Vitamins - Health Articles and Information by Biotrex Vitamins

Growing up, my girlfriends couldn't wait to hit the shopping malls and go to parties, the bigger the better--but I didn't share their excitement. I always felt overwhelmed, exhausted around large groups of people, though I was clueless why. "What's the matter with you?" friends would say, shooting me the weirdest looks. All I knew was that crowded places and I just didn't mix. I'd go there feeling just fine but leave nervous, depressed, or with some horrible new ache or pain. Unsuspectingly, I was a gigantic sponge, absorbing the energy of people around me.

Thank goodness, as my intuition matured, I had a life-changing revelation. From conversations with other healers and from working with patients I realized I was experiencing intuitive empathy: the ability to sense what's going on in others both emotionally and physically as if it were happening to me. Amazing at times, but also challenging. Let me explain the dynamics of empathy: the more people per square foot, the more our energy fields intersect--thus the tendency to become overloaded in high-density areas. This aspect of intuition is the most neglected and misunderstood.

I'm not referring to ordinary empathy--for instance, when you sympathize with a friend whose fiancee left her, or share your brother's joy on the birth of his first child. Intuitive empathy goes way beyond. It's the capacity to energetically merge with someone else and, for the moment, see life (positive and negative) through their eyes, sense the world through their feelings. If this describes you, it may be impossible to distinguish these sensations from your own, throwing you off center.

I know. I've been there. That my intuitive empathy has become a gift is mind-blowing--and a tremendous relief. Many of us never get to the good part of empathy because we're not shown how. What ails us even eludes our doctors. We go in for care, but it's like the blind leading the blind. No one know what's going on. Empaths, unintentionally, can make even a good doctor's life hell. They manifest such a barrage of "unexplained" treatment-resistant symptoms, that frustrated physicians write them off as hypochondriacs.

Empaths are notoriously misdiagnosed. Patient after patient has come to me labeled "agoraphobic" or with "panic disorder," having received only minor respite from traditional treatments: valium and behavior therapy. Some were nearly house-bound.

They'd all say, "I dread being in crowded places where I can't make a quick escape. Forget department stores, busy streets, elevators, tunnels. I avoid them like the plague." Sounded very familiar. So I decided to take a history of how these people processed subtle energy in the world, something all healers must be trained to assess. Voila! I found many were undiagnosed empaths. For me, this changed everything. My job then became teaching my patients to center themselves and deal with the day-to-day nuances of energy more productively.

In my workshops I always inquire, "How many of you have intuitive empathy?" It's astounding. Hands shoot up from at least a quarter of the room. Of those people, nearly everyone concurs, "I had no idea how to describe my feelings, let alone cope with them." Then they'd dangerously conclude, "I thought something was wrong with me for being 'overly sensitive'." I want to dispel such a myth, illustrate how you can positively utilize this form of intuition in daily life. From telephone calls, letters, and feedback I receive during my workshops from New York to Omaha, I've seen how widespread empathy is. How do you know if you have it? What are the signs to look for?

Intuitive Empathy quiz: Ask yourself:

*Have you ever been placed next to someone at a dinner party who seems pleasant, but suddenly you're nauseous, have a pounding headache, or feel drained?
*Are you uncomfortable in crowds, even go out of your way to avoid them?
*Do you get easily over-stimulated by people or prefer being alone?
*When someone is distressed or in physical pain, do you start feeling it too?

Tally your responses. If you've answered "yes" to one or more questions, it's likely you have experienced intuitive empathy. Responding "yes" to every question indicates empathy plays an active role in your life. If you're still unsure, take some time to notice how you relate to people one-to-one or in groups. It may require slowing such interactions down to become more aware of your style of processing energy. When learning to center yourself, this information is essential.

Heres a life-saving Root Planting Meditation to get your started grounding your energy. (More techniques to come in the next newsletter.)

Sitting in meditation is a life-line to your center, to the earth. By calming the mind, you can re-align with your essence. Close your eyes. Focus on your breath. Then gently extend your awareness downward to strata, bedrock, minerals, and soil. From the base of your spine begin to feel a continuity with the earth's core. Picture having a long tail that roots in that center. Allow the earth's energy to infuse your body and stabilize you. If you meditate for five minutes or an hour this is sacred time to ground yourself.

Judith Orloff M.D. is a practicing intuitive and board certified psychiatrist, author of Guide to Intuitive Healing upon which this article is based, and where she gives more information about energy.
		She is also author of Second Sight and the forthcoming book Positive Energy. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA, has a private practice in Los Angeles, and is an international workshop leader on the interrelationship of intuition, energy, and medicine. For more information visit www.drjudithorloff.com

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Can Stress Make You Fat?

By Pamela Adams D.C.

You've heard that stress can kill you--that it's a risk factor for high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes--but is it also a risk factor for obesity? Is it really fast food that has made Americans the fattest people in the world? Or is it something more insidious?

Scientists have charted the precise physiological mechanisms that convert a stressful event happening outside us into a stressful result inside us. Muscles contract to armor us against injury. Blood pressure rises, heart rate and respiration
quicken to provide the energy we need to fight or flee. Digestion shuts down. Blood will clot more quickly to slow blood loss from injury. The liver releases energy in the form of glycogen, raising blood sugar.

All these processes are designed to cope with acute stress. Unfortunately, when these protective mechanisms are activated over and over again for years and years, they cause great physical harm.

Chronically contracted muscles induce chronic pain. The immune system's impaired ability to turn off inflammation leads to arthritis and other difficult to treat conditions such as fibromyalgia. Chronic high blood pressure and increased clotting cause heart attack and strokes.

Poor digestion results in faulty absorption of vital nutrition, as well as gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome. Rapid shallow breathing removes too much carbon dioxide from the blood which then loses its proper acidity, causing heart palpitations, faintness and panic attacks.

