Sea Salt – 10 Great Health Benefits

Sea salt is rapidly becoming more popular, as more and more people are learning about all the health benefits that the salt has to offer.

The salt is obtained naturally from the sea, and does not go through any processing that alters the natural make-up of the salt. Thus it contains many essential trace minerals that your body needs in order to be healthy.

This natural salt is healthier than the iodized salt available in the market. Here this article covers 10 of the most important health benefits of sea salt.

Benefit # 1: Strong Immune System

Sea salt naturally helps you to build up a strong immune system so that you can fight off the cold virus, the fever and flu, allergies and other autoimmune disorders.

Benefit #2: Alkalizing

Sea salt is alkalizing to the body, as it has not been exposed to high heat and stripped of its minerals, nor does it have any harmful man-made ingredients added to it. Thus it can help you to prevent and reverse high levels of acids in the body, which in turn eliminates the risks for serious and life-threatening diseases.

Benefit #3: Weight Loss

Believe it or not, but sea salt can also help you in weight loss. It helps the body to create digestive juices so that the foods you eat are digested faster, and it helps to prevent buildup in the digestive tract, which eventually can lead to constipation and weight gain.

Benefit #4: Skin Conditions

A sea salt bath can help to relieve dry and itchy skin as well as serious conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. The bath naturally opens up the pores, improves circulation in the skin and hydrates the tissues so that your skin can heal.

Benefit #5: Asthma

Sea salt is effective in reducing inflammation in the respiratory system. Thus the production of phlegm is slowed down so that you can breathe easier again. Some say that sprinkling sea salt on the tongue after drinking a glass of water is just as effective as using an inhaler. But the great thing about sea salt is that it has no side effects when taken in moderation.

Benefit #6: Hearth Health

When salt is taken with water it can help to reduce high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and help to regulate an irregular heart beat. Thus sea salt can help to prevent atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes.

Benefit #7: Diabetes

Sea salt can help to reduce the need for insulin by helping to maintain proper sugar levels in the body. Thus the salt is an essential part of the diet if you are diabetic, or at risk for the disease.

Benefit #8: Osteoporosis

Just over 1/4 of the amount of salt that is in the body is stored in the bones, where it helps to keep them strong. When the body lacks salt and water it begins to draw the sodium from the bones, which then eventually can lead to osteoporosis. Thus by drinking plenty of water and consuming salt in moderation you can prevent osteoporosis.

Benefit #9: Muscle Spasms

Potassium is essential for helping the muscles to function properly. Sea salt not only contains small amounts of potassium, but it also helps the body to absorb it better from other foods. Thus it is effective in helping to prevent muscle pains, spasms and cramps.

Benefit #10: Depression

Sea salt also has shown to be effective in treating various types of depression. The salt helps to preserve two essential hormones in the body that help you to better deal with stress. These hormones are serotonin and melatonin, which help you to feel good, and relax and sleep better at night.

From: http://www.healthmango.com/dietnutrition/10-health-benefits-of-sea-salt/

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Study: Multivitamin Intake Linked to Younger ‘Biological Age’

The cells of multivitamin users may have a younger biological age than cells from non-users, according to new research from the US.

Researchers led by Honglei Chen, MD, PhD from National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences looked at the length of telomeres, DNA sequences at the end of chromosomes that shorten as cells replicate and age.

The ageing and lifespan of normal, healthy cells are linked to the so-called telomerase shortening mechanism, which limits cells to a fixed number of divisions.

During cell replication, the telomeres function by ensuring the cell's chromosomes do not fuse with each other or rearrange, which can lead to cancer.

Elizabeth Blackburn, a telomere pioneer at the University of California San Francisco, likened telomeres to the ends of shoelaces, without which the lace would unravel.

With each replication the telomeres shorten, and when the telomeres are totally consumed, the cells are destroyed (apoptosis). Previous studies have also reported that telomeres are highly susceptible to oxidative stress.

Dr Chen and his co-workers noted that telomere length may therefore be a marker of biological ageing, and that multivitamins may beneficially affect telomere length via modulation of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation.

According to results published in the new issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the telomeres of daily multivitamin users may be on average 5.1 per cent longer than in non-users.

“To our knowledge, this was the first epidemiologic study of multivitamin use and telomere length,” wrote Dr Chen and his co-workers.

“Regular multivitamin users tend to follow a healthy lifestyle and have a higher intake of micronutrients, which sometimes makes it difficult to interpret epidemiologic observations on multivitamin use.

“Further investigations would be needed to understand the role of multivitamin use and telomere length and its implication in the etiology of chronic diseases.”

Multivitamin Use

According to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) State-of-the-Science Panel, half of the American population routinely use dietary supplements, with their annual spend estimated at over $20 billion.

Recent results of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showed that 35 per cent of the US adult population regularly consumes one or more types of multivitamin product (Am. J. Epidemiol., 2004, Vol. 160, Pages 339-349).

New Study

Dr Chen and his co-workers analysed multivitamin use and nutrient intakes, as well as telomere length of 586 women aged between 35 and 74 in the Sister Study. A 146-item food-frequency questionnaire was used to determine multivitamin use and nutrient intakes.

Compared to non-multivitamin users, the researchers noted that that telomeres were on average 5.1 per cent longer for daily multivitamin users.

In an attempt to identify specific nutrients that could be behind the observations, a positive relationship between telomere length and intakes of vitamins C and E from foods was observed.

“Whereas the evidence is not sufficient to conclude that these 2 dietary antioxidants mediated the observed relation, the results are consistent with experimental findings that vitamins C and E protect telomeres in vitro,” wrote the researchers.

