Don’t forget, you can add the healthy foods above to your diet in supplement form too! Click on the links in the paragraph above to view more information about each supplement.

Allergy Treatments:  Wake Up and Smell the Alternatives
- From FOXNews.com's Health Section - 03/20/07
Another season of the year has arrived - Allergy Season!  Every spring and summer, allergy sufferers are seized by uncontrollable sneezing, itchy eyes, and an uncomfortable tickle gripping the back of the throats. Spring allergies are mostly caused by tree pollen and mold. Going into the summer, grass pollen becomes a problem, which causes inflammation and swelling in the lining of the nose and the protective tissues of the eyes. The allergic response to pollen is sometimes called “hay fever.” The upshot of all this is that we wheeze, sneeze, see the world through watery, red, itchy eyes and run through boxes of tissues for that runny nose.  Allergies plague over twenty six million adults and children in the United States, and the numbers are rising.

For those who prefer the natural route, read this always-timely article to find some old-fashioned dietary hints - including good food choices and anti-allergic spices such as Turmeric, Fennel, Coriander, Black Pepper and Ginger - as well as easy life-style tips that can help keep allergies in check.  There is also information about alternative, non-drug herbal remedies that help treat allergies and relieve asthma symptoms.

Perhaps it time for some spring cleaning for the body and some herbal therapy to bring relief from this annual invasion.  Read this important article for some time-honored hints to help you get ahead of allergy season, and don’t forget to look into natural herbal therapy with Support for Allergies and Asthma from Herbal Extracts Plus.

Avoid Brain Drain with Memory-Boosting Foods —Improve your mental health with common fruits, vegetables - even coffee:
- From MSNBC.com Today's Health section - 07/08/08
At any we can all use better brain function, and compelling research indicates that certain foods and nutrients can help enhance memory.  When you read the facts about Fish (with Omega-3 Fatty Acids), Berries, leafy Greens and caffeinated Coffee— you’ll want to be sure to incorporate them into your diet to give you that special edge. Studies that focus on food and memory suggest that the more of the above you eat, the better, and here’s why:

When considering protection against the breakdown of brain cells, ALL berries are rich in healthy compounds called anthocyanins and flavanols and some of the highest antioxidant concentrations among fruits….but Blueberries seem to be even the best of all.  What makes them so powerful?  Their deep blue hue — caused by flavonoids —that shield the brain’s memory-carrying cells (neurons) from the negative effects of oxidation and inflammation. 

When it comes to food and memory, Fish plays a starring role - and specifically, fatty fish, thanks to the ample amounts of Omega-3 Fats (EPA and DHA), they provide.  Best fish are low in contaminants and high in Omega 3 Fats: wild salmon, sardines, lake trout, pacific oysters and Atlantic mackerel.  If that’s not feasible, you can take supplements or, at the very least, incorporate plant based sources of Omega-3 Fats, i.e., Flaxseed, Omega-3-fortified eggs and walnuts. 

Don’t forget your leafy greens like Spinach, kale, collard greens, mustard greens and turnip greens.  They’re loaded with folate (also called folic acid) — a nutrient that seems to have a direct effect on memory.  High blood levels of homocysteine can indicate memory decline, but foods rich in folic acid (which lowers homocysteine levels), are pointing to protection against memory loss. 

Lastly, caffeinated Coffee can temporarily sharpen your focus and memory. Studies have demonstrated that after two cups of coffee, the brain activity of test subjects was increased in two areas—one being the part responsible for memory. Without caffeine, there was no increase in brain activity.

Remember that every cell in your body needs a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients in order to stay alive and work properly, including brain cells, and because oxygen and nutrients are carried in the blood stream, anything that impedes blood flow will starve those all-important brain cells. So nourish your body with good foods, keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in check, exercise regularly, don’t smoke and get at least seven hours of sleep each night.  Read this article and don’t forget to check out supplemental nutrients, like Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Blueberry, Flaxseed, Coffee Bean, Spinach, just in case you don’t have fresh fish, berries, greens or a cup of coffee at hand.

