Message from Bernadette Wulf

Greetings!
My eyes are getting blurry from staring at the computer screen for days on end. No, I haven't put all that time into this newsletter! I've been separating my HealItAll.com website into (count 'em) six separate websites. And now that I have them all up and running, I know I'm going to start noticing all the typos and broken links. (I'd love it if you would point them out to me... and if you have the "Stumble Upon" tool bar, please give my sites a thumbs up. Thanks!)

The wonderful thing is that they are all alive and well, showing up when called upon, like separated Siamese twins. Whew! You can click on the HealItAll link below and find links to the other five sites in the sidebar.

The Nuts & Berries title is sort of a joke, inspired by the following tip from TrustedHealthProducts -

Tired eyes?
"As we age our eyes start to look tired all the time. Its not just wrinkles around the eyes, its their color. Bring back the bright white healthy look by eating omega-3 fats which you can find in salmon, walnuts, and in supplement form."

It was the walnuts that got me going. I was remembering comments people have made about how starving people have nothing to live on but nuts and berries, but it turns out that nuts and berries are some of the healthiest foods around! Nuts are rich in essential fatty acids and they have a fair amount of protein. Berries are low on the glycemic index, making them an ideal fruit for those with blood sugar problems, plus they are one of the best sources of anti-oxidants. Not bad for a starvation diet... if you can find enough of them.

Seems like the theme of this newsletter is the "good" and the "bad, as in cholesterol and intestinal bacteria. Read on to find out how you can triumph over the bad guys. There's even a link to natural pain relief - and we all know pain is "bad."

I decided to change to a new photo recently taken of me at my son's wedding, thanks to my sister-in-law, Pam. It always bothered me that the other one was facing off the page! Besides, it was taken five years ago!

To Your Health!

Red Rice Yeast for Cholesterol

Strange coincidence - I ran into two articles about red rice yeast in one week, and I had never heard of it before. On top of that, my parents had recently called to ask what a friend could do about high cholesterol. It all ties together.

It seems that nature provides as many ways to lower cholesterol as there are ways to raise it. Time and time again studies show that Mom was right. Eat your vegetables! Abundant fresh fruits and vegetables, especially raw, will do more for your health than any supplement or special diet. But if you've already made a mess of things, you may need a little help in the form of supplements.

The following article, from The Healthy Village, provides a good overview of what cholesterol is and what it does in the body, as well as one solution to high levels of the "bad" LDL cholesterol. In spite of the many typos in the article, it is well worth reading.

Excerpt:
"It is possible to lower cholesterol safely and naturally by using red rice yeast, but before you consider doing so you should be aware of what cholesterol is and what it does to your body. It is, in fact, an oily liquid that is essential for your body's health. You cannot do without it. Why then are people telling you that it is bad for you?..."
http://www.thehealthyvillage.com/general/lower-cholesterol-naturally-and-safely
-with-red-rice-yeast.html

Well, we have all heard that some cholesterol is "good" and some is "bad." The point is really about keeping them both in balance. "Bad" cholesterol can clog up our arteries by leaving plaque deposits. The question is, how do we regulate the levels in our bloodstream to end up with the right amounts of "good" and "bad" cholesterol? Red rice yeast may be the solution you are looking for.

You can order red rice yeast at:
http://vitanetonline.com/red-yeast-rice.cfm

(See article at bottom of page, on Lactobacillus sporogenes, for other cholesterol-lowering options.)

Here are a few other excerpts from a thought-provoking article on cholesterol by Dr. Carlston, M. D., a local, holistic doctor. Pay particular attention to the last paragraph on "diseasification."

"How Much Cholesterol is Too Much?

"...While proving causation is always a challenge, the fact that the US death rate from coronary heart disease has been cut in half in the past 20 years is most impressive. However, the number of Americans with total cholesterol levels above 240 has only dropped by a few percentage points during that same time span while the rates of obesity and diabetes, both important heart disease risk factors, continue to rise.