Being the first study to report such an association, Dr Chen and his co-workers emphasized that the evidence is only preliminary and that additional epidemiologic studies are required to further explore the association. The implications of the findings in terms of ageing and the etiology of chronic diseases should be carefully evaluated.

From: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/

By Stephen Daniells

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

June 2009, Volume 89, Number 6, Pages 1857-1863, doi:10.3945/ajcn.2008.26986

"Multivitamin use and telomere length in women"

Authors: Q. Xu, C.G. Parks, L.A. DeRoo, R.M. Cawthon, D.P. Sandler, H. Chen

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Home Remedies for Chapped Dry Lips

Chapped dry lips are a common problem. Chapped lips can range from a slight irritation to cracked and painful.

There are also several causes for chapped lips. The cause can be external, such as, extreme cold or heat out of doors or dry air in the home. At times, however, the cause is internal, such as dehydration.

Although there are many commercial products available on retail sales shelves, there are also several highly effective home remedies that can be used to accomplish the same purposes.

Coconut Oil. One of the most popular home remedies for dry chapped lips is coconut oil. It is a natural safe moisturizer that also has a pleasant taste. It should be applied frequently throughout the day to keep the lips moist.

Vaseline and honey. This remedy has some very specific directions for application. A light coat of honey is first applied to the lips and then allowed to dry for a few seconds. Next you will want to apply a light coating of vaseline. Wait 10 to 15 minutes and then remove the vaseline and honey coating with a Q-tip that has been dipped in warm water. Follow this procedure daily until lips are healed.

Cucumbers. Simple and natural, this remedy involves taking a slice of a raw cucumber and rubbing it across your lips several times a day to promote healing.

Aloe Vera. The aloe vera plant is well known for its healing qualities when applied to the skin. This makes it an excellent choice for use upon your lips. The negative aspect of this remedy is its unpleasant taste which cannot be totally avoided when being applied to your lips.

Water Therapy. Since the primary cause of dry chapped lips is a lack of moisture, replenishing the moisture through both internal and external means is a perfect remedy. This can be accomplished by increasing the intake of water throughout the day and running a humidifier in the home to increase the humidity level of the air.

Proper Nutrition. Nutrition plays an important part in body health. Vitamin A and the B Complex vitamins are critical for healthy skin and lips. Daily doses of multi-vitamins along with a healthy diet which includes plenty of vegetables can be an important means of both preventing and healing chapped lips.

Olive Oil. This remedy can be found in most kitchen cupboards. Applying olive oil to your lips several times a week can keep them protected from dry air and promote healing when they do become chapped.

Butter. This is one of the oldest remedies used for chapped lips. Apply butter or pure ghee to the lips routinely to encourage healing.

Rose petal cream. Rose petals soaked in raw milk or glycerin can be used to maintain both moisture and color of your lips. When soaking in raw milk, soak the petals for several hours and then mash the petals into the milk to create a paste to be applied to your lips.

Milk cream. The high fat content of milk cream is what makes it an excellent natural lip moisturizer. It is recommended that this treatment be applied and allowed to sit on your lips for 10 to 20 minutes for each application to get the maximum benefit.

All of these home remedies for dry chapped lips can also be used as preventative and protective measures, which is always preferred over attempting to achieve healing.

General precautions to keep your lips from becoming dry and chapped are: maintain a proper humidity level in your home, drink plenty of fluids, eat a well-balanced diet and wear protection on your lips when spending time out of doors in extreme temperatures of cold or heat.

From: http://www.bestdatingsites.org/blog/2011/10-home-remedies-for-chapped-lips/

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Why Am I Posting an Article on Gun Control on a Natural Health Blog?

What a news article about gun control doing on a natural health blog?

Let me explain: Gun control advocates want to ban guns on the premise that guns kill people. Ban guns, and save people, is the basic idea. After all, we already have cops, so the idea that people need guns for self-protection is pretty old school, right?

The problem is, that's the same tired old argument the medical bureaucrats use about natural healing. After all, we already have medical doctors, so the idea that people need herbs and supplements and chiropractors and naturopaths is, well, pretty old school, right?

You see, it comes down to educated choice. I know that if a killer breaks into my house in the middle of the night, it's going to take the cops anywhere from 12 to 20 minutes on average to get to me. I also know the killer can probably take me out in about 2 minutes. So I keep a gun, and I educate myself on its usage through accredited gun courses and practice at the local shooting range, knowing that on the whole, depending on the cops, however well-trained, well-intentioned and heavily armed they may be, is not always going to work to my greatest benefit.

Similarly, I make an educated choice about doctors. Like cops, they are generally wonderful, well-meaning, highly-trained people. And they are often very helpful, particularly if you break your arm, or have a heart attack, or something like that. But for the most part, they are little more than pill-pushers for the pharmaceutical industry. And their treatments are designed strictly to treat symptoms, rather than resolve underlying health problems. What's more, they have one of the most abysmal records in the world, in terms of accidentally harming people with their medical decisions. (See statisics below.)

So, when it comes to doctors, I take the same stand as I do with guns. I recognize that doctors aren't necessarily my first and best choice. And I continually educate myself on natural healing techniques, in order to become more self-reliant, health-wise. The more I can do for myself, the more I free up doctors to deal with more serious problems they are trained for.

For some reason, self-reliance is now a foreign concept to the vast majority of people on the face of the earth. They have become used to big brother government providing for their social needs, the medical bureaucrats providing for their medical needs, law enforcement providing for their protection, etc.

