Big Noise and Big Wind

As the WIND bandwagon rolls along we wonder just what it is doing, going green or going greenbacks?

Keep up with the  real issues from our coverage of this important issue on Natural Health News -

Oregon County Tells Wind Farm To Quiet Down

WIND WATCH

Don’t be tricked by the great Cape Wind masquerade

2 of many posts from Natural Health News

More Problems with Wind Power
Oct 17, 2010
Have we yet to hear from the like of Google and others in the wind power controversy anything about sustainability to agriculture and aqua culture and this close relationship to their investing plans? Not sure they define green as I do.
Health Risks and Industrial Wind Turbines
Jan 24, 2009
UPDATE: 28 April, 2010 - Wind farm off Cape Cod approved Perhaps Barry is ignorant of the risks of wind turbines. SAVE OUR SOUND announces law suits to be filed ORIGINAL POST 1/24/09 Dr. Magda Havas Ph.D., Associate Professor of ...

Does Pancreatic Cancer Lurk for Years in Your Body?

Our organization, CHI ( Creating Health Institute ) offer the nutritional based method developed for pancreatic and liver cancer in the 1960s by Dr William Kelley.  This topic is of importance to me more now because a dear friend of many years is now faced with her husband's recent pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
Lethal pancreatic cancer 'grows for decades'


Pancreatic cancer may lurk in the body for many years before patients fall ill, US scientists say.Research hints at earlier opportunities to spot and treat the disease, which is fatal in 95% of cases.
Genetic analysis of tumours by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Johns Hopkins University suggested the first mutations may happen 20 years before they become lethal.
UK survival rates for the disease have not improved in the past 40 years.
The disease is often aggressive and unresponsive to treatment by the time it is diagnosed.
The study, published by the Nature journal, found that tumours appear to be slow growing.
InsightThey looked at tissue samples, both from the "primary" tumours in the pancreas, and from other parts of the body to which the cancer had spread, called "metastatic" tumours.
The DNA in every gene of these tumours was sequenced, looking for signs of mutations - points at which the genetic code has changed.
On average each metastatic tumour had 61 cancer-related mutations. Two-thirds of these had been present in the original pancreatic tumour.
It means that there is a window of opportunity for early detection of pancreatic cancer”
Dr Bert Vogelstein Howard Hughes Medical Institute
 
Because such genetic mutations occur at a relatively steady rate, this accumulation of mutations offers an insight into just how long the cancer had been developing and growing at each stage.
Using this "molecular clock", the researchers estimated that on average, it took 11.7 years for a single gene mutation in a pancreas cell to become a "mature" pancreatic tumour.
From this point, an average of another 6.8 years elapsed before cells from the pancreatic tumour formed a tumour in another organ.
However, once this stage had been reached, less than three years passed before the patient died.
So, from start to finish, the development of the disease took more than 20 years on average.
Researcher Dr Bert Vogelstein said that there had been two theories about why pancreatic tumours were so lethal - either that they were highly aggressive from the start, or that they were so advanced at the time of diagnosis, that little could be done.
He said: "We were surprised and pleased to discover that this second theory is correct, at least for a major fraction of tumours.
"It means that there is a window of opportunity for early detection of pancreatic cancer."
'Early diagnosis need'Dr Elizabeth Rapley, from the UK's Institute of Cancer Research, said that the findings also helped explain just why the disease was so hard to treat once it had spread around the body.
She said: "It showed that the genetic code changed as it spreads to other organs. This could mean that developing effective treatments for patients with advanced disease will be challenging."
The Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund welcomed the findings, but said that research was underfunded in the UK.
Chief executive Maggie Blanks said: "Survival rates have not improved in the past 40 years and whilst the disease is the UK's fifth biggest cause of cancer death, it receives less than 2% of overall research funding.
"I'm particularly pleased that the study underlines the need for early diagnosis as there is nothing currently available."

top 4 of 28 related Natural Health News posts
Apr 22, 2009
The herb also inhibited the activation and synthesis of NF-kappaB, a transcription factor that has been implicated in inflammation-associated cancer. Activation of NF-kappaB has been observed in pancreatic cancer and may be a factor in ...
Mar 30, 2010
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Higher methionine intake is apparently associated with a reduction in pancreatic cancer risk, according to a report in the January issue of Gastroenterology. Impaired methyl group metabolism may contribute to ...
Feb 09, 2010
Monday Feb 8,2010 WASHINGTON (Reuters) – People who drink two or more sweetened soft drinks a week have a much higher risk of pancreatic cancer, an unusual but deadly cancer, researchers reported on Monday. ...
Jul 01, 2010
Of 190000 adults studied for seven years, those eating the most processed meat such as deli meats and hot dogs had a 68 percent greater risk of pancreatic cancer than those who ate the least. (4) Pancreatic cancer is especially ...

Malaria Effort Not Working

I have to wonder if the way we are dong things, the way we are thinking about things, and the way we are trying to solve problems might be why we aren't getting different results!

Have we hears that the Gates funded experiment to inject mosquitoes with vaccine has or is making a difference?  And of couse we know that Gate himeself has spoken in favor of vaccines for population control.

Experts say efforts to beat malaria may backfire


The mosquito is responsible for carrying the malaria parasite from human to human
Efforts to eradicate malaria in some countries may be counter-productive, an international team of researchers suggest.
In the Lancet, they suggest some countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, may be better pursuing a policy of controlling the disease.
They also criticise the World Health Organization (WHO) for not providing adequate direction.
But a WHO spokesman said beating malaria must remain the ultimate goal.
'Noble' goal The Lancet looks at the feasibility of eradicating malaria from the map, in the same way smallpox was conquered.
As the report points out, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation set the world such a target in 2007, an aim which was then endorsed by the WHO's Director-General Margaret Chan.
The Lancet concludes such a goal, while noble, "could lead to dangerous swings in funding and political commitment, in malaria and elsewhere".

