Ways To Reduce Inflamed Arteries - Without Drugs

The experts predict that as a result of a study, which seemed to show that the statin drug Crestor lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes in those with high levels of inflammation, will lead to millions of people being put on statin drugs. But the benefits were actually tiny -- about 0.72 percent of the statin takers in the trial had a heart attack or stroke, compared with 1.5 percent of those taking placebos.

As an alternative to going on a statin drug that comes with dangerous side effects, you may want to try these five measures first:

1. Stop smoking. Smoking hardens the arteries and increases inflammation. But research shows you can reverse all the damaging effects to your arteries within 10 years of quitting.

2. Think olive oil, fish, and nuts. People who stick with a Mediterranean-style diet based on fruits, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil can lower their levels of inflammation. It works by increasing the amount of foods you eat that are rich in omega-3 fats, which fight inflammation.

3. Get active. Exercise is a great way to lower inflammation without any of the side effects associated with medications.

Shrink your waist size. If you're a woman with a waist measurement of over 35 inches or a man with a waist of over 40 inches, you probably have high inflammation. Whittling a few inches off the waist by reducing your portions and increasing activity can go a long way toward solving that problem.

4. Get enough sleep. A new study shows that elderly people with high blood pressure who sleep less than 7.5 hours a night have dramatically elevated chances of having a stroke or heart attack. Other research has shown that both too little and too much sleep increases inflammation. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says most adults need between seven and eight hours of sleep each night.

5. Reduce stress. High levels of stress hormones can lead to the release of excess inflammatory chemicals.

Source: U.S. News & World Report November 11, 2008

Do You Need a Nutritional Supplement

There are nutritionists that claim vitamins and supplements do less than promised and that we should simply eat healthier whole foods to provide for our dietary needs. These claims are not without merit. Many of the supplements on the market today do not deliver the nutrition that they claim because they are not bioavailable.

Ideally, all of us would derive our complete nutrition from a balanced and wholesome diet. But the reality is that our modern lifestyles make it hard or impossible to find time to prepare the foods that our bodies truly need. It is also inconvenient and very expensive to do. Here are some things to tell you whether you need additional supplementation or more real live whole food nutrition in your diet.

• If you’re not getting multiple servings of a variety of vegetables and fruits every day, it’s unlikely that you’ll be taking in the necessary amounts of minerals and vitamins that you body needs for optimal health.

• If you’re on a restricted-calorie diet, you may not be fulfilling your daily requirements. This is primarily due to not eating a wide variety of foods, which makes it very difficult to get all of the essential nutrition your body needs.

• If you are considering becoming pregnant, or are already pregnant, your body’s needs are different. You’ll need more calcium, iron and folate. The extra iron is needed for red blood cell health, in order to stave off fatigue. Folate is generally recommended to protect against fetal spinal defects, like spina bifida.

• If you are postmenopausal, you need additional nutritional support. This period of life is marked by drops in estrogen production which can lead to bone loss. It’s imperative that you receive additional calcium and vitamin D, which is necessary for your body to process calcium to strengthen bones.

• If you drink alcohol heavily or smoke tobacco, your body’s ability to absorb nutrients can be impaired. Taking supplements won’t reverse the effects of these unhealthy habits, but they may help to offset some of the damage done to your body.

It certainly seems that the majority of us could use additional whole nutrition provided by fruits and vegetables that are recognized by the body instead of synthetic pills that your body has a hard time recognizing because they are manufactured nutrients.

Blueberries - This Months SuperFood

We sing the blues but shouldn't we eat the blues, too? Most of us encounter blueberries very minimally: folded into muffins or sprinkled into fruit salads. However, science has been extremely invested in this pebble-sized super food as of late, conducting countless studies on this small wonder. Let's put it this way: if the blueberry were a Broadway play, a star-studded lineup of nutrients would be on the Playbill.

Little Friends with Big Benefits

Blueberries have a low glycemic index. A ½ cup serving of blueberries is just 40 calories, containing nutrients like potassium and iron as well and vitamin C. Blueberries also provide dietary fiber, in fact, two grams in ½ cup serving. This equals the amount of fiber in a slice of whole wheat bread.