But for those of us who recognize the inherent short-comings in depending upon others for your needs, the value of self-reliance becomes abundantly apparent. With that in mind, here is some food for thought in regards to doctors versus guns:

Doctors vs. Guns

Doctors:

(A) The number of doctors in the U.S. is 700,000.

(B) Accidental deaths caused by physicians per year are now a whopping 120,000.

(C) Accidental deaths per physician is 17.14%.

[Statistics: courtesy of the U. S. Dept of Health & Human Services]

Guns:

(A) The number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80,000,000.

(B) The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is 1,500.

(C) The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is 0.001875%.

[Statistics: courtesy of the FBI.]

So statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners!

Remember, guns don't kill people, doctors do.

FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN, BUT ALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR

Please alert your friends to this alarming threat. We must ban doctors before this gets completely out of hand!!! Out of concern for the public at large, I have withheld statistics on lawyers for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek medical attention.

I am being faecitious, of course. Yet the statistics are true. The medical industry, held to the same standards as the gun industry, would have been banned decades ago. Same with the pharmaceutical industry: Prescription drugs kill or permanently injure tens of thousands of people a year. Herbs and nutritional supplements, on average, about three people per year, and then generally, only through mis-use or abuse.

Think about it. And if you believe in self-reliance, even just a little bit, be sure to continually educate yourself on natural healing, and practice it. As with guns, education and practice makes perfect. The more self-reliant you become in health matters, the less likely you'll end up on the wrong end of the above statistics.

-- Spencer

Ten Years After Columbine, It's Easier to Bear Arms

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090420/us_time/08599189141600

By MICHAEL A. LINDENBERGER Michael A. Lindenberger – Mon Apr 20, 11:15 am ET

Monday April 20 marks 10 years since Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold permanently etched the words Columbine High School into this nation's collective memory. What happened that day in 1999 also seemed to wake America up to the reality that it had become a nation of gun owners - and too often a nation of shooters.

The carnage in Littleton, Colorado - 12 classmates and a teacher before the killers offed themselves - and the ease with which the teenagers acquired their weapons (two sawed-off shotguns, a 9-mm semiautomatic carbine and a TEC-9 handgun) seemed to usher in a new era of, well if not gun control, then at least gun awareness. (See pictures of crime in middle America.)
In the decade since, massacres perpetrated by deranged gunmen have continued - including the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre in which Cho Seung-Hui killed 32 people and wounded many others. But something odd has occurred. Whatever momentum the Columbine killings gave to gun control has long since petered out. (See pictures of America's gun culture.)

This spring, for example, Texas lawmakers are mulling a new law that would allow college students to carry firearms to campus (Utah already makes this legal). "I think people weren't concerned about it first," says University of Texas graduate student John Woods, who has emerged as a spokesman for campus efforts to defeat the bill. "They thought, 'It's a terrible idea. Why would the government consider something like this?'" But as the debate on campus has heated up, that complacency has vanished, Woods explains to TIME. Students opposed to the bill plan a big rally on Thursday at the Capitol, he says.

But efforts like Woods' are up against powerful headwinds - and not just because of the powerful gun lobby that often strangles gun-control laws. Americans in general have cooled significantly to the idea of restricting gun rights. A poll released last week by CNN showed that support for stricter gun laws was at an all-time low, with just 39% of respondents in favor. Eight years ago that number was 54%.

Woods concedes that getting help to the psychotic, would-be killers of the world would probably be an even better fix. But he has a personal reason to take the issues seriously. Two years ago, he was in his apartment in Blacksburg, Virginia, listening to sirens sounding across the campus outside his window. A half-dozen friends of his were in the classroom where Cho Seung-Hui opened fire, and the names of some of the dead belong to people he knew. "The idealist in me is shocked and angry," Woods says, that restrictions on guns have eased rather than tightened in the wake of tragedies like the one at Virginia Tech. "But the cynic in me is not surprised at all. I think if this was peanuts or pistachios causing all these deaths, then we'd be all over it. But there is no amendment about peanuts or pistachios in the Bill of Rights. People on both sides just simply won't compromise." (See pictures form the Virginia Tech massacre.)

Indeed, the debate seems to be almost one-sided nowadays, with an ongoing backlash against gun control. Another law up for debate in Texas, for example, would prohibit most companies from barring employees from keeping guns in their cars in company parking lots. In Montana, only last-minute dealmaking between the House and Senate stripped a new law of language that would have given residents the right to carry concealed weapons with or without a permit.

A Prescription Drug for the Annoyingly Cheerful?

The video news broadcast in the following article is a spoof from The Onion.com. But it makes a great point, which is that the geniuses behind modern medical science have made a "disease" out of every little quirk and characterisictic in human life, and have come up with an expensive pill to cure us of all of our little idiosyncracies.

For example, your kid can't sit still in class at school, while the other kids in the class manage to sit there like brain-dead zombies? He or she must be inflicted with ADHD, right? Hey, don't worry. We have a whole plethora of prescription drugs for that problem. And you'd better let us put your kid on one or more of them, or we'll label him dysfunctional, and investigate your parenting habits.

Or...could it be possible that for some kids it's just not normal, nor productive, to have to sit still on a hard wood chair for eight hours a day, five days a week, while listening to some government-trained bureaucrat we call a "teacher" rattle on about how we all evolved from amoebas millions of years ago, and are, therefore, nothing more than animals in need of a little training (and drugging).

