"The LifeStraw" is a personal handheld water filter

The "Best Invention of 2005" (Time magazine), enables users to drink water safely from contaminated water sources. LifeStraw is ideal for homeowners during emergencies such as local flooding which can contaminate drinking water supplies. LifeStraw is also ideal for campers and hikers who may be drinking from rivers or lakes and are unsure of the water safety. Because LifeStraw is lightweight and compact, it is also great for travelers who do not want to rely on the quality of local water.
LifeStraw is the most advanced personal water filter available today. LifeStraw surpasses EPA guidelines for E. coli, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium oocysts, rigorous standards for water filtration.
Eartheasy is the official wholesale distributor and retail launch partner for LifeStraw, which as of September 2011 is now available for US and Canadian customers to purchase. Since 2005, LifeStraw has been used in developing countries to assist in achieving the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals for clean drinking water. We’re excited to help launch this useful product in North America.

Features & Benefits

• Filters up to 1,000 liters (264 gallons) of water
• Removes 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria (>LOG 6 reduction)
• Removes 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites (>LOG 3 reduction)
• Reduces turbidity, filtering down to 0.2 microns
• Ultralight: weighs only 2oz!
• Contains no chemicals (and is BPA-free), uses no batteries, has no moving parts
• Very high flow rate
• Easy to clean
• Very durable
• Used worldwide in harsh conditions since 2005
• Award winning & internationally recognized
• 1 year warranty

For every ten LifeStraws sold, Eartheasy will donate one to crisis-affected people in developing countries through the manufacturer’s partnership with Rotary International. We also have a tree planted for every order through partnership with Trees for the Future Foundation. To purchase a LifeStraw, add to cart above, or call 1-888-451-6752.

What LifeStraw removes/filters:

LifeStraw filters down to an incredible, 0.2 microns in size! This removes virtually all the bacteria (99.9999%) and protozoa (99.9%) from contaminated water, and reduces turbidity (muddiness) by filtering out suspended particles.

Bacteria removed include:

• Escherichia coli,
• Campylobacter,
• Vibrio cholerae,
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
• Shigella
• Salmonella

Protozoa removed include:

• Giardia lamblia ("Beaver Fever")
• Cryptosporidium Parvum
• Entamoeba histolytica.

Please note: The LifeStraw currently does not filter heavy metals or viruses, and will not desalinate water.

Specifications:

• Length: 9 inches
• Width: 1 inch
• Weight: 2 ounces
• Construction: durable plastic. Does not require replacement parts or batteries, or any chemicals.
• Capacity: filters up to 264 gallons (1000 liters) of water.
• Shelf Life: 5 years when stored at room temperature. (Product package may state shelf life of 3 years, but this will be corrected on newer packaging. The actual shelf life is 5 years.)
• Included: Comes with a lanyard, and a cap for the mouth piece and end piece

How to use:

The patented LifeStraw is a small tube with specialized filters inside. Place one end in unfiltered water (a glass, water bottle, river, or puddle!), and suck the resulting clean water up through the top. Anyone who can use a drinking straw can easily use a LifeStraw.

LifeStraw for Travel & Backpacking:

Because the LifeStraw is so small and lightweight, it’s great for travel overseas in countries with unreliable drinking water. If you’ve ever been sick while travelling, you know the importance of drinking filtered water! Make sure to drink all water through the LifeStraw.

LifeStraw for Hiking & Camping:

Access to clean water is critical while hiking. LifeStraw accomplishes the same thing as other filters, but does it at just a tenth of the weight. If you’re ultra-light hiking, this is a must. At only 2 oz, it’s the lightest way of filtering water while on the go. If you consume the recommended 3-4 liters of water per day while hiking, LifeStraw will last you for between 250-330 days of hiking. If you’re in a rush, there’s no need to stop and filter water by the lake. Just scoop your water bottle full, and sip from it as you walk. Or, dip the end of the straw right into the lake and drink until you’re hydrated.
As a hiking or camping water filter, the LifeStraw provides great convenience. A purifier or pump filter is great, but it takes a fair amount of time to wait for the purification or filtering to complete. Instead, experience the convenience of drinking directly from the water source using your LifeStraw. Perfect when you are hiking, or relaxing around camp.

