Aromatherapy: Simply Amazing!

Aromatherapy involves the use of oils distilled from plants for therapeutic purposes. It has a long history of use in ancient Egypt, China, and India. The distillation method used to extract essential oils was invented by an Arab physician in the 10th century A.D. Modern aromatherapy in the West began with a French chemist, Rene Gattefosse who burned his hand while working in a perfume laboratory. He immersed his hand with some readily available lavender oil. The burn healed quickly and left no scar, perking his interest in the possible curative effects of plant oils. He began to study them, coining the term aromatherapy in 1937 to describe this new field.

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils, which are natural, high-quality, pure oils derived from the distillation of plants. The oils are named for the plant from which they are derived, such as bergamot, rose, ginger. They are highly concentrated: between fifty and several thousand pounds of plant material is required to make one pound of essential oil, depending on the plant. At least forty essential oils are used in aromatherapy. Each is categorized according to its effects on the body, mind, and diseases it is said to treat. Oils from various plants maybe used individually or in combinations.

Aromatherapy is delivered to patients in several ways. Oils can be applied directly to the skin through massage. For skin application, the oils are combined with a carrier medium, usually a vegetable oil, because the amount of essential oil required is so small. The oils also may be inhaled with steaming water containing a few drops of an essence, or by using diffusers to spread steam containing an oil throughout a room. Because they are highly concentrated and therefore potentially toxic, the oils should not be taken internally.

Aromatherapy is said to reduce stress, which is achieved through the personal use of aromatic oils or by combining aromatherapy with other stress reduction activities, such as soaking in a hot bath treated with scented oil or receiving a massage accompanied by aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy can balance and increase the well-being of both body and mind, thus decreasing the likelihood of developing disease. Aromatherapy is also used to treat physical and mental ailments. For instance, lavender is used to treat anxiety, mild depression, and insomnia. Below are other popular Aromatherapies and results claimed for them:

* Lemon is believed to detoxify; stimulate immune system and liver.
* Rosemary is believed to relieve pain; relaxes muscles.
* Peppermint is believed to provide pain and digestive relief; decreases inflammation.
* Chamomile is believed to serve as sedative, relaxant, and antiallergen.
* Eucalyptus is believed to eliminate infection.
* Rose is believed to regulate female hormones.

Conditions that practitioners believe to be aided by aromatherapy include acne, anxiety, cold and flu, skin disorders, headaches, indigestion, premenstrual syndrome, muscle tension, and pain. Some aromatherapy advocates use body applications to treat physical problems, and inhalation methods to treat emotional problems.

Aromatherapy is based on the sense of smell, which is extremely acute in humans and other animals. The sense of smell has been studied extensively for its role in communication and memory.

There is an unproven belief that essential oils used in aromatherapy can affect the body's health. Substantial research evidence exists about the olfactory system (the sense of smell). For example, a single waft of an odor can trigger memories from decades back. In addition, scientists have found substances called pheromones in almost all organisms. These chemicals are emitted by the body and sensed by the olfactory system. In mammals, pheromones play a role in sexual attraction and mating. In other organisms, they facilitate not only mating, but also the attraction of prey and forms of communication. Pheromones are responsible for a phenomenon called menstrual synchrony, where the menstrual cycles of women who live in close proximity often become similar, or synchronize with one another.

Some studies implicate the sense of smell in illness and relaxation. One researcher found that certain odors could trigger migraines in some individuals and, alternatively, that the fragrance of green apples may heighten feelings of relaxation. However, although smell and the olfactory system have multiple functions, there is no scientific evidence indicating that aromatherapy can aid in preventing or alleviating disease. The medical literature contains no research on the effects of aromatherapy as a medical treatment.

Aromatherapy may reduce stress, enhance pleasure, and improve quality of life. However, no evidence in the medical literature that supports claims that aromatherapy can help prevent or heal disease. Evidence is lacking even in the case of those minor and self-limiting conditions, such as headaches and colds, that advocates say can be alleviated by aromatherapy.

Used as a strictly complementary technique, however, aromatherapy is a pleasant addition to baths and massages. Scented candles or aroma sprays, for those who enjoy the fragrance, contribute to a sense of relaxation and help create a calming atmosphere.

Are Your Walls Making You Sick? Read This Lesson On Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a common chemical found in numerous household products, including adhesives, cosmetics, deodorants, detergents, fertilizers, paints, plastics, and textiles. It has been found to cause cancer in laboratory animals and also suspected to be human carcinogen.

The National Academy of Sciences estimates that 10% to 20% of the general population may be susceptible to irritation from exposure to formaldehyde at extremely low concentrations including cough, swelling and irritation of the throat, watery eyes, headaches, rashes, excessive thirst, nausea, nosebleeds, disorientation, and other symptoms.

A major source of formaldehyde pollution in many homes is particleboard. Particleboard is made by pressing small wood shavings together with urea-formaldehyde resin. It is easy to recognize because you can see the pressed-together shavings on all sides. It is used extensively in the construction of inexpensive home furnishings, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and in new-home construction (particularly as subflooring and in doors).

While particleboard itself is simple to recognize, it is often hidden behind a thin wood veneer, so check carefully. Good places to look for exposed particleboard are inside cabinets, at the ends of shelves, in corners, and in drilled holes. Most wood items that are described as "veneered" or having a "genuine oak veneer" are generally filled with particleboard.

All products made with particleboard will release small quantities of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde emissions are greater when the product is new, and decrease with time, but it takes many years for the formaldehyde to evaporate entirely. Surprisingly, warning labels are not required on products made with particleboard, though they are on sheets of particleboard purchased at lumberyards.

Another common product made with urea-formaldehyde resin is urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI). The Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of UFFI in residences and schools in 1982, after receiving numerous complaints that exposure to this insulation caused respiratory problems, dizziness, nausea, and eye and throat irritations ranging from short-term discomfort to serious adverse health effects and hospitalization. Despite the fact that this ban was later overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals, the CPSC continues to warn consumers that evidence indicates that substantial risk is associated with use of this product.

Instead of particleboard, choose wood items made from solid wood whenever possible. Even plywood, although also made with a formaldehyde resin, is preferable to particleboard. If you are insulating your home, choose any other insulation rather than UFFI.

There is some concern that fiberglass fibers may pose the same hazard as asbestos fibers, but no known evidence that suggests that fiberglass within walls might be released into your living space. You can order a home test kit if you want to check your indoor air for formaldehyde fumes that may already be present in your home.

Some of the formaldehyde fumes from particleboard or UFFI can be sealed in; any kind of finish will help to some degree, although a sealant designed to be a vapor barrier, such as AFM Hard Seal, will be more effective. They can reduce formaldehyde emissions up to 95%, but tend to break down after several years and require reapplication.

The most effective barrier for formaldehyde fumes is aluminum foil. Heavy-duty foil and foil-back paper (sold as foil vapor barrier at building-supply stores) are more durable than standard cooking foil. These will, of course, give a rather space-age look to your furniture and your walls, but they work quite well inside cabinets, where they are less visible and most needed to prevent fumes from building up inside the closed space. Use foil tape (available at hardware stores) to seal the edges and keep fumes from escaping.

If you do nothing else, at least open the window! As particle-board and UFFI continue to give off formaldehyde fumes, they can eventually reach very high concentrations in unventilated spaces. Try to leave a window open (even just a crack will help) in all rooms containing particleboard and throughout the house if your home is insulated with UFFI.

An appropriate air filter will also significantly lessen formaldehyde fumes, but don't expect a little air cleaner from your local department store to do the job. You'll need a heavy-duty machine with a lot of activated carbon or other adsorptive material especially formulated for formaldehyde removal.

A Crash Course On Vitamins & Minerals

There are thirteen vitamins and eighteen minerals that are essential to good health and life. Despite the fact that only small amounts of each vitamin are needed, vitamins are essential to all of the body's biochemical processes. They are required to convert food into energy and to help the body manufacture hormones, blood cells, and nervous system chemicals.

Vitamins are obtained entirely from food, except for Vitamins D, B5 and B7, which come in part from other sources. Pantothenic acid (B5) and vitamin D can be produced by the absorption of sunlight through the skin. Ten minutes of exposure to the bright midday sun produces at least half of what adults require each day. The remainder must be consumed from fatty fish, such as salmon and tuna, and from dairy products. Some of the needed biotin (B7) and pantothenic acid is produced by normal intestinal bacteria, while remaining amounts are easily obtained from food.

Minerals are closely related to vitamins. They originate in soil and water and are found in all plants and animals. The major (or macro) minerals, those needed in relatively large quantities by the body, include calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Trace (or micro) minerals are needed in very small amounts. Iron, fluoride, selenium, and zinc are among the eighteen essential trace minerals. Vitamins and minerals work hand in hand, influencing how well the body absorbs both.