Malaria facts

  • Largely preventable and curable
  • In 2008 caused a million deaths - mostly African children
  • About 2,000 return to the UK with malaria every year
  • Only 12% of these become seriously ill
  • Symptoms can take up to a year to appear
And the WHO is accused of failing "to rise to their responsibilities to give the malaria community essential direction".
The series of articles instead urges a pragmatic approach in which efforts and resources are concentrated on shrinking the global area where malaria still prevails.
It suggests some countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, may be better pursuing a policy of controlling the disease rather than one of eradication.
The report's authors include Professor Richard Feacham of University of California's Global Health Group and researchers from the Clinton Health Access Initiative.
Saving lives In an editorial accompanying the series, the Lancet's editor-in-chief Dr Richard Horton and executive editor Dr Pamela Das, argue control may save more lives.
"If existing control efforts were indeed scaled up, by 2015, 1.14 million children's lives could be saved in sub-Saharan Africa alone. This finding is important. The quest for elimination must not distract existing good malaria control work," they write.
They also conclude that "malaria will only be truly eradicable when an effective vaccine is fully available".

Premature efforts at elimination, before countries are ready, will be counterproductive”
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation spokeswoman
 
Responding to the report in a statement, Robert Newman, director of the WHO's Global Malaria Programme, said the ultimate goal had to be eradication
"WHO has always supported - and will always continue to support - endemic countries in their efforts to control and eliminate malaria," he writes.
"It is entirely feasible to eliminate malaria from countries and regions where the intensity of transmission is low to moderate, and where health systems are strong.
"Eliminating malaria from countries where the intensity of transmission is high and stable, such as in tropical Africa, will require more potent tools and stronger health systems than are available today."
Shrinking map Malaria is caused by five species of a parasite that can be carried from human to human by mosquitoes.
Over the last 150 years, the portion of the world where malaria is still endemic has shrunk, but the disease is still endemic in 99 countries.
However 32 of these countries, most of them on the edges of the endemic zone, are attempting to eradicate the disease, while the rest are trying to reduce infections and deaths though control measures.
A global malaria map
But switching from a policy of controlling the disease to one of eradication brings with it problems and risks, according to the report.
The authors point out that malaria and mosquitoes do not respect national borders and that both parasite and insect may develop resistance to existing drugs.
They also warn switching funds from control to eradication may negatively impact upon measures which have been shown to reduce infection and mortality.
A spokeswoman for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said: "Malaria eradication is a long-term goal.
"We believe that the WHO will play an important role in helping countries decide when they are ready to undertake elimination and what conditions and capabilities need to be in place for them to do so.
"High-level, sustained control will be essential before elimination can be attempted, and premature efforts at elimination, before countries are ready, will be counterproductive."
SOURCE

Another report that's relative -


top 4 of 30 Natural Health News posts about malaria
Jul 08, 2010
The herb, artemisinin, or sweet wormwood, is an ancient Chinese medicinal herb already commonly used to treat malaria worldwide. Because its effect in the body is relatively brief, it is often used in a pharmaceutical combination with ...
Apr 19, 2010
LONDON – Health groups have spent more than a billion dollars and bought millions of bednets to fight malaria, and 20 African countries have increased their bednet coverage at least fivefold, new research says. ...
Dec 12, 2009
ABUJA (AFP) – A rise in insecticide resistant mosquitoes has become the latest threat to combating malaria in Nigeria, where roughly up to 300000 people die each year from the killer disease, experts have warned. ...
Feb 08, 2008
UPDATE: Stephen Fisher, a missionary in Zambia is very successful using iodine to treat people with malaria. He used 20 drops of Iodine in a half glass of water given 4 or 5 times during the first day and then decreased the dose to 10 ...

The Chemical Unknowns

Only a tiny fraction of the compounds around us have been tested for safety

For as long as I know, in household, garden, personal, food, medicine, and cleaning products have never been tested for the combination of different ingredients.
The look into the chemical soup in cosmetics and personal care products has been a long time effort that truly became well knwon in the past few years.

Now this interesting "short" from Scientific American makes a salient point.

Learn more here and here 


Experts guesstimate that about 50,000 chemicals are used in U.S. consumer products and industrial processes. Why the uncertainty? The 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act does not require chemicals to be registered or proven safe before use. Because the Environmental Protection Agency must show, after the fact, that a substance is dangerous, it has managed to require testing of only about 300 substances that have been in circulation for decades. It has restricted applications of five.

The House Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 2010 and the Senate Safe Chemicals Act of 2010 would require manufacturers to prove that existing and new chemicals meet specific safety criteria. Stricter scrutiny in Europe and Canada suggests that “10 to 30 percent of U.S. chemicals would need some additional level of control,” says Richard Denison, a molecular biochemist at the Environmental Defense Fund. That would be 5,000 to 15,000 chemicals, not five. 

A Great Book for Women's Health


You'll find many of my natural health suggestions included in 
The Woman's Book of Healing Herbs.

Hyland's Teething Tablets recalled; parents react | children's content from New Hope 360

Hyland's Teething Tablets recalled; parents react children's content from New Hope 360

Does your pet really need treats?

I'm happy to have among my colleagues and friends a few of the best holistic veterinarians. 

I rely on them when I get some information regarding our animal companions, when I can't find reliable information in other venues.

I count on this because for as long as I can remember, and as long as I've been an herbalist and natural health professional, I include pet health concerns.

I had a pet treat nutrition quandary recently because some one sent me some recipes for pet treats, one of which I questioned right away.

Another one I though was sort of 'ok' because it had carrots, something I give my dog on a daily basis in his home cooked stew. The other ingredient I thought offered too much sugar, it was mashed banana. 

I have had two dogs that liked banana, but not too often, and not over ripe or mashed and used to disguise a healthy chewy.

Another thing that piqued my interest was that these recipes were frozen and I wondered about the risk of chipping or breaking teeth.

The cat treat was made from canned, water-pack tuna.  I shy away from tuna for mercury level concerns, and for cats I've always learned it causes them to lose their needed vitamin E.  Today too you have to consider that some "water-pack" fish may be in broth made from soy.  So there's the issue of GMO soy and what it might do to your pet's health. And now maybe its GMO fish we need to watch for.

The recipe for this cat treat used pureed baby food meat, and the source article even suggested using ham or ham flavor along with chicken or beef.  I'm not too sure ham or non-organic baby food would be good for cats or babies; there wasn't that caveat for organic or too much sodium from the recipe writer.

I use plain carrots, the organic minis, for my dog.  He's small and has an overbite.  He handles these pretty well, but likes them just every so often.

My cat likes few things as treats.  He is never too interested unless it is a bit of raw beef or liver.

