900-1000 ml) 2) the water that is made in the organism as a result of chemical transformation of the nutrients (300-350 ml (endogenous, oxidations).

The main organs that remove water from the organism are the kidneys, sudoriferous glands, lungs and bowels.

The kidneys remove 1-1.5 liters of aqua a day with the urine. Sudoriferous glands remove 500 - 1000 ml in usual conditions and in the hot place or at hard work the perspiration increases.

The lungs remove 350-400 ml of water by liquid vapor. This quantity is sharply increased when the breathing is getting deeper and quicker, and 800 ml of water can be removed in a day.

The bowels remove 100-150 ml of water with the stool.

The ratio of the consumed water to the removed water makes up a water balance. The water consummation should fully cover the water discharge. It is important for the normal activity of the organism or as a result of the loss of water there will be serious abnormalities of the vital functions.

Top 10 Health Stories of 2009

2009 was a busy year as gene-related exploration tools opened up a treasure trove of new discoveries. We've learned why some of the obvious good health habits, like getting enough sleep and exercise are more important than ever, and we've learned new things about health that were barely imagined even a year ago. Many of the following stories are feature length articles that are sure to broaden your understanding of natural health and as well as illustrating the extreme importance of taking really good care of yourself.

#10 - Sleep Well, Live Longer
Everyone knows that getting enough sleep is vital to good health. It is also vital to learning. It is now crystal clear that sleep problems reflect excess inflammation, which in turn reflects increased risk for virtually any disease.

Excessive Sleepiness Predicts Death
Energy is the backbone of life and a new study makes this perfectly clear. A group of 9294 individuals, age 65 at the start of study, was followed for six years. Those with excessive daytime sleepiness had a 49% increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and a 33% increased risk of dying from any cause.

Sleeping Problems Disturb Cardiovascular Health
Timing is a key principle of health. Sleeping and waking are timed to the earth's 24 hour clock, and so is the health of your circulatory system. New research is discovering that timing rhythms of your body have a powerful influence on the health of the cells that line your circulatory system.

Alcohol May Disturb Your Sleep and Biological Clock
Many people have a drink or two to relax and calm down from the stressors of the day, which even may assist sleep (at least in the short term). A new study shows that an increased level of alcohol can disrupt your biological clock. Not only does this induce potential serious sleep problems, it can throw your entire body out of rhythm (including your immune system).

Sleep Problems are a Significant Risk for Type II Diabetes
Three new studies show that a short sleep duration, insomnia, and too much sleep all are reflective of a major problem in blood sugar metabolism that increases the risks for type II diabetes.

Too Much or Too Little Sleep is Inflammatory
A new sleep study demonstrates that sleeping too long as well as sleeping too little goes along with having too much inflammation. It is already known that these types of sleep problems are associated with poor health, disease risk, and increased rates of mortality. This new study links the inflammatory theme as an underlying mechanism affecting all types of sleep duration problems.

Sleep Desire, Caffeine, and Inflammation
New research has proven conclusively that the molecule known as adenosine is in charge of your feeling of sleepiness and is required in adequate amounts in order for you to fall asleep in a natural way. Somewhat paradoxically, adenosine is also an important molecule in energy production.

Quality Sleep is Needed for Memory and Learning
When teachers watch grades plummet they invariably know something stressful is going on in that student's life. That is because the inflammation resulting from the problems is disturbing sleep - and a good night's sleep is now turning out to be the key to memory and learning.

#9 - Exercise is Corrective, Rejuvenating, and Good for Your Brain
Exercise is not just to maintain a better body weight, it builds and rejuvenates brain cells, helping intelligence at any age. Research continues to show that exercise reduces the risk for heart disease and improves the health of your liver.

Aerobics Promote a More Youthful Brain
In a small group of men and women ages 60 to 80 it was found that those who did 3 hours of aerobics per week for ten consecutive years had much less abnormal twisting of the blood vessels in their brain, reflecting brain circulation patterns of younger adults.

Aerobic Fitness Makes Teens Smarter
A Swedish study evaluating the fitness and IQ of 1.2 million 18 year olds found that those who had better aerobic fitness between the ages of 15-18 had significantly higher IQ at age 18 - and were more likely to go on to be successful in terms of education and income. The study also evaluated twins and showed that IQ was far more associated with fitness than genes.