Brain Boosters: The Surprising Things That Supercharge It!
- From Prevention Magazine via MSN Health & Fitness - article not dated; posted here 05/08/09
If you're not a morning person, this scenario will sound familiar: You get out of bed, start to boil water for tea, but forget to pour it.  Then, you drop two slices of bread in the toaster, but forget to eat it.  It’s only after that jolt of caffeine in your Coffee that you remember who you are.  However, even though only half awake, the brain has an amazing capacity to remember, despite the occasional breakdowns. Although we're not computers, and increasing our memory capacity isn't as simple as adding more RAM to a hard-drive, there are ways we can boost our brain power, and research has uncovered some surprising ways to preserve and expand this precious gift.  One is Exercise.  Even fifty minutes of walking three times a week has brain-expanding effects, and walking in a pleasant park-like environment adds even more memory and attention capacity.  Researching and learning new information on the Internet can be mentally stimulating and build cognitive strength over time.  Good Oral Health is clearly linked to cognitive health, as is Limited Alcohol Consumption.  BLUEBERRY consumption is recommended for sharpening thought processes, learning and memory.  Brain- Boosting Games (soduku, crosswords, etc.) can amazingly knock a decade off your cognitive age.  

For easy Tips to help us improve memory and cognitive skills, Click here  to read the research.  To check out some herbal therapy, look into BLUBERRY and other brain-boosting herbs in MEMORY SUPPORT

Cancer Cures in the Herbal Pharmacy
- From MedicalNewsToday.com's Complimentary/Alternative Medicine section - 03/05/08
Many chemotherapies to fight cancer in modern medicine are natural products or were developed on the basis of natural substances. Taxanes used in prostate and breast cancer treatment are made from yew trees; the periwinkle plant’s alkaloids are effective against malignant lymphomas. The modern anti-cancer drugs, Topotecan® and Irinotecan®, are derived from the Chinese Happy Tree.  Plant constituents that seem particularly promising are derived from the Rangoon Creeper or from Red-Root Sage.  The latter contains three ingredients with powerful anti-tumor activity, and the substances were found to suppress the growth of a specific tumor cell line that is particularly resistant to many commonly used cytotoxins.  In contrast, a whole range of standard anti-cancer drugs fail to be effective against this cell.

In the search for active ingredients, scientists from Germany, Austria and China have been concentrating on herbal remedies from Traditional Chinese Medicine with particularly well documented application range.  They are searching for compounds in 76 Chinese medicinal plants that are believed to be effective against malignant tumors and other growths and aligning the effectiveness of the substances on 60 different cancer cell lines with the gene activity profiles of these cells; thus, determining the exact gene products that are the cellular targets of the compounds. Thereby, it may be possible to discover whole new Achilles' heels of the cancer cell.  Click here to read the latest science in this important article; then read about traditional uses for  Red-Root Sage and European Mistletoe, which is the source of patent medicines (Helixor® and Iscador®), that are employed in oncology therapies in Europe.

A little natural herbal support can be very helpful too, so look into the Weight Loss Program, Weight Loss Support Proprietary Remedy, and Weight Loss Support Synergistic Combination from Herbal Extracts Plus.

A Carbohydrate Overhaul  is another way to help banish the blues. Cut back on sugar and other refined carbs.  On the other hand, high-quality carbohydrates from soluble fiber, such as Oats, Barley (also rich in folate and B-vitamins), lentils, Peas, Flaxseed, Kidney Bean and White Sweet Potato, are metabolized slowly for stable blood-sugar levels and fewer mood swings.

There is Olive Oil for the Greeks and large amounts of fish (with its Omega-3 Fatty Acids) for the Inuits of Alaska that help beat heart disease and provide cardiovascular protection.  Longevity on the San Blas Islands of Panama, is Chocolate, which happily turns out to be a rich source of compounds that help keep blood vessels healthy.  Some of the most compelling findings on longevity come from Okinawa in southern Japan, where people are five times as likely to live to a hundred than people in the United States or other industrialized countries.  Scientists credit Okinawans’ longevity with Sweet Potatoes and Bitter Melon.  The Seventh-Day Adventists add an average extra ten years to their lives, thanks to five lifestyle factors: being vegetarian, not smoking, exercising frequently, maintaining a healthy weight and eating lots of nuts. Let’s not forget Blueberries to control inflammation and oxidative damage associated with age-related deficits in memory and motor function. 

