Skin ♥Toxin Formation ♥ Indoor Ozone

Toxins May Form When Skin, Indoor Ozone Meet
Some of these chemicals are benign, others might pose dangers, experts say

By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay Reporter

(HealthDay News) -- Oil found naturally on human skin can "trap" large amounts of indoor ozone, then "spit" it out in the form of chemicals that may irritate the skin and the lungs, new research suggests.

"They are saying that compounds on the skin react to the ozone and cause more irritation to the skin," explained one expert, Rajat Sethi, an assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Texas A&M Health Science Center's Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy in Kingsville. "They have identified those compounds."

But the findings are not cause for major concern yet, according to the study, which is published in the Aug. 17 issue of Proceedings of the National Academies of Science.

"I would say this is not very alarming at this point," said study co-lead author Charles J. Weschler, an adjunct professor at the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey in Piscataway. "This chemistry has been going on since the dawn of man. As long as humans have existed, they've existed with ozone, and this chemistry has been occurring," said Weschler, who is also a member of the faculty of the Technical University of Denmark in Copenhagen. He wrote the paper with Armin Wisthaler of Leopold-Franzens University, Innsbruck, Austria.

While copious amounts of research have pointed to the negative health effects of outdoor ozone, little is known about indoor ozone or ground-level ozone, especially about its effects on humans.

"We're talking about ozone that people breathe, that people come in contact with, as opposed to ozone up in the stratosphere that protects us from the sun," Weschler explained.

Ozone can travel indoors through ventilation systems and open windows, or it can sweat off of office equipment, such as poorly working photocopiers or laser printers.

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has claimed that indoor ozone exposure may be 100 times more than outdoor exposure," noted Sethi, who presented a paper at a recent American Heart Association meeting that linked outdoor ozone with an increased risk of ischemic attack and angina.

In their study, Weschler and Wisthaler used "proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry" to analyze compounds released into the air by the interaction of human skin oil and ozone.

When squalene, the most common fat and antioxidant found on the human skin, from just one person interacted with ozone, this could reduce ozone concentrations in a small room by 10 to 25 percent, the team found.

Byproducts of this skin-ozone interaction are later released back into the environment.

"Some of these products are benign, something like acetone or fingernail-polish remover. Some of these compounds have not been identified before in terms of this chemistry, but we don't expect them to pose much of a health concern simply because of their structure," Weschler said. On the other hand, "some of these compounds may be a health concern, but toxicity studies have yet to be done," he added.

Besides the skin, reactions occur on objects where squalene was left by a person's touch, such as furniture or computer equipment.

The research also revealed that squalene and not vitamin E, as was previously thought, is the main antioxidant protecting the skin from ozone. "Squalene has been doing the heavy lifting when it comes to protecting us from the ozone," Wechsler said.

"Some of these products [resulting from the interaction] we inhale and some stay on our skin," he added. "Toxicologists will be looking more closely at what some of the potential health effects are."

One expert noted that the latest research sheds more light on ozone's harmful effects.

"Ozone by itself is harmful straight out, and we've known for some time that ozone indoors reacts with a variety of things," said Janice Nolen, assistant vice president of national policy and advocacy at the American Lung Association. This study "tells us more about how ozone can affect us and reinforces why we don't want ozone indoors," she said.

Nolen advised against using products that produce ozone, such as air-purifying devices. "If it's a mechanism with a filter of some kind, then you're not going to be producing ozone," she said. "If you're using something that uses electric static or a chemical process, the odds are that you're going to be producing ozone."

But even filtering, she added, "is limited in its ability to help clean up indoor air."

More information

There's more on ground-level ozone at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
SOURCES: Charles J. Weschler, Ph.D., adjunct professor, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway, and faculty member, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen; Rajat Sethi, Ph.D., assistant professor, pharmaceutical sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Kingsville; Janice Nolen, assistant vice president, national policy and advocacy, American Lung Association, Washington, D.C.; Aug. 17-21, 2009, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Customizing Google Start Page ♥ Fix-it

Back when folks were addicted to AOL chat rooms and the screech of a 56k modem preceded a sluggish web experience, one needed to know HTML  [ hypertext markup language ] to build their own personalized web page. Cumbersome and time consuming, learning HTML is not a top priority for many users. But does an ignorance of HTML preclude the building of a personalized web page?  Nope, it doesn't.

