Margaret Tye has this interesting article about the value of Omega 3 fatty acids. I have written before about how I do take this supplement and my wife actually calls them heart pills because Omegas are supposed to be good for your heart and circulation.

In recent years research has highlighted the benefits of omega 3 fish oil, whether it is taken naturally by eating oily fish, or by taking daily supplements. Fish oil has been shown to help keep the cardiovascular system healthy, reducing the risk of heart disease and eventual heart attack.

Many people take fish oil to help joint movement. Arthritic patients can suffer a great deal of pain and omega 3 fatty acid may reduce wear and tear on the joints and reduce the pain of inflammation. You should always tell your doctor if you are taking fish oil supplements, particularly if you are on any prescribed medication.

In the UK, research showed dramatic improvements in reading skills in children given omega 3 over a period of three months. Both over and under-achievers were seen to improve. Sixteen year old students given omega 3 in the period before taking exams achieved better results than those not taking supplements. Read the rest of this entry »

Looking to make a change and lose some weight? I have reviewed the top diet on the internet and you can go and read over 200 comments people have made about why this diet has worked well for them, as well as some of the problems.

Tags: adhd, Author, blended fish oil supplements, cod liver oil, depression, fish oil, fish-oil supplements, Greenfield Community Arts College, heart attack, heart disease, inflammation, Japan, Margaret Tye, pain, United Kingdom

I can eat a couple of hot dogs. Sure some people like them but not as much as Joey Chesnut how set a record today by eating more hot dogs in 10 minutes than I thought was humanly possible.

July 4th is apparently a great day to eat hot dogs and hamburgers and Joey ate 69 and then 5 more to win an eat off to stay world champion. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 4th of July, California, Coney Island, Japan, Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, Joey Chesnut, League Eating spokesman, Major, Ryan Nerz

I have been compiling info on artificial sweetners for years and there are some that are OK and some that are really bad for you but here is a bit of an overview of he dangers of using different artificial sweeteners to try to drop your calorie intake.

Aspartame

Aspartame, a dipeptide of aspartic acid and a methyl ester of phenylalanine, is approved for use in pharmaceutical products and is being used increasingly in chewable tablet and sugar-free formulations. Labels for both prescription and nonprescription products must include the phenylalanine content. The major consideration in the use of aspartame in children is in patients with autosomal recessive phenylketonuria. Although heterozygotes do not appear to have clinically significant increases in phenylalanine after ingestion of even large amounts (equivalent to 24 12-oz cans of diet beverages), homozygotes with strict dietary restrictions should avoid aspartame. Children without dietary restrictions could safely ingest 10 mg/kg/day. Dietary consumption of aspartame is typically less than 5 mg/kg/day; young children, however, could ingest considerably more. For example, a 2-year-old child weighing 12 kg consumes 17 mg/kg from drinking one 12-oz can of diet soda and one serving of a sweetened product (eg, cereal, pudding, gelatin, or frozen dessert). Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: absence seizures, affective disorders, albuminuria, allergy, American Herbal Products Association, American Medical Association, artificial chemical, artificial sweetners, aspartame, aspartic acid, bladder cancer, blisters, Brazil, cancer, chemical, dairy by-product, dairy products, depression, diarrhea, diet beverages, Dietary Supplement, dietary supplements, dizziness, eczema, epilepsy, evidence, fda, FDA/National Cancer Institute, food, food additive, Food additives, food processors, food products, headache, headaches, Hypersensitivity, insomnia, Japan, Japanese government, migraine headaches, mitral valve prolapse, nausea, neuropsychiatric disorders, nonprescription products, oliguria, panic attacks, Paraguay, pharmaceutical agents, pharmaceutical products, phenylketonuria, placebos, product, prurigo, pruritus, Saccharin, salty applications, SeaLife SL 200C 35mm Film Camera, seizure disorders, seizures, sodium chloride, Stevia, strabismus, Sucralose, tachycardia, Tagatose, United States, urticaria, vascular headaches, visual hallucinations, wheezing

I have heard the term Macrobiotic Diet a few times in the past and wondered what exactly a Macrobiotic Diet is. Well in this case Wikipeida has been a great source of info. Here is all you may need to know about Macrobiotic Diets unless you want to try it out. In the case of trying out new diets I always think that it is a good idea to learn more than just reading more than one blog post for research.

