An Aspirin A Day Can Keep Cancer at Bay : Study

LONDON - Three new studies published today added to growing scientific evidence suggesting that taking a daily dose of aspirin can help prevent, and possibly treat, cancer.

Previous studies have found that daily aspirin reduces the long-term risk of death due to cancer, but until now the shorter-term effects have been less certain - as has the medicine's potential in patients already diagnosed with cancer.




The new studies, led by Dr Peter Rothwell of Britain's Oxford University, found that aspirin also has a short-term benefit in preventing cancer, and that it reduces the likelihood that cancers will spread to other organs by about 40 to 50 per cent.

"These findings add to the case for use of aspirin to prevent cancer, particularly if people are at increased risk," Dr Rothwell said.

"Perhaps more importantly, they also raise the distinct possibility that aspirin will be effective as an additional treatment for cancer - to prevent distant spread of the disease."

This was particularly important because it is the process of spread of cancer, or "metastasis", which most often kills people with the disease, he added.

Aspirin, originally developed by Bayer, is a cheap over-the-counter drug generally used to combat pain or reduce fever.

The drug reduces the risk of clots forming in blood vessels and can therefore protect against heart attacks and strokes, so it is often prescribed for people who already suffer with heart disease and have already had one or several attacks.

Aspirin also increases the risk of bleeding in the stomach to around one patient in every thousand per year, a factor which has fuelled an intense debate about whether doctors should advise patients to take it as regularly as every day.

Last year, a study by British researchers questioned the wisdom of daily aspirin for reducing the risk of early death from a heart attack or stroke because they said the increased risk of internal bleeding outweighed the potential benefit.

Other studies, including some by Dr Rothwell in 2007, 2010 and last year, found that an aspirin a day, even at a low dose of around 7mg, reduces the long-term risk of developing some cancers, particularly bowel and oesophageal cancer, but the effects do not show until eight to 10 years after the start of treatment.

Dr Rothwell, whose new studies were published in The Lancet and The Lancet Oncology journals today, said this delay was because aspirin was preventing the very early development of cancers and there was a long time lag between this stage and a patient having clinical signs or symptoms of cancer.

Dr Rothwell and others said deeper research was now needed into aspirin as a potential treatment for cancer in patients whose disease has not yet spread.

"No drug has been shown before to prevent distant metastasis and so these findings should focus future research on this crucial aspect of treatment," he said.

Dr Peter Johnson, chief clinician at the charity Cancer Research UK, said his group was already investigating the anti-cancer properties of aspirin. "These findings show we're on the right track," he said.

In a written commentary on the research in The Lancet, Dr Andrew Chan and Dr Nancy Cook of Harvard Medical School in the United States said it was "impressive" and moved health experts "another step closer to broadening recommendations for aspirin use". REUTERS ------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------

Strawberries Shown To Protect Stomach Against Ulcers

Yahoo News .....

People who suffer from stomach ulcers should consider tucking into a pint of fresh strawberries, particularly if the inflammation is related to excessive alcohol consumption, suggests a new study.

The new research, published in the journal PLoS One (Public Library of Science) and announced Tuesday, found that the powerful antioxidant properties of strawberries can act as a protective barrier to stomach ulcers.

In their study, a team of scientists from Italy, Serbia and Spain put a group of rats on a diet that included strawberry extracts for 10 days, before inducing gastric damage by giving the animals ethanol.

Rats that ate strawberry extract were found to have less ulcerations by about 40 mg/day per kilo of weight, compared to those that didn't.

Not only did the strawberries' antioxidant capacity help strengthen the stomach lining, but they were also found to activate the body's own defenses and enzymes, researchers said. Eating strawberries can also help alleviate damage either before or after the onset of inflammation.

The new findings could pave the way for new protective ulcer treatments.

Ulcers can be caused by alcohol consumption, viral infections or medications like aspirin.

Researchers pointed out, however, that their study was not conceived to mitigate the effects of getting drunk, but to discover new ways of protecting the stomach against damage.

