Antioxidant Effects of Dark Chocolate and Cocoa Powder

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition used cocoa powder & dark chocolate mixed in milk, pudding snacks, or baked into cookies or brownies. Cardiovasclar disease risk was favourably affected by:

• Modestly reducing LDL oxidation susceptibility
• Increasing serum total antioxidant capacity & HDL cholesterol concentrations
• Not adversely affecting prostaglandins

The authors conclude: “An important caveat is that chocolate be incorporated sensibly and prudently in a healthy diet that emphasises the selenium was found to be asociated with a 4 to 5-intakes of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, skim milk, reduced fat dairy products and lean meats, fish and poultry. We would be remiss in endorsing unlimited quantities of chocolate.”

See my 10/16/05, 11/08/05, & 1/29/06 postings for chocolate muffin recipes.

See my January 27, 2005, posting - How to Listen to Natural Health and You With Dr. Stephen Bittiker.

Lew's Garbanzo Bean Chocolate Muffin Recipe - No Dairy, Eggs, Gluten, Sugar, Wheat, or Yeast - Low GI (Glycemic Index)

• 2 cups Garbanzo Bean Flour (if not available locally - Bob's Red Mill Garbanzo Bean Flour online)
• 1/4 cup Organic Cocoa Powder (not roasted)
  
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 & 1/8 cups Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk - add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice & let sit 15 minutes to thicken up (Edensoy or Westsoy)(substitute for buttermilk - 1 teaspoon lemon juice for each 1/3 cup Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk) (Rice milk will not work well. Since soy milk has much more protein, it will thicken better.)
• 2 tablespoons Lecithin Granules - add 4 tablespoons of extra light olive oil and stir until the granules dissolve (substitute for 2 eggs)
• 2 teaspoons Organic Vanilla Extract
  
• 1 & 1/2 teaspoons Celtic Sea Salt
• 1/8 cup Xylitol*
  

*Xylitol is a Natural & Safe Sugar Substitute*

NOW Xylitol - 8 oz. - at the Lowest Price on the Net

Bake for about 19 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes 12 regular sized muffins. Fill each baking cup 2/3 with batter. If you put your muffins in the refrigerator, they will lose their freshness faster then leaving them out. If you want to keep your muffins longer than 2 days, freeze them within 24 hours, but allow them to cool first.

Vegan Magazines & Information

Vegetarian Times - Great Food, Good Health, Smart Living

Veg News Magazine - Vegetarian News, Events, Recipes, Book Reviews, Best Veggie Products, Travel Tales, Interviews, Celebrity Buzz, & More

Veggie Life - Vegetarian Cooking Magazine

Vegetarian Journal - Vegan Cooking & Recipes, Nutrition, Food & Product Guides, Travel Articles, Book & Video Reviews

Lew's Improved Organic Cornbread Muffin Recipe - No Dairy, Eggs, Gluten, Sugar, Wheat, or Yeast

My first Organic Cornbread Muffin Recipe was posted on November 15, 2005. Thought I'd try using 2 TBSP of extra light olive oil & 1 TBSP of lecithin, instead of 2 TBSP of water & 1 TBSP of lecithin, to make a substitute for one egg. Changed to 2 cups of corn meal to eliminate the wheat and gluten. Increased the sea salt to 1 1/2 TSP, only because I'm using Celtic Sea Salt. See my January 08, 2006, posting, Celtic Sea Salt Provides Your Body with Essential Nutrition for Health. The muffins seem more moist & taste better.