So I guess on my best thoughts and Dr Rick's best advice, we'll skip these at our house.

But if you'd like our well tested, yummy biscuit recipe, make a donation and we'll send you "Kip's Cookies" you can make at home from all organic ingredients.

FDA Set to OK Genetically Altered Fish as Food

Best get ready to sharpen your radar and know how to get answers about the seafood you buy -
FDA Set to OK Genetically Altered Fish as Food

By Martha Lynn Craver
October 27, 2010

A fast growing genetically engineered salmon is a good bet for approval by the Food and Drug Administration. It would be the first genetically modified animal sold as food. Dubbed “Frankenfish” by opponents, the new version of Atlantic salmon was developed by AquaBounty Technologies. It grows almost twice as fast as farm-raised salmon, thanks to one growth hormone gene from a chinook salmon and another from an eel, the ocean pout. The application has been pending before the agency for well over 10 years.

A congressional effort to ban the fish will fail, although it’s a fair bet that lawmakers will give the FDA the authority to require a label identifying the produce as genetically modified. “Approval of genetically modified salmon, the first such hybrid to be considered for human consumption, is unprecedented, risky and a threat to the survival of wild species,” says Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, whose state has a thriving salmon industry.

Also likely to be on the table: Broadening the mission of regulators to ensure they consider environmental risks before granting future approvals -- not just whether the food is safe and whether animals are harmed by the genetic manipulation.

A push to add greater public input to the approval process is also a good bet. The current procedure is similar to that for new drugs, with limited public participation. “The current process is confidential. It’s not transparent or participatory,” says Gregory Jaffe of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Next up: The Enviropig -- a porker genetically altered to make the manure it produces less polluting, with phosphorus levels 30% to 65% lower than normal. It’s being developed by scientists at the University of Guelph in Canada. Also in the works from Hematech Inc. are cattle that are not susceptible to mad cow disease. The animals lack a protein that mutates, so they don’t get the disease and can’t pass it on.
This page printed from: http://www.kiplinger.com/businessresource/forecast/archive/fda-set-to-ok-genetically-altered-fish-as-food.html
Also on Natural Health News
 
Sep 27, 2010
You've probably heard that the FDA is considering whether to approve the first-ever genetically-engineered fish [1]. Developed by a Massachusetts-based company called AquaBounty Technologies [2], this new supersalmon is basically an ...
Sep 19, 2010
In a step that may move genetically engineered meat and fish closer to the American dinner table, an FDA advisory committee will vote Monday on whether to approve preliminary findings that a modified salmon is as safe as an ordinary ...

Safety Alert: Voluntary Recall

Safety Alert: Voluntary Recall - October 26, 2010 

Actavis Announces a Voluntary Recall of Transdermal Fentanyl 25 mcg

Actavis, a generic drug manufacturer, issued a voluntary recall of 18 lots of their 25 mcg Fentanyl patch on October 21, 2010. One lot was found to be defective, causing the medication to release too quickly into the bloodstream. This lot, along with 17 others, has been recalled. According to Actavis, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and wholesale and retail pharmacies have been notified.
For a listing of the affected lots, visit the Actavis website: http://www.actavis.us/en/Fentanyl_Recall.htm
Regretfully, the company has failed to require the public to return their affected lots. As of October 25, the company’s website states, “Consumers are not being asked to return any product as this issue does not pose a threat of a serious injury or death.” Rapid absorption could lead to unintentional side effects such as increased sedation, nausea, vomiting and slowed breathing. The American Pain Foundation strongly urges Actavis to reconsider its first advisory and extend the recall to consumers.
Individuals who have these lots in their possession should:
  • Contact Actavis and demand a consumer recall and proper replacement. According to the FDA press release, Actavis has operators available to help customers, health professionals and consumers with the following information:
    •  Medical Issue/Adverse Event/Product Questions
      1-877-422-7452 (24 hours/day, 7 days/week)
    • Return/Reimbursement Questions
      1-888-896-4562 (24 hours/day, 7 days/week)
  • Contact the FDA and report your experience. Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax. Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm 
  • Contact the pharmacy where this medication was filled and report that you are in possession of an affected lot.
  • Notify the health care provider who writes your pain medicine prescriptions and ask for guidance. 
  • Notify you insurance provider should a new prescription be written, so that it will be covered. 

The Healthy Side of Maple Syrup


I use maple sugar granules because I am allergic to cane sugar. I have also used B grade maple syrup for years as it has the reputation of a healthy sweetener over many years.



I like it on sweet potatoes, my pumpkin pancakes, and on vanila ice cream served with warm waffles,  or as in the past - a split warm doughnut.

Now a new report tells us more - 


Maple syrup reduces cancer, diabetes risk 2011 article

SAN FRANCISCO, March 26, 2010 (UPI) -- Maple syrup can substantially slow the growth of cancerous cells in several cancers and help reduce the risk of diabetes, U.S. researchers found. 
Navindra Seeram of the University of Rhode Island found 13 new antioxidant compounds that were not known to exist in syrup until now. Several of these antioxidants newly identified in maple syrup are reported to have anti-cancer, anti-bacterial and anti-diabetic properties.
Maple syrup contains substantial quantities of abscisic acid, a phytohormone known to stimulate insulin release through pancreatic cells and to increase sensitivity of fat cells to insulin, which makes it a potent weapon against metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
Seeram presented his findings on Canadian maple syrup at the American Chemical Society annual meeting in San Francisco.
A second study by researchers at the Universite du Quebec a Chicoutimi suggests maple syrup can substantially slow the growth of cancerous cells in the prostate and lungs and to a lesser extent in the breast, colon and brain more effectively than blueberries, broccoli, tomatoes and carrots. 
The study is published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.
© 2010 United Press International, Inc.

Pumpkin Possibilities

Pumpkins are really yummy and really healthy.  Just think of all the fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium,  and manganese. Its also a good source of folate, omega-3 fatty acids, thiamin, copper, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, niacin and copper. 
Good for keeping your lungs healthy thos cold and flu season but also as listed in World's Healthiest Foods website, pumpkin (and other winter squash) 
are phytonutrient rich

Although not as potent as root vegetables like burdock, garlic or onion, winter squash have been found to have anti-cancer type effects. Phytonutrient research on squash is still limited, but some lab studies have shown vegetable juices obtained from squash to be equal to juices made from leeks, pumpkin, and radish in their ability to prevent cell mutations (cancer-like changes). 


