BLUEBERRIES- Summers Superfood

Summer is the time to enjoy the versatility of blueberries as a snack, a perk in pancakes or muffins, or a topping for cereal or yogurt. Along with their burst of flavor, blueberries also offer a serious shot of nutrients. So go ahead and reach for the blueberries. You’re reaching for good health, as well…People have always loved scooping up blueberries in summer. But not until researchers discovered the berry’s powerhouse of antioxidantphytonutrients did blueberries burst onto the nutrition landscape. In fact, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), blueberries have the highest antioxidant activity of 40 vegetables and fruits. And wild blueberries offer approximately 40% more antioxidants than cultivated varieties. So far, scientists around the world have discovered that blueberries may help prevent serious health conditions like heart disease and cancer, as well as promote healthy aging by reversing age-related short-term memory loss. Blueberries may also improve night vision and help prevent urinary tract infection.


All those benefits come in a low-calorie, high-fiber package. One-half cup of fresh berries provides 40 calories, 15% of the daily value for vitamin C (9 milligrams), and about two grams of fiber. And half a cup crams in as much antioxidant power as five servings of some other vegetables and fruits.
What makes blueberries so special? It’s not just one nutrient in blueberries that packs a punch, but a mix of several. Anthocyanins
Behind blueberries’ antioxidant activity are anthocyanins, the pigments (also called flavonoids) that turn vegetables and fruits (such as blueberries) red or blue. Antioxidants, like anthocyanins, fight damage by free radicals, oxygen-containing molecules that attack our cells. More specifically, anthocyanins help protect us from damage that could lead to eye disease, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, ulcers, heart disease, and cancer. They boost the power of vitamin C and strengthen our tissues and blood vessels.

In animal studies, researchers have also found that blueberry antioxidants may protect the brain from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. When aging animals were fed a blueberry-rich diet, their learning and motor skills improved, essentially making their brains act like much younger animals.



Resveratrol
Another powerful ingredient in blueberries is resveratrol, a plant chemical also found in the skins of red grapes and peanuts, that protects plants from bad weather, insects, bacteria, and fungi. Scientists believe that the resveratrol in wine is behind “the French Paradox” – the fact that the French eat higher levels of fat than Americans but have a lower rate of heart disease.In fact, when researchers at Harvard Medical School and the National Institute on Aging put mice on a high-fat diet but added a whopping daily dose of resveratrol, they found that the mice lived months longer than the mice on a high-fat diet alone. They also avoided high levels of blood sugar and insulin, the signal of impending diabetes that the high-fat diet-only mice suffered. Other studies show that resveratrol helps against heart disease and cancers – and the levels found in blueberries may be even higher than in red grapes.



Tannins


Tannins, bitter compounds that help reduce inflammation in the digestive tract, are plentiful in most berries, as well as in apples, green tea, grapes, wine, pomegranates, and persimmons. Tannins also aid our bodies’ DNA repair system, which may help defend against the brain damage caused by strokes. In addition, tannins have been linked to the prevention of urinary tract infections and gum disease, as well as a decrease in heart disease. True American Food
Blueberries are one of only three popular fruits native to North America – the other two are Concord blue grapes and cranberries. Today, most blueberries eaten in the U.S. are a high-bush variety grown in New Jersey and Michigan. The low-bush berries that come from Maine and Canada, primarily used for processing and freezing, are much smaller and more intense in flavor.


The good news is that you can benefit from blueberry nutrition year-round since fresh, dried and frozen berries do not differ significantly in nutritional content. Fresh blueberries are available primarily from May through October. They’re best eaten right away, but refrigerated blueberries last for up to five days. Store blueberries in a refrigerator in the original container and rinse right before using.If you notice a powdery look on blueberry skins, don’t worry: It’s a safe, natural protective coating called bloom.If you decide to freeze some, don’t wash them first. Instead, take the fresh berries from their container and place in a single layer on a cookie sheet and put the sheet into the freezer. When the berries are frozen, switch them to a freezer bag, seal and return to the freezer. Wash them when you take them out to eat or cook with. And avoid refreezing, which will affect flavor, texture and color. Once frozen berries are thawed and drained, they can be added to smoothies and batters, although they may turn the batter an unappetizing gray. Minimize this by dusting them with flour before adding them to the batter.

FATTY ACID TIED TO DEPRESSION AND INFLAMMATION

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The imbalance of fatty acids in the typical American diet could be associated with the sharp increase in heart disease and depression seen over the past century, a new study suggests. Specifically, the more omega-6 fatty acids people had in their blood compared with omega-3 fatty acid levels, the more likely they were to suffer from symptoms of depression and have higher blood levels of inflammation-promoting compounds, report Dr. Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser and her colleagues from Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus.
These compounds, which include tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6, are "all-purpose 'nasties' for aging," and have been tied to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis and other ailments, Kiecolt-Glaser told Reuters Health.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in foods such as fish, flax seed oil and walnuts, while omega-6 fatty acids are found in refined vegetable oils used to make everything from margarine to baked goods and snack foods. The amount of omega-6 fatty acids in the Western diet increased sharply once refined vegetable oils became part of the average diet in the early 20th century.
Hunter-gatherers consumed two or three times as much omega-6 as omega-3, Kiecolt-Glaser's team notes in their study, published in Psychosomatic Medicine, but today Westerners consume 15- to 17-times more omega-6 than omega-3.
The researchers investigated the relationship among fatty acid consumption, depression and inflammation in 43 older men and women. The 6 individuals diagnosed with major depression had nearly 18 times as much omega-6 as omega-3 in their blood, compared with about 13 times as much for subjects who didn't meet the criteria for major depression.
Depressed patients also had higher levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, and other inflammatory compounds. And as levels of depressive symptoms rose, so did the omega 6 and omega 3 ratio.
The effects of depression and diet enhanced each other, the researchers found. "It was more than additive," Kiecolt-Glaser said. "People who had few depressive symptoms and/or a good diet were generally fine." However, when depressive symptoms increased and diets become worse, "we really saw big differences."
Depression alone is known to increase inflammation, the researchers note in their report, while a number of studies have found omega-3 supplements prevent depression.
Following recommendations for a healthy diet -- and eating fatty fish like salmon, mackerel or sardines every now and then -- could go a long way to promote a healthier omega-6/omega 3 balance, Kiecolt-Glaser said. "If people actually had more fruits and vegetables in their diet, they probably would have less omega-6."
SOURCE: Psychosomatic Medicine, online March 30, 2007.

HEALTH FOOD SHOCKERS

Egg-White Omelettes

No yolks in your omelettes? That's just utterly unnecessary. The yolk contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which are crucial for eye health. Egg yolks are also an important source of phosphatidylcholine, a nutrient that boosts brain health. Worried about your cholesterol levels? Consider this: Half the fat in the yolk isn't even saturated.

Raised Salmon

You'd think eating penned salmon would be the healthier way to go, but the farm-raised fish are pumped full of antibiotics and are lower in nutritional value than their wild relatives. In addition, wild salmon get their red color from an antioxidant in their natural food source, krill. Farmed salmon get their color from dye.

Granola Bars

Most granola bars are simply candy bars in disguise, with very little fiber, lots of processed carbs, and a ton of sugar. You're better off making your own healthier version from raw oats, chopped almonds, coconut flakes, raisins and a dollop of raw organic honey.

Apple Juice

It's sweet, refreshing and a favorite among kids. But most apple juice is nothing more than sugar water with apple flavoring. One cup of apple juice has no fiber, 117 calories and 27 grams of sugar. And most people consume way more than a cup at a time. Stick to fiber-rich apples and skip the juice.