Chronically increased blood sugar promotes Type II Diabetes. The release of cortisol from the adrenal glands shuts down the immune system, slowing
wound healing and lowering the body's ability to

fight off colds, flu and other more serious diseases.

Last but not least, cortisol (We used to call it adrenalin, remember?) fosters deposits of fat, particularly around the abdomen. Have you been dieting, or just eating right, and exercising regularly, but can't lose any weight? The stress/cortisol connection may be the reason.

Here's another reason why stress can make us fat. High starch foods, like pasta, potatoes, and bread, stimulate the production of seratonin, that wonderful hormone responsible for a happy, relaxed mood. Dairy products contain L-tryptophan,
an amino acid that converts to seratonin. It's no wonder we crave those foods. They actually help us feel less anxious.

As I noted above, the stress response shuts down digestion. Conversely, digestion shuts down the stress response. Just the act of eating calms you.

So don't stress over your weight. It's normal to eat more and put on weight when you're going through stressful times. Concentrate, instead, on finding ways to relieve the stress you feel. Review your lifestyle and see what needs to change. Then turn your attention to what and how much you eat;
how little you exercise. Working with your body instead of against it is the key to enjoying lifelong health.

Review of Using Diet Pills - Advantages & Disadvantages

When declaring war to unwanted fat many patients are trying dietary supplements as a mean of achieving quick weight loss. According to DSHEA a dietary supplement is defined as a product other than tobacco, containing a "dietary ingredient" and is intended to supplement the diet.

Their ingredients are various due to their effect. So knowing the content of it and its influence on the human body is mostly important. As the best method of weight loss is still a good and balanced diet and daily exercise, using just diet pills to achieve weight loss is hardly enough. They should not be used as a conventional food or as a sole meal or diet. The best is to consult your doctor before start taking them.

However, if you decide to take them, as there are numerous varieties of slimming pills available to consumers, take in consideration the following tips:

Advantages:

Due to their ingredients diet pills can help about one third of obese patients with modest weight loss and can assist in long term maintenance of weight loss.
Pills can reduce the body's absorption of fat from foods, thereby reducing weight and cholesterol.
Some pills work by blocking the action of lipase, an enzyme in the intestine that breaks down fat.
Diet pills containing Sibutramine keep two important brain chemicals (serotonin and norepinephrine) in balance, which helps to increase metabolism. It causes a feeling of fullness and increases energy levels, but its long term effects are not well known.

Disadvantages:

The ingredients of diet pills that claim to alter your metabolism can alter your heart rate and are unsafe for any person. So look up the exact ingredients before using!
Pregnant women or while breastfeeding should definitely not use weight loss supplements!
Taken for a longer period of time some negative effects can result from using diet pills with Ephedra. Some of these are heightened blood pressure, insomnia and nausea. Kava kava is also a commonly used ingredient. It causes kidney damage sustained through the prolonged use of medication that contains it.
Your body needs a wide variety of vitamins and minerals for optimum health. As slimming pills have suppressed your appetite you probably wont eat enough and you might not get them.

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Clinical Hypnosis To Solve Problems

Kathy J. Marshack, Ph.D

Clinical hypnosis is a process used for treating psychological and physical problems. Through hypnosis a person achieves a relaxed state in which their conscious and unconscious mind become focused and ready to receive therapeutic suggestions. Everyone has experienced some form of hypnosis. Hypnotic trance states occur daily in our lives. How many times have you arrived at a destination in your car, having not remembered much between putting your keys in the ignition and the last turn into your driveway? Or have you ever been startled out of a deep concentration in a TV program upon hearing your name spoken? When used professionally, hypnosis is safe, relaxing and refreshing. Hypnosis has a long history and has been known by many names. In 1841, James Braid, MD, coined the name, hypnosis. In 1958, the American Medical Association approved of the use of hypnosis as an appropriate therapeutic technique. Hypnosis is used in many ways, for psychological, medical, and dental problems. In psychotherapy, your therapist may use hypnosis to assist you in resolving smoking and weight control, fears, depression, anxiety, stress, sexual problems, alcoholism, pain control, confidence building, memory and concentration, retrieving repressed memories, even to facilitate physical healing. Your professional psychotherapist will determine if and when to use hypnosis. After taking a complete history and planning treatment goals with you, hypnosis may be used to facilitate treatment. Your therapist should have received professional training in hypnosis at the graduate level. Such training is usually taken at continuing education workshops and seminars. It is recommended that the professional receive at least 75 clock

hours of instruction and supervision in clinical hypnosis. Since the length of treatment varies with the problem and the individual, hypnotic treatment may take one to several sessions. Often hypnosis is used in conjunction with other therapies. Hypnosis is usually used in short-term therapy.

There are several misconceptions about hypnosis. Actually, the subject controls the trance while the therapist is merely the facilitator. The subject can go more deeply into trance if they desire, or terminate the trance by opening their eyes. You cannot be made to do anything against your will.

Another misconception is that through hypnosis you will lose consciousness. A hypnotic trance is another level of conscious awareness. At no time do you become unconscious. Rather you are aware of what is being said and what is going on around you at all times.

You will not begin talking or revealing information you wish to remain a secret. Often a person in hypnotic trance will talk when that is agreed upon with therapist. However, you will say nothing against your will.

Hypnosis is not sleep. The hypnotic EEG pattern is different from the sleep EEG pattern.

Finally, there is no danger of being unable to come out of a trance. Since you are always in control, you may terminate the trance at any time. In the hands of a trained professional, hypnosis can be a very beneficial means of helping resolve problems.

