good, very good, better, best, and the very best ... it's your choice.

the best super food choice: green foods
by bonnie seltzer

As someone who had chose to address my supposed incurable illness from an alternative perspective, I invited countless opportunities to experiment with innovative modalities as well as powerful healing foods.

Looking back on all of the years invested in this pursuit, & the fact that I did manage to successfully reclaim my health. Its no surprise that I would ultimately; become well versed on the subject of whole/super foods. Passionately involved in the exploding so-called, "green food" industry & achieve recognition in certain holistic circles as a woman who knows her stuff... Or more specifically, "green stuff"

Bottom line, it seems that I have earned the honor of being questioned regarding my opinion. One particular question that comes up very often is: what is the beat super food choice in the "green food" category?

My answer for more than the last 20yrs has & still is unequivocally, the AFA*2 strain of wild blue green algae & for very valid reasons.

The purpose of this article is to share those reason with you.

Firstly, in order to accomplish this goal, its necessary for me to provide contrast, so that you can truly appreciate some of the fundamental differences between green foods that are cultivated as opposed to wild, as well as land-based in comparison to water based. However, because my intention here is to keep things as simple & concise as possible, I will not go into technical detail.

Cultivated, LandBased Green Foods:

Sprouted grains & grasses are good examples of nutritious, cultivated, land-based green foods, which you may consider to be a step up from traditionally, cultivated vegetables. Unlike vegetables which are usually grown conventionally, grasses & sprouted grains are always grown organically. This means that the soil in which they are grown are spared the exposure to toxic sprays & insecticides. In many instances, in order for soil to earn certification as organic, it must be free of toxic additives for seven yrs it encounters. In many instances the AFA actually becomes stronger in response to the challenge. It is the king of adaptogens. Since bacteria exchange information globally & bacteria known as friendly flora live in our gut, although not proven, perhaps it's possible that the bacterial aspect of the algae enables it to communicate with bacteria in our gut, so that we too, can benefit from this genetic survival information.

• Unlike salt water algae that are rooted at the bottom of the sea, Spirulina which is often cultivated in concrete ponds, & Chlorella which often has an indigestible cell wall that has to be processed, the AFA is a sweet water blue green algae that swims freely in pristine, Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon before it is meticulously cleaned & prepared for consumption. This is one of the only 4 places on earth where this nutrient dense strain grows wild. Klamath Lake, is where it grows in greatest abundance.

• AFA has been growing in a perfect climate, under ideal nutritional conditions existing in Klamath Lake for more that 10,000 years, & has served as a staple food for ancient civilizations that lived in this area. The thick sediment of volcanic ash that sits at the bottom of the lake, are absorbed by the algae, thus making it one of the richest, balanced, sources of assimilated minerals & trace minerals.

• AFA is considered a perfect food because it has one of the richest sources of minerals, trace minerals, chlorophyll, & amino acids. It's complete amino acid profile is the same as human blood & mothers milk.

• Because it can be described as somewhat "pre-digested", one does not have to expand very much energy to assimilate it. It is therefore a wonderful source of nourishment for sick people with compromised digestion.

• AFA, has the intelligence to nourish and strengthen years prior to using it to grow anything. No doubt, this is an excellent standard to abide by in farming.

Proponents of sprouted grains, such as wheat & barley, claim that they are a more easily digested form of grain than mature grain, with increased bioavailability of key nutrients. At the same time, it's important to note that they do require strict regulation of quality control to produce a safe product.

Grasses, such as wheatgrass*3 refers to the young grass of the common wheat plant, that is freshly juiced or dried into powder. Claims about wheatgrass' health benefits range from providing supplemental nutrition to having unique curative properties. Barley grass also has an outstanding reputation.

Both grains and grasses have high enzymatic value, they are easy to assimilate, & are supportive of good intestinal & immune health.

At the same time there are still several factors, such as richness of soil & the choice of nutritive additives used by farmers which limit their nutritional value even when they are classified with the star approval termed, "certified organic"

Wild Green Foods -Grown In Virgin Soil & Pristine Waters:

Luckily, there are green options in the realm of that which grows wild in virgin soil & pristine waters, which are not restricted by human input. Therefore, these choices offer greatness yet beyond man's best intentions to establish gold standards.

For example, there are a class of ancient, herbal plant botanical that grow wild in the Amazonian Rain Forrest soil that is totally unadulterated by man. Rare soil of this caliber is justifiably called virgin soil. Because there botanical grow in complete harmony with their environment, they instinctively know how to produce & utilize just the right amounts of various compounds called phytochemicals & glycol-nutrients in order to become strong enough to resist insect infestation, & rise above anything that threatens their existence. They have been doing this for eons. Any plant that successfully adapts to their surroundings are called adaptogens. When we as humans consume the body, in my opinion, it seems to do so in a systematic order of sequence which honors the body. Hopefully, by now, you can see why the AFA strain of blue green algae has the intelligence that only a living organism can process, thus enabling it to stand above the variety of green food choices discussed in this article, including the powerful herbal plant botanical.

Although green ingredients make excellent shakes, AFA is foundational. Spinach leaf, beet root, carrot, salad greens, alfalfa, barley, wheat grass, purple dulse, other forms of algae & herbal plant botanical, etc., are definitely of tremendous value & serve as a wonderful source of variety & color *6. I eat them as well, usually in the context of a variety of good quality green food powders, which I add to my daily raw juice/green shake blend. The critical factor is that AFA, can readily be, for the reasons sites, regarded as the foundation to which all other green selection are added.

I can & have omitted the other mentioned ingredient from my diet without consequence. The AFA is another matter. Once, a long time ago, I experimented & excluded it from my daily food intake for 40 days ( no religious experience intended), only to notice a drastic decline in my health. Other than this incident, I have been eating it for over 20yrs & will eat it for the rest of my life! It has definitely been one of the shinning stars in my health program that has helped me to achieve a life symptom-free of my former debilitating condition.