8 MYTHS ABOUT DEPRESSION

By Stacie Z. Berg
Antidepressants are among the most prescribed drugs in America. So why isn’t everyone happy?
MYTH #1
YOU’LL GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS.Almost half the people in the U.S. with clinical depression don’t get diagnosed properly, says Wayne Katon, nosed M.D., of the University of Washington Medical School in Seattle. In part, that’s because many clinicians use a test developed in the 1950s called the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (“Ham-D”), which was designed to measure antidepressant effectiveness, not to diagnose depression, says Andrew G. Ryder, Ph.D., of Concordia University in Montreal. The test overlooks some symptoms that indicate depression (such as sleeping too much) and highlights others that aren’t always relevant (such as weight loss). When trying to diagnose or rule out depression, nothing is more important than detailed conversations with your doctor.

MYTH #2
MEN AND WOMEN HAVE THE SAME RISK FOR DEPRESSION.In fact, women are twice as likely as men to experience major depression. Scientists think hormones, an increased tendency to ruminate, and a possible heightened response to stress could all contribute to making women more vulnerable.

MYTH #3
ETHNICITY HAS NO BEARING ON DEPRESSION.Differences in the way people from various cultures express depression can result in a missed diagnosis or the wrong medication being prescribed. For instance, “‘having nerves’ in most Caucasian-American cultures means you’re anxious or stressed out; in Latino culture, it can mean you’re depressed,” says Carolyn Kaufman, Psy.D., of Columbus State Community College in Columbus, OH. So a Latina woman could walk away from her doctor with a prescription for an anti-anxiety medication when what she really needs is an antidepressant. The shocker: Doctors from the same ethnic backgrounds as their patients aren’t always better at figuring out what’s what. What to do? Make sure your physician can repeat back to you, in different words, what it is that she thinks you’re feeling.

MYTH #4
ETHNICITY SHOULDN’T AFFECT YOUR PRESCRIPTION.Most drugs are tested on white men. But about 40 percent of African- Americans and Asian-Americans actually metabolize drugs more slowly than Caucasians do, as a result of a genetic difference in liver enzymes, according to research conducted by L. DiAnne Bradford, Ph.D., of More house School of Medicine in Atlanta. The impact: They wind up with more of the drug in their bodies, which increases side effects (insomnia, diminished libido, and scores of others) without increasing benefits.

MYTH #5
DEPRESSION IS GENETIC.Scientists think that both your genes and your environment affect your mood. No one has found a gene that’s directly responsible for depression, but you can inherit one type of gene that can make you more vulnerable to depression after stressful events. So, while you may be able to blame your family for many things, it’s not all their fault if you’re depressed.

MYTH #6
ANTIDEPRESSANTS MAKE YOU FAT.Most antidepressants do carry about a 30-percent chance that you’ll gain weight, says Thomas L. Schwartz, M.D., of State University of New York Upstate Medical University. But one— Wellbutrin XL (buproprion)—may cause you to shed a few pounds. Other antidepressants raise serotonin, the chemical that regulates appetite, and may make you feel famished. Even if you eat less, the serotonin might make you store more fat and sugar. But buproprion raises levels of norepinephrine and dopamine, not serotonin, thus avoiding appetite issues.

MYTH #7
DEPRESSION IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD.Physical illness can trigger depression. One pathway may have to do with cytokines, a natural part of the body’s immune response to illness. In fact, when some patients are treated with a certain type of cytokine, they become depressed or even suicidal. In addition, “a mood disorder can potentially affect the body’s ability to fight an illness,” says David Spiegel, M.D., of Stanford University School of Medicine. Stress can lead to arterial spasms and heart attacks, even if your arteries are clear. Depression is also associated with a poorer prognosis for diseases including stroke, epilepsy, and diabetes. Bottom line: Get treatment for both your physical illness and your depression.

MYTH #8
PILLS ARE THE ANSWER IF YOU HAVE A DOWN DAY HERE AND THERE.Placebos have been found to work as well as antidepressants in people with minor depression—meaning you can get through the day but have a low mood for a couple of weeks and don’t enjoy certain activities the way you used to. And yet drug-makers have been expanding the definitions of mood disorders so much that even healthy people who have the occasional bad day (and who doesn’t?) think they should reach for a pill, according to Ray Moynihan and Alan Cassels, authors of Selling Sickness. Don’t buy the hype: Some times, counseling or meditation is just what you need to feel like yourself again.

. . . AND TWO WE’RE MONITORING

■ ANTIDEPRESSANTS RAISE THE RISK OF SUICIDE.An analysis by Glaxo-SmithKline found that adults with major depressivedisorder who took its drug Paxil had a higher risk of suicide than similar people who were in a placebo group. But that was only one study of one drug. Furthermore, the increased risk may not be directly from the pills: Oddly enough, psychiatrists think the boost that occurs when people are first treated for depression—with therapy or medication—might give some people the energy to carry out suicidal thoughts they had before the treatment.

■ ANTIDEPRESSANTS ARE DANGEROUS WHEN YOU’RE PREGNANT.Most antidepressants have not been adequately tested in pregnant women, and some may not have undergone animal studies. But recent case reports suggest that babies born to mothers on antidepressants may be prone to jitters, irritability, feeding problems, and seizures. A report in the New Eng land Journal of Medicine recently found that a small percentage of babies exposed to SSRIs were born with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)—a condition in which too little oxygen reaches the blood. And the FDA warns against using Paxil during the first trimester. If depression is left untreated, however, babies may be born earlier and lower in birth weight because women are less apt to take care of their bodies when they’re depressed, says Nada Stotland, M.D., of Rush Medical College in Chicago. They’re also more likely to have postpartum depression and not bond well with their newborns.

7 PAINS YOU SHOULDN'T IGNORE

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Whoever coined the term "necessary evil" might have been thinking of pain. No one wants it, yet it's the body's way of getting your attention when something is wrong. You're probably sufficiently in tune with your body to know when the pain is just a bother, perhaps the result of moving furniture a day or two before or eating that third enchilada. It's when pain might signal something more serious that the internal dialogue begins:
"OK, this isn't something to fool around with.""But I can't miss my meeting.""And how many meetings will you miss if you land in the hospital?""I'll give it one more day."Etc.
You need a guide. WebMD consulted doctors in cardiology, internal medicine, geriatrics, and psychiatry so you'll understand which pains you must not ignore -- and why. And, of course, if in doubt, get medical attention.

No. 1: Worst Headache of Your Life
Get medical attention immediately. "If you have a cold, it could be a sinus headache," says Sandra Fryhofer, MD, MACP, spokeswoman for the American College of Physicians. "But you could have a brain hemorrhage or brain tumor. With any pain, unless you're sure of what caused it, get it checked out."
Sharon Brangman, MD, FACP, spokeswoman for the American Geriatrics Society, tells WebMD that when someone says they have the worst headache of their life, "what we learned in medical training was that was a classic sign of a brain aneurysm. Go immediately to the ER."