Previous studies have also shown that strawberries can strengthen red blood cells' response to oxidative stress, which is often a precursor to cancer and other chronic diseases.

More Evidence Obesity Tied To Colon Cancer : Study

(Reuters) - Older adults who are heavy, especially around the middle, seem to have a higher risk of developing colon cancer than their thinner peers -- and exercise may lower the incidence of the disease, especially for women, a European study said.

More than 120,000 adults in the Netherlands aged 55 to 69 were followed for 16 years by the study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

During that time, about two percent developed colorectal cancer, tumors of the colon and/or rectum, though most were diagnosed with colon cancer.

The risk was 25 percent higher for men who were significantly overweight or obese at the outset, versus normal-weight men.

"The study provides further evidence that excess body fat may contribute to a higher risk of colorectal cancer," said lead researcher Laura Hughes, at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, in an email.

For men, waist size seemed to matter most. Men with the biggest bellies, gauged by their self-reported trouser size, had a 63 percent greater risk of colorectal cancer than men who were trimmest around the middle.

Among women, though, a large waistline was only linked to a higher cancer risk in women who also got little exercise, defined as less than 30 minutes a day.

Women who topped a "44" in pants size -- about a size 16 in the United States -- and got little exercise were 83 percent more likely to develop colon cancer than women who had smaller waistlines and exercised more than 90 minutes a day.

Studies have tied abdominal obesity to other health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, and belly fat seems to be particularly linked to chronic, low-level inflammation in the body, Hughes added.

"One of our most intriguing observations was that abdominal fat was associated with colorectal cancer in women only when combined with low exercise levels," she said.

It's not clear why that might be, or why the pattern was seen only in women, Hughes added. Calorie balance, or how much you take in through food versus how much you burn through exercise, may be important.

"Women should focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle rather than simply paying attention to what the scale says," Hughes added.

Risk factors for colorectal disease include older age, a history of colitis or Crohn's disease, a family history of the cancer, and smoking. Some studies have also linked diets high in animal fat, and low in fruits, vegetables and fibre to an increased risk. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/rTElMb

(Reporting from New York by Amy Norton at Reuters Health; editing by Elaine Lies and Sanjeev Miglani)

30 Tricks and Tips to Cancer-proof Your Life

We're all grown-ups here -- nightmares aren't a big problem anymore. We're calm, we're cool, we're mostly collected...until it comes to the C-word. For adults, cancer is the thing that goes bump in the night; that bump gets louder when family or friends are diagnosed. Whether your risk is monumental or blessedly average, we know you want to protect yourself. So we've combed through research, interrogated experts, and found cutting-edge strategies to help keep you safe.

Worship a wee bit of sun. People who get the most vitamin D, which lies dormant in skin until ultraviolet rays activate it, may protect themselves from a variety of cancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast, and colon. Ironically, it even improves survival rates of melanoma, the most serious skin cancer. But 10 to 15 minutes a few days a week is all it takes to benefit. (Or you could try a supplement--aim for 400 IU a day.) If you're out any longer than that, slather on the sunscreen.

Eat an orange every day. It just may zap a strain of the H. pylori bacteria that causes peptic ulcers and can lead to stomach cancer. Researchers in San Francisco found that infected people with high levels of vitamin C in their blood were less likely to test positive for the cancer-causing strain.

Listen to Katie Couric. Though colonoscopies are about as popular as root canals, if you're 50 or older, get one. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Don't think you're off the hook because you got a digital fecal occult blood test at your last checkup: Research by the Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study found that the test missed 95% of the cases. (Schedule your first colonoscopy before your 50th if you have a family history of colon cancer.)

Steam a little green. Piles of studies have shown that piles of broccoli help stave off ovarian, stomach, lung, bladder, and colorectal cancers. And steaming it for 3 to 4 minutes enhances the power of the cancer-fighting compound sulforaphane, which has been shown to halt the growth of breast cancer cells. (Sorry, microwaving doesn't do the trick; it strips out most antioxidants.) Get more protection by sprinkling a handful of selenium-rich sunflower seeds, nuts, or mushrooms on your greens. Researchers are discovering that sulforaphane is about 13 times more potent when combined with the mineral selenium.

