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5 Warning Signs Of A Heart Attack All Women Should Know!

by June 22, 2017

Heart attacks are terrifying and with all of the processed foods were being fed, they’re also on the rise. A heart attack doesn’t always start out with chest pain, and symptoms can differ from men to women.

In today’s society CEO’s and big companies rule everything on the planet – including our food. Thus, they are always trying to save a dollar or two, and it’s always at the expense of your health, my health, and our kid’s health. Because of this, heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases are on the rise. In fact, heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. Although heart attacks are more common in men, women, of course, have them too; and they even have different symptoms.

Cardiovascular disease and stroke are responsible for 1 of every 3 women’s deaths. Each year cardiovascular disease kills an estimated 44 million women in the United States – that’s one woman having a heart attack every 80 seconds.

One of the most associated symptoms with a heart attack is chest pain. It is typically described as a squeezing and pulling pain inside the chest cavity. This is commonly followed by the numbness and tingling in one or both of your arms. Many people even think they had the flu when their heart issues arisen.

“Although men and women can experience chest pressure that feels like an elephant sitting across the chest, women can experience a heart attack without chest pressure, ” said Nieca Goldberg, M.D., medical director of the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health at NYU’s Langone Medical Center and an American Heart Association volunteer. “Instead they may experience shortness of breath, pressure or pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen, dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting, upper back pressure or extreme fatigue.”

Other Symptoms Typically Associated with Female Heart Attacks

  • Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
  • Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
  • Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
  • Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

The Dangers Of Nightshades: Why Eating The Wrong Fruits And Vegetables Can Make Pain Worse

by June 21, 2017

When we are trying to increase our overall health we often think that exercise and eating healthy is enough, but it’s actually not. In fact, some fruits and vegetables can actually harm you.

I know it sounds a little crazy, I mean what harm could come from fruits and veggies? Well, lots actually. But these aren’t just any old fruits and veggies. These bad boys are called nightshades and they are no fun. Nightshades are a specific group of plants that belong to the Solanaceae family. This family includes over 2,000 different species – including some of the most popular fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, all types of peppers, and eggplant.

What are The Nightshades?

 

  • Tomatoes (all varieties, including tomatillos)
  • Potatoes (all varieties, NOT sweet potatoes or yams)
  • Eggplant (aubergine)
  • Okra
  • Artichokes
  • Peppers (all varieties such as bell pepper, wax pepper, green & red peppers, chili
  • peppers,
  • cayenne, paprika, etc.)
  • Goji berries
  • Tomarillos (a plum-like fruit from Peru)
  • Sorrel
  • Garden Huckleberry & Blueberries (contain the alkaloids that induce inflammation)
  • Gooseberries
  • Pepino Melon
  • The Homeopathic “Belladonna”
  • Tobacco
  • Paprika
  • Cayenne Pepper

Nightshades are so frowned upon because they can bring about lots of ill side effects. They induce chronic inflammation through a specific chemical known as solanine. Researchers believe that the chemical irritates the gastrointestinal tract. It can also destroy oxygen carrying red blood cells as soon as it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Solanine acts to prevent the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) leading to excessive build up of ACh in nerve receptors. This can cause massive inflammation, nerve damage, aches and pains.

Solanine is not water soluble, destroyed by cooking, and not broken down inside the body. They are actually excreted as alpha solanine. It is classified as a dangerous neurotoxin. Norman F. Childers, PhD, is the founder of the Arthritis Nightshades Research Foundation. He has the following to say on this subject: “Diet appears to be a factor in the etiology of arthritis based on surveys of over 1400 volunteers during a 20-year period. Plants in the drug family, Solanaceae (nightshades) are an important causative factor in arthritis in sensitive people.” The primary cause of the reactions in some people is the presence of an alkaloid called tropane which many are very sensitive to.

Eliminating nightshades from my diet has had a profound effect on my health. In 2006 I completely eliminated all nightshades from my diet. The first big change I noticed was that I no longer needed an inhaler. I had been diagnosed with reactive airways disease ten years’ earlier and used inhalers on almost a daily basis. My need for inhalers decreased dramatically, until two weeks later, when I noticed I hadn’t used an inhaler at all. Six years later, I have never had the need for an inhaler. Within three months of eliminating nightshades, I noticed that the knee pain and leg weakness I had on a daily basis was also completely gone.

Dairy Industry Trying to Hide Aspartame in New Definition of ‘Milk’

by June 20, 2017

A petition was filed with the FDA by both the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is requesting that the agency amend the definition of milk, as well as 17 other dairy products. Should this pass, artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and sucrose would not have to be listed on the product label.

