Be Awe - full

Look out on life with amazement, not shock. The variety, the diversity, the manner of every person, the beauty amidst the drudgery, the contrasts, the opportunities, the heroism in the lives of ordinary people, your gifts, your talents, your friends - even just one friend - is all awesome. Live in awe, and entertain wonder, and you will be knocking on the door of true love. Don't kill it with cynicism or criticism, don't sabotage your life with moaning and complaining. Open the eyes in your head and the eye in your intellect and choose to see the stunning, awesome, diverse beauty of life happening around you right now. Meet it with your heart and you will enrich and be enriched in one single moment.

Cholesterol Test Spots When HRT Raises Heart Risks

Date updated: May 22, 2008
Content provided by Health Day

THURSDAY, May 22 (HealthDay News) -- Standard cholesterol evaluations may help predict which women are at risk for heart problems while taking hormone replacement therapy, and which women are not.

Simply put, those with good cholesterol levels experience no increased risk for heart attacks while taking hormone therapy, while women with high levels do have a heightened risk, a new study suggests.

But this doesn't mean that all women whose cholesterol levels are within normal range should feel comfortable taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal symptoms.

"You have to look at the total health of the woman and not just the heart," said study author Dr. Paul Bray, director of hematology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. "Our study is confined to heart and coronary disease outcomes, which is important, because there was a substantial amount of bad press related to hormones and coronary outcomes, so that put women in the position of either feeling guilty for using hormones when they really had no other good therapy or denying themselves when they perhaps didn't need to."

Hormone replacement therapy can also affect the risk of cancer, blood clots, strokes and more, pointed out Bray, whose report is published in the June 1 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.

"It's an individualized program," emphasized Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, director of women and heart disease at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "It depends on the woman, and you have to weigh the risks and benefits. Clearly, you're not going to use hormones in a woman who has risk factors for heart disease."

Some studies, notably earlier results from the U.S. government-sponsored Women's Health Initiative (WHI) have shown an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes among women who use hormone therapy. HRT also carries with it an increased risk of breast cancer.

Many women abandoned HRT after the first WHI results were released in 2002.

This study aimed to see if standard biomarkers could predict which women would have heart problems while using HRT.

Researchers obtained cholesterol and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels related to 271 coronary heart disease "events" occurring in women during the first four years of the WHI, and compared them to a group of more than 700 controls.

As it turned out, the ratio of LDL ("bad") cholesterol to HDL ("good") cholesterol at the beginning of the trial did seem to predict which women were prone to problems while taking HRT.

"If the ratio was less than 2.5, then there was no increased risk of heart attacks when using hormones," Bray said. "If it was greater than 2.5, there was an increased risk. We did not find that CRP substantively helped us in this prediction." The findings were true both among women taking estrogen alone and among those taking estrogen plus progestin.

Women with high ratios of "bad" to "good" cholesterol have a higher risk of coronary heart disease anyway. Taking hormones just increased that risk, the researchers said.

The tests did not predict the risk of stroke.

"If a woman were to come in, after assessing all of her organs, if you decide her heart is one of the things you're worried about most, you would assess her blood cholesterol level, and if the ratio was greater than 2.5, I would discourage her from using HRT," Bray said. "If the ratio were less than 2.5, you could provide some reassurance that the risk of having a heart attack is not increased.

Why are our kids becoming obese?

The Washington Post has been focusing on childhood obesity the past couple of days. From "Fat School" to "Fat Home," there are articles on extreme ways to help children lose weight, how schools are trying to make a difference, and roadblocks to success.

In yesterday's paper, the lead article in the Health Section was about the Wellspring Academy, a very expensive school (yearly tuition is more than Harvard!) which admits kids as young as 11 who are at least 30 pounds overweight, but usually more. The average reported weight loss of kids who attended the Academy in California was 81 pounds.

In today's paper, the Post discusses how local schools are trying to prevent obesity - by offering healthier options for lunch, such as salad and fruit. And by teaching them how to objectively measure how hard they exercise - with pedometers. One local Dean of students, "Mr. Bobby," has even pledged to lose 100 pounds by the end of the school year and has a weigh-in in front of the students every month. The children's section of the paper gave interesting facts about nutrition and weight. For instance, did you know that 25% of Americans eat fast food at least once a day? Or that one-third of American kids and teens is obese?

