Power Eating: Food Combos Magnify Health Benefits

Would you like to combine foods that are tasty and nutritionally powerful?  I know I would!

Here are some of Dr. Rubman’s favorite one-two food punches…

TEA WITH LEMON
Made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, tea contains powerful catechins that improve digestion and reduce heart disease and cancer risk. Many tea drinkers already squeeze lemon into their cups because it tastes so great, but it also significantly increases your absorption of the disease-fighting antioxidants in the tea. To extract the most catechins, steep tea in hot water for at least five minutes and don’t reuse tea bags.

Your best bet: All tea is good for you, but white and green teas are richer sources of catechins than black tea.

BEETS WITH VITAMIN C-RICH VEGETABLES
Eating produce with a variety of colors — yellow peppers, orange sweet potatoes, purple eggplant, etc. — gives you the greatest variety of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. You can add more power yet by serving iron-rich greens such as kale, mustard greens, spinach or Swiss chard with vitamin C-packed beets (or tomatoes or lemon). The reason? Vitamin C makes plant-based iron more absorbable by your intestines.

FRUITS WITH… FRUITS
Along the same lines, eating several fruits at one time generates greater antioxidant action than eating single fruits separately. Blueberries top many “Best Fruit” lists, since they are a rich source of polyphenols that reduce inflammation. Combine them with whatever else is fresh, in season and at peak ripeness — raspberries, strawberries, purple grapes, mango, apples, oranges, etc. Aim for three to five servings (each serving one-half to one cup) of different fruits daily. Dr. Rubman said doing this will boost the synergistic effect of these phytochemicals, which work better in combination than alone.

For maximum health: Don’t eat fruit within 20 minutes of meals, before or after, as their sugars will then rest longer in the digestive tract, where they ferment and cause gas.

PASTA WITH TOMATO SAUCE
No doctor has to work hard to convince me to eat this delicious, classic combination! Tomatoes contain the potent antioxidant lycopene, which fights heart disease and certain cancers — since lycopene is fat soluble, the tomato sauce should be made with olive oil, which facilitates absorption. Dr. Rubman said that olive oil is also helpful in offsetting the challenge of digesting gluten in pasta — though he notes that this doesn’t give a pass to people with celiac disease, since the soothing mechanism isn’t sufficient to solve the problem completely.

BEEF WITH MARINADE
Marinate beef before grilling or barbecuing (even if just for 10 minutes or so) to reduce your exposure to cancer-causing heterocyclic amines (HCAs) that are created when meat is cooked at high temperatures. Make your own marinade, since sugar-infused store-bought brands end up increasing HCA production. Look for recipes that use members of the antioxidant, anti-HCA mint family — rosemary, thyme, basil, sage and oregano.

For maximum health: We actually need a little saturated fat for digestive health and other body functions, Dr. Rubman observes — just not at the levels in the typical American diet. Limit your beef consumption to one three-ounce serving per week.

FISH WITH CITRUS
You may have seen or eaten a delicious dish called ceviche, which is made by marinating raw seafood, such as fish, shrimp or scallops in highly acidic citrus juice (usually lemon or lime). What you probably didn’t know is that serving fish with citrus fruits enhances the healthful anti-inflammatory properties of both. Latin American chefs often also toss in other fresh ingredients, such as cilantro, tomato, onion and avocado — excellent sources of antioxidant phytonutrients and flavonoids that likewise discourage inflammation, boost heart health and help flush toxins from the body.

Caution: People with a compromised immune system shouldn’t take chances with raw seafood — you can achieve the same health effect by poaching, grilling or sautéing fish with citrus juice and sprinkling it with cilantro.

BEANS AND GRAINS — NOT NECESSARILY TOGETHER
If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, you probably eat beans and grains together often since it’s widely known that they contain different amino acids that are all necessary to build the complete proteins you require for good health. But did you know that you don’t have to eat beans and grains in the same meal to reap this benefit? Eating them within a single 24-hour period — for example, brown rice with dinner tonight, black bean chili for lunch tomorrow — will do the trick.

