Green Tea & Depression
Green Tea May Combat Depression in Elderly
Drinking frequent cups of green tea is linked to a lower incidence of depressive symptoms in elderly people, say Japanese researchers.
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition focused on 1,058 elderly Japanese individuals 70 years of age plus with the prevalence of mild and severe and severe depressive symptoms said the authors.
The authors maintain that only a few studies have investigated the relationship between green tea consumption and mental health, while there appear to be few studies assessing the relationship between green tea drinking and depressive symptoms.
According to the team led by Atsushi Hozawa, depression in the elderly is highly prevalent and can increase the risk of medical illnesses, worsen the outcome of other medical illnesses, and may increase mortality.
Growing problem
World Health Organization (WHO) forecasts that within 20 years more people will be affected by depression than any other health problem; it ranks depression as the leading cause of disability worldwide, with around 120 million people affected.
Findings show that the occurrence of depressive symptoms was 44% lower for participants who drank 4+ cups of green tea/day compared to those who drank less than one, after results were adjusted for factors such as age, sex, disease history, BMI, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, diet, and other factors.
The authors state that their study is rather limited in scale and a larger population study that uses a standardized comprehensive structured diagnostic interview is required to confirm the effect of green tea consumption on depressive symptoms.
Mental stress
A previous study also led by the Hozawa found that drinking 5 cups of green tea/day may reduce the incidence of psychological distress by 20%.
Green tea consumption was said to improve psychological well-being in a study population of 42,093 Japanese individuals of which 6.6% suffered from psychological stress.
Relaxation benefits
The potential of green tea offers more than its well-known role as an antioxidant.
According to research from Unilever, green tea contains L-theanine, which is said to relax the brain.
Consumption of 50mg of L-theanine (equivalent of 2-3 cups of green tea) stimulates the alpha-brain waves associated with relaxation. By increasing the frequency of these brain waves, the beta-brain waves associated with tension are decreased.
Consumer awareness of the benefits of green tea and green tea extracts continues to rise with growing numbers of studies, from 430 papers in 2000 to almost 1500 in 2003, reporting benefits of the main compounds, catechins.
Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Published online ahead of print: doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28216
Title: Green tea consumption is associated with depressive symptoms in the elderly
Authors: K Niu, A Hozawa, S Kuriyama, S Ebihara, H Guo, N Nakaya, K Matsuda, H Takahashi, Y Masamune, M Asada, S Sasaki, H Arai, S Awata, R Nagatomi, and I Tsuji
Save the Dark Mood for Halloween – How InSight Can Help
Seasons are changing, the sky is steely gray, fallen foliage reveals skeletons where there once were woods. Sounds like the start of a scary Hitchcock thriller doesn’t it?
For many people affected by seasonal change, these are the ominous signs of Fall & Winter– the foreboding seasons of mental gloom, darkness and sluggishness. It is tough to be jolly when you are tired and feel out of sync.
Don’t despair. This season can be different for you.
Research shows that specialized flavonoids from the unroasted cocoa nib can have a positive impact on cognitive function and brain chemistry.
InSight Natural is a cocoa flavonoid based natural formulation designed to support healthy mental balance, mood, attitude and equilibrium. Many people have experienced positive changes with InSight Natural.
While InSight Natural is great for the times you feel emotionally or mentally stressed, it offers an entirely new dimension to healthy mental equilibrium. For example, InSight Natural is used by endurance athletes for the competitive mental edge and to avoid “hitting the wall”. InSight is preferred by caregivers who are under emotional stress by the very nature of their job. InSight helps people who are under stressful deadlines or any situation in which a person’s abilities are affected by their emotional state.
InSight Natural contains a synergistic blend of B Vitamins needed in higher demand when you’re under stress, botanicals and cocoa flavonoids that support healthy brain function to put you back on track so that you can focus on the tasks at hand.
See our website at www.advantig.net for specials on InSight.
InSight Natural can help take the BOO out of your attitude.
Fitness Fridays at Advantig
Fitness Friday: exercise 1 day a week?
Not exactly. I’ve declared “Fitness Fridays” at Advantig not just to encourage regular exercise, but to use Fridays as an assessment day to review goals, find & plan something active to do on the weekend & review the meal plan (going out & quick meals) – for the sake of good mental & physical well-being. Not only does it make me feel great, but I notice that everyone around me feels more motivated and productive.