But never mind that, you parents. Put your kids on the drugs. And by the way, if you've feeling a little bit tired and lonely, or maybe a bit frazzled, or blue, we have drugs for you, too. You're probably just suffering form an imbalance of serotonin levels in your brain. You must be in need of one of our nifty new psycho-therapeutic agents called Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors (read: prescription antidepressants). Don't be concerned that all of those mass murderers who shot up malls, post offices and work places all over the country were all on these same types of drugs. Just take one a day and watch all of your cares melt away.

The bottom line is that people have indeed lost touch with what is natural. For example, getting regular daily sunlight is one of the best cures for lack of energy and "the blues" (it increases levels of Vitamin D, which in turn boosts immunity and gives energy). And in children, periodic outdoor exercise throughout the day is the best cure for an inability to sit still in class. But why go through all of the trouble to get a little sunshine and exercise, when we have a drug for the problem?

We have become a society in which synthetic prescription drugs rather than natural means are the answer for every little foible. And we need to reverse the tide, quickly, or we risk becoming the "Soma" society described in the book Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley.

-- Spencer

A Prescription Drug for the Annoyingly Cheerful?
http://www.drcarolyndean.com/2009/04/17/a-prescription-drug-for-the-annoyingly-cheerful/

Dr. Carolyn Dean MD ND April 17, 2009

Today, I have a news (video) clip about a new drug that helps people who have a "persistently positive outlook on life."

The following ONN news clip reports that the FDA approved the first ever depressant drug. (Note: NOT an anti-depressant.) It’s a proposed treatment for the "approximately 20 million Americans who are insufferably cheery."

The depressant treats a wide range of symptoms including: "Participating in Community Theatre" and "Organizing Neighborhood Potlucks."

Click the play button below to watch the 2-minute video clip and then make sure to read my commentary afterward.




Please note: The video contains profanities (one written, one verbal)…

Are You Too Happy?"Despondex Could be Right for You…" Real or Spoof?

When I first saw this video I wasn’t sure if it was real or a spoof. We’ve already seen so many crazy drugs and treatments approved by the FDA – this is hardly unbelievable. Which is why it’s so funny – it exaggerates just a bit what we’ve come to expect.

It may even be on Big Pharma’s cutting room floor. I can see this striking the money cord with some "marketing genius." They’ve already created diseases out of so many afflictions (e.g. "restless leg syndrome," "shyness," "heartburn from overating")… why not add "excessive happiness" to the list.

The Standardization of Moods

A growing theme with world powers is the "standardization" of how we live. Where a select few get to decide what is "normal" and then require everybody else to conform. We are even seeing that with the new agriculture bill (H.R. 875) that aims to force all farms to use GMO seeds and pesticides (under the guise of food safety).

In this Depondex spoof we are seeing a different kind of standardization. The standardization of moods. As "Eva Hendry" said in the clip: "Now Jeff and I can just waste a night sitting on the couch watching a TV show neither of us enjoy – like a regular couple."

The "Natural" Way to Feeling Crummy

But, as the video points out, a "natural" alternative would simply involve feeding people a diet of corn syrup and white bread while denying them any form of exercise. Based on that statement, one may conclude that doing the opposite would alleviate depression.

Is happiness that simple? Probably not for everyone, but it’s definitely a good start. People who eat real food, exercise every day and watch little TV tend to feel happier than the norm.

Sadly, when you are already feeling bad, junk food and an evening with the TV remote seem more attractive than going for a swim, preparing healthy food or reading a good book.

But everything comes down to habits and what you are used to. You can get trapped in a cycle of unhappiness or in a cycle of happiness.

Unhappiness or happiness can be a choice! I choose happiness and always try to look for the best feeling-thought that I can think.

P.S. By the way, I wrote the Personal Power column, this month, for Dr. Christiane Northrup’s Women’s Wisdom Circle. It’s called the “The Magic Mineral: Magnesium Supports Women at Every Stage of Life."

Micro-chip that tells your doctor if you've taken your pills

The time comes when you just have to say “No!”

I’ve warned repeatedly that government bureaucrats, Big Pharma, insurance companies and others want nothing more than to micro-manage every aspect of your daily life. Modern technology allows them to do just that – if you choose to succumb to it.

Now the doctors and insurance companies want to give you pills with tiny microchips in them that allow the doctors to tell whether or not you’ve been a good little boy or girl, and have taken your pills like you were supposed to.

Of course, they will sell this notion by saying it will be a boon to elderly patients, for example, who might otherwise forget to take their meds, or who might be taking too much or too little without realizing it.

But the reality is, the insurance companies and medical bureaucrats want total control. The day will come when they will prescribe you something, whether you want it or not, and if you fail to take your government-mandated meds, you will face the loss of your government-mandated medical insurance. Or, worse yet, it will be considered a crime. After all, when the “government” is paying for your meds, you can bet they’ll figure out a way to criminalize your failure to take what you’ve been prescribed.

And don’t think I’m being overly dramatic. With the new socialist bunch we’ve got running things, who want to institute government-run medical system, I can foresee the day when individualists, Constitutionalists, patriots and others deemed to be “social miscreants” will be told to take their Soma…or else.

Brave new world? Only if we say “Yes” to it.

Meanwhile, stick with natural remedies. The more caught up you get in the allopathic medical model, the harder it is to extract yourself later. Stick with naturopathic medicine, to the extent you can. Learn how to treat yourself, nutritionally.

In the days ahead, this blog will be posting many articles on nutritional treatments, remedies and cures, so stay tuned.

