by Vic Shayne, PhD

One researcher, at least, has now questioned whether vegetarians have smaller brains from maintaining an animal food-free diet: “Scientists at the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, have discovered that going veggie could be bad for your brain – with those on a meat-free diet six times more likely to suffer brain shrinkage.” But what does this even mean? Is a smaller brain necessarily a bad thing as long as it functions optimally? The jury is still out on this one.

There’s such a huge, ongoing debate over the value of being a vegetarian that it’s difficult to keep up with the pros and cons. I certainly cannot argue against the practice on ethical grounds. People who feel it’s wrong to kill animals are mostly to be commended for their moral, ethical and empathetic stand. Animals have feelings and there’s no doubt that slaughterhouses tend to be places of disgusting animal abuse and outright psychopathic behavior on the part of the butchers.

From a health standpoint, we have another set of considerations. There are benefits of animal foods that cannot be gleaned from vegetarian foods. Plus, there’s an ongoing debate as to whether human beings are mean to be vegetarians or whether we are genetically programmed to be meat-eaters.

Source of study: Vogiatzoglou A, et al. Vitamin B12 status and rate of brain volume loss in community-dwelling elderly. Neurology 2008; 71(11): 826-32.

by Vic Shayne, PhD

Modern medicine has gone crazy with its use of antibiotics. The main problem, though, is that antibiotics cause all kinds of side effects, including the killing of “good bacteria” in the intestines, yeast overgrowth, yeast infections, growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and a suppressed immune system. Nature may have the answer. There are many natural substances, foods and herbs that kill fungus and bacteria, but chief among these is Olive Leaf Extract. This is good to remember if you’re suffering from yeast infection, jock itch, toenail fungus or vaginal yeast problems.

The olive tree is ancient in man’s repetoire of medicinal arsenal. The fruit of the tree — olives — have been eaten for thousands of years, but the leaves are of special interest to anyone looking to kill bacteria and fungi in and on their bodies. Olive Leaf Extract (the main ingredient in Ultimate Defense Formula) has been shown to be useful with:

• Viruses
• Bacteria
• Fungi
• Colds and Flu
• Jock itch
• Vaginal Yeast Infections
• Nail fungus infections

The Die-Off Effect

It’s helpful to know that if you’re using olive leaf extract internally, there’s something called a “die-off” effect. This means that when the olive leaf extract kills off bacteria and fungi, the body will suddenly have to handle the dead substances and their toxic wastes. This may cause temporary effects that can range from headaches to fatigue, to rashes to aches. In essence, when the bacteria and fungi die off, you feel worse before you feel better. There are a few ways to handle the die-off effect: reduce the dosage of the supplement, drink a lot of water or bear with it. Many natural health practitioners feel that when the die-off effect takes place and you get the symptoms then you know you’re having success in your treatment.

Side effects and interactions

Olive leaf extract expands the blood vessels, so if you are on a medication of any kind, discuss matters with your physician. OLE should not be taken along with antibiotics, additional amino acids or any other mold or fungus derivatives because OLE will see them as foreign invaders and kill them.

Organic Maple Cornbread Muffins

Pour the mixture into greased or paper cup lined muffin pan.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the muffins comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

All health problems have a nutritional component, no matter what your course of medical treatment. This is because the foods you eat affect how you feel and your state of health. Many natural health care doctors advise making your diet more alkaline to ease your digestion, increase energy and improve your nutrient levels. This Alkaline Diet may be used temporarily or long term, depending on your commitment.