LifeStraw for Emergency Preparedness & Survival:

In light of recent natural disasters, many people are realizing they cannot depend on their city water during an emergency. A water filter that’s lightweight, easy-to-use, and portable is important to have in your emergency preparedness kit. Buy a LifeStraw for each member in your household - it's a low-cost investment in security.

Awards and recognition:

LifeStraw has received significant accolades since 2005. Time Magazine named LifeStraw the “Best Invention of 2005.” In 2008, it won the Saatchi and Saatchi Award for “World Changing Ideas”. Esquire called it the “Innovation of the Year.” And Forbes noted that LifeStraw is “one of the ten things that will change the way we live.” Now that LifeStraw has launched in the USA and Canada, we expect continued positive responses.

History:

LifeStraw is manufactured by Vestergaard Frandsen, which is a Switzerland-based company specializing in disease control products for developing countries. Their core business model is centered around corporate social responsibility, and they help countries reach their United Nations’ Millenium Development Goals with products designed to prevent vector- and water-borne diseases. LifeStraws are shipped throughout the world to countries in need including Haiti, Pakistan, and Africa.

Study of Blood Pressure Diet Works

Better adherence to the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is associated with significant reductions in blood pressure. However, African-Americans may be less likely than whites to adopt the diet, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center.

The findings, which appear online September 19 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, suggest that altering traditional recipes to meet nutritional guidelines rather than eliminating certain foods altogether may result in better adherence among African-Americans.

Figure Blood Pressure Complications
Credit: Wikipedia

The DASH diet is recognized as the diet of choice for preventing and managing high blood pressure. The diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy products, and is low in fats and cholesterol.

"Previous research, including results from our ENCORE study, established the DASH diet as an important approach for lowering blood pressure, and for some individuals, it may be an effective alternative to taking medication for hypertension," said James A. Blumenthal, PhD, professor of behavioral medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Duke University Medical Center. "In this study we were interested in whether dietary adherence was related to blood pressure changes and what factors predicted who would adhere to the diet."

The study was a new analysis of data from the ENCORE trial, led by Duke researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of the DASH diet on cardiovascular health. Participants were 144 sedentary, overweight or obese adults, who had high blood pressure and were not taking medication.

Researchers measured a series of clinical and behavioral factors at the start of the study including blood pressure, weight, and physical fitness, as well as dietary habits. Depression, anxiety and social support were also evaluated as potential predictors of adherence to the regimen.

Participants were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: the DASH diet alone; the DASH diet in combination with weight-loss counseling and aerobic exercise; or no change in diet and exercise habits.

After four months, participants in the group that got the DASH diet plus weight-loss counseling and exercise lost an average of 19 pounds, while weight remained stable in the other two groups.

Participants in both the DASH diet alone and DASH diet plus counseling groups had significant reductions in blood pressure, with greater adherence to the DASH diet resulting in the largest drops in blood pressure. The finding suggests that that following the DASH diet lowers blood pressure, independent of exercise and weight loss.

However, the addition of weight loss and exercise to the DASH diet promoted even greater reductions in blood pressure and improved other measures of cardiovascular health. "For overweight or obese patients with high blood pressure, clinicians should recommend the DASH diet in conjunction with exercise and weight loss for the best results," said Alan Hinderliter, MD, a cardiologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an investigator in this study.

The researchers noted that African-American participants were less likely than white participants to eat foods recommended in the DASH diet prior to beginning the study. While both African-American and white participants in the DASH treatment groups increased the amount of DASH foods they ate, African-Americans were less likely to adopt the DASH diet compared to their white counterparts. No other demographic, behavioral, or social variable predicted whether participants would adhere to the DASH diet.

"We need to be aware of cultural differences in dietary preferences in order to help people better adopt a DASH-friendly diet," Blumenthal said. "It is important to take into account traditional food choices and cooking practices when attempting to incorporate more DASH foods into daily meal plans."

Culturally sensitive changes to implementing the DASH diet, such as modifying traditional "soul food" recipes to meet nutritional recommendations rather than eliminating foods altogether, may result in better adherence among African-Americans.

"Given the success of the DASH diet, we know that changing lifestyles can make a significant difference in people's health," Blumenthal said. "And in the long run, if people are able to maintain changes to their diet and exercise habits, it can lead to a lower risk for heart attack and stroke."

