The encyclopedia of the U.S. National Library of Medicine defines glaucoma as “a group of eye conditions that lead to damage to the optic nerve. This nerve carries visual information from the eye to the brain. In most cases, damage to the optic nerve is due to increased pressure in the eye, also known as intraocular pressure (IOP).”

According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, “You are at increased risk for glaucoma if your parents or siblings have the disease, if you are African American or Latino, and possibly if you are diabetic or have cardiovascular disease. The risk of glaucoma also increases with age.”

The University of Maryland says, “Eye drops and pills are the most common early treatment for glaucoma. Some cause the eye to produce less fluid, while others lower pressure by helping drain fluid from the eye.”

Treating disease involves assessing the problem: “A clear fluid flows in and out of the space at the front of the eye, nourishing nearby tissues. Glaucoma causes the fluid to pass through too slowly or to stop draining altogether. As the fluid builds up, the pressure inside the eye increases, causing damage to the optic nerve and vision loss.” Therefore, if you have glaucoma, it is so important to have a treatment plan consisting of medications, medical advice and treatment.

The University of Maryland recommends taking one tablespoon (three teaspoons) of fish oil daily. Fish oil is a source of the omega-3 fatty acid EPA—which reduces inflammation—and the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, located in the retina of the eye. Research findings have revealed that reducing inflammation may be the secret to preserving eyesight.

Supplementing the diet with DHA is beneficial for seniors with existing eyesight difficulty and also to maintain eyesight that is already healthy. A new, groundbreaking study suggests that taking the following supplements in conjunction may delay the progression of deteriorating eyesight: vitamins B and E, and DHA. Also, as reported by the Point Institute, “Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (especially DHA) are highly concentrated within the tissues of the eye. There is increasing evidence that has shown a relationship between these fatty acids and the risk associated with numerous eye diseases (macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and cataracts).”

Supplements can help seniors with glaucoma restore common nutritional deficiencies. Those with glaucoma tend to have less omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) when compared with people who are healthy. It is difficult to ascertain the cause of their nutritional deficiency. A lack of blood flow to the eye could be part of the problem, while having healthy, clean arteries benefits every part of the body.

Here are some additional health tips:

• Avoid or reduce trans-fats from cookies, cakes and crackers and limit processed foods.
• Avoid stimulants, alcohol and coffee, and limit red meat consumption.
• Omega-6s (present in vegetable oils and fried food) and saturated fats (fatty cuts of beef) promote inflammation that counteracts anti-inflammatory health benefits.

Learn more about glaucoma:

• Visit the Discovery Eye Foundation to find facts and additional resources for glaucoma.
• Visit National Glaucoma Research to learn more about new research studies.
• Visit the Glaucoma Research Foundation to get the facts about glaucoma.

Res-Q Recommended Supplements:

Res-Q 1250 Liquid provides 740-825milligrams of EPA and 460-550 milligrams of DHA per teaspoon. Res-Q 1250’s high EPA formula helps reduce inflammation and balance cholesterol levels. Pleasant all-natural lemon flavor with no capsule to swallow!

Two capsules of Res-Q Calamarine provide 1,000 milligrams of DHA for optimal eye support. Boost the DHA levels in your eyes and brain by adding an additional gram of DHA to your daily supplement regimen.

Nature’s Shield Eye Support is a potent vitamin B complex plus antioxidants that have been shown in studies to help maintain vision: all-natural vitamin E, zinc, vitamin C, lutein and zeaxanthin.

To place an order for these supplements, please call us. Our order-taking department is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day: 1-800-262-5483. To speak with a consultant who can answer your product-related questions, please press “2″ for our customer service/sales department.

Local customers or cell phone users may prefer to dial 215-541-9890.

References:

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/glaucoma-000069.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16410047

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19627986

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9972342

http://www.preventblindness.org/dont-be-caught-sneak-thief-sight

http://www.discoveryeye.org/eye-conditions/glaucoma.html

http://www.glaucoma.org/glaucoma/glaucoma-facts-and-stats.php

http://www.glaucoma.org/glaucoma/symptoms-of-primary-open-angle-glaucoma.php

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002587/

 Be proactive: Watch for signs and take action to protect your heart.

I attended the South Jersey Go Red for Women breakfast last week, where I sat uneasy in my chair, along with a group of other professional businesswomen sporting red dresses and red suits, once again listening to these harrowing statistics:

• Heart disease is STILL the number-one killer of women, taking the life of one in three women every year;
   
• Women STILL account for more than 60 percent of all stroke deaths in the country; and

At all ages, more women than men die from stroke.

