Your Life-Your Choice ISSN 1488-0253 ==================== April, 2000 Issue 51 Letter from the Editor There has been so much going on lately that I feel a need to recap to keep everyone in tune with all the updates. The Your Life-Your Choice newsletter itself, has a different look to it. We've added a medley of Tea Tips, Top Dog, and Ask Garlic segments. Tea Tips discusses the wide variety of natural and herbal teas and the uniqueness of how each should be brewed for optimum flavour and effectiveness. While Top Dog addresses how alternative medicine can help keep your pet healthy and vital. Ask Garlic is launching in today's issue. This is where we plan to have a little fun. Ask Garlic is where we'll provide comical answers to some of life's questions. We've made lots of changes to the web site too. We've streamlined and made the site easier to navigate. There's been a number of additions as well. Our first health report is ready, and there will be more coming on board in the near future. So keep checking back. http://life-choices.com/ebooks/ We're adding to our membership program regularly. We've recently included Reviews From a LayWoman's Perspective and a FREE email problem solving course. In keeping with our philosophy to provide choices, we will soon be offering an additional membership option with a low monthly fee. Watch for this option within the next week or so. We've made available to you a number of terrific Web Sites, excellent for personal use or for special gifts. To give you an idea, you'll find the purest aromatherapy body care products available in our Spathecary. Our Holistic Superstore is fully equipped with herbs, magnets for healing with Magnetic Therapy, and many products used with various modalities. Save up to 80% on all your out of pocket healthcare expenses with our discount health card. Holistic and preventative health solutions for your pet, and there's lots more. If you're interested, email admin@life-choices.com for a complete list of shops with urls included. Remember that these changes are a direct result of your feedback. If you'd like to see something being offered, let us know by: mailto:yourlife@life-choices.com with Feedback in the subject. Until next time, best of health to you. Brigitte Synesael Editor of Your Life-Your Choice Traditional Medicine Isn't Enough Any More! Your life is your choice-don't give it away! http://www.Life-Choices.com ********************************************** ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE: 1. Teas Help to Ward Off Cancer 2. Massage and Fibromyalgia 3. The Critical Importance Of Cycling And Stacking In Anti-Aging 4. Hayfever and Nutrition 5. Health Smart Recipe - Vegetable Medley 6. Talk to the GARLIC ******************************************** Section 1 TEA TIPS Teas Help to Ward Off Cancer Studies are showing that green and black tea contain cancer fighting antioxidants. The teas come from the same leaf, Camellia sinensis, but are processed differently. Researchers believe that this tea gets its disease fighting properties from polyphenols, especially one called epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG. This EGCG neutralizes potentially cell damaging free radicals in the body. Decaffeinated versions of this tea also have these cancer-fighting properties. http://www.life-choices.com/lar/cjassoc.html Source: "The Soothing Way to Ward Off Cancer (green and black tea may prevent cancer)" Health, March 1999 v13 i2 p50(1). ******************************************** Section 2 Massage and Fibromyalgia by Christina Barrett mailto:cbr@glinx.com Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by unrelenting flu-like symptoms, continuous achiness of the entire body, sleep disturbances and specific tender points on the body. There are quite a few very good sites on the Internet that provide information on the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia. However, right now, I am going to discuss the effects of massage as a treatment for this distressing condition. Sleep disturbance is one of the biggest of the contributing factors to fibromyalgia. Most medication that is prescribed is to help sufferers sleep better. I have found that massage is frequently helpful in this regard. Most frequently, my clients who have this require a gentler, more relaxing type of treatment. They find that this helps them to sleep at night. Often, chronic pain causes the person suffering it to tighten up against the pain. My understanding is that this creates a feedback loop, wherein the tight muscles make circulation difficult, which deprives the muscles of necessary oxygen and nutrients. In turn, this deprivation makes the muscles tighten up, and the loop goes on. Massage therapy can loosen the muscle fibers, increase local circulation, and help to restore a more relaxed resting tone. What this means in practical terms for the person on the receiving