They may be small but they pack a powerful punch. Health Magazine listed blueberries as the top source of antioxidant activity in their Guide to 50 Super Foods a while ago.

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, their high level of antioxidants helps the body to slow the process of aging and protect cells against damage.

Blueberries are particularly rich in the antioxidants known as anthocyannins, which are also present in blackberries, radishes, red cabbage, grapes and apples. Blueberries are lovers of the brain. In fact, some neuroscientists call it the brain berry.

The Bluer the Berry

Foods that are blue or purple in hue are often overlooked in our diets. These colors deeply promote urinary tract health, memory function and encourage healthy aging with their vast array of phytochemicals such as phenolics and the aforementioned anthocyannins.

Next time you pass by them in the supermarket, you should swipe a carton or two. Give your body a chance to sing the blues.

Whole Foods Provide Nutritional Balance

Every day thousands of individuals walk the vitamin aisles of health food stores baffled by the hundreds of choices of bottles of pills and tablets on the shelves. Then a more difficult challenge arises. Most hard and difficult-to-swallow pills are only absorbed between 10% and 20% because our stomach was not designed to digest rocks and indigestible binders. The remainder of the so called nutritional pills are filtered out of the body by the kidneys and the liver and they can be found in abundant supply in the nation's sewer plants.

Is it time you stop wasting your hard earned money on vitamin pills, mineral pills and capsules? Join the hundreds of thousands of other health like minded individuals that are becoming more determined to receive the health benefits of eating live whole foods that provide nutrition to the body in natures perfect balance the way it was intended.

If your lifestyle prevents you for eating whole food in adequate quantities, there are now real live whole foods on the market that are a convenient intelligent alternative. Find out more.

Gas Prices Can Affect Your Health!

Are you feeling the pinch with food prices rising due to the increased cost of fuel? Many people are opting for lower-priced processed food products, replacing meat with more carbohydrate-based meals and waiting for specials before buying. More and more unhealthy processed foods are being purchased and consumed. What affect does this have on your body?

Be careful because over time, the experts warn, proper nutrition is crucial to long term health. This could lead to a higher incidence of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes already being reported.

With food prices going up between 10 and 20 per cent, consumers are finding it more difficult to buy nutritious organic live whole foods. This causes the consumers to control their spending habits that can result in purchasing less nutritious food. As a result, shoppers, particularly those with lower incomes, are choosing less expensive food items that lack adequate nutrition that they would normally get from whole foods and whole food supplements.

I choose to eat whole foods containing the proper nutrition to stay healthy and cut expenses in other areas. Your body is not like a car. You cannot buy a new one, so keep what you have healthy for life. Fuel your body with the proper nutrition all of the time because your health is priceless.

Can The Sodas

Gary Foster, director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University and colleagues have just completed a two year study. Five Philadelphia elementary schools replaced sodas with fruit juice. They scaled back snacks and banished candy. They handed out raffle tickets for wise food choices. They spent hours teaching kids, their parents and teachers about good nutrition.

The results were phenomenal. The number of students who became overweight during the two-year experiment was a full 50% less than the number of kids who became overweight in schools that didn’t make these changes. The findings are published in the April, 2008, issue of the journal Pediatrics.

In the five test schools, juice, water and low-fat milk replaced sodas. Snacks had to meet limits for fat, salt and sugar. Students who ate healthy snacks got raffle tickets to win prizes such as bikes and jump ropes.

But the schools can’t do it all on their own – the biggest challenge to schools is that kids drink sodas and eat junk food at home – so they come to school expecting to do the same. As parents, imagine the difference we could make if all of us made these same simple changes in our homes.

Wholefood Farmacy foods taste great, they’re convenient, kids love them and can help you to take that first step in the right direction.

Dangerous Ingredients Lurking in our Food Supply

Here are examples of what is in many of our foods today unknown and unseen by the general public.

• Hormones, steroids, antibiotics found in animal products
Research shows these compounds can be absorbed by fruits and vegetables grown in soil treated with manure from animals fed antibiotics.

• Toxins and pollutants from contaminated soil and water
These can stay in our environment years after they've been banned, such as DDT.