Macrobiotics is a dietary regimen that involves eating grains as a staple food supplemented with other local foodstuffs such as vegetables and beans. Although in macrobiotics people may opt to use Japanese ingredients (Japan being the cradle of contemporary Macrobiotics), according to the general guidelines people should use the ingredients that are found locally (e.g. mustard instead of ginger), and avoid the use of sugar and other highly processed or refined foods. Macrobiotics also addresses the manner of eating by recommending against overeating and requiring that food be chewed thoroughly before swallowing.

Followers of the macrobiotic approach believe that food and food quality powerfully affects health, well being, and happiness. The macrobiotic approach suggests choosing food that is less processed and more natural, and employing more traditional methods of cooking for family, friends, and oneself.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: animal products, bean products, dairy products, food, food quality, grain products, Japan, macrobiotic approach, macrobiotic counselor, macrobiotic diet, macrobiotic diets, macrobiotic philosophy, macrobiotics, Seaweed, soy products, staple food, well-trained macrobiotic counselor

Michelle Kwon wrote this article about the history and benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar. I thought you may be interested in this as well.

In addition to being a tasty, low-calorie dressing, apple cider vinegar could be a miracle elixir for melting away fat, boosting the immune system and even restoring arthritic joints.

What is Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is an old folk remedy claimed to be beneficial in treating . a list of ailments. It’s thought to guard against osteoporosis, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, heal infection, assist in digestion, and relieve everything from headaches to heartburn and hay fever.

It is still not known why apple cider vinegar provides benefits. Some proponents say it is due to its enzymes, minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, fluorine, silicon, trace minerals and pectin. Yet research shows that it actually only contains very slight amounts of these. Others say its natural malic and tartaric acids help fight body toxins and inhibit unfriendly bacteria.

Though nothing has been clinically proven, researchers can’t discount the myriad of accounts of healing that have been collected throughout history. The qualities of apple cider vinegar have been known for thousands of years. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, used it as an antibiotic and antiseptic in 400 BC. It was used in Biblical times as a healing agent and is mentioned in the Bible. In Paris in the Middle Ages it was sold from barrels by street vendors as a body deodorant and health drink.

Even Christopher Columbus had it on his voyage to discover America in 1492 in order to prevent scurvy. In 1820, poet Lord Byron made the vinegar and water diet popular. During the US Civil War, soldiers used it as a treatment for pneumonia and indigestion. It was also used to treat wounds during World War 1. For centuries in Japan, Samurai warriors drank it for strength. The vinegar is now officially recognized in Japan as functional food because it is said to stimulate bifidus bacteria in the bowel, contributing to gastrointestinal health.

This conclusion was also reached by popular 1950s author DC Jarvis, who advised those with GI problems to consume a tonic with each meal to destroy harmful bacteria in the gut. His book Folk Medicine praised apple cider vinegar as the solution for ailments including chronic fatigue and fat reduction. He declared that cider vinegar tonic would reduce body fat because it caused fat to be burned instead of stored.

But what about the Apple Cider Vinegar science?

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: acetic acid, America, apple cider vinegar, Arizona State University, Author, benefits of apple cider vinegar, body deodorant, body toxins, British Columbia, Byron, Carol Johnston, Christopher Columbus, digestive disorders, fatigue, Folk Medicine, folk remedy, food trends, functional food, Hay fever, headaches, health food pioneer, indigestion, Japan, Michelle Kwon, Newsweek, nutrition professor, obesity, osteoporosis, Paris, Patricia Bragg, pneumonia, poet, scurvy, treatment for pneumonia

With the rapid failure of fad diets and realization of the fact that prescription drugs do more harm than good, everyone is looking forward to losing weight naturally. This is the reason why they are interested in knowing whether green tea can help them lose weight or not. If you too are interested in it, read this article to find out the answer.

As a matter of fact, human beings have been using green tea for thousands of years for the purpose of boosting their health. Green tea is popular among the Asian community, particularly China and Japan. The Japanese and Chinese believe that green tea helps them live a long and healthy life. But does it really help with weight loss?

Green tea is made by steaming fresh leaves. This is why green tea is rich in a flavonal compound called polyphenol. In fact, you can say that almost 40% of green tea contains this flavonal compound. This is the reason why this tea is so nutritious for our body and so vital for its health. Green tea has the potential to stop several harmful diseases dead in their tracks, such as cancer.

