Belly Fat Carries an Increased Risk for Major Diseases

The cut-off point that increases your risk is 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men at the waistline. The risk is for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, certain cancers, and Alzheimer’s disease. The risk is higher if your weight is in the belly, rather than the hips and legs. The mechanism lies with certain hormones, such as insulin and estrogen, and alterations in triglycerides. The cure is with diet and exercise. Kerry Stewart and associates of Johns Hopkins Medical School found that a healthy low carb diet might be more effective than other weight loss regimes for belly fat. If you do everything right and still do not lose, the HCG diet almost always works (500 calories a day for 23-40 days, and you don’t usually get hungry). See AARP Bulletin, July/Aug, 2012 issue, p. 8-13. www.healthcelebration.com

What Foods Are Most Important to Eat Organically?

The Environmental Working group of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has listed the foods most likely to contain toxic pesticides. If you have to prioritize, these are the ones to seek out of the organic section (in order): apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, nectarines, grapes, bell peppers, potatoes, lettuce, blueberries, and kale. Of course, the more organic, the better, but it is not easy to be perfect. See Psychology Today, July/Aug issue, 2012, 41-43.

How to Survive a Heart Attack

The International College of Clinical Metal Toxicology reminds us of the advice of Virend Somers, a Mayo Clinic Cardiologist. Most heart attacks occur in the morning. Especially of you snore, get tested for sleep apnea. We now have portable units that allow you to do the test at home in your own bed. If you take aspirin or other platelet inhibitors such as fish oil or nattokinase, the best time to take them is probably at bedtime, when these agents are at their highest effect. Keep dissolvable aspirin at your bedside. If you have chest pressure or pain, chin pain, excessive sweating, nausea or profound weakness (pain is not a requirement), take two low dose aspirins with a little water and sit up, while someone calls the EMS (lying down increases the risk). Soon after you are sent home from the hospital, see a doctor who offers chelation therapy to prevent complications or a recurrence. See Somers V. J American College of Cardiology, July 29, 2008 and International College of Clinical Metal Toxicology, Peter van der Schaar, President.

GMO’s are Spreading Like Wildfire

Jonathan Wright’s newsletter has exposed the prevalence and danger of Genetically Modified Foods, courtesy of mega-corporations, such as Monsanto with Roundup. Such chemicals alter the genes of natural foods to increase their shelf lives and make them more resistant to disease. The problem is that undesirable alterations occur at the same time. Kidney and liver deterioration and abnormal lipid changes might occur. Further, if we eat GMO foods, we might create gene alterations in our own bodies. Common GMO foods are alfalfa, canola, corn, papaya, soy, sugar beets and squashes. Meat, milk and eggs might contain GMOs due to being fed GMO crops. Pending legislation in California could require that GMOs be labeled. Who would eat them if one had a choice? See Nutrition and Healing online @ www.WrightNewsletter.com, July issue.