• Pesticides, fertilizers and fumigants
These are unnatural compounds.

• MSG (Monosodium Glutamate}
MSG is a neurotoxic flavor enhancer that's hidden in many foods.

• Partially hydrogenated oil
Gives baked goods and snacks longer shelf life but contains high levels of trans fat.

• High fructose corn syrup-With a high glycemic index, it converts to fat more than any other sugar. Usually made with genetically modified corn and genetically modified
enzymes.

• Genes from bacteria, viruses, plants, animals and even humans inserted into plants like soybeans, corn, canola and cotton
Unlike traditional breeding, genetic engineering can create life forms that would normally never exist in nature.

•Artificial colors and flavorings
Artificial colors are chemical compounds made mainly from coal-tar; artificial flavors are cheaply produced chemical mixtures that mimic natural flavors.

• Artificial sweeteners
Despite claims that these are "safe" food additives, remember they are not natural. For example, aspartame is made up of three chemicals.

• Benzoate preservatives-These are phenolic compounds often added to food to preserve fats and prevent fats from becoming rancid; these preservatives produce low levels of hormones.
The result? Food that has been denatured - stripped of much of its nutritional value and integrity. Food that could potentially cause health issues.

"Natural" juices and energy drinks are not what you think

Many people hope to get some or most of the fruits and vegetables they need from so-called "natural" juices. Not so fast!

Did you know that 98 percent of liquid nutritional products on the market are pasteurized? Pasteurization uses high heat to kill bacteria and harmful microorganisms but at the same time substantially alters or deactivates the majority of good, naturally occurring "live" nutrients and enzymes!

Some manufacturers go as far as to say their product is not pasteurized although prior to combining the products individual juice ingredients each ingredient is pasteurized prior to being made into a juice or supplement.

Many of these so-called "natural" juices contain ingredients from "juice concentrates" or "puree concentrates" using heat or a vacuum, which also denatures the nutritional integrity of a fruit or berry. And some of these juices contain only 10 percent or less of the actual key ingredient promised on the label.

What about hot selling energy drinks? The truth is most of them are absolutely loaded with high fructose corn syrup and synthetic caffeine-and there's not much "natural" about those ingredients.

Why most grocery store Minerals are Junk!

Most minerals supplements found in grocery stores are made from isolated or inorganic minerals. These types of minerals are not water soluble and are difficult for your body to absorb. According to experts, your body can assimilate no more than eight percent of inorganic minerals you consume from these supplements. Just eight percent! (1)

The best way to get the minerals you need each day is from plant-derived hydrophilic minerals. These minerals are 200 to 2,000 times smaller than inorganic minerals, plus they're water soluble and more easily digested by your body. In fact, almost 100 percent of a hydrophilic mineral can be absorbed by your body and made available for use.

The key phrase is "plant derived" or "plant based". Yes, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants with the thousands of naturally occurring nutrients found in plants, fruits and vegetables give you better nutrition than isolated synthetic vitamins-almost 100 percent.

(1) TRC Nutritional Laboratories, www.trccorp.com

The Synthetic Vitamin Deception

Because it's hard to eat 5-9 fruits and vegetables every day, many Americans think they can get the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants they need from isolated synthetic supplements.

Americans are buying synthetic supplements in droves to the tune of $20 billion a year. But don't be fooled! Research shows that synthetic vitamins are 50-70 percent less biologically active than natural vitamins.(1)

The fact is, there are literally thousands of naturally occurring nutrients in fresh fruits, vegetables berries, greens, seeds, nuts and sprouts that you simply cannot get from synthetic, isolated vitamin supplements.

Synthetic, isolated vitamins and inorganic mineral supplements don't even come close to giving you the REAL whole food-based nutrition you can get from the best whole foods.

(1) Nutri-Con The Truth About Vitamins & Supplements, The Vitamin Myth Exposed, Brian Clement, Hippocrates Health Institute & OCA, Dec. 31, 2006

Live Whole Food Based Super Foods

By the year 2025, REAL nutrition will come from live, whole food based "super foods". These remarkable super foods will be delicious and will provide a wide variety of live whole foods in adequate quantities. These super foods will come from the purest sources possible, will be an incredible value and will be convenient to use. The good news is you do not wait because the future is here now.