Men Need Moderate-to-Heavy Exercise for Stroke Prevention
A new study of 3,298 people showed that men who regularly participated in moderate-to-heavy exercise (jogging, tennis, swimming) had a 63 percent less chance of having a stroke. Lighter exercise such as walking or golfing did not confer such benefits.

Exercise Helps Prevent the Re-Accumulation of Dangerous Fat
Visceral fat is the kind that accumulates in the abdominal region and is associated with highly inflammatory disease-related risk. A new study had individuals exercise 40 minutes twice a week for one year following a period of weight loss. This small amount of exercise completely prevented the re-accumulation of the high disease risk fat. The researchers found that aerobic exercise and resistance training were equally effective for this purpose.

Aerobic Exercise Improves Stiff Arteries and Fatty Liver
Several new studies are showing that aerobic exercise can have a rather profound effect on promoting health. One study showed that in older adults with type II diabetes just three months of aerobics produced noticeable improvement in the elasticity of arteries. Another study showed that one month of aerobic exercise reduced the fatty build up in the liver of overweight individuals.

Why Consistent Exercise Helps Keep the Weight Off
There are numerous studies showing that those who consistently exercise during and following weight loss are much more likely to maintain their new weight. The common reasons most people have to continue exercise is to maintain the better feeling of health and fitness and to burn calories. A new study provides a few new angles that may provide additional motivation. It showed that consistent exercise following weight loss directly reduced the urge to eat more food, specifically enhanced fat burning, and blunted the formation of new fat cells.

#8 - Adiponectin Linked to Multiple Disease Risks
Adiponectin, a hormone like leptin that comes from fat, has already been shown to be the single most important factor causing insulin resistance and type II diabetes. Now we see that low adiponectin starts heart disease in motion, handicaps immune function, and disturbs the rhythms of healthy metabolism. The adiponectin story is of immense importance to your health, and far from over.

Low Adiponectin Starts Cardiovascular Disease in Motion
Adiponectin and leptin are the two primary hormones secreted from your stored fat. In health, they are released in balance. As body weight rises, then leptin increases and adiponectin decreases. It has been known for some time that the lowering of adiponectin is the primary cause of insulin resistance in your liver. This new study shows that low adiponectin is associated with adverse changes in your circulatory system that lead to plaque accumulation and hardening of your arteries.

Adiponectin Stops Sepsis - Relevance to H1N1 Swine Flu
A new animal study shows that low levels of adiponectin are associated with higher toxicity of sepsis whereas adequate adiponectin prevents sepsis. Adiponectin levels are low in overweight people and being overweight is a risk factor for getting severe H1N1 swine flu. Those with severe H1N1 swine flu have sepsis-like symptoms due to the toxicity and low oxygen condition produced by the infection.

The Blood Sugar Hormone Adiponectin is Linked to Your Circadian Clock
A detailed analysis of biological clocking genes has shown that adiponectin function is in sync with 24-hour patterns. The data also showed that fasting causes the adiponectin-relating timing to fast forward, whereas a high fat diet causes adiponectin-related timing to enter jet lag.

Magnesium Needed for Healthy Adiponectin Levels
A detailed study comparing the metabolism of twins, which analyzed their basic dietary nutrients, found that magnesium intake was the most important dietary variable that determined adiponectin levels.

#7 A Clear Path to Prostate Cancer Prevention
One in six men is needlessly heading for prostate cancer. This problem is mostly preventable and a new understanding of the androgen receptor points the way to good health - for those men wishing to take the steps it needed to stay out of the obvious risk zone.

Prostate Cancer & the Androgen Receptor - A Clearer Picture of the Problem
Prostate cancer is the most widely diagnosed cancer in America. Men have a 17% risk for getting the problem during their lifetime. The story of any cancer is essentially survival gone wrong, a problem wherein normal cell function is hijacked and turned to cancer. How this happens varies considerably for any particular type of cancer, although there are a number of common features. Any man not wanting prostate cancer in the first place or who is treating this problem should spend some time understanding at least the basics of the androgen receptor.