Vitamins and minerals have been studied for decades, and a great deal is known about the sources and roles of each, as well as about what happens when the body takes in too much or too little of a particular substance. Researchers and scientists continue the study in this area, working to gain more knowledge about the effects of vitamins and minerals on health and physiological functioning, or learning that a bit more or less of a nutrient can produce better results than had been assumed. This is why the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) are reviewed regularly by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences.

Vitamin supplements are purchased by up to 80% of U.S. households. Despite such widespread use, serious debate continues about the value of vitamin pills and other dietary supplements for the general public.

Scientific studies indicate that the required nutrients should come from an average balanced diet, and that only certain groups of people need to take supplements. This group include pregnant women, young children, alcoholics, those with diseases that inhibit absorption of nutrients, post menopausal women trying to prevent osteoporosis, and people whose diets do not provide the necessary nutrients.

Recent studies, however, show that less than 1/3 of adults eat 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day, and many older people consume fewer calories than required to meet their daily nutrient requirements. In addition to vitamin supplements sold to compensate for less than ideal eating habits, supplements are promoted as insurance against inadequate intake of essential nutrients, including proteins. Other supplements focus on people's special needs, such as to improve athletic performance or to lose weight.

Many products in the market today claim that they can reduce or cure problems such as depression, sleep disorders, cancer, indigestion, arthritis, and obesity. Still others promise to achieve anti-aging effects, rejuvenation, energy, and the elimination of toxins from the body. Literally hundreds of dietary supplements, nutritional aids, and similar products are widely promoted and generally available to the public. However, their promises are rarely substantiated in fact.

A dietary supplement act passed in 1994 removed dietary and nutritional supplements from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review. Therefore, supplements are not regulated. They are not evaluated for safety or purity, nor are they studied to see whether they live up to promoters' claims. Many ads for special supplements do not list ingredients, so the buyer does not know what is contained in the capsules that promise results such as improved memory or greater stamina.

25 Reasons Why You Should Start Drinking Green Tea Now

Green tea has increasingly become a very popular drink worldwide because of its immensely powerful health benefits. It is extraordinarily amazing what green tea can do for your health. And if you're not drinking 3 to 4 cups of green tea today, you're definitely NOT doing your health a big favor.

Here Are 25 Reasons Why You Should Start Drinking Green Tea Right Now:

1. Green Tea and Cancer

Green tea helps reduce the risk of cancer. The antioxidant in green tea is 100 times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times better than vitamin E. This helps your body at protecting cells from damage believed to be linked to cancer.

Read more about green tea and cancer at http://www.finegreentea.com/green-tea-cancer.html

2. Green Tea and Heart Disease

Green tea helps prevent heart disease and stroke by lowering the level of cholesterol. Even after the heart attack, it prevents cell deaths and speeds up the recovery of heart cells.

Read more about green tea and heart disease at http://www.finegreentea.com/green-tea-and-heart-disease.html

3. Green Tea and Anti-Aging

Green tea contains antioxidant known as polyphenols which fight against free radicals. What this means it helps you fight against aging and promotes longevity.

4. Green Tea and Weight Loss

Green tea helps with your body weight loss. Green tea burns fat and boosts your metabolism rate naturally. It can help you burn up to 70 calories in just one day. That translates to 7 pounds in one year.

Read more about green tea weight loss at http://www.finegreentea.com/green-tea-weight-loss.html

5. Green Tea and Skin

Antioxidant in green tea protects the skin from the harmful effects of free radicals, which cause wrinkling and skin aging. Green tea also helps fight against skin cancer.

Read more about green tea and skin at http://www.finegreentea.com/green-tea-skin.html

6. Green Tea and Arthritis

Green tea can help prevent and reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Green tea has benefit for your health as it protects the cartilage by blocking the enzyme that destroys cartilage.

Read more about green tea and arthritis at http://www.finegreentea.com/green-tea-and-arthritis.html

7. Green Tea and Bones

The very key to this is high fluoride content found in green tea. It helps keep your bones strong. If you drink green tea every day, this will help you preserve your bone density.

8. Green Tea and Cholesterol

Green tea can help lower cholesterol level. It also improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, by reducing bad cholesterol level.

Read more about green tea and cholesterol at http://www.finegreentea.com/green-tea-and-cholesterol.html

9. Green Tea and Obesity

Green tea prevents obesity by stopping the movement of glucose in fat cells. If you are on a healthy diet, exercise regularly and drink green tea, it is unlikely you'll be obese.

10. Green Tea and Diabetes

Green tea improves lipid and glucose metabolisms, prevents sharp increases in blood sugar level, and balances your metabolism rate.

Read more about diabetes and green tea at http://www.finegreentea.com/diabetes-and-green-tea.html

11. Green Tea and Alzheimer's

Green tea helps boost your memory. And although there's no cure for Alzheimer's, it helps slow the process of reduced acetylcholine in the brain, which leads to Alzheimer's.

12. Green Tea and Parkinson's

Antioxidants in green tea helps prevent against cell damage in the brain, which could cause Parkinson's. People drinking green tea also are less likely to progress with Parkinson's.

13. Green Tea and Liver Disease

Green tea helps prevent transplant failure in people with liver failure. Researches showed that green tea destroys harmful free radicals in fatty livers.

Read more about green tea and liver disease at http://www.finegreentea.com/green-tea-liver.html

14. Green Tea and High Blood Pressure

Green tea helps prevent high blood pressure. Drinking green tea helps keep your blood pressure down by repressing angiotensin, which leads to high blood pressure.

Read more about green tea and high blood pressure at http://www.finegreentea.com/green-tea-and-high-blood-pressure.html

15. Green Tea and Food Poisoning

Catechin found in green tea can kill bacteria which causes food poisoning and kills the toxins produced by those bacteria.

16. Green Tea and Blood Sugar

Blood sugar tends to increase with age, but polyphenols and polysaccharides in green tea help lower your blood sugar level.

17. Green Tea and Immunity

Polyphenols and flavenoids found in green tea help boost your immune system, making your health stronger in fighting against infections.

18. Green Tea and Cold and Flu

Green tea prevents you from getting a cold or flu. Vitamin C in green tea helps you treat the flu and the common cold.

19. Green Tea and Asthma

Theophylline in green tea relaxes the muscles which support the bronchial tubes, reducing the severity of asthma.

20. Green Tea and Ear Infection

Green tea helps with ear infection problem. For natural ear cleaning, soak a cutton ball in green tea and clean the infected ear.

21. Green Tea and Herpes

Green tea increases the effectiveness of topical interferon treatment of herpes. First green tea compress is applied, and then let the skin dry before the interferon treatment.

22. Green Tea and Tooth Decay

Green tea destroys bacteria and viruses that cause many dental diseases. It also slows the growth of bacteria which leads to bad breath.

Read more about green tea and tooth decay at http://www.finegreentea.com/green-tea-tooth-decay.html

23. Green Tea and Stress

L-theanine, which is a kind of amino acids in green tea, can help relieve stress and anxiety.

24. Green Tea and Allergies

EGCG found in green tea relieves allergies. So, if you have allergies, you should really consider drinking green tea.

Read more about green tea and allergy at http://www.finegreentea.com/green-tea-allergy.html

25. Green Tea and HIV

Scientists in Japan have found that EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) in green tea can stop HIV from binding to healthy immune cells. What this means is that green tea can help stop the HIV virus from spreading.

Read more about green tea and HIV at http://www.finegreentea.com/green-tea-hiv.html

How's that for only some of the health benefits that green tea has to offer you? Almost miraculous, I'd say.

Now, your health is in your hands. You know you're smart. So, start drinking three to four cups of green tea every day for a drug-free and healthier YOU!

About the Author You are free to reprint this article as long as you provide live, clickable links to http://www.FineGreenTea.com

Visit http://www.FineGreenTea.com now for more free information about green tea. You will learn more about the health benefits of green tea, green tea diet, green tea weight loss and green tea extract.

14 Symptoms That Can Be Alleviated With Hydrotherapy

The following self-help remedies have been found safe and useful in using hydrotherapy treatment:

1. Abdominal cramps, irritable bowel syndrome: A heating pad or hot-water bottle applied to the abdomen offers relief.

2. Arthritis and bursitis: Use gel or ice packs for pain resulting from overactivity; apply heat for swollen, tender, hot joints; and take a hot shower or bath to relieve stiffness and pain. Alternating ice and heat, ten minutes for each application, helps bursitis.

3. Breast soreness from pregnancy, menstruation, benign discomfort: Heating pads work for some women, while cool-water compresses work for others, and some achieve comfort by alternating hot and cold applications.

4. Carpal tunnel syndrome: For this condition, caused by long-term, repetitive motions of hands and wrists, use ice packs.

5. Colds, laryngitis, sore throat: Humidity helps these and related ailments. Stand in a hot shower, use a humidifier, try a steam bath, or place your face over a bowl of steaming water with a towel draped over your head, forming a mini-steam bath.

6. Headaches: Hot compresses or heating pads are the usual treatment, but some people get more relief from cold compresses applied directly to forehead and neck.

