~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Volume 3, Issue 3
Welcome to Heartland's NATURAL SOLUTIONS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY newsletter. We are excited to share relevant news about natural health topics and offer alternative and complimentary options for you and your family. We are committed to helping you find more complete answers to your health concerns, and look forward to being a friend as you seek greater health through innovative natural products, ideas, and educational resources. For personalized direction, call our helpline at 1-888-772-2345.
TOPICS IN TODAY'S ISSUE:
-Did You Know? Fat can help you lose weight and an artificial sweetener can sabotage your diet.
-In the News: What’s the best diet for preventing heart disease?
-Alkalizing Your Body
-Recipes for Health
Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have.
~ Source Unknown
Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?
~ Frank Scully
There is a fat that can help you lose weight and an artificial sweetener that can sabotage your diet. OMEGA-3 FATS are being increasingly touted as a key component to weight loss. There is even a diet called “The Omega Plan”. On the other hand, the artificial sweetener ASPARTAME (NutraSweet) is getting more and more press about how it can have “diet-astrous” outcomes by actually increasing your appetite! Incidentally, omega-3 essential fatty acids are good for your brain (that’s why fish is called "brain food") while aspartame, a known "excitotoxin" is very bad for your brain (side effects include panic attacks, headaches, memory loss, dizziness, slurred speech, and brain cancer).
GOOD FAT
Is it truly possible that eating more fat is better for your health and weight? According to Dr. Artemis Simopoulos, inventor of The Omega Diet, it all depends on the fat. In his book “The Omega Diet: The Life Saving Nutritional Program Based on the Island of Crete”, he shows the difference between omega-3 fats (those found in fish, flaxseed and some green vegetables), and omega-6 fats (which are found in most meats and vegetable oils). When omega-6 fats are too high in ratio to omega-3 fats in the body, which is common in the United States, it can cause obesity, heart disease, cancer, depression, and a host of other ills, Simopoulos writes. Like so many other things, it is a question of balance. Many people suffer because they have 10 to 20 times more omega-6 in their body than omega-3. Getting enough omega-3 fats to correct this balance not only means better health and handling of stress, but it could be your breakthrough for weight loss! Following The Omega Diet is one way to ensure a better ratio of omega fatty acids.
THE FATS OF LIFE
“After years of telling consumers to eat less fat, health professionals are now advising them to eat more of one particular kind -- omega-3 fats, a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids that seem to play a role in the prevention of heart disease.” Source: “The fats of life: the role of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention of coronary heart disease.” CR. Harper, TA. Jacobson, Arch Intern Med, 2001, vol. 161, pp. 2185—2192
SOURCES OF OMEGA-3s
“Omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in fish, particularly in fatty fish native to cold waters, such as mackerel, salmon, herring, and albacore tuna. Vegetable sources include flaxseed, canola (rapeseed) oil, soybeans and soybean oil, some nuts, wheat germ, pinto beans and some leafy dark greens like kale, bok choy and purslane -- a leafy green popular in the Mediterranean.” http://www.healthandage.com/Home/gid2=1691.
HARMFUL SWEETENER
Overweight & obesity rates in the U.S. remained virtually unchanged from 1960 to 1980, but since diet products with aspartame came to market in the 1980’s, the rates have skyrocketed. Many doctors and health practitioners are pointing to aspartame as one of the major culprits. There is also quite a lot of research and documentation of the seriously harmful effects of aspartame. An astounding 75% of complaints to the FDA are from aspartame use. A great place to get information on aspartame from articles written by doctors is at http://www.321recipes.com/aspartame.html. Here are a few quotes just on the area of weight management:
Dr. Sandra Cabot, MD, Liver Specialist:
"Aspartame makes you fatter... After having been consulted by thousands of overweight people suffering with problems concerning the liver and/or metabolism I can assure you that aspartame will not help you in any way, indeed it will help you to gain unwanted weight." See www.liverdoctor.com.
Rebecca Ephraim, RN, CCN:
"...the amino acid phenylalanine blocks production of serotonin, a nerve chemical that, among other activities, controls food cravings…Nutritionist Susan Allen...believes that when they consume them, the sweet taste of no-calorie sweeteners triggers their bodies to release insulin, even though there is no food to feed the cells. The problem Allen sees is that an "insulin-sensitive" person who uses artificial sweeteners teases his or her body into thinking food is on its way, so insulin is released. But when the body discovers it was cheated out of food, it revolts by throwing a food-craving tantrum that can only be quelled by eating blood sugar food that will more than likely be high-calorie sugary snacks.”