• 2 cups Organic Whole Grain Yellow Corn Meal
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 cup Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk - add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice & let sit 15 minutes to thicken up (Edensoy or Westsoy)(substitute for buttermilk - 1 teaspoon lemon juice for each 1/3 cup Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk) (Rice milk will not work well. Since soy milk has much more protein, it will thicken better.)
• 1 tablespoon Lecithin Granules - add 2 tablespoons of extra light olive oil and stir until the granules dissolve (substitute for 1 egg)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Celtic Sea Salt
• 1/8 cup Xylitol*
  

*Xylitol is a Natural and Safe Sugar Substitute*

NOW Xylitol - 8 oz. - at the Lowest Price on the Net

Bake for about 19 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes 12 regular sized muffins. Fill each baking cup 2/3 with batter. If you put your muffins in the refrigerator, they will lose their freshness faster then leaving them out. If you want to keep your muffins longer than 2 days, freeze them within 24 hours, but allow them to cool first.

Top 10 Nutritional Mistakes

Debra Ray read the Top 10 Nutritional Mistakes Made by Active People from the American Council on Exercise.

1. skipping breakfast
2. not eating before a workout
3. waiting too long after exercise to eat
4. replacing meals with energy bars or replacement drinks
5. eating too much protein & not enough carbs
6. trusting the accuracy of dietary supplement labels & claims - Debra Ray couldn't disagree more
   
7. not consuming the right amount of calories for the amount of activity that you do
8. beleiving that exercise means you can eat whatever you want
9. not drinking the right amount of fluid
10. jumping on the latest diet craze in search of that elusive edge

Below are Debra Ray's top 10 nutritional mistakes.

1. skipping breakfast
2. replacing meals with energy bars or replacement drinks
3. beverages - check the labels on bottled teas & fruit juices
   
4. trusting label claims - low carb, etc.
   
5. cheese - rhymes with sneeze & wheez
6. the latest diet craze - high protein, low carb, etc.
7. not eating colorful foods - they can make a huge difference in your nutritional status
8. cheat on the diet because you took a vitamin
9. diet foods & diet drinks
10. not having lots of good fats in the proper balance
    

American Council on Exercise - acefitness.org

See my January 28, 2005, posting - How to Listen to The Debra Ray Show, Healthy Talk Radio. Debra Ray's radio and streaming audio health show has been bringing researched health information to listeners since 1982.

Free Online: Magazine, 7 Complete Books, 2 DataBases, & Articles

Since they have a wide variety of products, I just placed an order with iHerb.Com. Nice to order from one company to save on shipping. Their Email confirmation of my order mentioned they have licensed the full contents of HerbalGram Magazine (from 1990 to current), The Natural Pharmacy (TNP) database, HerbClip database, 7 complete books (listed below), & over a dozen articles. They are all free of any cost or membership obligation. They also have many health & useful links. Their search box will simultaneously search the entire contents of TNP (The Natural Pharmacy), HerbalGram, German Commission E, Herb Clip, Dr. Murray, and Dr. Weil sites.

• Get a Grip on Arthritis by Lorna Vanderhaeghe
• Mind-Boosters.Com All about the Mind! by Dr. Ray Sahelian
• Mindfulness in Plain English V by H.G Mahathera
• How to Heal Depression Harold H. Bloomfield by M.D. & Peter McWilliams
• An A-Z Woman's Guide to Vibrant Health by Lorna Vanderhaeghe
• Diabetes Solution by Dr. Bernstein
• Aromatherapy for Everyone by PJ Pierson and Mary Shipley

Click the link below and then on Conditions A-Z near the top center of the webpage.

Health Encyclopedia at iherb.com

Gary Null's Hair & Skin Study

You can go to Gary Null's main webpage and click on Hair and Skin Study (upper right under Gary's Downloads:). A form to apply for Gary's 9-month study will appear. You can live anywhere in the world and be in the study. You have to be bald or thinning and have a skin problem, such as age spots or eczema. Gary says he learned so much from his last study, that he will reverse balding, thinning, & graying hair and reverse aging skin, age spots, damaged skin, lines, wrinkles, bags, & sags. The study has substantial protocol for lifestyle modifications. You must follow the protocol 100%. In his last study, only 6% complied 100% with the protocol, and they had great results. He will need a picture of your progress once a week. They will make the final selection of people in about 3 weeks. For more information, call Saundra, at 646 505-4660, Ext 100.