Not only would the ingredients themselves not have to be listed, but milk producers wouldn’t even have to list phrases like ‘low-calorie’ or ‘calorie-free’ which can tip-off to consumers that the product may contain artificial sweeteners.

milk, milk products, artificial sweetners

The Federal Register states, “[T]he proposed amendments would assist in meeting several initiatives aimed at improving the nutrition and health profile of food served in the nation’s schools. Those initiatives include state-level programs designed to limit the quantity of sugar served to children during the school day.”

 

Both the IDFA and NMPF argue that these changes would increase milk consumption in schools, as content claims such as ‘reduced calorie’ are not attractive to children, and therefore steer them away from the product.

They believe that due to the fact that consumers don’t generally recognize milk products as containing sugars, sweetening the products with artificial sweeteners instead of actual sugar would make it easier to identify its overall nutritional value.

The current legislation is already confusing, allowing producers to add sugar or high fructose corn syrup to their products while only labeling them as ‘milk’, however it does currently require that while artificial sweeteners can be added, they must be listed clearly. That’s right – your current dairy products may contain high fructose corn syrup without you even knowing it!

Should this petition pass, not only would the FDA amend the standards for milk, but also for 17 other milk and cream products including: acidified milk, cultured milk, sweetened condensed milk, non-fat dairy milk, non-fat dry milk fortified with vitamins A and D, evaporated milk, dry cream, heavy cream, light cream, sour cream, and acidified sour cream, light whipping cream, eggnog, half-and-half, yogurt, low-fat yogurt and non-fat yogurt.

Confused as to how this change would benefit Americans? You aren’t alone! One clue may come in reading a letter that was written by the NMPF to Julie Brewer, Chief of the Policy and Program Development Branch of the Child Nutition Division of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in response to a proposed rule to revise the nutrition requirements for the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. This proposed change would include limiting flavored milk products to only fat-free varieties. The NMPF letter read, in part:

 

”The proposed rule will not be a success if milk consumption drops as a result of flavored milk choices that are not appealing (or at least not as appealing as competitive beverages students may bring to school from elsewhere). Flavored milk was included as an option in the proposed rule in recognition that the small amount of added sugar (flavored milk contributes only 2-3% of added sugars to the diets of children and adolescents) is an acceptable trade-off for the extensive nutrient contribution flavored milk provides.”


“Therefore, NMPF urges the Department to modify the proposed rule to include both low-fat and fat-free flavored milk as options available to schools. To limit the potential for additional calories in a low-fat flavored milk (as compared to a fat-free formulation) we urge the establishment of a calorie limit on flavored milk of 150 calories per eight-ounce serving.”


“This will provide schools the flexibility to procure milk products that maintain high levels of acceptability and nutrient intake, while also assuring that flavored milk fits within overall calorie limits for meals. Many milk processors have proactively committed to and met a goal of 150 calories per serving as a way to limit the amount of sugar in flavored milk, and have worked within this constraint to formulate products that have demonstrated acceptability among students in schools across the country.”

 

Based on this letter, one can conclude that the purpose of the new proposed change of definition, like the purpose of the above letter, are two-fold; to fool children into drinking low-fat milk products, and to allow National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs to ‘look good’ in the eyes of the public by reducing the total calorie count of their provided meals, while at the same time helping to boost dairy industry profits.

While the commenting period for this petition is now closed, the debate continues. The industry has also moved on to further debate the term ‘milk’, as Diary producers are now calling for a crack down on plant-based ‘milks’ such as almond, soy and rice ‘milks’, claiming that they are masquerading as the real thing. The standard of identity for milk at this time states “complete milking of one or more healthy cows”, and as such the dairy industry is calling on the FDA to enforce these guidelines.

 Which leaves us wondering, what really is in the products that we are drinking?

Seven Amazing Five-Minute Exercises for a Healthy Spine

by June 20, 2017

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has released data stating that 31 million Americans experience low-back pain at any given time and that as much as 80% of the American population will experience back pain at some point in their lives.

With these problems among the most common problems that the American population may face, even the healthiest of us need to be aware of the possibility that we, too, may experience it someday. Our lifestyles promote a lack of activity, sitting down for longer periods of time, or, on the other extreme, heavy lifting and straining as part of our daily routines. Both situations can cause a significant amount of damage to your back health.

Rather than waiting to deal with the problem down the road, there are steps that can be taken today to prevent injury and strengthen your spine. These exercises do not require a great deal of equipment, a trip to the gym or a lot of your time.

