Stress—even when you don't recognize it—can pack on the pounds.
Cortisol, the stress hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, can make you fat. If you're under any kind of stress, this hormone triggers fat storage—to protect against perceived "dangers ahead" and to provide instant energy that may be needed for "fight or flight."
When stress—including the stealth stress of being bathed 24/7 in electropollution from antennae, cell and cordless phones, electrical appliances and wiring, microwaves, PDAs, power lines, and WiFi—builds up over time, high levels of cortisol prevent sound sleep and stimulate hunger… Continue reading Categories
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October 15th, 2010Stress—even when you don't recognize it—can pack on the pounds.
Cortisol, the stress hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, can make you fat. If you're under any kind of stress, this hormone triggers fat storage—to protect against perceived "dangers ahead" and to provide instant energy that may be needed for "fight or flight."
When stress—including the stealth stress of being bathed 24/7 in electropollution from antennae, cell and cordless phones, electrical appliances and wiring, microwaves, PDAs, power lines, and WiFi—builds up over time, high levels of cortisol prevent sound sleep and stimulate hunger… Continue reading B Focused, Your Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste
September 17th, 2010
High doses of B vitamins prevent memory loss and depression.
Brain atrophy—or gradual wasting of brain tissue—is common as we grow older. The greater the shrinkage, the lower a person's cognitive function or thinking skills.
Now a randomized, double-blind controlled trial of high-dose B vitamins shows that folic acid, vitamins B6, and B12 slow this process in seniors with mild cognitive decline, a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). These B vitamins can lower levels of homocysteine (a blood protein linked to AD) as much as 32%, this study shows.
Characterized by memory… Continue reading Big Macs, With a Side of Statins?
September 8th, 2010
Lower cholesterol naturally with a whole body lifestyle approach.
In August, the Imperial College London published research concluding that cholesterol-lowering statin drugs could neutralize the dangerous effects of eating fast foods like Big Macs. And a year ago the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended statins for obese elementary school children.
Fortunately, new research in the journal Atherosclerosis reports that omega-3 fatty supplementation improves vascular function and reduces inflammation in obese kids. That's in addition to the considerable body of research on the benefits of these safe, healthy fats in protecting adults against cardiovascular disease. Fish… Continue reading Got an Embarrassing Itch?
August 9th, 2010
Don't let summer heat give pathogens a "growth spurt."
Hot, muggy weather does more than simply make you sweat. Fungi and yeasts—found throughout the body, especially in warm, moist areas—love summer heat. A wet bathing suit or footwear that doesn't breath is just asking for trouble this time of year.
Jock and vaginal itch, diaper rash or any red rash with scalloped edges in skin folds, thrush (thick, white patches on the palate, tongue, or anywhere in the mouth), and underarm rash are just some ways the 20-plus species of Candida can wreak… Continue reading How Safe Are Your Supplements?
August 6th, 2010
New Consumer Reports calls some herbs dangerous.
Claiming the supplement industry isn't as safe as it should be, Consumer Reports (CR) has identified a dozen ingredients—mostly herbs—as dangerous: bitter orange, chaparral, colloidal silver, coltsfoot, comfrey, country mallow, germanium, greater celandine, kava, lobelia, and yohimbe.
Warning consumers to avoid these supplements because of health risks that include cardiovascular, liver, and kidney problems, CR blamed inadequate quality control and inspection. And the article says that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't apply its rules for manufacturing quality to herbs, vitamins, and other raw ingredients.
The… Continue reading Dangerous Drugs in Your Medicine Cabinet
July 5th, 2010
Also pay attention to supplement-drug interactions.
Worldwide, prescription drug abuse is even higher than the combined use of illicit drugs like cocaine, ecstasy, and heroin, finds the UN International Narcotics Control Board. In this country alone, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently reported that abuse of prescription painkillers has led to an alarming 111% jump in emergency room visits over the last 5 years!
And a new study in American Journal of Psychiatry, based on a survey of almost 35,000 American adults, shows that abuse of and dependence on anxiety drugs are… Continue reading No Worries, B Happy
July 2nd, 2010
The right vitamins relieve depression and diabetes.
B vitamins, those water-soluble nutrients, have been popping up in the news lately—for good reason. For starters, they're essential to metabolism and help relieve irritability and nervous tension.
New research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition following 3,500 Chicagoans over 65 years of age for 7 years finds that increasing vitamins B-6 and B-12 boost mood. Specifically, every 10 mg increase in B-6 (pyridoxine) and every added 10 mcg of B-12 (cobalamin) decreased depressive symptoms by 2% in this population. "Our results support the hypotheses… Continue reading Love Your Liver
June 21st, 2010
Detox and diet to banish belly fat and reduce risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
It doesn't get the attention that the heart and brain do. But your liver is every bit as important, performing close to 400 different jobs from transforming food into energy and controlling hormonal balance to producing bile that supports healthy digestion.
The largest organ in the body, the liver is also a potent detoxifier. Perhaps its most important function, detoxification—ironically—puts the liver at great risk for damage. Everything from alcohol abuse and environmental toxins to parasites and unprotected… Continue reading Natures Anti-aging Secret
May 28th, 2010
The "super antioxidant" glutathione is a key player in both detox and disease prevention.
The most important ingredient in healthy longevity may be something you've never heard of—glutathione. This antioxidant helps combat the ill effects of aging as well as diseases ranging from Alzheimer's and dementia to cancer and cardiovascular problems.
A combination of the amino acids cysteine, glycine, and glutamine, glutathione is produced naturally in the body, where it regulates the function of other antioxidants. No wonder that this super antioxidant also plays a vital role in immune support, fighting infection, and controlling… Continue reading Add 12 Years to Your Life
May 3rd, 2010
Turbo charge weight loss to increase longevity.
New research following close to 5,000 adults—mostly in their 40s—finds that obesity cuts 12 years off the human lifespan. Published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, this study also underscores the importance of eating your veggies and fruits, exercising regularly, moderate alcohol use, and not smoking.
While this is not exactly surprising, research in the May issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology is. According to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for a healthy weight, between half and two-thirds of all women in their reproductive years are obese!
How can… Continue reading 
Visionary, health guru, diet/detox expert, author, spokesperson, role model, and natural foods icon, Ann Louise Gittleman has always been a trendsetter. 