No. 2: Pain or Discomfort in the Chest, Throat, Jaw, Shoulder, Arm, or Abdomen
Chest pain could be pneumonia or a heart attack. But be aware that heart conditions typically appear as discomfort, not pain. "Don't wait for pain," says cardiologist Jerome Cohen, MD. "Heart patients talk about pressure. They'll clench their fist and put it over their chest or say it's like an elephant sitting on their chest."
The discomfort associated with heart disease could also be in the upper chest, throat, jaw, left shoulder or arm, or abdomen and might be accompanied by nausea. "I'm not too much worried about the 18-year-old, but if a person has unexplained, persistent discomfort and knows they're high risk, they shouldn't wait," says Cohen. "Too often people delay because they misinterpret it as [heartburn] or GI distress. Call 911 or get to an emergency room or physician's office. If it turns out to be something else, that's great."
He tells WebMD that intermittent discomfort should be taken seriously as well. "There might be a pattern, such as discomfort related to excitement, emotional upset, or exertion. For example, if you experience it when you're gardening, but it goes away when you sit down, that's angina. It's usually worse in cold or hot weather."
"A woman's discomfort signs can be more subtle," says Cohen, who is director of preventive cardiology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. "Heart disease can masquerade as GI symptoms, such as bloating, GI distress, or discomfort in the abdomen. It's also associated with feeling tired. Risk for heart disease increases dramatically after menopause. It kills more women than men even though men are at higher risk at any age. Women and their physicians need to be on their toes."

No. 3: Pain in Lower Back or Between Shoulder Blades
"Most often it's arthritis," says Brangman, who is professor and chief of geriatrics at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y. Other possibilities include a heart attack or abdominal problems. "One danger is aortic dissection, which can appear as either a nagging or sudden pain. People who are at risk have conditions that can change the integrity of the vessel wall. These would include high blood pressure, a history of circulation problems, smoking, and diabetes."

No. 4: Severe Abdominal Pain
Still have your appendix? Don't flirt with the possibility of a rupture. Gallbladder and pancreas problems, stomach ulcers, and intestinal blockages are some other possible causes of abdominal pain that need attention.


No 5: Calf Pain
One of the lesser known dangers is deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that can occur in the leg's deep veins. It affects 2 million Americans a year, and it can be life-threatening. "The danger is that a piece of the clot could break loose and cause pulmonary embolism[a clot in the lungs], which could be fatal," says Fryhofer. Cancer, obesity, immobility due to prolonged bed rest or long-distance travel, pregnancy, and advanced age are among the risk factors.
"Sometimes there's just swelling without pain," says Brangman. "If you have swelling and pain in your calf muscles, see a doctor immediately."

No. 6: Burning Feet or Legs
Nearly one-third of the 20 million Americans who have diabetes are undiagnosed, according to the American Diabetes Association. "In some people who don't know they have diabetes, peripheral neuropathycould be one of the first signs," says Brangman. "It's a burning or pins-and-needles sensation in the feet or legs that can indicate nerve damage."

No 7: Vague, Combined, or Medically Unexplained Pains
"Various painful, physical symptoms are common in depression," says psychiatrist Thomas Wise, MD. "Patients will have vague complaints of headaches, abdominal pain, or limb pain, sometimes in combination."
Because the pain might be chronic and not terribly debilitating, depressed people, their families, and health care professionals might dismiss the symptoms. "Furthermore, the more depressed you are, the more difficulty you have describing your feelings," says Wise, who is the psychiatry department chairman at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Va. "All of this can lead the clinician astray."
Other symptoms must be present before a diagnosis of depression can be made. "Get help when you've lost interest in activities, you're unable to work or think effectively, and you can't get along with people," he says. "And don't suffer silently when you're hurting."
He adds there's more to depression than deterioration of the quality of life. "It has to be treated aggressively before it causes structural changes in the brain."

ORGASMS 101

Orgasms 101: Priming for the Big One

Orgasms are natural, so you’d think women would have no trouble experiencing “The Big O” any time they wanted one…or two…or 10. Yet, it’s estimated that 70% of women fake it at some point. What gives? Find out what could be robbing you of sexual pleasure…Maybe you’re too stressed out to enjoy a climax. Perhaps your partner’s not all that, ahem, stimulating. Whatever the cause, it’s time to stop going through the motions and start getting the big payoff.

Here are 10 ways to help yourself have amazing orgasms:

1 - Get out of your head If you’ve got a negative tape loop running through your brain – Nice girls don’t…, My thighs are too fat…, I’ll be too loud… – hit the Stop button. Self-criticism is a major passion squelcher. And who’s it squelching? You. If your guy is in bed with you, he’s not thinking about whether your thighs jiggle or your bum looks like orange peel. And nice girls do enjoy screaming orgasms, so release your inner vixen and let her have some fun.

2 - Experiment...or not Fur-lined handcuffs. Light spanking. Role play. There’s nothing wrong with (safely) pushing the sexual envelope. Then again, there’s nothing wrong with the tried and true. Being adventurous doesn’t make you slutty. And being aroused by missionary-position sex doesn’t make you a prude. It just means you know what feels good to you.

Which brings us to…3 - Love yourself, You can’t tell your partner what you like if you don’t know. So take your fingers for a walk and find out what makes you see stars. Hard and fast? Slow and soft? Experiment with different kinds of touch and different rhythms.“You learn about orgasms by having them with yourself,” explains Betty Dodson, PhD, masturbation maven and author of Orgasms for Two.

4 - Find your G spot...or not The existence of the G spot (named for German scientist Ernst Grafenberg, who first described it) is as hotly debated as the existence of extraterrestrials. Some sexperts believe this sensual real estate exists; others insist it’s sheer fantasy. Which camp do you fall into? That usually depends on whether you get orgasms from clitoral stimulation or vaginal penetration.

Where is this magic place? It’s behind the belly and pubic bone, about two inches inside your vagina. You can locate yours with fingers and some sex positions (being on top is one of the best). Just remember, the G spot isn’t the holy grail of sex.“All women have this sensitive area,” assures sex researcher Beverly Whipple, PhD, co-author of The Science of Orgasm (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006). “But not everyone likes it stimulated, just as not everyone likes when someone blows in their ear.”

5 - All roads lead to Rome There are many ways to reach orgasm. Some women can climax when their breasts are touched or when their necks are rubbed. Other lucky gals come by fantasizing – without any touch at all. The point? Be adventurous when exploring sexual terrain. You never know what will send you over the edge.“We’ve gotten into this mindset that there’s only one type of orgasm, and it’s from stimulating the clitoris,” says Whipple. “There are many other ways women can have orgasmic experiences.”

6 – Tell ’em what you want Once you’ve figured out works for you, clue your partner in, too. Trust us; he wants to know. Especially if what gets you off bears no resemblance to what he thinks is working. Most feigned orgasms are what Chicago sex and relationship therapist Laura Berman, PhD and author of Passion Prescription (Hyperion 2006), calls “mercy fakes.” But if you let your partner think he’s making the grade when he’s falling short, he won’t do anything differently. And that leaves you, well, faking it. How can you feel fireworks without trampling your partner’s ego? Give soft and sultry directions, says Berman. In your sexiest voice, whisper I go crazy when you ___. Or simply take your partner’s fingers (or lips or tongue or penis) on a tour of your erogenous zones. And let him know that you’re not always going to come, even if he’s doing everything right, notes Berman. It’ll ease the pressure and let you both enjoy the ride.

7 - Give yourself a hand Contrary to steamy Hollywood sex scenes, only 30% of women have orgasms through intercourse. So if you don’t buck like a bronco upon penetration, not to worry. There’s nothing wrong with you. Life doesn’t always imitate art. Don’t be shy. Reach down and give yourself a helping hand during sex.