So if you need time for a brisk walk, make it and bring your furry friend too. Fido is dependent upon you for his healthy longevity!
You Can Tell When People Exercise Regularly or Occasionally!
And not just from their body tone, but also from the tone of their voice and mental outlook. Exercise is the catalyst for important physical and brain chemistry that keeps your engine running smoothly. (OK, I love cars and love to listen to “Car Talk” on NPR)
The Mayo Clinic has posted a nice article on the benefits of exercise that we’ve summarized below or you can read in detail here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676.
(Condensed Version) 7 Benefits of Exercise
- Exercise improves your mood. Need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A workout at the gym or brisk 30 minute walk can help you calm down.
- Exercise combats chronic diseases. Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent osteoporosis? Physical activity may be the ticket.
- Exercise helps you manage your weight. Want to drop those excess pounds? Trade some couch time for walking or other physical activities.
- Exercise boosts your energy level. Physical activity delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues which helps your entire cardiovascular system. You’ll have more energy to do the things you enjoy.
- Exercise promotes better sleep. A good night’s sleep can improve your concentration, productivity and mood. Physical activity is sometimes the key to better sleep helping you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep.
- Exercise can put the spark back in your sex life. Are you too tired or out of shake to have sex? Physical activity to the rescue.
- Exercise can be – gasp – fun! Physical activity doesn’t have to be drudgery. Take a ballroom dancing class. Check out a local climbing wall or hiking trail. Push your kids on the swings or climb with them on the jungle gym. Find a physical activity you enjoy and go for it!
=================================
A note from the doctor…
It doesn’t matter if you’re an accomplished athlete or just value regular activity, Advantig has products to help your body hydrate & your muscles recover more efficiently. I recommend drinking ProSport or ProSport MAX 30 minutes before exercise or any physical activity that will push your body. If you’re working for more than 2 hours, drink 1 more to optimize muscle recovery and nutrient replenishment.
Stay away from artificial colors, flavors, sugar & salt marketed as “electrolytes” that don’t nourish the body and deliver far more salt than you typically need.
http://www.advantig.net/products/prosport
Healthy Immune Response
If your family is like mine, you’re probably receiving messages from school and various authorities on how and what to do this flu season. I like to be proactive and so I would like to share some tips on how to support your family’s immune health.
Don’t Stress
Stress adversely impacts the immune system. So try to stay balanced, exercise, eat a diet that includes whole grains, lean meat, unprocessed carbohydrates and fresh fruits & vegetables. Try to stay focused on the big picture. I know that is easier said than done, but now that you’ve been reminded, work at it.
Stress Induces Immune Dysfunction
Nat Rev Immunol. 2005 Mar;5(3):243-51. Stress-induced immune dysfunction: implications for health. Glaser R, Kiecolt-Glaser JK. Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology & Medical Genetics, College of Medicine & Public Health and Institute for Behavioral Medical Research, Ohio State University, USA.
Folk wisdom has long suggested that stressful events take a toll on health. The field of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is now providing key mechanistic evidence about the ways in which stressors–and the negative emotions that they generate–can be translated into physiological changes and how the immune system communicates bidirectionally with the central nervous and endocrine systems, impacting health.
Stay Positive
While stress impacts immune health, so do negative thoughts. Just visualize that every negative thought is a like a hammer & chisel chipping away at your immune and mental health. The average person has over 60,000 thoughts a day, many of which majority of which are negative. While conscious attempts to reverse this trend are beneficial, I like to recommend a natural product that supports positive, proactive mood, attitude. InSight Natural combines cocoa flavonoids with important B-vitamins and cofactors that are naturally supportive of a more positive state of mind.
Clinical and professional experience has demonstrated InSight Natural’s beneficial impact on mood repeatedly. In fact InSight’s “Winning State of Mind” description was coined by an endurance athlete who uses InSight Natural to train for competition to avoid “hitting the wall” – which is a mental state in training when a person’s mind leads them to believe that they can’t go on.
Research suggests that Cocoa Flavonoids impact brain function/circulation with the result being a calmer, more relaxed state of mind and positive attitude. We hear this from patients, physicians and athletes all the time.
De-Stress
If you want the “attitude adjustment” of InSight Natural but need more intensive stress management support, try InSight HT. InSight HT contains 3 additional ingredients that really help your body’s stress management skills. To learn more about InSight HT, click here: http://www.advantig.net/products/insight-ht.