7. Hemorrhoids: A sitz bath, sitting in warm water with knees raised, reduces pain and shrinks swollen veins.

8. Hives: Cool baths, cold compresses, or an ice cube rubbed on the hives can all be helpful and provides relief.

9. Insomnia: A warm bath a few hours before going to bed can induce drowsiness and relaxation.

10. Insect stings: Ice cubes or an ice pack are helpful, but some people feel better with applied heat.

11. Menstrual cramps and endometriosis: If a heating pad does not help, some women find relief with cold packs.

12. Muscle aches and pains and swelling: Use ice packs twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off for several hours or a day.

13. Stress: Soaking in a hot tub restores proper circulation, relaxes the body, and reduces stress.

14. Sunburn and other minor burns, bumps, bruises, sprains: Apply ice water or ice compresses, or apply a cloth dipped in cool water.

Although hydrotherapy treatment has many benefits and applications, some precautions are in order concerning various forms of its use:

1. Cases of bacterial diseases infecting users of improperly cleaned public and private whirlpools and hot tubs have been reported.

2. Excessively hot water can cause burns and other problems; ice applied directly to skin for more than a short time can damage tissues.

3. Excessively cold water can harm people with circulatory disorders.

4. Be wary of outlandish claims made for the curative value of any hydrotherapy treatment.

5. Particularly regarding internal hydrotherapies, be aware of possible side effects or harm from excessive water temperature, pressure, or amount of liquid infused.

6. Colonic irrigation can cause perforation of the colon. In addition, serious and even fatal internal infections have been caused by this procedure in practices that fail to sterilize their equipment.

11 Amazing Ways Aerobic Exercise Can Improve Your Health & Increase Your Lifespan

When we exercise aerobically, our muscles demand more oxygen and blood than when we're just reading a book or watching television. To fill the demand, our hearts beat faster and stronger, and we start to breathe more heavily. It's like a low-risk investment that yields tremendous profits. Here are some of the immediate benefits of exercise.

1. Boosts energy. The next time you're falling asleep at your desk, go out and take a brisk 10 to 15 minute walk. Chances are that you'll feel refreshed and energized when you return. You feel like your energy level is really surging. Your brain releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins, the same ones that, in excess, create the "runner's high" that marathon runners often experience.

2. Boosts metabolism. Aerobic exercise burns a lot of calories and elevates metabolism Metabolism is so important because it's what helps us control our weight. As it slows, so does our body's ability to use up the calories we eat before they're converted to fat, Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day, and maintain or even lose weight by giving your metabolism a daily boost.

3. Reduces stress and makes falling asleep easy. Studies show that exercise is a great stress buster. Aerobic exercise can improve your sleep by reducing stress, tiring you out, and regulating your body temperature. The best time to exercise for improved sleep is in the late afternoon, according to experts Peter Hauri, PhD., co-director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The body goes through a cycle of rising and falling temperatures throughout the day. When your temperature is at its lowest point, its easiest for you to fall asleep. Vigorous exercise in the afternoon can boost your body temperature for up to 5 hours, so your temperature will drop just in time for bed.

4. Revs up your sex drive. Exercise may give your libido a turbo-boost. Experts say that aerobic exercise can put the sizzle back in your sex life by reducing stress. When we're more relaxed, we're often more interested in having sex. Exercise can also make you feel better about your body as you find yourself becoming more fit. The more attractive we feel, the friskier we usually are. Exercise has also been found to boost the levels of the hormone responsible for sex drive in men, and that effect may be similar in women.

While the immediate benefits of aerobic exercise may be remarkable, its long-term benefits are even more impressive. Regular exercise increases your vitality, endurance, flexibility, and balance, all things that tend to decline as we age. But the most significant benefit of exercise is its role in disease prevention. If you look at a list of all the health problems that occur as you age, exercise has been shown to reduce almost all of them. Here are just some of the conditions exercise can counteract.

5. Heart disease. Regular aerobic exercise helps prevent heart disease by improving several risk factors: It lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, controls weight, reduces stress, and improves cardiovascular fitness, says Elizabeth Ross, M.D., a cardiologist at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. Even people who already have heart disease can lower their risk of having a heart attack by exercising.


6. Cancer. Women who exercise several times a week cut their breast cancer risk to half that of inactive women, while those who did more vigorous activity such as swimming or running at least once a week were 80% less likely to get breast cancer. When it comes to colon cancer, in 1996 the Surgeon General's report concluded that physical activity protects against it.

7. Diabetes. People who exercise regularly have a significantly lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A 6-year study of more than 8,600 subjects, conducted by researchers at the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research in Dallas, found that those who were least fit had four times greater risk of developing diabetes than those who were most fit.

8. Stroke. Regular exercise can cut your stroke risk in half, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health.

9. Depression. Experts say that exercise can help relieve mild depression by raising levels of feel-good substances in the brain and by reducing stress. In fact, several studies have shown that aerobic exercise is just as effective as psychotherapy at treating mild depression.

10. Osteoporosis. Regular exercise can help prevent osteoporosis. A study of nearly 240 postmenopausal women between the ages of 43 and 72 found that those who walked about a mile a day had denser bones than women who walked less than a mile a week.

11. Arthritis. Exercise, especially walking, can ease arthritis pain. A study at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, assigned elderly people with knee arthritis to do aerobic exercise, strength training, or no exercise. After a year, those who did best were in the aerobic exercise group. They reported less pain and disability than the nonexercise group and were able to walk, climb stairs, and get in and out of the car more easily.

Four Essential Vitamins & The Benefits Of Each (C, D, E, & K)

Vitamin C: Vitamin C is the best known and most widely used nutritional supplement. Vitamin C supports the healing process in various types of conditions. However, it is important not to neglect fruit and vegetables when taking vitamin C. There is probably no upper limit to a safe dosage of vitamin C except for people who have hemochromatosis. But most people will experience diarrhea or nausea when taking more than 5,000 milligrams a day. With relatively few exceptions, 2,000 milligrams a day is enough vitamin C to influence the healing process.

Take vitamin C with caution if you take certain prescription drugs. Vitamin C taken in the form of vitamin C with bioflavonoids can interfere with the liver's ability to process statin drugs for controlling cholesterol. Rose hip vitamin C should not be taken by people with any allergy or sensitivity to rose hips.

Vitamin C is most effective in an alkaline environment. Diets high in carbohydrates and refined sugars produce acidity, so if you are going to take vitamin C, you will get the best results if you also restrict sugars and refined carbohydrates in your diet.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D is a group of chemicals synthesized in the skin from cholesterol with the help of sunlight, and also found in food. Deficiencies of vitamin D can result from failure to get enough sun. Mild vitamin D deficiencies are common in active elderly persons who avoid the sun because of concerns about wrinkles or skin cancer.

Severe vitamin D deficiencies are common among persons confined to nursing homes. Mild vitamin D deficiency can also result from being overweight. Subcutaneous fat absorbs the vitamin D made by the skin and keeps it from entering circulation. Vitamin D increases calcium absorption and strengthens bone. Vitamin D supplements are important for people who have diseases of absorption, such as cystic fibrosis, and pancreatitis.

Activated vitamin D is often helpful when prostate cancer has spread to the bones, as it reduces bone pain and prevents fractures. However, it can interfere with prescription medications for the condition and should only be used under the supervision of a physician.

Whether the bacterium that causes Lyme disease is trapped or escapes, causing an infection, after the skin is broken by a tick bite depends in part on whether the skin has an adequate supply of vitamin D. Skin cells that have an adequate supply of vitamin D are better able to secrete an immune hormone known as interleukin-8 (IL-8), which signals to white blood cells that a bacterium has invaded the skin. Vitamin D continues to be important in fighting Lyme disease as the infection spreads beyond the skin, enabling cells in other tissues to send out an alarm to the immune system.

For most conditions, vitamin D is dosed at 400-1,000 ID per day, although treatment of fractures sometimes requires 2,000 ID per day or even more for a short time.

Vitamin E: Vitamin E refers to a group of antioxidants known as tocopherols. Low levels of vitamin E are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and supplemental vitamin E is used to stop inflammatory processes contributing to dozens of diseases and conditions. Effective daily doses of vitamin E range from 100 to1,000 IU per day.

Vitamin E should not be taken at the same time as iron supplements, since iron can oxidize and deactivate the vitamin. Any fatty food or supplemental essential fatty acid taken at the same time as vitamin E increases absorption of the vitamin, and most medications used to lower cholesterol taken at the same time as vitamin E decreases absorption of the vitamin.

In combination with prescription blood thinners or aspirin, vitamin E increases the risk of bleeding. Always tell your doctor that you are taking vitamin E if you are prescribed any blood-thinning medication. Since vitamin E reduces clotting factors in the blood, be sure to inform your doctor that you take vitamin E before any surgical procedure.