8 - Go full speed ahead with foreplay Share this tidbit with your guy: Men can go from zero to orgasm in seven minutes, but women take as long as 20 to get warmed up. That’s why foreplay was invented.Foreplay revs the engines even if you’re not feeling frisky because the brain is a major sex organ. And if you’re mentally paying bills while your partner is looking for thrills, the only thing you’re likely to share is a sexless spat. Redefine foreplay, suggests Berman. Let your hubby put the kids to bed while you unwind with a bath and candles. “Then [you’ll be] in a better place to respond sexually,” Berman notes.

9 - Better than ibuprofen For years women have used the ol’ dodge Not tonight, I’ve got a headache. Turns out, we should’ve been saying the opposite. Orgasms trigger endorphins, those feel-good brain chemicals that improve mood and curb pain.Animal studies have shown that orgasms can be as potent as morphine in quelling headaches, menstrual cramps, even whiplash and arthritis. True, the relief is short-lived (about eight minutes long), but orgasms aren’t toxic to your liver and they won’t upset your tummy like over-the-counter pain relievers can.

10 - Get the blood flowing Exercise is not only good for your heart, it’s good for your sex life. Running, walking, biking and other cardio gets blood moving everywhere – even down there. And the better the circulation, the better the titillation. And don’t forget Kegels. It’s strength training for your pubococcygeus (or PC) muscles – the ones that hold up your vagina, anus, uterus, bladder and urethra.

“The stronger these muscles are, the more intense your orgasms will be,” promises Berman. Don’t know how to work out your Kegels? Next time you pee, try stopping the flow. Those are your Kegel muscles. Just don’t make it a habit to do Kegels when you pee. Stopping and starting the flow continuously can actually put you at risk for urinary tract infections. Use the pee test only to assess what it feels like to use your Kegels. Berman recommends doing 100 to 150 Kegel squeezes a day to keep them in sexy shape. You can do them anywhere, anytime (just not while peeing). Yoga, Pilates and other core-strengthening workouts also tone PC muscles. How’s Your Sex Life? For some of us, having regular sex is like breathing – we couldn’t live without it. Others don’t mind an occasional dry spell. Where do you stand on the nookie spectrum?

CANCER UPDATE

Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumours.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental,food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver,kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do notresult in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply. CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like Nutra Sweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.
b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soya milk cancer cells are being starved.
c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites,which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.
d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice(most vegetables including bean sprouts)and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40degrees C).
e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger,unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

Which is another reason you might opt to buy an oxygen shower head. Everything that goes on your skin, is absorbed into your body.

Aspartame found in sugar substitutes put my mother in the hospital.

THE TOP PICKS Tan in a bottle tested and top moisturizers

Are You Smart When it Comes to Skin Cancer? When it comes to the sun and your safety, are you current on your skin cancer knowledge or is ignorance bliss in favor of the perfect tan? Well consider this: Skin cancer is diagnosed more often than all other cancers combined. Well the good news is, you don't have to give up that tan. – Unfortunately, after months indoors, many of us look more Casper than Cabo. In my quest to become bronzed and beach-worthy, I conducted an unscientific test of five popular products that promised to turn my pallor the color of liquid gold. Read on for my top picks…Before I dish on the goods, let’s get started with some pre-product tips.
To keep your glow going longer, prep your skin before applying a self-tanner. If you apply a formula to unprepped skin, your tan will fade faster because as skin sheds and flakes off it takes the golden tint with it, often leaving streaks. “The key to getting smooth, not streaky, bronze skin is exfoliation, "Use an exfoliator right before applying your tan. Brundage’s pick is Nyakio Kenyan Coffee and Sugar body scrub, which contains Kenyan coffee beans, sugar, vitamins A and E, and essential oils.
For best results, shave or wax one day before tanning, not on the same day.
After you’ve applied your tanner, upkeep is as important as preparation. Though most formulas advise waiting four to six hours after application before showering, waiting overnight will give you a deeper color. To preserve that summery shade, apply a heavy body lotion daily. “Keeping the skin moisturized helps to seal in the tan,” Issimo Relax, which contains Shea butter, rose and essential oil.
Whether you’re fair or dark-skinned, “there’s no such thing as a safe tan [from the sun]," Self-tanners, on the other hand, dye your skin instead of truly tanning it. Their active ingredient is DHA (dihydroxyacetone), a common food dye that people have been eating for years, explains Spencer, who also has a private practice in Florida.“It’s perfectly harmless and safe,” he assures. “Knock yourself out.”

1. Neutrogena Micromist Tanning Sunless Spray. The Price: $11.49 for 5.3 ounces.

The Promise: A “just back from the beach glow” in five minutes.
Application: The back of the bottle directed me to Neutrogena.com/micromist for an online video with easy-to-follow application tips that saved me from telltale streaking. An aerosol spray delivers a light, fine mist that dries at lightning speed. The spray works from all angles, even upside-down for those hard-to-reach spots. Since it’s recommended you hold the can at least six inches away from your skin, I still had to have a friend help me with my back.

To get the color I craved, I applied it every day for three days.Smell: Strong. Open the window when you apply this one.

Tan Appearance: Golden and even.

My Experience: The formula dried quickly. I also liked the fact that there was no rubbing required so I didn’t have to worry about orange palms.



2. Jergen’s Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer. The Price: $6.99 for 7.5 ounces.

The Promise: “Delivers the optimum amount of naturally glowing color to even out and enrich the appearance of your skin.” Application: The formula is a two-in-one tanner/moisturizer that builds a bronze base gradually with repeated applications. I used this lotion just like my regular body lotion and put it on once in the morning for seven days. The moisturizing formula, which contains avocado and olive oil, left my skin super soft. Smell: A mild floral scent. The lotion’s ingredients include jojoba extract.

Tan Appearance: A golden tan developed gradually and naturally.

My Experience: After three days, my legs looked smoother and more even-toned, and after seven days I had a golden glow. Plus, my dry skin appreciated the rich lotion.



3. Hawaiian Tropic Island Glow Daily Moisturizer The Price: $7.49 for 8 ounces.

The Promise: “A subtle island color within days.”Application: Like the Jergen’s formula, this is part self-tanner, part lotion. I applied it in lieu of my regular body moisturizer every morning for a week.
Smell: The best by far, and it’s no wonder. Ingredients include extracts of plumeria, mango, guava, papaya, and passionflower mixed with caramel.Tan Appearance: A subtle, streak-free bronze.

My Experience: This creamy formula is my favorite self-tanner. I got a tropical glow and hydrated skin – two things I never thought I could have in winter. And I absolutely love the smell.


4. L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Gelee The Price: $8.99 for 5 ounces.

The Promise: “Instant color, plus an even, natural-looking sunless tan.”Application: This gel provides instant color with a subtle glitter shimmer as soon as you apply it. The sunless tan itself takes about two hours to develop. I saw a noticeable difference in my skin color after three days of daily application.Smell: Strong. Don’t apply right before a date!

Tan Appearance: Brownish-orange.

My Experience: While I liked the golden shimmer, the tan itself looked unnatural, and the scent made my eyes water. Also, the gel was runny.


5. Clinique Body Quick Bronze Tinted Self-Tanner The Price: $17 for 4.2 ounces.

The Promise: “Fast. Even. Totally believable.”Application: The cream was thick and rich. Not only did I need a minimal amount to get the desired effect, but I achieved the color I wanted after only one application. The formula is tinted, so you can see exactly where you’ve applied it. Goodbye, streaks! It also comes with a handy tanning guide warning against common mistakes and offering advice on how to avoid “giveaway” tan lines on tricky spots like your hairline and the soles of your feet. Smell: Slightly metallic.