For maximum health: Even if you aren’t a vegetarian, declare “Meatless Mondays” — choosing beans and grains instead of meat even one day a week can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer.

Making a habit of eating some of these foods together regularly is a great recipe for better health!

I would like to thank Dr. Andrew L. Rubman, ND, founder and director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut for brining us this tasty information! http://www.southburyclinic.com.

Soft Drinks Linked To Pancreatic Cancer

What happens to our relationship with our animal friends when we don’t have enough energy to play, train or in general take care of them?  We owe it to ourselves and our animal friends to take better care of ourselves so we have the energy to take care of them.

Drinking an average of five sodas a week doesn’t sound like much… but what would you say upon learning that they nearly double your risk of getting pancreatic cancer — one of the deadliest of all malignancies?

This shocking statistic about soda comes from a study at the University of Minnesota. Researchers analyzed medical records and diet histories of 60,524 Asian adults over a 14-year period (the records came from the Singapore Chinese Health Study, the Singapore Cancer Registry and the Singapore Registry of Births and Deaths), comparing consumption of soft drinks (in one group) and fruit juice (in another group) with the incidence of pancreatic cancer… and found that the incidence was 87% higher among those who drank soda.

The researchers established that this link was independent of other risk factors– such as smoking, body weight, type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes, caloric intake and the consumption of red meat. Having established that lifestyles in Singapore are very similar to those in the US, lead study author Noel Mueller, MPH, research associate at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, DC, assured me there’s nothing uniquely dangerous about soda in Singapore — it’s the same stuff people drink here.

Acknowledging that there are some genetic differences between the populations, he told me that he doesn’t think that those are as significant as the fact that soda drinkers likely don’t have the same healthy habits as fruit juice drinkers.

NOT SO SWEET
Researchers hypothesize that sugar is the culprit, with 12.5 teaspoons of sugar (usually in the form of high-fructose corn syrup) in a 16-ounce, 200-calorie sugar-sweetened soda, on average — that’s enough to trigger the pancreas to produce a surge of insulin.

Dr. Mueller theorizes that this habitual “blasting” of the pancreas with so much sugar may stimulate cancerous tumor growth over time. Though fruit juice is also high in sugar, researchers think that the nutrients and fiber in juices may buffer any unhealthy impact.

The resulting advice to limit sugar intake is predictable, of course — but I’m guessing that even those of us who already do that have vastly underestimated the potential damage that even a few sodas a week can do. This is no time for sweet talk: Stay away from sugary soda.

Source(s):
Noel T. Mueller, MPH, research associate, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC. http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com

Warning, Gardasil May Cause Increased Risk of Cervical Cancer

Would you consent to giving your child a vaccine that caused an increased risk of cancer? That may be exactly what you are doing when you consent to Gardasil.

According to Information the manufacturer of this vaccine presented to the FDA prior to approval, if a person has already been exposed to HPV 16 or 18 prior to injection Gardasil increases the risk of precancerous lesions, or worse, by 44.6%.

That statement bears repeating, if you have been exposed to HPV 16 or 18 prior to injection and take the vaccine, you increase your risk of precancerous lesions, or worse, by 44.6%.

Is this information advertised? No! This information was actually presented to the FDA by Merck. It came from their own safety trials. The FDA did not respond by recommending screening for HPV prior to vaccination. The FDA did not even demand a warning be included in the package insert.

Now, Merck’s research is indicating that Gardasil may also ‘provide cross-protection’ against other strains of HPV that are closely related to HPV 16 and 18. (see this article on Medpage Today) This means prior exposure to these additional strains may pose an increased risk for cervical cancer also, if combined with vaccination.

No one appears to be concerned with the increased risk of vaccination combined with prior exposure, as long as you take the vaccine. You will see no advertisements indicating the possibility of increased risk of the very cancer this vaccine is supposed to help you avoid.

Government officials will not be informed of the potential danger. They will be told HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the country and that it must be eradicated. They will be told this vaccine should be mandatory.