Green tea also helps the body burn fat by boosting its metabolic rate. Now as a matter of fact, it has the power to boost your metabolism without making you workout for long hours or taking help of any unhealthy weight loss methods, As such, you would be able to lose weight naturally and healthily with the help of green tea, not to mention the fact that there is no side effect.

Do you know that a chemical compound called epigallocatechin gallate helps a person lose weight, and that this compound is in plenty in green tea? Epigallocatechin gallate enhances your metabolic rate, which in turn helps you burn calories and fat. As your body burns more and more fat and converts them into energy, you start losing weight.

So the answer is: yes, green tea indeed helps one lose weight and become slim. So what are you waiting for? Don’t forget to take at least one cup of hot green tea regularly in the morning, along with your breakfast.

You may drink green tea in its raw form but I prefer to mix a bit of lemon juice and honey to it so as to make the tea taste great. Also keep in mind that there is no restriction that you should drink tea only once per day; you can drink it as often as you want, and remember that the more you drink green tea, the faster you would lose weight.

Tags: cancer, chemical compound, China, energy, Japan

Any decision you make about your health care is important–including deciding whether to use acupuncture. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has developed this fact sheet to provide you with information on acupuncture. It includes frequently asked questions, issues to consider, and a list of sources for further information. Terms that are underlined are defined at the end of this fact sheet.

Key Points
Acupuncture originated in China more than 2,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest and most commonly used medical procedures in the world.

It is important to inform all of your health care providers about any treatment that you are using or considering, including acupuncture. Ask about the treatment procedures that will be used and their likelihood of success for your condition or disease.

Be an informed consumer and find out what scientific studies have been done on the effectiveness of acupuncture for your health condition.

If you decide to use acupuncture, choose the practitioner with care. Also check with your insurer to see if the services will be covered.
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: acupuncture, acupuncture points, Alternative Medicine, Asthma, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, chemotherapy, China, Complementary Medicine, complex chronic, cramps, energy, fatigue, fibromyalgia, headache, health care systems, insurance plans, irritable bowel syndrome, James Reston, Japan, Korea, Massage, meditation, meridians, muscle pain, National Center for Complementary, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institute of Health, nausea, negative energy, New York Times, Office of Alternative Medicine, osteoarthritis, pain, physician, placebos, positive energy, reporter, stroke, surgery, tennis elbow, traditional Chinese medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, United States, vomiting, Web search engines

The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. I was so impressed when I started researching the benefits of Green tea that I started a Chinese Green Tea website.

In fact Chinese Green tea has been researched and linked to help all of the following conditions.

* rheumatoid arthritis
* high cholesterol levels
* cariovascular disease
* infection
* impaired immune function
* Cognition
* Stopping certain neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimers
* Treating Arthritis
* Treating MS
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: allergy, arthritis, Asia, beriberi, cancer, cardiovascular disease, cariovascular disease, chemical, CVD, depression, Eisai, energy source, esophageal cancer, fatigue, food, headaches, heart disease, high blood pressure, HIV, hyperthyroidism, indigestion, insomnia, Japan, kidney disease, light processing, National Cancer Institute, nervous disorder, nutraceuticals, rheumatoid arthritis, skin cancer, skin disorders, Switzerland, Tea Increases, Tea Work, the American Journal, the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, tumor, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, University of Geneva in Switzerland, University of Purdue, Zen priest

Chitosan: Origins of Chitosan

Chitosan has long been considered as the potent substance that binds fat and stop it from accumulating in our bodies. Chitosan is effectively a fantastic fat inhibitor which work wonders for those in search of a safe way to lose that body fat.

What is chitosan made from? It is taken from chitin, a polysaccharide found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans and cell walls of fungi. It is manufactured by removing the shells from the shellfish like lobster, shrimps and crabs.

The History of Chitosan

The origin of chitosan can be traced back to 1811 when “chitin”, from which it is derived, was first discovered by Braconnot, a then professor of the natural history in France. According to some researches, while Braconnot was conducting research on mushrooms, he isolated what was later to be called chitin.

Twenty years later, there was a man who wrote an article on insects in which he noted that similar substance was present in the structure of insects as well as the structure of plants. He then called this astounding substance as “chitin”.