It all sounded so depressing. And many of us talked of feeling defeated. When you hear statistics like that you just want to bury your head in the sand. And yet, that’s probably the worst thing you can do. Statistically speaking, people who make conscious, positive choices about their health, live longer.

But is that any surprise?

Cardiologist Dr. Annie Peter from The Heart House doesn’t think so. She’s a firm believer in women (and men) being proactive with their heart health.

She said that education was paramount. The more you know, the better. For example, she talked about some of the signs to watch out for and warned that many women experience non-traditional indicators (like pain in the right arm, instead of the left or mild rather than crushing pain in the chest). Her best advice: If you feel like you’re having a heart attack, you need to get to your doctor without trying to guess what you might have. If you lead your doctor to believe that it may just be acid reflux or heartburn, she will start looking in that direction. Unless you come right out and say, “I might be having a heart attack,” she will not make assumptions.

Peter also mentioned that many women downplay their symptoms—they think they’re too young for a heart attack or simply don’t have all the indicators of a heart attack. Many doctors minimize women’s symptoms—or worse, write them off as stress or hypochondria.

Bottom line: More than knowing traditional and nontraditional signs of a heart attack or stroke, be overly cautious. Pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you and seek help. Don’t try to be a Wonder Woman.

Aside from paying attention to symptoms and keeping in touch with your doctor, Peter also gave us actual steps to take toward prevention. Here are the ones I wrote down:

• Exercise at least 30 minutes daily. That means getting your heart rate up to at least 80% of its full workout potential: break a sweat. You don’t have to kill yourself, but you do have to sweat, which means that the heart muscle is being worked and strengthened. 
• Read labels and KNOW what you’re eating. Don’t just be a passive eater, eating whatever is placed in front of you. If you go out to restaurants, ask for dressings and sauces on the side. Avoid food labeled with excessive amounts of salt, saturated fat and preservatives. Be proactive with your diet.
• Know the limits of what you’re supposed to be eating and how to stick to those limits. For example, high blood pressure is rarely seen in those who consume less than 1.2 grams (1200 milligrams) of sodium per day. One teaspoon of salt weighs roughly 5 grams. Are you eating too much salt?
• Know yourself. Does coffee give you heart palpitations? While there is no definitive research to date on whether or not coffee causes heart attacks, it’s best to listen to your own body; if it rejects or acts strangely to certain foods, those too are signs; listen for them. I know I can only handle about one cup of coffee a day. Any more than that and I get dizzy, sweaty and shaky!
• Get educated. Do you know your BMI (body mass index)? Do you know what’s healthy? Do you know your cholesterol levels? As Dr. Vagnini said last week, these are “Silent Killers.” But if you know them, you can regulate them.



Suggested products of the week:

The American Heart Association says: “Increasing omega-3 fatty acid consumption through foods is preferable. However, those with coronary artery disease may not get enough omega-3 by diet alone. These people may want to talk to their doctor about supplements. And for those with high triglycerides, even larger doses could help.”

Res-Q 1250

Res-Q Calamarine

Res-Q 1250+

Res-Q Multi

Res-Q CellPower (CoQ10)

Guest blog by Dr. Frederick Vagnini, MD, FACS, Heart, Diabetes & Weight-Loss Centers of New York

If you’ve recently listened to me on the Res-Q HealthLine radio shows, I recently indicated that there were four silent killers. But now, due to expanded research and more and more problems coming through my centers in New York, I have expanded them to eight.

First of all, what is meant by a silent killer? Well, it’s simple. It’s something you don’t feel until a heart attack occurs, or until you fracture a bone, or you have a stroke. These silent killers include:

1. High blood pressure: Many times you could have a blood pressure of 200 and you don’t feel it.
2. High cholesterol and triglycerides: There’s typically no pain in the arteries. Unless you get your lipids checked, you’re not going to realize that your arteries are clogging up.
3. Inflammation: Inflammation is the backbone of pathophysiology for cardiovascular disease and aging, which is very prevalent in Western culture. It can be anything from a swollen toe to inflamed arteries, the latter of which you cannot feel.
4. Oxidative stress: Damage from free radicals and oxidative stress is when the body’s antioxidant system becomes overwhelmed. Oxidative stress accelerates the aging process.
5. Blood glucose: Another silent killer is blood glucose. Many people are coming into my office with 200-300 blood-sugar levels. They don’t feel a thing.  But they are pre-diabetic or diabetic and they have been doing damage to their bodies for many years before they even realize it. High blood-glucose levels can not only lead to diabetes, but also eye disease, blindness, kidney disease, nerve disease or death.
6. Glycation: (sometimes called non-enzymatic glycosylation) is something that accelerates heart disease, cellular damage and aging, and it is simply a problem with glucose that adheres to proteins lipids and DNA to create something called “Advanced Glycation End Product” (AGE)
7. Telomere shortening: Telomeres are the tips of chromosomes and when they shorten you have progressive aging. What happens to accelerate this aging process is inflammation and oxidative stress.
8. Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a bone disease that leads to an increased risk of fracture. It is another silent killer simply because you don’t feel your bones weakening until you’ve lost four inches of height.