Check out the two articles below for some healthy diet advice and the food that may help slow down the ageing process, and don’t forget to link to the healthy botanical compounds for the full story.
 The Search for the Anti-Ageing Diet
  7 Foods to Keep You Young

Gall Bladder Disease
- From the About.com Health & Fitness's Women's Health Secction
This section of About.com gives you many articles and resources for gall bladder disease. There are articles explaining the disease, its symptoms, preventing the disease, treating the disease

and more.  If you or someone you know is suffering from a gall bladder ailment, these articles will be well worth reading.  About.com also offers a wealth of information about many other topics.

Is SUPPORT FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE for you? Speak with your doctor about the natural way to support lower blood pressure levels. Why Keeping Blood Pressure Down Can Cut The Risk Of Dementia –
- From the DailyMail.co.uk's Health section - 07/08/08
Cutting high blood pressure in middle age could save thousands from suffering and dying from dementia, experts claim.  They also say that even elderly people can benefit from using blood pressure medication because treatment results in a lower risk of vascular dementia.  Two separate studies have found a link between high blood pressure and dementia, which is marked by a loss of memory and other cognitive abilities, including the ability to speak, identify objects or think abstractly.  The research, which was reported in the Lancet Neurology Journal, indicates that reducing blood pressure not only prevents heart disease and strokes, but also combats devastating brain disease, which can lead to premature death.  Eating a balanced, low-salt diet rich in antioxidants and vitamins, exercising regularly, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking only in moderation can reduce dementia and hypertension risk.  But finding effective treatment to control hypertension and getting regular blood pressure and cholesterol are also important ways to also help tackle high blood pressure. – Experts say it could lead to a thirteen percent drop in dementia risk.

Read this important article and ask your doctor about Support for High Blood Pressure.

SEVEN FOODS TO PREVENT CANCER
- From MensHealth via MSN.com Health & Fitness - posted here 10/31/08
For a multi-headed monster like cancer, there is (at least for now) no one food that will actually cure cancer or beat the disease.  However, unlike prescription cancer drugs, most of which are designed to treat the illness, certain natural plant-based foods and nutrients are here to help prevent it.  Research collected from various universities has produced a body of suggestions that are nutritional standouts and have scientific backup to prove their worth in building immunity against various cancers and for blocking tumors.  Slip them into your diet; you’ll feel better and may be adding important years to your life.  Prominent on the list are Curry with many healthy spices (Garlic and Onion, but most notably anti-inflammatory Turmeric)

~ Fish with vital Omega-3 Fatty Acids and vitamins A and D
~ Whey (found in yogurt) with the amino acid cysteine, which, when converted to glutathione, is a natural cancer-blocking compound
~ Berries of all kinds (notably Cranberry with tumor-blocking compounds like anthocyanins, phenolic acids)
~ Supplemental Vitamin E – but only in gamma tocopherol form or found in foods like walnuts or sesame oil for cooking or over salads
~ Anti-inflammatory Green Tea and White Tea:  White Tea was found to stop polyps as effectively as a powerful anti-inflammatory drug, but unlike prescription anti-inflammatories that can cause internal bleeding, teas mostly have no side effects
~ Citrus Peels: There’s cancer protection in the peels.  Grapefruit Peel, Orange Peel and Lemon Peel help stimulate an enzyme that can reduce the risk of squamous-cell skin cancer.  University of Illinois researchers say that the right spice or herb can make the meal—or block the tumor.

Six Best Summer Foods for Weight Loss
Lighten up your diet this summer with these refreshing foods and drinks
- From WebMD.com's Health & Diet Center - Dated 2007 by WebMD; posted here 07/03/08
The single easiest way to trim calories from your summer diet, experts say, is to load up on nature’s bounty.  You don’t have to starve yourself to look better in your shorts or swimsuit this summer. The secret to weight loss is to choose healthy foods and take in fewer calories than you burn.  Load up on fresh berries, melons, greens, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, beets, pea pods and all the super-nutritious and low-calorie fruits, greens and vegetables that grow in the garden this time of year.  Besides being low in calories, produce is loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. As a bonus, you can forget about portion control when it comes to fresh fruit and vegetables, because it is hard to do much damage to your waistline with these super-nutritious edibles - and it's just easier to make better food choices in summertime, when heavy, high-calorie dishes seem less appealing.

Read this informative article to find some of the best food ideas for weight loss this summer with a few great recipes for healthy, low-calorie, delicious, light and refreshing summer meals….and if busy, fun-packed holiday activities leave your normal eating regimens a bit lacking in nutrition, don’t forget natural herbs as a wonderful way to get your supplemental vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber.

