Friday, April 20, 2007

Good news for "Chocoholics"

Some “chocoholics” who just couldn’t give up their favorite treat have inadvertently done their fellow chocolate lovers - and science - a big favor.

A recent study at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine was focused on blood platelets and blood clots. The study participants, some of whom were fond of eating chocolate, were given a list of foods to avoid – the list included chocolate. It seems that some of them ended up indulging their cravings for chocolate during the study.

Amazingly, their indulgence led to researchers to an important discovery which is believed to be the first of its kind. Through biochemical analysis, the researchers are now able to explain why just a few squares of chocolate a day can reduce the risk of heart attack death in some men and women by almost 50%. It turns out that the chocolate decreases the tendency of platelets to clot in narrow blood vessels.

“What these chocolate ‘offenders’ taught us is that the chemical in cocoa beans has a biochemical effect similar to aspirin in reducing platelet clumping, which can be fatal if a clot forms and blocks a blood vessel, causing a heart attack,” says Diane Becker, M.P.H., Sc.D., a professor at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Becker cautions that her work is not intended as a prescription to gobble up large amounts of chocolate candy, which often contains diet-busting amounts of sugar, butter and cream. But as little as 2 tablespoons a day of dark chocolate - the purest form of the candy, made from the dried extract of roasted cocoa beans - may be just what the doctor ordered.

Are you fond of eating chocolate? Try mixing your high quality dark chocolate with some Phi Plus – you might be amazed by your own findings…….

Hook up with Health and enjoy 2 tablespoons of dark chocolate Today!

www.hookupwithhealth.wholefoodfarmacy.com

Monday, April 16, 2007

Lookin for a Great DATE?

The American Cancer Society recommends that you consume 20-35 grams of dietary fiber a day. Dietary fiber comes in two forms – soluble and insoluble. Each serves a valuable function. Insoluble fiber increases the rate at which food moves through the digestive system. Soluble fiber may help control diabetes by decreasing elevated blood glucose levels. Soluble fiber also had been found to help lower serum cholesterol levels, particularly undesirable low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

Dates are a great source of dietary fiber. According to researchers at the University of Scranton in Scranton Pennsylvania, dates have the highest concentration of polyphenols among dried fruits. The findings of this research suggest that dried fruits should be a greater part of the diet as they are dense in phenol antioxidants and nutrients, most notably fiber.

A serving of power-packed dates contains 31 grams of carbohydrates, making them a powerhouse of energy. Carbohydrates include 3 grams of dietary fiber and 29 grams of naturally occurring sugars such as fructose, glucose and sucrose to provide quick energy and are readily used by the body. Dates are a perfect energy boosting snack.

Dates are one of the best natural sources of potassium. Potassium is an essential mineral your body needs to maintain muscle contractions including the vital heart muscle. Potassium is needed to maintain a healthy nervous system and to balance the body’s metabolism as well.

Since potassium is not stored in the body, and much is lost in perspiration, it must be continually replenished. As you consume potassium you excrete sodium, helping to keep blood pressure down. As people age, their kidneys become less efficient at eliminating sodium. About a 400 mg increase in potassium intake has been associated with a 40% reduction in the risk of stroke. This roughly amounts to one additional serving daily of Dates.

Dates also contain a variety of B-complex vitamins – thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 and pantothenic acid. These vitamins have a variety of functions that help maintain a healthy body – to metabolize carbohydrates and maintain blood glucose levels, fatty acids for energy, and they help make hemoglobin, the red and white blood cells. Dates also contain Magnesium which is essential for healthy bone development and for energy metabolism and Iron which is essential to red blood cell production. Red blood cells carry all the nutrients to cells throughout the body. In addition, Dates are fat and cholesterol free!

Phi Plus is our most popular food of all – it is handcrafted from dozens of whole food ingredients. Phi Plus is rich in Dates and all of their wonderful health imparting properties. Try some Phi Plus today?

Hook Up with a Great Date at www.hookupwithhealth.wholefoodfarmacy.com.


Sunday, April 08, 2007

Is rBGH in Milk Safe?

rBGH - What is it and is it safe for us to drink in milk?

rBGH (recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone) is a genetically engineered, potent variant of the natural growth hormone produced by cows. Manufactured by Monsanto, it is sold to dairy farmers under the trade name POSILAC. Injection of this hormone forces cows to increase their milk production by about 10%.

Monsanto, supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), insists that rBGH milk is indistinguishable from natural milk, and that it is safe for consumers.

According to a new book entitled "What’s In Your Milk?" An Exposé of Industry and Government Cover-Up on the DANGERS of the Genetically Engineered (rBGH) Milk You’re Drinking, with an introduction by Ben Cohen, Co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and foreword by Jeffrey M. Smith, author of the bestseller Seeds of Deception, this is blatantly false.

rBGH makes cows sick.

Monsanto has been forced to admit to about 20 toxic effects,
including mastitis, on its POSILAC label.

rBGH milk is contaminated by pus, due to the mastitis commonly induced by rBGH, and antibiotics used to treat the mastitis.

rBGH milk is chemically and nutritionally different than natural milk.

rBGH milk is contaminated with rBGH, traces of which are absorbed through the gut.

rBGH milk is supercharged with high levels of a natural growth factor (IGF-1), which is readily absorbed through the gut.

Excess levels of IGF-1 have been incriminated as a cause of breast, colon, and prostate cancers. IGF-1 blocks natural defense mechanisms against early submicroscopic cancers.

rBGH factory farms pose a major threat to the viability of small dairy farms.

rBGH enriches Monsanto, while posing dangers, without any benefits, to consumers, especially in view of the current national surplus of milk.

The risks of cancer to consumers and particularly their children, especially those enrolled in the Public School Lunch Program, are undisputable.

"What's in your Milk" follows the research of Dr. Samuel Epstein who made a very persuasive and important case about hidden dangers in every day consumer products. And not only does Epstein raise our awareness about possible carcinogens in our milk supply, but also about how special corporate interests seek to keep the public in the dark about documentation relating to health hazards of their products.

Hook Up with Health by buying rBGH-FREE Milk and other Dairy Products today!

www.hookupwithhealth.wholefoodfarmacy.com

Monday, April 02, 2007

Don't be fooled by all "ZERO" Trans Fat claims!

Some information came across my desk last week that really got me fired up and I want you to know about it and pass it along to your friends.

We have all seen the signs on our junk food - Zero Trans fats- and we feel good that we can eat these beloved products guilt free. Right? WRONG!

Do you know what Zero trans fats really means?
1. If a product has less than 1/2 gram or less per serving of Trans Fats, then the label can say "Zero Trans Fats." That's the first issue.
2. What if the serving size used to be 20 crackers? Well that has too many trans fats so now the companies manipulate the serving size to 3 crackers per serving so that the amount of trans fats per serving will be less than 1/2gram. Will you only eat 3 crackers?
3. Some products really don't have trans fats so how will you know?

You must still read the labels.
80% of the products that say Zero Trans fats have hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats in the ingredients. Read the ingredients.

Remember why we don't want trans fats? Coronary Heart Disease. Trans fats increase the LDL's or "bad cholesterol" while lowering the HDL's or "good" cholesterol. In 1994 trans fats caused 30,000 deaths from heart disease. Trans fats make your cell membranes stiff which diminishes your ability to eliminate cellular waste (getting rid of toxins.)

Hook up with health by staying informed and reading product labels - starting today.

www.hookupwithhealth.wholefoodfarmacy.com