February 2007 Newsletter

Heavy metals are in your food, your water, your air, your place of work and your home. In trace amounts, some heavy metals, such as iron, copper, manganese and zinc, are actually necessary for good health. Toxicity from bad heavy metals, however, can result in damaged or reduced mental and central nervous function, lower energy levels, and damage to blood composition, lungs, kidneys, liver and other vital organs. Since heavy metals aren't leaving our environment, how can we get them out of our bodies? Read More

Millions of Americans take over-the-counter cough syrups to get rid of their coughs. However, cough syrups generally do not contain enough medicine to be effective or contain drugs that have not been proven effective against the common cough. In fact, the American College of Chest Physicians has stated that over-the-counter cough medications are ineffective in treating the underlying causes of cough. Read up on why these medications don't work and the natural alternatives for getting rid of that tickle in the throat. Read More

Most people don't eat enough fiber - despite the fact that research evidence links inadequate fiber intake with conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, inflammation of the intestine and constipation, among other things. The current recommendation for dietary fiber intake for adults is 20-35 grams per day. However, the average person consumes only 14-15 grams of fiber a day. Learn about easy ways to increase your fiber intake. Read More

As you age, maintaining flexibility and lean muscle mass becomes all the more important in warding off disease and debilitating injury. In the absence of any strength training, our strength naturally peaks at approximately 25 years of age, plateaus through 35 or 40, and then begins to decline, with about 25 percent loss of peak force by age 65. Regular physical activity can help control blood lipid abnormalities, diabetes and obesity. Aerobic physical activity also can reduce blood pressure. Find out what you can do to stay active into your senior years. Read More

Women are increasingly concerned with the potential dangers of fluctuating hormone levels during and following menopause. Common treatments, such as hormone replacement therapy and bio-identical hormone therapy, come with significant risk factors and rely on a process of trial and error that may take considerable time to fine tune. The distressing symptoms that affect 75 percent of Western women at menopause can largely be considered as diet and lifestyle-related. Maximizing minerals, building lean muscle mass and reducing stress are only a few suggestions for combating the symptoms of menopause. Get educated on the natural alternatives to hormone replacement therapy. Read More

As many as one in five women suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS). A recent study involving 3,000 women, more than a third of whom had experienced symptoms of PMS over a 10-year period, showed that women consuming the highest amounts of calcium were 20 percent less likely to suffer from PMS than women who consumed the lowest amounts. And women with the highest levels of vitamin D intake were 41 percent less likely to develop symptoms compared to women taking the least amount of vitamin D. Fortunately, there are easy ways to ensure you get adequate calcium and vitamin D in your daily diet. Read More