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A very loyal customer recently lost her younger sister to the complications of Diabetes. My heart truly goes out to her and her family. A few years back she wrote this testimony.  I am reminded how much it means to me to make such a difference in people's lives.


I have worked with Karen Hanrahan for over ten years on some of the toughest health issues in my life including high blood pressure, indigestion, menopause, gall bladder problems, and recently diabetes. Although I am not diabetic, thanks to Karen and the nutritional products she shares , three of my siblings are and we have a strong genetic association with the disease. My poor father died at the very young age of 71 from complications of this terrible illness and it saddened me very much to loose him this way. It seemed like such a waste to me. He understood very little about his disease and what he could do to stop its progression. I am now faced with a younger sister who is just as threatened with the complications of diabetes. At age 50 she had a triple bypass, and I will probably also loose to diabetes because she also does not believe there is anything she can do to affect the course of her illness. If I were to sum up what the value of my association with Karen means to me, besides the knowledge I have gained, besides the quality of the care she offers, it would be the fact that she has allowed me to see that I can overcome these illnesses. That I don’t have to stay sick. This is certainly a great and wonderful GIFT! Thank you Karen for your care and support


yellow rose flickr image credit

With 40 peer-reviewed reports and scientific studies that illustrate the health impacts of chemicals found in household disinfectants I felt that this was important to share:

Press release:

For Immediate Release:

Nov. 10, 2009 

Contact:

Ali Solomon, Women’s Voices for the Earth

ali@womenandenvironment.org, 406-543-3747

Sian Wu, sian@resource-media.org, 206-374-7795 x102

New Report Links Disinfecting Chemicals with Chronic Disease:

Overuse of Disinfectants Could be Harmful

MISSOULA, Mont. – A new report released today links disinfectant chemicals with chronic illnesses and conditions such as asthma, hormone imbalance, and immune system problems. The report, “Disinfectant Overkill: How Too Clean May Be Hazardous to Our Health,” was released by the national environmental health group Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE), and cites more than 40 peer-reviewed reports and scientific studies that illustrate the health impacts of chemicals found in household disinfectants. 

WVE assessed the potential health hazards of five classes of antimicrobial chemicals, and expressed concern about the prevalent overuse of products containing these chemicals by consumers. Chemicals reviewed in the report include chlorine bleach, ammonia, Triclosan and Triclocarban, ammonium quarternary compounds, and nano-silver.  

According to the report, studies have found Triclosan and Triclocarban, chemicals commonly used in antibacterial soap, in the bodies of nearly 75 percent of people tested. Studies show the two chemicals may have hormone-disrupting effects, which means they change the activity of hormones in the body. For example, Triclocarban appears to amplify testosterone in the body, while Triclosan has been shown to interfere with communication between cells in the brain and the heart. 

Antimicrobial products are effective at killing germs, but WVE is concerned by research that links the harsh chemicals in these cleaners to serious health problems. “Just as you wouldn’t use a sledgehammer to kill a fly, we’re advocating for people to use disinfecting products only when the situation calls for them,” says WVE Executive Director Erin Switalski.  “Consumers need to know that the harsh chemicals found in disinfectants are simply too strong for everyday use all over the house.” 

Disinfectants are a growing sector of business for cleaning product manufacturers. The industry has seen significant growth in recent years, and analysts project that the global disinfectant market will reach $2.5 billion by 2012.  

“Companies are working hard to convince consumers, and especially moms, that they need to regularly disinfect every surface in their homes to protect their families from illness. But that’s simply not true and it may not be healthy,” says WVE staff scientist and report author Alexandra Scranton. “We’re not saying you should never disinfect your home, but we’re encouraging consumers to go back to basics for cleaning, with less of a focus on disinfection and more on non-toxic cleaners and a little elbow grease.” 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccination and frequent hand washing with hot water and regular soap are the best ways to prevent infection and illness.  

“Antimicrobial chemicals available in the home today were initially developed for hospital and clinical settings, but for the vast majority of people, the home does not need to be as sterile as an operating room,” Says Susan Luck, RN, director of the Integrative Nursing Institute.    

The overuse of antimicrobial chemicals has also been linked to the creation of drug-resistant bacteria, or “superbugs,” which are bacteria and viruses that have become resistant to the antimicrobial compounds and antibiotic drugs developed to control them.  

“Even when used as directed, these chemicals inadvertently end up polluting our bodies and our environment,” says Ann Blake, PhD, University of California Berkeley Extension Instructor.  The report cites a study that found that microbes in lake water adapted and became resistant to some ammonium quaternary compounds, a family of chemicals commonly found in disinfectant sprays and toilet cleaners. 

The report contains information on how to reduce usage of disinfecting products as well as suggestions for non-toxic cleaning alternatives. It also provides an index of cleaning products that contain the disinfecting chemicals of concern.  The report can be found at www.womenandenvironment.org.  