Preserving/Jarring Garden Fruits and Veggies thru the winter

When it’s that time of year to preserve your garden bounty, an excellent method of food preservation is ‘canning’. If done properly, it is entirely safe. However care and precaution are in order. Canning low acid food is the only preservation method that can be deadly, so with canning instructions, you must follow the rules closely and not experiment.

These canning instructions are designed to always provide you such a wide margin of safety that poisoning is simply impossible. You follow the directions, and then you can be confident.

Learn and follow these canning rules absolutely!

1. Don’t use jars larger than a quart. Home canning technology cannot guarantee that larger quantities will be sufficiently heated through for enough time. Rather, the food on the outside will overcook, while that on the inside won’t get hot enough. Botulism spores can boil awhile and still be fine.

2. Use water-bath canning only for high acid foods. High-acid varieties of tomatoes, fruits, rhubarb, sauerkraut, pickles, and jams/jellies are the only high acid foods. All others (vegetables, meats, stews) must be canned using a Pressure Canner.

3. Use only modern canning recipes from reliable sources.

4. Never reuse jar lids. Used lids aren’t reliable for sealing correctly. If a screw band is rusty or bent, it won’t work right and should be discarded and replaced.

5. Don’t use antique or ‘French’ -type canning jars. They aren’t as safe as the modern, regular ‘Ball, Kerr’ type.

6. Check the jar rims carefully every year by running your finger over the top of the rim and checking for nicks. Even the tiniest nick makes the jar unusable for canning. A nicked jar rim won’t seal reliably.

7. Raw pack is not safe for certain foods: beets, all kinds of greens (spinach, etc.), white potatoes, squash, okra, a tomato/okra combination, and stewed tomatoes!

8. You must allow the correct amount of space (head-space) between your food, together with the liquid that covers it, and the jar lid.

9. Don’t begin counting the processing time until after the water with the jars in it comes to a good rolling boil if using the water-bath method, or until after steam has vented for 10 minutes from your pressure canner.

10. Process the full recommended time.

11. Lift out each jar individually (not inside the rack) using a jar lifter; keep it upright and not tipped.

12. If a jar didn’t seal, discard the lid, put on a new one, and reprocess. Or put the jar that didn’t seal in the refrigerator and use the contents within a week or so.

Credit: Data gathered from The Encyclopedia of Country Living

7 Foods You Should Never Eat

Food scientists are shedding light on items loaded with toxins and chemicals–and simple swaps for a cleaner diet and supersized health.

Clean eating means choosing fruits, vegetables, and meats that are raised, grown, and sold with minimal processing. Often they’re organic, and rarely (if ever) should they contain additives. But in some cases, the methods of today’s food producers are neither clean nor sustainable. The result is damage to our health, the environment, or both. So we decided to take a fresh look at food through the eyes of the people who spend their lives uncovering what’s safe–or not–to eat. We asked them a simple question: “What foods do you avoid?” Their answers don’t necessarily make up a “banned foods” list. But reaching for the suggested alternatives might bring you better health–and peace of mind.

1. The Endocrinologist Won’t Eat: Canned Tomatoes
Fredrick Vom Saal, is an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A.

The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people’s body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. “You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that’s a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young,” says vom Saal. “I won’t go near canned tomatoes.”

The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe’s and Pomi.

Budget tip: If your recipe allows, substitute bottled pasta sauce for canned tomatoes. Look for pasta sauces with low sodium and few added ingredients, or you may have to adjust the recipe.

2. The Farmer Won’t Eat: Corn-Fed Beef
Joel Salatin is co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable farming.

The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. But more money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us. A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease. “We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure,” says Salatin.

The solution: Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers’ markets, and nationally at Whole Foods. It’s usually labeled because it demands a premium, but if you don’t see it, ask your butcher.

Budget tip: Cuts on the bone are cheaper because processors charge extra for deboning. You can also buy direct from a local farmer, which can be as cheap as $5 per pound. To find a farmer near you, search eatwild.com.

3. The Toxicologist Won’t Eat: Microwave Popcorn
Olga Naidenko, is a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group.

The problem: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize–and migrate into your popcorn. “They stay in your body for years and accumulate there,” says Naidenko, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in laboratory animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then.