Pick a doc with a past. Experience--lots of it--is critical when it comes to accurately reading mammograms. A study from the University of California, San Francisco, found that doctors with at least 25 years' experience were more accurate at interpreting images and less likely to give false positives. Ask about your radiologist's track record. If she is freshly minted or doesn't check a high volume of mammograms, get a second read from someone with more mileage.

Drink jolt-less java. Downing 2 or more cups of decaf a day may lower the incidence of rectal cancer by 52%, finds a study from two large and long-term research projects--the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study from Harvard University. One theory is that coffee increases bowel movements, which helps to reduce the risk. Why decaf reigns supreme, however, remains a mystery.

Drop 10 pounds. Being overweight or obese accounts for 20% of all cancer deaths among women and 14% among men, notes the American Cancer Society. (You're overweight if your body mass index is between 25 and 29.9; you're obese if it's 30 or more. Click here to gauge your BMI.) Plus, losing excess pounds reduces the body's production of female hormones, which may protect against breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Even if you're not technically overweight, gaining just 10 pounds after the age of 30 increases your risk of developing breast, pancreatic, and cervical, among other cancers.

Make like a monkey. Or a bunny. Women who ate four to six antioxidant-laden bananas a week cut their risk of kidney cancer by 54%, compared with those who didn't eat them at all, found an analysis of 61,000 women at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Gnawing on root vegetables such as carrots did the same.

Get naked with a friend. You'll need help examining every inch of your body--including your back, scalp, and other hard-to-see places--for possible changes in the size or color of moles, blemishes, and freckles. These marks could spell skin cancer. Women, take special note of your legs: Melanoma mainly occurs there. For the guys, the trunk, head, and neck are the most diagnosed spots. While you're at it, check your fingernails and toenails, too. Gray-black discoloration or a distorted or elevated nail may indicate the disease. And whether you see changes or not, after age 40, everyone should see a dermatologist yearly.

See into the future. Go to Your Disease Risk to assess your chance of developing 12 types of cancer, including ovarian, breast, and colon. After the interactive tool estimates your risk, you'll get personalized tips for prevention.

Pay attention to pain. If you're experiencing a bloated belly, pelvic pain, and an urgent need to urinate, see your doc. These symptoms may signal ovarian cancer, particularly if they're severe and frequent. Women and physicians often ignore these symptoms, and that's the very reason that this disease can be deadly. When caught early, before cancer has spread outside the ovary, the relative 5-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is a jaw-dropping 90 to 95%.

Get calcium daily. Milk's main claim to fame may also help protect your colon. Those who took calcium faithfully for 4 years had a 36% reduction in the development of new pre-cancerous colon polyps 5 years after the study had ended, revealed Dartmouth Medical School researchers. (They tracked 822 people who took either 1,200 mg of calcium every day or a placebo.) Though the study was not on milk itself, you can get the same amount of calcium in three 8-ounce glasses of fat-free milk, along with an 8-ounce serving of yogurt or a 2- to 3-ounce serving of low-fat cheese daily.

Sweat 30 minutes a day. One of the best anticancer potions is a half hour of motion at least 5 days a week. Any kind of physical activity modulates levels of androgens and estrogen, two things that can protect women against estrogen-driven cancers such as ovarian and endometrial, as well as some types of breast cancer. The latest proof comes by way of a Canadian study that found that women who get regular, moderate exercise may lower their risk of ovarian cancer by as much as 30%. Bonus: All that moving might speed everything through your colon, which may help stave off colon cancer.

Stamp out smoking--all around you. Lung cancer is well known as one of the main hazards of smoking. But everything the smoke passes on its way to the lungs can also turn cancerous: mouth, larynx, and esophagus. The fun doesn't stop there. Smokers are encouraging stomach, liver, prostate, colorectal, cervical, and breast cancers as well. The good news: If you give up the cigs today, within 15 years, your lung cancer risk will drop to almost pre-smoking lows. Share that news with the people who puff around you, because exposure to someone else's smoke can cause lung cancer, and it may boost your chances of cervical cancer by 40%.