This exciting NEW, Cutting Edge breakthrough, guarantees you REAL nutrition that your body needs and recognizes from whole food vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Even better, it is all without fistfuls of expensive pills or supplements, without messy juicers, without endless peeling, without chopping or cooking of fruits and vegetables or without yucky tasting "green" drinks.

What are Americans eating? Too much junk food!

An analysis of the diet of Americans reveals that sugary snacks and sodas are consumed more readily than fruits and vegetables. It should not surprise us that 89% of Americans do not eat enough fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately it is more convenient to eat fast foods or processed foods that are not as healthy.

Researcher Gladys Block, PhD and Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health Nutrition at the University of California, Berkeley, discovered that at least 30 percent of the total calorie intake of Americans surveyed was from sweets, desserts, salty snacks, fruit flavored drinks and alcoholic beverages. (l)

The end result! Junk food provides calories but not vitamins and minerals your body is in need of... in other words "empty calories."

(1) UC Berkeley Press Release by Sarah Yang, June 1, 2004

What To Know About Real Whole Food Nutrition

Americans are becoming very interested in better nutrition. There are some things that are happening in farming, food and health industries that will literally cause you to be concerned.

Did you know that over 70 percent of processed foods have at least one genetically modified ingredient in it which means they are nowhere near the quality that Nature intended for your body?

Tomatoes are being picked prematurely and ripened with hormones. Apples are treated with radiation to appear fresher but these foods have been deprived of optimum nutrient content because they are not ripened on the vine or tree.

Today's conventionally grown fruits and vegetables have shockingly poor vitamin and mineral content compared to produce grown 25 years ago.

Some of our imported foods are tainted with pesticides that have been banned by the U.S. for decades, yet are still making their way back into our food.

Energy drinks are laden with chemicals including synthetic caffeine and high fructose corn syrup.

So how can you get the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants your body needs and can recognize? The answer is found in a new, cutting-edge breakthrough that guarantees you REAL whole food based nutrition without taking a fistful of expensive synthetic pills. You do not need messy juicers, and no need for endless peeling, chopping or cooking.

Whole Food Supplements - In Nature's Perfect Balance

No matter which foods we choose and in what ratios we eat them, whole foods are better for you than refined foods or synthetic supplements. Everyone agrees raw honey is better for you than white sugar or that brown rice is better for you than white rice. Why should it be any different for synthetic vitamins and minerals? All refined foods much like synthetic vitamin and mineral supplements have been robbed of all the extra nutrients they naturally come with. So how can we expect them to be healthy for you? Since synthetic supplements are not in a natural form, our bodies have a hard time recognizing them.

The potency of a whole food or whole food supplement has much more to do with synergy than with actual nutrient levels. It is the combined effect of all the parts of the food, rather than the chemical effect of a single part, that is most important. This is because nature is all about balance and not potency.

If you are like me, you may also want to take live whole food based supplements to ensure you are getting an adequate array of nutrients in your diet. I strongly recommend real whole food based supplements as my first choice. Here are some things to look for in a whole food supplement:

• It is as close as possible to its natural form as possible to obtain nature’s perfect balance.
• Be sure the utmost care has been taken in all phases of its production, from growing its ingredients, to short transportation times, to manufacturing, testing for potency and quality control. Make sure the product was not heated to exceed 115 degrees during the manufacturing process which will break down some nutrients.
• Try to select from companies that have a long track record of providing high quality live whole food nutritional products.

Whole Food Supplements verus Synthetic Supplements

Americans are now spending more than $17 billion a year on supplements for health and wellness. Remarkably, the rates of some forms of chronic disease have not changed, while the rates of others have actually increased. I guess it is fair to say that most manufactured supplements aren't helping very much. A big reason is they are isolated nutrients or synthetic nutrients that are not natural and they are never found by themselves in nature. Nature does not produce any nutrient in an isolated form. The nutrients in foods are blended together in a specific way and work best in that format. For an isolated nutrient to work properly in the body, it needs all the other parts that are naturally present in the balance of natural food. Unfortunately, science has not even discovered all the nutrients present yet and they cannot duplicate the natural combinations that give whole foods natures’ perfect balance.