What can we do to prevent these silent killers from leading us into cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and accelerated aging? Well, I developed a protocol in my Centers based on the following:

• Diet: a modified, low-carbohydrate Mediterranean diet
• Exercise: Any exercise is good; cross training is the best, which is when you do a combination of resistance training with aerobics.
• Stress reduction: Stress reduction is critical. It’s one of the leading factors that influence degenerative diseases and especially cardiovascular disease.
• Supplements: The right supplements can combat high triglycerides, high cholesterol, high blood pressure oxidative damage, high blood sugar, arthritis, weight reduction, diabetes, fatigue, and basically all of the degenerative and cardiovascular problems.
• Pharmaceuticals: Medical drugs are prescribed when necessary.

Prevention Through Supplements & Nutrition
Years ago, I developed a program called Cardio Nutrition, and that is simply a program, along with diet and exercise, in which we use supplements. Here’s a list of some of the “silent killers” and what Res-Q products will work best to combat them.

High Cholesterol/Triglycerides:

•  L-D-L less (red yeast rice)
•  Res-Q LDLx2 (polycosanol) with or without niacin
•  Res-Q 1250, which is primarily a triglyceride-lowering agent
•  Res-Q Land ’n’ Sea Fiber is excellent for lowering lipids
•  Res-Q Multi, as it has 300 milligrams of garlic
•  Res-Q HDL+ (raises your good cholesterol)

When it comes to cholesterol we also worry about the oxidative damage and we have a number of antioxidants including Res-Q Multi, Res-Q CellPower (CoQ10), Res-Q Resveratrol, Nature’s Shield Superfoods and Nature’s Shield Leg & Vein Support, which all protect the LDL against oxidative damage.

Hypertension/ High Blood Pressure:

• Res-Q Multi vitamin, which has taurine, hawthorn berry, garlic and L-carnitine
• Res-Q Orosine
• Res-Q 1250
• Nature’s Shield Smart Cal (with vitamin D3)
• Res-Q 1250+
• Res-Q Multi
• Res-Q Land ‘n’ Sea Fiber
• Res-Q Mg (magnesium)
• Res-Q CellPower (CoQ10)
• Nature’s Shield Leg & Vein
• Res-Q Sleep

Oxidative Stress

• Res-Q Multi
• Res-Q Mega Acai
• Res-Q Land ‘n’ Sea Fiber
• Res-Q CellPower (CoQ10)
• Nature’s Shield Leg & Vein
• Res-Q Resveratrol
• Nature’s Shield Superfoods
• Res-Q Sleep

Glucose Levels:

• Res-Q Land ‘n’ Sea Fiber
• Res-Q 105MAX (specifically designed to lower blood sugar)
• Res-Q 1250+
• Res-Q 1250
• Nature’s Shield Superfoods
• Res-Q Resveratrol

Telomere shortening:

Research now shows that an omega-3 supplement can prevent telomere shortening

• Res-Q 1250
• Res-Q Calamarine
• Res-Q 1250+
• Res-Q Multi

Osteoporosis:

• Nature’s Shield SmartCal is great for osteoporosis
• Res-Q 1250
• Res-Q 1250+
• Res-Q Multi

Inflammation:

• Res-Q 1250
• Res-Q Calamarine
• Res-Q 1250+
• Res-Q Multi
• Res-Q CellPower (CoQ10)
• Res-Q Orosine (repairs at the cellular level)
• GlycoMarine

Glycation:

• Res-Q 1250+
• Res-Q 1250
• Nature’s Shield Superfoods
• Res-Q Resveratrol
• Res-Q Multi

Weight and Digestion:

• Res-Q All Essential Enzymes
• Res-Q Probiotic
• Res-Q Land ‘n’ Sea Fiber
• Nature’s Shield Weight Control
• Res-Q Trim System