Step away from the white bread. If you eat a lot of things with a high glycemic load--a measurement of how quickly food raises your blood sugar--you may run a higher risk of colorectal cancer than women who eat low-glycemic-load foods, finds a Harvard Medical School study involving 38,000 women. The problem eats are mostly white: white bread, pasta, potatoes, and sugary pastries. The low-glycemic-load stuff comes with fiber. To find out how your diet fares, go to "Your Guide to the Glycemic Index."

Have your genes screened. Do you have a strong family history of any kind of cancer or multiple cancers? Talk with your doctor about genetic counseling. For instance, nearly everyone born with familial adenomatous polyposis (the genetic predisposition to colon cancer) develops the disease by age 40 if preventive surgery isn't done. Knowing this early can aid in prevention and early detection.

Request a better breast scan. If you're at high risk of breast cancer--you have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation, for example--ask your doctor to pair your routine mammogram with an MRI. One study found that together, the two picked up 94% of tumors; mammography
alone detected just 40% and MRI, 77%.

Grill smarter. Cooking your food over an open flame is a great way to cut calories. Unfortunately, it can also raise your cancer risk: The grill's high temps can trigger substances in muscle proteins to form cancer-causing compounds called hetero-cyclic amines, or HCAs. But avoiding this potential hazard is easy; simply keep gas jets low or wait until the charcoal turns into glowing embers before you start cooking. Protect yourself even more by lacing your burgers with rosemary (and perhaps other antioxidant-rich herbs such as basil, oregano, or thyme). This helps reduce the amount of some HCAs in meat, a Kansas State University study found. Also helpful: Microwaving meat ahead of time helps disable HCA formation and cuts down on grilling time.

Keep your house clean. Yet another reason to love your Swiffer: Active postmenopausal women who got most of their exercise from housework cut their risk of breast cancer by 30%, Canadian researchers say.

Let garlic lie. Thanks to this bulbed wonder, you can ward off vampires and stave off cancer. To preserve the potential cancer-fighting power of garlic, chop it up and let it sit a bit. Research suggests that heating garlic can block 90% of the activity of alliinase, the enzyme that helps to form a cancer-fighting compound. Alliinase is activated when the cloves are crushed or cut, but if cut garlic cools its heels for 5 to 10 minutes before heating, enough compounds are formed to survive cooking.

Check for radon. Exposure to this odorless, radioactive gas that's produced by the natural decay of uranium is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, according to the EPA. Test your home to see if you're safe. The National Safety Council's National Radon Hotline (800-767-7236) offers low-cost test kits; they're also available at hardware stores.

Play hot tomato. Red fruits (watermelon, tomato, pink grapefruit) are loaded with lycopene, a substance that has been proven time and time again to be a potent cancer fighter. It seems that heating said fruits makes the lycopene easier for the body to use, which explains why men who eat a lot of ketchup, pizza (it's in the sauce), and spaghetti (ditto) are far less likely to get prostate cancer.

Ditch the wieners. You can smother 'em in all the ketchup you want, but you can't negate a hot dog's, well, negatives. One study of 190,545 people found that eating a wiener daily may boost your risk of pancreatic cancer, which is nearly always fatal, by 67%. Same goes for sausage and other processed meats.

The Perfect Cancer- fighting Salad
Can you spot the cancer fighters at the salad bar? Build yourself some powerful protection with these ingredients.

Start with leafy greens. They contain a hefty amount of the B vitamin folate, which has been shown to reduce one's chances of getting colorectal, ovarian, and breast cancers. In one study, researchers at Vanderbilt University found that women who ate the mostly dark greens were among the least likely to get breast cancer. Apparently, folate can halt changes in DNA that trigger runaway cell growth, the main characteristic of cancer.