As a consumer, you must protect yourself. If you are sexually active or suspect you may have been exposed to HPV, ask your doctor to screen for HPV prior to taking Gardasil. If he, or she, does not know why, educate them. After all, it is your future at stake.

44.6% increased risk of cervical lesions/cancer; or HPV screening before consenting to vaccination — it is your decision. Please, make it an informed one.

I would like to thank Norma Erickson for this highly relevant information, http://budurl.com/gardasil

An Interview with Devin O’Branagan

Author, Devin O’Branagan, includes delightful celebrity canine characters in her entertaining chick-lit novels, Red Hot Property, Red Hot Liberty, the young adult vampire novel, Glory. She also writes the metaphysical novels Spirit Warriors and Witch Hunt. Listen to our interview to find out what inspired her to write her series, and why it’s important to her to include dogs in her stories.

Devin’s cast of colorful canine characters include her own dogs as well as the late but memorable and much loved basset hound, Ross; Chance (Winner of Best in Show from Crufts and recipient of many other awards); and the celebrity actor dog, Bocker.

Bocker the Labradoodle is famous for his role in Stephen Spielberg’s movie War of the Worlds and will be featured in the new Julia Robert’s movie, Eat, Pray and Love. And I’m delighted to learn that my own genius in a dog, Einstein, will have a part in Red Hot Vampyre, the third book in the Red Hot Series.

Devin hosts fundraisers for Best Friends Society, the largest no kill animal sanctuary in the world, and also supports other worthy causes for animal welfare. Enjoy the interview then be sure to get on Devin’s newsletter list so you can enter your own K9 companion in her next contest. You can also leave us a comment on our blogs about the show: http://www.devinwrites.com or http://www.valheart.com/blog

Cat Behavior Problems – Taming The Wildcat Within

Cats have won the popularity contest. More people now have cats in their homes as pets than any other pet. Cats are unique animals. They can be funny, mysterious and cuddly. They can also be perplexing. Accepting up front that you have a tiger in the house can go a long way toward understanding cat behavior problems.

Even though cats have been domesticated for ages, their feline behavior has remained much like that of a jungle cat like the lion or the tiger. Even our adorable little pussycats still retain certain predatory instincts, so much of what appears to be cat behavior problems only reflects their genetic brain formation for the life they were originally meant to lead.

If you have raised a kitten, or more than one kitten, you will undoubtedly notice that kittens become aggressive in their play when they are active. Doing this helps them learn skills that would help them catch prey in the wild to survive. With indoor cats, however, you should teach them to channel these aggressive instincts into acceptable forms, so they do not try to bite your fingers or toes!

Give your kitten appropriate cat toys that can withstand being stalked, bitten, chewed, and kicked. Kittens like to hold a toy with their front paws while kicking it with their powerful back legs. This activity is good exercise for your pet and a lot of fun for you to watch. Mice made of fur or leather make good toys, because your kitty can pounce on them and chew to his heart’s content. While your kitten may be several weeks old before he reacts to catnip, you may need to add some to toys in order to attract the attention of an older kitten or cat. Some cats don’t seem to be affected by catnip, however.

If your cat is playing in this manner, you must set limits and teach him or her not to bite, scratch or chew humans, or anything else that you consider to be out of bounds. Do not hit a cat; this won’t deter him and will only cause more cat behavior problems. It will undermine the trust between you and your pet, making him or her more aggressive and angry. Instead, say “No!” after removing the cat from the situation, and reward good behavior with a “Good kitty!” and, in some cases, a treat.

Cats naturally control the growth of their claws by scratching trees and other rough surfaces, another instinct behavior. To make sure they don’t treat furniture or carpet as an indoor substitute, you need to provide cat scratchers for them to use instead. Catnip or catnip sprays can help lure the cat to use these at first, but many catch on easily. You can make your own from scrap wood and carpet scraps, or even strips of cardboard crammed sideways in a box, or buy them at any pet shop. Some types hang from doorknobs as well.