An important point made in many of the articles is that parents, who sometimes blame schools for the obesity problem are, in many cases, contributing to it or even causing it. I have seen lunches brought from home which are similar to those described in the paper today - consisting of chips, cookies, sugared juices, lunchables of processed cheese and crackers, and on and on. Then there are the snacks they bring from home - from candy to brownies to bags of chips. And I read a study mentioned in the Post which found that children gain more weight during the summer than during the school year.

Interestingly, 40% of parents with obese children ages 6 to 11 think that their kids' weight is fine.

The Post provides some helpful tips on how to control your child's weight. I have summarized a few below along with some of my own:

1. Limit the amount of fat per serving the 3 grams and the amount of sugar to 12 grams, while looking for a minimum of 4 grams of fiber per serving in cereals.
2. Look at the ingredients in a products and make sure that sugar isn't the first or second ingredient listed.
3. Try to get your child moving every day - start with 20 minutes and increase to an hour.
4. Encourage your children to help you cook healthful, tasty meals.
5. Eat dinner together every night, and model good eating habits.
6. Pack well-balanced lunches and snacks.
7. Look for serving sizes that are 40 calories (low number of calories per serving) to 100 calories (moderate number of calories per serving). Those that are 400 calories or more are high.
8. Limit TV use, as greater use is correlated with greater weights.
9. Watch what you eat in front of your children and after they go to bed. Just like you, they have eyes in the back of their heads!

Live Purposefully

If you don't live life on purpose you live life by accident. Why do some days feel like a motorway pile up? It's because you haven't sorted out your purpose yet. The highest purpose is always giving, or serving others, without wanting anything in return. This is why relaxation is always impossible if we are always 'on the take'. There is an overall purpose for your life, and each of the many scenes which fill your day are opportunities to serve your purpose. Take time to think deeply, listen to your intuition, and with patience, the reason why you are here, and what you uniquely have to give, will occur to you. Then you can live your life 'on purpose'.

It's About Time for Yourself

Date updated: December 11, 2006
By Kristen Hampshire
Content provided by Revolution Health Group

Your BlackBerry reminds you that the afternoon is booked with meetings, you have a dinner party to attend, and the kids need help with homework. On the evening commute, you dial clients from your cell phone. Before bed, you sneak into your home office to check your e-mail one last time. You're racing — but there's no finish line.

Stop.

Take Michael McKee's paper ballot test. "I ask people to create an imaginary paper ballot with two choices," says McKee, Ph.D., a psychologist and stress-management specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. "One is please others; the other is take care of yourself."

If days pass and you haven't cast a vote for yourself, you better change your mindset. "Don't you deserve a vote now or then?" McKee asks. Remember: You're the only one filling out that ballot. "If you don't vote for yourself, it won't happen," he says.

You schedule dates with clients, friends, your partner, civic groups, family — but what about with yourself? When do you get to press the "off" button and just relax, alone?

"You can't give what you don't have," says Laura Stack, M.B.A., author of Leave the Office Earlier (Broadway, 2004) and Find More Time (Broadway, 2006). Stack's passion is helping people find time to nurture their relationships. She says personal time is important because "it reminds you that you're not your work."

When you leave yourself off the priority list, you actually cheat those you love out of the "whole" you. Instead, you bring to relationships "a diminished version of yourself," says psychologist Debra Moore, Ph.D., of Sacramento, Calif.

Making time for yourself to reflect or revisit a favorite hobby can reduce stress and improve your relationships with others, but it won't happen by itself. "You have to ask yourself whether you get on the list of priorities or not," says Moore.

License to chill

Women, especially, are programmed to sacrifice personal time, says Stack. The pressure of balancing a career, childcare, marriage, household chores and community responsibilities leaves little room for unplanned activities.

Meanwhile, societal pressures cause us to question the value of downtime. "We see a date with ourselves as a luxury or an indulgence, and it's almost as if we have an ethic that we are not even aware of: that there is something morally wrong with taking care of ourselves," Moore points out.

We must be slackers if we aren't busy, right? We call those who regularly take personal time-outs unmotivated, flaky or even irresponsible.

But if you take just 15 minutes each day to relax, your body will thank you in many ways, says McKee. You'll lower your blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen consumption. Your brain will drift into a quiet zone, allowing you to mentally recharge.

With practice, you'll master the "art of chill."

"You develop tools so that the time alone not only recharges your battery so you have more energy, but it also teaches you a skill which enables you to be less stressed," McKee explains. "So when someone comes along and pushes your buttons during the day, you can take a slow, deep breath and say, 'I can leave my body out of this and maybe even smile a little and get over it.'"