Add shredded carrot. In a study from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, women who ate just five servings of four raw carrot sticks a week had a 54% decrease in their risk of getting ovarian cancer, compared with women who ate them less than once a month. Carrots may also reduce your risk of kidney cancer.

Serve yourself some tomatoes. If you don't feel like turning up the heat on your tomatoes, you can still get some of their cancer-shielding benefits. German research on 165 colonoscopy patients found that those who had the lowest blood level of lycopene, one of the chemicals that give tomatoes their color, had the highest rate of colorectal adenomas, a precursor to colorectal cancer. Toss a few into your guy's salad: They also reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Heap on beans. Women who ate beans at least twice a week were 24% less likely to develop breast cancer than those who ate them less often, report Harvard School of Public Health researchers, who analyzed data from 90,630 people. Legumes may lessen risk of breast cancer, thanks to their ability to suppress the production of enzymes that encourage tumor growth.

Add a little fish. Want to add something hardy to your lunchtime salad? Go wild with salmon. When B6-rich foods (like salmon) are eaten with folate-filled foods (dark leafy greens), they can help reduce the recurrence of colorectal adenomas, a precursor to colorectal cancer, by 39%, a University of Arizona study found. Salmon may also help shield regular eaters from skin cancer, British research found.

Splash on some vinaigrette. Mixing your favorite vinegar with olive oil can also help prevent breast cancer. Scientists from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine found that oleic acid in olive oil dramatically cuts the levels of the cancer gene Her-2/neu, associated with highly aggressive breast tumors with poor prognosis.

Garnish with citrus peel. They're like eating sunscreen--but they taste better. Limonene - a compound that gives oranges, lemons, and limes their scent--is linked to a 34% reduction in skin cancer, finds a University of Arizona study of 400 people.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
By Denise Foley , Denise Foley is Prevention's editor-at-large.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Herbal Treatment for High Blood Cholesterol

************************************
Article contributed by Carolus Wong
************************************

I want to share a secret for treating high cholesterol.

Three weeks ago l went for a cholesterol check. To my surprise, it was above the normal range which should be less than 5.2 mmol/L. My reading obtained was 6.6. I had been consuming alot of red meat and lamb recently.

After consuming Mok Yee for two weeks, l had my cholesterol checked again and found that my cholesterol level fell to 4.70 mmol/ L

My pharmacist said that even cholesterol medication will need 1- 3 months to take effect. She was very surprised and said it is a miracle.

I immediately followed an advice of a friend who told me about Black fungus (Mok Yee).

He had four blocked heart arteries, over 90 percent blocked. His cardiologist advised him to go for bypass surgery, failing which he would suffer an imminent heart attack. His sinseh (chinese physician) friend advised him against surgery as the procedure would be messy,painful and expensive..

He followed the advise of his sinseh friend by consuming Mok Yee daily. After consumin g boiled Mok Yee juice for 40 days, he went for an angiogram. His heart specialist was surprised and shocked that his arteries were all cleared of any blockage and it would not be necessary to see him for another 10 years+ ACE -&! nbsp;

My observation is that Mok Yee juice is not only effective in treating high blood cholestrol but also helps to bring relief to joint paints, arthritis and poor blood circulation.

The internet info. claims : that Mok yee reduces blood clot, preventing thrombosis, atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, and cancer. Black Fungus contains abundant proteins, ferric iron, calcium, vitamins, rough fibre, the content of protein is equal to meat.

Preparation :

1) Pick a handful of Mok Yee and soak in water for 1-2 h! ours
2) Wash Mok Yee and cut to pieces with scissors.
3) Pour five bowls of plain water into slow cooker (crock pot)
4) Put 2-3 slices of ginger, 8-10 red dates, 20 kay chee(wolf berry) into crock pot.
5) Bring to boil for 8 hours. One and a half bowls of Mok Yee juice will remain after boiling overnight.

Consumption :

You may consume for 10 to 14 days according to the severity of the problem.
For those with low blood pressure consume less or only for alternate days.