There are more cats in American homes these days than there are dogs. A cat owner who understands cat behavior problems will find it easier living with the little wildcat they’ve brought into their home. To address feline behavior issues, you need to provide cat scratchers to keep cats from using your carpets and furniture for the same purpose. Also, you need to teach the cat not to bite, chew or scratch things that are off limits. When the cat does something bad, say “No!” sharply and remove the cat from the situation, and reward obedience with a “Good kitty!” and perhaps a treat.

Brought to you by Paul Proctor, article found at http://www.amazines.com

Horse That Overcame Adversity Attempts Guinness World Record

Lukas, a 17-year-old Thoroughbred gelding who stands 16.2 hands, may well be the smartest horse in the country–maybe the world, and owner-trainer Karen Murdock is trying to get him into the Guinness World Records for “Most numbers identified by a horse in one minute.”

On June 16, Lukas was able to identify a correct number at least 18 times.

“The counter said 20, but I think he skimmed two of them,” said Murdock of Southern California. “I don’t know how stringent the Guinness World Records will be. He got between 18-20 correct, which is about average for him.”

Lukas’ journey from broken-down rescue to smartest horse was a long, hard road and can be an inspiration for anyone, Murdock said. “Lukas overcame adversity and that can help our character. It is never too late for any of us.”

He ran three races as a 2-year-old and bowed both front tendons, ending his career. He was found years later filthy and emaciated in a back yard by a woman who took pity on him.

She tried to rehabilitate him for her jumping program-but he was obstinate and dangerous. She sold him to Murdock eight years ago.
“He was a handful,” Murdock said, “but I fell in love with him. Basically, I had to un-train him and use tricks and play to change his attitude and to build a bond with him.”

Lukas has been listed on Yahoo, Google and the World Records Academy as “The World’s Smartest Horse.” He counts, spells, identifies shapes, discriminates colors and grasps the concepts of same/different, proportion and absentness, she said.

To be considered for the Guinness record, he had to point with his nose the correct number from 1 to 5 when Murdock called it out; the call-outs were random and non-sequential.

She was not allowed to praise him, pet him, encourage him or touch him. “The guidelines were specific in that there could be no pointing or touching, no extra words,” she said.

Murdock doesn’t know when Guinness will make its decision, but she is happy that the record-keepers are even considering Lukas. Until now, animal records have had to do with the physical attributes – tallest, shortest, longest tail, etc.

Considering an animal’s cognitive abilities is new.

“This is the first time that Guinness has ever allowed such an activity,” she said. “I’m just glad that people are willing to look at animals in a different light.”

From http://www.TheHorse.com

Man’s Best Friend or Beer Belly Buddy?

I was listening to a health show on the radio the other day and the host was interviewing a veterinarian on dog diseases and their prevention. He mentioned that one of the biggest problems for our pets is obesity. He went on to talk about a special canine weight loss diet; how nutritious it is and how your pet won’t be hungry or even know they are on a diet.

I found this quite amazing and almost humorous because if he would not have mentioned the words “pet” or, “dog” I would have sworn he was talking about human obesity and some miracle diet program that he was endorsing.

What is so interesting to me is that while the reasons for obesity are complex, there are some similar components in both humans and animals. The main aspect being family obesity and the emotional use of food for showing love and bonding.

Now please understand, I grew up in the perfect model of the obese family and in no way am blaming anyone that may be reading this. We all do the best we can in the moment and my writing is to raise awareness and not point blame. As a matter of fact, blame would only lead to an increase of bad feelings and not to an open curiosity which gives us the possibility of change.

In my family, food was used as a treat, for entertainment, for a symbol of love and when withheld, a symbol of punishment. This process is something I have had to work on continuously to not replicate with my own family.

When I see an obese dog or cat in addition to feeling badly for the animal, I am curious about its story… How is food used to communicate with this animal?… What are the motives of the owners? I have been at times flabbergasted, seeing animal owners laughing at their obese animal or putting the reason for the obesity on the animal…… something like ….”Scruffy” just can’t stop eating. When I hear this I think, “Are you trying to tell me that while you’re away at work ‘Scruffy’ is in the kitchen baking goodies or at night sneaking down and finishing off that apple pie in the fridge?”