Copyright Š 2000 Kathy J. Marshack, Ph.D., P.S.
Kathy J. Marshack, Ph.D., is a licensed psycho- logist with over twenty-five years of experience as a marriage & family therapist. Visit her website http://www.self-helpcentral.com, for more of her practical self-help advice. Sign up for her free E:Zine for the latest self-help information and special discounts on wellness products at www.self-helpcentral.com/newsletter.htm.

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Ouch, Where Did That Pain Come From?

Lena Sanchez

You awoke this morning with pain that is more pronounced than usual and it's not exercise induced? Did you do something to provoke it? Possibly and probably! There are days like that for those of us who have had to live with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) for a lot of years or those who suffer with gout, arthritis and a myriad of other joint and tendon pain. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins, "There's no denying that there is a strong connection between what you eat and how you feel, and the difference is likely to become more and more apparent the older you get." (Johns Hopkins Health 2000, www.intelihealth.org) Heck, I figured that out on my own after a lot of excruciating pain filled days and nobody gave me a millions of dollars grant for figuring it out. Hey, they didn't send me on a cruise to figure it out either! Those perks are saved for the drug industry to feed us garbage, not perks for those who really care about our health. Although mostly denied by the medical profession for the last three decades that 'what you eat doesn't influence your pain'... And prior to the denial phase of medicine - when the pharmaceutical industry took over medical care - it was and in some circles still is a known factor that certain foods and drinks trigger certain pains and exacerbate certain autoimmune and so-called degenerative diseases. I have personally heard a lot of doctors that I worked with say "food isn't important to the problem"! For instance, Joint problems have been found to be exacerbated by the use of alcohol, liver and other organ meats. The most famous joint problem is recognized as "Gout." And even though the pharmaceutical companies have tried to convince the world this is not true, it certainly is, and gout and arthritis suffers who have had direct results by eliminating those foods, will tell you that when they

stopped eating certain foods their problem subsided... They have escaped the liver and heart disease caused by those prescriptions as well!

By the same token eating sugary foods and drinking sugary drinks do the same thing to FMS sufferers. Occasionally I wake up with "Ouch, where did those pains come from?" Of course it only takes a moment for me to remember that I did it to myself. My 30+ years with FMS has taught me a few things about myself that I'm not particularly happy with but it's there. I have those days when I just have to indulge in that Hershey's with almonds or a fun size snickers with almonds, or maybe a cherry soda. It took me years to figure out that almost all exacerbation of my FMS days are caused from what I put into my mouth. I now know those times that I indulge is going to make me suffer with pain and I have to decide if it's worth it and should others around me suffer for my indulgence? Those days have now become few and far between!

Your doctor probably wrote you a prescription or prescriptions and said, "Food doesn't change anything. What you eat doesn't make a difference." Boy is he/she wrong! Congratulations, if you bought into that you are now buying boats and Jaguar's for the legal drug cartel's pushers, oops drug reps! Is your health problem suffering because you are a victim of your sugar habit? We have a choice, eat and be in pain or stay away from those pain inducing foods, candy, sodas, ice cream, etc. and be comfortable. Hoping you make a smart decision! Lena Sanchez a happy retired Medical Office Nurse / Administrator / Consultant who took charge of her life 8 years ago and is committed to helping others do the same in all areas of life Editor of 'Natural Environmental Health Facts & Your Home Business Coach E:Zine" Newsletter subscribe at http://www.envirodocs.com/newsletter.htm

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10 Food Remedies for Reducing High Blood Pressure

Dr. Maoshing Ni

Drink warm celery juice three times a day or drink lukewarm celery juice on an empty stomach at least once a day.
Eat two raw tomatoes on an empty stomach every day for a month.
Eat three apples daily.
Take garlic oil capsules to clean out the arteries. The capsules have the advantage of not being too stimulating for the digestive system.
Steam tofu, cool to room temperature and add vinegar and sesame oil. This can be combined with soupy rice for a nutritious breakfast.
During the summer, make watermelon juice or eat watermelon every day.
Drink tea made from steeped organic banana peels.
Eat a soup made of corn silk and white mushrooms regularly.
Make a tea from buckwheat and lotus roots.
Avoid smoking, alcohol, spicy foods, coffee, caffeine, all stimulants, fatty or fried foods, salty foods, potatoes and pork.

These tips and more can be found in The Tao of Nutrition by Dr. Maoshing Ni and Cathy McNease, B.S., M.H. For more information, visit www.sevenstarcom.com or call (800) 578-9526.

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Alzheimer's, Memory Loss and Beta Amyloid.

Larry Richards

The effect of the buildup of beta amyloid in the brain, caused by a variation of a gene known as CYP46, is memory loss and dementia better known as Alzheimer's. After autopsy, people who suffered from Alzheimer's more often had high levels of beta amyloid which collect in clumps, called senile plaques in the brain. Most researchers now agree that beta amyloid buildup is most certainly involved in the disruption of thinking. Excessive buildup of beta amyloid is associated with high levels of cholesterol in the brain.

Gingko Biloba is a powerful antioxidant. Ginkgo biloba, a botanical, has been the focus of recent media reports as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Because of its antioxidant properties, scientists at McGill University in Quebec have demonstrated (in tissue culture) that one form of gingko biloba can prevent the oxidative damage by beta amyloid. Scientists examined how taking 120 mg a day of a ginkgo biloba extract affected the rate of cognitive decline in people with mild to moderately severe dementia due to Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

Phosphatidal Choline Serine stimulates acetyl- choline output and the synthesis and release of dopamine. Phosphatidal Choline Serine is also thought to reverse memory decline. Human trials have demonstrated memory improvement,

improvements in lucidity, in outlook upon life, and in the general ability to cope with the concerns of the day and to function socially.