If you are already in good health, in may only help make you that much better. All that is required in order to obtain optimum results, is that you purchase a safe, clean, pure, quality product which you can trust is free of the toxin microcystin*7, eat it consistently, & find the daily amount that works for you, serves as a silent internal protector. Keep in mind that AFA has been consumed in encapsulated forms for over 2 decades & had been acknowledged for its natural anti-inflammatory & immune support benefits, as well as for its ability to improve mental clarity & mental energy *8. If you are one of the few who don't notice anything obvoius, you can still rest assured that this food will do a superlative job to nourish you deeply, serve you with these ancient green plants that are noted as adaptogens, it is theorized that we too, become stronger & better able to adapt to our environment.

One of the main points based on my experience, that I would like to stress is that there appears to be a hierarchy in perfection when it comes to understanding the criteria that someone would use to make calculated green choices.

Good, Very Good, Better, Best and Very Best:

We have one more step to climb as we work our way up the spiral from good (i.e., conventional fruits and vegetables),very good (i.e., organic fruits & vegetables) better (i.e., organic grain & grasses), best (i.e., wild herbal plant botanical), & finally to the very best, the AFA strain of wild, nutrient-dense blue green algae harvested from Upper Klamath Lake.*4

Ironically, one of the reasons why the AFA stain of blue green algae site at the top of the spiral as the very best, is because it is at the very bottom of the food chain...*5 virtually the lowest edible plant.

But this is just one of its countless attributes. Perhaps, the most efficient way to substinate my claim that it is the best super food choice, would be to highlight some of its unique qualities & benefits.

Reasons Why The AFA Strain Of Blue Green Algae Is The Very Best:

• Blue green algae is literally the oldest living, intelligent life form on the planet.
• Without algae, there would be virtually no life on the planet.
• It is responsible for producing most of the oxygen on earth even more so, than the Rain Forrest.
• Algae is a phenomenon. It is the only thing on the planet that is a member of all 3 kingdoms.
• Part plant in that it contains one of the richest sources of chlorophyll.
• Part organism in that it has a cell wall.
• Part bacteria in that it is capable of making all the necessary changes within its genetic structure, so that it can adapt to whatever challenges as a silent internal protector.

Post Notes:
• Interestingly, when the species of cyanobacteria knows as AFA is added to the capsule contents of formulas which contain live bacteria, such as acidophilus or formulas which contain enzymes, once ingested, the AFA seems potentiate the effect of both categories of nutrients.
• It increases the number of killer cells*9 which are instrumental in keeping the immune system strong.
• AFA contains certain compounds as part of the whole food such as L-selecting ligans*10 which has been identified, isolated, extracted & concentrated in order to create an innovated derivative stem cell enhancing formula*11. This has been clinically documented to help facilitate the natural release of adult stem cell from the bone marrow.

About The Writer:
Bonnie Seltzer has an M.Sc. In education studying towards a Ph.D in nutrition Sciences when she had to drop out of the program because she became sick with a serious, crippling case of MS. However, because she was highly motivated to recover from this supposedly incurable disease, she continued to study nutrition, so as to find natural answers for herself. Although she does not claim to be "cured", she does live a life free of MS symptoms as long as she lives a certain way, which includes eating a very healthy, nutrient-dense diet.

see the last words there... nutrient dense. very important! you are definitly not getting this in your conventional salad mix people. I hope you eat your veggies!
even better your nutrient dense veggies. order your own wild blue green algae...
that is what I did after reading this article in my local holistic magazine. and i am happy to share it with you.

Visit these websites:
www.e3live.com
www.simplexityhealth.com
http://www.bonvitale-int.com/

bouncing magic

Our health is determined by many factors, including diet, toxins, genes, stress, thoughts and emotions, and the amount of physical activity we get. Research has proven that the benefits of exercise are cumulative and that physical activity is absolutely essential for health. Unfortunately, we have become a nation of couch potatoes. Even our children are sedentary-physical play has been replaced with television and video games. In fact, 60 percent of our adult population is sedentary, both professionally and recreationally, and about 25 percent of Americans engage in absolutely no exercise whatsoever. Did you know that this level of inactivity virtually guarantees disease? We are not getting enough physical activity to stay healthy, and it is having a profoundly negative effect on the health and productivity of our nation.

Traditionally, getting enough exercise was not a problem. Our ancestors either farmed or gathered their food, getting plenty of exercise through their daily activities. Today, things are different; we must choose to do regular physical activity, or it simply won't happen. However, given the time, effort, and money that exercising can require, it can be difficult to find a workable solution. Wouldn't it be wonderful if there were a way to get the activity we need in just a few easy minutes a day, in the comfort our own homes, and with a minimum of effort and expense? Sound too good to be true?

Rebounding to the rescue! What is rebounding? It is a unique form of exercise that involves bouncing up and down on a mini-trampoline, and its effects are almost magical. It is simple, surprisingly easy to do, a lot of fun, safe, and it can be done by almost anyone regardless of his or her age or physical condition. I know it sounds like a panacea, and that is exactly what it is! Rebounding tones, conditions, strengthens and heals the entire body in as little as 15 minutes per day.

Why is rebounding so good for you? Because it is good for your cells. Rebounding is a concentrated form of exercise that exercises every cell in your entire body. Remember, if your cells are healthy, you cannot be sick. Only when a large number of cells malfunction can you become diseased. We have always known that exercise is good for health and the reasons why are becoming clearer all the time: Research presented two years ago at the annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society found that physically stretching cells has a profound impact on their biochemistry and behavior. Moving and stretching a cell, as rebounding does, helps to supply essential nutrients and to eliminate toxic waste products. When you bounce on a rebounder, your entire body (internal organs, bones, connective tissue, and skin) becomes stronger, more flexible, and healthier. Both blood circulation and lymphatic drainage are vastly improved.

Visualize for a moment a balloon filled with water. Hold the balloon by its stem and observe how gravity pulls on the water, slightly stretching the balloon. Now move your hand rapidly up and down and observe how the extra gravitational force causes the balloon to significantly stretch and distort. When you bounce up and down on a rebounder, this is what happens to every cell in your body. Rebounding alternately puts pressure on and takes pressure off of body cells, like squeezing a sponge. This moving and stretching of the cells facilitates nutrient delivery and toxin removal, which is exactly what you need to be healthy. When normal cell chemistry is enhanced, all sorts of wonderful things happen to your cells, tissues, and systems. These include improving brain function, muscle building, fat burning, tissue healing, blood pressure regulation, appetite regulation, balance and coordination, elimination of fatigue, and countless other physiological enhancements. All of this without having to take the time to go to the gym, work up a sweat, or end up with sore muscles and possible injuries.