If you need extra help to lose those extra pounds, there is help out there!  Check out our WEIGHT LOSS SUPPORT Proprietary Remedy and our WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM, both from Herbal Extracts Plus.

Study Links Obesity To Elevated Risk Of Ovarian Cancer: Is a complete WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM for YOU? It’s a New Year - This could be the beginning of the rest of your healthy life!
- From MedicalNewsToday.com's Obesity/Weight Loss/Fitness section - 01/05/09
In view of rising obesity and the ever-increasing related health concerns, maybe it’s time to consider our natural and healthy way to support weight loss. According to experts, shedding just five- to ten-percent of your weight will boost your energy and lower your risk for heart disease, diabetes and other problems linked with obesity.  Now, the newest research indicates that obesity is related to ovarian cancer.  Read below:

In an article to be published in the February, 2009 issue of Cancer, a journal of the American Cancer Society, research indicates that obese women are at an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, compared with women of normal weight.  The new study has found that among women who have never used menopausal hormone therapy, obesity may contribute to the development of ovarian cancer through a hormonal mechanism.  Ovarian cancer is the most fatal of gynecologic malignancies with a five-year survival rate of only thirty-seven percent. While studies have already linked excess body weight to higher risks of certain cancers, little is known about the relationship between body mass index and ovarian cancer risk.  The hypothesis claims that excess body mass in postmenopausal women leads to an increased production of estrogen, which in turn may stimulate the growth of ovarian cells and play a role in the development of ovarian cancer. These latest findings provide important information concerning the risks of developing ovarian cancer for obese women and the importance of public health programs aimed at reducing obesity in the population. (Click here for more information about the Weight Loss Program from Herbal Extracts Plus)

Ten Superfoods That Should Be in Your Daily Diet – Supercharge your diet with these doctor-approved upgrades:
- From MSN Health & Fitness's Nutrition section - article not dated; posted here 09/12/08
Keith Block, M.D., medical director of Block Center of Integrative Cancer Treatment, develops nutritional regimens for the prevention of diseases by reducing inflammation that affects cells and working to extinguish the factors that spark cancer.  The diets are based on plants and cold-water fish or healthy OMEGA-3 supplements (not the wrong fats from animal sources or omega-6–rich vegetable oils, which create a perfect environment for cancer).

In patients who already have cancer, the right diet can help them tolerate chemo and radiation.  Kale, tomatoes and mushrooms probably won't have a single label touting their nutritional benefits, but that's only because fresh produce doesn't have much of a marketing department.  

Check out these healthy superfoods: GARLIC is a powerful organosulfate that's important in detoxification and cleans your body of leftover chemical residue from drugs or pollutants, secondhand smoke and metabolites from alcohol. Soybeans have all the benefits of other beans, including stabilizing blood-sugar levels to prevent diabetes. MAITAKE and SHIITAKE Mushrooms are among the best sources of beta-glucan, which is known to stimulate the immune system. They also contain the protein lectin, which hinders cancer-cell growth. Antioxidant BLUEBERRY contains flavonoids to make you smarter by boosting neuron signals in your brain. Kale is rich in isothiocyanates, a phytochemical that suppresses tumor growth.  FLAXSEED contains antioxidant lignans that suppress tumor growth. CARROT contains beta-carotene (helps prevent many types of cancer) and falcarinol, a chemical that slows the growth of cancer cells. TOMATO is loaded with antioxidant lycopene and glutamic acid (an amino acid), which work together to prevent prostate cancer.  Beans, including Garbanzo and KIDNEY BEANS are high in saponins that shield your DNA from invasion by free radicals that damage tissue and are associated with cancer.  Strawberries are high in folic acids that scavenge the carcinogenic amines that are created when meat is cooked over high temperatures.

Click the title above to read about the ten habits that can shut down your immune system. Your diet is crucial too, so don’t forget to include some natural, immune-boosting herbs into your regimen too.  Take a look at Immune System Support with some of nature’s finest immuno-stimulants.

Click here to read this important article now, and perhaps it’s time to get serious about weight loss, so you might want to consider natural weight loss therapy with a sensible Weight Loss Program from Herbal Extracts Plus.