end, is they are able to function a bit better when they don't feel as if their entire body is clenched like a fist. Even if the pain relief is only during that hour on the massage table, being without pain for even that amount of time is often very therapeutic. Sometimes it is the first time in months or years that the person has been able to relax and rest. Often, clients fall asleep during treatment, which is exactly what their body needs. On the other hand, there are a few who require deeper muscle therapy to achieve the relief they seek. One of my clients with fibromyalgia is a hairdresser. As you can imagine, she frequently has her arms raised as she cuts, does perms, styles and so on. In her case, her shoulders are almost always very sore, aching and burning. She needs muscle therapy along the edges of her shoulder blades and the upper trapezius muscles. The treatments are usually very painful while she is receiving them, but she assures me the payoff comes the next day or the one after when she is able to move without hurting, and can sleep at night. If you suffer from fibromyalgia and you want to try massage for it, I recommend talking to the therapist before your first treatment. Discuss what you feel most comfortable with. It is probably best to start with a gentle, full-body relaxation type treatment. Then you and your therapist can work together to find what provides you with the most relief. Remember, YOU are in charge of your body. It is up to you to let the therapist know during treatment if something does not feel right, or is too painful. Verbal feedback, or an agreed- on signal to let the therapist know to lighten up or move to another area will help keep the session enjoyable and effective. Happy health. ----- Read about Christina Barrett on our Meet the Team page; http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html ********************************************** PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSORS GET SKINNY FOR SPRING AND BE SEXY BY SUMMER! Enjoy personal attention, custom programs & great results! Discover if you're Body Rich or Body Bankrupt? Play The Body Bank - FREE mind, body and soul software. We're your online health & weight loss solution center. Results guaranteed or your money back! Visit us today and begin losing weight tomorrow! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ HealthE-zine *** Your FREE 5-minute health update Each week the energetic staff of Alt-Health.com scours the Web to bring you five intriguing health article summaries and links. Subscribe & view archives: Recommended by PC World Tipworld E-mail Mailing List Reviews Recommended by List Universe List-A-Day.com Review ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Section 3 The Critical Importance Of Cycling And Stacking In Anti-Aging by Dr. John H. Maher, A.B.A.A.H.P.. Editor, "Longevity News" mailto:subscribe@rxforwellness.com "Your FREE Anti-Aging Prescription On-line!" "The most dynamic age reversing effects are seen with an integrated program of HRT (hormone replacement therapy), antioxidants, exercise, and diet along with HGH or its precursors" - R. Klatz,M.D. President of A4M (The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine). Combining many elements together to get a heightened response is referred to as "stacking", a term that comes to us from the body building community. When "stacked" one on top of the other, the effect is synergistic and the result adds up to MORE than the sum of the parts! Likewise, Dr. Klatz is saying, among other things, that when you "stack" multiple hormone enhancements in conjunction with Hgh enhancements you get a synergistic effect such that each hormone helps maximize the effectiveness of the other. Put another way, if for example you are enhancing Hgh levels but are hypo-thyroid and low in progesterone testosterone, you might well be less then excited with the results! Through hormonal salivary tests, and hormonal symptom surveys, you can determine accurately what other hormones you might need to enhance, and if your enhancement strategies are working and working safely. Cycling is an all together different matter, but certainly no less important. Cycling refers to the strategy of intermittent utilization of hormone therapies. That is rest periods are spaced periodically in the enhancement schedule. This is a vital practice as the body always tends to "up or down regulate" levels of hormones, enzymes and such. With actual hormone replacements a negative feed back loop occurs which tends to diminish endogenous production and down regulate endogenous sensitivity. Indeed this is the mechanism by which some one gets "used" to smoking or drinking hard liquor. Releasers, precursors and secretagogues all have the potential of overwhelming the enzyme, co-enzyme and substrate complexes of the related hormones production systems. The usual recommendation is for