Tan Appearance: Even and glowing.

My Experience: I liked the rich texture of the cream and the fact that it was tinted for goof-proof application.

Have a great summer



TOP 25 WRINKLE REDUCING SOLUTIONS

During our research, the skin care specialists we consulted provided useful tips that contribute to achieving and maintaining younger looking skin, including the following:

• Be certain to consistently apply the product(s) you choose in accordance with its directions for use;
• Pay special attention to your neck and hands while applying the product(s) you choose, as these areas reflect your age;
• Always use sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15;
• Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to stay well hydrated;
• Avoid excessive intake of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, as they may contribute to dehydration and exacerbate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; and
• Be sure to get adequate rest every day.

Top 25 Wrinkle Reducing Products

Products based on
Long Term Effectiveness for Wrinkle Reduction
Instant Reduction of Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Antioxidant Protective Properties Delaying Skin Cell Aging
Skin Renewal and Collagen Stimulating Properties
Skin Smoothing and Firming Properties


Rejuvinol™
5 of 5 -Long term Effectiveness
4 of 5 -Instant reduction
5 of 5 -Antioxidant properties
4 of 5 -Skin Renewal and Collagen
5 of 5 -Skin Smoothing


AlphaDerma CE ™
5 of 5 -Long term Effectiveness
4 of 5 -Instant reduction
4 of 5 -Antioxidant properties
4 of 5 -Skin Renewal and Collagen
5 of 5 -Skin Smoothing


Lift Fusion™
5 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
4 of 5-Instant reduction
4 of 5-Antioxidant properties
3 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
5 of 5-Skin Smoothing


Neuvage™
5 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
4 of 5-Instant reduction
4 of 5-Antioxidant properties
4 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
4 of 5-Skin Smoothing


TYK Revelation™
5 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
4 of 5-Instant reduction
4 of 5-Antioxidant properties
4 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
4 of 5-Skin Smoothing


OHT Peptide™
5 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
4 of 5-Instant reduction
3 of 5-Antioxidant properties
4 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
4 of 5-Skin Smoothing


Z. Bigatti Restoration™
4 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
4 of 5-Instant reduction
4 of 5-Antioxidant properties
3 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
4 of 5-Skin Smoothing


Prevage™
4 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
2 of 5-Instant reduction
5 of 5-Antioxidant properties
4 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
4 of 5-Skin Smoothing


Hydroderm™
4 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
3 of 5-Instant reduction
3 of 5-Antioxidant properties
5 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
4 of 5-Skin Smoothing


Freeze 24/7™
3 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
5 of 5-Instant reduction
3 of 5-Antioxidant properties
3 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
5 of 5-Skin Smoothing

Revitacil™
4 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
4 of 5-Instant reduction
3 of 5-Antioxidant Properties
3 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
4 of 5-Skin Smoothing


Dermatox-SC™
4 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
3 of 5-Instant reduction
3 of 5-Antioxidant Properties
4 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
4 of 5-Skin Smoothing

Protox™
5 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
4 of 5-Instant reduction
2 of 5-Antioxidant Properties
3 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
4 of 5-Skin Smoothing


Botopical™
4 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
3 of 5-Instant reduction
3 of 5-Antioxidant Properties
4 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
4 of 5-Skin Smoothing


DermaFreeze 365™
3 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
5 of 5-Instant reduction
2 of 5-Antioxidant Properties
2 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
5 of 5-Skin Smoothing


Bellex Biotox™
4 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
4 of 5-Instant reduction
3 of 5-Antioxidant Properties
2 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
4 of 5-Skin Smoothing


DDF Wrinkle Relax™
4 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
4 of 5-Instant reduction
3 of 5-Antioxidant Properties
2 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
4 of 5-Skin Smoothing


Bioque Serum XL™
4 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
4 of 5-Instant reduction
2 of 5-Antioxidant Properties
2 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
4 of 5-Skin Smoothing


Youth Factor™
4 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
4 of 5-Instant reduction
3 of 5-Antioxidant Properties
2 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
3 of 5-Skin Smoothing


NuGlow™
4 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
3 of 5-Instant reduction
4 of 5-Antioxidant Properties
2 of 5-Skin Renewal and Collagen
3 of 5-Skin Smoothing


Serutox™
4 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
4 of 5-Instant reduction
2 of 5-Antioxidant Properties
2 of 5-Skin Renewal
3 of 5-Skin Smoothing


Bellaplex™
4 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
4 of 5-Instant reduction
2 of 5-Antioxidant Properties
2 of 5-Skin Renewal
3 of 5-Skin Smoothing


Genisphere™
4 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
3 of 5-Instant reduction
3 of 5-Antioxidant Properties
2 of 5-Skin Renewal
3 of 5-Skin Smoothing


Avotone™
4 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
4 of 5-Instant reduction
1 of 5-Antioxidant Properties
2 of 5-Skin Renewal
3 of 5-Skin Smoothing


Dremu Oil™
4 of 5-Long term Effectiveness
2 of 5-Instant reduction
2 of 5-Antioxidant Properties
2 of 5-Skin Renewal
4 of 5-Skin Smoothing



If any of these brands, are testing on animals they will be deleted.

Friday, April 13, 2007.

HEMP ? THE NEW HEALTH FOOD

Hemp? That’s rope, isn’t it? Guess again: it’s one of the hottest food trends of 2007 – a surprise success for a healthy nosh that’s thousands of years old. Yep, we’re talking about hemp that comes from the same plant species as marijuana (i.e., Cannabis). But isn’t it illegal? It is if you smoke it. But today, not only can you wear it, you can eat it, too. Read on to learn more about this high-quality protein. The kind of hemp you eat comes from a special variety of this plant that contains only trace amounts of the chemical (tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC) that causes marijuana’s intoxicating effects. So you don’t have to worry about it giving you a “high” any more than a poppy seed muffin will (which contain trace amounts of opiates).More than 6,000 years ago, the Chinese cultivated hemp from a plant that grew wild throughout Asia. Even before Asians used soy foods, they prized hemp for its high-quality nutrition. Eventually the seed was cultivated in Europe and India. Indians called it “bhang,” using its dried leaves as a stimulant and medicine for colds, fevers, dysentery, and as part of religious ceremonies. Modern day nutritionists know the plant has high-quality protein and essential amino acids along with a healthy blend of other nutrients, like iron, magnesium and manganese.Imagine a sesame seed and you’ll have a pretty close match to the hemp seed. However, it tastes more like sunflower seeds or pine nuts than it does sesame seeds. Like other seeds, hemp has a nutty flavor and a hefty dose of essential fatty acids and protein. One tablespoon of hemp offers about three grams of protein, four grams of fat (primarily omega-6 and some omega-3), almost one gram of fiber, and no cholesterol. Hemp also offers a whopping array of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and calcium. All this for a mere 56 calories – comparable to one cup of cantaloupe.Hemp’s treasure of essential fatty acids (EFAs) – with a beneficial balance of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids – is particularly important for Americans who tend to run low on EFAs. According to more than five decades of scientific research, insufficient essential fatty acids in general may raise the risk of heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and skin conditions (like eczema and psoriasis). Operating with insufficient levels of these two fats also affects brain and immune functions, as well as infant development.