The solution: Pop natural kernels the old-fashioned way: in a skillet. For flavorings, you can add real butter or dried seasonings, such as dillweed, vegetable flakes, or soup mix.

Budget tip: Popping your own popcorn is dirt cheap

4. The Farm Director Won’t Eat: Nonorganic Potatoes
Jeffrey Moyer is the chair of the National Organic Standards Board.

The problem: Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoes–the nation’s most popular vegetable–they’re treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they’re dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting. “Try this experiment: Buy a conventional potato in a store, and try to get it to sprout. It won’t,” says Moyer, who is also farm director of the Rodale Institute (also owned by Rodale Inc., the publisher of Prevention). “I’ve talked with potato growers who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals.”

The solution: Buy organic potatoes. Washing isn’t good enough if you’re trying to remove chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh.

Budget tip: Organic potatoes are only $1 to $2 a pound, slightly more expensive than conventional spuds.

5. The Fisheries Expert Won’t Eat: Farmed Salmon
Dr. David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany, published a major study in the journal Science on contamination in fish.

The problem: Nature didn’t intend for salmon to be crammed into pens and fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT. According to Carpenter, the most contaminated fish come from Northern Europe, which can be found on American menus. “You could eat one of these salmon dinners every 5 months without increasing your risk of cancer,” says Carpenter, whose 2004 fish contamination study got broad media attention. “It’s that bad.” Preliminary science has also linked DDT to diabetes and obesity, but some nutritionists believe the benefits of omega-3s outweigh the risks. There is also concern about the high level of antibiotics and pesticides used to treat these fish. When you eat farmed salmon, you get dosed with the same drugs and chemicals.

The solution: Switch to wild-caught Alaska salmon. If the package says fresh Atlantic, it’s farmed. There are no commercial fisheries left for wild Atlantic salmon.

Budget tip: Canned salmon, almost exclusively from wild catch, can be found for as little as $3 a can.

6. The Cancer Researcher Won’t Drink: Milk Produced With Artificial Hormones
Rick North is project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society.

The problem: Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1 may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers. “When the government approved rBGH, it was thought that IGF-1 from milk would be broken down in the human digestive tract,” says North. As it turns out, the casein in milk protects most of it, according to several independent studies. “There’s not 100 percent proof that this is increasing cancer in humans,” admits North. “However, it’s banned in most industrialized countries.”

The solution: Check labels for rBGH-free, rBST-free, produced without artificial hormones, or organic milk. These phrases indicate rBGH-free products.

Budget tip: Try Wal-Mart’s Great Value label, which does not use rBGH.

7. The Organic-Foods Expert Won’t Eat: Conventional Apples
Mark Kastel, a former executive for agribusiness, is codirector of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods.

The problem: If fall fruits held a “most doused in pesticides contest,” apples would win. Why? They are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor. As such, apples don’t develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently. The industry maintains that these residues are not harmful. But Kastel counters that it’s just common sense to minimize exposure by avoiding the most doused produce, like apples. “Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers,” he says. And increasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher body burden of pesticides (from all sources) with Parkinson’s disease.

The solution: Buy organic apples.