I have some plans for a pumpkin smoothie, pumpkin soup, and perhaps even a healthy mix to make up some Halloween cakes for hungry goblins.
These aren't my original recipes but one's I think I will enjoy, and hope you will too -

Smoothie - I use a vanilla whey protein base shake formula to which I plan to add about half a cup of pumpkin puree and some organic pumpkin pie spice.  I never add the ice when I make smoothies, just filtered water or another juice.  Sometimes I add organic milk so I vary the recipe from time to time.  I do not use soy milk or almond milk because of allergy.  If I use other than real milk - like rice milk - I make my own to avoid all the additives.

Soup -  I love Black Beans so when I saw this recipe I thought it was right up my flavor palette.  I make a black bean-pumpkin stew in the winter that has a hearty Southwest flavor and kick. You could sprinkle this with a little chili powder or cayenne to "turn it up a notch"!
  • 3 cans Organic Black Beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can Organic Crushed Tomatoes
  • 1 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons Organic Cumin
  • 1 teaspoon or less Celtic Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Organic Peppercorns, ground
  • 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 can (15oz) pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine
  • 1/2 pound cooked diced ham (delete for non-meat eaters)
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Directions: In a food processor or blender coarsely puree beans and tomatoes.
In a 6 quart heavy kettle cook onion, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper in butter over medium heat, stirring until onion is softened and beginning to brown. Stir in bean puree. Mix in broth, pumpkin and red wine until combined and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, 25 minutes or until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Just before serving, add ham and vinegar and simmer, stirring, until heated through. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds (and shredded cheese, optional).
Garnish:
Toast Organic Raw Shelled Pumpkin Seeds sprinkled with Celtic Salt in the oven at 375 degrees for 5-7 minutes, turning once.
Servings: 9 servings total
Calories 300, Fat 10 grams, Protein 16 grams, Sodium 1058 mg, Carbohydrates 34 grams, Fiber 10 grams

Choco-Pumpkin Muffins -
This is an easy one and it makes the chocolate cake much healthier.
You'll need one 15 ounce can of pumpkin puree and one 18.25 ounce Devil's Food cake mix.  Mix the two together BUT DO NOT ADD ANY OTHER INGREDIENTS
Line a muffin pan with paper liners.  Pour in batter. Bake at 400F for 20 minutes.  Makes 12.
You might like to add pumpkin puree to your favorite pancake mix too.

PHOTO


Better Eat Your Broccoli

How much broccoli needed for anti-cancer


CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Three to five servings a week of broccoli is enough to have an anti-cancer effect, U.S. researchers suggest. 

Elizabeth Jeffery, Michael Miller and Ren-Hau Lai of the University of Illinois say they found sulforaphane -- the cancer-fighting agent in broccoli -- can be released from its parent compound glucoraphanin by bacteria in the lower gut and absorbed into the body.

"This discovery raises the possibility that we will be able to enhance the activity of these bacteria in the colon, increasing broccoli's cancer-preventive power," the researchers say in a statement. 

The researchers proved it by injecting glucoraphanin into the ligated lower gut of rats and demonstrated that sulforaphane is present in blood from the mesenteric vein, which flows from the gut to the liver.

"The presence of sulforaphane in measurable amounts shows that it's being converted in the lower intestine and is available for absorption in the body," Jeffery says. 

Sulforaphane is an extremely potent cancer-fighting agent, Jeffrey says. 

"Less than one daily serving of broccoli is enough to have an anti-cancer effect," Jeffrey says. "With many of the other bioactive foods you hear about, vast amounts are required for a measurable outcome."

The findings are scheduled to be published in the November issue of the journal Food & Function.
© 2010 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

top posts of 28 re: broccoli from Natural Health News
May 09, 2010
It seems one can easily treat breast cancer with the help of a substance, a University of Michigan study found a substance found in broccoli and broccoli sprouts killed cancer stem cells and prevented new tumors from growing in mice and ...
Dec 09, 2007
Cabbage and broccoli are in the Brassica family along with cauliflower and brussel sprouts and contain many cancer fighting substances. These foods are in the mustard family so perhaps you recall that mustard gas was used in war to kill ...
Aug 27, 2010
Other herbal health claims the NDA has dealt with include green coffee, guarana, blueberry extracts, mangosteen, schisandra, marjolaine feuille, grape seed extracts and broccoli extracts. Typically, the claims are antioxidant related. ...
Aug 16, 2006
Use it: Steam 1 head of broccoli and one potato until soft, and then puree with 1/4 cup butter and 4 to 5 gratings of fresh nutmeg or 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg. 8. Cloves: Helps Arthritis Pain How it works: According to Chinese ...

New natural cure for high blood pressure

 Natural cures have always been in the news. Coleus is a natural way to treat conditions such as high blood pressure.For many years doctors have been warning us about the dangers of hypertension. They know that if left untreated it can cause serious issues within the body. Many people die because they have failed to take action against this disease. It is not uncommon for people to develop angina, heart disease or even heart failure because they have ignored their blood pressure numbers.
The fact is though that the medical community does not have the corner on the market for medical knowledge. The treatments for high blood pressure are often unpleasant because of side effects and the like. That is why the natural cures for high blood pressure are gaining more and more popularity. With the natural world you have little to worry about when it comes to side effects.
Coleus is the newest weapon in the fight against high blood pressure. While this herb, sometimes known as Coleus Forskohlii, has been in use for other treatments over many years, it is just being discovered for its use as one of the home remedies for high blood pressure. Through the studies that have been conducted the use of coleus is very promising when looking to get those numbers under control.
Coleus works with the body itself to help it lower the blood pressure on its own. This is something that is rather unique. Using the defense system that is located within the cells themselves, coleus works to improve the circulation and therefore lower blood pressure.
To this day there are further studies being conducted. This means that more benefits may be found. It is suggested the coleus be taken on a daily basis to ensure that all of the benefits from this natural supplement work within the body.
This herb looks like a beautiful potted flower. There are many color variations of it but can mostly be found in a purple and white color. There are other health benefits associated with this herb. For example, in liquid form, a 1% solution of it can be used to reduce eye pressure for up to 5 hours. So if you suffer from glaucoma, you can find some comfort in using coleus.
It is also found that this herb stimulates the fat metabolism. So if you are looking to lose weight in hopes of controlling hypertension, then this can be the perfect supplement for you. As you can see, it has many great, healthy uses.