As a result, people will enjoy being around you more. No one likes to listen to someone drone on about stress, work and too many responsibilities.

"My husband always says, 'If Mommy isn't happy, no one is happy,' " says Stack. And that's the truth.

Burnout actually inhibits your physical response to loved ones, McKee adds. "You become irritable and touchy," he says. "It's like you've literally been burned, and when someone comes up to grab you for support, you just scream out in pain, 'Don't do that!' "

"If you've taken care of yourself first, you can feel calm and access the caring part of yourself much more easily," he explains. "If you don't take care of yourself, there's nothing to give."

Time to press pause

Every day, we write off the importance of making a date to relax alone. Do the excuses "I don't have time" and "I don't know what I'd do" sound familiar?

The average person wastes two hours every workday surfing the Internet, gossiping by the water cooler or simply zoning out, Stack says. Then he or she goes home and watches 2.7 hours of television.

"There is a lot of available time, but most people don't use it well," says Stack. "It's not about time shortage; it's about time usage."

Ideally, everyone should schedule relaxation time on a regular basis. If you can, set aside a day or an entire evening just for you, and tell associates and family you're unavailable. Spend that time on a favorite hobby or just reading a good book.

Small spurts of alone time have big payoffs, too. The key is to take enough breaks so you don't run yourself ragged before your next vacation.

"It's not how much time, but how frequently and consistently you make time for yourself," Moore says.

Set aside 15 minutes each day, as McKee suggests, for a mini-date. Spend your lunch break people-watching or reading a favorite magazine in a nearby park. Unwind after a long day by taking a stroll around the neighborhood or soaking in the tub.

Resist your urge to be productive during your alone time. When you carve 15 minutes of time out of the day for yourself, don't spend it folding laundry, washing the car or engaging in busywork activities that clutter your to-do list.

Your well-being is a higher priority.

Reviewed by: CME Peer Review
Date reviewed: September 2006

Lose Your Headache With These Alternative Therapies

Date updated: May 12, 2008
By Lisa Marshall
Content provided by Revolution Health Group

If your head is throbbing and you can't make it stop, you're not alone. As many as 78% of adults experience tension headaches, and more than 29.5 million experience migraines, according to the American Headache Society.

But despite their prevalence, headaches are hard to treat and even harder to prevent with medication.

"Our preventive treatments, in general, are really quite poor," says neurologist Stewart Tepper, M.D., director of The New England Center for Headache in Stamford, Conn.

The four drugs commonly used to prevent migraines have proven effective in only about half of patients. And all come with serious side effects, ranging from tingling hands to cognitive impairment and an inability to sweat.

Meanwhile, overuse of over-the-counter painkillers can lead to "rebound headaches" as the body builds tolerance. Frustrated with a lack of options, patients and researchers are beginning to look beyond the pharmacy.

"We have good scientific evidence that some of the alternative therapies often work better than the drugs," says researcher Alexander Mauskop, M.D., director of the New York Headache Center.

Below are some natural and alternative therapies for headaches and migraines.

Magnesium
Among the most promising alternatives for preventing migraines is magnesium, a mineral that has been shown to be deficient in more than half of migraine patients.

Numerous studies have shown magnesium to be effective, particularly in preventing menstrual migraines and migraines with "aura" (visual disturbances). One 1996 study of 81 patients found that those who took magnesium daily for 12 weeks saw their migraine frequency cut in half, and the duration and intensity reduced. Some research has also shown intravenous magnesium to quell a migraine in progress.

Mauskop and Tepper recommend 600 milligrams daily of chelated (slow-release) magnesium tablets (taken with food to prevent diarrhea ). While some forms are available only via prescription, most can be found at vitamin stores for about $16 for 250 tablets.

Butterbur
Also known as Petasites hybridus, the toxic shrub butterbur was used in medieval times to treat the plague. The large leaves from the plant were also used to wrap butter before refrigeration.

It was rediscovered in the 1980s by a German company that extracted out its toxins and created Petadolex, an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory. Since then, a few other companies have also created butterbur extracts with little or no toxins. One randomized, controlled trial of 245 patients found that 68% of those who took 75 milligrams of butterbur daily saw their headache frequency reduced by half.

"We were very skeptical, but it turned out to be remarkably effective," says Mauskop, who co-authored the study. The most common side effect is burping.