Top Ten GMO's to avoid

As California remains the proverbial battlefield for GMO labeling, an increased interest is growing over ways to actually start avoiding GMOs in your daily life. By far the best tip, which may not be applicable at all times, is to stick to high quality organic sources. Preferably 100% organic or locally grown by organic-based farmers. This certainly is not always an option, so I’ve compiled a quick ‘cheat sheet’ of the top genetically modified crops and substances that you can remember when avoiding GMOs in your daily life.
Produce items like yellow squash and papaya are considered by many worldwide to be health foods, however chances are that these food items among about 8 others I will be discussing today are heavily modified. Keep in mind that Monsanto is continually on a mission to dominate virtually 100% of the food supply, having already conquered upwards of 90% conservatively of staple crops like soybeans and corn.
A number of non-organic food products actually do exist that are free of GMOs, but it is important to learn the deceptive marketing tricks used by fake ‘health conscious’ brands who wish only to trick you into purchasing their GMO-laden garbage. As it was revealed back in October of 2011, many ‘eco-friendly’ brands are actually sporting the presence of GMOs within their products. Even products that have a “Non-GMO” label on their package! That’s right, it’s vitally important that the Non-GMO product sticker states that it is “verified” by the Non-GMO project or another source. Otherwise, it has been found to be a worthless claim.
Is it any wonder then that many of these ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘natural’ producers like Kashi have actually dished out millions of dollars to fight against GMO labeling in California? It becomes increasingly more clear which companies simply do not care about your health when you examine who owns them at the highest level. Kashi, for example is owned by Kellogg. You can actually view the chart on our site that shows which mega corporations own many phony ‘natural’ entities.
Top List for Avoiding GMOs
Outside of avoiding these companies and doing your best to purchase organic produce that starts with the number 9 on the PLU code sticker (the sticker on fruits and vegetables), here are 10 foods that are the most likely to contain GMOs that you should avoid when not consuming an organic source:
1. Corn
2. Soy
3. Sugar
4. Papayas
5. Aspartame (yes, aspartame is genetically modified! It was revealed back in the 90s in a little-known report).
6. Canola
7. Zucchini
8. Yellow squash
9. Dairy (more than 1/3 of non-organic dairy products in the United States still contain Monsanto’s genetically engineered hormone known as rBGH. Made from cloned DNA, the hormone is currently banned in over 27 countries).
10. Cotton (in the form of cotton oil).
Until proper legislation is enacted to label or ban GMOs entirely, it’s important to protect yourself and your family on a daily basis from the effects of genetically altered food staples.

2012-08-23 02:57:41
Source: http://naturalsociety.com/avoiding-gmos-in-your-daily-life/

A How-To Guide to Holistic Health

Comparatively, conventional medicine solely looks at the physical body and is more focused on identifying and treating a problem, as opposed to trying to prevent what caused it in the first place.Holistic medicine has become wildly popular, largely because preventive practices are increasingly valued and give the patient control over their own life. Use this essential how-to guide on what to take, what to do, and what to avoid.

How-to Prevention Guide for the Diseases You Fear Most

To ward off deadly diseases, it’s critical to avoid certain toxins you may be putting n your body, such as bad fats. Counter this by ramping up the good stuff.

1. Avoid Toxic Fats

Toxic fats are trans and saturated fats such as margarine, vegetable shortening and partially hydrogenated oils. These deadly substances raise LDL, the bad cholesterol in the blood stream, and cause plaque build-up in arteries, which can lead to a heart attack over time.

Do an Oil Sniff Test

Check all commercial products made with oil for toxicity before you eat them by doing the “oil sniff test.” If the oil is rancid, it’ll smell similar to oil paint, which is actually oxidized linseed oil. If you get a hint of this odor in anything that has fat content, whether it’s nuts, whole-wheat flour or oils themselves, don’t eat it.

Store Smartly

Store oils away from light, heat and exposure to air. If you can’t find a place to do this, then refrigerate them. And don’t buy oil in bulk, unless you’re planning to use it up quickly.

2. Make Smart Substitutions

Replace an Animal Protein With a Vegetable Protein
Animal protein has a much higher saturated-fat content than vegetable protein. It’s best to avoid processed meats; they contain nitrosamines, which can be carcinogenic. By implementing a more vegetarian-based diet, you can significantly lower your risk of cancer. Try swapping the meat in your diet with some of these excellent vegetarian protein sources:

• Tempeh

• Seitan

• Quinoa

• White beans or other legumes

Replace High-Temperature Cooking With Low-Temperature Cooking

High-temperatures cause AGE (advanced glycation end products) formation, a chemical reaction that can lead to inflammation and cancer. Indicators of AGE formation are browning and a strong aroma. Low-temperature baking, steaming or sautéing with a little liquid will slow AGE formation. If you are accustomed to grilling meats over high heat, marinate them first to counteract unhealthy chemicals.

3. Essential Supplements and Foods to Block Disease

It’s always best to get your vitamins from actual food sources. However, for insurance, it’s good to take certain supplements, such as these powerful antioxidants that protect against cancer:

Anti-cancer Supplements

• Vitamin D: 1,000 IU

• Vitamin C: 75-90 mg

• Selenium: 55-70 mcg

• Vitamin E: 15-20 IU

• Carotenoids: 1.5-2 mg

Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Inflammation is the root of many diseases. To protect yourself, eat plenty of these anti-inflammatory foods:

• Berries

• Black cod (also known as sablefish or butterfish)

• Bok choy

• Ginger

• Olive oil

For more on fighting inflammation, click here.