Drink Mok Yee first thing in the morning with an 'empty stomach'.
Consume at least one large bowl. Take breakfast 2 hours later.

Side effects - you may feel a little tired after 3- 4 days.
Consume multivitamins and fresh fruits and vegetables daily.
Do not eat oily or fried foods during this period.

Observation :

Dark and oily stool during the first two days.

Remarks :

Cholesterol medication is man-made and may harm the liver. Mok Yee is a plant and does not seem to contain chemicals that harm the body.

Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplements : Benefits, Side Effects, and Best Brand.

Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplements : Benefits, Side Effects, and Best Brand

For the last few years, I've been recommending omega 3 fish oil supplements to practically everyone I know. Do you know why that means something? It's because I am FAR from a supplement-person. I barely use anything. Not only do I hate wasting money on junk I don't need or could get from actual foods, I'm also WAY over cautious about side effects and the things I put into my body in general. At the same time, I'm also usually the first one laughing at the supposed "magical" health benefits of all of the weird nutritional products, vitamins, herbs and minerals on the market. Really, I'm the last person to take or recommend any kind of nutritional supplement.

With all of that being said... I've personally been taking and recommending an omega 3 fish oil supplement to practically everyone I know. And that, my friends, should tell you just how useful and important I think it is.

In this article, I'm going to explain exactly why fish oil has become my personal favorite supplement and the only one that I recommend to every single person reading this no matter who you are. I'll explain all of its proven health benefits (yes, scientifically proven) and whether or not there are any side effects (there aren't). I'll explain omega 3 fatty acids in general, talk about how much you should take, and give you my recommendation for the highest quality fish oil supplement brand on the market. Basically, by the end of this article you're going to want to start recommending it to everyone you know, too.

What is it?

The only real reason fish and fish oil are considered so healthy is that they contain the omega 3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). You know how there are good types of fat and bad types of fat? Well, this is the really good one. Fish just happens to be the best and most abundant source of it.

Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid, which means is cannot be manufactured by our own body and therefore must be obtained through our diet alone. The thing is, most people's diet's contain an insufficient amount of omega 3. Not to mention, they also contain a very high amount of the omega 6 fatty acid. The ideal ratio of the two is something near 2:1. In reality for the average person, it's more like 20:1 or even more. Most people just lack omega 3, which is why a fish oil supplement could be beneficial to pretty much everyone. Speaking of benefits...

What are the benefits of taking an omega 3 fish oil supplement?

It's magical! Ok... that's obviously an exaggeration, but from all of the scientific studies done and all of the medical research known, an omega 3 fish oil supplement is my pick for the closest thing to a real life miracle pill.

Let's take a look at some of its benefits taken directly from MedlinePlus, which is a service of the US National Library of Medicine:

- lowers blood triglyceride levels
- reduces the risk of heart attack
- reduces the risk of dangerous abnormal heart rhythms
- reduces the risk of strokes
- slows the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques
- lowers blood pressure
- reduces stiffness and joint tenderness associated with Rheumatoid arthritis

An omega 3 fish oil supplement may also help improve or prevent the following:

- Alzheimer's disease and dementia
- depression
- heart disease
- cancer
- arthritis
- diabetes
- hyperactivity
- ADHD

has also been shown to improve a person's ability to concentrate and just think clearer in general. And, as if all of this isn't enough, fish oil is also highly recommended by nearly every well respected strength and conditioning coach, trainer, and diet/fitness/nutrition expert of any kind as one of the few supplements that should be taken by anyone with the goal of building muscle, losing fat, or improving their fitness level or athletic ability in any capacity.

Everything mentioned above has at least some amount actual scientific proof behind it. Researching some other sources showed me that some people experienced other benefits not mentioned above. For example, I've heard of people claiming to have improved vision, improved memory, improved mood, and less back pain.

Long story short, a fish oil supplement appears to improve our body's ability to do damn near everything.