Gary Null's main webpage

See my January 26, 2005, posting - How to Listen to The Gary Null Show.

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Is It Better to Avoid Milk?

Gary Null, Herbalist Wendy Wilson, and Dr. Stephen Bittiker, on their shows, all seem to agree that it is better to avoid milk. Not only is it a mucous forming food, but it's calcium is not absorbed well. A chart in the International Journal of Cardiology, in 1991, shows people ages 55-64 per 100,000 people who consume the highest amount of milk had a higher death rate. A chart by the World Health Organization, in 1996, shows the shortest life expectancy and highest incidences of breast, ovarian, prostate, and colon cancers were in the countries with the most dairy consumption. You can see these charts in the interesting article at the link below. Charlie Skeen recommends rice milk or almond milk as a substitute, but not soy milk.

Milk - Does It Really Do a Body Good? by Charlie Skeen

Herbalist Wendy Wilson recommends calcium rich vegetables. If you Email her, requesting a list of calcium rich vegetables, she'll Email it to you. Her Email address is wwilson@thepowerherbs.com. She also recommends Apothecary Herbs' Calcium formula. It's calcium-based herbs build bone, tooth enamel, dentin, cartilage, and various tissues. Apothecary Herbs' formulas are made with Certified Organic herbs grown to the Tilth Standards. Their formulas are naturally aged and cold pressed to preserve medicinal potency. Wendy is the Herbalist at Apothecary Herbs, Inc.

Calcium Formula from Apothecary Herbs

See my July 02, 2005, posting - Gout Relief! & How to Listen to Herb Talk Live.

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40% of Products on Supermarket Shelves Have Trans Fats

John Abramson, M.D., author of Overdosed America, was a guest on The Debra Ray Show. Dr. Abramson talked about trans fats, also called partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. In a study, doubling the amount of trans fats we eat each day, increases the risk of heart disease by 60 to 90%. Trans fats cause:

• significant & serious increase in LDL (bad) cholesterol
• significant & serious lowering of HDL (good) cholesterol

Find trans fats on the food label by looking for any of the following words:

• shortening
• partially hydrogenated vegetable oil
• hydrogenated vegetable oil
  

Starting in January, 2006, trans fats will be listed (in small print) in the Nutrition Facts square on the food package. Some food manufacturers packaging say "trans fat-free" if the product contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving size. These manufacturers believe that this is ok, since under FDA regulations, if a product contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fats per serving, they must express it as zero grams. If you go to a restaurant or bakery, ask if they use partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.

As they said on the Ban Trans Fats website, "One of the reasons that partially hydrogenated oils are used is to increase the product's shelf life, but they decrease your shelf life".

Ban Trans Fats - The Campaign to Ban Partially Hydrogenated Oils - website

Overdosed America - The Broken Promise of American Medicine - website

See my January 28, 2005, posting - How to Listen to The Debra Ray Show, Healthy Talk Radio. Debra Ray's radio and streaming audio health show has been bringing researched health information to listeners since 1982.

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Whole Grains Lower Heart Attack Rates

Six studies done in the US, England, Finland, and Norway, show that people who eat large amounts of whole grains and whole grain cereals have a much lower rate of heart attacks. Whole barley, oats, and rice also help to lower blood levels of the bad LDL cholesterol. Whole grain cereals are rich sources of many nutrients that help protect a person from getting a heart attack: vitamin E, fiber, folic acid, lignins, linoleic acid, phytoestrogens, selenium, and several antioxidant phenolic acids. Processing generally reduces the content of these nutrients. In North America, adults get 30% of their energy from grains.

See my January 28, 2005, posting - How to Listen to The Debra Ray Show, Healthy Talk Radio. Debra Ray's radio and streaming audio health show has been bringing researched health information to listeners since 1982.