Vitamin K: Vitamin K is essential to the body's production of clotting factors and also to the formation of bone. Since vitamin K is dissolved in fats in food, supplemental vitamin K is essential in any condition impairing the body's ability to absorb fats, such as celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, or pancreatitis.

Supplemental vitamin K is also helpful in treating heavy periods and osteoporosis. Vitamin K is synthesized by bacteria in the intestine, so vitamin K levels go down during antibiotic treatment. However, taking vitamin K supplements as infrequently as every other week is usually sufficient.

A typical dosage of vitamin K is 5-10 milligrams, no more than twice a week except under medical advice. The Japanese soybean product natto is an excellent source of vitamin K for periods when vitamin tablets are not used. You should consider taking vitamin K supplements if you take more than 1,000 ID of vitamin E a day or if you take any medication for lowering cholesterol.

Four Doctor-Recommended Ways To Keep Your Eyes Young & Your Vision Strong

Our eye's ability to focus reaches its peak at around 12 years old, then slowly declines with every year thereafter. By the time we reach ages 35 to 45, many of us begin to notice we're holding reading material so far away that our arms seem too short. It's called presbyopia, the age-related vision change that occurs as your once-flexible lens becomes harder and less clear. Here's what to do when you notice that your vision is starting to get bad.

Schedule for an eye check-up. Schedule an eye examination to review the health of your eyes and the overall functioning of your visual system. This includes tests for how well your eyes focus on objects, both far and near, and how well they work together for depth perception.

Don't make excuses, like telling yourself you can see okay so long as the lighting is bright enough or you're feeling okay. It is true that your vision may be sharper in the bright light of a sunny day since the pupils constrict and increase your depth of focus. But you also deserve to see well indoors, in the soothing light of your room, or when walking the streets at night.

If you notice yourself squinting to clear up blurry letters, you're doing yourself no youthful favors. Constant squinting deepens the lines around your eyes, making you look older. Squinting in bright sunlight is no better. Wear sunglasses to help preserve the smooth appearance of your face around your eyes. Sunglasses will also help to prevent cataracts, which can be caused by sun damage.

A new pair of glasses or a specially designed pair of contact lenses will restore your ability to see close-up again. Your own best option may be bifocals, bifocal contact lenses, or a pair of reading glasses. Check with your eye professional for recommendation.

Although not all eye professionals agree, some advocate exercising the muscles in the eyes the same way you exercise the other muscles in your body. Eye experts suggest the following tips for those who want to keep their visual system functioning well.

1. As you go about your daily life, practice tracking moving objects and following things. Computer games help with this, but take frequent breaks.

2. Shift your gaze often. Fix your sights on something in one corner of the room, then the other in a rhythmic way. Look here and there. Focus near, then focus far. When you're reading, look across the room every 2 minutes.

The very best thing that you can do to keep your eyes young and your vision sharp is to practice prevention. Investing a little attention in your eyesight now will go a long way toward keeping it healthy in the future. Here's what the experts recommend.

1. Wayne Fung, M.D., an ophthalmologist at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, recommends munching on fruits and vegetables that are rich in beta-carotene. The beta-carotene is important for good eye health, and eating fruits and vegetables adds fiber, which is important to your overall health. Good choices include papaya, mango, kale, Swiss chard, pumpkin, broccoli, and spinach, he says.

2. As your eyes age, the protein material in your lens may begin to cloud, subtly at first, like adding drops of milk to a glass of water, one at a time. Getting annual eye examinations during your middle-aged years will diagnose cataracts early, before they begin to significantly interfere with your driving ability, reading, and everyday living.

3. Don't let blindness sneak up on you. Perhaps the most important reason for regular eye exams is glaucoma screening. When pressure builds behind the eye, damage can occur to the optic nerve, which can lead to blindness. Since there are no symptoms, an examination is your only path to early detection. If you have suffered a significant eye injury at any time during your life, or if you have blood relatives with glaucoma, you're at higher risk for developing glaucoma during middle age.

4. As you lead your busy, active life, make sure that your eyes have the protection they need. Wear impact-resistant sunglasses or safety glasses that protect your eyes from injury as well as guard against ultraviolet rays. Wear a wide-brimmed hat while gardening, golfing, or watching sporting events in the sun.

Two Questions You May Want To Ask Yourself For Better Health: You'll Be Shocked!

1. Do modern concrete structures present a hazard to our health? Some people notice traces of rheumatism and neuralgia after only a few weeks, or an increase in stiffness of the limbs or in the neck. Even depression may set in, although unknown before. If shortly after moving into a concrete structure, you notice these or other disturbances, you should experiment by spending a holiday with friends or relatives who live in a wooden or brick building. If your symptoms disappear while you are staying there, it would be reasonable in the interests of health to exchange the concrete structure, despite its modern conveniences, for a healthier dwelling place.

A humid home with little exposure to the sun can damage our health just as much as a concrete building. Pain and psychological suffering can be avoided if, in questions of where to live, we consider not only the cost but also the effect on our health. Living in a healthy home is of greater value than having modern conveniences.

2. Are We Watching Too Much Television? Television has intruded into our everyday life to such an extent that most people cannot imagine life without it. But what about its effects on our health? Cathode rays from the screen are really not harmless. They can damage our health in accord with our own susceptibility. However, rays particularly affect glands and the nervous system. You should therefore consider well whether a program is really worth seeing before you expose yourself to such damaging rays.

One should watch from a distance of about 12 to 18 feet. People subject to lymphatic trouble and those with poor nerves should expose themselves to the rays as little as possible. Watching television is particularly widespread among children, so little wonder that these show signs of striking ill-health. A very unfavorable effect on the nerves and mind has been noted. But instead of paying close attention to the symptoms and removing the cause, many doctors unfortunately disregard them, prescribing medicines to suppress the symptoms. Relief is expected from psychiatric drugs, but sadly in vain, because the harm done is too great to be completely removed.

Even youths are not always strong enough to get over such consequences, and nervous breakdowns have been reported. Parents should be more sensible and see to it that their children do not become addicted to television and exercise necessary control in supervising their viewing carefully.

Modern conveniences can make things easier but, on the other hand, they can put a greater strain on our nerves and minds. Let us select only worthwhile programs and use the rest of our time getting much required rest and relaxation.

Do not leave your television set running without thinking, for it is not good either mentally or health wise to soak in all these harmful things. Particularly in these times of stress, we should take care to get necessary rest, relaxation and quietness to help us recover and rally the forces needed to maintain a healthy mind and body. Though radio and television provide food for the mind, we should not thoughtlessly indulge.

The rays a television screen emits, especially from a color television set, are in no way harmless. Some of them are equal to X-rays. They can cause sensitive persons radiation damage to the skin similar to what is found in nurses working with X-rays. This could be mainly a chronic skin inflammation that does not easily heal. Remember that this can happen when we expose ourselves too long to rays coming from a television screen.

How to get the Alzheimer’s patient off the road... Taking the Keys Away

For most people, driving is a necessity as well as a symbol of independence. There are very few people that will easily give up their independence and give you the keys to their vehicle. Yet for individuals with Alzheimer's disease, driving a vehicle can pose serious risks and endanger themselves or others. The decision of when to stop driving is one that Alzheimer's patients and their families often face.

There are many opinions concerning the issue of driving for the Alzheimer's patient. If he trusts his physician, the doctor may have more success than the primary care giver in letting the patient know when to stop driving. The physician may be trusted by the patient and be able to explain to him that his medical condition may interfere with his driving. This scenario is good for the caregiver as it takes the responsibility off you and puts it on the medical condition, with the physician being the messenger.

Below you will find some guidelines for approaching this sensitive issue with your family and your loved one. Ask your relatives to back you by being pleasantly supportive of your loved one. For a while, make sure he has a ride to familiar frequented places. Routine is so important.

Humor is almost always a positive way to cope with this situation. A fun way of approaching the subject is to tell him how lucky he is to have his own chauffeur!

However, knowing when to take the keys out of his hands can become tricky. Here are some warning signs that will help you make the decision:

Car accidents Stopping in traffic for no apparent reason. Getting confused between the brake and the gas pedals Getting a ticket for moving violations Getting lost when places are familiar Getting agitated or irritated when they are driving Not anticipating dangerous situations Delayed responses to unexpected situations Driving at inappropriate speeds Incorrect signaling Getting confused at exists Switching into a wrong lane If some of the warning signs above are present, then it's time for family members to gather and discuss the problem. Sometimes it is easier to be together to face a difficult decision and intervene at an early stage when signs of impairment are not yet critical

The accident rate for drivers 85 years old and over is nine times higher than drivers between ages 25 and 69. The primary care giver may perform routine exams to assess the ability and skills of the patient and conform to state and local restrictions and laws. If you are concerned about your loved one's driving, take measures to keep him and others safe on the road.

You may find some additional information by finding a specialist in your area and you can contact the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (1-800-290-2344), www.driver-ed.org. Your local Department of Motor Vehicles may also be able to help you on this subject.