Coffee Reduces the Risk for Diabetes and Prostate Cancer
Several new studies support the idea that coffee may be quite good for your health - even in higher amounts. In one study it was shown that those consuming 3-4 cups of coffee per day had a 25% risk reduction for type II diabetes. In another study it was shown that the highest coffee drinkers had a 60% less chance of developing aggressive prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Treatment Causes Heart Disease and Diabetes
One common treatment for prostate cancer is to use hormone-disrupting drugs to the point of chemical castration (depressing testosterone production to nothing). Another approach is actual castration. According to a new study, either procedure causes significant risk for heart disease, and chemical castration with a GnRH agonist also causes diabetes.

Prostate Cancer and Zinc - Can Zinc Be Overdone?
Many individuals are confused by the meaning of studies that sometimes show a particular nutrient is associated with some form of cancer when in fact they thought that nutrient was supposed to be helpful. A case in point is zinc and prostate cancer, which is the subject of this posting.

Leptin, Obesity, and Prostate Cancer
Duke University researchers have demonstrated that obesity in and of itself is a risk factor for aggressive prostate cancer. The study involved 1415 men who had undergone radical prostatectomy as prostate cancer treatment (about 50/50 white and black men). Race was not a factor in who was likely to continue disease progression based on the prostate cancer spreading aggressively, but obesity was.

Another Study Linking Obesity to Aggressive Prostate Cancer
It is really important that this message sink in to the male population. Being overweight when you are older or gaining weight as an adult are clearly linked to risk for developing the most aggressive and deadly form of prostate cancer.

#6 - The Pitfalls of Bioidentical Hormones
The improper use of bioidentical hormones is putting the health of many women at risk and opening the door for unnecessary excessive regulation of the natural health industry. It does not appear that many natural health practitioners are planning on getting their acts together any time soon - so consumers need to understand the subject much better.
Oprah's "Crazy Talk" - Bioidentical Hormones - Helpful or Harmful? (Part 1)
Newsweek recently indulged in tabloid journalism, featuring Oprah on the cover with the headline: CRAZY TALK, Oprah, Wacky Cures, & You. The specific emphasis of the article was an attack on Suzanne Somers, Oprah, and bioidentical hormones. The Genie is out of the hormone bottle, consumers are confused, the medical profession is in its typical funk, and somewhere out there is the health-improving truth.

Oprah's "Crazy" Talk - Bioidentical Hormones - Helpful or Harmful? (Part 2)
Hormones decline with age. The simplistic idea of replacing something that is apparently missing makes sense to many people, especially when a lab test can show that the hormone levels are lower than a younger person's or when taking the hormone suppresses a symptom. And that is where the simplicity ends - and the risks begin to elevate.

#5 - The Unnecessary Epidemic of Type II Diabetes
How a subject like Western medicine gains a monopoly on treating an epidemic of type II diabetes is hard to understand when it is painfully obvious that their treatments fail to produce positive results. Solutions for consumers are now available - once again rooted in a much better understanding of natural health.

Insulin, Leptin, and Blood Sugar - Why Diabetic Medication Fails
Type II diabetes is a difficult metabolic problem. It is a national embarrassment that so many of our young people are becoming type II diabetic. It is a national disgrace that millions of type II diabetic patients are being injured with commonly used diabetic medications that are known to make their metabolic situation worse.

Laughable Type II Diabetes Research Shines Light on Medical Ineptitude
The ability of Western medicine to treat an epidemic of type II diabetes in America shows the gross incompetence of their collective profession. Granted, type II diabetes is a tough problem because it means the natural regulatory systems of the distribution and use of calories is broken. However, if doctors can't help solve tough problems then what good are they?

#4 - Mind Rejuvenation
Nerve health is now much better understood. Boosting your brain's plasticity and flexibility are the keys to your mental health and mental abilities. Bad habits, poor mood, and even depression now need to be viewed in a different light with a far different set of solutions than have been employed by many over the past few decades.

