Health & WellnessS


Health

How do you know when you're full? Your gut bacteria send satiety hormones to your brain

April McCarthy
Prevent Disease
Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:09 UTC
human guts
Recent findings published in the journal Cell Metabolism show that bacteria in your gut control exactly when and how much you eat.

Researchers have found that 20 minutes after a meal, bacteria produce proteins that influence activation of appetite-regulating neurons in the brain.

"We now think bacteria physiologically participate in appetite regulation immediately after nutrient provision by multiplying and stimulating the release of satiety hormones from the gut," said senior study author Serguei Fetissov from University of Rouen in France.

"In addition, we believe gut microbiota produce proteins that can be present in the blood longer term and modulate pathways in the brain," Fetissov pointed out.

Comment: For more on the role of gut bacteria see:

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Magic Wand

Heal yourself: Body, mind & soul

Monica Cassani
Greenmedinfo.com
Mon, 30 Nov 2015 19:04 UTC
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The mind/body/soul connection can allow you to heal in ways that prescription medications never could.

My body taught me how to get healthy. It's a celebratory wonder. No one else knew how to pull me out of the quagmire.

This wondrously animated bag of bones has only ever wanted my attention. The body knows about healing and survival and evolution and when acknowledged that leads to freedom.

Yes, the human beings capacities are awe inspiring. And yet what we do to ourselves here in the west is tragic...we shut down these incredibly intelligent creatures.

Comment: True healing: The one thing that Big Pharma can never deliver
True healing and true health are deep concepts which by their very definition imply oneness and unity (the word heal is etymologically derived from various words such as the Old English hælan meaning "to make whole"). True healing includes the many levels within you beyond just the physical - the integration of the emotional, sexual, mental, spiritual and other selves or layers. True healing is far beyond just "managing", "treating" and "curing" disease, which Big Pharma and its lapdog the FDA like to focus so exclusively upon. Western medicine has its place in society as an excellent tool for specialized surgical or other emergency interventions - however it came into being from the Rockefeller-Big Pharma cartel, whose business model thrives on repeat customers who can't get off the hamster wheel of drug after drug after drug. On a deeper level, is it really any wonder that Western medicine can't deliver true healing, when its approach is narrow and materialistic, rather than broad and holistic - when it's fixated on managing, treating and curing, rather than healing?


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Syringe

Synapse discovery suggests earlier detection of Alzheimer's

Deborah Smith
Science UNSW
Mon, 30 Nov 2015 00:00 UTC
synapses
© iStockOne of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease is the loss of synapses
A team of researchers led by UNSW Australia scientists has discovered how connections between brain cells are destroyed in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease - work that opens up a new avenue for research on possible treatments for the degenerative brain condition.

"One of the first signs of Alzheimer's disease is the loss of synapses - the structures that connect neurons in the brain," says study leader, Dr Vladimir Sytnyk, of the UNSW School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences.

"Synapses are required for all brain functions, and particularly for learning and forming memories. In Alzheimer's disease, this loss of synapses occurs very early on, when people still only have mild cognitive impairment, and long before the nerve cells themselves die.

"We have identified a new molecular mechanism which directly contributes to this synapse loss - a discovery we hope could eventually lead to earlier diagnosis of the disease and new treatments."

The team studied a protein in the brain called neural cell adhesion molecule 2, or NCAM2 - one of a family of molecules that physically connects the membranes of synapses and help stabilise these long lasting synaptic contacts between neurons.

Comment: Also check out Memory loss in Alzheimer's reversed with a low carb and gluten free diet

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Red Flag

Triclosan: Are you washing your hands with toxic pesticides?

Elisha McFarland ND
Wake Up World
Tue, 01 Dec 2015 23:55 UTC
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Triclosan, found in common "antibacterial" products, is linked to impaired muscle function and hormone disruption.