Especially when compared to conventional exercises such as push-ups and weight lifting, which apply weight and movement only to specific muscles or muscle groups, rebounding is a more efficient way to exercise your body because it applies weight and movement to every cell. The extra force of gravity caused by the bouncing movement strengthens bones and joints, yet it does so without the jarring and potential damage of most impact activities.
Here are just some of the benefits that can be achieved by rebounding:

Efficient weight loss
Removing toxins
Stronger bones and joints
Improved immunity
Faster healing
Improving sagging skin
Strengthening muscles
Resolving back problems
Lowering blood pressure
Improving vision
Improving hearing
Decreasing appetite
Improving digestion
Enhancing brain function
Eliminating tiredness

Here is what Dr. Gus Prosch of Biomed Health Services had to say about how rebounding affects our cells and health: "…the membranes around the cells strengthen as they demand more protein. These thicker membranes are better able to fight off foreign invaders like germs, toxins, poisons and other pollutants more effectively. Here everything improves: the blood, the brain, the lungs, the muscles, all the internal organs…and even more."

Dr. James White at the University of California San Diego says that rebounding exercise is, "…the closest thing to the Fountain of Youth that science has discovered," and that rebounding "is effective in improving the symptoms of over 80% of the patients reporting to our rehabilitation lab." Ruthmary McDowell, a 94 year-old woman from Seattle, experienced such an improvement. She said, "After being very ill, I could not seem to get better. It was most discouraging. I really think it [rebounding] has saved my life."

Is rebounding right for you? It is right if you find exercise boring and want an exercise that is fun, convenient, and just plain easy to do. It is right if you are pressed for time, like I am. You will appreciate that it takes only 15 to 30 minutes per day and that even 5 minutes a day is beneficial. I now do two 15-minute sessions, one in the morning and another in the evening. Rebounding is the one exercise that will give you fabulous all-around results, even improving your mental well being, with the least amount of hassle, expense, or risk. In fact, exercising on a quality rebounder is the safest and most risk free of any exercise I can think of. Regardless of age or physical condition, almost anyone can devise a beneficial rebounding program. Even professional athletes measurably improve their performance by rebounding.
Many exercises are uncomfortable, cost too much, or take too much time. People tend to give up and do nothing. Rebounding is the answer to all these problems. You don't need special clothing or lots of equipment, and you can do it while speaking on the phone, watching TV, or dancing to music.

So how do you go about buying a rebounder? One thing you do not want to do is purchase a cheap $50 mini-trampoline at your local sporting goods store. This type of rebounder can actually do you more harm than good. Inexpensive rebounders tend to have bad springs; the cheap tube springs found on most rebounders do not absorb and cushion your weight properly-causing a bounce that is abrupt and jarring. People have actually suffered permanent nerve damage from using such units. What you want is a rebounder with fat, barrel spring that allows for smooth deceleration, bringing you to a gentle stop. Another problem with cheap rebounders is poor-quality matting material. Cheap mats stretch too much, do not support your feet properly, and potentially place undue stress on your ankles, knees, and back. By contrast, good rebounders have high quality mats that hold their shape and do not overstretch. Other considerations for a rebounder include the strength of the frame, the height and number of legs, the quality of the sewing that attaches the webbing to the mat, and the ease with which the unit can be folded out of the way or made portable.

With these considerations in mind, I have selected a rebounder that meets my specifications. It is 40 inches in diameter, 10 inches high and weighs 25 pounds. It uses special fat-barrel springs, and both the frame and legs are made of heavy-grade steel. The mat is made of an industrial fabric which is specifically engineered for rebounders and trampolines. It is flexible, but does not stretch; it provides a firm and stable surface, yet is supple enough to cushion joints. It does not crease or fold and always returns to its original flat condition. It is of the highest quality and should provide a lifetime of good use. Best of all, it really works! All of the other exercise machines I ever purchased have ended up as high-priced clothes hangers. My rebounder actually gets used. I noticed good results in my own well being after just a couple of weeks. My body loves it and I very much look forward to my daily workout. I cannot recommend rebounding highly enough as both a fun and effective form of exercise.

Raymond Francis is an M.I.T.-trained scientist, a registered nutrition consultant, author of Never Be Sick Again, host of the Beyond Health Show and an internationally recognized leader in the emerging field of optimal health maintenance.

The above article I found at one of my favorite places ... Sanoviv.com http://www.sanoviv.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56:bouncing-magic&catid=10:articles

Please note: Before embarking on a rebounding program, consult with your personal physician.

Rebounders are available at http://www.needak-rebounders.com/
An optional handlebar is also available.
Do your body a favor and start rebounding now!

want the best work out? .....get a kettlebell.

TOP 5 REASONS KETTLEBELLS PROVEN
MOST EFFECTIVE EXERCISE TOOL KNOWN:

1. Burns Fat in Less TimeBy use of the Peripheral Heart training (PHA), the entire body is trained. The idea is to provide uninterrupted blood flow throughout the body while taking no rest between sets, similar to circuit training. You will be doing 4 times the work, in a shorter time frame.

2. Displaced Center of GravityThe kettelbell's center of gravity is 6-8 inches below the center of your hand. Barbells and dumbbells center the weight with your hand. The offset of the KB makes it “alive” in your hand and increases the difficulty and benefit of many of the drills. KBs can do anything a dumbbell can do, even better in fact, but not vice-versa.

3. Variety and VersatilityYour workout's variety is only limited by your imagination and safety. One KB, two KBs and combination drills provide unlimited protection from boredom. KBs can be used anywhere. It is basically a gym in one hand and provides you with a total body workout.

4. Balance of Tension and RelaxationTension is strength, relaxation is speed. An athlete must balance both to maximize skill. KB training utilizes a balance of tension and relaxation.

5. Trains Hip Extension and DecelerationBallistic KB drills provide an intense load to the hips and buttocks. Very similar to the vertical leap, this “grooved” hip extension transfers to many athletic skills such as jumping, running, and throwing. Similarly, deceleration occurs when “throwing” and “catching” the KB behind you. Your muscles contract together to produce force reduction and deceleration of the weight.

www.artofstrength.com

the pH nutrition guide to acid/alkaline balance

to follow the last post about acidic coffee and its affects on the body, from Natural News...