What exactly is “processed” food? Well, for starters, it’s any raw, natural food that has been changed or altered from its original state (think raw milk from a cow) and turned into a food-like item for the sake of convenience and sometimes safety (think pasteurized milk). In some instances, like raw milk, it is often better to process food to prevent disease and bacteria. However, more and more food is being processed not for safety, but convenience. An apple turned into a prepackaged apple pie is one example of when processing goes too far. Grapes transformed into sugary grape juice is another example. Hot dogs and deli meats with added nitrates; cereals with added sugars; and food items loaded with sugar, artificial sweeteners, trans-fats, sugar substitutes, man-made chemical additives, high-fructose corn syrup and carbohydrates are all examples of America’s obsession with processing. And sadly, these types of foods cause an increased risk of diabetes.

So… How do you even begin to avoid processed foods when almost 85 percent of food at the grocery store is processed?! Here are a few easy and not-so-drastic lifestyle changes to help you focus on healthier eating:

The American Diabetes Association says, “A healthy meal plan for people with diabetes is generally the same as a healthy diet for anyone – low in fat (especially saturated and trans fat), moderate in salt and sugar, with meals based on whole grain foods, vegetables and fruit.” However, this means a diet rich in vitamins, minerals and wholesome foods, not a high-carb diet full of refined grains or sugars that lack nutritional value.

1. Vegetables

Vegetables are carbohydrates that have fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and other healthy nutrition. According to the article, Foods That Cause Diabetes, “Studies on other vegetables such as cabbage (brassica oleracia), capsicum (Capsicum annum), green leafy vegetables, beans and tubers have shown the beneficial hypoglycemic influence in diabetic patients.” This means these foods can help lower blood sugar.

2. Fruits

Fruit is a food high in sugar (surprise!), but when fruit is substituted for other foods equally high in sugar that lack nutritional value, it is a good thing. A whole fruit contains the nutrition of antioxidants, vitamins and fiber, whereas fruit juice is loaded with sugar. Antioxidants help protect cells from damage, including cells of the pancreas, where insulin is made and fiber helps slow the release of sugar into the bloodstream. For prevention of disease, fruits and vegetables are good foods to eat.

3. High-Sugar Processed Foods (avoid these)

Jelly beans, frozen pizza, ice cream, french fries, processed breakfast cereals, white bread, pretzels, waffles, bagels and even rice cakes (yes, rice cakes!—the diet food) raise blood sugar (see glycemic index) much faster than a pear or an apple will! An excess amount of sugar in the bloodstream—that does not get burnt off with exercise immediately—is stored for later use and that means weight gain and obesity, increasing your risk of getting diabetes. To help prevent it, avoid processed foods that spike blood sugar.

4. Whole Grains (skip the processed cereal)

As pointed out above, cold cereals are high in sugar and many types of processed breakfast cereals can spike sugar. Oatmeal contains carbohydrates that are essentially broken down into sugars, but the fiber in oats slows the release of sugars into the bloodstream to keep them at a more even level and help balance energy levels. Additionally, oatmeal contains magnesium, an important mineral for blood-sugar metabolism.¹

As reported by the Whole Grains Council, “Researchers in Mannheim, Germany carried out a dietary intervention with 14 patients who had uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. The patients were introduced to a diabetes-appropriate diet containing oatmeal during a short hospital stay, then examined again four weeks later. On average, patients achieved a 40% reduction in insulin dosage – and maintained the reduction even after 4 weeks on their own at home.”

5. Meats

Red meat, processed meats, bacon and hot dogs have been linked with an increased risk of diabetes in a 2003 study. A more recent headline also links processed meats with type 2 diabetes. They say eating processed meats like sausage and lunchmeat too much is not good; eating these foods too often can increase a healthy person’s risk of getting diabetes. Therefore, packing some leftover chicken breast for lunch that you cooked the night before may be far healthier than sandwiches made from lunchmeat. It is the processed meats that are bad.

6. Artificial Sweetners, Soda and Those Awful “Diet” Drinks

If you currently have diabetes or are watching your dietary sugars, then beware of fruit juice: it is often just made from a concentrated powder with even more sugar added to it! As if it were not sweet enough to begin with! Unsweetened tea and water—especially clean, pure, filtered and tested, safe water—are all options for the diabetic to drink. Who says that it has to be sickening sweet to drink it?! Artificial sweeteners are man-made and they mimic the effect of sugar (surprise!), which triggers excess insulin production. As a result, diet drinks may make you feel hungrier and should be avoided. Your body just needs the water.