Web building applications like Adobe's Dreamweaver grant its users drag-and-drop capabilities when constructing their pages; most times you won't even need to view the underlying source code that gives your web pages life. But, for most users' needs, a full-blown web creation application such as DW may be overkill, not to mention an expensive option. Creating a MySpace account is another choice, but may be a turnoff if you're not into popularity contests and very slow page loading times.

Your iGoogle Start Page

It's a safe assumption that you pull Google at least a few times during your surfing session. You're reading the news and want to know more about a story; pull up Google. You want to comparison shop for a new iPod; pull up Google. You're curious if your name is floating around in cyberspace; query your name via Google. Seeing that you view Google's homepage many times while surfing, and the fact that Google's homepage isn't

exactly bursting with eye candy, you may want to customize it to your heart's content Google makes customizing your Google StartPage quick and easy with iGoogle. Not only does customizing your iGoogle page add a little visual zest, but you can add useful widgets that can display an array of photos or displays the latest videos from a specified YouTube channel. 

How iGoogle Works Under the Hood

Web applications such as iGoogle and Gmail are all powered by a web coding technique called AJAX  [Asynchronous JavaScript and XML]. It sounds complex, but all you need to know is that AJAX technology makes it possible for web applications--programs that run in your web browser--to respond as if they were running directly on your desktop. Before AJAX was conceived, most web applications swapped data to and fro with the client browser via an old web standard, which resulted in a less fluid web experience. AJAX makes web applications more fluid by sidestepping the standard method of transferring data via browser and server, instead opting for an updated, faster technique.

Creating your iGoogle Start Page

iGoogle's interface is clean and even comes equipped with drag-and-drop capabilities. Don't like how your widgets are laid out?  Relocate them by simply dragging and dropping.   Every widget has a collapse button, which is nice when you want to make some room or don't care to see the widget's window but don't want to close it.
iGoogle solves the inevitable widget overload issue by allowing you to populate your start page with tabs. Clicking on a tab will show you its contents. As Firefox proved, surfers loves tabs.

• Of course, the Google search text box is located right on top of your page.  Many users make Google their home page; why not customize your home page via iGoogle? With so many widgets to choose from,

iGoogle takes the standard Google home page to the next level by tailoring it to your tastes  If you already have a Gmail account, then you're all ready to start building your start page. Point your browser to iGoogle. If it's your first time viewing your iGoogle start page, you'll be happy to know that Google makes everything as easy as possible. Upon viewing your start page for the first time, iGoogle will present you with an intuitive set of tools to quickly build your start page in under 30 seconds, as the start page boasts; select which widgets you'd like your page to display and you're all set.

Antioxidants ♥ Melanoma Threat

Antioxidants Pose No Melanoma Threat
Despite earlier study, new report finds no risk from common vitamin and mineral supplements

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

(HealthDay News) -- Vitamins C, E and other antioxidants do not increase the risk for melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, a new study found.

A recent study had suggested that the risk for melanoma was increased four-fold among women who took supplemental vitamins C and E, beta carotene, selenium and zinc. Because 48 to 55 percent of U.S. adults take vitamin or mineral supplements, the potentially harmful effects of the supplements was alarming.

"As someone who takes supplements as a preventive measure, I was happy to see that the authors [of the new study] were able to debunk the claims of the prior study," said Dr. Robin Ashinoff, a dermatologist and clinical associate professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center, who was not involved with the new research.

The new report is published in the August issue of the Archives of Dermatology .

For the study, a team lead by Dr. Maryam M. Asgari, of Kaiser Permanente Northern California in Oakland, collected data on 69,671 women and men who participated in the Vitamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) study. It was designed to look at the use of supplements and the risk for cancer. At the start of the study, between 2000 and 2002, participants completed a questionnaire that included inquiries about lifestyle, medical history, diet, use of supplements and other cancer risk factors.

