Pesticides and Heart Disease.. and more...

Organophosphates and carbamates are the more common active ingredients of household, garden, and farm insecticides, and are highly toxic to all animals and humans. What do they do to the heart? In a 2004 study, 37 adults were admitted to a Singapore hospital with acute pesticide poisoning (organophosphates or carbamate) over a
three-year period, and 62 percent of these patients later developed cardiac complications.
But just to give you an idea of how these chemicals can be prevalent without you even knowing it, consider the work of Theo Colborn, Ph.D., who found that the herbicide 2,4 D

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Phillips' New BioLight runs on bacteria

The search for greener, more power-efficient lighting systems won't stop with compact fluorescents and LED systems if Dutch electronics giant Philips has anything to say about it. In an effort to embrace a truly natural approach to lighting, the company took a cue from fireflies and deep-sea creatures to create a (literally) green light powered not by electricity or sunlight, but by glowing bioluminescent bacteria.

 

I know the perfect place for it to blaze away happily; teenagers'

Biolight from Phillips; perfect for teenagers' rooms.

The Untold Truth about Alkaline Diet

The Untold Truth Video is here. Taking a serious look at the alkaline diet

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A good Laugh about Science vs. Wonder

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George Bush Acidic? Heavens to Betsy No!

[caption id="attachment_736" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Acidic?"][/caption]

Graham, our general manager, contributes to a health blog in the US. He posts to it just like this blog, and he includes many articles we have on file here in Australia. One such article was written by me about acidic or alkaline 'personalities' pointing out that calm people are usually more alkaline, and aggressive people more acidic. The first example of an acidic personality I suggested was the late Saddam Hussein. The second example was of an alkaline type; the Dalai Lama.

Now... up until now

Is George Bush Acidic or alkaline?

Water disinfection Byproducts: what does that mean?

A good video has been uploaded to Natural news by Dr Len Saputo on the hazards of water disinfection byproducts. Worth a look.

And yes, in case you are wondering, he does recommend our products.. but his insight into disinfection byproducts we are all exposed to is worth a

chlorine and Chloramines effect in your water supply

You Better watch out, you better not cry...

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Alzheimers': the new market for Big Pharma

I'm copying a pasting an article by Rob Verkerk, president of Alliance for Natural Health here today. It's a typical story of vested interest, sub-prime research and ultimately, deprivation of the public of quality healthcare.
It affected me because I'm a potential sufferer of Alzheimers' using a natural product to retain my faculties. My video on YouTube has attracted a tremendous response.. and I'd dread the possibility that the powers that be would choose to deprive me of my coconut oil.
"The networks today were awash with news of a study that B vitamins are likely to reduce the risk

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Hospital care....

I have been staying with my sister and brother-in-law in Melbourne this week after flying down to see Phil, my 84 year-old brother-in-law and a leading influence in my life. Phil is and always has been a 'can-do' man, running a wonderful farm, caravan park and building business. Such a good man.. it's a blow to see him fighting his particular form of cancer that causes his red blood cells to misbehave and for him to retain fluid, causing his pacemaker heart to work dangerously hard.

Phil is in his second round of chemo and in his usual stalwart way, is handling it well. He 'fronts up' with

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It's Mad Science Week!

Ok. Here's another one. A ring of magnets implanted in your anus to prevent 'accidents'.

So wise guys, wat happens if the poor recipient sits on a metal

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Magnesium. Are you getting enough?

When I take a moment to look at what magnesium does, it reminds me once again of the complexity and brilliance of the human body. And like all great and complex machines, it reminds me of the importance of 'tuning' it and giving it what it needs to carry out all those mindboggling daily tasks that support another day in our life.

Magnesium is the central element in chlorophyll and the basis of early life on the planet. It’s been around for ages and I think we can safely say that it’s here to stay. Which is a good thing when you consider all of the amazing things it does for us every

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Big Changes!

It's happened! I have broken free of Big Mama Google, who has been patiently hosting my HealtheMail for the last - I don't know how many - years and gone across to a much better, more fun WordPress style blog. 


I thank all my readers for their support and comments over the years, and look forwards to feisty comments from all of you on my new blog here. Just click on the pic.

CLICK TO ACCESS

Murdoch taking over our Aunty's Overseas news? NEVER!

I just received an email from Avaaz about Rupert Murdoch attempting to take over the Aussie ABC's foreign news service. Can you imagine what he would do to our international goodwill for the sake of a buck? I am speechless. Here's the link. I sent my petition to Stephen Conroy. Please do something now.
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/murdochs_secret_abc_attack/?atindcb

Doc Martin tells it like it is

I'm a fan of grumpy, sexually repressed Doc Martin on the ABC. I am assuming that because he plays a doctor, his medical pronouncements are checked over by experts before filming. If so, I was surprised and gratified to see that he is a proponent of the acidic blood theory. Take a look.