DHEA and melatonin is 4 or 5 days on and 2 or 3 days off. The sex hormones estrogen, progesterone and testosterone precursors and releasers are often cycled 3 weeks on and one week off. Some use the products from day 1 to 24 of the month, then start again on the first. With transdermal progesterones, two weeks on and two weeks off is often sufficient, especially after the first three months. For those seeking maximum results, testosterone and HGH enhancers may be taken in a double dose the first week after the one week rest period. Without proper cycling the initial results of HRT will disappear as "the body gets used to it". With proper cycling, and occasional remonitoring of levels by salivary testing, you can be assured you are maintaining the hormonal levels of youth. By attaining and maintaining such levels , along with optimal antioxidant status, normal cortisol "stress hormone" levels , and normal and responsive insulin levels , you are creating the optimal physiological state for a maximum health-span and maximal longevity! ----- Read about Dr. Maher on our Meet the Team page; http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html ******************************************** Please Visit Our Sponsors Comparison Shopping Pays off Big Time! In keeping with our policy of scouring the Internet for the very best of Alternative Health/Medicine information, when I needed to buy a book ... I was amazed at the price options available. I checked our local off-line store, and priced the book I was interested in. The cost was $44.95 Cdn. I compared this to our own online comparison shopper, http://www.Life-Choices.com/bookstore.html which compares the prices of 40 bookstores online. I found that the online store from my neighbourhood listed the same book at $33.95 Cdn plus $11.00 shipping. Further comparison showed that the Best Price was found at Indigo Canada at $17.81 Cdn plus $4.95 shipping for a grand total of $22.76. As you can see, mega $$$ savings. Simply type in the name of the book, or the author. Choose your currency, and Deal Pilot will automatically check up to 40 stores to find you the best prices available. NEVER PAY INFLATED PRICES on books, music or movies. To check out Deal Pilot go to http://www.life-choices.com/bookstore.html ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Send in your testimonies, with "Testimonies Your Life-Your Choice" in the subject heading. Share your story with Alternative Medicine! This is YOUR newsletter! Share your thoughts, what you'd like to see by emailing, with "Feedback Your Life-Your Choice" in the subject heading. ******************************************** Section 4 Hayfever and Nutrition By: June Kaminski RN MSN mailto:junek@vancouver.quik.com In the Western hemisphere, Spring is in the air, bringing sunshine, new growth and longer daylight hours. Along with these uplifting changes comes tree and grass pollens, dust, and other triggers that can cause Hayfever or Allergic Rhinitis attacks in some people. Common symptoms of hay fever include nasal discharge, sneezing, headache, itching of the eyes and nose, lethargy, aching teeth, sinus pressure, loss of taste and blocked nasal breathing. The inner membrane of the nasal passages become swollen and often unbearable. The basic medical treatment for hay fever includes antihistamines, corticosteroids and guidelines to avoid direct contact with the offensive allergens. Sometimes more aggressive treatment is used to build up the body's immune resistance through the administration of a series of injections or oral drops containing minute doses of extracts from the particular allergens involved. Recent research indicates that certain nutrients and herbs can also be beneficial to hay fever sufferers. Adding these natural and complementary aids to the diet can provide added ammunition against unpleasant hay fever symptoms. Nutritional Recommendations: B Vitamins are highly recommended for all allergy sufferers including those experiencing hay fever. Although particular B vitamins are identified as more valuable than others, it is wise to take a balanced B vitamin complex preparation to ensure that all of the B vitamins remain balanced in the body. Look for a supplement containing Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pyridoxine (B6), Pantothenic Acid, Folic Acid, B12, Biotin, Inositol and Choline in balanced proportions. Vitamin C (500 mg) combined with Bioflavonoids help to boost the immune system and have an anti- inflammatory effect on the nasal passages. Vitamin A (5,000 to 10,000 IU per day) also boost the immune system function and enhance the resilience of the nasal passage cells. Vitamin E (400 IU per day) boosts the elasticity of the nasal mucous membrane cells. Food Allergy Precautions: Careful attention to the diet is also warranted during hay fever season. People who are allergic to natural substances in the environment