My wife and I have been dog owners for the last 20 years, the last dog being a blond lab, so I understand that almost irresistible urge to show friendship and love with food. However, just like a parent/child food relationship, the owner/pet relationship carries responsibilities. Because of this, I monitor my use of food in my communication very carefully.

I do not suggest abstinence (no treats) unless that is something that works for you. If you do have an obese animal what I do suggest is awareness and asking yourself what is your motivation in over-feeding your animal…. , and how else could you show your love in a more healthy way? An extra walk, snuggle or play time?

Steve Kiges – http://www.theunreasonablelife.com ©2010

For information on food addictions and becoming one of the 5% that keep lost weight off for life, visit: http://www.theunreasonablelife.com

Strange Cat Behavior Demystified

Scenario: You’re walking down the hall, in your own little world, when suddenly a flying, foot-snagging cat grabs a hold of your ankle and takes a bite. “But he was purring away on the couch a few minutes ago,” you think to yourself. “What happened?” Explanation: Chances are your cat is simply practicing skills he would normally use in the wild, such as: stalking, chasing, swatting, clawing, and biting. He may draw his ears back, twitch his tail, freeze in a low crouch before pouncing, and/or wrap his front paws around your hand or foot in an attempt to bite. These are all body postures cats, large and small, show when searching for and catching prey.

Despite your kitty’s playful intentions, they can result in scratches, bites that don’t break the skin, or serious injury (scratches and bites that break the skin and become infected). The most common play aggressors are cats less than two years of age, those living in a one-cat household, and cats spending 8-10 hours a day home alone.

Playful “attacks” commonly occur when unsuspecting owners round a corner, come down the stairs, or toss around under a blanket. These attacks can often be distinguished from aggressive encounters by a sideways hop or pounce, an arched back, a half open mouth, or silence (the absence of hissing, growling, or spitting).

Respiratory Disease In Foals

When I came across this article by Dr. Fairfield Bain, DVM, I thought it brilliant, and I wanted to share it with those of you who are fellow horse lovers!

Question: What is the first thing I look for to tell if my foal has a respiratory problem, and what are the best things to do to prevent pneumonia and other problems from happening in the first place?

Answer by Dr. Baine:  The most important signs of respiratory disease in neonatal foals are an increased respiratory rate (breathing hard), occasionally a cough, sometimes discharge from the nose, and fever. Some of the foals might be weak and have a difficult time getting up. These signs will all vary depending on the severity of the respiratory problem.

When a foal is born, you should run your finger along the roof of his mouth to check and see if the foal has a cleft palate. That congenital abnormality can cause the foal to get milk in its trachea and result in aspiration pneumonia. Some of these foals will have milk running out of their nose, another warning sign that pneumonia might occur.

Premature foals are at greater risk because they have poor lung development. You might notice that they have poor rib cage excursions, or their rib cage does not move in and out as well as that of a normal foal. Along with this goes poor expansion of the alveoli in the lung.

Poor colostrum absorption in any foal can lead to respiratory disease. The respiratory system can be a primary site of septicemia (caused by bacterial toxins in the blood).

With orphan foals or foals being fed on a bottle, make sure that the foal has a good suckle reflex and keep the bottle below eye level of the foal. This will help prevent milk from running down into his trachea and possibly causing aspiration pneumonia.

Older foals have the same clinical signs as neonates–difficulty breathing, coughing, nasal discharge, and fever. With any age foal, it’s time to call in your veterinarian if you see the foal is having difficulty breathing and/or is coughing and has a fever.

The normal foal’s respiratory rate is about 30-40 breaths per minute, although in hot weather it can go up to 60-80 breaths per minute in a normal foal. Also, if the foal has a discharge from its nostrils you should have him examined by your veterinarian. Remember to check his oral membranes–they should be bright pink. If they are discolored, it might be a sign of poor oxygenation.