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Super Immunity - Recolonize the Good Bacteria in Your Gut

Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., C.N.S., a guest on The Debra Ray Show, said that 70% of the antibiotics used in this country are fed to animals. These antibiotics are in the beef, dairy, lamb, pork, and poultry products you eat, unless you buy organic. The antibiotics kill both bad and good bacteria. The ratio of 85% good bacteria to 15% bad bacteria in your gut is optimum for good health. 75% of your immune receptor sites are located in the gut. Ann Louise recommends Probiotics 12 Plus, because it's the only probiotic that contains the TH 10 strain of bacteria. This new bacterial strain is proven to destroy resistant pathogens. TH 10 will kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureas (MRSA), which is responsible for many rapidly spreading infections occurring now in hospitals. Probiotics 12 Plus rebalances the GI tract which avoids digestive problems & strengthens the immune system. The company claims that, based on research, 80% of all other probiotics are no longer alive by the time they reach the consumer. Their painstaking manufacturing methods result in a product that has a guaranteed shelf life of three years after shipment. Ann Louise recommends taking a "loading dose" of 5 capsules when awakened in the morning & 5 capsules at bedtime, until the first box is used up. Then you should continue to take just 1 capsule at bedtime. If you are scheduled for a plane trip, she recommends taking the "loading dose" the day before, the day of, and the day after your plane trip. She also recommends eating fermented foods (such as sauerkraut, pickles, etc.), as part of some meals, as these help the good bacteria. Research suggests that Probiotics 12 Plus may be useful in treating IBS, colitis, Crohn's disease, spastic colon, constipation, diarrhea, diverticulitis, acid reflux, heartburn, peptic ulcers, asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, Epstein-Bar virus, acne, psoriasis, eczema, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis B & C.

Essential Formulas Inc., Dr. Ohhira's 12 Plus Probiotic Formula, 60 Capsules

See my January 28, 2005, posting - How to Listen to The Debra Ray Show, Healthy Talk Radio. Debra Ray's radio and streaming audio health show has been bringing researched health information to listeners since 1982.

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Niacin (Vitamin B3) for Bleeding Gums, Arthritis, & Longer Life

Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D., told about his problem with bleeding gums. A dentist told him he didn't have gingivitis, so he couldn't help him. He began taking niacin for other reasons. Two weeks after he started taking niacin, his gums were no longer bleeding.
He told about his patients with arthritis. For many of these patents, after taking niacin for one month, their pain was gone. Many of these patients had been taking thousands of dollars worth of drugs, with no relief.
His oldest patient is now 111 years old. Until two years ago, she was doing cross country skiing. Dr. Hoffer started her on niacin 40 years ago. He believes she will outlive the current world record of 116 years. He said that it has been shown in studies, in the United States, that niacin does help people live longer.
He also mentioned that it is NOT true that niacin can be toxic to the liver. He does not recommend niacinamide, as it does not have an effect on cholesterol. See my January 5, 2006, posting - Statin Drugs - Ineffective & Very Harmful / Niacin - Effective & Safe. No-flush niacin is available, which is only slightly less effective than regular niacin.

See my November 27, 2005, posting - How to Listen to Healthy Talk Radio with Debra Ray on LIME - "Healthy Living with a Twist". Debra Ray's radio and streaming audio health show has been bringing researched health information to listeners since 1982.

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Celtic Sea Salt Provides Your Body with Essential Nutrition for Health

Herbalist Wendy Wilson, on her Herb Talk Live show, explained the many benefits of using Celtic Sea Salt. Unlike regular "white" table salt, Celtic Sea Salt does NOT promote water retention, bloating, or hypertension. Natural Celtic Sea Salt is imported from France and it's color is gray. It's sun dried to retain essential nutrition for health. Wendy said that Celtic Sea Salt lets the true flavor of food come through and helps to curb your sweet tooth. I have tried Celtic Sea Salt, in place of regular sea salt, in my muffins. It really does let the taste of the food come through. I will be using it for all of my cooking and baking. Wendy said you might be able to find Celtic Sea Salt locally and it is available online from Apothecary Herbs, Inc., where she is the Herbalist.