Basically, the name chitin is derived from Greek, meaning “tunic” or “envelope”. The concept was further known in 1843 when Lassaigne demonstrated the presence of nitrogen in chitin.

Following the discovery of chitin, the name “chitosan” emerged in the scene. It was first discovered by Rouget while experimenting with chitin. Rouget observed that the compound of chitin could be manipulated through chemical and temperature treatments for it to become soluble. Then, it was in 1878 when Ledderhose identified chitin to be made of glucosamine and acetic acid. It was not actually until 1894 that Hoppe-Seyler named the tailored chitin, chitosan.

During the early 20th century, several researches took chitosan as their subject of study. They then involved sources of chitin, including crab shells and fungai. It was the work of Rammelberg in the 1930s that led to the confirmation on the identity of chitosan from these sources. It was also noted that by hydrolyzing chitin in several ways, it was determined by experts that chitin is a polysaccharide of glucosamine.

During the 1950s, the use of x-ray analysis had advanced the study of the incidence of chitin or chitosan in fungai. However, it is only the most advanced technologies that proved the most reliable in accepting the existence of chitin as well as cellulose in the cell walls. The first book on chitosan was published 140 years after the initial observation of Braconnot, and that was in 1951.

During the early 1960s, chitosan was examined for its ability to bind with the red blood cells. That time also, the substance was considered as a hemostatic agent. Then, for the past three decades, chitosan has been used at water purification plants for detoxifying water. It is spread over the surface where it absorbs greases, oils, and other potential toxins.

Nowadays, Chitosan it is known as a dietary supplement that is good for weight loss. In fact, it has been marketed for such purpose for about 20 years in Japan as well as in Europe.

What is Chitosan used for

Chitin has long been viewed as the nature’s second most abundant polymer. This is for the fact that it is found not only in shellfish, but also found in insect shells and fungi cell walls. Chitosan, a refined form of chitin, is prepared by removing the shells from shellfish. The shells are then ground into a pulverous powder, which is deacetylated or stripped of specific chemical groups allowing the compound to actively soak up fats. This aspect of it being able to absorb fat is the main feature which makes it effective in helping weight loss.

There are a number of functions or uses linked to chitosan. Because of these applications, chitosan is now marketed as a dietary supplement and is used to thicken foods, paints and makeup.

Liquid Chitosan

Chitosan is made in two main types, namely the dry and flakey product, and the liquid chitosan.

Although these forms are marketed as dietary aids, it is actually the liquid chitosan which gained a lot of interest from the people. This is mainly because the liquid chitosan is said to eliminate clumping problems or stomach pains as it causes the fat to form into hundreds of tiny calorie-free beads that are far gentler on your digestive tract.

The liquid chitosan is often identified by its appearance, color, protein content, degree of deacetylation, viscosity, insoluble, and other factors. Here is a summary of these factors:

Liquid chitosan is clear and yellow. Its protein content is less than 0.5% and often results to 0.14% if measured by Kjeldal method. Its degree of deacetylation is more than 90% with a result of 95% if measured through colloidal method. If you will prepare liquid chitosan by stirring 30 minutes, you can get a viscosity of about 50cps. Liquid chitosan has less than 0.5% insolubility if 20 grams of liquid chitosan is dissolved in 100 ml of distilled water. Liquid chitosan has a pH level of less than 5.5. Liquid chitosan has no taste and smell.

Liquid chitosan is commonly used as a weight loss supplement these days. Many of those who have used the flakey product have turned to the liquid form noting that liquid chitosan works better in the system than the flakey form.

Based on certain reports, instead of forming large clumps, the liquid chitosan causes the fat to form into hundreds of tiny calorie-free beads that are gentler in your digestive tract. However, it is important to note that in addition to binding fats, it binds the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, making them unavailable to the body. This is the reason that most experts recommend a supplement with high-quality multivitamin.

Chitosan Recomendations

So, although Chitosan is taken as a ‘wonder’ pill of today, it has been around for ages and has been a subject since 1811. I am still not convinced about the abilities of Chitosan but again I say that in the absence of any side effects this is another product that you can try for weight loss, maybe for a couple of months, and then decide how it made you feel and whether you had a good response to it and go from there.

Tags: acetic acid, Braconnot, chemical groups, Dietary Supplement, Europe, flakey product, France, Japan, professor of the natural history, Rouget, x-ray