The researchers found that multivitamins and supplements taken over 10 years, including selenium and beta carotene, were not associated with the risk for melanoma among both women and men.

"Consistent with the present results, case-control studies examining serologic [blood] levels of beta carotene, vitamin E and selenium did not find any association with subsequent risk of melanoma," the authors wrote. "Moreover, the Nurses' Health Study reported no association between intake of vitamins A, C and E and melanoma risk in 162,000 women during more than 1.6 million person-years of follow-up," they added.

The causes of melanoma have to do with genetic predisposition; sun exposure, especially in early life; and other yet-to-be determined factors, Ashinoff said. "Melanoma can occur internally, as in the vagina and GI [gastrointestinal] tract, as well as in the eye, so sun exposure is certainly not the entire story," she said.

Earlier experiments had found that topical antioxidants such as green tea extracts, vitamin C and E and soy can prevent and reverse some of the sun's damage to the DNA and immune systems in the skin, if applied before sun exposure, Ashinoff said.

"It shows how difficult these studies are to interpret," she said. "I am happy to see that these antioxidants have not been shown in a similar group of people to increase the risk of melanoma."

Another study in the same issue of the journal found that most melanomas found by dermatologists are discovered during a full-body examination of the skin. And these melanomas tend to be thinner and more likely to affect only the top layer of skin, making a cure more likely. Melanomas reported by patients tended to be more advanced, the researchers noted.

"It should come as no surprise to anyone that the keen eye of a trained dermatologist is superior to that of laypeople in identifying suspicious lesions and early melanomas," said Dr. Jeffrey Salomon, an assistant clinical professor of plastic surgery at Yale University School of Medicine.

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more on melanoma.
SOURCES: Robin Ashinoff, M.D., dermatologist and clinical associate professor, dermatology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York City; Jeffrey Salomon, M.D., assistant clinical professor of plastic surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.; August 2009, Archives of Dermatology

Adding Peanut Shells ♥ Vita Mix Drinks

Given some Boiled Peanuts by Dani and Claire.  They were outstanding.   However, I could not resist adding a few shells to my Vita-Mix drink.   Next day I searched to see if peanut shells are safe and nutritional..

• pro  Low cost source of fiber and does not alter taste in small amount.
• pro  Elephants like them.
• con  Peanut shells have not really found their way out of being just a waste product.  Some have found there way into dog and animal food.   Some dogs have died.
  

• con Mycotoxins Boiled Peanuts (212°F) and Roasted Peanuts.
  From Marth [1990], mycotoxins (toxins produced by molds) are completely destroyed at their melting point, which is generally at high temperatures: 164°C (327°F) for Zearalenone, 170°C (338°F) for Rubratoxia. When roasting peanuts, the toxicity of aflatoxin B1 is reduced by 70%, and that of aflatoxin B2 by 45%. Thus, heat treatment cannot be considered as a satisfactory means to eliminate mycotoxins.

• con  "Peanuts are susceptible to molds and fungal invasions. Of particular concern is aflatoxin, a poison produced by a fungus called Aspergillus flavus. Although better storage and handling methods have virtually eliminated the risk of aflatoxin ingestion, aflatoxin is a known carcinogen that is twenty times more toxic than DDT and has also been linked to mental retardation and lowered intelligence. To help prevent aflatoxin ingestion, the FDA also enforces a ruling that 20 parts per billion is the maximum of aflatoxin permitted in all foods and animal foods, including peanut butter and other peanut products. If purchasing raw peanuts, it is still wise to ensure that the peanuts have been stored in a dry, cool environment (the fungus grows when the temperature is between 86-96 F and when the humidity is high). Roasted peanuts are thought to offer more protection against aflatoxin, plus roasting is also thought to improve peanuts' digestibility."
  