Treatment of high cholesterol 

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Obesity and the Brain

Nature Genetics just published a paper that caught my interest (1). Investigators reviewed the studies that have attempted to determine associations between genetic variants and common obesity (as judged by body mass index or BMI). In other words, they looked for "genes" that are suspected to make people fat.

There are a number of gene variants that associate with an increased or decreased risk of obesity. These fall into two categories: rare single-gene mutations that cause dramatic obesity, and common variants that are estimated to have a very small impact on body fatness. The former category cannot account for common obesity because it is far too rare, and the latter probably cannot account for it either because it has too little impact*. Genetics can't explain the fact that there were half as many obese people in the US 40 years ago. Here's a wise quote from the obesity researcher Dr. David L. Katz, quoted from an interview about the study (2):
Let us by all means study our genes, and their associations with our various shapes and sizes... But let's not let it distract us from the fact that our genes have not changed to account for the modern advent of epidemic obesity -- our environments and lifestyles have.
Exactly. So I don't usually pay much attention to "obesity genes", although I do think genetics contributes to how a body reacts to an unnatural diet/lifestyle. However, the first part of his statement is important too. Studying these types of associations can give us insights into the biological mechanisms of obesity when we ask the question "what do these genes do?" The processes these genes participate in should be the same processes that are most important in regulating fat mass.

So, what do the genes do? Of those that have a known function, nearly all of them act in the brain, and most act in known body fat regulation circuits in the hypothalamus (a brain region). The brain is the master regulator of body fat mass. It's also the master regulator of nearly all large-scale homeostatic systems in the body, including the endocrine (hormone) system. Now you know why I study the neurobiology of obesity.


* The authors estimated that "together, the 32 confirmed BMI loci explained 1.45% of the inter-individual variation in BMI." In other words, even if you were unlucky enough to inherit the 'fat' version of all 32 genes, which is exceedingly unlikely, you would only have a slightly higher risk of obesity than the general population.

New Herbs at CHI

You will notice in our right side column that we recently added Bulgarian Miracle Herbs to our approved products.  We benefit through your purchases which helps us continue this educational project, Natural Health News.

This line of fine herbal ELIXIRS® is an exciting reunion for me.

You will find more information here about a few of the 700+ formulas.  I've posted the immune enhancing formulas as we are moving in to cold and flu season now, above the equator.

Thank you for your consideration.

Anti-Anemia Drugs: B12 is Better, Safer

Anemia is interesting.  I wonder if Big PhRMA can even make up its mind over people's health first or profit.

My interest in Procrit goes back to about 2002 when I was working with a man who was taking this drug.  At that time the cost was $1200 a dose.  With his open-minded MD he was able to switch to B12 shots and natural thyroid support, reduce his costs, and greatly improve his anemia, and his health.

Working as I do from time to time with people who experience serious anemic states because of their health condition or prescribed drugs, I have to stand on the side AGAINST the anemia drugs, regardless of health condition.

I do not agree that a risk of cancer is a green light for reliance on any drug.

Just like the CPR controversy, I guess anti-anemia drugs are now in that same genre.


FDA panel backs anemia drugs for kidney disease
By MATTHEW PERRONE, AP Health Writer Oct18

ADELPHI, Md. – Federal health advisers said Monday that patients with failing kidneys should continue taking a group of widely used anemia drugs, despite a recent study showing they can increase the risk of stroke.
A panel of Food and Drug Administration experts voted 15-1, with one abstention, to maintain the drugs' approval for patients with chronic kidney disease who are not yet sick enough to receive dialysis. The FDA is not required to follow the group's advice, though it often does.
The medicines — Procrit, Aranesp and Epogen — are multibillion-dollar sellers because of their ability to boost oxygen-carrying red blood cells, reducing the need for painful blood transfusions. But sales have fallen sharply since 2007, when the FDA added the first of several safety warnings to the drugs, based on evidence they can cause tumor growth and hasten death in cancer patients. The drugs are no longer used in patients with several types of cancers.
The FDA is reviewing the medications from biotech drugmaker Amgen Inc. after a study published last year that showed patients with kidney disease who were taking the drugs were twice as likely to experience stroke compared with those taking a dummy treatment. The goal of the study was to show that higher doses of the drug could prevent heart attack, stroke and other heart-related problems, as had been assumed for years.
Doctors adjust their patients' drug doses to maintain healthy levels of hemoglobin, a component of blood that carries oxygen and keeps anemia patients active. Anemia causes weakness and shortness of breath and is a side effect of chemotherapy and kidney failure.
Current labeling on the drugs recommends keeping patients' hemoglobin levels between 10 grams and 12 grams per deciliter. The FDA asked its panelists whether the recommendation should be reduced to target 9 grams per deciliter. But a majority of panelists sided against that proposal in a vote of 9-5 with three abstentions. The experts said they worried patients would suffer more incidents of anemia and require more blood transfusions if lower doses were recommended. They said doctors should manage patients based on their individual health and disease history.
Panelists said additional studies are needed to find the ideal drug dosage for kidney disease patients.
"The label should be adjusted, but I just don't think we have enough information to recommend a fixed dose," said Dr. Judith Hochman of the New York University School of Medicine.
Amgen, based in California, makes all three drugs. Procrit is sold by Johnson & Johnson's Centocor Ortho Biotech division, under a long-standing agreement between the companies.
Last year the drugs — known as erythropoiesis stimulating agents — had combined sales of $6.3 billion, according to health data firm IMS Health.

Don't Curb, Pull Drug Ads
May 21, 2008
The committee also probed ads for Johnson & Johnson's anemia drug Procrit. At the hearing, Stupak called on the companies to rein in their campaigns or face tighter restriction and possibly an advertisement ban.
Co-Pay Comments
Apr 15, 2008
Procrit $1024 / 6 vials depending on dose Neupogen $4700 / 10 prefilled syringes depending on dose Actimmune (Gamma interferon B1) $600-900 + per dose Cerezyme, Fabrazyme $200000 annually, for life. A GMO drug, not unlike most on this ...