From testimonials and adverse reaction tracking:
"Getting off NutraSweet has taken away my excessive appetite. I eat a big lunch, but have little desire for supper and now that I'm off diet drinks, I've lost 10 pounds in the first month...." See http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/adverse.txt
SOURCES OF ASPARTAME / NutraSweet
Besides practically every diet soda and other diet drinks, aspartame is the most common sweetener for “sugar-free” products. Don’t forget sugar-free gum and mints. Also watch for aspartame in unlikely places, like children’s candy and medicines. Check all labels!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you haven’t started using Heartland Golden Omega Flaxseed, a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, what are you waiting for? Other great Heartland products that make an impact on your weight loss goals include Heartland Natural Progesterone Cream and Heartland “Slim & Easy” Spray Nutrition. Find out how these can help you lose weight – call our toll-free helpline today at 1-888-772-2345.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT’S THE BEST DIET FOR PREVENTING HEART DISEASE?
January 17, 2003, Source: Tufts University
At one time, the only dietary strategy people trying to lower their heart disease risk had was to cut back on fat and cholesterol. But recent research has shown that many other dietary factors may influence the development of heart disease. A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association identifies what may be the most effective dietary strategies for preventing heart disease.
Three dietary traits appeared to have the strongest evidence with regard to their ability to protect the heart. They were the following:
- Replacing saturated fats (like those found in butter, whole milk, and red meat), and trans fat (found in margarine and processed foods) with more healthful fats, such as those found in olive, canola, and soybean oils, as well as in fatty fish, avocados, nuts, and seeds.
- Eating more omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish oil, flaxseed, leafy greens, walnuts, tofu, and canola and soybean oils).
- Regularly eating more fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains, and eating fewer refined grain products, such as white bread, potato chips, pastries, and cookies.
SOURCE: “Optimal diets for prevention of coronary heart disease.” FB. Hu, WC. Willett, JAMA, 2002, vol. 288, pp. 2569--2578
LAWSUIT WARNS OF METHYLMERCURY IN FISHSAN FRANCISCO, California, January 27, 2003 (ENS) - California's attorney general has filed a lawsuit against five grocery store chains, aiming to require the stores to post warnings about the dangers of methylmercury in fish. The suit asks the court to prohibit the stores from selling the fish until they post the required warning. The lawsuit involves Albertsons, Kroger, Safeway, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods.
"Generally, fish are an important source of protein," said Attorney General Bill Lockyer in filing the suit last earlier this month. "But consumers deserve to know when they are being exposed to chemicals that can cause cancer, birth defects and reproductive harm. Public health agencies have advised pregnant women not to eat swordfish and shark because those fish contain relatively high levels of mercury."
For full article see: http://ens-news.com/ens/jan2003/2003-01-27-09.asp#anchor2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR. JOHN R. LEE, M.D. COMING TO MIDWEST
Thursday, April 10th 7PM in Hutchinson, MN - $10 in advance, $15 at the door
Saturday, April 12th, 8AM to Noon in Bloomington, MN (Chiropractors and Health Professionals only – can earn 4 continuing ed credits) - $99 advance tuition, $149 regular tuition
Tuesday, April 15th, 7PM in Des Moines, IA - $10 in advance, $15 at the door
Don’t miss out! Call Heartland for tickets – call 1-888-772-2345.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balancing your overly-acid body makes a big impact on weight management. Besides eating for alkaline balance (more fruits and vegetables, fewer processed foods and meats), food combining also affects acidity/alkalinity. Consider these combinations and how they increase or decrease your efforts to alkalize your body:
ACID FORMING:
Heavy Proteins (meat/fish) + Starches (potatoes/pastas/breads) = EXTREMELY ACID-FORMING
Heavy Proteins + Fruits (especially citrus) = EXTREMELY ACID-FORMING
Heavy Proteins + Vegetables = Slightly acid-forming
Light Proteins (nuts, cheese, beans) + Starches = Slightly acid-forming
Vegetables + Fruits = MODERATELY to slightly acid-forming
Starches + Fruits = MODERATELY acid-forming
ALKALINE FORMING:
Starches + Vegetables = MODERATELY ALKALINE FORMING
Light Proteins + Vegetables = Slightly Alkaline forming
HONEY FLAX BALLS
How about an alkaline-forming, omega-3 rich sweet treat?
Honey (go for the raw, organic varieties – they make a big difference on taste)
Raw Almond Butter
Heartland Golden Omega Flaxseed (milled)
Mix equal portions of all three ingredients. Increase or decrease honey to taste. Form into balls and roll in milled flax. Enjoy immediately or put in fridge to serve later as “icebox cookies”. Don’t make too many at one time – they may go like candy!
Send us your own favorite recipes for keeping your family healthy naturally! E-mail to recipes@heartlandnatural.com
REFERENCES:
Quote sources thanks to Cyber-Nation.Com and www.ZigZiglar.com.
NEWSLETTER INFORMATION
NATURAL SOLUTIONS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY is written, copyrighted and produced by Heartland Products, Inc. All trademarks are representative of the company that owns them and in no way endorse Heartland Products, Inc. Additionally, Heartland Products, Inc. provides this material for informational purposes only and is not responsible for the use of the information. For information about reprinting the NATURAL SOLUTIONS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY newsletter please send an email to info@heartlandnatural.com