About The Author

William G. Hammond, JD is a nationally known elder law attorney and founder of The Alzheimer’s Resource Center. He is a frequent guest on radio and television and has developed innovative solutions to guide families who have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s. For more information you can visit his website at http://www.beatalzheimers.com.

New Hope for Alzheimer’s Treatment

There is now widespread agreement among research scientists and medical professionals that Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a problem quickly growing to vast proportions. As the life expectancy of Americans continues to rise, increasing the percentage of the population over 65 years of age, so does the number of Alzheimer’s cases.

It is currently estimated that people over 65 years of age have a 10% chance of developing Alzheimer’s, while those over 85 have a 50% likelihood of developing AD, making it the leading cause of dementia among older people. Though the disease is associated primarily with memory loss, its effects also comprise a number of other severe disabilities, including changes in personality, disorientation, difficulty with speech and comprehension, and a lack of ability to move normally.

Consequently, most Alzheimer’s patients require a great deal of care, costing society close to $100 billion annually. According to Christian Fritze, Ph.D., Director of the Antibody Products Division at Covance Research Products, "The impact of Alzheimer's Disease on our society will only increase as our population ages. The prevalence of the disease and disabling effects on the patient are significant by themselves. In addition we are becoming increasingly aware of the far-reaching effects on families, care-giver networks and the economics of our health care system. The drive for progress towards effective treatments by the research and drug development community is growing stronger every day."

A New Consensus

But recent developments in the medical research community do provide some hope. During the last two years, there has been a growing consensus among Alzheimer researchers about the cause of Alzheimer’s disease, providing focus for scientists exploring the new treatment options.

The focus is on amyloid beta oligomers, a new wrinkle on an older hypothesis called the amyloid cascade hypothesis. Widespread acceptance of this new conclusion is something of a milestone in the history of Alzheimer’s research. As Dr. Fritze says, "The decades old quest for the causative agent in Alzheimer's Disease has recently focused on the precursors of amyloid plaques. These precursors are part of a bewildering array of processed (APP) Amyloid Precursor Protein) variants, Tau isoforms and secretase components that play a role in neuronal cytotoxicity and subsequent brain dysfunction.

Amyloid plaques are sticky protein deposits in the brain containing amyloid beta peptide. Researchers have associated the buildup of this plaque with Alzheimer’s disease since its discovery in 1907. But despite the clear correlation, scientists were not sure what, exactly, spurred the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease. The hypothesis that amyloid beta accumulation in the brain is the major cause of Alzheimer’s Disease1 has been the focus of much attention over the past decade. Although this hypothesis was the leading explanation for the cause of AD, it had several weaknesses. The most obvious problem with the theory was the fact that the buildup of amyloid beta peptides did not necessarily correspond with the severity of Alzheimer’s symptoms.

However, in 19982 and in 20023, researchers proposed that it was not the amyloid beta plaques themselves that were neurotoxic and therefore the cause of Alzheimer’s but rather precursors to amyloid beta plaques formed by smaller aggregates of amyloid beta. These new ideas are gaining widespread acceptance among the Alzheimer’s research community, creating a consensus that had not existed before.

This new focus provides one more spur to action for Alzheimer’s researchers, and underscores the need for further advancement. The AD field demands sophisticated, highly-sensitive research tools to track these components and quantitate the existence of monomeric, oligomeric and fibrillar amyloid forms present in the progression of Alzheimer's disease, says Dr. Fritze.

Antibody Treatment

Two new studies, both released in October 20044, suggest that new treatment options may be on the horizon. The studies are the modification of one of two previous attempts using amyloid beta (Aß) antibodies in the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. The previous attempts, though not successful, did at least suggest new courses of action in Alzheimer’s research and provided invaluable information for researchers.

In the first of the two previous attempts, researchers injected the antigen itself pieces of the beta amyloid protein that makes up amyloid plaque into mice, in the hopes that the injections would generate an immune (antibody) response against amyloid. Results were initially positive. The injected antigen produced Aß antibodies and slowed the onset of the disease by decreasing Aß levels. However, when tried on humans, the procedure led to meningoencephalitis (an inflammation of tissue around the brain) in some patients, and was therefore halted.

In the second attempt, a passive immunity therapy was tried in which antibodies to amyloid beta (not amyloid protein) were injected into mice, but hemorrhaging and inflammation ensued due to the high antibody doses required to be effective.

New Hope

But now there appears to be new hope for the use of antibodies as therapeutic agents for the treatment of Alzheimer’s patients. In the first of the two new studies that appeared in October conducted by the National Institute for Longevity Sciences, NCGG, and the Center for Neurological Diseases, Brigham & Women’s College, Harvard Institute of Medicine, researchers modified the first procedure. Concluding that the meningoenchaphalitis which occurred in some patients was caused by autoimmune T-cell activation, the researchers hoped to develop a vaccine that could minimize this T-cell activation while retaining the production of Aß antibodies. To accomplish this they created an oral vaccine that attached Aß DNA to an adeno-associated virus vector, which served to mitigate T-cell activation. Thus they were able to decrease Aß levels in the brains of the mice and yet not activate T-cells to the degree they had before, greatly reducing the risk of meningoencephalitis.

In the other new study, conducted at the University of Illinois at Chicago, researchers succeeded in making the passive immunity protocol much safer. This they accomplished by changing the point of entry for the Aß antibodies. Rather than injecting the antibodies into the body of the mice, as was done previously, antibody was injected directly into the brain of the mice. Because the antibodies were injected directly into the brain, smaller doses were needed, and side effects were minimized.

The results of the above studies, and the potential for further optimized immunization strategies may prove to be watershed events in the history of Alzheimer’s treatment.

Covance is a leading provider of innovative antibody products and custom antibody development services to the research community for Alzheimer’s disease. Visit www.Covance.com for more in-depth information and to view the suite of products for Alzheimer’s disease. Boris Predovich is Vice President of Immunology and Surgical Services at Covance Research Products.

Notes

1. J.A. Hardy, G.A. Higgins (1992), Science, 256:184-5. 2. M.P. Lambert et al (1998), Proc Natl Acad Sci, 95:6448-53. 3. D.M. Walsh et al (2002), Nature, 416:535-9. 4. Neelima B. Chauhan et al (2004), Journal of Neuroscience Research, 78, 5:732-741. Hideo Hara et al (2004), Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 6, 5:483-488.

Safe Driving And Alzheimer's Disease

Naomi was hopelessly lost. As she drove, absolutely nothing looked familiar. She noticed a fluttering in her stomach. She had to admit that she was in a lovely area, with large shade trees and a lovely lawn, but there were no houses where she could stop to ask directions. And the road seemed so narrow. She was starting to feel confused again. And there was nowhere to turn around. So she stopped the car and placed the gearshift into park.

Some time passed before a groundskeeper noticed the car on the golf course cart path. He called the police. A patrolman checked Naomi's identification and called her husband. The police officer then notified the state driver's licensing authority that Naomi should be retested.

Knowing when and how to take away the keys to the car is one of the most troublesome issues facing families who have a loved one with the illness. As we age, our eyesight and hearing may worsen. Depth perception plays tricks. Our reaction time slows. These elements of normal aging may interfere with our ability to drive a motor vehicle safely. For someone with Alzheimer's disease, these normal processes are complicated by additional symptoms related to the disease's effect on the brain. In fact, studies show that a person with Alzheimer's disease has twice the chance of being involved in a motor vehicle accident as a driver of the same age without the illness.

While a person in early stages of Alzheimer's disease may retain the ability to drive a motor vehicle, as the disease progresses, the time is likely to come when he or she is no longer safe behind the wheel. At the same time, the person with Alzheimer's disease will cling to whatever sense of independence he or she can.

The American Psychiatric Association says that some Alzheimer's patients with moderate impairment and all severely impaired patients pose unacceptable risks to themselves and others behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Even those in early stages of the disease may be unable to drive even short distances safely. Depending on the individual, family members and others have a responsibility to assess the situation and, when necessary, step in and take away the keys.

Warning Signs

How do you know when to restrict driving privileges in a person with Alzheimer's disease? Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable riding with him or her-or letting your children ride along-you may have unconsciously decided that the time has come. Another indicator is the person's inability to follow a recipe or perform simple household tasks. These types of activities require some of the same mental abilities necessary for safely operating a motor vehicle.

Deterioration in the ability to concentrate, as well as impairment of judgment seen in people who have Alzheimer's disease, add to the concern about such patients driving motor vehicles. According to the Alzheimer's Association, some things to watch for include the following:

1. Getting lost.

Anyone can get lost in an unfamiliar area. Those with Alzheimer's disease may become disoriented and be unable to find his or her way in familiar locales.

2. Ignoring traffic signals.

Failure to notice or obey stop signs, traffic lights or other highway markers may mean the driver didn't notice them. In addition, the driver may have lost the ability to associate the sign with its meaning. He or she may see the sign, but not know what it means.