Butterbur is not recommended for people who are allergic to ragweed because it can cause a similar allergic reaction. And people should steer clear of raw, unprocessed butterbur, which has been linked to liver and kidney damage and certain forms of cancer due to its toxic alkaloids.

Feverfew
For a century, the weed Tanacetum parthenium, aka feverfew, has been used to prevent headaches. Many theorize that it works like aspirin, preventing platelets from sticking together. (Researchers believe that when platelets stick together, they release serotonin, fueling headaches).

But Tepper, who recently published a review evaluating herbs for migraines, says the scientific evidence is scarce and inconclusive, with three of five quality trials saying feverfew works for migraine, and two saying it doesn't.

Of more concern are its serious side effects: mouth ulcers, blood thinning and potential birth defects if taken by pregnant women.

Acupuncture
While recent reports have cast doubt on the efficacy of acupuncture for migraines (which are believed to be caused by abnormal cell activity in the brain), it can do wonders in quelling tension headaches, says Mel Drisko, L.Ac., of the Center for Integrated Medicine at University of Colorado Hospital.

One 2006 trial of 1,295 patients, published in the journal Lancet, concluded acupuncture was no more effective than a sham treatment for people with chronic migraines. Drisko agrees. For people with tension headaches, Drisko says acupuncture can increase blood flow to hypercontracted muscles in the head and neck, promote production of natural painkillers and anti-inflammatory agents, and normalize the flow of "qi" or "chi," which is Chinese for vital energy.

Acupuncture can also be used to help people come off of their "rescue" medications that can trigger rebound headaches if used more than three times a week. Drisko recommends six to eight weekly treatments.

Massage
Again, little data suggest that massage can prevent migraines. But a few small studies -- including one funded by the National Headache Foundation and the Boulder College of Massage Therapy -- have shown that a technique called myofascial trigger point therapy may help ease chronic tension headaches.

The therapy focuses on irritated nodules, or "trigger points" within the muscles (which tend to radiate pain upward), as well as those in the jaw, neck and head. Improving posture can prevent reinjury. Plus, human touch alone has been shown to release painkilling endorphins.

Diet
Diet can seldom be completely to blame for chronic headaches, but it can exacerbate them, doctors say.

Some foods influence the release of serotonin and norepinephrine, causing blood vessels to constrict and restrict blood flow to the brain (such as caffeine) or dilate, causing pain to the lining of the brain (such as nitrates found in processed meat).

Others stimulate the brain stem or neuronal pathways, setting the migraine process into motion. Common culprits include cheese, chocolate, citrus, fatty foods, ice cream, wine and beer. A common rule of thumb is to avoid "aged or over-ripe foods" such as wine, cheese and some fruits that contain tyramine, a common headache trigger.

Peanuts and peanut products, foods that contain caffeine, other diary products, yeast, dried meats, chicken livers, pickled foods, foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG), ripe bananas, sourdough and foods containing nitrates (such as hot dogs, bacon and cured meats) may also be headache triggers.

Ideally, if the headache food trigger is not known, it is best to remove those most common food triggers described above for at least seven days. If the headaches improve, one food group is reintroduced at a time as a "re-challenge" to see which foods may be common triggers. A new food group is added every three days. If that's not possible, keep a food-headache diary, jot down any reactions and start eliminating suspected triggers.

Stress reduction and exercise
Most importantly, Mauskop says that headache sufferers should get moving.

"By far, the most effective approach to preventing headaches is regular aerobic exercise," he says. "It relaxes you after a stressful day. It improves circulation in your brain, and it releases endorphins and other natural painkillers."

He also recommends biofeedback to help patients learn to manage their stress, and yoga and tai chi for stretching and relaxation.

Reviewed by: David Rakel, MD

Date reviewed: December 2007

When Your Child Has Lactose Intolerance

Date updated: May 15, 2006
Content provided by Krames

Lactose intolerance is not a milk allergy. Having lactose intolerance means that your child can't digest lactose. This is a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. To digest lactose, the body needs an enzyme (a kind of protein) called lactase. Lactase is made by cells in the small intestine. Your child's body may not make enough lactase to digest lactose. Undigested lactose can cause uncomfortable symptoms. The good news is that lactose intolerance can be managed so your child can feel better.

What Are the Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance?

Lactose intolerant children can have painful symptoms after eating or drinking dairy products. Common symptoms include:

• Bloating
• Excessive gas
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Pain or cramping in the belly

How Is Lactose Intolerance Diagnosed?