For me personally, I feel I experienced some of the mental and physical benefits. I noticed a definite improvement in mental clarity and really just the way I feel in general. Now, I didn't develop any kind of super powers or anything, but after a couple of weeks, I felt like I noticed a difference. I remember reading the phrase "an enhanced well being" when doing my fish oil research. That's a really good way of describing it. And physically, I feel I noticed an improved calorie partitioning effect, meaning when consuming an excess of calories, more calories went towards the building of new muscle rather than the storing of new fat. I also felt a similar effect when in a caloric deficit, meaning my body did a better job of using stored body fat for energy rather than muscle. Basically, I felt I did indeed experience an overall improvement both physically and mentally.

But really, even if I felt exactly 100% the same, I'd still be taking an omega 3 fish oil supplement anyway. Why? Because even if I didn't notice any of its benefits, the fact that there is actual scientific proof that it may help improve or prevent even 1 (let alone all) of the diseases and disorders listed above is MORE than enough convincing for me.

Can't I just eat fish?

Technically, yes. Fatty fish contains omega 3 just the same as a fish oil supplement would. The only problem is that in order to consume a good amount of omega 3 on a regular basis, you would have to consume a good amount of fish on a regular basis. And, in case you haven't heard, due to all of the toxic contaminants found in fish these days (mercury, chlordane, dioxin, PCBs, and more) it is pretty hard to recommend anyone eat fish on daily basis. Fortunately, supplement companies can greatly improve its purity by removing these contaminants. Of course, some brands do this better than others. More on that later.

Are there any side effects?

No, for the most part, there are no side effects. You have to realize here, it's oil from fish. It's not like a dangerous fat burner/muscle builder type product. I mean, do you ask what the side effects are before eating some salmon? I didn't think so. Taking a fish oil supplement is no different than just eating fish (minus the contaminants, of course).

So, for the average healthy person, it's completely safe. Of course, if you are pregnant, allergic to fish, or already have any kind of known health issues, you should check with your doctor first just to be safe.

The only other thing I've heard of that even slightly resembles side effects is "a fishy after taste." And, while this is far from a serious side effect, this appears to only happen if you are taking a low quality fish oil supplement. For example, I've never tasted a hint of fish even for a second in all of the time I've been taking it. (More on which brand I use below.)

How much should I take?

The real question here is how much shouldn't you take. For safety purposes, the FDA recommends no more than 3 grams of combined EPA and DHA per day. For the brand I'm going to recommend below, 1 serving (2 capsules) contains 650mg of EPA and 450mg of DHA. Combined that is 1.1 grams of EPA/DHA. If you took two servings per day (4 capsules), that would be a 2.2 grams of combined EPA/DHA. Even though you're still .8 below the maximum 3 grams per day, I personally wouldn't recommend any more than that.

So, for the specific brand I recommend below, 1 serving (2 capsules) would be perfectly fine, with 2 servings (4 capsules) being a good maximum amount. That would mean staying between 1 and 2 servings per day, which is between 2-4 capsules per day of this specific brand. I personally take 3 capsules of this brand per day. Speaking of brands...

What brand should I use? Is one really better than the others?

This is something I did a lot of research about. Like I mentioned at the very beginning, I'm extremely careful about what I put into my body, which is why I spent a lot of time researching fish oil brands to find out if some were indeed better than others. And, the brand I can definitively say is the highest quality omega 3 fish oil supplement available is Nordic Naturals.

Besides seeing this brand specifically recommended by a handful of doctors, I also read two different consumer reports that performed a variety of tests on a variety of brand name fish oil supplements. And, while most of them passed, Nordic Naturals scored the best. So, yeah, a lot of brands are probably perfectly fine. But for me, when it comes to something like an omega 3 fish oil supplement, I want the best. I've done enough research to be more than confident in the fact that Nordic Naturals is one of, if not THE best. I've been using their brand for quite a while now, and they get my full recommendation.

As for the specifics, I use Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega, which contains significantly more EPA and DHA per capsule than most other brands. This not only means more bang for your buck, but it also means you won't have to take a million capsules per day. There are 120 capsules per bottle, so if you take the recommended 2 capsules per day, you'll only have to order another bottle just 6 times per year. Not bad, not bad at all.