3. Lack of judgment.

Inability to estimate the speed of oncoming traffic, deciding whether to stop for a yellow light or slide through the intersection, or becoming confused at a four-way stop sign are some examples of poor judgment while driving. Being slow to make decisions-or making poor ones-when driving can result in accidents that can harm the driver, as well as others on the road.

4. Driving too fast or too slowly.

Erratic driving at inappropriate speeds can indicate a lack of concentration, as well as poor physical coordination. It may also indicate poor judgment.

5. Anger and confusion.

You don't have to have Alzheimer's disease to experience road rage. Frustration during driving can make anyone flustered or angry. If the driver has Alzheimer's disease, however, watch for frequent occurrences of anger or confusion, as well as inappropriate or exaggerated reactions, while driving.

Taking Away the Car Keys

If your family member's ability to drive is impaired, you have a moral responsibility to take action to keep him or her off the road. However, accomplishing this goal may not be easy. Any suggestion that car keys be relinquished could be met with resistance, frustration, anger, or hostility-especially when it comes from a family member who may already be providing care by assisting with activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, and meal preparation.

Ask the Doctor

Many Alzheimer's families turn to the loved one's physician for help with the issue. Your loved one may more easily accept advice not to drive from a health care professional he or she has an established trust relationship with. For one thing, a doctor is often seen as an authority figure. For another, such a third party can discuss the situation objectively and dispassionately with less chance of offending your loved one on a personal level. Many doctors understand the need for this intervention and will be willing to comply with requests of this nature from family members. In some cases, doctors will write the words "Do Not Drive" on a prescription slip. In others, you may need to ask the doctor to file a request for re-examination of your loved one's driving abilities by the state driver's licensing authority.

Contact the State Licensing Authority

All states have a system in place to require retesting of persons with mental or physical impairments. However, state laws and re-examination processes vary. They may include medical evaluation, as well as written and road tests. Laws also vary concerning who is authorized to request re-examination. They may include police officers, judges, state's attorneys, physicians, family members, neighbors, friends, or other drivers. In some states, all older drivers must take driving tests for annual renewals. Check with your state's driver's licensing authority to see what rules and procedures exist for revoking driver's licenses for impaired drivers.

If your loved one's driver's license is ultimately revoked, he or she should get a state issued photo identification card to use for check cashing, air travel, and other uses.

Protecting Insurance Coverage

Even with a doctor's advice not to drive, or a driver's license revocation, a person with Alzheimer's may still get behind the wheel. He or she may forget that driving is no longer allowed. Or, stubbornness, anger, or frustration may encourage him or her to grab the keys and hit the road. If that happens and an accident occurs, serious consequences-beyond the risk of personal injury or death to the driver, passengers, or others-may result.

For example, although some state laws require insurance companies to honor claims involving insured motor vehicles, even if driven by an unlicensed driver, an insurance claim can be challenged. Insurance coverage may be cancelled. And future applications for motor vehicle insurance can be denied. In some states, insurance companies can cancel policies if a driver's license is revoked, regardless of whether an accident has happened or not. Should a driver without coverage become involved in a motor vehicle accident, his or her assets will be at risk from claims by accident victims for property damage or personal injury.

These issues are particularly important for an unimpaired spouse of a person with Alzheimer's disease. Insurance cancellation will jeopardize the spouse's insurability. Acceptance under a new policy may be difficult because of the spouse's older age. And the new policy may cost much more than the previous one. State insurance laws vary, and some states have regulations pertaining to such situations.

One option is for the impaired driver to exclude himself or herself from the policy, enabling the unimpaired spouse to continue insurance coverage. But if the excluded driver drives anyway, a claim for personal injury or property damage to the driver's car may not be honored to the full extent of the policy's limits. (Liability claims by others would likely be paid, however.) If that happened, the policy would most likely be canceled.

Action Steps for Family Members

Depending upon your loved one's abilities and desire to drive, regardless of driver's license status or doctor's orders, family members can take steps to prevent an impaired driver from operating the car. Here are six steps you can take:

1. Sell the car. If the car won't be driven, it makes sense to sell it. However, Americans love their cars. Some even name them the way they would name a pet dog or cat. If your loved one is attached to his or her motor vehicle, your suggestion to sell it may meet strong objection, even if the impaired driver seems to understand that driving is no longer allowed. If the loved one wants to keep the car, or is comforted by seeing it in the garage or driveway, you can disable the car so it can't be driven.

2. Hide the car keys. If the car remains in the family, someone must control access to all copies of the keys. Lock them in a safe place unknown to the impaired driver.

3. Replace the car key. If the impaired driver resists or refuses to hand over his or her set of keys, quietly replace the car key with one that looks like it, but that doesn't work in the vehicle.

4. Remove the tires. Removing the tires will disable the vehicle, but in some residential areas, parking a car on blocks is not allowed, except-perhaps-in an enclosed garage. Check with your local jurisdiction before taking this step.

5. Disable the vehicle. Ask a mechanic to show you how to disconnect the car's battery or how to disconnect the coil wire between the coil and distributor. If a spouse or other household member needs to use the car, reconnecting them is relatively easy.

6. Park the car elsewhere. Park the car down the street, around the corner, or out of sight in a neighbor's garage to make it inaccessible.

Look for Alternatives

A person who has been driving for decades and who takes pride in his or her independence will likely resist attempts to restrict driving privileges. That independence is difficult to give up, especially in neighborhoods without good public transportation systems. The person may not want to burden friends or family to get where he or she wants to go.

In modern American culture, driving is important. For many, it involves self-esteem and status as well as mobility. For these reasons, those who have Alzheimer's disease are unlikely to admit difficulties they are experiencing when driving. So, family members and physicians must balance the person's convenience with the safety of the driver, as well as passengers and other drivers on the road.

When restricting driving privileges becomes an issue, you can ease the transition by investigating alternative methods of getting from place to place. Here are some choices you can make available to your loved one in place of a personal motor vehicle.

1. Friends and family.

Are you willing to provide all or part of your loved one's transportation needs? What about other family members? If friends say, "let me know if I can do anything to help," suggest they give your loved one a ride to the grocery store, hairdresser, or doctor's appointment. You can also ask for volunteers at your place of worship.

2. Public Transportation.

Gather information about bus routes, train schedules, and taxi services. See whether they offer discounts for older individuals or those with disabilities. Calculate round-trip fares from your loved one's home to frequently visited locations, such as the grocery store, doctor's office, barber shop, or library.

3. Government ­funded transportation.

Investigate availability of government-funded transportation for people with disabilities. Inquire about how to qualify for such programs.

4. Delivery Services.

To reduce the need for trips outside the home, look for pharmacies, office supply stores, restaurants, and other businesses and organizations that deliver goods and services to the home. Find a courier service that operates in your area, or see whether a taxi service will perform that function. Look into the Meals on Wheels program in your area.

About The Author

William G. Hammond, JD is a nationally known elder law attorney and founder of The Alzheimer’s Resource Center. He is a frequent guest on radio and television and has developed innovative solutions to guide families who have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s. For more information you can visit his website at www.BeatAlzheimers.com

What Prevents Alzheimer's?

Alzheimer's is not normal in the course of aging, and it's more than "a decline in memory." People suffering from Alzheimer's, through progressive destruction of brain cells, lose the ability to think, reason, learn and communicate, and also undergo personality changes. For the ten warning signs of Alzheimer's go here: http://www.alz.org/AboutAD/10Signs.htm . Alzheimer's is eventually fatal because the person cannot move or swallow.

Although around 12 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's, and 4-4.5 million in the US, research in this field is still new and not enough is known about either prevention or cure. Much of the research "suggests" but is not conclusive.

RISK FACTORS

The biggest risk factor is aging, with about 50% of people over 85 years of age having Alzlheimer's in the US. According to some sources, there's evidence it has the same risk factors as for heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol and elevated homocysteine, a protein building block.

In an article called "Homocysteine is a Strong Risk factor for Alzheimer's Disease," (New England Journal of Medicine, 2002 Feb 14; 346:476-483), researchers concluded that "an increased homocysteine level is a strong, independent risk factor for the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease."

VITAMIN E

According to research done by Martha Clare Morris, ScD, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Chicago, Illinois, lots of vitamin E through food intake, not supplements is helpful. ( www.medscape.com) while another study suggests that both food intake and supplements of vitamin E is helpful.

Foods high in vitamin E are wheat germ, almonds, vegetable oils, margarine, and seeds (especially sunflower seeds). 1 T. of wheat germ provides 34.6 mg. of vitamin E, ½ cup of chocolate covered almonds, 14.3 mg., 1 T. corn oil, 11-14 mg., 1 T. soybean oil, 8.8-14 mg.

According to the Almond Board of California, just one ounce of almonds provides more than 35% of the daily value of vitamin E.

FAT

According to studies reported in www.medscape.com, high intake of saturated fat doubles the risk of Alzheimer's disease, and moderate intake of trans fat increases the risk by 2-3 times. Lower risk is associated with high intake of both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. However there have been inconsistent findings, with another study finding no influence from high ingestion of polyunsaturated fats.