-- Spencer


Microchip that tells your doctor if you’ve taken your pills
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1169305/Microchip-tells-GP-8217-ve-taken-pills.html

By Jo Macfarlane

Last updated at 2:35 AM on 12th April 2009

Comments (9) Add to My Stories

New technology: Doctors could soon monitor whether a patient has taken medication by microchips in pills

Microchips in pills could soon allow doctors to find out whether a patient has taken their medication.

The digestible sensors, just 1mm wide, would mean GPs and surgeons could monitor patients outside the hospital or surgery.

Developers say the technology could be particularly useful for psychiatric or elderly patients who rely on a complicated regime of drugs – and are at risk if they miss a dose or take it at the wrong time.

It could also be used for the chronically ill, such as people with heart disease, to establish whether costly drugs are working or whether they are causing potentially dangerous side effects.

The sensors could even remind women to take the Pill if they forget.

The ‘intelligent’ medicine works by activating a harmless electric charge when drugs are digested by the stomach.

This charge is picked up by a sensing patch on the patients’ stomach or back, which records the time and date that the pill is digested. It also measures heart rate, motion and breathing patterns.

The information is transmitted to a patient’s mobile phone and then to the internet using wireless technology, to give a complete picture of their health and the impact of their drugs.

Doctors and carers can view this information on secure web pages or have the information sent to their mobile phones.

The silicon microchips are invisible to patients and can be added to any standard drug during the manufacturing process.

Two major drugs companies are investigating the technology, developed by US-based Proteus Biomedical. Trials are to begin in the UK within 12 months.

Professor Nick Peters, a cardiologist at Imperial College London, who is co-ordinating trials, said the technology was ‘transformative’.

‘This is all about empowering patients and their families because it measures wellness, and people can actually be tracked getting better,’ he said.

‘Psychologically speaking, that’s hugely helpful for patients and enormously reassuring for care-givers.

‘Normally patients would have to be in hospital to get this level of feedback, so the hope is that it frees up beds and saves the NHS money.’

A Sure-Fire Natural Cure for Memory Loss

A Sure-Fire Natural Cure for Memory Loss

As the famous cowboy movie star John Wayne grew older, he appeared sharp as a tack in his television appearances and movie rolls. But privately, he complained of memory loss.

What was particularly aggravating to him was his growing inability to remember the names of people – sometimes even people close to him. As the story goes, one day he was attending a football game with his best friend of over 30 years and director of many of his movies, John Ford. As he looked across the stands, he saw two acquaintances coming toward him. He was thrilled that he remembered both of their names, and would be able to introduce them to Ford without embarrassing himself.

“Bob, Mary,” he exclaimed with obvious relish and a sweeping gesture of his hand as they approached their seats near his, “I’d like you to meet…” And then his voice trailed off as he realized he had just forgotten the name of his best friend….John Ford.

The Safe, All-Natural Cure for Memory Loss

Were John Wayne still alive today, he’d be very happy to know that a safe, all-natural solution for mild to moderate memory loss is now available. This supplement is called Vinpocetine, and it is widely known for its astonishing ability to boost brain power, enhance concentration and retention, and sharpen mental focus and performance without any significant negative side effects.

Bernd Wollschlaeger, MD, a Florida-based board-certified family physician who is also the associate editor of the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association (JANA), says Vinpocetine is one of the mainstays of his practice when it comes to patients complaining of memory loss and mild cognitive impairment.

According to Dr. Wollschlaeger, "All of the peer-reviewed studies I’ve seen found a significant improvement in cognitive function with Vinpocetine. Until Vinpocetine, we physicians have had nothing to prevent cognitive decline. We only have drugs to treat after the fact. With safe, natural Vinpocetine, patients see comparatively rapid improvement in memory functions as well as enhancement of learning and recall and overall alertness. Results are often seen in only seven to ten days. We don't have to wait four or six or eight weeks, like with Gingko Biloba, to see results. What’s more, there have been more than 100 clinical studies conducted on Vinpocetine, with over 30,000 patients, proving its safety and effectiveness."

Viagra for the Brain

According to Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D., author of the popular book, Mind Boosters: A Guide to Natural Supplements that Enhance Your Mind, Memory, and Mood ,“Vinpocetine is chemically related to and derived from vincamine, a natural alkaloid found in the periwinkle plant. It was introduced into clinical practice in Europe more than two decades ago for its highly beneficial role in cerebrovascular disorders and related symptoms. But because it is derived from natural sources it is now widely used in the U.S. as a nutritional supplement for memory support and cognitive enhancement.”

Dr. Ward Dean, MD, co-author of the bestselling books Smart Drugs and Nutrients and Smart Drugs II, says Vinpocetine is like “Viagra for the brain.” He states, "It's one of the few cognitive enhancers that I actually notice a distinctly positive and uplifting difference when I take it.”

Dr. Dean says that Vinpocetine facilitates cerebral metabolism by improving cerebral microcirculation (i.e., blood flow to, and throughout, the brain). “What’s more,” he notes, “In brain cells it steps up the production of ATP, the cellular energy molecule, and increases utilization of glucose and oxygen, the brain’s two most critical fuels."

According to Dr. Steven Bratman, M.D., director of The Natural Pharmacist in Fort Collins, CO, and author of the Natural Health Encyclopedia and The Natural Health Bible, "Vinpocetine aids memory and mental function, not only with mild memory loss and age-related cognitive impairment, but also with Alzheimer's and related conditions. Most people begin to notice clearer, sharper thinking and recall within a few short days to a few short weeks time."