In all cases, diagnosis is made by listening to the lungs with a stethoscope, and occasionally with X rays and ultrasound examination. Sometimes in young foals it is difficult to hear abnormalities because they normally have loud lung sounds. With the X rays or ultrasound, we are looking for consolidation or abscesses in the lungs. In severely affected young foals we might check their arterial blood gases. This measures the lung function–how well the oxygen and carbon dioxide are being exchanged. That’s usually only done with cases severe enough to be hospitalized.

One of the main causes of respiratory disease is the bacterium Rhodococcus equi. There are many other bacterial agents that can cause respiratory disease, including Streptococcus zooepidemicus and Streptococcus equi, as well as Escherichia coli and Salmonella.

Preventing respiratory problems in foals starts before they are born with routine vaccination programs for pregnant mares. This is extremely important to protect young foals from equine viral rhinopneumonitis. It is also important to make sure the foal nurses well so that you know he got the antibodies from the mare in the colostrum. With older foals, make sure they are on a good vaccination program to help prevent viral infections.

In areas where Rhodococcus is a problem–and it can be endemic on some farms–avoid over use of congregating areas where dust builds up. That is a prime area for the transmission of Rhodococcus.

It should go without saying that a clean environment for the foals is extremely important. Make sure that stalls are kept as clean as possible because dust and ammonia can injure the cells lining the respiratory tract of a foal and cause decreased clearance for debris.

(Article retrieved from:  www.thehorse.com)

Getting a New Dog? Prepare Your Home

Housekeeping is a casual affair for some and a major event for others. Adopting a dog can help to transform your house into a home, but your new four-legged friend could also turn your home into a mess. With a little thinking ahead, you can have a happy pet and a clean home! Here are some tips for achieving just that:

Clean Pets = Clean House

* Keep your dogs well-groomed. Frequent brushing outdoors will keep indoor shedding to a minimum. If need be, trim excess hair so that dirt and waste won’t cling.

* Keep your dog’s nails trimmed, filing down any edges that could shred upholstery.

* Wipe off your dog’s jowls and long, floppy ears after each meal.

* Placing a large, absorbent place mat under food and water bowls will make for easier clean-up.

Furniture

* Place machine-washable slip covers over lightly colored furniture that is more apt to show stains.

* Vinyl and leather furniture is easy to clean. Just make sure your dog’s nails are trimmed, as they can damage those materials.

* Place a comfy bed for your dog in a designated room or corner. Cover the bed with a machine-washable throw and train your dog that this is the only piece of furniture they are allowed to frequent.

Floors

* You can easily wipe away dog waste on sheet linoleum, tile and Pergo® floor surfaces. Use polyurethane to seal hardwood floors in order to prevent lingering urine odor.

* Try to use washable area rugs instead of wall-to-wall carpeting. If urine soaks into carpet backing, it can be impossible to clean. A carpet care product that targets pet stains can prove indispensable if you have carpeting.

* Roll up vegetable-dyed oriental rugs until your new dog is fully house-trained. If rugs have fringe, don’t roll them back out until your dog is done teething, which can take 8 months or more.

* Place a washable area rug by the door and keep a towel handy to wipe down your pet’s paws and/or body on rainy or muddy days.

Windows

* Fabric shades, café curtains, and valances are great window treatments for dog-friendly homes.

* Steer clear of pooling drapery, vertical blinds, tassels, and long cords that can be strangulation hazards, or might bring things crashing down, should your dog try to pull or climb them.

* Mini-blinds can get bent beyond repair when they block a curious dog’s view. Think twice about using these as window treatments.

Walls

* Washable vinyl-backed wallpaper is easier to clean than paper-backed wallpaper.

* Use washable semi-gloss paint in areas where your new dog will frequent. This is important for owners of loose-jowled dogs, who are more likely to shake spittle onto the walls.

* Paint or hang a washable wall covering on the lower half of walls that have antique wallpaper or fabric wall treatments.