Wash Smarter Not Harder
The best defense against germs is simply to wash thoroughly with good old fashioned soap and water. The research on antibacterial vs. regular soap is still not definitive. In fact, some research shows that people are sensitive to some of the chemicals found in antibacterial soap. So just remember that the best way to rid your skin of bacteria is exfoliation. Lather up, rub hard and sing “Happy Birthday” – which takes about the 10 seconds – the time you need to make sure your hands are clean.
I suggest patients avoid soaps containing drying chemicals and harsh perfumes that can make your skin dry, rough and irritated with more frequent washing. Look for emollients like coconut and olive oil, glycerin, aloe leaf extract, natural vitamin E and shea butter which help nourish the skin with regular washing. Avoid irritating detergents in common soap like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Some liquid soaps contain formaldehyde-releasing preservatives like Soft Soap, Gerber Baby Wash with Lavender, Irish Spring Body Wash (Icy Blast & Aloe) Palmolive Aroma Therapy Liquid Handsoap & more. For a more complete list, go to click on the HHS List here or below: http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/htmlgen?page=advancedsearch&option=health.
Be sure to remember that dyes, parabins & fragrances can also be irritants.
Try: If you’re lucky enough to have a Trader Joe’s in your community, look for their “French Liquid Soap with Orange Blossom Honey & Vitamin E” which offers great natural ingredients at a reasonable price.
Dept. of HHS List
To search the US Dept. of Heatlh & Human Services database, click on the link below, chose “Personal Care Products” and try typing “Irritants”: http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/htmlgen?page=advancedsearch&option=health
Support a Healthy Immune Response
I designed On-Guard for my family. It is my personal product and I rely on it at the first sign of immune stress. On-Guard contains evidence-based ingredients with published, scientific references on their benefits for supporting a healthy immune response. Doctors have relied On-Guard clinically for over a decade to help keep their patients in optimal immune health during the toughest challenges.
On-Guard replaces over 11 classes of immune support products which can be categorized as follows:
- Stabilized Allicin
- Transfer Factors
- Colostrum/Immunoglobulin/Lactoferrin
- Nutraceutical Mushroom Extracts
- Larch Arabinogalactan & Other Important Polysaccharides
- Andrographolide
- Oregano Oil
- Astragalus, Rhodiola & related Botanicals
- Olive Leaf Extract (specifically Hydroxytyrosol)
- High Molecular Weight Aloe Vera Fractions
- Isatis, Withanolides, Curcuminoids, Forsythia & more
Stabilized Allicin: Stabilized Allicin represents a technological breakthrough in the delivery of garlic’s broad spectrum activity. Allicin is what you momentarily smell when a garlic clove is crushed. Allicin is also one of the most important health constituents in garlic. Up until now, preserving Allicin has been impossible. A new patented process makes it possible to stabilize Allicin. On-Guard contains certified, stabilized, pure Allicin.
If you would like more technical information on the science behind On-Guard, leave a comment or a question.
Environmental Pollution
A National Assessment of Tap Water Quality found more than 140 contaminants with no enforceable safety limits in the nation’s drinking water.
260 contaminants found in the nation’s tap water, more than half have no safety standards.
141 Contaminants are unregulated.
POLLUTION – WORSE THAN WE THINK?
The EPA has also failed to act on its own information showing that increased testing is justified.
EPA required water suppliers to test tap water for approximately 200 unregulated contaminants over the past 30 years.1
But the EPA’s own scientists have identified 600 chemicals in tap water formed as by-products of disinfection; 2
¤ Have tracked some 220 million pounds of 650 industrial chemicals discharged to rivers and streams each year3; and
¤ Have spearheaded research on emerging contaminants after the U.S. Geological Survey found 82 unregulated pharmaceuticals and personal care product chemicals in rivers and streams across the country that provide drinking water for millions of Americans.4
All told, EPA has set safety standards for fewer than 20 percent of the many hundreds of chemicals that it has identified in tap water.
- EPA 2001b, 2001c, 2005c, FR 1996
- Richardson 1998, 1999a,b, 2003
- EPA 2003
- Kolpin et al. 2004, EPA 2005d
Environmental Working Group, 12/20/05
=======================
Individuals need environmental detoxification to cope more effectively with pollution that permeates the environment.