Footnotes:
1. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium

A while back, I was under an enormous amount of stress and feeling filled with anxiety, which was undoubtedly causing physical back pains and headaches. I communicated this to my doctor and told her that I wish I could just control the thoughts in my brain and stop worrying so much! A seemingly impossible problem to treat. Almost immediately, she suggested an anti-anxiety drug. No inquiry into the foods I may have been eating, no mention of exercise, not even, “How much coffee or caffeinated beverages have you been drinking lately?” Just, “There’s a great new anti-anxiety medication on the market with your name on it.”

I quickly blurted out that I don’t like drugs. I don’t even take aspirin if I can help it.
She looked at me like I was un-patriotic. Drugs are as American as apple pie. It was then that I realized how radical I must have seemed to her when I asked, “Surely there’s another approach?”

But to many doctors there isn’t another approach. Most MDs are limited in their scope of medicine and trained only to treat symptoms, not the whole person. Sadly, this means that they cannot always advise on diet and exercise other than the standard stay-away-from-trans-fats speech. Sadly, this means you are not considered a whole person, but simply a disease that needs treating.

Science, however, is now teaching us something that ancient Hindu, Buddhist and Native American traditions have known for centuries. We are not just a body filled with treatable “symptoms;” we are whole beings whose every part is connected to the bigger web of life. The foods we eat, the air we breath and the social connections we make all affect our health and well-being.

This is why it is so important not only to have a primary-care physician, but also a holistic practitioner who may be able to address things that your primary MD cannot. A good holistic practitioner will ask you a gazillion questions related to your lifestyle. He or she will be more apt to prescribe vitamins, supplements, diet changes, exercise routines, breathing exercises, meditation, massages, yoga, acupuncture and even things such as fasts or colon cleanses, depending on your needs. And lastly, a holistic practitioner will not only treat the symptom, but will take into account the world around you that may have caused it.

A bunch of hooey? Think again.

• Studies show that up to 60% of cancer patients use holistic practitioners to supplement their cancer care.
• Medical doctors are now trained in “integrative medicine” (a fancy name for a holistic-care approach).
• Famous doctors like Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Oz are holistic practitioners who have helped change and inspire thousands by their innovative and integrative approach to medicine.
• According to the American Holistic Medical Association the definition of holistic medicine is “the art and science of healing that addresses care of the whole person. In practice, this means that each person is seen as a unique individual, rather than an example of a particular disease.”

My advice? Start looking for a holistic practitioner today. Here are some tips to help your search:

1. When looking for a traditional doctor, choose a “DO.” If you’re leery of a full-fledged holistic practitioner, try a DO, which stands for Doctor of Osteopathic medicine, whereas MD stands for Medical Doctor.  Both are traditional doctors, have the same training and years in med school. But, unlike an MD, a DO has more training in “whole person” and natural wellness approaches. Who knows, you may already be using one. Side note: my uncle was a DO and instead of telling us to run out and get an antihistamine for a common cold, he’d tell us to gargle with warm salt water, and place droppers of warm salt water in our noses. He’d tell us to drink tons of water and orange juice and sleep upright. If all that failed, he would then prescribe an antihistamine. But believe it or not, the salt water usually did the trick.

2. Get to know your doc’s title and credentials. Holistic practitioners go by many names: doctor of osteopathic medicine, alternative healthcare provider, alternative medical doctor, doctor of integrative medicine, naturopath and so on. Make sure you also look into credentials. A “holistic healer,” for example, may not have a traditional medical degree, whereas a DO or naturopath should.

3. Figure out what services you’d like. I know, easier said than done. But get to know the different specializations of holistic practitioners and see who might be the best fit. Some of the more popular specializations are allergies, arthritis, autoimmune disorders, cancer, colds, flu, depression, diabetes, digestive disorders, high cholesterol, hypertension, hypoglycemia, menopause, menstrual disorders, obesity, osteoporosis, PMS, thyroid problems and weight management. A good naturopath, for example, might specialize in all of the above.

4. Doctor or holistic healer? OK, so you already have a primary physician. Maybe you’re willing to see what a holistic healer might offer. A holistic healer is not a doctor, but rather, someone trained in any number of fields. Here’s a list of typical healing arts, as opposed to doctor practices: energy healing, acupuncture, healing touch, homeopathic therapies, herbal therapies, neurological pain, body-mind healing, chakra healing, naturopathy, meditation, natural foods, Ayurvedic medicine and spiritual healing. A nutritionist, for example, can help you formulate a diet plan. An acupuncturist might be able to relieve pain. Your yoga instructor might be able to help you with meditation. And your priest, rabbi or spiritual leader may be able to guide you in matters of spirituality. Many who practice the healing arts have double and triple specialties. A friend of mine who is a chiropractor is also a medical intuitive.