In her book, Vinpocetine: Boost Your Brain Power With Periwinkle Extract, author Dr. Beth M. Ley writes, “Research shows that Vinpocetine provides an astonishing array of benefits. It has a very powerful stimulating effect on memory.‎ In Europe, it is often used for the treatment of cerebral circulatory disorders that can cause such symptoms as memory loss, stroke, dizziness and even cerebro-vestibular (inner-ear) problems. Vinpocetine has even been demonstrated to improve visual acuity – that is to say, eyesight -- in 70% of subjects tested.”

Science writer James South, MA notes that recent medical research demonstrates Vinpocetine’s almost miraculous ability to boost the quality of thinking and planning carried out by the cerebral cortex. He writes, “Another key benefit from Vinpocetine derives from its activating effect on the noradrenaline nerve cluster in the reticular activating system called the locus coeruleus. Olpe and co-workers have shown that Vinpocetine is one of the most effective activators of locus coeruleus neurons, thus making it a true ‘cognition enhancing’ agent.”

Proven to Boost Memory, Enhance Cognitive Function and Reduce Dementia

According to Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D., an ardent Vinpocetine advocate, “There have been quite a few studies demonstrating the positive effects of Vinpocetine on brain function.” For example, he notes that, “Researchers at the University of Surrey in England administered Vinpocetine to patients suffering from mild to moderate dementia. In this placebo-controlled, randomized double-blind trial 203 patients received Vinpocetine every day for 16 weeks. They were given either 10 mg doses of Vinpocetine three times a day, 20 mg doses of Vinpocetine three times a day, or placebo three times a day. Significant cognitive improvements were found in the active treatment groups compared to the placebo groups. Interestingly, the patients on the 10 mg doses performed even better than those on the higher 20 mg. doses.”

What’s more, according to Dr. Sahelian, “In another double blind clinical trial, Vinpocetine was shown to offer significant improvement in elderly patients with chronic cerebral dysfunction. Forty-two patients received 10 mg. of Vinpocetine three times a day for thirty days, then 5 mg. three times a day for sixty days. Matching placebo tablets were given to another forty patients for the ninety-day trial period. Patients on Vinpocetine scored consistently better in all cognitive evaluations.”

Other studies have demonstrated Vinpocetine’s astonishing beneficial effects for stroke victims. For example, one study demonstrated a 42% reduction in brain injury for stroke patients who were given Vinpocetine. [Acta Pharm Hung. 2002;72(2):84-91.]

And another study demonstrated that Vinpocetine interrupts the various stages of the ischemic cascade during strokes, meaning it helps prevent the ongoing damage to the brain that results from the stroke itself [Ideggyogy Sz. 2003 May 20;56(5-6):166-72].

How Vinpocetine Works to Boost Your Memory and Mental Clarity

George Foss, a long-time consultant to the nutritional supplement industry, and former general manager of Kayser Nutrition, explains how Vinpocetine works, and why it has become the world’s #1 best-selling all-natural brain-boosting supplement:

“Vinpocetine's astonishing beneficial effects on memory, recall and mental acuity occur principally because of its ability to bring age-related declines in the cellular energy functions of the brain back to more youthful levels. It does so by literally nourishing the brain.

First, it increases blood flow to the brain through mild dilation of the blood vessels, which in turn dramatically boosts glucose and oxygen uptake by the brain’s 100 billion neurons. The neurons thrive on this increased glucose and oxygen, which in turn is used to produce prodigious quantities of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, which is pure cellular energy. This increased production of ATP within the brain quite rapidly boosts the metabolism, or energy activity of the entire brain back to the levels of a young adult.

Finally, this increased energy activity triggers two crucial functions in the brain: increased cell-to-cell communication for quicker thinking, and repair and/or replacement of damaged brain cells for optimal brain function.”

Experts say Vinpocetine boosts the circulation of oxygen-rich and glucose-rich blood to the brain so effectively it almost immediately results in a vastly increased ability to concentrate and focus. In fact, in one recent clinical study, 62% of healthy subjects exhibited significant short-term memory improvement only one hour after taking 40 mg. of Vinpocetine. (Eur J Clin Pharmacol1985;28(5):567-71).

What’s more, recent research has demonstrated that Vinpocetine also boosts circulation of oxygen-rich blood to the eyes, thereby improving vision and eyesight disorders. In fact, in one study, Vinpocetine improved vision in 88% of test subjects [Arzneimittelforschung 1976;26(10a):1969-72]. Vinpocetine also aids in the delivery of oxygen saturated blood to the inner ear, improving hearing as well as alleviating many inner-ear problems including tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and vertigo (dizziness). [AF DR 28, 1977-80]

Get that Extra Mental Edge

So if you’re like me and you feel the need for that extra mental edge from time to time, or if you’re simply reaching that age where you notice your cognitive abilities are slipping a bit and you want to provide your body with the nutrition it needs to get you back on top of your mental game, then you just might want to try safe, natural Vinpocetine. Its long-term safety has been demonstrated in medical studies to be second to none. And with over 100 medical studies backing it up, you can rest assured of its effectiveness.

Where to Find Pure, Pharmaceutical-Grade Vinpocetine

One good source for this powerful, brain-boosting nutrient is a company called The Silver Edge. You can find them online at http://www.thesilveredge.com/ (just click on the link on the left-hand side of their web page that says "Unique Nutritional Supplements," or click here). They supply the significantly higher-quality pharmaceutical-grade Vinpocetine straight from Europe, instead of the inferior Chinese-produced Vinpocetine found in most health food stores today.

This is the same pure, high-grade European Vinpocetine that has been demonstrated in clinical trials to boost memory, mental clarity and re-call by up to 62%!