Why Advantig Products Don’t Contain Artificial Colors & Preservatives
Filed under: A Message from the Doctor, Caring for Your Children
Artificial Colors in Kids' Food
Additives like artificial colors & pre
servatives negatively impact brain function
The Lancet 2007, Nov. 3:370(9598) 1560-7. “Food Additives & Hyperactive Behavior in 3 Year old and 8/9 Year Old Children in the Community: A Randomized, Double-Blinded Placebo Controlled Trial.” McCann D., Barrett A., Cooper A., Crumpler D., Dalen L., Grimshaw K., Kitchin E., Lok K., Porteous L., Prince E., Sonuga-Barke E., Warner JO., Stevenson J. School of Psychology, Dept. of Heatlth, University of Southampton, UK. 300 Children Studied.
==============================
From Dr. Schlesser:
Kids are conditioned to select brightly colored products. This extends beyond toys — to foods, which results in consumption of non-nutritive food additives like artificial colors, artificial flavors and preservatives. Published research now confirms that many of these non-nutritive molecules can alter brain function in kids.
This 2007 Lancet Study is a very well-designed, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that finally settles the controversy over the impact of non-nutritive food additives on behavior and learning in kids. This trial took place in Great Britain and studied 300 children. The conclusion was that food additives adversely impacted behavior, directly contributing to hyperactive behavior. The findings were so profound that Britain’s Food Standards Agency issued an advisory to parents immediately.
It has been nearly two years since this study’s findings were published and yet there has been no response by the US Government.
For many years, pediatricians have downplayed the impact of artificial colors & preservatives on behavior – even though many parents have been convinced of the link.
American Academy of Pediatrics – Grand Rounds
ADHD & Food Additives Revisited – Alison Schonwold, MD, FAAP, Developmental Medicine Center, Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, American Academy of Pediatrics, Grand Rounds 2008; 19:17.
ADHD & Non-Nutritive Additives
“The overall findings of the study are clear and require that even we skeptics,
who have long doubted parental claims of the effects of various foods on the
behavior of their children, admit that we might have been wrong.”
From Dr. Schlesser:
Just last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics weighed in on the issue of Artificial Colors and Non-Nutritive Food Additives and after a thorough evaluation of the available scientific literature, including the landmark 2007 study in The Lancet. Their conclusion: “the overall findings of the study are clear and require that even we skeptics who have long doubted parental claims of the effects of various foods on the behavior of their children, admit that we might have been wrong.”
This is an official position statement of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Do artificial colors have a scientifically justifiable place in our children’s food supply?
We would love to hear your comments.
Introducing Sub-Micronized Natural Zeolite
Breakthrough Environmental Toxin Elimination in an Oral Spray
Nano-Zeolite is a 100% Natural, oral detoxification spray of sub-micronized natural Zeolite in our “Ultra-Wet™” delivery system that detoxifies selective heavy metals, metabolic toxins and environmental chemicals as part of the Environmental Toxin Elimination program.
Natural Zeolites
In the 18th century, a Swedish mineralogist named Cronstedt observed, upon rapidly heating a natural mineral that the stones began to dance about as the water evaporated. Using the Greek words which mean “stone that boils,” Cronstedt named this material Zeolite. More than 40 types of natural Zeolites are found throughout the world and form in nature as a result of the chemical reaction between volcanic glass and mineralized groundwater. Nature requires 50 to 50,000 years to complete the reaction.
Zeolites are natural, inert, non-toxic substances which are federally classified as GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe). Zeolites are defined as crystalline hydrated aluminosilicates with a cage structure, containing at least one silicon atom per aluminum atom.
Zeolites Act Like Molecular Sieves
The Zeolite cage framework encloses cavities (or pores) occupied by cations and water molecules. Zeolite cavities are interconnected by pore openings through which molecules can pass. The cations and water molecules in Zeolite pores have considerable freedom of movement, permitting ion exchange and reversible dehydration. This property places Zeolite in a unique & useful class of materials known as “Molecular Sieves.”
Depending on the size of Zeolite pores, they can adsorb molecules readily, slowly, or not at all, thus functioning as “molecular sieves” — adsorbing molecules of certain sizes while rejecting larger ones. Species with a kinetic diameter which makes them too large to pass through a Zeolite pore are effectively “sieved.”
Zeolite molecular sieves act like sponges. Zeolite’s unique 3 dimensional crystalline lattice structure has channels and cavities which offer an enormous surface area—up to 800 square meters per gram. For reference, the EPA has established that the average body surface area for a 70 kg man is 1.9 square meters. In simple terms, the total surface area of 2.5 mg of Zeolite could exceed the body surface area of an average 150 pound person.