5. Do your research. Unfortunately, there are a few scams out there. As with anything, you need to do careful research. Word of mouth is always the best way to check someone’s credentials. Ask around and see if any of your friends can recommend someone. Check association pages,  too, where you can find recommendations based on membership within an association. Many associations pride themselves on their professionalism. And always be sure that if something doesn’t feel right or sound like it’s something you want to participate in, hold off. There should be no pressure to do or participate in anything. Simply do more research. Talk to others who may have experienced a certain healing practice. Chakra healing may not be for you, but acupuncture might.

6. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Finding a holistic practitioner and experiencing holistic healing and treatment is possibly one of the smartest choices you can make for yourself. But as with any doctor-patient relationship, it’s not infallible. It’s always good to get a second opinion about your health, and thus, have more than one doc.

What is prevention?

Prevention entails any “action directed at preventing illness and promoting health to reduce the need for secondary or tertiary healthcare.”
(Mosby’s Medical Dictionary, 8th edition © 2009, Elsevier)

Sounds easy enough, but in our culture, we don’t really plan for our health. We either act like we’ll live forever or we feel completely at the mercy of our genes. But neither is true.  Biology aside, we have a great amount of control over our health and taking preventive measures to avoid disease is one example. Taking action to prevent an illness improves the quality of your life, increases your lifespan and helps you minimize healthcare costs.

Quality of life
This sounds like a no brainer, but when you, for example, lose weight you increase the quality of your life. “A weight loss of 5 to 7 percent of body weight may improve your health and quality of life, and it may prevent weight-related health problems, like type 2 diabetes. For a person who weighs 200 pounds, this means losing 10 to 14 pounds.” If your diet lacks proper nutrients cut back on high fats and eat more fruits and veggies. If you smoke, quit. Taking action towards better health improves your quality of life!

Longevity
Another great reason to take action to prevent an illness is longevity. According to the American Heart Association, smokers’ life expectancy is six to nine years shorter than non-smokers. Obese women are 13% more likely to die prematurely. And according to the World Health Organization, “the combination of poor diets—consisting of too many empty calories—and a gross lack of physical activity is contributing to an increase in illness and chronic disease.”All these statistics can be changed with a few important life changes.

Healthcare costs
The healthier you are, the less likely you are to place a burden on the healthcare system. And like it or not, we all pay for our healthcare one way or another. The World Health Organization reports: “People with diabetes, for example, generate healthcare costs that are two to three times those without the condition.” Not only is it important to prevent diseases for better health and quality of life, but prevention has financial rewards as well.

What can I prevent?
You can prevent disease!

Certain diseases occur based on infection (bird flu, pneumonia) for which you may not have much control. But other non-infectious diseases like heart disease, diabetes and stroke occur based on lifestyle (what we eat, whether we exercise or not, if we smoke or drink). The following main diseases can be prevented; ironically, they are also the leading causes of death in the US:

Heart disease

Stroke

Lung cancer

Chronic liver disease

Type 2 diabetes

Nephritis (kidney disease)

How can I prevent disease?
Everything that goes into your body affects your health. So the key to prevention is based on pure, clean eating, a weekly exercise regimen and keeping toxic substances (nicotine, alcohol, drugs, caffeine and stress) out of your system.

Achieving perfect health is impossible. But working towards better health is a necessary process you should never give up on. Take action today to prevent the possibility of disease tomorrow.

Here’s a few tips:

Read our Shopping for Food article to help you look for the best quality foods

Focus on ways to avoid diabetes, even if you’re overweight!

Learn more about stroke and heart disease

Take action to prevent heart disease

In an in-depth article on women and bone fractures, Good Housekeeping reported that osteoporosis, a disease that involves low bone density, is linked with a lack of calcium and is common in postmenopausal women, was systematically being overlooked when treating women who were at serious risk of bone fracture. The article revealed that drug companies were more focused on selling preventive drugs (like Boniva and Fosamax) to younger women who may not have needed it as much as older woman who were at real risk. “Osteoporosis affects more than 10 million people in the U.S., but osteopenia [the precursor to osteoporosis] occurs in more than three times as many — 34 million,” a much larger market to which a pharmaceutical company wanting to sell its product can target.

Furthermore, the article found that studies indicated that the drugs prescribed (bisphosphonates) didn’t even work on younger women to prevent fractures.