If you take a look at the label on your anti-bacterial soap, you may see the chemical triclosan listed. If you haven't heard of triclosan, you should know that is in a number of home and personal care products that you may be using on a daily basis.

Triclosan was introduced to the marketplace in 1972, although it was originally developed and registered as a pesticide in 1969. (1) At that time it was used in hospitals and health care settings for its antibacterial properties.

Comment: Make sure to read labels, and be aware of the endocrine disrupting dangers of Triclosan in commonly used products:

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Health

Iodine deficiency linked to thyroid and breast cancer, fibrocystic breast disease, infertility, obesity, mental retardation & halide toxemia

Laura Power
Allergy and Nutrition Clinic
Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:35 UTC
Based on research of: Guy Abraham, MD, David Brownstein, MD, and Linnette Beck.
iodine
© periodictable.com
There is an epidemic of Iodine deficiency in this country - one that affects every man, woman and child - and especially vegetarians. Over the last 30 years our Iodine intake has declined 50% (removed from our food supply!), while the ingestion of toxic competing halogens (bromine, fluorine, chlorine, perchlorate) has dramatically increased in food, water, medicines and the environment. [For example: Iodine in wheat has been replaced with Bromine, the gas used to fumigate your house for termites!] Simultaneously there has been a related increase in the rates of thyroid disease, breast cancer, fibrocystic breast disease, prostate cancer, and obesity -- plus developmental delays and mental retardation in children! Meanwhile in Japan Iodine intake is up to 100 times higher, while all of these same diseases are significantly lower!

Symptoms of Iodine or thyroid deficiency

Do you have any of these symptoms? Brittle nails, cold hands and feet, cold intolerance, depression, difficulty swallowing, dry skin, dry hair or hair loss, fatigue, high cholesterol, hoarseness, infertility, lethargy, menstrual irregularities, early menopause, poor memory or concentration, slower heartbeat, throat pain, or weight gain. Or more serious diseases: thyroid dysfunction, fibrocystic breast disease, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, or prostate cancer? Does your child have any of these symptoms? Developmental delays (ADD, PDD, LD), mental retardation, or Down's Syndrome. If so, iodine deficiency or hypothyroidism could be the cause.

Symptoms of thyroid excess

Symptoms of hyper-thyroid (levels that are too high) include: racing pulse, heart palpitations, and Graves Disease. Graves Disease is an autoimmune condition that reflects toxemia, where a foreign substance binds to TSH receptors, causing the body to make higher and higher amounts of thyroid hormones. It can become life threatening.

Comment: For more crucial information, read:

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Question

Why do so many people have allergies: Could Antibiotic over-use be the problem?

Avery August
The Conversation
Mon, 28 Sep 2015 17:55 UTC
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© Mark Blinch/Files/ReutersToo many?
Scientists have warned for decades that the overuse of antibiotics leads to the development of drug-resistant bacteria, making it harder to fight infectious disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that drug resistant bacteria cause 23,000 deaths and two million illnesses each year.

But when we think of antibiotic overuse, we don't generally think of allergies. Research is beginning to suggest that maybe we should.

Comment: The abuse of antibiotics and the rise of 'super bugs':

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Health

Natural alternatives to combat seasonal allergies

Lori Alton
Natural Health 365
Sat, 28 Nov 2015 00:00 UTC
allergies, colds
Whether you suffer from seasonal allergies or are susceptible to common year-round allergy triggers, such as certain foods or dust, allergy symptoms can impact your everyday life. Allergens release histamines that attack your body's cells, causing the familiar symptoms of runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes.

While there are dozens of over-the-counter antihistamines to choose from, their negative effects can far outweigh the benefits. Rather than risk the problems associated with these drugs, you can choose from several effective, natural antihistamines that can put a halt to your symptoms without putting your health at risk.

Comment: The health of your gut bacteria and the health of your immune system are vitally linked. When your gut bacteria is imbalanced, your immune system is out of balance as well. Food and seasonal allergies, chronic inflammation, chronic sinusitis, and colds and flus that linger for weeks are all symptomatic of an improperly functioning immune system.