Omega 3's and Omega 6's work together keep us healthy, particularly our brains. Omega-3s help reduce inflammation and omega-6s increase it, a key immune system response. However, when the two fats are not in balance, and there are more omega-6s than omega-3s, we are more apt to develop diseases related to inflammation such as heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis. The majority of Americans get 11 to 30 times more omega-6s than omega-3s. Why? Mostly because they eat too many baked goods made with refined vegetable oils high in omega-6s. In the Kitchen, Before hemp foods arrive on the shelves, the seeds have been shelled and cleaned. In supermarkets or health-food markets, hemp is sold as a shelled seed, oil, or flour. And you may even discover an assortment of hemp-filled prepared foods, such as bread, salad dressings, spreads, energy bars, shakes, chips, meatless burgers, and cookies.If you have ever used flaxseed, using hempseed will be an easy addition to your diet. You can add both to yogurts, smoothies, juices, salads, and batter mixes. You can also roast hemp seeds, or include them in spices mix that you can sprinkle on your food instead of salt. Or you can even use it as a breading for meats or vegetables. For a stir-fry, instead of canola oil, try a little hemp oil. If you have leftover hemp products keep them in the refrigerator: they’re sensitive to heat and light. Refrigerated, hemp will keep for months. But, once it’s lost its nutty taste, throw it out. If you’re still stumped about how to use it, you can even find hemp cookbooks such as The Hemp Nut Cookbook: Ancient Food for a New Millennium (Book Publishing, 2005). And for those of you interested in greening up your plate, hemp – often certified as organic – is an environmentally friendly crop that needs no herbicides or pesticides to grow, nor is it genetically modified.

Is Your Lunch Unlawful? Three years ago, the Hemp Industries Association, which represents hemp companies in North America, won a court battle against the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) after they tried to ban the sale of hemp foods in the United States. The association demonstrated that hemp foods contain only insignificant amounts of THC. Shortly afterward, hemp products began to appear on store shelves. However, no matter how much you like hemp food products, growing hemp plants yourself is still illegal.

But don’t worry: A hemp-filled energy bar or smoothie won’t doom you to fail a random workplace drug test. Approximately 25 North American hemp manufacturers have promised through a TestPledge program not to allow their hemp nut and hemp oil products to exceed acceptable levels of THC.

The Difference Between 1964 and 2007

1964 vs.2007

Jack pulls into school parking lot with rifle in gun rack.

1964 - Vice Principal comes over, takes a look at Jack's rifle, goes to his car and gets his to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lockdown, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.
++++++++++++++++++++++
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1964 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up best friends Nobody goes to jail, nobody arrested, nobody expelled.
2007 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
1964 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by Principal. Sits still in class.
2007 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his father's car and his Dad gives him a whipping.
1964 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's Dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. Billy's sister is told by state psychologist that she remembers being abused herself and their Dad goes to prison.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some headache medicine to school.
1964 - Mark shares headache medicine with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.
1964: Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2007: Pedro's cause is taken up by state democratic party. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he can't speak English.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1964 - Ants die.
2007 - BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary, hugs him to comfort him.
1964 - In a short time Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison.

Bet you didn't know this

> My mail carrier told me that the US Postal service sent out a message: To
> all letter carriers to put a sheet of Bounce in their uniform pockets to
> keep yellow-jackets away.
>
> I use them all the time when playing baseball, soccer and when working
> outside. It really works. The yellow jackets just veer around you.
>
> 1. All this time you've just been putting Bounce in the dryer! It will
> chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice.
>
> 2. Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars that
> are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.
>
> 3. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened
> too often.
>
> 4. It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when
> outdoors during mosquito season.
>
> 5. Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.
>
> 6. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your
> television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from
> resettling.
>
> 7. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.
>
> 8. To freshen the air in your home - Place an individual sheet of Bounce
> in a drawer or hang in the closet.
>
> 9. Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.
>
> 10. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of
> Bounce before beginning to sew.
>
> 11. Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside
> empty luggage before storing.
>
> 12. To freshen the air in your car - Place a sheet of Bounce under the
> front seat.
>
> 13. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill
> with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent
> apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan.
>
> 14. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom
> of the wastebasket.
>
> 15. Collect cat hair Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will
> magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
>
> 16. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds
> with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.
>
> 17. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce
> will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
>
> 18. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce
> at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper
>
>
> 19. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or
> sneakers overnight.
>
> 20. Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.
>
> 21. Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and
> storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.

$ 1,000,000 artwork from a 12 year old

http://www.artakiane.com

The most amazing art, canvas paintings from an 12 year old, she started when she was 4, the story is the most incredible story I have ever heard. You have to check this out!!!

She explains why she painted the picture and it sits next to her paintings,this was one of them.

I painted this painting - allegory about purpose, balance and contentment. While some plants are content who they are and where they are, many are not. Some are artificial plants, some are real, others - artificially real. Then there are plants growing alone or dominating weaker ones. Still others are plain and peaceful. A few see life radically different while they live upside down. Other plants are used for decoration or simply being knocked down. Some wish to be outside experiencing more changes. Outside the window some plants long to be inside the house believing it is always safe and warm there. Yet all of us just like plants have different personalities and purposes. We need differences that unite us, not separate. But more than anything, we need light. Without light, we will wither even in the most expensive and beautiful vase.

HOW TO CHOOSE A HERBAL SUPPLEMENT

The limited amount of regulation makes choosing an herbal supplement of the highest quality a difficult prospect. In order to choose the best herbal supplement brands:

1. Look for standardized herbal supplements. The U.S. Pharmacopeia's "USP Dietary Supplement Verified" seal on a supplement indicates the supplement has met certain manufacturing standards. These standards include testing the product for uniformity, cleanliness and freedom from environmental contaminants such as lead, mercury or drugs. Other groups that certify herbal supplements include ConsumerLab.com, Good Housekeeping and NSF International. Although each group takes a slightly different approach, the goal of each is to certify that herbal supplements meet a certain standard. Don't assume that all herbal products on the market are safe. Even the groups that test herbal supplements aren't obligated to report products that fail to live up to their standards.

2. Buy only single-herb products. And choose products that clearly show how much of the herb each dose contains. Some products are mixtures of several herbs with unknown proportions of each.

3. Beware of claims that sound too good to be true. If a claim sounds outrageous to you, trust your instinct. No one herbal supplement can possibly address a wide spectrum of health concerns.

4. Be extremely cautious about herbal supplements manufactured outside the United States. Many European herbs are highly regulated and standardized. But toxic ingredients and prescription drugs have been found in some herbal supplements manufactured in other countries.

Who shouldn't use herbal supplements?
Avoid using herbal supplements if:

1. You're taking prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Some herbs can cause serious side effects when mixed with prescription and OTC drugs such as aspirin, blood thinners or blood pressure medications. Talk to your doctor about possible interactions.
A proven medical treatment is available for your medical condition. A traditional medication with an established record for safety and effectiveness will generally be less likely to result in adverse side effects.

2. You're pregnant or breast-feeding. As a general rule, don't take any medications — prescription, OTC or herbal — when you're pregnant or breast-feeding unless your doctor approves. Medications that may be safe for you as an adult may be harmful to your fetus or your breast-feeding infant.

3. You're having surgery. Many herbal supplements can affect the success of surgery. Some may decrease the effectiveness of anesthetics or cause dangerous complications such as bleeding or high blood pressure. Tell your doctor about any herbs you're taking or considering taking as soon as you know you need surgery.

4. You're younger than 18 or older than 65. Older adults may metabolize medications differently. And few herbal supplements have been tested on children or have established safe doses for children.