 

Prevent back pain spending just 5 minutes a day, doing these exercises:

Exercise #1

back pain, back injury, healthy spine

Lie flat on your back, stretching your right arm out straight, 90 degrees from the body and stretch your left leg straight out. Pull your right knee to your left side, so that it nearly touches your left hand. Hold this position for 20 seconds. Switch arms and knees, and repeat the exercise.

 

Exercise #2

back pain, back injury, healthy spine

Bend your right knee at a 90-degree angle, stretching your left leg out behind you on the ground. Being careful to ensure that your right knee remains bent, hold this position for 30 seconds. Switch legs and repeat the exercise.

 

Exercise #3

back pain, back injury, healthy spine

Stand up arm’s length away from a table or high bench. Bend at the waist, reaching forward towards the table, bending your knees slightly in the process. Continue to bend forward until such time that you can touch the edge of the table with both hands. Stretch out your arms and head to your shoulder level. Hold this position for 10 seconds. When you stand up from this position, bend your body to the left, then to the right, stretching out the body. Repeat the exercise.

 

Exercise #4

back pain, back injury, healthy spine

Lie flat on your back and bend both your knees, planting your feet on the floor. Take hold of your left leg by the knee, pulling it towards your torso while keeping the knee bent. Hold this position for approximately 20 seconds. Switch legs and repeat.

 

Exercise #5

back pain, back injury, healthy spine

Lie flat on your back and bend your left knee. Cross the lower half of your right leg across your left thigh, pointing your knee directly out to the side at a 90-degree angle. Grasping behind your left leg, pull your leg towards your head. Hold this position for 30 seconds. Switch legs and repeat the exercise.

 

Exercise #6

back pain, back injury, healthy spine

Lie down on your right side and bend your left leg at the knee. Using your left hand, firmly take hold of your left ankle and gently pull up. You should feel this stretch along your left thigh. Make sure that you keep your spine straight throughout this stretch, and hold it for 30 seconds. Switch sides and repeat the exercise.

 

Exercise #7

back pain, back injury, healthy spine

Lie flat on your back. Bend your right leg at your knee, planting your foot on the floor. Attempt to stretch out your left leg so that it is in the air above your head, keeping the right knee bent. Clasp both hands behind the left knee. Firmly, but carefully, pull your left leg towards your torso and hold this position for about 30 seconds. Switch legs and repeat.

Michigan Farmer Forced to Dump 40,000 Pounds of Cherries to Make Way for Import Crops

by June 20, 2017

Marc Santucci, the owner of Santucci Farms in Traverse City shared a photo on July 26, 2016 sharing the news that he had been forced to dump 14% of this cherry crop, left to rot on the ground in order to comply with a market restriction enforced by the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (CIAB).

In an attempt to clarify the situation in a follow-up post, Santucci wrote,

“These cherries are tart cherries and have a one or two-day shelf life so they have to be used or processed immediately. Second, the cherries that are diverted cannot be sold or given away. Third, the applicable law that controls this is the agricultural marketing agreement act of 1937 as amended – farmers and processors vote every five years as to whether this program should continue. It is not [a] one man one vote, but the more cherries you produce the more votes you get. The large farmers are also processors so they control the vote and it is in their interest to continue this program.”

2016 was a fantastic year for not only Santucci Farms, but for the cherry industry as a whole! It was reported that the industry produced 100 million more pounds in 2016 than they had in 2015.

Perry Hedin, a representative of the Cherry Industry Administrative Board in DeWitt, Michigan reported that cherry growers were being paid higher prices over the past 20 years due in part to the order in question, which was first opted into by tart cherry processors and growers in 1995. When the rule was put in place, the goal was to add stability to the unpredictable yields that cherry growers can see from year-to-year.

While the larger growers are equipped to process their cherries, making use of the extra 14-29% of their crops in some way, such as freezing them, drying them, or selling them outside of the U.S., smaller growers are hit harder as they do not have access to the necessary processing equipment. They are instead forced to leave their crops to rot.

Santucci explained that he didn’t share his story in hope of receiving a bigger payment, but rather to raise awareness of the program and encourage people to write to Congress to effect change. He stated,

“I posted (the photo) because I want people to know that we sometimes do stupid things in this country in an attempt to do the right thing – we end up doing the wrong thing. Unless we can make the people who count understand and know what’s going on, we’ll never change it.”