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Pills

Reviewed by the Cochrane Library: The ADHD drug Ritalin®

Catherine Frompovich
Activist Post
Sat, 28 Nov 2015 16:04 UTC
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This is a "heads up" and "take notice" recommendation for parents whose children routinely are taking the most frequently prescribed ADHD prescription drug Ritalin.

Late in November of 2015, the prestigious Cochrane Library issued its report Benefits and harms of methylphenidate for children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which you may want to know about and consider seriously.

One of the conclusions the authors of that report came up with is that "Better designed trials are needed to assess the benefits of methylphenidate [Ritalin]."

Comment: Read more about Ritalin gone wrong:
To date, no study has found any long-term benefit of attention-deficit medication on academic performance, peer relationships or behavior problems, the very things we would most want to improve. Until recently, most studies of these drugs had not been properly randomized, and some of them had other methodological flaws.
The Over-Prescribing of Psychoactive Drugs to Children is very concerning, considering the information above, there appears to be no long term benefits from attention-deficit medications. Big Pharma-funded doctors are making a killing prescribing questionable drugs to young children:
Big Pharma has spent millions on public relations campaigns that tell parents, teachers and clinicians to dose children at the first sign of problems. It knows if parents treat their kids early they will never know if the kids needed the drugs in the first place and whether residual problems are "mental illness" or drug side effects. The kids will also probably be life long customers because parents will be afraid to take them off the drugs. No wonder Pharma tells parents not to wait for "excessive energy" or "mood swings" to go away in the awareness campaigns. Ka-ching.


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Megaphone

'Frankenfish' a dangerous contaminant: Emergency lawsuit filed to fight FDA approval

Nadia Prupis
Common Dreams
Thu, 19 Nov 2015 01:49 UTC
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© ReutersFor years, critics have warned that GMO salmon threaten wildlife populations.
In addition to profound potential for ecological impacts, critics say move by FDA ignores fundamental right of consumers to know how their food is produced.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday approved the sale and consumption of genetically modified (GM or GMO) salmon, delivering a big win to the biotech industry and ignoring long-held concerns by environmental and public health advocates who say the "Frankenfish" pose too many ecological risks to authorize.

Comment: The Health and Wellness Show - 27 Nov 2015 - Frankenfoods: GMOs in our Foodchain
The latest news on the Genetically Modified foods front is the FDA approval of the GMO salmon in the US, or "Frankenfish", as it's not-so-affectionately termed. This marks the first genetically modified animal food to be approved for entry into our foodchain, and its approval in other countries is anticipated to follow, despite widespread public outcry.

Today on the SOTT Talk Radio Network's Health and Wellness Show, we'll be reopening the topic of GMOs and exploring the implication of genetically modified animal foods entering our foodchain. Is there any hope in avoiding these frankenfoods? Join us as we explore this topic and more.


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Attention

A new study has found that pesticide exposure may lead to abnormal sperm development


Beyond Pesticides
Tue, 10 Nov 2015 01:19 UTC
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Exposure to organochlorine chemicals, such as DDE and PCBs, is linked to increased rates of sperm abnormalities that may lead to fertility problems, according to a new study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. This is the latest study in a long line of research implicating endocrine (hormone)-disrupting chemicals in reproductive diseases.

Researchers investigated this issue by observing the blood serum and sperm quality of 90 men, aged 22-44, participating in health studies in the Faroe Islands, an archipelago under Denmark's control that is located between Iceland, the UK and Norway. Faroe islanders consume a high seafood diet that often consists of pilot whale, integral historically as a food source for the Faroese people. However, this practice exposes the Faroese to higher than average levels of environmental contaminants. For the study, data on umbilical cord blood and blood serum at age 14 was available for 40 of the participants, allowing a researchers to measure lifetime impacts.

Comment: Further research on exposure and effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals:

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