The most common test used to diagnose lactose intolerance is called the hydrogen breath test. This test measures the level of a gas called hydrogen in your child's breath. Hydrogen is produced by bacteria in the colon (large intestine) in response to undigested lactose. Hydrogen is carried through the bloodstream to the lungs, where it is breathed out. High levels of hydrogen in your child's breath means that lactose is not being digested properly.

How Is Lactose Intolerance Treated?

The best way to manage your child's symptoms is to reduce or eliminate sources of lactose. This includes most dairy products, such as:

• Milk
• Butter
• Cream
• Cheese
• Ice cream

Children with lactose intolerance can sometimes eat or drink dairy products without symptoms. At first, your child's doctor may want to remove all lactose from your child's diet to stop symptoms. Then, you can work with the doctor to learn what kinds of dairy products your child can tolerate. A lactose enzyme supplement may be prescribed to help your child digest lactose without having symptoms.

Kids Need Calcium

Dairy products are a good source of calcium. Kids need calcium for bone growth and strength. Talk to your child's doctor about ways to give your child enough calcium without dairy. Foods other than dairy products that contain calcium include:

• Green vegetables such as broccoli, kale, bok choy (Chinese cabbage), and turnip greens
• Fish with edible bones such as canned salmon
• Alfalfa or soy sprouts
• Tofu, soybeans, pinto beans, and navy beans
• Almonds
• Sesame seeds
• Molasses
• Calcium-fortified drinks such as orange juice, soy milk, and rice milk
• Lactose-free milk

©2007 Krames. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care provider's instructions.

Why Go Organic?

Content provided by Alternative Medicine Magazine

1 Organic food delivers more nutrition. Studies have repeatedly found increased levels of some nutrients in various organic foods. "That means more nutritional quality per calorie and food serving," explains Dr. Charles Benbrook, chief scientist at the Organic Center for Education and Promotion in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Findings from the University of California at Davis (UCD) suggest that organic foods have much higher antioxidant levels -- for example, organic strawberries, marionberries (blackberry type) and corn had significantly more flavonoids (19, 50 and 58.5 percent respectively) than conventionally grown varieties, as well as higher levels of vitamin C. Meanwhile, a USDA study comparing lycopene content in 13 brands of catsup found organic brands generally packed 57 percent more than national brands and 55 percent more than store brands. "By buying and consuming organic foods fairly consistently, consumers can easily double their daily intake of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants," says Benbrook.

2 Eating organic dramatically reduces pesticide exposure. If you're consuming the USDA recommended "five-a-day" servings of fruit and vegetables, you're probably taking in six or more helpings of pesticide residue daily, says Benbrook. Various pesticides have been linked with adverse effects on fertility and fetal development and with increased cancer risk. According to Benbrook, more than 90 percent of conventionally grown produce contains pesticide residue, compared with 20 percent of organically produced fruits and vegetables, and these have much lower concentrations. (Pesticide residue on organic produce comes from soil that previously supported conventional farming and pesticide drift from neighboring farms.)

3 Eating organic can decrease your intake of food additives such as MSG (monosodium glutamate), artificial sweeteners and food coloring agents. Various additives and dyes have been linked to food allergies, hyperactivity, neurological disease and cancer.

4 You won't find any growth hormones or antibiotics in meat or dairy. Growth hormones, which are injected in cows to increase lean muscle mass and milk production, have been linked to early puberty development and a higher risk of cancer.

5 Organic food doesn't contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The jury is still out on the health effects of eating transgenetic food, such as wheat that's had a fish gene spliced into it. You can steer clear of "Frankenfoods" by choosing organic and avoid playing the guess-what-you're-really-eating game altogether.

6 Organic food tastes better, fresher longer. "Organic produce tends to taste better, most likely because of higher antioxidant levels, which help it store longer too," says Alyson Mitchell, PhD, the nutritional scientist at UCD who led the antioxidant studies. Also, many organic farmers are small, local food producers, so food can get to market much more quickly -- sometimes even the same day it was picked. And because it tastes better and fresher, Benbrook believes it can encourage people to reach the daily recommendation of five to 10 servings more easily.

Organic by the numbers

In food industry surveys of U.S. consumers taken in 2004,
* 66% say they use organic products at least occasionally.
* 27% ate more organic food than they did the previous year.
* 70% worry about the health risks of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals in food.
* 32% say organic food tastes better.
* 54% think organic food is better for their health.
* 58% think organic food is better for the environment

©2004-2007 Alternative Medicine Magazine