"...In recent years there has been an increasing trend towards what I call "diseasification." This is where previously healthy people are defined as ill and needing treatment. One of the most flagrant examples has been in the area of cholesterol and AHD risk. The lab reports I receive in my office now show LDL ("bad" cholesterol) above 100 as abnormal, while a few years ago the cut-off was 130 and before that 160. The evidence from clinical studies is that, controlling for more powerful risk factors (markedly elevated blood pressure, lack of physical activity, smoking cigarettes) only LDL levels over 160 indicate a pronounced effect on AHD risk."

Totally Natural Pain Relief

I know that several of my readers suffer from arthritis or joint pain, so I wanted to include this product for you to try. It comes with a money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose, and it has been highly recommended. Let me know how you like it.

"ReliefMD uses all natural oils of almond, eucalyptus, peppermint, wintergreen, camphor, spearmint, and olive to deliver a fast and effective way to relieve pain at the spot of concentration. This topical application of pure ingredients will penetrate deeply and focus on the cause of pain without having to breakdown the chemicals that prescription pain relievers contain.

"One out of every three adults suffers from chronic joint arthritis or similar symptoms, which causes many to live their lives based upon the level of pain that they can bear. Living life this way usually means ignoring the pain, which makes things worse and begins delivering more pain. ReliefMD gives you the relief you need to continue life the way you chose without the stress of causing more damage."

Lactobacillus Sporogenes for Overall Health

(Editor's Note: New information on pro-biotics may be available. Research options before commiting to a particular brand. UAS brand and/or Culturelle may be your best choices.)

I'm sure you have heard of "pro-biotics" and I hope you have taken them if you have ever taken antibiotics. But did you know that most pro-biotics never reach the lower intestines where they are most needed. That's why you will see enteric coated brands, like Pearls, which usually do not need refrigeration. The coating is supposed to enable them to pass through the digestive system so they can do their work in the lower intestine. Now there is something even better.

Excerpt from SmartPublications Article:
"...the good news is, there is a form of lactic acid bacteria that already exists and forms a natural protective coating of sorts. This lactic acid bacterium is Lactobacillus sporogenes. These bacteria form hard, impermeable spores allowing them to survive both freeze-drying and the high acid stomach environment. L. sporogenes survive challenging conditions far better than L. acidophilus. The spore allows it to ride out unfavorable conditions and then germinate when conditions improve."

And while we are on the subject of cholesterol, here's what Smart Publications has to say about how Lactobacillus sporogenes will help to control it:
"One "test tube" study reported in Applied and Environmental Microbiology determined that Lactobacillus sporogenes absorbs cholesterol directly from a culture medium. Based on their findings, the authors concluded that L. sporogenes lowers LDL cholesterol by eliminating it directly from inside the intestines before it can be absorbed into the blood stream.

"In another clinical study, L. sporogenes not only lowered total serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in humans, it also improved the ratio of "good" HDL cholesterol to total cholesterol."

Not bad for a supplement that you should be taking anyway. Read on to find out why.

"The Surprising Source of the Greatest Risk to Your Health -

"Many pathogens and carcinogens enter your system through your skin, lungs, mucous membranes and other ports of entry. But the largest source of toxins and cancer-causing agents come from a source most people would not expect - your intestines.

"Your intestines (large and small) are home to upwards of 100 trillion live bacteria and other microorganisms - often called the "intestinal flora." These microorganisms divide into two types: beneficial and harmful. And both types are constantly present...

"But if the ecological balance in your gut tilts … and harmful, putrefactive bacteria dominate … you are in for serious trouble. Harmful bacteria produce toxic and cancer-causing substances."
- SmartPublications

Well, guess what those "harmful bacteria" live on? Sugar, white flour products, and waste remaining from sluggish elimination and too many animal products. When you take antibiotics and kill off the good bacteria, then eat the usual American junk food diet, the harmful bacteria have a field day.

The bottom line is that, along with a healthy diet, a good pro-biotic supplement can do a lot to improve and maintain your health. And don't just take one bottle full. It takes a few months of consistent supplementation to turn the tide toward a flourishing forest of healthy intestinal flora.