Taking these isolated manufactured nutrients, especially at the ultra-high doses found in manufactured formulas today, is more like taking a drug. Studies show the body treats these isolated and synthetic nutrients like foreign substances. Has your urine ever turned florescent yellow after taking a manufactured pill or capsule supplement? Rapid excretion happens when a foreign substance is in your body but live whole foods and whole food based supplements are never treated like this by your body no matter how much you eat.

Whole Foods - What's Good for You?

Hundreds of diet books place foods into "good" and "bad" categories. Some foods, such as carrots, are considered bad because of their high glycemic index, a ranking system for carbohydrates according to their effect on blood glucose and insulin levels. Meanwhile, blueberries are considered a "power food" because of their antioxidant properties. These claims may lead to confusion and are not always based on sound scientific evidence. Total diet, or your overall eating pattern of food, is the most important focus of a healthful eating lifestyle, according to the American Dietetic Association. All foods can fit within this pattern if consumed in moderation with appropriate portion size and combined with regular physical activity.

Many Americans have become more conscious of diet and nutrition, in part because of the Internet, the media and food labeling, more than 72 million people are obese. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attributes this contradiction to Americans still looking for the quick fix or magic bullet. With the current American lifestyles and time challenges, physical activity is not always a priority. And in the world of "supersized" servings, we have lost our ability to judge correct portion size. Unfortunately, this trend has also been accompanied by widespread confusion, with complaints that nutrition education is focused on what not to eat, instead of what to eat, according to the American Dietetic Association.

Dangers of Junk Food and Fast Food

Today, consumers are becoming more aware of the dangers of junk food and fast food. Obesity rates are at their highest levels ever and conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are showing up in young children. The pressure is mounting as bans on Trans Fats are now being passed into law. Super markets are overflowing with unhealthy processed foods that are sold for taste and not for nutritional value.

Parents across the country are insisting that schools shift to healthier foods and more exercise for the kids. People everywhere are searching for answers and looking for what they need from of unhealthy food supply. Their is a need for healthy, convenient whole foods that can replace the junk food and fast food in their lives. This will prove to be the largest mass consumer shift that we've seen in decades because it involves a product that everyone uses every day..... FOOD.

Check out this report to understand the severity of the problem.

Quality Nutritional Supplements Nowadays

If getting adequate high quality daily nutritional matters to you then live whole foods are your best source. It is important to get your nutrients from natural whole foods or from a high quality natural supplement.

Your body prefers to absorb vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from live whole foods. These are real whole foods in their natural, unprocessed state. Knowledgeable health and wellness experts agree that whole foods are better sources for your daily nutrition. Synthetic vitamins and minerals are simply not as good as what are found in nature. Your body will absorb and utilize the nutrition found in live natural whole foods more than what will be absorbed in a synthetic pill or manufactured liquid.

Most people do not get enough vitamins and minerals because they do not eat adequate amounts of fruits, vegetables and other whole foods in the diet on a daily basis. Observe your next 3 meals or snacks as you eat them. Is your plate colorful with fruits and vegetables? They are live whole foods rich in nutrition your body requires each day. Or is your plate loaded with processed foods, starches and meat that has no color. If this is the case, you are not getting the well rounded nutrition from whole foods your body deserves and needs.

How do you fix this dilemma if you are not able to eat healthy each day due your demanding lifestyle? There are now superior live whole food supplements that are available in capsules or in powdered form you can mix in water. Learn more about this proprietary manufacturing process that preserves the nutrients in whole foods so they can be used as convenient supplements.

Nutrition for a challenging Lifestyle

Many nutritional supplements can offer you a great way to get the additional nutrients you need for good health. Since there are so many supplements to choose from, it can be quite confusing and ineffective if you choose the wrong one. I believe the best types are live whole food supplements that are made from natural whole food sources without using preservatives.

These natural whole foods are usually concentrated mixtures of several varieties of whole foods and super foods. A better whole food supplement will contain naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, antioxidant compounds, amino acids, enzymes, essential fatty acids, fiber & phytonutrients.

