Your source for practical health tips combining modern research with proven complementary & alternative approaches.
Carotenoids, which are plant-derived antioxidants found in fruits & veggies such as carrots, tomatoes & spinach have been found to "greatly decrease" the risk of developing diabetes & insulin resistance in nonsmokers. Am J Epidemiol. 2006 May 15;163(10):929-37. The decrease was not found in smokers.
A new study found that women who use birth control pills have much lower serum levels of Co-Q 10 (37% lower), and vitamin E (24% lower) than those not on the pill. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006 May; 194(5):e35-8. These fat-soluble antioxidants protect against free radical damage that can lead to disease, and support energy production. If you are currently taking oral contraceptives, you may want to consider adding Co-Q 10 to your daily supplement regimen. Vitamin E is usually included in multivitamins.
Omega-3 fatty acids are best absorbed from fish oil. The fatty acids from fish oil prevent damaged genes from initiating cancer and may stop existing cancers from spreading. If you have been on low-fat diets, you may have been deprived of fatty acids that help lift your mood, and fish oil contains those fatty acids that help alleviate depression. Women should take fish oil because its fatty acids help improve calcium absorption and preserve bone density. People with joint issues and arthritis will be happy to know that Omega-3's reduce inflammation. Finally, fish oil has cardiovascular benefits inscluding lowered triglycerides, improved heart rhythm, and the slowing down of plaque growth.
Adding foods rich in Vitamin C to your diet can have very powerful health benefits. For starters, it helps ward off pathogens, it is involved in collagen production (for healthy joints, blood vessels & skin), it protects against oxidation in the body (which can lead to disease), it helps neutralize pollutants, and it has natural antihistamine properties for those of you with allergies. One sign that you are not getting enough Vitamin C if you bruise easily.One of the best breakfast selections available is good, cheap oatmeal. Oats are extremely nutritious and a quick way to replenish silicon, which reduces or deters the build up of heavy metals in the body. Oats have been shown to help lower cholesterol, heal ulcers, calm the gallbladder, relax the nervous system, improve skin and circulation problems, and restore thyroid function. The beta glucans (polysaccharides) in oats help prevent heart disease. Not to mention the fiber they have, which helps keep the bowels healthy. I recommend eating oats with some cinnamon, almonds and berries. Try to minimize the sugar or honey if you can, and enjoy your oats while preventing future health problems.
Autumn is apple season, and there are plenty o' reasons to eat an apple a day. For example, apples have both soluble and insoluble fiber. The soluble fiber (pectin) helps keep the blood vessels free from cholesterol build-up. The insoluble fiber provides bulk and holds water in the intestines to help keep the intestines clean and moving. Vitamin C is most abundant in the skin, so be sure to choose organic apples. The quercetin in apples is an anti-inflammatory flavanoid that has been shown to reduce the risk of some cancers and asthma. If that weren't enough, apples can also reduce the risk of stroke and diabetes. Need I say more?
On Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 7:30, beginning on September 6th, we will be offering a qigong class series in San Francisco. You will be introduced to an effective set of self-healing exercises that strengthen the body while calming the mind. The series of 8 classes will cost $120 total. This is an excellent opportunity to begin the Fall season right!
I am pleased to announce that the LongevityTree.com website is up, and while some sections are still being tweaked, you are now able to order our premium teas for $20 each (all of which come with a tea strainer), and our two qigong DVDs for $25 each. Soon we will be listing our health reports on self-healing methods for various ailments & imbalances.
I am a licensed acupuncturist, certified herbalist, & doctor of medical qigong therapy. I am the editorial director of LongevityTree.com, an online resource for health reports with an East-West perspective, qigong & meditation DVDs, and a tasty line of teas.