How-to Protect Your Brain From Alzheimer’s Disease

Twenty-four million people worldwide have dementia, most of whom have Alzheimer’s. This deadly disease is marked by two major changes in the brain: reduced cortex activity, which impairs thinking and planning, and a shrunken hippocampus, which impacts new memory formation. While the exact causes of Alzheimer’s are unknown, there are certain lifestyle choices that can delay or slow its onset. Inflammation of the brain plays a role in the development of Alzheimer’s, so an anti-inflammatory diet is an important preventive strategy.

1. Take Memory-Enhancing Supplements

• Vitamin E (20 IU/day): This fat-soluble antioxidant may protect memory function.

• Gingko (600 mg/day): Extracts from ginkgo tree leaves increase blood flow to the brain and have been shown to slow the progression of dementia in early onset of Alzheimer’s.

• Phosphatidylserine (PS) (200 mg/twice per day): This naturally occurring lipid is considered a brain cell nutrient and may have positive effects on memory and concentration.

2. Eat to Protect

• Egg yolks: Rich in choline, egg yolks reduce inflammation in the brain. Eat one hard-boiled egg a day.

• Brazil nuts: These are a great source of healthy fats and are high in magnesium, a mineral that’s essential to the transmission of signals between the brain and the rest of the body.

• Coffee: This beverage is high in antioxidants that protect the brain. Consume in moderate amounts, about 3-4 cups a day.

3. Special Triple-Threat Seasoning

Create a special seasoning using natural anti-inflammatory and memory-boosting spices that all have special protective properties against Alzheimer’s disease:

• 1 part turmeric

• 2 parts sage

• 3 parts ginger

• A sprinkling of black pepper

How-to Reduce the #1 Major Ager: Stress

Life is stressful – but there is a lot you can do to protect your body and mind from stress. Most people think that doing something for just 5-10 minutes during a stressful situation can’t make a difference so they do nothing at all. That’s a huge mistake since acting in the moment can help stop stress from escalating. Here are three stressful situations Dr. Oz viewers said they needed help with in a recent poll.

1. The Sunday Night Blues

Your Sunday night routine is crucial to your health. Compared with Sunday, 36% more heart attacks occur on Monday, probably because people are stressed out about starting their workweek all over again. Beat those Sunday night blues:

• Make Stress-free Soup: The act of making soup is very comforting and relaxing. Click here for Dr. Weil’s Roasted Winter Squash and Apple Soup recipe, packed with healthy antioxidants. Make a big quantity and enjoy for the entire the week.

• Stress-suppressing Supplement - Holy Basil: Considered a sacred plant in India, holy basil is enjoyed as a medicinal tea that raises spiritual energy, reduces stress, and promotes calm. It is also available in tablet form; take 2 tablets twice a day. Available at health food stores or online.

• Change Your Alarm Clock for a Gentler Awakening: Loud noise can cause stress. Wake up gently by switching your alarm clock from a loud, jarring sound to soft, calming music.

2. PMS Stress

Research shows that women who report high stress are 2-4 times more likely to have moderate to severe premenstrual syndrome. If you suffer from PMS:

• Reduce caffeine by avoiding coffee, tea, chocolate, soda, etc. during your period.

• Exercise more often.

• Black current oil contains GLA, an essential fatty acid found in mother’s milk that acts as an anti-inflammatory. Take 200mg twice a day at the start of the week you experience PMS.

3. Sitting in Traffic

Research shows that you are more likely to die of a heart attack when you’ve been sitting in traffic three hours prior. To stay relaxed in this frustrating situation:

• Listen to calming music. Click here for a playlist of soothing choices. Click here for tips on enjoying a stress-free commute.

• Try this simple 4-7-8 breathing technique. Breathe in through your nose to a count of 4; hold your breath for a count of 7; then breath out through your mouth to a count of 8. Repeat 4 times.

How-to Boost Your Energy and Eliminate Exhaustion

There’s an exhaustion epidemic in this country and most folks turn to quick fixes like coffee and soda to get by. Instead, try these all-natural solutions to boost your energy all day long.

Morning Routine

Drink a glass of warm water when you first wake up. It activates the gastrocolic reflex, which encourages elimination and provides an instant pick-me-up.