"The pH Nutrition Guide to Acid / Alkaline Balance" by Jack Challem, the Nutrition Reporter. In this exclusive report, you'll learn one of the most important health secrets found in nutritional science: the pH secret to good health! Here's what's covered:

• How acidic foods strip your body of minerals.
• Why osteoporosis is actually promoted by the consumption of acidic foods.
• How eating potassium-rich fruits creates a chemical buffer against the ravages of acidic foods.
• The important of your potassium-to-sodium ratio, and how the American diet radically imbalances this all-important nutrient ratio.
• Chloride warning: The average American diet has way too much chloride. Here's how it harms your health.
• Why muscle cramps are actually caused primarily by mineral deficiencies (and how to solve the problem without using dangerous prescription medications).
• How the mass consumption of meat and grains causes the body to become overly acidic.
• Which four foods in the average American diet are the most acidic and lead to the greatest loss of bone mineral density and lean muscle mass.
• Why consuming large amounts of dairy products does nothing to prevent osteoporosis.
• The real cause of osteoporosis, and how to reverse the condition through dietary changes.
• Why your diet is far more important to overall pH level than supplements alone.
• What the Hunter-Gatherer diet can teach us about health in the modern world.
• How to accurately test your own pH levels.
• A list of which foods are the most acidic vs. most alkaline.
• Scientific references supporting the information presented here.

The basic chemistry of pH balance
Back in high school chemistry, we learned about pH: acids had low numbers, alkalines had high numbers, and a pH of 7.0 was neutral. And it all meant absolutely nothing in terms of day-to-day life.

It now turns out that we have a better shot at long-term health if our body's pH is neutral or slightly alkaline. When we tilt toward greater acidity, which can be measured easily, we have a greater risk of developing osteoporosis, weak muscles, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and a host of other health problems.

The solution, according to scientists who have researched "chronic low-grade metabolic acidosis," is eating a diet that yields more alkaline and less acid. Just what kind of diet is that? One that's high in fruits and vegetables. That might not seem like a big surprise, except for a few unexpected twists and turns.

Acid-yielding foods deplete minerals
If the idea of balancing acid and alkaline foods seems a bit off the wall, it does have a somewhat checkered past. Most people, including physicians, aren't familiar with the dangers of acidosis, except in the most extreme situations. Those include lactic acidosis, from overexercise; ketoacidosis, when diabetes start burning their own fat; and renal acidosis, which can be a sign of kidney failure.

The original scientific research on acid-yielding and alkaline-yielding foods dates back to 1914 and was remarkably accurate, according to Loren Cordain, Ph.D., a professor and researcher in the department of health and exercise science at Colorado State University, Fort Collins. Then, in the 1930s and 1940s, the acid-alkaline concept was hijacked by early health food "nuts." Among them, William Hay, M.D., proposed an almost ritualistic eating habit based on food acidity or alkalinity. Since then, most doctors have viewed any discussion of acid and alkaline diets with a skeptical eye.

But the problem with acid-producing eating habits is very real, contends Cordain, a leading expert on the Paleolithic, or Stone Age diet. "After digestion, all foods report to the kidneys as being either acidic or alkaline," he says. "The kidneys are responsible for fluid balance and maintaining a relatively neutral pH in the body."

That's where things get interesting. When acid-yielding foods lower the body's pH, the kidneys coordinate efforts to buffer that acidity. Bones release calcium and magnesium to reestablish alkalinity, and muscles are broken down to produce ammonia, which is strongly alkaline. By the time the response is all over, your bone minerals and broken down muscle get excreted in urine.

Long term, excess acidity leads to thinner bones and lower muscle mass, points out Anthony Sebastian, M.D., of the University of California, San Francisco. These problems are compounded by normal aging, which increases acidosis, bone loss, and muscle wasting. Along the way, calcium and magnesium losses can equate to deficiencies, with many ramifications. Both minerals play essential roles in bone formation and normal heart rhythm. Low magnesium levels can cause muscle cramps, arrhythmias, and anxiety.

The four cases of dietary acidosis
Sebastian, regarded at the top researcher in the field of diet-related acidosis, admits that some of the science, at first glance, appears counter-intuitive. For example, acidic and alkaline foods don't usually translate into acid- and alkaline-yielding foods. The distinction is subtle but significant. An acid-yielding food is one that creates a lower, or more acidic, pH. Citrus fruits and tomatoes are acidic, but they have a net alkaline yield once their constituents get to the kidneys.

So if acid foods don't necessarily make for an acid pH, what then happens? Sebastian points to four big issues.

• First, fruits and vegetables are rich in potassium salts, a natural buffer. Eating few of these foods deprives us of potassium, a mineral that protects against hypertension and stroke. According to Cordain's research, humans evolved eating a 10:1 ratio of potassium to sodium, and he regards this ratio as our biological baseline. Today, because of heavily salted processed and fast foods, combined with a low intake of fruits and vegetables, the ratio is now 3:1 in favor of sodium. That reversal, he says, wreaks havoc with pH and our dependency on potassium.

• Second, there has also been a similar reversal in the consumption of naturally occurring bicarbonate (such as potassium bicarbonate) in foods and added chloride (mostly in the form of sodium chloride, or table salt). Bicarbonate is alkaline, where as chloride is acid-yielding. Chloride also constricts blood vessels, and narrows blood vessels reduce circulation, Sebastian says. Because the whole body depends on healthy circulation, vasoconstriction contributes to heart disease, stroke, dementia, and probably every other degenerative disease.

• Third, eating large amounts of animal protein (including meat, fowl, and seafood) releases sulfuric acid though the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids, also contributing to greater acidity. This acidic shift can be offset with greater consumption of fruits and vegetables (rich in potassium bicarbonate), but again, most Americans eat these foods sparingly.

• Fourth, grains, such as wheat, rye, and corn, have a net acid-yielding effect, regardless of whether they are in the form of white bread, breakfast cereal, pasta or whole grains. "Grains are the most frequently consumed plant food in the United States," says Sebastian, and account for 65 percent of the plant foods eaten by Americans. "In addition to their acid yield, grains displace more nutritious fruits and vegetables," he adds."