Oral Health And Overall Health: Dental Industry Scams & How to Detox Your Mouth

by June 20, 2017

The CDC reports that nearly 24% of American adults aged 20-64 have untreated dental cavities. With the body working as one interconnected system, it can only work effectively when all individual parts are working optimally and well cared for. As we focus on our health, it is important that we don’t disregard our teeth and mouths!

A healthy mouth contains more than 500 species of bacteria, including both beneficial and harmful varieties. These ‘good’ bacteria, otherwise known as probiotics, help to promote digestion and synthesize vitamins for the body, all while protecting the body from the presence of these ‘bad’ bacteria. These ‘bad’ bacteria are responsible for many mouth-related health problems including cavities, gingivitis, bad breath, periodontitis and plaque build-up.

These bacteria don’t just have a negative impact on our dental health when ignored, but can ultimately impact the entire body! Since every system in the body is connected, infections and bacterial overgrowth that start in the mouth can move throughout the body causing several serious health problems including bacterial pneumonia, diabetes, and heart disease.

One study, entitled “Poor Oral Hygiene as a Risk Factor for Infective Endocarditis-Related Bacteremia” linked poor dental health and endocarditis. When germs and bacteria spread throughout the body in the bloodstream, they can attach themselves to damaged areas of the heart causing this infection of its inner lining. Other studies and research have gone on to connect poor oral health with the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s, and even discussed the connection between oral health and cancer.

What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?

With these clear connections between poor oral health and the risk of additional health problems, it is time that we try to be more aware and focused on ensuring that we maintain good dental care. Be sure to brush regularly, using an organic toothbrush, and replace your toothbrush every few months, as well as immediately following anytime that you find yourself sick. Additionally, use an all-natural/fluoride-free toothpaste, floss regularly, eat organic plant-based foods and be sure to visit your dentist!

In addition to caring for your oral health, here are 9 ways to naturally detox your mouth.

  1. Tongue Scraping

Scraping the tongue removes the build up that may otherwise be contributing to bad breath and imbalance of good versus bad bacteria within the mouth, including bacterial build-up, fungi, dead cells and food debris. This will also help to stimulate the metabolism.

  1. Oral Probiotic

Oral probiotics will work to balance out the good bacteria within the mouth, especially if you find that cavities are becoming a more regular occurrence. The higher the number of good bacteria in the mouth, the better defense that you have against the bad bacteria, reducing the risk of infection and inflammation.

  1. Camu Camu

Camu Camu contains 250mg of Vitamin C per teaspoon, which is more than any known botanical source. This boost of vitamin C will not only boost your immune system but also promote healthy gums, reducing the incidence of gingivitis, bleeding gums, and periodontitis. It has also been found to aid in maintaining strong cartilage, bones, and teeth.

  1. Oil Pulling

The practice of oil pulling has been gaining in popularity as people continue to learn the way in which it can pull toxins from the oral cavity, which you, in turn, spit out clear of the body. It has the ability to reduce plaque-induced gingivitis, as well as the bacterium Streptococcus mutans, which is the bacterium that has been known to cause cavities.

  1. Non-Toxic Toothpaste

If you are committed to removing toxins from the foods that you are consuming, it also makes sense to reduce the presence of toxins in products like your toothpaste. Many brands include several chemicals including fluoride, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, sodium hydroxide, and triclosan. Choose, instead, a toothpaste that uses all natural breath fresheners and antibacterial agents such as licorice, neem, peppermint, clove, and eucalyptus.

  1. Green Tea

Experts have found that regular green tea consumption has been linked to healthy teeth and gums, and the reduction of periodontal disease. It is believed that this is a result of the high levels of the antioxidant catechin, which has been found to reduce the levels of bad bacteria, as well as inflammation within the body.

  1. Neem Oil

Neem Oil has been used throughout history as a remedy to clear up infections within the mouth. It may not have the most pleasant taste; however, it carries a list of benefits including lowering levels of plaque and tartar, reducing inflammation, bleeding gums, and dental infections, and acting as an antibacterial. Apply a few drops of the oil to the gum line, massage it in and then allow it to sit overnight.

  1. Ionic Toothbrush

An Ionic toothbrush works by temporarily reversing the polarity of the teeth, drawing plaque towards the toothbrush head. This allows you to clear more plaque, promoting better oral health. They have also been found to reduce hypersensitivity, plaque, and bleeding gums.

  1. Tea Tree Oil Floss

As previously discussed, it is important to ensure that we are regularly flossing our teal. Adding tea tree oil is an additional bonus, reducing bad oral bacteria. Studies have found that tea tree oil can significantly reduce gum bleeding and gingivitis.

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