  
  
  
  
• pro  Considering the practicalities. Remark: We do not recommend worrying excessively about completely avoiding (all of) the foods listed  more,  first of all because the list is not exhaustive and toxins are quite widespread in nature. And secondly because our body has many detoxification mechanisms which are specifically designed to allow it to handle moderate, relatively normal amounts of toxins without deleterious consequences. Our goal, rather, is to show that one needn't be excessively concerned about potential harmful effects of the chemical constituents created by cooking, since all living animals are naturally exposed to quite a variety of toxins in the foods they eat anyway.
• conclusion  Take a chance with no more than 1oz of shells in the Vita-Mix drink and do not make this a daily habit.  Remember that insertion in pet food has killed dogs.  Avoid it in your dog food selection.
  

Introduction Website

Hi  everyone.  My new blog site.

• If it a health, investment related, or Excel spread sheet relate, ♥ please contact me.
  
• Left area posting links have been increased in size from 95% to 110 % to be more readable.  (effects long titles)
  
• One link is a about dogs.    Send dog pictures and I will post your dog and your name.  Let's vote for the smartest looking dog.
• Guide your friends to this site to for links to what is going on the world and Port Orange Florida.
• Carole, and others.  Please take pictures of your artistic creations.  I will post them.  I will post pictures of  artwork and creations.
• Of course their will be innovative new technology  and fix-it ideas.
  

Share Online Store

We have six eCommerce websites (StoresOnline Pro) for a small business or individual entrepreneurs to offer their products and services to the world.

Sharing cost of the website with others is set very low and you will have the option to customize your own pages if you so wish or let others do it for you.

Contact     John Hazen by email

Things to Do & See ♥ Port Orange, FL Area

Found on Port Orange Image's web page    See and Do in Port Orange Florida
 

Brief references to up coming events are listed at the bottom of the home page,

www.portorangeimages.com

 

Music POI Hank Likes ♥ Nat King Cole ♥ Terrisa Breser ♥ and more

MUSIC FOR A PORT ORANGE GUY  Music POI Hank likes:

• Nat King Cole ♥ Perfida ♥ Music Video 
• Teresa Brewer ♥ Medley ♥ Live
  
• 
  More to come
  

Dogs Equivalent to 2-Year Old Humans. ♥♥

Dogs and 2-Year-Olds on Same Mental Plane
Research shows canines can count, learn words

By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay Reporter

(HealthDay News) -- According to accumulating research, the beloved family dog is really a toddler with a snout and tail.

"Dogs basically have the developmental abilities equivalent to a human 2-year-old," said dog expert Stanley Coren, who was scheduled to present recent canine research developments at the American Psychological Association annual meeting this week in Toronto.

The average dog can learn 165 words, although "super dog" Rico, a border collie, could understand 200 spoken words. Experts think some dogs can learn up to 250 words.

Dogs can count up to four or five and can correct you if you can't add one plus one.

One dog apparently learned to "read." Coren recounted the case of the canine who was able to "deliver" mail addressed to two girls, one with a short name and one with a long name. Although the owner thought the dog was actually reading, it turns out the canine was gauging the length of the name, not the individual characters, enabling him to deliver the mail to the right person.

Different breeds of dog differ in their intelligence, with border collies topping the list for working (instinctive) and obedience intelligence. The next six smartest are poodles, German shepherds, golden retrievers, Dobermans, Shetland sheepdogs and Labrador retrievers. (The third type of dog smarts is adaptive or problem-solving ability.)

"There are two extreme viewpoints when we talk about dogs," said Coren, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and author of numerous books on dogs including How to Speak Dog and How Dogs Think. "Some tend to think of dogs as if they are little human beings with fur coats. The other extreme is to think of dogs as if they're unthinking but programmable robots. My little beagle would then be a beagle-shaped bag, a biological equivalent of transistors and gears. The truth of the matter is somewhere in between."

More and more, scientists are realizing that dogs can think and solve problems in ways previously thought to belong only to humans and higher primates.

Indeed, one recent study also found that dogs were like 24-month-old children, at least when it comes to figuring out where humans have hidden a treat.

Like 2-year-olds, dogs can experience fear, anger, happiness and disgust (perhaps at a human's sub-par math skills), but not guilt. Humans don't feel guilt until about age 4, Coren said.

That doesn't mean they can't make humans feel guilty. That desolate look when a dog's human leaves the house is probably legitimate. "Dogs are pack animals," Coren explained.