Can You Over-Alkalize?

Anne wrote and asked whether it is possible to over-alkalize the body. Yes, Anne, it is possible. This link takes you to a very comprehensive study of the ways we can be either excessively acidic or alkaline.

The author, Michael J Bookallil of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW,  talks about respiratory alkalosis, caused by hyperventilation, and alkalosis from metabolic causes. Here's an excerpt complete with links.

" 6.3.4 METABOLIC ALKALOSIS (non-respiratory alkalosis). This is due to loss of HCl from the ECF or addition of alkali. Metabolic alkalosis is compensated by respiratory depression which causes CO2 retention (Tuller and Mehdi, 1971; Shear et al, 1973; Aquino et al, 1973) but may also cause hypoxia. The pH is usually raised but may be high normal if there is much CO2 retention. Metabolic alkalosis is due to:

6.3.4.1. Loss of gastric juice containing HCl. Patients with pyloric obstruction lose some K⁺ and Na⁺ as well as HCl. The loss of K⁺ is mainly through the kidney (Kassirer et al, 1966). At first the urine is alkaline but after stable conditions are established the urine becomes acidic as the normal inorganic acid load from protein breakdown still has to be excreted (Schwartz et al, 1978). If it were not, it would correct the alkalosis. The acid urine used to be thought to be paradoxical (Van Slyke and Evans, 1947), and was attributed to K⁺ deficiency.

The situation of a chronic metabolic alkalosis with acid urine is probably the best clinical example where balance or status as destinct from input, output or turnover (section 2.1) should be distinguished. The blood pH status is stable and alkaline. For the non-respiratory pH to remain high the normal acid output must continue, i.e. acid excretion in the urine will be normal and the urine pH will be low.

6.3.4.2 Diuretic alkalosis. Thiazide diuretics, frusemide and ethacrynic acid can produce a metabolic alkalosis. HCl, its equivalent NH4Cl or HCl having acted on phosphate buffer is lost in the urine. The central role of Cl in the production of diuretic alkalosis has been established (Kassirer et al, 1965).

6.3.4.3 Ingestion or injection of excess base, e.g. Na+HCO3^- or Na+OH^-. Post transfusional or post-cardiac surgery metabolic alkalosis is usually due to the administration and metabolism of sodium citrate (Kappogoda et al, 1973; Barcenas et al, 1976). If NaHCO2 is given to "correct" an acidosis it may result in a high serum Na and osmolality and later an alkalosis.

6.3.4.4 Steroid alkalosis (Kassirer et al, 1970; Schambelan et al, 1971)."Anne, I hope you can derive enough from this explanation. In a layman's nutshell, you will quickly pee out excess alkalis.

For the one-armed man who has everything.

The Lessons of the Tao about water

I mentioned a few posts back that I read Hua-Ching Ni's I Ching whenever I feel the need. Today I did what i usually do.. opened it at a random page. Here's what I found.

"The following are eight ways in which people of universal virtue can learn from water.

1. Be content with a "low" position. By remaining low, one may be safe and free from competition.

2. Remain profound. A profound mind is as quiet as the deep ocean. Therefore it is undisturbed by the waves on the surface.

3. Give generously. Water constantly gives without asking to be repaid.

4. Speak faithfully. The flow of water always faithfully goes towards the sea.

5. Govern gently. Though water moves with gentleness, it can overcome even the hardest obstacle under Heaven.

6. Work capably and adaptably. Water can fit what is square or what is round. It keeps its true nature in any containment or circumstance.

7. Take action opportunely. Water freezes in Winter and melts in Summer. Its inflexibility in Winter is like death. Its softness in Spring generates new life.

8. Never fight. Water does not fight for itself, thus it is beyond blame.

Ian: Beautiful stuff.

A Simple Way to Test your urine pH

Take a small sample of midstream urine (about a tablespoon full) and add a pinch of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda). 

 

If you see bubbles and it begins to dissolve, your urine is acid - the more it bubbles, the higher the acidity of the urine. If it sinks to the bottom without any reaction, you are either neutral or on the alkaline side. More than likely, if the urine is acidic (the baking soda bubbles and dissolves fast).

 

Whales: Love 'em!

I wasn't always the Ian I am here and now. I was once a pro fisherman in Byron Bay. We took our 18' boat out nine miles to fish for snapper and Pearl Perch in 300 foot of water. And yes, I have some stories! A wonderful, simple life, ending when my boat sunk 7 miles from shore and I (and my wife) were left floating in a cloud of 200 kilo of fresh chicken gut; shark food extraordinaire.. but that's another story.

You've probably seen this video; millions have, but it's worth a look if you haven't. It reminds me of the day a whole pod of killer whales surrounded our boat....