“The average age for breaking a hip is about 80, and no research shows that starting bisphosphonates at 50 will help keep a bone from breaking 30 years later — or even after 10. The best fracture prevention, she adds, is achieved when women only take the drugs if they develop osteoporosis…”

Despite these findings, one thing is for sure—women at any age can take charge of their health and improve their risk factors for osteoporosis through better nutrition, supplements, exercise and regular visits to your doctor if you suspect you may be at higher risk. Below are a few tips to get you started.

Types of Exercise That Help

Exercise can help. Walking, Tai Chi, jogging, tennis, dancing or any weight-bearing exercise done three to four times per week is good for osteoporosis prevention. High-intensity exercise tends to increase oxidative stress, whereas moderate exercise actually decreases it. Tai Chi or yoga will improve balance and strengthen bones, thus reducing falls and fractures. Breast cancer survivors may suffer bone loss due to cancer treatments and a study showed that if they perform Tai Chi, a form of moderate weight-bearing exercise, three times a week for an hour, they would actually increase bone formation and reduce the bone loss.

If you have already had a fracture or have severe osteoporosis, please check with your doctor first before exercising.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Antioxidants that are naturally present in fruits and vegetables, can help combat the oxidative stress that damages the body’s structure. Oxidative stress may accelerate osteoperosis, especially after menopause when estrogen levels decline.

Drinking green tea provides antioxidants that are effective for reducing cellular damage and a new study is underway to investigate the benefits of combining green tea  and Tai Chi. The study will include a daily intake of 700-800mg of calcium from diet and another 500mg from supplements and 200 IU of vitamin D.

Other antioxidant-rich foods (leafy greens, berries, Açai berries, and spices like cinnamon) need to be added daily to your diet.

Good nutrition is crucial, but moderation is also key. Obesity and even moderate weight gain adds unnecessary stress to the skeletal system and weakens bone strength.

Supplement

Calcium is the clincher. The best source of calcium is (surprise!) figs and sardines. But milk, yogurt and other dairy tend to be a little easier to add to your daily diet. Other dietary sources of calcium include kale, watercress, broccoli and apricots. As far as calcium supplements go, calcium citrate is better absorbed than calcium carbonate (which needs to be taken with food). But magnesium and Vitamin D should also be taken to help with calcium absorption.  Here’s a chart on foods with calcium.

Want more info?

Nature’s Shield SmartCal

Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Calcium

Ask the Experts

Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General

Bioavailability of the calcium in fortified soy imitation milk, with some observations on method.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10799379

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/ss05/osteoporosis.html

Firstly, maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is one of the recommendations of the National Stroke Association. There is a connection between cholesterol levels and blocked arteries. Anti-clotting medications keep the blood flowing,³ but they do not treat the cause of the problem: blocked arteries. Here are the recommended healthy cholesterol levels:

• a total cholesterol under 200;
• a good cholesterol (HDL) of 60 or more; and 
• a bad cholesterol (LDL) no higher than 130 (an LDL equal to or less than 100 is considered optimal). ⁴  

Secondly, many people think that once arteries are blocked, they’ll stay that way. Not true! It is possible to reverse blocked arteries. A clinical study showed that the amount of  arterial “stenosis” (narrowing in blood vessel) was reversed when total cholesterol was reduced to less than 150!⁵ In another study, 64% of patients who lowered their LDL cholesterol number to an average of 61, a new all-time low for LDL, actually had less blockage after two years!⁶ Reports also state that a low HDL (less than 40) may increase the risk of blockages and stroke.⁷

Lastly, high blood pressure increases stroke risk.  Perfect blood pressure is 120/80; managing it is an important part of stroke prevention. High blood pressure leads to weak arteries that can break and it also increases the risk of blocked arteries.

Here are some other facts:

• An aneurysm can increase the risk of a hemmorrhagic stroke.
• Diabetes and high blood sugar damages blood vessels.⁸ 
• Vitamin C helps support arteries and is associated with reduced risk of stroke.⁹
• Other risk factors include smoking, alchohol use and atrial fibrillation, a heart condition.¹⁰

Visit the National Stroke Association for further information on stroke prevention and feel free to read the stroke-prevention brochures and health articles found below in the references.  

1. Exercise
Exercise is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy heart and to prevent future heart problems. Not only can it reduce your risk of heart disease, it may even reduce inflammation throughout the years.¹ It’s also easier to prevent heart problems than to correct them.