New Insights on Addiction, Mood, Memory, and Cognitive Ability
An array of new science is painting not only a clear picture of addiction but of how the same brain issues relate to poor memory, poor mood, and poor cognitive function. While we can think of addiction in terms of a clinical problem like drug or alcohol abuse, the same issues are involved with eating and other behavior patterns that are either a waste of your time (like too much web

BDNF at the Crossroads of Brain Function & Metabolism
Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is vital to the growth of new nerve cells, the plasticity of brain connections that are vital to brain health, and plays an important role in learning and memory. New research is now showing that it is a vital metabolic compound, lacking in individuals who are overweight and especially in those with type II diabetes.

Synaptic Plasticity - The Key to Your Brain's Future
How does your brain bounce back from intense stress? When is your subconscious brain going to start believing you should actually be that weight you desire? Any why is it you just can't seem to break that bad habit? The answer may lie in how flexible or "plastic" your brain structures are.

Helping Glial Cells will Revolutionize Prevention & Treatment of Alzheimer's
In the face of a baby boomer population certain to have an epidemic of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's there is very good news on the cutting edge of science for those interested in being proactive on the topic. The rapid developments in our understanding of neurobiology are causing scientists to refocus their efforts on the healthy function of glial cells in order to maintain and restore cognitive health.

#3 The Immune System Regulation of Metabolism
This major discovery has gone virtually unnoticed - though it has immediate practical application value to those interested in restoring and maintaining their own health.

Immunometabolism: The New Frontier
Every now and then rather jaw-dropping research is published, as is the case this week as the journal Nature Medicine published three groundbreaking articles linking the function of immune cells to obesity and diabetes - data which opens the door to solving all kinds of health problems including the obesity issue itself, inefficient immune response to the flu in overweight individuals, as well as obesity-related autoimmune problems.

#2 How Bone Health is Related to Metabolic Health
Precise mechanisms linking thyroid, leptin, and bone health have now been documented. This information represents a fundamental shift in how health problems are caused and how they can be corrected. A case in point is the strength of your bones.

The New World of Bones - Thyroid, Leptin, Blood Sugar, and Bone Strength
In 1994, with the discovery of leptin, the view of white adipose tissue was transformed from a warehouse whose primary role was the storage of extra calories into one of the most important endocrine organs in the human body. The explosion in leptin-related research, now involving over 16,000 studies, is a testament to the emerging reality that leptin regulates (as a top-level manager) almost everything in your body. In the past few years the leptin science has transformed our understanding of bone health and bone function.

Leptin, Thyroid, and Weight Loss
It is very common that individuals who are overweight have a majority of the symptoms associated with a hypothyroid-like condition. This is especially true for those who have a history of yo-yo dieting or have difficulty losing weight by cutting back on calories and trying to exercise more.

Oprah's Thyroid Problem Explained
Oprah is creating a lot of buzz after gaining forty pounds and simultaneously claiming she solved her thyroid problem. Her statements sent internet bloggers into a frenzy. How did she get off her thyroid medication? Did she really solve her thyroid problem? Isn't this just a temporary break from a sinister and permanent thyroid illness? If her thyroid is in such great shape why did she pile on forty pounds?

#1 The Swine Flu Hoopla
No story dominated the health headlines this year as did the potential Swine Flu pandemic that never happened - at least yet. As such, it was a teachable moment. Those interested in natural health were able to overcome the potential fear of the Swine Flu by learning how nutrition can dramatically improve the immune response to a flu that has not been seen before, as well as by understanding the shortcomings of the protection offered by vaccines. Armed with knowledge and effective steps that can be taken, there is little to be worried about.

Using Nutrition to Help Perceive and Combat Swine Flu
There is valid concern that the H1N1 swine flu will readily infect Americans this flu season, resulting in high numbers of swine flu cases around the country. Already the CDC is reporting significant swine flu symptoms and swine flu cases in all states. This is because this new version of the flu hasn't been around any time recently, meaning that our immune systems don't have a memory of it and prior training in dealing with it. This does not automatically mean this is a major problem. Your immune system is perfectly capable of mounting a highly effective response against any never-before-seen virus. This article explains how your immune system does this, what nutrients can help, what forms of stress handicap this functionality, and how to help prevent the cytokine storm that would be associated with a severe swine flu episode.