Before you leave the house in the morning, take 1-2 minutes to massage some sesame oil (or coconut or olive) into your earlobes, hands and feet. It’ll soothe both your central nervous and endocrine system. Sesame oil is available at grocery stores.

Lunchtime Routine

Eat lunch at the same time every day, preferably between 12 and 12:30 p.m. Digestion is strongest at midday and therefore more efficient at converting food into energy. Drink ginseng tea at lunchtime, which will also boost energy and your metabolism. Ginseng tea is available at grocery stores.

Nighttime Routine

Before dinner, drink an elixir made with lemon juice, ginger root juice and honey in water to promote digestion.

To reduce anxiety, depression or insomnia, take a valerian supplement before bed. Capsules are available at drug stores.

How-to Cure Your Everyday Complaints

To cure everyday complaints like a cough, indigestion or headaches, stock your medicine cabinet with these must-have holistic cures.

1. Cure a Cough

Oregano Oil

Oregano is a powerful antibacterial and antiviral agent. Next time you have cough, put a few drops of oregano oil in a bowl of steaming water. Drape a towel over you head and breath in the steam for several minutes, until your throat feels less irritated. Find oregano oil online and in health food stores.

Honey and Turmeric Powder

Honey soothes the throat and is also antibacterial; turmeric contains powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Treat a cough with 1 teaspoon of honey sprinkled with turmeric, 3-4 times a day. If needed, mix with a little warm water; however, taking it undiluted is really best.

2. Cure Indigestion

DGL Tablets (Licorice Extract)

Licorice extract is an herbal remedy that protects the stomach from irritation. Take 2 tablets whenever you experience indigestion. Find it in health food stores or online.

Ginger and Lemon

To prevent stomach upset, try chewing on a bit of peeled fresh ginger root topped with a squeeze of lemon before meals.

3. Cure Headaches

Neck and Shoulder Massage

For tension headaches, nothing works better than a neck and shoulder massage. Have a friend or spouse give you one, and make sure they apply firm pressure.

Butterbur

For a migraine or vascular headache, butterbur is a highly effective herbal remedy. Take 75 mg in extract form twice a day as a preventive measure. Butterbur is available in health food stores or online.

Meditation

Next time you have a headache, try this meditation: Put your hands out and then close your eyes. Watch your breath for a few seconds and bring all of your awareness into the middle of your chest. Listen to your heartbeat and tell it to slowdown. Now move your awareness into your fingertips, and focus on experiencing your heartbeat as a throbbing sensation that has moved there. This technique diverts blood from your brain into your limbs, reducing blood pressure and slowing your heart rate so your headache goes away.

Fitness Equipment Helps Facilities Harness User-Generated Energy

Back in 2007, members at Gainesville Health & Fitness might have noticed a young man planted behind an elliptical machine, "tinkering" (as he called it) with the unit's moving parts. That would have been Hudson Harr, then a recent University of Florida graduate invited by club owner Joe Cirulli to experiment on the equipment. Harr was convinced he could harness the kinetic energy generated by elliptical users, convert it to kilowatt-hours and load it back to the facility's power grid. The result? Free electricity.

SportsArt Fitness introduced the Green System "pod" of fitness products wired to an inverter (bottom) at the IHRSA Convention & Trade Show in March. (Photos courtesy of SportsArt Fitness)

"I went in there expecting I was going to add a turbine and other types of controls to these machines — not realizing a lot of them existed in the machines already," says Harr, now president of Clearwater, Fla.-based ReRev™, a company that retrofits cardio equipment with small resistors and control boards that feed energy to inverters the size of a personal computer's central processing unit, which then reroute the power. "We just had to make use of it and engineer a process to pull the power out. Solar, wind, any form of renewable energy being pushed back to the grid does so in the exact same way."

ReRev and other companies have since created various means to achieve that same end. For example, while the majority of ReRev retrofits are for ellipticals — Harr says their weight, stability, design and higher usability make them the ideal green machine — The Green Revolution in Ridgefield, Conn., retrofits indoor cycling equipment. Other manufacturers, including PlugOut Fitness, a Seattle-based manufacturer formerly known as Resource Fitness, produces out-of-the-box elliptical cross-trainers and stationary cycles specifically designed to power a facility's grid.