As for where to get it, I order it from here for pretty much the best price I've seen it sold for: Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega

So, there you have it... everything you need to know about my personal favorite supplement, fish oil.

***************************************************
Article taken from : http://www.intense-workout.com
***************************************************

Tea Benefits

Tea is known as nature’s 'wonder drug'. Of late, tea and its healthy benefits have been receiving wide attention in the media. The ability of tea to promote good health has long been believed in many countries, especially Japan, China, India, and even England.

The buzz about tea and its benefits is getting louder and is simply becoming too difficult to ignore. Enlightened tea drinkers are rediscovering the protective and revitalizing benefits of this ancient drink.

Ever wonder why the Chinese and Japanese have some of the longest life-expectancy rates in the world. Shhh…here’s the secret: they drink tea a lot.

Read on! Embark on a journey of discovery about tea benefits.

Who knows, what you read here may eventually save you and your family’s life.

First of all, you need to answer these very simple questions:

Are you concerned that your kids might join the burgeoning ranks of obese children due to the unhealthy effects of their everyday consumption of tasty treats like burgers, hotdogs, pizza, chips and candies?

Are you concerned about the lurking threat of heart attacks and strokes that might hit you, your spouse or your parents anytime due to the adverse effects of fat-filled diet, smoking, and drinking?

Are you concerned that the stress of everyday life and exposure to harmful elements in the environment could wear your family’s defenses down and expose them to the threat of cancer?

Tea: Health Benefits and Wonders

Tea is the second most widely consumed beverage in the world, exceeded only by the most necessary of all liquids - water. Tea is an integral part of everyday societal life in many of the world’s most populous countries. This has made tea the most popular beverage for a huge swath of the world’s people.

Tea is prepared from linder leaves, leaf buds and tender stalks of different varieties of the warm-weather evergreen known as camellia sinensis. The most popular types of tea are:

Green Tea
Black Tea

Other teas are:

Ginseng Tea
Herbal Tea
Oolong Tea
Rooibos Tea
White Tea

The degree of processing the leaves of camellia sinensis determines whether a tea will be green, black or red (oolong). Green tea is the least processed. These are simply steamed quickly before packaging. Black and red tea are partially dried, crushed and fermented. The length of fermentation, which causes the leaves to blacken, determines whether the tea will be red or black.

Recent research shows that any tea derived from camellia sinensis has cancer-fighting properties. The leaves of this plant contain chemicals called polyphenols, which give tea its antioxidant properties.

Polyphenols in tea have been known to:

Help protect cells from the normal, but damaging, physiological process known as "oxidative stress." Although oxygen is vital to life, it's also incorporated into reactive substances called free radicals. These can damage the cells in our body and have been implicated in the slow chain reaction of damage leading to heart disease and cancer.

Help prevent blood clotting
Help lower cholesterol levels
Help neutralize enzymes that aid in the growth of tumors
Help deactivate cancer promoters
Help stimulate the immune system

Tea also has fluoride for strong teeth, virtually no calories, and half the amount of caffeine found in an equally-sized cup of coffee. Whether decaffeinated tea has the same level of polyphenols, and thus the same health benefits, as regular tea has not yet been studied. Caffeine is a natural component of tea leaves. It is not yet known if removing caffeine also removes polyphenols.

Apart from polyphenols, tea also contains a variety of ingredients that are beneficial to one's health. These include theanine (an amino acid unique to tea), vitamins, minerals, and methylxanthines. These are the components that are the source of the healthful properties of tea. These are known to:

Help fight against mutagenic agents
Delay aging
Help fight high blood pressure
Help fight against viral and bacterial infection
Help improve the functions of the digestive and excretory systems

To sum it up - by drinking 2-4 cups a day of tea, you can reap in the numerous curative and preventive tea benefits.

For more information, visit :

http://www.teabenefits.com/

Don Tolman - The Myth of Cancer

========================================

========================================