Clinical Studies of alkaline ionized water

Wow! I just received the link to this page. It details all of the clinical studies carried out on the effects of alkaline ionized water in Japan.

Cloudy Water

Have you noticed cloudy water coming from your water ionizer? It's quite a natural function. In almost all cases, it's because your water from your AlkaWay electronic water ioniser is laden with fine particles of absorbable calcium and magnesium Technically, we call it turbidity. Your ioniser draws and concentrates the alkaline minerals from your tap water so you're getting more per litre than the tap water can give. This concentration in your AlkaWay water is  beneficial to your health.. and your pocket, saving on expensive supplements!  If you let the water sit you may see the particles gather at the bottom.

Turbidity may also be tiny air bubbles created during the process of ionisation. These come when the ioniser separates the acidic water from the alkaline and micro-clustering that takes place. By the way, don't panic if you don't have these air bubbles! It will depend on the amount of oxygen in your source water. What you can say about the bubbles - if they appear - is that they mean your AlkaWay Ioniser is working perfectly.

The third possibility will happen if you have, for some reason, begun using water high in calcium. You'll see your glassware begin to get a coating of calcium. This can mean that your source water supplier has increased the amount of lime (calcium carbonate) in your water supply. It's good to check with your water supplier if this happens.

Optimism is a natural brain trait.. in some.

Researchers say they've found one reason optimists retain a positive outlook even in the face of evidence to the contrary.

A Nature Neuroscience study suggests the brain is very good at processing good news about the future. However, in some people, anything negative is practically ignored - with them retaining a positive world view.

The authors, scientists at University College London said optimism did have important health benefits. About 80% of people were optimists, even if they would not label themselves as such. 

There is a very fundamental bias in the brain”

~ Dr Tali Sharot University College London

They rated 14 people for their level of optimism and tested them in a brain scanner. Each was asked how likely 80 different "bad events" - including a divorce or having cancer - were to happen. They were then told how likely this was in reality. At the end of the session, the participants were asked to rate the probabilities again.

There was a marked difference in the updated scores of optimists depending on whether the reality was good or bad news.

Dr Sharot gave the example of the risk of cancer being set at 30%. 

If the patient thought their risk was 40%, then at the end of the experiment they downgraded their own risk to about 31%, she said.

However, if the patient originally thought their risk was 10%, they only marginally increased their risk - they "leaned a little bit, but not a lot".

Pick and choose

When the news was positive, all people had more activity in the brain's frontal lobes, which are associated with processing errors. With negative information, the most optimistic people had the least activity in the frontal lobes, while the least optimistic had the most.

The report suggests the brain is picking and choosing which evidence to listen to. Dr Sharot said: "'Smoking Kills' messages don't work as people think their chances of cancer are low. The divorce rate is 50%, but people don't think it's the same for them. There is a very fundamental bias in the brain."

Dr Chris Chambers, neuroscientist from the University of Cardiff, said: "It's very cool, a very elegant piece of work and fascinating. For me, this work highlights something that is becoming increasingly apparent in neuroscience, that a major part of brain function in decision-making is the testing of predictions against reality - in essence all people are 'scientists'. And despite how sophisticated these neural networks are, it is illuminating to see how the brain sometimes comes up with wrong and overly optimistic answers despite the evidence."

Optimism seem to be good for your health. A study on nearly 100,000 women showed a lower risk of heart disease and death in optimists.

But as Dr Sharot points out: "The negative aspect is that we underestimate risks."

Ian: And they worked all that out from just 14 people? Hmm. Isn't it a bit obvious? Did it really need a study?

High Standards of Advertising on the Net

I was on the NY Times website when I found this list of one-line 'sponsors' for the page I was reading. Don't know what you think, but the words 'snake oil' come to mind. They are 'appararently' real life advertisers who have paid NY Times to appear on its website. 

1 "Weird" Trick to get Extremely Cheap Insurance

Ian: Tell 'em you just died.

5 Most Dangerous Pain Drugs. Which Are You Taking? 

Ian: Er.. None?

The Dirty Little Secret About CoQ10
Ian: CoQ10? Dirty?

New way to retire early. Make $30K every 30 days.
Ian: Sign me up!

15 Foods that Kill Belly Fat Now!
Ian:So.. you eat instead of exercise, right?

500K Term Life Less Than $25/month
Ian: You just have to live to 325 years to claim.

Obama has America neck deep in a secret “war”? 

Ian: Which one?

Doctor: Throw out that Fish Oil Supplement 

Ian: ...and buy my supplement!

Eat This and The Fat Pours Out Of You? 

Ian: What an awful visual this ad gives me!

I had High Blood Pressure- Now I Don't in 3 Weeks!
Ian: You don't now? Or will you won't in 3 weeks?