Dogs apparently can ponder the meaning of "dog," in a way. According to Coren, they do have a consciousness of self, though not as complex as that of humans.

They also recognize differences among beings and are cognizant of others' variable viewpoints and talents.

And they dream, as demonstrated through movements they make while they're asleep.

Dogs can figure out how to get to the couch before you do and how to operate a latch or other simple mechanism.

They can also deceive other dogs.

Not to mention people.

Coren has both a beagle (ranked seventh from the bottom in obedience intelligence) and a cat. The cat is fed on the counter so the beagle can't interfere with feline meal-time.

One time, though, the beagle started scrabbling around, digging at the kitchen floor. "I was quite confused," Coren recalls. "He looked around and continued again, then he looked up at me. I finally got down on my hands and knees and he immediately jumped onto my back and onto the counter. He decided his psychologist father could be used as a ladder."

"This presentation asks and answers some very deep questions about if, and then how, dogs might think," said Bonnie Beaver, a professor in the department of small animal clinical sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University. "[But] there is always the possibility that generalizations do not quite fit the data or that the original data may have been weak. Serious students of dogs are advised to go back to original studies, lovers of dogs should view this with interest and leave a little room for doubts."

More information

The Humane Society of the United States has more on canine behavior.
SOURCES: Stanley Coren, Ph.D., professor emeritus, psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Bonnie V. Beaver, D.V.M., professor, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station; Aug. 8, 2009, presentation, American Psychological Association annual meeting, Toronto


Still more information or Dogs See, Smell, and Know.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/books/review/Schine-t.html?nl=books&emc=booksupdateema3
 

Port Orange Images ♥ Port Orange, Florida

• Video and Photo Magazine On Line
• Featuring hundreds of photos
• Reporting and referencing the news of Port Orange, Fl.
• And even other items of this world and the next

Herbs Help You Stay Healthty ♥ Cloves, Echinaceak, Garlic, Golden Seal, Licorice Root, Myrrh

One of the best ways to naturally support the body from infections and the common cold can be found naturally in the plant kingdom. There are a number of herbs that can be used to enhance our immune system functioning by building and supporting our natural defenses.

• Cloves: clove oil is highly antiseptic and is a time-honored remedy for toothaches. It is also used to enhance digestive health and bowel functioning.

• Echinacea: they are full of polysaccharides. Polysaccharides stimulate the activity of macrophages, white blood cells help protect healthy cells from free radical damage.

• Garlic:  one of the most important herbs, having a broad range of well-documented healing properties. It acts as an antimicrobial against bacteria, promotes healthy circulatory functioning and supports blood pressure and cholesterol levels already within the healthy range.

• Golden Seal: it is an effective antibiotic, supports healthy digestive function and sexual health. Golden seal should be used with caution by hypoglycemic persons because it is known to lower blood sugar levels.

• Licorice Root: it is a very sweet herb that is often used in throat lozenges. It is believed to provide antioxidant benefits that protect healthy cells from free radical damage.

• Myrrh: used since ancient times, it acts as a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent believed to help bolster the body’s natural immune defenses.

So this cold season, boost your natural defenses by including herbs in your diet. There are many herbal daily supplements available that can help you stay healthy and happy this cold season!
Er

Investors and Traders ♥ NEW

Become a Stock Picker     jkat@cfl.rr.com

1. Your picks will be transfered by Excel attachment.
2. Picks evaluated and rating calculated.
3. Site Visitors may join to view Top Pickers.
4. Top Pickers will be awarded for their success.
5. Pickers may buy long, sell short, buy calls or buy puts.
6. Top Rated Pickers must have positive results
7. Stocks, ETF's, bonds, are the usual forms of investment. 
   

Join to View Top Rated Pickers Choices  rqyx@cfl.rr.com

Beetroot Juice ♥ Physical Stamina

Beetroot Juice May Boost Stamina
Study findings could apply to athletes, elderly, researchers say

(HealthDay News) -- Beetroot juice can boost physical stamina and increase exercise endurance by up to 16 percent, a new British study shows.