The real problem is one of alkaline deficiency, more than one of too much acid," says Sebastian. People eat plenty of acid-yielding animal protein, dairy products, and grains. The missing piece is an appreciate amount of fruits and vegetables, to produce an alkaline yield. Study after study has shown that most Americans -- 68 to 91 percent -- don't eat the five recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables.

pH, acidosis and osteoporosis
The strongest evidence in support of maintaining an acid-alkaline balance relates to osteoporosis. "Consider that Americans consume more calcium-rich dairy foods than almost every other nation, and we have one of the highest rates of osteoporosis," says Cordain. "There's a disconnect here. Dairy may be rich in calcium, but most dairy foods also produce an acid yield."

Susan Brown, Ph.D., who heads the nonprofit Osteoporosis Education Project in East Syracuse, N.Y., frames the acid-alkaline issue as one of mineral adequacy and depletion. "It's a little like over-farming and depleting mineral levels in soil," she says. "If we eat foods that create an acidic pH in the body, we will deplete our bones of minerals and our muscles of protein.

Brown described a client named Janet whose doctor diagnosed her at age 52 with osteopenia, a demineralizing of bone that often foreshadows osteoporosis. At 55, Janet began following Brown's recommendations for eating more fruits and vegetables, taking supplements, and exercising. Three years later, Janet was clearly building bone mass in her spine and hip, even while going through menopause.

Meanwhile, Sebastian acknowledges that he may have only scratched the surface when it comes to the health problems related to mild life-long acidosis. He says low-grade acidosis increases insulin resistance, the hallmark of both prediabetes and full-blown type-2 diabetes. It increases the risk of kidney stones and kidney failure. And one study suggests that it might even alter gene activity and raise the risk of breast cancer. He admits that no one yet knows all the consequences of a fundamental shift in the body's acid-alkaline balance, but he suspects it's far reaching.

Can supplements help?
Millions of women dutifully take calcium supplements to help maintain their bone mass and reduce their chances of developing severe osteoporosis with age. But do supplements have any real benefit in alkalizing the body?Brown does see a benefit from supplements, but she says it's important to stem calcium and magnesium losses from acid-yielding eating habits. "Acid-alkaline balance is overwhelmingly a food issue," she emphasizes. "Your pH is really a sign of how your body is managing your mineral reserves."

Potassium has turned out to be a crucial mineral for maintaining bone. High-potassium diets -- that is, those rich in fruits and vegetables -- slow bone loss, mainly by promoting alkalinity. So do supplements, such as potassium citrate and bicarbonate. While potassium citrate is commonly sold, the bicarbonate form is available only on prescription. Still, it's hard for supplements to compete with the potassium in foods. A handful of raisins, two dates, or a small banana each provide more than 300 mg of potassium.

If you take supplements, opt for the citrate form, such as calcium citrate and magnesium citrate. (Potassium supplements must by law be under 99 mg because of a risk of arrhythmias at high doses.) Fumarate, aspartate, and succinate forms of minerals also have an alkalizing effect, and all get Brown's blessing. In one study, Sebastian found that potassium citrate supplements protected against calcium losses, even when people ate a high salt diet. Buffered vitamin C, which is ascorbic acid formulated with the carbonate forms of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, might also have a slight alkalizing effect.

Some supplements, such as coral calcium, have been promoted as a way to restore an alkaline pH. But coral calcium is largely calcium carbonate, which is far less expensive as a generic supplement. It's also not as well absorbed as the citrate form.

What should you eat for proper pH levels?
Nutritional recommendations are as varied as political and religious beliefs and, sometimes, held to just as stridently. Cordain tries to rise about the controversies by looking to our biological and genetic heritage.

He points out that people, until relatively recently, were hunter-gatherers whose diets consisted of a combination of lean animal foods (including fish) and uncultivated vegetables and fruits. Based on his analyses of the diets of 229 pre-modern cultures, Cordain has calculated that the "average" ancient diet consisted of 55 percent animal foods and 45 percent plant foods. The animal foods included healthy fats as well as protein, and the plant foods consisted of leaves, stalks, fruit, seeds, tubers, and roots. Grains and cow's milk didn't enter the picture until about 7,000 to 10,000 years ago, too short a time for genetic adaptation.

Cordain's recommendations, found in The Paleo Diet and The Paleo Diet for Athletes include too many veggies to be a knockoff of the Atkins' high-protein diet. (Eating very lean meats, he adds, reduces saturated fats amount to only 10 percent of calories.) Nor do you have to be a vegetarian to gain the alkalizing benefits of fruits and vegetables. "It takes about 35 percent of total calories as fruits and veggies to produce a net alkaline load," he explains. "What's so hard about one-third of your plate being veggies?"

Still, if you have visions of veggies coming out of your ears, the answer is really simple. Cordain, Sebastian, and Brown suggest cutting back on breads, pastas, and other grain-based foods, as well as "high-glycemic" foods such as potatoes. They're all nutrient-poor foods, compared with protein and veggies."

It's all another scientific justification for what your mother always told you," notes Brown. "Eat your fruits and veggies."

How to test your own pH
You can test your own pH simply and inexpensively. All you need are some pH test strips. Tear off two three-inch strips. As you as you awaken, before you drink or eat anything, put some saliva on the test strip. Compare the color to a pH color chart that comes with the test strips. Next, measure the pH of your second urination of the morning. To do this, urinate on the strip or collect the urine in a plastic or glass (not paper) cup and dip the test strip. Again, compare the color to the pH color chart.

Decker Weiss, N.M.D., of Scottsdale, Arizona, recommends doing the saliva and urine tests for 10 mornings in a row. "Ignore the top three and bottom three tests because they're extremes. Average the remaining four to determine your pH," he says. Weiss aims for a pH of 6.8 to 7 in his heart patients, and 7.2 to 7.4 in his osteoporosis patients. You can retest a few weeks after changing your eating habits.

You can order the test strips from www.alkalineforlife.com or by calling 888.206.7119.
One roll, which is good for a few dozen tests, is $13.95.