Coenzyme Q10 helps to prevent neuron damage that leads to Alzheimer's Disease. CO Q10 is naturally produced by the body but its level declines with age. Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant that protects the body from free radicals and helps preserve vitamin E, the major antioxidant of cell membranes.

Vitamin E is a powerful biological antioxidant. Antioxidants such as vitamin E protect your cells against the effects of free radicals, which are potentially damaging byproducts of the body's metabolism. Free radicals can cause cell damage that may contribute to the development of cardio- vascular disease and cancer.

It makes sense then to incorporate good nutrition and supplements that can help reverse memory loss. Biotrex Vitamins is one company that incor- porates the same ginkgo biloba extract and these other powerful antioxidants into its Memory+ vitamin formula. Memory+ is only available online at www.BiotrexVitamins.com.

Larry Richards is president of Biotrex Vitamins and Nutriceuticals, a manufacturer of the highest quality vitamin formulas for anti-aging, sports recovery, memory, attention, and arthritis.

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Our Electrical Energy

Ron Harder

When we think of energy, the first thoughts that come to mind are things like our energy reserves, the energy we get from the sun, or perhaps the energy we get from the wind. There is a different form of energy, and that is the electrical energy that we develop within our human body.

The energy within the human body has fascinated man for centuries. Walt Whitman created some of his most powerful imagery when he wrote; "I sing the body electric; the exquisite realization of health, with the charge of the soul." "The charge of the soul" describes ancient Chinese teachings on energy. They viewed energy as the "chi", the life force that we carry within us. The Chinese studied this "chi" for years, and continually searched for ways in which man could capture and then harness this energy.

How does all this electrical energy work? Traveling from cell to cell are pulsating currents of pure electrical energy. These cellular power plants supply electrical energy to our organs and muscles to keep our body running efficiently, but we rarely think of this continuous activity within the body. Processes that we take for granted such as breathing, cleansing, elimination, fat control and healing, all depend on these countless cellular energy plants.

Our energy is created at a cellular level by the "burning up" of protein molecules within us. The energy that we use for our physical activities are the end result of the workings of the cellular power plants within us.

Here is something that we should all give serious thought to. Our bodies distribute our available energy using strict priorities. Energy goes first to crucial body functions such as breathing, then to muscles and organs, then to digestion, then to cleansing and elimination, and then to healing. However, there is only so much energy to go around, and because most people exist at barely half of their energy potential, the body must pick and choose where it wants the energy to go. Because of this, about half of our body functions are continually being denied.

Fortunately, since our body is a lot wiser than we are, it is not going to cut off the energy needed for breathing to satisfy an energy requirement somewhere else. It will use its available energy according to the priorities that have been established. If energy is required for some immediate activity such as digestion, it will be

directed away from some lesser activity such as cleansing, waste elimination, fat maintenance, or organ and muscle tone. Because of this priority system, the activity that requires the most energy, and which frequently gets very little, is the natural healing process of the body. Combating disease and infection requires a huge amount of energy but this energy may not be available if our energy levels are low. Our lifestyles and diets burn up so much energy that our bodies may not have enough energy left to heal themselves.

When our energy supply runs low all the functions of our body are impaired. Digestion, absorption, assimilation, elimination, circulation and respiration become inefficient. All the tissues and fluids of the body become sluggish. The cells are no longer nourished and we feel unwell. Our health declines and we feel "sick". This process is called degeneration.

Why do our energy supplies run low? We receive energy from the things that we consume. Most of what we now consume does not contain sufficient nutrition to keep our energy supplies high. To recharge our energy plants we must provide our body with wholesome food, but it is becoming more and more difficult to find the high quality food that will sustain us.

Our produce is often force-grown in depleted soils, sprayed with toxic chemicals, and placed in cold storage for months. It is then taken out of storage and kept for a few hours under supermarket lighting. We then take this produce home and boil out any remaining nutrition that may have been left.

We may think that we are eating well, but most of us are not. We need to consume those things that supply us with a high level of nutrition, and the only source we have available to us is food that has been grown in rich soil, has been grown and processed without the use of chemicals, and has not had its nutrition destroyed by excessive heat. It is extremely important for us to understand that everything we consume either makes an energy deposit to our body, or it makes an energy withdrawal.

This article written by Ron Harder, Nutritional Health Consultant, Iridologist, and Author of "How to DEFEAT CANCER NATURALLY without Chemo, Radiation, or Surgery". Copyright Š Ron Harder 2003. A free chapter of this new book is available at www.defeatcancernaturally.com/one.html

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Your Mother Was Right; Good Posture Counts

Pamela Adams D.C.

Most of us don't connect poor posture with poor health. But think about it, when you're sick or in pain, how do you hold yourself? Head up, chest out, shoulders back? More likely your shoulders are slumped forward, back is rounded, tail bone is tucked between your legs like an injured animal. It's the body's natural response to pain and illness. The problem is that sustaining this defensive stance for any length of time may make it harder for your body to heal.