may also be allergic or sensitive to particular foods as well. Make a point of avoiding certain foods such as wheat products, eggs, milk and dairy, citrus, chocolate, shellfish, nuts and nut butters. Herbal Supplement Recommendations: Ma Huang or Chinese Ephedra provides a natural source of ephedrine and pseudo-ephedrine which help to constrict the sinus blood vessels relieving some of the sneezing, nasal pressure, secretion and itchiness. Look for herbal decongestants that contain Ephedra. Do be cautious though: use of this preparation should be restricted to one week at a time to avoid potential central nervous system over stimulation. Echinacea and Goldenseal make a fine combination to add to the treatment regime for hay fever. Echinacea acts as an anti-viral agent while Goldenseal is anti-bacterial which help to prevent sinusitis. Goldenseal is also soothing to the throat and sinus mucous membranes. These two herbs help to boost the immune system and work to release toxic metabolites that build up during prolonged allergic responses. Licorice Root strengthens the adrenal glands which aids in dealing with hay fever reactions. Astragalus, another Chinese herb helps to strengthen the body's defense system or protective energy to help in the resistance of infections. Elder Tree Leaves ease congestion and inflammation in hay fever, sinusitis and allergic responses. Stinging Nettles contains properties that help to relieve allergy symptoms including coughs, runny nose and congestion. A caution though: pregnant women should refrain from using nettles. ----- Read about June Kaminski on our Meet the Team page; http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html ********** Your Life-Your Choice makes every effort to provide you with healthy recipes where the nutrition is geared towards specific health issues. If you have a recipe you'd like to share, submit it to with "recipe from YLYC subscriber" in the subject. Remember to include whatever nutritional information you can. ********** Section 5. Health Smart Recipe By Edna Laraway Nutritionists agree that cruciferous vegetables can be helpful in Cancer Prevention. --- Vegetable Medley 1cupCarrots 1cup Broccoli 1cup Cauliflower 2 tbsp butter ½ tsp salt ½ tsp pepper 1 tsp (dry) chicken base 1 tsp garlic powder Select quantities of the vegetables as required. steam vegetables separately until just crisp to maximize nutrients. Toss vegetables with butter, garlic, salt and pepper, chicken base. Serve piping hot. Adjust quantities as desired. You can steam ahead of time and just reheat in the microwave. Foods Selected Portions Calories Fat Fiber CAULIFLOWER (1/4 cup) 167.45 0.30 1.77 BROCCOLI (1/4 cup) 129.10 0.30 1.98 CARROT (1/4 cup) 37.94 0.16 1.98 BUTTER (1 tsp) 23.69 2.57 0.00 per 3/4 cup servings of vegetable medley ******* Section 6. Dear Garlic, I am a 42 year old woman with an attitude problem. I don't seem to be able to find a man with any semblance of intelligence. They all seem to be spoiled rotten, and from somewhere believe that they have the brains to make my decisions for me. Am I doomed to be alone, or is there some way I can become more tolerant. Dear Intolerant Well my dear, you are not the only female with this problem and no, you are not doomed to be alone for the rest of your days. First of all, let me remind you who taught these men their false feelings of superiority. Usually their mothers. From birth to death, women have reinforced these false ideas. We can only blame ourselves. However, I believe I can give you a way to deal with this. Here are four phrases to use that work in almost any situation. 1) Yes, dear 2) You're Right 3) I'm Sorry 4) It will never happen again Yes this really works. You don't have to mean it, just say it. Your sense of the ridiculous will take you through almost any crisis. He will think you really mean it. Try it, and accept a future where you make the decisions, and he will never know the difference. You can enjoy his company, his admiration and his devotion, and then answer "yes dear" and tune out. Like to talk to Garlic? Yes, men are welcome too: mailto:marketing@life-choices.com put "Dear Garlic" in Subject line please. Note that the Dear Garlic segment of Your Life-Your Choice is for entertainment purposes only. The advice is intended to tickle your funny bone so put your Sense of Humor hat on and let's take a look at the "lighter side" of life. After all, laughter is supposed to be the BEST medicine. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Disclaimer All material appearing in this newsletter is provided for educational purposes only. It is provided with the understanding that authors and contributors are not offering medical advice or services. We strongly encourage you to consult with your own physician regarding any recommendations with respect to your own medical condition. 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