The pH of common substances
14.0 Sodium Hydroxide: Alkaline
13.0 Lye
11.0 Ammonia
10.5 Milk of Magnesia
8.3 Baking Soda
7.4 Human Blood

7.0 Pure Water: Neutral

6.6 Milk: Acid
4.5 Tomatoes
4.0 Wine and Beer
3.0 Apples
2.2 Vinegar
2.0 Lemon Juice
1.0 Battery Acid
0.0 Hydrochloric acid

Acid-Yielding Foods
Spaghetti
Corn flakes
White rice
Rye bread
White bread
Whole milk
Lentils
Beef
Pork

Very Acid-Yielding Foods
Parmesan cheese
Processed (soft) cheeses
Hard cheesesGouda cheese
Cottage cheese
Brown rice
Rolled oats
Whole wheat bread
Peanuts
Walnuts
Salami
Luncheon meat,canned
Liver sausage
Chicken
Cod
Herring
Trout
Eggs

Alkaline-Yielding Foods
Apricots
Kiwifruit
Cherries
Bananas
Strawberries
Peaches
Oranges
Lemon juice Pears
Pineapple
Peaches
Apples
Watermelon
Celery
Carrots
Zucchini
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Green peppers
Cucumber
Tomatoes
Eggplant
Lettuce
Green beans
Onions
Mushrooms
Mineral water

Very Alkaline-Yielding Foods
Spinach
Raisins
Dates
Note: All fruits and vegetables are alkaline yieldingunless they have been pickled or marinated.

Scientific Citations
Rylander R, Remer T, Berkemeyer S, et al. Acid-base status affects renal magnesium losses in healthy, elderly persons. Journal of Nutrition, 2006;136:2374-2377.

Frassetto L, Morris RC, Sellmeyer DE, et al. Diet, evolution and aging. The pathophysiologic effects of the post-agricultural inversion of the potassium-to-sodium and base-to-chloride ratios in the human diet. European Journal of Nutrition, 2001;40:200-213.

Sebastian A, Frassetto LA, Morris RC. The acid-base effects of the contemporary Western diet: an evolutionary perspective. Eds: Alpern RJ and Heber SC, in The Kidney: Physiology and Pathophysiology, 9th edition. In press.

Patterson BH, Block G, Rosenberger WF, et al. Fruit and vegetables in the American diet: data from the NHANES II survey. American Journal of Public Health, 1990;80:1443-9.

Li R, Serdula M, Bland S, et al. Trends in fruit and vegetable consumption among adults in 16 US states: behavioral risk factor surveillance system, 1990-1996.

Menendez JA, Decker JP, Lupu R. In support of fatty acid synthase (FAS) as a metabolic oncogene: extracellular acidosis acts in an epigenetic fashion activating FAS gene expression in cancer cells. Journal of Cell Biochemistry, 2005;94:1-4.

Macdonald HM, New SA, Fraser WD, et al. Low dietary potassium intakes and high dietary estimates of net endogenous acid production are associated with low bone mineral density in premenopausal women and increased markers of bone resorption in post menopausal women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2005;81:923-933.

Sebastian A, Harris ST, Ottaway JH, et al. Improved mineral balance and skeletal metabolism in postmenopausal women treated with potassium bicarbonate. New England Journal of Medicine, 1994;330:1776-1781.

Sellmeyer DE, Schloetter M, Sebastian A. Potassium citrate prevents increased urine calcium excretion and bone resorption induced by a high sodium chloride diet. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2002;87:2008-2012.

About the author
Jack Challem, known as The Nutrition Reporter(tm), is a personal nutrition coach based in Tucson, Arizona. Jack is one of America's most trusted nutrition and health writers, and has written about research on nutrition, vitamins, minerals, and herbs for more than 30 years. He is the author of The Food-Mood Solution: The Nutrition and Lifestyle Plan to Feel Good Againem> (Wiley, 2007), Feed Your Genes Right (Wiley, 2005), The Inflammation Syndrome (Wiley, 2003) and the lead author of the best-selling Syndrome X: The Complete Nutritional Program to Prevent and Reverse Insulin Resistance (Wiley, 2000). His next book, Stop Prediabetes Now, will be published in the fall of 2007. He writes The Nutrition Reporter(tm) newsletter and contributes regularly to many magazines, including Alternative Medicine, Better Nutrition, Body & Soul, Experience Life, and Let's Live. Jack's scientific articles have appeared in Free Radical Biology & Medicine, Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, Medical Hypotheses, and other journals. In addition, he is a columnist for Alternative & Complementary Therapies. Jack is a frequent speaker at nutritional medicine conferences and to consumer health groups. Email him via www.foodmoodsolution.com

hey coffee drinker... drink the healthy "Coffee" drink... Dandy Blend

You just can't get going? ... You need a jump start? So you think the coffee is going to do it for you? ... it will... BUT, then you crash.    So ... you have another cup and another and so on and sometime even so on.  Drinking all that coffee without even knowing exactly what is coffee really doing for you??? you think it gives you "energy" ... when in fact it is depleting you of exactly that.

An interesting fact... when ever you consume an "addictive" substance such as sugar, starch, caffeine (coffee, tea, soda) , nicotine, or other drugs or alcohol. These substances act as FAKE neurotransmitters. These FAKE neurotransmitters fill up the receptors in your brain and then your brain sends a message to stop making more neurotransmitters because it "thinks" you already have enough. When in fact you don't. Your brain was fooled because your receptors are filled with the FAKE neurotransmitters that you fed it.

A great book that can help one get balance is called " the diet cure" by julia ross this book is not a "diet" book at all.  It is about getting balanced with your diet. There is an 8 questionnaire in the front that will show you exactly where your imbalances are and which chapter pertains to you. a great book!

I am not a coffee drinker but.. I LOVE Dandy Blend. Truly a delicious health coffee alternative.  I have introduced Dandy Blend to many coffee drinkers. By drinking Dandy Blend they were able to quit drinking coffee all together. I know many who have kicked a several cups ( up to 6) a day habit. It really tastes great! This is how I like to drink dandy blend...

dr simone's ten point plan to decrease your risk of cancer and heart disease

www.drsimone.com

Point 1. NUTRITION.
Maintain ideal weight. Decrease calories.
Eat low-fat, low-cholesterol diet: Fish, Poultry, Skim milk products, Eliminate red meats, lunch meats. Limit oils and fat.
Eat lots of fiber: 25 - 30 grams/d. Cereals, fruits, vegetables. A supplement may be needed.Supplement diet with certain vitamins & minerals in dosages & combinations for your lifestyle.
Eliminate salt and food additives.
Limit barbecue, smoked, and pickled foods.