Zeolite Binding by Surface Charge Density
The ability of Zeolite molecular sieves to attract and bind molecules is also affected by the electrical charge or polarity of the molecules being sorted. The strong electrostatic field within a Zeolite cavity results in very strong interaction with polar molecules such as water. Non-polar molecules are also strongly adsorbed due to the polarizing power of these electric fields.
Zeolite Binding by Ion Exchange
Because cations are free to migrate in and out of Zeolite structures, Zeolites are often used to exchange their cations for those of surrounding fluids. The preference of a given Zeolite among available cations can be due to ion sieving or due to a competition between the Zeolite phase and aqueous phase for the cations that are present.
Zeolite Treatment of Environmental and Radioactive Waste
Natural Zeolites are being used to treat low and intermediate aqueous waste. Natural Zeolite was also used in the clean-up at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl.
Removes Heavy Metals
Zeolites have been used medicinally for thousands of years. Recent evidence confirms Zeolites have a selective affinity for heavy metals like Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, Aluminum and more.
54 Times the Pre-Provocation Mercury Elimination
Nano-Zeolite’s proprietary process clears the Zeolite pores and molecular cage structure, optimizing its ability to trap and bind heavy metals and toxins in the detoxification process. Nano-Zeolite has been reported to stimulate elimination of mercury by up to 54 times the baseline.
Ultra-Wet™ Transport System = Rapid Response
The proprietary process used to purify the distilled water used in Nano-Zeolite provides 43% lower surface tension than regular distilled water. The synergistic combination of lower surface tension with Nano-Zeolite’s sub-micron particle size promotes system detoxification.
Convenient Oral Spray
Nano-Zeolite is administered through a convenient oral spray, reducing the possibility of accidental product contamination, while offering patients easily metered dosing – better compliance, better results. Zeolite’s stable structure is not broken down in the GI tract and bind toxins are naturally eliminated. The Nano-Zeolite formula has been very well tolerated by thousands of patients.
Nano-Zeolite is Clean & Pure
Nano-Zeolite has not been irradiated and contains no alcohol, preservatives, artificial colors or flavors. Nano-Zeolite is purified through a proprietary, non-chemical cleansing process to completely avoid weakening the charge and structure of zeolite cage which occurs when using a “chemical cage cleaning process.” Most competing zeolite products use this traditional “chemical cage cleaning process.”
What Makes Nano-Zeolite Special?
• In comparison to acid-based chelators, Zeolite is highly selective for heavy metals like mercury & lead with less attraction to vital minerals like calcium, potassium & selenium.
• Zeolite is Classified as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) By FDA
• Zeolite’s Stable Structure is Not Broken Down in the GI Tract
• Ultra-Pure: In comparison to other Zeolite products, Nano-Zeolite has undergone extensive processing to remove heavy metals & other toxins which are present in natural Zeolites.
• Increased Heavy Metal Elimination: By clearing the pores & cage structures, the binding capacity of Nano-Zeolite is optimized in comparison to other Zeolite products. This may partly explain up to 54 times the elimination of Mercury shortly after administration of Nano-Zeolite.
• Highest Surface Area: Nano-Zeolite is specially processed to significantly reduce the average particle size in comparison to other Zeolites. This results in an exponential increase in contact surface area for better binding capacity & increased toxin elimination.
• Convenient & Easy to Use Oral Spray
• Aerosols = Low Risk of Product Contamination
• Ultra-Wet™ System for Rapid Response
• No Preservatives, Artificial Colors or Artificial Flavors
• No Alcohol
• Not Irradiated
• Well Tolerated
• Passes Naturally out of the Body
• Noticeable Biological Response
• Effective at a Low Dose
• Detoxifies & Cleanses
Introducing New Submicronized Silver
Breakthrough Oral Spray Technology
Nano-Silver Ultra is a sub-micronized, 120PPM high potency silver hydrosol spray that supports optimal health by addressing chronic immune and metabolic stress resulting from accumulated toxins and microbial imbalances.
Physicians prefer Nano-Silver to other silver products for its potency, more convenient oral dosing, but mostly for results in addressing chronic immune stress from environmental toxins. Nano-Zeolite™ supports gentle elimination of cellular toxins released from the actions of Nano-Silver. For best results, use both products together as part of a comprehensive Environmental Toxin Elimination program.