Meanwhile, at the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association's International Convention & Trade Show in March, Woodinville, Wash.-based SportsArt Fitness launched the Green System, a "pod" of fitness products wired to an inverter about the size of a stereo receiver. Each pod, expected to be available later this year, can generate up to 2,000 watts per hour, resulting in annual electricity savings of more than $3,000 depending on usage, according to the company.

The benefits are many. "It's not meant to make you money, but it will definitely offset electricity," says Amber Maechler, marketing and communications director for SportsArt Fitness, which also makes a treadmill that uses less energy than traditional units, as well as a line of self-generating ellipticals and cycles requiring no outside power. "Plus, members are going to feel good about generating energy, and club owners are going to be sending an amazing message and using it to motivate members to work out longer and harder. Places of high use are where you're really going to see the benefits."

Manufacturers vary in the ways they communicate how much energy their people-powered equipment is capable of producing. For example, PlugOut Fitness says typical users will be able to generate between 50 and 150 watts during a single workout — enough to power a cell phone for a week. By contrast, an elliptical machine in regular use at a commercial facility using ReRev technology generates an estimated one kilowatt-hour of electricity every two days; that's the same amount of power it takes to run a laptop for 24 hours or a vacuum cleaner for 45 minutes.

A thermal-imaging camera captures the amount of wasted energy generated by an elliptical user before the machine is retrofitted with ReRev equipment. (Photo courtesy of ReRev)

This much is clear: The concept is catching on. One obvious indication of that is the Energy Civil War, held between the University of Oregon and Oregon State University during the week leading up to the schools' annual "Civil War" football game. Officials at each university keep track of the number of calories participants convert to kilowatts, and then tally up the results. Oregon won the 2010 battle, as students, staff and faculty generated 21,600 kilowatt hours of energy on equipped machines between Nov. 29 and Dec. 3; Oregon State participants managed to generate 20,000 kilowatt hours. Collectively, UO and OSU generated 75 percent more energy than they did during the 2009 Energy Civil War.

It's no surprise that manufacturers in this market segment report the greatest buy-in at college recreation centers, where there already exists an environmentally aware user base. But the concept is making strides in other facilities, too, including health clubs and municipal recreation centers. And it holds great promise for high schools (where calculating energy savings and converting kinetic energy could become part of math and science curriculums) and military bases (where power is at a premium in some remote locations).

"People are ready for the idea now, and it has legs," says SportsArt Fitness product manager Bob Baumgartner, who has been involved with the Green System since its inception. And if facility operators can give exercisers additional incentives to work out — essentially helping the environment while helping themselves — the message behind that idea holds even more juice. "We understand that we just can't put something like this in the club and have people realize the impact they're making," Maechler says, adding that SportsArt Fitness plans a major promotional and branding campaign for the Green System's early adopters. "Facility owners are not just buying a new piece of equipment; they're buying into a new marketing message."

Manufacturer-driven technology that details how much power facility users generate individually and collectively on an hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis make it easy to engage in competitions with facilities on the other side of town or on the other side of the country, as well as create new fundraising and educational opportunities. Predicts Harr, "This is going to make equipment even more of a fitness product than it was in the first place."

The result of combining fitness with sustainability — "two really positive industries," as Harr puts it — has not happened without growing pains. Consider the debate over the role batteries should play in the conversion of kinetic energy into AC power. While The Green Revolution wires exercise bikes into a central battery that can store energy, other manufacturers eschew batteries, citing efficiency, cost, size and disposal issues.

Besides, adds Baumgartner, the process of converting people power into facility power is already complicated enough. The Green System, which does not require batteries, is in the process of gaining UL approval. "We still have a long way to go in some respects," he says. "We're working through the approval process, and that's a challenge. We understand what it takes to get UL approval for a fitness product, but to get approval for a product that actually produces power and sends it back to the grid requires a whole other set of compliances."

Harr says all of the effort involved with helping create a new product category has been worth it. In fact, he doesn't see an alternative. "With humanity growing by leaps and bounds and emerging markets doing what they're doing without even a full rebound in our economy, we will run out of power," Harr says. "It was so easy for so long to just drill a hole in the ground and have an abundant source of energy at our fingertips. I don't want to see our standard of living decline because we didn't think about the future. Is ReRev solving any great problem? Absolutely not. But it's starting a discussion."