Preventing Atherosclerosis

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Atherosclerosis

Also indexed as: Arterial Disease, Coronary Artery Disease, Coronary Heart Disease, Hardening of the Arteries, Plaque (Arterial)
 
Get your blood flowing freely and protect your arteries from hardening with a few healthy habits. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.
  • Trim the unhealthy fatProtect your arteries by cutting meat, dairy fats, and foods containing trans fats out of your diet
  • Get to know tocotrienolsTake 200 mg a day of these potent antioxidants to slow down the build-up of plaque in your arteries
  • Take extra garlic 900 mg a day of standardized garlic powder can help slow down the process of hardening of the arteries
  • Lower your homocysteine levelsReduce the blood levels of this potentially toxic substance by taking a daily B-vitamin combo containing folic acid (400 to 1,000 mcg), vitamin B12 (50 to 300 mcg), and vitamin B6 (10 to 50 mg)

 

Vaccine philosophical exemptions: A moral and ethical imperative

Friday, February 18th, 2011

by Alan Phillips, J.D.

(NaturalNews) It is not enough to be informed about the many problems with current immunization policy and practice. We must effectively apply that knowledge to expand our right to make informed choices. Where the rubber meets the road with vaccine rights is in the statutes and regulations that provide or restrict those rights. Therefore, a great deal of my time is spent helping citizens throughout the U.S. present their case to state legislatures about the necessity of the right to make informed choices wherever vaccines are concerned.

On February 10, 2011, citizens of New Hampshire met with a state committee to present their case for the passage of a bill to provide a conscientious exemption to immunizations. Most states east of the Mississippi River offer only medical and religious exemptions; Mississippi and West Virginia only medical. By invitation and request of an informed New Hampshire activist, I provided the following information for them to present to the legislative committee that is considering the bill. After having researched and written this document, I am convinced that such a bill represents a level of choice that is not merely justifiable, but rather, a moral and ethical imperative.

The arguments are presented below. They are not comprehensive – books have been written on some of these topics – but the goal with legislatures is to make strong, concise arguments with credible support. Their time is often limited, and their ability to hear alternative points of view potentially limited as well. The question is not so much “What is the whole truth?” as it is “What will get the job done?” The actual letter is available at http://www.vaccinerights.com/legisl… and revisions to the arguments may appear in the future on the Vaccine Rights website as well.

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Anti-aging: Can Herbs Help?

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

ByMaureen Williams ND
 
People receiving the herbal combination showed signs of increased antioxidant activity and reduced oxidation Related TopicsTop Anti-Aging SupplementsVitamin E to Protect the Aging BrainLycopeneAntioxidants are often celebrated as one key to slowing the aging process and keeping us young, because they protect against changes to cells caused by free radicals (oxidation). Many plants are abundant in different types of antioxidants, which is one reason nutritional guidelines emphasize the need for plenty of fruits and vegetables, including herbs. However, it is clear that current eating practices often don’t provide everything we need, and in particular seniors are frequently at risk for nutrient deficiencies. Supplements may help bridge the nutritional gap, which makes a recent study on the antioxidant properties of an herbal combination of interest, as it was found to increase the overall antioxidant status in seniors.
Herbal support for seniors

The study, which is due to be published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, included 89 people over age 60 with mild to moderate chronic health problems that are common to seniors, such as osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. They were randomly assigned to receive either an herbal combination or placebo for six months.

The herbal formula was made up of eight herbs, all widely used in Ayurvedic medicine: licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), turmeric (Curcuma longa), gotu kola (Centella asiatica), caper bush (Capparis spinosa), ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Terminalia chebula, and Terminalia arjuna.

The people receiving the herbal combination showed signs of increased antioxidant activity and reduced oxidation at the end of the trial. There were no changes in antioxidant status in the placebo group.

Antioxidants: the fountain of youth?

Although no one knows for sure whether taking this herbal formula could lead to better health and a longer life, the study’s authors suggest that reversing the decline in antioxidant status that occurs with age might slow the aging process.

“The results showed [a] significant rejuvenation of the total antioxidant capacity…in the geriatric patients treated with the polyherbal formulation,” they said. “Antioxidants are intimately involved in the prevention of cellular damage, the common pathway for cancer, aging, and a variety of diseases.”

Slowing down aging

The results from this study begin to shed light on the ways that herbal combinations might promote better health. Below are a few plant antioxidants that have been studied for their effects on aging:

• Curcumin: This antioxidant and anti-inflammatory plant chemical comes from turmeric, one of the herbs used in this study. Preliminary research suggests that curcumin might prevent heart disease and cancer, and reduce inflammation in people with arthritis.

• Lutein: This common antioxidant is found in many fruits and vegetables, but highest amounts are found in green leafies. High lutein intake has been associated with lower risks of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

• Lycopene: A red pigment found primarily in tomatoes, lycopene has been studied for its ability to prevent atherosclerosis and macular degeneration, and reduce cancer risk.

(J Ethnopharmacol 2010; doi:10.1016/j.jep.2010.12.044)

Maureen Williams, ND, received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle, WA. She has a private practice on Cortes Island in British Columbia, Canada, and has done extensive work with traditional herbal medicine in Guatemala and Honduras. Dr. Williams is a regular contributor to Healthnotes Newswire.