While pure, pharmaceutical-grade Vinpocetine is generally more expensive, frequently selling for $39.95/bottle for just 30 capsules, the good folks at The Silver Edge are offering a one-time special deal for readers of this blog who may want to try Vinpocetine. Instead of paying the usual $39.95 for 30 capsules of pharmaceutical-grade Vinpocetine, you get a full 90 capsules (10 mg. each) for only $24.95 when you order two or more bottles. That’s three times the usual amount of pharmaceutical-grade Vinpocetine, and for $15 less per bottle!

Worth Trying for the Mental Lift Alone!

So if you or a loved one is experiencing mild memory loss or cognitive decline to any degree, or if you just want to give yourself a nice mental lift from time to time, you owe it to yourself to try this safe, powerful nutritional supplement. Even people who are not experiencing memory loss or age-related slowdown in mental acuity find that the occasional use of Vinpocetine gives them an added mental edge that is well worth the small cost.

I strongly urge you to pick up at least three or four bottles while this special money-saving offer is still in effect. But remember, this special offer is available only for the next 15 days, so please act quickly and decisively while the special discount pricing is still available!

Boosting Memory and Mental Clarity Without Risky Drugs

Boosting Memory and Mental Clarity Without Risky Drugs

In a survey released recently by Nature, Britain’s top science journal, it was revealed that as many as 20 per cent of British and American scientists admit to taking prescription drugs to boost their brain power, and enhance concentration, memory and cognitive performance.

Most of these scientists admitted to taking “smart drugs” such as Ritalin and Modafinil in spite of the fact that more than half of them reported such side effects as headaches, jitteriness, anxiety and sleeplessness.

According to AFP News, “The overwhelming majority of these med-taking brainiacs said they indulged in order to ‘improve concentration,’ and 60 percent said they did so on a daily or weekly basis. Almost 70 percent of the scientists surveyed said they would be willing to risk continued mild side effects by taking cognitive-enhancing drugs in order to boost their brain power.”

Surprising?

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at these findings. But frankly, I am surprised that these scientists apparently don’t understand three crucial facts:

Fact #1: These drugs are basically metabolic stimulants in a similar class to methamphetamines. They work by squeezing the adrenals to release more adrenaline. Therefore, over time they will exhaust the adrenal glands, resulting in higher and higher dosages of the drugs needing to be taken in order to achieve the same level of cognitive (and metabolic) stimulation. That’s the very definition of addiction.

Fact #2: The side effects of these drugs go far beyond the mere “headaches, jitteriness, anxiety and sleeplessness” reported by the scientists using them. Indeed, those side effects are just for starters. Over time, you can add kidney and liver damage to the list, muscle cramping, adrenal exhaustion, pituitary insufficiency, mitochondrial exhaustion, metabolic burn-out and much more. Many people I know who have used these drugs for prolonged periods of time frequently became hyper-agitated to the point of rage, and soon became physically unhealthy as well, since the excessive stimulation tends to deplete their bodies of necessary vitamins, minerals, nutrients and hormones.

Fact #3: There is a safe, completely natural solution to memory loss and impaired cognition – a nutritional supplement that provides all of the brain-boosting, memory-enhancing and cognitive performance advantages of these so-called “smart drugs,” without triggering excessive release of adrenaline…without damaging the body’s glands and organs…without depleting the body of crucial nutrients and hormones… indeed, with absolutely none of the potentially serious long-term side effects of the drugs.

Vinpocetine – the All-Natural Memory Nutrient from Europe

This supplement is called Vinpocetine, and it is widely known for its astonishing ability to boost brain power, enhance concentration and retention, and sharpen mental focus and performance without any significant negative side effects.

Here’s a brief overview of this powerful natural substance, and why it works even better than the so-called “smart drugs” to keep your brain operating at peak performance no matter what your age…

Vinpocetine is an unusually potent memory booster that has been used successfully as a prescription memory drug in Europe for over a quarter of a century, for everything from mild memory loss to Alzheimer’s disease. But much to the chagrin of the FDA, it can now be sold in the U.S. as a dietary supplement because it is made from all-natural sources (Periwinkle plant) and has no serious prescription “drug” side effects.

According to James South, M.A., “Vinpocetine have been widely researched and used clinically for over 25 years to treat disorders ranging from senile dementia to cerebral arteriosclerosis. But today, it is used by thousands of in-the-know natural health advocates for its powerful memory-boosting and cognitive enhancement benefits.”

How Vinpocetine Works to BoostYour Memory and Mental Clarity

George Foss, a long-time consultant to the nutritional supplement industry, and former general manager of Kayser Nutrition, explains how Vinpocetine works, and why it has become the world’s #1 best-selling all-natural memory-boosting cognitive enhancement supplement:

“Vinpocetine dramatically boosts the metabolism, or cellular energy activity, of the brain. But unlike stimulant drugs, it does so by nourishing the brain. In fact, it increases blood flow to the brain through vasodilation, which in turn maximizes glucose and oxygen uptake by the brain’s 100 billion neurons.”

“The neurons thrive on this increased glucose and oxygen, which in turn is used to produce prodigious quantities of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, which is pure cellular energy. This increased production of ATP within the brain quite rapidly boosts the energy activity of the entire brain, which of course, is the supercomputer of the human body.”

“Finally, this increased energy activity triggers two crucial functions in the brain: repair and/or replacement of damaged brain cells for optimal brain function, and increased cell-to-cell communication for quicker thinking.”

In large part this is why Vinpocetine has been used so successfully by the medical community throughout Europe in the prevention and treatment of everything from simple memory loss and common senility, to more extreme cases of senile dementia, cerebral damage from strokes, and even Alzheimer’s disease. Vinpocetine boosts brain energy almost immediately. And it has a very positive healing effect on damaged areas of the brain.