Key Nutrients Protect Breast Health

I call this Breast Health Awareness Month as do several of my more enlightened health care collegues. 

Please be aware that these (and other) nutrients help support breast health -
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin B complex and also B6 and B9 (folic acid)
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin E
  • CO Enzyme Q 10
  • Iodine
  • Lycopene
  • Selenium
Enlightened health care providers can offer you lab tests to check your nutrient protection levels.


VACCINE WOES STILL COMMON

EXPERTS ADMIT SWINE FLU JAB 'MAY CAUSE' DEADLY NERVE DISEASE
Health chiefs have for the first time acknowledged that the swine flu jab may be linked to an increased risk of developing the nerve condition Guillian-Barre Syndrome according to a report by the MHRA drug regulatory body. The condition can cause paralysis.

("When a girl was affected in this way some months ago the Government threatened to take the child off her parents into care to stop them speaking out about her condition." Edward Priestley)
MALARIA JAB ALTERED MY SON'S MIND
Matthew Lloyd aged 31 suffered the symptoms of malaria after being injected with the most deadly form of the disease when taking part in a drug trial at the Jenner Institute in Oxford. Six others taking part in the trial have also suffered symptoms. The experimental vaccine using falciparium strain of malaria can cause brain damage, seizures, comas and death. Matthew desperately needs treatment for the malaria but may not be able to realise this due to the effects and has been missing for several days.
("It is not rare for those taking part in medical experiments and drugs trials to be made ill or die. A 3rd year trainee doctor died of aplastic anaemia in the next room to me at Hammersmith Hospital in 1986 after taking part in drugs trials for cash." Edward Priestley)

Both news reports are from the UK's London Daily Mail

Big PhRMA Misleads You and Your Doctor

UPDATE: 19 October

In the same vein as problematic drug trials, let it be known that the same may be true with vitamins, as PhRMA makes it move to grab control of any supplements that may help you protect yourself from dementia and Alzheimer's. (Read more in the 60+ related articles on Natural Health News)

More on Natural Substances to Combat Alzheimer’s—and Big Pharma’s Dirty Little Secret
By ANH-USA 
  Coconut oil [1] is showing great promise in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. New studies show that other natural substances are also offering big breakthroughs, and the drug industry is trying to jump on the bandwagon with them too.
Fish oil reduces inflammation, including the inflammation associated with dementia. The DHA form of fish oil also converts into neuroprotectins, which, as the name suggests, protect our nerve tissue. A recent study [2] suggests that the risk of Alzheimer’s may be reduced by a third if we consume this regularly. Another broad study [3] suggested that the risk of all forms of dementia could be reduced by almost half with fish oil.
Nattokinase is an enzyme extracted from a fermented, cheese-like soy food called natto, which has been eaten in Japan for many years. Nattokinase has a well-documented ability to dissolve clots, so it plays a role in cardiovascular health. Now it is being studied for another set of abilities. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by brain deposits of a certain type of amyloid—a group of abnormal proteins that cause disorders in various organs. Getting rid of amyloids is one of the targets of Alzheimer’s disease research. A recent study [4] shows that nattokinase removes amyloid plaque.
Other encouraging Alzheimer’s news comes from the University of California at Irvine, where a study recently showed that mice with cognitive impairment had dramatic improvement with niacinamide [5]. Niacinamide is one of the water-soluble B-complex vitamins known as B-3. Niacin, or nicotinic acid, is another form. When an amide molecule attaches itself to niacin, it becomes niacinamide (also called nicotinamide). The body can convert niacinamide back into niacin but is unable to make niacinamide out of niacin. One major difference is that in doses exceeding 50 mg, niacin typically produces flushing of the skin, but niacinamide does not. Niacin and niacinamide also have different applications. In the niacinamide form, it reduces inflammation. Since many studies indicate that inflammation may trigger Alzheimer’s, researchers wondered if niacinamide would help Alzheimer’s.
Researchers gave mice the equivalent of a human dose of 2000 to 3000 milligrams of niacinamide, and the results were shocking. “Cognitively, they were cured,” said Dr. Kim Green, the head of the study. “The vitamin completely prevented cognitive decline associated with the disease, bringing them back to the level they’d be at if they didn’t have the pathology.” Niacinamide also improved memory in mice without Alzheimer’s.
Pioneering integrative physician and researcher Jonathan V. Wright, MD, notes that niacinamide has been widely used for a variety of purposes for more than 60 years, and its safety is well known [6]. He reports that as far back as 1943, William Kaufman, PhD, MD, a psychiatrist and exceptionally thorough clinical researcher, showed that niacinamide deficiency causes impaired memory, easy distractibility, an inability to concentrate, mental fog, slowed thoughts, difficulty comprehending, unwarranted anxiety, a lack of initiative, being uncooperative or quarrelsome, etc. And he discovered that all of these symptoms—and many more—“disappeared or…improved considerably” with the use of niacinamide.
Niacinamide isn’t the only B vitamin that may help significantly with Alzheimer’s. A study from Oxford University [7] found that fairly high dosages of three B vitamins (folic acid, B6 and B12) could reduce the rate of brain atrophy in patients with mild cognitive impairment—because these vitamins reduce homocysteine. (Other studies have found that TMG, or trimethylglycine, also controls homocysteine and is useful if the B vitamins are not enough.) Around 50% of people with mild cognitive impairment go on to develop Alzheimer’s.
But this study, widely trumpeted in the world press, wasn’t quite what it seemed. It was a study of B vitamins, yes, but it was at the same time a study of a patented drug. How could that be? Why was a drug company happy to see the curative role of B vitamins established? Here’s why: TrioBe Plus—the formulation of the B vitamin used in the study, is a patented drug, even though it is really just a blend of three ordinary vitamins and shouldn’t have received a patent. It is made by a Swedish drug company, Meda AB, based on a patent held by the chief researcher. As our colleagues at ANH-Int’l point out [7], the lead author of the research had to declare a conflict of interest because the patent for the use of these vitamins in this particular form is in his name. He will therefore personally gain massively if your local doctor starts to prescribe this to everyone who’s complaining about losing their car keys on a regular basis.
So the pharmaceutical industry is once again patenting and promoting a drug that’s not a drug, but is merely three forms of vitamin B you can get from any health food store. Supplements are not drugs—but drug companies are so unsuccessful in producing new drugs that they are looking greedily at supplements.