Potent Clinical Nano-Silver Now Available to Consumers
Nano-Silver Ultra delivers 120 parts per million of unique energized silver particles that range in size from 0.4 microns to the nanometer range in a proprietary “Ultra-Wet” transport medium. Other popular silver products typically contain 25-40 PPM. Nano-Silver Ultra delivers multiple times the potency at sub-micron levels with scanning electron micrograph (SEM) documentation from an independent university lab.
Ultra-Wet™ Transport = 43% Lower Surface Tension = Better Response
Our Ultra-Wet™ transport system of specially processed pure distilled water provides 43% lower surface tension than regular distilled water – “wetter than water”. Reduced surface tension enables Nano-Silver’s submicron particles to be more effective. Nano-Silver Ultra’s unique combination of sub-micron particle size and its reduced surface tension delivers superior dispersion and rapid response just when it is needed.
Convenient Aerosol Spray
Nano-Silver Ultra is easy to take. Just spray the recommended number of sprays directly in your mouth or to the affected area. Oral sprays are more convenient than drops not only because they are easy to use and easy to meter a dose, but also because a spray reduces the possibility of accidental product contamination.
What Makes Nano-Silver Ultra Special?
• Independent Safety Studies
• High Potency Silver Hydrosol at 120 PPM
• Recommended By Physicians In Over 15 Countries
• Particle Size from 0.4 microns to nanometer range
• “Wetter than water” – Ultra-Wet™ system promotes more rapid dispersion & response.
• No Preservatives Required: Nano-Silver Ultra’s™ anti-bacterial & anti-fungal properties have been confirmed in preservative challenge tests.
• Convenient & Easy to Use Oral Spray
• Aerosols = Low Risk of Product Contamination
• No Preservatives, Artificial Colors or Artificial Flavors
• No Alcohol
• Not Irradiated
• Well Tolerated
• Passes Naturally out of the body
• Noticeable Biological Response
• Effective even at Low Doses
• Detoxifies & Cleanses
The Latest News on Mercury & Women
Blood Mercury Levels Rising Among U.S. Women
Study uncovers big jump between 1999-2006, especially among older females
(HealthDay News) — A study involving more than 6,000 American women suggests that blood levels of mercury are accumulating over time, with a big rise noted over the past decade.
Using data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a researcher from the University of California, Los Angeles, found that while inorganic mercury was detected in the blood of 2 percent of women aged 18 to 49 in the 1999-2000 NHANES survey, that level rose to 30 percent of women by 2005-2006.
“My study found compelling evidence that inorganic mercury deposition within the human body is a cumulative process, increasing with age and overall in the population over time,” study author and neuroscience researcher Dan R. Laks said in an UCLA news release. “My findings also suggest a rise in risks for disease associated with mercury over time.”
The findings come on the heels of a widely publicized report, released last week by the U.S. Geological Survey, which found that 25 percent of fish sampled from U.S. rivers and streams have unsafe levels of mercury.
Environmental sources of mercury include coal-fired electricity plants and contaminated fish, which tend to accumulate the toxin in their tissues. According to the news release, chronic mercury exposure has been linked in studies to a higher risk for autism, mental impairment and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
The UCLA study found evidence linking inorganic mercury in the blood to tissues known to be targets for the toxin, such as the liver, the immune system and the pituitary gland.
Laks also found a connection between levels of the pituitary hormone lutropin and chronic mercury exposure, which he said might help explain mercury’s link to neurodegenerative disease. Inorganic mercury can also accumulate in the brain and stay there for years, according to the news release.
Overall, “these results suggest that chronic mercury exposure has reached a critical level where inorganic mercury deposition within the human body is accumulating over time,” Laks said. “It is logical to assume that the risks of associated neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases will rise as well.”
The findings are published online in the journal Biometals.
More information
Find out more about mercury at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
– E.J. Mundell
SOURCE: Aug. 24, 2009, news release, University of California, Los Angeles
You Can Control Stress
Stress is not only a harmful state of mind, it can also become a harmful condition for your overall health because it actually changes your body chemistry. These chemical changes over time can adversely impact your immune health, your cardiovascular health and your entire well being.