Unfortunately many over the counter multi-vitamins are synthetic products and they do not get absorbed well into our bodies so their benefits can be very little. Many natural supplements like whole food supplements or herbal nutritional supplements have much higher absorption rates since the products are in their natural state and can be better recognized by the body.

We all know that we should be getting 5 to 14 servings of colorful vegetables and fruits in our diets each day. Most of us fail to follow this advice because with our hectic lifestyles because this just seems impossible. Using a convenient whole food supplement like a “The Feast” can help you get the necessary vegetables and fruits you need each day. It comes in a convenient vegetarian capsule if you are on the go or in a powder that you mix with water.

Beyond Fruits and Berries Nutrition

Fruits & berries are the most nutrient dense foods available. They provide a variety of advantages that go far beyond the scope of basic nutrition and have tremendous benefits throughout the entire human body. Studies have shown that the significant phytonutrient & antioxidant content of fruits & berries has a positive effect.

The phytonutrients that create the bright color of each fruit & berry are also responsible for their amazing benefits. The richer and more deeply colored the fruit or berry, the higher the variety & potency of nutrient levels. These nutrients can only come from live whole foods.

Each fruit & berry contain thousands of naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, antioxidant compounds, amino acids, enzymes, essential fatty acids, fiber and phytonutrients.

Because these fruits and berries are not consumed on a regular basis, most people are not experiencing the extraordinary benefits they provide. “Beyond Berries” is a convenient nutritious product deigned to alleviate this dilemma.

Most importantly, the crucial nutrients contained in “Beyond Berries” are still alive and are very bioavailable. By providing each ingredient in its most natural whole food form, the natural plant enzymes and phosolipids necessary for nutrient absorption are present.

Nutritional Value of Barley Grass

Barley grass is a concentrated source of nearly three dozen vitamins and minerals. Barley grass is particularly rich in vitamins A, C, B1, B2, folic acid, and B12; calcium; iron; potassium; and chlorophyll. Unlike most plants, barley grass provides all nine essential amino acids that your body can't produce.

Barley grass and wheat grass leaves are very alkaline, so digesting them can help maintain the body's alkaline and acidity balance. Our cells cannot function properly if the pH moves out of a narrow range.

Barley grass is high in chlorophyll, which is known to help cleanse the body, fight infection, heal wounds, and promote the health of the circulatory, digestive and immune, detoxify the systems, and may be able to increase the number of red blood cells and the body's ability to use oxygen.

Barley Pure™ provides 100% pure juice powder concentrate from fresh young, certified organic barley grass. Barley grass provides one of the most balanced nutrient profiles of all green plants and is naturally rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, amino acids, glycosylisovitexin, plant proteins, and active enzymes.

Let Food Be Your Medicine

According to a new report published in Diabetes Care, a journal published by the American Diabetes Association, people who ate a low-fat vegan diet, cutting out all meat and dairy, lowered their blood sugar more and lost more weight than people on a standard American Diabetes Association diet.

Participants say the vegan diet was easier to follow than most because they did not measure portions or count calories. Dr. Neal Barnard, president of the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine, which helped conduct the study said, "I hope this study will rekindle interest in using diet changes first, rather than prescription drugs." After 22 weeks on the diet, 43 percent of those on the vegan diet and 26 percent of those on the standard diet were either able to stop taking some of their drugs such as insulin or glucose-control medications, or were able to lower the doses. In other words, food really can be your medicine.

The vegan dieters lost 14 pounds on average while the diabetes association dieters lost 6.8 pounds. An important level of glucose control called A1c fell by 1.23 points in the vegan group and by 0.38 in the group on the standard diet. A1c gives a measure of how well-controlled blood sugar has been over the preceding three months.