Article printed from Alliance for Natural Health – USA: http://www.anh-usa.org
URL to article: http://www.anh-usa.org/more-on-natural-substances-to-combat-alzheimers/
URLs in this post:
[1] Image: http://www.anh-usa.org../../../../../coconut-oil-and-alzheimer%E2%80%99s-disease/
[2] A recent study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20467837
[3] Another broad study: http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/63/11/1545
[4] A recent study: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf803072r
[5] mice with cognitive impairment had dramatic improvement with niacinamide: http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/abstract/28/45/11500
[6] niacinamide has been widely used for a variety of purposes for more than 60 years, and its safety is well known: http://ahha.org/Alzheimers.htm
[7] A study from Oxford University: http://anh-europe.org/blog/vitamins-for-alzheimers-study-reveals-pharma-gameplan



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This certainly is not a new subject, but certainly welcome in terms of the number of adverse problems with drugs that are marketed to be more than they really are.
Benefits are constantly over estimated and proves the urgent need for publication of trial data. Other problems is that adverse effects are not usually found until the drug has been marketed and profits are high.  Post marketing trials are not being done as required and this certainly can be tracked tot eh drug approval Fast Track process.
Fast Track was introduced many years ago to allow for pharmaceutical firms to pay a fee to get their drug approved quickly.  This has been a major criticism of FDA practices and certainly one that has yet to be changed.
Just yesterday I provided a client with some information to take to their doctor. Basic information  about her drugs had not been given to her, and it is likely that her doctor and pharmacist never gave her the information as is required by law.
I am sure that if you are taking prescription drugs you may experience similar situations.
And I'd suggest you ignore  the drug ads like the plague, just like the stupid political ads running on channels near you.

'Public misled' by drug trial claims


Drugs need to undergo extensive testing in trials before approval
Doctors and patients are being misled about the effectiveness of some drugs because negative trial results are not published, experts have warned.
Writing in the British Medical Journal, they say that pharmaceutical companies should be forced to publish all data, not just positive findings.
The German team give the example of the antidepressant reboxetine, saying publications have failed to show the drug in a true light.
Pfizer maintains its drug is effective.
Reboxetine (Edronax), made by Pfizer, is used in many European countries, including the UK.
But its rejection by US drug regulators raised doubts about its effectiveness, and led some to hunt for missing data.
This is not the first time a large drug company has come under fire about its published drug trial data.
Trial informationPharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) was criticised for failing to raise the alarm on the risk of suicidal behaviour associated with its antidepressant Seroxat.
GSK rejected claims that it improperly withheld drug trial information.
"Our findings underline the urgent need for mandatory publication of trial data”
But GSK has also been forced to defend itself over allegations about hiding negative data regarding another of its drugs, Avandia, which is used to treat diabetes.
Now researchers from The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care say there is unpublished trial data for Pfizer's antidepressant reboxetine that should be made public because it could change views about the drug.
Dr Beate Wieseler and colleagues carried out their own assessment of reboxetine, looking at the results of 13 trials, including eight previously unpublished trials from the manufacturer Pfizer.
They found the drug was no better than a placebo in terms of remission and response rates. And its benefit was inferior when compared with other similar antidepressants.
Furthermore, a higher rate of patients had side effects with reboxetine than with placebo. And more stopped taking the drug because of side effects compared with those taking a placebo or a different antidepressant. Continue reading this story

Plants Provide Pharmacy for Butterflies

Read this very fascinating story that harkens to survival of the fittest.  Mother Nature is indeed very wise. 

 

Butterflies Choose Plants for Medicinal Qualities

 


More Problems with Wind Power

Back in 1998 I reported on a story about how the microwave cellular, TV, and related broadcasting towers had a negative effect on the flight paths of song birds.  This story did try to raise awareness of the fact that the problem would continue to  increase as towers proliferated.  I am certainly sure that commercial, profit motive minded inventors ignored these warnings.  Certainly we have seen devastation to bats, bees, and birds as these constructs multiply.

Have we yet to hear from the like of Google and others in the wind power controversy anything about sustainability to agriculture and aqua culture and this close relationship to their investing plans?  Not sure they define green as I do.

A study has revealed that a wind turbine's colour affects how many insects it attracts, shedding more light on why the turbines kill bats and birds.
Scientists say that turbines, most commonly painted white or grey, draw in insects. These then lure bats and birds - as they pursue their prey - into the path of the turbine blades.
Support for the idea comes from another study showing that bats are most often killed by turbines at night and in summer, when insects are most abundant. READ COMPLETE STORY
And read about how wind turbines change the weather -


clipped from Natural Health News
Jan 24, 2009
UPDATE: 28 April, 2010 - Wind farm off Cape Cod approved Perhaps Barry is ignorant of the risks of wind turbines. SAVE OUR SOUND announces law suits to be filed ORIGINAL POST 1/24/09 Dr. Magda Havas Ph.D., Associate Professor of ...

May 03, 2008
Knowing how long and persistently he had worked towards the development of windpower his wife Gae arranged for some strong-armed friends to drag his wheelchair up the steep slope at Gebbies Pass to let him see the erection of the first ...

Electronic Medical Records: MORE FRAUD RISK


12/31/10

Electronic medical records not always linked to better care in hospitals, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-12-27) -- Use of electronic health records by hospitals across the United States has had only a limited effect on improving the quality of medical care, according to a new study. ... > read full article



from October 2010
As the day looms to implement the health insurance reform bill, including the myth that electronic health records will save costs and improve care, this is a well considered warning to evaluate.