FISH AND n-3 FATTY ACIDS

There is some evidence that dietary intake of fish and n-3 fatty acids can protect against Alzheimer's but again, no causal association has been established.

Assuming that vitamin E and n-3 fatty acids and unhydrogenated, unsaturated fats help, your best bet would be to eat plenty of oil-based salad dressings, nuts, seeds, fish, mayonnaise, and eggs.

CURRY

If you love curry like I do, this information will be welcome. One of the lowest rates of Alzheimer's appears in Indian villages, with only 1% of people 65 and older having the condition. A recent study suggests that the reason might be a diet high in curcumin, a compound found in turmeric which is used in curry, which has long been used as an herbal treatment in that country. Researchers investigating this link will also be looking at rosemary and ginger, also high in the Indian diet, because their structure is similar to curcumin. [Source: "The Curry Spice Curcumin Reduces Oxidative Damage and Amyloid Pathology in an Alzheimer Transgenic Mouse," Lim, Chuet al.]

TESTOSTERONE

Another link in the chain may be testosterone levels. Dr. Sozos Ch. Papasozomenos and Dr. Alikunju Shanavas, from the University of Texas-Houston Medical School conclude from their studies that "testosterone given alone to aging men and given combined with 17-beta-estradiol to postmenopausal women would probably prove beneficial in preventing and/or treating Alzheimer's disease." [Reported in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.] However, the case for hormones for postmenopausal women is far from settled and not at all clear.

LITHIUM

Another possibility is lithium. This long-standing treatment for bipolar disorder has worked as a preventative with mice, and may be useful for humans, though the side-effects are high, and it doesn't help people who already have Alzheimer's. [Source: Nature, 2003]

WEIGHT, WOMEN & ALZHEIMER'S

Researchers have also found a strong relationship in women between being overweight at age 70 and developing Alzheimer's 10-18 years later, although being overweight doesn't appear to effect men and Alzheimer's.

USE IT OR LOSE IT

Studies also suggest that keeping mentally active can ward off Alzheimer's [New England Journal of Medicine]. Oddly physical activity had no positive preventive effect except in the case of dancing. Researchers speculated that could be because music engages the mind.

These are just a few of the latest "suggestions." So little is known for sure, and we hope research continues. In the meantime, we do hear the same things over and over - good diet, exercise, and staying mentally active.

Resource: The Alzheimer's Association, http://www.alz.org

For medical advice, consult your personal healthcare professional.

©Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach, http://www.susandunn.cc . I offer coaching, distance learning courses, and ebooks around emotional intelligence. I train and certify EQ coaches. Get in this field, dubbed "white hot" by the press, now, before it's crowded, and offer your clients something of real value. Immediate entry, no residence requirement. Mailto:sdunn@suasndunn.cc for free ezine. For daily EQ Tips, send blank email to EQ4U-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .

The Art of Learning

My temples begin to throb and I can feel the panic rising in my throat, as I sit in the classroom. The minutes tick by and I still don't know what he's talking about. I look around the class and everyone else seems calm. It's just me.

I rifle through my scribbled notes, race through sections of his handout, and burn holes through the diagram in the book. No help; I'm getting more lost and desperate. Heart pounding, my thoughts go NASCAR. I don't need this crap. It's Saturday and I should be with my family; or giving a lecture; not sitting in the back of the room. I feel stupid, out of control, and childish. A trickle of sweat runs down my back and finds my underwear. Great.

As we age, hopefully we feel more mature. We gain wisdom from our experiences with the memories of decade's worth of success and failure to guide our decisions. We become a little less freaked out by what other people think; a little more comfortable doing it our way. We settle into the familiar rhythms of our lives. If married with kids, we can view the drama and machinations of young, single adults with a mixture of amusement and condescension. And some of this sense of superiority is completely illusory.

The truth is that most of us are simply a divorce or spousal death away from that same drama. The rhythms of daily hassle become the glaze over life's uncertain, rough spots. Simple experience and the passage of time don't necessarily make us wiser or healthier. Just older.

I started a post doctoral Master's of Science in Psychopharmacology last month and until spring we're studying biochemistry. I haven't taken a class like this in over 20 years and I am stunned to feel the same old angst, confusion, and panic that I did back then. The difference is that back then, I had more energy, more time, and more motivation. I was kind of used to feeling confused and panicky.

In our childhood, teens, and 20s we are constantly confronted with novel experiences and brand new learning. We're reaching out, stretching the envelope, testing the boundaries. The challenge of uncertainty is around every corner; we still believe in our dreams.

As we progress through adulthood, we orient ourselves toward the familiar. Increasingly, we unconsciously avoid novel situations that challenge or frighten us. The simple tasks of living take up more and more of our time. Formal, effortful learning becomes an ever more distant memory. This really means that proactive, self- guided, healthy change becomes less and less likely. More of our time is spent passively responding to our environment rather than actively remaking it.

To age healthily, the most important thing you can do is to not smoke cigarettes or drink too much alcohol. The second thing is to exercise regularly. The third is to keep learning. Research has shown that our brains tend to shrink and our cognitive function to decline as we age. The hardware of experience lies in the nerve cells of the brain.

Over time, brain cells decay and network connections are broken. But, every time you learn something, a new connection, a new pathway is formed in the network of your brain. Some researchers believe that learning in older adulthood is the most important element in avoiding dementia or Alzheimer's disease. A learning brain is replacing decaying neurons and broken memory connections with new ones, healthier ones. It's better than Botox.

You should be pushing the envelope and testing the boundaries throughout your life. On page 30 of my book, Stepping Stones: Ten Steps..., I discussed the Mastery Map, a hierarchical list of challenging, scary things that would be good for you if you did them.

On that list should be simple learning:

Sign up for a class. Find a new hobby. Subscribe to a magazine outside of your comfort zone. Go to a museum, exhibit, or planetarium. Look through the adult education catalogs you get in the mail. Read the weekend, calendar section of the paper for coming events. Splash cold water on your face and stomp the feeling back into your brain. Give yourself permission to wonder, to experience fear and awe again. Do you remember why the sky is blue?

It is 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning and I just found out via e-mail that I passed my first biochemistry test. The rusted, creaking machinery of my brain feels a little better oiled. Maybe the next time you or I challenge ourselves and feel that surge of fear rising, we'll know. I'm old enough to have purpose; and young enough to feel passion.

Good morning and good light,

Dr. Tim Sams My Sacred Journey http://www.mysacredjourney.com

Copyright 2004. Dr. Tim Sams. All rights reserved.

About The Author

A graduate of the University of Michigan, Tim Sams, Ph.D., is a life coach, published author and health psychologist, who teaches, motivates, and inspires others to achieve their personal goals and fulfillment. He resides in Orange County, California with his family, Lari and Leah.

Dr. Sams has multiple offices in Southern California, consulting to a few dozen pain physicians and hundreds of primary care physicians and orthopedic surgeons. He spends one day a week in his office educating patients on http://www.MyPainReliefDoc.com and http://www.mysacredjourney.com.

Copyright 2004. Dr. Tim Sams. All rights reserved.

drtimsams@yahoo.com

Vitamin C -- The Most Famous of Vitamins!

We call Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, "the most famous of vitamins" because it really is the best known. It is the first one schoolchildren learn. It is the most cited cure for the common cold. Most people can rhyme off at least a few foods that contain vitamin C. And vitamin C is the single most searched nutrient on the Internet.

HISTORY OF VITAMIN C: Nobel Prize winning biochemist Dr. Albert Szent-Gyorgyi first isolated vitamin C in 1928. (As someone of Hungarian descent, I find this a touch exciting.)

Vitamin C first got its reputation for beating the common cold in 1970, when fellow Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling published his bestselling book "Vitamin C and the Common Cold". In it, he suggested that taking vitamin C at levels well above the USA RDA (now 60 milligrams per day) could strengthen the immune system and help ward off the common cold.

BENEFITS OF VITAMIN C: Vitamin C helps form collagen, a glue-like fibrous protein in bone, cartilage, tendons and other connective tissue. Vitamin C helps give structure and maintain such body parts as bones, cartilage, muscle, veins, capillaries and teeth.

But recent studies have also linked "adequate dosages" of vitamin C to preventing a number of common cancers, of helping boost the nervous system, of prolonging life, of reducing the risk of heart disease, of softening the symptoms of respiratory diseases such as asthma and cystic fibrosis, and of keeping skin and glands healthy.

SOURCES OF VITAMIN C: Most animals manufacture their own vitamin C. Primates, such as humans, gorillas, and monkeys, have somehow lost this ability.

Which is why we need to get our vitamin C from our diets.

It is well known that citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, tangerines, limes, mandarins and others contain vitamin C.