The researchers found that nitrate in beetroot juice reduces oxygen uptake to a degree that can't be achieved by any other means. The findings could benefit endurance athletes, elderly people and those with cardiovascular, respiratory or metabolic diseases, the study authors suggest.

The study included eight men, aged 19 to 38, who drank 500 milliliters a day of organic beetroot juice for six consecutive days. They then completed a series of tests on an exercise bike. The same tests were repeated after the men drank the same amount of a placebo (blackcurrant cordial) for six days.

After drinking the beetroot juice, the men were able to cycle for an average of 11.25 minutes -- 92 seconds longer than after consuming the placebo drink. The men also had a lower resting blood pressure after they drank the beetroot juice, the researchers found.

The study was published Aug. 6 in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

"Our study is the first to show that nitrate-rich food can increase exercise endurance," corresponding author Andy Jones, a professor in the University of Exeter's School of Sport and Health Sciences, said in a news release from the university.

"We were amazed by the effects of beetroot juice on oxygen uptake because these effects cannot be achieved by any other known means, including training. I am sure professional and amateur athletes will be interested in the results of this research. I am also keen to explore the relevance of the findings to those people who suffer from poor fitness and may be able to use dietary supplements to help them go about their daily lives," Jones added.

He and his colleagues don't know the exact mechanism that causes nitrate in beetroot juice to increase stamina, but they suspect that nitrate may turn into nitric oxide in the body, leading to a reduction in oxygen uptake and making exercise less tiring.

More information

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offers a guide to physical activity.
-- Robert Preidt

SOURCE: University of Exeter, news release, Aug. 6, 2009

Extend Life ♥ How To ♥ Evidence

More Evidence Healthy Living Brings Long Life
Good diet, no smoking, regular exercise lower chronic disease risk by 80%, CDC study finds

By Alan Mozes
HealthDay Reporter

(HealthDay News) -- People who adopt four healthy behaviors -- never smoking, regular exercise, eating well and maintaining a healthy weight -- can dramatically reduce their likelihood for chronic disease and an early death, a new study confirms.

On average, healthy living may cut your odds for heart disease, cancer and diabetes by about 80 percent, the researchers said.

"We're talking about relatively straightforward behaviors that pretty much everyone knows about already," said study author Dr. Earl S. Ford, a medical officer with the U.S. Public Health Service and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "But there's unfortunately a gap between people realizing what's good for them and doing what they might want to do."

"We're showing that for a very wide range of diseases -- not just one chronic disease, but many -- these few behaviors really do have a major impact on prevention," Ford said.

He and his colleagues reported the findings in the Aug. 10/24 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The authors drew on data from a German study conducted between 1994 and 1998. That research probed the lifestyle characteristics, food habits and disease history of about 23,000 German adults between the ages of 35 and 65.

Adherence to four key lifestyle indicators were tracked: never having smoked; having a body-mass index below 30 (the threshold for obesity); exercising for a minimum of 3.5 hours per week; and eating healthfully, as evidenced by a diet high in fruit and vegetable intake but low in meat.

Ford and his team found that rather than scoring an A+ or an F in lifestyle, most study participants engaged in some (one to three), but not all of the ideal behaviors.

Less than 4 percent met none of the criteria for a healthy lifestyle, while 9 percent followed all four.

Tracking disease incidence for almost eight years, the researchers found that when it came to disease prevention and healthy lifestyle, more is more.

Regardless of age, gender, educational achievement or job status, those following all four lifestyle behaviors had a 78 percent lower risk on average for heart disease, cancer and diabetes compared with those who had adopted none of the preferable lifestyle factors.

Taken one by one, diabetes was the most significantly impacted by practicing all four healthy behaviors, with a 93 percent reduced risk compared with those who followed none of the four.

Those who practiced some but not all of the highlighted behaviors did achieve some risk reduction for chronic disease, the researchers noted, although not as much. Having a BMI below 30 appeared to lower disease risk the most, followed by never smoking, routine physical activity and consuming a good diet.

With the findings in, Ford said that the trick now is to motivate the public to practice what researchers are preaching.