You're probably not surprised when your foot goes to sleep after you've been sitting for an hour with it tucked underneath you. You're not shocked when you try a new activity and end up the next day with sore muscles. Why then is it so hard to imagine that sitting slouched over a desk for eight hours might make your back hurt? Or that lying on your back in bed with your head propped up trying to read might contribute to that stiff neck? In all instances nerve and blood supply is affected; muscles are being over stressed. You can't see it, you can't feel it, yet gravity is one of the most destructive forces on earth. Twenty four hours a day gravity is bearing down on you. By the time we die, most of us are several inches shorter. Take your spine for example. When you are lying flat on your back there are 24 pounds of pressure exerted on the spine. Standing erect the pressure increases to 100 pounds. Sitting bent forward in the slouched position causes almost twice the amount of pressure, 190 pounds, brought to bear on the spine. Over the years, the cushions between the vertebrae called the discs actually wear down causing pressure on nerves and, more seriously, on the spinal cord itself. Between each pair of vertebrae are two small openings through which the left and right spinal nerves exit. among other things, these nerves empower the muscles and give sensation to the skin. It is through the spinal nerves that you can move and can feel temperature, pressure and pain. When each vertebra is lined up properly, for that matter, when every set of bones in every joint of your body are lined up properly, then your body is in harmony with gravity, and is functioning the way it was designed to. In a recent study at Duke University, researchers found that just three degrees of malalignment of the knee joint can lead to serious cartilage damage. It more than doubled the pressures on the middle of the knee joint and increased peak contact pressures by 68 percent. Such uneven pressure within the joint can cause uneven wear and tear, leading to painful and potentially debilitating osteoarthritis. Yes, good posture is vitally important. But what does it look like? And how do you get it? If you were to drop a plumb line from the ceiling along the gravity axis, it should bisect you perfectly. Turn sideways and ask someone to look at your posture. Ideally your ear should line up with your shoulder bone which lines up with your hip bone which lines

up with your ankle bone. From the front view, your head should be straight, not tilted or turned to one side. Shoulders should be even and hips even. What? You're not perfect? Don't worry, no one is. However, working toward perfect posture will help you feel better in the long run. Notice where your head is in relation to the rest of you. It's position is best predictor of posture imbalance. Heads weigh in at about 10-12 pounds--the weight of an average bowling ball. To use the bowling analogy, when you get ready to bowl, you hold the ball in front of your chest with both hands. The ball doesn't feel too heavy because the bones of your forearms support it. However, when you begin your approach, you have to use your muscles--your biceps and triceps--to hold and swing the ball. Now you can feel its full 12 pounds. When your head is supported by the bones of your spine, all is well. When it's held up by your muscles, most likely the trapezius in particular, you're causing stress. Holding your head just one inch forward of that plumb line I spoke of puts 30 pounds more pressure on the back of your neck.You're asking those muscles to do morethan they're supposed to. Over time those over-stressed muscles get sore. Over time the pressure on the cervical nerves can make your hands go to sleep, just like your foot does when you sit on it. Here's how to start reacquainting your body with alignment. To stand and walk correctly, begin by making sure your toes point forward, not out and not inward. Next, lengthen the space between your navel and your collar bone by lifting your breast bone up toward the ceiling. This action lets your head naturally come back on top of your spine and gives you a natural curve in your lower back.Keep your chin parallel with the floor, not tipped up. When you walk always put your heel down first, and imagine leading with your heart not your head. To sit correctly, start by placing your feet flat on the floor. Your thighs should be parallel to the floor and your knees and hips on the same level. Your weight should be over your pelvic bones, sometimes called sit-bones. When your feet, legs and pelvis are positioned correctly, lift that breast bone again so as to position head and shoulders correctly. You should have a pillow to support your lower back only. Don't lean back. Leaning back stresses your neck and all the muscles of your back. If you must recline, use a reclining chair with proper support for your lower back and neck. That way you remain in alignment when resting. Don't try to work or read in a reclining position. posture is just one of the tools of a healthier life. Add it to exercise, nutrition, emotional honesty, meditation, and prayer. Find your balance in body, mind and spirit. (c) 2002. Pamela Adams D.C. Holistic Health Coach and ergononics expert Dr. Pamela Adams is author of "Dr. Adams' Painless Guide to Computing; How to Use Your Computer Without Hurting Yourself." For the book and your compli- mentary Self Health Newsletter, visit http://www.painlessguides.com/computing.html

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Warning! Lack Of Exercise
Could Be Harmful To Your Health

Laura Turner, Certified Personal Trainer

You know its bad when the Surgeon General issues a warning that lack of exercise is hazardous to your health. And that was back in 96. Since then, the stats havent improved much, either: 25% of the American population is still sedentary and 60% do not exercise regularly.
(Reference: http://www.cdc.gov)

For fitness minded folks, we could do worse than to follow the hour-a-day prescription outlined by the Surgeon Generals Healthy People Report. Its just a guideline, of course and, as you already know, any amount of activity packed into your busy schedule is going to earn you healthy rewards. But there are plenty of other reasons to exercise.

If people exercised only moderately, says Janet Kneiss, Physical Therapist, there would be far less incidence of injury. The 15 or so people I see daily, who come in with back and neck problems, usually dont want to exercise, they want a quick fix.

The solution as she sees it?

I think, if people could just reframe the idea of it [exercise] being so much work and focus more on the enjoyment of doing it, they would find the experience more positive.

So, if exercise alone can keep you injury and disease free, how do you keep it from being just another thing to-do? Here are a couple ideas:

Do something you enjoy: This sounds incredibly simple, but its worth mentioning. As weve already said, most seasoned fitness fanatics as well as neophytes will be the first to tell you: if you do something you enjoy, you will stick to it. What do you like to do? Walk? Run? Spin the treadmill while watching the tube? Or how about branching out and trying something unique and different like kick-boxing or martial arts? Its a great idea to add variety; it will keep your exercise fresh and interesting.

Mix it up! Speaking of variety, you can also mix up your routine. For example: try splitting up your exercise sessions. If you take a half-hour walk in

the morning, take a half-hour to stretch or resistance train in the afternoon. Just adding a bit of variety could spice things up and keep you motivated.

Make an appointment with yourself. Make the commitment to exercise by making an appointment with yourself. Write it on your calendar. If youve never exercised before, start slow [10-15 minutes] then build up. Begin exercising three times a week, then slowly build up your time and your frequency. If you love to exercise, try listening to your bio-rhythms. If you can, schedule exercise during peak energy periods.