The secret is regular exercise. Getting your heart rate up into a safe but aerobic zone five to seven days per week is key. According to the American Heart Association, “For health benefits to the heart, lungs and circulation, perform any moderate-to-vigorous-intensity aerobic activity for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week at 50–85 percent of your maximum heart rate.”2 However, if you have heart disease, it is recommended to first consult a physician for advice before beginning. Exercise is our top pick because of all the natural, healthy benefits.

Here are 10 superfoods to help you live longer!

1. Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain lycopene, a red pigment (carotenoid) that gives the tomato its color. Cooked tomatoes are a great source of lycopene, an antioxidant that neutralizes cancer-causing free radicals. In the book, Food: Your Miracle Medicine, a great resource on cancer-fighting foods, research found that lycopene was “twice as powerful as beta-carotene at ‘quenching singlet oxygen’—a rampaging toxic oxygen molecule that can trigger cancer in cells.” But a word of caution, you won’t get a lot of lycopene from a ketchup bottle. If you can, choose to eat the real thing.

2. Broccoli
Broccoli, a superfood rich in antioxidants, may decrease the risk of colon, stomach or breast cancer by helping produce enzymes that fight free radicals and carcinogens. Broccoli contains the phytochemical indole-3 carbinol, which blocks estrogen-binding and glucoraphanin, which may decrease the risk of getting stomach cancer, the second most common form of cancer.

3. Red Grapes
Red wine will never make this list! Alcohol is linked with several cancers and can make existing cancer worse. It’s not considered cancer-fighting. But, interestingly enough, red wine is made from red grapes that are very healthy. Red grapes, in fact, contain resveratrol, a phytochemical with anti-aging and cardiovascular health benefits that was described in a recent article as “an effective antioxidant that protects against free radical damage that is linked to many types of diseases.” In another article, resveratrol is reported to “slow the growth of cancer cells and inhibit the formation of tumors in lymph, liver, stomach and breast cells. Resveratrol has also triggered the death of leukemic and colon cancer tumors.”

4. Green Leafy Vegetables, Kale and Spinach
Dark green leafy vegetables have lutein, an antioxidant that has been studied for cancer. Lutein belongs to a class of phytochemicals called carotenoids. According to the Bastyr Center for Natural Health, “Carotenoids, also called carotenes, are the naturally occurring nutrients found in brightly colored vegetables and fruit, and are believed to have cancer-preventive properties. These are the nutrients that give vegetables and fruit their bright orange, green, red and yellow pigments.” Spinach is good, but kale has even more lutein in it. Generally speaking, raw-vegetable salads are great but cooked spinach is also great because the fat-soluble carotenoid lutein is not destroyed with cooking.

5. Garlic
Garlic may just be one of the most healthiest foods. It contains many different beneficial phytochemicals. In fact, the American Institute for Cancer Research says, “In laboratory studies, components of garlic have shown the ability to slow or stop the growth of tumors in prostate, bladder, colon and stomach tissue.”

6. Green Tea
Green tea is highly recommended for cancer prevention due to the great phytochemicals. Green tea, the real stuff: pure green tea found in the Asian markets contains catechins, a type of flavonoid. EGCG is a type of catechin with remarkable anti-cancer effects.

7. Mushrooms
According to the Cancer Cure Foundation, “There are a number of mushrooms that appear to help the body fight cancer and build the immune system.” The Agaricus blazei Murrill mushroom from Brazil—also known as “the mushroom of God”¹—is supposed to be the best. If you can’t get your hands on one of those, shiitake mushrooms are also supposed to be cancer-fighting. 

9. Yogurt
A wonderful article on superfoods states the following: “Scientists have found that the active culture of bacteria in yogurt, which is called lactobacillus, actually helps to fortify the immune system.” Plus, yogurt is a good source of calcium that may also be cancer preventive.

10. More Omega-3 Fish & Less Red Meat and Fried Foods
Eating more vegetarian meals (vegetables and fruits) and less fat is just so cancer preventive! However, omega-3 fats have been shown to have anti-cancer benefits. Vegetable oils and animal fat tend to promote cancer, whereas fish oils and olive oils have anti-cancer effects.  Additionally, the American Cancer Society suggests limiting red meat and processed meats, and eating five fruits or vegetables a day.

1. http://www.naturalnews.com/023633.html

References: 
American Institute for Cancer Research 
Broccoli Sprouts Fight Ulcers as well as Cancer, The George Mateljan Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation 
Food: Your Miracle Medicine, Jean Carper 
Cancer Treatment Centers of America 
www.Phytochemicals.info 
The American Cancer Society 
Cancer Cure Foundation
Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle, Washington