Point 2. TOBACCO.Don't smoke, chew, snuff, or inhale other people's smoke.

Point 3. ALCOHOL.Don't consume, or less than 2 drinks a week.

Point 4. RADIATION.X-rays only when needed. Use suncreen and sunglasses.

Point 5. ENVIRONMENT.Keep air, water, workplace clean. Avoid electromagnetic fields.

Point 6. SEXUAL-SOCIAL, DRUGS, HORMONES. Avoid promiscuity, unnecessary hormones and drugs.

Point 7. LEARN the 7 cancer warning signs: Lump in breast, non-healing sore, change in wart or mole. Change in bowel / bladder habits. Persistent cough or hoarseness. Indigestion or trouble swallowing. Unusual bleeding.

Point 8. REVIEW ALL RISK FACTORS

Point 9. EXERCISE, RELAX, SPIRITUALITY, SEXUALITY

Point 10. EXECUTIVE PHYSICAL

IMF - changing the medicine we do

I am HUGE fan of The Institute Of Functional Medicine.
http://www.functionalmedicine.org/

IMF is working hard towards changing the medicine traditional doctors do, read below what Mark Hyman, MD, Vice-Chairman, Board of Directors and David S. Jones, MD, President, IFM have to say.

"Changing the Medicine We Do"
Last month in Washington, DC, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences held the Summit on Integrative Medicine and the Health of the Public. Six hundred key leaders and stakeholders in health care attended, including educators, community leaders, practitioners, lawmakers, policymakers, insurance leaders, scientists, representatives from the healthcare industry, and healthcare consumers. It was a broad coalition that came together with a common voice and intent to change not only the WAY we do medicine, but also the medicine we DO.

While the meeting was a summit on integrative medicine, the conversation at the Institute of Medicine (IOM) also emphasized the importance of a truly integrated healthcare system throughout the continuum of care, through birth, old age, sickness and death. There was a clear message that health care in the United States is actually NOT a system and lacks any true integration. As the three day conference progressed, the serious brokenness of American health care emerged, as well as the theme that a fundamentally different framework for medical care must guide healthcare reform. This need was framed by Dr. Snyderman, Chancellor Emeritus, Duke University School of Medicine, as an integrated healthcare system that must be prospective in viewpoint - participatory, preventive, predictive and personalized. The clinical model Dr. Snyderman proposed has much the same architecture as that already developed and taught by the Institute for Functional Medicine.

During the three days, Dr. Wayne Jonas presented his model for a national wellness initiative (WIN) that provides a framework for creating a culture of health and wellness through public and private efforts across diverse sectors of our society. The dialogue included perspectives on different models for integrating our healthcare system as well as the science establishing both the needs and efficacy of a prospective, integrated systems-medicine approach. This dialogue included panel discussion about the workforce, education requirements, and economic requirements inherent in the move toward a more comprehensive model upon which to base the coming healthcare reforms.

During the same week of the IOM Summit meeting, Senator Kennedy's Senate working group on healthcare reform held hearings on integrative and functional medicine. Dr. Memhet Oz called for mobilizing a national health service corps (HealthCorps) to educate the student body (K through 12) through health coaches trained by HealthCorps, similar to the intensive training provided Peace Corps volunteers prior to their deployment. Dr. Dean Ornishdiscussed the evidence that lifestyle approaches to heart disease and prostate cancer have been proven to be more effective and cost effective than medication or surgery. Dr. Andrew Weil emphasized the importance of transforming medical education to train a new generation of practitioners in integrative medicine. Dr. Mark Hyman echoed the previous speakers and focused on the importance of the Functional Medicine architecture of healthcare delivery that IS participatory, preventive, predictive and personalized. Panelists were asked insightful questions and had the opportunity to meet afterward with Senators Tom Harkin and Barbara Mikulski along with their key healthcare advisors.

There was no lack of will or understanding of the issues; in fact it was quite obvious that the senators and their aides consider themselves as allies in moving the healthcare reform agenda forward. There is, however, a lack of clarity around key strategies of how to implement changes with policy levers that currently exist. The course ahead has many pitfalls and traps. Clinicians practicing Functional Medicine work in the context of health care with people suffering real problems; we see reproducible and predictable solutions that are being overlooked. These solutions hold a key to navigating our healthcare non-system through this present stormy sea of transition.

From President Obama's call for prevention could emerge little more than the implementation of the Clinical Preventive Services Task Force Guidelines, which, while important, are not true prevention but early detection. Addressing healthcare reform without addressing the systems issues across all sectors of society affecting the health of our nation and healthcare costs may simply be rearranging the deck chairs on our Titanic healthcare non-system's eminent disaster. For example, intellectual property laws push private industry to develop products and services that profit from sickness (e.g. treatments for obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc.) rather than promote a more fundamental change in the vectors of these diseases leading to healing, health and wellness. Education policies support healthcare training schools that produce graduates with a focus on the assessment and treatment of diseases rather than as leaders in personal health transformation. When so many school kitchens have only deep fat fryers and microwave ovens, how can we feed our children for the efforts necessary to learning and thriving? Government agencies and departments with domains that impact health such as Agriculture, HHS, Education, DOD, CMS, etc. are not at this time coordinated to create a culture of health and wellness.

The personalized, systems-medicine approach of Functional Medicine is a scalable model for medical practice, education and research that can dramatically improve outcomes and reduce costs while providing real solutions to our healthcare crisis. We feel that solutions are created through incentives to implement this Functional Medicine approach, and deliver it through integrated healthcare teams, including health educators/coaches.