# # # 

Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE) is a national organization that engages women to advocate for the right to live in a healthy environment. WVE seeks to reduce and ultimately eliminate environmental pollutants that cause health problems for women, their families and communities. To this end, WVE creates opportunities for women to influence environmental decision-making. For more information, visit www.womenandenvironment.org.

helps cells take up glucose more efficiently and therefore may help prevent the onset of Syndrome X, Type II Diabetes and heart disease.

helps sustain energy and prevent blood sugar crashes that can lead to carbohydrate cravings.

These are the ingredient components:

Magnesium- involved in the breakdown of glucose and release of insulin. 25-40% of diabetics have low blood levels of magnesium.

Zinc- activates insulin to full power, helps lower blood sugar.

Chromium- helps insulin by moving glucose and other nutrients into the cells, stabilizes the body’s metabolism, may decrease hunger and limit food cravings and improves blood sugar control. Diabetics have, on average, 35% lower blood levels of chromium.

Taurine- high blood sugar causes taurine depletion. It’s important in nerve conduction. Clinical studies suggest that taurine may help prevent diabetic neuropathy.

Vanadium-improves the ability of the liver to utilize glucose, one study showed that it lowered fasting plasma glucose levels by 20%.

Alpha Lipoic Acid- potent anti-oxidant that improves insulin sensitivity, improves glucose utilization and decreases frequency of cataract formation, vascular damage & neuropathy.

Banaba Leaf Extract-regulates and stabilizes both blood sugar and insulin.


insulin on black flickr image credit

Diabetes and Nutritional Supplements 

Diabetes mellitus, a term that means" the running through of sugar " was first identified in first century A.D. The disease was described in old books as the "melting of flesh into urine." It is a disease in which the body does not produce or use insulin effectively. Diabetes is considered to be an epidemic in America. It affects some 15.7 million Americans of which 5.4 million are undiagnosed. It has increased 33% since 1990 and the rates are expected to double in the next 10 years. The fastest growing population of those being diagnosed with Type II Diabetes is teen-agers!

Health experts believe that complications of diabetes can be prevented or delayed by proper attention to diet and lifestyle.

Maintaining ideal body weight and exercising can help the patient control the disease.

Supplementation can contribute to blood sugar control and reduce complications of diabetes.

This commentary and list of nutritional supplements that benefit those with diabetes was compiled by Nutritionist Barbara Lagoni:

A High Quality Multi-Vitamin -  fills in the nutrient gaps missing from the typical american diet

B Complex -B's are associated with sugar metabolism/energy release. Neuropathies, especially with pain/burning sensations, and leg ulcers respond well to B's.

Vitamin C- C's are essential for many body processes, from iron absorption, to healing, hormone production, immune function and reduction of heart disease risk.

Vitamin E - LDL Cholesterol fats in the diet can become oxidized and wind up as plaque or hardening of the arteries. Poor circulation can be a serious side effect of diabetes. Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant and has been proven to prevent this plaque buildup

Carotonoids enhance the healing of tissue and immune competency, and were demonstrated as powerful antioxidants by Albert Einstein College in wound healing studies

Flavanoids are water soluble and an extremely powerful antioxidant

Fish Oil - this essential fatty acid has a beneficial effect on the vascular system. Omega - 3's normally found in cold water fish ( sardines, anchovies and salmon ) are a prime reason that asian populations have lower incidence of heart disease.

Lecithin contains choline, inositol, and essential fatty acids. For those with neuropathies, inositol can reduce symptoms. Dry skin problems respond very well to essential fatty acids. Zinc - insulin contains alot of since and diabetics lose more of it in their urine.

Zinc is an important component of over 90 body enzymes, for healing and immune competancy.

Calcium Magnesium is associated with carbohydrate metabolism and is usually low in diabetics. Low levels are associated with heart disease and retinopathy. Calcium is necessary for bones.

GLA from the borage plant owes it's amazing array of benefits to the body from the "good" prostaglandins, which it produces. They do everything from lowering elevated blood pressure to improving circulation, cradle cap, ecxema, menopause symptoms. PMS and MS, to reducing inflammation. The body is supposed to make GLA but diabetics often inhibit its formation.

Friendly Bacteria - aka bifidus and acidophilus, are essential bacteria that ideally live in our lower intestines. These good bacteria are absolutely necessary for the health of your GI and urinary tract. They help balance bacterial growth, maintain healthy yeast levels, help digest food and assist in the production of B vitamins. Not all friendly bacteria products are created equal.

Flu Vaccination versus Building Your Immunity Naturally
*sourced from an older newsletter 

We are approaching the dreaded "Flu Season" again, and manufacturers are gearing up to collect more record profits. Their usual dis-information campaigns are in full swing.