Unless otherwise directed by your doctor,

IDEAL SUPPLEMENTS:

• GreenNutrients
• GTF Complex

EAT ORGANICALLY GROWN FOODS (IDEALLY) ONLY FROM THESE CATEGORIES (NO OTHER FOODS OR DRINKS DURING THIS DIET):

• Green vegetables such as zucchini, broccoli, spinach, kale, peas, green beans, snap peas, peppers, etc.
• Cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts
• Sulfur-bearing vegetables such as onions and garlic
• Fruits such as oranges, pineapple, lemon, pears, apples, grapes & strawberries (especially need to be organic), kiwi
• Salads (no iceberg lettuce) with green leaf, red leaf, romaine and spinach, oil and lemon juice dressing, olives, onions, mushrooms, radish — no bottled dressings
• Meats: no red meat or ham; no bacon, but rather fish, organic (to avoid drug & hormone residues) chicken, turkey
• No grains (cereals, rice, oats, bread, bagels, pasta)
• Dairy: use butter only, sparingly
• Oil: use only organic olive oil or flaxseed oil
• Vegetables may be lightly steamed in oil, lemon juice and garlic.
• Vegetable soup, fresh, not from can.

Read more…

by Vic Shayne, PhD

An aphrodisiac is a food that stimulates sexual desire. It’s the thing myths and urban legends are made of, but what’s the real deal? To answer this we have to go under the covers, way down to the level of biochemistry. Here we see that foods contain components — biochemicals — that react in certain ways within the body. Aphrodisiac foods, then, contain biochemicals that stimulate sexual desire. In addition to these biochemicals, there are qualities to certain foods that have an erotic appeal, with their texture, aroma and appearance. Regardless of whether much of this stems from folklore, the fact is that these foods are full of beneficial nutrients. Here is a handful (pardon the pun, please)…

• Figs: Figs have a long history as a sensual fruit. In some cultures, the breaking open of a fig in front of a lover was considered a highly erotic act.
• Chilli. Chilli peppers contain capsaicin which stimulates our nerve endings and gives us the sensation of heat when we eat a particularly hot chile. This chemical may also help stimulate the release of endorphins creating a natural high that can put you in the mood.
• Grapes: The history of the grape as an aphrodisiac goes back to the Greek god Dionysus, god of both wine and fertility. Since then, grapes have enjoyed a reputation as an aphrodisiac and can be slowly fed to your sweetheart for a romantic night in.
• Pomegranate: Ancient Greeks and Romans associated this fruit with the goddess Aphrodite as its many seeds, color and shape were seen as sensual. This fruit was also recommended as an aphrodisiac by the Kama Sutra.
• Asparagus: Aside from its particularly suggestive shape, asparagus has many nutrients that can help boost sex drive.
• Celery: Celery is thought to stimulate the pituitary gland, essential in the release of sexual hormones.
• Gingko: Gingko is thought to expand blood vessels in genital tissues, helping overcome some forms of sexual dysfunction. Those with heart disease should not take it without a doctor’s approval.
• Basil: Women in some ancient cultures used to dust their breasts with basil, believing it to drive men wild. Some research suggests that it may indeed have circulation boosting effects.
• Ginseng: New medical reports give credit to ginseng’s claim as an aphrodisiac. Subjects treated with ginseng were found to have significantly higher erectile function that those who were not. It’s thought to increase overall performance and libido as well.
• Vanilla: The sexual power of vanilla is in its aroma. Who doesn’t like the smell of a cookie?
• Saffron: Ancient stories place saffron as both a powerful stimulator for both men and women. Try a paella or a middle eastern dish that centers around the spice for a delicious and sensual experience.
• Nutmeg: This spice has been found to increase mating behavior in laboratory mice (though the same effect hasn’t been proven in humans) and has been prized as an aphrodisiac for thousands of years.
• Ginger: Ginger has been a popular aphrodisiac in Asia for thousands of years, and is often purported as a remedy for impotence either by eating or rubbing the ginger on the skin. Ginger also stimulates the circulatory system.
• Garlic: Garlic is known to increase circulation, allowing more blood to quickly reach the sexual organs and aid in arousal.
• Oysters: Perhaps one of the most traditional of aphrodisiac foods, oysters at first don’t seem particularly sexy for many. While the texture may not appeal to everyone, it’s been found that they contain substantial levels of zinc– a mineral required to produce testosterone boosting sex drive in both men and women.