A core team of attendees from the IFM staff and faculty continue to dialogue with participants and contacts from the IOM Summit, the Senate hearings on healthcare reform, and White House staff. We hope that you will join us by linking to the internet sites that have video reports and submitted documents of these meetings as well as join us at the regional Summit meetings planned for dialogue with the American people. IFM is also in the process of establishing a news feed for information related to healthcare reform to follow up on the exciting developments in Washington. In the interim, you can sign up below to receive news flashes from our office on this subject. We know so many of you out there are working together toward the same goals.

- thank you! We'll keep you posted.
Mark Hyman, MD, Vice-Chairman, Board of Directors of IFM
David S. Jones, MD, President, IFM

living without - consciously substituting

What's your "go-to"?... We all have them. They are comforting and more important and the main reason we keep on coming back for more is they are satisfying. For some people, not having their "go-to" can really set them off. People are just programmed like that...creature's of habit. To go with out your "go-to" to some may feel like not living. And that is understandable.... to feel comfortable and satisfied, in my opinion, is a necessity in life.

Think of what you or your life would be like if all of your habits or "go-to's" were HEALTHY. Thinking about it is the easy part.... But actually really living with out the unhealthy "go-to's", that is definitly the hard part. The key is to really identify with your personal "go-to's" and which are unhealthy habits. Then find a healthy substitute... start with one "go-to" and work your way up to consciously choosing everything you do.

I have been doing just that for quite sometime now. Consciously choosing everything that goes into my body. My old favorite "go to", as mentioned in a prior post, was eggs and bacon. Going with out was very difficult for the first few weeks. Until I found a replacement that was comforting and satisfying. Tofu scramble saved the day. (See my prior blog for the recipe.)

My point is, like anything... a boyfriend, girlfriend, a job or an old pair of shoes, a favorite meal or just a cup of coffee, When you are first with out...it seems as if it will NEVER be the same, or in regards to the cup of coffee, you just can't cope. But as time passes and you meet someone new or find a favorite shoe, or a new restaurant with a new favorite meal, somehow you find you CAN manage just fine. In fact, you may find sometimes that now its even better!

And for me, that is what I have found. With each conscious choice I make, I feel that I am truly being the best I can be... to me, my body and my environment. I realized, as I was making my tofu breakfast scramble with ease, that this new habit had now grown to become my "go to". It is both comforting and satisfying. The thought of egg and bacon no longer makes me yearn... now it actually makes me uncomfortable.

One way for me to eat a 100% vegan diet and not feel like I am depriving myself is... I BAKE! cakes, cookies, muffins, breads etc... yum so satisfied! Here is a simple guide to cooking or baking your favorite recipe using simple substitutions to avoid unhealthy ingredients such as dairy, eggs and gluten.

Substitution Solutions

Milk Substitute 1 cup with the following:
1 cup Almond or other Nut Milks
1 cup Soy Milk (plain or vanilla)
1 cup 1 cup Rice Milk + 1 organic egg yolk
1 cup Fruit Juice
1 cup Water + 1 organic egg yolk
1 cup Coconut Milk

Buttermilk Substitute 1 cup with the following:
1 cup Soy Milk = 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar (let stand slightly to thicken)
1 cup Coconut Milk
7/8 cup Rice Milk
7/8 cup Fruit Juice
7/8 cup Water

Yogurt Substitute 1 cup with the following:
1 cup Soy Yogurt
1 cup Soy Sour Cream
1 cup Unsweetened Applesauce
1 cup Fruit Puree

Butter Substitute 1 stick with the following:
1 stick Earth Balance ( non-dairy buttery spread)
8 tbsp Olive or Vegetable Oil
reduced fat option:
6tbsp Unsweetened Applesauce + 2tbsp of one of the above

Eggs Substitute 1 large egg with the following:
3 tbsp Unsweetened Applesauce + 1 tsp Baking Powder (aluminum free)
1 tbsp Flax Meal + 3 tbsp Hot Water (let stand to thicken, stirring occasionally 10mins)
1 1/2 tsp Egg Replacer + 2tbsp Hot Water ( this is potato based, find in whole foods)
4 tbsp pureed Silken Tofu + 1 tsp Baking Soda

replacing two or more eggs will change the integrity of a recipe. for recipes that call for a lot of eggs, like a quiche, use pureed silken tofu. because egg substitutions add moisture, you may have to increase baking times slightly.

Nuts Substitute tree nuts or peanuts with an equal amount of the following.
toasted coconut
sunflower seeds
toasted sesame seeds
crushed cornflakes
crushed crispy rice cereal
crushed potato chips

Gluten -Free Substitutions
to make flour blend, thoroughly combine all ingredients. store in a covered container in the refrigerator until used. you can double or triple these recipes to make as much as you need.

All-Purpose Flour Blend
use this blend for all your gluten free baking
1/2 cup rice flour
1/4 cup tapioca starch/flour
1/4 cup cornstarch or potato starch

High Protein Flour Blend
This nutritious blend works best in baked goods that require elasticity,
such as wraps and pie crusts
1 1/4 cup bean flour (your choice) chick pea or soy flour
1 cup arrowroot starch, corn starch or potato starch
1 cup tapioca starch/flour
1 cup white or brown rice flour

High Fiber Flour Blend
this high fiber works best for breads, pancakes, snack bars, cookies that contain chocolate, warm spices, raisins or other fruits. it is not suited to delicately flavored recipes, such as sugar cookies, crepes, cream puffs, birthday cakes or cupcakes.
1 cup brown rice flour or sorghum flour
1/2 cup teff flour ( preferably light)
1/2 cup milet flour or Montina Flour
2/3 cup tapioca starch/flour
1/3 cup cornstarch or potato starch

Self-Rising Flour Blend
use this for muffins, scones, cakes, cupcakes, or any recipe that uses baking powder for leavening
1 1/4 cup white sorghum flour
1 1/4 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup tapioca starch/flour
2 tsp xanthan or guar gum
4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

General Guide to using Gum
Gum (xanthan or guar) is the key to successful gluten-free baking. It provides the binding needed to give the proper elasticity, keeping it from crumbling.

add 1/2 tsp gum per cup of flour blend to make cakes, cookies, bars, muffins and other quick breads

add 1 tsp gum per cup of flour blend to make yeast bread, pizza dough, and other baked items that call for yeast.

note: some flour blends contain gum already, if so, no need to add more.

this guide is from "Living Without" magazine found at your Health Food Store.