Discuss herbal supplements with your doctor
Always talk to your doctor before taking herbal supplements. Your doctor can tell you whether:
Any herbs you take or are interested in taking have potentially dangerous side effects
Specific herbal medicines are appropriate for you given your overall health status

Any herbal medicines can interact with other medications you currently use

You could achieve the same results you desire from herbal supplements by changing your lifestyle — for example, your diet or exercise program

Your doctor may be cautious about endorsing or embracing most herbal supplements. This is often because relatively few controlled studies have been done on herbal supplements. However, a growing number of doctors are working to better understand herbal therapies so that they can help you make informed decisions about your health care. If your doctor isn't comfortable discussing herbal supplements with you, ask for a referral to a pharmacist or specialist who is knowledgeable in this area.

SAMMONELLA FROM PURSES

Women carry purses everywhere from the office to restrooms to the floor of the car. Most women won't be caught without their purses, but did you ever stop to think about where your purse goes during the day? "I drive a school bus, so my purse has been on the floor of the bus a lot," says one woman. "On the floor of my car, in restrooms." "I put my purse in grocery shopping carts, on the floor of bathroom stalls while changing a diaper," says another woman. And of course in my home -- which should be clean. We decided to find out if purses harbor a lot of bacteria. We learned how to test them at Nelson Laboratories in Salt Lake, then we set out to test the average woman's purse. Most women told us they didn't stop t o think about what was on the bottom of their purse. Most said they usually set their purses on top of kitchen tables and counters where food is prepared. Most of the ladies we talked to told us they wouldn't be surprised if their purses were at least a little bit dirty. It turns out purses are so surprisingly dirty, even the microbiologist who tested them was shocked. Microbiologist Amy Karren of Nelson Labs says nearly all the purses tested were not only high in bacteria, but high in harmful kinds of bacteria. Pseudomonas can cause eye infections, staphylococcus aurous can cause serious skin infections, and salmonella and e-coli found on the purses could make people very sick. In one sampling, four of five purses tested positive for salmonella, and that's not the worst of it. "There was fecal contamination on the purses," says Amy. (You know... poop?) Leather or vinyl purses tende d to be cleaner than cloth purses, and lifestyle seemed to play a role. People with kids tended to have dirtier purses than those without, with one exception. The purse of one single woman who frequented nightclubs had one of the worst contamination's of all. "Some type of feces, or even possibly vomit or something like that," says Amy. So the moral of this story -- your purse won't kill you, but it does have the potential to make you very sick if you keep it on places where you eat. Use hooks to hang your purse at home and in restrooms, and don't put it on your desk, on a restaurant table, or on your kitchen countertop. Experts say you should think of your purse the same way you would a pair of shoes. Would you consider putting a pair of shoes onto your countertops? Well, that's the same thing you're doing when you put your purse on the countertops, says Amy. The microbiologists at Nelson also said cleaning a purse will help. Wash cloth purses and use leather cleaner to clean the bottom of leather purses.

Unbelievable

Time once again to review the winners of the Annual "Stella Awards."
The Stella Awards are named after 81 year-old Stella Liebeck who spilled hot
Coffee on herself and successfully sued McDonald's (in NM).
That case inspired the Stella Awards for the most frivolous, ridiculous, successful lawsuits in the United States.

Here are this year's winners:

5th Place (tie):

Kathleen Robertson of Austin, Texas, was awarded $80,000. by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running inside a furniture store. The owners of the store were understandably surprised at the verdict, considering the misbehaving little toddler was Ms. Robertson's son

5th Place (tie):

19-year-old Carl Truman of Los Angeles won $74,000 and medical expenses when his neighbor ran over his hand with a Honda Accord. Mr. Truman apparently didn't notice there was someone at the wheel of the car when he was trying to steal his neighbor's hubcaps.

5th Place (tie):

Terrence Dickson of Bristol, Pennsylvania, was leaving a house he had just finished robbing by way of the garage. He was not able to get the garage door to go up since the automatic door opener was malfunctioning. He couldn't re-enter the house because the door connecting the house and garage locked when he pulled it shut. The family was on vacation, and Mr. Dickson found himself locked in the garage for eight days. He subsisted on a case of Pepsi he found, and a large bag of dry dog food. He sued the homeowner's insurance claiming the situation caused him undue mental anguish. The jury agreed, to the tune of $500,000. In my opinion this is so outrageous that it should have been 2nd Place!

4th Place:

Jerry Williams of Little Rock, Arkansas, was awarded $14,500. and medical expenses after being bitten on the buttocks by his next door neighbor's beagle. The beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard. The award was less than sought because the jury felt the dog might have been just a little provoked at the time by Mr. Williams who had climbed over the fence into the yard and was shooting it repeatedly with a pellet gun.

3rd Place:

A Philadelphia restaurant was ordered to pay Amber Carson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, $113,500. after she slipped on a soft drink and broke her coccyx (tailbone). The beverage was on the floor because Ms.. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument.

2ndPlace:

Kara Walton of Claymont, Delaware, successfully sued the owner of a night club in a neighboring city when she fell from the bathroom window to the floor and knocked out her two front teeth. This occurred while Ms. Walton was trying to sneak through the window in the ladies room to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge. She was awarded $12,000 and dental expenses

1st Place:

This year's runaway winner was Mrs. Merv Grazinski of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Mrs. Grazinski purchased a brand new 32-foot Winnebago motor home On her first trip home, (from an OU football game), having driven onto the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the driver's seat to go into the back and make herself a sandwich. Not surprisingly, the RV left the freeway, crashed and overturned. Mrs.Grazinski sued Winnebago for not advising her in the owner's manual that she couldn't actually do this. The jury awarded her $1,750,000. plus a new motor home. The company actually changed their manuals on the basis of this suit, just in case there were any other complete morons around.


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Did you know this, Everyday helpful tips

1. A sealed envelope - Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a Knife under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed. (hmmmmmm...)

2.Use Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords . It keeps them Neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.

3.For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn dish washing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't Refreeze.

4.To remove old wax from a glass candle holder , put it in the freezer for a few hours. Then take the candle holder out and turn it upside down. The Wax will fall out

5.Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped In baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is !)

6.Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE!) rubbing alcohol on paper towel.

7.Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads, I immediately take a pair of Scissors and cut each pad into halves. After years of having to throw Away rusted and unused and smelly pads, I finally decided that this would Be much more economical. Now a box of S.O.S pads last me indefinitely! In fact, I have noticed that the scissors get 'sharpened'' this way!

8.Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen Peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works Every time! (Now, where to put the body?) LOL

9.Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal For inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows On a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak. =======================

10.Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to create a lovely Light scent in each room when the light is turned on. =====================

11.Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will ; Smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels And linen. =====================

12.Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 Hours prior to burning. ======================
13.To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the Flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt And leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm! ======================
14.To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet , simply add a drop or Two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove top. ======================

15.Spray your TUPPERWARE with nonstick cooking spray before pouring In tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains. ======================

16.Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will Keep for weeks. ======================

17.When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the Corn's' natural sweetness .============ ===========

18.Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half, and rub it on your Forehead. The throbbing will go away. =======================

19.Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future Use in casseroles and sauces . ======================

20.To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area And you will experience instant relief. =======================;

21.Ants, ants, ants everywhere .. Well, they are said to never cross a chalk Line. So, get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants Tend to march. See for yourself. ===========================
22.Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, Leaves a lovely smell to the shine. ===========================
23.Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer........ Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean . ===========================
24.Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water And drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets. ====================

25.Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes. ====================
26.Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary). ====================
27.Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, and then run the hot water. ====================

For those of you who watch what you eat

Here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all the conflicting medical studies:

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausage and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans. CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Words of Wisdom

Confidence is contagious, So is lack of confidence

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.
Corrie Boom

Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions, All life is an experiments.
The more experiments you make the better. ------ Ralph Waldo Emerson

A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities, and a optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.