Strive for your personal best. A friend e-mailed to tell me he was gearing up for another 5K relay race. I wasnt surprised. When he was 50, never having run before and not having runners genetics as he puts it, he decided at 15 pounds overweight and asthmatic, he was going to run. He made up his mind. For a year he trained, dropped the weight and signed up.

His first goal was simply to finish. Did he do it: you bet. Did he work through an asthma attack to get across the finish line? He did, but he kept going. Now, he continues to train and improve his time with each race. His secret, he tells me: enjoy the journey, live in the moment, and focus on your personal best.

So, Laura, whats the take home message? you ask. Never mind what everyone else is doing. Stay focused on you, doing what you enjoy and what is fun and exciting for you. Learn everything you can about health and fitness. Then, do the best you can. In so doing, you will be an inspiration for others. To summarize: A quote from one of my favorite inspirational writers Dr. Wayne Dyer, who says: I dont want to be better than anybody, I just want to be better than I was yesterday.

Copyright Š 2003, by Laura Turner, Certified Personal Trainer has developed a series of health, fitness, and nutrition tips available at http://www.1brand-new-body.com In 21 days you can create healthy new you, let her show you how! Get her free report: 7 Steps to a High Performance Body by sending a blank email to: hiperformbody@getresponse.com

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Antioxidants - Your Best Defense
Against Disease and Aging

Brad Bahr

Studies support the benefits of eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. This is due to their high antioxidant value. Why are antioxidants so important? Because they have a proven track record of fighting free radicals.

Your body is being constantly attacked by very harmful substances known as free radicals or oxygen radicals. Free radicals can destroy your cells, tissues and organs.

Free radicals are highly unstable molecules that are naturally formed inside our bodies by the process of oxidation. They are normal by products of everyday functions like digestion and physical activity. Free radicals also come from outside sources, such as smoking, environmental pollution, and synthetic chemicals that are added to our water and food.

We are also all exposed daily to polluted air, ingest oxidized or partially rancid foods, and oxidizing radiations from the sun and various electrical appliances.

Free radicals lack one electron making them chemically unstable. To stabilize themselves, they attack any other substance within reach and steel an electron from it. This process creates a new free radical, which repeats the process, producing a "domino effect." When this reaction is uncontrolled, it can generate millions of free radicals within seconds.

Fortunately our bodies come equipped with a free radical fighting mechanism. It consists of specialized enzymes that have a "spare" electron that they can give away without turning into free radicals. In order to protect us, the enzymes

need help from certain substances known as antioxidants.

The antioxidant value of any food or supplement can be determined by it's ORAC rating. ORAC means Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. According to the University of Michigan, Comprehensive Cancer Center, the measurement of ORAC is a way to measure how many oxygen radicals a specific food can absorb. The more oxygen radicals a food
can absorb, the higher its ORAC score. The higher its score... the more that food or supplement will help you fight diseases like cancer and heart disease.

Most experts agree that we should consume 5,000 ORAC units per day to effectively fight free radicals in the body. Sadly, most of us average around 1,200 units per day. Not nearly enough to protect us from the common ciseases of aging.

One of the best sources of antioxidants are berries and fruits. Most of us would have a very hard time eating the large amounts necessary to reach 5,000 ORAC units per day. For this reason, high ORAC supplements have been created. They contain berry and fruit extracts with a known ORAC rating. These supplements are inexpensive and provide many health benefits to your entire body and brain. Many people use these supplements as part of an anti-aging program. Keeping your cells from being destroyed goes a long way to staying healthy and young.

About the author: Brad Bahr is the author of many health related articles and websites. He has been testing and reviewing health supplements for many years. You can find more interesting health related articles at his website: http://www.findustuff.com

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Sugar Sweet Beauty

Danielle Sims

In the self-care and beauty industry, the latest craze is including sugar in skin care products. If you search the Internet you will find everything from sugar body scrubs to sugar hair removers. The prices can range from $8.00 to $35.00 for each product. How's that for a product in which the main ingredient can cost you a no more that $3.00 for a 5 pound bag!

To enjoy all of the benefits of a sugar based product without shelling out the big bucks, try these recipes:

Facial Cleanser

Ingredients:

White or brown sugar
Your favorite facial cleanser
Witch hazel
Water

Using your favorite daily facial soap, an easy, inexpensive facial scrub can be made by adding sugar. Simply add a teaspoon of either white sugar or brown sugar and massage it gently on your facial skin. Rinse with cool water and spritz your face with a ˝ witch hazel and ˝ water mixture.

Lemon Head Sugar Body Scrub

This recipe is both cleansing and detoxifying. Lemon is very detoxifying to the body and will also help brighten the skin.

Ingredients:
˝ cup sugar
10 drops lemon oil
or ˝ a lemon freshly squeezed
1 cup olive, jojoba, or almond oil

Mix all ingredients together. Apply to your body by starting at the feet and working your way up. Massage in a circular motion, then shower it off. This recipe is enough to make one full body treatment.

Orange Cream Sugar Body Scrub

This recipe is great to remove dead skin and give your skin a healthy glow. The sugar contains glycolic acid and the cream is a source for lactic acid. Avoid irritated or broken skin areas.

Ingredients:
˝ cup sugar
2 TBSP cream or whole milk
5 drops orange oil
1 cup olive, jojoba, or almond oil

Mix sugar, oil and cream together. Add orange oil after main ingredients are completely mixed.

Apply to your body by starting at the feet and working your way up. Massage in a circular motion and leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then shower it off. This recipe is enough to make one full body treatment.

Sugar is a natural and inexpensive way to include alpha-hydroxy acids in your skincare program. It produces glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid, which is included in many skincare product lines. Today's pricey beauty products that include sugar or alpha hydroxy acid, can be created inexpensively right at your kitchen table. You will experience all of the benefits without the inflated price.