Wife Finds Her Husband's Cure for ED
Ian: And it's her best friend.

Absolute beginner blows away Wall St. pros.
Ian: At what? Billiards?

Male Enhancement Exposed - Pilot Tells His Secret
Ian: Er.. is this an ad for male plastic surgery perhaps?

When will it all end?

Raw Food/Vegan Effects from the Green Smoothie Girl

The Green Smoothie Girl actually promoted her diet on the net with her great little idea, the 'Green Smoothie Challenge'.

While telling everyone about the advantages of her raw/vegan diet, things weren't going all that well.. to say the least!

Vitamin C and Life

Cassie has been taking ascorbic acid (Vitamin C powder) to overcome effects of bad eating habits (cream cakes and bread) here in Italy and she swears by it.

If you had doubts about the power of Vitamin C, have a look at this video Cassie located in New Zealand. 

And for a real Kiwi take on the debate.. check this video.

Steve Jobs: A Lesson?

Mike Adams from the Health Ranger wrote about Steve Jobs. Here's the para that caught my eye:

"Here's a question for you: In his final days of life, would Steve Jobs have traded every bit of wealth he owned for a healthy new liver and pancreas?You bet he would!And yet he couldn't. Because it doesn't work that way. When it comes to organ health,there are no second chances. You're given one set of organs to live with, and if you can't figure out how to take care of those with nutrition, healthy foods and avoidance of environmental toxins, all the money in the world can't save you."

The interesting aspect of Steve Jobs' life and career (for they seem the same) was that he never really seemed to release himself from work. Perhaps he was simply driven by his creativity to such an extent that he could not stop, but as Mike points out, there is always a decision - and that decision sits patiently in the 'wings' of our life, never pressing us to decide on a healthier lifestyle. Its patience is amazing considering the fact that most of us re-toxify on a daily basis and abuse that one set of organs Mike referred to.

I am reading up on Ken Wibur's Integral Theory and at the same time I'm reading Hua Ching Ne's Book of Changes. Wibur says that we are all on a spiral of consciousness and that when we can identify where another person is on the spiral, we can understand how they see the same world we may live in with different views. It's a way of understanding that most people actually can't see beyond their level of consciousness development and so we can begin to relate to them, understand them and hopefully forgive them. 

Job's zeal at being the first, at aggressive marketing, together with his amazing ability to create, makes me see that he had no choice in the matter. he was, at some level known only to him,  on the run, with a need to create safety, which he believed came from market domination.

Hua Ching Ne is a Tao Master and he points out that the Tao sees a swing of fortune as not only inevitable but neccessary in the development of our mental and spiritual life. he says that if a person attempts to create a personal utopia he may be inadvertently avoiding the natural progression of his spirit, which benefits from both 'good' and 'bad' experiences. The Tao says that like Yin and Yang, there is a time for going forth, and a time for withdrawing. A summer, a winter. A good time and a bad time. Steve Jobs was obviously not a student of either philosophy, because he saw this need to strongly protect his 'good time' from anything and everything, and in so doing it could be argued that he put off - but accumulated - the bad times that eventually came knocking in a way that could not be staved off with the best lawyers on the planet.

An Apple a Day...er... Keeps health at Bay?

The Daily Mail has an interesting and timely piece on fruit sugar. Yes, that lovely sweetness we all love to savour every time we eat an apple.. or a pear.. or a mango....

It's titled; "The rotten truth: Why 'fruit sugar' is one of the most damaging ingredients in our food"

It;s definitely worth a read if you've been following my new alkaline diet posts, because it puts forward enough evidence to say that even if a fruit is eaten because it looks good on your alkaline chart, it's still sugar and it's still more harmful than anything else.

See it here:

See you Later Alligator

HAMILTON, Ohio — After taking a wild ride from a toilet through a wastewater plant, a baby alligator survives and has enough bite left to take a snap at one of his rescuers, according to Cincinnati.com.

"When I got there, he was in a bucket, just kind of sitting there wondering what in the world was going on, and he tried to bite me, as a little ’gator will do," said Damien Oxier, a Butler County man who heads Arrowhead Reptile Rescue, a nonprofit Greater Cincinnati group of volunteers.

Oxier said workers believe this is the best explanation for how the alligator ended up at the plant, stated the article.

The baby alligator passed through a 50-foot-tall mechanical bar rack that removes debris and a mechanized rake, according to the article.

Alkaline ionized water: Going to the Source.

Dolomites: Home of alkaline ionized water.

We're spending a few days in the Dolomiti, just a few clicks from the Austrian border in Northern Italy. After all these years of talking about them it's so good to look up and see these mountains that feed Italy with its famous healthy water. And of course, so good to know that we've given water with the same qualities to thousands of people over the last ten years!