Celtic Sea Salt from Apothecary Herbs

See my July 02, 2005, posting - Gout Relief! & How to Listen to Herb Talk Live.

Many Reports of Deaths, Strokes, Heart Attacks, & High Blood Pressure in Kids & Adults Taking ADHD Drugs, Launch Government Study

10 million prescriptions were written last year, in the USA, for drugs to treat ADHD. The FDA has received so many reports of deaths, strokes, heart attacks, and high blood pressure in kids & adults taking ADHD drugs, that it will launch a new study into ADHD drugs safety. The FDA has asked its Drug Safety & Risk Management Committee to examine ways to prevent the heart risks in using these drugs.

My D.O. has been treating ADHD by removing sugar and preservatives from the diet, with great success.

See my January 28, 2005, posting - How to Listen to The Debra Ray Show, Healthy Talk Radio. Debra Ray's radio and streaming audio health show has been bringing researched health information to listeners since 1982.

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Statin Drugs - Ineffective & Very Harmful / Niacin - Effective & Safe

Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D., told about a hospital study that took place in 1955. Seventy patients with high blood cholesterol were selected. They were given 1.5 to 3 grams of niacin a day, for only 3 or 4 days. Cholesterol levels before and after were done. The bad cholesterol level was lowered and the good cholesterol level was raised. The study was published in the Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics in 1955. The study was confirmed by the Mayo Clinic, which bought the study to the attention of the medical world. Dr. Hoffer said, "the statin drugs are not helpful at all, in fact they are very harmful." He mentioned that the common myth that high doses of niacin damage the liver is not true.

I have been taking a 100 mg tablet of niacin with each meal for years. I don't mind the flush and it seems to help my allergies. The Vitamin Shoppe has 100 & 250 mg tablets and 500 mg capsules.

See my November 27, 2005, posting - How to Listen to Healthy Talk Radio with Debra Ray on LIME - "Healthy Living with a Twist". Debra Ray's radio and streaming audio health show has been bringing researched health information to listeners since 1982.

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Stop Dysentery or Diarrhea Within 30 Minutes

Herbalist Wendy Wilson, on her Herb Talk Live show, gave details of a cure for dysentery or diarrhea from an intestional bug or the flu. Put into a few ounces of water, 3 or 4 dropperfulls of each of these organic herbal tinctures: ginger root, fennel, and peppermint. If you have a really bad case of dysentery, add some slippery elm tincture. Ginger root, fennel, and peppermint organic herbal tinctures are available as a Digestion Travel Kit, from Apothecary Herbs, Inc.

Herbalist Wendy Wilson's work at Apothecary Herbs, Inc. has helped them earn an excellent reputation - Lew.

The Digestion Travel Kit also stops: stomach ache, indigestion, nausea, bloating, gas, and vomiting. The kit is also very effective against seasickness, morning sickness, digestive viruses, and the flu.

Information on the Digestion Travel Kit from Apothecary Herbs

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Cook Tastier & More Digestible Oatmeal

Herbalist Wendy Wilson, on her Herb Talk Live show, explained how to cook oatmeal correctly. If cooked too long, oatmeal becomes like glue and is very hard to digest (" a nightmare for the bowel"). Much tastier cooked this way. She suggested buying organic whole grain rolled oats. She didn't mention it, but I have read oats should be soaked in water overnight (6 to 8 hours), like rice and other grains. Soaking does help the oats to cook in only 5 minutes.

1. Bring the water to a boil.
2. Remove the pot from the hot burner.
   
3. Put the oats in, stir, (add raisins), and cover the pot.
   
4. Let the pot sit for 3 to 5 minutes, but no longer than 5 minutes.
   
5. Drain off the water and serve.
   

See my July 02, 2005, posting - Gout Relief! & How to Listen to Herb Talk Live.