A recent headline on the American College of Physicians Online website states that "Influenza is the sixth leading cause of death for older Americans and infects 5% to 10% of elderly Americans every year. The flu leads to 300,000 hospitalizations and kills 30,000 to 40,000 Americans every year." [1]

This is an outright lie. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) compile yearly death rates, and categorize those deaths by cause. For the year 2002, the ACTUAL number of deaths attributed to influenza was only 753 [2]

The author of the APC review may have mistakenly reported the number of deaths associated with pneumonia for that year. That's a typical rationalization, stating that those who get flu may then succumb to pneumonia. That does not justify the claim that all pneumonia-related deaths were caused by the flu!

Many of these deaths occur in people with pre-existing conditions AND weakened immune systems among the elderly. In 2001, when only 257 people died from the flu, 59% nine percent of these deaths occurred in people 75 years or older. To put these numbers in perspective, 3,454 Americans died from malnutrition in 2001 — 13 times more than the number of reported flu deaths! It's a shame we aren't immunizing the poor for malnutrition. [3]

Even more significant, a study out last year from Lone Simonsen, Ph.D., and his team at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease concluded that the shots had no impact on the death rate from flu complications in people over 65 from 1980, when 20 million people got shots, to recent years when around 80 million did. So flu shots appear to be failing to achieve their major objective of lowering the death rate. [4]

The average person has the flu (fever, chills, runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and decreased appetite) for about 3 days. Certain "high risk" groups may have complications, such as pneumonia. However, these "high risk" groups are at risk because they suffer from immune deficiency and nutritional compromise. Have you looked at the food they serve in Nursing Homes lately?

Lastly, the adverse events associated with flu vaccines are usually worse than the flu itself. And now, under the guise of Homeland Security, the Bush Administration has made it almost impossible to file lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers for injuries sustained by those who receive the vaccine.

There is a term that describes an illness or injury you receive from medical care…it is called an iatrogenic (or adverse) event. You may want to explore the risks associated with relying on the "silver bullet" of medical care [5] [6] It makes a lot more sense to build health than to fight disease.

There is significant research now available, demonstrating improved immunity in older individuals who start simple supplement programs. [7]

Take charge of your health!

REFERENCES: 

[1] Should Vaccinations be Required for Health Care Workers?

[2] Actual Flu Death Statistics compiled by the CDC

2002: 753 deaths from Flu p.16

2001: 267 deaths from Flu p.16

2000: 2,175 deaths from Flu  p.15

1999:1,685 deaths from Flu p.28

[3] Annual Flu Deaths: The Big Lie ( Think Twice ~ Global Vaccine Institute )

[4] From a Report on Vaccines by MNNBC News

[5] The Iatrogenic Injury Page

[6] Death by Medicine

[7] The Nutrition and Immunity Page 

It's nice to know that there are plenty of referenced commentary that do not agree with this "get the flu shot" mainstream thinking. It helps to get a different perspective, don't you think? It's also wonderful to know that given a few good tools, like quality nutritional supplements to fill in the gaps missing from your every day american diet, your body with its infinite wisdom can build health. 

The decision of which nutrients to take and why is my area of expertise. Build your immunity today. 


flu shots available at Target? does that make sense to you? Flickr image credit

 
The Difference Between Cold And Swine Flu Symptoms

( thank you to nutritionist Barbara Lagoni for sharing this email )

I did take creative license with a bit of this info for readability purposes. The email it came in had a table and mixed fonts etc. Turns out Dr Vinay, the person who wrote this information appears to be nothing more than an urban legend. Errrrrrr.

I don't care.  I liked the descriptive details that compare the flu to a cold, and none of the suggestions in my opinion can cause any harm. 

So there.

My point is to take it on, washing your hands and taking your vitamins can't hurt you!! Gargling and rinsing your nostrils ? Maybe that's over the top! Maybe not!!

If you have the flu, specifically swine flu 

you will have a fever - 80% of all flu cases have a fever,often above 100 degrees and for several days 
you will have a dry, non-mucous producing cough
you will have the chills - 60% of those who have the flu have the chills
you will experience moderate to severe tiredness
you will have a headache - 80% of all flu cases experience headaches
you will have chest discomfort, often severe
flu onset is rapid within 3-6 hours, the symptoms high fever, aches and pains are sudden 

Where as with a cold...

no fever is present
those with a cold often have a hacking productive cough
you can be slightly body achy with a cold 
a stuffy nose is very common with a cold 
no chills when you have a cold 
you may feel slightly tired 
cold symptoms develop over days
a sore throat is common with a cold

The above information was sourced from:  Dr. Vinay Goyal who is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years.  Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W). 

He further states:

The only portals of entry of the HiNi virus are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock some flu medication ):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications). This is not a Joke.    Make it a ritual habit...      Make it part of your daily routine... DO NOT BE LAZY...!!!

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use a mouth wash if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that a flu medication has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water*. Not everybody may be good at using a neti pot , but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*

5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C. Or better yet supplement your C and your zinc!!

6.* Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

 
too cool flickr image credit