Do what you can with what you have, with where you are. ---TheodoreRoosevelt


I can complain because a rose bush has thorns or I can rejoice because a thorn bush has roses.

Happiness is a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. ----Nathaniel Hawthorne

Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have.------------Doris Mortman

Disease can be healed if we are willing to change the way we think and believe and act.

The Garden of Eden was in Iraq

1. The garden of eden was in Iraq

2. Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq, was the cradle of civilization!

3. Noah built the ark in Iraq.

4. The Tower of Babel was in Iraq.

5. Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq!

6. Isaac's wife Rebekah is from Nahor, which is in Iraq !

7. Jacob met Rachel in Iraq.

8. Jonah preached in Nineveh - which is in Iraq.

9. Assyria, which is in Iraq, conquered the ten tribes of Israel.

10. Amos cried out in Iraq!

11. Babylon, which is in Iraq, destroyed Jerusalem.

12. Daniel was in the lion's den in Iraq!

13. The three Hebrew children were in the fire in Iraq (Jesus had been in Iraq also as the fourth person in the fiery furnace!)

14. Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the "writing on the wall" in Iraq.

15. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq.

16. Ezekiel preached in Iraq.

17. The wise men were from Iraq.

18. Peter preached in Iraq.

19. The "Empire of Man" described in Revelation is called Babylon, which was a city in Iraq< /I>!

And you have probably seen this one. Israel is the nation most often mentioned in the Bible. But do you know which nation is second? It is Iraq! However, that is not the name that is used in the Bible. The names used in the Bible are Babylon, Land ofShinar, and Mesopotamia. The word Mesopotamia means between the two rivers, more exactly between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The name Iraq, means country with deep roots.

Indeed Iraq is a country with deep roots and is a very significant country in the Bible.

No other nation, except Israel, has more history and prophecy associated with it than Iraq.

And also... This is something to think about! Since America is typically represented by an eagle. Saddam should have read up on his Muslim passages...

The following verse is from the Koran, (the Islamic Bible)

Koran (9:11) - For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah; and there was peace.

(Note the verse number!) Hmmmmmmm?! God Bless you all Amen !

CANCER UPDATE

Cancer news update from John Hopkins:
1. No plastic containers in microwave.
2. No water bottles in freezer.
3. No plastic wrap in microwave.
Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army&nbs p;Medical Center as well. Dioxin chemicals causes cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So, such things as TV dinners, instant ramen, and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons. Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

THE PLAN by Robin Williams

By Robin Williams

Robin Williams, wearing a shirt that says "I love New York" in Arabic.



The Plan!You gotta love Robin Williams...... Even if he's nuts! Leave it to Robin Williams to come up with the perfect plan. What we need now is for our UN Ambassador to stand up and repeat this message. Robin Williams' plan...(Hard to argue with this logic!) "I see a lot of people yelling for peace but I have not heard of a plan for peace. So, here's one plan."
1) "The US will apologize to the world for our "interference" in their affairs, past & present. You know, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Tojo, Noriega, Milosevic, Hussein, and the rest of those "good ole boys", we will never "interfere" again.
2) We will withdraw our troops from all over the world, starting with Germany, South Korea, the Middle East, and the Philippines. They don't want us there. We would station troops at our borders. No one allowed sneaking through holes in the fence.
3) All illegal aliens have 90 days to get their affairs together and leave.We'll give them a free trip home. After 90 days the remainder will be gathered up and deported immediately, regardless of whom or where they are. They're illegal!!! France will welcome them.
4) All future visitors will be thoroughly checked and limited to 90 days unless given a special permit!!!! No one from a terrorist nation will be allowed in. If you don't like it there, change it yourself and don't hide here. Asylum would never be available to anyone. We don't need any more cab drivers or 7-11 cashiers.
5) No foreign "students" over age 21. The older ones are the bombers. If they don't attend classes, they get a "D" and it's back home baby.
6) The US will make a strong effort to become self-sufficient energy wise. This will include developing nonpolluting sources of energy but will require a temporary drilling of oil in the Alaskan wilderness. The caribou will have to cope for a while.
7) Offer Saudi Arabia and other oil producing countries $10 a barrel for their oil. If they don't like it, we go someplace else(like Canada ! or Oklahoma!). They can go somewhere else to sell their production. (About a week of the wells filling up the storage sites would be enough.)
8) If there is a famine or other natural catastrophe in the world, we will not "interfere." They can pray to Allah or whomever, for seeds, rain, cement or whatever they need. Besides most of what we give them is stolen or given to the army. The people who need it most get very little, if anything.
9) Ship the UN Headquarters to an isolated island someplace. We don't need the spies and fair weather friends here. Besides, the building would make a good homeless shelter or lockup for illegal aliens.
10) All Americans must go to charm and beauty school. That way , no one can call us "Ugly Americans" any longer. The Language we speak is ENGLISH...learn it...or LEAVE...Now, isn't that a winner of a plan? "The Statue of Liberty is no longer saying "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses." She's got a baseball bat and she's yelling, 'you want a piece of me?' "

SEX FAIRY

1.Sex is a beauty treatment. Scientific test find that when women make love they produce amounts of the hormone estrogen, which makes hair shine and skin smooth. =============

2. Gentle, relaxed lovemaking reduces your chances of suffering dermatitis, skin rashes and blemishes. The sweat produced cleanses the pores and makes your skin glow. =============

3. Lovemaking can burn up those calories you piled on at dinner

4. Sex is one of the safest sports you can take up. It stretches and tones up just about every muscle in the body. It's more enjoyable than swimming 20 laps, and you don't need special sneakers! =============

5. Sex is an instant cure for mild depression. It releases endorphins into the bloodstream, producing a sense of euphoria and leaving you with a feeling of well-being. =============

6. The more sex you have, the more you will be offered. The sexually active body gives off greater quantities of chemicals called pheromones. These subtle sex perfumes drive the opposite sex crazy! ===========! ==

7 . Sex is the safest tranquilizer in the world. IT IS 10 TIMES MORE EFFECTIVE THAN VALIUM. =============

8. Kissing each day will keep the dentist away. Kissing encourages saliva to wash food from the teeth and lowers the level of the acid that causes decay, preventing plaque build-up. =============

9. Sex actually relieves headaches. A lovemaking session can release the tension that restricts blood vessels in the brain. =============

10. A lot of lovemaking can unblock a stuffy nose. Sex is a natural antihistamine. It can help combat asthma and hay fever.

NEVER PUT A BANANA IN THE REFIGERATOR

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

1. PMS: forget the pills- eat a banana. The B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can effect your mind.

2. Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

3. Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is so extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

4. Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

5. Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

6. Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and with the help of honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

7. Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

8. Morning sickness:Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

9. Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm down the nervous system.

10. Overweight: The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydate foods every 2 hours to keep levels steady.

11. Ulcers: The banana is used as a dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

12. (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

13. Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of the nicotine withdrawal.

14. Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stessed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

15. Strokes: Accord to research in the "The New England Journal of Medicine", eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!!

16. Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!!

Bananas are really a natural remedy for many illnesses !!!