A Positive Mental Lift Every Time You Take It

What’s more, because Vinpocetine helps increase brain levels of ATP so dramatically and so quickly you also get a very pleasant mental lift every time you take it.

Experts say Vinpocetine boosts the circulation of oxygen-rich blood to the brain so effectively it almost immediately results in a vastly increased ability to concentrate and focus.

In a number of medical studies it has been shown to boost mental clarity and aid in rapid recall, often in only a few hours after being taken.

In fact, in recent clinical studies, Vinpocetine has been demonstrated to:

Dramatically improve memory — in one study a whopping 62% of healthy subjects exhibited significant short-term memory improvement only one hour after taking 40 mg. of Vinpocetine!

(Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1985;28(5):567-71)

Significantly increase the length of time that short-term memory is retained – no more walking into another room to get something, and forgetting what your were looking for!

(Drug Develop Res 1988; 14:191-3)

Dramatically improve the brain’s utilization of oxygen, for greater focus, concentration and mental clarity!

(Arzneimittelforschung 1990 Jun;40(6):640-3)

Prevent damage to brain cells under hypoxic conditions, such as directly after a stroke or during drowning!

(Drug Dev. Res. 9:225- 231,1986; Life Sci. 43, 1733-39)

Improves Vision and Eyesight Disorders, Too!

What’s more, recent research has demonstrated that Vinpocetine also boosts circulation of oxygen-rich blood to the eyes, thereby improving vision and eyesight disorders. In fact, in one study, Vinpocetine improved vision in 88% of test subjects. (Arzneimittelforschung 1976;26(10a):1969-72)

Vinpocetine also aids in the delivery of oxygen-saturated blood to the inner ear, improving hearing as well as alleviating many inner-ear problems including tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and vertigo (dizziness). (AF DR 28, 1977-80)

Who Needs Risky “Smart Drugs”?

As you can see, Vinpocetine works exactly the opposite of stimulant-class prescription drugs like Ritalin and Modafinil. While Vinpocetine oxygenates, nourishes and replenishes the brain, the risky prescription drugs over the long-term tend to exhaust, deplete and even damage the body’s organs.

So what more can you say? With world-class cognitive-enhancement benefits like those described above from a safe, natural substance like Vinpocetine, who needs to use risky prescription “smart drugs”?

Who Benefits the Most From Vinpocetine?

Today, Vinpocetine is used by a broad spectrum of men and women: executives who need to juggle multiple important tasks at once without becoming mentally burned out or losing track of what they’re doing…speakers who need to be articulate and think quickly on their feet…athletes who need to react decisively to changing situations without becoming mentally flustered…college students who need to learn and retain large amounts of information in short periods of time…

...workers who need to impress their bosses with their ability to think quickly and act decisively…middle aged men and women who seek to preserve and maintain their cognitive skills well into their later years…older folks who want to overcome the negative effects of age-related cognitive decline…and many others.

In fact, Vinpocetine can be used by just about anyone who has noticed a decrease in memory, alertness, concentration and learning speed. It is also widely used by many people with vision or hearing problems.

If Top Scientists Need A Brain Booster, Why Not You and Me?

Don’t you find it fascinating that top scientists feel the need to boost their concentration, memory and brain power?

After all, these highly esteemed men and women are the cream of the crop – the mental elite of our nation. But if they need enhanced memory and brain-power, then how much more so do we mere mortals need it…especially those of us now approaching middle age or beyond?

So if you’re like me and you feel the need for that extra mental edge from time to time, or if you are reaching that age where you notice your cognitive abilities are slipping a bit and you want to provide your body with the nutrition it needs to get you back on top of your mental game, then you just might want to try safe, natural Vinpocetine instead of risky “smart drugs.”

You’ll be glad you made the right choice, I promise.

How to Use Vinpocetine to Maximum Mental Benefit

Most clinical trials on Vinpocetine have involved the use of 10 to 30 mg. per day. These studies have demonstrated that while lower doses of 10 to 20 mg. per day can be very helpful, in virtually every case it has been the 30 mg. per day dosage that has exerted the greatest therapeutic benefits in terms of boosting memory, concentration and mental acuity.

Therefore, it is generally recommended by experts to start with a 10 mg. per day dosage, taken once in the morning, and then work up over a period of several weeks to a total daily dosage of 30 mg., which can be taken in 10 mg. increments throughout the day.

While the beneficial effects of Vinpocetine are quite noticeable after only a few days of use (many people literally “feel the difference” the very first day), the full range of therapeutic benefits associated with Vinpocetine usage are often not derived until it has been used on a daily basis for a full 90 days.

In other words, while you’ll notice increased mental energy almost immediately, the effects get better and better over the course of 90 days as damaged areas of the brain are healed, and stronger cell-to-cell communication in the brain is established.

Where to Find Pharmaceutical-Grade Vinpocetine

One good source for this powerful, brain-boosting nutrient is a company called The Silver Edge. They supply the significantly higher-quality pharmaceutical-grade Vinpocetine, straight from Europe, instead of the inferior Chinese-produced Vinpocetine found in most health food stores today.

This is the same high-grade European Vinpocetine that has been demonstrated in clinical trials to boost memory, mental clarity and re-call by up to 62%!

So if you or a loved one is experiencing memory loss or cognitive decline to any degree, or if you just want to give yourself a nice mental lift from time to time, you owe it to yourself to try this safe, powerful nutritional supplement from The Silver Edge.