Danielle Sims explored her library of alternative health, herbal books, and aromatherapy books and created a blueprint for making her own body wrap formulas at home. For more information visit Danielle's website http://www.wrapyourselfslim.com

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The Science of Peace and the Power of Prayer

Gregg Braden

Excerpts from "Healing Hearts/Healing Nations: The Science of Peace and the Power of Prayer." an intensive held by Gregg Braden, author of "The Isaiah Effect" and "Awakening to the Zero Point." where he started off discussing how in the past we lost huge amounts of information from ancient spiritual traditions (when the library at Alexandria burned, we lost at least 532,000 documents) and that there may be information in those traditions which could help us understand some of the mysteries of science. To this end, he reported on three very interesting experiments.

Gregg Braden started off as a scientist and engineer before he began pursuing these larger questions.

EXPERIMENT #1: The first experiment he reported was done by Dr. Vladimir Poponin, a quantum biologist. In this experiment, first a container was emptied (i.e., a vacuum was created within it), and then the only thing left in it were photons (particles of light). They measured the distribution (i.e., the location) of the photons and found they were completely random inside the container. This was the expected result.

Then some DNA was placed inside the container and the distribution (location) of the photons was remeasured. This time the photons were LINED UP in an ORDERED way and aligned with the DNA. In other words, the physical DNA had an effect on the non-physical photons.

After that, the DNA was removed from the container, and the distribution of the photons was remeasured again. The photons REMAINED ORDERED and lined up where the DNA had been. What are the light particles connected to?

Gregg Braden says we are forced to accept the possibility that some NEW field of energy, a web of energy, is there, and the DNA is communicating with the photons through this energy.

EXPERIMENT #2: These were experiments done by the military. Leukocytes (white blood cells) were collected for DNA from donors and placed into chambers so they could measure electrical changes. In this experiment, the donor was placed in one room and subjected to "emotional stimulation" consisting of video clips which generated different emotions in the donor. The DNA was placed in a different room in the same building. Both the donor and his DNA were monitored and as the donor exhibited emotional peaks or valleys (measured by electrical responses), the DNA exhibited the IDENTICAL RESPONSES AT THE EXACT SAME TIME. There was no lag time, no transmission time. The DNA peaks and valleys EXACTLY MATCHED the peaks and valleys of the donor in time.

The military wanted to see how far away they could separate the donor from his DNA and still get this effect. They stopped testing after they separated the DNA and the donor by 50 miles and STILL had the SAME result. No lag time, no transmission time. The DNA and the donor had the same identical responses in time. What can this mean?

Gregg Braden says it means that living cells communicate through a previously unrecognized form of energy. This energy is not affected by time and distance. This is a non-local form of energy, an energy that already exists everywhere all the time.

EXPERIMENT #3: The third experiment was done by the Institute of Heart Math and the paper that was written about this was titled: "Local and Non-local Effects of Coherent Heart Frequencies on Conformational Changes of DNA." (Disregard the title! The info is incredible.) This is the experiment that relates directly to the anthrax situation.

In this experiment, some human placenta DNA (the most pristine form of DNA) was placed in a container from which they could measure changes in the DNA. Twenty-eight vials of DNA were given (one each) to 28 trained researchers. Each researcher had been trained how to generate and FEEL feelings, and they each had strong emotions.

What was discovered was that the DNA CHANGED ITS SHAPE according to the feelings of the researchers:

1. When the researchers FELT gratitude, love and appreciation, the DNA responded by RELAXING and the strands unwound. The length of the DNA became longer.

2. When the researchers FELT anger, fear, frustration or stress, the DNA responded by TIGHTENING UP. It became shorter and SWITCHED OFF many of our DNA codes! If you've ever felt "shut down" by negative emotions, now you know why your body was equally shut down, too. The shut down of the DNA codes was reversed, and the codes were switched back on again when feelings of love, joy, gratitude and appreciation were felt by the researchers.

This experiment was later followed up by testing HIV-positive patients. They discovered that feelings of love, gratitude and appreciation created 300,000 TIMES the RESISTANCE they had without those feelings. So here's the answer to what can help you stay well, no matter what dreadful virus or bacteria may be floating around. Stay in feelings of joy, love, gratitude and appreciation!

These emotional changes went beyond the effects of electro-magnetics. Individuals trained in deep love were able to change the shape of their DNA. Gregg Braden says this illustrates a new recognized form of energy that connects all of creation. This energy appears to be a TIGHTLY WOVEN WEB that connects all matter. Essentially we're able to influence this web of creation through our VIBRATION.

SUMMARY: What do the results of these experiments have to do with our present situation? This is the science behind how we can choose a timeline to stay safe, no matter what else is happening. As Gregg explains in "The Isaiah Effect," basically time is not just linear (past, present and future), but it also has depth. The depth of time consists of all the possible prayers and timelines that could ever be prayed or exist. Essentially, all our prayers have already been answered. We just activate the one we're living through our FEELINGS. THIS is how we create our reality: by choosing it with our feelings. Our feelings are activating the timeline via the web of creation which connects all of the energy and matter of the Universe.

Remember that the law of the Universe is that we attract what we focus on. If you are focused on fearing whatever may come, you are sending a strong message to the Universe to send you whatever you fear. Instead, if you can get yourself into feelings of joy, love, appreciation or gratitude and focus on bringing more of that into your life, you are going to avoid the negative stuff automatically. You will be choosing a different timeline with your feelings. You can prevent getting anthrax or any other flu, virus, etc., by staying in these positive feelings which maintains an incredibly strong immune system.