"The more you do, the better off you will be," he said. "You can certainly get benefits from practicing one healthy behavior. But at the same time, you will get more benefit the more you do."

"Perhaps studies like this one do help some, by demonstrating how sizeable the impacts truly are," Ford added.

Dr. David L. Katz is director of internal medicine and preventive medicine/public health at the Prevention Research Center at the Yale University School of Medicine, as well as the author of an accompanying editorial. He called the strength of the connection between healthy behavior and long, healthy life "incredible."

"This study is essentially a reaffirmation that an amazingly short list of behaviors, which we've been hearing about for about 15 years, massively influence our risk for premature death and for developing all of the major chronic diseases all of us spend most of our time studying and being concerned about," Katz said.

"And so I think of this study as an invitation to every mom and dad -- to every family -- to try and shore up their commitment to eating well, and try to make exercise part of their routine culture, and to not smoke," he observed. "It's an opportunity to endow your child with an 80 percent reduced likelihood of ever getting a heart attack or ever dying of cancer."

Still, it's tough in a sedentary, affluent age to take some of these simple steps, Katz added. "It's an incredible opportunity that we have thus far failed to exploit," he said.

More information

There's more on the obesity-disease link at the American Obesity Association.
SOURCES: Earl S. Ford, M.D., M.P.H., medical officer, U.S. Public Health Service and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; David L. Katz, M.D., director, internal medicine and preventive medicine/public health, Prevention Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, Derby, Conn.; Aug. 10/24, 2009, Archives of Internal Medicine

Banish Wrinkles ♥ CoQ10

Banish Wrinkles with CoQ10

After my thirtieth birthday, I began to notice fine lines around my eyes and on my forehead. I began to search for an all-natural treatment to smooth away my wrinkles and firm my skin. I discovered an all-natural treatment that is free of paraben, preservatives, artificial colors and fragrances: CoQ10 Anti-Wrinkle Cream.
CoQ10 is a naturally occurring nutrient found in every cell of your body. A powerful antioxidant, CoQ10 helps protect collagen and elastin from free radicals that can cause premature aging. Its antioxidant properties also help build and fortify new cells and tissue, promoting fresh, younger looking skin.
CoQ10 Anti Wrinkle Cream is a silky, hydrating cream that combines the power of CoQ10 with essential oils, extracts and more to help repair and rejuvenate skin cells, revealing smoother, firmer and more youthful skin. It is recommended for normal to dry skin. CoQ10 helps to renew and restore collagen and elastin, repair skin cells and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Look years younger with CoQ10!

Build Strong Muscles ♥

Build Strong Muscles!

Did you know that after an intense workout the body may be depleted of amino acids, which are necessary for repairing and building muscle? Glutamine is a very important amino acid that needs to be replenished after strenuous exercise. It can be found in protein powders, beans, meats, fish, poultry, dairy products, and in Glutamine supplements.
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein molecules and are used by every cell in the body for many important functions. Amino acids are critical to the body's proper functioning. Their role includes repairing muscles, organs, nails, hair, skin, ligaments and glands.
L-Glutamine Powder may enhance muscle recovery after intense exercise and it also may improve protein metabolism and stimulate growth hormone production. L-Glutamine Powder contains 4,500 mg of glutamine per serving and mixes easily with water or juice. Get the most out of your workout by adding a Glutamine supplement!

Detox Your Whole Body ♥ Naturally ♥ Internally Cleanse Your Body

Cleanse Your Whole Body… Naturally!

There are natural and safe methods to internally cleanse your body of accumulated toxins and waste.  Over time toxins from the food we eat and the environment start to accumulate to unhealthy levels and begin to overwork the body's other natural systems.
Here are some tips to detox your whole system naturally:
 Eat more fruit. Fruit has many cleansing properties, antioxidants, and nutrients which speed up the whole detox process.
 Eat less packaged food; they all deposit unneeded toxins in your body. Avoid these grocery aisles when you shop. Eliminate these items completely and substitute fresh foods and vegetables.
  Exercise provides lots of purifying benefits to our body. It helps to stimulate the detox process by encouraging sweating. In one hour of exercise, our body releases two pints (one liter) of sweat, one percent of which are minerals and toxins.
In addition, there are all-natural cleansing products available to assist your body’s natural internal cleansing process. Whole Body Cleanse Internal Cleansing System can be a two-week program that supports detoxification of the intestines, liver, gall bladder, circulatory and lymphatic systems. This gentle, no-stimulant laxative safely cleanses and strengthens the body's natural cleansing process. It contains a soothing herbal blend and promotes healthy, comfortable bowel cleansing. Whole Body Cleanse will rejuvenate you from head to toe!