We’ve collected some great stress relief tips that are posted to the Advantig website to help reduce anxiety and maintain a balanced life. Take a look at some of these time tested techniques to help you optimize your day-to-day management of stress:
Relaxation & Meditation: Structured relaxation & meditation can help control stress and improve your physical and mental well-being. The options are almost infinite. We’ve summarized just a few here:
-
Biofeedback: a method of learning to relax, control stress responses, or modify the body’s reactions through the use of monitoring equipment, training the autonomic nervous system (the part we don’t consciously use) to relax.
-
Meditations: Focusing on religion, spiritual beliefs or purely on physical relaxation, meditation is one of the most popular techniques to achieve physical and mental relaxation.
-
Progressive Muscle Relaxation: A method developed in the 1930s in which muscle groups are tightened and then relaxed in succession based on the idea that mental relaxation will be a natural outcome of physical relaxation.
-
Qigong: (pronounced “chee gong”) This ancient Chinese Martial Art/health-care system combines physical training (such as isometrics, isotonics, and aerobic conditioning) with Eastern philosophy and relaxation techniques.
-
Tai chi: “Meditation in motion” is characterized by soft, flowing movements that stress precision and force.
-
Yoga: Yoga’s goal is to restore balance and harmony in the body and emotions through numerous postural and breathing exercises.
Exercise: Exercise promotes overall fitness and helps you manage emotional stress and tension from the release of endorphins. Being fit and healthy also increases your body’s ability to deal with stress. Start slow by taking the stairs, walking in your neighborhood, riding your bike. Just get moving!
Time management: Learn to prioritize tasks, avoid over-commitment, being overscheduled and feeling pressured. Check your calendar, planner, or PDA before commit or learn to say “let me get back to you after I check my calendar” to avoid commitments made under pressure that can cause you stress later.
Organization: Schedule time to organize your physical surroundings (office, desk, kitchen, closet, car) so that you won’t be faced with the stress of constantly searching for misplaced items or being overwhelmed by clutter. Take 10 minutes to periodically sort through and organize piles of paperwork and clutter.
Take 5: Take a 5 minute deep breathing break, look away from the computer screen, close your eyes and visualize a relaxing place, stand up and stretch your arms, neck or legs. Breaking the monotony and changing the pace helps to refresh your perspective.
Lend a Helping Hand: Do something nice for another person. Studies show that altruism is good for your emotional well-being, and can measurably enhance your peace of mind. When you feel stressed and overwhelmed, you may feel like you’re least able to give; however, altruism activates the area of the brain associated with positive feelings, lifting your spirits, making you feel better the more you give.
Support systems: People with strong social support systems experience fewer physical and emotional symptoms of stress than their less-connected counterparts. Loved ones, friends, business associates, neighbors, and even pets are all part of our social networks. Cultivating and developing a social support network is healthy for both body and mind.
YOU CAN CONTROL STRESS
In addition to the mind-body techniques listed above, you can combine these products to help you control stress and support a balanced state of mind:
Healthy Attitude – Proactive State of Mind – Balance. InSight Natural is a cocoa flavonoid-based dietary supplement. Cocoa flavonoids are scientifically linked to brain function and healthy brain oxygenation. We say that InSight supports a “winning state of mind” – which is a phrased coined by one of our customers who found that InSight Natural helped him “break through the wall” in athletic competition. Endurance athletes are finely tuned individuals who benefit from InSight Natural. If these highly specialized individuals can benefit, no fears – so can you. You can learn more about InSight Natural’s here: http://www.advantig.net/products/insight-natural.
Mental tranquility – Calmer Mind – Mental Relaxation. InSight HT is designed for people who want to experience the positive mental state InSight Natural offers, but need more intensive help for “High Tension” (which is why we call it HT). InSight HT blends InSight Natural with 3 additional ingredients that have a scientific basis for supporting a more relaxed, calmer mental state required to manage stress: 5-HTP, L-theanine & Vinpocetine. For more information on these ingredients and InSight HT, got to: http://www.advantig.net/products/insight-ht. If you can take the time for a relaxing massage, take 1 InSight HT an hour before your treatment for ultimate relaxation.
Deep, Restful Sleep & Refreshed Awakening. When you’re under stress, sleep is the ultimate mental recharge. The problem is that sometimes the mind just keeps repeating scenarios as though it were on a loop as a way to problem solve or cope. This can leave you feeling drained and even more tired in the morning. For those times, take 1 Z-Cap an hour before bedtime for the deep sleep your body needs. Unlike prescription sleeping pills, Z-Caps will help you feel refreshed and ready for the day. You can read more here: http://www.advantig.net/products/z-caps.