Small changes made now can make a BIG difference later, when it comes to educating your children and teaching them to steer clear of type-2 diabetes. If healthy foods are ALWAYS handy, then it's EASY for you and your kids to make healthy choices. Whether you like sweet, spicy, chewy, crunchy, hot or cold - we've got a delicious and nutritious whole food treat waiting for you! Visit The Wholefood Farmacy Here

Diets Don't Work

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, examining 31 weight-loss studies found that long-term dieting doesn't keep the pounds off. While people can lose weight initially, many relapse and regain the weight they shed. The findings confirm what many scientists have been saying all along: Losing weight is easy. Keeping it off is another story. "If dieting worked, there would be a bunch of skinny people walking around," said obesity researcher Dr. David Katz, head of Yale University's Prevention Research Center. Since the 1970s, the ranks of overweight and obese Americans have risen with two-thirds of adults in that category. Obesity raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

If you're tired of diets that don't work, let The Whole food Farmacy offer you a pathway to the one and only true solution - a new healthy lifestyle! Our 7 & 13 day programs such as The Tri-Decathlon Delux, New You Resolution Pantry and Liquithon offer you a way to reset your body's nutritional system back to "original manufacturer's specifications" and to make a fresh start.

Can you imagine craving water, fruits and veggies the same way that you now crave sodas, junk food and fast food? Can you imagine feeling completely full and satisfied with half the amount of food it takes to do that for you now? That's what The Wholefood Farmacy's 13 day programs are all about. These wonderful programs can be your "on-ramp" to a new and healthier lifestyle - and that is the only true and permanent solution.

Would you like more information? If so, please call our 24 hour recorded information line at 620-294-1381. This recorded call offers complete information, details, instructions and answers to frequently asked questions.

Visit The Whole food Farmacy Here: richm.thewholefoodfarmacy.com

Whole Foods & Male Fertility

At a recent American Society for Reproductive Medicine meeting, new research revealed that eating more whole food fruits and veggies can help men boost their fertility. These new findings indicate that the more produce a man consumes, the healthier his sperm will be. In a study group of infertile men, 83 percent of them were found to be eating less than five servings of fruits and veggies a day. Overall, the men who ate the fewest whole food fruits and veggies had the lowest sperm motility.

"We think that sperm quality is affected by dietary antioxidant intake," said study author Dr. Vivian Lewis, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y. "Antioxidants, like those found in whole food fruits and vegetables, may help prevent damage to sperm that causes them to become sluggish and lose the ability to fertilize an egg".

In particular, the antioxidants glutathione and cryptoxanthin, which are prevalent in brightly colored produce such as leafy greens, tomatoes, peppers and oranges, were associated with strong, healthy sperm, Lewis said. She recommended that men hoping to father children eat "a variety of fruits and vegetables, at least five servings a day." With The Wholefood Farmacy, getting your 5 a day has never been easier.

The modern day researches continue to confirm what the ancients knew. Focus on giving your body what it needs - it knows how to do the rest.Visit The Wholefood Farmacy Here

An Apple A Day

"An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away" - The latest scientific research shows that this old nursery rhyme is more fact than fiction.

WHOLE-BODY HEALTH BENEFITS OF APPLES

The disease-fighting profile of apples provides a multitude of whole food health benefits, including a potential decreased risk of cancer and heart disease. Several recent studies suggest apples may provide a "whole-body" health benefit which include Lower blood cholesterol, improved bowel function, reduced risk of stroke, prostate cancer, type II diabetes and asthma.

A number of components in apples, most notably fiber and phytonutrients have been found in studies to lower blood cholesterol and improve bowel function, and may be associated with a reduced risk of ischemic heart disease, stroke, prostate cancer, type II diabetes and asthma. Preliminary research from Finland indicates diets with the highest intake of apple phytonutrients were associated with a 46 percent reduction in the incidence of lung cancer.

Findings indicate that two apples a day or 12 ounces of 100% apple juice reduced the damaging effects of the "bad" LDL cholesterol. (Interpoma 2002 Conference, Bolzano , Italy / Dianne Hyson, Ph.D., M.S., R.D., University of California-Davis )

CANCER PREVENTION

Over the past four years, apple consumption has been linked with reduced cancer risk in several studies. A 2001 Mayo Clinic study indicated that quercetin, a flavonoid abundant in apples, helps prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells. A Cornell University study indicated phytochemicals in the skin of an apple inhibited the reproduction of colon cancer cells by 43 percent. The National Cancer Institute has reported that foods containing flavonoids like those found in apples may reduce the risk of lung cancer by as much as 50 percent. (Carcinogenesis March, 2001 / Nature June, 2000 /Journal of the National Cancer Institute January, 2000)