Boost Your Immune System

Well, it’s that time of year again. Summer is almost over, the new school year is starting and it’s almost cold season.  But never fear: help is here! Keep reading to find out how you can take care of your immune system and stay healthy…
The immune system is responsible for protecting the body against infection. Its major components include lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen, the thymus gland and tonsils (if you still have them.) There are two types of immunity present in our bodies: innate and adaptive. Innate immunity is present at birth and provides an initial barrier against microorganisms. You acquire adaptive immunity later in life, usually after fighting off an infection.  The name says it all: adaptive immunity "remembers" these invaders and adapts to recognize and ward them off again should they recur.
It is believed you can help enhance your adaptive immunity by taking a daily supplement that includes vitamin C. zinc, and Echinacea. 
Probiotics may also help boost your immune system functioning:. They help “friendly bacteria" and help to keep your digestive tract healthy (appear to have some beneficial effect on your immune system). They can be found in dietary supplements or as a nutritional ingredient in yogurt and other foods.
But remember, the best bet for keeping healthy this cold season is to eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, get plenty of exercise and enough sleep each night. Your immune system will thank you for it!

Fabuluous Fish Oil - Fix Heart

The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least two times per week. What do you do if you hate the taste (and smell) of fish? Is there any way to get the health benefits of fish oil without eating a can of tuna? What exactly is so great about fish oil anyway?
Fish is an excellent source of protein without the high saturated fat content common in other meats. Fatty fish such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon are high in two kinds of omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are known to play a role in neurological, immune system, heart and vision support. Brain cells require adequate levels of DHA to function optimally. EPA and DHA may also support normal inflammatory response.
There are many fish oil supplements available in capsule form.  Some are available in a 300-count packages, which are the best values I could find for the price. And best of all, some have a great, natural lemon flavor…no fishy aftertaste.  So take a fish oil supplement…. Protect your heart and health!

Extend Life

Extra Helpings of Vegetables, Olive Oil May Extend Life
Not all items on the Mediterranean diet are equally beneficial, study shows

(HealthDay News) -- Some components of a Mediterranean diet may be more vital to good health than others, a new report suggests.

A study from researchers at the University of Athens Medical School links longer life to consuming large quantities of vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes and olive oil, keeping alcohol intake moderate and avoiding too much meat. Meanwhile, eating lots of fish or seafood and going light on dairy products does not seem to increase longevity.

The authors of the study, which examined the eating habits of more than 23,000 Greeks over nearly a decade, said many of the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet were negated when their analysis removed heavy vegetable consumption, light meat intake or moderate drinking. Combining several components, such as having a diet rich in vegetables and olive oil, showed health benefits.

Following a Mediterranean diet, so-called because it is based on the traditional eating habits of those in that region of the world, has been shown to improve health and help people live longer in several studies, but this report -- appearing June 23 in the online edition of BMJ -- analyzes the main components of the diet.

More information

The American Heart Association has more about Mediterranean diets.
-- Kevin McKeever

SOURCE: BMJ, news release, June 23, 2009

Longevity Linked to Fitness Level?

By Dr. Allen S. Josephs Co-Founder & Chairman, Vitacost.com

Thursday, August 27, 2009 - Staying physically fit is a year-round lifestyle choice. Regardless of the season, it takes commitment and resolve to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise regimen. The payoff for such perseverance, however, is huge. Recent studies indicate that exercise along with a diet that is low in sugar and high in nutrients including vitamin D3 and omega-3 EFAs may play a big role in one's longevity and quality of life. Continue reading online >>>