In fact, vitamin C comes almost exclusively from fruits and vegetables. Other good sources are tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, broccoli, asparagus, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, peas, rutabagas, cantaloupe, kiwi, papayas, potatoes and watermelon.

One place that is NOT a good source are vitamin C pills, which the body just cannot absorb properly. This is a water soluble vitamin best taken in its natural juice or in a liquid supplement (or both!).

OPTIMUM USAGE OF VITAMIN C: Fortunately, if you consume too much of a water soluble vitamin, your body will get rid of excess. It also means that your body does not store it for long periods of time. You can't "stock up" on it, and you can reach a saturation point quickly; you need vitamin C several times a day.

Being a water-soluble vitamin, you lose it when you boil foods. For instance, if you boil your broccoli, you will lose the vitamin C. However, if you boil your broccoli in a soup, you will get the broccoli's vitamin C in the broth.

Do not soak or store fruits or vegetables in water, for you can lose the vitamin C that way. In short, the fresher cut the fruit or vegetable, and the less cooked, the more vitamin C you will get.

Like all vitamins and minerals, Vitamin C is most effective when combined with other nutrients. For example, one of the big benefits of vitamin C is that it helps the body digest and absorb iron, an essential mineral for good health.

It has also been found that vitamin C and E work together to help stave off Alzheimer's disease.

This is one of the reasons it is so important to take vitamin supplements that contain as many different nutrients as possible, so the body can absorb them together and enjoy the maximum benefits from each one.

VITAMIN C DOSAGE: Most experts agree that the US RDA is only a fraction of what it should be, and that daily vitamin C levels up to 1,000 or even 2,000 milligrams per day are safe and healthy.

Essential Nectar contains 250% of the US RDA, mixing it with 233 other natural, plant-based nutrients...making it a good vitamin C supplement for your diet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

David Leonhardt runs The Liquid Vitamin Supplements Store. Learn more about vitamin C or read up on other nutrition information.

Cord Blood and its uses

Cord blood is the blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta after the birth of the child and is collected after the cord has been cut off. The umbilical cord is routinely discarded with the placenta after a child is born. It is also called placental blood. Cord blood has lots of blood producing stem cells which can be frozen and later used for transplants. Cord blood is genetically unique to the child and the family. Now researchers have found that it can be used to treat many diseases.

Cord blood is now used as an alternative to bone marrow transplant when in future if the child or his family is diagnosed with cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and other disorders of the blood-making system, such as sickle-cell anemia; severe immune-system disorders; and genetic defects affecting the blood-making system. Researchers are further studying the use of cord blood for the treatment of different types of diseases like arthritis, spinal cord damage, stroke diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, Purkinje cell degeneration, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, heart disease, and vision and hearing loss, Parkinson's disease, burns osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

All stem cells--regardless of their source--have three general properties: they are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods; they are unspecialized; and they can give rise to specialized cell types. The cord blood contains blood-producing hematopoietic stem cells as well as mesenchymal stem cells. Hematopoietic stem cells have the ability to generate: three major types of brain cells (neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes); skeletal muscle cells; cardiac muscle cells; and liver cells. Mesenchymal stem cells can create various tissues in the body such as cartilage, bone, muscle, tendon, ligament and fat.

Cord blood transplants have become a strong alternative to bone marrow transplants. Cord blood is easier to collect than traditional bone marrow donation and it is not painful to extract, doesn't require invasive surgery. It is extremely difficult to find a suitable donor for a marrow transplant because six HLAs, or human lymphocyte antigens, a group of proteins in bone marrow cells that can provoke an immune response, need to match or a perfect match is required. In cord blood transplant only three HLAs loci need to match. So in cord blood there is more opportunity for transplant to siblings, parents and grandparents. Cord blood has 10 times more blood-making cells concentrated in it than bone marrow.

Worldwide thousands of successful cord blood stem cell transplants have been performed in the past decade.

About the Author Anita cherry is a health enthusiast who offers informative tips on health. For more information of your health and chemical free products and business opportunity visit http://www.healthinfoforyou.com/a/real_organic.htm You can reprint this article on your website as long as you do not modify any of the content, and include our resource box as listed above with all links intact and hyperlinked properly

How Essential Fatty Acids Improve Your Brain Power and Mental Health

What is your brain made of?

Over 50% of your brain is made of good fat. Twenty percent of this good fat comes from EPA and DHA. Remember EPA and DHA comes from,

* omega-3 fatty acids * eating fish * borage oil * primrose oil * parilla oil * NOK oil

I have covered all these oils in other articles except NKO Krill Oil. This oil is the new kid on the block. It comes from Antarctic krill, a crustacean found in the Antarctic waters. It provides EPA and DHA like borage oil does, but its chemical structure is phospholipids. Phospholipids are easier for your cells to absorb than borage oil's EPA and DHA, which is in the form of triglycerides.

The essential fatty acids provide the chemical molecules to make Phospholipids. These phospholipids gather together to form a protective barrier around each cell in your body.

If the fatty acids are in phospholipids form, your body is able to use them quicker and more efficiently.

This is what makes NOK oil a more bio-available advanced oil than borage or primrose oil.

If you are deficient in the essential fatty acids, you will be more susceptible to these conditions:

* Alzheimer's disease * Anxiety and body stress * Heart disease * Attention deficit disorder * Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder * Bipolar disorder * Chronic fatigue syndrome * Depression * Learning disorders * Memory impairment * Parkinson's disease * Schizophrenia

Making Your Brain Work Like It Should

Your brain needs a good daily supply of the essential fatty acid omega-3. It also uses omega-6 and AA (Arachidonic acid). So this means taking a good dose of NKO oil is a necessary daily routine for keeping your brain from shrinking.

Alzheimer's disease

Doctors believe that if every one lived to be over 120 years, they would come down with Alzheimer's disease. It is a disease that once your have it, all you can do, at this time, is to slow its progression using certain drugs and nutrients.

Before your brain starts to deteriorate to where it contains nodules of toxins, excess oxidation due to free radicals, and weaken and narrowing blood vessels, it might be a good idea to start feeding it the food it needs.

DHA is in order for Alzheimer's disease. When DHA is deficient in your diet, you can expect to have memory loss and become depressed as you age.

Lecithin is also in order since it helps to provide choline, a precursor to the memory neurotransmitter acetylcholine. It also provides the chemicals to produce RNA.

Heart disease is closely related to Alzheimer's because the heart must be strong enough to pump plenty of blood into the brain and the arteries must open enough to circulate enough blood through the brain and throughout your body.

Even if you don't come down with Alzheimer's or your family history doesn't support it, most of us are in line for dementia. Dementia is also attributed to deterioration of brain cells and support tissue. One of the causes of dementia is a diet that has been deficient in the essential fatty acids.

Here is my recommendation for supplementing with the essential fatty acids:

* Eat more good fish, at least once a week and occasionally twice a week * Eat less fat and particularly saturated fat. A good number for daily fat intake is 15-20% of your overall calories. * Take daily, flax seed oil and olive oil for the omega-3 and omega-6 oils * Take a daily supplement of NKO or Borage oil, which supplies EPA and DHA

Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter called "Natural Remedies Thatwork.com ." For more information on essential fatty acids go to http://www.fatty-acid-remedies.for--you.info

Board and Care Homes - What Are They?

Board and Care homes (also known as RCFE's - Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly) are residential private homes that have been licensed by the Department of Social Services to provide services to seniors. Most accept no more than six residents, but offer a cozy, home-like setting for frail seniors. At least one caregiver is on the premises at all times to assist residents.

Board and care homes come with a variety of characteristics. Rooms can be shared or private and may include a shared or private bathroom. Limited social activities are provided, but not to the extent of an assisted living facility. Specific needs can be met in this small setting, such as language, ethnic or food preferences, even accommodating a loved pet. Meals, laundry, housekeeping, transportation to doctor appointments are usually included. Most provide assistance with dressing, bathing, grooming, eating, medication management, and hygiene and continence issues. With hundreds of these homes scattered throughout most geographic areas, there is hardly a situation that cannot be met in a board and care home.

With most board and care homes, a resident will interact with just three or four caregivers each week. This allows caregivers and residents to form a close bond, which many seniors prefer. Homes range in care giving levels, from simply providing a personal presence for seniors to dealing with severe medical conditions. If fact, some specialize in very specific areas of healthcare and their related needs, such as non-ambulatory residents, stroke or paralysis residents, diabetes care, oxygen needs, catheters, colostomy's, and cognitive and memory impairments such as dementia, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Some medical conditions such as a feeding tubes or tracheotomies cannot be handled by board and care homes.

Generally, Board and Care homes are managed and owned by an individual or family who are closely involved in the day-to-day activities of the home. Board and care homes are a refreshing alternative to the more business like approach of an assisted living or skilled nursing facility.

About the Author Alex Jensen is with Careplacement.com - a free placement service for Southern California. Care Placement's staff can review your care requirements to determine whether skilled nursing care, assisted living facilities or board and care homes are a viable option for seniors.