		New from Gregg Braden, THE GOD CODE: The Secret of Our Past, the Promise of Our Future. Hardcover to be released February 2004. To pre-order your copy today go to www.sacredspaces.org www.greggbraden.net

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WAIST AWAY FROM A-Z
By Kaliannah Shirah

Weight loss can be a challenge even to the most dedicated of individuals. Below are a few simple tips to keep in mind before, during and after your journey!

A - ACTIVITY - Get in to the groove 30 minutes each day!
B - BREAKFAST is important. Fasting slows your metabolism.
C - COMPLEX carbohydrates aid in trimming fat.
D - DON'T PUT OFF losing 'til tomorrow...start TODAY!
E - ENLIST a buddy. Give and receive encouragement!

F - FAT FREE items should still be consumed in moderation.
G - GUESSTIMATE what weight will look/feel best on you.
H - HAND WEIGHTS are ideal for firming your upper arms.
I - INCREASE muscle mass by exercising - Tae Bo anyone?
J - JUMPING JACKS is a great and easy cardio workout.

K - KNOW what bad eating habits you have..and change them.
L - LOG progress in a weight loss and/or fitness diary.
M - MUSCLE MASS takes up less room than fat..so exercise!
N - NO SNEAKING snacks (unless it's a fruit or veggie!)
O - OBESITY is one of the leading causes of diabetes.

P - PRIDE in appearance...you look good, you feel good.
Q - QUIT smoking! Causes shortness of breath.
R - REWARD YOURSELF w/a new outfit for each size you lose!
S - STAY ON TRACK. Don't let others discourage you.
T - TUMMY crunches can quickly flatten flab on your abs!

U - UNDERSTAND a body needs exercise and proper nutrition.
V - VITAMIZE your daily diet with vitamins & minerals.
W - WATER is a necessity. Add a lemon or lime for zing!
X - XTRA fruits and fat-free crackers are ALWAYS allowed.
Y - YEARN TO LOSE. Don't give up! You can do it!
Z - ZIP up that new SMALLER outfit!

Copyright Š 2002, Kaliannah Shirah. All Rights Reserved. Kali is a freelance writer for several on/offline publications, specializing in work at home career guidance for women. She also pens romances and short stories. Visit her website to download *original* free electronic books. http://www.kaliannah.com.

How to Start & Run A Profitable Home-Based Transcription Business, ISBN 0-9734286-0-0

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What Happens When Your Cells Are Mineral and Vitamin Strong?
Š By Lena Sanchez

According to researchers you are likely to be deficient in minerals and vitamins in many areas of your body!

What happens when you supplement daily minerals and vitamins? "Non-verbal IQ scores up as much as 30% in children who take minerals and vitamins," reported David Benton PhD, Psychologist of Britain's University of Wales Swansea. That's proven in ten studies out of thirteen!

"Children who took minerals and vitamins for a full year had fewer infections and viruses," according to tests at the University of North Carolina.

"Minerals and multivitamins taken for a ten year period proved to prevent cataracts," according to Ophthalmologists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"Less heart disease and 20% lower risk of heart attacks in men and women who took minerals and multivitamins," states a Swedish study.

"Cells that have insufficient minerals and vitamins look exactly like those attacked by radiation. Cells lacking sufficient minerals and vitamins suffer severe DNA and mitochondrial damage, causing premature aging, cancer and degenerative diseases," according to a researcher Bruce Ames and his group at the University of California, Berkley. Ames and his group also came to the conclusion that a minimum of 60% of the population are mineral and vitamin deficient! This should be no surprise if people were paying attention to the naturopaths, acupuncturists and holistic
physicians for the last three decades. The government way back in 1936 said this day was coming! So have you taken your minerals and vitamins today?

People with Macular Degeneration or glaucoma are
proving to be deficient in many minerals, trace minerals and vitamins!

Most vulnerable to malnutrition are growing children,
elderly who eat less food and pregnant women. If we can just get that group to supplement properly we will be more than 50% towards having a healthier world!

If you are confused on what to take mailto: health@antibiotic-alternatives.com?subject=MinVitRec
and give your age and question

Wishing you a long healthy life! Lena

Lena Sanchez a happy retired Medical Office Nurse / Administrator / Consultant who took charge of her life 8 years ago and is committed to helping others do the same in all areas of life Editor of 'Natural Environmental Health Facts & Your Home Business Coach Ezine" Newsletter subscribe at http://www.envirodocs.com/newsletter.htm Author of Three health building books.

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The Drug Company Influence on Your Health

By: Shane Ellison, M.Sc.

In the beginning, there were nutrients for procuring health. Today, there are drugs, drugs and more drugs. This is the result of the drug company business model. It utilizes an arsenal of techniques to influence the government in order to minimize competition from nutritional supplements. The cold hard fact of this business model has become clear: Health in America has been fractured. The health of U.S. children is worse in virtually all categories relative to children in other industrialized countries. At least 80% of seniors have at least one chronic disease and 50% have at least two according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Understanding these techniques serves as a how-to guide for avoiding government-mandated drug addiction and remaining healthy.

First, education on the proper use of nutritional substances to achieve good health was removed from the medical school curriculum over 85 years ago. There is not a medical doctor practicing today who has been trained in medical school on the prophylactic use of nutritional supplements. This explains the reluctance of medical doctors to teach patients about natural alternatives, they don't know about them. Through self-education, a select few medical doctors have become excellent advisors on proper use of nutraceuticals.

Second, the FDA has stonewalled ALL nutritional supplement manufacturers from educating their clients on nutritional supplements by passing the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). This act prohibits supplement manufacturers to market or claim that their products "cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent" any given disease or illness. Instead, they can only make general statements about their products. As a result, nutritional supplements carry labels that are intentiona