And as you can see Natural Health News has been covering this topic for quite some time.
Seventy-three people charged in healthcare fraud crimes in five states, including part of Armenian-American organized crime organization
Oct 14, 2010
By Kelly Jackson Higgins
DarkReading The threat of medical identity theft came to light yesterday with the FBI's announcement it had busted an organized crime gang that stole the identities of doctors and thousands of Medicare patients in order to operate phony clinics that bilked Medicare and insurance companies of more than $165 million in fraudulent billing.
Authorities have charged 73 people, including members of an alleged Armenian-American organized crime organization, with multiple healthcare fraud crimes. The FBI has arrested 52 of these suspects for executing what it says is the largest Medicare fraud case the DOJ has prosecuted to date. The defendants operated close to 120 fake clinics in 25 states and were indicted by authorities in California, Georgia, New Mexico, New York, and Ohio. "The emergence of international organized crime in domestic health care fraud schemes signals a dangerous expansion that poses a serious threat to consumers as these syndicates are willing to exploit almost any program, business or individual to earn an illegal profit," said Acting Deputy Attorney General Gary G. Grinder, in a statement. "The Department of Justice is confronting this evolving threat here and abroad through a number of initiatives including a strengthened Attorney General's Organized Crime Council and the creation of the International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center (IOC-2) to ensure that we are focused and coordinated in our efforts to combat international organized crime."

from more than 30 related articles on Natural Health News

Sep 22, 2010
IHF noted that while the stimulus law aimed to prohibit the sale of electronic health records, the exceptions are so broad that it fails to meet its purported objective. In fact, the stimulus law actually permits the selling of ...
Apr 29, 2010
Saving Billions without Electronic Health Records. The issue of one single set of rules for insurance billing was promulgated in the 1970s. It is now almost 40 years since this was proposed and someone is actually showing what many, ...
Jul 19, 2010
Mail 25.6.10 Over 800 patient records are lost by the NHS every day. The missing info includes personal health records, diagnoses & details of treatments. Often electronic data is carelessly left unencryted & without proper password . ...
Nov 17, 2009
I started posting articles about electronic health and medical records in 2006 on Natural Health News. I am not in favour of this push in the arena of cost savings in the US health system. To date little has been shown to indicate any ...

9 Reasons To Include Fiber In Your Diet

By Joey Bishop

If you've been looking for a way towards a high octane diet
plan, you are going to find soluble fiber to be precisely
what you need. Although studies have proven fiber to be
potent, lots of people aren't taking this nutrient
seriously.

To help you fuel your wellness with fiber, here are some
facts to help.

1. Dietary fiber fights illnesses. A diet full of fiber may
help to prevent colon cancer and heart problems. High
dietary fiber helps the body to eliminate cholesterol by
binding it in the digestive tract. For thousands of years,
soluble fiber has been utilized to stop constipation.

2. Soluble fiber can actually assist with overindulging. All
high fiber foods will take longer to chew and absorb, making
a person feel satisfied longer

3. Most popular foods don't have enough soluble fiber. If
you want the more well-liked foods, you most likely need to
increase your ingestion of soluble fiber.

4. Grains offer the most fiber. Soluble fiber is in fact
plant matter that individuals can't break down. The best
sources are whole grains and concentrated grain products.

5. Youngsters require fiber as well. Children that are older
than 2 years of age must eat a daily intake of dietary
fiber. Kids are most open to soluble fiber found in fruit,
vegetables, and also fortified breakfast cereals.

6. A lot more dietary fiber needs a lot more h2o. In order
to keep soluble fiber moving through your digestive tract,
you'll have to consume plenty of water. Together with your
diet of fiber, you may need eight or more glasses of water
every day.

7. Dietary fiber cannot be cooked away. Whenever you cook
your fruits and vegetables, don't be concerned about cooking
the fiber out, because it stays. The fiber found in fruits
and vegetables are certainly not just in the skin or
in the peel.

8. You can get enough dietary fiber. If you eat a lot more
than 50 grams of soluble fiber in a day, you can get
diarrhea and bloating, which can restrict your system's
absorption of additional key minerals.

9. Consuming the correct amount of fiber in your diet does
not have to be tough.
Even though you might think so,
getting the amount of fiber you'll need just isn't extremely
hard to do. Almost all you need to do is take in the proper
food items and you will be on the way to a fiber abundant
lifestyle.

Among the important ingredients to healthy eating, fiber
is one area you don't want to skip. Soluble fiber can assist
many different purposes, which were included above. In the
event you aren't getting enough dietary fiber in your diet,
you ought to do something about it now instead of holding
out right up until it's too late.

How Accurate Is The Body Mass Index For Healthy Weight?

Though one of the most popular tools used today to determine whether someone is at a healthy weight or not is the BMI, body fat and lean muscle tissue don't figure into the equation. This has led many experts to discount BMI as an archaic measurement that isn't accurate for many people. What is BMI, and why is it a good measure for some, maybe, and completely wrong for others?

BMI, or body mass index, was created in the early 1800s by Adolphe Quetelet. Because of that, it's sometimes called the Quetelet index. It's nothing more than a way of comparing a person's weight to his or her height, and determining if his or her weight falls into a healthy and normal range. The BMI is still used today pretty much as it was when Quetelet invented it.

The formula for figuring BMI (body fat, bone and frame size, muscle and body type aren't included in that) is this: Take your height in meters squared (your height times itself) and divide your weight in kilograms by that number. For example, if I'm 5 feet tall, that's about 1.5 meters. To square that number, take 1.5 times 1.5. The result of that is 2.5. So if I weigh 120 pounds, that's about 54.5 kilograms. Divide 54.5 by 2.5 and I get 21.8 as my BMI. The normal weight range is from 18.5 to 24.9, so 21.8 is classified as a normal weight. Underweight is considered 18.5 and below, while overweight people will calculate a BMI of 25 to 29.9. A BMI of 30 or greater indicates obesity.

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BMI, body fat and general health can all be used as signs of how fit a person is. But where general health is pretty self-explanatory and the percentage of body fat clearly shows whether a person gets enough exercise or not, BMI is a bit trickier.

People with a lot of muscle don't show accurate BMI readings. Because muscle weighs so much more than fat but takes up less space, a relatively small statured person can carry a lot of muscle weight without looking huge. BMI doesn't take that into account. Football players, professional wrestlers, bodybuilders, and virtually any athlete who has a lot of muscle is going to measure as overweight and even obese according to the BMI. So it's not accurate for them. Is it accurate for everyone else?

The answer to that is yes, and no. It depends on you. The BMI typically doesn't show an accurate result for children. And extremely tall or large-framed people will show overweight or obese classifications more easily because of the extra weight from their bones and muscles. So for very short, tall or muscular people, the BMI appears to not be a good tool.

There's also no distinguishing between men and women in the BMI. Body fat is more natural for women who are supposed to have more than men, so some sort of distinction in the measurement of the sexes would help the BMI's accuracy.