HEALTHY LUNGS

Two recent British studies indicated that eating apples can improve lung health. A study of Welsh men indicated that people who ate at least five apples per week experience better lung function. Researchers at the University of Nottingham reported that those who ate five apples per week also had a lower risk for respiratory disease. In the Netherlands at the University of Groningen , apples were singled out as a fruit that could cut smokers' risk of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in half. Scientists believe antioxidants found in apples may ward off disease by countering oxygen's damaging effects on the body. (American Thoracic Society Meeting May, 2001 - Thorax January, 2000)

HEART DISEASE & STROKE PREVENTION

A Finnish study published in 1996 showed that people who eat a diet rich in flavonoids have a lower incidence of heart disease. Other studies indicate that flavonoids may help prevent strokes. (The British Medical Journal 1996)

WEIGHT LOSS

Apples are a delicious source of dietary fiber, and dietary fiber helps aid digestion and promotes weight loss. A medium apple contains about five grams of fiber, more than most cereals. Also, apples contain almost zero fat and cholesterol, so they are a delicious snack and dessert whole food that's good for you.

UC-DAVIS: APPLES ARE HEART-HEALTHY

Researchers at the University of California-Davis recently reported that apples and apple juice may help protect arteries from harmful plaque build-up. In the first study conducted in humans, adults who added two apples, or 12 ounces of 100% apple juice, to their daily diet demonstrated a significant slowing of the cholesterol oxidation process that leads to plaque build-up - thereby giving the body more time to rid itself of cholesterol before it can cause harm.

You can find Apples in your favorite Wholefood Farmacy foods such as Phi Plus, Fruitalicious, Fruitalicious Plus and DetoxiPhi.

The Amazing Sunflower Kernel

According to research completed in March 2001 by Dr. K. Phillips of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , the sunflower kernel is rich in a number of nutrients that have been shown to protect against cardiovascular and other diseases and to act as antioxidants and anti-carcinogens. When considered in aggregate, this amazing kernel packs a powerful nutritional punch. Sunflower kernels contain high levels of vitamin E, betaine, phenolic acids, and choline. In addition, the kernel is a good source of arginine and lignans. Each of these compounds, while perhaps unfamiliar to the layperson, has been studied by the scientific community and shown to offer a variety of health benefits.

Vitamin E (Tocopherols): May protect against cardiovascular disease.
Betaine : May protect against cardiovascular disease.
Phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid): Antioxidant and anti-carcinogen.
Choline : Plays a role in memory and cognitive function.
Arginine : Potential heart benefits.
Lignans : May protect against heart disease and some cancers; lowers LDL cholesterol and triglycerides Sunflower seeds offer an easy way to add some crunch, taste, and nutrition to a variety of foods. Toss them over your salad, mix them in with popcorn, serve them a la carte, or even add them to your fresh baked, whole grain breads and muffins.

When you're on the go, you can find sunflower seeds in many of your favorite Wholefood Farmacy foods such as Phi Plus, Cornaborealis, Corn of Plenty, and ClariPhi.

Fruit and Vegetable Intake

Fruits and vegetables are clearly an important part of a good diet. Almost everyone can benefit from eating more of them, but variety is as important as quantity. No single fruit or vegetable provides all of the nutrients you need to be healthy. The key lies in the variety of live whole foods and different fruits and vegetables that you eat.

Some basic fruit and vegetable tips:

1. Try to eat more fruits and vegetables. If you need 2,000 calories a day to maintain your weight and health, aim for at least nine servings (4½ cups) a day.
2. Choose a variety of different fruits and vegetables. It's easy to get into a rut when it comes to the food you eat. Break out and try a wider variety - include dark-green, leafy vegetables; yellow, orange, and red fruits and vegetables; cooked tomatoes; and citrus fruits.
3. If you have a fast paced lifestyle that prevents you from getting your daily requirements of whole food fruits and vegetables, there is a new convenient way to supplement with whole food nutrition. Visit www.best-whole-food-nutrition.com for more info.